Akarui had never seen anyone train so hard for anything as her bond did for the meeting that was supposed to occur in two years. Jenin had done nothing but since he had been a week old, from “sunup” to “sundown” on the station. He worked so hard at it, even his beloved bond dare not break that fearsome concentration. Personally, she felt it was because of her brother and Kokuuzou’s xenodragon bonds. They had only met once, an experimental five minutes that turned into the most intense scramble of Akarui’s more recent recollection.

They had gone down to the surface of Atu in separate parties. The xenodragons and their bonds first, Akarui with Jenin later. Going to the planet had been Kokuuzou’s idea, he figured being out in the middle of a desert with three very powerful and polar opposite dragons would endanger far fewer people. Touzaya was greatly unsettled. She had been ever since the clutch hatched several months ago. Even here, something isn’t right. I feel it in my very blood, do you not feel this, Nacht? The chaotic xenohathian shook his furred head. I do not sense anything unusual. Though I do sometimes wonder why we have not met this “Jenin” to which your sister is bonded. He turned an eyeless gaze on Acerbu, who was currently grinding a small stone into dust with a dragon-paw.

”You will see what Kokuuzou, Akarui and I are concealing soon.” He had always felt guilty holding anything back from Nacht. At last Akarui arrived, trailing the undeniably white form of Jenin. They landed a good dozen yards away. ”And soon is now." The purple dragon turned to face his bond. “Now, Akarui had the great honor to be part of a first-of-it’s-kind clutch all those months ago. She bonded a very... unique dragon. But, we were informed by the man who hosted the clutch that this type of dragon and those of your blood - xenodragon blood - would in all likelihood... not get along.” Touzaya focused her “gaze” on him, baring metallic teeth. What do you mean, Dark mage?

Nearly a half a mile away, Akarui and Jenin were having a nearly identical discussion. Although their’s was admittedly different, owing to the fact that Jenin had full knowledge of the xenodragons bonded to Akarui’s friends. The glower in his burning green eyes clearly said that he would have wished nothing more than to tear the two limb from limb on the spot. Particularly the xenoqueen Touzaya. ”Are you listening to me, Jen’?” His attention snapped back from staring malevolently over Akarui’s shoulder at the motes of the xenoqueen and chaotic xenohathian in the distance.

What? She sighed, placing a paw on the yautjadragon’s shoulder and wheeling him so that his back was to the others. ”You are about to meet Nacht and Touzaya for the first time.” He nodded, determined to focus all his attention onto Akarui’s words. She placed a paw on either side of his mandibled-snout. ”I understand your ingrained... dislike for them. But. They are the bonds of my brother and my friend. You will, in all likelihood, be working with them in the future when we return to Aether to put things right, so it is essential that we test how you will react to them and they will react to you. I wholly do not expect this first meeting to go smoothly. However, I do beg you to try. For me.” Jenin smiled at her, I will try, for you my bond.

Akarui saw Acerbu wave from the distance, and she returned his gesture. ”Now, our plans are for you three to meet in the middle and introduce yourselves. I will not be far behind you, and Acerbu and Kokuuzou will not be far behind Touzaya and Nacht.” With that parting remark, she released her gentle pressure on his muzzle and took a step back. Jenin turned and saw two larger figures (one considerably larger than the other) standing a little ahead of their smaller bonds. He took one step forward.

What is this reeking smell on the wind? The xenoqueen tipped her large head into the oncoming sluggish breeze and opened her outer and inner mouths, appearing to taste the air. I sense nothing. Nacht replied colorlessly. She huffed and flipped her long tail in irritation. I do not like it. Something is approaching that could pose... a threat. Nacht only shook his head and plodded steadily forward. Snarling again, Touzaya focused on the warm creature advancing from the east. It wasn’t terribly big, just a little smaller than her companion Nacht, and it moved with the slightly gawky lurch of a youngling. It’s taste and scent filled the air, filled with restrained rage and hunger. It made a menacing gesture at the pair of them. Insolence! That beast is mocking us! She shrieked a challenge at the on comer that smelled so oddly. It bellowed in reply, a deep-throated roar filled with anger. Challenge me will you... The xenoqueen rose up to her full height and shrieked again before charging headlong at the beast.

Kokuuzou had been watching the xenos approaching the yautjadragon with some trepidation. He was in Touzaya’s head after all, he sensed her immediate dislike and wariness of Jenin. Acerbu was confident in Nacht however, he held it in his mind that he wanted Nacht to restrain himself. He wanted him to not feel fear or hatred for Jenin, and because of Nacht’s absolute loyalty to him, Acerbu knew Nacht wouldn’t attack. Then Touzaya had started all that roaring and posturing at Jenin. “She’s going to screw it all up!” Acerbu hissed to Kokuuzou. “Can’t you control her any?” The Void mage glared at him. ”What do you think. Touzaya is incredibly strong-willed, which is to be expected for one who was built to control! The very idea of me controlling her is laughable. Besides, maybe all that bellowing is... a welcoming... thing.” Acerbu rolled his eyes. “Does that look welcoming to you?” For Touzaya had just thrown her head back and roared again before rushing the white yautjadragon. Kokuuzou cursed, then ran after Acerbu.

The two beasts crashed together with the sound of talons on carapace and teeth on teeth. Jenin had a berserker look in his eyes as he leapt up onto the much larger xenoqueen’s back. His kind may be made to hunt creatures like her, but he was no where near ready to take on even a xeno-drone, much less a fully grown xenoqueen. Still he fought tooth and nail against her, dodging lashes of her knife-tipped tail and clinging to her back as she attempted to buck him off. ”JENIN, NO!” Akarui ran to meet the thrashing beasts and attempted to grab the yautjadragon from Touzaya’s back. The xenoqueen snapped at the Light mage and viciously shoved her away, provoking an even more enraged attack from Jenin.

By now Kokuuzou and Acerbu had met them and were both attempting to prize the two combatants apart. Nacht had been wholly uninvolved until Jenin made a wild swipe at the Dark mage as he attempted to unlatch his talons from the xenoqueen’s carapace. Then the xenohathian roared, enraged at the attack on his bond and jumped the smaller yautjadragon, sending him flying away from Touzaya. Kokuuzou’s first instinct was to lock onto his bond and teleport them elsewhere, which he did. It was much easier for Acerbu and Akarui to then separate Nacht and Jenin. Quickly Acerbu hauled the flailing chaotic xenohathian away, as Akarui dragged Jenin the opposite direction. Their meeting would have to wait until a different day in the distant future.