A rush of wind filled Aylitan's ears, biting at them harshly with its embittered, frozen touch. And as suddenly as the wind had picked up upon her oath, almost as if the Planet were calling her on her promise, a voice filled her mind, and in tones as cold as ice and as clear and sharp as broken glass uttered two words: You'd better.
Aylitan looked up, startled by the sudden voice in her mind, blinking at the green. Had she spoken to her? Had the dragon choosen to speak with someone other than her rider? Her mind whirled with questions, but they were all washed away as the voice filled her mind again.
Would you break your promise now, when I offer you the chance to keep it? The voice was sharper now, clearer, and more embittered. It cut across Aylitan's mind like shards of crystal, biting deeply, and causing her to cry out.
"No!" she gasped, falling to her knees. "I would not!" Tyrae was aloft in an instant, startled into action by her mistress's faintly mysterious ones. She felt a mind presense, but could not hear the words exchanged.
Then come! Be my rider! The voice was even stronger now, and Aylitan felt ties begin to form in her mind. The voice wasn't as painful now, and thought it was still embittered, it had a warmer quality to it, underneath all that pain and anger.
"Be your rider?" the Elf queried softly, shaking with cold, and trembling with anticipation and anxiety. "But, what about your other rider..." She trailed off uncertainly.
My other rider is gone! Run away the very day I chose her! She would have nothing to do with a mere green! The Dragon's voice raked across Aylitan's mind with the power of untold fury, causing her to fall forward into the snow, clutching her head at the severe mental lashing she was getting.
"Please! Stop!" Aylitan begged her. "I will be your rider!" Tears leaked out the corners of her eyes, and down her frozen cheeks. Her fiery red hair was mingled with white snow, causing it to look quite different, but her emerald eyes were still the same brilliant shade, even filled with pain though they were.
Then come, Aylitan! Join me and we will forever be together, Bonded Eternally! the Dragon's voice filled Aylitan's mind once more, but this time their was no pain, only the cold, crisp feeling of snow, much like what Aylitan was feeling now, lying in the frozen powder.
"I will!" she cried, and was on her feet in an instant, running as best as she could through the snow that came up to her knees, falling repeatedly, but getting back up each time to continue on until she finally reached the beautiful green, throwing her arms around the beast's neck. "I will be yours, Yohlisanth!"
And even as she spoke the name it was like a dam had burst within her, and everything that she held dear, every secret she knew, every feeling, ever thought, everything was shared with Yohlisanth, and everything Yohlisanth felt, thought, and knew with Aylitan. Tears came harder now, as the small Elf clung to the beautiful beast before her, and suddenly she felt a wing wrap around her, and opened her eyes to gaze at Yohlisanth, finding herself lost in a rainbow regard.
Yohlisanth gently nuzzled her new lifemate, her suede soft hide removing a few frozen tears from Aylitan's cheek, a soft sound coming from her throat, almost like a purr as she nuzzled the girl. My Aylitan. The words were uttered with sheer relief and love, icy winter melting into glorious spring. My dear Aylitan.
Aylitan clung tightly to Yohlisanth, shivering with cold, and Yohlisanth gently wrapped her wings around her new bondmate, trying to keep her warm. Come, let us ajourn to the Living Cavern. It is warm there, and you need drink, as I need food.
Aylitan started to say she was fine, but upon Yohlisanth's admiting her need for sustenance, despite her outer harsh exterior, the young Elf dropped all pretense of trying to deny her need of being warm. She needed to be with Yohlisanth. That was where she belonged.
Wing still wrapped around Aylitan, Yohlisanth lead the girl towards the Living Cavern, seeming to almost instinctively know where it was. Aylitan waded along, starting to feel the icy crystals forming on her clothing, and shivered. "Are we almost there?" she asked, not daring the look up in the icy wind that was rushing at them from the front, threatening to push them back.
Yes. We're almost there, Aylitan. Don't worry, I won't let you die. Ever. Yohlisanth nuzzled her gently, attempting to shelter her lifemate's tiny form with her own slightly larger one.
Aylitan held on gratefully, even as they finally made their way into the Living Cavern, drudging snow behind him. Half the residents currently residing in the large cavern were on their feet in an instant, both in shock at the fact a Dragon would enter and response to the apparent need of help for the young Elf, who was now shivering violently.
It was S'ran who reached her first. He looked to Yohlisanth before blinking. "I see," he replied after his eyes unfocused a moment. He quickly picked Aylitan up, and carried her over to one of the tables, setting her gently down in a chair where Yohlisanth could be right with her. "Someone get some blankets and klah!" he called, starting to rub Aylitan's frozen limbs.
Yohlisanth's eyes spun with worry as she nuzzled her rider. Don't leave me, Aylitan. You mustn't leave me. I won't be left alone again! The green nuzzled harder, trying to thaw her half frozen rider. Aylitan!
Aylitan started suddenly out of her half concious stupor, and threw her arms around Yohlisanth, yanking them from S'ran, but the rider began working at her legs instead, pulling her snow-filled boots off and shaking them out.
Aylitan shivered. "I'm so cold," she moaned. "And I'm starting to feel numb." She shivered again, closing her eyes tightly. "I don't want to die, Yohlisanth. I don't want to break my promise. I mustn't break my promise!"
Yohlisanth nuzzled her, wrapping a large wing around her, the silken folds trapping Aylitan's own body heat around her. All will be well, Aylitan. Just let S'ran help you. He'll warm you up. But despite her words of encouragement the hatchling's eyes spun with intense shades of yellow and white.
Aylitan closed her eyes, feeling very tired, and wanting to sleep, but she wasn't allowed to as klah was thrust into her hands, and she was forced to drink, the hot liquid almost scalding the back of her throat and mouth as it went down. But it did warm her.
Her shivers, which had stopped, started up again, which was definately a good sign, or so the Healer who just arrived said. S'ran looked up at the Healer with worry. "If she dies, Yohlisanth will go between."
The Healer nodded. "I know. Let's get her in the infirmary. She needs more than just a small blanket. She's close to having hypothermia. Who let her be outside that long in that little?"
Yohlisanth growled at the Healer, and her mindvoice cut across the woman's mind like shards of glass. I was the one who kept her out there. And I was also the one who brought her here! The green growled once again.
The Healer flinched slightly, but didn't comment as S'ran picked Aylitan up once more. "Let's get her near the Dragon Infirmary entrance. I'm sure Yohlisanth will want to be with her at all times." And with that Aylitan was carried off, away from Yohlisanth.
The Dragon let out a keen of anguish. Don't leave me, Aylitan! she cried out mentally, starting to chase after the girl, knocking over chairs and even a table or two.
"Someone control that Dragon!" the Healer called, and Yohlisanth was assailed by several residents and riders alike, all trying to soothe her. But it took a mother's touch to calm her.
Yohlisanth, listen to them. You'll gain nothing by this futile gesture. Let them take you outside. Then you can be with your rider. Light Green Desilianth's voice slid into her daughter's mind gently.
Yohlisanth wasn't about to take no for an answer, however. At least not as far as being with her rider went, and since the only way seemed to be by heading outside the hatchling did just that, bonding agilely away, tail snapping behind her, knocking several people breathless as she escaped, dashing into the snow, and working her way towards her rider's mind, using that to guide her, her first lid sliding shut over her sensitive eyes, protecting them from the furiously blown gusts of wind and snow.
It was several minutes before she reached the Dragon Infirmary, having to slog through several feet of snow. She crawled into the Infirmary, pulling snow in with her before she shook herself off, snow flying everywhere. She let out a keen, trying to find her rider, whose mental presense felt far too faint for Yohlisanth's sanity.
Aylitan! she cried out, her mindvoice filled with the sensations of a summer storm. Where are you, Aylitan?!
I'm here, Aylitan replied faintly, her own mindvoice like hushed autumn. I'm cold, Yohlisanth. Please keep me warm.
Yohlisanth was quick to leap into action, sharp talons gouging into the stone as she scrambled to her rider's side, for the moment not caring about grace and poise as long as she was with her Aylitan. Ayli! Miayli!
It took a moment for what the Dragon had said to sink into both Rider and Mount's minds, and Aylitan met Yohlisanth anxious gaze with a smile. "You spoke Elven," the girl whispered, before she shivered.
Yohlisanth nuzzled her gently, laying a wing over her bondmate, cuddling close. Miayli, she repeated, nuzzling Aylitan again, and closing her eyes. Everything will be alright, won't it?
Yes, Yohlisanth. Everything will be alright. Aylitan gently scratched Yohlisanth's eyeridge, slow motions ment to soothe and calm the stressed Dragon as the Elf felt the fellis she had been given start to kick in. She was warmer now, and very sleepy due to this warmth, and the fellis, but now the crisis was over. She could sleep. Goodnight, Yohlisanth. Sleep well.
Goodnight, Aylitan. I will see you in the morning. The mindvoice was firm, carrying a hint of a storm remnant behind it as both rider and lifemate fell into a deep slumber, side by side, minds and hearts intertwined eternally.
* * *
You are listening to Nubuo Uematsu, Final Fantasy X -- Silence Before the Storm (3:29)