Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 051 - Mirages in the sea (Patreon)

Kaen could feel Pammon’s body beginning to tire some as the second full day of flying ended.  The storm clouds had finally faded away behind them, and blank skies, baking them in the sun over endless water, was all they experienced for the last few hours.

This seems like a foolish question, but are you sure you don’t want to try and get yourself some food?

Pammon’s stomach growled, and Kaen knew he was hungry, having flown non-stop and not eaten anything since they left.

You realize that if I go down there and fail, I will have wasted enormous amounts of energy.  It is far easier to stay up here, ignoring my pain and hunger, versus that risk right now.  Besides, I would most likely end up getting everything on my back wet, and I don’t want to ruin your food.

Getting wet had been expected, but Kaen hadn’t considered the energy it would take for Pammon to fish and climb back up to how high they were right now.  It had taken a while for Pammon to catch anything back in Roccnari.

How long can you keep going?

As long as I must.  Stop worrying about me.  Just keep talking about something other than food.  The endless amount of nothingness out here is more challenging than I had imagined.

Laughing, Kaen understood that completely.  It was overwhelming seeing nothing but water.  The storm clouds had been their own struggle, but the constant concern about being struck by lightning had served as a distraction.

Let me tell you about when Patrick, Cale, and I got caught stealing ale from the tavern in Minoosh.

Pammon thrummed a little before Kaen even began telling the story.  He could only imagine how bad that must have gone.

The fourth day had quickly become the most challenging time of the trip so far.  They were scanning everywhere, trying to find land, all while talking about something, and Kaen had run out of life stories to share before falling asleep at night.

Pammon was noticeably weaker; his breathing seemed labored, and his body had shrunk.  Kaen had to tighten a strap that had begun to rub as Pammon worked off the reserves he had built up from all his eating.

The islands should be out here somewhere if we are going to find them.  It feels like my eyes play tricks on me, and I must double-check what I am looking at.

Kaen felt it, too, and he had not pushed himself anywhere near how Pammon had.  Staring at the water for hours on end, he had imagined seeing land a few times already.

It is hard not to ask how much further, but at some point, we must decide to keep going north or focus more on heading west.

Pammon’s frustration boiled across their connection.  He was tired and moody, and Kaen felt desperation in his friend's heart.

I will not give up.  If Tharnok and Elies said the islands were out here, we will find them.

Not risking another argument, Kaen leaned against his friend, scratching scales and hoping it provided enough comfort in this challenging moment.

The sun was on its way towards the western edge of the water, having passed over them hours ago, never once letting them get a break from the steady heat it exuded.

Kaen’s lips were chapped. The limited water he was drinking and the heat and wind finally took a toll on him. He was trying not to keep licking them as it only made it worse.

He felt the surge from Pammon first.  A flicker of hope that was different from every other time Pammon had thought he had spotted something.  It went on for a few seconds and then extended to a dozen.

Unable to take it any longer and knowing Pammon didn’t want to give false hope again, Kaen willed his lifestone into a flame, closing his eyes and letting his power flow into Pammon as he had a few other times today.

He could see through those golden eyes.  Across the water, brown and some green dots so far off against the blue waters that had seemingly swallowed everything else.

Pammon was beating a little faster now, and Kaen could feel his dragon closing his eyelids some, straining to see as far as he could.

The land didn’t move or waiver as so many of the other false images had.

Minutes passed, and they both saw what they were focused on getting larger as Pammon angled toward them.

Is it really land?

Pammon trilled, a bubble of joy flooding over him.

I believe it is.  It has to be.

Kaen kept sending strength through their bond, feeling his life drain slowly but noticing the difference in Pammon.

I won’t stop this for a while.  You need this, and I owe at least this for now.

Pammon didn’t argue as he had a few times before, accepting the renewed power that flowed through him. His labored breathing was gone, and his body moved faster as strength filled his tired muscles.

Each of them locked onto that patch of dirt, knowing there was a chance for rest if what they saw was really the promise of land.

Look, Pammon said after thirty minutes had gone by, and Kaen could see how large the island they had spotted was as well as the other clumps of land stretching out from it.  There are multiple islands there, and I believe I even see a ship.

Kaen saw what Pammon was pointing out.  Over a dozen small islands were spread out behind the one they had first seen.  One or two appeared to be larger, sticking up higher from the sea, and there did appear to be a ship further back.

That can be good and bad.  What should we do?

Pammon mulled over the information he had so far.  He was tired and had done everything he could to keep the truth of how tired he was from Kaen.  He doubted he could keep going if his rider had not shared his strength.  Rest was the most important thing he needed right now.  Food could come later.

I cannot do much if a fight were to occur.  I need rest, and the best choice right now is to land on that first island and allow me to do that.  Tomorrow morning, I will be fine to explore the other lands and see what we might find to eat.

Sounds like a plan.  Start heading down, and let’s fly closer to the sea.  It would be harder for that ship to spot you as the land will hide us.

Pammon grunted as he angled toward the water, allowing the descent to pull him down without the need to use his wings as anything but for gliding.

The waves beneath him rolled as he flew thirty meters above the water, keeping his sight fixed on the land before him.  The trees looked different than any they had back home, but Pammon didn’t care.  All he could think of was that he had done it.  He had gotten Kaen and him this far.

Fish! So many fish!

Glancing down, Pammon saw what Kaen was looking at.  Large groups of silver-colored fish swam through the water beneath him.

There must be thousands upon thousands together.

Kaen was laughing, and Pammon felt it through their bond.

You could catch at least one of them in a group like that, Kaen teased.

Pammon thrummed, allowing himself to appreciate the moment.  He had hope, and that allowed him to laugh.

I could try now if you don’t watch out.

Kaen’s hand rubbed the scale that had been touched thousands of times.

Somehow, I know that threat won’t happen, but even if you did, I would be glad you are returning to your usual self.  I missed my friend, who was steady as a rock and rarely worried.

Pammon snorted, letting some mucus fly back at Kaen.

It had been too long since he had allowed himself to smile.

Trees had cracked and popped as Pammon landed in a tiny clearing on the side of the island.  These trees were covered in a weird bark and had hairy balls in the top of them.  Their leaves were so different from the leaves back home.  A single ridge ran forward with long green leaves running off it.

Collapsing on the dirt, Pammon sighed as he wiggled himself against the ground, ignoring the number of birds he had sent flying from the treetops near him.

Sorry for the noise.  My ability to be stealthy is gone right now.

Don’t worry about it.  Go to sleep.  I will get what I need and set about searching the island.

Pammon let out a slight thrum, his eyes already closed as he prepared to pick on Kaen.

Please don’t let a pack of barely dressed women capture you tonight.  I’m not sure I would even wake up if you called.

Kaen chuckled as he dug into the baskets, pulling out a few things before jumping to the ground.  He moved to Pammon’s head and scratched right above his friend's eyes, eliciting a soft trill as he sensed Pammon drifting off.

Sleep.

Kaen had his sword in hand and hacked at the brown hairy ball resting on the ground near one of the trees.  It sliced open, milky white liquid pouring from where he had cracked it.  Dipping his finger into it before putting it into his mouth, Kaen smiled as the sweet and savory liquid hit his tongue.  Carefully, he took a small drink as he poured it into his mouth, amazed at how sweet it tasted.  Juices ran down his chin, and he leaned forward to keep the liquid from running into his clothes.

He spat out a few pieces of the brown hair that had come with the liquid and looked inside the broken ball in his hand.  A white material was inside.  Sheathing his sword, he cut a little piece off with his knife and chewed it, amazed at the texture and taste.

“Hess and Sulenda would probably love to try this,” he said out loud as he cut off another piece and chewed on it.

Standing there, chewing on this wonderful piece of food, Kaen’s stomach suddenly rolled, and he dropped the brown ball on the ground.

“Goblin shite,” he muttered as he scanned the trees he was standing in.

Standing in the water, Kaen cleaned off himself as he enjoyed the coolness of it.  The water was so clear he could see thirty yards away, watching little fish play along the shore's edge.  He had heard of and knew about sand, but this place had white sand all along the water line.  Soft on his feet as he stood there, buck naked, cleaning himself after the liquid he drank somehow activated the need to do something he hadn’t done in days.

Diving under the water a few times, he felt refreshed and energized.

Looking out over the water and back at the island, Kaen couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt.  Everything felt so peaceful and serene.  They had just overcome terrible odds and managed to find the first step in their journey to the land of the dragons. All he could think about was if Ava, Hess, Sulenda, and Callie were here, they could forget everyone else's problems and enjoy life.

With a sigh, Kaen flung his head back, running his hands along it and squeezing water from it.  After that, he repeated the process on his facial hair and strode across the water to get dressed.

There was an island to explore, and he wanted to see what might be out here.