Zyanya Prestige: Rider to Companion

There was one truth all of the dragons that lived at the Lost Temple knew, at present the Quetzalcotl they called their rider tolerated them as long as they proved their worth. To other dragons it would appear cruel possibly, given that they needed her to live… and yet they also knew she was too smart to turn away anything that could help her with her vengeance.. For the original traffickers were still at large… and her old friend remaining missing with no leads.

Keahi was the most stubborn, and the at present the only once Zyanya fully accepted. He'd proven his worth, both in the terms of his own intelligence, his ability to find new plants, and even his combat skills, his fire a blaze that reminded her of the fires that had burned down her prison.  Uriti was smaller, but while Zyanya had yet to fully acknowledge her, the Quetzal couldn't argue that she had was unusually adept at extracting toxins and poisons from plants and passing it to Zyanya to develop further. Citlali, while still a hatchling, thrived in the garden outside the temple, many of the plants toxic, and many no longer what they had started to be. The blood red dragon was a lure, and had started to prove her worth, both by protecting said garden from foragers… and also luring them foragers to their doom…. By offering them to her rider…. Free food.

Atzii however was the youngest of them, and thus far Zyanya had yet to decide whether the fire dragon was worth her time, she had no skills with poisons and had even had to be rescued from poisoning herself by the others. Still, Zyanya was patient, therefore she'd at least give Atzii a chance to prove her worth. Still..

She glared at the red hatchling, her feathered crest raised as she contemplated striking at Atzii, her eyes narrowed as the venom swirled in her fangs. "And why, would I tell you that." She asked, talons scratching at the sturdy stone of the temple in the daylight, she'd been basking when Atzii had approached her and outright asked about her lost friend. The hatchling stared back at her, no fear in the blue gaze. "Because I have contacts the others and yourself don't. It's clear to me that others of you kind haven't found anything, so why not use me?" Atzii asked, completely calm… except for her spaded tail which twitched. "It's not like you have anything to lose" A sound argument……Zyanya continued to stare. Her crest flattened finally. "Fine, but if you find nothing… don't return." A warning, before she closed her eyes and dozed off.

So it was that Atzii took off the next day after acquiring what information Zyanya knew of his disappearance; and Zyanya ignored the spark that was the bond between them, continuing with the experiments they had, though they were at the point were then needed to test them, but for that they'd need to acquire some metal scales. Days passed into weeks with no sign of the red hatchling… until one day she was sat there on the outside temple as Zyanya came back from a flight, her green body weaving as she landed. "Well?." She fought down the emotions that maybe, just maybe Atzii had found something. Hope… was a fickle thing. For a moment Atzii said nothing, mostly since she was finishing of a rabbit, and how to word what she'd found. Carefully she untucked one of her paws and held out the feather to Zyanya. The green Quetzal froze, staring at the feather in theory it could be a feather from anything, but she knew it in her bones it was identical just black to her own. A Quetzalcoatl's feather, the tip was red, dyed in blood, she could almost taste it, and as she took it from the red hatchling she moved it in the suns rays, to reveal the paler black markings that Ixchel had always been shy about, his colors not as vibrant or bright as others. She licked at the blood, Ixchel's. Rage coursed through her, tempered by years of patience as she took a breath and looked at Atzii who had finally finished her snack. "Tell me." Her voice was cold.

Atzii knew the cold tone wasn't for her, she knew. "My half brother is a dragon with no rider, he lives on his own in the ravines and canyons, and as a result, sometimes he gets hunted…. And sometimes he hunts them back. A group attempted to hunt him… they failed." Zyanya clutched the feather closer, the blood wasn't old despite it been dried, so Ixchel was still alive. "As he isn't linked a rider, I also asked him to keep an ear out for anything about a black quetzalcoatl. It was a business arrangement and he knows better to speak of it." Atzii explained. "That feather was been worn as a necklace by the leader of the group, and Belthir did not recognize the that particular feather. So he contacted me to pass it on. He also managed to keep one of them alive, not the leader though… he's buried under rocks, Belthir was not amused." Zyanya stood up. "Take me to this Belthir." Zyanya ordered, Atzii airborne before she'd finished speaking.

The flight was a long one, and while Zyanya could of pushed herself, she chose instead to keep her strength up… she was also been considerate of the hatchling, who's young wings had started to falter, so she made sure Atzii rested as she hunted. Days passed until they flew from the chronoscape, the ocean a glittering thing in the sunlight, but Atzii soon turned inland past the green and rocks to an vast expanse of earth. Little grew there, and a jagged cut tore through it, darkness below. Atzii angled her wings towards it, landing on the edge. Zyanya backwinged behind her, her body on high alert. 

They didn’t have to wait long before a 6 limbed dragon appeared, powerful talons grasping the earth as he settled. "Atzii." He greeted his half sister, glancing at the green Quetzal and acknowledging her. Zyanya narrowed her eyes, something about him… and it was something Atzii had. A trait… though they appeared nothing alike, she kept quiet for now. "Belthir. Is the little hunter still alive." Atzii responded. Belthir snorted. "Of course, stuck in a deep dark pit at present. Figured if the feather was something you'd probably want to talk to them." He bowed to Zyanya. "Atzii has already paid for the information, so what you do with the feather and the hunter is not my concern." Humming he vanished into the ravine, only to appear several minutes later with a person, alive… but battered and bruised. Uncaring of his strength, Belthir threw him towards Zyanya. "Do you want me to continue to keep an ear out?" He asked. "No payment unless it turns out to be accurate information." This was directed at Zyanya. "Yesssssss. You'll also tell no one." Her cold voice sounded, though her vengeful gaze was on the scrabbling hunter, whom Atzii had since pinned down. Belthir glanced at Atzii and rolled his eyes, who did she he was? "I promise, bad for my reputation if I do." 

He vanished as the hunter screamed when Atzii put more pressure on his leg, her claws digging in. "You'd best spill everything." Atzii said, her own voice cold. The hunter shook his head, whining they'd kill him if he spoke, Zyanya just watched, observing Atzii more, maybe the hatchling had more to her just in a different way. "That’s a shame then, you see if you'd told us what you know I've granted mercy… but you see my rider… well shes very very verrrrrrry good with poisons…. Just imagine what she could do………" she trailed off… okay she didn’t know exactly what Zyanya's poisons did but she did know they were geared to dealing with metal dragons… The man looked at Zyanya who hissed opening her may to reveal her fangs… as drop of venom fell… the earth corroding in front of his eyes, as Atzii hug her talons in to emphasize the point.

He talked… and talked and cried and babbled, and while maybe the information didn’t include a location for their groups main hideout, given he was low down in the group. It confirmed that they held the black feathered quetzal, and that the leaders of each part had a feather… as a sign of their rank. Zyanya's rage grew at the thought of what Ixchel must be suffering. She'd also confirmed his story with his blood, before ending him swiftly. In this, she kept Atzii's word.

Settling back on her haunches, Ixchels feather between her fore talons she looked out on the earthen expanse. "So. You have contacts." Zyanya commented her voice thoughtful. "Yes, Belthir is the only one without a rider, but I have two others who can keep an ear out." Atzii answered. "My dam and other half brother may also be able to provide with cast off metal scales?" The last was a question. 

Zyanya had learned long ago to take advantage of anything that helped her in her quest, and in this the red hatchling had proven her worth and so she looked straight into Atxii's eyes. "Find Ixchel, Do whatever you must, and do not let me down." Atzii nodded, her eyes gleamed, she'd proven her worth, her bond with her Rider not like the others... not at all. But in this she would excel, Belthir, Rathiel and her Dam the contacts on both world. She would not fail Zyanya.