Molomites were bred for pain
by a warring faction of the NeoTarpels
Hideous swarms of ferocious bits of animate matter
None will admit to their creation
but bonded dragon/human teams were often retained
on the third world of the twin star, Exu-Hector
to remove outbreaks of the weapon
The cleansing fire of the dragon
the insidious wit of their bonded human
and the warrior reflexes of both
scoured the hills and glens eradicating the scourge
Nuxy and Chyfrin
uninjured but exhausted
had decided to convalescence on-world for a few days
On a summer’s night
on a world where the skies were seldom dark enough for stars
they walked by a river
Nuxy asked questions about human poetry
Chyfrin poured forth extemporaneous verse
attempting to appear far more gifted
than he truly was
A sudden whip-crack behind them
Chyfrin was rolling forward with a fledgling on his back
His shoulder leathers fending the claws
and the armor plate turning the crushing grip
In milliseconds he danced the fight dance
using a talon
instead of his more deadly weapons
The attack would have killed a human in an instant
but her partner was holding his own
Nuxy watched
fascinated by the way that humans
were so rigid in movement
and yet so flexible
Able to contain herself no longer
She flowed the way darkness comes when the light goes out
Over, under, around and on top of the fledgling
in a terrifying dance of titanium scale and muscle
Chyfrin restrained her in the kill moment
saving the young one’s life
In her rage
she nearly struck her partner
In the Chamber of Elders
Lyamiss, a Recon Class dragon was forced to admit
that he had spent a time filling the fledgling with distrust for Chyfrin
and all humans
That Lyamiss had sent the fledgling
to injure or kill the human
Nuxy climbed the Arch of Aheem and screeched
“Why?
Lyamiss, why have you disgraced yourself
and my family in this manner?”
Three time she admonished him
The Recon hissed and danced the shadow slide
Nuxi dropped to the floor in full attack posture
“Elders, I claim the right of dispensing this. . .”
“Nuxi
We of the Chamber conclude that the human must have a say
in these proceedings”
Lyamiss screeched
“Humans! Speaking in the Chamber. . .”
The Master of Arms restrained Lyamiss
in a most embarrassing fashion
“Chyfrin
It is understood that you showed restraint when attacked. . .
Is this fact?”
“Yes, High Ones”
“And why is this?”
“I would never kill
if hurting would suffice”
“You have shown a warrior’s heart and earned a right to speak
What say you, human?”
“Lyamiss. . .
Why did you send this young one?”
“She
Nuxy was to be my nest-mate
She was to be my sky and moon
She is all. . .
She. . .”
The Chamber was silent
