Land of the midnight sun OPEN

[kai]

Kai paused to watch the snowflakes falling gently around him and let a smile cross his face as he took in a deep breath of the crisp fresh air. Exhaling it in a visible cloud he kept walking through the valley. In all his travels across the dragon realm it was this place he loved above all else. The only place he kept returning to.

It was a land much like himself. Wild and free. It was a place that would break you.... or make you. In all honesty Kai had made up his mind to make Dante's Freezer his home. He loved the land and its people. But that time had not come yet.

Kai enjoyed the silence as he walked. Not a single sound other then last nights hard top layer of snow crunching as it gave way to his heavy body's steps. Pausing again Kai examined a pile of rocks stacked on each other. It would probably not stand out to most. But after so many repeat visits Kai was being assimilated into local customs and traditions. Taking even some for his own. These rocks were there way of communicating danger, supply caches, or messages.

This pile was just a marker. Following the marker instructions that would lead to a settlement Kai changed his course. 'About that time of the year again.' He thought. 'The six months of day will end in a few days time to bring the lasting night. Oh I how I love thee, land of the midnight sun.

Fjallbiǫð He said to himself in the local tongue as he went around the bend to see a old walled settlement. 'It will be nice to see familiar faces again. I wonder if they will remember me'

[Deleted]

This was one of the few times Veton had ventured far from the Dragon temple and the city of Warfang, having really only gone as far as the Swamp and Tall Plains but no further. Having gotten bored she decided it was time for her to be exploring even further outside the city, especially when she couldn't be there forever. On a plus side there had been no storms recently so much of her flight was smooth sailing, easily flying over the vast land and seas but having to go at a low altitude as the rip in her wing still caused her flying capabilities to be difficult at times. And being so far out from land losing control could end very badly on her part.

Luckily though, Dante's Freezer had come into sight and the young dragoness eventually found herself able to land on one of the ice caps. Though it was still far out to sea it was still close enough to others to serve as stepping stones. So with folding in her wings, Veton began jumping across from ice cap to ice cap, using her claws to prevent from sliding into the frigid waters. But soon she was on the mainland, testing the thickness of the ice to be sure she could walk across without concern of falling through and after finding it satisfactory she began heading onwards to see what this frozen continent held. Though one thing she had noticed was that the day seemed to be shorter here, beginning to turn darker already than what she was use to.

'Must be getting close to when it's night time constantly here. Probably not the best timing to visit.' Veton thought to herself, glancing around as she moved along but found it hard to find signs of life in this place. She had heard of the ruins there that once served as the fortress for the apes but it had long since been abandoned and there had been said to be some villages scattered about in the area.

A few hours of walking went by before Veton began to hear sounds of life, her paws having been crunching what seemed to be fresh snow for sometime. Eventually she came to a stop when seeing a village in the distance, her breathe coming out in a light mist in front of her which made her look up to watch it disappear. "No wonder ice dragons love this place, certainly seems like an icy paradise. And I wonder how the residence here handle things, be interesting to learn about this culture." She said to herself as she began heading closer to the village but being cautious just in case they might be hostile to outsiders.

[kai]

Kai having already reached the gate was talking to a female ice dragon he knew. "Your starting to look like one of us" She said in the common tongue to make things easier for him. She tugged on the heavy furs under Kai's armor and then the leather straps holding the heavy insect exoskeleton plates. "Your starting to look like a fine young male" The elder said. "You should really quite your wandering ways and settle down here. So many of our youth have left. Fjallbiǫð is not as lively as it use to be."

Kai hated these lectures. He found he got them a lot from the older generation. "Kannski.... just not yet" He said lowly and looked away. "I see you have been practicing Icelandic. Can you count to 10? The elder asked. Rolling his eyes Kai started to count. einn, tveir, þrír, fjórir, fimm, sex"

At the last number he busted out laughing. Laughter that was ended when the elder clapped him in the side of the head with her paw causing a loud smack sound. Kai was built like a rock though and hardly felt it. Waving a claw he said. "I'm sorry, I can never keep a straight face when I say six. But I am trying.

Seeing movement out the corner of his eye Kai's attention shifted. The elder followed his gaze. "Out lander like you by the looks of it. So many come through here these days. Why don't you go greet them for us. If they mean well invite them. And if they mean ill. See them off. Gently" She added the last word with a raised eyebrow.

"What?" Kai said with a shrug. "If this is about the last time I was here." She did not even let him finish. "The last time you were here you left raiders for us to bury. What was left of them anyway.

Point taken." Kai mumbled as he started to head towards the figure. "Hello!" he called out and stopped a ways away as to not spook the female. "You a trader or traveler?"

[Deleted]

Just in the distance Veton could see a few dragons already in sight, two of which looked like they might be residence there but the other looked a little out of place. But she couldn't quite judge that just on appearance, after all there had been some unusual looking dragons before so she was curious to see how this place was. From the looks of it though, this village wasn't quite that lively as she had seen in other villages and she could have sworn many of them were looking towards her in wonder and curiosity. Perhaps they got many travelers and it had become the norm there.

But she was only feet from the village when the odd looking dragon Kai approached her, making her stop for a moment. "I'm more of a visitor actually, but guess considering the distance I've flown to get here you can count it as traveling." She spoke to him, flicking her tail slightly. "I came all the way from Warfang in fact, from the Dragon Temple. Got kind of boring with nothing going on at this moment." Veton told him before she finished covering the distance herself and looking at the dragon with no wings. She had heard of some dragons that lacked them and usually it was because of where they came from and where they grew up at times they might be lacking them. This though she didn't mind.

Smiling kindly she dipped her head in greeting, "My name is Veton Elysia, a student at the Temple and Electricity element user."She introduced herself, not seeming to mind if Kai might have some uncertainty that she might be a hostile.

[kai]

Kai cocked his head to the side and looked at the female through his tinted goggles. Quite out of nowhere he raised his snout to the sky and let out a deep hearty laugh. "The temple you don't say." He said with a tone of curiosity. Sitting on his haunches in the snow Kai crossed his forelimbs across his chest in an X motion. Giving a briefest of bows he put them to the ground.

"I am Kai Crag Jumper born to the earth, of rock, and darkness. You could say I am a contractor of sorts. Though at the moment I am unemployed and on vacation." Clicking his tongue on the side of his mouth in thought he added. "So your from the temple. I honestly can admit I don't know much about you all. What the temple is, or what you all are about. The ways of the surface world are still strange to me. But it never stopped you temple sorts from attacking me in the past for my choice of employers. Its nice to finally meet one of you all that will actually speak.

"Before you lies Fjallbiǫð. I hope you brought gems or coin. Ancestors knows these people need the business. How about we go to the longhouse and warm the cold from our bones by the fire pit. You can tell me more about this temple you come from. Even though Kai said those from the temple always attacked him in the past there was no hint from the energy he gave off that it even bothered him. Probably because he was the sort to not hold grudges and leave the past where it belonged, to the back.

[Deleted]

Veton couldn't help looking at Kai oddly, finding this the most random moment to let out such a laugh when she mentioned she was from the temple. Was it really that interesting that she was from the temple? Though she merely pushed this aside she listened to his introduction and what his employment usually was, which somewhat made her suspect he might be a freelancer who got odd jobs or a mercenary, they were usually the ones that made contracts for anything or assassins did.

"It's nice to meet you Kai, least I suppose it is." She said, as she looked at him once more and his explanation of where he was born. He certainly was an unusual dragon and she noticed he seemed to be covered by a large black exoskeleton of some kind of insect she wasn't familiar with as armor, possibly from his underground dwelling. "And I'll have you know not all us Temple dragons are like that. Some of us actually prefer to be civil and speak like common individuals, in fact we are no different from anyone we just happen to live in a large temple." She added with a slight look of disbelief in his words, having hardly seen much acts of aggression from others, her brother being one of those few cases. But if she was right about suspecting of what he was that might explain why he was often attacked.

"Lead the way and I just might consider telling you more," Veton said as she began following him towards the village but frowned a bit at hearing this. "And unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't have anything when it comes to money. I hardly have any myself back home, so there's really not much I can do to help here in their livelihood."She added, hating to not be able to help this village as they entered it.

[kai]

"I guess not all the story's I heard are true then" Kai said and he turned to lead. "I heard rumors you temple dwellers are guardians. Protectors of the dragon realm. Counting some of the greatest warriors to ever live among your ranks. If you say your no different I anyone else I guess there just story's."

Now in the town he waved at the few souls up and about. They were not particularly colorful looking at first. There faces blank and void of emotion. That seemed to change a bit at the sight of visitors. "The local watering hole" Kai said as he stopped before the long house. So named because of its shape. "Don't worry about the money then. I will pay for your room and board for the night. Just don't go thinking I'm a free meal ticket though."

That was one of the first harsh lessons he learned. Being to kind was a sign of weakness and anyone will take advantage of it if possible. Opening the beautifully carved door made from imported wood a wall of heat hit him and his goggles fogged up instantly taking them off to reveal his slightly glowing turquoise eyes he looked around the empty inn. "Wake up brother!" A females voice sound. "We have guests"

Wordlessly he went over to the fire pit in the center of the structure and sat down to start unbuckling the straps to his armor. Letting the heavy plates hit the floor he sighed. "Much better. I feel twenty pounds lighter. Now if only I could get rid of this beer belly". He said with a smile to his new female companion. Next he removed the fur skins and threw them in a pile onto the armor revealing a scarred body that like a map, showed the many dangers and roads this dragon traveled. It might have seemed impolite to just throw down his things on the floor.

But a young ice dragon male came over to start dragging them away with grunts. Taking a leather pouch from the floor Kai shook it and listened to the clink of its contents with greedy eyes. "Olga!" he barked to the owner of the inn that he could not see behind him. "Bring me a drink woman!"

Though his words were harsh it was all in good fun. "Kai? Is that you?" He heard from behind. He still did not turn as he kept himself close to the fire. "Get it your self" Chuckling he looked at his companion. "Don't mind her. Under her icy exterior is a heart as warm as the sun." Turning slightly he looked over his shoulder and said more loudly. "And I aim to make her my wife. She will bear me many strong sons."

"You along with every other drunk traveler after a few drinks." At last the voice had form as a slender ice dragoness came out from the backroom and handed Kai a drinking horn. Taking the horn Kai added. "Don't worry I got her covered" By her he could only mean the Veton.

"Skál" Kai said in toast to Veton and raised the horn before leaning his head back to let its contents go down his throat. "Tell me more of the temple lass."

[Deleted]

For now Veton didn't reply to what Kai said, finding this could wait until they arrived at the longhouse before she would speak more about the temple. Wordlessly she followed the earth dragon, watching the blank expression villagers roamed around and moved to the watering hole. It made the young dragoness look on in some sadness to see these villagers in such low spirits or looking without emotion. She had never seen anything like it, not even for the villages around the Swamp and Tall Plains, there they always seemed lively.

Then again, Veton would have to consider the geographical differences for each land, especially Dante's Freezer more or less being a frozen wasteland to many. Water and ice dragons might have felt at home there but others likely would not, if rarely at all come to think of this as home. And admittedly Veton couldn't see this as being some place she'd feel at home at either. She wasn't exactly all for cold weather but that didn't mean she might try to visit more, maybe especially this village to try and lighten their moods.

Upon seeing the longhouse she came to a stop, glancing at Kai and shaking her head. "I ate before I got here so I will be fine for a while any way. If I get hungry I will just hunt, or well go fishing in this case."She told him, knowing she would be just fine after the big meal she had long before she left. When it came to kindness though, Veton didn't see it as a weakness but she did tend to be cautious now and again. It just depended how the person acted and who they were usually. And as the doors opened she welcomed the warm air before she stepped inside, shaking her body a bit to rid of the snow before following Kai over to the fire pit.

She went to sit down but glanced over when hearing the female ice dragoness and supposedly the male who approached being her brother. Her gaze then went to where Kai removed his armor and the furs, making her surprised at the number of scars he had for only being a juvenile like her. "Hm, maybe less beer and more water ought to take care of that."She said with a faint smile, though it was just a little light hearted joke as she glanced to the fire, shaking her head at the exchange between the two before she shifted on the spot to get more comfortable.

"Since you want to know more I will confirm that yes, the Guardians are there to help keep peace in the realms but they usually don't attack unless provoked. And many of us there help to keep the peace as well or are learning our elements and other skills."Veton explained to him and muttered, "Or apparently learning a little too much on a subject."She said this more to herself than to Kai, immediately thinking of how recently her own brother had become even more distant and things had begun to become worse between them. "There just are a few who might attack you for no reason, some aren't exactly the nicest people you'll meet but for the most part we can come and go when we are done learning what we need."

[kai]

"Sounds like there is a story there" Kai replied as she drifted off in thought. "But its probably none of my business" Now looking into his empty drinking vessel he waved it in the air until it was taken to be refilled. Listening to her some more he thanked Olga and took the drinking horn. Shrugging he said. "I'm not to worried about the aggressive ones you speak of. Everyone of the ones that ever got in the way of my job I killed. But I always gave them fair warning to leave first' With that said casually as if nothing he resumed drinking from the vessel.

At this point it was obvious these two came from different worlds. Kai's world was not a place for the weak of heart. "The way of the world I suppose. The weak die. The strong prosper. I see it time and time again no matter where I go. So what is your purpose in life at the temple? Do you seek to protect those to weak to protect themselves? Or to simply better yourself at whatever it is your good at?"
At this point he was just sizing her up. He thought the answer he received would say a lot about her.

Now having finished the drinking vessel again he handed it off to be refilled again. "Me personally. I say you have only one life. Go out and live it. See the world. Meet new people and cultures. Make friends and enemy's. Experience love, and loss. Get some life experience on the belt and if you live to reach old age. Have story's to tell the grandchildren. A lot of poor wretched souls are born into this world and leave it having nothing to show for it. I plan to be different. One day you will hear songs sung of me in places like this.

[Deleted]

"There's a story behind it but I prefer not to speak of it usually with strangers, or at least those I don't exactly trust off the bat." Veton told him as she lied on her stomach and crossed her paws in front of her but still keeping her gaze upon Kai. "Let's just hope this luck of your's holds Crag Jumper, even the most powerful of warriors can fall to the most unexpected attack, even if it seems weak." She told him, finding this earth dragon a little full of himself but otherwise he seemed like an alright male.

That question wasn't a difficult one to answer but she didn't quite yet know what her place was in this world. "I wouldn't say at the temple, more of the world. I remain at the temple because it's where I was born and where I am learning, when the time comes I plan to travel to the farthest reaches of the realms and learn all I can."She said before smiling. "But to answer your question, I look to protect others and make a difference in the world. I know where my heart lies but I don't know where my destiny lies in full for when the time comes to face it."

Veton tilted her head slightly as she listened to him, nodding a bit in agreement but chuckled at his final words. "If you are sung in the halls of even the greatest locations in the realms you would accomplish an impressive feat. But like I said, I plan to leave when I feel the time is right and I know I'm ready to face a bigger world out there." With this said she briefly glanced at the fire, for a little while silent before she spoke once more. "Even with precognitive visions they cannot always tell you the future, even those can change."

[kai]

Listening to her Kai cringed quite visible in memory of the female that hit him below the belt. "You don't have to tell me that twice. That was a harsh lesson I learned already." Listening still he liked her answer.

"Noble goals indeed, and I respect you for them. But I don't believe in destiny. A pre planned path in life. We all are the masters of our destiny. We make it what it is.

"So you see things?" Kai asked. He had a personal interest in this topic. "Is it true that those with the gift of second sight lose grip on reality without training. That madness slowly takes hold and they end up clawing out there own eyes and eating there own tongues?"

It might seem like a morbid question but this was something Kai heard and he was honestly a little afraid of. Something the tone of his voice betrayed. "Do you go off in a trance like state not knowing the passing of time. Does the world seem more....surreal when you do?. You know, It becomes hard to tell reality from vision. Are there ways to deal with it without it interrupting your life?

It would probably seem unlikely that a creature like Kai would be a prophet. But weirder things have occurred in the world and his questions were the kind you would expect from a untrained seer that resisted there born gifts.

[Deleted]

When seeing Kai cringe Veton was tempted to inquire about it, wondering if his luck had already hit a bump in the road to his goals of fame. Well, it usually could happen but it couldn't have been that bad if he was still alive so it more than likely was just something painful that happened, and that possibility could be endless. "I never said I believe my life was set in stone Kai, I just believe everyone had a destiny and that sometimes we make a decision that can lead us to a certain kind of destiny." Veton explained with a shrug, "It doesn't always have to be a set path.

When hearing Kai's sudden interest about visions she was quite surprised but raised an eye brow at his final question. "Unfortunately I can't really answer those questions myself, Kai. I've heard rumors it's possible but I don't think it would happen for everyone, if at all." She told him honestly but she heard the slight fear in his voice and was shocked when he said almost everything exactly that happened. Was he one with second sight too? "That's...actually exactly what happens. I usually just end up staring off into space, everyone says like I'm in a trance and normally the visions just come to me at random and can range from a few days to a few months, maybe even a year or so into the future."She told him and frowned, "But yes it feels surreal, like I'm there but it hasn't happened or might or might not ever happen."

Though when he asked about if there was a way to cope with it not interrupting life Veton could only look at him sadly, "Kai, I've been wondering that same question myself for a while now since I got this power. I've never found the answer and I never know who to ask about this to learn how to control it. So I'm afraid...I don't know."

It was probably not the answer he was hoping for, and Veton looked at her paws while shaking her head to show she really didn't know. She hated it sometimes and couldn't stop the visions when they came at any time, even in the worse moments like when she is training or studying, or even in class. "You...know what it's like then don't you. You have visions like me." She said more as a statement than a question, bringing her gaze back to the wingless mercenary.

[kai]

"You don't know." Kai said with irritation as he repeated what she said. None of what she said he wanted to hear and it clearly showed.

Kai was quickly losing the interest to talk to her. Not so much that he was angry at her. He just rather preferred to be left to his thoughts. Looking away he darted his faintly glowing eyes towards Veton at the question. Slowly narrowing them he said bluntly. "No I don't see things. You need to mind your damn business female. When I was curious about your past earlier you did not see me prying. Show the same respect"

"I'm done talking" With that said he got up and staggered for a bit. Apparently all the drinking he did earlier had finally kicked in. And was probably responsible for his outburst of anger. Going into one of the side rooms he collapsed belly first into bed made of pillows and furs. Rolling onto his side Kai grabbed his tail from between his legs and hugged it close to his chest in a rare moment of vulnerability. The dragon equivalent of a ape sucking there thumb..

Staring at the wall deep in thought he finally drifted off to sleep. In the morning he woke up early having no bad feelings from the night prior. As far as Kai was considered. That was yesterday. This was today. Holding onto anger was a petty thing to him. Feeling his usual happy self again he was outside in the snow hiding behind a stone wall as he nailed various passers with snowballs.

Giggling in a rather childish manner unbecoming one of mercenary reputation he peeked over the wall to see who else he could hit.

[Deleted]

His sudden outburst made Veton glare slightly, figuring half of it was denial and the rest from the alcohol he had consumed. "What do you know, turned out no different than half the drunken travelers, a sexist pig in denial." She muttered as she merely watched him leave and shaking her head. Hell, she hadn't even been prying but merely stated something that was more than likely the truth. He had visions just like she did but of course he was one of those trying to run away from it, from a power he was born with. If that was the way Kai was Veton saw no use in wasting her time.

After he had left the dragoness stood and got a room to rest for the night, not taking long to fall asleep. By morning, she was up and refreshed, getting ready for the day so she could continue her personal exploration of the continent for a few more days she had planned. Her mind had become focused on it again than what happened last night, deciding it wasn't worth having to worry about in the least. If Kai was that way then that was his problem not her's.

Stretching her body out for a bit the electricity dragoness left the room, bidding the owners farewell and smiling before she stepping out into the cold, crisp air and feeling the snow crunch beneath her feet. Shutting the door behind her she heard the sounds of something being thrown and turned, seeing a certain earth dragon from last night seeming in a better mood and acting somewhat childish."If you plan to get fame and fortunate throwing snowballs at people passing by you keep at it like this you just might accomplish it." She said, more of a dry humor before she began heading away, "Have fun with whatever you plan doing next Crag Jumper, sure you'll find someone else to chat with soon enough."

she didn't even bother to look back as she spoke, already making her way to exit the village since there seemed little she could really do here to help the villagers. As much as she wanted to right now she hardly could control her own powers and somewhat felt if she stayed much longer she might not leave any time soon.

[kai]

Hearing the voice he stood up in full view now. "Nothing ventured is nothing gained Veton. I do my part to help elevate the air of depression about Fjallbiǫð. I found out why everyone is so depressed as well. Seems some Ghouls keep scaring off visitors. This place lives off tourism so I intend to go chase off these freaks. Nothing more fun then a good fight. Might even get some new scars to add to the collection."

Seeing her walking away Kai cocked his head. "Leaving already? Well so long I guess" It was nothing new to him. Dragons come and dragons go. Probably for the best in his mind. She was with the temple and it would not surprise him if he ended up killing her like so many others in the future. Not knowing his enemy's always made the deed all the more easier. Hearing a haunting but beautiful bird call from out on the water of this fishing town Kai sat on his haunches and put his fore claws in a cupped manner to his mouth.

Blowing the air through it he managed to mimic the call of the arctic loon. After hearing its response he smiled and went back towards the longhouse. Feeling great he could only think how much better he would feel after the fire ran in his blood after a good fight.