(See the end of the chapter for more notes .)

I'm not exactly sure I upheld my promise from last chapter, plot still seems to rush by... ;_;

Our quartet takes rest on a small island in the middle of nowhere, gaining two travelling companions in the end.

Chapter Text

Yang felt the last warmth of the sunset on her face as she followed in Ruby’s wake over the ocean, her wings beating even, strong strokes that kept her soaring high above the massive expanse of water far below. She was woken from her thoughts by her passenger stirring in her seating, legs straddling the base of Yang’s long, slender neck.

“Hey Yang, can I ask you something?” Blake asked, half-shouting over the oceanic winds.

“No, I don’t know where we’re headed and no, I don’t know when we’ll get there.”

“Not that, but thanks for the honesty!” Blake laughed back.

“Oh. Well then, sure. Any question in particular?”

“… Well… As you probably already know, Ruby hired me to join her in collecting loot from various dragon hoards, but… what exactly is the purpose of these hoards?”

Yang chuckled, sending deep, thrumming reverberation up through Blake’s thighs.

“Well, you know how some birds collect shiny objects and other trinkets in their nest to attract potential mates?” Yang shot a quick glance over her shoulder at Blake, who nodded in the affirmative. “It’s similar to that, but unlike birds, both male and female dragon alike collect treasures in our caves.”

“… That sounds rather counter-productive. If everyone’s perched on their hoards waiting, nobody’ll show up to inspect your hoard.”

“Oh, some of us are actually a bit more proactive in our search so we leave our ‘perch’ as you so delightfully called it and venture out visiting other dragons.”

“… Wouldn’t that leave the hoard unprotected?” Blake asked, tilting her head quizzically.

“You didn’t find it at all strange you and Ruby occasionally found an unguarded hoard?”

“That’s true. Guess it adds up then.” Blake mused.

“Speaking of unguarded hoards… Not that I don’t support Ruby in the search for that perfect someone, but I’m not about to fund her adventures.”

“How would you fund her adv-oh.” Blake paused when the realisation hit her. “You’re the ‘grumpy tenant’ up north.”

“Yeah. You never stopped to think why Ruby wasn’t all that concerned with the supposed imminent danger she constantly got into? She directed you towards her family members. She knew she’d get the proverbial slap on the wrist at worst if she got caught, and since you weren’t in on the transformation secret you’d be spared a most grisly fate.” Yang once again glanced backwards, flashing Blake an intimidating, yet playful grin.

“… Protection I no longer have.”

“Exactly. Learning’s so much fun, don’t you think?”

Blake decided then and there that for the time being, silence was golden.

“… Are we there yet?”

“Rubolynnhaerisha, if it wasn’t funny the first time, why would it be the next 16 times?” Strider pinched the bridge of his nose in mock annoyance.

“Hey, just asking. Me an’ Yang gotta rest up soon too, you know. Can’t stay in the air indefinitely.”

“Agreed. Well, we should come upon our first stop on our journey soon. There should be a small island around here somewhere where we’re supposed to link up with a friend of mine for the rest of the journey.”

“… Would it be the one over there in the distance, maybe?” Ruby chuckled.

“Why yes, Rubolynnhaerisha, it sure would seem so!” Strider replied with a laugh.

Ruby swooped down towards the north-eastern side of the small island landing on a beach with Yang following suit.

“If there’s anyone on this island, they probably saw us coming. Be ready for anything.” As Strider moved towards the treeline with Blake in tow, the dragon sisters shifted down into their human forms and followed suit. After trekking through the underbrush for some time, Blake saw something in the distance – the flickering light of a campfire. Readying her bow, she notified Strider, who nodded.

“It’s either my contact or trouble. Get ready.”

Sticking to the shadows, the four travellers crept closer to the edge of the campsite. Sitting between their hiding spot and the dancing flames was a young male elf, his long, black hair pulled together in a low ponytail. As his arm pulled out from under his cloak, the sleeve of his elvish-make shirt glittered green in the flickering light of the fire.

“You can come out now, I know you’re there.” The figure spoke without moving to acknowledge them. Strider just rose to his feet and walked into the circle of light.

“I thought that was you, Ren. It’s good to see you. Where’s your dragon?”

“I sent her to gather more firewood, she should be back any minute now.”

As if on cue the group could hear the snapping of twigs and footsteps approaching from the opposite direction. Entering the clearing was a young woman clad in a light travelling cloak carrying a sizeable pile of wood that obscured her face from view. Strider turned towards her and spoke up.

“Hello Pyrrholynnhaeryhos, long time no see.”

Pyrrholynnhaeryhos yelped in surprise, dropping the firewood with a loud crash.

“Jaune! You made it!” the redheaded girl practically jumped into Strider’s arms. Ruby and Yang merely gawked incredulously.

“Your real name is ‘Jaune’?”

“Well, yeah.” Jaune shrugged as he pulled down his cloak, revealing a blonde mop of hair. Suddenly Ruby jerked.

“Oh! Where’s my manners!” She turned to the new dragon acquaintance and bowed deeply, splaying her arms in the best approximation of the draconic greeting she could muster in human form. “Blessings and good tidings upon you, Pyrrholynnhaeryhos. My name is Rubolynnhaerisha Roshahgash and this is my elder sister Yahnghiellewonhayrisha Xhiaholonhagash.” Ruby hastily kicked at her older sister to bow as well when she noticed her still standing. Pyrrholynnhaeryhos merely chuckled before returning the bow.

“Blessings and good tidings upon you as well, Rubolynnhaerisha, Yahnghiellewonhayrisha. You may call me Pyrrha.”