Cracked Mirror (Private with Andromeda)

Only a week into her rule and there was already a problem.


Athena muttered under her breath as she glided parallel to the borders of her Kingdom, broad wings tilting to catch the heavy winds that carried grains of sand across the sprawling dunes. Beads of sweat trickled down her body as the sun's light roasted her bones. She felt like a fish on a barbecue.

She'd been informed by her advisor (a thin, beetle eyed dragon named Oseron) of a notorious bandit constantly stealing from Ki'shin caravans travelling in and out of the territory. Vuuans were unable to craft as many armour and weapons sets, as the Luiaans were outright refusing to go near the borders where the bandit had been seen often. Several Ugaans and even Aliugaans had tried catching her and her group. No luck. Clearly, this was a dragoness not to be underestimated.

Athena had decided to deal with it herself, but she hadn't been allowed to leave without 'protection.' The eight Ugaans flapping in formation behind her was the main source of her annoyance. As if I am a damsel who needs protecting. This is ridiculous

Many Ki'shin assumed the Kaamil were responsible, but Athena knew that wasn't true. This was a rogue. The Kaamil were miles away and the food and materials gathered here would do little to benefit them in such small amounts. A small group such as this couldn't feed a whole tribe. While the relationship between the two tribes consisted of extreme dislike and distrust, Athena knew they were more of an art and architecture based tribe than a sneaky, battle based group. Besides, they had nothing to gain from risking war against the Ki'sha.

The bandit was an ice dragon,similar to herself. Clever, fast and skilled. Oseron had nearly had a stroke when he was informed the Ku'za would be dealing with her herself.

The bandit (nicknamed 'the cold thief' by some of the Luiaans) had been last spotted at the eastern border. That was where they were heading now.

As they approached the border, Athena slowed to a hover. She twisted around to face her group. "You two," she nodded to the two in front. "Come with me. The rest of you, hide in the dunes. When I give the signal, you come in and neutralise the bandits." She paused as the two dragons came forward to fly next to her.

"Try to refrain from killing them, the 'cold thief' especially. If you must however, feel free to rip out their throats." After a small bow of their heads, the rest of the Ugaans dove down to the sands and concealed themselves. Athena flew on.

Feeling the skeptical glances of the two Ugaans, she sighed quietly. "They won't attack a large group armed to the teeth," she explained. "Three dragons carrying potential valuables, however, is an enticing target." She gestured to the leather sacks filled with rocks in their talons.

She led the three to the eastern border and beyond it, blue eyes scanning the world for flickers of motion in both the foliage and the clouds. Come on, where are you?

The little desert runner laid low on the peak of a large dune, flat on the most shady side as he tried to cool off his scales. He was there for a purpose, the green eyes scanning across the wavering horizon, undeterred by the attempted mirages. He had already scanned that place thousands of times. There was no oasis. Yet the heat would continue to play the same tricks like it did to the foolish who dared to wander here. It was another clear and hot day, in the midst of an afternoon surge. The runner would not expect any supplies coming in and out of the distant tribe, sitting many miles away. Aside from the little collection of dragons, the desert was an otherwise uneventful place full of sand wavering up and down.

Then, something appeared out of the tribe borders, flying overhead. Due to how far Fangs was from the tribe, all he could make out of them were dragon silhouettes. They did not seem to be carrying anything else. Another scouting party, Fangs thought, keeping a close eye. Then his eyes stiffened, slowly rising from boredom, as the masses grew bigger. It was definitely a patrol. No doubt making another rounds to look for his boss.

Fangs slipped from the dunes before the patrol could get close enough to see his head, and sprinted. He was more of a sand salamander, slithering across the sand like how a gecko would to escape a predator. He needed to hurry after all. His boss had stationed not far from here, perhaps only several dunes away. She had surrounded her base with a few lookouts for any travelling caravans or to warn of any guards. After all, she has already garnered enough infamy to get the Kisha tribe's unwanted attention.

Yet Andromeda refused to migrate elsewhere. Especially when she was in an environment unwelcoming to her hide. She hated the heat. But something made her stay. Even with the Kisha now increasing their patrols and putting more guards on exiting caravans. It was getting more difficult to raid them now.

Eventually, Fangs, came to an area with a cluster of tents. Well, more like shelters. Looted metal rods were pitched, holding large cloths to act as a shade from the heat. Several other desert-dwelling dragons welcomed Fangs back, readying themselves for another raid and treating those that were already wounded. It was almost like a mini-market, but nothing was for sale. Several salamanders, like Fangs himself, were busy loading stolen goods onto wagons to be carried back to the main hideout. Some of them snuff and trumpeted as Fangs crawled past them, welcoming him back.

There was a larger tent, pitched on the shady side of the largest dune, and there, rested the odd one out but leader of the group of misfits. Two or three brute dragons joined Andromeda under the tent, the latter resting her claws on a pile of looted armour pieces and coin that were meant for trade. Rather casually she rested against the dune, smirking as the two other brutes laughed at what was probably a joke, or a funny raid story.

"Andro!" Fangs shouted from the crowd, slipping past a moving cart, and right before her. "Andro! A patrol is coming in from the tribe." Fangs huffed, turning his head to where he came from. "Three warriors."

The two brutes looked at Fangs, then smirked, turning to Andromeda. She, on the other hand, was not at all pleased. Her smile dropping slightly. Then she bore her fangs, clenching her claw on a robbed helmet piece, and crushing it until it looked like a ball of scrap metal. Three. Are they damn serious?

Fangs lowered his head. "It is what I saw."

Andromeda paused, looking at the emerald eyes of Fangs. It was not even his real name, but an alias given to him as her group's first impression of him since he was found. But Fangs was not given to him because he bites a lot, or because he produces deadly venom. It was because he had huge fangs. But he was still a reliable set of eyes for her. Perhaps one of the best. She had no reason to doubt him.

Shaking her head, she lifted herself off the gold pile, and paced around the shade of the tent. A week ago it was five. Yesterday, eight. And by then, they gave me a name. The Cold Thief. Cheesy, she turned to Fangs with a grin, but... flattering. Do you know what it feels like? A name not given to you by choice, but one from your enemies? It means they acknowledge me. They acknowledge by presence. And they see me, a lowly bandit and queen of thieves their threat. She turned to her brutes as she spoke in a mocking tone, and the two chuckled. The irony within it was an organised society like a tribe, toppled and turned to unrest because of one law-breaking dragon and her crooks.

Then she snapped her neck forward, towards the horizon with a glare. As the Cold Thief, I expected a much better treatment than three mere guards. Who do they think I am? A fool? Andromeda spat at the dune, hissing. Perhaps I have to set a much... grander example. Prepare the raid party. I need no more than two.

--

A few minutes passed, and Andromeda had left her base, followed by two bandit desert dragons. The two were new recruits to her group, recently abandoning the Kisha to join her. It was strange. She was not fighting them for any cause but for survival. But in battle, they would have to prove their loyalty. Another reason was probably her ego. She wanted to show that she alone, and two newbies, could take on 3 well-trained fighters.

There they are, attack! Andromeda roared, having covered her claws in her icy aura. Pressing her hindclaws against the summit of the last dune, one of the claws lost the aura and immediately propelled Andromeda forward in an explosion of ice, right into the group of three dragons, and leaving behind a small structure of icicles that slowly melted in the heat. Both her front claws were forward, attempting to reach for any of those dragons and blow them away.

Behind her, the two sand dragons trumpeted and also jumped out, charging forward to meet with the guards.

Several minutes ticked by. The guards were beginning to tire,their wings not beating as strongly as they had on the start of the journey. She couldn't blame them. Being stuck in stuffy armour in a roasting desert was enough to make anyone pass out.

Just as Athena decided they would take a break-

"There they are! Attack!" a female voice, confident, even arrogant, echoed across the dunes. Athena turned her head, just as a blue blur came barrelling towards her. With a surprised roar, she raised her talons, just as the dragon collided with her.

She shot backwards through the air, locking her talons with her attacker. Her legs knees shot back against her stomach. Crack! The Kuz'a bellowed as one of her ribs gave way under the pressure, snapping inwards. Grinding her teeth, she snapped her wings open and twisted her body in an attempt to throw the dragon away from her, grunting loudly. She glimpsed a pair of dark blue eyes, similar to her own.


The guards turned to face the bandits, one parting his jaws to release a cone of fire in their direction, the other diving down to smash directly into the second bandit.

This dragon. No, a wyvern. Before Andromeda collided with them, her mind wandered off a bit. She never say colouration like this before. It was almost like hers. Like it was another ice dragon. She immediately shook the thought away, pressing her claws to probably the commander's chest. Only that their claws blocked hers, and she hissed a little as her glowing claws only scraped the underbelly, before she was kicked away.

She rolled across the sand. They stung her, both the cold and the tiny shards that pressed hard in between her scales, like she had turned into a statue before, becoming a little stiff. Still the feeling of her heart racing in her chest was the most prominent feeling. Not of fear. Not of anxiety. But it was excitement. She looked up at her assailant, a smirk creasing her snout as she huffed for air.

"Fire breather!" One of her bandits shouted, rolling away from the flames. The other got a bit distracted, and was too late to dodge before he was rammed by the other guard, rolling across the sand. But he had to prove he was worth something. At least to his boss. Kicking the guard from underneath him, he tried to roll until he was on top, before attempting to pin and subdue him.

Andromeda stiffened at the cry. Then she cursed between her fangs. A fire breather of all things. She glared at the other guard, ensuring to keep her eye on him before he dared to throw any flames towards her. It was one of her weakness, hence why she had trained all her lackeys to warn her of any dragon that breathes flames. Either way, it was too late. She had engaged a patrol with one of them, and she hoped to wrap this up with pure intimidation alone.

You know who I am. Stand and deliver, she said coyly, looking to the white and blue wyvern next. Something about her did seem... off. Even her scent. Andromeda only got a brief whiff of it during their tussle. It was almost... familiar to her. But of course. She was another ice dragon. It was probably just that scent. But Andromeda was even more intrigued with how this wyvern was adorned. The crown jewels that signify that of a superior rank. It made her quiver. Well, well. But what have we here? A royal, out here in the middle of a desert. Andromeda said, circling her. I should be honoured, to be graced by your almighty presence. Her voice turned into that of mocking, melodramatic posh voice. Would you like some tea? Or a new makeover? She slammed her claws at the last line, shifting her legs apart and snarling. If you don't want the latter, then drop your goods and beat it!

When the Thief's talons made contact with her chest, Athena gave a low hiss. Her resistance to cold based magic weakened the effects, but it was still sore and somewhat unnerving.

The weight on her talons lifted as she flung Andromeda away from her. Twisting around, Athena touched down on the sand and raised her head to stare down her opponent. She had a firm, strong body, like herself, clearly made to win a battle. She was somewhat larger than herself and was covered in dark blue scales, her joints outlined by small, sharp, icicle-like scales. Beautiful. In a savage, intimidating kind of way.

Athena's heart hammered as an arrogant smile curled her opponent's lips. The heat from the flames washed across her back and she glanced over her shoulder. The fire-breather, a young female called Trishta, snarled as her target dodged the blast from her maw, tilting her wings and diving towards them, curling her lip back to release another cone of fire. The second guard, Karst, roared as he struggled valiantly against his assailant, snapping at their throat and stabbing at their back with his tail. He was pinned to the sand and he gave a panicked hiss.

Athena raised a wing, about to dart over and defend him, but she had to focus on her own opponent. She turned back to Andromeda and braced her wings against the sand, digging the three large spikes that lined the edges into the ground. She arched her neck and regarded her with scorn as the larger dragoness began to circle her like a panther an antelope. An antelope with a whole lot of teeth and a bad attitude.

"I'd advise you to be afraid," Athena growled, tail swishing back and forth, the blades and spikes extended to their full length, ready to fire. The mocking tone didn't really affect her. She wasn't born into royalty, therefore she didn't expect or want dragons to grovel before her, bandit or not. "New makeover? What a nice idea," she said, tossing back her head and causing the jewels that rested atop her head to fly off. They would hinder her in this fight. She shook off everything else too, leaving her bare and comfortable in her own hide.

"I was thinking... red. Want to be my supplier?" she snapped, curling her tail over her back and pointing the spikes at her.

"As for the tea..." she narrowed her eyes."I am quite peckish, how about you come over for some?" then, she fired three spikes straight into the air. One. Two. There. In rapid succession.


The remaining five guards burst into the fray from behind the dunes in a flurry of talons and firebreath. That was when Athena took the opportunity to lunge for the larger female, hoping to knock her off her feet and pin her down.

((Sorry, I died for a bit ;-; ))

Something did not feel right.

It was supposed to be another day. Another typical day. Another normal raid. Intercept them, take what spoils they had, then they can all be on their merry way. This should be no different. A royalty and her guards, wandering in the desert to become easy pickings for those who lived solely in the desert. But there was an itch within her chest the longer she stared and heard this female's voice. Like something wanting to come out, or something deep in her mind trying to slam past a rusty door that had been shut for so long. No, today must be her off day. But she would not let it get to her.

Another thing off about this royal, and in a good way, was how she discarded the gems about her. That was... unorthodox. Andromeda never met any royalty who would do such a thing, let alone be willing to fight back and get their shiny manicured claws dirtied with sand and blood. For a moment, she was taken aback, blinking at the fallen jewels. That was her goal, to make a grab for them and then run. She could do that now, but her accelerating heart triumphed her mind. A deep and relieving thrill took hold and coursed through her spine as she parted her legs, growling at the royal. It was like stretching a forgotten muscle after many years. The relief. No, the excitement! Never had she had to face a royal before, and this one's frame showed she was no pushover with her words.

Wish granted! Was all Andromeda said before she charged forward. Forget her purpose her. Forget who she was with. Forget who else was fighting. This one was hers!

She got so caught up with the thrill of battle that it was not until the last second that she saw the spikes loosening from her adversary and headed straight for her. Andromeda braced a little, curving her path a little and just in time for several spikes to somewhat harmlessly graze her shoulder and cheek, leaving a shallow cut on her scales, before she growled and lunged forward.

And at that point, several shadows burst from the dunes all around her. Ambush! Andromeda cursed under her fangs and turned to her comrades. Ambush! Get the hell ou- A heavy mass struck against her ribs, forcing the rest of the air out of her in a hollow huff. The next second, she found herself rolling across the sand. She had hoped she had slipped, rolling down a large dune. Her wounds stung as sand brushed over them, until she came to a sudden halt, right under this royal.

Andromeda's heart raced, no longer from the battle, but from the fear of what was to happen next if she was captured. Desperately she pulled her legs back, then thrust forward, attempting to thrust into the royal's softer underbelly and knock her off her.

The bandit that fought Trishta was also surprised by a storm of shadows that suddenly burst out, that he failed to notice the guard tackling him, and he ended up being pinned and suppressed under the guard, frantically trying to escape. The other kept his guard pinned, but faltered when he too realised the ambush. He would keep the guard pinned, but with minimal strength, until the ambushing dragons surround him. If that happens, he would then slowly back off.

(It's quite alright ^^)

Something was so... eerily familiar about her. The eyes, dark and blue like the deep ocean, gazed back at her with a glow that reminded her of- The wyvern narrowed her eyes at the Cold Thief. Did she know her? Or was her mind playing tricks on her? No matter. Perhaps she'd glimpsed her in a crowd once.


A voice in the back of her head told her the truth; that wasn't the case, but she ignored it for now.


Athena took note of the dragoness' surprise at the discarding of the gems. Used to a whiny, helpless damsel who wants her guards to do all the work for her. She swished her tail and tilted her head, communicating a silent message; That's right. I'm no royal. Not in blood, at least.

The Ku'za took a step back as Andromeda charged forward. Her spikes left marks on her scales but didn't do anything to impede her approach. Her muscles tensed.

As the remainder of her guard burst from the dunes in a torrent of fire and claws, Athena launched herself at her opponent. The world tilted as they rolled across the sand. She nearly lost her grip on this female a few times, but her talons held, and they came to a stop with Athena on top.

Now she was face to face with her. Athena glowered down into her eyes. The next second, strong legs struck her in the stomach and her organs seemed to catch fire as Andromeda's weight pressed them inwards. She gasped, grunted, as her vision flashed white. She was knocked backwards off Andromeda. She rolled once, then flopped onto her stomach with a heavy 'thud.'

Damn, she's good, she thought, both frustrated and impressed. Forcing the air into her lungs, the wyvern scrambled to her feet and lunged again, this time aiming to impale Andromeda in the shoulder with the tridentblades protruding from the end of her tail. Her tail curled over her back like a scorpion as she powered towards the dragoness.

Trishta, seeing her fellow Ugaan tackle the guard, rushed forward to help subdue him, helping to pin him down with her weight.

The rest of the guards formed a circle around the second bandit, hissing and snapping at the air. "Back up!" one ordered. When the bandit did back off, two dragons would lunge from behind to try tackle him into the sand and hold him there.


"The Ku'za!" Karst cried, looking up and spotting the two grappling females. A couple began to turn towards the fight to help, but they hesitated.
"She ordered us not to intervene at the debriefing," a female said, struggling to remain calm.
"We must protect her!" Karst responded, getting to his feet and starting towards the two.
"The Ku'za ordered us to focus on these two," another snapped, gesturing to the two bandits.

Get away from me! Andromeda roared, rolling onto her legs and rearing. Her comrades were at the back of her mind, knowing full well that they were subdued by the guards. Naturally, the reason she had been so infamous and active on the outskirts of Kisha included how she was able to evade being captured. She was trained in a situation like this, in an event that the guards would somehow plan an ambush.

At this point, her comrades were not needed to do anything. Rather they just need to rely on her to break them out and escape. Even if they have to leave behind the jewels and return empty clawed. It was better than a lifetime in prison.

Andromeda slammed her claws onto the sand, just as the royal got close with her tail blade prone to pierce. A ring of icicles burst suddenly around her, walling her in an ice castle of sorts, while also attempting to counter-impale the royal with the icicles as a few attempted to spear her.

However the royal reacted would not change how Andromeda would act next. She hopped on top of the circular wall of ice, three of her claws still surrounded in her empowering aura. One on her hindclaw and both around her foreclaws. Using her last hindclaw's aura, she propelled herself like a catapult from the ice and charged at almost breakneck speeds at the guards that had her comrade pinned down (Trishta and Ugaan). Both her foreclaws ready, with a loud grunt, Andromeda lunged them forward and into their chests, expending the last of her auras to strike them with a mightly thrust. The impact would be enough to cripple even a trained guard, but against someone of this royal's level, it would just feel like a very heavy hit.

Andromeda hoped she could at least free her comrades before thinking about her own escape.

Just before Athena could get her claws and teeth into the Cold Thief, the dragoness slammed her talons into the sand and huge, menacing icicles with points like daggers grew from the ground between them. Skidding to a stop, Athena hissed, flaring her wings as she scanned the circle of ice for a way in. Suddenly, smaller icicles shot towards her out of nowhere. Athena rolled out of the way of most of them, but one impaled her wing and went straight through the skin.

The warrior howled like a banshee as blood, red blood, splashed down her wing like crimson tears. Hissing, she fought through the pain and tried to ignore it as she watched Andromeda leap to the top of her icy shield. She spread her wings, preparing to take off and attack her, but before she could do so, the thief propelled herself at lightning speed towards the group of Ugaans.
"NO!" Athena roared. Trishta looked up, as did Karst, the one who was holding down the second guard. The Ugaans in front of them leaped out of the way, but they were too slow to move. They flew a good thirty yards through the air before sprawling across the sand with shrieks of agony, freeing the bandits.


Athena stood there, listening to their noises of pain. Then, she drew her head back and roared, shaking the earth with its force. "TAKE HER!" she thundered. The remaining Ugaans only hesitated for a split second before they all lunged for Andromeda, aiming to try pin her to the sand and subdue her. Whilst they made their attempt, Athena powered her wings and shot like a silver bullet towards the remaining two bandits. Her eyes glowed with rage as she released another roar that echoed across the dunes.