Day 152

[daughterofursa]

Who: Princess Zuko and anyone!
Open: Open
When: Day 152
Where: Skyway
What: A new arrival
Format: I'll match!
Warnings: Honor

Zuko knew something was wrong the moment she opened her eyes, and instinct made her try to leap to her feet to face any attackers. Her still-healing body protested, and with a wince she only managed to sit up.

Looking about her, she quickly discerned that there was no one in sight, and nothing familiar. She had been in the palace, but now she sat outside, not even the walls of the caldera rising up around her.

Her swords were nearby, and though she was in no condition to wield them, she slung them up over her shoulder before pushing herself to her feet. She stifled a groan with the motion, one arm hugging her ribs. When it passed, she looked out ahead of her and froze.

"What..."

She was on an island... in the air. She had never had a dream this vivid, but it had to be a dream, right? There was no way this was real.

Comments

[daughterofursa]

Oh. Introductions. That's probably a good idea seeing as the dragon isn't a figment of her imagination.

"Paarthurnax," Zuko repeats. It's a pretty strange name. "I am Zuko, Crown Princess of the Fire Nation." She realizes only after she's said it that the title doesn't have much meaning, without a nation to rule. But maybe, maybe some of her people have survived.

She takes a breath and climbs back up onto the dragon's neck. "Let's go."

[wayofvoice]

Yeah, he's pretty real.

"Princess," Paarthurnax muses as Zuko pulls herself up onto his neck once more. "There is another of similar rank within our Bastion. Perhaps you and she may have much to speak of." Or they might not get along at all, but it's too soon to say. Once again, he takes to the air and turns so that he may travel back to the Bastion.

[daughterofursa]

"As long as her name isn't Azula." Which seems unlikely, if Paarthurnax hasn't seen anyone who looks like her. The realization doesn't give her any satisfaction, only a faint sinking feeling. As bad as things got between them, she wouldn't have wished this end on her sister.

[wayofvoice]

Azula... A name to keep in mind, then. "The Princess Zelda. That is her name. She will be noticeable." Green skin does that. He keeps up the pace and, soon enough, the Bastion is visible. It's still at some distance but with Paarthurnax's advantages, well, they'll be there soon.

[daughterofursa]

It's an unfamiliar name, but it does at least sound a lot less foreign than 'Paarthurnax.'

She spots the settlement ahead, larger than the other islands, but still too small to hold as many survivors as she would hope for.

"Are there other dragons here?" It didn't occur to her to ask before now, if he's on his own the way she desperately hopes not to be.

[wayofvoice]

The question is a sad one. His kin were not perfect by any means, and most were difficult to convince down the Way of the Voice. Still, they were his kin. Alduin could not have been helped but the others..

"Niid. None who shared the skies with me are here, although perhaps the coming days will change that. I have much more distant kin, however. Ryu is not as I am, but he is dragon regardless."

[daughterofursa]

"I'm sorry."

The apology is, at least in a small part, a personal one. Maybe if her family hadn't hunted dragons nearly to extinction, at least those from her own world would have had a better chance to make it here. It's sad, though not nearly as painful as her own losses.

[wayofvoice]

"Was it your hand that brought such ruin? Niid. There is little reason for you to apologize. I have seen much, and am used to such loss."

Soon enough, he's circling about the edges of the Bastion and letting Zuko get a good look at the small island that they've all come to call their home, for now. The buildings are certainly different from those of the Fire Nation in terms of architecture, but they've held up well enough. There's the small farm to the side, and Dragonfield with its small hills and some trees. No one seems to glance twice at Paarthurnax's presence; he's been here enough that it's not so unusual for most.

He finally brings himself down to land besides the Monument and lowers his neck for her. "One of the others should bring you an amulet. Such things make traversing the Skyway easier."

[daughterofursa]

Zuko climbs down more carefully this time, making sure she's steady on her feet before releasing his horn. She looks around at what she can see of the Bastion from where they are. The buildings are a little strange, but mostly the place just seems incongruously peaceful.

"I'll look into that later," she says. Her first priority is searching out familiar faces. She takes a step, hesitates, and turns back to Paarthurnax. Placing one fist against her palm, she bows to him. "Thank you."

[wayofvoice]

In return, there's just the slightest bow of his head. "Pruzah wundunne. Do not strain yourself. These place offers room for all." With that bit of warning given, Paarthurnax begins to move away.