Unlikely Allies
 

A private rp between myself and Kirin Rosenbaum:

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex stood outside the dark cave entrance, high in the mountains. Wondering what in the hell had possessed her to agree to this. No wonder the others had laughed at her when she'd announced boldly that she'd take on the dragon if everyone else was afraid to. Fighting a dragon single handedly wasn't just stupid it was suicide and yet here she was.
She gripped the hilt of the sword at her hip tightly and pondered just turning around and leaving, but her pride and her honor wouldn't allow it. She had accepted this task and now she had to see it through to the end, even if that was likely to include her death.
With a deep breath to steady herself Alex finally managed to force herself to enter the cave, trying to ignore her growing fear and the strange metallic scent that was suppose to mean a dragon.

Agni is in his human form. He, unlike most dragons prefers his human form over his dragon form. Because of this he is made fun of and put down. But Agni just doesn't care. He sometimes wonders why he is stuck in this life. When in his human form his skin and hair have a reddish tint to them, because in his dragon form his scales are red. His eyes, in either form are gold. He is making himself some food currently. He lifts his head sniffing. There is an intruder here. Probably some macho knights thinking he has done some wrong. He lets out a sigh as he continues to cook his meal.

Alex moved through the cave as quietly as she could manage in plate armor, which meant that she could still be heard fairly easily. The scent of cooking food, layered over the normal smells she had expected confused her. Did dragons cook their food?
Shaking off the though she continued through the cave, eventually reaching a larger chamber that she assumed belonged to the dragon, the scent of fresh cooked food stronger here.
She peered into the room expecting to see the typical large reptilian form of the dragon and was surprised to see instead the form of a man.
Cautiously Alex entered the room, still on guard. "Hello?" She said as she slowly approached Agni.

"Hello and welcome to my home." Agni says. "I assume you have come to kill me for some crime you think I have committed." He says his back to Alex. He had heard the sound of armor.

Alex stopped a short distance away from Agni. "Well if you're the dragon that lives in this cave then yes that was the idea." She said flippantly to hide her fear and confusion at the odd situation she'd found herself in.

"And what is I'm supposed to have done?" He asks still making his meal. "You must understand though that I haven't been in my dragon form in many years." He goes and gets some spices for his food.

Alex snorted "Oh of course you haven't. Several towns are completely destroyed, and you're the only red dragon for miles, maybe in the whole country, but you have nothing to do with it." She raised her head and glared at him "I may be young, but I'm not a fool. I don't believe a word of your lies."

"I am not the only red dragon around. If you had done your research you would have known that." Why was it they always assumed it was him, with out looking for other answers. "It so happens that my brother is also a red dragon."

"Your brother?" Alex asked slowly, as she thought about it. "The mage never mentioned anything about a brother." She muttered to herself. Then with a small shake of her head she looked back at him "I know nothing of this brother of yours." She said sounding less certain then she had just moments ago.

"Most don't. That or they assume he's me." He replies beginning to eat his meal. "If you truly want the one who caused the damage dead, I could take you to my brother." He says turning to her. He sees the look of distrust on her face. "My brother and I have never gotten along very well."

Alex studied the dragon in front of her, he didn't seem like he was lying to her. She usually considered herself a pretty good judge of when someone was lying and someone wasn't, and though she didn't have much experience with talking to a dragon he was in human form so that did help a little.
After a few more minutes of internal debate she did something many knights would have called her stupid for, she nodded, choosing to believed this odd dragon. "Alright." She said still slightly hesitant "You seem sincere, if you would be willing to help me find your brother I would me grateful."

"It would be easier for me to transport you there in my draconian form, though if you would prefer I am willing to travel as a human." He says. He is more comfortable traveling as a human, but either way would work for him in the long run. He eats as he waits for her answer.

Alex thought about it briefly then shook her head "I'd prefer human form, if you please. I... am not very comfortable around dragons."
She had always been taught that dragons were evil destructive creatures, that should be feared, and while she believed that this dragon had not caused the destruction it was accused of, she really didn't trust it enough to believe that as soon as it took it's draconic form it wouldn't just eat her and be done with it.

"Totally understandable. I myself prefer human form." He says. "Just let me pack a few things and then we can be off." He heads to his sleeping quarters and grabs a bag. He packs some clothes and some food. He wonders if, after he takes this knight to his brother if he will live to see another day. He thinks not. Though if he is honest with himself death would be a good release. It's not as if he would be welcomed into any human encampment.

Alex watched the dragon thoughtfully as it went to gather it's things. It was a strange one as far as dragons go. She heard that they could take a human form though she'd never heard of one that actually preferred to stay in it.
Since she figured she was safe enough for the moment she pulled off her helmet and shook her head, letting her slightly sweaty blond hair fall free. The helmets were her least favourite parts of the armour and she was glad for the excuse to remove it.
"We can go whenever your are ready." she said "My things are still packed with my horse anyway."

"I am ready." Agni said coming out of the store rooms wearing a traveling cloak. His pack is on his back and also includes a tent. He starts to head out of his cave.

Alex fell in step with Agni as they left the cave. They walked in silence for a few moments before Alex started to feel awkward. "So...," She said as she scrambled for something to say. "My name is Alexandria, but most just call me Alex. What should I call you?"
She hoped that her question was alright to ask, she wasn't sure dragon's had names for themselves, but they had families so they had to call each other something right?

"My name is Agni. It is nice to meet you Alex." He isn't surprised when Alex's horse is scared of him. He's used to it. He watches Alex as she calms the horse down.

Alex patted the horse's neck and spoke to her softly "Easy girl, easy..." She murmured. When the horse had finally calmed enough to be manageable Alex pulled herself into the saddle with the ease of one long use to it and nudged the horse closer to Agni. The horse snorted once uneasily but followed Alex's command.
"Alright, I'm ready." She said looking down at Agni. "What direction are we headed?" She asked trying to sound casual though she was still nervous about trusting this dragon.

Agni heads out at a brisk pace towards his domain. He stays silent as they move through the woods. He knows his family will despise him even more for what he's doing but he doesn't really care. He disliked his family greatly.

Alex was pretty uncomfortable with the silence of her new traveling companion. She tried to think of something to start a conversation or something, she even got as far as opening her mouth a few times but always closed it without saying anything since she really didn't know what might or might not anger the dragon.
Her horse could sense her discomfort and that combined with it's own nerves at being withing touching distance of a large predator, it became much more skittish then usual and Alex found herself breaking the silence finally to scold the animal as it fought her, not wanting to go over a short patch of rough terrain.
"Move it you silly nag." She hissed in frustration as she dug her heels into it's sides a bit more. "You're battle trained, now act like it."

"Yes, but is she battled trained with dragons?" Agni asks with a small smile. He knows the silence is bothering the knight, but he doesn't know how to break it. This was all new to him.

"Sort of." Alex admitted with a sigh as her horse settled down and started moving again. "We haven't fought a dragon before, but we've been in battles with things as equally feared."
"Though never alone..." Alex added mentally. "To be honest though," She said out loud "She's always been a little skittish with anything unfamiliar." Alex patted the mare's neck with a small chuckle "My mentor keeps saying is should trade her off and get one a less easily spooked, but we've been together so long I can't bring myself to part with her. Silly sentimentality I suppose."
Alex knew she was rambling a little, but the topic seemed like a safe one and she wanted to drag this out as long as she could.

"I am sure she appreciates you not abandoning her." Agni says with a smile. Deep down he wishes he had that as well, but he knows he'll never have it and he's made peace with it. "Do you have any siblings?" He asks her.

"I'm not sure she understands it but it's a nice thought anyway." Alex gave Agni a smile.
"No. I don't have any." She said with a small shake of her head in answer to his question. "At least none that I can remember anyway. I was raised by my mentor and he had no children of his own, so it was just the two of us." She smiled slightly as she remembered her childhood.