Honorable
Legacy Name: Honorable

THE BATTLE: PART i

The red dragon surveyed the grassy hills, the peaceful scene spread out in front of the massive castle entrance. Carved directly into the bare mountain, the stronghold was the last intact sanctuary for the draconic inhabitants. It had taken hundreds of years to make this fortress, and generations of dragons had dwelt happily inside its granite walls. And now, in but a short few decades, it housed all that remained of their race.

Honorable let out a slight huff, the wind ruffling through his horns and crimson mane slightly. So few remained after but a sliver in time. They lived for so many centuries; yet in but one human generation, they had been nearly eradicated; all the males dead in defense of their families,save him and his brother.

A frown flickered onto Honorable’s features, fur-tufted tail and alert ears twitching slightly in thought. His brother was…optimistic. Maybe the humans would eventually have mercy. Or see that they finally won and disband.

His younger brother didn’t know the cycle though; Honorable had seen it over and over. History was never black and white, and his kind were just at fault as the humans in this case.

For generations, they had stolen the human’s livestock for food, and snatched up gold to satisfy their insatiable hording instincts. The elders had held the humans in the same respect as insects; so when the bugs sought peace…they had been squashed. They were stronger, lived longer, and could do as they pleased.
Or so the dragons had thought; how the tables had turned.

The humans wouldn’t forget the failed diplomacy or the past harassments, and the dragons would never forgive the genocide that followed.
Each attack from either side fed into the cycle; a never-ending spiral of death.

Now, it was just him, and Commendable, his younger brother. They were all that was left to defend the few females and the couple dozen eggs yet untouched by human aggressions. It wasn’t a winnable battle, no matter what strategy Honorable thought up. Even running would only forestall their demise…

And even though an army approached, his brother was tossing stones off the battlements into a nearby pond to watch the ripples. In a way he’d never admit to the younger dragon, Honorable admired him. Commendable wasn’t jaded to the world yet, not as much at least. The younger dragon didn’t seem to analyze and understand the human’s destructive intent fully; it was simply one lost battle after another. Or perhaps he simply ignored it, truly believing that the next fight could be won. If only Honorable could be so optimistic and seemingly headstrong.
Then again, his brother hadn’t lost a mate to the humans.

Shaking his head before the thoughts could rise again, Honorable took a deep breath and blew a slight smoke ring. No sense in dwelling on that centuries-old pain. The cycle claimed them all…hate begetting hate. Yet his brother seemed to think the cycle could be broken, the humans embracing peace. Ever the kind optimist it would seem.
Honorable had seen him playing with some of the youngest hatchlings at times…even when they wouldn’t see tomorrow.
It was admirable in a way. Annoying at times, especially when he did something stupid, like leaving his post for a few moments, but Honorable loved him all the same.

The dragon’s ears perked as a sound rolled through the air.
Thum. Thum.
The drums were sounding.
The marching booms echoed through the peaceful grassy hills, which would be littered with bodies before the day was done. Magic had no effect on dragon scale….but the ballista’s with their arm-length arrows did. Mages would be there to shield the troops from the Dragonfire and protect the siege engines; then the infantry to finish them off.
It had proven to be an extremely effective method of war.

Honorable could appreciate strategic genius, and he would give the humans credit for that at the very least. They had been systematic and ruthless in exterminating his kind. The elders had been foolish to underestimate them; a view that had brought about their own end.

Honorable retreated down the long granite passageway to relay the message. A simple look into the dimly-lit hall was all that was needed, and the few remaining females understood. They were the last few that stood between the final clutches and annihilation.

The red dragon had no fantasies about how the battle would play out though. The humans numbered in the thousands while they only had each other. He perched on one of the carved towers, looking over to his younger brother who sat on a similar carved outpost.
“Commendable…it’s about to begin. Are you with me?”

The blue-pattered dragon nodded, hopping over to sit next to his elder brother.
“Always am. So what’s the plan?”
Honorable sat up a bit straighter, pointing to a flat area between two grassy hills in the distance.“We attack them there. And do our best. Go after the mages first, then we can take out their siege engines.”

Commendable nodded slowly, watching as the army became visible; mere dots on the horizon.
“Sounds good…I’m right behind you.”
Honorable jumped off the tower, his younger brother following suit as they flew towards the opposing army. They’d have a better idea of how to attack when they got closer. But for now, as they beat their wings through the air, the older dragon savored the brief moment he was with his brother.

And then, it was time. The army was spread before them; rank and file soldiers guarding the siege engines, and mages behind them already summoning crackling purple energy shields.The dragon folded his wings and began to dive.

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This story is continued in Part ii on Commendable's Profile! A link can be found on the Friend Section to the right!
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