Into the Storm Read online

  “A simple compliment would have been nice.” She lifted her chin and sniffed. “But seeing as though you know how to be so intimidating, I’ll have you work for my form, druid.”

  I sighed and almost rolled my eyes, but I kept my faculties in check. “What can I do for you, Ampharia?”

  “Hatch the egg after you make me a new lair.” She shifted into her humanoid shape, a dragon-kin of shorter height with the same facial features as her other form. “I wish to have something like this tree.”

  She lifted her right hand and stroked the wild tree.

  Now, I know what you’re likely thinking—all trees are wild Zeke, get over your naming system, you schmuck. But that’s what we had decided to name it as a group.

  The tree looked like the base of it had guardian branches and wood woven around it like a loose basketweave. It had been a gift to symbolize the synergy of the party. My friends protecting me and each other, even as I supported them. Mother Nature had been cool enough to plant it, and now it stood as the tallest tree in the jungle.

  The trunk, thick and unyielding, gave me hope that it would stay as strong as our friendship.

  “How the hell am I supposed to do that?” I snarled at her, my arms spread wide.

  “You are the Druid.” She shrugged as she grabbed the box and lifted it to her chest before turning away. She glanced back with a fierce grin. “Figure it out.”

  I shook my head and trudged closer to the tree before putting a hand on it. I had recently begun to take the time to interact with plants like I did animals. It was a lot more guesswork as trees didn’t really speak, but they could kind of feel things at me. It helped.

  “Hello, big guy,” I muttered as I pressed my awareness against the large plant, a welcoming presence pressing back. “Tell me about yourself.”

  My body became connected to the tree. As if we became one, and in that unity, I knew that there were several seeds sprouting on branches high above.

  Seeds I could use to grow more trees like this one. But before I went and played with Nature’s things, I needed her consent first.

  Because consent is cool, and I really didn’t want Mother Nature to kick me in the metaphysical nuts because I assumed anything about her.

  I kept my hand on the tree as I reached toward the world with my thoughts. “Mother Nature? I wanted to ask your permission to give Ampharia a lair here with the tree you planted as a symbol for us. I can feel the seeds above us, and I think I can use them to make her something special. Can I have your permission?”

  Wind whispered through the area around us, hissing and shaking leaves and branches before her being touched my mind. Her matronly voice louder in my head than I recalled. You would use my bounty to create a home for a friend, for personal gain?

  “Well, when you put it that way…” I snorted at her obvious distaste. “We have a lot of unknowns we’re getting ready to face, and as awesome as it would be to be able to be a dragon—my thought is my mission. If I can create something that will last a long time and be a testament to your power through me, is that so bad?”

  Finally, she whispered and I could hear how relieved she felt, you begin to truly think as a Druid. Yes, child. Use the seeds born of this tree, my gift to you, and create something splendid. Your power in this craft grows, and I am eager to see your will in shaping my bounty.

  “Thank you,” I muttered with a small smile on my face, then tapped the tree with my Fae iron arm, the green and purple metallic hand a perfect copy of the one I had lost when I found out that enchanting can be deadly.

  Long story short—I’m less of a boob when I enchant now.

  “Will you help me, friend?” The breeze shook the tree’s limbs as I asked my question, and several small thuds reached my ears. “Thank you.”

  I turned and rested my back against the tree, closed my eyes, and focused my mind. My ring, Mage’s Well, was full and so was my mana. That gave me a whopping 1,450 MP to work with.

  Good. I cast Mass Regrowth, taking 150 MP right away, with the seeds as my targets. I could feel them sinking into the ground. They were about twenty feet or so at the closest to the base of the tree, their roots spreading into the network beneath, but they needed nourishment. The light spell above would fade soon, so we needed water.

  Kayda knew my mind before I did and began to sing her song as she took off from my shoulder. A gentle rain shower fell to the ground around us, soaking me and the ground with it.

  The water fed into the roots and sizzled against my light spell.

  I turned my thoughts to the plants and encouraged them to grow where I willed, coaxing, and gently leading them all in a gentle ark eighty feet above the ground in a domed shape. Then my mana bottomed out. and the tree sagged weakly.

  “Not quite the finished product I had in mind, druid.” Ampharia sniffed haughtily, her head raised.

  I rolled my eyes. “That’s not it, I ran out of mana. Give me a minute to rest.”

  She grumbled something about me not being druid enough for the job, and I found her glaring at me. “Dragons are stronger than this.”

  I glared at her angrily, and she grinned. “If you want my form, you will need to prove that you are worthy.”

  I growled as I checked my mana, the ring having not recharged at all and ground my teeth. I had my full amount of mana back by now, so I grinned and bared my soul to my work, hoping I was strong enough to do this in one more push. Otherwise, I would be leaving here with my mission a failure.

  My mana funneled into the growths as they moved and shifted, their bending trunks to keep them malleable but strong. Their own branches and shoots of leaves fanning out around the base of the lower branches of the main tree so that they would get sunlight too.

  Even as I finished my work, my mana dropped into the double digits, and sweat drenched my body and the ground around me.

  “Impressive.” Ampharia’s appreciative tone took me by surprise. She walked into her new home, the dome having ivy and branches of leaves outside to provide cover. “It will make sunbathing difficult, but I will have somewhere that is mine to guard over my hoard.”

  I sat down and focused on trying to pull mana into my body through meditative breathing like Maebe had shown me in the Great Below, but the air here above ground didn’t have the same density of mana in it that the air down there did.

  It took a couple minutes of rest, but my mana recovered fully, and I spent some time replacing the mana in my ring as well.

  “Are you ready for me to try and help this little one?” I touched the egg, large and warm against my flesh.

  “If you are, certainly.” She sniffed and observed one of the items in the box. “I quite like these. Do as you will. It will be nice to be able to hunt again.”

  I focused my intent and will as I pulled my mana from the center of my being and used a skill I had called Elemental Tinkering (fire) to give the mana the flame aspect.

  The magical essence swirled through my fingertips and into the egg, lowering my mana bar with it. I siphoned the mana in, and tried to evenly distribute it around the egg and slowly increase the temperature. I could sense the life inside like I had before, but as the heat built, the little thing grew more active.

  By little, I mean large because it’s a damned dragon, but you know, whatever.

  My brow furrowed under the strain of the constant mana drain. Draining myself for a second time so close together made my head pound terribly.

  The cost of mana expenditure.

  Crack.

  A shifting inside the egg almost stole my focus.

  “Almost there,” I said, then grunted. “Ampharia, come over here.”

  “I am here. I can sense her.” A deep rumble emerged from the dragon as I fed more mana into the egg.

  Another crack, shifting, and finally a burst of heat that backlashed into me where I stood. The egg burst apart in a shower of embryonic fluid and eggshell, some of the red objects landing near me. I leaned down and scooped some
up and tossed it into my inventory, some shell, embryonic fluid on a branch.

  “Hello, little one,” Ampharia almost cooed to the newborn from where she stood.

  The tiny dragon barked and cooed back.

  “Aww, she’s hungry.” Ampharia pulled out a large slab of meat from behind her and plunked it into the ground before the little thing.

  The baby dragon’s scales seemed soft and stubby, like her legs and tiny wings. Orange eyes glared into the darkness, then her nose started to work, and she found the meat at her feet.

  Tiny serrated teeth slashed the flesh apart greedily as she gobbled her way into the morsel, and I watched in rapt joy. New life was always a blessing, and I had honestly believed that I would never witness the birth of a dragon.

  “What will you name her?” It was impossible to hide the awe in my voice from the elder dragon.

  “She will choose her own name.” Ampharia rested her head on the ground and eyed the little dragonling with what looked like begrudging affection. “It is a tradition among dragons to let their young choose their moniker. When she is older, I will tell her of herself and her history so that she may make the best possible choice.”

  “Ah, that’s an interesting tradition.” I thought about it for a moment. “Close to what the dwarves do with their young.”

  Ampharia’s cast a baleful glance my way. “Where is it you think they learned their ways?”

  I stammered at her for a moment then fell silent before asking, “Seriously?”

  “They misconstrued what was supposed to happen in the naming process for them deciding based on the child’s actions and history rather than the child choosing. So backwards.”

  I had to laugh at that. Though I wouldn’t be telling that shit to any of the dwarves I’d be hanging out with soon.

  “Well, I have upheld my end of the bargain, and you yours.” I bowed my head slightly. “Would you mind if I took your draconic form?”

  “Of course, I mind. My resplendent self is far more majestic and perfect than your Druidic magics can manage to copy.” Crestfallen, I worried she would tell me no, but she winked instead. “I tease. If you would do me one more, simple favor? A personal one.”

  “What’s up?” I asked tiredly.

  She seemed confused for a moment, glancing toward the sky as the dragonling crunched into the bone of the carcass before her.

  “It’s an expression simply meant to ask what can I do for you,” I explained before she grew upset. “What can I do for you?”

  “Ask Muu to come and visit me?” She seemed hopeful.

  “I can do that.” I nodded, then held a hand up to ask her to wait. “Did you mean right now? Or when I see him next?”

  “When next you see him.” She smiled at me with her overly large teeth flashing in the moonlight. “A personal invitation is always better received. Do you not think?”

  “It does add a personal flare.” I frowned appreciatively at her thoughtfulness.

  “Come, take my form.” She held out her clawed hand. As soon as I touched her, I felt the normal flash of assurance I always got from receiving a new form.

  There hadn’t been any sort of notification that my abilities would take less time. Weird.

  “She wants your attention,” Ampharia whispered as quietly as a dragon could.

  I flinched and turned to see the tiny, red-scaled creature stumbling my way with upturned orange eyes filled with curiosity. Her muzzle glistened darkly with blood in the moonlight as she figured out that I was further from her.

  “Hello, little one,” I found myself talking to her as if she was a baby. “I’m Zeke.”

  “She thinks you’re her mother.”

  I stood straight up and glared at Ampharia. “No fucking way. Seriously?”

  She tilted her head. “I have no fire that she can sense, but she senses it in you.” A growl that I immediately recognized as laughter reverberated from her chest into mine. “And you will have no luck convincing her otherwise.”

  I sighed and reached out to her with my left hand, so she could nuzzle it with her nose and teeth.

  “I’m not your momma, but I can be Uncle Zeke, okay?”

  Warmth flowed over me, Momma.

  I must have flinched too hard because Ampharia howled with laughter. “She imprinted upon you? Oh, this is grand.”

  “Listen here, you green-scaled asshole, I can’t take care of a dragon!”

  That only made her laugh harder. “Oh, I know, druid. I know. Fret not, I will guide her. Know that she will eventually come find you of her own accord.”

  Would that be so bad?

  Strong, Kayda’s voice brushed against my mind as she watched from nearby.

  Momma! The dragonling snorted happily; a small gout of flame erupted from her mouth, then smoke burst from her nostrils.

  Another sensation of warmth touched my mind, a burning one.

  No, no, no! I growled internally.

  Yes, little flame. The primordial Fire Elemental made his presence clear, searing my mind and body with his presence. This one is mine. Along with her brother.

  “Twins?!” I called out loud, startling the little dragonling and Ampharia both. “She has fire magic already—she’s a dragon, man!”

  And she is one of my chosen champions. I could almost feel the flame chuckling at my expense.

  “How does that even work?!” I quickly observed our surroundings. “If she’s practicing fire magic in a forest, her protector and surrogate mother will kill her!”

  “Do you always talk to yourself like this?” Ampharia raised an eye ridge at me as if I had lost my mind. Her head dipped down, her face dangerously close to mine. “And if she burns down my forest, I will kill her. And likely come for you, as well.”

  “I’m not talking to myself, and you’re about to have help, I hope.” I growled at the dragon, her head recoiling at my ferocity. I ignored her and spoke to the big flame, “What does she need to do?”

  She needs to summon one of my children, he explained, the crackling flames that were his voice patient. She can do it through you, if needed.

  “Fine, but you better send her one that’s on the cooler side of the spectrum, because she’s already going to be weird for the environment.” I sighed heavily. Thinking about how Mother Nature and I were just beginning to be on cool terms again. Fuck man.

  I turned my attention to the confused, but mildly entertained dragonling standing at my legs staring up at me.

  “Breath fire, and think ‘come to me,’ okay?” She wasn’t thinking that at all as she stomped happily and breathed fire as she stomped some more.

  I reached down, tapping her and subconsciously taking her form as well before I held her still and mentally told her to focus. She could communicate with me mentally? I could do the same.

  I patiently explained things to her, and she tried to do what I said but got distracted. Finally, I got frustrated and told her to breathe fire as I mentally barked, Come!

  Once she stopped breathing fire, the flames stayed there, burning brighter and hotter until the elemental took shape. His body burned blue, which just meant that he burned hotter than normal fire, and his eyes were coal black.

  “Finally.” He snorted. “This is the mage?”

  The dragonling sniffed at him and came closer. He patted her head and sighed. “Why do I always get the dumb ones?”

  “Excuse me?” Ampharia growled seconds before I made my way closer to the little bastard.

  “Your whole mission in life is to see that she understands her magic, and when her twin summons his, it will be someone else’s job to teach him.” He seemed bored, so I reached out and snatched him up by the chest flames.

  It burned slightly, but the gifts I’d received from the Primordial Flame Elemental halved damage from fire.

  “You’ll treat her with respect, or I send you crawling back to daddy, and I summon someone else.” I bared my teeth at him, he seemed unaffected by it, but I continued anyway. “Do
you understand?”

  Ember meant no disrespect. The Flame Prime explained. He is my eldest child, and I sent him to the one who seemed to need the most… guidance.

  “Guidance needed or not, you will not disrespect her, and you’ll listen to Ampharia.” I let him go, and he landed on his feet with a nod.

  “I will guide her in her magical ability to the best of my ability,” he looked like he was going to roll his eyes. If he could. “Just don’t blame me if she gets excited and burns things down.”

  I shook my head and looked to Ampharia, who spoke while eyeing the elemental, “You may go, druid. I will keep an eye on both of them. And if she comes to look for you, pray that she doesn’t eat anyone on her way.”

  I cast my gaze at the dragonling, accepted my fate in her life, and sighed before I bent down and scratched her cheek, “Momma has to go, but you listen to auntie Ampharia, okay?”

  Momma! She bit at my metallic hand, and I smacked her about playfully before nodding to the adult dragon.

  Only one of the primordial elementals had a champion left out there somewhere, and I was that much closer to finding them. All of the other elemental guides, Pebble and Zygnal, really because I hadn’t seen Jafrik or Maebe’s elemental guides, were cool. Understanding and helpful, if Pebble wasn’t a little stony at first, it remained that they genuinely respected their masters and would probably die for them if it were needed.

  I didn’t have that same feeling for that little fiery bastard, Ember. He seemed the type to shirk his duties because he wasn’t being challenged. And now with the threat of Ampharia coming for me, or hurting the little red dragon because her fire magic isn’t exactly under the strictest control because she’s learning, just seemed like a lot of extra baggage to deal with. Especially right now with one of the generals actively gunning for us.

  I glanced back at the dragonling who yipped happily at her fire elemental under Ampharia’s watchful gaze. I just hoped that she would wise up and soon. Poor kid would likely have a rough go of it.

  I closed my eyes and cast Teleport to get myself back to my room with my girls.

  Chapter Two