1x1 with sora22/waddledude

"You were only hired a rank above me. Besides, the more dragons we take now, the less there will be in the future. Also, I've had a wife and three kids at one point. They were killed on my first outing with them on a mountain. A dragon killed them. I wouldn't mind having my family killed more than having them separated. You don't have to worry about them worrying about you if they're dead, and for all you know, they could be floating behind you at this very moment. But the entire family suffers when one is separated. They don't know if they were killed, tortured, sold as a slave. Can you tell that's enough? What if the corporation shuts down and we can't hunt dragons any more? Then, if this guy lives on, he'll come back to his family to find his mate mourning over lost chicks. I'm sorry, but I can't let that happen." Alphonse vented, releasing the anger building up before he went berserk. Franarch laid back his ears, muttering something about Kaina and reminders.

SEverus smiled slightly. "Catching on, aren't you? You're starting to think like a Captain, Alphonse. Some of the newer recruits just join to kill dragons, but you understand our responsibilities.", he said.

"I've been thinking like that since my second year. I've been in tis line of work for 25 years, Severus. I still don't like what I do. There used to be so many dragons. Nothing's the same at 40, Sev. Nothing. There's been so many advances I'm starting to lose track." Alphonse said, then he shook his head. "Let's get this guy to headquarters. He said he doesn't want his mate to see him leave." Franarch nodded, then took a step forward.

Severus sighed slightly and nodded. "Let's go.", he said.

Franarch thought of the kindness they showed him, even though they were taking him away. "If you get on my back, I'll fly you there." he said, wincing slightly. Alphonse looked at Severus, just to see the other man's reaction.

Severus shrugged. "I suppose. However, If this is a trick, I will be more then happy to disable you."

Franarch lowered his head. "It's not a trick. But I think I should tell you... Have you ever heard the name Kaina?" he asked. Alphonse pulled his shirt collar up, finding the nae familiar.

"No, doesn't ring a bell."

"She's my rider, and she'll be eighteen shades of angry when she finds out I'm gone. She scares even me." he said, lying down so the hunters could board his back. Alphonse carefully climbed up, then sat with sudden realization. "She's one of my in-laws." he said.

Severus shrugged. "Your point?", he asked Franarch.

"If she finds you, I can't help you at all." he said. Alphonse reached down a hand. "Need help?"

Severus easily leapt on to Franarch's back. "not at all."

"Alright. Let's go." Alphonse said. He soon was clinging to a nearby spine, as Franarch flapped his wings.

SEverus held on to a spine as well, easily staying on Franarch's back.

Soo after Franarch was out of sight, BRutas woke up. Ahe shook her head, looking around. "Frnarch?", she called. "Where are you?"

Franarch tilted his head down wards, a single acid tear sliding from his snout. He could hear Brutas, but didn't respond.

And then a scream pierced the sky. Franarch hailed to a stop, then started pounding his wings as if he was being choked.

Kaina stumbled forward. "Cade! Call Brutas, Franarch is pulling the"-gasp-"bond!"

Alphonse squeezed his eyes shut. D*mn, I'm afraid of heights!

Severus snarled. "What the hell is happening?!", he demanded.

Cade nodded and let out a low whistle. brutas quickly arrived.

"The bond*cough* between rider*hack* and dragon is very *pant* strong!" Franarch said.

Kaina jumped onto Brutas's back. Then she called the call of a blackbird and Mercy appeared. "Watch the kids. Cade, come on!" Kaina barked. Mercy nodded, then herded up the two kids who obviously wanted to know what was going on.

Cade hopped on to Brutas's back as well.

Severus snarled.

Kaina suddenly softened. "Brutas, darling, could you go *insert direction here*?"

Alphonse clung to the spine. "NOW HE TELLS US!" he shouted. There was one thing about Alphonse the everyone knew by just looking at him, he doesn't shout.

Severus growled. "Question. If we killed your rider, would you be affected?"

"Yes, I would also die." the dragon replied, huffing to keep going.

"Brutas, could you speed up time around us to catch up with them faster?" the female rider said, as Brutas had probably lifted off by now.

Brutas nodded. She sped up time, and they began gaining on Franarch. SEverus growled. "This is more trouble than it's worth..."

Franarch soon stopped struggling and flew evenly. "Waidaminnut..."

SEverus sighed. "This is much more trouble than it's worth...", he said under his breath.

Alphonse glanced back. "Half a mile. It's the she-dragon from a bit ago." he said. Franarch attempted to quicken, but the possibility of seeing Brutas again was too tempting. His pace remained steady, even slowing the most unnoticeable bit.