The Princess's Feathers

The Kin reel at the power of my words, gasping in surprise. I shouldn't have had to transform to prove to my friends that Farlanders aren't witless prey-animals — who did they think they were talking to the past two seasons? — but a part of me feels a weight lifted at revealing to them my original form. Sometimes I wished I could have offered them even a glance at what I used to be, and now that I'm finally here, I don't feel afraid.

"Fress…" Gima blinks, studying me closely. "You received a gift from Keuvra, didn't you?"

<Two of them,> I smile, pleased that the old woman is acting rational again. <The Gift of Transcendence, and the Gift of Translation. I received them to complete my Divine Flight.>

"But Asha, what if you're…" Fra trails off before closing her muzzle and leaving her question unfinished. It seems she could answer it herself.

Nakino and Gima look similarly contemplative, perhaps sensing the truth that the only a deity could have granted me these powers. But Enyll and Ykuvi seem less certain — Enyll's eyes have narrowed, and Ykuvi's tail is fluttering the in the grass beside him. Perhaps he didn't have time to eat before flying here? The only kin who seems unfazed is Tomcat: An infectious smile has formed across her face, and she seems eager to step forward and inspect me closer.

<You were right about one thing, Son-of-Zuki. Saving Ellyntide from the clutches of Nortane would be impossible without my original form. As Kin, I'm too intimidating to communicate with Farlanders and too big to enter their dens. Soon, I will travel to the last Kingdom, Sarlain, and infiltrate it as a Lemur to carry out my Divine Flight. But, eventually, they will learn my true nature. My gifts are not permanent, and I have chosen to remain Kin. It is a difficult, but necessary task to convince Farlanders that Kin are not the savage monsters they believe us to be. But they are not witless, and they can learn! We can all learn to live together as friends! And, that is why…>

My transmission fades, a sudden wisp of anxiety growing to envelop me. Since the day I landed in Felra, these are the Dragons I've come to trust the most; The ones that fought fang and claw, some risking their very lives for an outsider they had no reason to help. Even now, that they haven't leaped forward to turn me into an easy snack feels like an impossible feat of trust.

It feels cruel to ask them something so outrageous, but I feel I have no other choice.

Once, I promised myself that I would do whatever it takes to see my family again, but merely seeing them is no longer enough. I must save them! I must save our whole Kingdom! And while nobody but me can truly accomplish this task, I can't do it alone. Against the might of a powerful Kingdom, I need all the help I can get.

<…That is why I have gathered you, my friends, to this island. For the time will undoubtedly come that I would ask you to join me in battle and risk your lives to help defend my Kingdom.>

I pause, allowing a wingbeat for my words to settle.

<This body is weak, untrained, and incapable of fighting effectively. But to take the form of Kin would nullify my authority as Princess, and those I once knew would only see me as the monster from their nightmares. Indeed, I will need help from Farlanders, but their support won't be enough. Only the might of Keuvra's Kin can defeat a flock of Nortanian airship-prey. A battle against them will be dangerous, but me and Kuro know the trick to defeat them. We are ready to train you as well! And although I can not tell you when or where this battle will happen, I am all but certain one is inevitable. I understand how difficult it is to ask this of you all, but know that our leader wishes it to happen. You will perform a great deed for him, myself, and all the animals that call Ellyntide home. Please… help us!>

Despite failing to utter a single word, I find myself panting at the end of my speech. If these Dragons couldn't recognize the sincerity in my voice, then perhaps they can recognize it in my body language.

But for their part, my friends are silent, their muzzles sealed as they look uncomfortably between themselves and wonder who will speak first.

"That is… a considerable ask," Ykuvi laments.

"I won't fight airship-prey," Gima says flatly. "Even if I were healthy enough to fly to the Farlands. Even if Keuvra himself told me to do it! Someone else has to help her."

Immediately, she looks to Enyll like she was inflicting one last jab in their cut-short argument. In response, the copper drakon flinches slightly and grunts, but keeps his sullen composure. Despite Enyll's reputation for… well, being Enyll, he's often capable of compassion and empathy, a note I seem to have imparted to him with my speech. He studies me for a moment, then exhales slightly.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"How many Farlanders live in Ellyntide?" he asks, his voice meager.

<Over ten million,> I respond. <I know that number means nothing to you, but… it's a lot. More than every Kin that's ever lived in Felra, many times over.>

Enyll seems surprised, as do the other Kin. He grunts, but seems to have trouble forming a response. Then he looks to Nakino, whose expression seems as empty as everyone else's.

"He gave you these gifts, made you weak… all to save a Kingdom no Kin has visited in a generation."

"Mmh," I nod. <Though our worlds seem separate, imperceptible connections unite them. The arrival of airship-prey is one example of this relationship.>

Again, Enyll looks to Nakino. This time, his expression had turned sullen and uncomfortable.

"…No," Enyll replies, his gaze trained to his mate. "I won't risk my life unless our leader wills it. You and Kuro could defeat an airship-prey once before. Surely you can do it again without my help."

At that, a weight seems to be lifted from Nakino's wings. He loosens a smile, only to realize that a response was now owed from him. He ruffles slightly, but doesn't take long to produce a response.

"I am the Grandfather Tree's healer. It would be reckless to risk my life for those outside the flock."

"I agree," Ykuvi speaks up. "If airship-prey threatened the flock's territory, then things would be different. But to defend a Kingdom I've never visited, and Farlanders I've never met…"

My tail slumps against the grass. I knew asking them to fight airship-prey was going to be a tough sell, but I didn't expect things to go this badly. They've only asked two questions so far and nobody has wanted any clarification on my plan. They've just been flat out rejecting me.

At that, Fra seems to have noticed my reaction. "Asha…" she trails off, frowning. "I feel for you and your Kingdom, I really do. And I can't imagine what it must be like to lose your entire family and not even know if they're alive. But I'm a Mother, now. I have two beautiful hatchlings, and I wouldn't want what happened to you to happen to them. I wish there was something I could do to help, but if it involves putting my life in danger, then I can't accept your offer. I hope you understand."

Finally, only Tomcat remains. A part of me believed that the promise of adventure in the Farlands would cause her to leap to my aid, slowly compelling the others to join in after I worked my skills of persuasion. But the string of rejections has left her boundless enthusiasm deflated like a balloon, and the weight of being the lone Dragon to help is weighing heavy against her wings. She's slow to raise her head and meet my gaze, but when she does, she simply frowns and shakes her head.

A cold lump forms in my stomach. I thought I could at least secure Tomcat and Enyll's help, but they've all rejected me. I'm used to being the smallest Dragon in the group, but right now, I feel especially small.

Kuro makes a sad noise and rubs her feathers against me.

<It's alright.> I stare up at my mate and force a meager smile. <This wasn't the outcome I expected, but I'm still thankful you all came to listen. Your friendship means the world to me, and it's not an exaggeration to say I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for all of you.>

Perhaps I was doomed from the start; I couldn't even provide them any details about when or where I'd ask them to fight for Ellyntide. Unfortunately, when the time comes to put my plan into motion, I doubt I'll have the time to fly all the way back to Felra and ask them for help. Whether I'm in Varecia, Nortane's capital, or somewhere else, my identity as Princess Asha will be a closely held secret, and to transform into a Lithan would be a dangerous risk. This was my only chance to ask them for help, and I failed. When the time comes, I'll just have to save Ellyntide without them.

Fra's wings rustle. "Asha, if there's any other way we can help, then please let us know."

"Ideally, ones that don't involve airship-prey," Ykuvi adds.

The other Dragons tip their wings in agreement.

<Yeah…> I trail off. <Um, I'll let you know.>

When I think about it, I can't imagine any scenario where Kin could help if they aren't willing to attack airship-prey. Discretion will be key no matter how my plans materialize, and there's nothing discrete about a Dragon the size of a building. But who knows, maybe I'll arrive in Sarlain and something unexpected will happen? Maybe Lucy secretly loves Dragons, and she'll swoon at the idea of having a flock of Kin flying around her Kingdom?

…Okay, maybe not.

"It's getting late," Kuro rumbles. "You should turn back to normal."

Though we're on a floating island, it's not safe for someone as small as me to be out at night; Lithans aren't the only winged predators roaming the skies of Felra.

<Yeah, you're right.>

I lower myself to the underbrush and close my eyes, restarting the transformation. Elementia swirls around me, its calming blue glow visible through closed eyelids. Within moments I recognize the Goddess Language being spoken as everyone reacts in stark astonishment to the growing Kin before them.

Then, I sense it: A Lemur, young and confident in herself.

Unbidden, my fangs bare and a growl loosens in my chest, a reaction which comforts me. This is how I should respond to the scent of a prey-animal. This is the way things are supposed to be. It contents me to assume my true form in the company of friends.

I open my eyes to see Kuro, relief painted across her muzzle. I rumble a happy greeting as we nuzzle our heads and twine our tails.

"Good," Gima says, standing to open her wings. "You don't look right as a prey-animal, Asha."

I smile past Kuro's warmth. "I don't feel right as one, either."

At that, the group begins to disperse and take flight. As farewells pass between us, Tomcat plods forward, her usual mischievous grin restored.

"You're pretty cute for a prey-animal."

"…Tomcat?" My head tilts. "How could you possibly know that?"

"Heh-heh! It's your voice. It's so cute and soft-spoken! You sound totally different as Kin."

Oh, yeah! I've kinda forgotten how my Lithan voice is so draconic and menacing compared to my Lemur one. Still…

"Well, um, thanks? Though I think all Farlanders sound kinda soft compared to the power of—"

"Take the compliment," Kuro whispers into my ear. "You are cute."

I just roll my wings. "Okay, okay…"