Wyverns

-----Kaede's POV

After floating up for some time, with the help of Mai, we stop at some flat ground roughly half way up the mountain. Now that I'm standing on my own two feet, the sick feeling in my stomach has settled as I look out towards the forest. We're above any trees nearby, but even still, I couldn't see any traces of towns or cities. This mountain range is secluded from anything else, probably due to the wyvern nest.

Speaking of which, I still can't see any sign of wyverns that Mai was talking about as we begin to walk around on this flat piece of the mountain.

Kaede: "Still no sign of them."

Mai: "Hmm. It's quite a large mountain range, so it might take us a-"

Suddenly, a shadow was cast over us for a moment before exposing us to the light of the sun. I quickly look up to see something huge was flying over our heads, far up in the sky.

Mai: "Ah- There we are."

It's hard to make out details as I could only make out the shape of it, but it certainly was a massive creature with wings, with a very long tail.

Kaede: "That's a wyvern?"

Mai: "Yes."

We watch as the wyvern we're watching travels out further into the forest. My guess is that it's hunting for some food.

Mai: "Let's continue. We'll head in the direction where it came from. Maybe the nest is there."

Kaede: "Hmmm. Okay."

I don't want to be out here too long, but at least from here I can see how close the sun will be setting. And from the looks of it, it seems to be just a little past noon.

We travel further up in the mountains, following the same direction the wyvern from before came from as we head deeper. I extend my mana out in hopes to search for any sources of mana, but I can't sense anything yet. We end up hitting another wall as we're forced to float further up the mountain range. I'm not afraid of heights, but being lifted up like this with the feeling of having no safety harness is frightening to say the least.

Mai: "You okay?"

Kaede: "I-I'm fine. Just not used to this."

Mai: "Well It seems like we'll be fine for a while. Any higher then we'll be at the peaks."

Thank god. If I have to float one more time, I really do think that I'll throw up. Let's keep my feet on the ground for now, okay?

Suddenly, I manage to detect something in the direction we're heading, maybe a little to the right. Almost seems like it's on the other side of the mountain... Great. does that mean I'll be getting floated around again to get to the other side?

Kaede: "...I think I sense something on the other side of the mountain."

Mai: "Oh? You figured out where the nest is before me?"

Kaede: "I think so."

I point in the direction where my mana is interacting with the mana source. If I had to describe it, the thing that comes to mind is echo-location. It's not the same, but it sort of works in a similar way. Instead of interacting with objects with sound, my mana is bouncing off of other forms of mana.

Mai: "Alright. Let's cut through here. There's a gap between this mountain."

I sigh in relief, knowing that we won't need to float to get there. I'm surprised Mai even saw that gap as it's hidden away, blending in quite nicely.

After squeezing through the opening, we're now on the other side. Just like on the other side, all I see in trees far below us, with no towns or cities in sight. However I do see what looks like a river far out in the distance.

Mai: "Yes, you're right. I sense them now. I'll shroud us in invisibility magic, but still be careful. Wyverns are powerful creatures, and they'll still be able to sense our presence through invisibility magic."

Kaede: "Then what's the point?"

Mai: "It'll at least confuse them enough for us to make a decision if that time comes."

I'm guessing she's referring to either me taming one, or running away. Well I already made the decision to not tame one today, so running away is the only option. That or we could kill them, but that might be a waste."

After 10 or so more minutes of walking, we approach a ledge atop of the mountain range. I could hear that they were close, as I could even hear the sound of the wyverns moving about, wings flapping periodically. We both peek our head over the ledge, and the first thing my eyes see is 5 wyverns all huddled up together.

Mai: "They're juveniles"

I was alarmed by Mai's voice as I was afraid she might have spooked the wyverns, but I quickly realize that she's communicating with our minds.

Kaede: "So that wyvern we saw back there. That was the mother?"

Mai: "Yes."

I didn't get to figure out what color that mother was, but these baby wyverns seem to range a bit in terms of color. They all have a shade of red, but ranged from bright, scarlet red color, to more of a dark, maroon color of red.

Kaede: "Are the darker ones male?"

Mai: "I'm not sure. It's hard to tell when they're young, but any one of them could be a male. However, it's quite rare."

Kaede: "How rare?"

Mai: "It's common for a mother dragon, or wyverns in this case to never give birth to a single male. But when a male does get born, they don't hang around the nest long."

This is quite interesting. It's a nice breath of fresh air learning about something else apart from summoning.

Kaede: "Why do they leave?"

Mai: "Male wyverns mature incredibly fast, and grow even larger than their female counterpart. So they leave the nest to breed to as many females as they can. It's not easy however, since flying around, looking for a mate will attract attention. In most cases, the males are hunted down by humans."

Kaede: "That's... sad."

Mai: "Well, I don't blame the humans. Unlike females who are for the most part territorial of their nests and like to remain close to their nest. Males don't have a nest, so they are prone to attack anything, including humans for food."

Kaede: "How long do wyverns live for? If the males are doing something crazy like that, then do they not live that long?"

Mai: "Not at all. Both males and females live for centuries. But you're right that males get killed off sooner, so I guess you can say they don't live long.

Amongst our discussion, I could feel a presence coming from behind us. I quickly realize that it's the mother as I try and remain still as I can, not even turning my head to look.

Mai: "Just give me the word, and I'll take us out of here."

Kaede: "Yes."

I feel a massive gust of wind come over the top of us as I watch the mother land in front of us. It's talons were holding onto what looked to be a giant bear that seemed to be nearly as large as one of the baby wyverns. In comparison, the mother wyvern was massive, as the bear was just a bit bigger than her feet. I watch as the baby wyverns all group up as they begin to feast on the dead bear.

It's quite a beautiful sight actually, as it reminds me of a mother bird feeding her chicks. But when I look up to see what the mother was doing, her gaze was directed straight at us. Her gaze left me frozen in place as it looks like she's looking directly at me with golden eyes. The same color that my eyes were in my past life. Mai wasn't kidding that, she can actually sense us right now, right?

Kaede: "..."

Mai: "I think it's time to leave."

Kaede: "...Yes."

Her words bring me back as Mai grabs me by the shoulder, and within the next moment, I found myself back in the dorm room. My heart calms back down to a more natural pace as I collected everything I just witnessed.

...

Kaede: "That was so cool!"

No longer needing to communicate with our minds, I express my enjoyment in words.

Mai: "Hehe. They sure are beautiful creatures, right?"

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

To be honest, after hearing about how wyverns live, it almost feels criminal to tame one. I now have mixed feelings whether I want to go along with it or not. If anything, I'd like for it to be mutual, and befriend a wyvern, not tame one with charm magic.

Looking around the room, just like I figured, Yui isn't back yet. Contemplating what to do now, I hear the sound of Olivia's door close. Could it be Gabriella? I still haven't got the opportunity to apologize, maybe now's the time!

I quickly rush out of the bedroom to open the door, in hopes to catch her.

Olivia: "O-Oh! Kaede! I didn't know you were back."

Kaede: "Damn."

Olivia: "Huh?"

Kaede: "AH- sorry. I just thought you'd be Gabriella."

Olivia: "Oh, she stays at her parent's place on the weekends."

Fuck! So then I'm out of luck until the next week rolls around...

Olivia: "She comes back tomorrow night. You could try and catch her then?"

Kaede: "Really?"

Olivia: "Yes."

A sudden thought enters my mind. She's been avoiding me ever since that incident, so maybe it'll be better if she comes to me instead.

Kaede: "Then, before she comes back, could I stay in your room until she returns?"

Olivia: "Hmm? Ohhh~ Yes! Sure thing! I'll find something to do while you two talk."

Kaede: "Thank you!"

Olivia: "Hehe, no problem."

I was annoyed that it wasn't Gabriella I didn't catch just now, but at least now I've devised a plan thanks to Olivia. I just hope that she won't bolt off again...