Chapter 09 - The Cannibal

My legs were starting to ache from climbing up to where Meleys was supposed to have nested. As I entered the place, I immediately noticed the broken eggshells. Moving closer, I saw a large tail move deeper into the cave.

-"You!"- I said, approaching. Soon, I was standing in front of a dragon, an obsidian-black one that let out a growl. -"Hey, don't growl at me like that."- I growled back, and it opened its jaws. -"Don't even think about doing a Dracarys."- I wagged my index finger. The dragon growled again.

The Cannibal retreated, baring its teeth threateningly, staring at me fiercely with those green eyes.

-"First, calm down... How was it?"- I recalled what my father had told me on the ship. -"Lykiri, dragoncito, Lykiri Zaldrizes, Lykiri."- I said firmly.

The dragon softened its gaze, closed its jaws, and tilted its head, watching me.

-"Good, let's start this."- I began to dance. -"It's bad to eat other dragons' eggs."- I continued dancing. The dragon rested its head on the ground, keeping its tail close to its body. -"You shouldn't do that; that's bad. What's wrong must not be done."- I spun around. -"My uncle and my cousin lost a potential dragon because you ate the eggs."-

-"Alexandrya..."- I heard someone call. I turned, and there was my uncle, approaching and crouching.

-"Lexy, walk towards us slowly. The Cannibal is behind you."- my father said in a low voice as he carefully approached.

-"I know. I'm asking him why he ate the eggs."- I replied.

-"Rhaenyra, don't come in."- I heard my grandfather's voice from a distance.

-"Alexandrya, come here."- my father gestured to me.

I turned and looked at the dragon. I approached it and placed my hand on its snout. -"I hope you learned something from what I said. Take care, dragoncito."- I gave it a small kiss and turned to walk towards my family.

-"Wait."- my uncle said, and my father looked at him, unsure of what he meant.

-"We want her out of here."- my father said and tried to approach, but the Cannibal growled.

-"Alexandrya, go back to the dragon and try to mount it."- Daemon said as he stood up and made my father step back until both were pressed against the cave wall.

-"Mount?"- I asked, and he nodded. -"Alright."- I approached the dragon again. I tried to climb on, but it was too tall. I jumped three times without success. The dragon leaned down a bit. -"Thanks."- I said, then, with difficulty but successfully, managed to mount it.

-"Laenor, tell them to clear the area, now!"- said Daemon to my father, who wore an expression of fear and doubt on his face. After a few seconds, he ran towards the exit.

-"Alexandrya, congratulations. You've just become a dragon rider. Now, go out and fly."- my uncle said with a fascinated smile.

-"Cannibal, soves."- I said, and the dragon stood up, began to walk, and gradually quickened his pace until we left the cave. He spread his wings, and I clung to his back.

We were flying. I didn't want to look down, keeping my eyes closed for a few minutes. When I finally opened them, I held on more securely, straightening my back. I mustered the courage to look down; I couldn't distinguish people from that height, but the fortress, imposing from the sky, looked much smaller.

The Cannibal started a steep dive, pulling up just before reaching the water, flying mere meters above the surface. I saw people emerging from the fortress to see what was happening. Aegon came out and tried to get closer, but Alicent stopped him. He was clutching my dragon egg. Aemond watched me with a smile, clapping. Laena looked at me with a smile.

I only wondered how I would get down without falling; I wasn't riding a saddle like I had seen other riders do. But that was a problem for later. For now, I enjoyed the moment on the dragon, flying at his will.

-"You're doing very well, my blue dragon."- said my father. I looked to one side and saw him flying alongside Smoke.

-"She's a true Targaryen, with the blood of old Valyria running through her veins."- my uncle was flying with Caraxes on my other side.

-"What do I do now?"- I asked, looking at both of them.

-"Fly, fly wherever you want."- Daemon said with a smile, then started to gain altitude.

-"No, Alexandrya, don't do that."- my father said, but it was too late. I had already started to climb with the Cannibal.

-"Alright, Cannibal, I know what we'll do. I always wanted to do this."- I said, smiling.

-"No, Alexandrya, no."- my father said, trying to reach me.

-"Dracarys, Cannibal!"- I shouted, and the dragon let out a massive burst of flame into the air. Then he spread his wings and flew through the fire. It was simply magnificent. I wanted to do it again, but I felt if I did; my father might have a heart attack.

I started flying towards the bridge of Dragonstone. I had seen my mother land Syrax there a couple of times before dismounting. Once we reached the bridge, Cannibal began to slow his wing beats; landing gently and waiting for me to dismount. Behind me, my father and uncle were approaching.

My father dismounted first, followed by my uncle.

-"Alright, Alexandrya, I'll hold you."- my father said as he positioned himself beside Cannibal to help me down.

-"She needs to learn on her own, Laenor."- Daemon said as he approached Laena and Rhaenyra, who had arrived at the scene.

-"I can do it."- I said, looking at the ground. I thought, I don't think I can, but I didn't want to admit it after what I had just said. I took a deep breath and counted to three in my mind before trying to dismount. However, I ended up falling.

-"Alexandrya!"- my father shouted as he rushed to me. The fall wasn't too bad; I had only scraped both palms of my hands and my knees a bit.

-"Are you alright, my brave dragon rider?"- my uncle Daemon asked, his voice filled with a mix of concern and pride.

-"I'm okay."- I said, trying to stand up. My father helped me to my feet, examining my hands and knees.

-"You did wonderfully, my girl."- Rhaenyra said, her voice soothing. She knelt beside me, gently brushing the dirt off my hands and knees. -"But next time, try to be more careful."-

Laena gave me a warm smile. -"It's not every day someone rides a dragon for the first time. You were magnificent."-

I looked back at Cannibal, who was now calmly resting. Despite the fall, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I had ridden a dragon. And not just any dragon, but the Cannibal.

-"Let's get you cleaned up."- my father said, still holding my hand.

As we walked back towards the fortress, I glanced at my uncle Daemon. He nodded approvingly, a proud smile on his face. I knew this was just the beginning of my journey as a dragon rider.

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