The Sailor and the Dragon-Sinbad x Reader

Chapter 14: The Battles Begin

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Chapter 14: Draconic Warfare
The five young warriors cut through the air as swiftly and sharply as arrows, their eyes fixated on the horizon for the volcano which housed the Tribe of Fallen Star. (Y/N) felt a pang leaving her friends behind for who knows how long, especially since Drakon just reentered their lives, but there was also an elation returning home. She felt the tiniest bit homesick recently, and though these were not good circumstances to be returning to, she did look forward to being with her family and friends.
With (Y/N) at the head of the group, they raced through the skies as the volcano rose on the horizon. In no time, the massive mount of fire and rock was beneath them. The dragoness took a sigh of relief as they circled the entrance.
"Welcome home, (W/N)." Ambertail said sweetly.
"It's good to be home."
The dragons all dove into the village, the pathways lined with stone dwellings (dens) and murals depicting their history placed a calm over (Y/N). She could hear the greetings of her tribe mates who saw them flying in, and while she did greet back, they did not sway their course from their destination: the Caldera, the great dinning hall and gathering place of the Tribe of Fallen Stars. The band neared the crater and (Y/N) saw a familiar figure with white hair waiting outside for them. They landed and changed to their halfling forms before she ran up to hug the male.
"Dad!"
Vale smiled and hugged his daughter.
"I've missed you, little warrior."
She stepped back and gave him a look as the other's snickered behind them. "Dad, I'm a full warrior now, when are you going to stop calling me that?"
"When you're bigger than your mother."
"So when you're both dead then."
He laughed before putting on a serious face.
"As happy as I am to see you, we have pressing matters to attend to. Your mother's waiting for us."
"Right."
The young dragons followed the senior warrior into the hall. Blightstar sat on her throne at the head of the hall, talking to two other warriors. She perked up as she saw them and dismissed the other two. As they left, she got up and greeted them, embracing her daughter.
"I'm glad you're home."
"It's good to be home."
Blightstar's face fell as she held her daughter at arm's length. "I just wish this was under better circumstances. I see Wavereader isn't with you."
(Y/N)'s tail twitched nervously. "An...old friend showed up last night asking for help. One of us had to stay behind to help and oversee the company."
Her mother smirked. "Ah yes, you must tell how your successful company is doing once matters have calm down a bit."
(Y/N) straighten up. "Right, bring me up to speed."
A map was laid out on one of the dining tables as everyone crowded around it. Unlike the maps Sinbad had, this one marked the locations of the major tribes scattered about the sea and on the continents. For now, it seemed as though Olivestar had only rallied support of coastal or island tribes, which still had plenty of powerful tribes to contend with. Icesheer placed a claw over the Tribe of Shattered Ice.
"The raids began with my tribe. At first wethought it was just the Tribe of Frozen Waves, but as I told you, we noticed more dragons among their numbers that we were not familiar with. We then called for reinforcements and identified the Tribe of Sharp Rocks among their ranks."
Moonfall then took over. "Unfortunately, after word got back to us, raids on our home began taking place. Thanks to the natural defenses of the island and the enemy warriors being unfamiliar with the terrain, we've managed to hold them at bay. Then our numbers were further thinned when Blitzscale and Windweaver came to us for help."
It was then Blitzscale's turn, speaking for the two of them. "Most of the dragons attacking belong to the Tribe of Sea Breeze, the Tribe of Storm Breakers, and the Tribe of Sea Divers, all of our usual competition, but never united together."
"We have also recently identified warriors from the other two tribes as well." Windweaver added.
(Y/N) growled. "So we really are being made the enemy. I'm sorry, I dragged you all into this."
"Don't you apologize for a second." Blightstar snapped. "I always said it was only a matter of time someone would try to unite the tribes. Better you than some bloodthirsty tyrant."
"It seems as though that's what is happening." She looked to her mother. "Tell me about Olivestar."
The leader sighed. "It was sudden. She showed up here one night moons before the attacks began. She was hysterical, saying you needed to be punished for murdering the father of her heir. I laughed and said an attempted hatchling murderer should meet a gruesome. I also pointed out Wavereader killed him, but she argued you had brought him into the tribe and was responsible for his actions, to which I responded that he was one of my warriors and killing that monster earned him his place among the tribe and you besting him did. She stormed out and said I'd regret having such a human sympathizing daughter. After that, she began spreading bad rumors about you."
The young warriors claws dug into the table. "She has a problem with me, she could come and face me like a warrior. I could trounce her like her partner."
"Easy, daughter." Moonfall warned. "You've escaped scrutiny because Hawkclaw was an unlawful monster, even his tribemates agreed, but killing a leader would mean serious trouble."
"She's starting a war!" (Y/N) rightfully pointed out. "How is she any better than Hawkclaw?"
"Because she has the respect of her tribe." Ambertail answered. "They'll follow her till the end."
"Then we'll just have to convince her to back down." (Y/N) stated firmly. "I've been learning about diplomacy since I left."
"What did you have in mind?" Blightstar asked.
"That can wait until the other leaders arrive."
A cry rang out in the air as the warriors instinctively shot their heads to the door. It was a sentry's call, another raid.
"Well talk is cheap." Blightstar said firmly before smirking to the younger dragons. "Time for you lot to prove you deserve your warrior names."
They all smiled back determinedly and charged out, changing into their dragon forms and meeting up with the swarming party of dragons rushing out to meet the enemy. Blightstar and her family took the lead and flew into the sky and dove towards the sea. The sentries were valiantly holding the line, waiting for the defending party to arrive.
"ATTACK!" Blightstar commanded as her warriors roared in agreement and swarmed their enemies.
(Y/N) dove at an enemy locked on to a sentry, Ospreycry, and tore the enemy from him. The attacking dragon tried to snap at her, but (Y/N) immediately headbutted his throat and clawed at his underbelly. As scarlet drops fell from her claws, the enemy shrieked and fought to escape, to which (Y/N) let him before joining the battle. Most of the party consisted of the Tribe of Sharp Rocks, but there were a number that didn't look like they belong. (Y/N) had to dodge as Icesheer and an equally large black dragon wrestled as they plummeted, barely breaking apart before they hit the water. (Y/N) focused on protecting her tribemates and new friends, striking at the wings of enemies they were locked with to knock them off balance. She eventually noticed a small group of three warriors tailing her as the black dragon Icesheer had been fighting with reappeared and charged. Rather than fighting four on one, she rolled under the black dragon and pushed all four of her legs into his stomach as hard as she could, launching him into the group behind her. Two of the smaller ones were knocked out of the air, but the nimble pink female managed to avoid her ally and continued the chase. (Y/N) flew straight into the sky towards the sun, and the other warrior followed after her. Before she could close the distance, (Y/N) folded her wings and dive bombed, ramming into the pink dragon. Using her superior size, she easily knocked the enemy into the ocean. The warrior cried out before swimming for shore as (W/N) returned to the fight. She raced to her parents, seeing them fight a whole slew of enemies side by side. Before she could help, a weight crashed into her back, sending her plummeting.
"GET OFF!" She roared as spun to strike at her assailant's face with her front paws.
The male immediately let go, allowing them both to level out before they fell into the ocean. (W/N) immediately flew back up, but the male followed after her, matching her speed. The two of them were the same size, but his wings were a little larger and he had a long, thin tail. He was mostly a brownish green color, save for a few red stripes on his face and front legs and stripe of black that ran along his spine from the top of his head (between his pale antlers), to the tip of his tail. He had focused amber (not gold like Sinbad's), and surprisingly feathered wings, which were luminescent green. Feathers were exceedingly rare among ocean tribes (it was a pretty impractical trait to have when you're surrounded by water and your diet is mostly sustained through fishing), but (Y/N) knew there were a handful of dragons in the Tribe of Sharp Rocks with them, including Olivestar. Still, she didn't recognize this dragon, which was odd. They seemed to be the same age, so they should've run into each other in at least one of the many battles between their tribes and she would definitely recall a dragon with feathered wings and a pretty unique pelt pattern.
"All right, pretty boy, let's see what you can do."
She dove again, getting away from the battle and the male followed after her. She rolled before hitting the waves and allowed her wings to skim the water as she raced towards the cliff side. Her peruser mimicked her movements and kept pace with her. She snorted.
"All right!" She called out to him. "At least you're not a lousy flier! But I'll be damned if I let some newbie warrior from the Tribe of Sharp Rocks outfly me on my own home turf!"
As they arrived at the cliff wall, (Y/N) ran up the side, the male right behind her. She kicked up stones and dirt behind her, launching them into his face. The male stumbled, pushing away from the cliff wall. As he did, (W/N) pushed off and twisted in the air. Using her momentum, she slammed her tail into the side of his head. Dazed, he fell, but to her surprise, he recovered quickly before continuing the chase. She rolled her and flew over the cliff.
"This one is persistent." She mumbled.
She landed and waited as he flew into view, touching down lightly. They began to circle one another, their eyes locked.
"Don't you know it's rude to stalk a lady?" (Y/N) half joked.
"Don't you know it's rude to kill someone's father?" He asked back, his voice calm and stoic.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "What?"
"You're Blightstar's daughter, (W/N). You killed Hawkclaw."
"I didn't kill him." She corrected.
"But you brought the person who did. Your human friend, Sinbad."
"He's Wavereader to you!" She growled. "So, I'm guessing you're Olivestar's son then."
"Cloverheart."
"If you're expecting an apology, you're not getting one. Hawkclaw was a viscous and dangerous dragon who was ready to kill children. I'm not sorry he's dead."
Cloverheart lowered his head, his eyes still locked with hers.
"Neither am I."
(Y/N) blinked in surprise, her guard dropping a little. "What?"
He stood straight, his stance no longer aggressive.
"It's like you said, he was a vicious idiot and hardly who I considered a father. I'm glad he's dead. I honestly don't know why we're going to war over him. It's like my mother's gone mad."
She tilted her head.
"You...you are confusing me."
"Regardless." He lowered his head again, aiming his antlers at her. "I still need to fight alongside my tribemates. Don't take it personally."
She growled. "Don't take it personally if I mess up your face too."
They charge, their heads colliding with a loud crash. They pushed, trying to gain some ground. As their struggle continued, (W/N) heard a very loud roar and saw claws quickly approaching from the corner of her eyes.
"Cloverheart!"
She sharply shoved Cloverheart and jumped back before swinging her tail. She was expecting to knock another warrior off balance. Instead, ended up launching a dragon barely even half her size a good few feet away. He rolled several times before coming to an ungraceful stop on his belly, his legs, wings, and hammer tail splayed out.
"What's a dragonling doing here!?" She screeched.
Cloverheart rolled his eyes and trotted up to the other male, unfazed. He gave the downed dragon a sharp thwack with his paw.
"This is why you don't announce yourself during a surprise attack, Bullcharge."
The little guy growled and got to his paws to glare at the taller male.
"You're welcome for coming to help you!"
"Who said I needed help?"
As the two bantered, (Y/N) awkwardly looked between them. The newcomer...well he was tiny. She was sorta surprised she didn't launch him farther. He had a light gray pelt littered with various scars and a few dark stripes or spots litter about him. He had bright green eyes and bull horns as his name suggested. He was also wyvern winged, dragons whose wings connected at their front legs, not helping his size. It was generally seen as a bad thing to have wyvern wings given that they usually couldn't keep up with dragons with standard or feathered wings and they couldn't have their wings out in halfling mode. Must be tough. Eventually, Bullcharge finally remembered they were fighting an enemy and turned to face her.
"You know, your tribe has a lot of nerve trying to take over the other tribes."
She snarled at him. "I'm sorry, whose homes have you taken these battles to!? We haven't done anything wrong! I'd say Olivestar's the one who wants to take over the tribes!"
"Shut up!" The runt roared back. "Olivestar's a great leader! She's just trying to keep us safe!"
(Y/N) rolled her eyes. "Yeah, by starting unnecessary conflict and battles. Don't forget you're the invaders here." She dug her claws into the stone beneath her. "And I'll defend my tribe till the bitter end."
"I suggest you reconsider." Cloverheart said. "You're outnumbered."
At that moment, a blur of gold dove from the sky and landed beside (W/N), who smirked, not even having to look to know who it was.
"Says who?" Ambertail challenged.
The two pairs lowered themselves, prepared to pounce as a roar rang out. Upon the horizon was a party of formidable looking dragons with Blizzardstar's massive form in the lead. (Y/N) smirked back at the males.
"Seems you're the ones outmatched. Now get out."
Bullcharge growled but Cloverheart placed a wing in front of him. The two walked passed the females, but Cloverheart stopped for a moment to say something.
"Watch your step, (W/N). Dragons have enough enemies without us fighting amongst ourselves.
"You should tell your mother that. I'd watch the kind of leader you become, Cloverheart, you don't want to end up like Hawkclaw."
He grunted, before spreading his wings and taking off, sounding a retreat. Bullcharge stayed a moment longer to give her the stink eye before following, and it wasn't too long before the invaders were flying away. As the defending party roared, (Y/N) kept her eyes fixated on the retreating dragons.
This was only the beginning, and she had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time she and Cloverheart would confront each other.

Okay, so looks like we're getting an entire dragon war arc. I didn't realize how much this would take up, but I'm fine with it since this is replacing an entire arc from the manga. Tell me what you guys think.