From Storms to Thrones (Part 1)

The Cannibal soared through the sky, his massive wings cutting through the air with a steady, rhythmic beat. Every rise and fall of his body sent a rush of adrenaline through me, a feeling not unlike being on a roller coaster—except this ride didn't have any tracks to keep me grounded. Instead, I was suspended in the air, clinging to a creature that could shoot flames and, if it so inclined, might decide to eat me.

Rhaenyra led the way, Syrax flying gracefully ahead of us. Her dragon moved with a fluidity that seemed impossible for a creature of that size, like a fish swimming through water. Rhaenyra was a natural, her body moving in perfect sync with Syrax's motions. It was clear she had done this countless times before, and the ease with which she navigated the skies only added to her aura of command.

The sensation of flying on the Cannibal was something else entirely. There was a wildness to him, a barely contained power that I could feel in every movement. When he dipped suddenly or banked to the side, it was as if the world tilted along with us, the horizon spinning away and leaving nothing but the vast expanse of sky and sea beneath us. My stomach flipped with each unexpected turn, the rush of fear and exhilaration merging into something that felt almost primal.

The wind whipped past, tugging at my hair and clothes, the cold biting at my exposed skin. It was impossible to ignore the raw power beneath me, the way the Cannibal's muscles flexed and shifted as he maneuvered through the air. He was a force of nature, untamed and fierce, and I was just along for the ride.

As we flew, I found myself grinning despite the terror that still lingered in the back of my mind. The thrill of it was undeniable, the sheer freedom of soaring through the sky with nothing but the Cannibal's wings holding us aloft. 

Rhaenyra glanced back at me occasionally, her eyes bright with excitement. She seemed to be enjoying herself, the thrill of the flight evident in the way she held herself. She called out directions to Syrax in High Valyrian, her voice carrying over the wind, and the dragon responded immediately, banking left or right as we weaved through the sky.

There was a moment when we flew through a bank of clouds, the mist swirling around us, and everything went white. I could barely see Rhaenyra ahead of me, her silhouette just a shadow against the light. The moisture clung to my skin and hair, cold and refreshing, and for a brief moment, it was as if we were the only two beings in the world, suspended in this ethereal space between earth and sky.

Then we broke through the clouds, emerging into the clear air once more, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon. The ocean beneath us was a vast, dark expanse, the waves catching the last light of the day in streaks of gold and crimson. It was breathtaking, the kind of view that made all the fear and uncertainty worth it.

I couldn't help but think that, despite everything—despite the terror of climbing onto the Cannibal, despite the sheer insanity of flying on a dragon—it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. And as we continued to soar through the sky, following Rhaenyra's lead, I found myself wishing it would never end.

We flew on, the rhythm of the Cannibal's wings becoming almost hypnotic, the landscape below a blur of water and sky. It felt like we were the only two beings in existence, suspended between the heavens and the sea, but then Rhaenyra banked right, and I felt the Cannibal follow her lead. My heart leapt into my throat at the sudden shift, but I managed to hold on, clinging to the pommels.

In the distance, a dark shape began to take form against the horizon. As we drew closer, I could make out the rugged outline of an island, its tall cliffs rising sharply from the sea, crowned with a dense forest that stretched across the top. The cliffs were steep, their rocky faces jutting out like sentinels guarding the island, and the trees above them were thick and wild, a deep green that seemed almost black in the fading light. The waves crashed against the base of the cliffs, sending up sprays of white foam that glittered in the twilight.