The Wolf’s Daughter

Phaedra raced out into the landing field just in time to see the damaged airship crash down. The large balloon on top was held on with only a handful of ropes and was steadily leaking air, while half of the ship under it had been burned away. She could only barely make out Paradox’s symbol as the ship ground along the landing, losing more chunks in the dirt before coming to a slow, grinding stop.

Phaedra couldn’t help feeling grateful that the only airship they actually had was her own and that the ‘landing’ was more just the road outside of the cavern that was her new home. One of the coldest points in what had once been Yroth’s territory, there were only a few kobolds who had made their home here and there were plenty of new homes in the midst of being constructed. Even though it was ‘cold’ in comparison to most of the territory, new hot springs were already finished and magma baths could be seen near the outer edges of the small town that had sprung up. So long as they didn’t appear inside her new cavern, she figured she’d survive. It was her own fault, she was the one who laid claim to the territory of a dragon. She should have known it would be this hot.

For the moment, however, her concern was on the airship. She raced towards it and leaped up onto the deck, nimbly avoiding jagged shards of metal and wood that had crumbled. Ropes had torn and snared throughout, forming nasty knots and, as far as she could see, there was nobody on the deck.

She could hear banging, though. It took her only a moment to find the source, a door on the deck which had been buried when part of the apparatus holding the balloon had collapsed.

“Don’t worry,” Phaedra called out. “Just stay there and I’ll have you free in a moment!” It was a tangled, jumbled mess of rope, metal and wood, one of the ropes wildly flailing as the balloon that once held the ship aloft limply blew in the wind. She growled and slashed out with a claw, severing the rope. This whole thing was a mess and she didn’t want to imagine what led to this fight.

More ropes were severed as she began tearing the pieces aside, giving a fierce growl as she worked. It wasn’t long before the door was cleared and she yanked it open. “Dixxy? Are you—”

Phaedra let out a yelp when another Phaedra leaped out from the cabin within, hugging her around the neck. “Phaedraaaaaaaa,” she whined. “You need to save meeeeeee. Big sis is so maaaaad, she’s going to kill meeeeeeee.”

Phaedra blinked a few times before shaking her head. Inside the cabin she could see a few others. Bat demons, three of them. Dixxy’s favorite guards.

Phaedra let out a soft sigh before reaching up and gripping the arms hugging her. She then, slowly, pulled them off and pushed ‘herself’ off. “Dixxy,” Phaedra said, keeping her tone as level and annoyed as she could manage. “That was dangerous, you could have been hurt.”

The demon’s form shifted, soon revealing a much smaller demon, barely coming up to her chest. While she had the far-too-perfect elven looks of Obsius’, as well as his bat wings, her own eyes were bright blue. And that mischievous grin on her lips a clear sign that whatever she had done had likely warranted Circe’s rather violent reaction.

“What did you do?” Phaedra asked before glancing towards the bat demons. One of them was limping and being supported by the other two. Her subjects were approaching as well, so at least they’d get the help they needed.

“Nothing! Circe just—”

“PARADOX!” Circe’s voice boomed. Dixxy quickly moved, hiding behind Phaedra.

Phaedra turned around to see the airship, far larger, making its way from the clouds above. It was far larger and, unlike Dixxy’s, was still in one piece. More importantly, however, was Circe. The demon was standing on the bow of the ship, her poofy white wings spread out and her golden eyes sparking with magic so bright they could be seen from the ground. “Stay back,” Phaedra said softly, before nudging Dixxy away and walking towards the slowly sinking ship. She motioned her guards over before pointing towards the remains. “Make sure everyone there who needs help gets it. I’ll deal with Circe.”

Circe, however, had her attention purely on Dixxy. As she came closer towards the ground she leaped off the side of the ship, flying towards the broken airship. Phaedra cast a quick incantation before the ground rose up beneath her, lifting her into the air. She held on as best she could, managing to only go a few feet into the air and quickly catching herself when it came to a stop. She, at least, was blocking Circe’s way. “Cousin?” Phaedra asked.

Circe pulled back, hovering in place for a moment before her eyes moved past Phaedra. “Phaedra, out of the way. This is between me and my little sister.”

“Probably,” Phaedra said. “But you are threatening my youngest cousin, and I can’t just let you kill her in my territory. What would Uncle Obby say?”

“That the little goblin had it COMING!” Circe yelled, electricity crackling off her fingertips. “But fine. Fine. Send her to my airship and I’ll kill her there.”

“Calm down,” Phaedra said before standing to her full height and folding her hands behind her back. “You’re angry. I’m sure whatever she did she—”

“She crossed the line!” Circe yelled, the fury clear in her voice. “I’m done playing her games. If you won’t turn her over to me, then I’ll take her by force. I will not be betrayed by my own little brat of a sister!”

Phaedra stared for a moment, shaken as she realized that Circe was serious. At least, for now, she’d kill Dixxy if she got a hold of her. Perhaps later she’d feel bad. Maybe. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Circe this angry. She took a slow, calming breath, before speaking up again. “No.”

“No?” Circe asked. “You’re going to protect that little traitor?”

“Unless you calm down? Yes,” Phaedra said. “For now? She’s in my territory. And if you want to hurt someone in my territory, you—”

“Then I challenge you,” Circe said. “Territory for territory, battle of dominance.”

“W-what?” Phaedra asked.

Circe flapped her wings and moved forward enough to land on the edge of the small platform with her. “I challenge you. If you won’t give her to me, then I will take the territory and then take her. Or you can just give her to me, now.”

Phaedra gulped and took a small step back, only for Circe to take one step closer. She stared up at her cousin before sighing. She’d need to be careful or Circe would take everything. She glanced back at the remains of the airship. “I don’t want any of your territory. I’m still trying to sort out my own.”

“You should have servants for that,” Circe said. “You’re the daughter of Fenrir, hundreds of demons would be willing to serve if you’d start expanding. Yet, you instead have the Ascended Dragon doing it. You know, there are people who say that you didn’t tame her at all, that she tamed you.”

Phaedra turned just a hint red at that, before slowly a grin formed on her lips. “You know, there’s one thing you have I would like, though.”

“Oh? And what is that?” Circe asked.

“Your name,” Phaedra said before looking back towards Circe with a smug smirk on her lips. It garnered just the reaction she wanted, she could see the demon’s shock and she took a step back.

“Y-you can’t be serious,” Circe said. “I just became Circe.”

“And I just gained this territory,” Phaedra said. “And I certainly don’t want you to kill my little cousin. But a name is much easier to manage than a new territory. If you want to risk being just Jasmine again.”

Circe stared at her for a few moments, eyes narrowed. She was furious, but Phaedra didn’t know which route she’d choose. So she decided to try and nudge it, just a bit. Remind her that a little patience could be far less risky.

“Alternatively, you could wait a little bit. Calm down. Then, once you’re feeling less like murdering your little sister, you could—”

“She’s not my little sister,” Circe said, her voice icy cold. “She’s only half and when I’m through with her she won’t even be that. I’m going to start by tearing off her stupid wings. Fine. Sunset, tonight. Prepare a battleground. If you win, you get my name. If I win, I take your territory.” She turned and took to the air, flying towards her ship. “I’ll see you then.”

Phaedra watched her cousin fly away and gave a soft sigh. Slowly, she lowered the ground below her until she was level with the rest of the area, just in time for Yroth to arrive. She’d taken her kobold form and had at least a dozen amulets under her arm. “I grabbed the shiniest ones,” Yroth said.

Phaedra just smiled at her friend. She hoped she wouldn’t mind the challenge that much.

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