SWNOVELS Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns – Chapter 30
The ocean was calm as a soft breeze swept against Devarius’s face. After a lot of convincing, Captain Tynaer had allowed Devarius and his wyvern, Ayla, up to the deck of the ship. The view of the ocean was much different than his previous experience—the last time being overcast with a tropical storm raging above. It almost seemed peaceful. He looked all around them, and didn’t see land in any direction. Ayla sat on his shoulder, almost the size of a full-sized cat now, and watched the ocean.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it, Ayla?”
Ayla turned to glance at him.
A fish jumped out of the water and made a splash as it reentered.
Ayla spun her head back toward the water. Her claws dug slightly into Devarius’s shoulder. She crouched low on his shoulder, then sprung, leaping into the air and flying toward the splash.
“Ayla?” Devarius asked.
Tynaer stormed over. “What is your wyvern doing?” He leaned over the side of the ship to stare at Ayla as she flew. “I told you it wasn’t a good idea to let that creature out of the room.”
“Wait,” Devarius interrupted.
“If that creature never comes back, I am holding you accountable.”
Devarius eyed the captain. “Watch.”
“Excuse me?”
Devarius gestured to the water and repeated, “Watch.”
Ayla dove into the water and disappeared for several long seconds. When she flew back out, she carried a large fish in her jaw. She flew over to them and landed on the railing of the ship. Tilting her head back, she gulped down the fish.
Tynaer clenched his teeth. “Fine.”
Devarius shrugged. “The ship is out of rats. Now you won’t have to worry anymore about feeding a starving wyvern.”
Tynaer scowled. “Just make sure it doesn’t take off.”
“She,” Devarius corrected.
“Excuse me?”
“The wyvern is a she.”
“And how do you know that?” Tynaer asked. “Never mind … I don’t want to know.”
“Do you think the men on the ship would like fish for supper?”
Tynaer raised an eyebrow.
“I’m sure Ayla could round up some fish for the chef.”
Tynaer rolled his eyes.
Devarius rubbed his hands together. “Ayla? Do you think you could catch some fish for all of us to eat?”
Ayla’s neck reared back as she studied the two of them. She glanced out to the ocean, then back to them, and nodded. Her blue scales glistened when she took flight as the suns’ light reflected off of her.
Devarius watched as she dove into the water and came back up with a tuna in her jaws. She flew over the ship and opened her jaws as she passed. The large fish dropped from the sky and bounced across the wooden deck of the ship. Everyone on deck ceased their tasks and watched as she dove into the water and made another pass, this time dropping a swordfish on the deck. Both fish flopped around as the men stared at the wyvern in wonder as she dove back into the water.
Tynaer wrinkled his nose, then turned to face the men on deck. “Well? Don’t just stand there, collect the fish to clean!”