Chapter 99 - Chapter 101

"The air nomads that live in the four temples today is not how we were in the beginning. In fact, the ancient air nomads were, how to say this... A more aggressive group of people."

"Go on. You piqued my interest." Dragon sat down.

"Wind is one of the most powerful elements in the world. It has incredible potential for murder and mass destruction if mastered to a high enough degree. And this is exactly what the ancient air nomads did."

"The first people to migrate to these lands before the construction of the southern air temple did not possess air bending."

"And this is where the eagles come in I presume?" Dragon asked with a neutral tone.

"Yes, you are correct. The ancient air nomads were a more prideful and aggressive group of people. And because of that, they connected with the prideful and arrogant giant eagles.

"As far as our history books go, we know that the eagles are a lot older than the sky bison. And they were the ones to teach our ancestors how to use air bending. But because of the eagle's nature, they only taught humans how to use the art of bending to inflict pain on others."

"The thing is. We thought that the Eagles were extinct. Where did you find him?" Gyatso pointed at Orlando.

"On another mountain. His name is Orlando, though I had no idea you already had such a majestic name. King Eagle, quite good." Dragon said and smiled while looking at Orlando who was trying to make himself seem bigger.

"You named him?" Gyatso asked in surprise.

"Yeah, he was against it at first, but we eventually figured it out."

"Incredible. You managed to contract a king eagle. Never thought I would see something like this in my lifetime." Gyatso leaned back and sighed.

"What do you mean contract?"

"Like we do with sky bison. But we enter more of a peaceful partnership. From the legends and stories. The only way the ancient nomads could get a King eagle to follow them around and enter a partnership would be to dominate them in battle. Did you fight Orlando?" Gyatso already knew the answer but he asked anyway.

"Yes. Orlando is strong but of course, he didn't hold up against me for long." Dragon smiled with pride.

"Well, all I can say is congratulations. Just the fact that it allowed itself to be named shows that he most likely already accepted you as someone worthy to follow." Gyatso said and looked at Orlando.

"Is that true, Orlando?" Dragon looked back at the King eagle.

"KAA"

"So are you saying Gyatso is lying?" Dragon questioned the angelic white eagle looking at him.

"Dragon, if you can understand Orlando like we understand sky bison speech, then that means he truly has accepted you. And nothing will change that. And as with our bison's, no matter the distance, you two will always have a connection to each other."

"Fantastic. Now we can travel the world together, partner!" Dragon stood next to Orlando and stroked his wing.

"KAA!" Orlando flapped his wings and screamed at the top of his lungs. Dragon had to dive after Aang because the poor boy was about to leave the mountain in a not so pleasant manner.

"Don't worry, Aang. Orlando is just excited, that is all. He was happy screaming." Dragon felt the boy shaking in fear. So he did his best to calm Aang down.

"Orlando! You are scaring my student." Dragon's voice penetrated the storm and Orlando stopped flapping his wings.

"How about you continued practising. I have something to take care off with Orlando. He is a little hurt so I need to fix that." Aang nodded and walked away with somewhat shaky legs.

---

A day had passed and Dragon and Aang were training as usual. It was only the two of them present on the plateau.

Dragon had observed Orlando ever since they met and he was now attempting to learn how to fly. And not how Gyatso was doing it. He revealed that he didn't know how to really fly freely in the air. He only knew how to float above the ground.

All of a sudden a storm kicked up as a giant eagle zoomed passed them. Orlando that was promised rocks for dinner left to find his own meal somewhere. And Dragon had to hold onto Aang or he would fly off the mountain every time Orlando landed or even flapped his wings.

"So, did you find something to eat, you baby," Dragon asked Orlando and dropped Aang back on the ground.

"KAA!"

"Good, and I will not stop calling you a baby. You cry about everything despite being over a hundred years old. And you can't even eat some rocks. A BABY!" Dragon yelled at Orlando.

"You two have quite the relationship." Gyatso came walking up the path with the usual smile on his face.

"KAA!"

"What? You have a problem with Gyatso now? Whatever it is. Get over it." Dragon turned to Gyatso and ignored his partner.

"Time for Aang to go home?"

"Yes, Aang, come one. If you hurry up there might be some cake left at home for you." Gyatso barely finished talking before Aang rushed past him at light speed. He disappeared from view, and Gyatso sighed and shook his head to the strained laughter coming from Dragon.

"Dragon, I also came to warn you. I have been having a bad feeling for a while now. I do not know the root of the feeling, but something evil is on the rise. Be careful, I do not know what it is, but whatever it is. It is bad, very bad."

"I understand. I will make sure to keep my eyes peeled at all times." Dragon cupped his hands and bowed, Gyatso also did the same and left with Aang.

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End