Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Canna stepped back into the sanctuary, his presence heralded by the towering figure of Stormrend, the newly hatched hydra, at his side. As soon as Stormrend's massive form crossed the threshold of the portal, it unleashed a deafening roar that echoed through the entire domain.

The sound was so powerful that it seemed to shake the very earth, and for a brief moment, everyone within the sanctuary froze in shock and awe.

But when they saw Canna standing calmly in front of the hydra, their fear quickly subsided. The inhabitants knew their master well, and if Canna stood firm beside this new creature, then it must be a new ally. Whispers of curiosity and excitement rippled through the crowd, especially among the children, who were the first to approach, their eyes wide with wonder.

Stormrend lowered its heads, all three of them focusing on the approaching group with a mixture of curiosity and caution. The hydra's serpentine eyes gleamed with a strange intelligence as it observed the children, who in turn marveled at its imposing form.

Canna smiled as he turned to Stormrend, speaking in a calm but firm voice. "These children, and everyone else here, are inhabitants of our sanctuary. There are many races here, not just humans. They're under my protection, and by extension, they're under yours as well. Don't attack or cause trouble for anyone, alright?"

Stormrend responded with a low growl, a sound that reverberated like distant thunder, and then dipped its heads in a nod. It was a gesture that, while simple, carried a weight of understanding. Encouraged by this, some of the braver children stepped forward to touch its scales, their hands tentatively grazing the hydra's shimmering, storm-forged armor.

Stormrend, far from reacting aggressively, even spread its wings wide, showing off the full expanse of its impressive wingspan.

Canna chuckled softly to himself, thinking, Show off.

This interaction was worlds apart from what he had experienced with Stormbringer. The apex dragon had been a real handful right from the start. Even in its infancy, Stormbringer had reached a staggering 100 feet in length within just a few weeks of hatching.

Its dominant and aggressive attitude made it difficult to manage, and there had even been an instance where Stormbringer had nearly mauled Grimruk, the black orc, during what the dragon considered 'play.' The memory of Stormbringer's hunger-driven attack on Canna himself still lingered, a constant reminder of the dragon's untamed nature.

Because of this, Canna had refrained from introducing Stormbringer to the sanctuary's inhabitants, often leaving the massive dragon in its cave, where it preferred to sleep for most of the time.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Stormrend, however, was different. Through their newly formed bond, Canna could sense the hydra's genuine curiosity about its surroundings, the new people, and everything else within the sanctuary. This was a stark contrast to Stormbringer, who had never shown interest in anything other than Canna himself.

Stormrend's inquisitive nature made it much easier for Canna to introduce the creature to the sanctuary's inhabitants, especially the children, who were now happily exploring every inch of the hydra's scales and wings.

As the minutes passed, Canna could feel that Stormrend was growing more comfortable in its new environment. The hydra allowed the children to pet it, occasionally nuzzling them with one of its heads, much to their delight. But eventually, Canna noticed a subtle shift in Stormrend's demeanor—a restlessness that hinted it had had its fill of attention for now.

The hydra spread its massive wings, the powerful muscles rippling beneath its armored skin, and with a mighty push, it launched itself into the sky.

Canna followed suit, leaping into the air with practiced ease, his own mana propelling him upward to match the hydra's altitude. The two of them soared high above the sanctuary, the wind whipping through their hair and feathers. Canna's tiny owl companion, Noctis, perched comfortably atop his head, ruffled its feathers contentedly, clearly enjoying the sensation of the wind rushing past.

"Stormrend," Canna called out, his voice carrying effortlessly through the air, "all of this land is mine, and as my companion, you're free to explore anywhere you like. There's plenty to see and do here. You should meet your brother Stormbringer at some point, but he's just finished a war and has gone back to his favorite activity—sleeping." Canna chuckled, the sound carried away by the breeze.

Stormrend responded with a triumphant roar, a sound that resonated with both the thrill of freedom and the joy of new beginnings.

The day passed in a blur of exploration and discovery. Canna and Stormrend flew over the vast expanse of the sanctuary, taking in the breathtaking views of lush forests, sparkling rivers, and towering trees. From above, the sanctuary looked like a paradise, untouched by the wars that raged outside its borders.

Canna pointed out the various landmarks—the training grounds where warriors honed their skills, the serene gardens tended by the sanctuary's caretakers, and the great area filled with in-training warriors.

As they flew, Canna could feel the bond between them growing stronger. Stormrend's curiosity was insatiable; it wanted to see everything, to understand the place it now called home. They swooped low over the treetops, startling a flock of birds that took flight in a burst of color. They circled the towering peaks of the trees, where the air was thin and crisp.

They even dipped down to skim across the surface of a lake, where the reflection of the sky made it seem as though they were flying through a world of endless blue.

Noctis, perched atop Canna's head, occasionally flitted off to explore on its own, only to return moments later with a satisfied hoot. The tiny owl's clones were busy mapping out every corner of the sanctuary, ensuring that Canna would have the most detailed and up-to-date information about his domain.

By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, both Canna and Stormrend were feeling the pleasant fatigue that came with a day well spent. They landed back in the heart of the sanctuary, where the inhabitants were beginning to gather for the evening.

The children, who had spent the day in awe of Stormrend, ran up excitedly, eager to hear about the hydra's adventures.

Canna landed in the ground with a smile, watching as Stormrend settled down, its three heads lowering to the ground as if inviting the children to come closer once more. The hydra, despite its fearsome appearance, had shown a surprising gentleness with the sanctuary's youngest members, and Canna couldn't help but feel a swell of pride.

"This is just the beginning, Stormrend," Canna murmured, more to himself than to the hydra. "There's so much more for you to see, and so much more for us to do together."

The hydra's central head turned to look at Canna, and for a moment, it almost seemed as though it understood exactly what he meant. Then, with a satisfied huff, it closed its eyes, content to rest after a day of new experiences.

As the last light of day faded into the warm glow of evening, Canna felt a deep sense of contentment. His sanctuary was thriving, his people were safe, and with allies like Stormrend and Stormbringer at his side, the future looked brighter than ever.