The third entry in my and Anonymous' roleplay universe. It follows the same two characters from the last story, and name drops a certain group that will become more prevalent later.

———

Tudor and Luna once again found themselves soaring over their favorite forest, though in a different sector and under much different circumstances. It had been a year or so since their exploits at the quarry, an event that had earned them quite a bit of notoriety as well as official air watchmen jobs. Their kit had been upgraded in kind; the man carried supplies in a sturdy backpack, while the blue dragoness wore a customary utility harness with several tool pouches built in.

Humid fog gradually became visible over the trees as they flew, with grey mud pits peeking up sporadically from beneath their shade. This was the swamp they'd been hired to survey. Dull booms rolled over the landscape, some from the nearby battlefield, others from the dark clouds gathering on the horizon. Luna's brow and throat tensed slightly; she tried to hide it, but human warfare disturbed her.

-

"You doing okay there, Luna? I know this isn't the most comfortable of patrols for you," Tudor asked, putting a reassuring hand on her blue scales. He knew this was not her ideal environment and had expressed concern over the route. But Luna and Tudor were dedicated despite their personal feelings. It was good for the Guardian Beasts to have a physical presence in the area.

-

"I'll... be fine," Luna spoke solemnly with another mournful glance to the skyline. "I take solace knowing we're here to help rather than harm."

Looking on, she noticed two dust trails tearing away from the flashes in the distance, one following significantly further behind the other. "Speaking of..." she said, observing carefully. Given their speed and the urgency of their turns, Luna guessed they were vehicles taking injured souls away from battle.

The foremost halted at a seemingly random point. Luna squinted past the shadows and barely made out a group of camouflaged medical tents. The camp looked small and bare-bones; there were no vehicles other than the small humvee that had just parked, and another truck that Luna assumed had brought the site's now-scattered equipment.

Her eyes panned back to the other trail, which she could now see was much larger than the first. 'No wonder it's lagging so far behind. That must be a lot of people. Does the med team even know they're coming?'

As she considered going ahead to warn them, the trail suddenly stopped far short of its assumed destination. "That's odd..." Luna muttered, hovering closer. The beige clouds moved no further. "Tudor, do you see what I see?" She asked over her shoulder.

-

Tudor followed her head and looked through his binoculars to see a large armoured vehicle stuck in a mud pit. Zooming in, the logo on its side was unmistakable.

"Luna, that's an armoured medical transport. It's trapped and sinking, I think we are going to be needed," the young man relayed with composure.

-

Luna's eyes widened in shock at his words. She briefly looked back over at the encampment, thinking to alert them but realizing they would have nothing heavy duty enough to help. Grimacing, she dove dead ahead.

"Oh no," she whispered as she touched down and dashed over to the pit. The truck had already reached a considerable depth due to its weight, making the rear hatch unviable to extract its passengers.

"If you can hear us, we're going to get you out!" She called out to them, glancing at Tudor and trusting him to follow procedure alongside her.

-

"I can't hear anything inside, they must be out cold from the impact." As Tudor formulated a plan, he noticed heavy duty chains attached to the vehicle. He looked over and thanked the stars Luna had worn her harness.

"No time for backup but… think you can manage an airborne lift?"

-

Luna had the same thought and managed a confident half-smile despite the tense situation. "It'll be close, but I believe I can," she said, flexing her wings. "I've been conditioning myself ever since our close call at the mine. Hold on!"

Luna flew over to the center of the pit and hovered. Grabbing the heavy chains one at a time, she handed them up to Tudor on her back, who connected them to her harness loops.

-

The chains themselves were modern and heavy duty; Tudor expected (hoped) them to be durable enough. Once all were linked up, Tudor climbed up and sat on her back in the harness, strapping himself in.

"Okay Luna, all set. When you're ready, let's heave and lift!" He said, giving her a pat on the shoulder.

-

Luna tightened her jaw. She could already feel herself being dragged down by the suction, and it took some effort just to stalemate it.

"Hmm-mmf! Here goes!" She spoke huskily, pumping her shoulder muscles hard. The *WHOOSH WHOOSH* of her wingbeats rushed in Tudor's ears as she strained upward.

-

The chains went tight as Luna now fought against the weight of the vehicle and the suction effect of the mud. Tudor held on as he glanced down to see her progress.

"That's it, Luna, heave and lift!" The man encouraged the dragoness.

-

Luna's heart warmed as always at the sound of her partner's motivating words. Measuring her breaths, she struggled hard to ascend.

"I won't... let you fall..." she gritted out, wings flapping faster and head craning towards the darkening sky. But the vehicle didn't seem to be budging. In fact, Tudor noticed with dread that it still gradually sank.

-

"Gonna have to heave and lift harder, Luna! I'm secure, go for it!" Tudor assuaged the blue dragoness.

-

"Hhhfffff!" Luna panted, increasing her wing speed while still pacing herself. The chains went tighter, twisting slightly from the tension, and the dragon managed to halt the truck's descent. Still she was struggling to actually raise it, her fangs bared from the effort.

-

"That's it, come on girl! And heave!" He coaxed, hearing creaking from the chains and truck as the dragoness tried to lift it.

-

"I'm trying, Tudor! Errf!" She groaned. "So… heavy…!"

The pretty dragoness pumped her strong wings even harder, prompting another groan from the steel beneath.

-

"You're doing well girl, keep lifting! Aaand heave!" Tudor echoed his signature call as the dragoness tried to heft the truck up, the chains creaking and groaning under strain.

-

"HRRRRRGH!" Luna pushed herself, flapping as hard as she could, and the truck moved up an inch. But she could feel her shoulder muscles tiring, having not exercised them as much as the rest of her body. She wasn't used to this type of pulling, and she could feel herself steadily losing the ground she'd just gained.

"T-Tudor can you, huff, rub the bases of my, huff, wings please?" She asked between pants.

-

"Of course, you just keep pumping those wings," Tudor directed as he gently rubbed her second set of shoulders. The man could feel the swelling and heat coming from them, and he noticed she had started to sweat as well from working hard.

"Come on Luna, lift and heave!" He persuaded again while kneading her base wing muscles.

-

"Bless, ERRRGH!" She grunted. "This is really, nnn, difficult!"

-

"You can do it Luna, lift and heave!" Tudor pressed, massaging deeper into her wing muscles. "Lift!" He repeated, seeing her trying hard.

-

"NNNNNGH!!" Luna cried out as she went into overdrive. It was almost unnoticeable, but gradually the mud began to yield to the powerful dragoness, losing its grip on her cargo.

*creeeeeak TINK!* One of the chain links half-snapped from the weight, throwing off Luna's balance. She and Tudor both showed concern on their faces as they watched the chains struggle and fail to raise the vehicle up, but they had to keep going.

-

"Keep at it Luna, heave and lift!" The heat coming off Luna's wing muscles was intense, and Tudor could even see veins showing through their thin scales as she tried hard to lift. With the chains buckling, he knew something in their strategy needed to change soon.

-

Luna sweat harder in the rising humidity and her wing muscles began to ache. Tudor's palpations were a godsend but the task at hand was still immensely difficult for her.

*TINK!* Hearing another link pop, Luna knew she'd have to do -it- again. She'd practiced tapping into her ancestral strength on command, but wasn't proficient at it yet. Still, she had to try.

Luna closed her eyes and began whispering her key phrase of choice. "It's got to give. Heave."

-

Tudor heard Luna start to tap into her inner strength, straining loudly from the sheer weight that burdened her. That was it!

"You can do it Luna, you're so strong! It's got to give, heave!" He joined his voice to hers.

-

"It's got to give! HEAVE!" Luna repeated louder, forcing her wings downward. Raindrops started to fall, running down the dragon's scaly hide and helping to cool her off. She silently hoped that they would also soften the mud.

"It's got to give! HEAVE!" Another powerful flap. The chains protested loudly with each slight ascension she made. Although none had fully broken yet, many of their links now bore dangerous cracks and deformities from the incessant tug of war.

"It's got to give! HEA—!" Lightning flashed and thunder exploded overhead, briefly drowning out all mortal voices. The rainfall intensified in their wake, and suddenly mount and rider could barely hear each other. Luna could only imagine what it sounded like inside the tin can.

"It's got to give!! HEAVE!!" She shouted defiantly towards the heavens.

-

"This is gonna get a lot tougher on you Luna, don't give up!" Tudor emboldened the dragon. Rain poured around them, cooling her sore muscles, but he could still spy the veins under the scales near her wings.

-

By now their surroundings were hewn from little more than shades of blue and black, occasionally lit up searing white by another cacophonous bolt, or wrathful orange by puffs of stressed flame from Luna's nostrils. The dragon's perspiration was indistinguishable from the rain running down her skin, and the chains continued to buckle as she strained harder and higher, persisting in her chant regardless of its nigh-inaudibility.

A sharp vibration rang through Luna's harness, and she looked down to see one of the fetters had finally snapped. Yet three remained, and she was making undeniable progress despite running herself ragged.

-

"Keep at it Luna, keep working hard and heave!" Tudor pushed her on as she strained along with the chains. He heard the three creak and groan as the vehicle wasn't lifting up anymore.

"You can do it Luna!" He said.

-

Luna had to shout over the rain. "I don't... know, Tudor! The mmm-mud's resisting me! It won't let go!" Her wing muscles were seizing up, unable to flap any faster. "And I'm already putting hummingbirds to shame here. Huff…"

-

"You've got to keep going girl, you got this!" Tudor motivated his steed, patting her shoulder as she kept at it, but the vehicle weight strained her muscles.

-

Luna had started to dip lower again. "Do you have... anything in your... pack that can help?" She gasped desperately over another clap of thunder.

-

"Hrmm… I've got a steroid and adrenaline booster for you, but its meant for emergencies," Tudor explained. Luna's wings looked sore, swollen and tired, but he felt uneasy using these on his friend.

-

Luna's throat tightened at Tudor's suggestion. She seriously considered it; maybe it would be worth it to save these people just once? But what if the after effects kept her from doing it ever again?

She couldn't. Pushing her limits was one thing. Burning out was another. She would have to power through.

"I... it's too risky. I'll go without, but thank you," she excused, hoping she was making the right choice. Ignoring the burning in her wings, she shoved ahead. Luna wanted to go on helping as many people as possible after this. And more than that, she wanted to be around for Tudor as long as she could.

Another chain popped beneath her, urging her onward. She couldn't help but overthink her friend's feelings at what she'd said, and added, "I love you. I promise I won't let you down. I won't let... anyone down!"

-

Tudor smiled and laid his hand on her water slick scales. "I love you too Luna, you can do this. And if you need the boosters, they are here," Tudor noted gently, seeing the last two chains strain. "Let's go for broke, keep to your chant and rhythm," he instructed. They had to get this armoured vehicle up and to firmer ground no matter what.

-

Luna had barely been able to stay afloat up until this point, holding the truck in a limbo that she'd steadily been losing. But once Tudor's comforting hand laid across her back, something finally clicked in the dragoness's soul. She swelled with energy and her wings suddenly felt light as an angel's.

She knew this feeling all too well.

"It's got to give! HEAVE!" She shouted confidently. Her wings created a veritable tempest as she raised them high and swung them down. A loud squeak was heard below as the chain links ground together and the transport raised a whole inch.

-

"Your doing amazing Luna, you can do it girl!" Tudor hollered excitedly as Luna heaved and lifted. The vehicle came up an inch again, and Tudor felt the blue dragoness had this.

But the lake would not give up so easily; the vacuum left by the vehicle caught, and soon progress stalled.

"Keep at it Luna, keep with the chant!" The young man said, seeing veins return to her flight muscles.

-

"Mmmf! It's... got to… give! H-HEAVE!!" Luna grunted, forcing herself and her cargo to rise once more. Another chain burst with her harrowed wingbeat and cry, leaving only one that was already weakened and overtaxed.

-

"I don't know if that chain can hold it, you might have to use your talons if it goes," Tudor warned. Creaking and straining could be heard as Luna lifted as hard as she could.

-

Luna flapped desperately, the truck ascending faster the more of its mass cleared the mud. It was almost free. She could get it out before that happened. She—

*Rrrrrrk k-k-KINK!* Luna and Tudor yelled as a sudden release of tension sent them a dozen feet skyward in a single heartbeat. Without support, the truck began to sink slowly back down at an awkward angle.

"NO!" Luna cried. Instinctively, she swooped back down and grasped onto it with all four limbs, hooking her claws under its armor plates.

-

"We need to get this up, come on Luna, dig deep girl!" Tudor spurred Luna on as he saw her claws dig in securely. They had to get it back up and free, but time was against them. Luna had to push past any strain or fatigue to get the people to safety.

-

"Hufffff!" Luna grunted, wings pumping furiously. This angle was even more cumbersome, and she was having a hard time keeping her grip on the smooth metal.

-

"Keep at it Luna, you can do it!" Tudor called as her limbs trembled under the load. Tudor put his hand on her bulging shoulder as she tried and struggled.

"You got this, it's got to give, heave!" Tudor chanted along with her, as he knew she would respond well.

-

Luna's jaws were clenched so tightly with strain that she could barely speak. She would rise a few inches only to fumble and be forced to adjust her grip, losing her progress each time.

"It's... got to... AH!"

*SHRIIEEK* her claws went as they raked over the steel once more.

-

"Come on Luna, you got this!" Tudor cheered as progress was being made. Her claws had now found purchase, and the blue dragoness was bringing the vehicle up, the mud losing its grip.

Tudor was proud and impressed at Luna's determination and power. "Your doing great, girl!" He said.

-

After several failures, Luna had gotten the vehicle high enough to firmly latch under its plates. She huffed and heaved with all her might, muscles afire.

Several inches. Then a foot. Then four. The mud gurgled vilely, the rainfall and Luna's efforts softening it until it could no longer hold its prey captive.

"Let... GO!!" Luna roared as she yanked the truck free with a loud squelch. With ridiculous strength she carried it to shore, laying it down as tenderly as she could before collapsing beside it in an azure heap.

-

"Luna! You did great girl! Are you okay?" Tudor asked the tired blue dragoness as he hastily unbuckled. She had really done well, and saved those in the vehicle.

-

The exhausted dragon's voice was but a ghostly whisper. "Never... better..." she chuckled painfully. "Don't worry about me, quickly, go check on the truck. *Cough cough!*"

-

"Okay, I'll go check them out and call for an air ambulance. But I'll be back for you. Rest up, you did so well," Tudor praised, giving her a loving pet on her sweating muzzle before going to check the others.

———

Luna the dragon is owned by IndigoPulsar.
Tudor the human and the Guardian Beast organization are owned by Anonymous.