22 of @@DarkWitt's Hypnovember 2022
Story from @@TiranMaster
Art from @@MithgarX

Vote for Kai Tyde by favoriting the original submission here!
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/49926681/

“Dude, have you heard this song?” Teryx backed up as his friend thrust his phone in front of him, showing off a song from someone named “Kai-tyde”. The dragon grimaced, that name was becoming well known to him by this point. It seemed like this new dragon had come into the city just earlier this week, and ever since then had been making waves.

“I’ve heard of Kai-Tyde, but can’t say I’ve heard the music,” Teryx said, pushing the wolf’s hand back with a polite smile. “Sorry, can’t listen, I gotta get going.” He’d been coming over to drop off some DVDs he’d borrowed from Trevor, but when he’d knocked, the wolf hadn’t answered. Walking inside, he’d found the wolf listening to the music, strangely limp in his seat aside from his head beating to the music. It hadn’t been until he’d been about to leave that the wolf seemed to notice him, his eyes seeming to almost glow with the light from the phone.

“No, you gotta listen to this man,” Trevor said, reaching out to grab Teryx. Pulling back, the blue dragon scowled as he shook his head. Trevor was concerning him, the wolf was practically looming over him, The jingle of earrings briefly caught his attention... Wait, did he have those just a moment ago? “Dude, just… fuckin’.... listen to this shit!” Trevor lurched forward in an attempt to grab Teryx, but being smaller, the dragon managed to slide out from underneath his arms.

“What’s gotten into you?!” Teryx asked, pushing his friend until the wolf fell over onto the ground, his phone and earbuds bouncing across the floor, the faint sound of music able to be heard even from this distance. “Get your head out of your ass!” Teryx ran out the front door and slammed it behind him, gasping a few times for air as he shook his head. “What’s going on?” he growled, shaking his head slowly.
Something was recently taking hold of Cognizant... or perhaps several somethings? He knew there were powerful hypnotists at play, as was initially advertised when they all first arrived, but the dragon couldn’t help but consider all the rumors. Teryx glanced backwards nervously, knowing that he needed to get out of here before Trevor burst out and really tried to get ahold of him. Jumping onto his bike, the rain dragon kicked the bike into gear, sliding a helmet on his head and taking off down the road. People on the sidewalks were a variety of different strange, some dressed up in punk outfits, others in military-esque gear. A very serious thought passed through Teryx’s head of taking off and getting out of the city, maybe a vacation was in order for a little while.

Splattered across several brick walls along the road were hastily pasted posters put up by a variety of people with headphones on. All of them promoted the same thing, “Kai-Tyde’s Blast Out!” It had an image of the yellow dragon flashing the horns on the poster, his eyes mischievous in the poster, it made Teryx sick to look at. It didn’t take a genius to realize that the dragon must be the reason behind Trevor’s transformation, as well as that of the many people putting up his posters.

“If I got a chance...” he grumbled to himself, but Teryx knew that it was likely a bad idea to engage with the rockstar. Just from the image, he got the feeling that the dragon was pretty strong, and if the people on the streets were so devoted to him it would stand to reason he’d have a posse of punks with him. Some of these hypnotists had serious followings, but this guy was a Mastermind, and they were playing on a completely different level. “I think... I need to get home and get out of here.” With that said, the dragon nodded to himself before ripping down the road, gunning the motor as he drove down the streets of Cognizant.

***
Kai looked up at the sky, the sun’s descent starting to color the sky in a cascade of reds and yellow that lit up the streets nicely. Though the concert wouldn’t be for another hour, the plaza he’d occupied for his show was already flooded with fans. Clearly enthralled with others having been dragged along. A few groups had come in trying to halt the progression of the concert, but it didn’t take long for Kai-Tyde’s devoted listeners to convince them to give the music a shot.. The dragon grinned wide as a gang of jackals were busy working away to construct the stage that Kai-Tyde would be singing on.

“Have ya got your band yet, boss?” Rail asked, the leader of the Jackals standing at his side, looking at him with his devoted glowing eyes.

“Most of ‘em,” Kai-Tyde said, stroking his chin as he looked out at the crowd. He’d come across several talented stars here and there, though he’d yet to find the proper second to back him up on the stage. The dragon’s eyes trailed across the crowd, always looking for that presence that would help bring up the presence on the stage. His mind flashed to his brother, a small sigh escaping him as he wished he’d have another dragon to help him really bring the show together. “We have a few more hours to the show,” he said to Rail, “we have time.”

The jackal nodded eagerly, moving off to help his fellow Jackals continue the work on the stage while Kai leaned up against a wall. Some of his fans were taking pictures of him, one cluster of punks of them even being so bold as to ask if he wanted to step into a backroom to have some fun before the show started. “Sorry, got too much on my plate right now. There are plenty of fish in this sea though, if you want to wet your whistle before the show,” he chuckled, winking as they went off to find others who would fill their appetites.

In the distance, Kai heard the telltale grumble of a motor, the noise striking a pang of loss as he remembered the bike he’d been riding on just a couple of days prior. Glancing off, he saw someone jumping off of the bike, looking at the nearby crowd anxiously. The dragon’s eyes widened and he slid his sunglasses up to get a better look at the distant figure, a smirk sneaking its way on his face as a few of his fans glanced at him curiously. “C’mon, boys,” he said to a few of them, a mischievous grin now residing on his face. “I think I found myself a dragon to back me up.”

***
Teryx couldn’t help but nervously glance over his shoulder while throwing all of his stuff he’d need for a trip into a bag. None off that giant crowd had been too interested in him, but that didn’t stop the dragon from being cautious. If they cornered him in his home, he wouldn’t stand a chance. “Focus,” he silently cursed himself, shaking away the thoughts as he zipped up his bag and threw it over his shoulder. “Gotta get toiletries, a bite to eat, and then I’m out.”

A sound outside of the rain dragon’s front door made him stop in the middle of the hallway, his hand inches away from the doorknob to the bathroom. Teryx froze, waiting for another sound... but there was nothing. “Good,” he the bathroom door and went to ransack it for what he needed. Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, scale sh- another noise, this time it sounded... closer. The dragon felt his jaw clench as his hand landed on the scale polish, his head whipping around to stare at the still open door to his bathroom. Had that noise been inside of his house? “Hello?” he called out, his voice echoing in the suddenly too quiet bathroom.

Had Trevor come all this way to get Teryx to listen to that music? Had someone from the crowd come byto ransack his place? The dragon glanced over at the bathroom window; it would be too small to crawl through. “Damn!” he hissed, zipping up his backpack once more before straightening up. “I’m a dragon! Don’t mess with me!” he yelled, hoping to scare off whoever might’ve come into his room.

“Oh, I know,” a deep voice said from the hallway, Teryx’s eyes widening as Kai-Tyde leaned into the doorframe, his massive frame easily filling out the small opening. From somewhere behind him, the rain dragon could hear the snickering of others. “Sup?, Name’s Kai-Tyde, got a job for you for you,” the dragon purred, grinning wide.

Backing up, Teryx dropped his bag as his legs suddenly felt very weak and his wings flapped a few times anxiously. “You... you’re... you changed Trevor...”

The rockstar blinked, rubbing his chin like he was trying to recall something. “I’ve met some Trevors before, but none that I’ve done anything to recently. He must’ve heard some of my music. He’s got taste,” he chuckled. Laughter quietly erupted behind him, Kai-Tyde seemed to puff up at the sound. “Now, what’s your name?”

For a moment Teryx considered not answering him, perhaps trying to push past him... but it was clear that with Kai-Tyde’s sheer mass and the people behind the dragon, it wouldn’t be that easy to escape. “Teryx,” he said simply, shrinking back as Kai entered the bathroom.

“Well, Teryx, I’m in need of someone on the stage with me. I’ve got a nice band going, but I need another dragon to help back me up on stage. Be my backup vocalist, shreddin’ the stage with me, almost like a little bro.” Kai’s presence was intoxicating, he smelled of leather, of drinks, and of sex. Teryx knew he was trapped, but even so he tried to put on a brave face as he decided to stand his ground, standing up straight.

“Get the hell out of my house,” he snarled, glaring at the dragon who was causing so much trouble for so many people. The laughter outside erupted again, Kai Tyde held up his arms in a disarming gesutre, but it was clearly a mockery. “Oooh alright, big man, You definitely got some bite to you~.”

Kai-Tyde looked impressed for a moment, but then just started to laugh as he grabbed Teryx by the arm and pushed him up against the bathroom wall. “But no, I don’t think I will, Teryx,” he said, grinning wide, showing off his mouthful of sharp teeth. Now against the wall, Teryx saw several people in the hallway, a few jackals and a couple of others, all of them grinning wide. Kai Tyde started to tap the wall with his dominant hand. [i]Thump, thump, thump, thump.[/i] Creating a rhythm for himself. The other punks out in the hallway stamped their feet. Creating a bit of a beat to back him up. “When I want something, Teryx, I find that I can get my way rather easily. Now why don’t you show off your teeth for me, [b]grin for me, Teryx[/b], show me the dragon that’s gonna be my backup.”

The rain dragon grunted as he was held against the wall, forced to stare up into that intimidating face, the many sharp teeth, and Kai-Tyde’s glowing eyes. “No... get away from me... I don’t want to!” Teryx said, pushing feebly against the massive dragon.

“[b]Grin, and bare your soul, Teryx. Show me that rockin’ spirit[/b],” Kai-Tyde purred, his voice resonating deep in his chest, strangely amplified somehow. Teryx’s eyes fluttered, a small moan escaping him as he felt his mind ring with the power of that voice. It was a voice that knew commands, ordered them freely, and expected them to be obeyed.

A weak pull at the edges of Teryx’s mouth signaled his body’s desire to comply, he could so easily [b]Grin[/b], it wouldn’t take that much effort. “S-Stop it, I’m not your plaything,” he snarled. Some of his strength came flooding back, and with a surprised grunt Kai was thrown back as Teryx gave a mighty heave. It happened so quickly, the others out in the hall barely had a moment to react as the rain dragon tore out of the bathroom, shoving past them, and racing towards the front door. “Fuck, fuck!” he hissed to himself, hoping to escape before Kai-Tyde could catch him.

When he reached the front door, Teryx grunted when he found the deadbolt was still firmly in place. The rain dragon’s hands fumbled with the pair of locks, giving Kai-Tyde enough time to bear down on him. Once again Teryx was back against the wall, this time with more force, cracking the door behind him as Kai-Tyde stared at him with intense glee. “YES!” the dragon roared, laughing as his minions stood back and watched with wide grins of their own. “THAT’S WHAT I WANT, TERYX!” His voice was enormous, a crashing tide befitting his name, Teryx found himself feeling a thousand times smaller than the dragon that loomed over him.

“I-” his voice was so small, nothing compared to the massive beast of a rockstar.

“Now, do as I say, Teryx,” Kai-Tyde purred, his voice now scarily quiet, his eyes glowing that bright purple. The thumping came back. Almost tribal, almost instinctual. Kai bobbed his head, blonde mane swishing ever so slightly, Teryx’s own starting to glow subtly as a beat started somewhere off in the distance, perhaps a sound check from the concert stage, or possibly emanating from Kai-Tyde himself. “[b]Grin, Teryx, Grin and back me up.[/b]”

For a brief moment, Teryx resisted... and then slowly... oh so slowly, his face pulled into a grin, his eyes starting to glow a bright purple that matched Kai-Tyde’s own. His clothes started to change, shirt ripping down the middle to become a new vest that showed off the blue scales underneath, his hair shifting into groomed spikes lining down his head. The dragon found himself [b]Grinning[/b], and he loved it as Kai-Tyde [b]Grinned[/b] right back at him. “Now, there ya go, was that so hard, Teryx?”

“Nah, boss,” Teryx groaned, straightening up as Kai-Tyde backed up. He looked down to see his new accessories, a black choker around his neck, his pants having become tight black pants that wrapped nicely around his ass, better to show off in. The dragon before could only play the guitar a little, but with the power affecting him, a new knowledge flooded him that he knew he could shred with the best of them. “So, when are we going on stage?” Teryx asked, his claws itching to rip across the strings of a guitar.

“Soon, Teryx. C’mon, let me introduce ya to the rest of the band,” Kai said, throwing a arm around his newest band member as the others followed behind, all of them [b]Grinning[/b] all the way to the street.