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 Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:48 pm
(May 1) GALERUS' JOURNAL
Today I did something I probably shouldn't have. Well, let me back up. Mouse was acting very strange, and then collapsed and fell asleep. Out of concern...no...out of curiosity I went and I...I read her journal. Or rather, I read what the journal would let me read. (Wanted me to read?)
Whatever. The journal only opened to two entries for me before it wouldn't open at all. From those entries, I've learned of a dragon of some sort called Morbus. Apparently Mouse only visits him at night. And there are others who have dragons of this kind.
There was a lot of other stuff in the two entries, some of it that I could sort of understand.
I get the picture that this Morbus is rather important to Mouse. I think I should go and meet him. But how?
. . .
As much as I hate to stick my neck out there, I'm going to have to dig around in the desk drawers. Mouse will flay me alive if she catches me.
. . .
I suppose I'd better start that search before I loose my nerve.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:49 pm
(May 1) Abject fear is not an easy thing to overcome...
...especially when the person you're so afraid of is Mouse. That was the thought echoing around in Galerus' head as he timidly approached the blue desk. True, his guardian hadn't actually done anything in the entire time he'd...belonged to?...lived with?...her. But, that didn't mean she couldn't start.
Mouse was one the biggest mystery Galerus had encountered in his short life. Sometimes, she was so nice and caring that he felt like he was floating in an ocean of warmth and love. Others...he shuddered involuntarily...other times she was so cold and cruel and hard, it was hard to believe she was a real person. And there was no real way to tell why she was one way one moment, and totally different the next.
Maybe this "Morbus" would know something about that.
Reminded of the reason why he was doing this crazy thing, Galerus fearfully slid the first desk drawer open with one hand, the other covering his eyes. When the drawer was fully withdrawn and nothing had attacked him, the hatling peeked through his fingers. Nothing in the drawer seemed alive...or magical. Gingerly, he began combing through the contents of the drawer.
This drawer didn't seem to contain anything useful. There were a lot of stones of various kinds: pearls and opals, moonstones and river rocks, and a few precious gemstones. Normally the boy would love to take these out and play with them, wondering at the ways they could catch the light. But today he was looking for something else. He wasn't even sure just what he was searching for, but he was certain that none of these stones fit the bill. As carefully as he'd opened the drawer, Galerus now closed it.
He moved down to the next drawer in the desk. This one was stuck, but the determined hatling planted his feet and pulled on the handle with all his might. It was a good thing, too, for this drawer was almost as heavy as he was. Long, sweating minutes later, he'd pulled the second drawer out as far as he could. He'd winced at every noise the thing had made, and had spent a good half of the time assuring himself that Mouse was sincerely still out of it and hadn't heard him.
Scanning the bulky and heavy contents of the drawer, Galerus' face fell in disappointment. Still not what he was looking for. And there were only two more drawers. One, the utensils drawer, he wouldn't be able to get to easily, as he'd have to pull the chair out first. The other...there was only one way to find out.
This drawer was important. The hatling was sure of it. Why else, then, he reasoned, would there be a mage-lock on it? This posed a serious problem...or was it a setback? He knew no real spells, nor how to do anything practical. How to get the drawer open?
Tongue sticking out slightly, Galerus leaned close to the keyhole, examining everything he could see. He didn't have the time, he felt, to try and find a key. But he had to get it open! He took several deep calming breaths, and then reached for the energy that was his magic. It came quickly and eagerly. Still taking slow breaths, he fed the magic into the keyhole, much like a lockpick. The boy's patience was rewarded when a quiet click tickled his ear. He smiled as the sweat on his forehead began to dry.
This last drawer now opened easily and silently. Upon looking inside, Galerus knew he'd hit the jackpot. The first item in the drawer was Mouse's rucksack. An obscure item that had once been used by the poor and the wanderers to transport their life's worth, Mouse always had it with her whenever she left the house. Galerus had never once seen the inside of the bag, or anything that had come out of it. But it must be pretty important to his guardian. He set the bag on the floor and continued looking in the drawer.
The next item to catch his eye nearly made him do a double-take. It was...Mouse's journal!? But...he knew her journal was right on the desktop! He even clambored onto the chair to verify it. But...here was an identical book, hidden in the drawer! The hatling carefully pulled this second book out. Thankfully, for his peace of mind, this one behaved just like a normal book. He could open it, close it, and open it again to the same page. However...it did him no good. This book was written in the same chickenscratch as the shorthand notes he'd seen on the desk earlier. If it was truly a written language, it had thwarted him. Sighing, the boy placed the journal next to the bag and turned back to the drawer.
Reaching into the drawer, Galerus pulled out...a cup. No, it was a goblet. A goblet he remembered seeing before. And crumpled into the cup part was a piece of paper written (thankfully!) in the common tongue of Gaia. He frowned. The paper had instructions to drink the contents of the goblet just before bed. Nothing more. What now? Had he invaded Mouse's privacy and risked losing his skin for nothing?
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:50 pm
(May 1) A setback...
Still holding the goblet, Galerus began to pace around the room. He'd been so close! And now...he was nearly back at the beginning. The hatling scanned the piece of paper again.
He stopped and stared, then closely examined the inside of the goblet, smiling finally. There was a bit of residue left. Grinning, he went and cleaned up the mess he'd made, save for the goblet and it's instructions.
Once finished with that, and over by his pallet, Galerus proceeded to lick up every drop of liquid and residue he could find on the goblet, and then curled up to go to sleep. A smirk crossed his face. This time...he'd get answers.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:53 pm
(May 11) What was gold is now but ash...
Morbus returned to the small pocket of Almahat he called home wiht a churning head and uneasy heart. The whole sensing of strange dragons, Kapu Ahi, topped by that cave...he shuddered. All in all, he just wanted to talk to Mouse. If anyone could, she'd surely understand something of what had passed.
But still he couldn't contact her.
The dracling laid his head on his front feet, trying to relax. Ever since he and Mouse had first met, they'd both wondered about his past. Obviously something had happened, for it wasn't natural for a dragon to be half dead. But none of their efforts had yielded even the tiniest hunch.
Suddenly, there were dark memories in his head that he could see all too well. And not a single one was happy. Most of them were, mercifully, brief. A number involved shadows wielding knives on him, and he could do nothing about it. The most sinister...his mind had been so pain-fogged at the time that it was nigh impossible to decipher anything of what had actually been going on, and what were just hallucinations.
He'd wanted his memories back. And now he wanted to undo that wish and return those memories he'd been "blessed" to recieve.
Shuddering again, Morbus slipped into an uneasy rest demanded by the stress upon his weary body and young mind.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:54 pm
(May 23) Dreaming another's dreams...
Galerus came to himself in a strange, misty world that refused to solidify and focus. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before. He began to walk, for need of a physical release of frustration, and tried to puzzle out where he was. The last thing he remembered was curling up on his pallet...
...was he still asleep?! Could it be that this was some, some dream-world? It made some sense, for he'd never had such a realistic, yet unworldly dream before.
For lack of anything better to do, Galerus kept walking through the constantly shifting dreamscape.
Morbus had been dozing uneasily when he felt it. "It" had overtones of Mouse, yet was completely different. If he'd been asked to describe the sensation, he'd have said it was like smelling Mouse's scent on someone who'd been around her.
Pah. There was a feel of Mouse to whatever this was. That was reason enough to investigate it. Groaning slightly, the dragon levered himself up and faded into the dreamscape in the direction of the one who was associated with Mouse, yet not her.
Galerus had the sneaking suspicion that he was going in circles. With no landmarks to guide him, it was impossible to tell if he was even headed in the same direction he'd started in. He hoped that if he woke up, he wouldn't find himself to be trapped in some Fey Realm, wandering lost for timeless centuries.
And now, it seemed like someone was following him. All the fear, all the frustration and anger he felt boiled up and he spun on his heel to face whatever it was that was following him with a loud clap of his hands.
He'd been following a rather faint trail, when he suddenly caught up with the green-haired boy. Morbus was even more shocked when the boy turned around and clapped. A very loud clap.
Shaking his head in startlement, he studied the stranger. Hair as green as Mouse's, golden eyes like a harvest moon, simple black clothing.
~Are you Mouse's son?~ He asked the boy cautiously.
Holy s**t. There was a half-dead dragon that had been following him. And it talked. And it definitely knew Mouse.
Anger smacked down surprise with an iron fist, however. Galerus savagely signed that he was in no way related to Mouse.
Morbus watched in interest as the boy made some interesting gestures. But, for all they looked nice, this was getting nowhere.
~Won't you answer my question, boy? Or are you just playing?~
The hatling cast the dragon a furious glare. He was answering the question! Couldn't the dragon see that!? He increased the energy and pace of the signs in frustration.
More strange gestures certainly weren't helping matters. Morbus was getting rather frustrated as well.
~If you've got something to say, just say it!~ He snarled at Galerus, nerves beginning to fray.
~I would if I could!~ Galeurs snarled right back. ~I've been trying to tell you, but you didn't understand! I'm not related to Mouse. She's just my guardian!~
Fists clenched, back straight, the hatling practically quivered with rage. So much so that he didn't even realize he'd spoken, after a fashion.
Morbus paused, taken aback but the fury in Galerus' retort.
~Well, why didn't you simply say so before?~ He asked. ~It would've saved both of us a bit of pain.~
Galerus simply stared at Morbus as realization flooded into his mind. He opened his mouth to try to speak, but no words came out. Frowning, he tried to remember what had happened in his outburst.
He'd been so...so mad...that he just shouted out. But...he hadn't once opened his mouth. He'd just...just thought the words.
A slow grin spread over the boy's face. Carefully enunciating every word in his mind, he spoke to Morbus.
~I didn't ever know I could do this. I've never been able to speak. But this...this is amazing! If I could do this all the time...I wouldn't even have to know sign language!~ His golden eyes were glowing slightly in his excitement.
The light of understanding dawned on Morbus' dark thoughts as well. Never before had he met a person who couldn't speak, but he was glad that he'd somewhat helped this boy to discover a way around that impediment.
~I don't think that being in Almahat, the dream realm, should give you powers you don't have in the waking world. If you can speak mind-to-mind here, I don't see why you couldn't there.~
Pleased with himself, Morbus settled himself on the ground.
~So, now that we've determined that you can answer my questions, why don't you tell me who you are?~
Cheerfully, Galerus sat down in front of the dragon.
~I'm Galerus. Mouse takes care of me. I guess I don't know much more than that.~ He admitted sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.
~So...who does that make you? How do you know Mouse?~ He shot back at the dragon.
The dragon's jaw gaped in a grin.
~Fair enough. I'm Morbus. Mouse called me to her with a powerful dream. We're not really sure, but I seem to be a representation of most of the things Mouse dislikes most about herself.~
He fidgeted, somewhat uncomfortable with the subject.
Galerus shuddered.
~I think I'd dislike myself too, if parts of me somehow made a half-dead dragon.~
The boy stretched leisurely.
~I'm glad I finally met you, Morbus.~
Privately, Morbus decided that the boy had a point. Finding out that all the parts of yourself that you didn't like somehow made up a zombie dragon must be rather disorienting. He made a mental note to congratulate Mouse on her rather calm acceptance of him in that light.
~I'm glad I met you too, Galerus.~ Unconsciously, he checked the time. Soon enough, the boy should be waking up in his body.
~Say...do you think you could do a small favor for me, Galerus?~ He asked hesitantly.
The hatling cocked his head to one side, reminiscent of the woman bringing him up.
~If I can...what is it?~
~I want you to tell Mouse that I need to speak with her. Tell her that the bridge between the worlds is open again, and that I seriously need to speak to her.~ He paused, contemplating. ~If she still refuses, tell her I need her help with some disturbing memories.~
He wasn't sure how much or how little to tell Galerus. The boy might be like an adopted son to her, and so she might not care for him to know too much that could be used as blackmail.
~I'll tell her.~ The boy promised.
Slowly, he reached out to Morbus' skull, and gently he scratched beneath the lower jaw bone.
The dragon stretched out his neck to make the tender area more accessible.
That was the position in which dawnlight found them. And as the rising Gaian sun shone directly into Galerus' eyes, his dream-body dissipated like smoke on the wind.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:56 pm
(Jun 15) Much to think about...
Morbus sincerely hoped that Galerus got the message through to Mouse. As much as he hated to admit it, even to himself, he was afraid. He was afraid of whatever had happened (been done?) to him in the past. He was afraid of what Kapu Ahi having her own body could mean for all the dragons and dreamers. He was afraid of what Yin and Yang meant for him. He was afraid that Mouse would never come and speak to him again. He was afraid of being alone.
The dracling shook his head violently. That was enough of these negative thoughts! Now he was just brooding over things he had no power over...like some teenager!
Where was Mouse? Galerus had promised to tell her...ah, why did he need her so? Yes, he was a part of her, but he was his own person too! How else could he have memories of a time before Mouse?
He chewed a claw angrily. Something had better come up...something that he could do something about...or he'd go mad!
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:57 pm
(Jun 15) Discussion
The dreamscape was exactly how Mouse remembered it, changing constantly, and yet essentially changeless. A lot like her, in many ways. After all, who'd've thought she'd be raising kids? Tomorrow she'd be picking up a bowl of lemon sorbet to take home...she suspected it would end up similar to Galerus.
But that had nothing to do with this trip. Frowning, she scanned the dreamscape. No dracling.
"Morbus?"
He heard her, and carefully walked over to her.
~You called?~
He asked her softly.
Mouse whirled around.
"You had me surprised for a moment."
Then she smiled.
"I've missed you sorely."
She knelt and hugged his bony neck.
He rested his head on her shoulder.
~I, too, have missed you. With the coming of Kapu Ahi and Yin and Yang, things have been difficult. I was...I was frightened, with so much going on, and me unable to speak to you.~
There. He'd said it.
She hugged him all the tighter.
"I could feel it. I really could. I wanted so badly to tell you I knew about Kapu Ahi, that I could feel you...but the goddess was keeping dreamers and dragons away from each other."
She held him at arm's length, surverying him.
"Is that all you wanted to tell me?"
Morbus shook his head.
~When I could not speak to you, I went to Dragonz. We talked, she told me not to worry. Then all of us, a dreamer and several dragons, traveled to a cave. I pleaded with Dragonz to let me go at least watch the battle with Kapu Ahi. She would not let me go. So I became resigned to staying here. Then I actually looked at the cave. I was overcome by...~
He paused, unable to truly speak of it, and shaking with remembered fear.
Mouse placed a hand on his shoulder.
"...memories."
She finished for him.
"I know the feeling. And this is yet another way you are like me."
She frowned again.
"Damn. This means I really do have to get Home soon, for your sake."
Morbus looked up at her, his question plain.
"You are bound and birthed in part from my mind, yes? Then you are as stable as I. Which is, not very."
She smiled at him ruefully.
"There is something I was once offered. I scorned the gift, not seeing a point for it. Now, it is the one thing that will drag me out of this self-imposed exile. For you see, I cannot get such a thing anywhere else."
She shook her head.
"But, for you, I will retrieve it. In time. Now...have you any suggestions for a fitting punishment for Galerus? He needs to be taught a lesson..."
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:58 pm
(Jun 15) Self pity and some insanity...
"...and so it's now me, Galerus, and Lemon. And I thought Galerus had an attitude."
Mouse shook her head.
~So...Lemon has an attitude?~
Morbus ventured. Mouse had spent the past two hours complaining about her current situation. Not for the first time the dracling wished he could be of some help in the waking world.
"Oh, gods yes. She has an attitude with a capital 'A!'"
She groaned.
"Just for once, I'd like a pet...child...whatever...who didn't have any attitude. I don't even know if I'll survive long enough for them to grow up."
If he could have, Morbus would have raised an eyebrow at that.
~She only melted today...are you so sure of your...chances of survival?~
Mouse looked over to him.
"Of course I'm sure. It's my job to be sure of chances of survival, right? Trust me, Sakuyo was laughing when I got that scarecrow hat and bowl of lemon sorbet."
Morbus, wisely, said nothing to that.
She sighed.
"Just once...ah well. Once their both old enough to take care of themselves, I'll make that trip. Not a moment sooner."
Slightly miffed, Morbus questioned his dreamer.
~Why then? Why not now? Is it simply unimportant to you?~
"Oh Morbus..."
Mouse began stroking his back, comforting the dracling.
"It's not that you're not important...it's that I don't know anyone I trust to take care of them for days at a time. And hopefully by then they'll have learned some manners and respect. And enough responsibility that I can leave them to take care of each other."
She smiled at him.
"Do I honestly need to remind you what Galerus has done to each of his babysitters in turn? I refuse to expose anyone else to that."
Morbus sighed.
~I suppose it makes good sense.~
He admitted grudgingly.
Mouse grinned.
"You'd be happiest with my attention all to myself, and don't try convincing me otherwise!"
Her laugh echoed throughout the dreamscape.
Ruefully, the dracling accompanied her chuckles with his own. She was right...
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:59 pm
(Jun 17) A change in the air...
Lately Morbus felt...odd. Restless, itchy, uncontent with (un)life as it was. Mouse had been by multiple times in the past weeks, and had complained bitterly about the relationship between Scoop and Hatling.
She still hadn't gone on the promised trip...but he understood her concerns.
Why was he so dissatisfied?
He shook his head violently. This required more, and deeper, thought. With a silent apology to Mouse, he walked off into the depths of Almahat to think. Alone.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:00 pm
(Jun 18.) A strange find...
Mouse opened her dream-self's eyes and looked around. Morbus wasn't here yet. Oh well, maybe he hadn't felt her coming. It had happened a time or two before, though that had been way back when.
She shook her head, smiling. Morbus hadn't even been around more than four months, and already he was such a great part of her life.
But he never took this long in coming when she came to see him.
An eerie chill settled over her, and Mouse began to walk around, looking for a certain half-dead dracling. They always met in as same a place as they could, and always Morbus came as soon as he could.
As soon as he could...was he injured? In trouble? Trapped somewhere? Or worse, had those memories paralyzed him with fear?
For all she and Morbus were good friends, she still didn't know where in Almahat he called home, den, or lair. And the dream world was big. It could take years to find him without his help. That meant there was only one thing she could do.
Mouse had to go find Dragonz.
Calling on ancient habits from wars long past, she sent her conscious fleeing back to her own body.
Bolting upright in bed, Mouse moved as silently as she could out of the house, to avoid disturbing Galerus and Lemon. They needn't ever know she'd left.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:03 pm
(Jun 18.) And the winds of change blow...Mouse wanders into the shop where she'd gotten an odd goblet. Morbus is missing, and she's worried about him.
"Hello?"
She calls out to the darkened shop.
Dragonz starts and drops her book. She looked around sheepishly, realizing that she'd fallen asleep when she was supposed to be watching over Ice and Winter. Setting the book on the chair, she appeared downstairs moments later. "Hello? Is someone there?" The hybrid flipped on the light and stepped into the lower story.
She blinks against the sudden light, but her slit-pupiled eyes quickly adjust. It's far too late at night (early in the morning?) to bother covering them up.
"Dragonz? I'm...sorry to bother you...but Morbus is missing."
She wrings her hands, nervous for her unwanted and much needed friend.
Dragonz yawned widely, covering her mouth with one blue skinned hand. "Wha..? Morbus is missing? Did you try to contact him?" She went to the kitchen in the back and returned with a pot of coffee and two mugs. "Coffee, Mouse?" she asked, pouring one cup for herself.
She shakes her head.
"Sorry, not a coffee person."
She tells the shopowner, trying not to wrinkle her nose at the stench.
"He was there just last night, but he wasn't tonight. And there was no trace of him either! He's just...gone."
She slumps into a chair at that.
Dragonz shrugged and put the coffee back. "I really don't like coffee, but I thought I'd offer." She grabbed a glass of milk instead, then slumped down in one of the chairs in the living room. "Do you still have that amulet I gave you? Since you didn't think he would wear it, I just tuned it to him." She sipped her cup of milk, her eyes heavy lidded.
"Eh?"
Mouse cocks her head, totally confused.
"What amulet?"
"Huh?" Dragonz looked up, then frowned as she thought. "I didn't give you an Amulet of Eternal Youth? Meh, never mind then. Didn't Morbus leave some sort of message for you?" She studied her cup, tracing patterns in the condensation. "I think I may know where he went, if you don't feel any alarm from him."
"No...no message...nothing from Morbus...it's like he's just...not there anymore."
She looks at the floor and speaks flatly with no emotion. Then she looks up at Dragonz, desperation in her jade eyes.
"Is he okay?"
Dragonz swung one leg idly and looked up at the ceiling, cuping her milk in her lap. "If you don't feel an alarm from him, then chances are that he's gone because he wants to be. See, when a dragon reaches a certain age, they go through a transition period between dracling and adult. They like to be alone during this time, its probably pretty embarassing, like most puberty. If he doesn't show in a couple of days, then I'd start to worry. For now, just keep an eye out for him in both worlds. He'll show up soon, I'm sure." She smiled reasuringly at Mouse and took a sip. The smile got wider as she turned her face to the door.
Rae stood there holding her staff and smiled back. "Its good to be home again, isn't it?" Her dreamer nodded in agreement.
Mouse's eyes opened wide at the sight of the new Rae and her pupils narrowed to mere slits in shock.
"That's...that's...but how?"
She looked at both of them, questions filling the silent air.
"But at least Morbus should be fine."
And that, of course, was what mattered.
Winter and Ice came down the stairs winter was still slightly shakey but he could walk. "Hey mouse" Ice waved as she ran down stairs smiling. winter followed slower and uses his tail and wings to balance himself, how did humans walk on two legs? he wondered. Winter nodded to rae.
Mouse could only stare at the two-headed dragon-person suspiciously. Rae was one thing...but she didn't even know this pair!
Dragonz smiled, then gasped when the fire place exploded in a shower of sparks and flames. Rae held up her staff in defense and took a step back.
The burst of magic in the fire caused Mouse to narrow her eyes, and her pupils widened again. Here was something to defend against...
winter growled and his clawed hands where on his scimitar hilts...ready to use.
"Kapu?" Ice asked the fire, Ice wasnt so worried as winter was but she was still prepared.
"Caerful" Winter growled defensively
Kapu Ahi stepped out of the flames and sauntered over to a chair, making herself at home. "Ah, I see my orbs have been put to good use. You look nice, Winter." Her own slitted eyes glowed in the dim light. She flicked her tail and shifted those unearthly eyes to Mouse. "Ah, there you are. I've been looking for you." She grinned, and her pointed eye teeth enhanced her vulpine image.
"Me?"
Mouse asked suspiciously. The pitchfork she usually carried was angled towards Kapu Ahi, and Mouse's body language said quite clearly that she had nothing against using it on the goddess.
The goddess stuck out her tongue at the woman and flourished her hand. A marble appeared in it and she displayed it to advatage in the light.
"I wanted to give you this. It seems that Morbus was helpful to Dragonz in her captivity, so I decided to reward him with this little bauble." She studied it intently and grinned.
Winter relaxed himself and nodded a thanks. He smiled at the goddess. Ice watched, she never carried a weapon but she had a few abilites im magic but juessed that the goddess was just giving an orb to Mouse. Ice smiled.
Mouse raised an eyebrow.
"Helping out with that gave my dragon nightmares. Apparently he remembered somethings best left forgotten."
She pointed to the marble with her chin.
"How do I know that won't make the nightmares worse?"
Kapu Ahi glared at Mouse from the corner of her slanted eyes. "Nightmares? How strange... You'll have to tell me more about these things. It perks my interest, and a flicker of something..." She looked pensive, then looked up with the light flashing in her eyes. "You doubt my power, Mortal? Do you really think that I would need to use a simple bauble to do what I could do by simply crushing you in my fist? No... these are perfectly safe, and the end result of using one is the changes you see in Rae and Winter. They allow the dragons to reach their final stage of growth, nothing more."
"All right then...I'll accept your gift, goddess."
Mouse says, inclining her head.
"But I know little of Morbus' nightmares other than their existence. He's too afraid of them to tell me any details. You'll have to ask him for yourself. Just don't hurt him, or you answer to me."
She gave the goddess a firm gaze. For as good a friend of Morbus, she'd defy any god or goddess and more.
Ice tried to reason "Winter was changed by the marble" Ice motioned to her Dragon "It doesn't do anything else" Winter stayed silent, he nodded in his mind. he watched Mouse caerfuly and Kapu as well.
"I think I might need to do that. If they happened because of entering my lair, it's something I should know about. Plus, I can probably relieve them somewhat." She tossed the marble to Mouse and lounged back in the chair. "By the way, where is your little zombie boy?"
She catches the marble in her free hand easily.
"I've no clue where he is. That's why I came all the way here in the middle of the night."
She studies the marble calmly, quite unlike when she first came rushing in.
"I have a feeling that he is growing" Winter finaly said something in his cold voice. "It happens often when a dragon grows as Dragonz said" he sat down on the stairs.
Ice stood over by her friend and smiled silently.
Kapu Ahi shrugged. "I'll talk to him when he gets back then. If you want to use that, you just go to sleep wearing it. There's holes in it for a chain. Its one time use only though, and it will only work for you. And don't loose it, 'cause I won't give you another." She wrapped her tail around herself and the flames consumed her.
Mouse slips the marble into a pocket.
"That was certainly interesting. I shall have to keep it safe."
She pauses, remembering the occurances of the past day.
"Safer."
She amends.
Dragonz breathed a sigh of relief, as did her dragon.
Dragonz blinked. "Safer, Mouse? Did something happen at your house?"
Ice sighed as she left and walked over to Dragonz. "Thanks for watching me" she said softly smiling.
Winter sat silently leaning against the stair wall. his Scimitar's always ready to be pulled out of their Sheaths.
"Yes. Something did. Galerus...my hatling...got into my locked drawer and my spell-locked journal. Then he dug out that goblet you gave me and licked it. He met Morbus, and now he's grounded. This was actually yesterday...as things go."
Mouse frowns.
"So I'm working on a...trickier lock."
Dragonz eyes widened and she sat up straight. "What?! He went to Almahat with one of my potions?" Dragonz looked at Rae and the dragon nodded, then disappeared.
"I've no clue as to what could be going on in his head...I can't understand how such a nice scarecrow hat could be such a menace!"
Mouse groaned, remembering the three babysitters; all injured by the end of the day.
"uh oh" Ice said "Want winter to help?" she asked vollonteering him. Winter growled and Ice smiled.
Mouse shakes her head.
"You do not want to deal with my bratling. Actually...there's two of them now."
Ah yes. And Lemon shows all signs of being even worse than her brother.
Dragonz shook her head, then looked up when Rae appeared again. The dragon stood with her arms folded and a frown on her face. "Well, congratulations Mouse. Your hatling is now the proud owner of his very own dragon, curtousy of the potion he drank."
Dragonz sighed. "Those potions aren't just to take one to Almahat, they also call a dragon to the one who drank it. If he drank enough to get to Almahat, he drank enough to call a dragon."
SMACK! Mouse's hand hits her forehead. Hard.
"Why does he have to make my life so much more complicated?"
She complains to no one in particular.
"Fine then."
She shoulders the pitchfork and turns towards the door.
"I'll deal with him when he wakes up, first thing."
"Well, good-luck Mouse. And try not to worry about Morbus. He'll be okay." Rae went to stand behind her dreamer and the two waved to Mouse.
Mouse shakes her head at hatling, dragon, shopowner and partner, and too many other people as she exits.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:06 pm
(Jun 18.) One fear gone, another takes its place...
Mouse slipped back into her house, practiced feet scarcely making a sound. Once back in bed, she reached for her "show" journal. It was this one that Galerus had tried to read first, and failed miserably at. This book had no spells or locks binding it's contents. Rather, the secrecy was kept in the writing itself. For the first time in years, she blessed whatever had caused the Tailed One to request this language for her worshippers.
MOUSE'S JOURNAL
So, it seems my worry over Morbus comes to nothing. I am glad. Dragonz theorized that most likely he's begun to shift into his adult form. Apparently dragons are as shy about it as teenagers. Regardless, he should return soon.
Then Kapu Ahi showed up. I know Morbus had mentioned that the issue had been resolved, but I was prepared to meet her as an enemy.
Instead, she gifted me with a marble for helping to aid Dragonz against her. The marble, I am told, will help Morbus to reach an Elder form. Beyond adult. But I have not even seen his adult form. I shall keep the marble in the safest place I know of. A place not even Galerus will touch it.
I've put it in my keystone bag. It never leaves my side. And, of course, I will not use it without first consulting Morbus. It is as much his choice as mine.
Speaking of dragons, Dragonz had a bit more news for me. It seems Galerus has attracted one. Through the residue he licked off of my goblet.
Much as I hate to do it, I need to drastically punish him.
And Lemon just got here. This is not a good start.
I thank the Tailed One, though, that I have this opportunity to act as a good parent should. Never, before I came to Gaia, could I see myself in this position. I hope that these experiences help in the long run.
I hope I do not outlive my adopted children.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:07 pm
(Jul 2) Face to face once more...
Mouse was back in Almahat. What with Lemon arriving and being so...and Galerus still in trouble...
...in short, Mouse had forgotten about Morbus in the rush of things. She still wasn't sure if coming to Almahat was a conscious decision or not on her part, but it was possible that her forgetfulness and not her exhaustion had prevented her coming.
She walked slowly and purposefully through the dreamscape, though she would much rather frantically search. Morbus might still be shy. He might not come. What if he thought she hated him or something?
That was silly and stupid. Morbus was a part of her. She could never hate him that much...didn't he know that?
No, she couldn't be sure of anything. All she could do was wander around, and hope he came.
Morbus was, in fact, tailing Mouse. He'd been lonely these past weeks, but understood that Mouse needed all of her attention and more on the troublesome pair of kids she was raising. Some interesting abilities had come with his adult form, and one of them allowed him to actually be in Gaia. He'd stayed out of sight, but he had watched closely and hungrily as often as he could.
And now Mouse had returned to Almahat.
Morbus could tell that she appeared cool and calm, and also that she was near hysterical with worry over him. Why hadn't he allowed her to see him when he'd ventured into Gaia? Why had he always backed off when she started to turn in his direction? Was he possibly afraid that she'd disapprove of his new appearance?
Possibly.
One of them had to make the first move...
...had Mouse made it by coming?...
...he was far too afraid to move from his hiding place.
Mouse was now holding back tears by force of will alone. Had Morbus given up on her? Had he found a new, and better, Dreamer?
He couldn't do that...could he?
She wanted to see him, so badly. She had questions, especially about Tenuis. She knew that Galerus was just waiting for something...otherwise she'd've found the two of them up two their eyeballs in trouble.
But she couldn't just ask the empty air. Where was Morbus? He always seemed to know when she was in Almahat, and never seemed to have a problem finding her...why now?
Was he avoiding her?
"Now I know what it's like to have a boyfriend."
She muttered to herself, only half-joking.
"Morbus, where are you?"
Oh...this was getting too intense. The stress was getting to him. And she couldn't truly find him in Almahat...he had to be the one who made the move.
~Here, Mouse.~
He told her, moving where she could clearly see him in all his adult glory.
She whirled around, a grin lighting on her face that swiftly became a gape. There was Morbus all right, it could be no one else...
...but how he'd grown! She stared, openmouthed at him, until she remembered she was supposed to say something.
"Gods...you got bigger!"
Morbus chuckled right along with her. Sure his voice was a tad deeper and slightly more cultured, it was still his voice.
Mouse hadn't changed at all. And he hadn't either. Just in appearance.
~So...you like it?~
He asked, trying to not seem too nervous.
Mouse grinned up at him (he was almost two and half heads taller than her at the shoulder!) with dancing eyes.
"How could I not?"
That was just what Morbus needed to hear.
~Then, that being settled, I suppose you'd like to hear what Galerus and Tenuis have been up to...~
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:09 pm
(Jul 8.) The dragon's condition...
Morbus had been keeping track of Tenuis and Galerus for a while. So far, the two hadn't done anything remotely troublesome, but Mouse was convinced nothing good would come of the two.
So he kept an eye on them, but avoided Tenuis otherwise. Thus, it rather surprised him to return to his homely little den and find the wispy dracling waiting there for him.
~Tenuis? Is something wrong with Galerus?~
She shook her head.
~Galerus is...fine...~
She said quietly.
The older dragon examined the younger from all angles, craning his bony neck here and there.
~...and you seem fine...so what's the matter?~
Morbus asked her in a concerned tone of voice.
Tenuis shyly hid her head beneath one wispy wing.
~I...don't know.~
The zombie dragon clenched his jaw in a frown. There was something about this...what was it? Mouse had dealt with people that acted like this before...
The answer hit him like a ton of bricks. He would have to proceed cautiously, and verbally slap Tenuis awake.
~Tenuis...are you in love with Galerus?~
Her head flashed up, eyes wide, and she opened and closed her mouth a few times without saying anything.
Could that really be it? Was that why she felt so strange? Why she'd been so apprehensive over Galy leaving her to interact with the waking world of Gaia? Was she jealous of the girls he might spend time with?
While all this turmoil had control of her mind, the dragon simply stared into space.
Morbus groaned inwardly. This was just the kind of thing he didn't need, and wasn't able to handle. His own swirling mind could only grasp one thing: Mouse needed to know this.
And with a mental twist in a place that hadn't existed before he'd grown, Morbus vanished from Almahat.
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Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:58 pm
(Jul 8. ) Just so you know...
Mouse was working in her small vegetable garden when the rising hairs on the back of her neck told her she wasn't alone. She was slowly turning around when her visitor spoke.
"Mouse! There's something you should know about Tenuis!"
Morbus called out as soon as he regained his breath. Never mind that he was half in shock at actually being in Gaia, this was vitally important.
"Morbus!? How the hell did you get here?"
Didn't dream dragons stay in the dream realm? Oh...wait. Rae and Teroise had been in the Gaian shop during the whole Kapu Ahi thing...maybe it was something adults could do.
"Belay that. What about Tenuis?"
He'd opened his mouth to answer the first question, and hastily choked it back.
"Tenuis is in love with Galerus."
He blurted out.
Mouse blinked. That was one of the things she hadn't expected to hear. Now what?
"Is...is this a recent development?"
Morbus' shoulders moved up and down. A draconic shrug.
"I'm not sure."
Mouse started walking around, thinking aloud.
"She and Galerus have been partnered since just before Lemon came...up until now we've observed them as complete equals and partners..."
Morbus couldn't resist adding his own two cents.
"Has something changed recently?"
Mouse stopped.
"Actually...yes. Galerus grew recently."
She nodded to herself.
"That would probably be it."
She shook her head.
"Damn. This could be quite touchy. We'll have to wait and see if Galerus notices it on his own or not."
"Can't we do anything else besides watching?"
Morbus asked desperately. This was so important...and they couldn't do anything more than they already were?
Mouse shook her head again.
"Nope. This is probably just a crush. I bet she'll outgrow it before Galerus even notices. It's vital that we don't interfere...how else will the children learn?"
She smiled up at Morbus.
"I'm glad that you told me before I had to deal with one broken heart or another."
With that, she turned back to her vegetables, signaling an end to the conversation.
Sighing inwardly, Morbus reached for that place in his mind to take him home. He had realized, for the very first time, that with Mouse as his partner, he'd never really had a childhood as Tenuis was having.
Such a melancholy thought. But it brought a strange mood over the half-dead dragon that refused to lift.
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