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 Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:28 pm
While a filly pleaded with her parents, a colt stared at the sky. The water was a lot fresher than he was used to, but his eyes accepting the onslaught stoically. It was not so unlike swimming, just... there wasn't quite enough liquid around to support his body.
He blinked and peered once more at the tree-line, hoping to catch movement that was not merely the downward sweep of rain. No... nothing there. He shifted his hooves in the sand, angling his head downwards and opening his nostrils just enough for a deep breath- shielded from the water by the rest of his head- before pinching them closed and staring back at the shore.
Not so long ago, he would have been terrified to catch any sign of life on that very same beach. But, now.... he squinted, his tail flapping against the sand in disappointment as he fought to remain optimistic.
She'd always been there, bright and early or right on time.
He cast a quick glare at the sky, convinced that it was the weather that had caused this lapse in his friend's streak of prompt arrivals. Even if she didn't mind getting absolutely soaked, maybe her family wouldn't want their daughter out in this storm.
Sometimes, he wondered if it was her family that shared her with him- or the other way around. Sharing went both ways, of course, and though he was sure friendship was similar to the bonds between members of a true family... was it right for one bundle of bonds to keep the other pair apart?
The waves arched upwards along the beach, licking at his hind legs before retreating teasingly to the sea and surging forwards once more. The tides were high today, and there was much movement at the surface of the ocean. Normally, he'd be watching it all from his deep safe observatory, but... he watched the waves roll around merrily. Sometimes it was good to see things from another vantage point.
Lowering himself to his knees, he rolled onto his side and let the waves wash over him, his skin tingling at the strange pushing and pulling sensation. He wiggled a little deeper, until he was just barely floating in the water, and grinned inwardly as the ocean pushed him back on land.
Sometimes, being somewhere unusual was just plain fun.
His ears perked, as a familiar sound cut through the crashing waves. Lifting his head up, fully alert, he scrambled to his hooves as his name rang out for the second time amidst the storm.
She's here! he was excited, but not surprised- and thankful that her family had let her come out. Maybe she'd like to play in the waves- or, maybe, she'd be wishing they had met somewhere dry. Maybe he could come further on land next time, into the trees where some shelter was offered from the rain? Then she wouldn't have to brave the open sands to get to him... but (he cast a guilty glance at the sea) the ocean was just so tantalizingly welcoming.
And, anyway, she was still on the hill.
He moved towards her not-too-distant form, stretching his fins in the rain as they soaked in even more moisture and wiggling his tail as he walked as if swimming. "I'm here, Meridah!" he called, moving towards her at a sedate pace and then breaking into a canter. His hooves sank in the suction-cup sand, but he pulled them free and charged towards his very best (very late) friend. "I'm here!"
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:00 pm
Damn this storm!
Pausing only a moment near the bottom of the hill she lifted her head and tried to see through squinted eyes what was before her. Her name had been called by a wonderfully familiar voice - Voda - he was still waiting. She felt awful about keeping him so long, but it couldn't be helped. Hopefully, he would forgive her (if he had not done already) once he found out just what kept her so long. Her parents had not been too hard....dropping to her knees and wailing about how she absolutely had to see her best friend forever or she'd die and what if he was lonely and waiting for her out in the storm forever and that would make her a horrible person forever....
Well, they were quick to agree, least she ran out of breath first and passed out at the constant wail.
"Voda!" The little filly could see something rushing at her, having to duck her head again as she was alright. It would have been nice to not have to have the rain hit her eyes or get in her ears...but there was little she could do about it now.
"Voda we have to hurry! I found something...back in the woods! I couldn't take it with me but I don't think its hiding spot will be dry for long...." She explained, her ears trying to pick up his location but it was just so hard; little torrents of water streamed down her face from her very hair let alone the ones currently hitting her face in rain form anyways. "I think it got lost...but i'm pretty sure it'll get cold fast..." The little filly looked genuinely concerned, yet found herself once again trying to find comfort with him; sniffing the air in hopes her nose would maybe touch him to get her footing. "With all this rain...do you think you can head into the woods up there for a while...?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:15 pm
Bounding the last few steps towards her, he tilted his head as she dipped hers and then seemed to search for him. He was right here, couldn't she- oh. He almost forgot the specialized lenses that allowed him to see perfectly underwater and.... inrain.
Slowing to a walk before colliding with her, he stretched out his neck and touched her nose gently with his own, his nostril pressed against hers as he breathed once in greeting.
Something back in the woods? Hiding?
He frowned carefully, thoughtfully nosing a torrent of water flowing from her forelock aside as he considered what could possibly be hiding in the woods that she would want him to come see. But, did it matter? She wanted to share something with him, so he would go. And, with the storm dumping water so generously all over the land... yes, he could stay- and, for once, not worry if he was dry or not.
He checked her over carefully before responding, wanting to make sure that she wasn't shivering. His body adjusted neatly to the temperature change, but hers... he moved closer, angling himself to press his side against hers in a silent offer support and guidance amidst the storm. He didn't know where they were going, but it sounded urgent, and perhaps if she indicated the general direction he could... well, be her eyes, until the tree canopy offered sufficient shelter.
"Let's go."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:28 pm
Still flicking her ears to catch all the little sounds amidst the crashing of the waves and the rain; her body visibly relaxed when she felt a warmth on her nose from none other than his. His breath tickled a little as she scrunched her nose up a slightly with a wayward grin; cracking open one of her eyes just so to see him in the storm. He looked almost at home in the rain, but coming from the sea....water was just water, right?
Needless to say, she was sure she'd regain some of her ability to see once they had a bit more wind protection in the woods; since the storm seemed to be brewed from the very sea itself. "I hope its okay..." She spoke softly....it didn't seem right to leave it all alone; but it had been alone when she found it and she needed to see Voda....so it made sense to let it hang on just a little longer to gain her most valued friend. Besides, if its what she thought it was it would be the discovery of a lifetime!
"Its...back up there. When you head down the trail I pushed a rock to the side of the path to show us where to turn - then its under a bush beside a big pine...."
Smiling warmly when she felt his side press up against hers, a small bit of heat and assurance against the storm she wasn't shy to lean against him; taking the offer of a guide completely. Her little fluff of a tail was soaked, leaving it a curled tendril in its once fluffy place; but that was alright - the rest of her was really no better off. "You know....I think it got knocked away....and you know what's even more exciting?" The filly had closed her eyes once again, but leaned in close. "I think its a dragon's egg!!!"" Oh, yes, Meridah had never been so excited in her life!
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:49 pm
His hooves faltered a bit, but he continued moving along her described course. He glanced at her once, then looked back at the trail in ponderous silence.
His heart did a queer little hiccup. Dragon's egg?
That was definintely urgent, and more than enough of a reason to get back to it quickly. Presumably, since she hadn't mentioned fighting a dragon, she hadn't found the mother, but... maybe mother-Dragons didn't want their children around... like his mother didn't want him.
It might be lost, all alone, and... cold. As far as he knew, dragons weren't like water-dwelling critters- their eggs didn't float off with the tides, or remain anchored in the chilly depths, and with this relentless rain...
He sped up a little, eying a rock that seemed barely out of place along the edge of the path and turning them confidently in accordance with her instructions.
He wondered, then, at the source of the filly's excitement. Dragons were cool, sure, and finding a dragon egg was surely a great adventure, but... what would happen when it hatched? Would her family have to... to get rid of it? Or would she want to test her mettle against it? No, he didn't think so, not against a baby... but, what about when it grew up?
That is, if it ever got to hatch...
He never doubted her wild claim, but if he had been more prudent he would have wondered what her basis was. An egg, any egg, shouldn't be left alone in a storm...
Were dragons mean because they grew up all alone? He wasn't mean, and he'd been lonely at first, but then Meridah had fallen quite literally into his world before he grew up...
What.... would he have been like without her? The Dragon she had once feared he would be come? Or... he glanced at her quickly. It didn't matter now.
They had to get to the egg, whatever its origin, before the severe storm washed away its potential.
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 4:55 pm
It had to be a dragons egg, she knew it in her bones. When she'd seen the beautiful little egg in all its vibrant red hues, it reminded her of the flames of those mystical beasts. It was small, but she wasn't silly...baby dragons weren't born ginormous. They were small, like little lizards and grew into the giant beasts in fabled legend. Meridah had wondered what her moral obligation would be to the little dragon's egg....she really didn't want to have to kill it, and didn't deem it fair.
Actions brought on the label of good or evil....and without being born, how could she snuff that out of existance. While trying to find a spot for the little egg she'd come to the conclusion she would hatch it and guide it....perhaps dragons were mean and vicious because no one had told them that wasn't right...not to destroy things. Maybe they didn't know how to say please? What a tale would that be a knight with her dragon, ridding the land of evils together as a team! Not even that, she would have Voda too; it would be a Trio of awesome!
Even though she didn't want to admit it....she'd also seen Voda in that egg. All alone in the world....she couldn't....no, wouldn't be able to leave it alone now.
Once they had crossed into the woods the wind wasn't as hard to whip the raindrops into her eyes; opening them up tentatively to the world. She could see some; even though the rain was still hard as it fell straight down to the ground. It seemed they'd passed the rock now as they were pressing into the thick of the woods. Looking around a moment she tried to remember which bush exactly held the little treasure underneath. Oh, there!!!! Moving forth from his side she knealt down and nosed her face under the bush; seeing the little egg still safe and sound. "See Voda! Here it is....the baby dragon egg...." She beamed, her eyes lit up at the mere mention of it and the promise of what was to come. Yet...under closer inspection she frowned. Was that...a crack? "Oh no!" She whined, feeling her bottom lip pout. "Look it has a crack! That wasn't there before...."
Had she hurt it in her attempts to get it to safely? Oh no....
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:08 pm
He breathed easier when she opened her eyes, selected from amongst the foliage, and moved towards a bush with confidence. He watched her with perked ears and a steady gaze when she knelt beside the bush, and his lips twitched upwards a little when she nosed around under the bush.
He saw her, but he didn't see the egg- sheltered by the green leaves.
Dripping water, he joined his friend again and peeked under the bush. He had to angle his head due to avoid scraping his ear-fins on the branches, but even at that awkward angle... he gazed at the fiery shell in wonder, admiring the vibrant coloration until... a blemish, a flaw, a crack. Imperfections abounded in the natural world, and he appreciated many oddities that others might consider 'flaws' for their own unique beauty, but... a crack, in an egg, was bad.
Or... well, a crack appearing too soon in an egg was bad. Before the little creature inside was ready to brave the outside world, before it could survive on it's... own.
He glanced at Meridah, concern mirrored in his furrowed brow. "How... long ago...?" He was starting to feel nervous again. How long had it taken her to reach him? Had something come and disturbed the egg while she was gone- but, no nothing would be out in this storm... except a water-loving colt and his fearless filly friend.... but...
Maybe... maybe this was a good crack?
He looked back at the egg anxiously. Hopefully? Yes?
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:43 pm
Turning her head slightly as he knelt down beside her, she looked concerned, for very good reason. What if her baby dragon didn't hatch? What if all the joy was gone, and all they would be left with was a lifeless egg....Oh man. She thought back to how long it had been, it didn't seem like long at all...but with the rain it was hard to tell. She'd been so focused on trying not to fall or get lost she'd not thought about time at all....perhaps that had been her very first mistake in all this.
"I didn't think...it was long....not till I found you. I don't know how long its been on its own though...." Was it....too late?
Determined not to lose hope she leaned forward and grasped the small egg as gently as she could in her teeth. Motioning her head a little she moved out from under the bush and under the thicker canopy of a tree; seeing the base was only slightly damp in comparison to the rest of the terra below. Laying down she set the egg by her tummy, hopefully to keep it warm as she curled the best she could around it. This is what dragons did right to keep their eggs warm? Sit on them? Well, Meridah didn't want to sit on the egg but still....something had to help.
Looking up to Voda as she found herself getting a little chilled from the wetness of her pelt; she smiled softly. "What do you think? Isn't it awesome??"
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:00 pm
He frowned slightly when no more cracks appeared in immediate answer to his silent query, but he didn't know how long this kind took to hatch.... if it was hatching. He grimaced inwardly, hoping that the little creature inside just needed a little time to rest before it's next attempt at breaking free into the world... and that the crack was a good thing, after all.
He greatly appreciated her coming to find him, appreciated her wish to share this marvelous wonder with him. He was glad she had come, happy to see her and he wasn't even a little disgruntled at her being late anymore.
But... was the price too high?
While he worried, Meridah took action. He held his breath while she gently removed the egg and transported it to the shelter of a nearby tree canopy.
He had thought it might be cold, but she.... she offered it warmth.
He smiled at the sight of his friend curled around the fiery egg.... it matched her flaming hair, in a way, though the gorgeous locks in question were currently plastered against her neck and thus appeared darker than usual.
"Yes, you are." his golden eyes shined with pride that he could call her Friend.
It took a few heartbeats before he realized what he had said... and what she meant. His head lowered slightly as his shoulders hunched up, and he let out a small embarrassed cough. "It is."
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:15 pm
Frowning slightly she looked back to the egg, surely she was doing it wrong....she wasn't like a feline with the ability to curl completely into herself; her legs just wouldn't allow it. Perhaps with a bit of her fussy nature showing she leaned her head down to adjust it a few more times; there was really little she could do when she could only really heat half of the egg.
Half....
Flicking her ears as she was torn from her thoughts, she'd caught his strange answer to her question. Her? She was talking about the egg.....oh. OH. Feeling her cheeks heat up under such kind words the little filly adverted her eyes only slight. Meridah was doing what any noble knight would do! Help those in need, defender of the defenseless....all those things. She lived by the code, breathed the code.....heck she even went without sleep....but luckily she hadn't had to lose much sleep over it yet.
...and well, maybe she was just really excited to see a dragon.
"Totally..." She spoke up, trying to help him ease the embarrassment but still felt quite happy over such a nice thing to say. Beaming up at him she motioned to the ground beside her with her nose as her prior train of thought returned. Half.....she remembered their first sleepover at the beach; how they had laid had made a circle. Each being a half. If he laid at her side, they would both heat the little egg perfectly, right? "Hey....come lay with me. We'll keep it warm together, maybe that'll help it!"
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:33 pm
His words has been truth, as was only proven by her gracious attempt to ease his embarrassment. He hadn't seen her flush, for his own eyes had remained downcast until she spoke. His shoulders straightened slightly at her dazzling grin, and he nodded in response to her invitation.
It made sense, really. She wasn't just inviting him over to be kind, he could be useful! And not just underwater; his body heat would aid hers in keeping the fragile egg cocooned in the warmth it must surely need to survive. He decided, then, that he wouldn't think about the possibility of it... not making it, anymore. That would just be too... wrong.
His tail twitched a little as he walked towards them (Meridah and the baby), and he eyed her curled form speculatively before figuring out how he could fit in. Folding his legs neatly, he settled himself onto the moist soil and squirmed as close as he could. Part of his ribcage barely made contact with the shell, and his head faced her rump, but this way at least they could ensure that the egg was sheltered from all sides; if he had laid the other way, their slightly thinner front-ends would have left a gap in the living nest.
His tail wrapped protectively around, curling in a manner so similar to their first night together... except now, he offered warmth to not one but two others.
He whispered, urgently "It has to."
As a water droplet tickled the corner of one eye, he blinked reflexively- one eye open, one eye temporarily closed.
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:50 pm
Meridah had remained fairly still as Voda joined her in their attempts to keep the little egg warm amongst the storm. He'd seemed to have thought things over in the way he moved against her just right, her eyes looking down to see the egg vanish between their two small bellies. It surely would be nice and warm now! She couldn't imagine how dragons did it....while theirs had been chance to happen upon it....did dragons have to keep them warm for a very long time? Oh wait....how long would this take?
Well....however long it would take, she supposed.
Folding her ears back a little as his tail pressed against her shoulders she too felt the lingering warmth flowing back into her body as her pelt began to dry at a slow place - only a few stray droplets splashing against her dark body. Nodding her head eagerly, she could feel in her heart his very words...this had to work. There was no other viable option at this point.
"What kind of dragon do you think it is? Its red....maybe its a fire dragon? You know, ones who breathe fire from their lips!" She glanced to him, their proximity so close that she didn't have to speak very loud at all to assure he would hear. "Maybe when its big it can fly us places...OH! Maybe it can fly us up to a mountain so you can see the view!" Oh, would her brothers be infinitely jealous when she showed up with an amazing dragon friend.
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:21 pm
He considered her question, breathing carefully so that his little tummy wouldn't press the egg too tightly against hers.
Maybe it was a fire dragon, and he'd have to be very careful not to get too hot to the charring breath. He needed to stay moist, and he wasn't sure dry heat would agree with him at all. Or... you know, fire. In general.
Fire was a destructive force, something that left charred ash in its wake. Fires could be devastating in the forest communities... Voda had never heard of fire-dependent organisms, fire-following flowers that blossomed only after the everything else was consumed. He only knew of one side of Fire, and that side was... burning.
His trepidation was tempered by her voluminous excitement, and he felt a steady thrum of breathless anticipation throbbing in his ears. Life, new life, a fragile little being... sheltered, for now, warm and safe.
He peeked down at the barely-visible shell, and began to speak slowly. "No matter... what kind it is, it'll be..." He looked up at her, and his golden eyes were wide with wonder. "... magnificent." A dragon, any dragon, any little creature... to witness it's birth, it's growth, with her. Won't that be just amazing?
He blinked, wondering if he was putting too much pressure on one little life again. But, no... it wasn't bad to be expected to be awesome, especially when he knew that they would accept and care for and appreciate whatever special skills this little one had. No matter who it was, or who it became, they'd share a special bond- all three.
Maybe... just maybe... his first friend had found and united him with his second friend-forever.
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:40 pm
Magnificent! That was the perfect word really, what a powerful, but wondrous creature it would be. She'd never seen a dragon in her life, but from her rather vivid imagination and the tales it was very lizard like she had a very good idea what it would look like.
The Knight, the Water Dragon...and the fire dragon. How cool did that sound? Surely she was the luckiest little knight to be in all the land!
Her lips opened to speak when she felt something small poke at her sides, her body giving a twitch as she'd initially thought one of the spines of his fins might have jabbed her....but when she looked down his fins were higher than her midsection where the jab occured. Leaning away only slight her eyes lit up in horror as the egg had a hole in it now. "Voda! A hole! I broke it!" She cried out, distraught in the fact the crack had turned into a gaping, dark hole. She'd been so careful, and so had he so why!? "Oh no little dragon..." She breathed, when her body have another jump as something stuck out of the hole.
What the heck was that!?
Staring down intently she watched more pieces of the shell began to break away, a small tapping echoing in the now apparent hollowing insides of the egg. "Its alive!" She exclaimed, perhaps stating the obvious, but she was just so relieved it was alright....now she was just ecstatic. "Here it comes! A mighty dragon baby!!"
Yet....something strange happened.
The baby dragon had a beak.
.....and was a ball of fluff. A beaked ball of fluff.
Frowning a moment as if to really inspect the little head which had popped out and tried to wiggle free, it almost looked like she was disappointed.....but.... "......Oh....my gosh. Its a feather dragon." Her eyes went wide with the realization, and the awe that they had such a rare, rare dragon!
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:09 pm
Voda just stared, watching the hole grow wide. They were right! Maybe the little one was just waiting to feel safe enough to venture into the world... and their warmth had helped comfort it, just as their proximity lent comfort to each other at times!
He urged it on silently, utterly thrilled to see the crack widen and split.
Tap tap... tap! tap. Impatient little dragon. Or, had it been waiting patiently all this time for them to arrive?
As Meridah proclaimed a truth that was right before their eyes, he grinned, a sheer expression of joy that his face could barely contain.
I can't wait to meet you, little one... for you to meet us. His tail started to wiggle excitedly as the beak broke through the firey shell, and... beak?
Fluff? Feathers?
He tilted his head curiously, leaning in a little closer, big golden eyes fixed on the little... dragon?
He squinted back at Meridah, puzzling out the evidence. Shell of fire, small, beak, feathers. Well, Meridah had a fiery mane and she wasn't a dragon, small things were young- or just a kind of creature that would always remain small, beaks were for birds, and feathers... did dragons have feathers?
He didn't, but he was a Dragan.
It really didn't matter what it was, but he was curious... this little one seemed to defy expectations. The little... critter... was absolutely magnificent.
And it had 2 devoted care-takers, who would make sure it grew up to be the best little whatever-it-wanted-to-be around.
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