day 27
Chapter 11
It had been a worryingly longer amount of time for Magnolia to return. On the one hand it was concerning: were they okay? Had they been attacked? Had Maggie hurt herself flying too much? On the other both Iris and Hyacinth were grateful for the rest.
Normally not long after waking Cin would help the Mirror by moving her stricken legs in a walking motion and waving her tail around. By doing so it would stop the limbs from deteriorating too quickly and possibly spark a connection that would allow her to regain control. It likely wouldn't return without proper surgery but it was the best they had. Iris did her best to remain calm with the knowledge that she may never get back feeling in her hind end though it was highly embarrassing that she'd required assistance to relieve herself from now on.
Since they'd awoken early to trade with Tibby and then flee not long after when the zombie-like Guardian caught up to them they'd not gotten any exercise in yet. The Skydancer was still mentally recovering from the attack, too shaky to stand without help. As the hours slipped by he had deigned to take a short nap to better heal and Iris didn't want to disturb him.
“Hey Lupe?” she called to the fluffy dragon who was staring intently at a patch of daisies by his forepaws. When he looked up she continued, “mind giving me a hand? I need to stretch my dead legs so they don't die any quicker.” It was meant to be in humour yet mentioning death made her feel horrible.
With a quiet nod the Gaoler rose from his spot in the grass, shaking out his long fur and making his braid dance before plodding over. It amused Iris that he'd kept it there despite his earlier protests. More so that he'd attempted more while he thought she wasn't looking. “What can I do?” he asked once he was level with the Plagueborne.
“I need you to roll my legs around like I'm walking.” Iris tried to explain, wheeling an arm in example. “Since I can't move them myself I need someone else to do it for me. Dene and Alli are having fun and Cin's sleeping. Would you mind?”
He bobbed his head, moving around to her side as she lifted herself up on her front legs. “Like this?” He'd taken one of her legs with a surprisingly delicate grip and begun gently tilting it back and forth.
Twisting her long neck to see Iris nodded. “Like that, yes, but move the knee as well.” Balancing on one hand she demonstrated again with the free one, rotating it like she was taking steps in the air. A puzzled expression crossed his sharpening features as he took her foot in his other hand, sitting back on his haunches to do so.
“Better?” He asked again, managing to get a loose cycle going.
“Yep, like that!” Iris exclaimed proudly. “Do the same with the ankle, too.”
It took some fumbling and almost dropping the Mirror a few times until Lupin was able to balance her upper leg in one hand and pinch the ankle between two fingers on the other, managing to rotate all three joins at the same time.
“Perfect!” Iris congratulated the Gaoler with a beam. She felt bad for making a young dragon do this for her but he'd grown so fast both in size and in mind. It was if he were older than he actually appeared. “Now do that for a few more cycles then do the same with the other leg.”
Once again with a surprisingly soft touch the Natureborne helped exercise both legs and then her tail, grasping it at the base and rolling and flicking it in various directions. “That helps?”
“That helps more than you know.” The Mirror smiled gratefully at him. “Thank you.”
“Need do this more?”
“Every morning.”
“I help every morning?”
She hesitated. She had not at all expected him to want to do something like this in the first place let alone offer to do it all the time. “I... well yes, if you're willing.” the Mirror finally replied at the Gaoler's expectant look. “It would help Cin a lot too.”
He cracked a smile, genuinely pleased to have accomplished something. “I like to help.”
Both of them lifted their heads at the sound of heavy wingbeats approaching, as did Gardenia and Allium further across the rise. “Maggie's back!” The Tundra, who was now plastered in leaves in various places across her lanky body, cheered heartily as she raised over to join Iris, Lupin and the very much awake Hyacinth, who was peering about blearily and reaching out of habit for specs he no longer had.
Sure enough the Ridgeback had returned, alighting with some difficulty in the grass away from the group to avoid buffeting them. Out of her arms wriggled a perfectly unharmed Zinnia along with many of their bags. Once the Bogsneak and bags were out of her grip Maggie dropped to all fours to allow the black dragon to assist in untying something from her back. More satchels and – to everyone's surprise – the cart as well.
“Wait, you managed to grab all of our stuff too?” Iris exclaimed in shock. How in the world would they have had the time and agility to dodge the monster long enough to grab it all
and secure it so well?
Both girls wore grim expressions at this, though it was Zinnia who explained while Magnolia flopped hard onto the ground once she was completely unburdened. “About that.” She started, gesturing for everyone to gather around as she too lay in the soft green blades. “I managed to get the thing's attention by zapping it and slipped into a dip it couldn't quite reach me in. Stupid thing didn't seem to realise it could dig me out, Stormboss be thanked.” She trailed off a moment, dipping her gaze to the spot between her forelegs.
“Thing is, not long after Mag managed to pick you all up and fly away it turned around and started to follow her instead.” Zinnia looked up again, worry marring her pointed face. “Nothing I did would distract it. I could even run up and bite its tail, what was left of it, and it ignored me.”
Concerned glances were exchanged between the others. “Why do you think that is?” Hyacinth asked at length when the Bogsneak remained quiet. “Why would it give up attacking you like that?”
Zinnia gestured with her snout at the younger members of their troupe. “I'm not completely certain but I think one of these guys was its Charge or something. I know it ain't Mag cos it ignored her when she came back for me, too.”
“What's a Charge?” Gardenia piped up, ears flattened against her skull.
“Guardian dragons have to go on a very special journey.” Iris explained to the Tundra, gaining the attention of blue, red and green eyes. “When they reach a particular age they start to feel like they need something. Or be somewhere. It changes from dragon to dragon. This journey is called their Search and what they seek is called their Charge.” She paused a moment to let this sink in. When she was content enough time had passed she continued, “That Charge means everything to the Guardian looking after it, no matter what it is. If they were to lose it, they'd do anything to get it back.”
Allium raised a hand. “Other dragon be Gardi Charge?” This made the Tundra shoot the Fae an odd look.
Iris nodded. “Even other dragons.”
Gardenia lowered her head suddenly, shaking a little. “Feel like should know this...” Lupin rested a heavy paw on his ersatz sister's shoulder comfortingly.
The Mirror turned back to the Bogsneak, catching her blue eyes and the gesturing with her head at the children and mouthing,
Should we tell them?
Zinnia shook her head. “All we need to know is that we're being chased by a lumbering zombie Guardian looking to get its Charge back. We can't stay still for long. We need help and fast.”
Silence fell over the assembled dragons as they took in this information. Deciding it best not to swell on it further for now and instead focus on making use of the time they had they all split off to do their own things.
Gardenia had been quick to run over the crest of the hill again, towards where she and Lupin had found a small pond. The Gaoler had gone with her. Magnolia had all but fallen asleep, large wings flared over the grass to allow them to rest after her exertion.
After checking up on her alchemy partner Zinnia assisted the Skydancer with the wagon they'd bought, removing the front panel after some struggle and getting Iris to sit in it. It needed sanding but would do for now with some cloth and cushioning, though the wheels were slightly too small for her liking. After lining it with spare rags however it was serviceable and so Zin and Cin set about fashioning a rudimentary harness for her.
It was glorious, if a little uncomfortable and embarrassing, to finally move about without being carried by another dragon. It wasn't exact but for now Iris had freedom again and began running about whooping in exhilaration as she took the wagon for its test run around the top of the hill.
It wasn't until a little later when Gardenia and Lupin returned that she stopped, panting and arms aching but dang she needed that. Her elation subsided when she saw the way Gardenia was sulking however, though there was something else that made her grow sombre: Lupin's daisies had withered away.
With time enough on their side and Hyacinth and Magnolia still in recovery the group made a very basic, rickety camp using what loose wood they could find nearby. The best shelter managed was little more than a couple of lean-tos that could not cover all of the smaller dragons. Maggie had to deal with being fully exposed save for her own bedroll again.
With great debate it was decided who went where. Hyacinth definitely should be in one of the shelters and Zinnia elected Iris to join him while the juveniles shared the other and she slept under the stars. Iris had declined, insisting Zin stay with Cin and she stay out – that way they could find out how the wagon would work for sleeping. Everyone else said no and untied her, Zinnia all but thrusting her into the Skydancer's lean-to.
Lupin then came over, collected up Iris and set the protesting Mirror next to Gardenia and Allium, pointed at Zinnia then at the other shelter, then trundled over to lay next to the dozing Ridgeback.
That was that, they supposed.
Night came and went. The next morning saw them hastily packing everything up and gulping down a quick but filling breakfast. It was mentioned that the fish was yet to be smoked, something to remember next time they stopped. Now was not that time; they had to put as much distance as they could between themselves and the Guardian.
The question was, where do they go from here?
Once again lamenting the lack of a map between them the group set off, Iris greatly enjoying the ability to walk alongside her new friends. After a while Hyacinth perked up, recalling that the trader from before was heading towards a place called Saltwind Heights. Perhaps if they could find the road again they could follow it to this fishing village.
And so it was decided, with Maggie occasionally flying ahead to see if she could spot it. After a few sessions like this she returned with good news. If not the road from before then she'd at least found a well-used trail. Any road was better than none so they opted to follow it, stopping to camp at the curb when darkness fell again.
Content with the progress they'd made the speed fell to a comfortable walk as the road guided them to whatever destination lay at its end. Along the way, as dusk started to fall once more, they spotted a cave in the distance, deciding that will be their home for the night. As they got closer however they began to realise that it was not a naturally formed cave. Rather it looked like someone had dug it out. Regardless, it was shelter. So they slipped inside.
“Oh, it's taken.” Maggie said with a mix of disappointment and curiosity as they regarded the sleeping Guardian laying with their back to the group. “Think they'd mind?”
Zinnia shook her head. “No, let's leave. We can set up camp further up the road.”
As they took turns making noises of disappointment the large purple form stirred, a greyish-brown wing shifting so that his head could snake over his shoulder. “Oh. Hello.” The decidedly male Guardian rumbled in a somewhat subdued, emotionless tone. “I thought I heard voices.” With a deep sigh he adjusted so that he was now facing his guests.
“Sorry to intrude.” Hyacinth spoke up, giving the Guardian a small bow. “We were looking for a place to stay for the night and hadn't realised this cave was taken. We apologise and shall leave you in peace.”
“Peace.” the purple dragon scoffed, making the group exchange wary glances. “I've not known peace for over two months now.” He sighed again but as he regarded the gathered dragons before him Magnolia caught sight of something.
“Um, are you okay?” She asked softly, suppressing the urge to throw her arms around the stranger. “Your eyes look sore.”
Indeed the Guardian's pink Arcane eyes were ringed with red. As he swung his head something glistened on his face in the dwindling light. “I...” He considered his words, then shook his head. “It's nothing. Don't worry.” He shifted again so he took up less space while remaining comfortable. “You say you're looking for somewhere to stay for the night? Well, I don't have much but I'm happy to accommodate.” A smile ghosted his lips briefly. “I could use the company, if you're willing to stay.”
“That would be wonderful.” Hyacinth replied on behalf of the others, who nodded in agreement. “Thank you. My name is Hyacinth, it's a pleasure to meet another soul out in this wilderness.”
“Aster.” Aster rumbled in his sullen tone. “Likewise.”
Everyone took their turn to introduce themselves, though Lupin had to speak for Gardenia who had fallen rather shy around the large new dragon. Allium, conversely, was extremely energetic and eager to meet the Guardian, throwing questions about his Search and Charge and what it was like and if he'd found it yet.
Iris had to call the Fae down and apologise profusely for her curiosity. After all this was the first time the young dragons had seen a Guardian and not a few days ago had their quirk explained to them. Aster took it in stride, though Maggie and Lupin both noticed how unfocused he appeared at the mention of it all.
With some effort and promises to explain more in the morning to quieten the excited Fae each member found a place around the cave to settle. It wasn't deep but it was shelter for all of them. Except Maggie, who could only stick her head in. But that was fine. She was used to it.
But while they all settled in and began to fall asleep, Aster could not. The Fae's questions, while innocent and otherwise humorous, burned in his mind as guilt gripped his heart. Even with this sudden congregation of fellow dragons around him he continued to feel alone and helpless.
No. Even their company would not save him.
Next Chapter
Inventory/Notes: Breed/Scatter/G1 purchase x1
I actually had this pre-written thanks to a bout of spontaneous inspiration before the familiar pull. It's already long enough however so Verbena will join the story next chapter!
( <- also yay thanks Wain for bringing back the hug!)
Double also, just saying, she's super blue despite being a fire dragon. Blue fire, perhaps? Or maybe she can't breathe fire and just puffs out wisps of smoke every now and again? Idk, your dragon, your say goes! I'm just rambling with the ideas 
Also poor Gardenia! D: Her chapter is gonna be a rough one
But we'll see what you guys have to say!
