Day 51
< Inspiration, eh? Do some more!
Chapter 17
The following days were a mixture of mourning, celebration and general busy work. Aster, understandably, wanted to spend time alone to grieve the final loss of his mate and Charge. His sadness, however, was a more contented one. Not a sadness of loss and sorrow, but of acceptance and finality. Free from guilt, of a desire to leave the mortal plane while still feeling bound to it. Aside from Gardenia, who had been allowed to stay with him, the others had left him be as he lay around the living grave of twisted vines and wild flowers Lupin had so graciously bloomed with help of his dryad familiar.
One of them, however, was not as considerate as the rest. Alstroemeria, the olive-furred dragon not unlike Lupin who turned up out of nowhere to hold back Amaranth. The one who kept calling them weird nicknames. She'd gotten so far as to tell them her name and that she had sensed “the Darkness”, of which she was tasked to rid the world. Beyond that the green dragon had not explained, preferring that all be present to hear what she had to say. Something, she had stated, was not fair when one was in mourning.
Something everyone hoped she'd spill as she sat at the most minimally respectable distance away from the Guardian and the grave. Watching them.
Besides being borderline inconsiderate in her placement of choice Alstroemeria, or Merry as the others had taken to calling her – both being easier than her full name and for her overly positive outlook, the new Gaoler was actually really friendly and upbeat. Not obnoxiously so, simply finding the brighter side of things. When not hovering a short ways from Aster she would attempt to hang out with Lupin and Willow. Likely due to being the same species. At least, that was the assumption. Lupin had only been titled such out of lack of better understanding after all. 'Attempt' being the operative word as he seemed disinterested in spending time with her.
Beyond that all was as normal. Almost. Iris' right arm had to be supported in a rudimentary sling, tightly bound in linen having landed on it awkwardly after being swatted away by the zombie, as she lay over a large rock to prevent putting pressure on it. Her cart had sustained some damage as well; one wheel snapped in half in the fall. Unfortunately for Zinnia it was the one that
didn't squeak. In the meantime as the Mirror rested sulkily the wooden transport had been handed to Magnolia to tinker with.
“How is it feeling?” She barely looked up as the Skydancer came over with freshly cleaned bandages, fussing with the rough linens he'd had to make do with at first. “I don't believe anything is broken from what I felt but I still firmly believe you should rest it off before we set out next.” Without complaint or resistance Iris allowed Hyacinth to work on her forearm, though she turned her head away from him, crests closed, pressed against the sides of her bony head. It wasn't openly stated but it was clear he was avoiding the obvious question. She braced herself for it each day he visited her.
“Hurts.” Was her simple response as she rested her head on her good arm. “Better,” she amended quickly, “but still hurts.” Hyacinth bobbed his head and hummed in acknowledgement as he applied the fresh cloth wraps. An awkward silence hung between the pair as Hyacinth wrapped and rewrapped the bindings, seemingly unsatisfied with his work as he fumbled. “Cin,” Iris let out a small sigh, titling her head only enough to regard the Skydancer from the corner of her eyes, “Just... I know you want to ask. Just say it.”
Closing his eyes and inhaling deeply through his nostrils Hyacinth gripped the ends of the bandages a moment before properly securing it, replacing the sling and helping her lay her arm comfortably in it. “Why did you continue to fight against Amaranth?” The question was quiet, like he didn't want to ask but knew he had to. She knew it had to be. After all, she was the only one not to agree with Lupin. “This wouldn't have happened if-”
“I know.” Iris cut in, sharper than intended and making her friend flinch. Returning her head to her good arm the Mirror sighed again, shuffling her wings more as a distraction than a means of comfort. “I know.” She repeated, softer this time. “It's... I...” Words refused to assemble themselves into a meaningful sentence and she shook her head, unsure how to continue.
Pursing his lips Hyacinth offered, “Survival instincts? From your Plague heritage? Wanting to protect the children?” Even though, at this point, they were all barely children any more they all stumbled to find the right way to address the younger members. Especially Lupin who seemed wiser beyond his few years.
Again Iris sadly shook her head. Memories danced behind all four of her eyes of the rival Mirror pack that had attacked hers. The time she got wounded, fell into the ocean and swept away. Passing it off as being outcast from the severe injury. A shudder ran down the top half of her body as she recalled the overly savage nature of the opposing dragons. Savage even by her kind's reputation and why she tried not to be. “I'm sorry. Not now. I... I just can't right now.”
And that was that. Hanging back only to rub the bridge of his snout thoughtfully Hyacinth turned to walk out of the cave. “We're here to listen when you're ready.” he said softly over his shoulder, pausing in the opening. “Just as we did with Aster.” Then he was gone, joining the others outside.
Heaving a deep breath Iris lay still in attempt to sleep. It was difficult. Her arm hurt, she felt bad for not saying anything. And every time she closer her eyes she saw them again. The crazed howls, the bloodlust, the fight. A tear rolled down her cheek.
As the end of the week rolled around the topic was not revisited. Iris had both been glad for and resented it as the guilt began to build in her chest. A desire to explain, yet not feeling ready to share. Was this how Aster felt when he struggled to tell them about Amaranth? Having to carry so much weight within oneself even with so much support and love around them. The Guardian had bared his heart to her friends and they'd just met him. So why couldn't she?
If everyone else knew her pain they did not ask about it. Once her arm had healed sufficiently to bare weight again Hyacinth had allowed her back outside, riding on the backs of others if not laying in the grass nearby. It was revealed later that her wagon had long been since fixed, denied her by Zinnia as the squeaky wheel had not been replaced. Needless to say, when the cart was reintroduced, the black Bogsneak had found something of particular interest some distance away from them as the Mirror reacquainted herself with it.
Zinnia's complaint hadn't gone completely unnoticed however as Maggie, alongside Gardenia when Aster requested time to himself, presented a somewhat crude bow and bundle of rough arrows atop blue-coloured clothes. “She, ah, says hunting has been harder with, um, the wheel.” The Ridgeback admitted, rubbing the back of her long neck as a sheepish look crossed her pointed face, like she wasn't supposed to have said that. “But I know you like hunting. So I wanted to try something different!” Hunching over to better reach the giant white dragon nudged the wooden weapon closer to Iris.
“What...?” Taking the crude bow in her good hand the Mirror examined the weapon with disheartened curiosity. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“You shoot things from it!” Maggie responded at first gleefully, large chest puffing with pride at her first try at making something like that. Only to sink back into sheepishness as Iris stared at it in puzzlement. “Um. Gardie? Could you...?”
Nodding eagerly the pale blue Tundra held her fluffy hands out to take the bow from Iris, picking up an arrow and knocking it into place in demonstration. “It's a little tricky,” she admitted, pulling the feathered shaft back against a slightly frayed string, “cos it's not made the best. At least, that's what Maggie says.”
“Also... um... size.” An awkward grin graced the Iceborne's features as her hand, fully healed, continued to rub a spot between spines on her neck.
“Y-yeah. You might find it better than both of us!” Gardenia chirped, sitting back on her haunches and repositioning her grip on the bow that was, now that it had been mentioned, too long and unwieldy for the smaller dragon. “But see, you're supposed to hold it kinda like this, pull the arrow against the string so it's niiiiice and tight and...” She let go of the arrow, which sprung in a wobbly line to land on its side about a foot away. All three of the girls stared at the pathetic shot a moment before bursting into laughter.
“You're... you're supposed to...” Snorting into her hands as she fought to hold the giggling back long enough to speak Magnolia tried again, “You shoot the arrow -snerk!- at the prey, so you don't need to -pfft!- move around so much!” Her arms wrapped around her chest as she doubled over. “I'll... I'll make a... better one later.”
Gently placing the warped, bent bow back on the clothes pile as if it were suddenly made of glass, then retracting her arms quickly as if it would leap up and bite her Gardenia sniggered a little longer before adding, “The clothes are better made, promise!”
“I believe you.” Iris replied, wiping a tear of laughter from her eyes. “I... I needed that.”
Magnolia and Gardenia exchanged grins. “Mission accomplished!”
After spending the rest of the day scavenging better quality materials to put towards the new bow, and to eventually upgrade the wagon, the following night was spent peacefully. Aster had started joining them inside the cave more often over the passing days and now slumbered contentedly alongside his new friends. He'd even stirred and risen early feeling refreshed, a new dragon.
Yawning widely it wasn't until he reopened his eyes to wander outside that it occurred to him that it was very early indeed, the blue sky still streaked with the purples and navies of night. With this revelation it became apparent that his companions were still snoozing around the cave in their various positions.
A peculiar, sweet scent wafted around him as he turned to sweep his gaze over them all, lifting his head to see a sticky, orange wad of stuff near the roof. Rivulets of sweet-smelling ooze dribbled lazily down the rock. Below it, with hands also covered in the substance, Allium drowsed atop Lupin, matting locks of his fur, muttering something to herself in her sleep. Had she been building that while he hadn't been looking? A small smile crept across his features. Of course, Fae lived in sap colonies, right? It made sense that, at her age, she'd start experimenting with her own.
Not daring to let the sweet scent send him back to sleep just yet Aster decided to make the most of being awake to take a much needed stroll around the area. For all the time he'd spent here wallowing in misery he'd not really acquainted himself with the scenery. Perhaps now, while the sky was painted in this mix of night and day, it would prove most beautiful. However as he left the confines of his stony abode to turn around the left side his vision was obscured by a wall of silvery blue.
A living wall of silvery blue.
Backing up to get a better view of his obstruction Aster recoiled upon realising it was a greattusk, an elephantine creature usually native to the prairies where Wind and Fire connected. They were nowhere near the Firelands. Why was this pachyderm here now?
Creeping around the heaving sides of the massive beast, taking care not to catch himself on the ivory protrusions that gave the creature its name, Aster was relieved to see it was as asleep as his friends were. Or so he thought. Something something large animals not being able to lay down for long? This one was clearly laying on its side. Had... had it not been there long then?
His head snapped up, fins flaring as he caught the sound of objects being moved. Lowering his entire body to the ground the great Guardian stalked his way around to the dip in the hill his cave was carved into where they'd been temporarily storing supplies. Before he'd fully rounded the curve a small, dark shape flitted away further around. He charged after it, but it was already gone.
Greatly concerned Aster returned to the stockpile to check their collection. A lot of it had been junk, stuff held onto “just in case”, with very little of worth and the food kept inside once the cave had been expanded enough to do so. The most valuable possessions had been kept on the dragons' persons. Nosing about their sparse belongings Aster was fairly confident nothing had been taken, but everything had been scattered with intent.
Someone had been searching for something.
Next Chapter
Inventory/Notes: Breed/Gene x2 OR Gen 1 Purchase x1, Hyacinth Badly Injured for 2 days.