FSE

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"Home is here, but is here where you feel at home?" My eyes had opened quickly upon hearing someone talk; a female. I didn't recognize the voice at all however; they sounded older, but didn't sound like a threat. I quickly sat up and looked around; I saw trees, grass that had become my bed, and the river I had drank from when I had made my escape the day before.

"W-who's there?" I listened and waited for a response, but was only met with the sounds of the breeze through the trees. I slowly got up to my feet, careful about my surroundings, still on edge about the mysterious voice I had heard. I looked around once more; I couldn't help but feel as if I was being watched. I slowly made my way to the river bed, needing a drink of water. As I walked to its edge, I stopped and stared at my reflection. I was wearing a new outfit; a white under shirt that looked like bandages, a black jacket, with navy blue sleeves, and some black slacks, with pockets on the legs, as well as the sides. As I felt the new attire out, I felt something behind me on my new slacks, hanging down from the pant line. It felt like a carrying case of some sort, I soon found a handle to its content, then slowly pulled it out, then brought it to my face to get a look at it. It was a knife; a rather large one at that. The blade itself looked tarnished, the handle itself was wrapped in leather, but looked beaten and falling apart. Where did all this come from? I soon felt a gust of hot air come from behind me, I jumped a little in surprise, but quickly knew who it was. I put the knife back in its sheath, then slowly turned around and came face to face with the red dragon. The large male was laying down now in front of me; his chin on top of his arms, is deep green eyes focused on my every movement.

"Glad to see you finally up and moving little one." The dragon said with, an almost annoyed tone. "What do you think of your new equipment?"

"Hey, I did a lot of running yesterday, I needed to recover some." I stopped in my complaining as I thought about what he said "...You did this?"

"...Yes." Umbra looked at me as if I was crazy, then chuckled deeply "Who else?"

"You can't just do that to someone! And where are my regular cloths!" Umbra began to laugh, loudly from my statement; which only enraged me more "S-stop laughing! It's not funny!"

"Relax little one. Every male is built the same, I didn't see anything I didn't want to see. Besides; I never actually laid a finger on you." My anger slowly turned into confusion

"...Then. How did you." He reached out his hand, then put a large fingertip, softly in front of my mouth

"Shhhh. Remember what I said about a wizard and his secrets little one?" His explanation didn't help me at all, and only made me frustrated, but I knew that he would never tell me his secret, so it was best to let that go.

"Fine, but where are my regular cloths?"

"I burned them."

"WHAT?! WHY!?" Umbra huffed at me, as if I should know.

"You're in a place where your attire is out of place and ahead of its time. You must blend in to avoid any unwanted attention." I huffed at him, and wanted to yell at him for destroying my favorite clothing. Yet, once again, the dragon was right; if I wanted to survive out here; looking like I belonged out here was one of the steps to follow.

"Now. There's a bag by that tree little one. Grab it, and let us go forward." I looked around, then saw the bag Umbra was talking about. It looked full of supplies; all that I figured I would need on this journey. I started to walk over to the bag, but then stopped in my tracks and looked at the dragon in front of me.

"Wait a minute. You forgot your promise." I pointed at Umbra, he responded by slightly turning his head

"Promise?"

"Yes. You promised me you would tell me where we are." He gave a soft grin as I raise my voice.

"I never promised you anything, but I guess I can give you this answer." I turned so my full body could face his, well, entire face.

"This land is called Somnissa. A land of magic, wonder and danger. Its very landmass, spans out, larger than any continent on your earth. It lay hidden, unable to reach where you come to know as home." I looked up at him in awe, but then looked very confused

"Okay...Then why did you bring me here?"

"This land is where you were born little one." My eyes grew wide, my jaw, hung as I looked at the dragon. This is where I came from; my place of origin. I looked around, looking up at the trees, thinking that this place, lost in time, was once home.

"So this...is my home?" The dragon chuckled

"This is a forest." I turned to Umbra, the wonder being broken for a moment. "We are quite a ways from anywhere you would call home little one. That's why we need to move." I gave a soft nod to the dragon. I quickly ran over to the previously mentioned bag that lay on the ground, and picked it up. It was a lot heavier than I expected, but I lifted it up with no complaint or grief. I had a fire burning in my chest, a mission I need to complete. I was going to find where I was born; I knew the questions I had would be answered once I found it.

"Which way do we need to go Umbra?" He moved one of his arms from under his chin, then pointed to the left of us

"North. That is the direction where your true birth place is." Without even a call or warning, I took off into the forest, running as fast as my legs would carry me. I jumped between the lively trees, over their roots that had come up from the earth, and launched myself off branches that were strong enough to hold me. My breathing was calm and slow, although my movements were swift, making sure I never stopped for a second. I saw a bright light from the tree line; I was coming to the end of the forest, but I couldn't be worried of what was on the other side. I jumped through the trees one last time, then landed with a roll onto the ground. I looked up to see what lied ahead of me.

"...Oh my god." I couldn't help but to stare at what I saw. Even growing up in a small town, far away from the city, I didn't think something like this was possible. A meadow, clear and full of grass. Nothing invading its openness and peace; both that seemed to stretch out for miles. Except for one thing, an eyesore in the distance. A hill or a mountain that was erect from the earth; that was the only thing that lay in wait past this meadow. I knew, that was my destination, but I felt lie it would take days to get to.

"Quite a sight. Wouldn't you say little one?" I jumped, then looked next to me, only to be met by a giant red foot. I looked up and huffed

"Stop doing that!" I yelled out loudly. Umbra looked down and chuckled a bit at my reaction

"I would suggest you start moving little one. Don't want to waste day light now do you?"

"That'll take me forever to get to! Why don't you just carry me or something?" The dragon simply shock his head

"This is your journey little one. Not mine."

"Some help would be appreciated. It would make things so much easier." The dragon looked down at me, but I didn't sway. I then noticed a grin appear on his face; there was something about that grin that made me uneasy.

"Answer me this little one. How does a gigantic dragon like myself, have the ability to sneak up on someone like you?" I thought about it, then realize I had no answer, but he had done it to me at least three times.

"It's because I'm not here." I looked up at the dragon, looking more confused than ever. "I am right now, a figment of your imagination. No one can see me but you; even then, you can't interact with me." I look over at his massive foot, which was still and now much more intimidating compared to my small stature. I slowly walked up to it, then reached my hand out to it, only to watch it pass through. I jumped back and looked back up at the dragon

"Now. Right now, only you can see me, but if I wanted to." Umbra started to slowly lift his foot "I can make you, and the whole world, feel my presence." Before I could ask, the dragon slammed his foot down on the ground, then the ground began to shack and quiver from the massive attack on it. I was sent flying a bit, landing on my back.

"NOW ALL THE WORLD KNOWS THAT I AM HERE LITTLE ONE." His voice now boomed in my ears. I felt the ground shake as underneath me; Umbra was coming towards me. Before I could react, the massive dragon stood before me; each foot on either side of me. I then watched as he slowly lifted up his right foot above my tiny form, and stared at it in fear.

"HERE. FEEL IT NOW LITTLE ONE." Umbra then started to slowly put his foot down, with me, right in the middle of his wide sole. It was too big and too close to escape from under its mass, but I closed my eyes and throw my hands up in the air, in an attempt to stop the advancing foot. I soon felt heat in my palms, then slowly opened my eyes. They grew wide as I looked upon the red, thick sole. Wrinkles ran down its unblemished form, some that looked like my hand could almost fit in with ease. I saw them grow deeper as I seemingly held up the mass in my hands. Umbra must have been flexing his toes above me as he kept me under foot.

"AHHH. I'VE MISSED KEEPING A LITTLE BUG UNDER MY FOOT." I couldn't believe it. I wondered why Umbra was doing this, if this what his intentions were the entire time. My thoughts were soon cut short as I soon felt pressure coming down on me, he was stepping down a little more on my body. I cringed and watched as my arms started to bend at the increasing weight.

"...Umbra...Get off me." I could hear the dragon laugh at my command

"WHY LITTLE ONE? THIS IS SO MUCH FUN. IT'D BE EVEN BETTER IF YOU WOULD RUB THROUGH MY WRINKLES." I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes again. He was applying more pressure on my little body.

GET! OFF ME! THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" I screamed as loud as I could from under the very warm sole.

"HERE. I'LL MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU. I'LL LIFT MY FOOT OFF YOU, ONLY IF YOU SUBMIT YOURSELF TO ME."

"...W-what?"

"CALL YOURSELF MY SERVENT, AND PRAISE ME AS YOUR GOD." I gritted my teeth, and became angry at Umbra. I didn't want to believe this was what he was after.

"...No."

"WHY NOT? IT'S SO EASY. JUST SUBMIT, LIVE YOUR LITTLE LIFE AT MY FEET." I growled from under his massive, then felt my claws slowly retracted from my fingers. I wasn't going to do it. I was never going to.

"...Umbra...Get...OFF!" I felt myself push, then felt as if I sat up. The heat that was on top of me a split second ago was suddenly gone, and a soft cool breeze wrapped itself around me as it passed by. I slowly opened my eyes; I then saw the tree line I had exited from earlier, and the early parts of the meadow that I had come upon just a bit ago. I quickly stood up and looked around. Umbra had disappeared, without a trace. I kept looking around, trying to see if he would appear again.

"I am sorry little one." I froze, then looked around quickly. I heard Umbra, but he had stayed hidden this time. "I might have gone a little too far this time, but I had to prove my point." I softly began to shake, and sniffle; I had felt humiliated, and almost betrayed by the dragon

"W-what. That you are a sick minded being?"

"No. Nothing you truly want comes easy. You wanted out from your capture, and you didn't stop fighting, despite all the easy routes presented to you." I tried to stay strong, not wanting to cry amongst this, unpredictable being.

"Okay. Fine. Lesson learned, but...why like that?"

"It was a test."

"...What kind of test?"

"To see if you are worth perusing little one. A test of your own being." I stood there, feeling the anger slowly slipping away from me, curious about this dragon's test

"So many have come before you little one, but unlike you; they had come to me, knowing who I am. They knew of my power, and wanted carnal and materialistic things from me. I cannot allow myself to be amongst such selfish creatures. So I test them; is what they want worth the fight, or will they do anything to save themselves." I gulped softly, thinking about what had happened to those that came before me.

"You are the only one to keep fighting. You have proven to me, that you are worth being by your side for this journey, but you must always remember this. Nothing worth having in this life comes easy. You must fight, every single day for what you want. There might be an easier way to achieve your goal, but the end result might be far from what you are after, that you lose sight on what it was you were truly after to begin with." I gave a nod, then wiped my face clean of any tears that might have fallen. Umbra was right; this was going to be a hard journey ahead of me, but I needed to complete it. I turned towards the figure off in the distance, setting my sights on it.

"Now little one. Are you ready?"

"...Yes."