Encounters
This is my first summited story to Sofurry.com. Though suggestive, its relatively clean. Constructive criticism is welcome. I hope you enjoy this short story.
Inspiritation for this story: Dragons Lair contest ; Tryad - Waltz in the Moonlight.
19,541 Characters (with spaces) ; 3,664 words
Encounters
I walked through the darkness, my scales the only glimmer of any color inside the shadowy boughs of the forest. My kind says this area is forbidden to all dragons, though no one would tell me why. Not that it mattered anyway, now that I have left on my journey. Hunger filled my mind, my stomach reminding me of my continued failure to find it any kind of sustenance. I sighed, a great gust of air leaving my body. I felt utterly lost out here, and only the words of my clan's shaman brought any comfort, little that it was. Her words echoed in my mind, even now.
"Little one, you must leave our clan," she said, the elder shaman had said. "You will find your' opposite to complete you. Follow your heart, for it will guide you to the right path."
I steeled myself. I promised myself I wouldn't cry. I feel so lost out in this immense world. I've never left the clan grounds, and the most I've ever flown was to the edge of the territory on a dare from the older females. My body shook, trying to maintain control over the feelings of isolation and loneliness that I was experiencing, only to fail and fall to the ground. Tears flowed from my eyes, and sobs escaped my muzzle for all to see and hear. I didn't care who saw me at this point. It would be better to be heard by someone than die alone in this miserable forest!
I could now decipher how much time passed, but I imagined that it was enough. I picked myself up and cleaned my eyes of my tears and body of the dirt that managed to stick to my clothing and scales. I stayed quiet, the occasional sob the only sound I heard, and then my ears heard something I didn't hear before.
Straining my hearing, I swirled around, trying to locate the sound of running water. It was feint, perhaps a creek rather than any fast moving water, but that gave me hope. Water usually means that other races may live around there. And if that's not the case, maybe I can find some fish to catch. Feeling my confidence raising, I moved towards my right, following my ears to not miss anything. I dared not be caught unaware in this unforgiving land...
I was feeling pretty proud of myself. Today was the biggest haul of fish I've gotten by myself! Father will be proud of me when I show up with, not just one, but two full nets of fish! I could barely contain my excitement and grinned to myself. I could see that if I did not hurry, though, the fish would begin to smell and attract all kinds of nasty things. Those foragers from the wolf clans didn't appreciate us humans being here. Tolerated, sure, but definitely not liked by them, or most other clans, for that matter.
I shrugged, figuring it wasn't my problem unless someone put a knife to my neck. I checked my nets, securing them nice and tight to avoid losing any fish. When both nets were secured to my satisfaction, I lifted them over my shoulder like a child would lift a twig. I thanked the Heavens that our shamans knew how to make it so these nets would lift about fifty times their weight, but feel light as a feather! I grinned happily, thinking of the feast that was to come, when a sight stopped me in my tracks.
Never mind the fact that today was a beautiful spring morning, turning slowly into midday. Never mind the fact that I had fish to turn in. Everything suddenly doesn't compare in importance when a dragon comes into your field of view. My instincts told me to run as fast as I could, but mortal fear made my feet feel like the heaviest of stones. My breath was quickly coming in fast gasps, barely having any time to exhale before another gasp of air filled my lungs. Sweat began to form on my brow. I didn't want to do what I had to do, but the shamans insisted that we always made our presence known to the other clans, whether they are morphs or humans. I imagine that none of the shamans had to do this to a dragon, though.
I gulped, trying to wet my suddenly dry throat when the dragon turned to look at me. I tried to speak, but I felt like I inhaled a lungful of ash. I coughed, choking on my own spit, when the dragon spoke first.
"I apologize if I am using your river, but I am terribly thirsty," the dragon said, the voice sounding awfully light, like a woman. "I hope I do not offend."
I shook my head. "This river is for all the clans of the Grey Forest to use. Of course you are more than free to use it."
The dragon looked concerned. "My clan is nowhere near this forest. I seem to be intruding everywhere I go. Please forgive me," she said, as she turned away from me.
"Wait!" I cried. She stopped and looked at me in confusion. "I imagine that it will not do any harm if I invited you to drink," I said, smiling
The dragon smiled, and bowed graciously. "Thank you, sir," she said softly.
For the first time, I began to see details about this dragon. It wasn't like the dragons the stories told them like; bestial, nearly unearthly sadism and a taste for flesh. This dragon, if that is what this being is, was destroying every preconception I had of their race.
I noticed and immediately corrected myself when I noticed how her tunic got wet to detail the outlines of her scaled breasts in very impressive detail. She was definitely a she, and quite lovely. I didn't dare stay and look for long, for fear of insulting her, so I bothered myself with her wings and scales. Her scales were a uniform white, perhaps silver, turning to gold scales when they reached her belly and chest. Her wings were the same coloration, except for the cover of golden feathers that met her scales. Her tail moved slowly, undulating as if it had a life of its own. As she brought more water to her muzzle, I noticed her impressive teeth gleaming with the sun. I smiled to myself, just being glad that this encounter ended successfully.
"Excuse me, but I must be taking my leave," I said, grabbing the nets once more. I must have dropped them in fright. "If you wish, you can come with me. There is always room for one more in our little village."
"Wouldn't I be intruding?" she asked, her eyes, golden in color, looking alarmed.
I shook my head. "No, you wouldn't. The children would love to see someone new, and I'm sure the shamans would be honored to have a dragon in our community."
She smiled her face and body looking as if a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. She crossed the small river in a shallow area that I pointed out to her, and she stood next to me. Her eyes moved along my body, and I could feel her studying me. I shrugged mentally, seeing as I just did that to her not that long ago. She smiled again and nodded. I smiled in return and headed to my village, praying to the Goddess that I wouldn't have my head chewed off by the council.
The village, as the human guiding me called it, was almost like being back home. My initial fears were proven wrong, as I thought this village was just of humans. There were all other kinds, from foxes, wolves, the occasional elf, but I was surprised on how little the human population really was. He must be one of the few in the village. Perhaps he is the only human in the village? I shouldn't ask something like that, for it is terribly personal. They may have died due to sickness, like my brother. The pain of the memory resurfaced like an angry flood, but I controlled it, like I have done so many times. My host looked at me in concern, but I smiled at him calmly. He smiled back, and pointed yet another interesting part of the village. The children then decided to almost overrun him out of nowhere! He laughed richly, as cubs from all sizes and ages wanted to take his nets.
"You all know where to take these by now, don't you?" he asked, smiling
"Isn't it too heavy for cubs?" I asked worriedly
He shook his head. "Watch," he said, giving me a smile
To my surprise, the children lifted the nets like if it was mere air in them! I was astonished, my maw gaping in surprise and puzzlement. I felt a touch on my shoulder, and saw my human guide smiling at me.
"The village shamans enchanted those nets so that I can bring more fish if need be," he explained. "That's why they are so light, yet strong."
I smiled, nodding. "Fascinating," I said softly.
He grinned. "I agree. They always surprise me with something, but this time I get to surprise them."
"What is this surprise?" I asked him
"You, of course," he said, smiling with what seemed like confidence.
"Is this the price I pay for staying here?" I asked
He shook his head. "No, but I get to see the shamans scratch their heads in confusion for the first time that I have seen."
"This sounds like a very elaborate prank," I said, feeling left out of some larger joke.
"It isn't as bad as I'm making it out to sound like," he said, smiling at me. "I think I'll still get burned with this prank, and it will probably be taking care of you."
"What do you mean by that?!" I asked, my voice bordering on yelling
"Well, since I brought you to the village, it is my responsibility that you know the rules and customs of it," he explained. "Don't worry, I've done this before."
I rolled my eyes, but quietly followed him until we entered a small cave near the back of the village. I followed my guide, surprised how he wasn't hitting his head against the roof of the cave, or being lost, without any light. As my understanding was, humans had very poor eyesight in the dark. I voiced my concern and all he did was stop and laugh.
"I still get that question asked, even from people that have known me for all their lives!" he said, snickering softly. "To answer your question, I am a training shaman, and I'm using the air and earth to guide me to where I need to go. And, on top of that, I've walked this way one too many times in my lifetime, so I have this entire cave system almost memorized."
I shivered slightly. Here was probably one of the youngest shamans that I have ever had the experience of meeting, and he was almost what a dragon would die to have a mate! If only he would be a dragon and not a human! The cavern opened up suddenly, stemming any continued self-pity that train of thought would have caused. I stood in awe at the massive opening, torches glowing brightly and with strength, despite their constraints.
The massive chamber was dome shaped, with exits to other locations beyond my knowing. Paintings and murals decorated the stone, as I imagined they told some kind of story relevant to things that happened long before. In the chamber, five others were kneeling in a circle. I realized that they were masters of at least one or more elements, or representatives of the element they stood on correspondence to the elaborate symbols they were standing on. All five turned towards us, looks of surprise and confusion clearly planted on their faces or muzzles. One of them, a wolf, smiled, and motioned us to come closer.
"If it isn't our wayward son, Kishan," the wolf said. His tone suggested that my guide, Kishan, has done this more than once, as he claimed.
"Indeed it is, Father," Kishan said, smiling at the wolf.
The wolf shook his head, if from desperation or fatherly, I could not tell. "You might as well start from the beginning," the wolf said, smiling gently at me.
I blushed, but I held myself. Somehow, I felt the need to prove myself to these people. I inhaled deeply, and began my tale.
We left the caves, with no doubt on our minds that we gave the elders something to chew on. I was surprised to hear Sitara's side of the story, and just as surprised that her clan has shamans, as well. Perhaps, though we have never known each other before, the culture shock wouldn't be as bad as others have had it. At least, those were my hopes.
We didn't even get to the trading area when we were besieged by the mob of cubs again. This time, without my nets, they set upon our visitor, asking all kinds of questions about who she was, and why did she have such a long tail, and so forth. I tried to get the mob under control with little results, until Sitara held her arms up and spoke in a firm voice.
"If you want to ask some questions, you're more than welcome," she declared, "but please, one at a time! My hearing is only as good as I am, and I cannot make out your voices in a crowd, since I'm not used to their tones."
The children calmed down somewhat after that. While they were as rambunctious as ever, but when someone asked a question, everyone became very quiet to hear Sitara's answer. I smiled at how she seemed so intent and fascinated by what the cubs showed her. Instead of going to the trading area, we were dragged to the cub sitting area. Sitara looked at me for an explanation.
"Any mother, or woman, for that matter, can volunteer her time to help mind the cubs while the others are doing either the routine maintenance of tools and equipment, or out hunting for game or fishing, like I was," I answered.
"So, the males don't share the responsibility of the cubs?" she asked, her eyes narrowing
"Of course they do," I answered. "They have to change any soiled clothes, and give the cubs their baths! But sometimes the males do volunteer to become cub sitters, and women want to do the hunting."
Sitara nodded in satisfaction, watching the cubs and their antics. One of the younger cubs even made her a bracelet of flowers. I smiled as Sitara picked the young fox cub and gave her a gentle hug, which the cub was more than happy to return. After overseeing the cubs for a bit longer, and seeing how the matrons were watching us with the patience a mother has mastered, I guided my guest to my home. It was now coming rather late, and the afternoon sun was rapidly setting.
I opened the door for my guest, and bowed with an exaggerated flourish. "Welcome to my humble abode," I said, a smile playing on my face.
Either she took me seriously or not, I'll never know, as I saw her clawed feet walk past me into my home. She stood there, noticing the simple decorations that I have in my home. From the flowers hanging from the windowsill to the small wooden table, she admired with fascination in her eyes. She smiled at the craftsmanship of the table and the entirety of my small home. She turned to me, still with that smile on my face.
"I have to complement whoever built this home," she said with awe. "Whoever it was, they did a spectacular job."
"Thank you," I said, smiling at her
She stopped for a moment, and looked at me. I could tell that she was trying to find out if I was joking with her or not. She blinked for a moment, as if coming out of a daze, and smiled.
"You're not lying to me, are you?" she asked
I shook my head. "Nope, though I did ask the elements to aid me carve the stone, I have grown and carved everything inside of here," I said, not without a little pride.
She smiled at that. I figure that she's up to something, but to me it would be best if I ate something first.
"I'm famished after a rather interesting day," I said to Sitara. "Would you tolerate my company if I can fashion you dinner?"
She was about to answer, but her stomach beat her tongue in pronouncing the words. A rosy hue rose to her cheeks, discoloring the scales there, but I smiled and pulled a chair for her. "Please sit," I insisted, "and let me figure something out."
She sat gratefully, her cheeks still flushed, when I dashed to the kitchen, literally a hop away. I pulled out of the cooler some preserved fish and meats, and I grabbed some fresh vegetables from today. It didn't take long for me to start up the heating element, asking for Fire's help to kick-start it quickly. Soon, the smell of cooking meat and fish filled the house. I thanked the Goddess that I managed to get everything thoroughly cooked, because from the look Sitara was giving me, she was about to jump at me to get her portion! I quickly produced two plates and served us both a generous portion of food, and quickly headed towards the table. As I placed the plates down, I waved my hands, and two sets of silverware came gently floating from the kitchen to our hands.
"And with that, dig in!" I exclaimed, cutting up a piece of meat and popping it in my mouth. I hummed in delight, getting the consistency right on the seasonings and herbs right. I looked at my guest, and she was eating with gusto, though placing the silverware to the side in favor of her claws. I smiled to myself how she would sniff a piece, but quickly pop it inside her mouth, only to repeat the process.
Dinner was quickly put away, and with our bellies full, I aided my guest and escorted her to the lounge. She smiled as she sat down in the sofa, and I sat next to her. Her smile never left her muzzle, even after I hit my forehead and forgot about the dirty dishes. I hurriedly placed them in the kitchen and opened a window to let the smells out of my house.
"I'll do them in the morning," I said, as I sat back down next to Sitara.
She nodded. Something about the look in her eyes told me it wasn't to what I just said. She took my hands gently within her claws. It was now that I realized how vulnerable I was to her. The smile alleviated my rising fears, as was her steady breathing. I felt her tail entwine with my legs, gently squeezing. I felt confused; was she showing me affection? Her hands pulled me closer and hugged my body, feeling her hands begin to explore my back gently. I was trying to figure out a way to extract myself without needing to hurt her feelings, but she spoke before I could say anything.
"I have to confess that, whether knowingly or not, you've been courting me all day today," she said without preamble
I was shocked. "Sitara, I should apologize," I stammered after her revelation. "I wasn't my intention to woo you into-"
She silenced me with a claw to my lips. I noted how soft her scales felt against my lips. I shook myself inwardly. I have to focus on this!
"Kishan," she said softly, "I finally understood what my clan shaman wanted to say with her cryptic revelation of my spirit journey. I was intended to find you, I know for certain."
I sat there, dumbfounded. She didn't reveal this part of her story earlier. But I had to know, how was she so certain? I mean, it isn't that I'm not tolerated. Heck, I even knew some females that were lining themselves up, just waiting to become a shaman! How does she know that she and I are to be together?
"How can you be so sure?" I asked. "I mean, we've only just met!"
She placed her claws against my chest, right above my heart. She took mine and placed it above her own. I closed my eyes, feeling her heart beat, and mine being total sync together. It didn't take long for me that she had her own internal powers that she wasn't mentioning.
"Sitara, you are becoming more of an enigma to me," I said, smiling
She embraced me, and this time, I didn't fight back. Our lips somehow found their way to each other, and we kissed in earnest. After an eternity, we parted, wrapping my arms around this beautiful dragoness. She smiled at me, and I returned her smile gladly.
"We should put out the lights, Kishan," she whispered in my ear
"Oh, right," I mumbled softly. With the wave of my hand, they were quietly snuffed out. I quietly thanked the spirits before returning to my guest.
"Just snuggling tonight, my mate," Sitara whispered. "No need to break anything on the first night."
I smiled, but said nothing as I snuggled deeper into our embrace. She surrounded me in her wings, and found myself in peace with the world for the first time in a long time.