by LJ Davies
This stuff again? I thought hungrily.
This time I finished it without hesitation, pushing the empty bowl toward the fire with my tail. Risha did the same, smirking at me as she wiped her snout with a forepaw. As we finished the sound of voices outside interrupted us.
"There they are!" Boltock announced entering the chamber. "Didn't anyone at least think to tell me where you'd gone?"
"Boltock, you were there when I told them to come back here?" Pyro deadpanned.
"Yeah, but I didn't think you were serious! Hardly anyone ever leaves training," he replied.
"How’s he doing?" Pyro asked, dismissing Boltock and fixing his eyes on me.
"He's fine," Risha responded swiftly.
"Ooo, I just can't contain it! That was so extraordinary, you really gotta teach me how to make my eyes glow like that!" Boltock beamed, skidding over to me like an excited puppy.
"That's enough!" Risha interrupted, pushing him away with her wing. "You're going to overwhelm him."
For an instant I thought of speaking up and allowing Boltock to continue, as I couldn't really be any more overwhelmed than I already was; my mind was changed when I returned my gaze to Risha shaking her head.
Frowning at his sister, Boltock turned, ruffling his wings as he marched back to the door. It was as if he was about to fly off, at least until he was almost muzzle to muzzle with Ember as the dragoness slipped in and commented.
"That was quite amazing." Her voice was calm and collected, like Tarwin when she had prey in her sights.
"Yes, yes amazing," Boltock stammered, tempering his enthusiasm to match her subtle tone.
The peek he took to see if she'd acknowledged him wasn't so subtle. Even so, the fiery dragoness pretended not to notice.
"The day grows older," Pyro announced as Ember slid close by his side.
The pair stood by the open balcony, the larger dragon peering out through the curtain as he asked.
"So, are we just going to sit here all day, or are we going to show this new one the spring?"
"What! Are you serious!?" Boltock asked in disbelief.
"I think he's earned it," Ember agreed with a light giggle.
"Ooo, then yes! We gotta show him!" Boltock almost exploded with enthusiasm.
My eyes jumped from face to face, trying to figure out what they were talking about.
A spring? I've heard of those before. It's the name villagers give to small streams and rivers. Unless they're talking about the season?
"What kind of spring?" I asked curiously.
Everyone appeared ready to give an answer, but they were all beaten by Boltock.
"It’s only the best secret ever!" he shouted as he ran out and dove over the platform.
Moments later, he re-emerged over the edge, flapping his wings as he called. "Are you guys coming, or what?"
The others looked like they'd seen it all before, nevertheless all followed. Meanwhile I paused.
Everything's still going so fast; I've only just started to recover and now we're rushing somewhere else? Risha was the last to leave, turning back to me before she moved through the curtain.
"Are you coming?"
A feeling of guilt held me back. The time I'd spent here had been amazing, though I still felt I didn't truly belong. Not only that, but none of this was going to help save Tarwin. The only real reason for me to stay was the Elders’ request to see me again.
Come on, that's got to be enough for now. You've waited your whole life to meet dragons, now enjoy it a little.
That in mind, I walked up next to Risha as she took off. Turning to the open balcony one last time, I dismissed the idea and followed her into the air.
I can save Tarwin when I'm ready. I just have to wait to see what the Elders say.
*
We flew for a short while before a change in my companion’s course forced them into a dive towards the lake. I pondered the reason for their sudden descent as I hovered, there looked to be nothing below us except the lower cliff. Another change in the air movement came as Risha swooped into a hover in front of me.
"This is the fun part!" she announced, gracefully somersaulting in the air before disappearing below.
It took me a few moments to relocate her and confirm that she had joined the others in their descent. They moved further away, so far that they appeared like dots against the vast shimmering water.
How big is this place? They look like ants from up here!
Finally, and with some hesitation, I tucked my wings against my side and allowed myself to fall.
Air rushed by, leaving me almost unable to draw breath as it rustled my wings and whipped my tail. The glistening water drew closer until it was almost within touching distance, when, just as the others had done, the leathery membranes erupted from my side, snapping taught with a clap like thunder, instantly catching the air. The downward force sent shockwaves across the water and I caught sight of fish scattering.
Following the others, I straightened my flight into a low glide. The warmer air rising from the lake created a more natural uplift and it felt good to be flying on my own again.
Living here it's a shock that dragons don’t lose their edge for natural flight.
The sound of laughter soon met my ears, which was when I realised I'd somehow overtaken the others in my rapid descent.
"Whoooooo!" Boltock cried, swaying excitedly in the air. "It gets better every time," he added, catching his breath.
I shared in their laughter, unable to deny the drop was the most exhilarating thing I'd done in a long time. The fact that I was with my own kind only added to the thrill.
Gliding low over the water I watched my reflection trapped beneath its surface as sunlight streamed from above at just the right angle to emphasise the image. I slowly banked right, following the others towards the base of the cliff, dipping my wing tip in the water as I turned.
The fine membrane sliced the liquid like a knife, creating a series of ripples that disturb my reflection before dissipating outwards and eventually merging back into the stillness. The scene was beautiful, in fact, it was breath-taking. Risha swooped in beside me, her wing tip close to mine.
"I told you that was the fun part," she announced, laughing whimsically as she swayed into my path and forced me to tilt aside.
I returned the playful intrusion, leaning back into her path in the same way.
"Come on, you two," voices sounded from ahead. "Stop playing about like it's your first flight!"
Our heads turned simultaneously to see the others looking back and beating our wings harder we caught up. Together we flew further along the base of the cliff, its face visible long after it submerged into the gloomy depths. It was slightly intimidating to think that the immense wall continued much deeper beneath the water, not to mention what could be down there.
Funny, I'm starting to sound like Tarwin's father.
Just as I thought that, the path ahead began to unveil itself. It was unclear at first, but it became apparent that the others were heading towards an opening nestled at the base of the cliffs where the two opposing faces finally merged. The rough fracture appeared like a gaping maw, half-filled with water. Stalactites opposed their stalagmite cousins, rising from beneath the lake. The combination of natural formations giving the cave mouth the appearance of being lined by snarling fangs.
At first sight, the dark crevice looked unnerving, but the others flew on without hesitation. Containing my fear and reining in my apprehension, I followed them into the shadowy maw, swooping around the lowest of the stalactites, which up close, were far larger than I'd first appreciated.
The cave's natural appearance was much the same inside, it looked more like the caverns back home, namely a gloomy, wet hole with water dripping from the ceiling. The rejected liquid repeatedly broke the surface of the pool below as a symphony of patters echoed from the walls.
Darkness continued to consume us as we moved deeper into the depths, the cavernous reaches exte
nding further into the cliff. The confines of the cave forced an ever-lower flight over the water, broken occasionally by stalagmites reaching up from beneath like grasping talons. Each time I avoided one of the rocky teeth the next seemed to grow taller; it took me a while to realise that the cave floor was rising from beneath the water. Eventually the dark liquid was forced to give way to rock, and trying not to slip on the damp surface, we eventually landed on the exposed beach.
To my surprise, Pyro immediately sped off through a small opening at the back of the cave, the others and I quickly pursuing. The crevice was tight, providing just enough room for a dragon to walk through, and as we rounded the first corner, I made out a faint blue light ahead. Moments later, I discovered the source, a large expanse of glowing moss clinging to the damp walls.
The tight confines gradually opened out into a more spacious tunnel. More moss covered the rough rock, clearly growing wild across its vast, sprawling surface unlike in the city. What was even stranger was that the air had started to become warmer, making the atmosphere hot and sticky.
At first, I thought it was just my imagination playing tricks on me, since my only other experience with caves like this had been cold, wet and unpleasant. What looked like steam drifted from up ahead, subtly illuminated by the moss’s blue glow.
Where in the spirits' name are they taking me? I asked myself. I trust them, I really do. But this is so odd.
Eventually the cave opened out into an even grander subterranean world to reveal the source of the strange phenomenon. Stalactites decorated the roof and gushing water fell rapidly through large cracks in the ceiling. Most astonishing of all were the terraces stretching out before us.
Steam rose from the bubbling pools of hot liquid, spilling out over the retaining lip of the naturally hollowed-out shelves before gently trickling down into those beneath. The process repeated itself several times as the terraces stepped downward, the final pools feeding into a larger underground lake. The crystal-clear water was brightened by more of the glowing moss clustering among the stalactites and shimmered like liquid sapphire.
Several natural pillars supported the cavern, their surfaces glistening as beads of condensation found purchase. The gentle sound of bubbling water filled the air, giving the chamber an other-worldly tranquillity. A sudden splash shattered that, as did the gush of steaming liquid forced over the lip of the nearest pool.
We all glanced down to see Boltock’s head rising from beneath the steaming water. The others stared at him for a second before they eagerly followed. Meanwhile, I edged over to the rim of the closest pool. Peering into the water only made me think it must be warmed by fire.
Maybe it's something to do with fire dragons, like how air dragons make it easy to fly? Why would they bother to heat up water all the way down here?
I eventually decided there really was no point in trying to figure it out; it was here. Dipping in one of my front paws, the sudden shock of its warmth sent a quiver up my foreleg and I instinctively pulled it out. Seeing the others splashing around eased that fear and I tried again, this time determined to hold my paw in for longer. I resisted my reflexes and after a few seconds the warmth felt good.
"What are you waiting for?" Boltock shouted, diving beneath the surface before emerging covered in a shimmering coat of steaming liquid. “You’re fireproof!”
He's right, scaredy-scales, just jump in!
I took the leap of faith and did just that, giving myself no time to reconsider. The sudden shock sent a warm spasm through my whole body. After the initial surge, the water felt wonderfully soothing against my scales. Its warm embrace was like a siren enticing me deeper until all except my head and neck were submerged.
Unable to resist, I gently lowered my head, dipping it beneath the surface. The sharp sting from my wound returned, but before I could shoot back to the surface the water’s warmth plucked the pain away. I came up only when my lungs demanded air, shaking off the steaming water.
Meanwhile, Boltock climbed out and clambered down the terraces towards the larger pool lying at the base. Pyro was next to jump out, shaking water from his scales, ruffling his wings and sending a thousand droplets back into the water before carefully following Boltock.
I watched the two of them enter the lower pool, Boltock jumping like a green comet. Risha materialized from the steam in front of me, the top of her head, slender back and wings visible above the surface. Lifting a forepaw, I watched my steaming white scales, the tips of my claws dripping wet and now free from bloodstains.
"Feels so good, doesn't it?" Risha practically purred as she drifted around me.
"What is it?" I asked, setting my forepaw back below the water.
"It's a hot spring, we found it about a year ago and we’ve been coming here ever since. The best part is no one else knows about it."
"A good job too," Ember added, "otherwise we'd have dragons like Thunder taking it over."
I'd no idea what a hot spring was, though it certainly felt good to me – the water’s warmth relaxed all my tension and even my troubled mind couldn't completely resist its embrace.
The sound of Boltock splashing into another pool distracted us again. I glanced to see his head break the surface as he began swimming around. Pyro stood on the edge peering down at him, his red scales glistening wet and smouldering with steam. Ember was next to climb out, shaking off the water just as Pyro had done. She slinked down the pathway, brushed past the larger dragon and jumped into Boltock’s pool. The green dragon's eyes lit up with delight as he glided through the water towards her, only to back away when Pyro slipped in.
"Should we join them?" Risha proposed, drawing my attention as she hopped out, magically flicked the water from her scales, and strolled down towards the lower pool.
Only moments ago I was reluctant to get in and now I was reluctant to leave, just like the fires back in the village.
Knowing the warmth of another pool awaited, I dragged myself to the side, and following the pathway the others had taken, I hurried down. It was hard not to slip on the wet rock and without a moment's hesitation, I slid back into the water.
The other's laughed and cheered, and for a moment I felt more at home than I ever had in the village. For the first time in ages I was really enjoying myself.
The five of us remained in the water for what felt like hours. While we chatted, I got some answers, in particular about Dardien's Elemental Orders. I established that there were four of them, one for each element, and that Pyro was a member of the Fire Order, specifically chosen by the Academy of Flame. The Sovereign was the leader of the city, although the current ruler, a dragon named Aries, had only recently come to power and apparently opinions were quite mixed.
The rest of their talk was about how different I was and why I'd been summoned by the Elders. Apparently, only a select few had ever been in the Elder chamber before. There was also the talk of Thunder, the consensus among all order students was that he was a total 'sour-scale'.
Being with them gave me a feeling I'd never had before. I certainly appreciated my life back home with Tarwin, she was my family and I'd accepted the world into which I was born. What concerned me now was whether I'd been born into the right one?
"I think it's time to go."
Pyro's sudden announcement interrupted my meditation, ending what must have been hours of lazing around. All eyes turned to see the larger dragon shaking steaming water from his scales as he clambered out. Boltock, Ember and Risha quickly did the same, and reluctant to move, I eventually followed.
We made our way back to the entrance; cool night air slowly creeping in to replace the cave’s steamy warmth. Meanwhile, it felt like the warm waters had weakened a barrier in my mind and the return to the colder reality brought it straight back to life.
The doubting part of my mind unleashed itself, growing stronger and feeding on the guilt I'd bottled away. I tried to convince myself that I had a good reason to stay, but that excuse was long past its usefulness.
All the positive thoughts from my time in the pools were demolished as guilt released a volley of mental attacks.
They might be your own kind but they aren't the ones who raised you – they're not your family.
I'm still different, I'm different from them.
The thought immediately reduced me to the doubting dragon I was when I arrived. You can't stay here, not forever because you're still a freak!
Darkness had fallen by the time we reached the cave mouth, but I was unfazed and leapt straight past the others, gliding out on the cool night air as they followed with little regard for the change in my attitude. The cool atmosphere felt strange; spending so long in the cave made it feel almost alien, and it took me a moment to acclimatise.
Part of me wanted to blame them, but I retained some control over my anger. They might have invited me there, but I had chosen to follow and they weren’t keeping me against my will; they only wanted to help. After allowing the others to pass, I lagged behind.
We flew along the same path we'd taken on the way down, this time the inky blackness of the calm water felt different. The sun’s intensity had dropped, leaving just enough light to throw back a ghost of my former reflection.
Inevitably the lights of the city began to reflect in the water’s blackness, and their intensity grew stronger as we got closer. We started to ascend along a natural updraft, its steady flow taking us close to the cliff. It felt painfully slow compared to the descent, until eventually we merged with one of the city’s artificial airways.
Flying at night showed off more of the city’s beauty, although no part of my mind was willing to appreciate it, conscious it would become a temptation for more delay. Moments later we were cruising along the busy airways, with hundreds, if not thousands, of dragons flowing with us, joining and leaving to land or connect with other routes.
"We'll see you tomorrow!" Pyro shouted, banking away.