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fourth chapter, kinda start feeling like I have a clock ticking in my head now^^
“Make no sudden move… and come back to me Helios…” Nimera whispered in dread as the human emitted some groans, and began to move.
Frozen in fear, the younger dragon stared at the human, unable to actually step back. His body refused to respond. It didn’t seem dangerous while the human was unconscious, but now he was waking up. In horror, Helios watched the hands reaching the face and rubbing the eyes while his legs were blocked
“Nimera… I can’t move…” he called in terror, hoping she’d have a last resort idea. He didn’t want to die!
“If he makes a gesture to grab a weapon, leap away fast!” she whispered, fear also tinting her voice.
Hearing their voices probably, the human suddenly lifted the head from the sand, staring directly into his eyes. In his chest, the young dragon’s heart was drumming. Was it his last moment? If so, he couldn’t forgive himself for doing this to Nimera. After all she had done for him. He didn’t want to die! Not like this! Not now!
PAF!
Expecting an agonizing pain, the dragon’s surprise made him gasp when the hit turned out to be… a harmless slap. Deeply confused, holding his breath, only his eyes moved to look at his cheek. The human’s hand was still there. And it began to grab, pinch, and rub his green scales.
“Nimera… What’s he doing?” The terrified dragon asked his tutor.
“I… don’t know… Get away from him…” the other replied, also with familiar words.
The human seemed to stop for a second as he heard their words, looking at Nimera for a second. Then he looked at him again and slapped once more, stronger this time.
“Are you done?!” Helios couldn’t help it this time, roaring at the face of this irritating human.
It was one of these times the heart spoke faster than the brain. The young dragon immediately heard what he dared to yell, and felt dread filling his being. When the human rolled away and got up into a fighting stance, he didn’t have to think to leap back to Nimera. What had he done?!
“I’m sorry I screamed! Please, I’m sorry!” Helios begged in panic. He knew humans weren’t forgetful, but he had to try and calm his wrath!
Like a motherly instinct, Nimera pulled him behind her and shielded him with her body. There was no doubt she was as terrified as he was, but even in the end she wouldn’t have let him down. Expecting the worst, both dragons stared at the human… who slowly dropped the fighting stance. Wasn’t he going to attack?
“You were right to yell at me if I was annoying you. I’m the one who should apologize… I really thought you were some sort of hallucination…” He replied simply, watching them strangely. Was he scared of them? Since when did humans fear dragons?
Was it… a trick? Nimera looked at him with the same confusion in the eye. It wasn’t really… humanish to talk like this. Maybe was he trying to give them false hopes before killing them? If anything with humans, their cruelty and sadism made them quite predictable in their moves. This one… seemed to step a bit out of the norm. And this, in a way, was even more unsettling.
“Okay what’s the deal? Why do you two look more scared than I am?” The human asked them directly, like he was annoyed. There was another look exchanged. Wasn’t the answer obvious?
“B-Because you’re a human.”
“And…?”
Was he playing them? Helios was starting to think this one genuinely didn’t know. He had always thought killing was a natural human instinct, but this one didn’t look quite connected with his nature right now.
“Well… humans kill dragons…”
He made a strange mimic with his head, like the idea was somehow offensive to his ears. Or more like he didn’t see any sense in something he found disgusting. Hard to read. Human faces were so complex…
“So let me get this straight.” The human spoke hesitantly, like he was voicing it to understand it himself. “Two big reptiles, with claws, fangs, long tails, are afraid of one human alone and unarmed? That’s nuts…I’m not here to kill you…”
Once again, Nimera searched Helios’ eyes with visible confusion. This human sounded irritated when speaking these words, he actually seemed sincere. Besides, what reason would he have to lie to them? He literally had them both at his mercy! To the young dragon’s mind, it appeared obvious that his first gut feeling about this human was right. He was different. And apparently not only on the physical level.
For a moment, no one dared to speak. Neither the nervous dragons, nor the human who simply looked down and shook the head. He plunged his hand into an opening of his clothes, and took out a black object that made both reptiles step back.
But he didn’t point it at them. He looked at it, frowned, tapped on it with a finger with an annoyed expression on the face. What was the meaning of this? Whatever he saw was upsetting him, and he grunted before putting it back into his clothes.
“Then what are you here for?” the young dragon managed to ask over his fear.
“Helios!” Nimera instantly called authoritatively, in a measured volume. An implicit demand to shut up his maw.
“It’s okay Nimera. He doesn’t want to kill us. I’m just asking.” Helios replied in a whisper.
“He could be lying, this is a human!”
“And why would he lie to us about this? Since when humans have to trick us, when they can just finish us?”
In attentive observer, the human had remained silent during their argument. Helios could understand her fears, but if there was a chance to learn more about him, he had to seize it! However, when he looked at the human again, the young dragon felt quite uncomfortable to be the target of his stare. Whatever the circumstances, it never felt good to catch one of these creatures’ attention. His heartbeat rate increased a bit when the mammal pointed at him with a finger.
“Helios, is it? I like you, you’re smart. Or at least you think the right way. I’ll answer your question: I have absolutely no idea. Maybe could you tell me where I actually am?”
It was a relief to hear that he inspired him no bad feeling. It was a bit strange though that he didn’t remember where he was. The young dragon had heard that humans something consumed things that got them in altered state. That could be a reason. At least, his question was easy to answer.
“You’re on the shore.”
The human didn’t look satisfied with this answer. His face froze for a second, and he looked away for another. Helios felt nervous at the idea he could anger him without meaning to.
“Okay, that’s a start. Now could you tell me which shore?”
“The south-east shore.”
The human sighed this time. Wasn’t it a good answer? It was actually stressful to reply to him. He could always decide to come back on his words and kill them if upset! Still, strangely, he seemed to try and contain this anger, forcing himself to show a smile. And not an aggressive one with that. Why was he doing this?
“That’s a progress, now the south-east shore of what? A country? A domain?”
“The south-east shore of the island of course.” Helios replied naturally, feeling more and more curious about this human. It was like he tried hard to not scare him. This was a first! Humans loved to terrify dragons, usually. They took immense pleasure in making them helpless… not this one apparently.
“Okay, we’re getting to something. How’s this island called?”
“It’s just… the island.”
“Aaaaand there goes nothing…” the human let his head fall on his chest this time.
It was a totally new reaction from a disappointed human. Usually, frustration ended up in more… violent and bloody ways with them. Because it was how they were, they liked to pass their nerves on things when they didn’t get the answers they wanted. And this one simply looked around, thoughtful, like he had already forgotten.
Not only was it exceptional that such creature could exist, but also that he survived long enough. Their kind never quite like those deemed too soft hearted. Helios had always thought that such potential human, if it existed, wouldn’t have reached maturity. He seemed… lost.
“Are you… sure you feel okay, human? Maybe you got hit on the head to forget where you are.”
This time, Nimera threw her paw at his muzzle as to order him to shut up. The young dragon had sensed her boiling all along, and she estimated that he crossed the line here. And it was probably wise of her to call him back to some sense. This human was harmless only because of his good will, it was stupid to suggest something was going wrong with him!
Curiously, it was Nimera that captured his attention. And this time, no doubt there was anger on his face. Was he… defending him?
“I haven’t been hit. I’ve been sent here. And I need to understand where I am so I can also figure out how to go back to where I come from. How to get away from this… island.”
With these words, the human began to walk in direction of the forest. To where he came from? What did that mean? Did he mean… not on the island?!
“But, there is nothing outside of the island…” The young dragon began to follow him. Curiously, Nimera didn’t try to stop him, walking next to him while staring silently at the human’s back. Strange also, his words got a reaction from the mammal they followed. A giggle. He turned and looked at them with an amused smile.
“You know you’re being quite a cliché there?” he asked them back. “A lost island, everyone believing it’s the only thing in the world. I’ve seen enough movies and series with that gimmick. Wrong, there’s a whole world outside. Cities, technologies, wonders… but you’d probably not like it; it is full of humans. I know it’s one reason I don’t like living there.” He laughed, resuming his walk.
“Then why do you want to get back there?”
“Good question. Boring answer. I just have something back there waiting for me. Don’t ask about it. All you need to know is that I’m ready to build a boat and take my luck across the seas if I must. The only thing I need is to know where I am, so I can know which direction I have to go. I won’t be there for long.”
“And how do you expect to know where you are?”
“Step by step, my curious friend. The most accurate would be to wait for the night and compare the night sky. I spent years in my youth learning and observing the constellations with my old telescope. And it’s all carved in my mind. But since I’m not good at waiting, I’ll try climbing high in hope I’ll recognize this island with a larger view. I’m good with maps too.”
Nimera suddenly grabbed Helios’ tail and pulled him back. The green dragon was about to protest but her face didn’t lie. She was panicking.
“Helios, we have to stop him.” She spoke nervously.
“Why? He just wants to go home. I thought you’d be happy to help him get away.”
“Look where he’s going to! Where’s the highest thing he can climb?”
Suddenly getting her point, Helios looked above the trees. In the distance, towering the background, there was… the mountain!
“Oh crap… Human! Wait!” the young dragon yelled at the man, starting to share the panic of his tutor. Fortunately, the human did care enough to stop once again to give him his attention, just as he arrived at the end of the woods. For a second, Helios remained confused, not expecting him to listen. But he dared saying the rest. “You can’t go there. It’s the place where… we live.”
There was a silence. And it was the most stressful. It was impossible to guess what was running through his mind, and his confused look didn’t make it reassuring either! Was he remembering what humans did to dragons?
“So… what, no human allowed?” he asked.
Helios felt relieved that Nimera stepped forward to explain. He wouldn’t want to be the one contradicting a human’s will. And she seemed willing to try talking to him, that was brave of her! She always was so strong…
“No, it’s not that… It’s where we live, all of us…”
“You mean… your kind?” the human seemed to give it a thought, looking at the mountain towering the trees. “Will they be aggressive? They’ll attack me?”
The two dragons exchanged a look, not knowing how to put it in words. Even to him, it should have been obvious. It was kind of delicate.
“Well… no. They wouldn’t do such thing.” Nimera reassured him on that matter, choosing her words wisely. “We get that you don’t have bad intentions. But they don’t know that. They’ll be terrified if you step in.”
Silence again. The human looked above his shoulder, at the mountain standing in the horizon. From behind, Helios could see Nimera’s claws digging into the ground in sign of nervousness. To a human, such argument surely sounded absurd. Why would he care about scaring a bunch of dragons to reach his goal?
“Do you have hatchlings there?” The human asked after a little thoughtful silence.
The question filled the young dragon with dread. Adults dealing with a supposedly nice human was a thing, but exposing newly born to him? Who knew what ideas he could have in mind about them!
“A-As I said… We all live there…” Nimera replied honestly, worries shaking her voice.
The human didn’t seem to even care about said worries. Not showing any compassion, he looked once more at the mountain and sighed. And then he… sat down?
“Wh-What are you doing?” Nimera asked, as confused as the young dragon was.
“Well I would have gone if there were only adults like you.” He replied like he was bored, resting an elbow on his leg, and his head on a hand. “I don’t care about shocking grown-ups. But children? They get easily traumatized, develop insecurities. I won’t make them go through this. I’ll have to think of something else to do until the night... At least this clearing will be offering a nice view of the sky.”
It was astonishing. He didn’t even argue. He accepted it, just like that. Was it really as simple as telling him he would scare hatchlings? His brain had probably been all scrambled up…
“This is… incredibly nice of you.” Nimera voiced what Helios thought.
“Oh stop it! This is not nice, this is normal!” he spat like it was irritating, making a gesture of disdain. “I’m sure even you would have enough moral to not hurt a human baby, so why should I do this to one of yours? It’s a simple question of decency.”
“Yes but… you’re aware that no other human would do this?”
“Of course some would! I know we have a huge portion of jerks in our kind, but there are some that do try to be good persons. You’ve just met the bad ones. You know, you look like scary beasts to me. But yet, since you behave like scared kitties, I readapt my view. Not every individual wears the bad traits of his species.”
Was he… seriously trying to lecture them? Well this one surely hadn’t met with the other humans of this island! He seemed to just have some kind of positive vision on the world, a bit naïve even. But for once that a human wasn’t trying to kill them, Helios was ready to give it a shot at listening to him. It wasn’t like any dragon alive could claim having talked with one of these creatures!
He would have wanted to know what ‘kitties’ were though... The young dragon didn’t really know in which sense he should take it.
“Well this… could probably encourage you to reconsider your mind…” Nimera suddenly drop with a shaking voice.
Taken back from his thoughts, Helios followed the direction she looked at… and felt horror invading him too. A few meters away, a spear was planted in the ground… with a dragon skull hanged on its top. The most sinister of all signs.
“What is that? A kind of totem of yours or something?” the human asked seeing how the two dragons focused their attention.
“These is not built by dragons. This is built for dragons. A warning.” Nimera replied with resignation, walking closer to the grim structure and smelling it closely. “Two humans left it. Around twenty minutes ago. The smell is fading a bit…”
“What does this warning say?”
The voice of the human had turned strangely lower, making him sound like he took this dreadfully seriously. He even got up on his legs to come and inspect it with his own eyes, staring for quite a moment into the empty orbits of the skull.
“Basically, that if you’re not at the mountain, don’t go there now. Or you might be next…” Nimera replied, hiding her emotions. But Helios could feel that her heart was squeezing, just like his. Who would be found dead at their return?
“Next… for what?” he insisted.
“to end like this…” Nimera sighed, powerless.
But that was when the human moved to stand in front of her, staring at her right in the eyes. This time, he did seem angry. And not anything like when he was simply disappointed. He looked… furious. Nimera even had a step back when she faced such expression, but he caught up her step with one of his.
“What do you mean? What are they going to do? I need to hear it clearly from you.” he asked coldly. It was a calm tone, that could have been mistaken for a regular question. But it was authoritative, and quite intimidating!
“Th-They are on a hunt. They are going to the mountain to kill some of us. Maybe only one of us, if we’re lucky.” The dragoness replied with a sheepish voice. In his whole life, Helios had never seen her so afraid to face someone, her light blue scales even looked paler. She usually was the one intimidating others.
But the young dragon couldn’t blame her. He would have felt dead on the inside, if he was in her scales. The human seemed to boil, and his breath became quite louder too. He threw a look at the sinister sign, and walked straight to it.
“Let’s get you luckier.” He grumbled, grabbing the wood of the spear with one hand. In one strong pull, he unearthed it, throwing the skull to roll away on the grass.
“Wait, what are you going to do?” Nimera asked a bit timidly.
“It’s a few kilometers away. If they walk and I run… I might get there on time.” He looked at her with fire in the eyes. “No one will get killed if I have my word to say about it. Not before I figure out why.”
He… wanted to do what?! They didn’t have the time to process this that the human already was running in direction of the mountain, leaving both dragons astonished. But with no other alternative, they both started to run after him without even having to speak to each other.
What did this human really want to accomplish with that spear?!
“Make no sudden move… and come back to me Helios…” Nimera whispered in dread as the human emitted some groans, and began to move.
Frozen in fear, the younger dragon stared at the human, unable to actually step back. His body refused to respond. It didn’t seem dangerous while the human was unconscious, but now he was waking up. In horror, Helios watched the hands reaching the face and rubbing the eyes while his legs were blocked
“Nimera… I can’t move…” he called in terror, hoping she’d have a last resort idea. He didn’t want to die!
“If he makes a gesture to grab a weapon, leap away fast!” she whispered, fear also tinting her voice.
Hearing their voices probably, the human suddenly lifted the head from the sand, staring directly into his eyes. In his chest, the young dragon’s heart was drumming. Was it his last moment? If so, he couldn’t forgive himself for doing this to Nimera. After all she had done for him. He didn’t want to die! Not like this! Not now!
PAF!
Expecting an agonizing pain, the dragon’s surprise made him gasp when the hit turned out to be… a harmless slap. Deeply confused, holding his breath, only his eyes moved to look at his cheek. The human’s hand was still there. And it began to grab, pinch, and rub his green scales.
“Nimera… What’s he doing?” The terrified dragon asked his tutor.
“I… don’t know… Get away from him…” the other replied, also with familiar words.
The human seemed to stop for a second as he heard their words, looking at Nimera for a second. Then he looked at him again and slapped once more, stronger this time.
“Are you done?!” Helios couldn’t help it this time, roaring at the face of this irritating human.
It was one of these times the heart spoke faster than the brain. The young dragon immediately heard what he dared to yell, and felt dread filling his being. When the human rolled away and got up into a fighting stance, he didn’t have to think to leap back to Nimera. What had he done?!
“I’m sorry I screamed! Please, I’m sorry!” Helios begged in panic. He knew humans weren’t forgetful, but he had to try and calm his wrath!
Like a motherly instinct, Nimera pulled him behind her and shielded him with her body. There was no doubt she was as terrified as he was, but even in the end she wouldn’t have let him down. Expecting the worst, both dragons stared at the human… who slowly dropped the fighting stance. Wasn’t he going to attack?
“You were right to yell at me if I was annoying you. I’m the one who should apologize… I really thought you were some sort of hallucination…” He replied simply, watching them strangely. Was he scared of them? Since when did humans fear dragons?
Was it… a trick? Nimera looked at him with the same confusion in the eye. It wasn’t really… humanish to talk like this. Maybe was he trying to give them false hopes before killing them? If anything with humans, their cruelty and sadism made them quite predictable in their moves. This one… seemed to step a bit out of the norm. And this, in a way, was even more unsettling.
“Okay what’s the deal? Why do you two look more scared than I am?” The human asked them directly, like he was annoyed. There was another look exchanged. Wasn’t the answer obvious?
“B-Because you’re a human.”
“And…?”
Was he playing them? Helios was starting to think this one genuinely didn’t know. He had always thought killing was a natural human instinct, but this one didn’t look quite connected with his nature right now.
“Well… humans kill dragons…”
He made a strange mimic with his head, like the idea was somehow offensive to his ears. Or more like he didn’t see any sense in something he found disgusting. Hard to read. Human faces were so complex…
“So let me get this straight.” The human spoke hesitantly, like he was voicing it to understand it himself. “Two big reptiles, with claws, fangs, long tails, are afraid of one human alone and unarmed? That’s nuts…I’m not here to kill you…”
Once again, Nimera searched Helios’ eyes with visible confusion. This human sounded irritated when speaking these words, he actually seemed sincere. Besides, what reason would he have to lie to them? He literally had them both at his mercy! To the young dragon’s mind, it appeared obvious that his first gut feeling about this human was right. He was different. And apparently not only on the physical level.
For a moment, no one dared to speak. Neither the nervous dragons, nor the human who simply looked down and shook the head. He plunged his hand into an opening of his clothes, and took out a black object that made both reptiles step back.
But he didn’t point it at them. He looked at it, frowned, tapped on it with a finger with an annoyed expression on the face. What was the meaning of this? Whatever he saw was upsetting him, and he grunted before putting it back into his clothes.
“Then what are you here for?” the young dragon managed to ask over his fear.
“Helios!” Nimera instantly called authoritatively, in a measured volume. An implicit demand to shut up his maw.
“It’s okay Nimera. He doesn’t want to kill us. I’m just asking.” Helios replied in a whisper.
“He could be lying, this is a human!”
“And why would he lie to us about this? Since when humans have to trick us, when they can just finish us?”
In attentive observer, the human had remained silent during their argument. Helios could understand her fears, but if there was a chance to learn more about him, he had to seize it! However, when he looked at the human again, the young dragon felt quite uncomfortable to be the target of his stare. Whatever the circumstances, it never felt good to catch one of these creatures’ attention. His heartbeat rate increased a bit when the mammal pointed at him with a finger.
“Helios, is it? I like you, you’re smart. Or at least you think the right way. I’ll answer your question: I have absolutely no idea. Maybe could you tell me where I actually am?”
It was a relief to hear that he inspired him no bad feeling. It was a bit strange though that he didn’t remember where he was. The young dragon had heard that humans something consumed things that got them in altered state. That could be a reason. At least, his question was easy to answer.
“You’re on the shore.”
The human didn’t look satisfied with this answer. His face froze for a second, and he looked away for another. Helios felt nervous at the idea he could anger him without meaning to.
“Okay, that’s a start. Now could you tell me which shore?”
“The south-east shore.”
The human sighed this time. Wasn’t it a good answer? It was actually stressful to reply to him. He could always decide to come back on his words and kill them if upset! Still, strangely, he seemed to try and contain this anger, forcing himself to show a smile. And not an aggressive one with that. Why was he doing this?
“That’s a progress, now the south-east shore of what? A country? A domain?”
“The south-east shore of the island of course.” Helios replied naturally, feeling more and more curious about this human. It was like he tried hard to not scare him. This was a first! Humans loved to terrify dragons, usually. They took immense pleasure in making them helpless… not this one apparently.
“Okay, we’re getting to something. How’s this island called?”
“It’s just… the island.”
“Aaaaand there goes nothing…” the human let his head fall on his chest this time.
It was a totally new reaction from a disappointed human. Usually, frustration ended up in more… violent and bloody ways with them. Because it was how they were, they liked to pass their nerves on things when they didn’t get the answers they wanted. And this one simply looked around, thoughtful, like he had already forgotten.
Not only was it exceptional that such creature could exist, but also that he survived long enough. Their kind never quite like those deemed too soft hearted. Helios had always thought that such potential human, if it existed, wouldn’t have reached maturity. He seemed… lost.
“Are you… sure you feel okay, human? Maybe you got hit on the head to forget where you are.”
This time, Nimera threw her paw at his muzzle as to order him to shut up. The young dragon had sensed her boiling all along, and she estimated that he crossed the line here. And it was probably wise of her to call him back to some sense. This human was harmless only because of his good will, it was stupid to suggest something was going wrong with him!
Curiously, it was Nimera that captured his attention. And this time, no doubt there was anger on his face. Was he… defending him?
“I haven’t been hit. I’ve been sent here. And I need to understand where I am so I can also figure out how to go back to where I come from. How to get away from this… island.”
With these words, the human began to walk in direction of the forest. To where he came from? What did that mean? Did he mean… not on the island?!
“But, there is nothing outside of the island…” The young dragon began to follow him. Curiously, Nimera didn’t try to stop him, walking next to him while staring silently at the human’s back. Strange also, his words got a reaction from the mammal they followed. A giggle. He turned and looked at them with an amused smile.
“You know you’re being quite a cliché there?” he asked them back. “A lost island, everyone believing it’s the only thing in the world. I’ve seen enough movies and series with that gimmick. Wrong, there’s a whole world outside. Cities, technologies, wonders… but you’d probably not like it; it is full of humans. I know it’s one reason I don’t like living there.” He laughed, resuming his walk.
“Then why do you want to get back there?”
“Good question. Boring answer. I just have something back there waiting for me. Don’t ask about it. All you need to know is that I’m ready to build a boat and take my luck across the seas if I must. The only thing I need is to know where I am, so I can know which direction I have to go. I won’t be there for long.”
“And how do you expect to know where you are?”
“Step by step, my curious friend. The most accurate would be to wait for the night and compare the night sky. I spent years in my youth learning and observing the constellations with my old telescope. And it’s all carved in my mind. But since I’m not good at waiting, I’ll try climbing high in hope I’ll recognize this island with a larger view. I’m good with maps too.”
Nimera suddenly grabbed Helios’ tail and pulled him back. The green dragon was about to protest but her face didn’t lie. She was panicking.
“Helios, we have to stop him.” She spoke nervously.
“Why? He just wants to go home. I thought you’d be happy to help him get away.”
“Look where he’s going to! Where’s the highest thing he can climb?”
Suddenly getting her point, Helios looked above the trees. In the distance, towering the background, there was… the mountain!
“Oh crap… Human! Wait!” the young dragon yelled at the man, starting to share the panic of his tutor. Fortunately, the human did care enough to stop once again to give him his attention, just as he arrived at the end of the woods. For a second, Helios remained confused, not expecting him to listen. But he dared saying the rest. “You can’t go there. It’s the place where… we live.”
There was a silence. And it was the most stressful. It was impossible to guess what was running through his mind, and his confused look didn’t make it reassuring either! Was he remembering what humans did to dragons?
“So… what, no human allowed?” he asked.
Helios felt relieved that Nimera stepped forward to explain. He wouldn’t want to be the one contradicting a human’s will. And she seemed willing to try talking to him, that was brave of her! She always was so strong…
“No, it’s not that… It’s where we live, all of us…”
“You mean… your kind?” the human seemed to give it a thought, looking at the mountain towering the trees. “Will they be aggressive? They’ll attack me?”
The two dragons exchanged a look, not knowing how to put it in words. Even to him, it should have been obvious. It was kind of delicate.
“Well… no. They wouldn’t do such thing.” Nimera reassured him on that matter, choosing her words wisely. “We get that you don’t have bad intentions. But they don’t know that. They’ll be terrified if you step in.”
Silence again. The human looked above his shoulder, at the mountain standing in the horizon. From behind, Helios could see Nimera’s claws digging into the ground in sign of nervousness. To a human, such argument surely sounded absurd. Why would he care about scaring a bunch of dragons to reach his goal?
“Do you have hatchlings there?” The human asked after a little thoughtful silence.
The question filled the young dragon with dread. Adults dealing with a supposedly nice human was a thing, but exposing newly born to him? Who knew what ideas he could have in mind about them!
“A-As I said… We all live there…” Nimera replied honestly, worries shaking her voice.
The human didn’t seem to even care about said worries. Not showing any compassion, he looked once more at the mountain and sighed. And then he… sat down?
“Wh-What are you doing?” Nimera asked, as confused as the young dragon was.
“Well I would have gone if there were only adults like you.” He replied like he was bored, resting an elbow on his leg, and his head on a hand. “I don’t care about shocking grown-ups. But children? They get easily traumatized, develop insecurities. I won’t make them go through this. I’ll have to think of something else to do until the night... At least this clearing will be offering a nice view of the sky.”
It was astonishing. He didn’t even argue. He accepted it, just like that. Was it really as simple as telling him he would scare hatchlings? His brain had probably been all scrambled up…
“This is… incredibly nice of you.” Nimera voiced what Helios thought.
“Oh stop it! This is not nice, this is normal!” he spat like it was irritating, making a gesture of disdain. “I’m sure even you would have enough moral to not hurt a human baby, so why should I do this to one of yours? It’s a simple question of decency.”
“Yes but… you’re aware that no other human would do this?”
“Of course some would! I know we have a huge portion of jerks in our kind, but there are some that do try to be good persons. You’ve just met the bad ones. You know, you look like scary beasts to me. But yet, since you behave like scared kitties, I readapt my view. Not every individual wears the bad traits of his species.”
Was he… seriously trying to lecture them? Well this one surely hadn’t met with the other humans of this island! He seemed to just have some kind of positive vision on the world, a bit naïve even. But for once that a human wasn’t trying to kill them, Helios was ready to give it a shot at listening to him. It wasn’t like any dragon alive could claim having talked with one of these creatures!
He would have wanted to know what ‘kitties’ were though... The young dragon didn’t really know in which sense he should take it.
“Well this… could probably encourage you to reconsider your mind…” Nimera suddenly drop with a shaking voice.
Taken back from his thoughts, Helios followed the direction she looked at… and felt horror invading him too. A few meters away, a spear was planted in the ground… with a dragon skull hanged on its top. The most sinister of all signs.
“What is that? A kind of totem of yours or something?” the human asked seeing how the two dragons focused their attention.
“These is not built by dragons. This is built for dragons. A warning.” Nimera replied with resignation, walking closer to the grim structure and smelling it closely. “Two humans left it. Around twenty minutes ago. The smell is fading a bit…”
“What does this warning say?”
The voice of the human had turned strangely lower, making him sound like he took this dreadfully seriously. He even got up on his legs to come and inspect it with his own eyes, staring for quite a moment into the empty orbits of the skull.
“Basically, that if you’re not at the mountain, don’t go there now. Or you might be next…” Nimera replied, hiding her emotions. But Helios could feel that her heart was squeezing, just like his. Who would be found dead at their return?
“Next… for what?” he insisted.
“to end like this…” Nimera sighed, powerless.
But that was when the human moved to stand in front of her, staring at her right in the eyes. This time, he did seem angry. And not anything like when he was simply disappointed. He looked… furious. Nimera even had a step back when she faced such expression, but he caught up her step with one of his.
“What do you mean? What are they going to do? I need to hear it clearly from you.” he asked coldly. It was a calm tone, that could have been mistaken for a regular question. But it was authoritative, and quite intimidating!
“Th-They are on a hunt. They are going to the mountain to kill some of us. Maybe only one of us, if we’re lucky.” The dragoness replied with a sheepish voice. In his whole life, Helios had never seen her so afraid to face someone, her light blue scales even looked paler. She usually was the one intimidating others.
But the young dragon couldn’t blame her. He would have felt dead on the inside, if he was in her scales. The human seemed to boil, and his breath became quite louder too. He threw a look at the sinister sign, and walked straight to it.
“Let’s get you luckier.” He grumbled, grabbing the wood of the spear with one hand. In one strong pull, he unearthed it, throwing the skull to roll away on the grass.
“Wait, what are you going to do?” Nimera asked a bit timidly.
“It’s a few kilometers away. If they walk and I run… I might get there on time.” He looked at her with fire in the eyes. “No one will get killed if I have my word to say about it. Not before I figure out why.”
He… wanted to do what?! They didn’t have the time to process this that the human already was running in direction of the mountain, leaving both dragons astonished. But with no other alternative, they both started to run after him without even having to speak to each other.
What did this human really want to accomplish with that spear?!
Category Story / Fantasy
Species Western Dragon
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 23.5 kB
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