Again, is a continuation of my story. This time Mephis reveals his hidden past to the dragons



They were all exhausted. Kystar had set a ferocious pace and despite their cries for a break or a slower pace they had been forced on in fear of losing their guides. Kystar’s face had been set in stone all day. He hadn’t spoken all trek and seemed lost in the realms of his mind, an occasional glimmer of expression on his face as his thoughts seeped through. No one had questioned him. It didn’t seem right and none thought they would get a reply.
Just behind him had been Mephis. The tall athletic iguana was almost robotic in his movements. Staring straight ahead and like Kystar never talking. Although Mephis’ expression had remained constant, not a glimmer of expression or thought shone through. He simply followed.
The three dragons behind him felt worried in the silence, left in the dark and having to rely on each other to keep up. The pace was difficult on their small legs and Theran’s whining and complaining helped no one, only causing them more anger and annoyance. They had to take turns at carrying him as his smaller and less developed legs were unable to make the journey alone. Soon their anger and confusion turned to pain and despair as their sore feet and legs began to feel unsteady, becoming closer and closer to toppling. They had no idea how far they had travelled but they knew that they would not find their way back if they tried.
Just when it seemed none of them would be able to go on any further they reached another small opening, this one instead near a cliff. For miles below them the dark confines of the forest spread out, the dark green battling the pitch blackness of the night sky. None of them had noticed the change from day to night and none of them payed it much attention.
Satha, Theran and Cronic all collapsed in the middle of the clearing as soon as Kystar made it evident that they were going to be stopping there for the night. Theran whimpered a little and rubbed his painful soles, leaning his head into Satha. Her comforting arms were what he needed and within minutes he was asleep and breathing peacefully.
Cronic looked at Theran and then met Satha gaze. He knew what she wanted and he knew it was necessary. Theran wouldn’t last another walk like that. None of them would. He crawled over to Satha and leaned against her as well, her head drooping onto his as they sat in the comforting touch. They were both desperate for water and food and a long nights sleep.
Mephis re-entered the clearing with an arm full of firewood. He set it down in front of the dragons neatly before joining the dragons around the mound. Kystar, who had been looking over the horizon, came to join them too. He breathed a spurt of fire onto the wood, instantly igniting the timber and painting them in a calm glow and relaxing warmth.
“Right, there are berries and a spring just through those trees over there,” he motioned to a set of shrubs with a nod of his head, “And I’d suggest you get some shut eye. We’ve got a long day of walking tomorrow.” With that he stood and headed off towards the cliff.
Cronic and Satha looked at each other again in desperation, they wouldn’t make another day.
“The first march is always the hardest.” The cool flat voice rung from Cronic’s left and he turned to see the iguana looking at him. He patted Cronic’s shoulder and said “I will talk to Kystar, see if we can lessen the pace for tomorrow.” Then he walked off to the cliff to join Kystar before the two tired dragons could respond or thank him.

Night had fallen as the three dragons stirred. They were awoken by the smell of cooked meat which was simmering softly over the crackling fire. Kystar was nowhere to be seen and Mephis was rigid as ever, sitting cross legged and staring into the base of the flickering blaze. At first they all sat there. Still. Silent. Listening to the popping and crackling of the fire. Mephis pulled the meat from the fire and tore it into 4 pieces, one for each of them. They all ate in silence, munching hungrily at the succulent meat. It was Theran who broke the silence.
“So, what’s the deal with you?” He asked innocent as ever. His young eyes were struggling to stay open after his short nap.
Mephis’ gaze never moved. “I assume you mean my story?”
“Well yeah, how did you end up here? Where are you from? What are you doing now?”
Mephis’ sighed gently and for the first time, relaxed his shoulders. His eyes were rich with pain and sorrow and Theran shrank back, wishing he hadn’t asked. “I suppose it is only fair that you know,” He sighed again, “Very well young one. I will tell you of my story.
Back when I was a young child, I lived with my family in a valley far away from here. The food was plentiful, the people were friendly and the area was perfectly lush with plants and animal life. All in all the area was perfect. My mother, father and younger sister all lived together in harmony. All taking turns to do chores and relax.
I grew up normally, I was taught like everyone else, I played with the other children, I hunted for food like everybody else. On hot days everyone would travel to the lake and we’d swim around and play a couple of games and have a great day. I was always a good swimmer and would win the races that we all had. It was paradise.” His eyes had glazed over with a nostalgic haze, locked on the burning pile of wood at the bottom of the fire. Shadows flicked across his face in the eerie moonlight as he continued his tale.
“But one day, one hot sunny day when we all headed to the lake. Something was wrong. I felt it in my gut but didn’t want to spoil everyone’s day by complaining. We reached the lake and games and fun started as usual. It seemed a normal day. After we had eaten we got back in the water and began to play some more. I swam away for a bit, to a deeper part of the lake and drifted towards the side.
All of a sudden, someone came bursting through the trees towards me. Battered and bloodied they were. They reached the lakeside before slowly collapsing to their knees, blood dripped from their lips. They wheezed and coughed unable to breathe. I was frozen and young. I had no idea what to do.” His voice began to tremble slightly as he recalled the horrible memories he had suppressed.
“I looked at him, lost in shock. And he looked at me, as if trying to tell me something. The blood pooled round him and began to leak into the lake. The red water clung to my scales. He fell forwards and I reached out to catch him. He was shaking and turning pale. And all I could do was watch. He leaned towards me and whispered in my ear. He said...run. Then his eyes shut, and his heart stopped beating.
I don’t know how long I stood there for, with his body in my arms, but the blood had cooled by the time I set him down. His final words echoed in my mind, something seemed real about them. But part of me wouldn’t believe it. I turned and swam back towards my friends and family, crying as I went. But when I reached the part of the lake where they were, more people began to burst through the bushes. But these had arrows, and spears and swords. I watched as they attacked and killed my friends. And couldn’t tear my eyes away as they brutally killed my family. My mother. Father. My sister. All dead. Burned into my memories I cannot forget the horror that I saw that night. The lake ran red with their blood, and to this day I cannot feel clean of it. I followed my instinct and I swam, faster than I ever had, away to the other side of the lake.
I sat there ‘til morning when I swum back. The faces of my family were not ones of peace, or of acceptance. They were robbed. Robbed of their lives. I picked up the only weapon I could find. A mace. And I ran into the forest after them, I would never forgive them for it. And I vowed to find them for it.
After many weeks of searching uselessly through the forest, I found Kystar. Searching for the same people as me. He had some problems with them as well so I began following him, to find them. Since then we’ve done jobs for people to get the money to survive and to fund our search. We’ve done so for a couple years and then we ran into you.” Mephis’ cheeks were shimmered in the moonlight and firelight, as it reflected off of his tears. He made no attempt to wipe them. “I’ve shed so many tears. Had so many sleepless nights, but I will not stop until I avenge those I love, and destroy those who took them from me.”
He gave the shocked and sad looking dragons a weak smile and wiped his eyes. “So there, you now know my story.”
Lost for words and no longer hungry all the dragons could think of was to shuffle round and wrap their wings around the iguana. There words could not describe their sorrow at hearing his story, and their support was all they could now show. Huddling their warm bodies against the tall iguana to try to ease his pain and show him new affection.
Mephis, tired from his story and emotionally drained quickly fell asleep in the wings of the warm dragons. They too followed suit close behind. By the time Kystar wandered back to camp, the pile of dragons and the iguana were fast asleep. With a roll of his eyes, he too settled down for sleep, curled up on the opposite side of the fire. He gave a small glance at the bundle of dragons on top of Mephis and felt a small twinge at his heart as he was left with no one to share warmth with. He shook his head of his thoughts, placing them solely on tiredness and then laid his head down and dozed off, leaving the bright moon and countless shimmering stars to watch down on the snoozing troop of scalies.