Weeks passed as Theo began adjusting to her new life. It still saddened her that she was not there when her father had passed, but she had finally accepted it. Some days went by in which all Theo did was watch dragons fish from the creek. Where earth halted abruptly in a sheer rock face, the creek ran off the edge, descending in a beautifully elegant waterfall.
It was at this fall that the dragons gathered to fish. Attentively, they perched at the stone rim, taking turns to swoop, darting through the plummeting water to snap at the fish that fell with it. Some made it a competition, seeing who could catch the most in one try.
For Theo, it was amazing to see, though she kept her distance from the brink of land. One dragon, she noticed, was especially skilled at the art. With exquisite wings of blue and white, the grown female made it look easy, veering off at the last moment so as to not collide with the cliffs, yet managing each time to whisk a couple fish from the water.
Theo also saw Cobalt joining in. He wasn’t nearly as good as the blue and white dragon, but he tried to give the impression that he was. He spent a long time showing off his wings to a tight group of eager females before actually building up the courage to give fishing a try. He proved to be very poor at it, and every time he missed, he immediately gave a loud excuse to his enthusiasts- “The sun was in my eye!” and “I decided to let that one go.” Theo laughed inside at his desperation, but his followers were sympathetic, cheering him on after each failed attempt.
Jay was there, too. His flying was nothing to goggle at, but his fishing technique was most efficient. Theo watched in great curiosity as he took a side approach, snagging multiple fish in his claws and mouth until he could carry no more. How sweet, she thought when he generously presented other dragons his catch. They must be too young to fish for themselves.
His friend, Badger, responded joyously whenever Jay unloaded five or so flopping fish at his feet. He certainly looked old enough to fly, perhaps even older than Jay, but Theo supposed his bulky form made it difficult for him. Watching Jay be so generous warmed Theo and she kept an attentive eye out for him.
When she herself got hungry, she wandered to the creek, feet planted to the ground, and stared down at the flashing movement of fish as they headed for the falls. This looks hard, she thought, trying to imagine swiping one of them up and out of the water.
“Um…River?”
Theo turned to see Jay hovering just above ground as he dropped four glistening, pink scaled bodies before her. Relieved of his burden, he landed lightly behind them, looking at her shyly. “I caught these but- I don’t really need them so I was wondering if maybe you would like to have them, maybe- that is if you even like fish- do you?”
“Jay!” Theo exclaimed, and he flinched. “Thank you! You’re so kind!”
Jay smiled slightly. “I just thought you might want them,” he repeated.
“I do!” Theo assured him. “Thank you again.”
He ducked his head, mumbled “You’re welcome,” and slipped away to Badger who grinned at him knowingly.
Theo cocked her head at the pile of fish before her. Whole, raw fish…she observed skeptically. It’s worth a try. She ate one, then quickly gulped down the others, finding that they slid nicely down her throat without her even having to chew.
It became a new favorite of hers. Ambitiously, she tried splashing in the creek in attempt to catch another bite, but immediately stopped so as not to embarrass herself.
Theo lay down as she continued to watch the Colonists display their talents at the ocean cliffs. Eventually, her mind wandered off to Damon and whether or not he was ever going to find a cure for her. Wouldn’t he have found one by now? Or maybe he’s not even trying.
She had realized, however, that seeing Damon and being human again were no longer her first thoughts when she woke.
. . .
One afternoon, Theo found a couple of small things on the ground. What are these? she wondered, taking a closer look at them. She realized that they were scales from her own hide. Examining herself, she saw that many of the scales attached to her were paler in color.
Hmm…she thought. That’s strange.
Suddenly, a small fleet of frisks came tearing around her, chasing each other. She smiled as one frisk tackled another, nipping like an overly playful puppy. One light yellow one shook a frisk off its back, interest focused in on Theo. Theo looked into its innocent eyes, stunned to be able to see the child within. How can a dragon have so much personality? she pondered as she watched the little dragons go, the yellow one tripping over its feet to catch up.
Theo asked herself what she wanted to do today. It amazed her how often a simple nap appealed to her. But she had just gotten up from one, so she refused to let herself go back to sleep so soon. Am I hungry? She found that hunger came to her rarely. One meal could last her for a long time.
How do dragons entertain themselves? That was a question Theo still had to find the answer to. All she’d seen them do was nap, talk, and hunt. Surely that can’t be all they do…
She decided to go explore, see what the people of Wystil had strived to see for so long. She carved her way around a forested area, preferring not to have to weave between the autumn colored trees. Passing through many meadows, Theo saw a stretch of boulders where pikas dwelled, squeaking periodically.
She came across a wide field of blue flowers, taking a moment to soak in all its beauty. She’d never yet heard a dragon mention the beauty of anything and it took a toll on her. It was hard to be the only one to appreciate the charm of one’s surroundings.
Tiny wyverns clung sideways to the stalks of the flowers, chirping. Theo looked at them closer. What kind of bird did you used to be? she wondered. They stared right back with beady eyes.
She walked alongside the field, not wanting to trample a single flower. Hitting trees again, Theo was amused to see a bramble monigon laying in her path. It was a round reptile, covered in scales that rose towards the end into spikes. These prickly monigons were well known by the humans as things to avoid stepping on, so everyone kept their eyes to the ground to watch out for them as they snuffled the leaf decay for grubs.
Theo made sure to step over the bramble monigon, not for her sake but for its own. In her dragon body, spikes and thorns weren’t a problem.
This time, Theo did not avoid the woods but cut right through them. Usually, she’d just barely feel the twigs scraping past her, yet this time felt strangely different. The light filtering through the leaves was dim. She looked at the woodland dust twirling through the shafts of light that danced and changed as the breeze came.
Not long was it when the trees parted to another clearing. The white overcast was bright to her eyes. It reached vastly outward and Theo realized she had reached the coast farther up from the falls. She stayed away, apprehensive of the cliffs, of the sudden drop of ground into sea.
Theo looked back at where she’d come from and was surprised to see a trail of shed scales behind her. It horrified her to see that most of her scales now hung onto her side like dead leaves, faded of color. She shook herself, sending an array of scales flying in all directions.
What terrible illness has come over me?! she panicked. I have to find Jacinth!
She hurried back the way she came, following a map she’d formed in her head. Bounding across the land, she was very fast.
She burst into Camp, spotting Jacinth conversing with a group.
“Jacinth!” Theo gasped. “What’s happening to me?!”
The dragons looked up at her. Some, Theo noted, looked disgusted while others viewed her in pure sympathy. Jacinth rose silently, a grim expression on her face. “Follow me,” she hushed, passing Theo.
When they found an isolated place, Jacinth turned to face Theo. “You’re molting,” she said flatly.
“Molting? Are you sure? I haven’t seen anyone else molting here!”
“I know,” Jacinth calmed her. “But that’s only because we tend to…hide when we do.”
Theo
winced as realization dawned on her. “Because it’s embarrassing,” she connected.
Jacinth nodded sympathetically.
Theo felt humiliated.
How many dragons saw me? Dozens?
“Sorry,” Jacinth pitied.
Theo shook her head. “No, thank you for telling me.” Slowly she left.
As soon as she was out of sight, Theo began running. Since when do dragons care what they look like? Bitter thoughts pumped through her head with every beat of her heart. That was the worst humiliation I’ve ever experienced.
She ran for what felt like an eternity, venturing farther than she had ever gone before. Eventually, she found a swamp at her feet. I’m not stepping in that, she thought looking at the mucky water, but then-
“Shut up and listen to me!”
Theo held her breath as she heard a female voice come from beyond the swamp. Curiosity winning over her, she stealthily slipped into the water until only her nostrils, eyes, and wings were not submerged. She glided closer to where she thought the voice had come from, ever so gently pushing herself along with light toes.
“We have to attack the Highlanders when they least expect it. It’ll be easy- we’re the Strong Pack.”
To Theo, it sounded like the stranger was but a dozen or so strides away.
Thick trees matted with moss stuck out from the green water that swirled around Theo’s legs. Small monigons with frilly decorations and webbed feet stared up at her, flicking their tails to dart underwater when she got too close. Gnats congregated in thick swarms, hanging in the air like black clouds. Theo curled her lip back in disgust as she felt the mud below sucking at her feet.
When she came to a tree so wide she could hide behind it, she stopped. Looking past its trunk, through lichen burdened roots that leaped out of the water in wild arches, she saw a reasonably sized island. It was topped with shreds of tree bark and pine needles, looking like the driest spot of all the swamp. On top of it crouched a lean, sallow dragon with bony features, who kept her head low in a sinister way. Three other dragons were so muted and earthy in color that Theo didn’t see them until they moved.
“But Quiver, it’s only a matter of time before the Highlanders attack the Lakesiders,” said a dragon of pupil age who stood in a shallow water bed. “If we wait, we can take both their lands after killing the conquerors.” His scales were a greyish oak brown and, despite his youth, he looked exceedingly intelligent with a spark in his eye.
“We don’t have to wait,” a big, dull shaded male rumbled. “We can beat both packs, one after the other.”
“No doubt we are capable, Hasten,” the young one agreed, “but with patience we can achieve all that we want with less effort.”
Beside Hasten, the fourth dragon, a mahogany female, grunted in approval.
Quiver frowned irritably. “Veer,” she said to the female. “How can you agree with Chasm? He’s just a pupil!”
Veer did not respond.
Then Chasm said something in a cool voice. Theo didn’t catch it, but next thing she knew Quiver sprang to her feet and lunged for him. He pulled back just in time, eyes widened in surprise as her teeth flashed inches away from him.
Hasten and Veer leapt up in response to Quiver’s sudden assault, watching the female scrabble and snap at Chasm as he continued to back away.
“Quiver!” A grey female arrived on the scene, vaulting forth at gathering speed to collide with the offender.
Quiver was knocked back, sending loose bark flying as she dug her claws into the ground to stabilize herself. She swayed a moment, eyes rolling, then focused her sight on the newcomer. “That’s right, Wolfe,” she sneered. “Protect your precious, little pupil. I’m surprised he’s even made it this far with that sharp tongue of his.”
“You come near him again,” Wolfe snarled, standing guardedly in front of Chasm as he recollected himself, “and I’ll tear out your insides.”
“You forget how grateful you used to be, you know,” Quiver complained mockingly. “Remember how you ran to us, begging us to keep you safe from the Golden Dragon’s guard dogs? Where’s that gratitude now, Wolfe?”
“I don’t need you anymore,” Wolfe replied, strong stance erect. “Now it’s Chasm that needs me.”
“Chasm…He’s not safe here!” Quiver spat. “The time will come when you’re not there to save him, after he’s made enemies with all the wrong dragons. It probably won’t even be me, but someone’s going to learn to hate him and you’ll be too late.”
“I’ll worry about that,” Wolfe growled in response and turned to face another direction. Chasm followed behind her as she began walking away.
“Where are you running to?” Quiver jeered, but Wolfe didn’t answer.
She and Chasm waded their way on by Theo and she tried her best not to move. But as they went, Chasm turned his head and looked directly at her.
Her eyes dilated and she was stricken stiff, terrified of what the rogues might do to her if the pupil called her out. But he didn’t. He just snorted, amused, and moved on, keeping a steady strut behind his mentor until they were out of view.
“How dare he call me a monigon,” Quiver muttered and lay back down in the mud where Hasten and Veer had already resettled themselves.
This is my chance to leave, Theo realized and she slunk back out of the swamp, far away from the rogues.
Reminded of where she had once hidden when she sought isolation, she searched for the large slab of rock with the dugout underneath. She thought over what she’d just witnessed as she crawled under the jutting boulder.
So it’s true that rogues are quick to lash out, she gathered, picturing Quiver attacking Chasm.
Chasm…He didn’t call me out. She saw his face again, the moment he spotted her. Still…I don’t trust him.
A familiar musical sound made her draw further beneath the rock as she recognized the voice.
Clyde! she fretted. Don’t find me here like this.
After a few moments, his song faded away to Theo’s relief.
I hope this whole molting nightmare ends soon. She sighed.
Chapter 6