Post by shade. (admin) on Oct 19, 2013 21:58:39 GMT
This is one of my stories in progress. I have the plot down so I do not need suggestions. But if you can tell me how to revive writers block.... Or anything like that. PLEASE post it. Thank you. Post if you like it.
Whispers in the Sea
By: Elspeth Fern
Prologue
Two dragons slowly walked onto the beach with practiced caution. They were trying to escape the dragon world and carry on into the human. Slowly, after they had checked to make sure everything was safe, their bodies writhed and shrunk into human forms.
After that the two started to run hand-in-hand out the secret door to the human world. Blasts of fire surrounded them tossing them to the ground, and up again. They managed to make it with many burns and scrapes.
The man was happy in the new world they entered, he danced to music every night, and exclaimed about silly things like internet, and just was gleeful through and through.
On the other hand the woman was the most depressed person I had ever seen. Every night the man pulled her up and made her twirl, convinced that she was happy, but every evening when he was away she went to her bed and wept for the sea, the fresh clean air, and nature all around her.
They had a child, a pretty child at that, but the woman wept for her. Soon she did the kindest, but most hurtful thing she could manage. She loved the man, but couldn’t stay in the human world any longer. To show that it wasn’t the man making her miserable she handed him the child and ran back to the dragon world.
She always grieved for the man and her child, but she couldn’t do anything about it and raised a family of dragons that had no home. The man though, thought it a betrayal and in return of this “betrayal” he threw the child, at only five out of the house to live alone.
Chapter 1
I sank down to my knees in exhaustion. I didn’t dare sit all the way down or I would have. I dusted off my torn pants, and come to think of it, I could not remember when they were not torn. I would mend them if I could, but I didn’t know how so I lived with how they were. All my clothes are like that - dusty, torn, and everything in between, but it’s better than nothing.
I’ve been an orphan since I was really, really, little and have been out on the streets for most of that time, I’m 15 and not old enough to be out alone I guess. Well, that’s beside the point, whatever else is true - I’m on the run and I am not very popular with adults right now. The community is on the lookout for me. They want to force me into a FOSTER HOME - blech! Adults telling you what to do every day and shouting: “Blah blah blah this Kristen blah blah blah that, no running all day to speak of, they might even make me get rid of my cat, Lucky!
So, here I am - I mean, I guess it could be worse. I’m a kid so if adults don’t want me in a foster home - they usually feed me, it doesn’t matter that I’m fifteen, they still feel bad for some weird reason. So, on good days I get two meals, a normal day probably one full meal, and on a bad, well, let’s just say uh, very little food.
I got up and glanced at the sky - It was nearly dawn and time to hole up for the well, “night” as I would say. I sleep during the day so no one finds me and go around begging for food at dusk when the city is dark and I’m more protected. I glanced around, this particular alleyway wasn’t too bad and I could probably hole up under a balcony. I crept over to a low hanging one with Lucky, grabbed a stray cardboard box to lay on, held Lucky in my arms, and hoped they-the cops -wouldn’t find me.
Chapter 2
I woke up to flashing red and blue lights in my eyes. I jolted awake and tried quickly to sit up, but ended up bonking my head on the bottom of the balcony. I flinched and lowered myself back down. Surveying the scene around me, I realized the cops had found me. I started to panic, but managed to keep myself under control. There was a police car at the end of the alleyway and a police doing rounds with a flashlight in hand. Then the thought dawned that they were looking for ME.
I spotted a door the policeman had left open and made a run for it. My heart pounded in my ears, filling me with panic. My heart was pounding so hard I was SURE the police would hear it. I ducked through the door and scrambled to the side breathing heavily. I glanced quickly around at the dusty old motel. I knew it was against the law to be in here and had to get out quickly. My breathing echoed until the point as I felt as though there were 6 scared people in the room.
But I quickly gained control over myself, and tiptoed over to an enclosed area in the motel and sat down. I looked around for a escape and couldn’t see anything. Yet how was that possible? It was a motel. Motels should have doors and doors and more doors-I mean the public and employees have to get in and out. I got up and walked slowly to the middle of the motel. Cobwebs tangled into my hair and pulled vigorously at my feet trying to make me fall over into their many reaching arms. But I continued on swatting at them and making them retreat.
I slunk towards the other side of the room. Carefully avoiding sticks that might crack and paper objects I soon found a door, but it was covered in so many cobwebs and spiders I had to fight my way though. The cobwebs were merciless and tried to grab me every step of the way. But I managed to make it to the door and when I opened it I couldn’t believe my eyes.
It was the ocean.
Chapter 3
I walked out of the door completely mesmerized at the sound of the waves lapping at the shore and the steady movement they made. I couldn’t help but walk forward towards the waves, but then a realization jolted me from my daze. I had had completely utterly forgot about Lucky in my panic! I spun around and let out a cry of distress, but I jumped backward in surprise to see Lucky sitting right at my feet mewing!
I scooped her up in my arms and pet her repeatedly, giving her thousands of kisses. I was awestruck at the loyalty she held to me. I mean, what cat stays with their owner in the middle of a life-and-death situation? Anyways, my gaze was drawn back to those mesmerizing waves. This time though, they had a magnetic pull, almost pulling me forward until I was up to me knees in the water.
It felt as though someone was controlling me as I walked to the water in a mesmerized state. In to my shoulders, I suddenly ducked under. It felt amazing as if this was where I belonged. Slowly something changed. I started to scream as my body twisted and grew into a........... dragon
Part 2
Chapter 1
I-I-It’s different to be a dragon. But the biggest thing that has been bothering me for the whole time is.... HOW IN THE WORLD AM I A DRAGON!?!?!?!?!?
Dragons are fake. PERIOD.
I can not whatsoever be a dragon. But then what am I? What has a tail, wings, breath that freezes things, has scales, and can breath underwater? That’s my problem. I can in fact do all of those things.
I read one book in my entire life. A book about dragons that had been thrown out on the street for someone to find. The person who found it was me.
I remember it was a hazy day. The clouds dipped down low trying to get you to bump into someone else. I could barely see a few feet in front of me. The only thing I knew was happening was yelling. Usually that’s a sign to GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE, but that day I could tell the arguing was coming from inside a building - so I paid it no mind.
A snap and louder arguing marked the arguers moving outside so I skittered to the side trying not to be seen. But then there was a loud THUMP and a slam of a door. I figured the person inside the house had thrown somebody out so I peeked around the corner to see if the person was violent or not. But the fact was that the thing sitting on the sidewalk was no person at all - it was a book. A book with a picture of something I didn’t recognize on it. It had wings, a tail, breath that freezes things, and scales, and on the top was the word D-R-A-G-O-N. I, of course didn’t know what that meant, but I remembered it for the rest of my life.
I am what it looked like. The thing is though is that, well now I know what the word on the TOP of the page means. Fantasy. It means fake-not real- and of course un-culo. So.... WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I?!?!?!?!?
Well, whatever I am, I’m something new, something I have never been before, and altogether a crazy thing. The most important thing I could do is explore and make sure I’m actually on earth. Truthfully, I don’t think I am, I mean, if you were on earth, how in the world would you turn into a dragon?
Suddenly something hard slammed into me. I screamed of fright and blacked out.
***
I woke to find many, dragons, surrounding me. I roared and flicked quickly away, but 2 of them hauled me back and set me down, I could hear murmurs of don’t worry, it was an accident, Stay still I’m fixing you up, and finally a loud “STOP CROWDING AROUND HER YOU DUMMIES, SHE MUST BE SCARED TO DEATH!!!!!””At that all of the dragons jumped away in fright, one squealing and dramatically falling as he went. Despite my fright, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Soon a magnificent golden dragon swam quickly through. I could quickly tell she either held authority, or was the unforgiving mom of the pack. Since I couldn’t tell which, I started to scramble away in fright. But she quickly soothed me and said “I’m sorry about that fright of yours,” she said as she eyed the dragon who had fallen over and I could already see he was a jokester. He backed up with his head low, although I couldn’t miss the slight grin on his face.
The big golden dragon restarted and said “Luke this boy here had an....... accident.” I grinned as he stepped forward, made a dramatic sigh and bowed gracefully saying “I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry.”, over and over. Then, as his mother glared at him he sighed and looked at her with this “Wont you just take a little humor here?” look and decided to actually say what happened.
He sighed again and shook his head at his mom. Then he went on to explain: “I was playing with Sharuil I joked and dared her to hit you since you were a barely-turned human, but when she refused I told her..... I told her she was chicken and I ran into you like a jet plane. That’s when you roared and blacked out. Sasha - my mom - and that golden dragon over their, came running at a roar unlike any of ours, Sometimes that means threat but a lot of times it means a newly turned drago -” I interrupted him and said “ What is a newly turned dragon anyway!?!?!?!?!?!?”
With their eyes wide all of the kids backed up. I realized quickly that although we were about the same age, I was a lot bigger if I tried to be. “And that’s one of the powers of your kind.... Wait, I have been extremely impolite, I don’t even know your name young dear, would you mind telling me”? Sasha said. I glanced at her and decided I trusted her enough to tell her my name.
“It’s Kristen ma’am’” Her eyes widened and she started to back up, “Kristen what dear”? she said with a grave, trembling voice. I thought back a long time a time when I knew my last name “Kristen Fern” I replied. “Fern”? She said and I noticed the kids were backing up to, along with all of the fish and dolphins that had been hanging around. I started to worry, “W-W-W-What’s the problem?” I asked with the slow realization I was scared to death.
She stuttered, then took a deep breath, and swam slowly back to me and said: “You see dear, turnings are rare. And if you haven't figured it out by now that’s what we call a human turning into a dragon or a dragon into a human for the first time. At most 3 turnings happen a year”.
She paused and then said “ I’m going to tell you a story.....” She paused and breathed heavily again looking away and continued.... “ The story is about a girl named Sashria. That girl was 20 years old and was a dragon. She swam everyday with another boy named Jamilocla, and was as content as could be, but Jamilocla was not content, He was bored and wanted to venture into the human world. He convinced Sashria to come with him and they snuck out together, they were turners and turned into humans to walk out.
They made their way into the human world where Jamilocla was content, but Sashria was not. She gave birth to a daughter unhappily, and lived 5 long years unhappy watching her husband dance around with glee. She frequently asked him why he didn’t miss being a dragon and he didn’t even respond, he just would start to dance around like nothing happened. She finally made the decision she could not stay, but he wouldn't leave, as he had a much better life here. He felt betrayed as she tried to calm him by giving him her only offspring, her daughter and then just walking off.”
When she left, he took his anger off on their child by throwing her out into the street to live alone. And there she has been since she was 5 years old. “
“Until now.”
Chapter 2
“What do you mean by until now”? “Are one of you that girl”? I asked looking at them curiously. Sasha replied again “ Sashria came back to her clan and adopted the name Sasha. She has hoped for her daughter to find this world for all of her life and experience the life of a dragon, but like I said, she never came until now. She paused and then quickly said ” Kristen Sartre Fern, what took you so long”?
I looked up at her with wide eyes with recognition of the story. I had lived on the streets since I was five, I had the last name Fern, and I was a turner. I gasped as I realized I was that missing child, and Sartre must be my middle name! I wasn’t an orphan, I wasn’t alone in this world this was my family, the family I would hopefully stay in forever.
Before I could say anything Sashria moved to the front of the room and said, I as am getting you to understand we are family we should properly introduce ourselves. “ I am Sash-” she couldn’t continue, so I did for her, “You are Sashria madam, and always welcome as her”. She nodded gratefully, but before going she said,” not madam dear daughter but mother.
She moved on and said “now may you meet your roommates” and slid away with a sweep of her hand. I asked “what roommates? Aren’t these your children”? She smiled and said “No, these aren’t my children, these are turners that started as a dragon and have no home”.
I looked at all of the other dragons with more pity. No home? Well, I knew what that felt like, and it wasn’t good or fun. I decided then that these dragons would be my friends, whether or not I was their only, or 500th friend.
Then Sashria stepped forward and said “ whatever you might regard these dragons as: brothers, sisters, friends, or so on I hope you all will get along”. She dipped her head and swam backward with a sweep of her claw. Luke stepped out first and just plain old grinned, I grinned back for, even if he didn’t try to be he always was funny.
Then a sandy-colored dragon stepped forward and dipped his head in greeting, He was a long dragon with four legs, a long skinny tail with a barb at the end of it, and had spiked bumps all the way down his spine. He said “I am Proietto” and stepped back.
The next and final brother came with the name Yuntila. He had red scales and eyes as black as obsidian, and huge wings that could stretch to the width of the room, he looked like a huge scary bat with stripes of red all over him. He grinned as I looked frightened and said “It’s all just for show” and lit up his scales as he walked away.
Sashria stepped back up again and said,You will find powers you have to enrich your blue scales until they are all scared of you” she whispered with a chuckle-”for real” she added.
“I’m am Sharuil” , She was even more beautiful than her mom, instead of being pure gold she was striped with red also. She had a square snout with streak of red running through her gold scales like a wildfire. She stood on four paws and had quilly red spikes going down her back. She even had wildfire blazing on her tail like a royal would wear. Her tail was held slightly off the ground and curled towards her face.
She smiled at my awestruck look and said “It was a gift of the ages, that’s for sure if it even wows you”. “What do you mean”? I said with curiosity and confusion. “She replied you should see yourself “Wingsister, you are one of the prettiest dragons in the world, and” she said glaring at Luke “I’m sure we all agree”. Murmurs of “Yeah”, “Uh-huh”, and “It’s true”. I started with question in my eyes, “I never thought I was beautiful “I said with bewilderment,but I guess I’ve never seen myself to know.
“You what!?” They all started shouting,and I heard things like “You’ve never seen a mirror”? Or, “you’ve never seen your reflection in a lily pad?” I giggled as they went on and on, and finally would not put up with it any longer. I stretched my scales as far as they went and roared “STOPPPP!!”
They all jerked back and I could see Proietto cowering under my gaze. Sashria came forward and said “that’s quite impressive, my daughter”. I tipped my head the side in bewilderment and asked “why?” She explained that usually it would take awhile to master that skill, but she had learned it with little to no help at all.
Chapter 3
Mrs.Sand called on Luke this time, She said “what is the world we live in called”, Eyeing me at the time. When he didn’t respond she said again with a anger in her voice. “Mr.Luke answer me right now!” He looked up and said innocently “Mrs. Sand, I’m sorry I didn’t realize you called on me, it sounded like you merely said the world we live in is called Luke.” In reply to that Mrs.Sand would always choose a student to oppose Luke and tell him why he was wrong. I always volunteered.
“Mrs.Kristen” she said with a smile, would you like to try again to outsmart Luke and hopefully succeed?” Then, before we started she would always ask the class to vote on who they think would win. In the beginning I always had little to no votes, since nobody knew who I was. Right now ,though, I literally have, like, every person on my side.
This time when she asked for people to vote for Luke not a hand went up, not even Luke’s, which meant he knew he would lose, and THAT was funny. For, even before one person would vote for him so he would put his hand up to, so when he didn’t, it meant he totally gave up.
I swam over to him and said “why did you think that was what she said, Luke?” He raised his head and with a careless manner and cooly replied “well, Kristen you see as Kyle over here,” he said flicking his tail towards his best friend. “was..... whispering to me, and all I could hear was part of the question and his silly breath in my ear.” I said “Is that so?” and swam around him a couple of times to make him keep turning around self-consciously. Well, I see the obvious fact is that plainly if you tried to listen you could have, it’s only a whisper you know.” And before he could even open his mouth I went on to say “ and Luke, the teacher knows you are best friends with Kyle, and you never get paired with your bestfriend” I said in a earnest and helpless tone.
The class giggled as I continued to say “So how were you even near him in the first place?”He coughed nervously as he couldn’t find an answer that he knew I couldn’t counter so he dramatically raised his arms and fell over with a gasp “you-you-you- h-h-have-killed m-m-me w-w-with w-w-w-words.”
I shook my head and swam of paying no attention to this routine of his, but instead went to the sheet with the name Kristen: 5 wins and added a win, which meant Luke had 6 losses so far.
That is basically the only thing that ever happens in school, I sighed shook my head and walked to my“Legends Of Fighting Class”. It was, probably the most annoying class in the whole school.
Once in a blue moon I would like it, not usually though. When I made it there, there was no teacher, no anything at all other than a couple of other kids and Luke. I asked “Where's the teacher, guys?” They said “I have no idea” and I could tell even Luke wasn’t joking. Then I noticed a book a big book sitting open on the teachers desk. He NEVER let things sit open, that was last week’s lesson-never leave things out on a desk. Especially when he wasn’t there.
I swam carefully towards it keeping all of my abilities at the up and ready. The book had a legend on it. A legend with my name on it.
Part 3
The Legend
Chapter 1
The legend read: From the cause of a fight long ago, a rumble fills the air, the rumble calls a person that person to save a curse, a curse to fight back, draining blood away from light piling it into dark, A scale a turner will earn of invisibility, trying for what is right, human will pile though bring out the light, dolphins will rejoice, friend is back, filling the world with glee, wandering from earth, joy is almighty, for human turner Kristen will find the long lost curse.
I skittered backward with a lurch of my dragon body. The words “Human turner Kristen” raced through my head like wildfire. Some of my classmates looked up and I could could sense their bewilderment. Luke came over and innocently asked “are you ok Kristen, or has a invisible shark bit your tail off?”
For once his jokes were not funny. I shook my head and sank down to the floor with wide eyes. After that, he actually looked concerned and bent over in front of my face and stared me in the eyes. “Kristen, are you okay?” He looked more serious than I had ever seen him before. “He might actually make a good doctor” I muttered to myself. “what was that Kristen?”He asked with wide eyes like he was scared of my answer.
“You would make a good doctor,” I said with a weak smile, and he chuckled at that. But soon his eyes went back to flint and glared through me. “Kristen, something in that book scared you, and I’m not sure what, why did a simple book do that to you? You read the most advanced books in class”, he said with a smile.
“The Legend, It’s about me!” I gasped, but as soon as I did fiery pain ripped through my back and it felt as though someone ripped my scale off and stuck a dagger there instead. I turned around and saw nothing of that sort, and a murderous black dragon was not standing there. In fact the only thing there was Luke and he gave me this “are you kidding me” grin.
“No, look”! I almost cried as the pain seared me hotter and hotter and caused me to writhe on the ground. He looked at me, frowned, but walked to the book anyway. As soon as he wasn’t looking the room lit up and the source was coming from behind me. It took me all my might to turn around but nothing was there so I crawled back to my earlier position.
Everyone was looking at me in and mingled sense of fear, wonder, and utter shock. Luke finally took the time to turn around and joined the rest of the stares with his mouth slightly open. The pain started to fade and as it did the light went back down to normal again. They continued staring as I stood up leaning on a sea rock for balance. I was emotionally physically and mentally shaken as it was. Them staring didn’t help. Why they were staring in the first place was beyond my sense of things.
“What’s the problem?” I said in a nervous voice laden with terror and a mingled sense of pain. Luke looked at me with this“you really don’t know why we staring”look.I said “well sure I just got seriously hurt somehow, but other than that what’s the problem? And why won’t any of you approach me?
“You really don’t know?” Luke asked, I almost roared “no I don’t so tell me for utter sake, I’m scared and you won’t even approach me”! Luke silently swam over to me and held my hand. He said “it’s okay, you’ll be fine, just something happened to you that we have never heard of, or seen before”.
“Well we’re kids, for utter sake, we aren’t supposed to know everything” I cried! I swished my tail and cuddled into Luke, totally forgetting for a while that he wasn’t Sashria or someone like my mother, or even an adult. He sure seemed like an adult-he pulled his tail around me and cuddled me until I fell almost asleep. Soon after I felt him pull away and swim quietly out of the room. I assumed he was going to get an adult to help. Knowing that I was safe here, I curled up into a ball and fell asleep.
*****
Chapter 2
I woke to laughs and kids swimming around near me. That,of all things puzzled me. If Luke had found a teacher the kids wouldn’t be near me and I’d be in the nurse’s office. The other kids would be in class, to. Unless I made an assembly or something, but that would be rare and literally impossible.
I opened my eyes to find dragons literally swimming on top of me, but at least they couldn’t step on me. I shut my eyes back down to a crack when someone looked in my direction, for some reason I didn’t want to be discovered yet. I wanted to figure out exactly where all of the teachers were first.
The dragons were talking and glancing at me all the time so I shut my eyes. I smiled as I heard Kyle teasing Luke, “you know, if she’s a part of a prophecy......? “What Kyle”? Luke said in an exasperated tone. “I’d tell you to ask her out she’s just a turner of sorts” he giggled and said, “as you are, and you wouldn’t want to turn into your mother would you?” he teased. I could feel embarrassment coming off of Luke in waves.
I kept from laughing out loud as Luke totally bowled Kyle over with the thump near me,and said “you, you!” Kyle just laughed and to add to the chaos I rolled over and opened my eyes. I laughed and said “like me, do you?” He jumped off Kyle and rolled over. He yelled “Kyle!” and hit his head with his hand.
He said “how much did you hear?” with a sigh, and I said “ from the words you know if she’s part of a prophecy, to now. He jumped up and fake whacked Kyle with his tail a few times. “you,you,you,you,you!!!”I said “It’s not that bad it you like me I just wonder how Sashria will think of it...” I said in mock interest and a teasing tone.
It was my turn to get bowled over and whacked. I let him and silkly said “I never thought of you as a lovey dovey dragon.” Both me and Kyle laughed after that one. I soon returned to subject.... sort of. “So if you like me, I assume you’ll tell me anything I ask?”
“Who says I like you other than you and my lovey - dovey friend?” he asked slyly. “Maybe you’re saying that because you like me and you want me to like you.” I yelped in surprise at that comeback. He tilted his head and eyed me with amusement.
Kyle said that“I think both of you like each other, how about that for a compromise”? He backed away with his hands up when both me and Luke turned on him to stare at him with this really? Look. “Fine, fine.” he said I’m not going to argue with you, but think about it”.
“Anyway, where are the teachers?” I asked. Both of them said “I don’t know.” in a messy type of unison, but Kyle continued to say “Luke went looking for teachers when you got your golden scal-. I interrupted him fiercely, “what golden scale”? “My scales are all blue”!
Luke gently interrupted me “that’s what we were talking about, I was going to show you, but you kinda, well.... fell asleep, so here”. He handed me a mirror, I asked “what’s this for?” He said “look at your back with it.” I held the mirror to look at my back and gasped, because there, on my back, lay a gleaming golden scale that sparkled when the sunlight hit it.
I looked at Luke to Kyle and back to Luke again. I whispered “how did it happen”? Luke said “when the room got light.... Well, the light in the room came from you.” My eyes widened and said “is it the,the,the scale of invisibility?” Luke widened his eyes and said “you think it could be”? I shuddered and said ‘“ I guess it’s possible. No knowing what it could be, considering the circumstances.”
Suddenly, the ground started to shake, and shake violently. Luke’s eyes widened “what’s happening!” I shook my head, but then a thought came to my mind it might be a earthquake. But I shook that idea quickly out of my head. That would be bad, very, very bad, whether or not we could swim, me Luke and Kyle would all be thrown across the world if a jolt hit us.
And that’s what happened.
Chapter 3
I blinked my eyes open in confusion. Where were we? And who were we? My mind went groggy and I couldn’t think. Finally, I shook my head and started to remember things. First....... I scrunched up my head the orphanage.... escape, clouds billowed over my mind as I thought of that one, and I couldn’t think of details. Then....... police? Lucy...... cat... under deck...... building........... Was it sea? dragon..... Luke, Sashria...... others......... roommates..... school.... and finally scale.
My conscious said that we were thrown somewhere deep in the ocean, because of the.... I assume earthquake. But deep in my heart I’m not so sure. I manage to call out the word “Luke!” I knew somewhere, deep in my heart that word meant safety, but I wasn’t sure why. A shape crouched over me, and I began to get scared, but then it nealt by my side. “It’s alright Kristen, do you know who I am?”
I felt a slight tug of recognition at the cat-like figure crouching over me, but I wasn’t sure. “No?” I hesitantly guessed. I sharp laugh caught the air. It was menacing and evil. “Well then, my little pet, you will know me soon.” I fell unconscious with a club to my head.
I woke to a sharp jolt in my side. I was cold-terribly cold. I shivered and tried to stretch out of my ball, but I couldn't move. I started to panic and screamed. I was a high-pitched scream, louder than any I had heard before, and it didn’t sound like it belonged to me.
And then I realized something-something disturbing. I looked around. This was a cell. Not in the water! I shivered and realized why, exactly I was cold. I was human. human, pure human. Not a scrap of dragon in me. Then I pure freaked out. A shape loomed over me, a dog? No.. too big for a dog. It was a wolf!
I couldn’t even manage to make my mouth move now. Half my body was paralyzed with some potion. And the other half was paralyzed with fear. So all and all I could not move.
The dog nosed me it whined and a picture formed in my head. My dragon self! I stared at the dog. I could move my mouth again now. “How? I can’t become a dragon with no water.” Another picture popped in my head. Of a golden dragon, Sashria? No, this dragon was younger, and looked less experienced at being a dragon. Less experienced at being a dragon! I almost shouted it out loud.
I wasn’t experienced at being a dragon! I look like my mother! I am part of a prophecy, and if I couldn’t go out of the water, how would I save the long-lost curse?
If I could turn into a sea-dragon. Why couldn’t I turn into a land dragon?
Chapter 4
I stared at the dog with realization. I could move my vocal cords now, so I asked him “What is your name?” When he didn’t respond, I paused and reconsidered, if he was a dog he shouldn’t be able to talk.... “Can you talk?” I asked warily. The dog nodded and a voice came into my head. :I am sorry, I’ve never tried to thought-speak a human before, so it took me awhile to figure it out.:
I nodded “Can I thought-speak too, if I tried?” The dog shook his head sadly, and raised his eyes to look into mine. I felt a jolt as he gave me part of his memories
:my name is Smoke and this is how I got here.:
Smoke
I drew back my ears and snarled as The Others drew closer. They snarled in return and backed me into a corner. As the only dog without a pack I was the prey of the land, not the predator as I wished I could be. I finally tucked in my tail and lay on my back pushing my muzzle into the ground and letting my pride drift away like a feather in the breeze. The sounds of growls and far off laughter hurt me very much, but I was pretty much used to it and held still as The Others decided what they should do with me this time.
I could faintly hear The Others talking about dumping me in a stream or putting me in a canyon with Keer-chee roaming in it. I shivered at the thought of that, the last time I had seen a Keer-chee it was when my pack was taken down and killed. I could remember the day as vividly as it had been yesterday.
Keer-chee surrounded me and the pack thrusting us towards their portal and ramming us with their heads. I yelped as one of them pushed me out of the pack and I bit the closest ones in desperation to get back to my mother.
A voice rang in my head and said clearly and with proud authority in it’s voice :no:. I stared around in confusion at the fact the voice was not outside or made out of vocal cords, but instead INSIDE my head. Again I heard it :do not struggle, you are safe as a pup of the clan:. The voice stung me as I wasn’t THAT little anymore, just a bit small, and I was already eating meat for utter sake! Then it said with amusement in it’s voice :would you rather go with them and be treated as a slave, but an adult:? I tried to make a mind voice thingy towards the speaker and managed to say :y-ye do an-n-nyth fo-or-ac-k:. :a laugh filled my head and I flinched at how loud it was in my ears, :now that’s very brave my little pup, but is it really wise:?
Just then before I could reply the Keer-chee surrounded me too and started ramming me forward. Just then I realized with wild fear that they hadn’t been hitting me at all before, just nudging. I was bloody and battered very quickly and couldn’t walk any longer, I collapsed and tried the mind voice thingy again :ple-s-s:. :a laugh filled my head again, you really think you can take back your decision:? Another laugh and I managed to get the mind voice words :I d-d-d an-th-g:. As I was blacking out from another ram in the back I heard the word :anything:?
I jerked back to reality as some dog grabbed my scruff and shook me. “stop daydreaming and get a move on” one of them growled with his tail up in threat. I stumbled upward and started forward towards the outlands. “Oh no, that’s not where you’re going, you’re going somewhere very different mr.little pup”.
I stopped being bossed around like a pup and whipped around with fury at my vision of them throwing me into a couple of Keer-chee tribes. “where am I going then”? I said with an extremely dangerous edge to my voice. “now now, the little puppy must have been having nightmares” one of them jeered as they mock comforted me.
“I’m serious, where am I going”? One of them said “Oh somewhere” and they all backed up in unison. The hair rose on my back of my neck and I yelped in scared surprise as the ground disappeared below me and turned into a Keer-chee portal. Soon the surprise turned to anger. As I plunged through the portal I vowed to the other dogs standing over me “one day,one day I’ll find you and I’ll get revenge, someday, I will”.
He sighed and I looked at him with more sympathy now. This wasn’t just a dog, that was for sure. “What happened after that?” I asked slowly. He winced and said :I landed at the other side of the portal. I said Let me go, I was dropped down here when some of my huh, Friends were being a bit mean to me. Nothing was meant by it, so LET ME GO. To a Keer-Chee near me. They said :that will be for the boss to decide, but if you wish to go to your pack in slavery, here:. Then they opened a portal it shocked me so much that I fell down, it had resembled the one my pack had been hearded into so long ago. The Keer-Chee came forward, and butted my upwards, but in private mind-speach it said sorry, I don’t know why you’re here but the king wants you something bad. Then I felt, Keer’s, the king’s presence near, I jumped up and said :No, I won’t I won’t ever do whatever you want. I will die before I do anything for You, you monster! I want my pack and Nothing else, I want Huliove, I want Bennamana, I want Kero, I want Selianaya! Give me them, you have no hold over me I don’t care if you turn me into a monster like you, YOU WILL NEVER CONTROL ME! and I will never, ever submit to you like these Keer-chee!
He wasn’t very surprised, and he threw me into this dungeon, I think he is waiting to need something so badly I can do that ‘anything’ for him.:
I looked at the dog with more sympathy than ever, and told him my story, from being a little human to now. The dog whimpered :you’re a turner? And your name is Kristen. It would make sense that you would stop the long lost curse.......... I want to tell you something.: I looked at him “Can you turn me into a dragon first? I’m freezing.”
I saw the dog yerk upward, like into reality, and smiled. He said :Well.... That’s what I was going to tell you, most people and dragons can’t turn into more than one type of dragon. There was a different story told once... That a girl could turn into anything she wants... I think that is you. Now, focus on the creature and focus on the wind, and letting yourself fly with it:.
I narrowed my eyes, and thought of a magnificent dragon, soaring through the clouds. THe wind taking it’s wings.... The thoughts stopped as I formed into the dragon. Hope rushed through me. I flapped my wings happily, jumping up a couple of times. :Thank you:! I thought-spoke to the dog, joy filling me. I saw him freeze, and I looked at him funny, he thought spoke :Did you just thought speak?: I looked at him again, furrowing my brow weirdly this time. :Of course! It’s easy now! I’m a dragon!: The dog gave me another look, then shrugged. Suddenly, he whipped around, hackles raised. Cold wind howled through the tunnel, i backed up to the back of the cell. And there stood, from Smoke’s memories, and from my delivery here. There stood, Keer.
Whispers in the Sea
By: Elspeth Fern
Prologue
Two dragons slowly walked onto the beach with practiced caution. They were trying to escape the dragon world and carry on into the human. Slowly, after they had checked to make sure everything was safe, their bodies writhed and shrunk into human forms.
After that the two started to run hand-in-hand out the secret door to the human world. Blasts of fire surrounded them tossing them to the ground, and up again. They managed to make it with many burns and scrapes.
The man was happy in the new world they entered, he danced to music every night, and exclaimed about silly things like internet, and just was gleeful through and through.
On the other hand the woman was the most depressed person I had ever seen. Every night the man pulled her up and made her twirl, convinced that she was happy, but every evening when he was away she went to her bed and wept for the sea, the fresh clean air, and nature all around her.
They had a child, a pretty child at that, but the woman wept for her. Soon she did the kindest, but most hurtful thing she could manage. She loved the man, but couldn’t stay in the human world any longer. To show that it wasn’t the man making her miserable she handed him the child and ran back to the dragon world.
She always grieved for the man and her child, but she couldn’t do anything about it and raised a family of dragons that had no home. The man though, thought it a betrayal and in return of this “betrayal” he threw the child, at only five out of the house to live alone.
Chapter 1
I sank down to my knees in exhaustion. I didn’t dare sit all the way down or I would have. I dusted off my torn pants, and come to think of it, I could not remember when they were not torn. I would mend them if I could, but I didn’t know how so I lived with how they were. All my clothes are like that - dusty, torn, and everything in between, but it’s better than nothing.
I’ve been an orphan since I was really, really, little and have been out on the streets for most of that time, I’m 15 and not old enough to be out alone I guess. Well, that’s beside the point, whatever else is true - I’m on the run and I am not very popular with adults right now. The community is on the lookout for me. They want to force me into a FOSTER HOME - blech! Adults telling you what to do every day and shouting: “Blah blah blah this Kristen blah blah blah that, no running all day to speak of, they might even make me get rid of my cat, Lucky!
So, here I am - I mean, I guess it could be worse. I’m a kid so if adults don’t want me in a foster home - they usually feed me, it doesn’t matter that I’m fifteen, they still feel bad for some weird reason. So, on good days I get two meals, a normal day probably one full meal, and on a bad, well, let’s just say uh, very little food.
I got up and glanced at the sky - It was nearly dawn and time to hole up for the well, “night” as I would say. I sleep during the day so no one finds me and go around begging for food at dusk when the city is dark and I’m more protected. I glanced around, this particular alleyway wasn’t too bad and I could probably hole up under a balcony. I crept over to a low hanging one with Lucky, grabbed a stray cardboard box to lay on, held Lucky in my arms, and hoped they-the cops -wouldn’t find me.
Chapter 2
I woke up to flashing red and blue lights in my eyes. I jolted awake and tried quickly to sit up, but ended up bonking my head on the bottom of the balcony. I flinched and lowered myself back down. Surveying the scene around me, I realized the cops had found me. I started to panic, but managed to keep myself under control. There was a police car at the end of the alleyway and a police doing rounds with a flashlight in hand. Then the thought dawned that they were looking for ME.
I spotted a door the policeman had left open and made a run for it. My heart pounded in my ears, filling me with panic. My heart was pounding so hard I was SURE the police would hear it. I ducked through the door and scrambled to the side breathing heavily. I glanced quickly around at the dusty old motel. I knew it was against the law to be in here and had to get out quickly. My breathing echoed until the point as I felt as though there were 6 scared people in the room.
But I quickly gained control over myself, and tiptoed over to an enclosed area in the motel and sat down. I looked around for a escape and couldn’t see anything. Yet how was that possible? It was a motel. Motels should have doors and doors and more doors-I mean the public and employees have to get in and out. I got up and walked slowly to the middle of the motel. Cobwebs tangled into my hair and pulled vigorously at my feet trying to make me fall over into their many reaching arms. But I continued on swatting at them and making them retreat.
I slunk towards the other side of the room. Carefully avoiding sticks that might crack and paper objects I soon found a door, but it was covered in so many cobwebs and spiders I had to fight my way though. The cobwebs were merciless and tried to grab me every step of the way. But I managed to make it to the door and when I opened it I couldn’t believe my eyes.
It was the ocean.
Chapter 3
I walked out of the door completely mesmerized at the sound of the waves lapping at the shore and the steady movement they made. I couldn’t help but walk forward towards the waves, but then a realization jolted me from my daze. I had had completely utterly forgot about Lucky in my panic! I spun around and let out a cry of distress, but I jumped backward in surprise to see Lucky sitting right at my feet mewing!
I scooped her up in my arms and pet her repeatedly, giving her thousands of kisses. I was awestruck at the loyalty she held to me. I mean, what cat stays with their owner in the middle of a life-and-death situation? Anyways, my gaze was drawn back to those mesmerizing waves. This time though, they had a magnetic pull, almost pulling me forward until I was up to me knees in the water.
It felt as though someone was controlling me as I walked to the water in a mesmerized state. In to my shoulders, I suddenly ducked under. It felt amazing as if this was where I belonged. Slowly something changed. I started to scream as my body twisted and grew into a........... dragon
Part 2
Chapter 1
I-I-It’s different to be a dragon. But the biggest thing that has been bothering me for the whole time is.... HOW IN THE WORLD AM I A DRAGON!?!?!?!?!?
Dragons are fake. PERIOD.
I can not whatsoever be a dragon. But then what am I? What has a tail, wings, breath that freezes things, has scales, and can breath underwater? That’s my problem. I can in fact do all of those things.
I read one book in my entire life. A book about dragons that had been thrown out on the street for someone to find. The person who found it was me.
I remember it was a hazy day. The clouds dipped down low trying to get you to bump into someone else. I could barely see a few feet in front of me. The only thing I knew was happening was yelling. Usually that’s a sign to GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE, but that day I could tell the arguing was coming from inside a building - so I paid it no mind.
A snap and louder arguing marked the arguers moving outside so I skittered to the side trying not to be seen. But then there was a loud THUMP and a slam of a door. I figured the person inside the house had thrown somebody out so I peeked around the corner to see if the person was violent or not. But the fact was that the thing sitting on the sidewalk was no person at all - it was a book. A book with a picture of something I didn’t recognize on it. It had wings, a tail, breath that freezes things, and scales, and on the top was the word D-R-A-G-O-N. I, of course didn’t know what that meant, but I remembered it for the rest of my life.
I am what it looked like. The thing is though is that, well now I know what the word on the TOP of the page means. Fantasy. It means fake-not real- and of course un-culo. So.... WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I?!?!?!?!?
Well, whatever I am, I’m something new, something I have never been before, and altogether a crazy thing. The most important thing I could do is explore and make sure I’m actually on earth. Truthfully, I don’t think I am, I mean, if you were on earth, how in the world would you turn into a dragon?
Suddenly something hard slammed into me. I screamed of fright and blacked out.
***
I woke to find many, dragons, surrounding me. I roared and flicked quickly away, but 2 of them hauled me back and set me down, I could hear murmurs of don’t worry, it was an accident, Stay still I’m fixing you up, and finally a loud “STOP CROWDING AROUND HER YOU DUMMIES, SHE MUST BE SCARED TO DEATH!!!!!””At that all of the dragons jumped away in fright, one squealing and dramatically falling as he went. Despite my fright, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Soon a magnificent golden dragon swam quickly through. I could quickly tell she either held authority, or was the unforgiving mom of the pack. Since I couldn’t tell which, I started to scramble away in fright. But she quickly soothed me and said “I’m sorry about that fright of yours,” she said as she eyed the dragon who had fallen over and I could already see he was a jokester. He backed up with his head low, although I couldn’t miss the slight grin on his face.
The big golden dragon restarted and said “Luke this boy here had an....... accident.” I grinned as he stepped forward, made a dramatic sigh and bowed gracefully saying “I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry.”, over and over. Then, as his mother glared at him he sighed and looked at her with this “Wont you just take a little humor here?” look and decided to actually say what happened.
He sighed again and shook his head at his mom. Then he went on to explain: “I was playing with Sharuil I joked and dared her to hit you since you were a barely-turned human, but when she refused I told her..... I told her she was chicken and I ran into you like a jet plane. That’s when you roared and blacked out. Sasha - my mom - and that golden dragon over their, came running at a roar unlike any of ours, Sometimes that means threat but a lot of times it means a newly turned drago -” I interrupted him and said “ What is a newly turned dragon anyway!?!?!?!?!?!?”
With their eyes wide all of the kids backed up. I realized quickly that although we were about the same age, I was a lot bigger if I tried to be. “And that’s one of the powers of your kind.... Wait, I have been extremely impolite, I don’t even know your name young dear, would you mind telling me”? Sasha said. I glanced at her and decided I trusted her enough to tell her my name.
“It’s Kristen ma’am’” Her eyes widened and she started to back up, “Kristen what dear”? she said with a grave, trembling voice. I thought back a long time a time when I knew my last name “Kristen Fern” I replied. “Fern”? She said and I noticed the kids were backing up to, along with all of the fish and dolphins that had been hanging around. I started to worry, “W-W-W-What’s the problem?” I asked with the slow realization I was scared to death.
She stuttered, then took a deep breath, and swam slowly back to me and said: “You see dear, turnings are rare. And if you haven't figured it out by now that’s what we call a human turning into a dragon or a dragon into a human for the first time. At most 3 turnings happen a year”.
She paused and then said “ I’m going to tell you a story.....” She paused and breathed heavily again looking away and continued.... “ The story is about a girl named Sashria. That girl was 20 years old and was a dragon. She swam everyday with another boy named Jamilocla, and was as content as could be, but Jamilocla was not content, He was bored and wanted to venture into the human world. He convinced Sashria to come with him and they snuck out together, they were turners and turned into humans to walk out.
They made their way into the human world where Jamilocla was content, but Sashria was not. She gave birth to a daughter unhappily, and lived 5 long years unhappy watching her husband dance around with glee. She frequently asked him why he didn’t miss being a dragon and he didn’t even respond, he just would start to dance around like nothing happened. She finally made the decision she could not stay, but he wouldn't leave, as he had a much better life here. He felt betrayed as she tried to calm him by giving him her only offspring, her daughter and then just walking off.”
When she left, he took his anger off on their child by throwing her out into the street to live alone. And there she has been since she was 5 years old. “
“Until now.”
Chapter 2
“What do you mean by until now”? “Are one of you that girl”? I asked looking at them curiously. Sasha replied again “ Sashria came back to her clan and adopted the name Sasha. She has hoped for her daughter to find this world for all of her life and experience the life of a dragon, but like I said, she never came until now. She paused and then quickly said ” Kristen Sartre Fern, what took you so long”?
I looked up at her with wide eyes with recognition of the story. I had lived on the streets since I was five, I had the last name Fern, and I was a turner. I gasped as I realized I was that missing child, and Sartre must be my middle name! I wasn’t an orphan, I wasn’t alone in this world this was my family, the family I would hopefully stay in forever.
Before I could say anything Sashria moved to the front of the room and said, I as am getting you to understand we are family we should properly introduce ourselves. “ I am Sash-” she couldn’t continue, so I did for her, “You are Sashria madam, and always welcome as her”. She nodded gratefully, but before going she said,” not madam dear daughter but mother.
She moved on and said “now may you meet your roommates” and slid away with a sweep of her hand. I asked “what roommates? Aren’t these your children”? She smiled and said “No, these aren’t my children, these are turners that started as a dragon and have no home”.
I looked at all of the other dragons with more pity. No home? Well, I knew what that felt like, and it wasn’t good or fun. I decided then that these dragons would be my friends, whether or not I was their only, or 500th friend.
Then Sashria stepped forward and said “ whatever you might regard these dragons as: brothers, sisters, friends, or so on I hope you all will get along”. She dipped her head and swam backward with a sweep of her claw. Luke stepped out first and just plain old grinned, I grinned back for, even if he didn’t try to be he always was funny.
Then a sandy-colored dragon stepped forward and dipped his head in greeting, He was a long dragon with four legs, a long skinny tail with a barb at the end of it, and had spiked bumps all the way down his spine. He said “I am Proietto” and stepped back.
The next and final brother came with the name Yuntila. He had red scales and eyes as black as obsidian, and huge wings that could stretch to the width of the room, he looked like a huge scary bat with stripes of red all over him. He grinned as I looked frightened and said “It’s all just for show” and lit up his scales as he walked away.
Sashria stepped back up again and said,You will find powers you have to enrich your blue scales until they are all scared of you” she whispered with a chuckle-”for real” she added.
“I’m am Sharuil” , She was even more beautiful than her mom, instead of being pure gold she was striped with red also. She had a square snout with streak of red running through her gold scales like a wildfire. She stood on four paws and had quilly red spikes going down her back. She even had wildfire blazing on her tail like a royal would wear. Her tail was held slightly off the ground and curled towards her face.
She smiled at my awestruck look and said “It was a gift of the ages, that’s for sure if it even wows you”. “What do you mean”? I said with curiosity and confusion. “She replied you should see yourself “Wingsister, you are one of the prettiest dragons in the world, and” she said glaring at Luke “I’m sure we all agree”. Murmurs of “Yeah”, “Uh-huh”, and “It’s true”. I started with question in my eyes, “I never thought I was beautiful “I said with bewilderment,but I guess I’ve never seen myself to know.
“You what!?” They all started shouting,and I heard things like “You’ve never seen a mirror”? Or, “you’ve never seen your reflection in a lily pad?” I giggled as they went on and on, and finally would not put up with it any longer. I stretched my scales as far as they went and roared “STOPPPP!!”
They all jerked back and I could see Proietto cowering under my gaze. Sashria came forward and said “that’s quite impressive, my daughter”. I tipped my head the side in bewilderment and asked “why?” She explained that usually it would take awhile to master that skill, but she had learned it with little to no help at all.
Chapter 3
Mrs.Sand called on Luke this time, She said “what is the world we live in called”, Eyeing me at the time. When he didn’t respond she said again with a anger in her voice. “Mr.Luke answer me right now!” He looked up and said innocently “Mrs. Sand, I’m sorry I didn’t realize you called on me, it sounded like you merely said the world we live in is called Luke.” In reply to that Mrs.Sand would always choose a student to oppose Luke and tell him why he was wrong. I always volunteered.
“Mrs.Kristen” she said with a smile, would you like to try again to outsmart Luke and hopefully succeed?” Then, before we started she would always ask the class to vote on who they think would win. In the beginning I always had little to no votes, since nobody knew who I was. Right now ,though, I literally have, like, every person on my side.
This time when she asked for people to vote for Luke not a hand went up, not even Luke’s, which meant he knew he would lose, and THAT was funny. For, even before one person would vote for him so he would put his hand up to, so when he didn’t, it meant he totally gave up.
I swam over to him and said “why did you think that was what she said, Luke?” He raised his head and with a careless manner and cooly replied “well, Kristen you see as Kyle over here,” he said flicking his tail towards his best friend. “was..... whispering to me, and all I could hear was part of the question and his silly breath in my ear.” I said “Is that so?” and swam around him a couple of times to make him keep turning around self-consciously. Well, I see the obvious fact is that plainly if you tried to listen you could have, it’s only a whisper you know.” And before he could even open his mouth I went on to say “ and Luke, the teacher knows you are best friends with Kyle, and you never get paired with your bestfriend” I said in a earnest and helpless tone.
The class giggled as I continued to say “So how were you even near him in the first place?”He coughed nervously as he couldn’t find an answer that he knew I couldn’t counter so he dramatically raised his arms and fell over with a gasp “you-you-you- h-h-have-killed m-m-me w-w-with w-w-w-words.”
I shook my head and swam of paying no attention to this routine of his, but instead went to the sheet with the name Kristen: 5 wins and added a win, which meant Luke had 6 losses so far.
That is basically the only thing that ever happens in school, I sighed shook my head and walked to my“Legends Of Fighting Class”. It was, probably the most annoying class in the whole school.
Once in a blue moon I would like it, not usually though. When I made it there, there was no teacher, no anything at all other than a couple of other kids and Luke. I asked “Where's the teacher, guys?” They said “I have no idea” and I could tell even Luke wasn’t joking. Then I noticed a book a big book sitting open on the teachers desk. He NEVER let things sit open, that was last week’s lesson-never leave things out on a desk. Especially when he wasn’t there.
I swam carefully towards it keeping all of my abilities at the up and ready. The book had a legend on it. A legend with my name on it.
Part 3
The Legend
Chapter 1
The legend read: From the cause of a fight long ago, a rumble fills the air, the rumble calls a person that person to save a curse, a curse to fight back, draining blood away from light piling it into dark, A scale a turner will earn of invisibility, trying for what is right, human will pile though bring out the light, dolphins will rejoice, friend is back, filling the world with glee, wandering from earth, joy is almighty, for human turner Kristen will find the long lost curse.
I skittered backward with a lurch of my dragon body. The words “Human turner Kristen” raced through my head like wildfire. Some of my classmates looked up and I could could sense their bewilderment. Luke came over and innocently asked “are you ok Kristen, or has a invisible shark bit your tail off?”
For once his jokes were not funny. I shook my head and sank down to the floor with wide eyes. After that, he actually looked concerned and bent over in front of my face and stared me in the eyes. “Kristen, are you okay?” He looked more serious than I had ever seen him before. “He might actually make a good doctor” I muttered to myself. “what was that Kristen?”He asked with wide eyes like he was scared of my answer.
“You would make a good doctor,” I said with a weak smile, and he chuckled at that. But soon his eyes went back to flint and glared through me. “Kristen, something in that book scared you, and I’m not sure what, why did a simple book do that to you? You read the most advanced books in class”, he said with a smile.
“The Legend, It’s about me!” I gasped, but as soon as I did fiery pain ripped through my back and it felt as though someone ripped my scale off and stuck a dagger there instead. I turned around and saw nothing of that sort, and a murderous black dragon was not standing there. In fact the only thing there was Luke and he gave me this “are you kidding me” grin.
“No, look”! I almost cried as the pain seared me hotter and hotter and caused me to writhe on the ground. He looked at me, frowned, but walked to the book anyway. As soon as he wasn’t looking the room lit up and the source was coming from behind me. It took me all my might to turn around but nothing was there so I crawled back to my earlier position.
Everyone was looking at me in and mingled sense of fear, wonder, and utter shock. Luke finally took the time to turn around and joined the rest of the stares with his mouth slightly open. The pain started to fade and as it did the light went back down to normal again. They continued staring as I stood up leaning on a sea rock for balance. I was emotionally physically and mentally shaken as it was. Them staring didn’t help. Why they were staring in the first place was beyond my sense of things.
“What’s the problem?” I said in a nervous voice laden with terror and a mingled sense of pain. Luke looked at me with this“you really don’t know why we staring”look.I said “well sure I just got seriously hurt somehow, but other than that what’s the problem? And why won’t any of you approach me?
“You really don’t know?” Luke asked, I almost roared “no I don’t so tell me for utter sake, I’m scared and you won’t even approach me”! Luke silently swam over to me and held my hand. He said “it’s okay, you’ll be fine, just something happened to you that we have never heard of, or seen before”.
“Well we’re kids, for utter sake, we aren’t supposed to know everything” I cried! I swished my tail and cuddled into Luke, totally forgetting for a while that he wasn’t Sashria or someone like my mother, or even an adult. He sure seemed like an adult-he pulled his tail around me and cuddled me until I fell almost asleep. Soon after I felt him pull away and swim quietly out of the room. I assumed he was going to get an adult to help. Knowing that I was safe here, I curled up into a ball and fell asleep.
*****
Chapter 2
I woke to laughs and kids swimming around near me. That,of all things puzzled me. If Luke had found a teacher the kids wouldn’t be near me and I’d be in the nurse’s office. The other kids would be in class, to. Unless I made an assembly or something, but that would be rare and literally impossible.
I opened my eyes to find dragons literally swimming on top of me, but at least they couldn’t step on me. I shut my eyes back down to a crack when someone looked in my direction, for some reason I didn’t want to be discovered yet. I wanted to figure out exactly where all of the teachers were first.
The dragons were talking and glancing at me all the time so I shut my eyes. I smiled as I heard Kyle teasing Luke, “you know, if she’s a part of a prophecy......? “What Kyle”? Luke said in an exasperated tone. “I’d tell you to ask her out she’s just a turner of sorts” he giggled and said, “as you are, and you wouldn’t want to turn into your mother would you?” he teased. I could feel embarrassment coming off of Luke in waves.
I kept from laughing out loud as Luke totally bowled Kyle over with the thump near me,and said “you, you!” Kyle just laughed and to add to the chaos I rolled over and opened my eyes. I laughed and said “like me, do you?” He jumped off Kyle and rolled over. He yelled “Kyle!” and hit his head with his hand.
He said “how much did you hear?” with a sigh, and I said “ from the words you know if she’s part of a prophecy, to now. He jumped up and fake whacked Kyle with his tail a few times. “you,you,you,you,you!!!”I said “It’s not that bad it you like me I just wonder how Sashria will think of it...” I said in mock interest and a teasing tone.
It was my turn to get bowled over and whacked. I let him and silkly said “I never thought of you as a lovey dovey dragon.” Both me and Kyle laughed after that one. I soon returned to subject.... sort of. “So if you like me, I assume you’ll tell me anything I ask?”
“Who says I like you other than you and my lovey - dovey friend?” he asked slyly. “Maybe you’re saying that because you like me and you want me to like you.” I yelped in surprise at that comeback. He tilted his head and eyed me with amusement.
Kyle said that“I think both of you like each other, how about that for a compromise”? He backed away with his hands up when both me and Luke turned on him to stare at him with this really? Look. “Fine, fine.” he said I’m not going to argue with you, but think about it”.
“Anyway, where are the teachers?” I asked. Both of them said “I don’t know.” in a messy type of unison, but Kyle continued to say “Luke went looking for teachers when you got your golden scal-. I interrupted him fiercely, “what golden scale”? “My scales are all blue”!
Luke gently interrupted me “that’s what we were talking about, I was going to show you, but you kinda, well.... fell asleep, so here”. He handed me a mirror, I asked “what’s this for?” He said “look at your back with it.” I held the mirror to look at my back and gasped, because there, on my back, lay a gleaming golden scale that sparkled when the sunlight hit it.
I looked at Luke to Kyle and back to Luke again. I whispered “how did it happen”? Luke said “when the room got light.... Well, the light in the room came from you.” My eyes widened and said “is it the,the,the scale of invisibility?” Luke widened his eyes and said “you think it could be”? I shuddered and said ‘“ I guess it’s possible. No knowing what it could be, considering the circumstances.”
Suddenly, the ground started to shake, and shake violently. Luke’s eyes widened “what’s happening!” I shook my head, but then a thought came to my mind it might be a earthquake. But I shook that idea quickly out of my head. That would be bad, very, very bad, whether or not we could swim, me Luke and Kyle would all be thrown across the world if a jolt hit us.
And that’s what happened.
Chapter 3
I blinked my eyes open in confusion. Where were we? And who were we? My mind went groggy and I couldn’t think. Finally, I shook my head and started to remember things. First....... I scrunched up my head the orphanage.... escape, clouds billowed over my mind as I thought of that one, and I couldn’t think of details. Then....... police? Lucy...... cat... under deck...... building........... Was it sea? dragon..... Luke, Sashria...... others......... roommates..... school.... and finally scale.
My conscious said that we were thrown somewhere deep in the ocean, because of the.... I assume earthquake. But deep in my heart I’m not so sure. I manage to call out the word “Luke!” I knew somewhere, deep in my heart that word meant safety, but I wasn’t sure why. A shape crouched over me, and I began to get scared, but then it nealt by my side. “It’s alright Kristen, do you know who I am?”
I felt a slight tug of recognition at the cat-like figure crouching over me, but I wasn’t sure. “No?” I hesitantly guessed. I sharp laugh caught the air. It was menacing and evil. “Well then, my little pet, you will know me soon.” I fell unconscious with a club to my head.
I woke to a sharp jolt in my side. I was cold-terribly cold. I shivered and tried to stretch out of my ball, but I couldn't move. I started to panic and screamed. I was a high-pitched scream, louder than any I had heard before, and it didn’t sound like it belonged to me.
And then I realized something-something disturbing. I looked around. This was a cell. Not in the water! I shivered and realized why, exactly I was cold. I was human. human, pure human. Not a scrap of dragon in me. Then I pure freaked out. A shape loomed over me, a dog? No.. too big for a dog. It was a wolf!
I couldn’t even manage to make my mouth move now. Half my body was paralyzed with some potion. And the other half was paralyzed with fear. So all and all I could not move.
The dog nosed me it whined and a picture formed in my head. My dragon self! I stared at the dog. I could move my mouth again now. “How? I can’t become a dragon with no water.” Another picture popped in my head. Of a golden dragon, Sashria? No, this dragon was younger, and looked less experienced at being a dragon. Less experienced at being a dragon! I almost shouted it out loud.
I wasn’t experienced at being a dragon! I look like my mother! I am part of a prophecy, and if I couldn’t go out of the water, how would I save the long-lost curse?
If I could turn into a sea-dragon. Why couldn’t I turn into a land dragon?
Chapter 4
I stared at the dog with realization. I could move my vocal cords now, so I asked him “What is your name?” When he didn’t respond, I paused and reconsidered, if he was a dog he shouldn’t be able to talk.... “Can you talk?” I asked warily. The dog nodded and a voice came into my head. :I am sorry, I’ve never tried to thought-speak a human before, so it took me awhile to figure it out.:
I nodded “Can I thought-speak too, if I tried?” The dog shook his head sadly, and raised his eyes to look into mine. I felt a jolt as he gave me part of his memories
:my name is Smoke and this is how I got here.:
Smoke
I drew back my ears and snarled as The Others drew closer. They snarled in return and backed me into a corner. As the only dog without a pack I was the prey of the land, not the predator as I wished I could be. I finally tucked in my tail and lay on my back pushing my muzzle into the ground and letting my pride drift away like a feather in the breeze. The sounds of growls and far off laughter hurt me very much, but I was pretty much used to it and held still as The Others decided what they should do with me this time.
I could faintly hear The Others talking about dumping me in a stream or putting me in a canyon with Keer-chee roaming in it. I shivered at the thought of that, the last time I had seen a Keer-chee it was when my pack was taken down and killed. I could remember the day as vividly as it had been yesterday.
Keer-chee surrounded me and the pack thrusting us towards their portal and ramming us with their heads. I yelped as one of them pushed me out of the pack and I bit the closest ones in desperation to get back to my mother.
A voice rang in my head and said clearly and with proud authority in it’s voice :no:. I stared around in confusion at the fact the voice was not outside or made out of vocal cords, but instead INSIDE my head. Again I heard it :do not struggle, you are safe as a pup of the clan:. The voice stung me as I wasn’t THAT little anymore, just a bit small, and I was already eating meat for utter sake! Then it said with amusement in it’s voice :would you rather go with them and be treated as a slave, but an adult:? I tried to make a mind voice thingy towards the speaker and managed to say :y-ye do an-n-nyth fo-or-ac-k:. :a laugh filled my head and I flinched at how loud it was in my ears, :now that’s very brave my little pup, but is it really wise:?
Just then before I could reply the Keer-chee surrounded me too and started ramming me forward. Just then I realized with wild fear that they hadn’t been hitting me at all before, just nudging. I was bloody and battered very quickly and couldn’t walk any longer, I collapsed and tried the mind voice thingy again :ple-s-s:. :a laugh filled my head again, you really think you can take back your decision:? Another laugh and I managed to get the mind voice words :I d-d-d an-th-g:. As I was blacking out from another ram in the back I heard the word :anything:?
I jerked back to reality as some dog grabbed my scruff and shook me. “stop daydreaming and get a move on” one of them growled with his tail up in threat. I stumbled upward and started forward towards the outlands. “Oh no, that’s not where you’re going, you’re going somewhere very different mr.little pup”.
I stopped being bossed around like a pup and whipped around with fury at my vision of them throwing me into a couple of Keer-chee tribes. “where am I going then”? I said with an extremely dangerous edge to my voice. “now now, the little puppy must have been having nightmares” one of them jeered as they mock comforted me.
“I’m serious, where am I going”? One of them said “Oh somewhere” and they all backed up in unison. The hair rose on my back of my neck and I yelped in scared surprise as the ground disappeared below me and turned into a Keer-chee portal. Soon the surprise turned to anger. As I plunged through the portal I vowed to the other dogs standing over me “one day,one day I’ll find you and I’ll get revenge, someday, I will”.
He sighed and I looked at him with more sympathy now. This wasn’t just a dog, that was for sure. “What happened after that?” I asked slowly. He winced and said :I landed at the other side of the portal. I said Let me go, I was dropped down here when some of my huh, Friends were being a bit mean to me. Nothing was meant by it, so LET ME GO. To a Keer-Chee near me. They said :that will be for the boss to decide, but if you wish to go to your pack in slavery, here:. Then they opened a portal it shocked me so much that I fell down, it had resembled the one my pack had been hearded into so long ago. The Keer-Chee came forward, and butted my upwards, but in private mind-speach it said sorry, I don’t know why you’re here but the king wants you something bad. Then I felt, Keer’s, the king’s presence near, I jumped up and said :No, I won’t I won’t ever do whatever you want. I will die before I do anything for You, you monster! I want my pack and Nothing else, I want Huliove, I want Bennamana, I want Kero, I want Selianaya! Give me them, you have no hold over me I don’t care if you turn me into a monster like you, YOU WILL NEVER CONTROL ME! and I will never, ever submit to you like these Keer-chee!
He wasn’t very surprised, and he threw me into this dungeon, I think he is waiting to need something so badly I can do that ‘anything’ for him.:
I looked at the dog with more sympathy than ever, and told him my story, from being a little human to now. The dog whimpered :you’re a turner? And your name is Kristen. It would make sense that you would stop the long lost curse.......... I want to tell you something.: I looked at him “Can you turn me into a dragon first? I’m freezing.”
I saw the dog yerk upward, like into reality, and smiled. He said :Well.... That’s what I was going to tell you, most people and dragons can’t turn into more than one type of dragon. There was a different story told once... That a girl could turn into anything she wants... I think that is you. Now, focus on the creature and focus on the wind, and letting yourself fly with it:.
I narrowed my eyes, and thought of a magnificent dragon, soaring through the clouds. THe wind taking it’s wings.... The thoughts stopped as I formed into the dragon. Hope rushed through me. I flapped my wings happily, jumping up a couple of times. :Thank you:! I thought-spoke to the dog, joy filling me. I saw him freeze, and I looked at him funny, he thought spoke :Did you just thought speak?: I looked at him again, furrowing my brow weirdly this time. :Of course! It’s easy now! I’m a dragon!: The dog gave me another look, then shrugged. Suddenly, he whipped around, hackles raised. Cold wind howled through the tunnel, i backed up to the back of the cell. And there stood, from Smoke’s memories, and from my delivery here. There stood, Keer.