Elorn: Book of Cauru (part 2)
Elorn: Book of Cauru (part 2)
By Thomas Walsh
Please leave comments, even "I like this" or "I don't like this"
help me tell how I'm doing.
Some 3 weeks later in a gryphon stable...
"Come on... where did you go now Cauru" My ears flicked as Elaine said my name. She'd taken a whole week to think of a name to give me but I still didn't hear it all the time so it tended to get a little silly. I kept my head down as she passed by for the third time, It was always that little bit more fun to hide from Elaine.
I poked my head out of the straw to see her looking in completely the wrong direction. "Well... I guess you must sleeping so you won't feel hungry, I'll just have to take your food away". I knew she meant it too as she walked for the door, it wasn't the first time she'd proven it ether "aww... you not playing fair" I complained as I jumped out the straw, shaking off any loose strands.
"Well you should stop hiding every single time I come up the stairs, that 'accident' with the door has been a right pain." She was referring to when I'd been shocked by someone behind me a few days after I started walking again and kicked a door off it's it's hinges, at least now I knew when ever someone was coming up the stairs though.
"Was the elf's fault" I said scowling but Elaine refused to believe me. "Don't make that face, if the wind changes direction it'll stick. Anyway we're going for a walk. You'll not be in the city much longer and I want to show you the boat we're going on tomorrow."
"Really tomorrow?!" I shouted in shock rather than excitement, I'd gotten so used to this place as my home that I didn't want to leave. "Yes tomorrow, you should be glad. When we get you to this colony you'll be very happy and safe with the other dragons, trust me." said Elaine, a weak smile on her face.
We were silent for a few minutes until Elaine stopped me at the door out of the stables. "now remember, leave everything alone, don't try to eat or play with anything especially if it's bigger than you. Understand?" I nodded my head madly until Elaine opened the door, a cold wind hit my face as I rushed outside, running in large circles.
The cold night air made me shiver but it felt good to be able to run, I couldn't remember when I'd last run. "hey I told you to stay close, not run around like a numpty". I ran back to Elaine feeling very 'jumpy' and happy. "So where are the boats?" I asked, practically bouncing around with an ecstatic step.
Elaine directed me around a corner while keeping me close, I couldn't understand why she wouldn't let me run around since she said there wasn't much that would mess with a dragon. A few minutes of walking later and Elaine told me we'd arrived at the docks, pointing me in the right direction to actually see it as I was more preoccupied with a funny smelling grate on the floor.
The ships were massive and many men were working even this late to load things on board. I couldn't begin to think how it didn't sink "A little dumbstruck Cauru?"Elaine asked with a giggle. I shook my head even though being unable to find words made her right. Elaine took me on the ship for a look around and I immediately began to dash around, I wanted to see everything on the ship and quickly.
After eventually running enough that I had to stop for a breather I walked back to where we'd gotten on the ship, I flopped down next to Elaine who was chatting with someone and nuzzled her leg. "Here he is, for half an hour that was a good run. I'll bring the gold tomorrow night captain, I'll be taking Cauru home now" Elaine knelt down and ushered me to get up, I was feeling quiet tired as we returned to the stables. Outside Elaine grasped the door knob and turned it however the door wouldn't budge at all, I noticed a note on the floor and picked it up with one paw. I stared at the strange letters but I couldn't make sense of them, I tried to balance on my back legs and tugged on the skirt Elaine was wearing.
"Hey don't do that! Naughty..." she stopped halfway through telling me off and took the note with an apology. Her expression turned from frustration to anger as she read what was on the note "Oh that bloody elf" she howled before ripping the note up.
I backed away slightly, I knew better that to stay within arms reach of someone who was angry, Elaine messed with her hair for a moment before giving me a little tug, "Looks like you're finally getting to see my house" She mumbled as she got us both walking.
I'd have been excited if I wasn't tired, I'd kept asking her for a whole week if I could see her house and only stopped after she gave me a smack, she told me not to be ask again or I'd get another so I stopped.
We walked down a series of streets, it was almost maze like to me and everything seemed to get darker as we proceeded, there were fewer lights in this area. I began to feel scared as the darkness grew, soon there was barely any light as we reached a series of houses.
Everything smelt foul around here and the light eventually ended. I walked closer to Elaine to the point where I was touching her, a whimper left my scaly lips as her hand crept down and began playing with my ears. "Don't worry we're nearly there, just around this corner." Elaine reassured me.
The wall split into a low fence that surrounded a small garden of drying grass. Elaine let me through the gate and then took me inside the tiny house. "It's not much more than a hovel but it's home" Elaine explained, shutting the door behind us.
The house was made of two small rooms, the first had a table, hearth and cupboard along with small pantry in a corner, the other room had a bed, dresser, rug and a tin bath. "Just wait in that corner, and don't look over here" Elaine ordered, scooting me next to her pantry and making me look at the wall. I heard something soft hit the floor and turned to see Elaine in a night gown.
Following Elaine into her bedroom I noticed her dark hair seemed to glow in the moonlight, "Hey, what's with your hair?" I asked whilst standing on two legs to see it better. Elaine pushed me back to the floor though and told me off "stop that, It's only mana, it stops after a while."
I stayed quite and led down on an old rug however dust went flying and gave me a sneezing fit. I noticed Elaine staring at me, it took a few minutes before she broke the silence "Hey... come here, you can't sleep on that old rug".
I moved nearer the low bed on a crawl and laid my head on the cool covers, it sent shivers down my back right to my tail. "Keep going" Elaine beckoned, draping the covers over me when I clambered onto her bed, I was cautious since I didn't want to hurt Elaine with my claws and at the same time I was dumbstruck by my feet on the soft material. Pulled into a tight cuddle I rested my head on Elaine's chest, her heartbeat was like some sort of lullaby while her breathing rocked my head slightly and slowly until I slept. "Sleep tight dragon" a man's voice echoed, seemingly inside my head.
* * *
I heard the pitter-patter of raindrops on glass as something light and firm landed on my head. I waited, feeling perplexed and another followed suit. It continued for a few seconds and I looked up, a small pile of cards falling off my head to the floor. "fifty two pick up love? Welcome back to the world of the living, next time don't play with my suits of armour" a bored and even miserable sounding man asked. I looked up to see my master with a playing card. He threw it at my head where it landed in the pile, turning back to his desk he began to do some paper work.
My heart skipped a beat as I was sure I'd escaped, I felt warmth underneath me and found a water bottle under my chest acting as a pillow. Getting to my feet I wandered around the room with a yawn, feeling disbelief. I began checking everything from the walls to the books in the bookcase until I found it all felt too real which gave a fell of depression. sitting down near the desk, tears rolled down my face and pained squeaks left my scaly grey muzzle, I wanted to believe Elaine and I was still being cuddled by her but everything could have been a dream for all I knew at the moment.
A cold hand roughly wiped away my tears with a handkerchief, I didn't dare look up so I crawled way to wander around the room. "If your getting up put that book you knocked down away." His monotonous voice ordered. I picked up the book up in my mouth and got a stern yell to not wreck it. I turned my head and the book went flying out my mouth when I tried to complain, landing at my masters feet.
Wordlessly he picked it up and after reading a random page for a few seconds he seemed to get angry, he threw the book away and grabbed me, hauling me over his shoulder. "No stories tonight, it's time to wake up" He whispered into my ear as a blinding light filled the room.
* * *
A muffled, hummed tune accompanied by a sizzling sounbd filled my ears, I popped my head out from under the bed covers and got blinded by the morning sunlight. Complaining in a long, drawn out groan I turned away and hid under the covers again. "You might as well go back to sleep, your not going anywhere till late." said, slipping a hand under the covers to stroke my muzzle. "I'm going out, don't leave the house okay?" I nodded and rubbed my head against her hand before she pulled it away.
I was happy to stay in Elaine's bed until I was roused by the sound of clanking metal. I got up and after some quick stretching ran to a nearby window. Propping myself up slightly I saw a man in metal armour walking past the house. I wanted a closer look but remembered Elaine telling me not to leave the house. A thought crossed my head, Elaine's small backyard was part of her house.
After grappling with a doorknob for a few minutes I found myself outside, it was warm and breezy. The small section of land was divided from a side street by a low wall, the garden was a small patch of dried grass and a few wild flowers. The warm grass and the sun felt odd at first but I quickly learned to enjoy it as I spent who knew how long sunning myself on the ground.
My peace was eventually broken by a scream, A pale someone who'd been walking down the side-street looked at me with terror and ran screaming. I guessed they'd never seen a dragon before and went back to happily sunning myself. When the sun was starting to set I was bothered again, this time however it was by Elaine. After getting off with a light scolding we set off for the ship. Apparently The ship we were supposed to be taking had been sunk so we had to take a smaller fishing boat.
* * *
Some 2 days later...
It had been a rough journey with much less space than Elaine had planned and the weather getting much worse until we hit land again in a ruined town. It wasn't so much a town as a wasteland, all around us was a dead world, there wasn't a tree for miles and a dried out riverbed could be seen in the far distance.
As Elaine got supplies off the boat I decided to play a little despite the chilly wind, soon though Elaine was chatting with the fisherman who'd brought us here whilst I stalked a snake through a run down street. I froze however when a large shadow loomed over me suddenly, it grew bigger by the second and only stopped when it had engulfed the run down market.
I turned around to see a huge hulking black figure and after a few seconds I realised it was not just a figure but another dragon! The dragon's scales were dark as the night sky and and he towered over me more than easily. There wasn't a silence to break as he coughed up water, it seemed he'd just come out of the sea nearby.
Upon noticing me the great dragon leant in close enough to whisper, "hmm, you didn't see me come out the water and... more importantly why are you here by yourself, Lost?" it seemed more like he was telling me than asking me, I kept quite and nodded my head. It was about the perfect time for Elaine to have come over.
Her breathing was hurried and she had a look fright upon her face, "You must be the dragon king" she said with a stutter, The black scaled dragon replied with a nod. "Where did you get this hatchling human?"
Elain was quick to explain herself, "I'm a temple healer, he just... fell out the sky and I couldn't leave him to die". The dragon paused to think for a minute, "You have my thanks for saving him human, you'll catch that fisherman if you hurry. Say your goodbyes small one, we're short of time as it is".
Elaine knelled down next to me and gave me a tight hug, "Behave yourself, okay love" she said as I felt tears welling up in my eyes, I nodded and she let go, sprinting to catch the fisherman.
"now, if we walk at your pace it will be a good few hours until we get there so better be..." Guessing he was going to say fly I unfolded my wings for the first time in ages, they felt so stiff though. To my dismay it was met with a chuckle from the bigger dragon.
"You'll never fly with those little things, your far too small for that yet. Come, I'll carry you." I didn't get much of a choice since he picked me up and ushered me onto his back. "Hold on" The black dragon said as he got up and began to run. I had a good grip on some of his scales so there was no danger of falling.
* * *
By sunset we'd reached an island that was full of life, it seemed so odd it could be like that with a wasteland next to it. Further inland it was a large mix of jungle and forest life with other dragons scattered around. I was amazed at all the different kinds of dragons but I found it odd there were no other dragons with grey scales like mine.
"Careful, this is a perilous drop" The other dragon warned as he careful walked along a curving path that ended in an enclosed nook, there was a large cliff behind it and a large group of trees in front of it with a river flowing through. After he let me off his back the black dragon put me in a gently curved nest. "It is vital you stay in this nest, if another dragon wanders by you hide underneath the leaves. I've got a bad dragon to root out who's been causing trouble so I can't watch you but a friend of mine will be looking after you soon, she is a green dragon and copes with solitude well."
I thought for a few moments but didn't know half of the words he'd said, mentioning this the dragon made sure I knew, "stay in nest, look for green dragon... Ah! Also here is your first test, my name is Alatus, remember this." Before I could ask he returned the way he'd come and left me by myself.
It had been drizzling slightly when we'd come here and now, with the moon high in the sky it was raining hard. I was cold and using the pile of leaves for shelter but it didn't make much of a difference and with Alatus' friend having not shown up I was feeling absolutely miserable and numb from the cold.
Eventually I was stuck sitting on the edge of the nest, a puddle had started forming in it and to make matters worse the rain had further picked up and moon was covered by clouds so I couldn't see anything even nearby. "Rain, rain, rain... it's just too wet." a females voice mumbled through the darkness. Unsure if it was the cold or my fear I waited, frozen in place. A dragoness with the lightest of blue scales and radiant earthy brown eyes stepped forward from the dark, upon noticing me her face turned to shock.
As she moved closer I finally found the power to move my legs however the earth underneath me crumbled, weakened by the fierce rain. Falling backwards I landed in in the nest, which was more of a pond by now, Shocked by the freezing water I wanted to get up and out of the nest but I just couldn't any strength as I sobbed.
I didn't have to look to know it was the dragoness who's jaw grabbed my neck to pull me out, keeping my eyes shut tight I didn't open them until I was put down and something warm and wet crossed my head, going from my nose, past my ears and stopping at my neck.
The dragoness addressed me in a soft, calm tone "where did you come from little one? Where is your mother?" I didn't know how to answer, "are you Alatus' friend?" I asked unsteadily. The dragoness immediately collapsed in front of me with a tired groan, when she spoke she sounded slightly depressed "Yea that's me, the only green dragon dumb enough to be his friend, I am normally green by the way, I came in from IceFloat so I'm going to be blue for a while." She rolled onto he back and continued "He said he needed me to look after a puppy for a while, he never said you were a green hatchling"
I didn't move as she got up, I ended up perplexed by her eyes, they'd gone from radiant to glowing. I only broke eye contact when hunger pains made me realise how long it had been since I'd been fed. "Hungry, sweet? What am I going to do with you, poor thing" she cooed, sitting closer to me, I was barely as high as her stomach.
"The big fool really timed it right, I've definitely got something to feed you and he knew it" she laid on her side again, showing four slightly swollen teats which she pushed me a little closer to. "go on" she urged but I only stared at her, unsure what she had in mind. She quickly realised what was going on and, with a sigh explained. "Just... suck on one, they're full of milk".
I looked to her nervous face a few times before I clamped my mouth around one of her teats and sucked. Her teats were warm and somehow soft and firm at once. After a few seconds warm, sweet, filing milk hit my tongue, I was nervous at first but now I wanted to drank as much as could. While I filled my stomach the dragoness began cleaning me, her warm tongue and milk milk elected a shiver, I hadn't know how cold I'd been.
When I was full and stopped drinking the dragoness pulled me close to her head. Before I was always cold hungry and scared, not now though, I felt safe and warm now.