Are much the same in truth
Differing only slightly in their sources
One from the imagination
One from the hand
And both dangerous to all
~~~
Written in the Chronicles of Ages by Selena, the Teller of Tales and Dreamer of Dreams
A small creature, maybe only about a foot and a half long with more than half of that in tail, flaps up to him and lands on his shoulder. Its dragonlike head brushes against his furred cheek while it lets its wings relax and brush his shoulder. The creature has wings almost like a butterfly's, except they are one wing and have what looks like jewels studded on them. Its tail falls gracefully down his back, brushing his dragon wings. Instead of ending in a point like a normal tail, it ends in an elaborate shape almost like its wings, again studded with what looks like jewels. Its hide is the same bluish silver as his fur, scales, and feathers, and all of its jewels are moonstones. Even its eyes are like his, pale grey in color.
"The other Ilsin are wondering where you are, Keiongian," the little creature remarks in its soft voice.
"Let them wonder, Taiin, let them wonder." Keiongian replies absently, his voice soft and slightly amused.
Keiongian slowly brings his hand down and brings the other up, cupping a bright pool of moonlight in his palms. As a Moonstone Gezmalz, anything that is related to the moon is his to control, even the finicky light that the moon gives off. Taiin pulls a moonstone shaped like a teardrop and almost four inches long out of a pouch at Keiongian's waist and scrambles back up his side, holding the moonstone in one paw. He walks carefully down Keiongian's left arm and places the moonstone in the pool of moonlight. Slowly the moonlight filters into the stone, lighting it up with a strong, steady light.
Keiongian places the moonstone in another pouch filled with slightly larger and slightly smaller moonstones all cut into the same shape. He leaps off the ridge and spreads his double wings, both beating evenly without fouling each other up. Taiin grips Keiongian's fur tightly, drawing his tail up and away from the swiftly beating wings and mutters about Gezmalz that show off.
Keiongian smiles and backwings neatly, landing on the ground softly, "I'm not showing off, Taiin, I'm just getting down from the cliff the easy way."
"Sure, I believe you Kei." Taiin mutters as he settles himself down with a look of injured dignity that would do a cat proud.
Kei grins and runs a claw lightly over Taiin's neck, "Don't try to make me feel sorry for you, it won't work."
Taiin rises up and rubs against the finger, murmuring through his purrs, "Well, it was worth a try."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kei leaps down into the wide cave mouth leading down deep into the ground. Topaz gems shining with captured sunlight light the way as he leaves the realm of light behind. Turning sharply he flies into a side passage and pushes a curtain aside as he flies into a fairly large room. Kei lands and Taiin flies off his shoulder and lands on wooden dresser in front of a large mirror and starts preening himself.
Drawing several glowing moonstones out of the pouch, Kei walks to brackets set in the walls and places a moonstone in each one, illuminating the room in a bright, silver light.
With a sigh he sprawls out on his bed and weaves the trapped moonlight into beautifully detailed moving pictures. Taiin flies over to him and lays on Kei's chest just below his neck, watching the pictures from the comfortable warmth of the patch of fur he burrows into. Kei's pale grey eyes go unfocused as he watches the pictures and he falls asleep, the pictures unweaving themselves slowly.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
He comes too slowly, hearing the murmurred voices of other Gezmalz in his room, but something in their tone registers instantly. Kei's eyes snap open and take in the two unfamiliar Fire Opals in a second. Without a thought he weaves moonlight into steel bindings, firming the bindings with power supplied to him from his moonstone so that they'll never dissipate and so that he alone can unbind them.
"What are you doing in here," Kei snarls as he rises, cupping the still sleeping Taiin in a hand.
The first Fire Opal snarls, struggling against the steel, "Release us, Moonstone. You have no right to bind us so."
Kei turns and spreads his wings, sheilding his actions from the two Fire Opals, then brushes Taiin lightly saying softly, "Wake, Dais Dallaen, I need you."
Taiin lifts his head up and looks at Kei questioningly, Kei murmurs a few words to Taiin about getting the Elder Gezmalz then lets him fly out of the room. Turning back to his prisoners, he remarks, "I have a right, Fire Opal. You are Alsin and in my room uninvited."
The two Fire Opals snarl and start cursing him. With a quick flick of a clawed hand Kei weaves a gag for the two, effectively silencing them, then sits down on the edge of his bed to watch them.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
It hadn't taken as long as he would have thought. Within a half hour the entire Elder council had risen and was gathered in the Tricalen Chamber and the two Fire Opals placed in judgement before them. The entire trial took less than an hour, and at the end of that hour the two were imprisoned in two cells deep in the cave system without even a simple glowstone.
The most surprising part, in Kei's opinion, was when the trial was done with. The Elders stood and filed out, as did everyone else. He started too, but the Dais Dallaen of the oldest Gezmalz hovered in front of him and told him, in no uncertain terms, that he was to go and speak with with Elder or else.
Kei shrugs and turns, waiting for everyone to leave. Then, when the room is entirely empty except for him and the Elder, he walks slowly over to the greyed Topaz.
"If you had come to us when Taiin told you too, none of this would have happened, Keiongian." The Elder states.
"I am sorry, Elder, I was busy with the moon."
The Elder looks him over carefully, "Very well, I accept that as the truth, but you must leave, I am afraid that your past deeds have not been taken kindly by the Alsin."
"Where would I go though?!" Kei exclaims.
"To another realm, of course." The Elder remarks as if this should be as plain as day.
Kei sighs and strokes Taiin, "Very well..."
The Elder nods sharply, "Good, I will summon the Council back and we will create a gateway."
Within moments the entire Council was arrayed in a circle around Kei and Taiin. There was a representative of every single type of Gezmalz there was, Blood Ruby, Star Ruby, Sapphire, Star Sapphire, Emerald, Light Opal, Dark Opal, Fire Opal, Topaz, Moonstone, and others. Weaving their different powers together, a vertical slash in the air appears then stretches out to a size big enough for Kei to step into without ducking.
Kei stares at the gateway for a second then strides through it, turning once he's through it and watching it snap shut, leaving him abandoned in a strange realm that he doesn't even know about.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Taiin flies back quickly, "There are some strange creatures down there that are called Cy Dragons."
"What's the place called, Taiin?" Kei askes gently but firmly.
"I overheard a man saying that its called Cy Dragonstake. You won't believe me until you see this, but I think there's a Baerkaen down there as well."
"Why would a Baerkaen be HERE?!"
"I don't know, but they were talking about impressing dragons."
Kei sighs and sits down on the ground, folding his wings tightly against his back. Taiin lands lightly on his shoulder, rubbing his head against Kei's furred cheek. Kei reaches a hand up and strokes Taiin, but otherwise just stares down the slope towards the settlement.
"Maybe you should try this impresion thing, Kei, maybe that'll make you feel better."
Kei shrugs, "I guess."
Taiin growls and digs his front claws into Kei's cheek, "Stop feeling sorry for yourself, where's that much talked about Moonstone calm?"
Kei turns his head to glare at Taiin then gets up and scramble/slides down the slope, using his wings the last bit. He shakes himself off, shedding rock dust that turns his bluish silver coloration a grey color. With a determined stride he walks to the buildings, but slows before he really comes in sight of them. Taiin digs his claws in again then dodges away from Kei's hand.
"Stop doing that, you little pest."
"I won't stop doing that until you agree to stand on the sands to try and impress one of these Cy Dragons."
Kei narrows his eyes then walks, calmly despite the tiny drops of blood on his cheek, towards the buildings. When he comes in sight of them, he pauses and looks the place over, then, still calmly on the outside, he approaches a man.
"Excuse me, but is this Cy Dragonstrake?"
"Sure is, what do you want?"
"I'd.. like to sign up to stand on the sands."
The man nods, "Right this way."
The man turns and leads Kei into the building. As Kei enters the building, Taiin finally removes his claws from inside Kei's shoulder and calmly sits down to lick the blood off of himself. Kei shoots a glare at Taiin then turns his attention back to memorizing the place, reasoning that if this is where the Elders have placed him, he might as well know his way around.
"About time you decided to be reasonable," Taiin mutters softly to Kei as he finishes cleaning himself off.
Kei just shoots another glare at Taiin.
Adolescent
Adult