| A village of black mages? Vivi ran off after them, for they were afraid of humans. I probably didn�t help. Vanel hunkered between Zidane and I. [Bad, bad mages.] [I don�t think so, Vanel,] I said. [They spoke. Made complete sentences. The other black mages seemed only to know �kill�.] Zidane wandered off and Vanel followed, hesitating when I didn�t go along. He sensed it and turned. [Vanel, you stay with Kitiane. I�m going to look around.] She nodded quickly--[Okay.]--and ran back to me, using me as protection. [I don�t like it here.] [I know you�re thinking of home, but I believe these black mages are different. Like Vivi.] [Really?] [Yes.] Suddenly, Vanel leapt out from under me and bristled all over, snarling at a curious black mage. It stepped back fearfully. [Vanel!] I reached out a wing and pulled her back to me. � I�m very sorry,� I told the mage. � Her home was attacked by your kin and she is very upset about it.� To my surprise, the black mage came closer. � I apologize for whatever they have done.� I shook my head. � It is not your fault. It is not their fault. It is the fault of the one who makes them do it.� Vanel slipped from behind my wing and snarled again. [Monster!] [Vanel!] She ducked. [But---] [No! They are not monsters! They have their own minds!] Vanel looked about ready to cry. She swallowed her tears, however and stepped over to the black mage, keeping a wary eye on it. She then bowed her head. � I . . . apo . . . logize . . .� The black mage gave me a look. � She doesn�t know the language of this realm well yet,� I explained. It nodded. � I see. Tell her that it�s all right.� [It says that it accepts your apology.] Vanel nodded and stared up at the black mage. � Hat . . . off?� � I can�t. It won�t come off.� [It can�t. The thing won�t come off.] � Oh,� Vanel said somewhat sadly. She laid down at the black mage�s feet and stared into space, her wing buds shuddering in an imitation of a regular wing flap. � Are you with the humans?� � Yes.� � What about that young mage?� � Yes.� � Is he all right?� � He�s very distressed. He does not know where he came from and why he is here and is looking for the answer. Hopefully, he will find it--or a clue to it--here.� � Do you wonder where you came from as he does?� � Not particularly. In my opinion, there is a reason for being alive and doing what you do, no matter what it is. By the time you cease to be, you will have completed your task, whatever it may be, and your purpose fufilled. What do you think about it?� � I have never wondered. I know I was created. I do not know what my purpose is since I became aware, but I�m supposing I will figure it out eventually. Until I find out, I don�t plan to worry about it.� � A good idea. Worry and stress make you age faster.� *~~* Vanel had taken to laying as a human child does while she fed. Her tail was wrapped around Zidane�s wrist to keep him from taking the milk away before she was completely done, which meant that every last dribble of milk was vaccuumed from the pouch. Her tiny hands clutched the pouch lightly, squeezing it to get more once she�d swallowed the first mouthful. Zidane was leaning on the wall, his head back against it and his eyes shut. The suckling noises always relaxed him and put him to sleep. Luckily he was sitting this time, so there wouldn�t be an incident like the first (standing . . . very sleepy . . . asleep . . . fall over . . . chaos . . . you get the idea). Garnet was smiling. � That�s so cute.� I studied him. No signs of exhaustion, so Vanel wasn�t being too much of a handful for him. This was just regular tiredness. Good. Vanel finished and burped quietly, letting a pleased smile appear. Zidane jumped and took a deep breath, lowering his head to look at her. � Done?� � Yes.� He tossed the pouch to the side and stretched out on the floor. Vanel laid in front of him and rolled onto her back. [Zidane, my tummy itches and I can�t scratch it well enough. Could you scratch it for me, please?] � Sure.� He rubbed gently at her tender stomach. She purred and wriggled happily. He suddenly stopped and his eyes widened. He pulled at something until it came off and then held it up. � What the hell . . .?� It was skin. � What�s going on, Kiti?� he asked, worry coloring his tone. � Calm down,� I instructed. � She�s shedding.� � Shedding? Kiti, dragon�s don�t shed.� � You�re right. We don�t. We molt.� � Dragons don�t molt, either.� � Are you a dragon?� � No.� � Then what would you know?� � I don�t know. Do dragons molt?� � Once a year, unless you�re a hatchling, in which case you molt every dragonic month until you�re a year old when you become a dragonling.� � You�ve never molted.� He dropped the large flake of skin and went back to pulling at loose ends of skin, much to Vanel�s delight. � Just because you�ve never seen it doesn�t mean I don�t do it.� <--Part 21 Part 23--> |
| If you treat fairly, you will be treated fairly. It is an age-old rule that some have yet to learn. ~Dragon's Teachings, pg. 87 Part 22 |