Water. Nothing but water. Swirling around me, filling my every being. Everything is dim. The murky depths are shadowed and blurry. Something is holding me down, my mouth the only movable part of me. I feel like my lungs are going to burst. The water feels like a rock pressing down on me. My heart is slowing. My eyes growing weak. A dark figure looms up in front of me. It's huge and dark. I feel fear towards this shadow, more than a natural instinct. I feel a tug on my binds.
I jump awake straight onto my feet. My eyes dart around the ravine, my senses fully alert. Nothing. I'm completely dry. No raging currents; no precious air bubbles escaping my mouth. Just the birds tweeting in the woods above. It was all a dream. I relax a little. I get up and move over to the shade under an old tree, stretching my stiff legs. But I pause. Or was it a dream? Night Furies have been know to have foresighting abilities. Almost like seeing into the future; but in dreams. I shake my head. No, that's just a myth. Besides, how could I ever get trapped underwater? It's just a story crazy old dragons pass around in the caves.
I settle down under the tree, my paws tucked underneath my belly. I gaze around the ravine. If maybe I could flap a little harder...
[do not doubt your foresight] comes a crackly old voice behind me. I spin around, crouched low, my fangs bared. An old, wrinkly Gronckle stands in front of me. I snarl warningly.
[who are you!] I thought I was the only dragon on this island!
The Gronckle seems incredibly calm; simply walking past me and sits down. I jump around and face him again.
[I asked, who are you!] Inside I'm thinking: this is the last thing I need! A fight! I can't defend myself. I can't fly, I'm starving, I'm injured. I actually can't do this.
I drop my defensive position and simply let my head hang low.
[If you wish to kill me, do it know] I growl, [I have no means of defense.]
There is a pause. Then the old dragon speaks.
[That is not entirely true,] he states.
I look up, confused. [what do you mean? I cannot fight. Not like this.]
The Gronckle scratches behind his ear. [ah...but assistance comes in many shapes and sizes.]
I shake my head. What is this hag babbling on about? [Why are you here, green-blood?] I'm still not sure I can trust this ancient dragon. He could have associates with him; waiting in the forests. I glance nervously at the trees above.
[do not fear,] he croaks as if he's reading my mind, [I come alone]
I'm still not assured.
[but why?] I question.
[to help] he says plainly.
I snort, [I do not need help,] I lie, [Night Furies don't need help]
The Gronckle shakes his head sadly, [so young, yet your mind is plagued with thoughts of reputation and selfness]
I growl. How dare he accuse me of such things! I am protecting the honor of the Night Furies.
The Gronckle looks at me, his amber eyes, full of wisdom, meet mine.
[Then tell me, Night-Fury-who-doesn't-need-help, how do you plan to escape here, hmm?] he cocks his head.
I look at the ground. [I'll...find a way] I lie again.
The Gronckle smiles a small smile then says. [well, I best be on my way then. There's no need for me to be here]
He waddles off, his bulky tail swinging behind him.
I look up and see him leaving. No! I gallop forward and in front of him. [Wait!]
He stops and cocks an eyebrow at me. [yes?]
I pause and think, [err...how do I escape?] I blurt out the words before I can stop myself. What is this dragon going to do for me? How would he know?
The Gronckle shifts his feet into a different position. [Become young again.] he says simply as he spreads his small wings.
[What? How do I become young again? How is that going to help me? What do you mean?] I exclaim but he is already lifting off the ground and out of the ravine. [And remember,] he says, [help doesn't look like what you may seem]
I run forward and chase him on my feet as he hovers away. [No! Come back! I do need help! Don't leave!] I've reached the edge of the ravine and he's disappeared into the forest. [wait!] I launch myself forward at the wall and try desperately to claw at the rock. [come on come on come on!] but I fall back and open my wings to glide over the lake. I crash land on the bank. I get up and shake my wings. I let my only chance of escape slip past me! How could I be so foolish! I flap once more to try and escape to follow him. I push off a log lying on the ground. I flap and flap and flap but I'm thrown off balance and swerve away from the wall. [No no no!] I roar frustratedly. I look up the steep rocky face, mocking me with its un reachable top. I try take off from the place I'm standing. I flap flap flap but fall backwards and crash on the ground. [Come back!] I try again at the same wall but with the same result. I stand up and angrily paw the ground. I stretch my wings and shake them about. Maybe its not the part of my tail that is missing that's causing me to crash? But i highly doubt its my wings.
But why didn't that Gronckle help me?! He said he would! [ugh! Stupid Gronckle!] I shoot an angry burst of blue flames at the ground in front of me which incinerates the dirt at once. I have to find him! I launch forward to the other side of the ravine, pushing as fast as I possibly can. But I lose my balance and shriek loudly as I slam back onto the ground right next to the lake. I give a frustrated sigh and flop down. I'm never going to catch him now.
There is a splash in the waters of the lake and the gleam of a fishes scales catch my eye. I'm so hungry! My eyes brighten as I see the fish below. I wait and then dunk my head in the lake, trying to snap at the fish, but they swim away before I can catch them. [curses!] I come back up and lay my head on the ground. There's no point. Suddenly a small sound from the other side of the ravine alerts me. I slowly lift my head and look for what made that sound. My eyes stop on something crouched on one of the ledges of the wall. What is that? Wait a minute, it's the Skyless! It's frozen, possibly in fear, looking at me nervously. But I do not attack like I would. I am so weak. Besides, this Skyless is different. He is not attacking me. So I don't retaliate. I simply stare up at him. He moves and tilts his head. I tilt mine in confusion. Why is he hear? Why did he follow me? I thought that roar would have made him rethink tracking me? And why is he different then the others?
