Hi again!
Jarkes, no Martin types, I'm afraid, but Skip and his crew are going to be heroes if I have things my way…
FoxyJosh, I'm glad that every word you used to describe Borius was everything I envisioned him to be. Character development is a main focus when I write : )
This one's a bit short, but just letting you all know I'm still alive! : D
-O-O-O-
"Thy kingdom 'round you fall.
The waves engulf us all.
Dragon brethren, fly once more,
Thy kingdom 'round you fall.
No longer hide in legends, lore,
Lest waves engulf us all.
Our kingdom 'round us fall,
And waters 'round us swell.
Oh brethren, we must act, but how –
Even legends cannot tell."
--
There was water… cold, dark, silent… So this is what it feels like, to die…
--
"Thy kingdom 'round you fall…"
--
… Wait, what was that?
The Golduck's head swam as he opened his eyes. He breathed, surprised that air, not water, filled his lungs. His vision came into focus and what he saw was the black of night, the stars within it twinkling in all their serenity. The powerful rushing sound of water met his ears and it was clear that the waves were close by; it felt as though they surrounded him. But he was dry, and in his webbed claws something twitched… He looked to his left and found Torq lying peacefully, her paw in his. Beside her, Buso, Flint and Tottle were the same. Moonlight glowed off their faces and everything seemed… dream-like.
--
"No longer hide in legends, lore…"
--
He looked to his right and there, silhouetted against the moon…
No, surely we must be dead…
Before him towered a dragon, at least four times his height and six times his girth. It looked pale and ghostly, its huge, leathery wings folded against its body. Splashes of water wetted its claws where it stood on the edge of the rock, looking out to sea. The creature swayed gently, a low, whale-like hum echoing about it as it sang in some language Dorian could not understand.
--
"Our kingdoms 'round us fall,
And waters 'round us swell…"
--
The Golduck squeezed Torq's paw, hoping to subtly wake her. There was simply no way this… this creature of legend could be real.
Suddenly, the humming stopped. The beast did not turn, but its mouth moved and what came forth was a deep, soothing, clear voice: "Leave the water maid be. Nothing will harm you here. Rest now, friend." Then, he continued singing and rocking, side to side…
Dorian tried to stay awake but his limbs felt so heavy, and the rich, melodic sound engulfed him and took him away.
--
"Oh brethren, we must act, but how –
May legends save us now…"
-O-O-
"Hey Dori, how was it back there, eh?"
"Pretty good! Take a look at this…" The Golduck reached into his sack and pulled out a strange looking necklace, wrought with silver alloy. It was a malleable cuff, resembling bull horns, that looped through the eye sockets of a fanged skull.
The devil dog ogled at the sight of it. "A rare find, my friend… How many throats did ye have to slit for that one? Hahaha…" He chuckled maliciously at the thought.
Dorian frowned. "You know me, Drake. I don't kill, I only loot… unlike you…"
A loud, booming laughter came in reply, as the Houndoom put his arm around his friend and answered in his hoarse voice, "But that's the best part, Dori… Ahh, dash this talk of killing and looting! Never mind our differences, eh?"
The Golduck shrugged in response, but put the necklace in Drake's paw. "Aye, never mind that. I stole this one for you anyhow, thought it suited you."
The Houndoom stroked the metal as if it were something precious. Then, he carefully bent it around his neck and joined the two ends. "How's it look?" he asked, puffing out his chest so that the skull shone in the sun.
"Looks like it was made for you, chum," said a smiling Dorian.
-O-O-
"Wake up! Come on, sleepy head!"
"I don't think he's getting up…"
"Hm, Buso, you don't happen to have your… ah, I guess more than your hat was lost to sea, eh?"
Dorian blinked. The sun shone like the glint off a silver skull….
"Finally! Good morning, Captain Dori!"
What kind of Captain are ye, eh?! Dori, ye've gone soft… The Golduck shook his head, banishing the voices to the back of his mind. Before him, Torq, Tottle and Buso's beaming faces stared into his. "Ugh… how long was I out?"
"I don't know…" Torq replied, "But Reingard said we were asleep for a while."
"Reingard?" A memory of a song resonated in Dorian's head. "A dragon! There was a dragon! Perhaps I was dreaming…"
Tottle chuckled, "That wasn't a dream! He was there when we woke up! His name is Reingard and he saved us!"
The Golduck looked around. They were on what looked like a small island of volcanic rock. The ocean surrounded them on all sides. On one edge sat the anchor they were once tied to, now rusted and forgotten. The chains they were bound with were broken and bent out of shape, as if something with immense strength had gripped them…
"Flint's been pretty down," Torq muttered, nodding to the ledge behind Dorian.
He looked around and saw the gator, staring at nothing and flipping a knife in his claws.
"Skipper…" Dorian remembered, "Is he really…"
The Vaporeon shook her head, a sad smile on her lips. "No, Reingard says he's alive, but just barely. He's bringing the Seatunder over now…"
As if in response, a familiar squawk met their ears as colorful creature collided into Buso's head.
"Arrk! What, no hat?" screeched the Chatot, expecting a softer landing.
"Gully!" came the unanimous cheer. The parrot gagged and flapped as he was pulled into a crushing hug by Tottle and Torq.
"Graaa! The wing! Watch the wing, ark!"
They let go as Gully hopped onto the rocks, preening his feathers back into place. He held his previously wounded wing tenderly, but it seemed to be functioning now.
"They're here!" shouted Flint, standing up and pointing to a black dot in the distance, coming towards then fast.
No beast could help but stare in awe as the dragon ("A Dragonite…" Dori whispered) came soaring over the waters, tugging at a rope attached to the prow of the Seatunder. Water parted at the velocity of the creature, who made it look absolutely effortless. As he came closer the Golduck could see his startling blue eyes, and the sand colored hide that stretched across his rippling muscles. Two antennae-like ears protruded near the horn on his head, and a row of dull blue scales ran down his belly and tail. His wings beat powerfully against the air, billowing like sails with each stroke. What speed!
Then, with a swirl of dust, he landed gently, stretching his wings before folding them on his back. The dragon looked around, his body blocking out the sun. Then, his crystal blue eyes found Dorian's. "Ah, you are awake, Dorian."
The Golduck regained his breath enough to speak. "Er, yes, thank you, Reingard…"
The creature smiled and shook his head. "My friends call me Rei." He lifted a loose boulder and placed it on top of his length of rope, anchoring the Seatunder to the island. "Your Captain is aboard. He is not well, but he will live." Rei bowed his head as the crew nodded their thanks and rushed towards the ship, with Flint already ascending the ladder.
-O-O-
"Ahh…Gnnn…!"
The weasel's back arched against the deck and his arms twitched as the cloth touched his wound.
"Hush… It will be over soon…"
"It… it hurts…" His voice was weak. His fingers were trembling. The sound of trickling water met his ears as the cloth was rung out and dipped again into a basin of deep green liquid. He hissed as he drew breath between his teeth.
"It feels worse than the wound itself, does it not?"
The Buizel's ragged breathing told her he agreed.
"But bear it just a moment longer, Skipper. This is the most powerful medicine one can make from the earth… and it will help you live."
The cloth pressed to his chest once again. It was like fire, it was the most poignant pain… He felt the liquid seep down into his terrible wound and sear every fiber within him. And by the time the needle went through him, pulling his skin back together, he couldn't feel anything anymore. Consciousness slipped away slowly and peacefully as soft humming filled his ears.
"There, it is done. Sleep now, Skipper of the Seatunder…"
-O-O-O-O-
-O-O-O-O-
Sleep… that's what I should be doing now XD
This 'mysterious' creature shouldn't be too hard to guess, I think…
See you all next chapter!
-Canyx