Gaze up at the Sky
Hiraku and I quickly returned to the ruins, I wasn't sure how long the dragon energy would last, and didn't want to risk it wearing off while exploring the coast. "I knew you could do it!" Jimmu said excitedly upon our arrival. "Well done… Young ones." Moss praised in his slow manner, and even Zennyo looked begrudgingly impressed. "I see you have successfully scaled the walls of the Golden Valley, no small feat- I offer you my approbation. With the dragon power you obtained, we can now complete the summoning ceremony, and restore the constellation." I nodded excitedly. "Let's not delay a moment longer!" I said, eager to begin. "Very well. Let us begin." Zennyo rumbled.
The dragons took their positions around the shine, all of us were equally spaced around the stone, one on each quarter-mark. The dragons towered over my tiny form, for a moment I felt out of place, surrounded by these mighty beasts- but I took a steadying breath, feeling the draconian energy flow through my veins. I was ready; it was time. The great fire dragon's eyes glowed, and he opened his mighty maw to breath a cascade of fire onto the shrine's carved stone. Jimmu reared his head high and spewed a jet of water onto the stone slab, the two opposing breaths combining and creating a spiral of steam. Moss took a deep breath and exhaled out a gust of leaves, it too joining the fray. As with the satomi orbs, an external and powerful force ached to break free from within me, and I released it. The ray of light shot from my mouth like breath, impossible to contain, but possible to control and keep focused at the storm of power before us. The combination of elemental energies combined on the shrine, and spiraled together into a single mass, before erupting into the sky. The beam of energy pulsed into the sky like a laser, splitting apart and finding the dulled and hidden stars, concealed by dark forces. A cluster of stars appeared high in the distant heavens, creating the arched back of a marine creature. I dotted in the missing stars, a tail fluke, head, decorations adorning its sides… and when I was finished, the constellation leapt to life.
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The divine gold cloud surrounded me as the dolphin deity swam through the air. It spiraled and leaped, joyous to be freed. At last, it took notice of us and approached curiously. "Ah, Akimeterasu, daughter of the sun, the great Amaterasu, mother to us all..." the god squeaked and clicked, floating playfully in the air around us. "I am Umigami, god of the tides. After my birth by the brush of the Celestial Envoy, I came to reside here in Ryoshima. I was however sealed away by the demonic forces that have been assailing the coast, awaiting a compassionate force such as yours to free me." The dolphin circled, dark eyes bright and intelligent. "I grant you my allegiance and the power I possess. Ride the swells of the deep and crest the waves with your divine power. May the ocean be your protector and ally." The dolphin finished, flipping through the clouds and racing away. His form morphed into an orb, which circled and absorbed into me. I could feel the power of the water rush through me, hear the waves crashing in my ears, smell the salt in the sea-spray…
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I opened my eyes, the celestial meeting place was fading, and the ruins were reappearing around me, the dragons watching me expectantly. "Is the god revived? Did you unlock the power needed to lay siege to the demon's fortress?" Zennyo questioned. At first I did not answer, feeling compelled towards the salt-water pond near the shrine. Instinctively, I raised and lowered my tail, leaving a stroke resembling a cresting tide, and placed a paw on the water's surface. It supported me as if it were bare ground, my paw resting easily on top. I nodded, smiling at the dragons. "It worked."
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I arrived at the canine warriors' camp site on the cusp of sunset. I told them what I'd discovered, and how we could cross. They nodded in understanding, and excitement broke out among the warriors. Tonight was the night- we stormed the fortress. The dogs all agreed we would set out shortly, before the sun had fully set. We'd already delayed long enough.
"Your markings are different." Shisa noted observantly, and I looked at my coat. The changes made after bathing in the spring were still there, seemingly permanently changed by my connection to the draconian energies. Perhaps some piece of it still resided in me, although I could no longer feel it. "I was graced with draconian powers, I guess this might be a permanent change."
"The journeys we take in life often change us and leave their marks on us." Noriko remarked. I wagged my tail, it was good to be with the warriors again. Hana faced the ocean, staring out across the expanse of water. "I grew up in Hana Valley, I spent my whole life there. I had no idea the world could be so huge." She told me, in awe of the sight. "I wonder if there are other lands beyond the sea, beyond Kamui." Noriko pondered, I'd often wondered the same. Such knowledge only my mother possessed. "The world is a full and wonderful place, and there is still more yet to discover." I said, gazing out over the horizon. "All the more reason we must be careful storming the demon's fortress. I want to make sure we all come back alive, so you young dogs can live long, full lives and experience all the world has to offer." Rei barked from behind us. He too looked out over the ocean, but instead focused on the sun, which was just gracing the surface of the water. "Let's go." He barked.
I painted a mark over each of them, the gentle rise and fall of the ocean guiding my tail. Then, finally, I turned towards the ocean, the navy waves bobbing up and down in front of me. I took a deep breath and took a step forward to find my paw standing firmly on the water as if it were solid stone. I nodded my head to the others and they ran forward, reaching the water's surface one by one, galloping over the sea foam. We jumped over the waves, paws pounding on the liquid surface. Shisa leapt after me, followed by Ryota. Jun stuck closely by his master, and the older warriors fell into a battle formation, soon flanked by their apprentices. The sun was setting below the horizon, darkness settling in, but the edge of the sky was alight with golden and fiery color, reflected on the ocean. I looked behind me, all the others had eyes set with determination. We were coming, coming to take back what was stolen from us. The shadow of the monster's fortress loomed in front of us, but we were prepared. My ears pricked forward, and I lengthened my stride. We were all in this fight together.
(AN: woooo double chapter! Next one is on the way too! I have most half-done, we'll see if I get any more done before school starts.)