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Chapter 40: Getting closer in the water
Marching through the ancient and titanic building, Darkstalker wonders with his mind full of thoughts like he always does when he walks in silence, making no choice of his own as he follows alongside another, a great dragon who knows where they should go. But even if he was alone, maybe such a fate would not be better one, the fate of being free to go everywhere in this mythic Pyramid, to gaze upon what is written and drawn on the many walls, to touch the elements laying around the corridors the nightwing goes through, but most importantly, the fate to be lost in silence…
Staying close to Akhanta and moving through corridor after corridor, the young one is inevitably reminded of the maze his new house can be, even if it has not been that long since the pair began to walk. Though looking at her mind, the seer can grasp they are approaching their destination with how the great one's thoughts shift in anticipation, even if the place which is the most explicit is that of a room dominated by water and whose walls are rich in symbols and images.
What do you have in store for me Akhanta? Do you plan to teach me how to swim? Don't be ridiculous, I already know that, and even if I did not, what purpose would it serve in your sealess world?
Do you just wish to play and spend time with me?
…
Walking between decorated walls of reshaped stones the young one does not recognize, the dragoness seems to be a bit faster in her steps with her tail swinging more, all the while her head lowers somewhat to go forward, deeper in the corridors whose atmosphere gets gradually moister. Casting a quick glance at the more smooth and pleasing motif of green and blue, the draconic guardian brings her nightwing further in the depths of her place, wasting no time as she goes from corridor to corridor, her attitude so certain…
Stepping on the polished stone of a new floor, the young one spots Akhanta's eyes fixating on a peculiar entrance among four, and judging by how eager she has become, how she thinks the destination must be it… Steadily following her with anticipation and curiosity, Darkstalker halts as his giant guardian stops at three steps from the decorated blue curtains, and turns back her giant neck, gazing upon the one she protects with moderate excitement.
- "Darkstalker, lieju uthu surh lihotu sif teneij nestoq yth zait yl imuslo uiqout iole azexi?" Says the great dragoness in a soft but more excited tone as her mind pictures a quiet pool of water, one slightly mystical and worthy of her being, as she went to it so many times to ease her mind.
Unsurprised by the little shift of her mind, the nightwing nods silently.
Maybe swimming in water for a time is a good idea. I was indeed relaxed and often at peace when I rested in a pool. Though if we are to do something more active…
Showing no hesitation in following the dragoness going forward as she pushes aside the smooth but robust fabrics, the young one enters in a room matching all that he saw in her mind… Forced to make his first steps in the water as the dark blue giant creates waves with a simple move of her talons, the hybrid is only moderately shocked as the water is fresh but not cold, being quite pleasant to have his body embraced by.
Beginning to swim as the depths of the pool quickly increases while he progresses, Darkstalker struggles for a short moment at finding the appropriate stance of his body, the disturbance created by his caretaker's massive body making the task far harder than it should be…
"Lieju uthu feshur muka nolarkuz sif celtado? Nelkemu prita iole, yth surh vezkit aljaln kalup treisim peuj zait yl iute…" Says the dragoness as she fluidly and partially turns, trying not to create more waves for the little one despite her talons and tail being halfway in the water.
- "Don't worry too much Akhanta, I'm just getting familiar with the water." Says the nightwing as he regains total control of himself in that peculiar place, having his wings folded and his long body floating well on his underside.
Seeing Darkstalker's confident and focused face, the great dragoness turns back and walks further away from the pool's edge, being pleased by the water surrounding her and the nightwing adapting quickly to such a different environment, as if he had known and got to the sea in his life… Diving fully into the pool, her dark blue wings reaching the surface, Akhanta effortlessly moves her huge body through the water, slithering like a sea serpent with her finned tail while her four paws contribute moderately, moving no more than needed in that serene dance of her.
Trying to keep up with the pace, the young one does his best to stay at the dragoness' side, but despite his ability to swim steadily and faster than normal, the first traces of tiredness are showing on his body, with each time he musts swing his tail widely and push with all four paws the water surrounding him to maintain such a speed, with how much he has his mouth open to breath as his little heart beats quite fast now…
Maybe I should have been more careful with my words...
Arriving roughly at the room's center, where the nightwing would have to be careful if he was alone, as the distance between him and the pool's edge demands a fair share of efforts and energy to get through, the little hybrid stops shortly after his guardian does, feeling some relief as the intense physical exercise ends.
Taking the time to turn her entire body and raise her head to face him, the dark blue dragoness has in mind to test the young one for while, like she remembers doing in similar fashion to others so long ago, and gazing upon him with motivated eyes hinting at a more playful attitude, she speaks to him with a not so serious voice.
- "Toijyl, ofemyl iole ythe surh oem yl shome, ythe tunis yafin yl gystos kes nomirt..."
Making a "little" step with her giant form, Akhanta slowly leans her head into the nightwing, bringing her entire neck down to the surface again. Seeing him flinching a bit but nonetheless content, his blue eyes gazing into her own, the dragoness' grin grows a bit wider, and after a moment of silence and gazing for both, tells more words in a voice so low it turns in a whisper.
"Lieju uthu surh lihotu?"
Barely having the time to get what she said, Darkstalker is already surprised as he sees and feels the gigantic guardian diving in front of him, plunging her entire body in the water until her entire being is below the surface though still close to him. Not having that much of an idea of what to do except to keep his balance after such waves hit him, the nightwing remains around his spot, observing the great dragoness' shape moving below him with grace and power as such a massive dragoness can not eagerly dance in a sea and produce nothing that can be felt by the ones above her…
Seeing her moving in wider circles, the young ones decides to follow his guardian, mustering the strength and agility as well as what he remembers from the rare times he was with his friend and lover.
It seems I am not as good as I thought, I would have been if you two were true to what fate told me, but you were not, you had the seeds of deception already deep inside, and like a blind fool I ignored that…
Snapping back to reality, Darkstalker quickly catches up with the great dragoness, but as he swims just over her, the nightwing instinctively moves out, sensing her massive form approaching and erupting from the water. Though such a process is not a harsh one, the young one is surprised when his guardian having her head above the surface and gazing at him unfolds her wings, creating without warning masses of water with that reach him in a few seconds, shaking his whole body and making it roll, leaving the young one disoriented with his back and head in the water.
Suddenly in panic, the nightwing struggles to turn over as he lashes out at the water, cruelly slashing it with his talons and tail before getting back on his belly a moment later, exhausted and breathing heavily as Akhanta gazes upon him, moderately worried but letting a little laugh at how unexpected and odd she sees the scene as.
- "You think it's funny!"
Hearing the young one shouting, a faint grin appears on the dragoness' face before it fall seconds later due to the lasting image of the little one's serious and spiteful stare. Lowering her head and approaching him nonetheless, the great one finally replies, her voice and eyes expressing her slight feeling of guilt over her stance of authority.
- "Toijyl, onumel yth prita heij yth hute ghyt, ikul pelym, ghyt heia pylt uthutias arague eqark ythetias mylmyl ymiltu."
To the sight of his guardian and how she remembers similar situations with ones roughly of his age and size, Darkstalker says no word, preferring to turn his back and begins to swim away, trying to ignore her in his little endeavour despite fully sensing his guardian in mind, body and essences…
Stupid Akhanta, thinking so much I am her child she think she can treat me like a dragonet and laugh at my misfortune… If only I had more power, I would make everyone including her respect me, I would make it impossible for her to impose her will on me should she think she knows better than me!
Letting such a feeling fall, the nightwing stands on the water, moving only slightly now as his talons and tail are inactive, twitching only slowly as the lake's surface oscillates like countless little noises… Sensing the great dragoness approaching, Darkstalker only partially turns his head, his desire to see her wounded by his rash mind.
Going further than the young one, the guardian passes relatively near him before turning in front with a neutral face and focused mind, curbing and circling so her dark blue form covers the little one's sight. Extending her right wing to stop, Akhanta raises her head and stares at him while he does not.
"Darkstalker, surik sim yth."
As the voice of the elder dragoness echoes on the spacious room, the nightwing turns slightly, allowing his eyes to vaguely point in her direction. Breathing slowly as he thinks heavily, his mind being the battlefield between anger, frustration, both for his guardian but also a bit for himself, and a little spark of hope and guilt buried in fear of the one protecting him, the young one stays still, immobile and seeming indifferent…
"Darkstalker…"
Silence reigns for a moment, with the guardian's mind still looking strongly for him and his well being, to push for action and closeness despite the doubt and uneasy situation that weight on it… Until it is broken by the noise of a giant moving in the water, surprising the young one when he realizes Akhanta begins to turn her body and simply… moves away. Partially in disbelief, the hybrid fully turns to watch her leave slowly but surely.
Leaning forward to better stare at the scene for a few minutes, the nightwing's eyes dare not to gaze upon something else, while their owner waits there until the great dragoness stops to swim, being close enough from the edge that she can start to walk…
Blinking as he sees her laying down and settling there with her head vaguely pointing in his direction, questions populate Darkstalker's mind until they abruptly stop as he realizes the great one's stance.
So you've decided to leave me alone…
Shaking his head, the young one distracts himself by first looking at the water, then gazing upon the wall that goes on everywhere, full of peculiar elements thought at such a distance the little watcher can not do much to really get them… Starting to turn away and look out there, the hybrid halts as an idea comes to his mind, that of a question concerning the ceiling. Rising his head, he discovers what lies above him, above this lake the Pyramid contains.
Around the curled and four winged figure of Ankonalmirh that is predictably the center of everything, the tops of mountains are what can be the closest to the First Dragon, a little closer than the clouds were just below are the dragons from greatest to youngest, the extreme latter touching the ground with their paws, often surrounded by stones of their own making, sometimes walking over the fertile ground of the wild, be it with the generous presence of trees or not.
From the clouds touching the rocky skin of these mountains, ice and water is produced only to flow down when it can, falling from great heights to arrive at the lowest point and accumulates in a lake if all has not been consumed by the living or a surface that spit too much its course.
Refocusing himself, the nightwing gazes once again upon his giant guardian, and feels relief when he sees nothing has changed… Being thoughtful for a short moment, the young one finally conclude to swim on his own, taking the opportunity of wandering aimlessly in the water to relax his pressured mind...
Moving in rounded and unknown paths through the vast pool for more than a dozen of minutes, Darkstalker does not really get anywhere, not that there is peculiar thing in the room that he would like to take a closer look at or grab, which was to be expected, as the nightwing only wants peace and nothing here except the great dragoness can disturb him by mere presence.
But as he once again moves his paws to go forward in another direction like countless times before, the young one halts, partially giving up on his body, letting it float and be shaken by the numerous little waves, so thoughtful he is with feelings resurging that he does not care for what he hears or sees anymore…
Finishing to remind himself of what happened a moment ago with Akhanta, the hybrid concludes despite fear and anger partially returning... Rotating his black form tainted by blue, Darkstalker takes a breath then starts to swim toward the one charged to take of him in this world. At first, the nightwing can stare straight at her distant figure, and realizes how she still is not focused on him, showing only her back as she faces the wall.
Maybe I should not have been so adamant in distancing myself from you, though I…
But as the young one approaches the dragoness, he begins to feel uneasy as he watches before him her giant form moving, reacting to him as shown by her thoughts the little seer can vaguely get. And after a short moment, it is her entire body which turns back, allowing her distant gaze to cross his own and… it makes him stop.
Not really moving anymore, the nightwing blinks in uncertainty while he tries to not let his fear take over as anger is something he let aside, and after a few seconds of silence, he can see the great dragoness returning to the water, walking no more but swimming in his direction... Somewhat surprised by the news, Darkstalker nonetheless shakes off his confusion and regains his courage, swimming to her as well even if he stares just below her face…
Arriving close enough to one another, it is Akhanta who reacts first, halting in her track and turning her body to put herself from head to tail in plain sight. With her head rising and eyes patiently observing the little one, the dragoness stays there silent, only extending a talon slowly for him to come.
Seeing a lot of restraints in her mind, patience keeping her feelings in check, especially the ones generated by her doubt, the young seer deduces after a short moment of observation that his guardian is waiting for him to act, to come to her.
Preparing for a few seconds, Darkstalker dares against his fear to look at the great one in the eyes, before putting his talons against his underside and swinging his tail, bringing him gradually closer to the dragoness... Now close enough, the nightwing turns, imitating the giant's pose near her chest, though his eyes and mind still look at her, unsure about her reaction despite sensing the dragoness' joy returning…
"Toijyl, yth ykane uthu ust uthutias surikun."
Feeling fulfilled in her heart, Akhanta gently plunges a talon and rises it when it is below the little one, who calms himself and accept her act, making him put on her arm, before it folds and brings him against her immense chest.
Simply enjoying the moment and being passive as things seem to better themselves on their own, the nightwing only allows himself to move a bit and looks around serenely, all the while his gigantic guardian unfolds a wing and makes some noise as it penetrate the water, covering the other side of his view with a dark blue veil that rivals the night sky when one sees the flow of essences…
After a few minutes of simply being together, the great dragoness partially bends her neck and speaks, her dark blue eyes gazing upon the one she protects while her voice is a very soft and asking one.
"Darkstalker… lieju uthu evynat yth kes Zy?"
To these words, the nightwing turns so his gaze crosses her own. Feeling at peace and seeing in her mind a doubt about him and what he sees in her, he was about to answer simply, but seeing the concept of all that she is, from what her appearance, words and loudest feelings suggest to everything below, from what is beneath her skin to the more subtle thoughts and buried memories, he halts.
Stuck in thoughtful hesitation for a long moment, the young one unconsciously rubs the dragoness' scales while she watches over him and tries to balance her mind as she knows chaos and darkness can affect him… Finally, Darkstalker blinks and raises her head slightly, a conclusion in mind. Fully turning to her, he speaks again, in a kind tone that expresses uncertainty but not too much.
- "I do want to be with you, and to stay close to someone like you. You are... the only one left."
Surprised by his own words, the nightwing snaps out of his thoughts when he sees her leaning her head and lowering it so much it now touches the lake's surface. Staring into eyes reflecting his own, the young seer leans slightly as well, and gets a good glimpse of how much she misses everything she and her kins have lost.
How much it pains her to be with her four others the last ones of their kind, of their civilization, stripped away from the dragons that looked forward to them, both young and old, isolated from what brought them pride and duty as now almost everything is lifeless dust and dull stone devoid of warmth…
And the more the little hybrid looks and time passes, the more something appears far behind, like a looming shadow, the opening of a heavy door and the cracking of a seal. Doubt, then fear, then sadness, and finally anger and actions. Betrayal, mercilessness, blood, screams and sacrifices, they all whisper more and more until…
- "Darkstalker."
The nightwing blinks, snapping out of his vision and the staring of an open mind that immediately shifts in thoughts. Refocusing, he gazes upon a worried great dragoness, but before she can really feel guilty, the young one leaves her arm to plunge in the water, swimming through the small distance that separates them and touching her very large snout, a faint smile appearing on his face.
- "Akhanta, yth zikos masne."
Surprised, the dragoness' face quickly changes into a happier one.
- "Uthu eximn surh u ejurh toijyl jyin uthu kasarh sif surh..."
- "What are you saying of me?"
To his his falsely more serious replies, Akhanta lets out a small laugh, before the young one does the same, and both ease their mind after such feelings and silence weighting on them…
- "Cuxt… lieju uthu surh lihotu sif ignum yth?" Asks the great dragoness, thinking of swimming with him, more peacefully this time.
Confidently nodding in acceptance, Darkstalker answers to his guardian, and that is with joy that his great one starts her dance over water, with fluid and slow movements not devoid of grace so he can follow her without difficulty.
Keeping himself quite close to her, near her chest where he can still hear her giant heart beating in harmony, the young nightwing tries to keep up with the dragoness as she accelerates and becomes more unpredictable in her movements, with wider ones and less common bending of the body as well as changing depth along the way...
To such a behaviour, the young seer can hardly anticipate as he does not remember much about watching dragons swimming, and listening to her mind is not really useful since Akhanta relies more on instinct and sudden feelings than anything to choose the future of her dance. But hopefully for him, Akhanta remains slow enough for him to track and react in time, even if he has to be a bit more distant...
A few minutes have passed and the two are now far more in sync than they would have imagined, with the great dragoness impressed by the nightwing's focus and devotion that pushes him to follow her even in the most complex movements, and the other surprised by himself as he feels like he is in a trance, pushed by something deep inside himself, like an unknown attraction to the great one and her actions.
Slowing down little by little, it is Akhanta who finally puts an end to their swimming, allowing the two to relax their bodies, and for the silence to be broken.
"Zu hute ignum yth aqost almeku, Zu hute moneos sif surh oje Zy… Uthutias oxon, uthutias kumista kes ekyzu, heij ajek zait ognut iole enavet uthu ofemyl?" Says the dragoness, both impressed and curious in her tone, like her mind which vividly retains all the times she saw him at her side in the water, driven to swim like her against all her expectations.
Still in a calmed and partially charmed state of mind, Darkstalker tries to decipher the great one's intent, to be sure of it even if an idea has already risen in his mind.
Do you want to know what guided me to you?
Sensing something in the water, the nightwing looks up to see the dragoness' giant talon extending, slowly reaching to him.
"Lieju uthu kotuf?" Asks the dragoness, waiting for the little one's answer with kind and burning eyes.
- "Yes."
Seeing him nod as she hears his lone word, the great dragoness watches Darkstalker swimming to her arm, before it gently folds and puts him against her dark blue scales. Now with her neck fully turned, Akhanta gazes once again at him, having in mind to bring him against her whole being and plunge together.
"…"
"I am ready Akhanta."
Hearing such an answer and getting the intent from his eyes, the great dragoness slowly pushes back the nightwing before retrieving her talons. Thinking one last time above the water, she tells a few words to her little one.
- "Veas ashek cuxt Akonalmirh surh nestoq Zye..."
Before holding him tight against her and piercing though the surface, bringing the both of them in the lake…
After the loud transition has passed, Darkstalker finds himself sticking just below his protector's chest, and embraced by the water like her, he opens his eyes and can finally see the world around him while she begins to travel in the immense pool. Staying calm in such situation, the nightwing begins to gaze upon things that are not part of the great dragoness.
In such a place is against the young one's hope, not a single fish nor shell nor algae nor any plant for that matter. The pool is completely lifeless, but as if to ease his disappointment, the presence of essences can be felt as light can be seen coming from the bottom, centred around points like stars in the sky, but more coloured and bigger, though of course less numerous…
Partially focusing on the great being who holds him, the little one moves as she does, the sight he gets being confusing at times when Akhanta's dance enters a complex phase, but in the end the two arrive somewhere as deep as they can, at the bottom of the pool where the sources of lights reside, crystals.
Approaching the ground a bit more, Akhanta can finally descend no more as her paws touch its surface, giving her a stance as if she was on land that would break the moment she wants to move in any direction. But for now the dragoness does not, looking around her before checking on the young one she still hold fiercely, and he seems to be doing just as she expected.
Stuck against her scales, the nightwing handles the pressure of his situation very well, not panicking even a little bit, but just being a bit sleepy or dreamy with his eyes partially closed. As for his need for air, the nightwing fulfils it somehow, as glowy veins radiating more intensely cover his entire body, and the essences of the great one have far less difficulty passing through him…
Deciding to end the break, the draconic guardian jumps to fully join the water, and starts to swim again, moving with her magnificent form to ascend slowly but surely, and after a long moment of such a dance, Akhanta emerges from the water, bursting out of it with her massive body before rolling over to fall on her back with a loud splash, bringing Darkstalker to the surface where he can start to breath again.
Snapping out of his trance, the nightwing finds himself on the belly of the one who is more than his guide. Finishing to replenish his lungs with his wide open mouth, the young one refocuses so his gaze crosses the watchful one of the dragoness.
- "Darkstalker, lieju uthu surh masne?"
To this question and doubtful voice, the little one does not know what to answer, until her focused mind analysing him gives him an idea. Closing his eyes, the nightwing tries to inspect himself, checking every sensation he receives now… After a thoughtful moment, he answers with an uncertain voice.
- "Yth surh… masne."
- "Uthu surh." Replies immediately Akhanta, having concluded nothing harmful has happened to him, be it in flesh or essences, though the two are always linked.
Bringing her paw to her chest, the dark blue giant makes sign for his protege to leave her body, and he does so without delay. Now that Darkstalker is in the water, the great one can distance herself a little from him before turning over her titanic form, resulting in her underside facing the water after a somewhat messy move.
Folding his wing after shielding from the water with it, the young one faces the dragoness, waiting for what she will decide. And after a short moment, her mind concludes that they been in the water for long enough, so it is with a proud smile for the little nightwing that Akhanta swims back to the entrance, quickly followed by him as she thinks of what they will do for his training session, though the both of them may need a little break to dry off...