Rockpools
(#22488252)
Red's Charge and younger brother
Click or tap to view this dragon in Predict Morphology.
Energy: 50/50
This dragon’s natural inborn element is Water.
Male Mirror
This dragon is hibernating.
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Personal Style
Apparel
Skin
Scene
Measurements
Length
7.5 m
Wingspan
6.36 m
Weight
397.08 kg
Genetics
Stone
Basic
Basic
Sand
Basic
Basic
Lavender
Basic
Basic
Hatchday
Breed
Eye Type
Level 16 Mirror
EXP: 2523 / 71966
STR
41
AGI
32
DEF
32
QCK
30
INT
27
VIT
30
MND
25
Biography
"You're certain it isn't because I could turn on you at any moment?"
~
Rockpools, Part 1, Volume I
Prologue.
~
pixel icon by aludesh (441646)
Continued from Silver Part 1
Rockpools, Part 1, Volume I
Prologue.
~
pixel icon by aludesh (441646)
Continued from Silver Part 1
He didn't know what else to do. Crying, he turned tail and bolted, the blood on his claws staining the sand beneath him. After a while, he slowed to a halt, and he could see his home just ahead.
He'd been playing, that's all. And then...did he black out? He couldn't remember what happened between playing and seeing the mangled body in front of him.
Lifting his claws, he could feel deep scars across his head and down along his neck, and he winced. How did this happen?
Finally weary from running, crying, confusion, and the pain, his shaky legs gave way from under him and he collapsed. The last thing he saw before passing out was a shadow creeping toward his head.
He'd been playing, that's all. And then...did he black out? He couldn't remember what happened between playing and seeing the mangled body in front of him.
Lifting his claws, he could feel deep scars across his head and down along his neck, and he winced. How did this happen?
Finally weary from running, crying, confusion, and the pain, his shaky legs gave way from under him and he collapsed. The last thing he saw before passing out was a shadow creeping toward his head.
...
His head throbbed. He tried to open his eyes but that hurt, too. He blinked to adjust his sight against the lights, and saw that he was in his own room. A mirror that hung from the wall across from his bed revealed part of his head and most of his neck covered in a blood-stained wrapping.
“...should be fine. Keep the bandage on for a few days.”
“Thank you. If you hadn't shown up, who knows what would've...”
The first voice was unknown to him, but the second belonged to his mother, Saline. He lifted his head to get a look at whoever she was speaking to, and next to her at the room's entrance stood an older white and black dragon, their own head dipped down and eyes covered by the brim of a pointed, sagging hat.
Saline turned. “Oh Rockpools!” She rushed to him and gently brushed his head with hers. “Thank Tidelord you're safe.”
Rockpools hadn't the strength to protest his embarrassment. Instead he directed his four eyes to the other dragon. “Who's that?”
“Dewlap. He found you on the beach, wounded.”
Why'd she have to remind him of what happened?
Dewlap straightened his neck up and brought a claw to tip the brim of his hat lower as he turned to leave. “Stay safe, kid.”
“Why don't you stay a bit?” Saline insisted.
Dewlap stopped midstep, but didn't turn around. “Best if I didn't.”
“I understand. And thank you again.”
Rockpools watched the older dragon turn and leave the room, and noticed his black wings shimmered green in the sun's light streaking through the windows.
“Is Rocky awake now?”
“Can we see him?”
The faces of a small golden Mirror and a larger red Guardian poked into the room.
“Only for a moment, you two,” said Saline. “Rockpools still needs more rest.”
Red bounded past gold towards them, almost crashing into each other, their blue eyes wide and teeth flashing in grins, and skidded to a halt next to their mother and brother.
“What happened?” asked the red.
“Did you die?” piped the gold.
“I don't think so, April,” Rockpools' own grin spread across his face, then quickly faded. “I'm not sure, Red. I...it's...” He looked back to his mother.
Saline lay next to Rockpools before looking at her other two children. “Children, excuse us. Your brother and I need to talk.”
Reluctantly, Red and April slunk back into the hall as they cast last glances to their brother.
When he and Saline were alone, Rockpools was unable to stop the torrent of words pouring out of him. It was hard to tell her, but he felt that she had to know what he did. Finishing, he let more tears stream down his cheeks, soaking his mother's arms.
Sighing softly, Saline murmured, “There is something about us you should know, my son.” She lifted his head with her paw and looked into his eyes. “Do you remember that story about the first Mirrors?”
Rockpools sniffed and wiped the back of his paw across both sets of his eyes and nodded. “You told us about how they were nothing but vicious, always fighting over food and survival.”
“And the one Mirror who left the Scarred Wasteland to search for food to steal for her family, trying to prove herself to the others how brave she was crossing into the other lands.”
“Then Plaguebringer cursed Mirrors of different elements to become just as savage as Plague Mirrors because she felt betrayed by her own creation taking a mate from the Viridian Labyrinth.” Tears threatened to spill from Rockpools' eyes once more, making them sting. “It's all true isn't it...” he wailed. “I'm a monster...I've already killed my friend...I don't want to hurt my family...Did you have the same thing happen? Will April get it too?”
Saline hugged him closer. “I have not. And don't think about that. I have not known this to happen before, so let us hope that your sister never experiences the same savagery. We may be Mirrors, descended from those by Plaguebringer's claws, but Water is in our souls.”
Blinking the last of his tears from his eyes, Rockpools sunk his head in the pillow and sighed deeply. “Thank you, Momma.”
Saline rose from the bed to her feet. “Get some rest now. I'll come back to check on you later.” With that, she left his room.
Rockpools was about to close his four eyes when the bright red head of his brother peeked around the corner right at him. Sitting up, he asked, “Red?”
Redtide tiptoed his way in, which is quite tricky when one is quite large. “Boy April'll be so mad when she finds out—”
“You were going to visit him without me?!” came a shriek.
Craning their necks, Redtide and Rockpools stared at their sister standing in the doorway. They thought smoke could be seen rising from her head.
“It's not my fault you were goin' on about that ol' drake,” said Redtide.
Aprilfish widened her eyes and marched right up to her brother, straining to stick her face in his, but unable to reach. “He's not just some old drake,” she hissed, “Didn't you see his hat? Obviously he's a wizard.” She squealed with delight. “A wizard just saved our brother! What did you have to do to get his attention?” She stared at Rockpools with intense interest.
A lump was forming in Rockpools' throat, but he managed to swallow it and calm himself down. “I think I was attacked, but I couldn't see who was doing it.”
“Sounds mighty suspicious if y'ask me.”
Aprilfish gaped. “Red! If you're suggesting that it was Dewlap, then why'd he bother with bringing Rocky back, huh? And don't say it's so nodrake will suspect him.”
Redtide's jaw hung open, then he quickly shut it and said nothing.
Aprilfish rolled her eyes. “Unbelievable!”
“Hey, guys,” Rockpools yawned and smiled, “not that I don't want you to stay, but I'm exhausted. And I don't think Mom would approve of my rest being disturbed.”
His siblings looked down and shuffled their paws. Aprilfish went to leave first and said, “She'd understand that we just wanted to make sure you're all right, is all. C'mon, Red.”
Redtide hung back by his brother a few moments longer. Placing a big paw on the bed, he said as his eyes gleamed, “Guess what? Today's the day. I found my Charge.”
Perking up, Rockpools asked, “Really? What is it?”
“You.”
Rockpools was stunned into silence as he watched his brother stride out of the room. After a moment, he lay back down and couldn't help but smile, a single tear running down his face as he closed his eyes.
His head throbbed. He tried to open his eyes but that hurt, too. He blinked to adjust his sight against the lights, and saw that he was in his own room. A mirror that hung from the wall across from his bed revealed part of his head and most of his neck covered in a blood-stained wrapping.
“...should be fine. Keep the bandage on for a few days.”
“Thank you. If you hadn't shown up, who knows what would've...”
The first voice was unknown to him, but the second belonged to his mother, Saline. He lifted his head to get a look at whoever she was speaking to, and next to her at the room's entrance stood an older white and black dragon, their own head dipped down and eyes covered by the brim of a pointed, sagging hat.
Saline turned. “Oh Rockpools!” She rushed to him and gently brushed his head with hers. “Thank Tidelord you're safe.”
Rockpools hadn't the strength to protest his embarrassment. Instead he directed his four eyes to the other dragon. “Who's that?”
“Dewlap. He found you on the beach, wounded.”
Why'd she have to remind him of what happened?
Dewlap straightened his neck up and brought a claw to tip the brim of his hat lower as he turned to leave. “Stay safe, kid.”
“Why don't you stay a bit?” Saline insisted.
Dewlap stopped midstep, but didn't turn around. “Best if I didn't.”
“I understand. And thank you again.”
Rockpools watched the older dragon turn and leave the room, and noticed his black wings shimmered green in the sun's light streaking through the windows.
“Is Rocky awake now?”
“Can we see him?”
The faces of a small golden Mirror and a larger red Guardian poked into the room.
“Only for a moment, you two,” said Saline. “Rockpools still needs more rest.”
Red bounded past gold towards them, almost crashing into each other, their blue eyes wide and teeth flashing in grins, and skidded to a halt next to their mother and brother.
“What happened?” asked the red.
“Did you die?” piped the gold.
“I don't think so, April,” Rockpools' own grin spread across his face, then quickly faded. “I'm not sure, Red. I...it's...” He looked back to his mother.
Saline lay next to Rockpools before looking at her other two children. “Children, excuse us. Your brother and I need to talk.”
Reluctantly, Red and April slunk back into the hall as they cast last glances to their brother.
When he and Saline were alone, Rockpools was unable to stop the torrent of words pouring out of him. It was hard to tell her, but he felt that she had to know what he did. Finishing, he let more tears stream down his cheeks, soaking his mother's arms.
Sighing softly, Saline murmured, “There is something about us you should know, my son.” She lifted his head with her paw and looked into his eyes. “Do you remember that story about the first Mirrors?”
Rockpools sniffed and wiped the back of his paw across both sets of his eyes and nodded. “You told us about how they were nothing but vicious, always fighting over food and survival.”
“And the one Mirror who left the Scarred Wasteland to search for food to steal for her family, trying to prove herself to the others how brave she was crossing into the other lands.”
“Then Plaguebringer cursed Mirrors of different elements to become just as savage as Plague Mirrors because she felt betrayed by her own creation taking a mate from the Viridian Labyrinth.” Tears threatened to spill from Rockpools' eyes once more, making them sting. “It's all true isn't it...” he wailed. “I'm a monster...I've already killed my friend...I don't want to hurt my family...Did you have the same thing happen? Will April get it too?”
Saline hugged him closer. “I have not. And don't think about that. I have not known this to happen before, so let us hope that your sister never experiences the same savagery. We may be Mirrors, descended from those by Plaguebringer's claws, but Water is in our souls.”
Blinking the last of his tears from his eyes, Rockpools sunk his head in the pillow and sighed deeply. “Thank you, Momma.”
Saline rose from the bed to her feet. “Get some rest now. I'll come back to check on you later.” With that, she left his room.
Rockpools was about to close his four eyes when the bright red head of his brother peeked around the corner right at him. Sitting up, he asked, “Red?”
Redtide tiptoed his way in, which is quite tricky when one is quite large. “Boy April'll be so mad when she finds out—”
“You were going to visit him without me?!” came a shriek.
Craning their necks, Redtide and Rockpools stared at their sister standing in the doorway. They thought smoke could be seen rising from her head.
“It's not my fault you were goin' on about that ol' drake,” said Redtide.
Aprilfish widened her eyes and marched right up to her brother, straining to stick her face in his, but unable to reach. “He's not just some old drake,” she hissed, “Didn't you see his hat? Obviously he's a wizard.” She squealed with delight. “A wizard just saved our brother! What did you have to do to get his attention?” She stared at Rockpools with intense interest.
A lump was forming in Rockpools' throat, but he managed to swallow it and calm himself down. “I think I was attacked, but I couldn't see who was doing it.”
“Sounds mighty suspicious if y'ask me.”
Aprilfish gaped. “Red! If you're suggesting that it was Dewlap, then why'd he bother with bringing Rocky back, huh? And don't say it's so nodrake will suspect him.”
Redtide's jaw hung open, then he quickly shut it and said nothing.
Aprilfish rolled her eyes. “Unbelievable!”
“Hey, guys,” Rockpools yawned and smiled, “not that I don't want you to stay, but I'm exhausted. And I don't think Mom would approve of my rest being disturbed.”
His siblings looked down and shuffled their paws. Aprilfish went to leave first and said, “She'd understand that we just wanted to make sure you're all right, is all. C'mon, Red.”
Redtide hung back by his brother a few moments longer. Placing a big paw on the bed, he said as his eyes gleamed, “Guess what? Today's the day. I found my Charge.”
Perking up, Rockpools asked, “Really? What is it?”
“You.”
Rockpools was stunned into silence as he watched his brother stride out of the room. After a moment, he lay back down and couldn't help but smile, a single tear running down his face as he closed his eyes.
Continued in Saline Part 1
~
Rockpools, Part 2, Volume I
We meet again.
~
Continued from Redtide Part 1
Rockpools, Part 2, Volume I
We meet again.
~
Continued from Redtide Part 1
Great Tidelord, did his head ache.
Rockpools snorted and tried clearing his throat to fully wake himself. Opening two of his eyes, his surroundings were a bit blurred. He yawned and blinked a few times and saw that he was lying on the floor of a cave, his head facing the entrance. Crashing waves could be heard just outside.
“Did you have a good sleep?”
Rockpools nearly leaped to his feet when he heard the voice. Craning his neck, his eyes caught sight of a white and black dragon sitting on their haunches as they looked at him and themselves in what seemed to be a mirror, but it was very bumpy, like part of the cave wall had been painted with something reflective.
“Lemme tell you, kid, it's not just this mirror or my age giving me wrinkles.”
Straining to sit up, Rockpools lightly laughed. “I tend to have that effect on some dragons. Do I know you from somewhere?”
The older drake's pale green eyes met Rocky's four blues as they looked at each other in the cave wall mirror. “I wouldn't expect you to remember, since you were quite young at the time. The only other time we've met was similar to this, many years ago.”
Rocky had to think for a moment. “Dewlap?”
“Who else?” the older dragon smiled. “By the way, you sure have a nasty habit of falling unconscious on beaches and leaving me to come to the rescue.”
Jerking to full attention, Rocky asked, “Where are Red and April? Did you happen to see a large red Guardian and a golden Mirror?”
“Afraid not. Did you get separated from them in that storm?”
Rocky hesitated before replying. “You could say that.”
“Well,” Dewlap began as he adjusted his hat before turning around, “whatever business it is, I'm sure that it's none of mine. You don't have any fresh scars this time, so you should be fine soon.” He snapped his claws and the reflection on the wall vanished.
“You're leaving?”
Dewlap made his way to the entrance and didn't look over his shoulder at Rocky when he answered. “Trust me, the time'll fly by faster than you think.”
“Wait. I think I need your help.”
Dewlap stopped but didn't look back. “In what way?”
“Think I'm gonna be talking to your back the entire time?”
Rockpools thought he saw the Nocturne stiffen, but Dewlap turned around and a deep chuckle escaped the older drake's throat. “I'm listening.”
Rocky took a deep breath before telling him everything. Just like when he explained it all to his mother, years ago, he couldn't stop himself now. He began with the story Saline had told him and his nestmates when they were hatchlings, and hesitantly flowed into the part about his savagery on an innocent, finally ending with the events of today, not remembering what had happened while his siblings stared at him with great concern and confusion.
“And so you think yourself to be cursed,” Dewlap stated.
Smiling weakly, Rocky said, “Kinda crazy, but yeah. But the story my mom told me was just that, a story, right?”
“I would say so, since curses aren't real,” Dewlap replied quickly. Muttering under his breath, he added, “At least yours isn't.”
“Right...I just didn't know what else it could be.”
“And how exactly did you want my help?” Dewlap's voice tensed.
“Well, I know you're a wizard, is there some kind of power you have that would unlock my memories—” but he didn't get the chance to finish when Dewlap exploded with fury.
“SO YOU CAN WATCH AS I WRITHE IN PAIN? SO THAT YOUR MEMORIES BECOME MY NIGHTMARES?”
The air surrounding them swirled sand into Rocky's eyes and throat, making him choke as his eyes watered.
“DO YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING OF ME?”
Rocky pulled his hood over his face to keep more sand from invading his mouth and nose. Shouting over the howling wind, he said, “I bet I would if you bothered to tell me!”
Just as quickly as it started, the gale was halted. Rocky adjusted his hood and saw Dewlap still standing at the mouth of the cave, his gaze averted as he remained silent.
“I think this is the part where you tell me,” prompted Rocky.
“Kid—”
But Rocky interrupted him. “What did you mean when you said that curses aren't real, at least mine isn't?”
“Ah. Heard that last bit, did you?”
“I think there's no avoiding it now. Like my gaze.” This time Rocky knew he saw the Nocturne stiffen up, and the older dragon's pale green eyes widened, so he pressed on. “Is it because you're a Wind dragon? There's no shame in that, but I'm sure we've all heard the jokes—”
“That's not—” Dewlap cut in, placing the palm of his paw across his eyes. “All right, I'll tell you. Only because it'll get you to stop thinking about...that.” He glared. “I hope.”
“And?”
“And...that you really aren't the only drake here who thinks he's cursed.”
Rocky didn't know what to say.
“Huh,” Dewlap said. “Maybe I should've said that sooner. Made me realize how much I miss the silence.”
“Anyway...”
“Okay.” It was Dewlap's turn to take a deep breath. “Just—don't ask me how I got it, because even I don't know that. Other than the fact that I've known about it since I was barely more than a hatchling, though I'm sure anydrake in your clan older than you has heard of my...ability. I'm a...whenever I make direct eye contact with other dragons, and other living creatures, I can see into their souls.”
Rocky could only stare at the old Nocturne in silence. He certainly hadn't been expecting that. But maybe…
“What about that mirror you made?” he asked.
“It isn't effective in reflections,” explained Dewlap.
“And what you said about my memories becoming your nightmares, you're able to search the memories of dragons and see what they did?”
“Y—Ohhh no. Don't even think about it,” Dewlap growled.
“This is perfect!”
“It really isn't.”
“By searching through my memories you can see what really happened while I went on my little murder sprees!”
“Enough!”
Rocky shut his mouth, though not for long. He cast pleading eyes at Dewlap, which might as well have been pointless, since the Nocturne wasn't even returning any look. “Please. I need your help. I have to know what's wrong with me. I have to know what happened.”
Dewlap looked as if he were about to say something, but then he turned around.
Rocky lurched forward. “Where are you...”
Dewlap cast quick glances outside the cave before he came striding back. “Nodrake else is around, but we should get this over with.”
“So you're gonna help me?”
“Regrettably. Now listen closely. Neither of us is going to like what comes next, but I'd appreciate it if you resisted the urge to pull away, because I am not doing this a second time. Are we clear?” With one paw, Dewlap reached under the mantle that draped his neck.
This was it. Sitting straighter, Rocky nodded furiously. “Aye aye, Captain Grump.”
“About that, you'll see why when I'm through with you.”
Before Rocky could ask, Dewlap whipped out what appeared to be a small bird's skull on a necklace and sprang at the young Mirror, pressing the top of the skull to Rocky's forehead and hissing a word that Rocky couldn't determine. Rocky instantly felt as though his body was turning to jelly and he sank to the floor.
“Not that I don't trust you to keep still,” Dewlap began, “but I'm not taking any chances.” He hid the necklace back underneath the mantle before going on. “What I just did was make your body relax while keeping your mind active. And though you may not be able to say anything, you most certainly can think any nasty little thought to me. Just keep your eyes open.”
For the first time, all four of Rocky's blue eyes stared directly into Dewlap's pale green ones, and the grey Mirror immediately wanted to get as far away as possible from the one invading his mind, but couldn't. Even looking away was equally challenging.
What was really only a few seconds seemed like an eternity for both dragons. Rocky was overwhelmed with relief when Dewlap finally released his hold and the Nocturne staggered back, gasping as though he'd just come up for air and shook his body to try to rid himself of water that wasn't actually there.
“Definitely—” Dewlap panted, “not—doing that—a second time.” He tried once more to shake off imaginary water.
Rocky mumbled something unintelligible.
Dewlap tilted his head in the Mirror's direction. “What?”
“Bly thid zee aye.”
“Are you trying to talk?”
“Thess.”
“Try waiting a bit longer.”
As the minutes went by, Rocky was able to get his body working again. He started by wiggling each toe and flicking his tail, followed by flexing his wings as he tried to stand up on all fours. Satisfied that he no longer felt like a slug, the young Mirror walked over to where Dewlap sat with his back to him at the cave's entrance.
“I did see why.”
Dewlap tilted his head in Rocky's direction. “Hm?”
Rocky sat on his haunches next to the older drake. “Captain Grump.”
“Yes, well...searching another's soul is not without its consequences.”
“And it happens with everydrake?”
“In different ways, depending on their element. Since you're a Water dragon, I felt as though I were about to drown—”
“And what did you see?” Rocky cut in.
The worry in the Mirror's voice didn't seem to startle Dewlap when the older dragon answered. “The good news is it wasn't your fault. The bad news is that somedrake was controlling you.”
“That is a bad thing.” Rocky then raised his voice in alarm. “Wait, what? By who?”
“I don't know, kid.”
“You don't kn—”
“Right, I don't,” Dewlap snapped, then calmed himself. “Whoever it was must know about soul searchers, otherwise they wouldn't have needed to stay out of even your sight. I couldn't see them either, but there was definitely another presence.”
Rocky thought for a second. “And I'm assuming you're not about to start searching every soul?”
“They'd know. Exactly as you did.”
Rocky looked away. “Right.”
Nothing was said from either drake for a few moments until Dewlap broke the silence. “Besides, I don't think I'd be much help if they knew, so we don't let them know.”
Perking up, Rocky turned his attention back to Dewlap. “'We'? Even after I—”
Dewlap stopped him. “Those negative thoughts you were sending me don't matter. It's natural that you'd feel that way, because the soul isn't meant to be invaded.”
Rocky had to shrug casually and grin. “Well, if you think you're up to putting up with my sister, I guess you can tag along.”
Dewlap noticed the grin from the corner of his eye and returned the gesture, holding out a paw to Rocky. “Cursed dragons.”
Rocky extended his own paw and shook Dewlap's. “Cursed dragons.”
Without another word, they set off.
Rockpools snorted and tried clearing his throat to fully wake himself. Opening two of his eyes, his surroundings were a bit blurred. He yawned and blinked a few times and saw that he was lying on the floor of a cave, his head facing the entrance. Crashing waves could be heard just outside.
“Did you have a good sleep?”
Rockpools nearly leaped to his feet when he heard the voice. Craning his neck, his eyes caught sight of a white and black dragon sitting on their haunches as they looked at him and themselves in what seemed to be a mirror, but it was very bumpy, like part of the cave wall had been painted with something reflective.
“Lemme tell you, kid, it's not just this mirror or my age giving me wrinkles.”
Straining to sit up, Rockpools lightly laughed. “I tend to have that effect on some dragons. Do I know you from somewhere?”
The older drake's pale green eyes met Rocky's four blues as they looked at each other in the cave wall mirror. “I wouldn't expect you to remember, since you were quite young at the time. The only other time we've met was similar to this, many years ago.”
Rocky had to think for a moment. “Dewlap?”
“Who else?” the older dragon smiled. “By the way, you sure have a nasty habit of falling unconscious on beaches and leaving me to come to the rescue.”
Jerking to full attention, Rocky asked, “Where are Red and April? Did you happen to see a large red Guardian and a golden Mirror?”
“Afraid not. Did you get separated from them in that storm?”
Rocky hesitated before replying. “You could say that.”
“Well,” Dewlap began as he adjusted his hat before turning around, “whatever business it is, I'm sure that it's none of mine. You don't have any fresh scars this time, so you should be fine soon.” He snapped his claws and the reflection on the wall vanished.
“You're leaving?”
Dewlap made his way to the entrance and didn't look over his shoulder at Rocky when he answered. “Trust me, the time'll fly by faster than you think.”
“Wait. I think I need your help.”
Dewlap stopped but didn't look back. “In what way?”
“Think I'm gonna be talking to your back the entire time?”
Rockpools thought he saw the Nocturne stiffen, but Dewlap turned around and a deep chuckle escaped the older drake's throat. “I'm listening.”
Rocky took a deep breath before telling him everything. Just like when he explained it all to his mother, years ago, he couldn't stop himself now. He began with the story Saline had told him and his nestmates when they were hatchlings, and hesitantly flowed into the part about his savagery on an innocent, finally ending with the events of today, not remembering what had happened while his siblings stared at him with great concern and confusion.
“And so you think yourself to be cursed,” Dewlap stated.
Smiling weakly, Rocky said, “Kinda crazy, but yeah. But the story my mom told me was just that, a story, right?”
“I would say so, since curses aren't real,” Dewlap replied quickly. Muttering under his breath, he added, “At least yours isn't.”
“Right...I just didn't know what else it could be.”
“And how exactly did you want my help?” Dewlap's voice tensed.
“Well, I know you're a wizard, is there some kind of power you have that would unlock my memories—” but he didn't get the chance to finish when Dewlap exploded with fury.
“SO YOU CAN WATCH AS I WRITHE IN PAIN? SO THAT YOUR MEMORIES BECOME MY NIGHTMARES?”
The air surrounding them swirled sand into Rocky's eyes and throat, making him choke as his eyes watered.
“DO YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING OF ME?”
Rocky pulled his hood over his face to keep more sand from invading his mouth and nose. Shouting over the howling wind, he said, “I bet I would if you bothered to tell me!”
Just as quickly as it started, the gale was halted. Rocky adjusted his hood and saw Dewlap still standing at the mouth of the cave, his gaze averted as he remained silent.
“I think this is the part where you tell me,” prompted Rocky.
“Kid—”
But Rocky interrupted him. “What did you mean when you said that curses aren't real, at least mine isn't?”
“Ah. Heard that last bit, did you?”
“I think there's no avoiding it now. Like my gaze.” This time Rocky knew he saw the Nocturne stiffen up, and the older dragon's pale green eyes widened, so he pressed on. “Is it because you're a Wind dragon? There's no shame in that, but I'm sure we've all heard the jokes—”
“That's not—” Dewlap cut in, placing the palm of his paw across his eyes. “All right, I'll tell you. Only because it'll get you to stop thinking about...that.” He glared. “I hope.”
“And?”
“And...that you really aren't the only drake here who thinks he's cursed.”
Rocky didn't know what to say.
“Huh,” Dewlap said. “Maybe I should've said that sooner. Made me realize how much I miss the silence.”
“Anyway...”
“Okay.” It was Dewlap's turn to take a deep breath. “Just—don't ask me how I got it, because even I don't know that. Other than the fact that I've known about it since I was barely more than a hatchling, though I'm sure anydrake in your clan older than you has heard of my...ability. I'm a...whenever I make direct eye contact with other dragons, and other living creatures, I can see into their souls.”
Rocky could only stare at the old Nocturne in silence. He certainly hadn't been expecting that. But maybe…
“What about that mirror you made?” he asked.
“It isn't effective in reflections,” explained Dewlap.
“And what you said about my memories becoming your nightmares, you're able to search the memories of dragons and see what they did?”
“Y—Ohhh no. Don't even think about it,” Dewlap growled.
“This is perfect!”
“It really isn't.”
“By searching through my memories you can see what really happened while I went on my little murder sprees!”
“Enough!”
Rocky shut his mouth, though not for long. He cast pleading eyes at Dewlap, which might as well have been pointless, since the Nocturne wasn't even returning any look. “Please. I need your help. I have to know what's wrong with me. I have to know what happened.”
Dewlap looked as if he were about to say something, but then he turned around.
Rocky lurched forward. “Where are you...”
Dewlap cast quick glances outside the cave before he came striding back. “Nodrake else is around, but we should get this over with.”
“So you're gonna help me?”
“Regrettably. Now listen closely. Neither of us is going to like what comes next, but I'd appreciate it if you resisted the urge to pull away, because I am not doing this a second time. Are we clear?” With one paw, Dewlap reached under the mantle that draped his neck.
This was it. Sitting straighter, Rocky nodded furiously. “Aye aye, Captain Grump.”
“About that, you'll see why when I'm through with you.”
Before Rocky could ask, Dewlap whipped out what appeared to be a small bird's skull on a necklace and sprang at the young Mirror, pressing the top of the skull to Rocky's forehead and hissing a word that Rocky couldn't determine. Rocky instantly felt as though his body was turning to jelly and he sank to the floor.
“Not that I don't trust you to keep still,” Dewlap began, “but I'm not taking any chances.” He hid the necklace back underneath the mantle before going on. “What I just did was make your body relax while keeping your mind active. And though you may not be able to say anything, you most certainly can think any nasty little thought to me. Just keep your eyes open.”
For the first time, all four of Rocky's blue eyes stared directly into Dewlap's pale green ones, and the grey Mirror immediately wanted to get as far away as possible from the one invading his mind, but couldn't. Even looking away was equally challenging.
What was really only a few seconds seemed like an eternity for both dragons. Rocky was overwhelmed with relief when Dewlap finally released his hold and the Nocturne staggered back, gasping as though he'd just come up for air and shook his body to try to rid himself of water that wasn't actually there.
“Definitely—” Dewlap panted, “not—doing that—a second time.” He tried once more to shake off imaginary water.
Rocky mumbled something unintelligible.
Dewlap tilted his head in the Mirror's direction. “What?”
“Bly thid zee aye.”
“Are you trying to talk?”
“Thess.”
“Try waiting a bit longer.”
As the minutes went by, Rocky was able to get his body working again. He started by wiggling each toe and flicking his tail, followed by flexing his wings as he tried to stand up on all fours. Satisfied that he no longer felt like a slug, the young Mirror walked over to where Dewlap sat with his back to him at the cave's entrance.
“I did see why.”
Dewlap tilted his head in Rocky's direction. “Hm?”
Rocky sat on his haunches next to the older drake. “Captain Grump.”
“Yes, well...searching another's soul is not without its consequences.”
“And it happens with everydrake?”
“In different ways, depending on their element. Since you're a Water dragon, I felt as though I were about to drown—”
“And what did you see?” Rocky cut in.
The worry in the Mirror's voice didn't seem to startle Dewlap when the older dragon answered. “The good news is it wasn't your fault. The bad news is that somedrake was controlling you.”
“That is a bad thing.” Rocky then raised his voice in alarm. “Wait, what? By who?”
“I don't know, kid.”
“You don't kn—”
“Right, I don't,” Dewlap snapped, then calmed himself. “Whoever it was must know about soul searchers, otherwise they wouldn't have needed to stay out of even your sight. I couldn't see them either, but there was definitely another presence.”
Rocky thought for a second. “And I'm assuming you're not about to start searching every soul?”
“They'd know. Exactly as you did.”
Rocky looked away. “Right.”
Nothing was said from either drake for a few moments until Dewlap broke the silence. “Besides, I don't think I'd be much help if they knew, so we don't let them know.”
Perking up, Rocky turned his attention back to Dewlap. “'We'? Even after I—”
Dewlap stopped him. “Those negative thoughts you were sending me don't matter. It's natural that you'd feel that way, because the soul isn't meant to be invaded.”
Rocky had to shrug casually and grin. “Well, if you think you're up to putting up with my sister, I guess you can tag along.”
Dewlap noticed the grin from the corner of his eye and returned the gesture, holding out a paw to Rocky. “Cursed dragons.”
Rocky extended his own paw and shook Dewlap's. “Cursed dragons.”
Without another word, they set off.
Continued in Dewlap Part 1
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