Topic: Home?

Basalt

Date: 2009-08-06 14:12 EST
I'm staring out into the night, Trying to hide the pain. I'm going to the place where love And feeling good don't ever cost a thing. And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain. From "Home" by Daughtry

She wasn't quite sure when it had happened. Between hatching the second of their two offspring and realizing that the first, Ki'oreth, was an adult of the ruling dynasty in his sire's culture, probably. But it had happened. She was not happy. Her life was almost domestic.

The scaled beast rebelled. Even though the Angiarn'athi treated her with utmost respect, viewing her almost as a godlike creature, she longed for one—just one—to strike out at her or her family so that she could snap necks and crush bones. Heat boiled from her as the fury within built unabated. Rhy'Saan, who was busy with family and government, noticed, of course; but she could not tell him when he asked what was troubling her. He was troubling her. Ki'oreth, Rhyosite, the Angiarn'athi themselves....all were troubling her. How did one tell one's mate that"

"I do love you, with all my heart, Heorte," she had finally said. "But I must fly. I must leave for a time. I do not wish to leave you and our family in peril, if peril there is, but I also cannot stay another day with this fire burning within me."

He had nodded, his antlered head showing wisdom, understanding her even then in a way that she could never show enough gratitude for. "The Cloudwalkers have made Ki'oreth one of them. We have protection. There is no peril. If my brother still lives, he lives in disgrace and fear."

That made her pause a moment. "One who lives in that way can become dangerous." Perhaps she must stay and battle the heat within. Could she"

He shook his head. "There is no peril, Heorte. I have seen for many days that you have been...," the furred face twisted and looked down.

She reached to touch him, first his shoulder, then lifting her hand to caress the antlers, sending a shiver through him. "I love you. But I am what I am. The fire of my kin burns through me. I will not have it destroy us. So I must fly for a time. I will return."

"I will be waiting," he had simply said.

Basalt

Date: 2009-08-10 08:31 EST
The place was different.

Of course, the library had essentially been closed, the Librarian dealing with things in his homeland. So she did not fly there.

She did not fly immediately to the Inn, either. That place held many memories, and she was not certain she wished them to rush back to her just then, although some did even as she thought about it....friendly faces, unfriendly faces, Stew, Spam....No, she did not return there just now.

So she flew high, circling, drawn to mountaintops and clear air. Finally she drifted down to a high ledge, nodding in satisfaction as she approached the dark opening to a cave. This had been hers in the past, but she had not defended it in ages. Was it still hers?

Head lifted high, maw gaping as she tasted the air around her, she advanced. Sunlight glittered on her crimson scales, but when she stepped into the darkness, she blended with it, becoming invisible. Here, senses other than sight guided her. Taloned feet advanced as she listened and took in the scents. No, there was nothing here. Her occupation in the past had been enough to convince other creatures they wanted nothing of this place.

Twisting and turning through passages becoming ever tighter, eventually she reached it. The cavern opened slightly, but it was not one of the wonders written of in stories. Large enough for her, and large enough, she was glad to see, for the hoarde which remained there disguised by magery as simple chunks of rock. With a sigh, she curled herself atop the drifting glories of gold and gems, draped her tail over her forepaws, and drifted off to sleep. Time enough to deal with other memories later. For now, the gold, diamonds, rubies and emeralds whispered under her of past glories and promised those of the future.