The Legends Of Snowdrop- The Dragons

Chapter # 2

"Are you excited, Amelia?" Salvador asks her as we exit the exposition, walking merrily. "Yes," She answers with great dignity but starts jumping with joy, completely losing her calm. "I'm very excited!" She bumps into me while she scurries beside me with the mud vessel dangling in her hand. "It will be fun, more like amusing," She pauses and collects herself to a long stride and continues: "There will be many things to learn and experience plus, it sounds amazing to get through the problems and muddles and survive together," She seems very boisterous as though she might explode any minute and the butterflies would fly away. 

"I can't believe this is our last day here," I say thoughtfully. "I don't care about anything since I'm with you all," Amelia says sanguinely. I can say that she is the true cheerer. "Have you decided where we are supposed to set our base?" Salvador asks with keen interest. "We will run with the wolves, what do you think? What kind of place would you like to settle in?" I nudge Amelia to ask her. She thinks for a few moments picturing the scape she wants.

"Ummm...We should settle at a place where there is a small pond. I guess we will be lucky enough if we find a place like what I have in mind," Amelia says with an ecstatic voice. "Then, why don't you try explaining it to me? I'll find it for you," I tell her. "Don't be too confident Miles, We don't even know where we are going to stop or whether we might be able to find the place before night falls," Salvador snaps. I'm pretty sure we can find it but, it is better if we don't fight for it, we are supposed to be like teammates. "It's not a serious matter, don't fight. I just said what our place should look like. You two don't need to argue about it. See, we reached. Let's go in," She cuts us off by saying that. We both follow her in.

"Greetings, Auntie," We both greet Amelia's mother as we enter. "Salve, my dear children, how art thou both, bricky fellas'?" "We are doing good, thank you," Salvador replies. I smile, agreeing with Salvador. She smiles and turns towards Amelia asking: "Did you bring the vessel?" "Yes, I did, here," She hands it to her mother who, takes it and examines it. Once she is done surveying every part and curve of the vessel, she takes it in one of the rooms. 

"Why don't you both seat yourselves? I'll get back with something for you both to drink," Amelia says, gesturing us to sit on the cushions, placed in the middle of the hall. "Bueno," I say as I sit down. She smiles and walks into the room which her mother had entered a few moments before. 

"What is taking Arthur so long?" Salvador asks, sinking into his cushion. "Let's just hope, he takes a while longer to reach here," I say, resisting the urge to lie down. I feel sleepy but, there is still a lot that we have to do. I yawn a few times continuously. "There is still time for the hourglass to turn upside-down. Don't hit the hay yet, Miles," Salvador says, hitting me hard on the back to shoo away my sleep. I yelp in pain, the tears of sleep roll down my cheek. "Okay, I'm not sleeping, keep me awake." I really wanna take a siesta...

                                                                             Arthur Pov

"Mother, I'm going out," I step out of my abode and start humming. I was asked to meet at Amelia's place, I guess. Ya, I'm sure of it.

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The marketplace looks disorderly. Who cares anyway. I walk through it with carefree steps.

As I look around, everything starts to look boring the more I look at it.  People buying or selling things, That's it. What can pique my interest? 

I come across the stables. I should take a look at Frazer. The horse starts to neigh and sway when it sees me. I pat his neck. "Indeed, you are very excited. Just a few hours moe' we will be on our way," I enter its stall and start brushing his fur with the horse brush. "You need to look handsome," I make sure not to leave a single spot unbrushed. It sheds hair as I brush it. Good thing, it won't have any problem traveling.

I comb its mane and style it. "Good boy," I pat it as I get out. "May you be with me for a good deal of years," I bless it as I exit the stables.

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I enter her abode and greet everyone who was in my view. It was only Miles, Salvador, and Amelia who were drinking something.

"Come, sit with us. You are late," Amelia invites me. I go and sit beside Salvador, opposite Miles and Amelia. She pours grape juice in a glass and serves me. She smiles when I accept it. I take a sip. 

"So, what took you so long?" Miles asks, giving a devilish smile. "I was getting ready," I say, just lying on purpose. Both nod but, Salvador caught me lying... "You smell of horses," I smile hesitantly. "We know you, Arthur," Amelia says in a motherly manner. "How is it?" Miles asks. "Ya, it looks more beautiful today. He is very boisterous." "We should go and check up on our horses too." Amelia insists. "Good idea," Salvador remarks. 

"Oh, all of you are here, Salve, warriors," Amelia's father greets us as soon as he sees us. He comes and sits with us on the cushion. "How are your preparations?" He asks: "I guess we are fully equipped. Everything is going perfectly." I answer. "What all did you face when you were on the odyssey?" Miles asks, bringing interest to the conversation. "Father, you are home," Madelyn and Ivy enter the hall and run into her fathers' arms. We all laugh at their cute smiles and excited squeals. "Father, when is Amelia going?" Ivy asks. "She will be leaving soon. Where is Zeus?" "Ah, ya, he went out to play with his friends," Amelia answers. "Okay," He replies.

"So, as you all know how you all were selected to go on an odyssey together, I'll tell you why is this ritual of selecting people for a team so important." He starts. "It is important because the teams selected through this ritual have always returned triumphantly," I say. "Correct," He pats me on my back. I smile:  "But, do you know why we use a goat to select the teams?" He questions. Everyone is quiet. After a momentary pause, he continues: "Goat symbolizes love, faith, independence, victory, and vitality. Names of all the kids present in the clan are written on individual pieces of paper. These chits are then given to the oldest well-fed goat in the tribe. Those people are selected whose names were eaten by the goat. The ones who weren't selected, try next year. Miles and Amelia.

 were selected in one go," "What about those who were never selected?" Miles asks. "Those who are never selected are probably incompetent." He replied.

"Okay, you people, continue with your day. Go, complete your preparations," He gets up and walks inside. Madelyn and Ivy follow him behind.

"Come on, let's go out and check our horses," Salvador says. "Yes, get up," Miles stands up with a thrill of adrenaline. "I don't know what Onyx has been doing," Amelia brushing off the drops of juice that dropped on her attire. "Let's go then," I walk towards the exit.  

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"Frazer does look handsome today," Miles says in a teasing tone. "Why? Isn't it handsome?" I hit his head. "Of course, it is, ow!" I chuckle. "Salvador, pass me the horse brush," Amelia says. Salvador passes it to her. "Thanks," She says, brushing her horse's long black mane. "You are a beauty, Onyx," She says, patting it and feeding it some hay. "Yes, indeed," Miles agrees.

"Yours too is very majestic," Amelia returns the compliment. Miles combs the front bangs of his horse and says: "Thanks, I can say that my horse has descended from the heavens, and yours is the forests' goddess," Miles construed. They both smile lively together. 

"How do I describe my horse then?" Salvador makes a disappointed face and folds his arms. 'Whiskers' rubs his nose on Salvador's back. Miles and Amelia pause for a second. "Ya, true. We have taken the best compliments for our horses when his horse is very recherche.

"Ah, you just gave me a name better than 'Whiskers. Shall I call him 'Recherche' from now on?" Salvador asks. "It's better he deserves it," I reply. His horse is one in a hundred.

 I still remember how he had come with his baby horse a few years ago. Holding a small wooden sword covered in mud and hay with his horse beside him covered in mud all over. He had been playing in the rain when he encountered the baby horse, which was parted from its mother. They both were scared of each other, but they both ended up falling in mud whilst trying to run away from each other. But, it's a mystery how they got along when they were scared of each other. He only said that he made friends with each other but, no one knows, how. When they washed the horse, it revealed its rare color which was exotic in the region. But, no one dared to own it because it wouldn't let anyone come near it except Salvador.

"We should go now," Miles suggests. "Ya, the earlier we are done with the feast, the earlier we can hit the road." Salvador agrees. "Today's feast will be blest and beatific. I mean, it will be appetizing," Miles explains. "Ah, no need to describes further, I'm already hungry, come on, let's get going," Salvador says, holding my hand and leading me.

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 Each step the warriors took led them closer to leaving the tribe and fly away forever. But they seemed happy rather than sad. It's because they knew it from the start and were built to face it. They can always come back to visit their loved ones. The sweet aroma of food had mingled with the fresh air, providing everyone with the devouring thoughts of how tasty their last meal in the tribe would be.  Their parents and master stood at the food of the abode to welcome their brave warriors.

When they reach the steps, they get ready to show tribute to the ones that built them and made them stronger. The warriors stood in a horizontal line with determined eyes. Swords start hitting the shields producing a beat. The boys step away and start to spring around Amelia whilst hitting their shields with their swords. Amelia spins, feeling the beat, and with great boldness removes her sword from the scabbard. She holds it with both her hands in front of her vertically, showing the sharpness of her sword. It almost looked like a thin thread when she held it in front of her face. The next beat, she started her sword dance. Each move sent adrenaline rushing through everyone's spines. It was indeed powerful and courageous. Their eyes squinched like eagles fully aimed and determined to leave.

                                                                 Salvador pov

Amelia walks forward and kneels before our master, indicating us to kneel behind her to pay gratefulness. "Get up, my children," The master says, standing high with proudness in front of us with his handheld behind. "May God bless you all. May God bless everyone who stands here. Let the warriors be blessed first. Let me anoint you all as seekers for what doth desire. Let the forest and winds be their saviors and the goat, their luck." We stand up and bow to him. "We all agree," Everyone concurs, "Come in, young adults, the feast is waiting for you," Miles's father invites us. We all walk in.

As we enter, there is a long table laden with all sorts of foods to the brink. Bread, Egyptian cheese, roasted meat, curd, porridge, stew, bone broth, juices, testaroli, and a few fruits and vegetables.

We seat ourselves on the cushion. "Let's eat for the health of our brave kids," Amelia's father says. "My sweetheart soon will be gone," We can see the pain in his eyes. "It's okay father, I'll be coming very often, I hope." Amelia comforts him. "Now let us not cry and make it hard for them," My father says. "Eat full kids, you have to cover a long distance,"

There was a lot of touching and pats of love. We couldn't help but comfort them with smiles. It isn't dubious that their hearts bear a huge burden of feelings they are trying to accumulate inside themselves. I feel impotent within myself. It's a war of feelings and hormones that I can't win. It's worse than any battle fought.

"I once killed a lion when it attacked our camp," Miles' father said. "Not 'I' its 'US'" Every parent in the room said echoingly. Miles' father laughed hysterically bringing a burst of chaotic laughter in the room. We all laughed till we can't breathe. They still were kids inside. "So, as it attacked uncertainly at us we got to the arms and killed it within a matter of time, but, I heard that there are many huge and marvelous beasts around the world that are way bigger than our thoughts," Miles' father said. "Can they be tamed?" I asked questioningly. "Do you really find it credible? I'm not sure whether I heard it right or not but, it seems they never show themselves and, people stay away from those mighty creatures because they are out of our control. If you all by chance find it by the luck of finding a hen's teeth, then better stay away," Miles' father changes his tone to a serious one. We all nod gravely.

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"Take care, my dear son, be as brave and valiant as Rylan. Second son going, Alas!" My mother says, teary-eyed. "Mother, we are still here with you," Zunea says, hugging her.  "Mother, brother is going to kill monsters, Ooooh," Alberto says, making monstrous noises. She pulls us close to her in a tight embrace. "I will come back, surely, don't worry mother," I say to her, wiping her tears. She nods. Father pats her to console her. "Come here, son," He says, pulling me into a tight hug. "Sometimes, I wonder how Rylan is. But, there are bare minimum chances of meeting as long as you all don't venture out too far," He whispers. "Don't tell your mother," He says. I nod

When we mount our horses, they wave at us as we turn and start to leave. "May we be in touch forever," Was the last sentence that I heard from Arthur's mother. We leave the tribe when the sun was overhead, the scorching heat evaporating the sweat from our bodies. There are three days worth of traveling ahead of us. "Let's increase the pace,"  Arthur says, getting to a gallop and racing away. "Hey, not without us," I say, galloping to him. Amelia and Miles join us galloping...