Truths
1039 Words
I awoke being surrounded by heat, with the sound of rain close by. For a long moment, I couldn't remember where I was. Then what had occurred came rushing back to me in an instant of misery and loathing. I find out that Cearúil is a dragon and what do I do? I faint, smack him, then cry. I wouldn't be surprised if he never wanted to see or speak with me again after this.
Sighing, I slowly opened my eyes to survey my surroundings. I blinked several times in surprise at Cearúil's large reptilian head barely an inch away. Recovering better than, I assume, last night, I took the opportunity to get a good look at his features.
His horns were long, pure silver edifices that curved back across his skull from directly above his closed eyes. While his scales were pitch-black, except for the trail of silver scales that ran from underneath his eyes across, I guess you could call them his cheekbones, to the plain directly above his nostrils. Those deadly teeth, luckily, were hidden away within his closed snout. Absently, I wondered if he really could breathe fire. And whether or not it would come out from his nostrils or throat. None of the bards could agree on that.
Unable to stop my curiosity, I reached out and placed my hand on the silver and black scales directly beneath his eye ridges. Shockingly, they were soft and not at all scaly. As most people considered them to be, like the skin on snakes. A yellow-green eye opened instantly at my touch, but the anger dissipated quickly. Evidently he didn't consider me to be a threat. Didn't blame him there, I was pretty much useless in all areas.
Cearúil watched me curiously as I ran my hand down the silver streak all the way to the flat plain above his nostrils. I couldn't help the smile from forming. "I thought scales were supposed to be hard, not soft like suede?"
I watched amusement creep into that bright yellow-green eye. "I am still quite young, Gwen."
"So they harden with age then?"
When he didn't answer, my roving hand switched from his face to running across his curled neck and along his side, that I could reach. The scales were larger on his side and quite smooth, though not as soft as those on his face. The wing quivered and jerked when I touched it, causing me to quickly remove my hand. In a flash I was facing him once more, my eyes wide in worry.
"I'm sorry, Cearúil. Did I hurt you?"
"No." His response, when it came, sounded quite strange. As though he wasn't sure of his answer. "You didn't hurt me. It's just that…that…"
Cearúil went quiet, trying to figure out just how much he should tell Gwen. He closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them as he came to a decision.
"Our wings are our most vulnerable part. They are the easiest to destroy and the most devastating loss. I should not have reacted in such a way, I know you are only curious and do not mean me any harm."
"So it's like a cat and their whiskers? Pull one out and their entire equilibrium is shot."
Amusement filled him, even though her assessment was quite close in comparison. Though if a Draco lost their wings, or even if one was just injured in some way, the Draco was unable to function correctly in any way or form. Cearúil wasn't about to tell her that, he may have known her for the past two years, nearly three now, but he wasn't certain if she could keep such a secret. Hell, he was taking a chance by letting Gwen know he was a Draco.
Cearúil didn't honestly think she would tell anyone about his being a Draco, but he wasn't willing to tell her that secret as well…at least, not yet. He wanted to trust Gwen, to tell her all of his secrets and have her accept him in return. But wasn't certain if he could fully trust her yet.
Cearúil shifted his wing, making certain to keep the rain from touching Gwen. He wasn't worried about himself, a little rain would do nothing to him. He wouldn't even have any adverse affects from it in his human form. Gwen wouldn't be so lucky, so he had to keep her protected. Considering it was his fault she was out here in the storm.
"Why haven't you returned to the College during this past week? Since nothing seems to be wrong with you."
"Nothing wrong with me?" He repeated as she sat cross-legged by his right front leg. "Gwen, no one can know what I am, they can't even guess."
"Then why do you not change back to human form, as you were before? And how are you able to change forms anyways? I've never heard of the Draco species being able to."
"Because of the lunar eclipse. I do not have a choice in my form during an eclipse, lunar or solar. That is why I am out here, hiding from the Mages. As for how I am able to switch forms, let's save that for another discussion."
After a wide yawn, I shifted my position until I was lying against, was it his shoulder? Anyways, against the heavy muscles of his upper arm. "Why do you have to hide from the Mages? I thought they and the…Draco got along?"
"Ðragon."
"What?"
"I know you have difficulty always saying Draco; I don't mind you calling me Ðragon. And no, the Draco and Mages do not get along. The eclipse should be finished in another day or so, I'll return then."
My brow creased as I closed my eyes. "Why does your species hate being called Dragons?"
"I am not quite certain myself. But I believe most think of it as derogatory, and unfitting to be called such a thing. Sleep now, we'll talk more in the morning."
"I thought it was morning?" I asked sleepily as I started to doze back off.
"You passed out barely an hour ago. Sleep, Gwen. I'll keep you warm and protected until you awaken again."
- Writer
