Forum Thread

Melez's red skin grew a darker shade of red as she heard Eona's words. "The color looks really nice and the fabric feels amazing... Do you have a mirror? I haven't seen myself clean in so long that I'm worried I won't find myself in the reflection..." Her voice was shaking a little bit along with her hands, which trembled as they clasped one another in front of her. She took a deep breath and that calmed her down a little bit.

Eona smiled and nodded. Taking Melez's hand, she led her back into the closet. On one wall was curtain. Eona took hold of the cloth and took a breath. "I keep it covered because...it's a mirror. And the light that reflects off of it is shiny. I could get lost for hours looking at the reflections," she admitted, looking sheepish. "But I keep it so I can look at some of the dresses. Here," Eona said, pulling the curtain aside. She made sure not to look on the reflective surface. Instead, her gold flecked emerald eyes looked to Melez for her reaction. Then her lips spread into a comical "o" as the idea that Melez might not want an audience for this. So she stepped forward, squeezed her friends hand and said, "I'm going to go take my shower. Do you need anything?"

Melez nodded and smiled softly understanding how one could get lost in something like that. She had gotten lost in a pristine pool she had found in the mountains. A hot spring. The water itself was clear, but the bottom of the pool was filled with the most amazing crystals one could ever hope to see. Some of which dwarfed the ones in Eona's treasure trove. Her eyes followed the fabric but were glued to the glass once she caught sight of her own reflection, or what she assumed was hers. Her mouth fell slightly agape as she relearned all of her features when they weren't covered in dust and dirt, and her clothes not stained with weeks worth of grass and blood. Melez seemed to stop moving. Perhaps even to stop living altogether. She wasn't breathing, her eyes weren't moving, her muscles were still. Then she blinked after about twenty seconds of perfect stillness she blinked, and broke the spell. Tears pricked the edges of her eyes and she brought a hand up to her cheek as the tears spilled from their confines and made lines down her face. Her other hand was brought up and reached out, not quite touching the mirror. She looked like even the faintest breeze would shatter her world. This... This woman... I can't... I'm not... B-but I'm... H-how... Her mind couldn't even form a complete thought, for lack of any words, she was dumbfounded. She had rediscovered herself. A mirror isn't something that travels well and is a nicety that she rarely got to find use of.

Eona quickly undressed and climbed into the shower. Relaxing in the warm water, she purred. It felt fabulous every time she climbed in. Using her favorite soaps and shampoos, she washed quickly. Grabbing a towel, she dried herself off and grabbed her new dress. Once dressed, she worked on drying her hair and twisting it up into the style she liked best. Gold chopsticks with charms hanging off them were used to hold it all in place. She wasn't sure how to use make up and therefore didn't have any. Walking out of the bathroom, she noticed Melez still in the closet. "Hey...Melez? You okay?" she asked, stepping behind her and gently squeezing her good shoulder.

Melez physically jumped as she felt her friend's hand on her shoulder. "Eona! Y-yes, I'm alright..." She says as she looks to her friend with a smile before turning back to the mirror, her smile fading. "It's simply been so long... Since, well... Anything nice." She turns and hugs Eona tightly, her arms wrapped around the shorter woman's shoulders. "Thank you..." She says as tears roll down her face. "You've done so much for me you don't even know..." She sniffles between every few words and releases her friend from the hug. "I will find some way to repay you for all of the kindness you've shown me..."

Gently, Eona rubbed her back, hoping to help calm her. "You saw me, the real me, and didn't condemn me for something a few crazy dragons did and what our reputation is. That is more then I could ever ask for. To just be able to be me and not fear that someone thinks I'm dangerous is beyond my wildest dreams. I want to help people and give things to those in need. But people tend to ask questions when I try. So I haven't. I think we both needed each other," she murmured. "You're beautiful and kind, wise and caring," she added. Then her stomach growled and she turned red. "And it would appear my stomach cares nothing for that," she said, laughing. "Let's get some food and chat about what's happened to us. Is that okay? We can tell each other our stories. At least, as much as we are comfortable with."

Melez took a deep breath and let it out with a chuckle. "The meat in the soup should be cooked by now and yes. I'd be okay with telling you most of what's happened, though some of it I'd like to remain my own personal history... Some of it is a bit rough to think about..." She smiles as she walks out of the bedroom towards the kitchen a red tinge on her face. Caring and kind? Perhaps... Wise? Maybe... But beautiful? I couldn't be even remotely pretty compared to her... Perhaps she hasn't seen herself in a while either... Now, aside from that, what parts of my travels will I tell her? Perhaps I'll let her speak first? Her mind was a tumultuous rush of thoughts, questions and memories.

Eona walked with her, not bouncing, not excitable at the moment. She was thinking. She could start at the beginning. From what she remembered first and work forward. Or start with the now and work back? She wasn't sure. But she knew she wanted to tell Melez. Once in the kitchen, she scooped out two steaming bowls of soup. Fetching a pair of spoons, she offered one to Melez. "So...would you like t go first? Or should I? I've got a feeling we'll both need someplace to sit and tissues. Let's go sit in the living room. It's comfy and warm in there."

Melez walked alongside Eona silently, her footsteps barely audible. She was going over what she'd talk about. Perhaps they'd give a basic idea of their lives, or what they cared to divulge, then they'd ask one another questions? "Uhm, I guess I could go first... But yes, a place to sit would be very welcome." She smiled as she held the hot bowl of soup in her hands, feeling the warmth in her palms, quickly making them sweat. Her mind was racing about exactly what to tell and what not to tell. What is to painful to go over and what would she like left to herself?

Eona held her bowl in one hand as she led the way. The living room had high ceilings and plush pelts and blankets on the ground and over the couches. One pile looked like a nest and Eona climbed into it, dwarfed by the sheer size of it but that didn't stop her from stretching out and snuggling in. There was a bit of silence as the girls eat some of their soup. Then Eona asked, "So, what was it like growing up? What is it like to have parents?"

Melez smiled as she watched Eona climb up and get comfy. She ate some of her soup in silence before Eona asked her the first questions. "Well, for me it took forever... At the moment I'm fifty seven... I was a baby for the normal time, once I hit about nineteen I stopped growing and changing. My parents..." She chuckles. "My parents. My mother is a fallen angel, she has the most beautiful wings you'll ever see... White with gold bands where my dark brown ones are. My father is a demon. His horns are larger than mine and go up and over his head where mine go around..." She set her bowl down and put her hands in her lap. "My parents taught me many many things as I grew. How to cook, how to fight, how to read and write, how to do, basically everything... Though they'd let me try stuff on my own and when I failed they'd offer their help, but often times I'd refuse and do it myself." She takes a deep breath. "I lived with my parents in a cave, very much like yours... Except theirs was bigger and had finished floors and torches to light the halls. My bedroom wasn't that big, but it was comfortable. I would help my mother cook, she'd help me fly and fight, my father would teach me how to read and write and how to use magic." She seemed to be getting lost in memory. "Anyhow, what's it like growing up as a dragon?"

"That sounds so nice...Me? Well...I don't remember much from early years but...I remember it was bad at first. I remember being tiny and in a dog cage. That's how I was moved. Then I was on display...I think it was a zoo or something. I had handlers...and I couldn't be in my human form because they didn't like it. There was a pit they put me in. I remember things being thrown in at me and I curled up, making myself smaller so they didn't hit me. It was dark a lot. Bright lights meant people and I was to do tricks and entertain them. Dark...when it was dark..." Her eyes clouded as she trailed off a moment. "...the dark was bad...hands and claws...being bad meant punishment. Dark was where that happened." She took a breath and shook herself. "Something happened and someone decided to get me out. I think it was a woman. I don't remember it all. But she hand me in a backpack and was running. Then there was a dropping sensation and we hit something hard. When I managed to get out, dogs were barking and wolves howled. So I ran. I ran to get away from them because I knew if they caught me, I would be hurt. Then I fell and it was wet and cold. A river. I couldn't swim but held my head up and the current must not have been so bad because when the sun came out, I was on a riverbank. I was tired...really, really tired. But I found a hollow tree to sleep in. I don't remember trying to hunt until I was starving. At that point, I couldn't catch much. But I must have. I grew up fast then," she whispered, her knees tucked into her chest and the bowl down on the ground. "I found this cave and hid. Eventually, I learned how to survive. When I was old enough, I went into town in my human form and began to watch people and learn from them that way. The gold and stuff in here meant that I could buy things. People talked and I listened and figured things out. Instinct helped too. My first heat was pretty rough. We mature faster then humans in that. Thankfully, there are no drakes or sires nearby so none came looking. However...instinct tells me I have to find a mate and have hatchlings. But I have never met another dragon. I don't even know my own parents or clutchmates. I think we must have magic though, because there is a lot of stuff I shouldn't know about my kind that I just know in my soul. Perhaps that is how we've managed to survive."

As Eona spoke Melez felt so many emotions run through her like a floodgate letting out a torrent. She felt tears push their way out of the corners of her eyes as she set her bowl down and quietly climbed up the mound-like nest and settling next to Eona, putting a protective arm around the smaller female. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all that... You're here now, and you're with me. You don't have to hide, you don't have to fear, and you don't have to be alone. Being alone is terrible and not any way to live." She gently squeezed Eona's shoulder. "If you don't want to continue you don't have to..." She said putting her free hand on one of Eona's.

Eona curled into her, crying. She'd dealt with all of what had happened, but telling someone else had made the old wounds flare to life. Pain and sorrow flooded her for a few minutes. Then she quieted, sniffling every now and then. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Eona took Melez's hand and squeezed gently. "I'm okay. Thank you. I didn't think it would be that hard to speak of. But I'm okay to go on. That was the worst of it all. I have managed to-well, not stay completely out of trouble, but close enough to it. I only am bothered every now and then by too eager guys but they bother everyone so I'm nothing special in that regard." She paused, relaxing for a moment before standing and getting more soup. She returned and snuggled back into Melez's side. "So...How come you left home? Was it to go on adventures?"

Melez looked down at Eona surprised only momentarily as she wept into the blue dress. She tightened her grip a little to reassure the smaller woman knowing exactly how she felt. There were parts of her own history that she'd rather not have to relive by telling someone. She smiled once her friend had calmed down apparently finding comfort in Melez's presence. She tensed slightly when she was asked the next question about why she left. "Well, I left for two reasons. The first was after spending fifty years with my parents watching over me and telling me what to do I wanted to leave. The second is that my father made a lot of enemies and drew a lot of attention, so to have a better chance at not dying they trained me for the last ten years before I turned fifty then sent me out on my own. I've been traveling for seven years alone." Her amber eyes stared off at the wall of the cave her mind being dragged through the last seven years, the good and the bad. She shook her head making a few strands of her red hair fall loose from behind her horns and land in her face. "I meant to ask, how old are you? If you couldn't tell I'm fifty-seven." She chuckled slightly realizing that she really only looked about nineteen or twenty.

"Oh! Well, the way you talk about them, I know the three of you love each other very much. But you don't have to keep moving around. You're welcome to stay here. And I think between the two of us, we can fend off anyone wishing us harm. I'm twenty-five," she said, smiling at the thought that her best friend was more then twice her age.

Melez nodded, for she really did love her parents, but like everyone they eventually hit nerves that need time to cool down. She chuckled knowing they probably could beat anyone who tried to get the upper hand on them. She knew enough spells to cause some real damage and plenty of curses, though the curses need a little prep to work. "Perhaps we could finish these questions as we head into town? The meal I'd like to make tonight needs a little time to cook..." It should take about half an hour to make, and then can stay warm for however long we need...

Eona nodded and stood. Grabbing the bowls, she took them to the kitchen and rinsed them out before setting them in the sink. "I've just got to grab my purse, cloak and basket. Then we'll be all set!" Her purse was just a small bag full of coins that she planned to us. Opening it, she peered inside to make sure she had enough for the day and put the bag in a inside pocket of her cloak. Then she swung the black velvety cloak around herself and clasped it at the front. Finally, she plucked the woven basket up from its place and tucked it onto her arm. Turning to Melez, Eona smiled and said, "All set. You ready?"

Melez smiled and followed her before checking her pocket, which seemingly made no noise nor had anything in it when Eona carried her. "I'm ready." She said as she smoothed out a ruffle in the dress. So, I'm gonna need curry powder, rice, a candle, onion, chicken, lemon juice... Am I missing anything? Don't think so... I think that's it... She smiled broadly. "Do you know of a grocers where I can get fresh meat and onions? I hope you like the meal I have planned... My mother would make this dish and my father would have to be banished to his room so he didn't eat it before dinner!" She laughed slightly before taking a breath and sighing, realizing she hadn't eaten her mother's cooking for seven years. She then made a plan to write a letter to her parents after dinner.

Eona smiled, laughing at that mental image. "It sounds like it's going to be wonderful! I know exactly where to go! Careful here," she said, pointing to the path. "It's steep and rocky." She led the way down the steep path before setting off towards town. "I've got to get eggs, flour, sugar, food coloring,..." she trailed off, making herself a mental checklist. Perhaps that necklace will still be there... she mused. Her senses heightened to be on the lookout for danger as she had trained herself to be. The woods could be dangerous but not necessarily for her. Eona doubted there was anything scarier then herself in these woods. But habits died hard. Soon, they reached the edge of town and Eona turned to the market street.