Wings - Chapter 3: Family

-C-

Celcia sighed, offering an apologetic look to the pegasus.

'Be that as it may, I still reacted defensively.  I'm not sure if someone like me will ever be able to belong in a place like this.  I'm too different.'

She blocked the fleeting idea of her leaving to Mythril just a little too late.

-M-

Fitting in takes time.  This is your first time here.  I'm sure I wouldn't last long wherever you come from, either.

Mythril increased her altitude, then went into a glide, aimed towards the coast.

-C-

Celcia blinked, engrossed with that idea.  

'Good point.  Those humans - that boy in particular - wouldn't last a minute at home.'

Celcia knew from past experience that sea-water helped disinfect wounds, and intended to take a dip on reaching the coast.  Her side was beginning to bother her.

-M-

Mythril was now leading the way across the sky towards the coast.  As it began to come into view, she decided to show off a little to her partner.  Gaining a little extra altitude, she then performed a dive to gain speed, then arced up again, performed a counterclockwise barrel roll, a double loopdeloop, and a clockwise barrel roll, and finished by breaking through a cloud, dousing herself in condensed water.

As a winged pegasus, Mythril had a natural advantage when it came to agility.  Few other species would have been able to pull that complicated maneuver off as gracefully as she had.

-C-

Celcia chuckled, knowing better than to try and copy.

'Yes, Mythril, I haven't seen many who can fly like you.  I'm built for endurance, not agility.  I'm very jealous.'

Offering a smile, Celcia flapped through the cloud, the water collecting on her evaporating almost instantly at the heat inside her.  

'Maybe you are the best flier in the world.'

-M-

Mythril blushed a little.

Seriously...?  Nobody's ever called me that before!

The coast was approaching quickly.  Mythril pulled up and landed directly on top of a tall lighthouse with the same stall-landing technique she'd used before, scaring away a few seagulls that had chosen to perch there first.  She then looked to see where Celcia was.

-C-

Celcia zoomed past, tucking in her wings and shrinking her head back to minimize drag, shooting like a spear into the water, sighing in bliss as it washed away the dirt in the wound.  The sting from the salt felt slightly refreshing.  Remaining beneath the surface, she cleaned off her horns, scales, and claws before resurfacing, floating effortlessly, humming in delight.

-M-

From her lighthouse perch, Mythril watched Celcia bathe.  After a moment she jumped down and glided down to ground level, landing on a rock not far from the dragoness.

It was tempting to join, but Mythril hadn't brought her swimsuit, so instead she just watched.

-C-

Celcia cocked her head, curiously.

'Swimsuit?  Just get in with your clothes on; I'll dry you off afterwards if you wish.  Don't worry; I won't burn you.'

-M-

N... no thanks.

Mythril turned around and glided back to the sandy coast, where she began looking for seashells.

-C-

Celcia, satisfied the wound wouldn't get infected and that she was clean, scrambled out onto the sand and directed heated breaths over her body, drying herself off in a minute.  Flaps wings once to get rid of excess, scales gleaming.

'Good.  Hey Mythril!  ...What are you doing?'

-M-

Mythril turned around to see Celcia approaching her.

Not much.  Just gathering seashells.

She held up one seashell in particular which she had liked.  It was as shiny as Celcia's scales, and about the same color as well.  She put it in Celcia's hands.

-C-

Celcia peered at it, knowing it wasn't hers, but similar enough.

'Nice find.  It isn't one of mine, but still...nice.'

Grins at Mythril, giving her back the scale before blinking as rain begins to fall.  

She spreads a wing over Mythril's head to offer some protection, and growled.

'Just when I got dry...'

-M-

Mythril looked up at the falling rain as she took the shell back, reflexively folding her wings around herself in a shielding position.

Perhaps we should walk back.  I can't fly in this weather; rain gets in my eyes and I can't see where I'm going.

-C-

The dragoness nodded, keeping her wing over Mythril's head as an umbrella.  

'Lead the way.'

Slight steam comes off her as rain evaporates on contact.

-M-

Mythril began to pace in the opposite direction, headed for the wooden staircase leading from the beach up to the mainland.  From there she proceeded up to the top of the steps, one by one.  She paused for a moment to take off her shoe and shake some sand out of it, then put it back on.

-C-

Celcia made the coughing laugh sound again, the rain running straight off her scales.  Waiting for Mythril to rid herself of sand, she carried on as they headed back into the streets.  Most humans had gone, and only a select few (with umbrellas) remained.  Celcia ignored them; she really was tired now and wondered vaguely whether there was a cave nearby that she could sleep in.

-M-

Once in the streets again, Mythril led Celcia on a specific route.  She seemed to know where she was going.

I didn't expect it to rain today.  Mother Nature sure can be sneaky sometimes.

-C-

'Where are we actually going, Mythril?  I've never seen caves like these before.'

Celcia wasn't bothered by the growing cold; the fire inside kept her warm; but her friend was beginning to shiver.

-M-

Mythril smiled a bit.

They're called houses.  You could say they're man-made caves.  They're typically a lot more comfortable, too.  I live in one of them with my mother; it's that white one up ahead on the left.

-C-

Celcia huffed in confusion.  Tilting her head, she grunted.

'Your mother?  Do you stay with your mother your entire life?  When a dragon first flies; around 2; we're kicked out the nest and left to fend for ourselves.  Cryo learnt before me, but I gained access to my Heartsoul a year before any dragon before.'

Celcia smiled in pride at that, also happy that she was a Fire; and it was keeping her warm.

-M-

Not my entire life, but I probably won't move out for another few years.  This society puts a greater value on family and togetherness than yours does.  Typically a person lives with their parents until they're at least eighteen.

Mythril bowed her head.  My mother's a widow.  Her husband- my father- was killed in a plane crash when I was younger.  I still have nightmares about it sometimes.

-C-

Celcia sighed.  Although her kind were mainly solitary and nomadic, she still felt loss.  She could understand what this creature felt, grieving for a loved one.  Celcia didn't know what she'd do if Cryo was killed.

'If...I knew what a plane was, I'd be able to offer more consolation,' Celcia offered sympathetically, sending out soothing a probing messages to try and calm Mythril somewhat.  

'I'm sure you've heard it before, but look at it this way.  The Almighty Dragonsooth, I'm sure, would've smiled on your father, and he's gone to a place where he'll always be happy.  And, technically, you'll see him again.'  

Celcia smiled.  

'Us dragons always look on the brighter side of death.  It happens to us all; just not always in the same way.'

-M-

Mythril wasn't sure how to react to Celcia's words of reassurance.  Still, she quickly arrived at her own front door, and knocked firmly on it.  A moment later, her mother opened the door from the inside.

"Oh!  Hello, Mythril.  I was worried about you.  Who's that with you?  The two of you must be soaked.  I'll go get you a towel so you can dry off."

Mythril barely had a chance to speak before her mother walked away.

-C-

'Your mother seems to have a kind soul.'

Celcia, who had never had a maternal love lavished upon her, wondered how to react to Mythril's mother.

'Will she care about me talking through thoughts, or should I keep silent?'

-M-

Mythril looked up at Celcia.

I think she'll be all right with it as long as you explain yourself.  She's not a rare case; a lot of mothers in this society are like that.  I suppose you have a hard time imagining that, though.

At that point, her mother returned with a towel.  Mythril took it and begin drying herself off while her mother looked at Celcia.

"I don't believe I've ever seen you around here before.  What's your name?"

-C-

Celcia, feeling a lot more nervous than she should, swallowed and followed Mythril inside, flicking her head to ensure her horns didn't damage the doorframe.

'I'm Celcia.  Celcia the Dragoness.  It's...uh, nice to meet you.'

-M-

Mythril's mother hesitated to respond.  It wasn't hard to see why.

"It's all right.  She always talks like that," Mythril volunteered.  "She can't talk out loud because she doesn't have very good vocal chords."

"Oh, well then.  (To Celcia) It's nice to meet you, Celcia.  I've never met a telepath before.  I'm Mythril's mother.  You can call me Elizabeth."  She extended her hand for a handshake.

-C-

Celcia, getting encouragement from Mythril, made sure to not even graze her hand with her dangerous claws when she shook it, hoping the constantly warm scales wouldn't repulse her in any way.

'I apologize for bearing on you like this; we've had a little...um...hiccup in town today.  I hope you don't mind.'

-M-

Elizabeth blinked.  "A... hiccup?"

Mythril sighed.  "It would've been hard to prevent.  She's from far away, and many details of our society are new to her."

-C-

Celcia took the towel offered and began to rub it over her scales, not wanting to use her hot breath again in case she set something on fire.

'I had a disagreement with the authorities.  I...destroyed one of their cars and knocked out a couple of officers.  I have Mythril to thank actually for stopping it.  She's very brave.'

Celcia closed her eyes, face flaming in humiliation as she accidentally caught the towel over one of the spikes along her jaw and it tore cleanly through it.  Her other fist clenched, and she gritted her teeth, smoke escaping slightly.

'I'm just a nuisance.  Almost everything I touch I wreck.  Maybe I should just go.'

-M-

Elizabeth winced slightly as the towel was torn, but didn't seem that concerned about it as she took it back.

"Oh, that can be sewn up.  It's not my favorite towel anyway."

(Mythril) It just takes time, Celcia.  It's not impossible for a bull to walk through a china shop without breaking anything.

-C-

'The bull doesn't stand a chance against the dragon that could rip it to shreds and scorch it into the next life without breaking a sweat.'

Celcia glanced fleetingly at the closed door.

'Maybe I should just go out and catch the wind current home.  I don't think you quite understand how I'm risking your life just by being here.  If I don't pay attention every exhale of breath, my horns and claws when I turn around; I could kill you, quite easily, by complete accident.  Can you understand that, Mythril?  What can I do to make you understand that?  I'm a predator, and nothing will ever change that.'

-M-

Mythril hesitated for a moment.  Maybe Celcia was right... then again, she had a hard time saying goodbye to her so soon after they'd met...

I... it... it's your decision, Celcia.  I'm not going to argue with you one way or the other.

-C-

Good.  She wasn't going to argue.  Celcia turned for the door; and hesitated.  She didn't want to leave...

'I...It's not that I don't...I'll never be able to thank you enough for showing me such undue kindness, Mythril.  It's just...I'm scared of what I could do to you or your mother...I just...'

WHUMP.

Celcia stiffened and growled reflexively, staring at the door.  Something rather heavy had just thumped down behind it, and she spread her leathery wings slightly to try and shield Mythril and her mother somewhat.

Then the door opened, as if by someone who had no idea what a door was, and Celcia went completely still as she saw who it was, a surprised hiss emanating form her parted lips.

'Cryo...?'

Her brother was quite a bit bigger than she was, with pale blue scales lathering her body and with a darker blue underside with the same aqua green eyes, and a much wider, thicker set of horns.  Frost clung to him slightly.

His deep, harsh voice filtered through to all in the room.

'Cel, what the HELL did you think you were doing?'