The New Planet (closed)

[JadeKnight]

Draco didn't say anything further as she walked away, watching her for a few moments. Once she was gone, he waited for a little longer before releasing the humanoid form to return to his natural state. Satisfied with how things went, he laid down in the sand. He had no idea how long it would take for her to talk to her grandfather, but he had plenty of time. He had all the time in the world.

As the day wore on, he remained hidden there in the little secluded area of the beach. Many times his thoughts went to the possiblity of her grandfather refusing his request, making him chuckle, well it was more of a rumble in his throat. He knew he had basically given them an ultimatum on what to do, obey him or die. He didn't know how the winters were on this island, but their recent misfortunes didn't place things in their favor.

After all, he was supplying them with food as they were unable to go hunt for themselves. Even if they were able to survive through the winter, it would take them a bit to rebuild enough boats to leave the island with everyone and all their livestock. He had planned on leaving the island when it grew warmer, seeing what this new world held.

It was nearly afternoon when Draco decided to leave the secluded area. His focus was one the darkening clouds on the horizon as he walked down into view of the village. He could smell the rain that was coming, and flashes of lightning dancing across the sky. A chill was in the air as more snow was falling on the island, and he figured the storm was going to make things worse. The mixing weather was probably going to bring freezing rain and ice.

 

[dutchrain]

The calm strides of Kylikki's long legs took her back to the hill and up to the wall around the hilltop in too short a time, even if she took the long way up and skipped the shortcuts. She halted at the wall.

Draco expected them to jump in circles around him because he brought them fish every few days. It seemed he thought they would have a hard time surviving the winter without the food he brought them. Kylikki turned and looked at the sheep grazing on the other hill. Eight. Each would add meat and fat to their diet for at least a week. But for now they were free to roam the island, eat what they wanted and when they wanted and get a bit of wool back on them before they would butcher them.

The pigs. Also eight. In a normal year they would have butchered one or two already but now, today, they would start with their eldest -and dry- cow. She had been on the list anyway. She would feed them all for two to three weeks. Tonight they would eat blood-soup! Kylikki licked her lips. The thick, rich porridge like stew made of blood, wheat, rye, herbs, dry beans and brain was one of her favorite dishes. They only made it when one of the bigger livestock was butchered and only of they butchered a cow they had enough of it after everyone had eaten enough to fill one or two of the cows stomachs and dry it to feast on slices of black pudding in four to five weeks.

Draco had arrived after they harvested the wheat and the rye and the apples and pears. It was all stocked in large containers. The only thing they had lost from the harvest was the straw. That had been left on the place where they had threshed the wheat and the rye. The last golden corns had been transported up the hill a day before the wave rolled over their fields. The apples too. Irma, Jurg and Kylikki had made many a trip up the hill pulling a heavy cart.

On the day the wave arrived, only their clothes, pans and pots, cutlery and ...

"Kylikki," her grandfather's rumbling voice ripped her out off her thoughts. "Where are you?"

She smiled at the tall, a bit stooped man with one of their biggest baskets in his hands, standing beside her.

"Here grandfather, thinking about how well provided we are. Since we decided we won't take any of the livestock with us when we move, we will be eating meat almost every day!"

"And fish," her grandfather chuckled. "Come with me, Kylikki."

Together they walked down the hill again, over the island, Kylikki carrying the big basket. They chatted a bit, about how well the huts were isolated now, about their favorite dishes, about living on the big island next summer with their kinfolk.

"I hope we arrive early enough to cultivate a few fields for the next winter," was the only slightly bitter remark her grandfather made. It stopped their chitchat. Lost in thoughts of their own they walked to the second peat field -almost in the middle of the island- which was covered with mooseberry bushes. For a while they picked the slightly shriveled berries. After a few cold nights, when the frost had dried the berries and sweetened them, was the best time to pick.

"Are we going to fill this basket?" Kylikki asked him after many handfuls only covered the bottom of the basket.

He chuckled and shook his head. He looked around.

"Do you know where the dragon is?"

"He was on the beach earlier. In the corner behind the big hill."

"Good. Come over here, and take the basket with you."

Kylikki followed him to a rocky spot on one of the low hills. She helped him roll a few of the rocks away. Then she lifted a wooden slab out off the way and her grandfather got down on his knees and eased a small chest out off a little hole. Kylikki held her breath until the old man had placed it in the basket. She knew what was inside. She also knew this chest would travel with the first boat that would leave the island, together with the young children and their mothers. They were the most vulnerable ones, the others would very well be able to make a living without having the treasure to fall back on.

They covered the chest with dry bristle, and picked many more handfuls of mooseberries. At last they put the wooden slab over the basket and, each taking a handle, they made their way back home.

Kylikki scolded herself. She shouldn't start to think of the huts as homes now. Then she shrugged her shoulders. Her stomach rumbled.

"Could we make a pause? I have a piece of bread we could share," she offered her grandfather.

He grinned.

"Good idea. Stale bread, knowing you, I bet you grabbed it from the pigs' pile this morning, and berries will make a nice second breakfast."

"First breakfast," Kylikki grinned as she sat down on an inviting rock.

Munching the berries and most of the bread Kylikki told her grandfather everything she had learned from the dragon this morning.

He was silent for quite a while. Then he put his hand on her shoulder and leaned his brow against hers for a moment.

"Kylikki, teach him. I'll tell the others what they need to know, why I changed my mind. Be careful, my granddaughter. Spend time with him, as much as you want, but be careful."

Kylikki nodded.

They did not talk about it anymore, but helped the others with the daily chores and cutting and curing the cow's meat and hide.

Late in the evening Kylikki donned her leather cape, the wind was icy, but she wanted to take a little walk. Her stomach needed it. The storm was nearing, and would stay a while. She pulled the hood over her head, and took the long way down. The path was very, very well trodden now.

Her feet brought her to he beach.

 

[JadeKnight]

He was still on the beach when Kylikki came down, watching the approaching storm. Her scent floated to him on the chilly wind, causing him to look back at her for a few moments. The edges of his muzzle lifted like he was trying to smile for a moment before looking back at the storm. The leading edge was just over a mile away and getting closer by the minute, the wind picking up. He looked back at her once more before lifting into the air, hovering there.

I would suggest finding shelter till the storm is over. It should only be a day or two, but I shall find you again.

He left her on the beach, heading back to his nest. While the storm raged outside, for the little time it was there, he spent his time making the place more hospitable. New torches were placed in the old stone holders, ready to be lit when needed. He fire-blasted the altar to erase the signs of blood, completely blackening the stone alter. To keep the warmth captured in the nest, but allow smoke from the torches to escape, he conjured up a magical curtain of shadows halfway down the tunnel. It wasn't much, but it would have to do while Kylikki was going to be there.

He hadn't planned on showing anyone else his humanoid form yet, and they couldn't say out in the winter weather, so his nest was the only option. The ice storm lasted for just over a day, after which Draco began to examine the beach below stair-carved wall. A path did lead from the village down to the beach, but the former inhabitants had blacked the passage with large boulders. It took a bit of time, but he cleared the opening so that his cave could be reached via a very over-grown path.

 

[dutchrain]

Draco was a dragon again. Kylikki almost sighed with relief. When he looked like a man this morning he had been much more disturbing to her. He looked at her, and grinned before he took off.

"I would suggest finding shelter till the storm is over. It should only be a day or two, but I shall find you again."


Kylikki shrugged her shoulders. Nice weather was nice, bad weather wasn't bad. Certainly a storm like the one arriving now wasn't bad enough to stay in a sheltered place. Tomorrow morning some of them would gather a lot of shrubbery to build a wall in the cow pen, with the sleet the storm promised and snow, which would arrive soon, the shrubbery would form the base of a stabile wall which would only start to crumble in the late spring. The cows and pigs would love to hide behind it, it would keep the wind away from them.

Kylikki stayed on the beach for a little while before she walked back.

The next morning she dressed in linen underwear, long-sleeved shirt and long-legged leggings, pulled a felt sweater on and wound long stripes of felt around her legs before she slipped in her leather leggings and her vest. Breakfast was a marvelous thick soup with marrow. It had been simmering all night and smelled divine. Kylikki winked at the fat eyes shimmering in her bowl.

With two sleighs she and six others made three trips to collect died and dried shrubbery before they had lunch. Three more trips in the afternoon, and the chore was done. The others meanwhile had butchered one of the sheep. Kylikki was not overly fond of the strong taste of the meat, but with a lot of mint sauce it wasn't too bad.

The next day the storm lessened. The cows and pigs however, huddled close together behind the wall.

"We could put them in one pen, enlarge the cow's pen and use the wood of the pig's pen to build a shelter for the peat," Edna offered while she opened the pen after she and Ingrid milked the cows. Each of them carried two buckets of milk. Each day now they had had four buckets of milk. The first week they had butchered one of the calfs and most of the milk had been used to make cheese, and every three days they had added a large wheel to the stack. Ten big wheels, some covered with a thin layer of wax, some smoked. Now they didn't have any rennet left and would make thick, sour milk in yesterdays sheep's stomach. After that it would be cold enough to scoop the cream off the milk for a few days in a row and make butter on day three or four. They would do this until all the cows fell dry.

Only then they would start to butcher the pigs, since the pigs were the only ones who could deal with the amount of whey and buttermilk left over from cheese and butter making. The family drank milk, all of them, but four buckets a day was too much for them to deal with.

Late that afternoon Kylikki sat on a boulder, sipping from a horn filled with thick, creamy milk and carefully kicked the full sheep stomach, hung between tow low posts, when it stopped moving.

 

[JadeKnight]

The ground along the path had been laced with salt, thoroughly, by the former inhabitants from the edge of the beach to a few feet from the edge of Kylikki's village. If one was to stumble on the trail, they would have had to go in at least a quarter mile before finding the six inch line that the trail consisted of. Due to natural forces, the path was broken up in places by rocks and a few trees, but a bit of searching would keep one within the path.

With the ice-storm that came through, a few branches had broken off in several places in the forest, partly obscuring the way. Draco spent the morning after the ice storm in human form, clearing the path as best as he could, breaking apart the wood and piling it up in his nest for fuel to keep the cavern warm while Kylikki would be in there. The changes in temperature didn't bother him much, but he did prefer a very warm place.

Deciding it was time to meet her, Draco shifted into his natural state, flying into the air above the island. He took a few minutes to circle above the island to survey the aftermath of the storm. Much of the island had ice over it, but the village had survived pretty well. The forest was a blanket of ice, glittering at various angles.

It took a little longer for him to spot Kylikki on a boulder near the village, and he dropped down a distance from her. He folded his wings behind him as he looked in her direction.

I see your people fared rather well through the storm. So what is your answer in teaching me more about you and your people? I also was able to clear a path through the forest so you may come to my nest where we can spend time in a more private setting, so we won't be disturbed. I will warn you that some amount of climbing will be required to reach the nest, but it will be plenty warm for you.

 

[dutchrain]

Words streamed into Kylikki's head as soon as Draco folded his wings.

Forest? What forest was he talking about? The firs her grandfather planted? On the hill at the back of the valley? She caught his gaze, to the mountain to the right of their hill. They never had climbed it. It was just rocks. At the seaside two other, smaller hills, as rocky as the big one, blocked it from view. There might be a small valley there, but they never explored it. The mountain was just too uninviting, the others were grassy, or covered in shrubbery, dwarf gorse, mooseberry, bramble and a few others. She shook her head slightly, concentrated on the rest of his words.

"I will teach you. I am not afraid of climbing." Kylikki got to her feet, drank the last milk, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and looked around. Draco had spent much time, and many nights, on the top of the highest hill, Kylikki had been curious why and now that he talked about a nest, she wondered if he meant that top, the spot he often rested. But it wouldn't be warm there. The only way to reach it, would be over the beach, around the small hill or maybe over it, to reach the other side of the mountain Draco's nest was on.

She had two, maybe two and a half hours of daylight left.

"I'll look for the path to your nest now, but I might have to return before I arrive. I need light to find my way."

She called two of her young nieces over to keep the milk filled stomach moving.

"I'll be away a bit," she told them. "I might be late for dinner." She waved at them and climbed quickly down the hill after she got her cloak. She still thought the small hill almost blocking the new beach would be her best option to reach Draco's nest.

To her big surprise she found a kind of trail low on that hill. It was very rocky, very difficult to find, but it was there. It mainly consisted of boulders not being there where they should be. Very carefully, well aware of the sea not far below her, she continued her way. Suddenly she almost stumbled.

She had almost rounded the hill, stood where none of them had stood before. It was a forest! The valley between the three hills was filled with trees. Not much grass, no shrubbery, but trees. Firs, and a few birch trees if she was right.

The trail became broader, but also more difficult to follow, sometimes a boulder or a tree blocked her way. Kylikki touched the trees, wondering why they never had been here. The trees grew up to halfway the big mountain. Slowly Kylikki climbed the path or eyes on the wonder around her.

She held her ankle with one hand and rubbed her head with the other. A small rock had slipped from under her foot and she had tumbled down two or three man lengths.

 

[JadeKnight]

It made him happy that she had accepted the task of teaching him, giving a nod in response. He waited patiently for her to get ready to go and find the trail. He hadn't expected her to wait till the next day, but going immediately was just fine with him. He lifted into the air, hovering for a moment before flying over the forest, landing on some boulders near the entrance.

He watched her as she first made her way to the village and then back to where he was waiting. Her small stature helped her navigate the trail, making him admire the ability of her kind. He climbed along the mountain above the forest, keeping pace with her as much as he could. He was doing so just to make sure she could find her way, and make sure she didn't get in trouble.

She wasn't quite so lucky to him, as he watched her stumble and slid a bit down into a small ditch. He leaped from the mountain to above the forest where she had slipped. It only took a few seconds for him to revert to humanoid form, landing on the trail near her. He carefully walked down the short length to her, picking her up carefully as he supported her.

That was quite the tumble. I'll help you the rest of the walk.

He had the choice of carrying her or just helping support her in her walk. He didn't think she would like being carried very much, so he wrapped an arm around her carefully, getting just enough weight off her hurt foot so she could walk. With his help, it didn't take them much longer to make it out to the beach. He walked her out to the center of the beach so she could look up at the opening to his nest. He pointed his free hand towards the large opening.

There is where I make my nest. As you can see, it's a little bit of a climb to get there on your own. I'm not sure if you want to try right now or not.

He looked down at her for a moment.

Do you need any help back to the village? I can carry you on my back.

 

[dutchrain]

Kylikki had been pondering if it would be possible for the family to fell a few of the trees, and pull them back around the small hill blocking the valley from view, maybe floating them in the sea, and just pull them along on a long leash, when she missed her step and tumbled down.

They always could use wood. The firs her grandfather planted had grown and had been felled to build the houses and huts, and new ones had been planted every time. But they didn't have a lot of wood. They had been discussing felling them all to build a new boat, but that would have been a project for at least a year and a half, maybe two and a half.

Rubbing her ankle she hadn't noted Draco changing his shape and climbing down. She barely had been aware of him following her progress from higher up the mountain in his dragon form.

She yelped when she suddenly felt his arm around her waist, lifting her back to her feet.

"That was quite the tumble. I'll help you the rest of the walk."

She bit her lip and nodded. His warmth burned through her clothes. She wondered if he was that warm, if his body temperature was so much higher than hers, or if she just felt it like this because of, well, him being him and she being she.

Together they made it through the rest of the valley and arrived on a small beach. Her hip rubbed against his thigh with every step. After a few steps, her arm at an awkward position behind her, trying not to touch the back of Draco's leg and hindering her way of walking, she slipped it up around his waist. His skin felt strange under her hand. Smooth, and warm, hard but flexible, muscles moving beneath it, with just the hint of the scales he wore in his dragon form. Just the tiniest ridges on his skin, only tangible under her soft fingertips.

A few steps more, and they stood in the middle of the small beach and looked up the steep mountain side. She knew about this beach, but the steep mountain had never enticed them to anchor here and climb it.

High up there was an opening. It looked small, but Kylikki knew it would be big. Big enough for Draco to enter in his dragon form. Looking closely, she saw signs of a stairway leading up to it. From farther away, from a ship at sea, it wouldn't look like a stairway. The steps would disappear with the distance. She couldn't remember anyone ever talking about the opening. If anyone had seen it, they would have explored it, thus she concluded it must have been hidden. By boulders maybe. A few lay at the foot of the mountain, on the beach. Some of their sides gleaming, others dull, some places freshly chipped. These must have hidden the opening and Draco had cleared them away.

"There is where I make my nest. As you can see, it's a little bit of a climb to get there on your own. I'm not sure if you want to try right now or not."

Kylikki shook her head. It would be madness to climb the uneven stairway with her bruised ankle. Only the felt she wound around her foot and lower leg this morning was keeping a swelling at bay.

"Do you need any help back to the village? I can carry you on my back."

Kylikki gasped.

"Flying?" she breathed thrilled.

 

[JadeKnight]

Yes, flying. I can take you on a flight above the island before taking you home. And there's no need for you to hurry to come start teaching. Just come when you are ready.

He helped her over to a large boulder near the edge of the cliff that she was able to lean against. Once she was able to stand without his help, he moved away from her to the middle of the beach. He stood there for a moment, like a statue. His body was shrouded by shadows and fire dancing together before expanding into his natural state in a few seconds.

He spent a few moments store thing out before walking over to her. He stretched his right foot out in front of her.

Climb on and I will lift you up. Straddle the top of my neck once you are on and hold on.

With his neck stretched out along the ground in front of him, the center of his neck was the highest point he was able to reach so she could climb on. Three rows of foot tall ridges ran from the center of the top of his head, all the way down to halfway along his tail. There was a bit of space where she could sit between the ridges on his neck where he had lifted her up to. In addition to the curves spikes along the back of his head, there was a couple protruding near the middle of his neck she could hold on to.

Once she was settled, he spread his wings and leaped into the air. He flew high into the above to just below the clouds before gliding in slow circles above the island in a downward spiral. The air was crisp and chilly, and she would be able to feel the expanding and contracting of his neck muscles beneath her as he breathed.

The gentle glide took several minutes to complete, giving Kylikki time to see all she could. When he landed to drop her off, it was in the same place he dropped off the food.

Only come when you are ready, there is no need to rush.

 

[dutchrain]

Kylikki had never expected him to agree so quickly to flying her home. Being carried on someones back, walking, was normal. It was the decent thing to offer someone a bit handicapped. But sitting on someones back, and flying?

He even offered her a flight around the island! She had never seen the island from above. Not unless she climbed a hill or a mountain first.

With wide open eyes she watched Draco change shape. For a wonderful moment he was just fire and a few shadows. It never occurred to her to be afraid of flying. She had ridden on the cows, and once on the bull. She had sat on the top of the mast during many a stiff breeze. She had ridden a sleigh down the hills over the snow in the winter. She had bound boards under her feet and had thus sleighed down the hills.

Confidently she stepped on Draco's claw and swung her leg over his neck, between the ridges he had shown her, holding onto one of the spikes as she lifted her leg. She moved around a bit, found a comfortable position and tugged her cloak in over her legs to keep it from flying behind her.

She would have appreciated a little warning when he took off, she yelped surprised as she suddenly was lifted in the air. She bend forward, held on to the spikes, found them too smooth. A tiny moment she panicked, then found the spikes curved slightly and the best place to hold onto was just beneath the curve. She also clenched her legs against his neck, propping her feet against scales close to Draco's shoulders.

With mighty surges they rose higher and higher. Kylikki's hands and face grew icy cold, her legs, butt and stomach were wonderfully warm. She blinked tears out off her eyes, she would have loved to wipe them away with her hands, but she didn't dare to lift her hands from the spikes.

She felt the wind pull at her, sometimes more, sometimes less, and she discovered it correlated with the movements of Draco's wings. When he pulled them up, a quick move, she felt less pull, when he slashed them down, pushing the air away she felt a surge.

She also discovered he let the air stream out off his lungs when he pulled his wings up, and breathed in when he pushed the air away. His neck expanded while he breathed in and out, and narrowed in between.

Her eyeballs had been freezing cold and she had closed her eyes a while ago, only when she felt Draco's moves change she opened them. They were gliding through the air! He barely moved his wings. Kylikki changed her pose, sat up, and looked her eyes out. It was marvelous! Their island looked very small at first, and grew bigger as the glided down in big, leisure circles.

She wondered if her family was looking up. Some did, followed Draco with their eyes, some only glanced up and looked away again.

The passed a few seagulls. Kylikki whooped.

She saw a few small figures on the hill, and waved. They didn't look up at first, but on the next round Kylikki saw people running out off the huts and looking up into the air.

She lifted both hands from the spikes and waved them over her head.

Too soon to Kylikki's liking Draco landed and lifted his claw to help her descend. She leaned against his shoulder.

"Only come when you are ready, there is no need to rush."

She took a few steps back, his voice boomed in her head from this close up and bowed.

"Thank you very much. It was wonderful. I'll come tomorrow."

 

[JadeKnight]

After leaving Kylikki at her village, satisfied she was coming back the next day, he retreated by to the nest to continue to try and make it hospitable for her. He had never gotten close enough to see inside one of their huts, so he had no idea what to expect to make things comfortable for her.

He had a large stock pile of wood by the alter bowl, using that for the soon to be makeshift fire. Eight columns rings the alter, a torch ready to be lit hanging on each one. With the large area, unlit torches were placed in holder every few feet, a large alcove with a statue of reptiles within each in various states of wear.

When he woke the next morning, he lit each torch and had a roaring fire going by the altar. With everything lit, the large area was quite warm, but it felt just right to him. He went to the opening of the cave and sat down at the lip. He had no idea when she would arrive, but he didn't mind waiting for her, crossed-legged in humanoid form as he watched the waves.

 

[dutchrain]

"Me too, me too, why has he gone?" A little, urgent voice squealed beside Kylikki. She looked down, and saw her sister jumping around with excitement.

"He only let me sit on his back because I bruised my ankle," Kylikki soothed her. Pouting the little one took off, telling her mom and her aunt she had hurt her ankle too.

"It was three weeks ago, Agnes," her mother reminded her kindly. "Your foot hasn't hurt for weeks. Kylikki, let me look at your foot!"

A little while later Kylikki sat on a chest, her foot propped up on another one and her mother coated her ankle with arnica liniment.

The next morning her ankle was a little tender, but she found she could walk well enough if she wound a piece of leather tight around it. After she did her chores, she packed a few slices of bread and some meat in a pouch, and invited her grandfather for a walk. Together they walked towards the beach, Kylikki told him about the little hidden forest. He helped her to round the small hill and stared at the little forest as amazed as Kylikki had been the day before.

He kissed her on her brow after they had descended into the valley, gathered kindling in a the basket on his back and watched Kylikki disappear between the trees.

Quickly and surefooted enough Kylikki made it to the beach. She stared up to the opening high above her. Kylikki found the stairway easy to climb, although her ankle started to protest when she had mastered half of it. A little ledge looked inviting, and she sat down a while. The view over the sea was wonderful from this angle. She munched a bit of bread, drank a bit water and when her ankle stopped throbbing, she got to her feet again.

To her big surprise Draco sat in the opening when her head peeked over the last step.

"Hello," she breathed.

 

[JadeKnight]

Draco gave a little smile when Kylikki finally made it up the stairs, standing up.

Good to see you made it up. And you seem to be doing batter as well.

He reached a hand towards her, helping her up the last step and over the ledge. Her hand was engulfed by his, and soft to the touch. He let go after a moment, turning from her. As he moved to lead her down the path, his tail waved behind him slowly. It even waved behind her for a moment, smacking her shapely ass for a moment before he was out of reach. He didn't seem to notice yet.

My nest isn't much, but it's the best I can offer at this point. I am not even certain what passes for comfort for your people.

The walk down to the black curtain took about five minutes, the shadows wavering a little as he passed through it.

There is plenty of room for whatever you need to do.

 

[dutchrain]

Kylikki took a deep breath and rubbed her hand, Draco had almost pulled her over the ledge. In a way she was glad, because the steps ended in the middle of the opening and there was nothing one could use as a handhold unless one was prepared to climb the last steps on al fours.

"Thank you, my foot is a lot better." She ignored her ankle was throbbing like mad again from the climb. Her hand, he had held it longer than necessary, her hand had felt tiny in his big one, and his talons had added an extra dimension. Of protection, of force, or of intimidation, she wasn't sure. Maybe it was a mix. And his palm had been soft and warm. Not as soft as hers, but softer than the outside of his hand. Kylikki's fingertips had barely reached the outside of his hand.

Kylikki looked at his back as he entered the hole. She hoped it was deep enough the wind wouldn't reach everywhere.

Her hand clasped before her mouth she stifled the last half of a yelp. Something had slapped her butt! She looked around, her hand now on her butt, but the only thing she saw was Draco's back four steps ahead of her, and his twitching tail.

"My nest isn't much, but it's the best I can offer at this point. I am not even certain what passes for comfort for your people."

Her hand still on her butt, she followed him.

"Comfort is relative anyway. A boulder is a nice place to rest when you are working hard, but hopelessly hard to sleep on."

It was a tunnel they were in. A smooth, sloping down tunnel. It made a few curves and then was mostly straight. At one time they passed strange veils. Behind them the air was much warmer and it was lighter. Much lighter.

Kylikki looked around. She stood at the entrance of a big hole, a big room actually. There was a fire pit in the middle, but not on the floor, the fire burnt on top of a big, quadratic stone. There were many torches along the walls.

Shadows danced over statues. She looked closer. It were animals. Strange animals. Animals she had never seen or heard of. There was plenty of room. Her whole family could live here, and they would still have enough space to dance around the fire.

Turning her head back, she looked at Draco. It was warm here, very warm. Closer to the fire it would be even warmer. She opened the straps on her cloak. She folded it, and stood a bit awkwardly with it in her hands. There wasn't a peg in one of the walls to hang it from. She took a few steps inside and put her folded cloak on the floor. She opened her vest, took it off, and turned it inside out, putting it on the cloak. Why had she chosen this one, lined with fleece, this morning? She still wore her undershirt and her bright red, woven, woolen tunica over her leggings.

There wasn't a chest, or a ledge to sit on, so she sat down on the little pile of clothes.

She looked at Draco. He wanted to learn their language. She had pondered this, since he already spoke their language.

"Do you want speak a loud, with your mouth? Should I say the single letters we use to make words?"

 

[JadeKnight]

After entering his nest, he had turned to see how she would react to things as they were. He watched her get more comfortable for several moments, but he had the idea that what she was doing wasn't going to made for a suitable environment for her to stay in. He looked around at the large nest for a moment before looking back at her.

I believe that would have been the plan for me to learn to speak with the new tongue. After all, I doubt it is a natural thing for people to speak and communicate like this, correct?

He leaned back against the wall near her, folding his arms.

Feel free to setup up things how you need to get comfortable. I have plenty of space to set aside for your teaching.

He wasn't sure of the right word to call what she would need to do, but he would figure that out eventually. He lifted one hand to point at the ceiling.

If what I believe is correct, we are beneath your little village. And feel free to look around, but don't touch my bed.

He lowered his hand for a moment to point further across the cavern at the large glittering pile of gold and jewels that he had built it. It was a sizable amount, easily enough to finance a small kingdom if she had understood how he valued the items. However it was all just bedding right now.

 

[dutchrain]

"No, we say what have to say aloud, for everyone to hear. It is a bit awkward sometimes, and sometimes one wants only one person to hear what one says. Whispering would be a possibility, but it is considered very rude to whisper in company. In such a case it is better to wait until one is alone with the person one wants to speak to."

Kylikki looked at Draco, folded her good leg under her hurting one. He seemed very comfortable, leaning against the wall.

"Feel free to setup up things how you need to get comfortable. I have plenty of space to set aside for your teaching."

Kylikki almost missed his words, her eyes were drawn to a glimmer in his eyes.

"What?" She looked up at him again, craning her neck. "I don't understand what you mean. What do I need to set up? A table, chairs, books, a bookcase? Maybe a piece of slate and chalk? I don't need more space than I have now, sitting here, to teach you letters."

"If what I believe is correct, we are beneath your little village. And feel free to look around, but don't touch my bed."

Her eyes followed Draco's hand.

"We are under the village?" She jumped up, yelped as her ankle protested. She tried to recount her steps. Turned this way, and that way. Around the small hill, through the valley, to the beach. That had brought her at the other side of the mountain beside their hill. Then the tunnel, it had sloped down all the way, had made a few curves, then the long, straight stretch. "We are under the village ... Deep under the village."

Now she remembered Draco had mentioned his bed, and told her to not touch it.

"Why would I want to touch your bed?" She asked him indignantly. "It is your bed, not mine."

She peered in the direction he had pointed. And realized the vague shimmer she had noted out off the corner of her eyes, was what he had pointed at. She gasped when she understood what his bed was made off.

"That is your bed?" She giggled, more to mask her sudden nervousness than that she felt amused. "I hope it is comfortable. I prefer mine to sleep, mine is soft and warm, smells wonderful; it has a straw filled mattress covered with leather and sheepskins and more sheepskins and throws to cover me when I sleep."

 

[JadeKnight]

He gave a little smirk at Kylikki's explanation of what her bed was made on. He shook his head for a moment.

Yes, I find it quite comfortable. It has much more support than it sounds like your bed does. Too soft for support.

He unfolded his arms for a moment, stretching out a bit, his well defined muscles moving beneath his scale-like skin. He pulled away from the wall as he walked closer to her, peering down for a moment. He turned away fora moment as he looked at the cavern again.

As I was saying, if there is anything you want to bring in here to make your time here better, feel free to do so. I have plenty of space for you to work. And and help bringing things in, you just need to ask.

He took a deep breathe for a moment before glancing at her.

When would you like to start?

 

[dutchrain]

"Exactly enough support for me," Kylikki murmured. "Well, I am no dragon," she shrugged her shoulders.

Draco stretched himself, pushed away from the wall and walked over to Kylikki. She almost cringed when he peered down at her.

"As I was saying, if there is anything you want to bring in here to make your time here better, feel free to do so. I have plenty of space for you to work. And and help bringing things in, you just need to ask."

She relaxed. Now she understood what he had meant before.

"Maybe I'll bring a cushion sometime. Something soft to sit on." She grinned.

And grinned again.

"How about now? Say AAA ..."

 

[JadeKnight]

He blinked for a moment when she told him to say something. Well, she did want to get started like he had asked. He was quiet for a moment as he moved his tongue in his mouth for a few moments before crouching down in front of her. He opened his mouth a little, but what came out was more of a growl.

Frowning at his attempt, he tilted his head.

Show me.

 

[dutchrain]

Kylikki blinked at the growling sound gaming out off Draco's mouth. And at the smell. She did her best to ignore it.

"Show you. How? My mouth isn't half as big as yours." She thought for a moment.

"Keep your tongue relaxed. The tip at the roots of your lower teeth. Your lips wide. AAA ..."

He tried again. Kylikki bit her lip and studied the problem. Then she decided to show him the differences between the form of her mouth when she said A, O, E, U and I. She didn't make a sound, just showed the proper, albeit quite exaggerated, positions of her lips for each vowel.

"Don't make a sound. Don't even try to make a sound," she told him, "just imitate me."

Their gymnastics went on for quite a while, sometimes interrupted by giggles from Kylikki, and once she had to laugh so hard, she almost rolled from her seat.

Once they paused, Kylikki's stomach had started to grumble and she ate her bread, telling Draco what it was, what it was made from and how it was made. She offered him a taste.

After a few days, the vowels Draco made sounded good, and they progressed to the consonants. Kylikki couldn't come every day. Sometimes she had chores to do, sometimes the weather was too bad. On the third day she had brought a pillow, stuffed with wool, the fourth time she came to Draco's nest she brought a drinking horn, milk and cheese.

In the third week, during her fifteenth visit, she felt uneasy. Not at first, but a bit later. It was her moon time, and somehow she had the impression Draco reacted to the change in her scent. She took a deep breath, told him it was her moon time and that everything was perfectly alright. She didn't stay long that day and only returned after her moon time had passed.

 

[JadeKnight]

For Draco, the lessons were going well. When she wasn't there, he of course practiced on his own. From time to time he imagined what other dragons would have thought of him, but he had to push that thought aside. He still felt he was the last of his kind, and there was nothing he could do about that.

Kylikki had complained about how hot it was from time to time, so he did his best to tame that for her. By the time her moon time as she called it, he had extingushed all the torches except those around the area they stayed within and at the altar fire. The food she offered was interesting and delicious, a change from the fish and sea life he was always eating.

The scent she had given off did inded have an effect on him when it was her moon time. To him, she had taken on the scent of a fresh bloodied kill from the days when he was younger. He of course did not allude to this fact in front of her, and did his best to keep from going after her.

He also kept up his end of the deal, continuing to dive for food for himself and the village. The duty was also making him burn up more energy in competing with the colder water and currents, so he was bringing food to eat and share every couple of days. Most of the deepwater fish had begun to migrate, so he was having to go further and further out to sea. He did discover a new species of companion fish, so to speak, while he was diving.

A school of tiny fish was constantly swiming in and out of his mouth, nibbling at the remains of food stuck on his teeth and in his mouth. He got into a routine of staying underwater for a few minutes to let them work some, surface to breathe and then dive once more to repeat the process. It didn't take care of the fish breathe he always had, but it was similar to the birds on his planets that would hang around dragons to do the same thing.

 

[dutchrain]

Kylikki was tired. They had more chores to do than during a normal winter. Less leisure time, and most of her leisure time she spent with Draco. Except for the last week. Four weeks had passed since she first visited him in his nest and the winter had fully arrived.

Now she was leaning against a boulder on the path around the small hill. The stiff breeze blew small flocks of sea foam in her face. The path was slippery. She wondered if the island had been bigger once and this path much less dangerous. There was no snow on it, and not much ice because every high tide it was sprayed with salty droplets, but it still was wet. And wet rock made a slippery underground to walk on at any time.

On her back she felt the reassuring weight of her backpack. Draco liked most of the things she had brought him to taste and today she had a small jug with butter, one with honey, a piece of cheese, smoked fish and a whole loaf of bread and a rabbit skin filled with milk in it. She didn't bring much more with her than she would have eaten for lunch anyway but it still made a dent in their supplies. Her mother had shrugged her shoulders when Kylikki discussed it with her.

"We have enough, with the fish he brings." She arranged a few slices of dried meat and a roasted chicken leg on a plate. The plate was made out off wood, sanded and polished with wax until it reflexed the light. Around the edge it was adorned with a geometrical pattern. She handed it Kylikki after she wrapped it in a cured rabbit skin. "Try to keep it nice. Tell him it is little thank you from me, the last batch of fish had some wonderful mackerels in it. I wonder where he got them, they have disappeared from around here. He must have fished almost in sight of the mainland. And there is the extra wood we have now ..."

Kylikki had put the plate on top of the book she had put in her backpack. Irma had grumbled when she had asked her if she could bring Draco a book and together they had selected one with stories about far away countries. The extra wood was great. It made for much better tasting smoked fish than a peat fire.

Looking out over the sea, judging the waves, she waited a little longer to be sure no wave would spray up to where she was when she rounded the boulder, here the path was particularly difficult. Not really a path, it was as if the boulder had arrived long after the path was made. Kylikki wondered if she should ask Draco to pick her up at the beach and bring her there again when they were finished.

"Daughter!" Kylikki looked back at her father. Where had he come from? Sometimes he had accompanied her just as her grandfather had done earlier in the winter. They filled their backpack with kindling in the little forest -no-one had ever pruned the wood there- and her father had also felled a few birches and firs close to the path. They were still there, it was too difficult and dangerous to bring them home yet, but he chopped off the branches and bound them too a rack on his back.

She looked at the sturdy rope in his hands.

"Come here, let me put this around that boulder first," her father panted.

Kylikki went back a bit and they crossed. Standing where she stood before her father made a big loop in the rope and threw it over the boulder. A little while and some knots later it was easy to round the boulder. Together they entered the little valley. Her father got his ax out and pointed at a tree he felt ten days ago.

"I'll chop it up, and wait for you." He took his cloak off, spit in his hands and the rhythmic chops of his ax formed the background for the rest of Kylikki's way until she reached the beach. The stairway was covered in ice and snow for the most part. In the five days which had passed since Kylikki was last here, a few heavy snowfalls had occurred. Kylikki bound her spikes under her shoes, slipped in the over-gloves with the spikes on the inside of her hands and started to climb. Every so often she paused to study the next few steps. She tried to keep her mind on the task at hand, but her thoughts kept wandering to Draco. She hadn't learned much from him. She still didn't know if he was the only dragon, she didn't know what his plans where, except that he had assured her he would bring fish as long as the winter lasted. She had a vague notion -which she hadn't shared with anyone yet- he viewed them as if they were something pet-like.

 

[JadeKnight]

While waiting for Kylikki to return for her lessons, Draco had started exploring more of the cavern after she had left due to her moon time. A couple days after she was gone, his tail had knocked over a statue that was barely standing. With a loud crash, it has broken through a hastily covered doorway. The newly formed opening had opened the way into a series of tunnels and rooms going further into the island.

Draco didn't know anything about the previous owners, but it seemed they had been expert stone masons. The cave walls had been smoothed to a glass like finish, seemingly untouched by time. He had even found cryptic symbols everywhere, probably their language.

When he wasn't exploring the tunnels, he would wait at the nest opening to watch for Kylikki.

Having explored enough for the day, Draco headed out to watch for Kylikki. He was halfway up the tunnel when the crisp wind came in carrying a familiar scent. He grinned for a moment and continued onward. He arrived at the lip of the tunnel when Kylikki reached the top step. It took a moment for him to see her, crouching down.

"Would you like a hand?"

His practice of speaking was almost clear, but there was a noticeable rumble as his words flowed. He reached his hand down for her to take.

 

[dutchrain]

Kylikki was very pleased to hear Draco's voice. Somehow it was much less intrusive to hear him with her ears than in her mind. She could understand him very well, but she wasn't sure if someone else would. It was almost as if he spoke with an echo.

Automatically she reached her hand up and snapped it back at the last moment. The hasty move made her foot slip. With a soft curse she put it back, testing her hold a moment before she looked up at Draco.

"Spikes," she panted, turning her hand a second.

 

[JadeKnight]

Draco blinked for a moment when she reached out and then jerked her hand back. He chuckle-growled for a moment, but didn't pull his hand back.

"That's fine, just turn your hand around. Besides, my hide isn't that soft like your soft skin."

He flexed his fingers out wide for a moment before relaxing them again. He wasn't afraid of pain like that.