Reflections of Another World

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Hyaska's breathing deepened as the dragon stirred and began to wake, his great coiled serpentine body shifting with the action. Subtly ears twitched, almost as though agitated, murmuring voices disturbing them in a susurrus of whispers and hushed exclamations just within range of hearing but just without to clearly decipher the contents wherein. That alone would have caused no reason for Hyaska to hasten his awakening, for while he could not seem to recall when he had actually fallen asleep, the attention and awe of the humankind at one of his, be he in the skies, answering their prayers, or resting such as now, was not something he had never experienced before or found surprising. He didn't realize there had been a settlement nearby the lake, but his thoughts and mind had been wandering, and his attention lapsed.[break][break]

The smell, however, was not the one Hyaska recalled when he had first alighted beside the lake to gaze upon the water's surface. It was floral, heady with the thick and sweet scent of strange flowers and laced with the earthier scent of other plants, none of which seemed familiar. The thought that the scent might emanate from offerings brought, to beg favors or try to appease the dragon, struck either in wide-eyed wonder, or perhaps in fear for the one powerful enough to steal the sun in his anguish, was not one that Hyaska didn't consider, but another detail was striking, and did not allow for a similar explanation or reasoning.

Hyaska could smell the salt and sharp tang of the sea.[break][break]

Dark eyes opened, and carefully Hyaska lifted his great head, his gaze moving slowly but carefully as he took in the details of his surroundings. Where he lay now, his undulating body half coiled around itself in the sand and shallow waters of a pool, was most certainly not the lake where he had contemplated upon his own visage, nor any other place which he had a recollection of ever being. Sand wooshed softly with the shift of his tufted tail as it slid along the sandy earth. He was surrounded by a garden, seemingly purposefully planted, the flora none that he recognized, but vibrant with dark green foliage and leaves contrasted by blooming flowers of violet, azure, and emerald. The scent was strong, almost bothersome to his senses, but seemed to have been cultivated to create an atmosphere of pleasant calmness to one with weaker senses.[break][break]

Hyaska's gaze turned to the small gather of people who had gone quiet save for their initial surprised gasps when he had raised his head. Just under half a dozen gathered close to him, children mostly, though one seemed older, his gaze dark and wary. Watching over the young ones then. They were human-like in appearance, with a two of the children seemingly completely human, but the older one bore scales and a frilled crest about his jaw and along his head, along with one of the younger girls who had webbed aquatic feet and a great many shiny turquoise scales. The youngest boy was half-submerged in the pool of water, and after brief examination, Hyaska determined that his lower body was similar to that of a fish, a thick and strong tail ending in a fin.[break][break]

After a moment, Hyaska's silent gaze heavy upon the group, one of the older children, a curious-looking male, stepped forward, even as the oldest male scowled slightly, uncertainly, and made as though trying to decide if he should pull them back. Tenderly, a voice, quivering somewhat but eager in tone, spoke up, addressing Hyaska. "H-hello! Welcome to Probos Other-Worlder! This is Myrtle Village!" He was excited, and seemed to gain confidence as he spoke and Hyaska blinked slowly in response, the giant beast's attention directly upon him now. Seeming to have finished his introduction, he hesitated a bit, clearing his throat, then spoke up again, his curiosity finally breaching forth. "I'm Miklan! Who... and what are you?"[break][break]

For a moment, Hyaska remained silent, considering the question, and Miklan's smile began to grow nervous as he fidgeted, his gaze darting to his companions, who either returned it with uncertainty or were too raptly looking upon the dragon to notice. Finally, Hyaska chose his words, his voice a low and smooth rumble. "I am Hyaska little one. I am a dragon." The older male's face seemed to pale slightly, but Miklan and the other children immediately lit up in wonder at his response, eyes going wide with breathy whispers. The concept of a dragon was familiar then, in some aspect at least, and held some amount of presence to it.[break][break]

Taking in this information, Hyaska carefully studied his surroundings again, posing his own question finally. "You called me Other-Worlder. What does that title mean? And what is Probos?" His gaze returned to Miklan, steady and deep as the ocean's waters. The boy turned, looking at the older male a moment, as though waiting for permission silently, and hesitantly, the older male grimaced then stepped up, steeling himself. "Probos is the name of this world. But you are better off getting answers from the Adventurer's Guild, they handle Other-Worlders." His tone was slightly snappy, either afraid or just aggressive and impatient by nature, but the information was direct, and gave an answer to one of Hyaska's questions and guidance towards the other one. Slowly, the dragon offered a nod in acknowledgment.[break][break]

The older male shot a gaze towards the youngest in the water, drifting slowly closer to Hyaska as though trying to touch the dragon's scales, and with a resigned look in his eyes, the boy moved towards the shore, his face scrunching in concentration before his tail began to shorten and shift, splitting into two and becoming human feet and legs as he scrambled onto land again. The oldest made a shooing motion, scowling until the children, save for Miklan who stubbornly shot a look back and stayed his ground, moved away and dispersed towards the simple wooden huts and shacks that seemed to make up "Myrtle Village" as Miklan had named it. "Here..." The older male began. "I'll lead you to the shack. You won't fit inside, but someone can come out and help you" There didn't seem to be any question to his statement, or room to disagree, his gaze seemingly dubious as he glanced at Hyaska's giant scaled body.[break][break]

Hyaska rumbled softly, but bided what annoyance he had, and shook his head. If these people, whatever species they might be, were capable of changing their form, then he saw no reason not to take up one more.. accommodating to their environment. Closing his eyes, he focused, and willed himself down. It was harder then he remembered it being, the burning itch of his body reshaping itself taking longer and more force of will then it used to, but perhaps it had simply been too long a time since he had walked the earth on two feet. When dark eyes opened again, Two staring sets of eyes met his, his own slender arms reaching back to sweep dark locks into a short ponytail, the bronzed skin of his human form still always odd compared to his much larger scaled one, but an almost strangely comforting shape to take again, his clothing and shape one he remembered from long ago when he walked among humankind more often...[break][break]

After a long moment, the older male shook his head, seemingly trying to clear his mind, and turned on his heel, marching off. Miklan gestured cheerily for Hyaska to follow, and fell in step as soon as Hyaska began to walk. "Don't mind Zane!" He chirped, still taking in Hyaska with wide and wonder-filled eyes, filling the short journey with eager chatter, urged on by the occasional response and quiet attentiveness of the strange man beside him. "He's a bit of a grump but he's good folk, and his grandma is a real nice lady! You'll probably get to meet Granny Nanai sometime! Maybe I can show you around or hang out after you get settled at the Guild? Or maybe you can tell me where you come from, Other-Worlders always seem to have the best stories..."[break][break]

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