~CHAPTER 3~
Nubian flew above the mountainous landscape. Ohh, I feel so cold and my ears hurt. I don’t like this high altitude. But what do I like?
Nubian couldn’t remember. In fact, he had no memories of anything past a few days ago. He only remembered a few things- beautiful things, violent things, memories that haunted his sleep at night and vanished in the day.
He remembered basking in warm sunlight, flashes of gold light, the soft sand sliding across his talons. The warm breeze, the coolness of night. And then, screams. Blood splattering across his scales. Ripping dragons apart with his bare talons. The murder of an innocent dragonet, screaming in agony as each of her scales were engulfed in flames… and then, utter silence. Pure, deepness, peace. Rest.
And then he remembered waking up underground. He remembered roaming, almost completely blinded by the earthy coolness. Then the sounds of an underground rockfall, a collapse, being sucked into sinkhole, and then waking up… completely fine, no memory, except that his name was Nubian and he liked sand, and those few, precious seconds of beautiful, serene peace and those terrifying seconds that he wished to forget. But he couldn’t. Every time he tried to, he would find them back in his head, clearer and even more detailed.
He dove down slightly, and dragged his talons in the cool, gushing stream. Something about this feeling seemed familiar, as if he had done this before, years ago. But I couldn’t have. I don’t remember doing this before.
His talons caught on something slippery. A fish, he recognized. He lifted it out of the water. Its scales glistened, catching the last rays of the setting sun. Like Algific’s scales…
Nubian had a crush on her. She was beautiful. Her eyes, like glimmering arctic night sky, luminous and perfect and unique. Her scales stood out. They were glittery and amazing, far more stunning than the effects of a mere RainWing. He loved her regal and unapproachable personality; her strength and her smooth voice. She and him were meant to be. He could feel it in his bones.
He saw her sitting on a grassy cliffside overlooking the river. She was skewering a fish.
Such grace! Nubian thought. I just need to get her attention…
. . .
Algific chewed her fish. Salmon, she thought. Urgh. Nothing like arctic cod. She looked up to see a shape winging toward her. The SandWing, she recognized. Nubian. The one with sand for brains.
He landed in front of her, a creepy grin plastered on his face. “Hi.” he said in a slightly hoarse voice. “May I sit next to you?”
“Oh. Sure.” said Algific, slightly embarrassed. She nudged sideways, trying to edge away from him.
He was actually quite handsome, actually, once she looked at him a little closer. His pale scales were pristine, not dusty like most of the SandWings she’d seen, who spent their free time rolling in the sand and had little care for hygiene. But this SandWing, he smelled like pine trees, that nice foresty feeling of the wintry woods of the Ice Kingdom.
Nubian also was strong. He had large muscles, rippling with power, but he was wiry and agile, like a tough but gentle dragon. His face was friendly and good-natured, but he was a bit freaky because he grinned too much. And in such a weird way, too! It looked more like he was baring his gums than smiling. Algific was sure she had never seen him frown once.
He smiled warmly and held out his fish. “I got this for you.” For me? But why me? I’ve never been nice to him. So why is he being so outwardly friendly?
She remembered vague memories of her “parents”, beckoning with outwardly friendly gifts, a happy surprise every day; treating her like her scales were made of diamonds. But then they showed their true colors. They made her do things she never wanted to do, such as pulling heavy lifts, breaking stones with her tail, or any kind of absurd task they asked. She was underfed and starved. She was, in short, their slave. Even her sisters and brothers were pampered and overfed and were given all rights to bully her and treat her like a seal carcass.
She never understood what she did to deserve such treatment. She never did. So she ran away, flew far from home and never returned.
Algific bit into the fish. Mmm. Mackerel. How did he know I liked it? She turned to look at him. Nubian was staring wistfully at the setting sun, which reflected off his black eyes, spraying orange sparks across his optics.
“It’s a beautiful evening.” said Algific, trying to break the awkward silence. He turned to look at her, his eyes misting a little. “You are far more beautiful than the evening. Your eyes are like night. They are amazing.”
“Excuse me?” said Algific, fluffing up her back spines defensively. “Don’t you get all mushy and romantic with me, sand-brain. I don’t want to be in a relationship with you.” She pushed him with her back talons.
She flew off the cliff without a glance back at him, but guilt was creeping into her like icy vines wrapping over her heart. That was rude, she told herself. I shouldn’t have done that.
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