The Edge

chapter four

i shook my head lightly and gripped Joon's scales tightly.

"volire." [fly]

following my command, Joon lifted up and ascended.

J: we live within this volcano called the fires of the drakari. long ago this was our birthplace, so we remain nearby. many drakari leave and find companions but eventually return for the comfort of home. it possesses a variety of landscapes to accommodate the drakari from around the world.

i glanced below and watched the forest we left begin to shift into desert lands. the drakari that flew in this new desert land were shades of brown resembling the tones of sand particles that made up the beach behind my mother's house. i was attempting to process everything that had occurred but failed seeing as everywhere i looked there was something marvelous.

J: as i stated, there are twelve main species and each has different lands, those lands are mimicked here. the drakari begin to differ in scales, color, and other features accordingly to best fit their environment.

science. depending on the landscape, the species would begin to adapt and phenotypes would then begin to vary. it made sense despite all of the newfound information i had been introduced to so far.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "are all the species of drakari just variations? then it wouldn't really be twelve species of creatures, would it?"

J: only the drakari can enter through the fires. you will learn of the others in due time.

i nodded and continued to look around in amazement.

he guided me through the different lands within the volcano. Joon descended in each one to have me personally meet every drakari type. he explained that i had the ability to speak through my mind with all of the creatures which made it easy to communicate. though it was a bit odd to suddenly learn that they had minds of their own as well as unique personalities. perhaps all creatures were similar but could just not communicate with humans back on my home planet.

i grew tired and laid my head on Joon's scales. we had covered all 12 different environments and i was socially exhausted. formalities were something i detested and always avoided. it was the very reason i hired an assistant to represent me during certain HALA meetings.

a sudden lack of gravity made me jerk. it felt like we were lowering ourselves, but i couldn't be bothered to lift my head.

the swaying movement of our descent began lulling me to sleep. and soon, i fell into a deep slumber on the back of a drakari on a foreign planet.

-

i nuzzled my head into a rough surface that oddly enough was warm. i twisted and recalled what seemed like the weirdest dream. so, i lifted my upper half and rubbed my eyes awake.

it wasn't a dream.

i was staring at a forest with a giant lake and drakari flying and hidden in their cliff edges. i glanced over to the side to see Joon beginning to rise.

a thump on the floor made me whirl around to see clothing dropped off by a drakari.

"thank you," i spoke on deaf ears as the creature flew away.

J: you may change behind me.

i grabbed the clothing and moved behind Joon. the clothing was interesting. it resembled the armor of the romans. i had what seemed like a fitted top and a skirt, both a crimson red. i felt exposed and there were no shoes available.

J: you don't need shoes for training. in your natural state, your instincts will take offer hence the lack of clothing. the skirt offers mobility.