[ it won’t stop him from continuing to “catch fish”, anyway! as illustrative as the explaination was, sitting still would be like saying . . . he was right. he was totally right that he couldn’t catch fish. please, do all the work. he knows how hard hunting is.
and if he couldn’t catch one, his resoluteness as a dragon was meaningless. just because it was easier for him, all fish and thanks considered— it didn’t mean it was impossible for him. he just had to use his head, like with the creation of the knife stick.
a little dismissive but not outright brash in execution, he speaks up, hangs his head in a hover over the surface, and while he’s there’s, he observes how the human does it. ]
[Maybe it was a dragon thing, or just a this dragon thing. And even if it's not his intention, the words do come out harsh and brash. And after a day of them, when the boy is trying hard to get both of them dinner...]
Jeez, you sure like to give lots of commands. [Another stab into the water! He lifts his makeshift spear up with another fish] You first. When I sit down to cook mine, I won't want to get up again. So I'm saving mine for last.
[He holds out another fish for the dragon. Eat up you brash lizard]
but, the right words have been said for him to consider that this was more an issue of desire rather than wanting to take some sort of . . . lead, and feed him.
it’s hard. it’s extremely hard for a dragon like him. others had dragoons, they had interactions with their subjects and perhaps some more with humans, whether it be to aid or terrorize. the boy’s wish was to rest and do no more. he had the free will to, and the dragon certainly did command a lot.
after another similar silence, like the last (but with far less rejection), he takes the fish, swallows it whole, and snaps a little here and there for a fish of his own.
[The boy isn't sure what he did to make the dragon go quiet, but at least he'll accept the fish. He'll even take the silence, giving him a chance to focus on his own fishing. After a few more fish fed (or attempted to be fed) to the dragon, he'll finally find his own to eat and pull himself out of the river.
And immediately shiver because holy crap are his feet cold from being soaking wet. Quickly he rushes over to the fire, crouching down to warm himself and muttering to himself as he does so about how cold it is. The muttering seems to be more to himself, he doesn't expect the dragon to care. Partly because of who the dragon was and partly because...well, concern for his well being's been hard to come by since his father passed. That was just the way of things.
His own wings try to wrap around him as a protective cloak- opened up at the part that's facing the fire. It feels nice. Maybe not comfortable like a kitchen fire, but still nice. He holds his spear tip over the fire, letting the fish cook.
It's awhile before he speaks up towards the dragon]
[ he eats what’s given to him, but no talk during. to his luck and profound determination— he manages to tear a fish’s tail clean off. before he can get to the upper half, a larger fish steals it away from him, causing the dragon to scorch the river’s surface, and rest for the rest of the evening.
for some reason, he throw’s the fish’s tail near the boy, and leaves it at that. correct, he doesn’t quite respond to any muttering, verbally— the shine of his eyes only watch him move and sit, until it’s time for him to drop his head down between a spot between his chest and wing, eyes and horns sticking out from behind the flap.
a name was something he never had, beyond heedless. ]
No.
[ short but subdued.
the fish is never going to cook that way— so he gives it an extra push, a burst, before hiding away into his wings again. ]
[He shouldn't be surprised the dragon keeps at it even when he tells him he can't. The dragon doesn't listen and is very stubborn. He gives a worried look when he tries to scorch the river, but at least the fire is contained and doesn't spread.
He's...not sure why he throws the fish tail at him, only eying it before returning to his own cooking.
No name huh? ]
Oh. [...] Me neither.
[It's not entirely true, he's had names before. But one hadn't been used since the day his father died, and the other that was given by the village...
Well, it didn't feel right having it be uttered now. It wasn't like he was very attached to it anyway. "Canary", they had called him. It was...demeaning.
His fire brightens, thanks to the dragon. It'll cook the fish faster. He gives a look back, seeing that he's already hiding away in those wings. He's quiet for a moment, trying to sort out what to say.
[ is the tail a trophy to prove he’s done it? Is it for the boy? (both, but he didn’t say anything so we’ll never know)
but the oddness in that has the dragon opening his eyes from rest. humans always had names. adults named their offspring, that much he knew, and expressively, his eyes even seem to squint and curve the way brows do.
did he ever want a name? he didn’t like the mass one that was given, which wasn’t particularly a good name to start. it had a frightening ring to it— if he were larger. just seeing a dragon in his size with a name like that was almost. equally belittling. ]
[Humans did love giving names, it was a quirk of their species possibly. But more than that, there was a certain power that came with having a name given by someone else. Magic worked better if there was a name, for one.
Plus, if he was going to be traveling with this dragon for awhile, it felt wrong just to keep thinking of him as "the dragon", like he was just a creature rather than an individual. It's that soft heart of the boy's yet again]
Hmm... [He has to think on the name. A name that'd be suited for a dragon. Maybe something from the ancient legends?
Finally, he comes up with a suggestion]
Erebus?
[An ancient and nearly forgotten god from a long lost civilization. One born from chaos and personified the darkness ... but not evil, notably]
[ erebus. it takes longer for the dragon to return to him by voice— the name intertwines and loops through everything he feels he is. the name has power. the name gives power, and unbeknownst to them— it locks the dragon onto him, setting up a lock to the bind that branded their fate.
he feels something with it, among it, satisfaction. contentment that he doesn’t remember ever finding himself feeling unless he’s engorging himself. erebus. the dragon lifts his head away from his wings, unsure if it’s gratitude he’s feeling or curiosity, or what— but it was something good. he straightens his posture and flutters his wings. his eyes are wide, but not from shock— perhaps from deep realization too primal for him to translate.
he just knew that this was his name. ]
I’m Erebus.
[ he takes the name, with pride, and seals his fate. but after a beat, he shuffles enough that his body faces the boy’s. he’s at least, now, not making an effort to reject him. he’s cautious of course, his wings still protect his sides and he doesn’t approach him. facing the person who found his name, who even fed him, deserved, at the very least, his attention.
(he forgets that he’s tied to him by other means) ]
[he watches the dragon tentatively, half-expecting the dragon to reject the name or insult it. He finds himself surprised when instead, the dragon accepts the name and reacts so positively. The acceptance is so deep that the boy can feel the magic resonate around it, in a way he's never felt a name resonate before.
Was this...a true name? He had heard the term before while studying magic, but he always had been skeptical of such a thing. ]
Erebus.
[he repeats the name, and it just feels right for this dragon. No other name would possibly do. Not for his dragon, he thinks without fully realizing the meaning.
And now it seems Erebus was giving him his attention. He hesitates at the question]
...She did. But it started losing power the day my father died. It could only be used for a spell or two more before it's become so weak I start to forget it.
[His mother had never intended it to be a true name, or a long lasting name. She wanted him to find his own path, his own identity. It had survived longer thanks to his father's love, but that was all.
Still, he didn't want to forget the name, so he'd been careful with it.]
[ both of them dead, huh. erebus felt it natural, his own parents could be alive or dead, he’d just never know.
the fact of the matter was that the boy didn’t have a name either, and silence stretches around them like the chills of a frigid winter. you’d think he had forgotten they were speaking, or ignoring him once more.
but for one, he doesn’t take his eyes off the boy. this goes on until moments seem like cycles, until it felt like if the sun was around, it would’ve hovered halfway across the sky by now. it was enough time for the fish to cook and for him to eat everything to the thin bones, all of that time used to search the meanings that dragonian had taught him. ]
Eleos.
[ compassion. clemency. benevolence. he doesn’t voice its meaning, but it fits like the stick he walks around with. ]
[When it had fallen silent, the boy had assumed it was the end of it. He felt...slightly disappointed, in a way that he couldn't exactly place why. Was he hoping Erebus would name him like he did for him? He's not sure why he would, he seemed to care little for human customs.
So the boy returns to tending to his fish. He cooks it to when it looks done and pulls it from the fire. Picking at it and eating what meat he could get. It was a far cry from the meals he'd cook himself back in the village and access to actual cooking supplies, but for a hungry man it was feast enough. He consumes it all without complaint, down until there's nothing but bits of scales and thin bones, which he tosses into the forest to be something else's meal.
He was just trying to figure out his sleeping arrangements when the dragon spoke.
Eleos.
The boy stops in mid-thought. Despite it being so long since they seemingly ended their conversation, he didn't need to ask for context. He knew right away that it was his name. It sinks into him, weaving into his identity so seamlessly. Canary, what the villagers had called him, suddenly seemed like a childish insult than any name. Even the name his mother gave him, it now felt like an endearing childhood nickname. Sweet and a name he'd respond to, but not his real name.]
My name is Eleos.
[He says out loud in an awed tone. It felt so right. So much so that he doesn't realize the oddity - a demi-human going by a name from the language meant only for dragons and gods. Nor does he realize that accepting the name is sealing his own fate, causing that tattoo on his wrist to subtly become more intricate- more permanent.
No, all he could focus on was that he had a name. A true name. All his earlier skepticism had been diminished. He understood what it meant now. The power of such a name.]
Thank you, Erebus.
[Eleos puts his hand to his chest, and there's an unmistakable note of warm gratitude in his voice. ]
[ there’s a hum of energy flowing, perhaps through them, around them . . . with how these names knot together. erebus for one acknowledges it the moment he accepted his name, and perhaps a little further when giving one to Eleos.
it has a good ring to it. now, with bright eyes glinting into the crackles of fire, the dragon pulls himself back into a resting position, head into wing. they can finally close shut, and in anything, bare less strained facial muscles. a touch of relaxation. ]
Get rest, Eleos. I won’t wait for you.
[ in the morning, they had much to do. he wouldn’t actually be sleeping, but rather light snooze. keeping watch was of extreme importance for both of them. he’s thinking about both of them, wasn’t he?
. . . it’s still strange, but he doesn’t reject it. eleos still had to use his newfound freedom wisely. ]
[Oh right. Sleep. Eleos had forgotten about that in his excitement over his name. His body hadn't forgotten however, it felt exhaustion from a long day in every muscle and bone. And now that he was in a spot of relative safety (because what's safer than next to a dragon), his body was no longer tried to hide how tired it was.]
O-Oh...Alright.
[He'll stretch out himself before lying down, using his wings to half give him a pillow, and half to keep him warm. He's used to sleeping in bedding, but he's tired enough that he'll be able to sleep on the ground tonight. It's been a long day.]
Goodnight, Erebus.
[The hum of energy that came from the names gave him a thrill that he didn't fully understand. But he was too tired to ponder it, his eyelids drooping down and closing on him almost involuntarily. Within minutes, his breath had slowed enough to show he was truly asleep.
His dreams that night were...unexpected. There was no dreams of the burning village, or the villagers that now gone. Instead he dreamed that he was looking for something on the edges of this valley. Something that'd help him find his freedom. Freedom from humans who enslave him, freedom from this form, freedom to fly with his other...
A door large enough to fit a dragon covered in runes on the side of a mountain, hidden away by the forest growth. That's where he wound up in the dream. Eleos had never seen this place before in his life, and yet somehow he knew it...]
Fafnir...
[He murmurs the name in his sleep as it gets close to dawn. It's possibly a name Erebus would recognize. An old legend about people turning into dragons, or something along those lines. Whatever Erebus's knowledge is of it, Eleos won't remember it when he wakes.]
[ erebus goes on and off with sleep until he loses any touch of drownsiness and gets up. the fish get up early and a snack before they leave might be a good idea (he actually manages to catch a single fish, toasted and ready for eleos to eat once he rises. he hadn’t relaxed enough to dream, but he hears eleos as he looks around for fish by the river’s edge, the sun having yet to rise and the sky still dimly lit with hues of blue and pink.
fafnir.
things like that are near forbidden to speak of these days, and when erebus catches the word in the air, from a mere human, he snaps his neck and stares.
he’d ask that morning, and wouldn’t have an answer. it would linger as a ludicrous thought, for days, even weeks as they walk. erebus and his wing begin to heal, feeling less pain and weight as the days and weeks pass. they don’t find a village yet, it’s farther away without flight, much farther than they could imagine— but perhaps they’ve found something else.
erebus no longer growls at him, allows him to close distance and even does so himself (no mutual touching yet, though. erebus is a tough cookie). you can say, with ease, that they have become friends. erebus doesn’t leave him alone and always follows where he goes. summer time greets the skies and the trees with bright colors, full of life, and smells of freshness through the forests being reborn.
today, it’s hot enough to keep the dragon tremendously active, and finding a coursing river to cross—
he sits in it instead. rest? rest. dragon down. the water is wonderful, and all he does to express further his desire is whip his tail into the river’s bed, and leaving eleos in the splash zone, without truly meaning to. whoops. ]
[ Indeed it's a long journey to another village when they are traveling on foot. Even longer when they only have a vague idea which direction to go. Eleos had heard of other villages that would trade with his, but it wasn't like he had ever traveled to it himself. And Erebus was so used to traveling by air that navigating on the ground was a whole different beast. And so, the journey stretched on into weeks.
And yet? As time went by, Eleos couldn't bring himself to be bothered how long it was taking. The first few days there'd been moments for sure where he was angry at Erebus, or wanted to be away from the dragon. But over time those moments slowly became less frequent and milder as he grew more used to the dragon's company. He'd find himself moving to the dragon's side more often as they traveled, curling up next to him as he slept at night.
On top of that, Eleos was learning to love the freedom that came with traveling like this. The village had so many rules and restrictions to follow, both for the general village and ones just for him as a demi-human. But out here? All those rules that once seemed so crucial were meaningless and obsolete. The only laws that mattered were the laws of nature, which while some were admittedly harsh, most were made easier when traveling with a dragon.
Between those two things, there was a growing part of Eleos that dreading the day they'd find another village. He wanted to stay out here, in the freedom of the wilds, by Erebus's side.
Today had been a rather hot day. While it made Erebus active, Eleos found himself feeling sluggish as his body sweated to keep cool. He had kneeled down to drink some of river water to keep himself hydrated when
SPLASH
A huge splash of water from Erebus's tail hits him- drenching his entire person with cold water. He's stunned for a moment, needing a second to process just what hit him. But the moment the initial shock wears off? ]
H-Hey!
[He gives a little grin and wades into the cool water, swinging his staff in a spell that causes a big splash right back in retaliation. Yep. We sure are having a water fight.]
[ erebus only sees what he’s done after stretching his neck along the waters and letting the creation of waves lap at his scales. eleos is drenched and now he’s— throwing water right back at him.
he’s throwing water right back at his enough that he flinches back with slight surprise, enough to protect his eyes with the third lid sliding over them.
if you want retaliation, he will give you retaliation. in which, the dragon lifts himself up and spreads a wing out wide, slapping it against the river’s currents and causing an even greater wave. a wave he looks proud of, and a challenge he’s readily accepted. ]
Don’t forget you’re wielding a stick.
[ he knows it’s staff by now, but he can’t help goading, in a non-virulent way. ]
[Eleos gives a happy shriek as he tries to fend against the wave. He shoves the end of his staff into the muddy riverbed and holds onto it, holding onto it so he doesn't get washed downstream.]
A staff!
[He knows Erebus knows what it is, but he'll still correct it. And once the water settles from that wave, he is sending his own splash back again- this time with more power added to it with his magic.
His magic has grown stronger since his time out here, ever since Erebus named him. Another sign that for a boy from a race who normally survived best in groups of their own and within their villages, he was defying expectations and thriving out here.]
[ lowering his head and pushing forward, erebus walks toward eleos with his eyes closed and his horns exposed. it’s much too slow for a charge, but he plans to push him back, out of the water for one and a half of them (erebus, believe it or not, has grown larger, at an increased rate that mingled with the boy’s magic). at the very least, eleos should move out of the way, right?
(or not)
he thought he was weaker when he only grew stronger by the day, and erebus— erebus goes after the magic trail like honey.
he felt it on a level that was . . . magnifying in a way, and for the first time in who knows how long, the dragon, bold and terrorizing, feels the happiness as if it were his. ]
[Maybe some time ago, Eleos would've moved out of the ways of the horns. But after enough time spent with Erebus, he can tell that he's moving slow enough not to mean any harm. This was playing.
And so he responds by grabbing onto a horn, and using it to hoist himself up. His wings flap some to help pull him up until he's atop Erebus's head where the skull meets the neck where he sits, straddling to hold on.]
Aha, nice try!
[But man, while Erebus always seemed big from down on the ground, from up here-]
that might be the first time erebus hasn’t reacted negatively to being on him— sure, he allowed him to stay by him at night, but never cuddled up or touching. it has him, with some regard, hoisting himself back and trying to look up.
it’s. sort of weird. but not bad. he can’t quite see him and keeps trying to whip his neck around to get the best angle. ]
I’m supposed to get bigger, [ he still can’t see him, and that seems like his larger focus, and ends up curving his head lower, lower, the rest of his belly finding the ground. ] for years—
[Well, he wasn't being thrown off. That was a good sign. Erebus keeps moving his neck around though, making him have to hold on tight from falling off accidentally. Without really realizing how he knows, he gets what the dragon is trying to do. So when the neck movements slow, he'll climb down his neck carefully until his spot is now at the base of the neck, that spot right before the wings begin.
There he should be able to move his neck to see him now. ]
Is that better?
[He reaches out to pet some of the scales idly]
Yeah, over time. But you've gotten noticeably bigger since we've met, and it hasn't been that long.
[ that’s much better. the way erebus’ neck bends gives him a clear as ever view from below, his head hovering over to be eye-to-eye. the dragon doesn’t need to nod, or speak, but a low roll of drumming comes from his throat.
was it worry, that he couldn’t see him? erebus is briefly reminded of the dream he first had that day, shrouded with misty clouds of forgetfulness. it was loss that he was frightened of then, but enough to act and make sure it would never happen.
erebus blinks slowly, big eyes stuck to eleos and realizing just how pacified his sight leaves him.
it’s— hard not to touch him if he’s sitting in him, so, curiously, erebus ventures closer by snout. ]
Am I feeding off your magic? You’re stronger, too.
[On some level, he understands that throat sound, even if he doesn't examine how. Instead, he looks back in those dragon eyes that stare into him.
It's hard to know if Erebus's eyes have gotten less harsh since they met, or Eleos has just gotten used to the dragon's expressions. He didn't fear those eyes as he once did. Instead, he'll greet that snout by reaching out his hand and petting him there]
Maybe...? Can't say I know anything about the effects of magic on dragons.
[His education about dragons was limited to stories from his village, and what he's learned the past few weeks by experience. Either way, it's pretty limited]
instinct tells him to pull away and there’s something larger saying he can’t, so he hangs there, holding his breath for a few moments and fairly visible that he does (erebus’ breathing is loud to start). with eleos and his hand against him— closing his eyes, he pushes into it.
it’s more than the presence not being there worrying him, it’s his presence as a whole. his heart skips when he feels himself push eleos’ weight onto him, and breathes in after that pause with relief. nothing bad happened, of course, and. well. something good happened instead? but he doesn’t know to what extent it was good. ]
Your casting was inept. [ honesty, from a dragon. ] But you grew it out.
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[ it won’t stop him from continuing to “catch fish”, anyway! as illustrative as the explaination was, sitting still would be like saying . . . he was right. he was totally right that he couldn’t catch fish. please, do all the work. he knows how hard hunting is.
and if he couldn’t catch one, his resoluteness as a dragon was meaningless. just because it was easier for him, all fish and thanks considered— it didn’t mean it was impossible for him. he just had to use his head, like with the creation of the knife stick.
a little dismissive but not outright brash in execution, he speaks up, hangs his head in a hover over the surface, and while he’s there’s, he observes how the human does it. ]
Eat next or I won’t.
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Are you always this dramatic?
[Maybe it was a dragon thing, or just a this dragon thing. And even if it's not his intention, the words do come out harsh and brash. And after a day of them, when the boy is trying hard to get both of them dinner...]
Jeez, you sure like to give lots of commands. [Another stab into the water! He lifts his makeshift spear up with another fish] You first. When I sit down to cook mine, I won't want to get up again. So I'm saving mine for last.
[He holds out another fish for the dragon. Eat up you brash lizard]
no subject
but, the right words have been said for him to consider that this was more an issue of desire rather than wanting to take some sort of . . . lead, and feed him.
it’s hard. it’s extremely hard for a dragon like him. others had dragoons, they had interactions with their subjects and perhaps some more with humans, whether it be to aid or terrorize. the boy’s wish was to rest and do no more. he had the free will to, and the dragon certainly did command a lot.
after another similar silence, like the last (but with far less rejection), he takes the fish, swallows it whole, and snaps a little here and there for a fish of his own.
he doesn’t say anything else after that. ]
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And immediately shiver because holy crap are his feet cold from being soaking wet. Quickly he rushes over to the fire, crouching down to warm himself and muttering to himself as he does so about how cold it is. The muttering seems to be more to himself, he doesn't expect the dragon to care. Partly because of who the dragon was and partly because...well, concern for his well being's been hard to come by since his father passed. That was just the way of things.
His own wings try to wrap around him as a protective cloak- opened up at the part that's facing the fire. It feels nice. Maybe not comfortable like a kitchen fire, but still nice. He holds his spear tip over the fire, letting the fish cook.
It's awhile before he speaks up towards the dragon]
...Do you have a name I can call you by?
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for some reason, he throw’s the fish’s tail near the boy, and leaves it at that. correct, he doesn’t quite respond to any muttering, verbally— the shine of his eyes only watch him move and sit, until it’s time for him to drop his head down between a spot between his chest and wing, eyes and horns sticking out from behind the flap.
a name was something he never had, beyond heedless. ]
No.
[ short but subdued.
the fish is never going to cook that way— so he gives it an extra push, a burst, before hiding away into his wings again. ]
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He's...not sure why he throws the fish tail at him, only eying it before returning to his own cooking.
No name huh? ]
Oh. [...] Me neither.
[It's not entirely true, he's had names before. But one hadn't been used since the day his father died, and the other that was given by the village...
Well, it didn't feel right having it be uttered now. It wasn't like he was very attached to it anyway. "Canary", they had called him. It was...demeaning.
His fire brightens, thanks to the dragon. It'll cook the fish faster. He gives a look back, seeing that he's already hiding away in those wings. He's quiet for a moment, trying to sort out what to say.
...]
Should I give you a name?
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but the oddness in that has the dragon opening his eyes from rest. humans always had names. adults named their offspring, that much he knew, and expressively, his eyes even seem to squint and curve the way brows do.
did he ever want a name? he didn’t like the mass one that was given, which wasn’t particularly a good name to start. it had a frightening ring to it— if he were larger. just seeing a dragon in his size with a name like that was almost. equally belittling. ]
Depends on what it is.
[ his question comes later. ]
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Plus, if he was going to be traveling with this dragon for awhile, it felt wrong just to keep thinking of him as "the dragon", like he was just a creature rather than an individual. It's that soft heart of the boy's yet again]
Hmm... [He has to think on the name. A name that'd be suited for a dragon. Maybe something from the ancient legends?
Finally, he comes up with a suggestion]
Erebus?
[An ancient and nearly forgotten god from a long lost civilization. One born from chaos and personified the darkness ... but not evil, notably]
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he feels something with it, among it, satisfaction. contentment that he doesn’t remember ever finding himself feeling unless he’s engorging himself. erebus. the dragon lifts his head away from his wings, unsure if it’s gratitude he’s feeling or curiosity, or what— but it was something good. he straightens his posture and flutters his wings. his eyes are wide, but not from shock— perhaps from deep realization too primal for him to translate.
he just knew that this was his name. ]
I’m Erebus.
[ he takes the name, with pride, and seals his fate. but after a beat, he shuffles enough that his body faces the boy’s. he’s at least, now, not making an effort to reject him. he’s cautious of course, his wings still protect his sides and he doesn’t approach him. facing the person who found his name, who even fed him, deserved, at the very least, his attention.
(he forgets that he’s tied to him by other means) ]
Didn’t your mother name you?
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Was this...a true name? He had heard the term before while studying magic, but he always had been skeptical of such a thing. ]
Erebus.
[he repeats the name, and it just feels right for this dragon. No other name would possibly do. Not for his dragon, he thinks without fully realizing the meaning.
And now it seems Erebus was giving him his attention. He hesitates at the question]
...She did. But it started losing power the day my father died. It could only be used for a spell or two more before it's become so weak I start to forget it.
[His mother had never intended it to be a true name, or a long lasting name. She wanted him to find his own path, his own identity. It had survived longer thanks to his father's love, but that was all.
Still, he didn't want to forget the name, so he'd been careful with it.]
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the fact of the matter was that the boy didn’t have a name either, and silence stretches around them like the chills of a frigid winter. you’d think he had forgotten they were speaking, or ignoring him once more.
but for one, he doesn’t take his eyes off the boy. this goes on until moments seem like cycles, until it felt like if the sun was around, it would’ve hovered halfway across the sky by now. it was enough time for the fish to cook and for him to eat everything to the thin bones, all of that time used to search the meanings that dragonian had taught him. ]
Eleos.
[ compassion. clemency. benevolence. he doesn’t voice its meaning, but it fits like the stick he walks around with. ]
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So the boy returns to tending to his fish. He cooks it to when it looks done and pulls it from the fire. Picking at it and eating what meat he could get. It was a far cry from the meals he'd cook himself back in the village and access to actual cooking supplies, but for a hungry man it was feast enough. He consumes it all without complaint, down until there's nothing but bits of scales and thin bones, which he tosses into the forest to be something else's meal.
He was just trying to figure out his sleeping arrangements when the dragon spoke.
Eleos.
The boy stops in mid-thought. Despite it being so long since they seemingly ended their conversation, he didn't need to ask for context. He knew right away that it was his name. It sinks into him, weaving into his identity so seamlessly. Canary, what the villagers had called him, suddenly seemed like a childish insult than any name. Even the name his mother gave him, it now felt like an endearing childhood nickname. Sweet and a name he'd respond to, but not his real name.]
My name is Eleos.
[He says out loud in an awed tone. It felt so right. So much so that he doesn't realize the oddity - a demi-human going by a name from the language meant only for dragons and gods. Nor does he realize that accepting the name is sealing his own fate, causing that tattoo on his wrist to subtly become more intricate- more permanent.
No, all he could focus on was that he had a name. A true name. All his earlier skepticism had been diminished. He understood what it meant now. The power of such a name.]
Thank you, Erebus.
[Eleos puts his hand to his chest, and there's an unmistakable note of warm gratitude in his voice. ]
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it has a good ring to it. now, with bright eyes glinting into the crackles of fire, the dragon pulls himself back into a resting position, head into wing. they can finally close shut, and in anything, bare less strained facial muscles. a touch of relaxation. ]
Get rest, Eleos. I won’t wait for you.
[ in the morning, they had much to do. he wouldn’t actually be sleeping, but rather light snooze. keeping watch was of extreme importance for both of them. he’s thinking about both of them, wasn’t he?
. . . it’s still strange, but he doesn’t reject it. eleos still had to use his newfound freedom wisely. ]
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O-Oh...Alright.
[He'll stretch out himself before lying down, using his wings to half give him a pillow, and half to keep him warm. He's used to sleeping in bedding, but he's tired enough that he'll be able to sleep on the ground tonight. It's been a long day.]
Goodnight, Erebus.
[The hum of energy that came from the names gave him a thrill that he didn't fully understand. But he was too tired to ponder it, his eyelids drooping down and closing on him almost involuntarily. Within minutes, his breath had slowed enough to show he was truly asleep.
His dreams that night were...unexpected. There was no dreams of the burning village, or the villagers that now gone. Instead he dreamed that he was looking for something on the edges of this valley. Something that'd help him find his freedom. Freedom from humans who enslave him, freedom from this form, freedom to fly with his other...
A door large enough to fit a dragon covered in runes on the side of a mountain, hidden away by the forest growth. That's where he wound up in the dream. Eleos had never seen this place before in his life, and yet somehow he knew it...]
Fafnir...
[He murmurs the name in his sleep as it gets close to dawn. It's possibly a name Erebus would recognize. An old legend about people turning into dragons, or something along those lines. Whatever Erebus's knowledge is of it, Eleos won't remember it when he wakes.]
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fafnir.
things like that are near forbidden to speak of these days, and when erebus catches the word in the air, from a mere human, he snaps his neck and stares.
he’d ask that morning, and wouldn’t have an answer. it would linger as a ludicrous thought, for days, even weeks as they walk. erebus and his wing begin to heal, feeling less pain and weight as the days and weeks pass. they don’t find a village yet, it’s farther away without flight, much farther than they could imagine— but perhaps they’ve found something else.
erebus no longer growls at him, allows him to close distance and even does so himself (no mutual touching yet, though. erebus is a tough cookie). you can say, with ease, that they have become friends. erebus doesn’t leave him alone and always follows where he goes. summer time greets the skies and the trees with bright colors, full of life, and smells of freshness through the forests being reborn.
today, it’s hot enough to keep the dragon tremendously active, and finding a coursing river to cross—
he sits in it instead. rest? rest. dragon down. the water is wonderful, and all he does to express further his desire is whip his tail into the river’s bed, and leaving eleos in the splash zone, without truly meaning to. whoops. ]
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And yet? As time went by, Eleos couldn't bring himself to be bothered how long it was taking. The first few days there'd been moments for sure where he was angry at Erebus, or wanted to be away from the dragon. But over time those moments slowly became less frequent and milder as he grew more used to the dragon's company. He'd find himself moving to the dragon's side more often as they traveled, curling up next to him as he slept at night.
On top of that, Eleos was learning to love the freedom that came with traveling like this. The village had so many rules and restrictions to follow, both for the general village and ones just for him as a demi-human. But out here? All those rules that once seemed so crucial were meaningless and obsolete. The only laws that mattered were the laws of nature, which while some were admittedly harsh, most were made easier when traveling with a dragon.
Between those two things, there was a growing part of Eleos that dreading the day they'd find another village. He wanted to stay out here, in the freedom of the wilds, by Erebus's side.
Today had been a rather hot day. While it made Erebus active, Eleos found himself feeling sluggish as his body sweated to keep cool. He had kneeled down to drink some of river water to keep himself hydrated when
SPLASH
A huge splash of water from Erebus's tail hits him- drenching his entire person with cold water. He's stunned for a moment, needing a second to process just what hit him. But the moment the initial shock wears off? ]
H-Hey!
[He gives a little grin and wades into the cool water, swinging his staff in a spell that causes a big splash right back in retaliation. Yep. We sure are having a water fight.]
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he’s throwing water right back at his enough that he flinches back with slight surprise, enough to protect his eyes with the third lid sliding over them.
if you want retaliation, he will give you retaliation. in which, the dragon lifts himself up and spreads a wing out wide, slapping it against the river’s currents and causing an even greater wave. a wave he looks proud of, and a challenge he’s readily accepted. ]
Don’t forget you’re wielding a stick.
[ he knows it’s staff by now, but he can’t help goading, in a non-virulent way. ]
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A staff!
[He knows Erebus knows what it is, but he'll still correct it. And once the water settles from that wave, he is sending his own splash back again- this time with more power added to it with his magic.
His magic has grown stronger since his time out here, ever since Erebus named him. Another sign that for a boy from a race who normally survived best in groups of their own and within their villages, he was defying expectations and thriving out here.]
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(or not)
he thought he was weaker when he only grew stronger by the day, and erebus— erebus goes after the magic trail like honey.
he felt it on a level that was . . . magnifying in a way, and for the first time in who knows how long, the dragon, bold and terrorizing, feels the happiness as if it were his. ]
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And so he responds by grabbing onto a horn, and using it to hoist himself up. His wings flap some to help pull him up until he's atop Erebus's head where the skull meets the neck where he sits, straddling to hold on.]
Aha, nice try!
[But man, while Erebus always seemed big from down on the ground, from up here-]
Is it just me, or have you grown some?
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he’s on his head.
that might be the first time erebus hasn’t reacted negatively to being on him— sure, he allowed him to stay by him at night, but never cuddled up or touching. it has him, with some regard, hoisting himself back and trying to look up.
it’s. sort of weird. but not bad. he can’t quite see him and keeps trying to whip his neck around to get the best angle. ]
I’m supposed to get bigger, [ he still can’t see him, and that seems like his larger focus, and ends up curving his head lower, lower, the rest of his belly finding the ground. ] for years—
[ he’s restless, boy, but not rejecting. ]
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There he should be able to move his neck to see him now. ]
Is that better?
[He reaches out to pet some of the scales idly]
Yeah, over time. But you've gotten noticeably bigger since we've met, and it hasn't been that long.
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was it worry, that he couldn’t see him? erebus is briefly reminded of the dream he first had that day, shrouded with misty clouds of forgetfulness. it was loss that he was frightened of then, but enough to act and make sure it would never happen.
erebus blinks slowly, big eyes stuck to eleos and realizing just how pacified his sight leaves him.
it’s— hard not to touch him if he’s sitting in him, so, curiously, erebus ventures closer by snout. ]
Am I feeding off your magic? You’re stronger, too.
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It's hard to know if Erebus's eyes have gotten less harsh since they met, or Eleos has just gotten used to the dragon's expressions. He didn't fear those eyes as he once did. Instead, he'll greet that snout by reaching out his hand and petting him there]
Maybe...? Can't say I know anything about the effects of magic on dragons.
[His education about dragons was limited to stories from his village, and what he's learned the past few weeks by experience. Either way, it's pretty limited]
Do you really think I have? Gotten stronger?
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freezes.
instinct tells him to pull away and there’s something larger saying he can’t, so he hangs there, holding his breath for a few moments and fairly visible that he does (erebus’ breathing is loud to start). with eleos and his hand against him— closing his eyes, he pushes into it.
it’s more than the presence not being there worrying him, it’s his presence as a whole. his heart skips when he feels himself push eleos’ weight onto him, and breathes in after that pause with relief. nothing bad happened, of course, and. well. something good happened instead? but he doesn’t know to what extent it was good. ]
Your casting was inept. [ honesty, from a dragon. ] But you grew it out.
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