Changeable as the Sea

If Keren thought six days was too long, two weeks was an eternity. After coming back from the "fateful" trip to the ocean with Abernathy and the rest of the cadets, there had been no more expeditions to the coastline at all, not even ones that were hand-picking guards rather than taking volunteers. It was as if all interest in the ocean had ceased with that one trip. Keren felt like she was wilting in all the heat and dryness of the Avengaean summer.

The cadets had been introduced into a new routine of the fort, comprising of a similar regime to their days in Rome but with the addition of work with the resident dragons, which Keren found fascinating despite it all, and group and formation work with the newly bonded Anderson and Riya Keth. Those weekly practices were the brightest points in Keren's week-- so far, anyway, since they'd only had two-- because the dragons came. Mostly they watched, at this point, since they were still so young and small.

Keren found the dragons enchantingly adorable. Meeting Cemitae, Anderson's little Fire dragon, the day after the cadets got back from their trip to the coast made her hope even more than before that she would get to someday go to Sanctuary, herself. Cemitae, Evola, and Evoli were such sweet, charming little things, it was hard to imagine taking them into any kind of battle. If they grew into someone like the trainer Fidalites, it might be easier to picture, but right now they were just too cute, especially Cemitae, who was always tripping over the fur on his wings or tail, and Evola, who seemed to cultivate cuteness and collect giggles and petting from the cadets. Why such a lovely little dragon chose to bond with the twerp Riya was beyond Keren, but it was just as well. Maybe Evola would rub off on him; according to Anderson, the bond was very close, right down to sharing thoughts and emotions.

Of course, it was always possible that such closeness was because of how talented psionically Anderson was-- and, though she hated to admit it, Keth, as well. Both of them were much better than Keren was. The whole of the Sevens was better than Keren at psionics. This was the only thing that bothered her about her lack, the thought that she might not be able to match up with the rest, in military performance and before the dragons. Mostly, though, she didn't mind; she was more physical than metaphysical in outlook, no matter how metaphysical her heritage.

The metaphysical aspect of Keren's life didn't seem like it mattered as much anymore, either. Ever since Adara discovered she was a selkie, and accepted it, Keren felt a lot easier about who and what she was. The two had even taken to making sly references to Keren's little secret that mystified anyone else who heard them; it was like they had a magnificent inside joke that no one else in the world could share. Even if the rest of the cadets found out-- which, if it were up to Keren and Adara, they wouldn't-- Keren still had one person who would stand with her, no matter what the rest said. That made everything seem bearable.

Everything, that is, except being stranded miles and miles inland without even the sound of the sea for company.

One afternoon, after a drill in which Keren and all her fellow cadets still living at the fort got very hot, sweaty, and tired out, a familiar, bronzed face topped by neatly cut green hair met them on their way into the fort for showers before dinner. His chocolate brown eyes were fixed on Keren, and she felt a moment of fear. Viatoro Nuntiumi, Earth dragon, and someone who Keren strongly suspected knew just how not-human Keren really was. Adara glanced between Keren and the dragon, and with a nod from the dragon, she continued on with the rest of the cadets-- though not too far.

::Let me know if ya need me to pound him,:: she sent back to Keren, whose only response was a vague sense of gratitude and weak humor, though the idea of Adara, or anyone, pounding a dragon was rather silly.

Viatoro motioned for Keren to come with him and started for the front gates of the fort. Swallowing, she followed, wondering just what was going on and why it needed to be done outside the fort. They stopped at last out of easy hearing distance for a normal conversation, and Viatoro turned to face her, eyes boring into hers and making her lift her chin with a defiant pride she only half-felt. The human-shaped dragon broke into a little smile that sent Keren's nervousness into confusion. What thae hell is he smaileng aboot?

"Gift," he said-- in Intraworld! With a clipped sort of accent, but still recognizable. Keren stared back at him, not comprehending. "Gift," he said again, smiling still at her expression. "For you."

There was a brief silence. Viatoro seemed to be waiting for some kind of answer, so Keren tried to regain her composure, clasping her hands tightly behind her back. "Ah, thank yeh, sor?" she tried.

"Yes," Viatoro said, smiling even more. This was starting to get a little annoying. "Gift for you, from I. You like sea, I you take."

Keren's mouth dropped open in surprise. Had she understood his halting Intraworld correctly? "Whoah, weit, weit... ye'll take me to thae oocean?"

"Yes," Viatoro answered, bobbing his head and beaming, as if pleased that she had extracted his meaning.

"But-- why?"

"Like Water-dragon you are," he explained slowly, hunting for the words. "Need water. Not... good. Not health, on earth always. Take you when you need. One take in a month? Two? Ask I."

Keren could not believe her luck. A dragon, a teleport-capable dragon, was offering to take her twice a month to the beach to let her get her "water fix". Her mind chugged in tight little circles, whirling from "thank God!" to "but why?!" and back again. In her silence, Viatoro's eager and pleased expression began to fade into one of apology and concern. "No?" he asked, looking crestfallen. "Apology...."

"Nae, weit, et's ookay!" Keren exclaimed, holding up her hands, freed from their death-grip on each other, to try and put her feelings into a gesture of peace. "I'm jest-- sorprised! I didnae expect anybody tae even-- tae even knoow, much less wantae help me."

"I like to help," Viatoro said simply.

"Soo ye'll teleport me tae thae beach two taimes a moonth? Jest baecause yeh laik tae help?" It was not something anyone from Earth would do, not unless they knew a person really well or wanted something out of them. Viatoro bobbed his head again, once more smiling.

These dragons are wierd! Keren thought, as her suspicion and surprise finally gave way to amazement and relief, and as she laughed and tossed her arms gratefully around the surprised dragon. But I think they're ookay.