Atelle laid in her bed later that night. She couldn't sleep. Her body and mind were restless. She finally got off of the cot, and pulled a cloak on over her night-gown. She slithered out of the window. The outside world was blanketed in soft white light. It was gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. A wonderful time to be alive.
Atelle walked to the lake, her favourite place. She loved the water, and swam like a fish. There was only one problem. Atelle had one fear, and only one. And that fear was of deep water. If she couldn't see her feet, she did not want to be there. Who knew what kind of creepy things could be crawling around your legs?
She got a chill just thinking about it.
She heard a noise like a footstep. She stopped walking, and listened. She heard another slight crash, like a footstep. Her entire face lit up in a mischevious grin. She snuck and hid behind a stone, waiting. Whoever it was would get quite a surprise for being out so late in the night. The footsteps came closer, and Atelle could hear another noise too. It was a much louder crash, and a sort of dragging noise. Curiosity won over her desire to jump out at the person, and she peered over the rock. Her deep mahogany eyes peered right into two light blue ones.
"Eep!" she cried. She fell backwards, legs flying up in the sair. She landed on the ground, hair flying all about her face, and laughing like she would die.
"You scared me so badly!" she said between gasps for air. The man standing there (she could see now that it was in fact a man, and he had knots on his shoulder) smiled down at her. She stood up and brushed herself off, still giggling under her breath.
"What are you doing out here this late?" She looked at him, giggling.
"What are you doing out here?" The man looked at her, and she tried to keep a straight face. She failed miserably.
"I am out from my Cathair, spreading the word about the abandoned dragons." That sombered Atelle up in a second.
"Abandoned? Dragons? Your Cathair?" The man nodded.
"Yes. There were seven. There are only three left now. I imagine they must feel very badly. First, abandoned, and still, nobody wants them." Atelle stood up to her full height (about 5'3"). She threw back her shoulders, tossed her hair, and looked right into the man's eyes.
"I want to see them. Will you take me there?" He looked at her.
"Right now? Won't your family miss you?" She flapped her hand at him, already looking to see the dragon which he rode in on. It wasn't very hard to spot him- a giant blue dragon who's outline stood out against the black of the night sky.
"No, they won't worry. They know I can take care of myself. Mostly." She laughed again, and mounted the dragon. The rider shook his head, and mounted behind her. And soon, they were soaring through the sky, before finally blinking between.
Atelle looked around, completely oblivious to the fact that she was only in her nightclothes. It was very early the next morning. She had wanted to go straight to see the dragons as soon as they had arrived, but the rider firmly said no and demanded that they get some sleep. So she did, though she didn't sleep very well.
She spotted a small cave, and entered it. It was the most gloomy place she had ever been. The dragons seemed so forlorn... And most of them were dragonlings! And they were all so dad... except for one, a small light blue. She walked over to him, and he looked at her cheerfully.
Hello. Have you come to comfort me too? Atelle really didn't know what to say. The dragon seemed cheerful, but his words seemed to be hiding a deep sadness.
"Well...I really don't know what I'm doing here." The dragon laughed spitefully.
Neither do I. I thought that we would be together forever. But all Floren would talk about was how he didn't want a blue. But that's okay. He wasn't any fun anyway." The dragon looked at Atelle expectantly.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
You could introduce yourself, said the dragon with a smile.
"Oh. I am Atelle. And you are?"
Azaneerth. There was a slight pause. Atelle looked at Azaneerth, and Azaneerth looked at Atelle. Then, Atelle started giggling. She couldn't help it, it just seemed so...funny. Here she was, expecting a bunch of sad, hateful dragons, and instead she found this one, who was happy enough for what he had been through... Her giggles echoed throughout the cave, and the other dragons stared at her. She tried to stop, but she couldn't. And before she knew it, Azaneerth was giggling quietly, before they were laughing together.
Atelle stayed with Azaneerth all day long. They laughed and played, and Atelle oiled Azaneerth's hide until it shone like the stars. And she noticed how incredibly thin the dragon was- his bones showed through his hide. And so, of course she had to do something about it. She fed Azaneerth until she thought he would pop. At first he had been reluctant, but then he accepted gratefully. They laughed and joked and told stories like old friends. Azaneerth told Atelle stories about the things he had done with his ex-rider, seeming like he didn't mind at all. Atelle listened. She believed Azaneerth had every right to hate his ex-rider. It was an awful thing to be abandoned. And when night fell, Azaneerth feared that Atelle would leave him forever.
"I promise I won't leave you. I would never do that. I will come visit you all the time until you find a rider. And I will take care of you, and we will be friends." Azaneerth looked shocked. For the first time in so very long, he had found someone who didn't care for the happiness and cheerfullness over losing his rider, and who was willing to play and swim and take care of him forever.
You mean, you don't want to be my rider? Atelle was surprised. She hadn't thought that Azaneerth would want to spend the rest of her life with her. He was a male, after all. But it seems like he did...
"Of course I do! You are so wonderful...And you are possibly the only creature alive who doesn't think I'm too old to play games. Of course I want to be with you..." She hurried off with some adoption papers, still wearing her nightclothes from two days before.
"Are you happy now?" asked Atelle as they walked from the cave. There was only one dragon left there, now. Her heart ached for him. But she had Azaneerth to look after. Not that she was complaining. She loved the little (BIG) guy so much already.
Of course, Telle. I love you, and I hope you never leave me.
"You don't have to worry. I'll never leave you."