Wyvern Tails and Phoenix Feathers

The Frontlines, Chapter 3 - Revelyn

There was a quiet beach just outside of Alindal where the shore was narrow and without much space to sit comfortably for any extended period of time. Yet, the children at Revelyn's school whispered in excitement about the rocky stretch of coast. Some spoke of a certain sea cave with bubbling tidepools warmed by the heat of thermal activity. So, one afternoon after their lessons, Revelyn set out with his friend Yusef to find the cave in question.

Yusef was stocky for an elf. His blonde hair was kept long per his family's tradition tied back with a simple cloth band. Revelyn's hair, in contrast, was ornamented with a flowery comb. It was a lovely object to look at, but Revelyn hated having it on his head. As they walked, Revelyn lamented that there was no part of his school uniform that looked as plain or practical as what Yusef wore. Yusef's shorts were less cumbersome than his embroidered skirt; Yusef's collar was without itchy pointless frills. Even his shoes were more adept at balancing on the slimy wet rocks.

Revelyn could not understand in his youth why half of the children were dressed in a way that permitted them to play, while the others were forced to look pretty. Luckily, he had a friend in Yusef, a boy who didn't seem to care that Revelyn wanted to get dirty and rough house in spite of how the elders expected him to behave.

Yusef found the sea cave without much hassle. Though the opening was smaller than the rumours at school had ballooned it to be. Even as ten-year-olds, Yusef and Revelyn had to crouch beneath low black rocks and squeeze through a small opening. The interior, however, did not disappoint. The reflection of water danced against the domed ceiling. Three progressively larger pools spilled one into the next. It was a dazzling place and they had it all to themselves.

Yusef grinned and got on his stomach to touch the water in the first pool. He swished his hand in the bubbling spring.

"It feels great!" he reported.

He kicked off his shoes, prompting Revelyn to follow suit. His shoes were harder to remove, a delicate buckle around each of his ankles. By the time he took them off, Yusef had scattered his shirt, shorts, and drawers across the cave floor. For a moment, Revelyn paused, shocked to see his friend unabashedly naked. Meanwhile, Yusef hardly batted an eye before he splashed into the water.

"This is wonderful!" Yusef said between giggles. "Come on in!"

Revelyn was unsure what to do. In traveling to the sea cave, he had not considered what he would wear to actually swim in the water. Of course being naked made the most sense, but he did not feel as confident as Yusef. He had felt shame for his body as long as he could remember. But it was only Yusef, he convinced himself. Yusef never cared about his appearance.

Still, Revelyn backed against the wall of the cave so Yusef couldn't see him undress. In a short time, he was naked as well, albeit nervous and uncomfortable.

"Don't look," he said.

"At what?" asked Yusef.

"At me."

"Okay," said Yusef.

Yusef seemed utterly oblivious of his discomfort. Mustering his bravery, Revelyn leapt out and landed clumsily in the water beside Yusef. Yusef laughed as Revelyn coughed on the salty water.

"It's warm, isn't it?" Yusef asked the obvious.

"Yeah," said Revelyn. It felt incredible.

Yusef swam in a circle around him. They were the sort of friends who could enjoy moments of contented silence.

"Yusef, why are you friends with me?" Reveleyn asked him. He blurted out the question and immediately felt silly for asking it.

"I don't know," Yusef barely mumbled as a reply.