Researcher's Journal: A Journey Across Pyrrhia

Chapter 15: Madness Taints the Mind, Unbroken Promise

(Day 7) 5:40 pm, SkyWing Palace dungeon

"Oh Laguna, what have they done to you?" Hornbill asked pitifully at the crazed dragon.

His heart ached as he watched Laguna's tormented state. He felt a mix of anger and sorrow welling up within him. It was clear that her mind and body had deteriorated greatly from the time he last saw her, and it was agonizing to see someone he only partially knew reduced to this.

Carefully, Hornbill approached the cell, making sure to keep a safe distance from the thrashing dragon. "Laguna," he called out softly, his voice filled with concern. "It's me, Hornbill. We're here to rescue you."

Seeing Hornbill's familiar face and hearing his voice seemed to have a momentary impact on Laguna. Her frenzied movements slowed, and she blinked, struggling to focus on the dragon before her. Bloodstained tears stained her cheeks, and her clouded eyes held a mixture of recognition and desperation.

Hornbill felt a glimmer of hope as he continued to speak soothingly to her. "That's right, Laguna. It's me, Hornbill," he repeated gently. "We've come to get you out of here. But we need you to calm down so we can help you."

Hornbill continued his slow and cautious approach, reaching out with his talon, hoping the scent of familiarity carried on his touch. His talon moved closer, and closer as it passed between the bars, hoping not to startle her further. Finally, it was just a few talon lengths away from her tear-streaked face.

Laguna's dull eyes dilated, and her muzzle moved closer to his open claw. As he gently cradled her jaw and cupped the side of her head, new dry tears welled up in her eyes. Her voice was dry and filled with torment as she all but begged Hornbill, "P-please he-help me. M-make it stop h-hurting."

Hornbill felt a heavy ache in his chest as he looked into her tormented eyes. He whispered soothingly, "Shh, it's okay, Laguna. I'm here now. You're safe." He continued to cradle her head gently, hearing a soft purr as he continued to try and provide comfort in the midst of her suffering.

One of the female humans began to speak, asking for Hornbill's help, "Hey dragon, we found our friends and we need you to open their cage-" She abruptly stopped when she noticed Laguna's condition. The dragon's response didn't go unnoticed by Hornbill, as her tail started swishing, her pupils constricted, and a growl escaped her throat as she fixed her gaze on the human.

Hornbill reacted quickly, using his talons to gently guide Laguna's head back to face him. He spoke to her in soothing tones, "Shh, hey, Laguna. Laguna, just look at me, keep your eyes on me." Gradually, her eyes met his, and her growl subsided. "Yes, good, just keep focusing on me. They are friends, okay? Friends."

As he maintained eye contact with Laguna, he heard the footsteps of more humans approaching. Concerned for their safety, he quickly called out to them, "Humans, it's best to stay out of her line of sight. She's not mentally stable right now, and seeing your kind might trigger her to act out." He wanted to ensure that the still sane part of Laguna continued to stay with him.

The young female human's voice trembled as she asked, "Wh-what did they do to her?" Hornbill's response was a low growl, his voice was filled with anger as he spat out his reply. "Torture. They tortured her, keeping a SeaWing without water for months will eventually drive them insane."

Confusion and shock filled the young teen's voice as she continued, "SeaWing? You mean sea dragons? Why would they do such a thing?" Hornbill couldn't help but feel a mixture of pity and exasperation at her innocence. He sighed inwardly and replied, "Oh, how naive you are, little one." Then, he explained, "Because we are in a war, human. Conflicts inevitably bring suffering, but there comes a point when actions go beyond even the darkest depths of war's horrors." He paused, gently rubbing Laguna's cheek as he continued, "And this. This crosses that line."