The Incoming Hero

Exploration

A few weeks had passed since they set off on their journey. Percy concluded that he wasn't on Earth anymore judging by the strange terrain and also its animal inhabitants. However, he was pretty sure he saw a jackalope at one point but wasn't 100% sure.

Maelstrom had also grown rapidly and was now up to his knees with its head almost reaching his hips. Its wingspan was currently four feet and he could tell Maelstrom was almost able to fly. He had been working his wing muscles by jumping off small ledges and high rocks and was able to start gliding earlier in the week.

The two also grew even closer over time. They always slept together whether it was in a nearby pond or up in a tree if water wasn't available. Maelstrom would always wrap around him and Percy would always run his fingers along his slick scales, basking in each other's warmth.

Two days ago Percy stretched out his senses and felt a pull ahead of them that caught Percy by surprise. He concentrated on putting all his focus in front of him and was shocked when the pull increased. He had found an ocean! Or at least a large sea but that didn't matter to him. He was going to be in his domain soon and Maelstrom, sensing his rider's elation, was just as happy.

It took three more days of constant hiking to finally reach what was revealed as an ocean. Both of them sprinted into the cool water and basked in the feeling of being in their respective domains. Both loved the water like nothing else and played in it for the rest of the day. Percy even found out that Maelstrom had some control over water late one afternoon.

They were playing fetch in the shallows using a frozen icicle. They had been playing for a quarter hour and Percy was ready to pick up a new game so he melted the icicle and thought of a new game to play. He could tell that Maelstrom wasn't quite ready to quit and his scrunched face made Percy chuckle.

He at first thought he was just frustrated that his icicle was gone but was proven wrong when another icicle slowly formed on top of the water. While it was much smaller than the original, it made Percy pause at the sight. Maelstrom picked it up in his jaws and hopped over to Omega basically begging him to throw it.

Percy was still stuck on the thought that he didn't create that icicle and looked at his dragon. Maelstrom definitely looked like he just accomplished a task with his happy bouncing. Percy held out his hand for the ice shard and soon held it. He brought it up close, studying it to make sure it really was ice.

It turned out to be pure, solid ice and Percy was amazed that Maelstrom could manipulate water like him. It made him wonder if he was able to do this being a water dragon or was he able to do it since he was bonded to him.

Percy only thought about it for a second before deciding it didn't matter. If Maelstrom did gain some abilities from him then that just made him all the cooler. It also added a whole new aspect to their water fighting wars.

Percy threw the icicle as far as he could while smirking. Oh yes, they were going to have some fun with water tag. However, Percy worried that he would be left with a few bruises before Maelstrom got complete control over his strength.

As the day was coming to an end, they finished their meal they killed on their way to the ocean and slept deep down in the dark depths of the water. Percy was now able to sense fish off in the distance and a few here and there but none close to him. He wondered if he would have to deal with subservient fish since he wasn't on Earth but he guessed he would find out as they traveled through the ocean. They both soon fell asleep cuddled together looking forward to their time in the vast ocean.

~~~

They woke up the next morning and played for a little bit while also trying to get Maelstrom to fly. He was almost there and Percy would try to give him a boost by pushing him up with his arm.