In Form

No More

    My eyes opened. For some reason I couldn't feel my body, like it wasn't there at all, but I could feel the ground I was lying on. I sat up realizing I was sitting on the cold wet pavement of the road we had been driving on. I looked around seeing only the dark woods surrounding the road and myself. "Dragolya?" I called out. "Mistory?" My voice never echoed as the trees seemed to absorb the noise around it. I stood up and looked around. Did they just dump me off here? That wouldn't make any sense.
    As I scanned the road I noticed a figure walking away from me in a dark coat, who wasn't there before. I hesitated to say something but did anyway. I raised my hand in the air. "Hey! Um, excuse me!" I yelled at the person, but they kept on walking. I groaned in annoyance and ran up to who I now know was a man. I grabbed his shoulder. "Hey-" Hex turned to look at me. "Hex! What happened where's Dragolya, and Mistory?"
    Hex looked at me as if he didn't know me. He didn't say anything but shook my hand off of his shoulder while giving me a disgusted look. He walked away again, continuing down the street.
    "Hex! What are you doing, where are you going?" I yelled at him. "Hex?"
    He walked further and further away from me. I let him walk away for some reason. As he was about a few yards away a crash happened somewhere in the woods next to the road. I went down in a defensive stance as I gasped, but Hex didn't seem to hear it, or care.
    A large dark wyvern came out of the trees, he had white scales around his eyes. It was Hex, but in form. How could he be in two places at once? The dragon immediately clamped his jaws down on the human Hex and threw him further down the road. I screamed catching the dragons attention. The dragon stalked towards me. I took shaky steps back, not able to speak. The dragon suddenly lunged at me.
    Pictures flew by and some would stop in front of me, like I was in them. I saw children playing, their laughter filled my head. A few young boys ran and laughed with sticks in their hands as they ran down a cobble stone path. There was sudden fire blowing in front of me, people screamed, a dragon roared in the sky above. The peaceful town I had just seen was now in flames. My vision was attacked with white as I appeared in a white room, the jaguar lady that I saw at the gathering was standing shaking another guys hand formally. Her leopard spots appeared on her face then disappeared. They were suddenly sitting. The man said, "Opportunity." They both seemed to nod and the vision skipped. "He'll be there." The woman said. "Take him out, during the games. It'll look like an accident." The vision seemed to glitch and she walked into the room again before they went back to sitting down again. "This'll take him down." The man handed the woman a small brown paper bag. Their voices went in and out as I could no longer hear them.
    I was back on the dark empty road, but Hex was no longer there. I turned to see Mistory with her bow drawn at me, the arrow head on fire. Dragolya was lying on the ground dead behind her. "If it makes you feel any better, it's a dream."
    I opened my eyes and sprang out of my bed onto the floor. I stared at my carpet and moved my fingers between the fibers before slowly getting up. My room was cold, and drafty. I stood up to see that my window was open. I closed it. I was still in my clothes from the gathering, they must have put me in my bed not wanting to wake me.
    I hate nightmares. What was that all about? Those people's memories I accidentally accessed at the gathering were in my dream, but I could see fully into them. Who was the jaguar talking about? And why take him out? I still did not joe the extent of my powers, I hope that my friends will know what is happening to me.
    It was still a little dark outside but the clock on my bedside table read 6:57, dawn would come soon. I stretched and yawned, but stopped when I heard the clinking of dishes below me. My mom was washing dishes, this early in the morning?
    I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.
    My mom was unloading the dishwasher and putting the plates back into the sink. How long has she been doing this?
    I ran up to her and grabbed her arms. "Mom." She looked at me, startled. "Do you realize what your doing?" I asked her.
She looked at me, then the dishes in front of her. "Oh," she smiled. "Silly me. I'll just put these back then." She turned back to the dishes.
I grabbed her arm again. "Mom, this has to stop." She barely glanced at me. I couldn't live like this. My mom had to act her age, she had to listen, to understand, to be my mom. Or is this my fault? If it's dragon sickness, then what good am I standing next to her? Living with her? She's my mom, she had to come back to me. "Mom, I have to tell you something."
"Hm? And what's that honey?" She asked placing dishes in the cupboard. She almost sounded normal, like old times, in Seattle.
"Did you know what dad was?" I asked hesitantly.
Her mouth twitched. "What about your father?" She said quietly.
"I'm pretty sure you already know but-"
"What? That he was a drunk? That he never cared about us?" Her voice became aggressive.
   "Thats a lie!" I loudly proclaimed. "He cared about us! He was never a drunk!"
   She turned to me now, with sass. "Oh, and how would you know this? You could barely walk when he left."
   "How do I know that he didn't leave on his own, huh? Did you make him leave?" I challenged. "You did didn't you." I pointed my finger at her. "You never cared!"
    "Your father was a messed up drunk that almost never came back from the bar! Passed out on the couch, while I slaved for him, working my job till I dropped! And what did he do?"
    "Lier!" I yelled at her.
    "Tell me Amber, how on earth would you know-"
    "Because dragons can't get drunk!" I yelled at her. "That's how I know!"
   She opened her mouth to say something but she was struck with what I said. Her face paled. "What did you just say to me?"
    "Dragons. Can't. Get. Drunk." I said through my teeth.
   All of a sudden a smile came across her face, as if nothing that we just said happened. "What are you talking about? Dragons aren't real."
    "Yes they are. You know they are. You knew dad was a dragon." I accused. Her smile went away. "Did you know I was one too? Yeah, I'm a dragon too! Why didn't you say anything? Why hide this from me?"
    "I did know!" She spoke up. "I've known ever since he started teaching you magic in the backyard. I fed you anything but meat just to slow down the process of becoming one of them."
    "One of them? What do you mean? This is like, the coolest thing ever! Mom, I can turn into a dragon, I can make plants grow with my mind, I can-"
    "Your father was a monster!" I flinched. "He did nothing but bring harm to me! Bringing hunters where ever he went, we couldn't have any family time together..." She looked down and looked sad, like she was going to cry. I went up to her to comfort her but she pushed me away. "No! Get away from me! Monster!"
    "Mom!"
   "I'm not your mom anymore! Your a beast now, so go hang out with your beast friends and eat meat all day long I don't care! Monster!" She yelled again. "Get out! Out out!"
    "Mom no!" I pleaded. She pushed me out of the kitchen, while I held my hands up trying to stop her. "No, wait! Let's just talk this out, we can talk this out!"
    "I've made up my mind!" She said pushing me to the door. "I've put up with trying to raise you to be normal, but no more, I can live in sanity. Now go before I call those- those hunters on you!" She was unsure she had used the right word, but she kept her composure of being very upset. Her eyes were different, they seemed distant and colorless.
    She opened the door to let me out and closed it in my face. I leaned against it as I heard her dead bolt lock me out. I knocked and listened for her footsteps, she had gone upstairs. I pounded the door once. "Mom!" My voice cracked. I placed both hands on the maybe two inch wooden door. I could go through this door if I wanted, violent or otherwise.
Moss and vines began to grow under my hands and throughout the door. My eyes were so watery I almost didn't notice at first, then I felt something different, so I blinked away the tears for a moment to see the spiney thorns protruding from the vines. I let go of the door and backed away. The moss was darker than usual, only the silhouette of my hands remained, and the vines grew out at an ombré of bright blue. Frightened by this, I wiped some of my tears off my cheek, tell it 'no' and with a wave of my hand the cluster withers and drops to the wood of the deck below me. I let out a quiet sob, and kick the evidence off the porch.
I shove my hands in my pocket as I sink to the base of the door and lean against it. I cried into the easily penetrable wooden door. The door could have grown itself a tree with all the salty tears I wiped and dripped onto its wood. I sat on my knees huffing and puffing, mulling this all over for a long time. I could see an orange light in the sky from the sun behind the thick clouds, but as luck would have it, I felt drops of rain on the back of my neck.
    She is right in a way. Her sanity would probably come back if I left, it's probably a good thing that I'm leaving. But now, I don't have a house, I don't have a dad, I don't have a mom.
    I got up and turned into form, not caring if she saw. It didn't matter now did it? I sat there on the uncovered porch looking out into the woods that was slowly getting damper as the rain kept coming. I moaned with my dragon vocal chords, similar to a cry dogs. I could hear whispers in the wind that brushed my scales. I got up and began to walk down my driveway. If I'm going to sulk, I better do it somewhere private. I haven't been to the memory tree in a while, that sounds like a good place to sit.
     I began to run, I ran across the car-less road and started my journey over the hills and through the woods, just running as fast as I could. My four legs strained at such sudden fast paced movement, and I felt my elbows and knees pop a couple times up the hill.
I followed the whispers in the wind to find the tree, and it didn't take much but I finally found it. All alone, dead and ugly it sat in the grassless dirt. I turned out of form and placed my hand on its gray and rough bark, giving it my power to let it know I was here. The tree came to life as colors bloomed around it, blossoms of pink bloomed from buds to flowers, blue and purple memories slowly emerged from the flowers and began floating around looking for their owners. Lush green grass sprouted from the bottom of the beautiful tree.
    I stared at it for a while before deciding to experiment. Carefully, I placed my hand back on the tree and closed my eyes, I thought of the good and bad memories of my mom and I, I thought about my dad, I thought about my new relationship with my new friends. I took my hand off the tree, when nothing happened I sighed. That would have been cool if it worked.
     The tree moved and twisted its trunk slightly, a light began at its core and moved up into three different branches. Each branch brought forth a blue memory that floated freely, one twirled, one was quick, and one moved slowly as they moved toward me. I smiled. I had my own memories. As I would look at their fur-like floatyness, it was as if I knew knew each one and what memory it held. I could hear them, like a feeling or smell you can't place but is familiar.
   A flash of fire and screams burst through my mind suddenly, ruining the nice thought I was having. That memory, it was here. I looked at one that floated away at my right, I could hear the memory from here, it was loud.
     I walked underneath it, staring up at it, just an arms reach away. I lifted my arm hesitantly, I could almost touch it. I stood on my tip-toes to try and skim its ghostly fur, but it moved out of the way. It didn't want me to touch it. That probably means I shouldn't touch it.
I try to ignore it, but it's contents are so loud. It's been playing through my head, I have to know. I get right underneath it and jump up to grab it. It dodged that hand, but I was ready with the other and I get a hold of it. I felt my fingers collide with its cold hollow body as I was in mid-air.
    White turned to red which turned into a scene, a scene of a village, being built through the fabric that is my mind. A very old looking village, and seemed to be placed around some sort of medieval time. Three young boys ran in front of me on a cobblestone path through the town, not seeing me. The young boys carried sticks and laughed as they struck the fences near them.
    Time fast forwarded to the same spot, I watched the summer sun glide through the sky and behind the large rock wall, it was now dark outside. One of the three boys walked slowly down the cobblestone road alone, he had curly brown hair and looked like he was maybe twelve years old. He kicked rocks as he wandered down the path. It must have been extremely dangerous for him out here all alone in the dark. Who was this boy, was he the owner of the memory? Suddenly there was fire everywhere, my mind had jumped, the same town that was once peaceful was now in flames. People screamed and ran away, while the sound of a dragon roaring echoed from the skies. The same young boy cried in the corner of a stone fence and watched as the village burnt down.
   The memory skipped to a familiar jail cell, the one from Dragolyas memory. Hex sat there, eyes closed and unconscious looking. His wrists were bound to large cuffs, as well as his ankles were all bound to the wall behind him. Bruised and some evidence of dried blood. His hair was a mess as it shadowed his face.
    The door opened as two men and a woman entered the cell with a lantern. Their clothing was indiscernible, for the woman wore a bonnet like hat, one of the men wore a long coat that looked modern, but the other had s sword strapped to his belt. 
"Here it is." The woman said holding the bright lantern high. "Don't worry it can't do anything, it is bound by magic."
    The men came closer to the non-moving Hex. "Is it alive?" Sword man asked the woman.
    "Yes, I think it's sleeping." It annoyed me that they kept calling him an 'it'. I noticed her distance and looked to the floor where there were scratch marks and scuffs right up to her shoes where there were none.
    "Use the clubs end, see for yourself." The lady said handing them a thin club that was against the door.
    The coat man grabbed the thin wooden club, and with the thinnest end of the club moved toward Hex's face.
    Hex opened his red eyes and stared at them.
    The men jumped back. Coatman relaxed and looked perplexed. "Now wait a cotton pickn' minute, how do we know this really is what you tell us on the good Lord's day?" One asks. "All the other beasts can do just the same."
    Hex growled at them, baring his teeth.
    "See!" The lady said pointing at Hex. "There!"
    They looked closer, but didn't get too close. Hex's canines were pointier like I've seen on many other people before, but nothing too abnormal. This seemed to be long time ago, so maybe things like this started the legends.
   Coatman sighed, looking disappointed, resting on the club now. "Right right, but other people's have the same 'fect." He said, being reasonable.
    "Right. My cousins son, back in the lower Parsel, had that same thing, and he is not a demon of any sort." The other said as fact. "Very well boy, cheeks are rosier than a berry."
    Hex brought his eyes back to normal. He leaned his head back against the cement brick wall and sighed. He looked bored. "Ye got me... Just take me t'way so I dn't have to focus on your traps moving in sooch an aggravating way..." He groaned. His voice was different, it had an accent so couldn't place.
    The men looked astonished. "Extraordinary..." As if they didn't know he could speak. Hex even furrowed his brows. Coatman brought out a notepad and began jotting things down.
    Swordman looked very determined and nodded as he spoke. "Let it loose so we can see its capabilities on field."
    Hex also looked determined and suddenly perked up. "Yes I agree. Gertrude, let us do a fieldt test." He said to the woman.
    She looked between the two and looked indecisive. "Uh, we are not required to field test this one."
    The memory blurred away. I heard ocean sounds and a boat creaking, I was somewhere outside, on a boat. I could here other people walking around and talking in the background but I couldn't see anything. A voice echoed. "Hex," It was Dragolya's voice. Her voice was soft and comforting. "don't put yourself down like that, I hate to see you so forlorn... America will be different, I promise. I love you for the way you are, okay? Nothing will change that. Ever."
   Loud echoes boomed in my head until I could fully see again. I could see the tree again. The memory flew out of my hands and away from me. I was on the ground, and I could the soreness that is my tail bone. Literally jumping into a memory was not a good idea.
    That's what Alvar meant by mutt, Hex was only part dragon. Why wouldn't he say anything? Why would he hide something like that?
   "Amber." I heard a dark voice behind me. I gasped and spun around. I stand up. He was a good distance away, and had his hands in his pockets. He paused waiting for me to say something. "It's rude to look into someone's mind without permission. I know you were just curious, but, you should have came to us first."
    I glanced around hoping that they were next to him somewhere, but I saw now one else.
    He tilted his head. "What did you see?" His voice was calm, as if he expected that I saw a good one of his. He started walking towards me casually, almost with a pep in his step.
    I could feel my sweaty palms begin to shake. If I tell him, he'll get mad that I saw, and if I lie he'll definitely know and be even angrier with me. I looked down and stuttered a couple words, trying to start a sentence.
    He stopped walking when he was about two feet away. "Amber." He waits, but I don't look up. "Amber, look at me."
I give in this time and look up at him. He doesn't look angry or disappointed, but seems very relaxed.
He gives me a small smile as he crosses his arms across his chest. "I know which one you looked at." There was a pause, and I wasn't sure where it was going to go from here. "It's fine." He shrugs. "I'd rather you have asked, but it's already done, and I'm okay with it."
I dropped my shoulders with a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry. I should have asked- I'll ask next time- for sure next time." I nod rapidly.
He laughs and shakes his head. "Well, how are you feeling then, okay? I'm not the big bad wolf again am I?"
I smile. "No, I never said that." I reassure. "I'm okay, we're okay, it's all cool." I say exhaling again.
     "Good." He said as he forced me into hugging him. I didn't hug him back as he patted my back because of my surprise. "My goodness Amber, I'm giving you a hug, quit being so tense." I slowly lifted my arms to pat his back. I wasn't sure if he were to realize why I was so stiff is because his head was too close to my neck, and if that was good or bad. He made me drop that thought by wrapping his chin over my shoulder: a sign of trust I found out, and I calmed down. "That side of me is only a small percentage, dormant if you will, I am still mostly like you, Drsgolya, and Mistory. You have nothing to worry about." He sighed. "Your family now Amber, and family doesn't hurt each other."
    Family. Tears weld in my eyes, this only reminded me why I came here. My throat cracked and escaped a sob once but had enough strength to hold back the rest.
    Hex pulled away and held me at arms length. "What is the matter?" Unfortunately he heard that.
    It took a moment, but I finally spoke. "M-my mom... She-sh-" I sobbed some more. It was hard to speak. "She said tha-at she's not-t my m-mom anymore." I looked back up to him, and gathered the strength to say a sentence without crying. "She kicked me out."
   Hex sighed. "Did you tell her..."
   "Sh-she knew..." I sucked up my dignity and spoke calmly. "I told her that I was like dad-my dad. She just, wouldn't except it." I sighed. "She has known, about him - about me. It drove her crazy."
   He nodded understandingly. "Come on let's go back home. There's always room for you."
   I laughed. "Because I'm part of the family..."
   "No. Because your small." He smiled.
   I glared at him. He laughed.
   Hex placed his hand on the tree, the tree seemed to turn off as it went gray and the tree seemed dead again. Hex turned into form and I got on his back. We flew down the mountain and back to the nests.
    I was going to have a new family, one that truly cared about me, for who I was. My mind was cluttered at the outrageous thought that I could actually live like they do, which will take time, but I believe I can do it. They would help me find my father. Even if it takes the next year to do so. Things will go the way they should, or at least how my dad lives. When we find him.