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Post by Silver on Mar 5, 2020 19:16:52 GMT -6
There were many places that Silver had forgotten over the years, but this was not one of them. The path to the canyons was unwavering and enduring, in reality and memory. It almost surprised them that they could recall it so well. They watched the ground as they continued on and wondered what it would be like once they were there. A single Draconic stood patiently at the edge of the canyon, waiting for them to arrive. It was best that a person was accompanied by a Draconic while visiting the canyon, though that was not the only reason he was there. He may not look like it, but he was eagerly anticipating seeing Silver. He had something to show them! Their deep connection spanned great distances, so there was not a lot that they kept from one another, but Koda had been holding on to this particular thing as a secret. He wanted to see how Silver would react when they saw it with their own eyes for the first time.
[92.05 - 28.2]
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Post by Silver on Mar 5, 2020 19:17:41 GMT -6
Koda, unlike his bonded, was usually reserved in his actions and rarely made a show of his emotions. Knowing that fact made it especially amusing to watch him hop over the invisible boundary between the two lands and skip over to Silver like a puppy whose master had just come home. He nearly crashed into them, which would have sent both of them toppling over. No matter how often they could communicate, there was nothing like seeing family again after a long break. Koda wrapped a clawed hand around Silver’s back and pulled them close. They held that position tightly for a while before finally letting go. It was all he could do to stop himself from becoming even more emotional. “It’s good to see you, too,” Silver said. They couldn’t remember how long it had been, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they were together at last and they could do whatever they wanted for now.
[92.15 - 28.4]
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Post by Silver on Mar 5, 2020 19:18:05 GMT -6
There was little time lost as Koda abruptly turned around and started heading for his home in the vast canyons. Silver followed easily and quickly, as they could almost tell where he was about to go before he moved. Even if they didn’t remember the way, they could feel it in the way that Koda moved. The home Koda and his kin had carved into the canyon was simple and elegant. There were many twisting pathways that led to various rooms, some occupied by Draconics and others occupied mostly by books and other supplies. Silver tried to picture all of the Draconics that lived there as they walked past the various rooms, but they only reached vague memories of babies running about. Koda hid a smile as he felt the nostalgic feeling coming from Silver. All of his children and even grandchildren running around as little hatchlings. Climbing all over himself and Silver. Getting into everything, and even that one time Xye ate a whole book about the ancient history of the river below. It made his heart swell with pride in his little family.
[92.25 - 28.6]
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Post by Silver on Mar 5, 2020 19:18:24 GMT -6
“Close your eyes,” Koda instructed. Silver did so and immediately tripped over a rock on the floor. The Draconic reached out to catch him without skipping a beat. He used his long tail to guide Silver into a room at the farthest part of his home. His study where he personally slept and… studied. “Okay, you may open them now,” he said, barely able to contain his excitement. Before the two of them was a beautiful claw-made painting. It depicted water, the canyon, four small creatures, and… “That’s me!” Silver reached out and touched the figure on the painting. It had long flowing silver hair and a tail, and that must mean that… “This one’s you,” Silver said. They tilted their head at the painting one way, then the next. It was the same color and shape as Koda, but much smaller. “You were just a puppy then,” Silver said.
[92.35 - 28.8]
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Post by Silver on Mar 5, 2020 19:18:48 GMT -6
Their voice was caught in their throat and a long slow tear rolled down their cheek. They remembered! They could so clearly remember the day depicted in the painting. They were travelling through the canyon with Koda and three little fish with glimmering scales. They wanted to show him what their life was like outside of the canyon, so they brought three new creatures along to the canyon so Koda could help to raise them. “This,” Silver said pointing at the three little creatures. “It’s… I know them. I can’t. I can’t remember their names.” They sounded exhausted and exasperated, crying even harder now. Koda wordlessly stepped behind Silver, allowing them to fall back into him and lean on him for support. He hummed quietly a little song that he used to hum to Nomi when she was a baby. The vibration of his voice resonated with Silver who was almost instantly comforted by it. Silent tears rolled down their cheeks, but they were no longer visibly distressed.
[92.45 - 29]
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Post by Silver on Mar 5, 2020 19:19:14 GMT -6
“Let me help you,” Koda said. He brushed the hair from Silver’s face and pressed his forehead against theirs. It was just a symbolic gesture, of course. They could feel each other no matter the distance. Koda thought about that day that he first met those little fishies. The words of a young woman echoed in his head as though it happened only yesterday and he remembered it perfectly. ‘This is Aurali, Shaiko, and the timid one is Rukare.’ A laugh echoed through the memory, followed by an explanation. ‘They’re called Tat-lung and they’ve only just hatched. I wanted you to meet them. I know they’re special, can’t you tell?’ “Aurali, Shaiko, Rukare… they’re my Tat-lung. They. Were little fishes once, that’s right.” Silver whispered, knowing that Koda didn’t actually need that information. Is that why he brought them here? To look at the painting of them, so that they could remember. Did he know that’s how it would work? Silver was a little overwhelmed with information so they sat there for a while leaned against Koda and looking over the painting.
[92.55 - 29.2]
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Post by Silver on Mar 5, 2020 19:19:44 GMT -6
“Xye made this for me,” Koda said after the silence had run its course. “It is one of my favorite memories.” After considering what he said for a while, Silver jumped to their feet and turned around abruptly. They grabbed Koda by the shoulder and looked intensely into his eyes. “That’s it!” Koda blinked a few times and waited for Silver to continue. He didn’t know what was ‘it’ yet, but he knew them long enough by now to know that they’d elaborate eventually. “Koda you can’t… you can’t just sit here in the study and wait for me... “ Silver started crying again, but they hardly noticed. “You can go out - on your own adventures! You’re smarter than any person I’ve ever met, and there is so much to see, in the city and even beyond. You could take them with you, I know that they care about you, they even come to visit, right? I know they don’t belong here, really, but you could...”
[92.65 - 29.4]
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Post by Silver on Mar 5, 2020 19:20:07 GMT -6
“Silver,” Koda said firmly, stopping Silver’s little rant. “Adventuring is your life. This is mine, here with my children and my studies.” “Aren’t you curious what it’s like out there? What is there left here to discover? I know you want to know, you can’t hide that from me.” “Even if that is true,” Koda said skeptically. He didn’t want to admit that he sort of liked the idea, not out loud anyway. He had always wondered what the world Silver lived in was really like. What the Tat-lung did once they went back home. “I do not think I am suited to life in the city.” “You could always try, it’s not like you can’t come back…” With Nomi taking over his studies and Koku watching over the family, Koda did feel restless lately. Silver must know that, and this was their rather hasty yet intriguing solution. Silver could not cope with restlessness or not satisfying curiosity, but Koda was a little more reserved. He wondered if they were right, however. Would his life be more satisfying if he traveled more? “I admit defeat,” Koda said. “I will come and visit, and if it is suitable, I will spend some time in the city.”
[92.75 - 29.6]
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