In Between Worlds

Sedjna woke before first light. Finding himself lying in a soft bed of needles, under the protective boughs of a conifer tree. He was cold and damp as everything was covered in morning dew. Rising to his feet to stretch the stiffness out of his joints, a shiver ran through his body that persuaded him to seek warmth. Unsure where he was, other than in the forest. It was dark when he entered. The blackness of the night sky was giving way towards dawn, some stars were still visible, yet obscured through the treetops. Turning in all directions he checked the horizon hoping to find where the sun might rise. As he looked through the shadowy dark figures of the forest canopy a sudden burst lit up that section of the twilight. He had never seen anything like it in his life. A faint ring remained at the site of the eruption, a glowing ball across the veil of the heavens.

He took his first few steps in the dark and tripped on a fallen branch or stone or something. Almost falling flat on his face except for the thorn bush that caught him. His scales protected him mostly, it was only where the injuries he sustained from the other members of his clan who had decided he was unworthy and better off dead. The pain was excruciating there where the thorns found their way into his vulnerable exposed flesh. Sedjna only winced slightly. Rising back to his feet he pressed on in a slow timid determination, and so his journey back to the light began.

His predicament was mostly of his own making, if only he had chosen a more lucrative occupation. His family was very wealthy. Many opportunities were available to him. There was the farm he could manage, Or the factory his father had built while he was no more than a hatchling. They were probably right, his dream of being an entertainer would most likely fail just like the time he thought he could sell his artwork at the bazaar.

A small creature of some sort rustled away from under his trudging footfalls. Chirping in alarm as it scurried away. Sedjna thought of his mom who was probably the only one who ever believed in him and appreciated all the little crafts he made while he was a youngster. She died five years ago now but he still missed her. If she were here right now she would say something like, “Worrying about yesterday's misfortune only spoils the beauty of what you could be dreaming up for your tomorrow.” So he did just that.

It was at that moment he realized how gradually the forest came to life. Dawn was upon the land now and there were more and more creatures scurrying about in the leaf litter. The air was full of songs from so many small little birds. Sedjna noticed a hillside to the south and headed for it as it would be one of the first places to receive sunlight. He looked forward to the warmth and getting some proper rest.

His travels had warmed him enough to subside the shivering. However he was still chilled. He ascended the slope in glee anticipating the sun's touch on his scales. Sedjna climbed atop a rocky outcrop and reclined against the trunk of a tall tree. From this vantage point he could see for miles. Nothing but forest canopy all the way down the valley to the great river and beyond to the horizon. Taking it all in with a deep breath he thought of the woods he used to play in around his childhood home. Memories of splashing in the stream on hot summer days. He remembered how sad he was when his family had the land cleared to make way for the stone quarry. His father reassured him that he would thank him one day for the wealth and security it would provide him. He hadn't spoken to his father for nearly a year over it when a freak accident suddenly took his life one winter's day.

A sliver of the sun crested the horizon and instantly he felt its warmth on his body. He relaxed and took in the beautiful nature all around him. He felt as if he was a part of something. It was like one of his childhood fantasies where he pretended to live alone amongst the wilderness. This was his family now. The warmth of the sun soothed him, he stretched out on the grassy hillside above the rocky outcrop delighted in the tranquility of the moment. Pleasantly dozing off to sleep, when he heard the strangest of sounds.

At first he barely noticed, as he had drifted out of his body into what felt like a hypnotic trance. A world between the wokenness of one's life and the abstract realm of dreams. Again he heard the strange noise. Was it a voice? Maybe it's someone crying? The thoughts came into his dreamy mind more as an abstract visual of a memory he once had from long ago. Since he was neither awake nor asleep the logical part of his brain was having a hard time letting go. The imagery didn't add up. The disassociation snapped abruptly and he sat up out of the dreamy enchantment.

Suddenly alert, he looked around stunned, not quite sure if it had been a dream or not. Looking out over the treetops before him in the distant direction of the sound's apparent source lies the wide dark river of Mur. Sedjna rises to his feet. "Well I may as well. I'm up now anyway." he grumbles as he stretches his aching sore body and heads off for the river.

The journey wasn't far but he had underestimated the difficulty of traversing the dense bushy undergrowth in this forest where no one had blazed a path previously. Several times he thought he heard someone yelling but there was no way to distinguish what the sound actually was with all the noise as he pushed through the thick thorny underbrush.

Sunshine filtering through the canopy convinced him it would be a pleasant glorious day to spend at the beach. Which seemed a huge relief from his current tedious situation. Despite the trouble and thorns there were small clusters of fruiting varieties, most were past their prime and full of insects and worms, but well worth a break in his trek for a small handful of the sweet juicy treats. Another bunch of brambles up ahead looked promising. His belly grumbled for some real food. Plucking the last berry of quality he noticed the forest opened up ahead. "Is that the river?" he tossed the berries in his mouth. Squishing them down his gullet with his tongue as he strode forward in excitement.

Sedjna froze behind the last tree between him and the open banks of the river. He gawked at the unnatural thing that lay there just out of reach of the water's lapping edges. "A human canoe!?" His voice startled him. He tried to shrink his body behind the tree trunk and proceeded to scan up and down the river and its banks. Luckily there were no humans in sight. Surely that must have been the noise that had drawn him here. "They must have departed." he whispered to himself. Poised safely behind the tree trunk that only marginally hid his presence. Eager to inspect the canoe's craftsmanship he took one last look around for good measure and strode out from cover.

Sedjna had never seen a human with his own eyes before. They are very rare creatures, having a reputation as being very powerful, fierce warriors full of magic. He had seen plenty of depictions of them in paintings and old manuscripts of the ancients mythical adventures. He found it a quite intriguing topic and had read every article he could find on them throughout his life. Most dragons think they had gone extinct ages ago due to their magical nature, they were a much coveted prize. Stories of some small bands of men occasionally return with some merchant traveler who claims to have almost been captured and eaten somewhere in the deepest darkest corners of the wilderness. These claims are generally either laughable entertainment or the poor fellow is deemed a kook.

The craft appeared to have wares still intact which was great news he hoped there might be an easy meal for his breakfast. "Lets see what we have here?" He said as he lifted the lid on a woven basket. At the other end of the canoe a pile of fabric turned over revealing the face of a small human. It screamed out in surprise.

Sedjna took a step back, alarmed and ready to run as if it were a trap. He looked all around nervously expecting men to jump out of thin air. But the human child's exclamation was only a brief startled one. It didn't seem to be as frightened of him as he was of an ambush. They both sat there staring in each other's eyes out of sheer surprise. Something else on the child's face bewildered Sedjna, he recognized something, a part of himself maybe. Something they were both feeling, that at least they wouldn't be all alone anymore.

Realizing he was in no danger he ransacked the whole canoe, while keeping a careful eye on the soft looking human. "Maybe I'll just eat you." He pokes at it.

The little thing growls at him through its teeth and slaps his finger away.

"Wouldn't make much of a meal anyway." He states astonishedly. "You look more like a worm than anything worth eating." Sedjna turns and walks right out into the river's current. He was hungry. Hunting for fish like an animal wasn't something very many dragons did anymore. At least not the civilized ones. Despite it being part of their very nature. It only remained as something of a sport that school children would participate in while playing at the beach. He remembered being quite adept at it back then and swam off feeling entirely confident he could catch a meal.

The human sits up to watch as the dragon finally disappears below the dark surface of the river. Mesmerized by the slow undulating ripples of its surface carrying below it such a vast amount of water past these shores every moment. A time passes in a long steady draw without any sight of the dragon. A single tear rolls down its face. Finding itself once again all alone the child climbs out of the canoe, walks into the river until the water reaches its knees.

Sedjna returns with a sizable catfish firmly grasped between his hind legs. The score is tactfully transitioned to his front left hand as he climbs out of the water. His talons properly sunk into its head. Its powerful thrashing would not avail the desperate nature of its situation. Taking no notice of the child now, he strides up the bank and rests himself on the sand in a sunny spot. The human child who is now standing alongside the canoe just stares. Looking away, Sedjna takes a bite of his catch. “Don’t you know it’s rude to stare.” He swallows it down and bites again.

The human approaches him, getting closer than they had been thus far. Raising its hand in a gesture at what remained of the fish.

“Mmm I guess.” Sedjna tosses the tail at its feet which seemed to him to have more than the little creature could consume. “But no begging.”

It picked up the fish meat and ate. Brushing some sand off to prepare for the next bite. Then it walked around in front of Sedjna while it took the first few bites. It was a curious little thing. Sedjna almost felt delighted in the wonder of it all. Firsthand was the predicament of his exile. Then to discover such a treasure as a human child.

The little human walked right up to where Sedjna sat in the sand. Taking a large Bite off the fish tail and sat down lounging up against his scallyness.

“Ah yes, well i best be off now.” Doubtful that the little human understood him he rose up and lumbered off towards the forest, not wanting to be caught off guard if the whole family of humans should return while he slumbered in the sunshine. After traveling some distance up the river in search of a way through. Sedjna found there were no good paths into the forest. He turned about, uncertain what to do next. He had no desire to return home. When he looked in that direction his gaze beheld the small human in pursuit.

It was said to contain great magical powers. Perhaps if he returned with the human child he could exchange it for wealth and regain his honor. It seemed like a good idea but something about it bothered him. He already decided he would never go back there. It must be a sign he thought, the way the human child imprinted on him, followed after him, clearly the universe offered this prize for his redemption. There were other dragons that lived to the north. All he knew of their world came from the seasonal merchants who traversed the long trek through the mountains. They told stories describing them with a mane of hair to keep warm as theirs was a bitter harsh environment. He never liked the sound of snow and wind chilling iciness, but at this point his only option was living a solitary life in a cave hidden away in the mountains.

This new purpose filled his heart with hope. He felt a new kind of excitement. One of adventure! And so he set off on his way. He planned to travel up the river bank looking for any available Way North through the mountains. The human child always within his sight. Following the river would add a good amount of time to their journey. Bushwhacking through the forest was far too cumbersome. On the river he had a supply of food available, for now at least, and if a more convenient direct route should show the way he would be watching for it.

The travelers came to a large clearing just before sunset. It was thick with luscious grass. Sedjna sprawled out and rolled around a bit before curling up for the night. His small companion lay there at the curl in his tail, constricting slightly, Sedjna grasped its body in the loop and lifted it. The child squealed in the process of being moved onto the dragon's chest where Sedjna felt was safer. As the sun set the two lost souls drifted off to sleep. Journeying into a much greater realm amidst the stars. Waking abruptly early the next morning, the dream was gone as quickly as it came. It meant something he thought though and there where he was looking in the sky was a faint shadow of the fireball he had seen explode and erupt on that first morning of his exile. There was something else, personal, he felt it, a message, about the human. The river narrowed and the forest gave way to a new landscape full of large boulders and rock outcropings. They left the river's familiarity and convenient food supply then to forge on along a small stream that must certainly come from those mountains on the horizon. For many days they traveled to the north like this. The strange dreams also continued.

When they finally reached the mountains, months had passed since their journey first began. Seasons were changing and the altitude would push them above the comfort of the woodlands. When Sedjna spotted a cave early in the afternoon he decided to hold up there for the night. The landscape here is blanketed in snow. On this journey he has traversed varied landscapes, seen so many creatures of which he wished he only had the time and means to study and document them all. An endeavor most from back home surely would condemn as undesirable. He enjoyed showing them to the child who seemed to share in his curiosity of the world's wonders. Except of course the larger beasts that occasionally stalked them. The pair of panthers were incredibly difficult to shake off their trail, but it was the bear that really had him terrified.

Further to the north they crossed a pass between the peaks. It was a clear day and he could see a great distance in every direction. To the west the horizon was dominated by the sea of Ul-makloull. He recognized the terrain to the north as an estuary he had seen while studying maps in the cartography section at the library. It seemed a significant benefit to him, and he took great delight in appreciating his very nature for being so full of both curiosity and wonder. Very few dragons venture this far into the wilderness anymore. There was another reason he recognized the area. It was from the strange dream he'd been having, but there was more, the river would lead them inland to an ancient village. He decided to adjust his course slightly and travel the high ground as long as possible. Perhaps the village was more than a dream. What if there were still inhabitants?

His plans to travel the high country would only hold out for just over a week. There was no easy food to eat and his human companion was showing signs of malnutrition and exposure. Traveling downhill certainly made for easy going and they soon found a stream full of small fish. Eventually finding their way to a large river which had dug a deep canyon into the land. Sedjna recognized the area, again from his dreams. He had no doubt. It wouldn't be long now and he would find himself exploring the remains of an ancient civilization. Standing there staring up the river he imagined it surrounded by a high stone wall with embattlements and a castle at its center with a mighty tower. All nestled amongst impassable mountains with cliff faces and spires all around. An ancient remnant of an older age.

He felt that they were close now. After following the river several miles it was joined by an obvious artificial canal that would take them right to the castle. The canal encircled the fortress. They cross a bridge as some small creature disappears into the shadowy ruins inside its high walls. Who knows what kinda ancient sentries might have been enlisted to watch this entrance so long ago. They enter through the open gate as night sets in, and are lucky to find a sheltered comfortable place to get a good night's sleep. It's incredible to him, what good shape the structure is in. Who knows how long ago it was abandoned?

In the morning the child nudges Sedjna awake. Encircling the two of them are many small creatures. The likes of which he has never seen before. Are those cats or monkeys? silently one by one they rise off their haunches and leave the building in a sort of ceremonial fashion. Sedjna, still in a daze from being awakened abruptly, is also haunted by the bizarre dream he just woke out of. There was a sorcerer this time who seemed to be promising him a great power to regain his honor and acquire great wealth in exchange for the human. His people would be proud and love him again.

Believing that the clan of curious creatures were indeed there to lead him to this fabulous destiny. He of course clutches up the human and follows them in their slow meandering sorta procession. They make their way around the rubble and ruins until they reach a holy temple which sits directly in front of the largest pyramid he has ever seen. The monkeycats each seem to take up posts outside the entrance. Several begin licking their fur and paws while others stretch out lazily on the bare roadway. Sedjna enters the tall archway. A voice in the back greets them encouragingly.

“Come in! Come in!”

Marveling at the grandeur spaciousness of the place and its fascinating architecture. He moves towards the back of the structure and passes through an archway into a warm comfortable space that smells pungently like chemicals and incense. A fire burns in the hearth casting a dim light into the room full of dancing shadows. Standing there, adjacent the mantle, his meets the eyes of an ancient dragon, one of such lineage Sedjna thought all of which must have deceased long ago. “Hello sir, I am Sedjna.” With the palm of his hand he moves the child a few steps forward, presentingly. “I found this human, and I think it might be of great value to you.” At which the child immediately withdrew with the most look of fraught he had ever seen it display.

“Ahh yes, marvelous, you look weathered and weary from your journey. How greatly honored I am for your consideration with such a grand offering of your undubious treasure. I seldom receive visitors, and that is a welcome treasure in and of itself. Won't you sit down, so that I might treat you to a warm meal and express my gratitude for such a great gift as that, of company? I am Guen-Tusi. It's a pleasure to meet you.” The old dragon lifts a bowl off the table and fills from the pot over the fire. Apparently a stew of some sort that smells delicious. Placing it back on the table then repeats the motion for each soul present. Finally adding some utensils.

While the two travelers fill their stomachs, Guen-Tusi asks many questions as he stirs the contents of his bowl about. His primary interest seems to be how Sedjna came to be with a human in his possession. He only slirps at his meal while listening intently, but unenthusiastically as though he already knows how Sedjna will answer. It was uncomfortable for Sedjna to discuss the loss he felt from being exiled, attacked and left for dead. Guen-Tusi sympathizes with him about it. Mentioning a magic scepter in his possession which Sedjna could charm with his personal incantation. Listening to the old dragon describe it, Sedjna imagines what an amazing life he could finally have. If he desires, and is able to complete the enchantment properly. The life of his dreams. It would give him an advantage over the other dragons back home. He listens eagerly to Guen-Tusi’s embellishing stories about glory, power and privilege. “Here let me get it for you. It's really such an exquisite piece.” He says over his shoulder excusing himself as he exits the room into what appears to be a hallway. “Ah yes.” he says somewhere out of sight, returning shortly thereafter, scepter in hand.

In his excitement Sedjna doesn't notice the uncomfortable glances Guen-Tusi makes towards the human. He’s too distracted by the fantastical idea of what it will feel like to finally be respected by his people. Taking hold of the dazzling object, he thinks it's more beautiful than he expected. If only he could realize that the other dragons aren't like him. They don't really value the lives of humans or any of the lesser beings. In fact they don't just devalue his life, but that's how they feel about each other, and their very selves. The ornately decorated scepter feels sturdy in his grasp. With its polished hexagonal edifice culminating atop the smooth handle. Reflecting at his own visage of triumph on its multiple crystalline surfaces. The old dragon can barely contain his eagerness to take possession of the human child.

“Yes this is what I want.” Sedjna agrees.

At that Guen-Tusi wastes no time at scooping the child up roughly, then setting it onto an altar opposite the fireplace with a thud. “Well let's get you to your rightful destiny shall we?” He says strapping it down despite the shrill sound of it crying out.

Witnessing the old dragons sudden change in demeanor towards the child startles Sedjna. “Wait, what will you do with it?” He asks.

“I will release some of its power so that I can bestow on you the enchantment you desire.” He pulls a blade encrusted with gemstones from his garments, and cuts the child on one of its limbs. “Are you ready?” He smears the blood across his brow and licks his finger. Then begins speaking some language incomprehensible to Sedjna.

“Wait? You never said what would happen to it!”

Papers in the room fluttered slightly, a previously unnoticed multitude of chimes dangling from the ceiling, now began to whir and clang. The room feels full of electricity. With a shout directed at a candle aside the altar. Its flame is extinguished, or rather It explodes in a peculiar way. Leaving a strange afterglow all around where its flame had been. The sorcerer collects another small drop of blood on his finger and throws it at the glowing ball. The afterglow becoming more pronounced, begins spiraling around, creating a sheen of colors that looks like whoever stood in front of it would be looking at their own reflection.

Sedjna steps up to protest, but with a raise of his hand the old Guen-Tusi casts him back, almost knocking him over. The anomaly shimmers into a whirlpooling sort of portal. The sorcerer raises the blade in both hands over the child. Reciting some ancient words of enchantment. Out of concern for the child Sedjna steps forward again despite his apprehension that it was too late. There's nothing he can do. Right at that moment a large mass of red and black feathers barrels out of the portal crashing into the sorcerer knocking him back. The crumpled pile now lying on the floor, appears to be some sort of large parrot either dead or dazed.

Guen-Tusi turns swiftly clutching up the significantly smaller creature, lifts it up to the shaft of light shedding in through some opening in the above. Its feathers were singed. There was fresh blood on the side of its head and across its chest. Snarling a gasp of astonishment. "What is the meaning of this?" his voice exudes anger for the inconvenient intrusion. A raging glean filled his visage. “How dare you interrupt me. I've planned this out for so long.” with his one chance at immortality finally in his grasp, and now it's all put in jeopardy. As he squeezes the avian traveler for disrespecting him, its eyes pop open and suddenly it recovers. Its black and red feathers magically shift becoming rigid with a glint of steel on their edges.

"aaagh!" Guen-Tusi cries out as the transformation causes his death clutch over the creature to cut into his hands. Exasperatedly he tries to throw the bird back into the portal. With a magical black and red flash of its wings it has no problem course correcting into a somersault onto the table. Immediately it jumps up into the air. Incanting something unintelligible. With force in its voice and a powerful wing beat it Produced a barrage of feathers that shot like spears at Guen-Tusi’s head.

The old dragon nearly fell to the ground as he evaded, but regained his footing rather spryly for his apparent antiquated age. "Very impressive! You are quite advanced." Guen-Tusi’s words change to the sort that Sedjna recognized as sorcery while he raised his fist up and slammed it down into his other palm as his voice bellowed.

The Black and red feathered sorcerer was thrown back against the wall from the blow. The explosion left a crater that splintered a nearby table into kindling, a candle stand and some other nearby furnishings were completely obliterated.

Guen-Tusi chuckled with delight at the sight of his opponents body lying amidst a cloud of dust. "uuggh. Now let's send you off... somewhere let's see... full of torment where you can never escape.” Again the words of magic came out his mouth and the vortexual disk shimmered into something darker than can be described with words. Then with a gesture of his hand and an undulation of his tongue the limp body of the sorcerer parrot lifted itself off the ground as if in a trance, and began moving towards the pulsing portal. It was the most unholy sight.

Something erupted in Sedjna’s chest of which he had never felt the likes of ever in his life. Before he knew what he was doing he had crossed half the distance to the old dragon with the scepter raised high above his head, held firmly in both hands. Snarling so that his teeth could feel his determination. He dropped a blow to the old sorcerer's head so bone crushingly purposeful he would have collapsed on the floor to his death, but Sedjna wasn't taking any chances so he spun all his weight into a kick that launched the decrepit body straight into that most foul of voids. As the body fell out of sight a spark ignited. A bright white fire erupted from it up towards him. Sedjna ducked but before any flame reached out of there the whole thing snapped out of existence in a deafening bang. He stumbled back but turned round catching himself on the altar. Taking a deep breath he freed the terrified child from the altar. Carrying him out into the front room. Before he can exit the building he falls to his knees setting the small human down. “I am so sorry, I got you into that!” The child runs off and Sedjna drags himself into a cove along the wall where he tries to fully grasp what just happened and what these events mean about who he is and what his existence means in this reality.

After most of the day has passed he still doesn't have any answers, only more questions and much confusion. He pulls himself together enough to realize right now, all he really cares about is to check and see where the child made off to. Simply because if he knew it was okay, he could start to feel better. So he gets back on his feet and heads into the back room. There he finds his friend kneeling over the body of the parrot that saved them. Seeing its chest rise and fall he is relieved for its life, and realizes he feels pride for himself.

“I'm sorry I wasn't thinking clearly.'' He apologizes in a general manner as he is unaware if the human can understand him. “I was confused, and I don't think I ever would have realized that if my life had not taken such a dramatic turn for the worse. I thank the creator that our lives crossed.” Speaking the words in this open way Sedjna can sense a greater presence than just the three souls he is aware of. “And if you can forgive me, I'll stand by you for the rest of time and do everything in my power to make sure no harm comes to you.”

With his whole being feeling of penance he moves to attend the fire. After stoking it up he rounds up whatever scraps and materials he can to make the Parrot a comfortable spot by the fire. Another night falls over them Sedjna curls himself up for the night. He feels exhausted but doesn't want to close his eyes and miss out from the joy he gets watching as the human child fills a bowl of stew broth and tries to feed the hurt creature. Sedjna Pokes it in the shoulder saying “I'm gonna need you to live.” Then he adjusts his attention to the human child. “And i'm gonna call you Dowsifee.”

The End.