The Endless Forest

Noria laid the tome down upon the library’s table, stretching her arms in the process. Lorem, who was sitting opposite of her, looked up from a book. The evening was upon them, and soon they all would be meeting back up at the hatchery.

“Are you finished for tonight?” Lorem asked, closing the book and setting it down.

“I think so…” She said, trailing off. In truth she hadn’t made much progress. “I just can’t focus.”

He reached out and put a hand on hers, which was still resting on top of the tome. “Hey, it’s okay. There’s no rush and… You’ve had a lot to deal with. We all have.”

A smile formed as she nodded in agreement. “Do you think Yedril is up by now? I want to go check on him.”

Lorem smiled warmly at her while gently massaging her hand. Hers was so tiny within his grasp…

“Probably. Felix and Eri seemed convinced he would wake this morning.” He let go and stood up. “You want to head down there now?”

She took a brief moment to consider his words, peering down at the tome and her notes. I suppose he’s right… I don’t need to rush and Yedril’s well-being is more important.

“Sure,” she said and got up. “Let me just store all this and we can head down there…”

***

The sun was nearly set, casting what was left of its orange and red light over the forest. The moon was already visible, taking its rightful throne for the night. All the while, Noria and Lorem made the trek to the hatchery in almost complete silence.

Well, they were silent. Not so for the kobolds that were running back and forth between the manor and hatchery. Apparently, that was where it had been decided that dinner would be served.

Seeing the light from the building, Noria’s mind wandered… I hope Yedril is alright. I don’t know what I could do to help. She shoved the thought away, she could only put her faith in Felix.

As that thought fell to the wayside, the other one came forward. The egg… I hope it hatches soon.

Noria hated to admit it, but despite everything that happened, she was excited by the prospect. Although this was not how she thought her life would go, she was with Lorem and she had nearly succeeded in taking control of her life.

That is what she had set out to do.

Noria closed her eyes for a single moment, letting her imagination run wild for that brief instant. She pictured herself sitting on the back of a mighty, amber colored dragon, the wind whipping past them as they soared high into the sky.

There was peace.

There was serenity.

Everything felt right with the world. She could imagine Lorem, sitting upon another dragon, and racing them through the skies…

Noria felt a shudder run down her back, the vision felt too real.

I’m committed, just like Yedril, she realized. The thought shouldn’t have surprised her. In hindsight, it made complete sense. She always held a special place in her heart for animals.

But a dragon isn’t an animal, she chastised herself. If Zira, Kyrith, and Ithea were anything to go by, they were people, just like her and–

“Are you okay?” Lorem asked, snapping her back to reality. She hadn’t realized that she came to a complete stop.

Noria gave him a warm smile as she stared up into his eyes. “Feeling better now, actually.”

Before he could respond, she picked up her pace.

Solanna ignored the food laid out in front of her. She wasn’t hungry.

Yedril was stuffing himself, enjoying himself. He was laughing at some joke.

Noria was absently taking bites out of her bread. She wore a warm smile.

Lorem was telling a joke, acting it out for effect. His tray had long since been finished off.

Eri and Felix were sitting together at the head of their ‘table.’ There was no table, they were sitting on the hatchery’s floor. Their hands were intertwined, thinking no one saw.

Then there were Zira and Kyrith. Both dragons sat behind their respective partners. Their pile of food was already devoured.

Solanna balled her fists in frustration. Not at any one of them, but at herself. She was more than relieved that her brother was alive and, seemingly, well. But that was what ate at her.

All her life, since Yedril’s birth, she had been his effective caretaker. She did everything for him, and without complaint. How could she? Because she loved him, she wanted nothing more than to see her brother smile.

And he is.

But he wasn’t smiling at her.

It was selfish, she knew, but Solanna could not help but feel jealous. That is why she was frustrated with herself. That is why she did not eat.

Solanna was watching Yedril grow up. She was watching her needy younger brother no longer need her.

This was always going to happen, she told herself. Truthfully, she knew if Yedril’s condition could be managed, or cured, he would quickly become independent. Now, it looked like that was exactly what was happening.

Her vision began to blur with tears. Quickly wiping them away, she stood up and made for the entrance.

“Solanna?” Felix called out.

Suddenly, all eyes were on her.

Forcing a smile, she faced him. “Just going to get some fresh air.”

He frowned. “Everything– Never mind, take your time. When you come back I will make my announcement.”

“I won’t be long,” she responded before continuing out. No one else dared to question or comment…

The night was warm and dark as she walked further away. The only sources of light were the manor, the hatchery, and the moon. At least, on this side of the clearing. The kobolds were probably in their village, having their own celebrations.

And why not? she scoffed. Four dragon eggs about to hatch. She’d worked alongside them just long enough to know how important dragons were to them. It’s almost like everyone has forgotten what happened. Even Yedril!

Her fists balled up once again. Stop it! You’re just mad at yourself and trying to take it out on others. Get a hold–

“What Bow Master doing out?” a voice called out from one of the corners of the hatchery.

“Tracker, is that you?” Solanna squinted as the green kobold stepped into view. “What are you doing here?”

The kobold shrugged. “Tracker bored… What Bow Master doing?”

Solanna studied Tracker for a moment before answering. The kobold wasn’t being completely honest. “Just getting some fresh air,” she decided to say.

“And cry alone?”

Forgetting who she was dealing with, Solanna was taken aback. “W-what? No… I was just getting some fresh air and cooling my head.”

The green kobold let out an amused hum before crossing the distance between them. “No lie, Tracker have best nose, wind tell all to Tracker.” As if to accentuate the point, a gust of wind rustled the nearby trees.

Regaining her composure, the elf countered, “And you aren’t being truthful either.” Solanna narrowed her eyes. “What are you really doing out here?”

Tracker quickly looked around, as if to make sure no one was close by. “Tracker smell weird magic,” the kobold whispered.

“Weird magic–”

“Shh! Bow Master keep quiet.” Leaning closer, the kobold continued. “Tracker think another Master present.”

Matching Tracker, Solanna lowered herself and whispered back. “Another Master? What exactly do you mean by that?”

“Tracker means Master… Like Scary Master, Master’s Master, or Happy Master…”

Happy Master? Master’s…Master– Okay, I have no idea on those, but Scary Master sounds an awful lot like… “When you say Scary Master, do you mean Ithea?”

Tracker nodded.

Solanna pondered that for a few more moments. Okay Ithea is Scary Master… Happy Master, could that be– Kyrith. Wait… “Are you talking about the dragons?”

“Of course, Tracker say that.” The kobold gave her a questioning look.

Right… Of course, so silly of me. Her thoughts dripped with sarcasm. Hang on a second. Master’s Master, could that be Zira?! As she made the realization, Solanna could help but let out a laugh.

“What funny?”

“N-Nothing…” She got her laughter under control. “Anyway, so you were saying that you smelled another dragon, then?”

“Yes…” The kobold’s expression became one of annoyance.

“I take it you were tracking the scent and it led you to here?” Solanna asked.

“Tracker follow scent, but Tracker lose scent here.”

“And why do you think it was another dragon? Could it be something else?”

“No,” the kobold answered curtly.

Well, if anyone knows what a dragon smells like, it’s probably her… “Could it be the eggs hatching that you were tracking?” However, didn’t explain why she lost the scent here…

“Tracker don’t think so…” The kobold straightened up. “Now, Bow Master tell Tracker what wrong. Why Bow Master cry?”

Solanna let out a sigh and averted her eyes. She had hoped that she could distract both the kobold and herself from the topic…

“It’s… I’m just mad at myself,” Solanna admitted after a moment.

“Why?”

She winced. “It’s because of my brother, Yedril–”

“Sick Master?” Tracker asked, interrupting her.

“Yes… Since he was born, I’ve been taking care of him. I love him and would do anything for him.”

Tracker nodded. “Bow Master tired of helping Sick Mast–”

“No! That’s not it!” Solanna took a deep breath. “Look, he’s always been sick and I chose to help him. He needed me and I did whatever I could… But now things have changed.”

She felt her nails digging into her palms as she continued. “He’s found someone who could help him more than I ever could. Yedril has friends now, he has other people he can rely on…” She paused as the words struggled to form.

“My brother… He doesn’t need me anymore.”

Tracker listened patiently as Solanna finished, giving the elf a perplexed look. “Bow Master mad at Bow Master because Sick Master no need Bow Master? Bow Master strange…”

Solanna furrowed her brows. “This is why I didn’t want to say anything! I know it doesn’t make any sense! That’s why I just wanted to clear my head!”

The kobold took a step back from her shouting and waited for her to finish. “Tracker sorry… Tracker no mean upset Bow Master.”

Solanna closed her eyes and let out another sigh. “No, I’m sorry… But this is why I stepped away from the others. I just need to work through my feelings.”

There was a long pause as the kobold went into thought. “Tracker may know what Bow Master do.”

“And what should I do?” she asked exasperated.

“Bow Master no more need take care of Sick Master. Bow Master can do what Bow Master want.”

“What I want? That’s the problem! I don’t know what I want… I’ve always cared for my brother, I’ve always done everything for him.

“My whole life has been about helping him, it gave me strength. I never did anything for myself, only him–” Solanna froze.

“I don’t want to live for myself,” she muttered.

“Then don’t,” Tracker said.

“Then for who?”

The kobold gave her a predatory smile. “You have egg hatching.”

Egg hatching?

“New Master hatch soon, new Master need Bow Master,” the kobold answered, as if knowing what she was thinking.

Solanna’s eyes widened. Throughout this whole ordeal, she had completely forgotten about the egg. Now, however, she was acutely aware of a strange tugging sensation. It was weak, it was frail, but it was there.

It’s calling for me… It wants me– No, it needs me.

A vision flooded her mind.

She was soaring through the sky, flying faster than a shooting star. None could match the brilliant emerald dragon underneath her. They were too fast, too agile.

They nimbly dodged the clutches of another. As the vision faded, she could hear her brother cursing as they streaked away…

The egg, he needs me…

And I need him.