Avondale: The Golden Door

Myājik's Day

Lunch featured everyone but Nisvārtha, who still hadn't the balls to face me. Everyone but Havala had shifted to eat, probably trying to make me more comfortable since I had no idea how to shift back yet.

Suruli told me that I would be stuck in dragon form for a while, so trying to shift back was pointless. After lunch she pulled on her doctor pants and ordered me to go to my room and rest more.

I didn't object, the food had made me tired, and climbing the stairs used up the rest of my energy. I slept for a few hours and when I woke up I noticed a light blue shape on the floor next to my bed.

Sanna? I called softly.

He jolted awake and sprang to his paws, his pupils narrowed and alert. After a second he realized there was no danger and looked at me. Hey, you okay?

I snorted, Aye, there's just a wyvern sleeping on my floor.

Sanna gave me a sharp grin, It was my turn for guard duty.

I wacked his head with my tail, Well consider yourself sacked then, no guard of mine sleeps on the job.

Sanna laughed and shook out his mane, Dinner started a bit ago, are you hungry?

I stepped down from my bed and puffed air at his ears, making them twitch. Starved.

Walking next to Sanna in dragon form was a little strange. Imagine a lion walking next to a horse, granted this lion is blue with a longer body and this horse has horns and wings, but the size difference was still about the same.

On the way to the dining hall, Sanna was very quiet. I almost asked him what was wrong when I remembered a detail from last night. I had been in so much pain and he had touched me, his song had been so loud in my head that I couldn't take it. I'd screamed at him. That had to have shaken him a bit.

I'm sorry, Sanna, I said, not sure how to bring it up another way.

He looked at me, For what?

For last night. I yelled at you and you were only trying to help.

Sanna shook his head, You do not need to apologize, Sūrya, I should have known better. I was just so worried about you that I forgot how terrifying it is the first time, and how anything and everything that is added to the experience only makes it worse.

I almost wanted to tell him about the songs, how the music meant things, how each one was different. But there was still much I didn't understand about it. Why did Nisvārtha have a whole symphony instead of three instruments? Why did he have voices for his song? Why did it seem like I have two gifts instead of one?

I sighed internally and said nothing. It wasn't time, not yet.

Sanna made me laugh by balancing his tray of food on his head. I figured out how to carry my tray with my tail, it was to versatile that I could curl it around and grip the tray pretty well.

I still had energy when we finished eating so Sanna took me on a walk. After a few minutes though, Sanna got bored.

Hey, I have an idea! he dashed in front of me and crouched playfully, his yellow eyes glittering. How about we race around the temple? Your new body would probably love a good run.

I snorted, No bloody way! I'm not racing you, it wouldn't be fair!

You can't know that! he argued.

I gave him a look, Earth dragon.

He looked away, Okay fine, but can we race anyway? Please? I will give you a head start! Come on, Kendra, no one will ever race with me!