Call to Adventure: Chapter 13

Restless

I like to sleep. There was just nothing better than hitting the hay before waking up fresh as daisies that next day. Even a quick nap was a relaxing treat, something which I find myself taking now that I grew larger. Sleep was amazing, but at times, I found it elusive.

Shifting restlessly on my spot inside the dilapidated barn, careful not to wake up the rest of the herd, I found myself painfully awake. No matter how long I closed my eyes nor what position I picked, I just couldn't sleep.

"Damn it…" I huffed out tiredly as my breath made snowflakes flutter in the air. My eyes were heavy and my bones weary yet here I lay, unable to even get an ounce of sleep as my mind kept wandering to my thoughts earlier; That the world was still out there, calling to me.

Rolling to my back, I stared up to a hole in the roof as the full moon hung overhead, frustrated at this feeling. I was safe and happy, with my belly full of meat and surrounded by a herd that had taken me as one of their own. I should be satisfied, but I was not.

It was illogical, utterly so, and yet that half of me, the one made of scales, claws and talons, ached for the feeling of the wind against my scales, the thrill of the hunt and to be hunted, as well as the uncertainty of it all. The dragon in me craved challenge, rejecting the simple routine that had dominated my life.

I craved adventure, but the old part of me, the human underneath all this disagreed. Why should I go out there and risk what I had? It might not be as exciting as it once was, but at least I wouldn't have to feel my bones snapping and my scales tearing. Here, I was safe. Out there, danger lurked in every corner, ready to snap me up.

"I'm safe," I whispered as I curled into myself, blocking the moonlight with my wings in a desperate attempt to get back to sleep, "So why can't I just be happy about it?"

I didn't want to be hurt or be afraid all the time. I just wanted to be happy so why can't I enjoy the peace I had? Was this not good enough? Did I have to defeat my own mother, a monster who probably ended her fair share of challengers, just to be free? I haven't even slayed that damn troll yet!

Closing my eyes, I laid there, trying desperately to clear my mind to no avail. The call was just too much and like an itch I couldn't scratch, it was driving me mad. "Fuck…" I'm never going to rest easy, am I?

With tired huff, I opened my eyes and rose to my feet. "I need some fresh air," I whispered to myself as I quietly slipped out to the snowy clearing outside. Maybe some time out in the cold would help me clear my mind.

The feeling of the cold breeze certainly helped as I stretched out my wings to cool off. Maybe it was just the heat talking. This was going to be my first spring after all and it was already getting stuffy at times. How much would it be once the last frost melted?

"Maybe a cold bath with the heat?" I mused as I wandered off in the forest, ears straining out of habit. I could never be too careful out here even if I was a bit bigger.

Fortunately, I wouldn't have to deal with unwanted visitors as I stumbled upon a large flat rock. "Huh, never seen this before," I mused as I ran my hands across its smooth surface, marveling just how… perfectly big it was.

Oh don't get me wrong, I've seen my fair share of glacial deposits, but there was something different about this one. It looked like I could fit atop it! "And it's so cold," I purred, shivering in delight. "I'm definitely keeping this rock."

"It's just a shame that I'd outgrow it," I sighed as I climbed atop it and curled up at my new found perfect.

It wasn't much, but the momentary distraction felt nice. "I'm a happy dragon," I chanted like a mantra. I didn't need to listen to that stupid call. I'm fine the way things are. "I am happy…" I sighed as I rested my chin on the flat surface.

"You say that," A voice called out, making me jolt in surprise, "But I don't see it."

With my wings flared out and my teeth barred, I turned and bristled at the sight of a tall ashen elf before me. "How the hell did she sneak up on me!?" I hissed as my eyes locked on that amused smile she sported, "Was she an adventurer?"

Crap, of all the time that I had to face one, it had to be when I'm tired and sleep deprived, something which the woman picked up on as she smiled reassuringly. "Now now, there's no need to be afraid. I'm just a passerby to these lovely woods, that's all," She replied.

"I-I'm not scared!" I hissed, doing my best to put up a brave front, "I'm just surprised that's all!" Was she armed? Was she alone? So many questions now raced through my mind as my heart raced. Am I going to have to fight?

My panic, however, would quickly give way to confusion as she just stood there, all before it turned to flustered arousal when my eyes trailed downwards. "Damn it, woman!" I hissed as I averted my gaze while my cheeks burnt, "Put some clothes on!"

She was buck naked. The tall mystery lady was naked and didn't seem to be bothered one bit. Please don't tell me she's insane. I'm not ready for this type of crazy just yet! Plus, why the hell am I getting hot under the collar. Sure she was beautiful, but I was barely a season old!

As I tried to figure out the best way to flee, she chuckled, "Forgive me if this state does not appeal to you, but I find clothes horribly stuffy."

"And besides," She added as she walked over to a nearby rock and sat down crossed leg atop it, "It'd be a shame to miss out on the feeling of moonlight on a night like this.~"

"Lady, it's below freezing and you're not even shivering," I thought to myself as I tucked my wings close while making sure she was still in sight. Either she was a freak, or she was something dangerous. "One that's not even afraid of who I am."

Heck, I shouldn't even stay here, but curiosity was getting better off my better judgement. It wasn't everyday that I got to meet someone that I could talk to. Weighing the risk for a moment, I sighed out. "Fuck it, might as well."

"I don't want to be rude and all, but who are you and why are you here?" I asked before gesturing at the towering trees around us, "This isn't exactly close to civilization, is it?" If there was a town, I should have noticed by now right?

The woman, however, merely smiled as she replied enigmatically, "Who I am doesn't matter. What's more important is who you are."

Staring for a moment, I answered plainly, "My name is Lawrence."

"Are you?" The woman fired back. As I opened my mouth to reply, she cut me off, "You merely adopted that name, but it's not you. Not yet atleast~"
"So tell me again," She smiled as she gazed at him with those pale eyes that reminded me of the moon itself, "Who are you?"

Taken aback, I found myself tongue tied. It was a simple enough question, but why was it so hard to answer? He knew his name and he knew who he was, but they didn't feel right, nor does using his name right now. Who was he?

"It's confusing isn't it," She whispered as she suddenly appeared by his side, "To have the soul of a man and the heart of a dragon." For a moment, I froze up as I felt her delicate hands gliding across my scales. How?

"How do I know?" She asked, as if having read my mind, "Many things are laid bare to eyes like these and what wonderful things I see." I should be terrified, but as I stared into those eyes, I couldn't help but feel at peace. She wasn't going to hurt me.

"And if she wanted, she would have already done so," I snorted to myself knowing full well how my armor had chinks which anything sharp, or perhaps something magical, could pierce through. And so, I laid there, closing my eyes as I felt her scratch one spot behind my ears.

"So what do you see then?" I asked, "Am I a man or a dragon?" Was I still me, or am I someone else?

"I don't know" She answered, earning a disgruntled snort from myself. "Just because I can see things doesn't mean I am all knowing," She laughed as she gave him a pat on the head, "And besides, this is something for you to figure out~"

Without another word, she stood up, leaving him there. "Wait!" He panicked, "I still have some questions I want to ask!" She can't just drop by being all mysterious and leave him like that. "Do you know why I'm here… or why me?" She probably didn't know it, but it didn't hurt to try right?

"You're here just like everyone else," She answered, making me perk up, "You're here to live, to experience the world with your own eyes and find beauty in all that is around you."

"That doesn't answer anything at all!" I snapped back, annoyed. Can't she not be mysterious for one second. She was seriously harming elf kind by playing into their stereotypes.

"And what makes you think I'm an elf," She winked, making me freeze up once more, "And I say that my answer answers alot." With that, my vision wavered and the world started to melt around me. Try as I might, words would fail me as the darkness closed in.

"Now rest my child, you have much ahead of you," She commanded as I tried to fend off sleep, desperately holding on. "Prepare for spring, for there you will find your answer," She whispered as her vision grew hazy, like a dream that was never there in the first place, "Are you a man, or are you a dragon?"

The last thing I saw as everything turned to black was her mysterious smile before I woke up with a gasp, flailing around and causing the goats to jolt awake as well. "I'm… back in the barn?" I asked as I looked around my heart, racing.

"Bah!" Ramsey scolded. Yeah, I was definitely in the barn and it looked like I slept? That didn't feel right though. Even now, I could still remember her reminder as clear as day. There was one answer to what I just witnessed.

"Definitely some fae bullshit," I grunted as I laid down, my mind just a little bit cleared, and thanked whoever was looking out for me for helping me survive that encounter. "But… maybe I should prepare for spring."

It wouldn't hurt to heed the advice of a fae, right?

A/N:

Ok, this is really the last one. I keep getting distracted and it's just been a while since I touched Call to Adventure. I miss my cute little boy :V