//Aquatic.Essence

<font color='#000F22'>//. She squealed in delight as Dreed's gigantic wings lifted them off the ground, then brought them back down again. Her brief encounter with flight had elated her soul quite a bit.

She whirled around to where she could see Dreed. He'd caught her, as he'd promised. She'd known from the start she couldn't outrun him, but what was the harm in trying? Besides, it was simple, harmless fun in its purest form. Ayokye sighed. She remembered how Dreeds huge, muscular legs pounded into the earth with each stride. Ayokye wondered if she might someday have strong limbs like him, ones that made her run as fast as he could, maybe faster. A fairly unlikely circumstance, but she could dream. Oh, how she could dream! Maybe someday she could beat Dreed in a race. Maybe she could run in big competitions and win prizes. Maybe she would be the best runner ever. And when others asked how she did it, she say that her friend Dreed helped her train.

Half-snapping back into reality, Ayokye smiled at Dreed and spoke in a far-off tone..

"Yeah... You did catch me Dreed..."</font>

 

<font color='#000F22'>//. Ayokye' face turned bright red at Dreed's compliment. He always seemed to know how to please her.

She noted that he'd glanced up to the stars. She herself often looked up there, wondering what it was like to be among them. The stars were mirrored in her eyes, twinkling, their vitality neverending. Every once in a while, Ayokye would witness one darting across the sky and chase after it. She could never catch it, and she knew not where it landed, but she was certain that one day, she might find out. She was young yet, and still unsure of what she might contribute to the world. Perhaps she'd take on astronomy. It might be nice to fly up to the stars and be so close to one. She couldn't fly, so the most she could do now was glance upward, and dream.

Looking back at Dreed, she spoke softly..

"The stars are really shiny tonight..."</font>

 

<font color='#000F22'>//. Ayokye looked at Dreed, a little confused. She didn't really know what she wanted to do yet.... but she had several ideas.

One thing she really loved was astronomy. She loved stars, as was already obvious. She'd reallyl ike to be someone who discovered lost planets or comets, things of that nature. There was also simply something about those stars and that space that she longed to know... and yet knew she never could. Ayokye knew there some things best left unanswered.

Another possibility was becoming an archeologist. She loved learning about the past, about history. This interest was really sparked by her father telling her about his family, and how they always told him about their forefathers and mothers. Ayokye wondered if maybe her family had a very long history. She couldn't wait to find out.

Thirdly, she could become a professional athlete, and run with the pros. She knew that if she trained hard and kept her spirits high, she'd do well in this field. Plus, all of this playing with Dreed would give her some extra training!

She sighed, probing her mind for any other possibilities.

"Oh.. I don't know Dreed... Maybe I'll be an astronomer, or an archeologist.. or a runner!"
She smiled.</font>

 

<font color='#000F22'>//. Ayokye smiled at Dreed's optimism. It was true, she was very young yet, she had her whole life ahead of her. But what about him? Was he happy with what he did?

She remembered he got paid to do bad things to others. She recalled how she'd wondered if he would turn her into one of his victims, and how he'd turned out to be the sweetest 'dragon she'd ever met. But was HE happy? She could live with him doing what he did, but she knew that death had a powerful effect on everyone involved. How couldh e come through this unscathed? He had to be hurting on the inside, he just had to be. But he wouldn't let her know, no, he'd hide his pain. He'd lock it away in place where no one could even dream of reaching it. And if that was the case, then how could she help him mend his aching heart?

She couldn't live wondering if he was in pain.

"Dreed... do you still.. y'know... hurt people?"</font>

 

<font color='#000F22'>//. Ayokye could feel the slight tension in the air that had arisen with her inquiry.

"Sorry Dreed... I just wondered... If you were... happy..."
She looked up at him as she spoke, her small boy trembling a bit as she apologized.

She couldn't blame Dreed for not wanting to speak about his profession, it seemed to her an awful way to live. It seemed a wonderful, friendly 'dragon like him should have a much nicer job. But, she realized, ultimitley, the decision rested with Dreed himself. If he felt that was what he wished for his life, she was behind him all the way, even if that meant he continued to hurt others. That was what friends were for, right?</font>

 

<font color='#000F22'>//. She nodded, her eyes saddened with guilt. She felt sorry she'd asked, perhaps she'd made him even more meloncholy then before.

She let out a small sigh, and looked out onto the lake that had brought her here. The colors were amazing, yet even they culdn't takethe shame off her mind. A sorrow hung over her, a mournful essence that revolved around her worry. Her worry for Dreed.

What if, she wondered, Dreed was hurt in one of his jobs? She shuddered at the thought of losing her companion-of-sorts, her whole body quivering in fear and sadness.

A cold tear ran down her cheek, and a little sniffle, though barely audible, could be heard escaping her.

" I'm sorry Dreed... I didn't mean to offend you... I just didn't want anything to..."
She choked on her words and made a little sob...</font>

 

<font color='#000F22'>//. Ayokye stifled her sobs, as well as her tears. She smiledi n admiration at his resiliance. Dreed was so strong... how she longed to have the inner strength that he possesed.

She sighed again, and looked out onto the water. It's colors were still as lovely as before. Sighing ,she looked up at Dreed, whose gaze also veered towards the horizon and the water before them.

"Dreed... like I said... I'm sorry... I was just concernec..."</font>

 

<font color='#000F22'>//. She smiled wearily, face stained with tears.

She looked away from him for a moment, her focus drifting onto the lake waters once more. The colors danced joyfully on the surface of the water, under the ever-vigilant eyes of the luminous moon. The stars, their glory shown in full, twinkled and the endless sky was a myriad of blue shades. A gentle breeze slid in from the north, stroking the grass and blowing Ayokye's hair into her line of vision. At frist she didn't motion to correct it. The sheer bliss of the moment, this being with a friend on so lovely a night, to dwell among such peace, this feeling itself, was to overwhelming to let go of for even a mere second.

Still grinning, Ayokye turned to Dreed.

"Dreed... I was wondering... Would you like to go on an adventure?"</font>

 

<font color='#000F22'>/// OoC \\\ -- I think we should close this thread soon. We could have another later where they go on some grand adventure, or maybe just a little one ^__^

//Bic\\

-- She smiled and jumped to her feet. What a grand time they'd have, journeying about the land, two comerades out on an adventure.

Her lion-like tail swished back and forth jovialy, and her eyes smiled. Dreed was always so patient with her, and for the short tiem they'd been friends, had never once scolded her for dreaming too big, or aiming to high. He was open to her frivolous ambitions, he must've understood that in the mind of a child, no goal is out of reach, no mountain too large to climb.

She looked at him, then at her. There were many differences. Where as he was massive, strong and brawny, she was tiny, and fairly frail. He was dark and mysterious, and she was like an open book, whose pages were spread out wide for all to read. But, in spite of all that, they'd found a kinship in that they were often misunderstood, that is, judged by their appearences rather than their hearts.

She smiled. She was so lucky to havea friend like him. Aykye looked out toward the horizon and spoke...

"So... where are we headed then?"</font>