Week Twelve: Silenced

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I know I haven't updated but I realize why I did stop. Do you people understand how difficult this story is to write? You know how much LACK of resources I have when I am trying to teach you about Dragons yet there is almost nothing written on them? I'm focusing on the different Mythologies but I'd love for you all to realize that out of all the places that I could live in, America is too young to have stories of dragons. 
  "Oh look Abe! You think slavery is a problem? Look out the window. There be dragons at our doors." 
  Like. How the hell do you respond to that? "Um. ready the muscats... I'll grab my axe." 
  The whole white house shakes. SWAT TEAM GO. We have a massive dragon on the scene aiming for the president. Like. lol. We're not even civilized. We're fighting amongst each other. Brother verse brother and here this dragon comes destroying them both. I mean. How would you react to that? 
  Pardon me my fellow Americans but do we have myths? What, Luis and Clark run into nymphs to lead them across the vast lands? Sacagwea the nymph? NO we had Indians! We came over, took over their land, declared it ours, and in the end this nymph Sacagawea.... Yea I'm done ranting guys... I hope you all understand that I wish this was any easier for me to write as factual as possible but in all reality. Dragons are a true mystery.  -6/22/14

  I love writing this story. Older version me can shut up because it's fun XD -
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  Vile's skin cooled as the water absorbed into him. He had been called upon above the Atlantic and hit the water unconscious. Sweeping him to its yearning destination, the water controlled his route sending him deeper and deeper into what he believe to be the Atlantic.

  Whispers filling Vile's head, his oceanic eyes glowed as he slowly opened them. Gasping, Vile could feel the water course through his gills. Exhaling, he sat up and surveyed his surroundings. The ocean floor occurred pitch black to most but to Vile, his eyes adjusted to the dense blue.

  You have arrived. Stated a voice. We've been waiting. 

  Vile shook his head. Were you the ones who called me about the underworld?  He wondered.
  No response only the flow of the current to lead him. Vile steadily breathed. He had done this many times before when he tried to commit suicide. He would await his doom and jump into deep pools of water back first and never landing so. His eyes would open in amazement, his breath became slow and his mind would calm. Even in a panicked state he could sense the remedy willing to sing him to relaxation.

  Following the current, Vile watched as marine life lit his path. Certain plants would glow as he approached them, leading the way. Once past, they would dim. It was as if the light knew the time of arrival and departure. Vile loved the ocean. However, he also feared it. No one could swim to the depths that Vile could. After a swimming in the depths for so long he realized that he could go even deeper than submarines which arose the question, how was he not dead from swimming to the ocean floor?

  Tasting the water, Vile sensed a different sensation. He had gone swimming with Xeq on a cruise in the Caribbean. This water tasted slightly different. Glancing up, Vile could feel the individual ships above him. Where exactly was he?

  Behind him, the current stopped. Setting his foot on the sand floor, the plants lit up Vile's pathway once again. Avoiding stepping on as many creatures as possible, Vile began to walk forward.

  Here. The voices called. We are here. 

  Vile shook his head as he met their voices.

  Guardian of the Underworld. Descendant of the Lernaean Hydra. 

  Vile listened intently.

  Save us. 

  Vile sighed. Spitting out a small fish that had swam into his mouth in the process.

  How? I do not see you. He thought but then thought for a moment.

  Tail whipping out and teeth growing, Vile brought forth his true self. Eyes glowing the oceanic blue as before, he roared upwards causing a massive whirlpool to send out a signal. Vile pitied the ships that were of ranged, however, seeing that he could do nothing about them he accepted the fate he placed upon them to become one with the ocean. Snapping his jaw shut, Vile could feel his wings had shrank and his fins had enlarged. He had never summoned his true self in as much freedom as the ocean floor.

  Turning back to the voices, Vile glanced to see the different vibes that he could sense as his true self. The many spirits stood before him, some float, others even playing tag. He assumed those were the children.

  Whoa. Vile gasped. There are many of you.  He thrashed his head back and forth. How may I be of service? 

  Guardian of the Underworld. Lead us. The whispers began to fill Vile's mind. Yes. Lead us home. Lead us. 

  Vile shook his head. I would love to. He said and cheers filled his mind. He frowned the best way he could with his dragon features. But I know nothing of Lernaean nor his guardianship. 

  The voices silenced and the free spirits faced him with the best of their abilities.

  Why does it rain...rain...rain...down in Utopia? Vile's ears rang. Why does it have...to...kill...the ideal of who we are? 

  Vile shook his head. "No." He muttered his true self shimmering. The word left his mouth in a bubble of defiance.

  Why does it rain...rain...rain..down in Utopia? Vile gasped as he tried to force himself to focus. How will the light die down telling us who we are?

  Vile's eyes strained as he finally regained focus. That song is recent compared to you. How do you know it? 

  We gave them the inspiration. Said one simply, this voice seemed thicker than the rest. Take us, dear Hydra. Take us home. 

  Vile shook his head. I've only seen one Hydra and it was trying to kill me. 

  Or, it was trying to bring you back to where you belong. 

  Vile's eyes darkened. I know where I belong. 

  In the wind with your fins and gills? Replied the same voice. You have adaptation skills of the Western skies but you will never deny the true blood of the waters. 

 If he hadn't been in his true self form nor under water his eyes would be brimming with tears of frustration.
  You were in denial of your life. Wanting to end it. Vile squinted his eyes. We know what you have done, where you are from, and who you are Guardian. Please. Lead us home. 

  Vile sighed. Where exactly these spirits wanted to go was of no idea to him. However, this Hydra they spoke of... it tore at his mind. Why would they mistake him, a dragon of water and sky, to be a descendant of a hydra that obviously was only of marine life? Vile struggled. He wanted to help these people. They made him feel important. However, the problem was that he didn't know how to help them. Nor did he understand their confidence in his descendant. Consumed by his thoughts he realized the absence in his mind. Xeq was a dragon of the skies, one of the fastest at that, and he was gifted with swimming and flight. Yearning for an emotional heart felt reaction, Vile reached deep. Roar emerging from deep within his serpent like center he shot his head toward the sky. His heart. He could not feel a single beat.

Week Eleven: The Hydra's Heart

  Xeq put his hand to his heart.

  “You miss your brother?” He asked as he observed Xeq. Xeq sighed. “Yea. I do. But if you can tell me about this Hydra’s heart then he’ll have to wait.”

  “You took something of his.” Mioko said as Xeq sat Indian style by the river inside the mountain, the same place Mioko had brought him to when he first fell from the sky.

  “No?” Xeq said in confusion.

 “The wind tells me that he had fallen into the Atlantic.”

  Xeq got up in shock. “What?”!

  “He’s hurt?” Xeq questioned in panic.

  “He’s okay.” Mioko said with an assuring gesture to indicate that Xeq should sit down. Reluctantly, Xeq obeyed.

  “Before you go. I shall tell you why your connection is severed. No?” Mioko glanced at Xeq seeing that he had his full attention.

  “Yes.” Xeq said exasperated. “Please.”

  “You are Feng and she is Shui.” Mioko started.

  “What does Zamer have to do with this?” Xeq interrupted in confusion.

 “She is the Phoenix. The one who heals.” Mioko continued. “She told you what was required to heal someone, yes?”

 Xeq smirked. “Something significant, right?”

“That day she did not tell you what she took now did she?” Mioko wondered.

  Xeq frowned. It was one of the only days that he had yelled at Zamer. The two weren’t a couple then. He didn’t know who to turn to. He flew everywhere to find people to heal Vile. Finally, he found Zamer.

“No.” She walked away and since I found out that we lived only hours away from each other she set out and went home.

“Did you want to know?” Mioko curiously asked

  “Well.” Xeq frowned as he thought of his bother. “No. Because he was healed and that was all that mattered to me.”

  “What brought you and him close?” Mioko questioned. “You two aren’t blood. You’re an only child. Did he know that?”

  Xeq shook his head. “No… He doesn't knew about that. Besides,” Xeq smirked. “He’s always been around since birth. There’s no way he would know that we’re not really blood related…” He muttered.

  “A silver dragon of the sky related to a dragon of the sea? Unheard of.” Mioko said simply.

  Xeq frowned. “Our parents aren’t dragons.” He said sternly. “It’s possible.”

  Mioko shook his head. “The Phoenix’s parents are not phoenixes.”

  Xeq nodded. “That. I knew.”

  “Her great grandfather on the other hand was a phoenix.” Mioko added.

  “But phoenixes don’t die?” Xeq asked now the one confused.

  “You’re right.” Mioko nodded. “They great reborn.”

  “Wait...” Xeq raised an eye brow. “What?”

  “Her grandfather said he had seen enough in the world and thought that it was time for a new era. He gave his life to the baby that his granddaughter was having. In turn, she became the next phoenix, the power being reborn within her.”

  “Ew.” Xeq said as he thought about dating Zamer’s great grandfather. “So basically?”

  Mioko nodded with a smile and laugh. “Don’t worry. She only has the memory of the past phoenix’s but
 she is still her own person.”

 “Better be.” Xeq said with a sigh.

 “She took the nightmare.” Mioko remarked sternly.

 “What”, Xeq said in surprise. “How could a nightmare be significant?”

 “It told him who he was and would one day lead him to his true brothers.” Mioko explained.

 “What do you mean?” Xeq asked now starting at his true self.

 “The hydra’s heart.” Mioko pointed at Xeq’s stomach.

 “You will gain power, you lose your ability to breath fire, if you can consume the hydra’s heart.” Mioko said.

 “But it’s beating inside me.” Xeq frowned and feeling a little sick in knowing that he was now part hydra.

  “You and your brother can become one.” Mioko continued. “He is what you’ve consumed.”

   “No.” Xeq looked at Mioko is disbelief. “Vile’s a hydra?”

  Mioko nodded. “That would be the only reason why you two can’t communicate anymore. The hydra
inside him wants his brother. Each part of a hydra can be separated but in the end they all need each other. 
They’re each other’s life source.”

  “But that doesn’t make sense.” Xeq protested. “Vile was ad-”

  “Adopted? Through a foster home?” Mioko guessed.

  Xeq nodded.