ORIGIN

"Baratheon Speech" "Booker Speech"

"Really?" He chuckled at the comment of never seeing so much water. "My brother, you need to get out more." Perhaps they could both go swimming. Baratheon was unsure at how long he could hold his breath. "Tell you what, after I get better we'll both go swimming and then we'll fly!" The last time he'd went "flying" with his brother it was more of falling with style than true flying but now... Now he could actually get himself off the ground, when he wasn't bogged down by sickness and pain.

He watched with amused eyes as the numbat dove into the water then floated back to the surface. "See? Told ya!" He gave a grin before tucking his head back under, this time with only his nose and horn poking from the surface. He breathed out a content breath of air from his nostrils as he let his whole body soak. Underneath the water the pink eyes of the dragon watched his brother surface and dive. Seemed as if he was pretty well off in the water.

He was happy that everything was turning out alright. Booker was healing himself in the water, his own body was healing itself due to resting, and they had escaped the danger. Soon they would have to go out again and find something to do about the black dragon but for now he was fine with resting and relaxing. He spotted his small companion paddling back over to him so he lifted his head from the water again to give him a spot to rest if he so wanted it. However, the tiny numbat didn't climb aboard again and instead began to pet his chin. The dragon rumbled appreciatively, his eyes half closing in pleasure.

He only opened his eyes all of the way when the numbat spoke. Yes... They had made it. They were alive and they would continue to be that way. "Of course we're okay! Beaten and bruised but we'll not be broken." With that he took a breath and immersed his entire self in the water, head and all. He tucked his limbs to his body and began to swim underneath for a bit with his brother. He swam until his muscles became sore all over then he floated to the surface and lay there like an alligator. He had to give no muscle input at he floated, he could absolutely just lie there and sleep like this. "If I had to be beaten up... I'm glad it happened here and that you found me." Despite the circumstances he was actually quite happy.

Booker danced around his brother in the water, tiny form no more than a speck against the bright blue of the water and blinding white of the dragon's pelt. The numbat twirled about, using his tail as a sort of rudder, coming up occasionally to either take a breath or nervously check for fire. It's not here, so stop looking. Disgruntled by his own warring thoughts, the small Gembound was quick to continue his exploration of the pool, Baratheon's words still ringing clear and true. We'll not be broken. Booker huffed, the movement strange underwater, sending a tiny stream of bubbles to the surface.

I certainly feel broken. It seemed like every other time he closed his eyes, the fire was waiting, images of Khloros and Magdalena, of Usui and the tiny newborn, all trapped within the flames. Flickers of red and orange would linger at the edge of his vision, always disappearing when the numbat turned to look. Stop. I just want it to stop. Still, it seemed whenever Baratheon spoke, or purred, or even growled, the visions did succeed, leaving Booker to keep even closer than usual, not wanting to fall into the clawing hands of yet another panic attack.

When the duo finally stopped their exploration of the water, the numbat swam back and up to the dragon, clambering up onto his back with a content sigh. He let out a wry chuckle at Baratheon's words, patting at the wet fur beneath him gently. "Can't say I ever wantcha to be hurt, Bara," he mumbled, "but I'm glad I ended up findin' you." Gladder than you'll ever know. The exhaustion hit again, and Book found his eye sliding closed... and the darkness glowed. With a gasp, he stood up, eye shooting open, scrambling down to rest on Baratheon's snout, practically vibrating with nerves.

"I know how we can find Khlor!" The shout was joyful, relieved, and Booker almost forgot to explain just what he meant, caught up in the moment of scientific discovery. "Last time I saw 'im, I used these... spores," he started, wringing out a clump of fur and holding up the fungi filled puddle in example. "I used 'm to distract 'm, but when I closed my eye, I could see him. Like I see the mush-rooms! All bright, like a star."

The words spilled out rapidly, raising in pitch. "I think... if I concentrated, I could see him again, with the spores!" And maybe I could use them on you, he didn't add. Baratheon looked tired, overwhelmed... even if Booker did want to be able to track the dragon, he wouldn't force the decision on him now.

"Baratheon Speech" "Booker Speech"


As he lay on the water he could feel his eyelids closing, shutting, as the exhaustion crept up on him again. He sleepily let rumblings sounds, not unlike snores, escape his throat. Periodically pink smoke would curl out of his muzzle in between the rumbling sounds. He was almost out until he felt the numbat crawl down his muzzle and onto the top of his snout. He opened one eye as he examined the numbat. He sure was active. The dragon could practically feel the exhaustion pouring off of him and yet he wouldn't sleep. Strange... He studied the numbat with his brownish-pink fur and pink underbelly. What was wrong with him? He was nervous and scared... but why?

However, he didn't get a chance to question this because the numbat was shouting something in joy. Baratheon's other eye came open and his ears lifted to perk towards his little brother with interest. He said nothing, simply stared with curiosity in his gaze. How would they find him? He listened in awe as Booker explained the process. Wow! How neat! "You never cease to amaze, little one." He said with a laugh. Really, he didn't. The numbat might be small but he certainly was smart and patient which countered his partner's recklessness and tendency to anger. "First order of business is find your friend. I'll take us there and you can sit on my snout and point me where to go." Seemed easy enough.

The dragon's mouth opened in a yawn that exposed every single fang he had. "But... I'm afraid it will have to wait just a teeny bit." His eyelids lowered over his bright pink eyes. "A tired dragon is a useless dragon..." As soon as his energy was back they would go but for now... He had to rest.

You never cease to amaze, little one. Booker blushed hot under his fur at the praise, straightening up a bit with a surprised grin. He nodded eagerly at the offer of going to find Khloros, trying resiliently not to think about all of the worst ways the foal could have been hurt - or worse - in the blaze. The numbat wobbled a bit at the dragon's yawn, letting out a soft giggle in reply and a miniaturized version of the gesture, showing off tiny, jagged teeth. "Sorry," he mumbled, "for wakin' you up earlier. Silly. Just a dream..." A droopy-eyed smile, and the numbat padded up to the top of his brother's head, curling up between his pink horns with a content sigh.

What both didn't know, couldn't see, was what had happened the instant Booker's fur, alive with thousands of fungal spores, had made contact with the pool. The water was swimming with the things, and though they clung to both the dragon and the numbat, they didn't send any information back to either. Duds, as the tiny Gembound called them - not even good enough for growing, too busy sulking in their fetal form. Still, if enough managed to cling to the pair, they could begin to fester, growing into something a bit more useful.

Slowly, unaware of the unconscious connection he had with even those tiny fungal parts, Booker dropped down, down, down into the deep well of sleep, and for once it was blissfully silent and dark. The only sight that occasionally pierced through the veil of black was a pair of clear pink eyes, staring back at him, heavy like a comforting blanket, gentle like family. Family.

It wasn't something Book could say he had much experience with. Baratheon was his brother, plain and simple - but the term didn't seem to cover it. The dragon balanced him, was the strength to his weakness, the bravery to the numbat's cowardice. It was astonishing, sometimes, to think of just how much of his life had been built by Baratheon - his new penchant towards adventure, his curiosity towards the gigantic Gembounds who roamed Origin, even how outgoing Booker had become.

And all of it, all of it could have been taken away. At so many points. The world was a dangerous place, this the numbat knew instinctually, deep in his hindbrain, but at the moment it seemed to be out to get them. So many things he could look back on and pick apart, trying to see where he'd gone wrong, what he'd done to make his family a target. The guilt ate away at Booker slowly, but it at least lessened with every reassuring breath Baratheon took. Huffing in his sleep, the numbat shifted, feet twitching.

Not dead. It felt like a victory.

"Baratheon Speech" "Booker Speech"

"Don't worry about it... don't.. worry... at... all... Then he was out and asleep. His mind was didn't fall into a deep expanse of black like before. Instead he was flying, flying in a wide expanse of blue. He had no worries, no carries, just he and Booker. The numbat was seated on his head with both paws clasped on his horns. His heart felt happy and free as the went through the clouds, soaring over mountains, and through meadows.

In the waking world he smiled, ears relaxed against his head as he sighed contentedly. One might even feel his muscles twitching as he flew through his dreaming skies.

-exit via sleep-

As the dragon dropped off to sleep, Booker dreamed on, huffing and twitching. Any time the fire loomed, it seemed to be snuffed out by a great gust of pink smoke, or a wayward tail, or a white wing. Whenever the crackle of embers crept into his ears, the sound was replaced with the gentle snoring of his brother. Even asleep, it seemed Baratheon could help him, and the numbat slowly slipped into a dream - one filled with visions of flying, of finding Khloros unharmed, of living with his dragon and his friends.

Victory.

[ Exit Booker ]