The Scales of Time

Kheraxa awoke with a jolt. She rolled over, shaking the leaves and debris from her scales. It took her a moment to remember where she was.

The forest... dammit. Dammit Brendan!

The elder dragon craned her neck up to see the hole she had made through the canopy when she crashed. For the life of her she couldn't remember how it had happened, but she was already seething.

She had told him. She had warned Brendan about this. The Jadescale forest was off limits to her kind for a reason. She didn't need to know why, the way her elders had spoken about these woods had been warning enough.

"Please, Kheraxa, it's the fastest way home. If word is only reaching us about the attack now, it might already be too late. We only need to fly over!"

She cursed herself for giving in to her rider. It was her one weakness, and she did it far too often. Rising to her feet, she shook her wings gently. There was a slight ache on the right side, but it didn't feel too serious.

Just a bruise or sprain. Lucky.

Kheraxa scanned the area. It was a dense, dark forest. What little light from above that managed to get through barely made it to the forest floor, giving the woods an eerie, algae-like hue. Brendan was nowhere to be found, but Kheraxa wasn't surprised. Without remembering the fall, she had no idea whether he'd tumbled down with her or separately. For all she knew, he could be miles away.

Irritated, she sighed - which took the form of two plumes of black smoke shooting sharply from her nostrils.

Wonderful. Let the hunt begin, I guess.

Before she could take her first step, however, there was a noise. At first, she couldn't make it out. Moving her large neck all around, she honed in on the source; a tree to her far right. Stepping towards it slowly, she began to realise what the sound was - although she didn't believe her ears until it came into view.

There, at the base of one of the many, many trees, sat on top of a bundle of rags - was a baby. A human baby.

What?

Kheraxa leant down, craning her neck slowly towards the child. It was sitting on the rags, grabbing them with it's tiny hands, crying.

What??

The child, who had been facing away from Kheraxa, then turned and let out a high-pitched squeal upon seeing her. She could see now that the tiny human was not quite a baby, but not much older - maybe three or four years at the most.

WHAT?!

The child was roaring now, clearly terrified. Kheraxa tried to recall the last time she had seen a human this young, when Brendan had last brought her to his home. She remembered an interaction with his youngest nephew who had been scared of her initially too.

Slowly, Kheraxa lowered herself onto the forest floor, until she was laying flat on all fours. Then, she moved her head as gingerly as she could towards the child, and started making a low rumbling noise with her throat. The last time Brendan heard this, he said it sounded like she was 'purring', whatever that meant. Fortunately, it had the desired effect; the child's cries lessened, and his face switched from fear to fascination. Kheraxa made the noise again, and the child giggled. He even reached out towards her. Kheraxa, relieved, reached her muzzle down to the child's tiny hand.

Alright, little one. I guess you're coming with me.

Gently as she could, Kheraxa took the pile of cloth in her teeth and lifted the child up and on to her back, leaving it snugly in her rider's saddle.

Come on then. Let's get moving.

+++

After an hour of traipsing through the forest with no sign of Brendan, Kheraxa stopped. If he wasn't in the immediate vicinity, there was no telling where he could be.

Time to call.

She looked back at the toddler, who was still nestled in its pile of rags in the saddle, looking like it was about to nod off. Kheraxa maneuvered her wings over the child, both appendages covering the human entirely. Then, she stretched her neck as high as it could go, and in a few short, sharp bursts let out an ear-piercingly loud sound that echoed through the forest around her - the signature call that each dragon had, unique to them and their rider.

Brendan I swear, if you can’t hear this, I’ll—

“KRAX!!“

The dragon whipped around, a wave of relief washing over her. It was a distant call, coming somewhere from her left, but she was certain. She raced towards the sound, moving as quickly as she could (difficult with her large frame through the dense overgrowth), until they spotted each other.

Brendan!!

Kheraxa cast her mind towards him, her words filling his mind. The rider raced over, leaping to embrace Kheraxa’s leg as she bent her head down and nuzzled into him.

“My word, I wasn’t sure I’d find you.“ Brendan panted, out of breath but still holding on to her.

Fool. As if I’d let you get lost.

Kheraxa couldn’t resist the teasing. It was the bedrock of their relationship at this point.

“Woah, well, hey now - who’s this little fellow?”

Brendan spotted the child as Kheraxa lowered her wings. It was sleeping now, and Kheraxa was extra careful moving him down from the saddle to her rider.

I found him when I landed. Haven’t seen anyone else around.

”Oh, dear… poor little fella. Wonder how long he’s been stuck out here?“

No idea, Kheraxa mused, but we can mind him for now, yes?

Brendan nodded, rocking the sleeping child slowly in his arms as he stared down. Kheraxa gazed at the pair of them. Although he could never have children himself, Brendan always had time for the tiny humans. It was good that he allowed himself that, she thought.

Bren, what are we going to—

Her broadcasted thought stopped, cut short by noticing something.

Something odd.

As Brendan kept glancing down, the left side of his head was fully visible… the side that, very recently, had been slashed wide open by a particularly nasty sword strike. The side that, once healed, had been home to a viciously large scar down his head and neck.

But the scar was no longer there.

Brendan. Your head…

”Hmm? Oh, yes! Yes!!“

Brendan put his hand up to feel the area where the scar had been, caressing it slowly.

”I meant to say! Wow, right? By the gods - fully healed!”

Kheraxa watched as he beamed up at her, still holding the sleeping child. She did not share his immediate enthusiasm.

“No idea what happened, but I woke up and WOOSH - it was gone! This forest, it’s… I mean I knew you said it was magic, but—“

It IS magical Brendan. Extremely magical. That’s the problem - we don’t know the extent of the magic at all. It could be any—

“Seriously? It healed my head, Kheraxa! I was told I’d have that scar for life. How can that kind of healing magic be bad, tell me? Does healing sound like any sort of variant of the dark ways to you?”

No, of course not, but—

“Well then, look, just relax. Let me enjoy this, while we’re here. Who knows, once we find a way out I might revert back anyway.” Brendan grumbled.

Kheraxa sighed. She hadn’t meant to upset him, but maybe he was right. Whatever mysteries this forest held, healing scars didn’t seem like the worst possible thing.

I’m sorry, Bren. It looks great. Now, shall we get moving?

Brendan smiled back at her, and nodded. Kheraxa gently took the sleeping child and placed him back into the saddle, and the pair of them started walking through the the forest.

+++

Hours past, but neither Brendan nor Kheraxa spotted any sign of light in the distance. There was no immediate exit in sight. The repetitive scenery was starting to get to Kheraxa too. She much preferred being in the air, high above it all, surveying the scenery below - instead of being stuck to the earth like a common horse.

“We’re losing daylight, I think.”

Brendan was gazing up at the canopy, gesturing at the pinkish hue of the sky. Kheraxa nodded, and the pair agreed to set up camp for the night. As they gathered firewood, Kheraxa watched Brendan move about. She was starting to realise that the healing hadn’t just been superficial - he was moving with a sprightly kind of skip that she hadn’t seen in years. All the knocks, the breaks, and the sprains in all their battles over the years had toughened her rider up for sure, but they’d also left their mark. Brendan was a skilled fighter, but slower than most.

But now, barely day in the forest, he was hopping up and down, chopping wood, moving about the place with vigour.

“Can I help you?” Brendan chuckled. He’d caught her staring. Kheraxa huffed.

No, sorry, just… a bit dazed is all. Think we need our sleep. This little one has the right idea.

The child had woken earlier, full of energy, but soon grew as bored as them of the repeating scenery and promptly fell back asleep.

Lucky sprog, Kheraxa thought, jealously.

Once their camp was set up, both dragon and rider curled up by the pile of wood, which Kheraxa set alight with a small spurt of flame. Picking up the sleeping toddler with her muzzle and moving him down beside her leg, she watched as Brendan made himself comfortable on the opposite side, pulling a blanket across as the three of them enjoyed the warmth.

“Goodnight, Krax. We’ll find our way out of here in the morning, I promise.”

I’ll hold you too it, Kheraxa chuckled, sleep well old friend.

+++

”Kheraxa? Krax?”

The dragon awoke to Brendan’s voice calling her softly. For a moment, she didn’t know where she was. It felt as if she’d barely slept at all, but the sun was beaming down through the trees so she must have. She felt… groggy.

Since when do dragons get groggy? she wondered, absent-mindedly.

As she rose to her feet slowly, Kheraxa checked around her legs. She couldn’t see the child, which was good - she didn’t want to accidentally step on a sleeping toddler.

Bren? Where are you, how long have—

But Brendan was there. Standing right in front of her. His hands were held out in front, in a gesture of calm, but that wasn’t the first thing Kheraxa noticed. Instead, her eyes darted to the way his clothes were hanging from his frame - loose and limp.

”Krax, I know. I just woke up too. Let’s just—“

Kheraxa let out a low growl.

Brendan looked, at the very least, ten years younger. His face was smoother, his frame much more slim. It almost looked like he’d never seen a day of battle in his life.

I told you. I told you this place was bad!

”Krax, please, I just… I need a moment, okay?”

Brendan surveyed his body, patting himself down. Kheraxa watched as he removed the loose gauntlets that had been hanging from his wrists limply. After a moment, he walked over to her, placing his hand on her muzzle. It felt different to the dragon… not the weathered, beaten hand she was used to.

You’re still you? You know me?

“Of course, Krax. I’m not that far gone. Not… yet, anyway.“

The noise of a giggling child snapped them out of their thoughts, as they both turned to look at the boy, who was still in the saddle on the dragon’s back. The child was playing with an empty bag of some sort, completely engrossed.

As Brendan and Kheraxa stared at the child, the same realisation hit them both. Along with a grim sense of dread.

“…how long do you think he’s been here?”

There’s no way to know. Months? Years? Decades? He doesn’t seem to have gotten any younger since we’ve been here, either… whatever this magic is, it must return people to that age and then… stop, for some reason. Maybe to keep them… forever?

Brendan’s eyes widened.

“What… what if it’s feeding on them? On their lives, their… time?“

Kheraxa nodded. She’d heard tell of time magic, but only whispers. An elder dragon had tried to explain it to her once, but she quickly gave the lesson up - it never made much sense.

Wobbly-wobbly, timey-wimey nonsense.

”How come it’s not happening to you?” Brendan asked.

Oh, I think it might actually be. I hurt my wing when I fell, nothing major but definitely a bruise or sprain… but now, it’s fine. Completely fine. We may have both lost a few years, but I’m still centuries older, Bren. It’ll take longer to wear me out.

“Wait - that’s it! Your wing, it’s better - let’s fly out!”

I don’t know if that’s the best idea…

“Kheraxa, please. We need to get out of here, now. Please.”

The look on Brendan’s face was all she needed. There was no telling how much longer he had.

Alright, Bren. Climb on.

As Brendan secured the cooing child with a cloth tied to the saddle, Kheraxa braced herself for the launch. This forest had them in its clutches, and she didn’t anticipate it giving them up without a fight - but she was ready to try.

Alright then… let’s go!

With a leap from her tremendous legs, Kheraxa launched them into the air, blasting towards the canopy. She could hear Brendan whooping behind her, along with the child giggling in delight. As she approached the leafy barrier, Kheraxa let out a jet of flame to clear a path.

For the briefest moment… they had made it. Kheraxa crashed through the top of the canopy, greeted by the wide open sky and glistening sun. She flapped her wings as hard as she could, trying to gain as much altitude as quickly as possible.

“We did it!” shouted Brendan at the top of his voice, “WE DID I—”

The rider’s cries of joy were cut short by a roar of pain erupting from Kheraxa, as a giant thorny vine blasted from the trees below, latching onto her tail and pulling hard.

Then another. And another.

Both dragon and rider roared in anguish as more and more tentacle-like vines erupted from the canopy, latching onto them both and dragging them down again. Kheraxa briefly caught sight of Brendan slashing at one of the vines with his sword, before everything went black again as they succumbed to the forest’s power, and fell back through the trees.

+++

Kheraxa awoke once more, this time to the sound of crying. She whipped her head around her back in fear, but to her relief the child was unharmed, still lashed tightly to the saddle. The dragon began the deep rumble of the purring noise again, soothing the child once more. As she did so, she reached out with her mind once again.

Brendan? Are you there?

For a moment there was silence, and Kheraxa feared the worst… but then, a voice spoke from behind her.

”Kr..Kra…”

When Kheraxa turned around to see, the shock brought her down to her knees. It was Brendan… but it wasn’t. She was staring at a young boy, no older than thirteen, whose armor had completely fallen off at this point, and was simply wearing a tunic and cape wrapped around him.

“Kr.. dragon? Do… do you know where we are?”

Kheraxa wanted to run. She want to roar, to scream, to cry out into the heavens.

This isn’t fair! He didn’t deserve this!!

But it was another voice inside that told her; ’No. Not now. Not here. You are in charge of two children now. No matter what, you must get them home.‘

Yes… yes little one. Come along, follow me. We’ll get you home.

+++

After another few gruelling hours of walking, it finally happened. Kheraxa spotted light - the edge of the forest.

The tree line! We did it! Can you see it, Bren?

The child walking beside her hadn’t said a word for most of the trek. Kheraxa wondered if the forest was not only stealing his body, but also his mind - the young Brendan seemed to be in a walking dream state.

“I… yes. We made it.”

As they neared the tree line, Kheraxa couldn’t help herself. She picked up into a gallop, bursting out from the tree line into the open valley air.

We did it. We did it, we’re free!

She pranced about, breathing in the fresh, open air. The forest had felt like suffocating compared to this.

Maybe the curse lifts after we leave, maybe you’ll be alright Brendan, maybe—

But there was no response. The dragon turned back around, looking for Brendan, until she saw it. There he stood, at the edge of the forest. Just before the last tree. Kheraxa galloped back over to him, the toddler chuckling away in the saddle behind her.

“Dragon? Kracka? I can’t… it won’t let me—“

Kheraxa watched in horror as the teenage Brendan pushed and clawed at the air in front of him, but it didn’t budge. It was as if the forest had somehow… sealed him in.

And it wasn’t letting go.

”Kraxa… please… help…”

Kheraxa was seething with rage at this point. Smoke and sparks were flooding from her nostrils. Carefully, she took the child from her saddle and placed it on the grass, far enough away from the tree line. She then leapt into the air, and let out all the pain, the sadness and the rage at the situation in the form of a series of violent, angry roars. She flew down along the forest barrier, blasting it with tremendous gusts of flame, blackening every inch of the tree line as much as she could. Kheraxa blew as much fire as her belly could muster, over and over until her jaws were hot with pain.

When she landed back near the boys, her heart sank as she watched the charred and blackened trees simply shaking off the damage, regenerating into tall green masses once again.

I… I give up.

She feel to her knees again, tears streaming down the scales of her face.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

She sat there, grieving, looking between the two boys. Brendan remained just behind the tree line, staring at her, confused. She wasn’t even sure if he was aware of what was happening at this point, nor if he should be. She looked to the child again, who was now simply sitting quietly, staring towards the forest.

It was the quietest she’d seen the child since meeting him.

This sparked something in Kheraxa‘s mind. She stood up shakily, and walked over to the toddler. Leaning her head down, she examined his face properly, for the first time. She was not accustomed to paying attention to human faces, as they all looked alike to her, but the more she stared at the child, and then back to Brendan in the forest, the more familiarity she saw.

Time magic, she thought, recalling as much of what she had been told as a young dragonling, what if… it’s not just for stealing time? Perhaps it can move things… or even people…

It was then that the realisation hit.

Leaning down, Kheraxa stared at the child. Keeping her nose inches from it’s curious face, she reached out with her mind, deliberately toward the boy.

B… Brendan?

The child paused, then looked up at her for a moment, before bursting into another fit of giggles. The boy reached up its hand, placing it on her muzzle.

‘Kra-ka!’ cooed the boy. It was the first time she had heard him speak.

Oh, Brendan. My Brendan.

Kheraxa paused for a moment. She was flooded with another wave of emotions, almost too much to bear… but instead, she took a deep breath.

She knew then and there what she had to do. And she hated it.

With a sigh, Kheraxa strode over to the tree line once more. Making sure to get as close as she could to the young teenage Brendan, she reached out with her mind, and in as soothing a voice as she could think of, told him not to worry.

Brendan, I need you to listen, okay? Everything will be alright. I know it will. I'll make sure of it. But I need you to do one more thing.

There were more tears dripping from the dragon’s face as she thought this towards him. She was thankful for the mental method of communication, as she did not think the pain she was feeling right now would have allowed her to make any kind of speech.

“Em… yeah, okay.” Brendan replied, his glazed-over look and tone remaining.

Turn around, and walk back into the forest. I'll be right behind you, we just need to grab some... fire wood, okay? Can you walk back in, find a nice place for us to camp, and stay there? Mind it for me?

"Eh... on my own?"

"Yes, but you're brave aren't you? A warrior, Brendan the Bold, right?"

"Um... I think so."

Okay, well do this for me. I know you can. I will be back for you..

She looked over to the toddler, who was sat happily on the grass, playing with some leaves.

...I promise.

”Alright. Will do.”

The teen Brendan turned around, and started making his way back into the forest. Kheraxa watched, her heart ripping in two as he did. She knew this was the only way to free him, but that didn’t make it any less difficult. The dragon watched as the boy disappeared further and further into the forest, until suddenly he was no longer visible.

Kheraxa dropped her head, letting out a low whine of pain.

Brendan. My Brendan. I’m sorry.

“Kra-ka!”

The call of the toddler behind her eased Kheraxa's pain a tad. With an almighty sigh, she glided over to where the baby Brendan was now sitting. She watched him fumble about with a small pouch he had taken from the saddle. As he fell back down again, the child gazed up at the face of the large, friendly dragon that had found him in the forest.

Kheraxa stared back at the boy, with sad, dark green eyes.

Alright little one, she thought, as she placed him into the saddle on her back, let’s get you home.

+++