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thecandywrites · 2 years ago

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Monster March 2024 Day 25 Harpy /Moura Part 6

Now it's time for some back stabby stabby.

As always, thanks to the wonderful @borealwrites for thier Monster March 2024 Prompt List

Moonlight Moura

Part 6

Axera woke you up right at sunrise so you could go and get the sunrise sunshine, which was supposed to be some of the best sunshine as you got up and flew up to the roof of the dragon barn and spread your wings to get the sunshine.

“There you are!” Your cousin Tristan said as he flew in from the horizon and practically tackled you to the roof as he hugged you tight as you welcomed him into your arms and cried in relief, as he peppered your face in kisses because his last flight was your first and incidentally, the one where he met his new wife who just had a baby as you were visiting him and his family for your last solstice flight.

“Come on, we gotta go!” Tristan encouraged you as he tried to pull you into the air.

“I can’t leave.” You stopped him as you pulled back.

“Shit, what did they do to your collar? is this why you can't leave? Are you sick? Did these people do this to you?!” He asked in horror to see it changed.

“They didn’t do anything to it! Lightning did.” You revealed.

“You got struck by lightning?” He asked in surprise and shock.

“Yeah, I did. And now I’m glowing like the damn moon. Everything metal I touch, turns into electrum or white gold instead of yellow gold. I was as bright as the sun at first and would have blinded people for miles if I wasn’t magnetized to an island with an electromagnetic core surrounded by fog as thick as pumpkin soup!” You explained.

“Now thankfully there are moura dragons here and they are taking care of me. But it’s the people here who are helping me drain excess power from me so hopefully I don’t glow like the moon and don’t electrocute everything and everyone I touch. Once I get better, I’ll come back. But I can’t do that yet. I would fry every electrical grid anywhere and everywhere else. The moura dragons here helped me find some really good people who are helping me, feeding me and sheltering me and hiding me in plain sight from any other who would mean me harm. But right now, I have to rely on the dragons to translate everything I say. I know our taunston relatives made translation books for all the peoples who converged onto this supersphere. Please, I need a translation book if not from marinai to the language of the Neveahans, then from tauni to the language spoken here. For you know I can speak and read and write tauni. I want to be able to talk to my hosts and not have the dragons tell or show more than I want them to or more than they should." You begged.

"There is something dangerous here. And with as protective as the moura dragons are, and with as protective as my host family is. Means that me being here is dangerous and that there is something bigger than them that is a threat to me. And I need to know what that threat is, because otherwise the Neveahan dragons would not have told every moura who would listen to stay clear of this place. Please. I can’t leave this place because I’ll be stuck to the outer islands again like a magnet stuck to another one. Because it was only a dragon’s flying strength that I was able to be pulled from the outer ring like an anchor from the watery depths. Please. Tristan, go to the closest Taunston fortress, ask them for help. I’m the granddaughter of a taunston, surely they would help me. And if not for family, then for a price. Surely electrum is valuable to them right?” You urged him before you put the electrum that you had made into a small stick and gathered into a small ball from the bath and made one larger palm sized piece of it and gave it to him.

“Now please fly away from here and only approach me when I’m alone. One moura is one thing, I don’t want two to turn into more than that because with moura math is the same as chicken math, that’ll pull at least a dozen more here and they'll think we're the ones invading. Please. For Isolade’s sake and for little Trillinia, I can’t chance you being stuck here with me, please fly away.” You pleaded with him.

“For Isolade and Trillinia, but I’m coming back with that book for you, and an explanation of what’s happened to you and how to fix you that doesn’t involve you being in the belly of the greatest beast of all on this supershere.” Tristan agreed as he took it.

“What do you mean by that?” You asked as you grabbed his arms to keep him from leaving as you couldn’t help but narrow your eyes at the words he chose to use.

“I can’t say much more than that, I feel the dragons around hearing our conversation. It would not surprise me if they are already alerting everyone here about my presence.” He said.

“Then fly. Fly now.” You urged him as he flew away before anyone else could see him. You looked down into the skylight and saw that Jenya and Daer were- at least by appearances, fast asleep. So you could do little but watch Tristan fly north wishing you could fly back with him. But you didn’t trust the outer ring of islands to not pull you harder than you could fly and you couldn’t trust that you wouldn’t bring serious harm to anyone or anything if you were able to go home in this state. Dragon magic exceeded a mouras. And if Thyla was adamant that Nahlo, and his family and his talents with electricity could help, you had little choice but to trust her and take her word for it since Isla had apparently done all she could do. So you could only sit down and cry, feeling like you were watching the last of your kind leave you for you didn’t know how long, or if Tristan would ever be able to come back. With what you asked from him or not. You watched him turn into a speck of nothingness in the beautiful sunrise that was not healing you or fortifying you the way you had grown used to it doing.

But you didn’t get too much time to think about it before Nahlo, in a panic, came out of the house, calling for you with Thyla hot on his heels. Ah, that’s what Tristan was referring to. He could feel Thyla’s mind with his own and of course she would alert Nahlo. You could not find fault with her for it though. You leaving wasn’t in your own best interest, nor anyone else’s for that matter.

“I’m here Nahlo, I’m here. What’s wrong?” You asked as you flitted down to the ground.

“Oh thank God, you’re still here.” Nahlo said as he hugged you tight when you did.

“Of course I’m still here. Where else would I go?” You asked as you hugged him back.

“Home?” Nahlo offered.

“It’s not safe for me to go home yet, remember? Right now those outer islands are like sharks circling a drowning land walker. I’m here until you say I’m no longer a danger to anyone else or anything else, or until you ask me to leave, or perhaps, when I’ve outstayed my welcome at least.” You reassured him with a reassuring smile.

“You will never outstay your welcome. And I would never ask you to leave. But I will let you know the moment it is safe for you to go home.” Nahlo nodded in agreement and understanding before he finally and rather reluctantly let go.

“Are you ok?” You asked him as you reached up to cup his face with your hand as you noticed it was hot and flushed.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Are you ok?” He asked as he either consciously or subconsciously put his own hand over yours as he looked deeply into your eyes, searching for how you were really doing.

“Yeah, I’ll be ok. I have the dragons and I have you and your wonderful family. What else do I need?” You asked.

“Your health?” Nahlo supplied.

“Well, that’s why I’m here. Because like your dragon says, that if she can trust anyone to help, it’s you. And I was raised to always trust the dragons. So if Thyla trusts you, I trust you too.” You smiled.

“Wait here, I must collect morning dew for the kids.” You offered before you swiped your thumb across his cheek before you used your wings to pull you up into the trees as you flitted to the various fruit trees around the farm and created morning dew from all of them, making little edible coru clouds from each one before you returned to him, carrying a pack of them that were as big as yourself.

“How many did you get?” He asked.

“As many as I could. I figured the whole family would want one of each kind I could get.” You said.

“Here, you try and tell me what they will think.” You offered him an assortment that you had made just for him which made him happy to take from you before he ate the first.

“Orange tree.” He noted when he took a bite of the first.

“Very good.” You grinned.

“How do you manage to get the taste and the scent to be in all one sensation?” He asked.

“It’s all just particles in the air, that most can’t really see with their eyes, but that their other senses can pick up on. I just pick up enough of it for you to both taste and smell it at the same time and that it is the same intensity that most find appetizing and appealing.” You shrugged before you walked with him back into the house with the others as you put a bundle on each place setting at the table while the other members of Nahlo’s family got up while Axera got out of your room and left the house to eat his own breakfast from the barn with Thyla, who was still angry with him about something as you watched as Thyla was quick to snip and snap at him.

“Did I pick the one dragon on Neveah that Thyla can’t stand?” You asked Nahlo as he noticed you watch them walk from the house into the barn.

“No. There are many more she hates much worse than him.” Nahlo grinned as you could tell that Jenya was up and doing the translating for you while the sub adults came to the barn to eat with her and Daer.

“Why does Thyla hate Axera?” You asked.

“You’d have to ask her because I don’t know.” Nahlo shook his head.

“Jenya?” You called out to her.

‘Thyla was just trying to be obedient to my mother, that’s all. Isla wanted to keep you close.’ Jenya answered.

‘Because not all Neveahans are good Neveahans who mean me- no harm?’ You questioned mentally.

‘Yes.’ Jenya admitted.

‘Which ones should I look out for?’ You asked.

‘Anyone in a uniform.’ Jenya warned.

‘Ok. Anything else?’ You asked.

‘No.’ Jenya answered.

‘Understood. Will you please tell Thyla that my visitor this morning was just a concerned family member, and should be the only one I should have, hopefully until I can leave under my own power?’ You asked her as you showed her the exchange you had with Tristan that morning.

‘Of course, I’ll let her know.’ Jenya reassured you.

“Thank you.” You thanked her as you did your best to help prepare breakfast for the family as you were surprised when most of the family came in, each carrying a dish they had made for breakfast and soon the table was filled with dishes as it had been the day before for dinner as it seemed everyone pitched in which you really liked and appreciated as the whole family was delighted with the edible coru clouds on their plates as Manidore was the last one up but the first to devour the coru clouds.

“Best dish for breakfast.” Manidore praised with a charming smile and a wink.

“Not exactly filling though.” You offered as you happily got to eat to your heart’s content out of the vast array of dishes that were made and passed around the table, this time, not worrying about turning anything into electrum because the same serving spoons were used both for dinner and for breakfast and were already electrum.

“But leaving us all hungry for more.” Manidore praised.

“Then eat some real solid food to satisfy your hunger. The sun is burning off all the dew so it would be hard to make more right now.” You urged him as you pushed the dish that was between you closer to him since it was not hard to discern his true intentions, which you could not be any more disinterested in.

“When you’re done eating Aurava, we should get going to the plant to drain more excess from you.” Nahlo insisted as he sat beside you.

“Of course, I promise not to shred my clothes today.” You tried to offer with a meaningful grin.

“I wouldn’t mind.” Manidore muttered under his breath as you could practically feel Nahlo’s hard glare at his younger brother as you flushed with Manidore’s implications.

“Then you won’t mind mending them will you?” Nahlo insisted.

“Nope, although I’d want to get more measurements.” Manidore offered before your moura cloak became a harness of tape measures over the clothes you were currently wearing before you pulled it off of you and handed it to him.

“You better write down the numbers before that becomes what it really is.” You instructed him as Manidore raced to try to write them all down as you grinned, rather smugly as you mentally let the lone feather slowly revert back to its natural state the moment he had written down the measurement before he was left with only a feather but before he could marvel at the feather itself, you called it back to yourself.

“Excuse me, I need to get ready.” You excused yourself from the table once you finished all the food on your plate and walked back to your room to get changed into the Neveahan clothes.

“What is wrong with you? Why didn’t you just ask her to strip right here at the table.” Nahlo sneered rather hatefully as he grabbed his plate as well as your own from the table as Safahti took the paper from her son’s hand.

“And that will be the only piece of her you will touch. You shame us by being so forward with her. She is sick. Have some decency.” Sefahti insisted before she smacked him upside the head.

“Get dressed and ready for work.” Undilla urged his sons.

“Yes Papa.” They answered before the family slowly began to clean up after breakfast as you were already outside somehow and with Thyla.

“Ready?” You asked Nahlo when you saw him leave his house and with his gear.

“Yes.” He answered before you got into Axera’s saddle while Nahlo got into Thyla’s while Manidore got onto something else.

“What is that?” You asked Nahlo from Axera’s back.

“A car. For when people do not wish to fly.” Nahlo answered.

“Why does he not fly?” You asked him you were happy to take to the air with Axera and himself as you saw dragons from all over take to the skies.

“He is waiting to get married first.” Nahlo answered as you frowned in confusion.

“Why?” You asked.

“Some dragons find their riders before their riders have to ever find them. And some wait to find a dragon to ride, until the dragons return from their rite flight and choose to pair up with another on Neveah, and usually most young adults will also wait to choose a marriage mate after that process too.” Nahlo explained.

“So he is waiting for his future bride to pick her dragon and that dragon to pick a mate before he choses one and when he does, he not only gets a wife, he also gets a pair of dragons.” You concluded.

“Something like that.” Nahlo nodded.

“But not you?” You asked.

“No. Thyla’s always been my dragon since the egg, isn’t that right girl?” Nahlo asked as he patted her neck.

“So what will you do if she choses a moura dragon after her rite flight, go wherever she will settle down?” You asked curiously.

“We’ll see.” Nahlo answered with a hopeful smile.

‘Or more like he’ll have to decide between who owns any dragon who wants to be my mate.’ Thyla informed you.

“I see Thyla, so Axera is definitely out of the running. Good thing I chose Axera to ride for the time being huh?” You grinned.

“No she didn’t mean it like that.” Nahlo was quick to correct.

“No, Thyla was quite clear, there is no misunderstanding her.” You grinned as you waived him off before you landed at the site where others were already waiting in line with many vehicles filled with batteries.

‘Here are the children of the people that take care of my parents.’ Axera introduced you to a small group of people.

“Sali.” You greeted them from behind your scarf and hood so you hoped that you didn’t glow too much to scare them off.

“Sali Miss Moonchild. We understand from Grand Dragon Isla that you are a friend of hers, that you are here because you are sick and are needing healing?” Axera’s usual rider Haluma asked from her glittering and sparkling dragon armored clothes only meant to show off her lithe body. She had less body fat than you did. And barely any breasts, but what she did have seemed to be padded and puffed up to accentuate them.

“Yes.” You nodded.

“Then why aren’t you in a hospital?” Alidore, Haluma’s brother asked.

“Because I’m not Neveahan. And I don’t know if the doctors who are used to treating Neveahan patients will be able to help someone with different biology. But thankfully Nahlo understands what afflicts me and is helping heal me. Because even I don’t fully understand it.” You admitted lowly.

“Oh, right, of course. That and you may not have any official documentation or identification. Other than what Grand Dragon Isla can vouch for. It’s probably best if you get the help you need as quietly and as discreetly as possible, so you can hopefully go home soon.” Haluma offered as there was something in her voice that you caught and a sense about her that didn’t quite sit right with you.

“Yes, for now, thank you so much for allowing Axera to fly me around. Although if you’re needing him back for anything. He should go home if he’s missed or needed.” You offered as you tried to offer the bridal to Axera back to Haluma before Alidore was quick to offer you the bridle to his own dragon instead.

“Only if you will take mine in his place. Surely you should not be left without a mode of transportation and we can’t expect Thyla to fly both of you all around.” Alidore offered as he exchanged the bridals as he was dipping his head to catch and keep your gaze as you gave him a small, polite smile.

“But I don’t know if your dragon speaks my language that well. Since Axera’s been my main means of communication as my translator, but obviously, there are others who have followed me that speak my language very well and can be my means of translation and transportation. And they all assure me that they are happy and willing to take Axera’s place and give him a break if he wants or needs it. And I do not wish to inconvenience you or leave you a way of not having the means of transportation around your truly marvelous country.” You tried to graciously excuse as two more dragons eagerly put their heads over your shoulders and were eager to try to both claim you as their riders which you couldn’t help but laugh at their playful overeagerness.

“It’s not an inconvenience at all. It’s been a privilege and an honor to have you ride one of our dragons. Might we invite you over for either lunch or dinner? Supper? Evening meal? Whatever you may call it?” Alidore asked hopefully.

“I will defer to Nahlo’s opinion. For I know we will have a lot of work to continue to work out how to cure me of my ailment and affliction.” You excused.

“Of course, Nahlo, you and your family are more than welcome to come as well, really, the whole family.” Haluma was quick to offer.

“Axera told Miss Moonchild that his father is a friend of hers. And I know he will wish to see her the most. So, dinner would be nice. Thank you.” Nahlo caved with a polite smile.

“Oh of course! Of course, yes he hasn’t stopped talking our mother’s ears off about it.” Alidore insisted.

“Just, make sure that none of the utensils are metal. Her ailment means she is very reactive to metal. So ceramic or wood would be best.” Nahlo suggested.

“Of course, we will make sure that nothing metal is even on the table.” Haluma offered with a charming smile and doe eyes as you realized, that’s what she was upset about. She wanted Nahlo. And she did not want you to be any kind of obstacle in that endeavor, which you thought was interesting. Perhaps it was that reason that Thyla didn’t like Axera, because what Thyla really didn’t like was Axera’s true rider and Nahlo didn't share Haluna's attraction.

‘Bingo.’ Thyla told you telepathically.

“Axera, please don’t go telling all my secrets to people who are strangers to me. If I want them to know anything, I want to tell them myself.” You asked Axera.

‘Wouldn’t dream of it my friend.’ Axera reassured you.

“He’s been a very good dragon. Please, feed and treat him extra well.” You requested sweetly of Haluma and Alidore and their other brothers and sisters as you shook their hands.

“Of course, of course.” Alidore assured you.

“We should get in and see what we can cure today.” Nahlo urged you to come inside.

“Axera, I will let you hunt whatever you want if you will tell me everything.” Alidore said once you and Nahlo had set foot inside with the other dragons following in around you.

“And what I want to know is- is she really an angel from heaven?” Haluma asked Axera.

‘No. Far from. She is flesh and blood and quite a bit more. Enough to make gaining her as a friend worth your while.’ Axera grinned back.

“Good, now let’s go to the market and find you a proper breakfast.” Haluma beamed before she hopped onto her saddle and flew over to the market to get Axera some good ol fashioned bribery to get him to tell them anything and everything they wanted to know about Nahlo’s new guest.

Thankfully the other people Nahlo and Manidore worked with were actually very kind and very helpful and were relieved that you had stayed and would continue to work with them to drain your excess power from you as they all had brought in extra battery chargers with them, all of them leading to a plug for an outlet that you would hold before they connected every kind of battery they could. And then, like waves of the sea. It was just you holding the plug for only a few moments before the other batteries almost instantly regained their full charge and had to be changed out for others. And changing out the batteries took longer than charging them did.

Thankfully, today, Nahlo and the others had a steady supply of food, delivered from every restaurant that would deliver food there. All so that you could just simply eat with one hand and charge with the other while you made sure they took breaks to eat and drink and refresh themselves too.

But after 8 hours of this, the line was empty, but you still glowed, like a full moon through a layer of clouds at night as you could only blow out another breath of relief yet subtle disappointment that while it had continued to help, it still wasn’t enough as others made calls all around both the large nation and the surrounding smaller ones to see who had need of electricity to store but Nahlo insisted that the magnetism of the outer rings was still too great of a threat, and that they find solutions here on the mainland that didn’t involve too much supervision by anyone who would ask any questions that would endanger you being here illegally.

“Illegally?” You repeated to Thyla.

‘By Neveahan governmental standards, you are an illegal alien in every sense. You came here without legal permission by any other country that Neveah recognizes. You have no identification paperwork or cards. According to the official Neveahan government, you aren’t even here. Isla is keeping your presence a secret from them. And right now, Nahlo is afraid that when you go to Axera’s family’s farm your safety will be threatened because Axera is likely not to keep your confidence. In fact it wouldn't surprise if he's sold you out in exchange for a chance to hunt and kill his own lunch.’ Thyla explained.

“So he is afraid they will find out I'm here illegally?” You asked worriedly.

‘Yes. Nahlo and Manidore are afraid that if Nahlo doesn’t take Haluma’s flirtatious advances and that if you do not accept Alidore’s that either of them would turn you over just to spite Nahlo and his family. You saw Axera, he’s very handsome. Axera and all the other dragons at that farm are jewel dragons, their scales are meant for jewelry and more luxurious coats of armor. Which you've already seen because Haluma refuses to wear nothing but the stuff, even as uncomfortable as it to her sometimes.' Thyla explained.

“Ah, entitled and used to always getting what they want.” You surmised.

‘Yes.' She confirmed.

"Why does Haluma like Nahlo though? Is it the tattoos?" You asked her softly.

'Yeah. Tattoos are forbidden in Haluma's family but to Haluma, Nahlo is some kind of irresistable bad boy. And yes, that tattoos only add to that image. Otherwise she has almost every other guy on the island drooling over her and her rich family. But not Nahlo. He sees it all for what it really is and while they may be rich in house, estate and money, they are piss poor in ethics, honesty, and decency.' Thyla revealed.

"Ah, so she is poor in all the ways I'm rich and I'm poor in all the ways she's rich. So she is threatened by me." You surmised.

"Exactly. But Haluma has always wanted what she can't have. And because Nahlo has gently and politely refused her advances in the past, instead of going elsewhere, she's become obsessed. Like stalker obsessed. Which is why Nahlo works one of the more humble jobs that is quite dirty and hard work. Things that Haluma and her family wouldn't be caught dead doing. They rely on thier machines to make their jewelry and pluck the scales before they're even ready to be fully shed, all to make deadlines, to the harm of thier own dragons until they bleed from the plucking." Thyla shuddered.

"Like a bird having it's pretty feathers plucked." You surmised.

"Exactly. And if they come to know that you make electrum. They would be the first to have turn every speck of metal on that estate into more electrum. And try to marry you as soon as possible to keep you there like your foremothers.’ Thyla warned.

“Then why did Nahlo agree?” You asked.

‘For Axera’s father’s sake. But if you show his father the pain you’ve endured being in this state- maybe he will dissuade them.’ Thyla offered.

“I see.” You nodded in understanding before Nahlo approached wiping the sweat of his brow after getting the last of the batteries back up to the people waiting outside.

“We should get home and get cleaned up for dinner.” Nahlo came over as Manidore had already left to go home to do just that.

“If you felt uncomfortable about going to Axera's farm, you could have declined.” You offered.

“I didn’t want to deny you seeing old friends.” Nahlo tried to excuse.

“Not if it will cost you- your peace of mind and the peace of your heart.” You countered.

“Then perhaps, in the future, lunch visits will be best, short and sweet and an excuse to leave to go back to work when things even venture into being uncomfortable and more dragon orientated.” Nahlo offered.

“Yes, that would probably be best. I trust you to keep me safe and sound Nahlo. And I trust Thyla to do the same and I trust Grandma Isla. Thyla told me I’m illegally here. And it would be best if I stayed off of sonar.” You supplied.

“Radar.” Nahlo corrected with a grin.

“Radar, yes.” You agreed as you mirrored his smile.

“So do you think going to Axera’s family’s farm will expose me and threaten my safety?” You asked as you lowered your voice and took a step closer to him.

“It should be ok, as long as Axera’s father sees and feels your painful truth. That you are here by accident and it is only by Isla’s protection that you are here on the mainland.” Nahlo answered as you nodded in understanding.

“Then lead the way. I will follow wherever you will go.” You offered as you took his arm and hugged it as he was happy to have you there as he was happy to put his hand over yours and lead you out of there with Thyla and Sephat and the others, who had taken Axera’s place with you, who Thyla liked much better than Axera. For one thing, Sephat wasn’t nearly as boastful and egotistical because he was more drab and more meek and mild. And 2- because he was drab and to other Neveahans, ugly, he was seen as undesireable and practically unrideable by Neveahan standards. But he was getting the hang of taking you as a rider and learning to translate your meanings instead of pure word for word translation. And for all of these things, you really liked and appreciated about him too. There was a quietness and a gentleness about him that you found soothing too.

You flew Sephat beside Thyla back home where everyone was hurriedly trying to get ready.

“Thank you all so much for helping me visit the other moura dragons around Neveah. I really appreciate it.” You thanked them as you were quick to try to help them.

“I’m just happy that you aren’t going alone and that all of us can come with you to keep an eye on things and keep you safe.” Sefahti smiled gratefully.

“You are glowing much dimmer today. I take it, today was much more successful as far as curing you is concerned?” Cadi offered.

“Yes.” You smiled happily.

“Good.” She and Sefahti both smiled happily before they finished and tried to help you get ready by doing your hair at least, while your moura cloak provided a beautiful dress, which they claimed was perfect, simple and elegent and sophisticated for the dinner party as they simply let you borrow a cloak to wear over your clothes to conceal your state until you could get into the house.

“Ok, we will drive, you fly. Keep the dragon as close as you can.” They offered.

“I will.” You reassured them before you got back onto Sephat to fly with Nahlo who actually looked quite dashing and regal in his more dressy clothes.

“You lead, I follow.” You urged him.

“Ok.” He smiled as he took to the air and flew with you to Axera’s family’s farm which wasn’t actually too far away. Thankfully.

But the moment you landed, and got off of Sephat, it was clear that Axera’s family’s caretakers had pulled out all the stops so to speak. Their houses were practically all mansions, all connected by elaborate walkways and hallways until it looked more like one huge palace complex. Their barn was also palatial. And you were taken on one side by Alidore and his mother on the other as they were quick to usher you inside and down to a meal that only equaled that of Dorierra's. There were more pieces of cutlery than you could ever think was needed for a meal. And servants, lots and lost of servants. And dinner was actually a 30 course meal. Each plate only having a few mouthfuls worth of food on it. But beautifully and artfully plated delicacies. Thankfully Alidore's mother was right there beside you to walk you through what to eat what course with and what to do when and made several comments about how you ate all the food off of every plate put in front of you. You were quick to point out that you were actually sick and the more food you ate, the sooner you would recover. Which was the only reason she allowed it. The men of the family of course were "allowed" to finish all the food off of their plates, the ladies, barely ate half of what was there.

All while Nahlo was sat down all the way on the other end of the table with Haluma practically glued herself to his side and in a dragon scale dress that left very little to the imagination. You could tell that Undilla and Sefhati weren't exactly thrilled to simply sit and listen to her talk on and on and on about herself and only herself and never really engaging them in coversation and interrupted them every time they tried to cut in. Which, mouras could be chatty too. But they at least had the decency to not interrupt other people. You could sense Nahlo only tolerated her presence as he too didn’t appreciate or like her own forwardness.

But seemed all of Alidore’s brothers were seated around you with Alidore's grandfather sitting at the head of the very long table. You barely could keep up with their questions about you and your family and where you were from as you could see Thyla wasn’t happy about Axera’s attentions either as she tried her best to keep up with helping you and your hosts communicate serving as your translator since Sephat was still learning but making an excellent effort nonetheless.

And while you enjoyed the food, it was the company that was overwhelming you with their "charms", flattery, fishing for compliments in turn, and attentions as you noticed that all of them were eating with pure gold silverware while you were grateful for your wooden handled utensils.

You tried so hard not to touch anything metallic. Everywhere you looked was gold, platinum, crystal, marble, ostentatious and over the top. The family was eager to talk about how great and prosperous their business was as their farm didn’t even bother with herds, simply bought what their dragons wanted to eat from the market every day so that they could dedicate more of their lands to buildings and lavish gardens. Even the children were expected to be little adults. No loud voices, no outbursts, no misbehavior, and wholly unnatural.

Which was a sharp contrast to Nahlo and his family’s farm that was much more of a homestead style and geared towards self sufficiency which you liked and appreciated much more whereas his own family was similar to your own, where kids were passed around and everyone loved everyone and between giving each other a hard time and teasing, it was always in good fun and never malicious.

But not here. There were undercutting remarks and inside jokes that weren’t funny and didn’t make sense and you could tell Alidore’s grandfather was the patriarch of the family. As even he was trying to be ‘a warm father type’ but his true nature could be clearly sensed. He practically ruled his family with an iron fist. His grandchildren were practically all kissing his ass while his other children, while showing reverence, there was so much resentment there too.

But once you finished dinner and tried all the desserts, you simply asked to see Axera’s father, wanting to hurry up and meet him and sing to his clutch of eggs and get going and leave before they asked you the same intrusive questions masked by pretty words and flattery, asked at least six different ways, wanting to get either different answers or get to the core truths about yourself that you weren’t comfortable sharing with them.

You could only glance at Nahlo out of the corner of your eye and he looked just as uncomfortable as you felt but he was obviously trying to be polite and dip and dodge all of Haluma’s advances as you were trying to do the same from her brothers. Especially since every single one in Alidore’s family stared more at your moura collar than even your breasts or eyes. Which to you betrayed what they were really after.

Electrum.

Figured.

The family reluctantly let you into the barn where Axera’s father Aeleo was as he practically was wagging his tail in excitement to see you as were happy to go up to him and hug his face for several long moments.

‘Hello my friend.’ You greeted happily as you hugged his face tight and fought not to cry again.

‘Hello my friend. It’s so wonderful to have you here, finally. Axera has told and shown me all that you showed him already. I’m so sorry you’ve had to endure that great pain and then to be here is both thrilling yet dangerous for you.’ He said.

‘Because I’m an illegal alien?’ You guessed.

‘Among other things.’ He agreed before he picked you up so you could sit on his snout high up in the air as you straddled his snout to talk to him, wordlessly, wanting to keep this conversation secret between just the two of you as Alidore and his family simply sat and watched on curiously.

‘So what are the other things? No one will say. And it’s the fear of the unknown that scares me the most.’ You asked.

‘Well immediately? It’s this family that likes to tell themselves they’re my owners. You should be weary of them the most. I have forbidden Axera from telling them about the electrum. Whether he has obeyed me, I’m not sure. With all the airs they are putting on. I doubt it. I’m sorry I raised a dishonorable dragon that can not even keep your confidence when you are already injured and scared and vulnerable.’ He offered.

‘So what will your caretaker family want from me?’ You asked.

‘Every scrap of electrum you could ever turn. Both for their jewelry and to sell to everyone else. They would want your benar as jewels to sell the the royalty here. They would want to keep you in the same comfortable cage they practically keep me in.’ He admitted.

‘And if I don’t give them that?’ You asked.

‘It would not surprise me if they will turn you over to the authorities for a reward, which if they did that, I can leave this clutch with Halina, I will fly you back home myself before they could do that.’ He offered you.

‘But I don’t want anyone here to think I only came to get the moura dragons and take them by force. And I do not want to make trouble for you, or your mate or any other child you have. Children are the future. You know that as well as I do.’ You urged him.

‘Yes, that is true.’ He had to admit.

‘Then can I trade blessings with you? A moura lullaby to help your clutch connect with you and your mate the way they connect us with our families?’ You offered.

‘I would love that. But what can I bless you with in return? Please, tell me how I can help.’ He requested.

‘Help me put a guard around my mind so that no dragon will be able to see or tell anything I don’t want them to see so they can’t tell anyone else.’ You requested.

‘Of course. All that and more.’ He readily offered before he gently let you down back onto the barn floor before blowing a special cloud of smoke around you as you felt more safe and secure in your own skin and in your own abilities to get out of here if need be.

“Thank you my friend.” You thanked him as you kissed his snout sweetly as he nuzzled you gently before he hugged you with his wing which got you to giggle as you finally let your wings out to fully hug him back before you pulled them back in and turned to his eggs and reached under the very pretty and extravagant nest quilt to touch them and sang the same lullaby, this time, making sure the tendrils stayed under the quilt and didn’t lift it but still wrapped around both Halina and Aeleo and their eggs to help them feel closer as a family.

You let Halina see what you were showing the rest of her family. Halina was brought to tears to see that while you came from a very humble family, you were rich in every way that her own caretaker’s family was poor. Which was in their interpersonal relationships which always seemed to be transactional and not really that genuine, which was why she loved Aeleo. Who loved her, not for her pretty scales. Or her rich caretakers. But just for her and would be happy with her here or anywhere else in the world as she readily agreed that if her caretakers turned on you, she was moving to the colonies with this entire clutch once they hatched. Because she too understood what it was like to be seen as property and not a person in her own right, even though she previously was afraid to leave because she doubted she would get the same support anywhere else than where she was. But now, she understood it. There was more to life than big fancy barns and all the food you could ever want to eat. There was family, there was a sense of belonging and there was not a sense of obligation but a sense of actually wanting to help one another because you really, genuinely loved them. No ulterior motives. No veiled threats or punishments. No timelines and deadlines. No ‘do this or else’. Just pure acceptance as perfectly imperfect as you were and moving at your own pace with very little being planned but taking life as you wanted it. With as many days ‘off’ as you wanted.

The song ended and you withdrew your moura mark tendrils, happy that the dragonets were happily sleeping in their nest before Halina pulled you close into her chest and hugged you as tight as she dared.

‘Thank you so much for that precious and priceless gift. I too will help you get home if it’s the last thing I do. Even if I have to call your home mine too.’ She offered.

‘You and your family would always be welecome.’ You offered her, appreciating the new gift of having truly private conversations with her and only her.

‘I know it. That’s why we would come, as soon as they could learn to fly.’ She offered.

‘Then don’t say anything, I doubt they’d be happy to let you go. You are investment to them. And I doubt your caretakers are used to seeing anything they’ve invested in- not make a return.’ You offered as you pet her pretty scales.

‘We are here by choice. Not by force. And they haven’t learned the one thing all dragon owners should know.’ She insisted.

��Which is what?’ You asked.

‘Never build with non fire resistant materials.’ She beamed.

‘Well whatever you decide to do. Please don’t give them a reason to come after you and your family or me and mine.’ You pleaded.

‘No, I’d take lead them to Dorierra. Let those smug bastards spend the next millenia in ‘negotiations’.’ She chuckled as you snickered a laugh.

“What so funny?” Nahlo asked.

“Private joke between mouras and dragons, it would take longer to explain why it’s funny than it’s worth.” You waived off.

“It was a pleasure to meet all of you. But I’m afraid I’m getting very, very tired and I wish to sleep in the bed that Nahlo’s family has prepared for me in their home.” You insisted to your hosts for the evening and got out of there before they could put up too much of a protest as Nahlo and his family were so happy and grateful you gave them a reason to leave as you even agreed to ride in a vehicle to keep from “falling off” Sephat on the flight home.

“Ok, if all of them are going to be like that. I don’t want to do any more.” You admitted once you were in the safe confines of the car with Undilla and Sefahti which got them to giggle.

“Us either.” Sefahti admitted before they drove home and you had Sephat take to the skies with Thyla so he would get back to the house so he wouldn’t have to run alongside the vehicle or fly over it as it traversed the many streets between the two.

Once back at the house though. It was a delight to "dress down" and play a game before it was really bed time, something with cards and chips, like it was gambling but not actually gambling. But it was really fun.

“Thank you for giving me the worst cards of the deck. Truly I’m honored to have them.” You offered to Nahlo as he dealt the first hand after doing a "practice" game where everyone showed their cards and what to look for and what to avoid before you seemed to try to catch on before you played "for real" this time. But your comment prompted him to try to switch hands with himself before he would even see them.

“I’m kidding. No, keep your cards, there is nothing wrong with trying to play the hand you’re dealt. No matter how awful it is.” You reassured him.

“Well no one would be more of an expert on that than you.” He returned, although his tone was gentle in it’s teasing nature.

“Thanks.” You laughed.

“That’s the nicest sympathy without pity I’ve gotten for my unlucky streak that’s been hounding me for the last two years straight. Thanks. I really appreciate it.” You grinned as you organized the cards in your and by the symbols on the cards, thanks to Thyla helping you get them organized by what they were and how to do so.

“What do you mean - unlucky streak? You’re here, you’re alive, you’re as safe and sound as you could be.” Undilla tried to comfort you.

“True.” You had to nod in agreement.

“But for curiosity’s sake, how do you see yourself as unlucky?” He asked.

“Oh gee, where do I start?” You began with a laugh.

“Wherever you want to.” He started.

“Well to start off with. My first solstice flight was spent doing every flying trick and aerial acrobatic stunt I knew of. To the point I tired myself out so bad during my first flight, I lost weight just trying to get back to the host colony and I had to sleep in the sun for three days just to recuperate and then once I woke up, I had to practically eat my own body weight in food. And I barely had time to get back home and get ready for the equinox flight. Which took a little longer than an hour for me because I was anxious to get through so I was the first to try to fly through, before everything was fully into alignment and I nearly collided with the core which is molten magma and I got very close to losing my life over it." You began which earned several grimaces and winces.

"Yeah, and any reasonable person would think that after that brush with death it would have taught me to be a little wiser with my actions. But did it? No, instead it filled me with overconfidence. And for the summer solstice flight I spent the first half doing the same gods damn things I did in the first, which was to fly like a chicken with my head cut off, just doing every stunt I knew of and had learned and I learned quite a few from the new ones who came onto that flight with me, and they were just as immature as I was. I spent the entire time in Doreirra, not resting but expending even more energy in a fighting championship." You continued.

"Did you win anything?" Undilla asked hopefully.

"I did. I won my entire class and then I won the division championship. I got a trophy for it, and a special gift and everything." You answered.

"So how is that a bad thing?" Undilla posed.

"Because winning that championship- cost me everything. It cost me every chance I had at finding a mate. It cost me friends. It cost me the respect and bonds of friendship from my peers. To the point that the only ones who would even just fly with me were related to me by blood. And they in turn, lost prospects of their own for choosing to stay friends and family with me than embrace any new family they might have had if they hadn’t. So when I got back, once again, it was another three days of sleeping and eating and resting because I lost even more weight on that flight than I did the first which only made me look even younger and more immature than I already was.” You explained with an irritated scowl.

“And then on the fall equinox flight, I was the one who actually helped the newbies not collide with the core. By flying just above it in my mega phoenix form, my wings being the only barrier many of the other younger mouras had between themselves and being burned up in the core. So I spent most of that flight just guarding the others on the flight. And you would have thought others would have appreciated it. But instead I was looked at like I was an old maid and I was treated as if I was my mother’s age and once again- every chance I had of finding a mate was obliterated because I wasn’t the “young and fun” type, but the “old mother hen” type.” You continued.

“And then of course the last and most disastrous of all, the final winter solstice flight, I spent all alone. On the edge of a V. Still never approached, never befriended. Nothing. So I’m either too stupid and immature for the wise, too old and matronly for the young, too strong for any other male who just happens to be weaker in physical strength than myself, too skinny to be healthy, too busy showing off to be discreet. Too panicky to be calm. Too everything wrong to ever be right about anything or right for anyone else.” You waved off with a heavy sigh.

“And then I have my non moura family telling me that I just must be a late bloomer and should probably wait until I’m at least 30 before trying this again. But the problem is, is by then, most of my peers will have been parents and have 10 year olds of their own by then and I’m not exactly too keen on picking through any newly divorced. Nor any old bachelor who has yet to fly his own mother’s coop to go and strike out on his own and have some sense, any sense of independence or self sufficiency or self reliance or whose own sense of masculinity is too threatened by my own sense of self.” You explained as you simply followed what Nahlo was doing as far as betting went.

Then you exchanged a card that Thyla told you to before you seemed to get another and she insisted that you needed to keep what you had and not take any more cards or give any away because with just that one card, everything came together but not to let on that you got a good hand.

“Well that means that your mate must be extra special.” Undilla soothed.

“And that is what every single person in my family has told me every single day since the fall equinox. Every. Single. One. But they add a huge helping of pity and patronizing with it. But thanks. That many people saying so means it should be true.” You smiled before Undilla simply set down his hand to show his cards before, like dominoes, everyone did, calling out what they had before you turned to Thyla to make sure you would say this correctly.

“Something about a flush? Flush or blush?” You mentioned as you put the cards down and everyone all groaned, cheered and crooned. Nahlo doing the majority of the cheering though as he gave you a high five.

“It’s a flush. You got a flush.” Nahlo specified as he helped shoved the chips into your area as you began to pick them up and stack them up.

“Flush. Like a toilet?” You asked.

“Yeah, same word, different meaning though.” Nahlo countered.

“Well it looks like it means the same, it flushed everyone chips into my area.” You noted with a barely contained shit eating grin which got everyone to burst out laughing.

“And flush like blush, because now all of you are doing that too. So flush.” You pointed out which only got them to laugh even harder.

“Yeah, I think she’s figured how to fit in just fine around here.” Undilla beamed proudly as he reached out and pat your back.

“Aww, thank you Papa.” You thanked him sweetly before he cupped your cheek then pinched your nose which got you to laugh.

“Now you get to flush.” Undilla said as you blushed prettily before you passed gas.

“No, I’m good.” You as they all practically fell out of their chairs while Undilla started laughing so hard he farted too which his farts smelled downright awful before everyone started to evacuate the area.

“You guys are nasty.” Manidore waived off as he tried not to gag again and just walked off.

“This was fun. Thank you for showing me the game.” You offered as everyone was in the process of leaving the table and ending the game to go to bed.

But now, as much as you wanted sleep, your body was still quite hungry for sunshine before some moon beams came in through the window and your wings automatically moved to try to catch them.

“Really? Moonbeams?” You muttered to your wings before you grabbed the pillow and the blanket and slipped out of the window to fly up the roof to the dragon barn where you could lay on your stomach and fully stretch out your wings to capture every moonbeam as that hunger finally seemed to get filled. But honestly, you were too tired to care as to why your body now craved moonlight. You were just happy to finally get that hunger sated as you laid out over the actual skylight which was made out of a particular substance that was clear like glass, but wasn’t, actually glass.

‘They call it plastic or plexi glass, clear like glass, but much more durable and less prone to break.’ Jenya supplied seepily under you.

“Thank you. Goodnight Jenya.” You thanked her as you were happy to wrap the blanket around you, leaving only your head and wings open as your wings naturally laid over the whole skylight so that as the moon traveled over the night sky, it would catch it all night long and feed you while you slept before Sephat and then all the others flew to the roof to take up a side all around you so that you wouldn't fall off of the barn in your sleep. As you felt much better, being surrounded by dragons, with your wings over them like large solar pannels. And with all of them so close, it was the skinship your body craved and the warmth your soul needed to finally get some good and truly restive sleep.

#Monster March 2024 #Monster March 2024 Day 25 Harpy /Moura #Moonlight Moura Part 5 #Moonlight Moura #Moura

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