Trance

The Pearlcatcher paddled in lazy circles, his star-kissed skin shimmering in the afternoon sunlight in much the same way as the water in which he swam. He glanced back at the tail swishing slowly behind him, the tuft at its end swaying gracefully like seaweed. Looking beneath the clear lake water, he watched his diminutive front paws paddling frantically below, his muscles straining just to keep his large body afloat. He let out a sigh of frustration.

Not for the first time, Trance resented the fact he had been born a Pearlcatcher. Apparently, his father was a Skydancer. Even that would have been marginally better, although their aptitude for the water was perhaps no greater than that of a Pearlcatcher. No, the form he truly longed for, the physique he held in highest regard, was that of a Bogsneak.

A powerful tail that could propel him like a bullet through the water and massive webbed paws with which he could swim with ease. No useless plumes of mane or horns adorning his face. Long, slender wings, made of a thin water resistant membrane, rather than the stocky, bulky fans he struggled to tuck into his sides when diving. Sometimes he would close his eyes and envision himself as a Bogsneak, gliding and diving through the water with ease. It was a freeing feeling.

But, this was the body fate and genetics had given him, and he refused to give up his passion for being in the water because of it. Instead, he pushed passed his imperfections, learning how to manipulate his wings and tail to allow the best control when diving and relying on his strong back legs to supply most of his power in swimming. And really, he didn’t hate his outward appearance entirely. He rather admired the translucent hue of his wings, the way they blended with the deep blue of the lake so perfectly that when he pulled them beneath its surface, it looked as if he had no wings at all.

Some days Trance would simply swim in the lake for hours, losing himself to the gentle rhythm of the water, and letting the unpleasant realities of life slip away. Being a reserved dragon, he tended to prefer his own company for his daily swims. The water’s cool embrace would calm him, providing the opportunity for his muscles to stay in shape while letting his mind roam unhindered. It wasn’t that he disliked the company of other dragons, per se, but he needed time alone with his thoughts to stay sane.

This particular afternoon, his thoughts began to drift, as they often did, to one dragon in particular. Sunbeam. Like her name, the female was as beautiful as a ray of sunlight dancing across the water, more stunning than the loveliest sunset. She was a Bogsneak, which of course Trance admired, but really, she could’ve been a Ridgeback and Trance wouldn’t have thought any less of her. He had known Sunbeam for several years now, ever since he initially joined their clan, and the more time he spent with her, the more he learned about her, the more deeply he was drawn to her.

She knew all about his dissatisfaction with being born a Pearlcatcher, and oddly enough, unlike so many others, she didn’t condemn him for it, didn’t tell him not to preoccupy his mind with unattainable desires. Instead, she listened. Listened to his dreams, his fears, his insecurities. Whatever he told her, she would acknowledge, nodding her massive head and closing her stunning eyes as she took in whatever he told her.

Sometimes she would swim with him, but most of the time she would simply stretch out on the bank of the lake, letting the sun warm her reptilian skin, relaxing her muscles after a long day of hunting for the clan. She seemed so relaxed around him that Trance often wondered if she knew how deeply his affection for her ran. She was too intelligent not to, he told himself, and yet, she had never broached the topic with him. Trance was grateful that she hadn’t. The thought of complicating their friendship with the expectations or fears of a romantic attachment sent a sharp pang of anxiety through his chest. He much preferred the easy, natural companionship they shared now. They could be together for hours, neither saying a word, simply enjoying the physical presence of one another. But, if he ever felt the urge to speak, which wasn’t often, he knew she would always be there to listen without judgement. And he had long ago vowed to do the same for her.

Suddenly, a cool darkness passed over him, and Trance looked up to see the outline of a large Bogsneak circling high above, as if his thoughts had summoned her. As she descended closer to the lake’s surface, her shadow grew larger, her wings massive enough to block out the sun entirely. When she had come close enough that Trance could see the mischief glinting in her eyes, she tucked her wings and dove sharply, crashing violently through the water’s surface, and sending a gigantic wave in Trance’s direction, his legs paddling even more furiously than usual to stay afloat. He rolled his eyes at her when she finally surfaced next to him, feigning annoyance at her disruptive antics, but he failed, as he always did around her, to keep the soft smile from his lips.