Elegant

02/23/19 From Decaffeinated for 250 words
Old Writer's Hatchery
Named Elegant
Exalt Breeder

- coloration should qualify him as a fossil dragon https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/drs/2378187/80






Elegant was napping under a large leafy tree, or at least he was pretending to. Dream dezidens didn’t actually sleep, but it was a fairly slow day in their fragment of Dusk and he didn't have anything else to do.

“I can’t believe there wasn’t even a single person who dreamed of an outdoor tea party today!” Dapper shouted into the abyss beyond their fragment’s edge.

A rare occurrence, but Elegant agreed with his brother. Had the world changed so much that entertaining guests with tea wasn’t something done anymore? “Maybe we should apply for a different snare?”

“All the good ones we know about were taken eons ago."

It's true that most of their knowledge was dated and without guests they couldn't learn about current snare-worthy trends. “Maybe we should ask to join one of those conglomerates? There should be one for parties.” Elegant had heard that more of the smaller fragments had been grouping up to survive.

Dapper exhaled loudly. "It's too risky! We've been over this."

“If we don’t receive any guests soon, then all of this will revert back to nothing!” Elegant really didn’t want to lose the tree; it was his prized creation. Back when they were in their prime, he visited all the Dusk fragments that specialized in trees and created a branch from all of his favorites. Then he conjured up something similar to a very thick birch trunk and fused all the branches to it. The fragment’s edge was receding a bit closer each day no guests appeared and soon his tree would be at risk.

“At that point we'd be better off joining a large fragment. Honestly we don’t really have much to lose unless you’re concerned about that... frankentree.” Dapper’s nose lifted ever so slightly skyward as he turned to look at the tree.

Before Elegant could retort, a space next to their tea table began to shimmer. Someone was materializing at last!

“It’s show time!” Dapper gleefully rushed to the table and began flipping up the teacups. “I do hope this one is interested in intelligent conversation; I’ve become dull with only you around.”

“Take care not to insult this one.” Elegant moved to the table as well and stood beside Dapper.





The materialization was taking much longer than usual. Elegant also noticed that the rest of the area wasn’t getting energized. The last guest restored a couple inches to their shrinking fragment, but the only thing this guest did was cause their entrance point to blur. “This is a bit unnatural…”

As if speaking hastened the process, a woman appeared with an audible POP.

Dapper bowed. “Greetings, M’lady. We’re so glad that you’re...hair! What is wrong with your hair?!”

Elegant stared in horror at the woman’s familiar writhing tendrils of hair. “Snake Lady,” he whispered without meaning to. She looked older now, but there was no mistaking her distinct hair.

“Snake Lady, now that’s nostalgic.” Her laughter was like shattering glass. “It’s been quite awhile since we first met; I go by Medusa now.”

“Of course!” A chair hadn’t materialized for Medusa, so Dapper pulled his over for her to sit. “Tea?”

“I doubt it.” Medusa gestured to the cup without sitting, “but you can try.”

Elegant picked up the teapot, but it felt way too light. He peered inside. “It’s empty.” This was the first time tea had failed to appear for a guest.

Medusa laughed again. “Don’t worry about it boys, I’m not here by natural means.” She walked over to the edge of the fragment. “And judging by how small this fragment has gotten, not many people are.” She continued walking along the perimeter.

Elegant and Dapper nervously walked several paces behind her.

“That huge garden use to be over this way… it was truly splendid. You’ve lost so much.” She turned suddenly, “but I am here to help - for the right price!”

“Even if you could help, we have nothing to pay with.” Dapper boldly stated what was obvious.

“Sure you do! Everybody has at least one thing of value.” Medusa came over and stood a few inches away.

Elegant did his best not to stare at her hair.

“Your. True. Names.”

“Never!” Dapper jumped away, as if she could discern his name just by being close to him.

“Why?” Elegant wasn’t surprised, witches were notorious for dealing in names.

“I’m working on several projects that involve dreams; having a consistent dream fragment I can use to test spells out in is ideal. The issue, and most likely the reason for your lack of guests, is the dreamscape directory isn’t functioning right. I ended up at at least a dozen different tea parties before arriving here at my intended destination.”

“But what’s that have to do with our names?” Dapper asked, eyeing her warily.

“Without a directory, I can’t send guests to you through the usual keywords outdoor tea party. With your names, I CAN send guests directly to you.”

“You aren’t giving off any energy. If more arrive unnaturally like you, would it even help?” Dapper continued to keep his distance.

“I’m not asleep. The ones who I’ll send will be.” Medusa walked back to the spot she arrive from, the air in the area was still shimmering. “Time’s almost up.”

“Gaelten.” Elegant was tired of barely existing.

“Pradep.”

“Excellent.” Medusa’s form started to shimmer. “It's rebranding time.”

Before either brother could ask what she meant by that, Medusa was gone.
- by Riyoku