I'm Already There by Lonestar
I'm the whisper in the wind
I'm your imaginary friend

From TroubleinSevens' Pinkerlocke What Remains


Arlunge- young ice gaoler of the Seeker Order


Chilly- shadow hatchling spirit

"Them there's 'ghost eyes' if ever I saw 'em. You've got yourself a spectre followin' in your footsteps." The old pearlcatcher suddenly seemed to realize something, and squinted a bit at the dragon he was speaking to. "Just where did you say you're from again, young'un?"

"I have come from away- a far cry from this lovely city."

The pearlcatcher bobbed his head. "Eh, I 'spose the Southern Icefield would be quite the journey. But a big, strong, young tundra like yourself surely had no trouble makin' it here, eh?"

The dragon simply smiled at the elder. "Surely not."

The elderly pearlcatcher bobbed his head once more, almost looking to be nodding off. Suddenly, his ears pricked up, and he raised his head once more. "Ghost eyes are an old legend round these parts." He nodded sagely, and gazed around the quiet cobblestone streets of the city. "Sometimes an old dragon will pass on, leaving a loved one all alone. An industrious one may have a project that simply must be finished. Or perhaps a hatchling will die young- before they ever get a chance to live life. " Here his eyes seemed to pierce right through the other dragon, who slowly sank into a sitting position under the weight of his gaze. "In such cases, the spirit will not pass on to the care of the deities. Instead, it will seek out one who will care for and carry it- until such time as they feel complete and can move on peacefully." He absently stroked his pearl as he looked at the young dragon's eyes once more. The young dragon squirmed slightly under the elder's knowing look. "The eyes are the tell of such situations- they are the windows to the soul, after all. It is faint. A pale hint of the the spirit within; a tint of their own element over the living's natural color."

All the energy and fire seemed to leave the pearlcatcher at once. He curled up into a more comfortable position on his porch, and finally removed his gaze from the young dragon. "Most 'round these parts aren't of the superstitous sort, but you had best be careful what you go sayin' to who." He sleepily blinked open an eye, but his glance held no more weight to it. "Thank you for humoring an old drake." He yawned, and the young dragon took this as a dismssal. He stood up and started to pad away. "...the both of you. Take care."

Hearing the faint mumble, he turned to look over his shoulder, but the old dragon appeared to be asleep, napping in the sun on his porch. The young seeker shook his head, a faint smile on his face as he walked down the cobblestones.

A few months ago, he would never have believed such a myth.

I liked him. The thought flitted through the gaoler's head like a hummingbird zipping by. It felt like he was talking to me too.

Heh. That's because I'm pretty sure he was. At least, he suspected. Smart old codger.

Be nice! In response, the gaoler gave his head a rapid shake, as if a fly were buzzing around his ears. Whoaaa! You're making me dizzy! The gaoler chuckled, and faintly could sense the ever-present voice in his head pouting.

Ease up; you're too young to be scolding me.

You're young too, though!

Welp. Kid wasn't wrong. Now that the Seekers were reinstated, they had snapped up a lot of potential young gaolers to bolster their ranks, him among them. He had been snooping around the Tangled Wood when he had encountered an egg, alone in the mists. Investigating, he found that the hatchling inside must have been sickly- it appeared to have tried to hatch, with a few broken places, and only the tip of the snout poking out. But it hadn't made it. Must not have been strong enough for the world. Gently, he had dug a grave and picked it up, with the intent to bury the poor thing.

He had been halfway across the Sea of a Thousand Currents before he had realized that the egg hadn't been as abandoned as he thought. He had unknowingly picked up a hitch-hiker. There were worse things that he could be doing, though. Seeing the world through the eyes of a hatchling could be quite something.

Hey! Hey!! Look over there! I saw something cool!

He stifled a laugh as he focused on a stand of kites and pinwheels, feeling the rush of curiosity and wonder wash through. There were certainly worse fates than to share the world with a child. Especially one as joyous as this one.

Dawww, I love you too!