Harvey

Tiny paws scampered through the sands, teal eyes drifting up the crags. Ears perked forward, their owner dropping the scraggly bundle of twigs she had gathered, as she endeavoured to scramble up the storm-weathered surface.
Violet eyes turned to watch her, a bemused smile sitting upon a furry face.
“What brings you here, little one?” the drake queried, softly laughing as the little hatchling flopped onto the rock, scrabbling with her hind legs adorably.
“You’re pretty” she states simply, perching next to the Tundra attentively.
“Am I now?” he joked, shifting back a step.
“Uh huh. You’re way different from the rest of the clan. We’re just a lot of greys and it’s soooo bland”
“You have bright blue wings” he pointed out.
“It’s an accent” she counters, “Most of me is grey tones, all of the clan is like that”
“And you think I’m pretty, different”
The hatchling goes to speak, then giggles, “Yeah, you’re pretty, funny”
“I try” they both laugh.
“So…” she began “what brings you here?”
“I’m looking for someone”
“Who?”
“A very special someone”
“Like a sig-nif-i-cant other?”
“Yes, I suppose so”
“Have you found them yet?”
“I note your use of ‘them’”
“What’s wrong with two guys or gals being together?”
“Nothing at all” he seemed taken aback, “I’m just surprised someone so young is so open-minded. My old clan mates were a bit stuffy”
“So, have you found them?”
He shook his head softly, “No, not yet”
“Ooh! Maybe I can help you look?” she stood suddenly, her own fluffy tail wagging swiftly, eyes sparkling with excitement.
The Tundra smiled again, a quiet chuckle escaping him. “If it’s okay with your parents” he informed, “I’d rather not be accused of kidnapping”
“Not a good thing to have on a resume” she agreed, causing them both to laugh.

~~~Divider~~~

A nose twitched, ears perking up, turning to whence the scent came from. A gasp is the only warning given.
“Harvey!” Kaz’s shriek of delight made everyone jump, but she bounded into the tree line before they could question her.
Cloudrunner chuckled from where she basked, one green eye half-lidded and watching.
“Wonder if they’ve figured it out yet” she mused, prompting a query from those near her. “Oh I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise” she purred connivingly.

Meanwhile, the ever excitable Kaz was barrelling through the forest, making a beeline for the dark green mass of fluff padding his way in her general direction.
His violet eyes widened as she approached.
“Harvey!” the sort-of Pearlcatcher squealed, burying herself in the Tundra’s fluffy mane.
He grunted from the impact, “Oof, hello Kaz” he chuckled, patting her back in acknowledgment. “Some days I wonder if Cloudrunner is merely running after you, rather than seeking out evil”
“She’s probably doing both” was her cheerily chirped answer, then her ears flicked back, “Also sorry”
“It’s okay. You’re excitable and easily distracted, but that’s simply a piece of the puzzle that is you”
“Daww you cheesy dork, your soulmate’s gonna have a riot with you if this is all you do”
Harvey merely grinned. But whether sheepishly or cheekily, Kaz did not notice, she was already zooming onto the next part of her questions.
“Speaking of,” she began, “we’ve been looking for years, did you find your soulmate in the three days since I was lured away by something shiny?”
The Tundra adopted a thoughtful look.
“Hmm… actually, I do believe I have”
“Really?!” Kaz squealed, cyan eyes a-sparkle, “Who are they? Where’d you meet them? Do I know them? Can I meet them?”
“Okay, okay, slow down there Sparky. I can certainly take you to meet them. Come come” he beckoned, slinking further into the woods.
“I can’t wait to meet them!” she skipped after him “I… I just hope they don’t get too overwhelmed by me”
Harvey glanced at her with a smile, “We’ll have to see, won’t we?”

They treaded forth in quiet companionship, the furled leaves of the Starwood rustling around them. Soon, the melodious whisper of a stream became audible to the Lightning dragon, and they emerged onto the bank.
“She’s down there” Harvey gestured to the stream, accurately predicting that Kaz would investigate.
“There’s a fish down there” she stated, “Your soulmate’s a fish?” she asked in disbelief.
Harvey laughed. “No, not a fish” he assured her.
“Well, I can’t see anyone. Did they swim off or something?”
The Tundra peered into the water. “No~ I don’t think she has”
“I still can’t see anyone, Harv”
“I can see her~”
“There’s nothing but water and reflections!” throwing her arms in the air, Kaz suddenly paused. She scrutinized the water more closely, before observing her travel companion in the reflection. The decidedly mischievous Tundra was smirking. Definitely smirking. And looking at her looking at him. He flicked an ear.
She narrowed her eyes.
“So you can see your soulmate”
“Yup”
“She’s currently in the river”
“Yeup”
“All I can see are our reflections”
“Also some fish”
“But she’s not a fish”
“Nope”
She turned to the not reflection Harvey. “Am I just being dense?”
The Tundra just laughed, leaning over to nuzzle her with an affectionate purr.
“You are often oblivious to the non-literal, yes” he was still purring, “But that just lets you find the more interesting pathways to your goals”
Kaz’s ear flicked. “This soulmate of yours” she began with a sly smile, “would you describe her as, quirky?”
“Undoubtedly”
“Energetic?”
“Uncatchable”
“Playful?”
“With a hatchling-like demeanour”
“Oblivious?”
“Not necessarily. Just a little slower to catch on”
“You know, I might have lied. I did see someone in the stream”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I’m looking at him, right now”
“Am I allowed to respond in kind?”
“You started it, Harv”
“What can I say? I am a Shadow dragon”
“And you needn’t have looked far for your soulmate”
“I couldn’t get rid of her for long, even if I tried”
“Is it Cloudrunner?”
“Wha?” he burst into laughter, “Tis you you hyperactive dork”
“I knew that” she grinned, nuzzling him back. “Eventually~”


“Fiiinnnally” the Gaoler yawned, lying back down to sleep. Finally the days of two oblivious travel companions were over.
“Finally what?” a nearby dragon asked, prompting her to open one eye lazily.
“Oh~ I don’t feel like breaking old habits”