Orcus

Weird dude that claims he communicates with aliens (no one believes him). Mate to Alice


Night had fallen in the desert, the sand that stretched out endlessly reflecting the glow of the moon and stars. No creatures stirred and not a sound could be heard. Even the surface of the sand itself was perfectly smooth, like glass. A deep silence reigned.

Suddenly, a brilliant pillar of blue-white light descended at the very top of a sand dune, sending sand flying in all directions where it touched the ground, like some gigantic hammer. Two creatures were expelled from its center, tossed with the sand. They hit the top of the dune hard, the force sending them both rolling over the side. Their bodies came to a stop at the bottom of the dune, just in time for the mysterious pillar of light to vanish entirely, leaving a strange marking in the sand at its base.

Both creatures lay motionless for hours. They looked dead apart from the gentle rise and fall of their chests signifying that life still remained within. Their forms were unlike any Sorneith had ever seen, nearly impossible to describe. Eventually, one of the creatures stirred. It rose to its full height and surveyed the landscape, finally sensing the creature next to it and rushing to its side. A few words in an alien tongue were murmured and the second creature rose too, likewise sensing its environment eagerly.

Then, in a sudden flash of the same blue-white light, both creatures transformed into something that every dragon on Sorneith would recognize: Gaolers. The being that had risen first had snow-white fur with light grey accents which she ruffled experimentally, testing out her new appearance. Her companion did the same, inspecting the shards projecting along his shoulders and hindquarters. His fur was a glossy, dark grey, and when he shook his mane, it caught the moonlight, sending it glinting in all directions.

“Curious,” he spoke, watching the reflected light dance on the sand around him.

“Indeed,” the female responded, lifting a paw and flexing her claws experimentally. “We seem to be speaking their language as well.”

The male nodded in affirmation. “But… where are we?”

The female sniffed the air tentatively, eyes scanning in all directions and finding only sand. “I can’t be sure, but according to our research, this is most definitely NOT the Southern Icefields.”

“Unfortunate, given our chosen disguises.”

“Indeed.”

Both Gaolers appeared to be lost in thought. The female dug her claws into the sand, frowning at how difficult it was to find purchase.

“We need to find shelter before dawn,” she announced, taking her eyes off her paws to look up at the gigantic dune looming above them. “From the apex, we should be able to find our way.”

The male nodded, following his companion’s lead as she began ascending the dune. It was no easy task, especially with bodies ill-equipped for the desert, and the moon had already begun its descent in the sky by the time they reached the top.

The female gazed down at the strange marking in the sand, her brow furrowed. “It appears our calculations were off. Perhaps the variable for time distortion wasn’t calibrated correctly…”

The snow-white female began muttering about equations and probabilities while the male scanned the horizon for a potential escape from the sun that was soon to rise. He found none.

“We need to destroy the evidence,” he announced, interrupting his companion’s monologue. “And preferably a way out of here.”

The female Gaoler finally brought her attention to the landscape, searching the horizon and likewise finding nothing but endless desert in all directions.

“I suppose we pick a direction and start walking,” she sighed, clearly annoyed at their predicament.

“Indeed,” the male responded bitterly. “But first--” He swept his tail over the strange markings in the sand, erasing them entirely. “We should start using our Sorneithian names, to practice, in case we come across other dragons.”

The female nodded. “Ok Orcus. According to my calculations, we should head south.”

“Very well, Alice. I assume by calculations you mean your best and therefore completely random guess?”

Alice nodded again. “Come on Orcus, let’s start walking.”


The pair walked for the rest of the night, burying themselves in sand to protect them from the daytime heat. It was still excruciating. They made it three days before collapsing from the heat and lack of food or water. And that was where Ignatious found them. The kind-hearted Gaoler carried them to a nearby oasis and served as their protector until the pair had fully recovered. Given his generosity, the fact that they had absolutely no idea where they were, and to learn more about life on Sorneith, Alice and Orcus elected to remain with Ignatious’ clan for the time being. Only time would tell just how much they would learn...