Rufus

Rufus The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion. ~ Albet Camus It's amazing how much and yet how little that a child can understand. They can be incredibly clever and perceptive, but it often takes times for them to fully realize the magnitude of what they witnessed in their youth. Even the most clever can be caught off guard years later. Rufus was one such child. He was born in a small but flourishing clan in the Shifting Expanse, where he enjoyed a simple and happy childhood. Like most lightning dragons, his parents promoted ideals of industry and work ethic. He was raised to obey authority, do his chores, and respect the value of a hard day's work. At the same time, his parents also encouraged him to be inventive and expressive, and they fostered his sense of curiosity. He soon developed an interest in engineering, much to the excitement of his parents. They were quite proud of their little scientist. Not everything was perfect, of course. Rufus was joyful and eager to please, but as he aged, he became a little difficult to manage. He was a free spirit, and as much energy and enthusiasm as he had to give, he preferred to focus it on the things that interested him most, and little else. He never quite outgrew the romping play that young hatchlings enjoyed, even when he grew to an age where he was expected to play less and work more. When he did work, he only wanted to work on his pet projects, and he developed a playful but ultimately dismissive attitude towards everything else. He didn't care about channeling storms or developing new machinery. He was interested in only one thing: flight. From his home in the Shifting Expanse, he could see the very tips of the spiraling reaches of the Windswept Plateau. Rufus himself was not a strong flier, but he did have a strong desire for adventure. As a child, he daydreamed about one day visiting the Plateau, only to slowly realize that it was out of his grasp. He simply could not hope to navigate the vicious winds. His wings would fail him. And so, his pet project was born: he would devise a craft which could carry him there. He'd seen wind dragons trailing their beloved kites and balloons after him, giving him the idea to construct a balloon which would be large and sturdy enough to carry a dragon. He was still young, though. Too young to build such a device. Instead, he started small. He did crude sketches, followed by the first of an entire series of tiny models. Eventually, he constructed a miniature prototype which he excitedly showed to his peers. Some were amused, and a few were even impressed, but none seemed particularly interested in his creation. Why would a dragon create something to help them fly? They could already fly! And wind clans already had plenty of balloons. It's unique intended function wasn't enough to earn any sort of respect, because to Rufus' clanmates, it was nothing special. It was a redundant invention. "Besides," some of them said, "we build weapons here." Still young, Rufus was crushed by the harsh criticism, but his cheery nature kept him going. He never allowed himself to stay sad for long. His natural optimism took over, and he returned to work. He made a couple more advanced prototypes, but he kept the original anyhow, as a sort of inspirational piece. Seeing it floating at his side reminded him that he couldn't give up. It became his symbol of hope, and he kept it with him at all times. One day, all of his daydreaming and careful planning came to a sudden stop. It was a warm afternoon, and the wind was blowing unseasonably hard. Rufus was sitting on his favorite little ledge, going over his still-crude schematics and occasionally glancing towards the Plateau, seeking inspiration. Beside him stood a mostly-complete balloon, or at least his first attempt at one, tied firmly to a post. He hoped it would soon work. Suddenly, he was distracted by loud sound coming from the direction of his clan's lair. He wasn't too worried at first, but what began as muffled raised voices soon became an increasingly loud and terrifying din. Worried, he started to nervously walk towards it. He would have run, or perhaps even flown, but part of him was scared. As he drew nearer, he heard the most terrible screeching sounds. He'd never heard such noises before. Before he could get close, he was greeted by his breathless father. "Run," he said, eyes wide and wild with fear. "Go, son. You have to go, now!" What followed was a haze of panic. Rufus' father ushered him back to his favorite ledge, where the balloon still waited. Without a word, Rufus' father pushed him into the balloon's basket, then plucked the prototype from it's resting place and deftly tied its string around Rufus' leg. "You have to go, now. Don't look back," Rufus' father said, still panting, still half-frozen with fear. "I'll follow you. I'll find you. But I have to go back now. Your mother...." Then, he untied the large balloon and he pushed it, sending his beloved little engineer floating away into the sky. Rufus was confused. He thought that maybe his father had decided to reject him for his eccentricities, or that he'd been exiled by the clan leader. When his parents never came to him, Rufus assumed the worst and began his life as a wanderer. It suited his free spirit well, but he always kept that first prototype balloon at his side, even repairing it when it became worn or damaged. It was a symbol of his hope, and it was his only memory of home. Eventually, he began to doubt his original assumptions about his departure. An adult Rufus thought about the subtle panic in his father's voice, and the tone of the cries he'd heard echoing over the expanse. Most importantly, he thought about his father's words, about how he was going back to find his mother. Then, he thought about the screeches. It was a sound that he didn't know at the time, but he'd come to know it well. Harpies. Now he understands why his clan made weapons.

Rufus is the airy type. Not in the sense that his head is in the clouds, but Rufus’ natural state is that of happiness. The other dragons liken him to his precious balloon; always floating, always light, and always barely tethered to the earth. His demeanor can often get him into trouble, such as his encounter with a black wolf in the forest, but he always seems to come out without a scratch. In fact, his blind trust most often works in his favor, and the most violent and aggressive creatures become calm in his presence.

The only thing that can wane Rufus’ smile is inquiring about his home. No one knows where he came from; he simply appeared in the lair one day. Mentioning this event to him seems to darken his complexion, but he quickly changes the subject before it can be questioned.

His joy immediately caught the attention of Sono, as the two personalities melded well. Redghost, on the other hand, was not so quick to accept the small pearlcatcher, but as all creatures inevitably do, he succumbed to Rufus’ charms. The mates took him on as a life partner, and they have been inseparable ever since.



“Land-ho!”

The call came from high above the Sea of a Thousand Currents, from what appeared to be a hot-air balloon, too small to hold any dragon but a Fae or Nocturne. Curiously, it was distinctively the cry of a Pearlcatcher’s, signalled by a great, rumbling voice and the slight purr beneath the words.

A closer inspection revealed a crimson-and-white dragon with a balloon tethered to their ankle flying through the sky, approaching the shore of an island. The balloon had, at first, hidden the dragon’s underbelly from sight. Only a shift in the air as the dragon began his descent showed the truth.

As the Pearlcatcher began to land, he drew his balloon closer to protect it from any sudden winds. It was clear the balloon was important enough to protect; inside the balloon’s basket lay a gleaming silver pearl. Perhaps this was the reason for such care given to the craftwork. The dragon landed, albeit clumsily, on the sun-warmed sand. He placed his balloon delicately beside a rock, where it was sheltered, and he turned to face the land. The dragon did not seem to be rushed, and instead of moving to explore this land, he settled onto his belly with his forepaws tucked beneath him. He closed his eyes, hoping to rest for a bit before returning to the skies.

~

“You can’t catch me!” Sono said, laughing lightly. She flitted through the shallows easily, kicking out behind her with strong legs. Beams of sunlight slipped through the water, reflecting off her scales and the pearl clutched in a fold of scales under her neck.

Her mate laughed behind her, a deep rumble that echoed oddly in the sea. “Just you wait and see,” Redghost called from behind her. It was his day off, and he was enjoying himself. Before they had begun their day, he had ensured they chose a safe spot away from known predators and enemies: He would not put Sono in danger again after the last hunting disaster. The thought made his stomach clench in fear.

But for today they were safe.

The two swam in circles, he chasing her until suddenly she turned and snarled mockingly. His fins flared in faux-fear and he turned quickly in the water, so she could chase him. They played like this for a while, until they both slowed and glanced at each other. With silent communication, they knew it was time for a rest.

Sono nodded towards where the sandy banks of an island sloped up from the depths of the ocean. “How about there?”

The crimson-and-white Guardian nodded, turning to lead the way. As they left the Sea, they felt the weightlessness of being underwater drain from their body with each droplet rolling over their scales. The great dragons fell to the sand with a small chuckle, squishing the ground beneath their feet and feeling each individual grain roll between their claws. Despite the Sea being their home, it was always refreshing to step on land. Not for too long, though. When their scales began to dry out, they knew it was time to return.

For now, there was still time to enjoy on the island.

Sono spun around with a carefree, wordless cry. The sun glittered like a bright gem in the clear sky, and there was a light, salty breeze coming off the Sea. The waves crashed around the two dragons, playfully tinkling at their tails. The two trudged up to drier sand, where Sono was about to settle down. Redghost scanned the area, ensuring all was well. Suddenly, a shadow on the far side of the beach caught his attention and he froze, his tail stiffening.

“Someone’s there,” he said, his voice a hushed whisper beneath the echo of the rolling waves.

Sono stretched forward, standing on her hind legs to peer at what her mate had seen. There was a pile of scales on the beach, gleaming red and white, with pale green mist marking the dragon’s flank. A hot-air balloon rested nearby, the mark of a Wind-born. It was immediately that Sono realized this dragon shared colours with her and Redghost. She glanced at the Guardian and angled her ears forward to the stranger.

“Look at him!”

“Yes, I saw him already,” Redghost muttered, shaking out his beard.

“No,” Sono said patiently. “Look. He looks like us!”

Redghost blinked a few times, his expression growing with intrigue. With a tilt of his head, he gestured for Sono to stay where she was. He would investigate. The Guardian made his way towards the sleeping dragon - a Pearlcatcher, he noted - slowing his approach as he neared. The dragon seemed to be asleep. Redghost paused, settling on his haunches. Should he wake the dragon? He was no threat asleep, but awake . . .

Before he could make up his mind, Sono’s shadow flitted over the sand. He glanced over and saw her descend from the skies. She had flown over to join him.

“I thought I said to stay there,” Redghost said, alarmed. What if this dragon was dangerous?

Sono snorted. “You said no such thing,” she pointed out. Her attention was soon on the other dragon. “Look, his pearl is sitting right in the basket.” She leaned forward, her whiskers quivering in excitement. She wanted to peer into it, see the dragons’ memories, well aware of how noisy she was. She hadn’t even met the dragon yet! But she knew she would never allow a stranger to look into her own pearl uninvited. She pulled back, restraining herself with a sigh.

Just then, the other Pearlcatcher’s eyes fluttered open. He met the blue gazes of Redghost and Sono with brilliant, wind-green eyes of his own. To Redghost’s relief and Sono’s curiousity, there was no hostility in the dragons’ expression.

“Greetings,” he said simply, drawing himself to his feet. He cast a quick glance over to his balloon, ensuring it was secure, before returning to face the two dragons before him. “Who are you?”

“I’m Redghost,” the Guardian offered. “This is Sono.”

“I’m Rufus.” He gave the two of them a toothy smile, his canines poking over his bottom lip. “This is a lovely island you have here.” He was friendly, charming, and he had, without realizing it, instantly won the attention and admiration of the two Water-Clan dragons.

To demonstrate, Sono reached forward to bump her nose against the Pearlcatchers’. “It’s not ours. We’re just visiting, too!”

Rufus looked around, perplexed. “Where are you from?” He should have guessed, and when Redghost waved his spiked tail towards the Sea behind them, Rufus chuckled. Of course. “So you’re from the Sea of a Thousand Currents!”

Sono grinned, and winked at him. On closer inspection, Rufus realized her eyes were a brighter blue, more electrifying. She elaborated, “Not born there myself, but Redghost was. We live there with our Clan!”

Rufus said nothing, seemingly deep in thought. A frown was creasing his brows, pulling at his maw. Sono felt as if she had said something wrong, but she stayed quiet - she was apt at healing physical wounds, not emotional ones. She wasn’t sure if she could help him, and she didn’t want to pry after just meeting the poor thing. Instead, she stepped forward to offer her side to the Wind dragon in support, her wings flaring above them both as a shield against the sun.

The Guardian spoke then, picking up on Rufus’ sudden change in mood. “If you need a place to rest for the time being . . .” He trailed off, letting the offer hang in the air between them.

Rufus looked up, his gaze snapping to meet the Guardian’s. Heart fluttering, he leaned forward with hope dancing in a chill along his spine. “Is that - do you mean it?”

Redghost squinted, feeling as if the sun had shifted to glare in his eyes. “Why wouldn’t I mean what I say?” he asked, hesitantly. Had he done something to unintentionally tease the Pearlcatcher? Then understanding hit him. Beside him, Sono straightened. He felt, without seeing, her lean to support him simultaneously along with the Pearlcatcher.

For a moment, the trio of red-and-whites stood in a circle, silent on their small island surrounded by the beating sun, the sound of waves and cawing of Talonok high above. It was here where their unspoken bond formed - it would only continue to strengthen over time.

After a long, powerful moment, one dragon shifted - and looking back on the day, nobody could recall who was the first to move. It didn’t seem to matter. After their moment of silence, Rufus broke out in a small smile, and Redghost returned it shyly. He cleared his throat and called to the Pearlcatcher, “Come along. We can show you our home.”

“Your home, too, if you’d like,” Sono added. “When you’re ready to call it that.” There was no ‘If’ about it, she knew.

Rufus nodded quietly, and turned to gather his belongings. He didn’t say it then, but he felt as if he was ready. He was ready to finally find a home, a Clan.

He was ready to settle down with his new family.