Chapter 2 - A Strange Power

A small creature sits upon the branch of an extraordinarily unique and beautiful tree.

While very much alive in the throes of summer, this tree remains leafless, as though it exists without a concept of season and time. This tree is like no other in this forest. Its oak is a beautiful shade of white, blinding to the eye when the sun sets its rays upon it.

This creature sitting upon it is as old as the tree, an eternal companion to its ancient design.

This tree is creation. This tree is destruction.

This tree is order. This tree is chaos.

This tree is life. This tree is death.

But what is this creature?

==================================================================================

I awake with a start, trying to make sense of this strange dream…

Before I can ponder its meaning any further I realise something; I am encased in darkness…a living, breathing darkness.

I quickly realise Mother has wrapped me under her wing and; from the sound of her booming, steady breathing; is sleeping.

I stagger around in the dark and eventually come upon her soft hide, pressing my claws in. Gently scrapping them upon it as to not break her hide, but enough to be noticeable.

After a few moments, her loud, steady breathing ceases and her wing rises, revealing her large blood red eyes fixed upon me.

I stand on my weak legs and slowly approach her, reaching her snout. After getting a closer look at her, I examine her scales more thoroughly.

Although completely black and devoid of colour, they miraculously shine, reflecting the light to brighten her otherwise ominous appearance.

I lift my paw and gently touch them, revelling in the smooth hard touch.

After a few moments I hear her speak.

“%& *@# *%$# *[email protected]*@?”

She looked at me quizzically, as if expecting an answer.

I tilt my head in confusion upon hearing the strange words, unsure of what she said. This only elicits a small sigh and further mutterings that I cannot understand.

After a moments study she rises, dwarfing me in the process. She would have to be at least twelve times my size, muscle and power surrounding her enormous frame.

While staring in awe I let a thought echo throughout my mind, I wonder if I will grow so large?

As I’m left wondering about my future, Mother walks towards an enormous door, and without even a slight touch, it swings ajar in her presence. She looks back at me, jerking her head for me to follow.

I attempt to rise, but fail, letting out a weak cry of pain as my joints and muscles scream at the effort. Regardless of the pain, I still continue to try, failing numerous times as my mother patiently waits for me to merely rise.

After almost half an hour I finally manage to rise to my feet, staggering as my joints creak and muscles burn.

Are all dragon hatchlings so weak? I wonder.

I slowly approach Mother as I will my legs to work, panting at the effort. As I do so, she lowers her massive frame to the floor and unfolds one of her wings, inviting me to ride on her back.

I eventually reach her, but then struggle to climb the incline of her wing. Once I do manage to make it onto her back, I collapse, having finally reached my goal.

I let my tired body repair itself from the exertion, and drift off into sleep.

==================================================================================

I wake to two voices. One the musical, deep sound of my mother, containing deep growls as part of our language that I have yet come to understand. The other is strange and new, containing none of the feral, powerful notes that Mother used when she spoke to me in our chambers. This new voice has an edge of music, magic, and tranquillity to it. Soothing my still aching body with her every word.

I open my tired eyes and find that I am no longer on the rough back of my mother, but on a soft, large and white bed.

I look around to find both Mother and the source of this new, mystical voice.

As soon as my eyes lock on, I feel a strange magic surge in my body. I take in her features, she is a small creature, standing straight on two thin limbs. She has hair flowing to her lower back and strange fabric concealing her entire body, save for the other two limbs that sway by her side. From that of her hide that is visible, it appears to be smooth and strange, much unlike my own and Mothers. She also has two strange, pointy bits of flesh sticking out the side of her head that appear to have the same smoothness as her uncovered extremities.

After analysing this strange new creature, I concentrate on the magic swirling inside my core. Sampling and studying it for a moment, I find it untouched, yet disconnected. Still very much a part of me, but somehow separated by a strange, white wall.

I inch towards this wall in my mind and gently touch it, willing it to disappear. As soon as I do, it disappears within the blink of an eye. Before I can even register this fact, a giant wave of magic hits me, bursting out from my core.

It wraps around me and moulds around my body, enveloping me in light whiter than even my own hide. I feel it tugging at my body, shifting and changing it, but not painfully so.

As fast as the wall disappeared the white light finishes its work, leaving me confused at what exactly it did. I move to sit up and look around, only to find that both the mystical creature and Mother staring at me wide eyed.

I tilt my head, Why are they staring so? I wonder.

Then, suddenly, I find the answer. As I tilt my head, white silky hair grazes over my shoulders. Hair that belongs to me.

I raise my hands to inspect myself, only to find them that same strange, smooth hide the mystical creature holds.

I have changed forms.

=============================================================================

Author Note:

So first off: I AM SO VERY, VERY SORRY FOR THE EXTREMELY LATE CHAPTER.

I had a few things going on recently so I haven't been very motivated to write anything. But now that I'm back in a good mood and all that jazz, I will definitely start this up again.

If you are still around after all this time, then thank you so much for putting up with my horribleness.

I've also decided I will have relatively small sized chapters when I release them. I'm sorry if you don't like this, but being new to the whole writing thing, it just seems to be how I write at the moment. I might increase the chapter size as the series progresses and things get rolling, but, for now, it'll be 900ish word chapters.

So if you hate me because of all this I'm really sorry, but it seems to just be how I am, and after all this if you still read my chapter feel free to make any criticism and give any pointers you might have.

PS. I AM STILL SO VERY, VERY, VERY SORRY FOR THE EXTREMELY LATE CHAPTER.