Chapter Text
– Aurora –
If it ever crushes us…
traps us…
She sang into the dusk-lit bedroom. Remnants of sunlight still penetrated the silken curtains, granting the interior with a faint golden glow.
Then all I’ll ever wish for…
is–
Her voice suddenly cut off, the sound of crickets permeating the air in kind. She let out a frustrated sigh. She just couldn’t seem to get the tune right for the section, or rather, in the way she’d imagined and notated it down in her notes. With talons shuffling underneath, she adjusted her posture, determined to give it another try.
A glimmer caught her attention: an odd reflection coming from above that wasn’t there before. Her ears perked, eyes glaring at a corner of the room that looked strange and distorted, and subtle scratching against the walls could be heard in that direction.
“Platypus! I know you’re there.”
There was no response.
A growl exited her mouth in exasperation as the corner taunted her silently. She sidled up to the many tall shelves in the room, and searched through the towering layers before happening upon some darts resting on a dartboard near the bottom. Her brother had left them there after recently playing the game, so she supposed he wouldn’t mind if they were used for a different purpose than was intended.
Her claws drew across the tips of the darts, picking one that’d been sufficiently blunted. She paced back to the middle of her room, aimed at the nothingness that took up the corner, and threw it with a firm force.
The dart hit the wall, lodging itself into the wood. A loud yelp was heard in turn, followed by flapping of wings as claw marks etched into the walls themselves. “Hey!” the air exclaimed. “What a nice way to greet your guests.”
The form of a WildWing dragoness shimmered into view as she descended and scrambled up beside her, almost knocking over a few decorations in the process. “Aurora,” she said, their wings brushing. “I see you’re getting QUITE skilled at seeing through camouflage.”
“Perhaps you’re more conspicuous than you thought,” Aurora said as her talons reached up to and adjusted her mane of spines, hoping Platypus wouldn’t notice how flustered she’d become due to her unexpected entry.
“Excuse me?” responded Platypus, tone indignant. “I’m the MOST stealthy dragon in the Court of Refuge! There’s a reason they called me the GHOST, and it’s NOT because they don’t want to draw attention towards me!” Her statement was met with a few muted chuckles, to which she added: “Huh?! Don’t you think I’m the best?”
“No, no,” she interjected, “you aren’t only the best… you’re perfect, actually.” They both blushed intensely as Aurora had to turn her head towards the window, her talons draped over her snout and cheek. “What even brought you here at such an hour?” she blurted out shortly thereafter.
“I-…” she stuttered, “I just wanted to hear your singing… of course!”
Her eyelids twitched a little. “I’m still drafting the song,” she said. “Just can’t seem get it how I envisioned in my mind.”
Platypus glanced upon her scroll-covered desk, eyes narrowing into slits. “I can’t say I understand any of what you’ve written…” Aurora felt a tail gently caress hers, and she thus allowed them to coil together. Platypus then continued: “but you can spend some time and hang out with me. Take your mind off songwriting for a bit…”
Aurora outstretched her talons, tightly gripping Platypus’ as her wings flapped lightly in excitement and her mouth a crescent smile. “I’d like to.”
Platypus had guided her into the forests, and onto a moonlit stony outcrop that overlooked some rapids. The chirps of crickets could be heard through the noise of the flowing water. Upstream, a small waterfall flung mists of water overboard, wafting earthy scents into her nostrils. And an opening presented itself in the leafy canopy, allowing an unfettered view of the star-scattered night sky overhead.
“Whoa,” Aurora breathed out, “This is–”
“–beautiful,” Platypus continued, “isn’t it?”
Aurora extended a wing over Platypus. “It is…” she said. “Do you come here often?”
“I used to…” she answered, voice trailing off, “with my sister.” Claws begin to scrape at the stone below, and Platypus was looking into the wooded void, away from her view. “That is until BERYL and SNAKEROOT usurped–”
Her words cut off when she turned to spot Aurora’s expression of concern. “Oh!” she mouthed out. “I’m sorry I went off again. I SWEAR it’s something I’m trying to fix.”
Aurora barked out a short chain of laughter. “You’re perfect the way you are.”
“Oh?” Platypus’ tone was raised, and her tail swept the ground right in front of Aurora, causing loose blades of grass to be kicked up towards her. “So you want ME to be LOUDER, ANGRIER, and more FERVENT?” she said baring teeth.
Aurora flared her wings in kind, raising herself to an upright posture. “Hey!” she exclaimed. “I can be intimidating as well, you know?” But then, a sudden motion knocked her off-balance. Her landing was rather gentle, resulting in a muffled thump from the muddy ground; it almost felt as if someone caught her fall halfway through. Before long, Platypus was right above her, and the only thing she could feel was her warm breaths tickling her snout, along with the accelerated thumping of her heart.
“Um…” Aurora began after a while; Platypus had definitely started to slump more and more onto her. “Can you… get off me?” she asked, bordering on mumbling. Platypus flinched, immediately lifting herself from Aurora, who stood up right after, brushing the dirt off her scales.
The tension was still heavy in the air. As such, they chatted about mundane life matters to hopefully dispel it. Then, upon Aurora’s request, they shuffled over to the rocky overhang to admire the constellations of stars above; their tails were intertwined, talons gripped tight, and wings shielding each other from their surroundings.
“Aurora?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you ever feel dread over…” Platypus let out stammering, “not being able to leave this forsaken island.”
Aurora cocked her head. “I thought you loved it here, no?”
“I suppose…” Platypus replied, voice low. “But that’s because I have friends here who still need me.” Her other talon reached out and their forelimbs connected in turn. Aurora lowered her head until their temples were in contact, allowing Platypus to carry on. “With Mulberry and the others taking care of the egg… escape is closer than ever.”
Aurora swore to have felt tears streaming down onto her scales. “But what if this weird enchantment deems them unworthy?” Platypus choked out, pulling her head back and staring into her eyes. “We’ll be trapped here forever. FOREVER, AURORA! NEVER TO SEE THE BEAUTY OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD UNTIL WE PERISH!”
Aurora leaned in for a whisper. “Platypus,” she called, “if it ever comes to that…” her voice hitched for a mere moment before she continued: “then I’ll be there with you until we inevitably perish.” She pulled Platypus in for a hug, and she simply buried her head beneath her limbs.
She allowed her claws to draw over Platypus’ scales. She admitted to herself that it was quite soothing, and the feeling of her warm scales upon her own somewhat cool ones was a contrast she still hasn’t got used to. Glancing up, she noticed that the moon had arcked out of view of the opening, the visible stars having shifted in turn. The nocturnal forest ambiance was still as when they’d arrived.
Platypus stirred, releasing herself from the embrace. “Thank you,” she said with a smile.
Aurora reflected her expression. “If we do ever get to leave though,” she started, “would you like to go see the northern lights with me? I don’t remember ever seeing them before.”
Platypus tilted her head in curiosity. “Like your name?”
“Yes,” answered Aurora firmly, “and also my brother’s.”
“I’d be more than glad to,” said Platypus.
Just then, some movement from the water below caught her eye. She lunged at it, with Platypus having to step out of the way, and snatched a platypus out of the river by its forelimbs. “Look!” she exclaimed. “I got an actual platypus!”
The platypus let out a disgruntled growl at Platypus, causing her to flinch and step backwards in what seemed like half-disgust, and half-fear. “GET THAT THING AWAY–”
“Aww… Are you scared of platypuses? How ironic.”
“I’M NOT!” Platypus snarled with gritted teeth. “It’s just their venom hurts A LOT if you mishandle them. Don’t ask me why I know.”
Aurora turned her head to glare at the creature she was grasping. Didn’t know you were also up to as much mischief as her… She promptly settled it down by the riverbanks underneath. “Oh, how I’m saved by your prowess once again!” she said after clambering back up.
“I’m just sooo excellent aren’t I,” said Platypus with a grin plastered across her face. She was tackled to the muddy ground below by Aurora in response.