It's been a little bit since I had that dream. Sitting in my cave, I had just finished a statue of that dragon. I never learned his name, but I did learn one. Aether. I closed my eyes and pondered about the chance that I might be able to escape from here, and be any help as I am. I am a clumsy bimbo at best. I am not a warrior like that father, or like my mother. The only fight I had was with a weak shade, I bet a lot of other dragons are better fighters then I am.

I hung my head, this was all so much. I have so many things I just dont even know about. I feel so lost. Was my name a cruel joke? Was it my destiny to be forever stuck here, and bad with directions? If I dont keep my mountain in sight, I don't know if I can make it back.

I shook my head. There was something I had thought about I still have yet to try. I wondered how detailed my golems can be and still function. It was something I had to try. If I could create a few dozen small ones, they can help Hickory.

“Oh! What if I try to use Hickory as a reference to see if I can.” I pondered, letting the thought slip out of my mouth.

I turned leaving the cave, looking at the statues I had created and how I was getting better. It felt good, I wasn't sure how long they would last, but it would be nice if they could last forever. With a small smile of pride at my work, I hopped down the mountain to where Hickory had created his home.

“Hey, Hickory, how are you doing?” I asked him, not noticing he was focused on his workout.

Hickory had been hard at work, he has a wonderfully crafted house at this point. He has a shed for curing and smoking meats, and another for storing dry wood, as well as a well made bench to sit on. I had caught glimpses of him crafting a wooden sword and swinging it. I wonder if physically repeating tasking such as that could help me grow stronger too.

Hickory was at the time of my landing outside doing his training again, and really liked finishing it first before he stopped. For a human he had wonderfully built muscles he had been training continuously. I couldn't help too much with any magic, but he still was determined to learn it. Noticing that he was training I decided to not interrupt till he was done training. It seemed important to him, and he would be distracted if I tried to talk to him while he was training, so it was just better to wait.

Getting curious about my idea earlier, I was curious about that lifting thing, he seemed to be repeatedly pushing himself off the ground. I wondered if I could build strength that way, and tried doing the same. I lowered myself to the ground and stood up, and repeated this task several times. I could feel my legs ache a little bit, was this getting stronger or just hurting myself. I looked at Hickory again, and heard him grunt and saw him sweat and kept going. I decided to do so as well.

I kept going, when my legs started to tire out I called on the water to wash my legs, and the pain would go away, allowing me to continue to keep pushing myself up. I am not sure I was doing it right, but this seemed to be making a difference. I seem to be able to do more each time after I heal up my legs.

I lost track of time, I kept pushing and healing, pushing and healing, over and over again. I had stopped paying attention to my surroundings as the world evolved around the numbers I was counting, and after it was unbearable, a quick heal of my legs to keep going. Then suddenly I smelt delicious food. Coming back to my senses and blinking my eyes back into focus I looked over at Hickory’s house and saw he had cleaned up and had his towel around his shoulders sitting near his fire cooking some meat.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“Ah, so welcome back. I tried talking to you, but guess you got really focused on what you were doing. I can say I didn't expect a dragon would need to work out.” Hickory said.

“I am not sure if it makes a difference, I never saw any dragons I was around try it. I suppose that I might try some more another time. I actually came down here to talk to you about helping you, while trying something new.” I admitted, a bit embarrassed that I had zoned out.

“What was it you wanted to try?” Hickory asked.

“Oh! Yes! I had this idea right! I learned I can make moving ice! I was wondering if I could create it into something pretty or useful.” I said.

“Like a moving statue?” Hickory asked.

“Yes! Exactly that. I want to try to use you for a reference. I was hoping that that would be okay with you?” I asked him.

“Hmmm, well sure. Why not? Do I need to do something for you to do this?” Hickory asked.

“Not much, no. Just kinda stand there so I might be able to replicate you.” I said.

“Alright, We can do it after my food is done cooking. I don’t want it to burn.” He said.

I nodded, that seemed fair. We have talked about not wasting food. If I do good, he might give me chocolate. I really enjoy chocolate. So I did try my hardest to make food last, and not just eat to my fill. It means I tend to go hunting less, which allows me more time to try new things. Like making statues, or now moving statues.

While I had the repeating dream of floating in the abyss-like state, I hadn't had dreams like that time where I met the dragon. That was terrifying. I had no idea what was going on, but it was so strange to be in something in which I could not control. Including what I saw, it only felt like doomsday. The war I had heard about was so much worse than I had thought it ever to be.

Would it even be possible for me to fight in such a thing, if I had too? I shook my head, those are above me. I could not answer those now, or at anytime, until I am facing down the situation and need to make a choice, I hope I can. I need to help this Aether if I can. ‘What if they are a not nice person?’ I pondered. There was so much I had coming my way, this very isolated world, seems suffocating with what I don't know.

I had made up my mind though. I needed to be stronger. I was not going to let anything stop me from doing what I wanted. I needed a way to overcome the void. It was stopping me from getting back home. I had been growing, and getting stronger. I wondered if I could force my way away from here. If I could, I would love to get back home to Aynezh. I wondered if my friend was still there. I hope he is doing alright.