Gadalik remained sitting outside of the den, his striped blue eyes fixated on the sky where the wyvern had vanished, unable to extinguish his hopes that Gretel would return and explain her uncharacteristic melancholy despite knowing she was gone for the day. Even if she did suddenly come back, she truly doesn't seem to know why she's upset, either. I just wish I could help her…
The pale blue fairy dragoness stepped out beside him. “Are you alright?”
The green earth-seer hybrid let out a sigh. “I'm fine… It's Gretel I'm worried about.”
“Hm. I did sense that she felt dejected during your talks of societies.”
"Yeah... She isn't trying to hide it. But when I asked her about it earlier, she said she doesn't remember feeling like that, or any reason why.”
“Perhaps the reasons upset her so much that she repressed them.”
That makes sense… Kind of like how I repressed my vision of Gale's death. “Is there anything we can do to help her?”
“Actually, yes.”
Gadalik eagerly leapt to his paws, facing Guinevere to give her his full attention. “What is it? I'll do whatever it takes!”
“You wouldn't have to do much; it is my hypnotism that may be able to bring forth any repressed memories to the surface.”
He stared at her in amazement. “You can do that?”
“Yes. But it would be far easier if Gretel cooperates with me. That's where you come in,” she explained. “Since you spend so much time with her, I'll rely on you to offer her my assistance. Simply let her know that I can give her help if she wants it.”
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“Thank you so much…!” The young earth dragon affectionately headbutted her, then immediately stepped back when he realized what he did. “S-Sorry! Did I hurt you?”
Guinevere chuckled with amusement, her wings glowing orange. “Not at all. But don't thank me yet; we still don't know if Gretel will accept my aid.”
“I'll convince her to, when we hang out tomorrow. Count on it!”
“Alright. In the meantime, we should also eat.”
“Oh.” He didn't realize how hungry he was. “Glacia and I can go hunt, then.”
“No need. I sense a stag being overcome with illness. I can bring it here for all of us.”
“You mean it's dying?”
“In a matter of time, yes; its illness will cause it to die,” she murmured sympathetically. “At this moment, though, it's alive–just in hiding, for it knows that it is too weak to defend itself from predators should one find it.”
Gadalik hummed softly to acknowledge her. “Is that how you found me last Winter…?”
Guinevere hesitated, the glow of her insect-like wings darkening to blue. “Yes; but rest assured I do not see other dragons as prey.” There was a beat before blue lightened to green, and she looked at the juvenile hybrid. “It's actually thanks to Gale that I rescued you from the snow. Had you needed help before I met him, I probably would not have saved you… especially since I seldom leave my tree hollow when it's cold.”
“Really?” So that vision isn't the only time Gale has played a role in saving me… “Why not?”
“Fairy dragons are fragile, so getting involved with other dragon types is risky, for one reason. For another, we have an instinctive connection to nature; when we sense a fading life, it's not up to us to interfere with nature taking that life.”
“I see… But what does Gale have to do with that?”
“Yeah–what does Gale have to do with that?” Glacia spoke up from the mouth of the den, revealing herself to have been eavesdropping the entire time.
Guinevere glanced between the two. “It's a long story.”
“I'm listening,” the water type encouraged her.
"Me too," Gadalik agreed with his adoptive mother. "That is--if you're willing to tell it."
“Hm. Well, in that case, I'd be happy to talk more about Gale. But allow me to tell the story inside, where it's safe.” The furred dragoness led them back in the den and lied down on the soft moss, tucking her white paws comfortably under herself. “Are you ready?”
Glacia and Gadalik both settled attentively in front of her, then nodded.