O
ctavian waved us through the gates, and we passed by some vendors selling assorted snacks, even though it was early in the morning. There were the classics, like pretzels and iced drinks and popcorn, but there were other things too, like a man who was selling flatbreads that could be baked into something almost like a pizza, or served unbaked with loads of vegetable toppings. That stall almost distracted me – almost.
Seeing a bunch of cute draconic creatures was ultimately more tempting, though, so I pulled away.
The sanctuary’s public path was essentially a massive ovallar tunnel of protective wards that wrapped around the massive space, occasionally branching off one way or the other. The wardwork was good, almost completely invisible to the naked eye on this side, and blending into nature on the other sides, so that we could get a good look at the various environments that had been created to nurture and protect the creatures, without being able to disturb them.
Even if a kid banged their fists on the ward, the protective spell wouldn’t do anything, and the estragon and other draconic breeds would have no idea that they were being watched.
“Better to start on the right and loop around to the left. The crowd usually goes the other way.”
Kene and I shrugged, and with no especially pressing reason to disagree, we followed him through towards the right end of the loop. The first environment that we found ourselves in was a massive freshwater lake, with an artificial waterfall that pummeled into the rocks on one side, and several lakes that split off from the center. The warded path ran through the lake itself, allowing us a view of the underwater species.
I spotted river estragon, visually quite similar to the blue scaled and white bellied ocean estragon, as well as lake estragon, who had a touch more green in their flipper-like appendages, and long strands of what almost resembled seaweed floating around their heads. There was also a breed I didn’t recognize, hanging around the waterfall. There were only two that I could see, but they had the blue scales of an ocean estragon, but spotted with dark brownish underbellies, rather than white, and slightly more angular, sleek features, as well as more defined sharp tips to their flippers, which looked strong enough to slice through stone.
But there weren’t just estragon – there were a half dozen fish that swam through the lake, and rivers which some of the estragon caught, seaweed at the bottom that was also being munched on, insects that skittered across the surface, and more.
Dusk let out a sound of amazement, and I pointed to the sharper, brown-bellied estragon.
“What are those?”
I could have read the plaque in front of us, but I had an Octavian, so I might as well use him.
“Those are a rare breed, and the reason for this environment,” Octavian explained. “Waterfall estragon. They’re a threatened species, since they used to be hunted to make enhancement potions for water-focused mages. Their magic is a bit rockier and sharper than an average freshwater aquatic estragon, and their breath has a certain… cutting power… than most others lack. We’re hoping to get some viable egg clutches and do some repopulation.”
We studied the lake for a while, watching as a river and a lake estragon seemed to get into something of a territory struggle, battling over where the river ended and lake began, then slowly walked forwards into the next environment.
It took longer than I expected. This sanctuary wasn’t a small, cramped zoo where you could look at the animals and move on, but rather a full, designed set of environments. The rivers that fed into the lake transitioned into a thicker forest, which held forest estragon, and even a single forest terragon, who was napping on a rock, lording over her domain.
But the transition was slow, rather than a sharp cut-off, and it gave us time to watch as the forest and river estragon worked together, their magic rushing out of them and into the forest, enriching it in every aspect.
Scattered throughout the oak, ash, and mistletoe and blackthorn were strange creatures, ones I’d never seen before. They looked like wolves, but with scales as well as fur. In an odd way, it reminded me of Kerbos, though they lacked the living metal that formed horns, sharp spines, and a breastplate-like chest covering.
“What are those?” I asked curiously.
“They’re some of the last remaining known draig-blaidd,” Octavian answered.
“I thought those were extinct?” Kene asked. “Hunted to extinction by the people of Mossford over two hundred years ago?”
“They almost are,” Octavian said, a note of sadness in his voice. “Without a packlord, they’re struggling, even with our help. We’re hoping that one will be born soon, so its magic can enhance its chosen pack.”
Siobhan yipped at that, and Kene reached down, scratching her head.
From there, bamboo became gradually more common, and the forest estragon started to shift as well. The broad, ash-tree leaf shaped scales were replaced with thinner, longer scales. The root-like horns became straighter and less gnarled, and even the estragon body shape shifted slightly, becoming somewhat sleeker and quicker, able to jump from stalk to stalk.
Octavian gestured to one of them as we moved.
“When people say forest estragon, they’re almost always referring to whatever local forest they have, but forests aren’t a monolith. This bamboo forest, for example. The estragon that inhabit it are similar to the ones you might find in Mossford’s forests in some ways, but remarkably different in others. I wonder if we’ll be lucky enough to spot the real reason for this area though…”
It took us a bit of walking, but Dusk suddenly let out a gasp and pointed. Atop a small hill, sleeping, was a beautiful creature. It had a deerlike body, but was covered with golden scales, and a dragon’s head, complete with antlers, and a long, flowing white mane, as well as a white beard.
The winds of fortune were blown back, cowed by the very sight of this creature, until a moment later, another one, this one who’s scales shimmered in a rainbow of colors, rose from where it had been lying asleep behind the golden one. This one was smaller, but every bit as regal and commanding.
It studied us, even through the ward, and then it locked its eyes with me, and I found myself staring into nearly identical rainbow eyes.
Then it shifted, curling up and lying down next to its mate again.
“The Kirin,” Octavian said, his voice falling to a whisper, even though they shouldn’t have been able to hear us. “One of our most powerful creatures, and one of the stranger cases. We typically rear the creatures until they’re able to survive in their more native habitats, or else create habitats for them to survive if that’s too dangerous, but the Kirin just… stay here.”
“Are they rare?” Kene asked in a whisper.
“They’re critically endangered, though I’ve heard that one was spotted in Feng Chui. These two approached my mo– approached Thea – and seemed to settle down here when we built them this habitat. Granny Kater is hoping that they’ll spark an egg to life, but… We’re not sure.”
As we continued to walk, the forest continued to change. It became denser and populated with thick trees that I could only describe as jungle-like, and even through the wards I could feel the humidity rising. The estragon here were different too, with thicker bodies of darker green and brown, moving through the roots of the tree, while blue and gold sky estragon winged above the canopy far overhead.
“The tropical rainforest estragon are an interesting one, but much like the lake we saw earlier… ah, there we go. Look!”
He pointed to a large tree, which bore several brightly colored fruits.
I squinted.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
No, some of those weren’t fruit at all. They were bright red dragons, each the size of a mango, curled up to sleep, with their wings stretching over everything but their head, which was biting onto the tree, like some sort of reverse bat.
“The rainforest, much like the lake, aren’t threatened or even uncommon in the right parts of Ddeaer,” Octavian informed us. “But those? Fruit-mimic winged serpents. They're strong enough to drive off most of the herbovores and birds that try to eat them, but not humans. Unlike the more common pollinator draigs that you’ll find throughout Vinopae, the Redsummer Isles, and parts of Elohi, the fruit mimic is endangered.”
“You said humans. They’re hunted?” Kene asked.
“They are,” Octavian said with a sad smile. “They only mate once a decade, and the eggs can be used to replace four different components in creating a pill of immortality, so they’re quite hunted.”
“I didn’t expect the tour to be so sad,” I admitted, and Octavian let out a soft laugh.
“You’re thinking of it the wrong way,” he said, putting a hand on my shoulder and squeezing gently. “Yes, it is sad. But the world isn’t just a cruel place. We work incredibly hard to make sure that each and every one of these little buggers lives in comfort, and ideally produces more. The sanctuary has already helped get several species out of critical endangerment!”
Kene took my hand and rubbed his thumb across the back of my hand.
“And you’re helping too, Mal.”
I smiled at both of them, my tail flicking back and forth at the thought of working to save endangered species. This, more than most things I’d done with my magic, was worthwhile.
We continued our walk, and the landscape slowly became drier. At first it was just an abundance of stone, as what looked like the oldest, worn-down mountains might have, but the rocks continued to rise, giving way to a variety of caves, which the warded path slowly snaked through.
The cave systems were covered in cavern estragon, and there was a host of almost fifteen lindworms, as well as three cavern terragon.
“This is one of our most successful environments,” Octavian said happily. “Thanks to some of the contributions of Elio, we’ve even managed to start setting up an environment that might be able to produce a gemstone estragon!”
He turned to us and winked conspiratorially.
“I’ve even heard that there’s a slim chance that mantle estragon could be hatched there, but… that part isn’t open to the public yet.”
I laughed, and Kene smiled, while Dusk just peeped out a question as to why we thought it was funny, because it was a terrible joke.
I patted her head as we moved up from the deeper caves and the mountains slowly transformed into dry flatlands, full of geysers, multicolored geothermal springs, and sparse patches of lichen, moss, and acacia trees.
“Estragon who have evolved to live in these pools are a cousin of mantle estragon,” Octavian explained as he pointed to the brightly-colored dragon-kin splashing around. “They’re more common, but still a threatened species, and quite dangerous. The springs look pretty, but they’re often hot enough to boil a person alive.”
We took a long winding route through the rocks, watching as lizards scurried about, vultures mixed with the sky estragon overhead, and a cacti stood up and walked away from a sand-colored shrew that tried to nibble on it. As we moved, the environment slowly shifted towards increasing levels of dust and dirt.
“Most deserts aren’t just big piles of pretty sand,” Octavian said. “Though those do exist, obviously. They’re also a lot more filled with life than people think. Look carefully, and you’re likely to spot some desert estragon.”
We held still and watched as a yellowish-red rock shifted, then started skittering across the sands. A moment later, it became clear that it wasn’t a rock, but rather, some sort of enormous crablike thing. The moment it moved, a half-dozen estragon with ruddy-red bodies started sliding around the sand, zooming away in a quick motion that reminded me slightly of the slipsharks that I’d seen on the beach, gliding through the dust and sand.
A hawk with glowing talons dove down at one of the estragon, and I let out a gasp as the estragon suddenly spun up a whirlwind of sand, knocking the bird off course, then darted across the sand in a burst of speed.
Octavian hurried along as he saw that happen, which was probably wise. I was accustomed to violence, somewhat, but I didn’t enjoy it, and nature could definitely be violent when it wanted to be or needed to be.
There was something odd about that thought, but I put it out of my mind as we followed the desert out. It slowly transformed, becoming sandier and sandier, before I started spotting my friends, the slipsharks, hanging out on the beach, alongside what looked like some sea jellies floating in the air, and ocean estragon.
“Ah, this is one of my favorite parts of the sanctuary,” Octavian said with a grin as the warded path began heading underwater.
I gasped as I saw why.
Under the surface of the water was an explosion of life, a hundred different colors mixing into a vibrant tapestry. Fish and octopodes and smaller sharks swam through the coral, saltwater clams, and sponges. Sea turtles and sea horses and hippocampi moved through the water, and…
I took in another sharp breath as I saw one of the most majestic creatures yet. While it might not have been a match for the Kirin, I thought it was every bit as amazing in its own way.
A coral terragon swam through the water, long, coral horns protruding from its head, shimmering scales blending in with the multicolored background. It was idly forging armor of coral around its body before letting it bleed off into the environment, and it came to a stop near a bed with a hundred starfish, the smallest of which were the size of my head, and the biggest of which were taller than I was.
The coral terragon chomped down, cleanly breaking off one leg and swimming away with the limb in its claws, munching on its snack. Before my eyes, the starfish began regrowing its missing parts, a soft glow emitting from the gemstone-like center.
“That’s a fascinating symbiotic relationship,” Octavian said, pointing to it. “The strengthening sublime starfish has a variety of healing and regeneration spells, and can regrow itself quite quickly.”
“That sounds more parasitic,” Kene pointed out.
“Ah, well, you might think so, but each time the damage is repaired, the energy cluster in the core of the starfish is drained for power, and when it restores itself, the total stores increase,” Octavian said. “As long as it’s not overfed on, the creatures in here snacking on their limbs actually serve as a crucial part of their development.”
I stared at it. That might be perfect for me. I doubted its limb-repairing would be quite the same, since I wasn’t a starfish, but hadn’t Octavian said it had regeneration? That would be perfect for me, if it could interface with my full gate spells in the same way.
“Tavi!” someone called out, and Octavian turned. I saw Thea and a woman I hadn’t met yet, but who looked about five years older than Thea or Olive, approaching, hand in hand. Octavian brightened.
“You all met my mom, Thea, right? This is my other mom, Granny Kater.”
“Why do you call your other mom granny?” I asked. “She’s like… A few years older than Thea.”
“And your other-other mom, Olive, is a dragon,” Kene added. “Who knows how old she actually is?”
“He started calling me Granny Kater as a tyke, and it just stuck around,” Kater said, laughing. “Nice to meet you. And oh my goodness… You must be Dusk!”
She reached out with her claw-like hands and shook Dusk’s hand. I glanced at Kene and mouthed ‘hag’ questioningly, but they shook their head.
I nodded as Dusk proudly introduced herself, as well as all of us. I glanced at Thea.
“Thank you for the note, but… how did you know?”
Thea’s eyes sparkled as she gave me a mysterious smile.
“I listened to the winds.”
“Can you teach me to listen?” I asked seriously. If she was able to predict things that accurately, then she was skilled beyond anything I’d ever seen. Maybe Meadow could match, but Thea wasn’t a magi, which only made it more impressive.
“I can try,” Thea said. “Stick around for a bit after your magic is back up and running, and we’ll see if you can learn to listen the way I do.”
“Did you just come over to say hello?” Octavian asked as Kater and Dusk finished their talk, and Thea and I turned to face him.
“No,” Thea said. “Olive’s almost finished with her searching. I wanted to ask if you all were going to attend the hatching of your forest estragon eggs? I think they’re going to hatch in eight or nine days. Well after Olive finishes.”
She threw me for a loop by saying forest estragon, before I realized that she was probably just lying in order to make things less suspicious to passersby.
“Beast and spirit in human form,” Thea said after a moment. “It could be interesting for you all to attend the hatching, but I can understand if you have other plans. I’ve some advice for you either way.”
She looked over us, her eyes fixing on me, then shifting to look at Kene, then back to me.
“Estragon frequently imprint on someone who’s there at the hatching,” Kater supplied. “Double for humans or humanoids who could present a good partner. In those cases, the imprinting almost always means a bond is going to ”
Aracelli let out a soft growl as she headbutted Octavian, who chuckled.
“If I get imprinted, you’re just gonna have to learn to share,” he told her. “But the odds are low. Most people don’t get imprinted by two different dragon-like species.”
“So, will you be there?” Thea asked, her eyes darting up to look at the ocean above us, then over to the coral terragon, then over to a slipshark.
I paused to consider. I still didn’t know the full breadth of what had happened with my bonds with Dusk and the Beastmark, but I’d clearly mirrored a beast and spirit, with humanity in the middle. That had been clear.
I could do that again, certainly, bonding an imprinted estragon to either time or space, and a spirit to the other.
But did I want to? That was a heavy investment in familiars, and would stop me from bonding to the intersection of my full-gate spells. I was far enough along that I no longer felt a burning need to do that, but they were still a foundation of my magical power. Bonding them had to be beneficial.
On the other hand, a mantle estragon familiar would be a massive boon to my direct combat power, and I kept getting myself into combat situations. Then again, maybe I could use the Beastmark to pick up some sort of magma spells?
Whatever spirit I tracked down to bond could then compliment my skills or cover a weakness, making me incredibly well-rounded, but it was also possible that the Beastmark would let me round out my skills too.
And it wasn't as if I had to make things mirror. I thought it would help, but I could always bond the estragon and still bond the connection point.
And all that was based on the idea that an estragon would imprint on me. It might well turn out that, due to Dusk’s claim over me, their primal brains would see me as taken. If that was the case, then I’d get to attend a once-in-a-lifetime event without having to stress over my future.
Ugh, why did everything need to be so complicated?