Somewhere deep into a forest stood a group of people near an unconscious dragon- arguing.
"Okay, okay. Let me get this straight," The knight said, rubbing his temples. "The dragon is unconscious. The memory-loss demigod mystery boy is gone. And now the dog ran away too."
"he's not a dog, he's a person!"
"With ears and a tail."
"And a heart, Brian!"
"I'm not Brian."
"I know you're not Brian, I was quoting a play! God, did none of you grow up with a little culture??"
"…Uhm guys. Where did the dragon go?"
---------------------------------------------------
The forest is quiet.
Leaves crunch softly underfoot as the boy walks- hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded.
He doesn't know where he's going. Doesn't really care, either, as long as it's away from those knights.
"Too noisy," He mutters under his breath
Everything feels distant. Like walking through a dream you don't remember starting
Enjoying the silence, the boy starts feeling his throat dry up.
"Maybe I should find something to drink," he says, glancing down at his bloodstained hands. "And maybe wash up too."
He keeps walking until the sound of water reaches him. A stream- maybe a small river.
"Looks clean enough"
He crouches down, starts to cup his hands to drink- but stops. Something about the water makes him pause.
"Weird," He murmurs, staring into his reflection. a pale boy with soft pink hair and freckles stares back- one black eye, one white eye.
After he finishes washing up, the snap of a twig cuts through the peaceful quiet.
"What are you doing here?"
He turns.
The dog-like boy has been following him.
The dog-like boy blinks at him, ears twitching. He's holding something.
"You, uh… ran off, so… I followed you."
The pink-haired boy stares at him blankly.
"But, why?"
"Y-you uhm, I was worried..."
He narrows his eyes. "… You don't know me. Why are you worried?"
"I… your injuries… can I- can I patch you up?"
There's a pause. He looks at him for a long second, then gives a small nod.
The dog-like boy steps forward, quietly, and begins wrapping bandages with gentle hands. He's careful. Strangely warm.
Then the pink-haired boy feels something else- a faint warmth beneath the skin.
He flinches. "What's that? What are you doing?"
"I-it's magic," the boy says quietly. "Healing magic. I can't use it very well right now though…" his voice trails off, laced something sad.
"What's magic?"
The dog boy lets out a small, breathy laugh. "You forgot?"
He just blinks at him.
"You… really don't remember anything...?" he asks, a weight settling into his voice.
"The last thing I remember is slapping a so-called dragon"
The boy goes quiet. He keeps working, wrapping each bandage with care. There's something honest in the way he moves- like he actually cares.
"Thank you," The pink-haired boy mutters. "How long does it need to stay on?"
"U-uh.. uh, I don't really…know. I wasn't the doctor..."
"…Doctor?"
The dog-boy doesn't answer.
He just sniffs the air, ears twitching faintly.
Something shifts in his posture.
Suddenly, he turns. With a sharp gesture, a shimmering barrier snaps into place around them.
"what are you doing--?" the pink-haired boy starts to ask.
But then—
Fire.
A roaring blast crashes down over the dome. Drowning out everything in heat and light.
It's hot.
Extremely hot.
When the fire dies out, a massive dragon begins to emerge from the smoke.
"him again?" the pink haired boy says flatly.
"I-it's probably back for revenge…" The dog-boy stammers, struggling to keep the dome up.
"By the way," the pink-haired boy says, totally ignoring the dragon, "what's this anti-fire thing? Pretty cool."
"i-its an a-armor dome," the dog-boy manages. "It protects us from anything outside o-of it.."
"Ah cool."
He picks up a stick from the ground, inspecting it like it's the most interesting thing in the world.
"You think that flying lizard'll feel it if I throw this at him?"
"I-I d-don't—"
But before he can finish, the boy casually lobs the stick into the air.
It arcs—
--and hits the dragon square in the face.
The beast lets out a furious roar as it spirals dramatically down, crashing in a distant heap of smoke and scales.
"Huh. Cool."
The dragon groans in the distance.
"Sh-should we run?" the dog-boy asks, collapsing to his knees as the dome flickers out.
"Nah," The pink-haired boy says, already walking away. "I don't run."