It Can't Go Wrong
(part 3 of my new serial inspired by the Smogust Story Hoard Writing Challenge)
If you’re new to The Môrdreigiau Chronicles, welcome! You might find the Glossary helpful for some of these words. Colons indicate the sea dragon’s thought communications.
Previously, Heledd, Queen of the Chosen Court has gone missing, along with her friends, leaving Geraint fretting and Llallogan grumbling. Llallogan finally remembers a prophetic dream.
Read Part 1 / All Parts of “They Were Shining“
It had been an absolutely marvellous day. Heledd, Queen of the Chosen Court, Caer Morgana and all Dreigiau môr, didn’t needed much coaxing to shirk her duties and head out of the caer with her friends.
Calliope had befriended a giant sea slug, its dark purple sides marked with a long pink stripe. It allowed the female dreigiau môr to load it up with their provisions, blankets and games, slinking along at a plodding pace, while Calliope fed it sea-rice cakes and the rest played a game of chase.
Lydia had scouted a spot east of Caer Morgana, away from the sea-rice fields and it had taken hours to get there.
Still, it had been marvellous. Heledd gazed up at the darkening sea. :I think it’s time we headed back.:
Next to her, Calliope groaned. :We hardly ever see you.:
:I know, but Geraint is already feeling anxious.:
Calliope nudged her with her head, for they were all in their sea dragon form, being outside the caer. :He is so into you.:
It was Heledd’s turn to groan. :I wish he wasn’t.:
:Why? You can’t still be thinking of him as snotty little Geraint? The draig môr is absolutely stunning.:
:Maybe that’s what it is,: Heledd admitted. :He’s far too clingy for me. Like snot.:
They giggled.
Lydia swam above them in lazy spirals. :Ooh, there’s a pretty light!:
The others, five of them, swam up to her.
A pale blue light rose out of the wafting mass of giant kelp.
:Let’s take a closer look!:
:We’re not supposed to go into the kelp forest,: Heledd warned, hanging back.
:We’re not, we’re going over it!: Lydia looped the loop, her pretty pink scales flashing with silver. :Come on!:
Heledd hesitated, staring at the light. She’d never seen anything like it before. The way it shone and glittered ruled out any bioluminescent trick.
Her gills flared. It was magical.
They ventured further into the wilderness, giving the giant kelp forest canopy a wide berth.
She should be thinking about turning homeward, back to the caer, the palace, clingy Geraint and sulky Llallogan, but the pale blue beacon filled her mind, blotting out all else. It didn’t just shine, it thrilled, set all her senses ablaze.
Heledd shivered in anticipation.
Ok, so this one is a bit of a stretch. The Circus Dragon wrote “Homeward” as the title of their painting, I recruited a sea slug to step in as the horse. And “homeward” doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll make it …
This is a response to the Smogust Story Hoard writing challenge by Bradley Ramsey and The Circus Dragon for the month of August. And yes, as it often happens with these month long challenges (often being precisely once before), it’s a serial.
Read Part 1 / All Parts of “They Were Shining“