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The Adventures of Sollus Dellager

Part 2: Secrets

As he flew back to his cave that night he found himself lost in thought. He was happy that Zach had accepted, at least partially, a dragon as something not to be feared. Still, he was nervous. Doubt nagged at his mind. What if he found out I already knew him, that he was my friend? Would he feel betrayed? Would he hate me for lying to him, for keeping secrets? Zach had always been so open with him, there was little Sollus didn't know about him, or so he assumed. I suppose everyone keeps secrets, he thought.

Sollus sighed. He wanted to tell the truth, but his fear of change gave him pause. He liked his comfortable way of life and he didn't want to lose it. Arriving back at his cave, he laid down on his bed of hides, collapsing as fatigue from the long day caught up to him. He yawned once in the moonlight before quickly drifting off to sleep.

~

His dreams were filled with horrible visions. He saw many possibilities. Zach swinging from the gallows rope, hung for being friends with a dragon. He saw villagers marching up to his cave, weapons in hand and torches burning in the night. The visions shifted, and he was fighting them now. He was wounded, dying - he could not fight so many... He lied down and submitted to the cold embrace of death. The dream shifted away. He saw Victor talking to dragon slayers, quietly paying them for their services. The dream changed endlessly. Every outcome led to tragedy, sorrow and his death.

Awaking with a start, he leapt to his feet, scattering the hides he was sleeping on. His gaze fell on a figure, a human who was standing at the mouth of his cave. His heart still pounded from the nightmares. He blinked in recognition - the figure was Zach, who had fallen back from the dragon's rather violent awakening.

"Sorry! Did I startle you? I was just curious is all! Don't hurt me!" Zach was tripping over his words. Sollus recovered quickly and sized up the human. Taking a steadying breath, he lied back down on his stomach.

"What are you doing here little one?" The dragon's voice was calm and collected -- he could stifle his own emotional turmoil in the presence of others, with some effort. Zach moved, sitting back down and collecting himself for a moment before responding,

"I umm, I was just curious is all. I found this cave a long time ago when I was a boy. I never went in -- I was too scared. I watched you fly back last night and guessed that it was your home."

"Then why come now?" The great dragon raised a brow.

"Well, I... I tried to sleep but all I could think about was today. How you saved me..." He looked down at the stone floor. "I don't have a very good life. I work hard every single day, making almost nothing. My parents died a long time ago. I have no friends aside from a woodsman who visits town every now and then. I don't really have anyone..." His eyes wandered across the floor avoiding the dragons gaze, finally settling on Sollus' claws.

"When the wolf jumped for me I was ready--I wanted to die. Nobody would have missed me."

Sollus cleared his throat. "What about this woodsman you spoke of? Is he not someone you care for?" He failed to hide the hurt in his voice, but the boy didn't seem to pick up on it.

"I don't know. He doesn't talk much about himself, and his visits are so rare..." Zach looked down again. The dragon gradually became aware of the problem of having anybody know where his cave was. He couldn't let the boy in, he couldn't allow the risk. For a moment he considered killing him quickly, once again concealing his location, but he discarded the thought almost the moment it arrived.

"So, why are you here?" He addressed the human once more. Zach, lost in thought, snapped his head to attention.

"I...I wanted to thank you again. You risked your life. Not because of the wolves of course, but because of us -- my village. You took a huge risk to save me, and I just wanted to know why. Please, I couldn't sleep without knowing..." His voice trailed off. The dragon's face hardened as he stood up to his full height.

"You did not deserve to die. I will say no more on this. Now return to your village, and do not return here." Zach winced slightly, and looked like he was about to say something. Instead, he stood up and wordlessly turned to leave in the direction of his village. Sollus lied down once more on the cold rock of his cave, mind whirling now with even more thoughts full of doubt and confusion. What was the right thing to do? Dragons were supposed to be ancient and wise creatures, so why couldn't he figure out something so simple? Restless sleep at last reclaimed him, and he returned to his dark dreams.

~

The sun drew Sollus from his slumber, as it always did. He cracked his eyes open and groaned. The sleep hadn't made things any better; he still felt strange -- depressed and confused. He hoped that he would shake this feeling and return to normal. His life had been so simple before! Why did Zach have to show up yesterday? Why had he saved him, and why couldn't he just tell the damn truth? Sollus let out an angry grumble, his stomach mimicking the sound moments later. Regardless of his feelings he had to eat.

He crawled to the cave entrance, cloud-shifted and launched himself into the air. The hunt managed to distract him from his thoughts, at least for the moment. Unfortunately, prey that day was strangely scarce, and he craved something to take his frustrations out on. He heard a howling in the distance. Cloaking himself with camouflage and muffling spells to conceal his approach, he carefully made his way towards it. As he neared the source he saw something that made his blood boil.

Wolves -- Not just any wolves, but the same pack that had attacked just yesterday. His gaze fixed on the huge alpha male, rage filling him. It was his fault! All of this was his fault! Him and his damnable pack! With a roar that sent every bird flying within a mile around, he charged the stunned wolves. He didn't care about the pack, he wanted the alpha. He wanted him dead, dead for putting him into such a state. The wolf turned quickly to try and escape the enraged dragon, but Sollus would not be deterred. Lowering his head, the dragon bashed headlong into a tree, breaking it off at the base in one mighty blow.

The entire tree stood, seeming to defy gravity for a moment, before falling almost ponderously onto the alpha and pinning him under its tremendous weight. The wolf yelped in pain and looked up at his soon to be killer. Sollus' eyes burned with fury. His stomach growled, providing him an obvious solution. With no hesitation, he snapped his head forward, snake-like, and enveloped the wolf in his mouth, pulling him from underneath the tree as he did. Piteous yelps emanated from his mouth, unheeded.

I'll show you who the alpha here is! Tilting his head high, he swallowed, the entire pitiful creature sliding down his gullet in one gulp. He spat, some excess fur flying from his mouth, and roared once again in satisfaction. Blood lust and appetite both sated for the time being, he made for home.

~

He had some time to think on his flight back. The way he'd treated Zach last night left him worried that he might have caused the boy to do something drastic. He could see it in his mind's eye, the boy killing himself after feeling alone for so long, and he simply couldn't bear the thought of having Zach's blood on his hands. The man needed a friend. He made his decision mid-air, and resolved to visit the village to see how he was doing. He knew it was a mistake -- that his emotions might betray him -- but he couldn't help it. He had to do something; his depression was driving him mad, and the drastic mood swing in the forest was not like him at all. His uncharacteristic anger left him slightly unsettled.

He set himself down away from the road near the village and spoke words he had spoken many times before. His body shifted, his wings folded close to his body and seemed to be absorbed into his back. He stood up on his hind legs, almost losing his balance as his tail did the same. His face changed next, his long snout and horns receded, neck shortening to more human proportions. The large scales on his back widened and merged, forming the black leather clothing he always wore. A matching black cloak sprang from where his wings were and draped down his back to the forest floor, completing the transformation.

Sollus appeared human now. About 25 years old, and very large as humans go -- nearly seven feet tall -- but human nonetheless. It was one of the first spells he had taught himself. The spell condensed his body rather than completely changing its mass, his muscles equally strong but more compact versions of their draconic counterparts. After making sure he had no telltale draconic features still showing, he emerged from the woods and onto the road approaching the town, as he had many a time before.

Temaria was as it always was: Busy. The town was a sort of crossroads for people wishing to take the less traveled highway between kingdoms, and as such it attracted a surprising number of people, and all the trade that came with it. Food and clothing from all over the world were sold here, and stories of all sorts were bandied about freely. He enjoyed those in particular; it was how he had learned nearly everything he knew about the more distant world. As he passed the gates the guards nodded to him in recognition.

"Greetings Sollus!" One of the guards spoke. "Still looking as tall and strong as a barbarian I see." Sollus nodded in acknowledgment, smiling as he passed by and continued onwards. He spotted Victor standing on a podium in the square, selling cattle and other livestock. As a former forester himself, he had respect for anyone who lived out in the wilds alone, and so greeted Sollus with a nod and gestured him over.

"Ho, Sollus! You might want to find Zach; the boy seemed quite down today, and I think a visit from his friend might help. He'd better cheer up though. He's slacking, and I can't have that. Mind helping me out? He's down feeding the chickens."

"I'll see what I can do." He was pleased, as he was about to ask the man where to find Zach anyway. His long stride carried him quickly away from the bustling town square and towards Victor's ranch. He gave the cows penned outside a glance as he passed by. "Still as dumb as ever," he mumbled. Finally he saw Zach, who was leaning on the chicken pen's fence, watching them.

"Zach!" Sollus waved. Zach turned and looked up, smiling and waving back.

"Sollus, boy am I glad to see you, you old hermit you!"

"That's 'forester'! And I'm not old!" Sollus embraced the much smaller boy affectionately. "What's the matter Zach? Having a bad day?"

"I'm still thinking about yesterday..." He sighed. "One of Victor's cows got out and we never found it. He blames me for that. Then we ran into a pack of wolves, Rob got bitten by a poisonous snake and a wolf almost made dinner out of Victor's arm. Not the best of days." Sollus breathed a sigh of relief. No mention of dragons he thought.

"My god, are you alright after all that?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I even took down a few wolves on my own. Those lessons you taught me saved my life."

"Hah, I told you they would come in handy!" The huge 'woodsman' patted the boy on the shoulder. "Have you eaten yet? I smelled something great in the market when I passed through."

"Victor is making me pay off the cow out of my wages, so I don't really have money for anything aside from a loaf of bread, and that might be stretching it." Sollus grinned and grabbed the boy's wrist with his giant hand.

"Oh come on! My treat!" He half dragged him off the ranch and back towards town. They arrived at one of the many stalls on the street, this one selling fresh cooked beef on a skewer. "Two please," he requested, dropping 10 copper coins into the man's waiting hand and grabbing his skewers before trotting off to where he'd left Zach waiting.

"Thanks, I owe you one." He took the skewer gratefully.

"It is no trouble! I owe you for being away for so long. I just haven't had the time lately what with getting ready for winter. To top it off, it's such a long walk."

"I would still like to see your home sometime soon..." The disguised dragon cringed inwardly. He didn't actually have a home in the woods of course; it was just a fabrication to help hide his identity. He looked down at the skewered meat, not particularly hungry.

"Maybe someday Zach, but it's really nothing impressive -- just a shack in the woods. The forest is my real home." Zach lowered his gaze. They continued eating in silence for a time, Zach finishing his meal first. Finally, he blurted out:

"It's just, I barely even know you Sollus! Can't you tell me anything about your life?" He knew this was an echo of his conversation with him last night. That he felt alone in the world, that he felt like he had no one, that he had wanted to die when the possibility showed itself. He was fragile, and he had to choose his words carefully.

"Zach... There is a reason that I live alone. I just have some apprehension about showing anyone where I live..." Zach did not let up, rising up to his feet.

"Sollus, I've known you for two summers and still know so little about you! Friendships are give and take. Is all I am to you someone to talk to when you get tired of the trees and the birds?" Zach was trembling in anger, feelings he had suppressed resurfacing at last. People began to turn and look around to see what the commotion was. Sollus needed to get them out of there - he didn't want to draw any more attention to himself.

"Come with me, then." Sollus threw what was left of his meal to a dog, which snatched it neatly out of midair and bounded off happily with it. He strode off, head held high, a still angry Zach right behind him. They had just passed out of view of the town when Zach finally spoke.

"I'm sorry. It's just... I've been going through a lot right now, and I don't have anyone to talk to but you."

"No, you have a right to know. I haven't been fair to you." He couldn't believe he was about to do this, but he had no choice. Zach was his best and his only friend, and he didn't wish to lose him. "What do you know about dragons?" He asked bluntly.

"I... nothing, really -- just stories from travelers." Zach stammered out. He smiled.

"Well, what do you think of them?" Zach was clearly uneasy. He was a bad liar, and Sollus knew it. He shifted nervously.

"Well, I don't know. I hear that they're scary -- that they kill and attack for their own sick pleasure. I hope to never meet one!" His smile broadened. The boy was very clearly lying, and particularly poorly at that.

"Well, did you know there's one that lives around here? I've talked to it before. Surprisingly friendly, it was!" His eyes widened.

"Really? You've met him before?"

"I don't recall telling you its gender!" He laughed.

"Well... I just assumed!" Zach stammered out. The boy clearly didn't know what to do, and probably knew that Sollus could tell that he was lying. He looked away and finally snapped out: "Damn it Sollus. Yes I've met him. He saved me and Victor yesterday from that pack of wolves in the woods." Sollus' face hardened.

"Do you trust me Zach?"

"I don't really even know anybody else I would consider as trustworthy as you." Zach met his gaze, and the 'woodsman' grinned.

"Close your eyes Zach." Zach was a little incredulous, but did as he was told. He felt a wind blowing across his face and he thought that he could hear the faint popping of perhaps bone, alongside a strange unidentifiable noise. Then, in a considerably deeper and rather familiar voice, he heard the next command.

"Open your eyes." He did, and standing before him was a dragon -- the same dragon that had saved him the day before. The same dragon he had watched sleep for nearly an hour last night. The pieces slowly slid into place. Sollus...was that dragon! Zach stood there, stunned.

"What? I -- how is this possible? Sollus, you're a, a, a... a dragon?"

He dipped his head in affirmation. "I've watched you for a long time, Zach. I befriended you as the only real companion I could afford having without risking my exposure. I've lied to you about some things ever since I arrived in this region two years ago. I regret it, but you must understand! I couldn't take the risk. I didn't want to have to leave this place. I like living here, I like the town and I like..." He looked down, voice momentarily caught in his throat. "And I like you."

He tensed himself, whole body taut as a spring in preparation for his reaction. Still stunned, the young man quickly collected himself. Gradually, he smiled.

"Sollus, you're my friend, and I can understand why you would keep this," he gestured with one hand at the dragon before him, "...private. But you didn't need to really. To be honest, I...I sort of thought of you as more than a friend anyway." The tension left Sollus' body slowly, and he raised his brow. This was welcome, but unexpected. He had gained feelings for the boy, but he had not thought they'd be returned, especially not after this revelation. He replied, still maintaining a veneer of calm.

"I see. Well, I've grown fond of you as well. But," he coughed slightly, deep and rumbling, "Would you still be interested in me, even knowing that I am a dragon?" The boy smiled.

"I'd like a relationship with you, dragon or not." The dragon blushed, thankful for the concealment his scales provided.

"I'm glad" The dragon smiled, and the two stood there in awkward silence, both momentarily lost for words. Zach was the first to speak again.

"So...Will you let me come back to your cave sometime then?" Sollus quickly nodded in response.

"Of course, I would happy to have you over! I...I apologize for how I acted last night." They talked well into the evening, the awkwardness of it all gradually starting to dissolve as the day wore on. He sat in front of the dragon, nestled between his great forelegs. Sollus told him everything he could think of: His earliest memories, his life before moving to the outskirts of Temaria, how he spent his time whilst undisguised. He even told him the fate of the lost cow, which earned him a fairly solid punch in the foreleg; he responded with a light and playful growl.

After many hours he finally rose from his resting place between Sollus' legs and stretched, yawning wide.

"It's getting late; I should get back. Victor will kill me for skipping out on work today..." The dragon frowned to himself.

"Ah, let me show you something." He stood and looked around, finally selecting an appropriate rock and picking it up delicately in one paw. Strange words emanated from his throat and the rock changed, appearance shifting into that of a beautiful golden coin.

"You can turn rocks into gold!" He looked at the coin, awed.

"It's just an illusion," Sollus replied. "Tell Victor that this coin is payment for having you help me in the woods today. Surely he'll forgive you in exchange for a gold coin?" Zach ran forward and, forgetting himself, hugged the dragon's leg. He let go after a moment, blushing. The great dragon leaned down and rubbed his snout against him.

"I'll see you later, Sollus. Thank you for trusting me. I won't betray your confidence!"

"You better not, unless you'd like to be eaten!" Zach chuckled, bemused that he was joking with a dragon. That his friend was a dragon...

Sollus returned to his dwelling, feeling as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from his chest. He slept easily that night, and his dreams were some of the happiest of his entire life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And thus ends part two! I hope you all enjoyed it, and yes Sollus and Zach are gay, "Le gasp!" what will happen with their relationship? What sort of crazy love will they have? :3 Why am I asking you all of these questions? Find out in the next chapter of Sollus' adventures!