Chapter Text
[LEO POV]
As soon as we landed on the outskirts of the village the girl had jumped down and ran off towards the nearest street.I did try yelling after her but my voice was sore and going after her was out of the question.
I looked towards the big metal dragon, I was still confused but I mean it’s possible I guess. I couldn’t remember much, but when I felt like technology was getting more advanced by the day, it was one of those basic human things I knew, like water keeps you alive and fire kills you. So it might be accomplishable to build metal dragons now.
When I look down at it from my position on top the machine looked like he was sleeping, I am pretty sure that machines do not sleep. He was emitting a cloud of smoke when he “breathed” that floated towards the sky before dissipating.
I was transfixed by this dragon. Whoever had invented this must have been a genius. It was just laying there, it almost looked alive.
After watching the dragon and waiting for what felt like hours laying on top of itI decided I needed to do something about my situation. My clothes were a complete mess and everything inside of me hurt. I felt like a broken jar of jam. So I chose to start by trying to find a river to wash myself and hopefully clean my injuries.
When we were flying above I could see many rivers or streams. So I slid off the metal stomach, quite awkwardly. I ended up on the ground looking up at the sky. I looked around me and I grabbed the nearest stick - it was a very convenient, good walking stick - and I sat up slowly using it for support. I walked towards what looked like a path and started trudging through it. Starting to wish I had some sort of shoes as my feet scraped across sharp rocks and wet mud.
I hadn’t walked that far, though it took me quite a while until I heard water. I tried picking up the pace, which proved to be quite hard with a stick being a substitute leg.
After quite a bit of hobbling I reached a small clearing with a small but clean river flowing through it. I sat down next to it. I peel my shirt off my chest, which proved to be quite gross since it was layered with dried vomit and blood. At the back was a huge rip, I groaned as my ribs slightly stung.
What could I have possibly done to be in this much torment? Probably something really stupid and life wrecking.
I dipped my shirt in the water, nothing was really getting off, only a few particles that slowly mixed in with the river, hoping the fish weren't too mad.
Eventually however I gave up and cast my shirt to the side, dipping my bloody hands into the water. It was cold and it stung against my cuts but it was still refreshing. I made my hands into a cup and drank some water, I had not realized how devastatingly thirsty I had been. Weirdly I wasn’t very hungry. Once I was done washing my hands I moved onto my abnormally scrawny chest, then I took off the rest of my clothing until I was just in my underwear. I had cuts and bruises everywhere. Some looked infected, there were other smaller scars that looked like they had been there before the incident on my wrist and hip, they looked self inflicted. I washed them all trying to somewhat get the dirt off.
Once I was fairly not appearing to be a man after a battle in the trenches of WW1, I got up with my loyal stick and started to walk back. Maybe that girl would finally give me some answers.
***
Well, she in fact was not back, the dragon was also no longer here, and I was honestly kinda sad, it seemed like a nice dragon. It was only late afternoon and the sun was barely setting. Someone in the village may just let me stay the night, in the morning I'll find the girl and get answers and I just might have a home to go back to.
The village was only a short limp away and I got there before it was dark. It was a small old fashioned place, with houses lining the streets and a few shops selling who knows what. It looked warm like it would be a good place to grow up.
Though there were a few street lights illuminating the space around them even before the moon had come up. There were only a few people out on the streets and none of them looked too welcoming.
It was getting colder and I didn't have any money. All stores were closed and people retreated to their houses as they saw me. I tried asking a few people but they just looked at me weird before walking away. To be fair I most likely looked insane as a teenager with no shirt, soaking wet pants and looking like I hadn’t slept in days, news flash I had in fact not.
I had to resort to knocking on doors, I would not just quit and freeze to death on these unwelcoming streets.
Some doors didn’t answer, though sometimes I could see them poking through the curtains and turning away. Some doors creaked open but when I started speaking they shut the door hastily. Some looked at me with pity but told me to try a hotel since their houses didn't have room
I wandered the streets, my arms starting to feel numb. My feet were practically frozen ice cubes separate from my body. My stick clinked against the stone pavement as I used it to hold my weight. Finally after walking around to the outer parts of the area I ran into a park. It was small but it had an upper part for slides and monkey bars, which meant it had an under part for sleeping.
When I crouched under it was a little bit warmer. It only had three walls and a small window which was letting in even more cold air, but it was better than a bench. I crawled up into a ball seeking warmth from myself.
It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep despite the cold and uncomfortable position.
***
The next day also had little success, I searched for the girl and the bronze dragon with no luck. However, near the end of the day when I was passing by the market stalls, there was this one stall filled with just about everything you can knit, crochet and some cheap factory made looking ones. Inside the stall was an old grandma who was knitting another project. She looked up at me, she had a kind smile, it had the same presence that it must have had ever since she was a child.
“Hello there.” She said gently. “You look like you need some warmth”
“Im sorry ma’am but i have no money” She looked a bit disappointed
“Well then please take a sweater to keep you warm” She gestured tothe ones she clearly hadnt made. I didn’t mind, she probably had just worked hard on her hand made ones and so they cost more.
I grabbed a red one that felt cheap like polyester, I loved the color. She nodded and I mumbled. Thank you. I walked away quickly before she changed her mind.
***
I stumbled back to the park, I had found a nearby drinking tap. Also, and I wouldn't say I was proud of this but I was happy none the less I had stolen a chunk of bread from a grocery store, I had been starting to get hungry.
As I lay down in the same position as last night, I wondered, how long could I stay here for, where would I go if I couldn't find this girl. I was hoping that maybe at least a name or place would come to me so I would know when to start looking.
I lay there looking out the crack of the walls at the stars, I wasn’t tired I was too used to not sleeping.
Then out of the corner of my eye a shadow moved. Someone moved from the darkness under the tree. It was her, I wasn’t surprised, life did not make much sense right now, but she kind of did. Surely I would get at least one answer now.
“Who- who are you?” I asked and for some reason I was afraid of what she might say..
She rolled her eyes dramatically and sighed “Calypso” she then crossed her arms.
Then my head started to throb like my heart had done one too many summer salts and ended up in my skull. Perhaps answers weren't all they were cracked up to be.
[CALYPSO POV]
We start falling down, just when I think that I might have had a fool proof plan to get off that stupid island.
I made a sound like a yelp, but much more dignified as the dragon shook. Leo's eyes flutter open, his hairs everywhere and all his clothes are disgusting. So he looks like a muddy koala bear waking up.
“DO SOMETHING TO HELP FESTUS” I yell. He looks so confused, what was wrong with him?
“The dragon's name is Festus” he asked, yes no shit. The dragon hummed to life and we started to fly again, but I had bigger problems now. I was holding the dragon still to keep myself sturdy. When we started towards the ground. “Are you okay Leo?” I said cautiously. Recognition flooded his face confirming my theory.
He had lost his memory and I was not able to deal with it at this moment in time
***
I had to run, if I stayed whatever the gods had in plan for Leo could affect me. I was in fact very much done with the gods. So I ran from Leo and his dragon into the village.
Where would I go, back to camp? How would I get there? I was walking the streets strolling past stores, my stomach growling, Me and Leo's unconscious body had been trying to get to America for three days with little food. I felt a pang of guilt, Leo had not eaten anything, I could not just shove food in his mouth and hope for the best, I had managed to give him water though.
I needed to get out of here, so I decided to ask the villagers how to get out of here. They were all unhelpful, saying the only way out was by walking or car. I didn’t know what a car was, so I knew I had only one option. I had to steal Festus from Leo.
***
Conveniently when I got to the clearing, Leo had left. He had taught me how to get Festus into suitcase form so all I had to do was get close enough without waking him up and getting him out of there was easy enough. There was also a small pouch that Leo had taken to my island when picking me up, I picked it up, Loe clearly didn’t want it.
Though it was uncomfortable to lug around due to its weight. I managed to drag it back to the village, with the little money left in there, I figured it was enough to stay the night, get supplies then leave.
I found a small 3 story motel with the reception on the bottom. It's empty inside and the guy on duty does not look like he wants to be here. I buy a key quickly, and hurry up 2 flights of stairs and to my door.
09
The room is small but it will have to do. There is a single bed with a window directly above it, a door to my left - probably the bathroom - and a wooden dresser complete with a mirror.
I walk across the room, today has left me drained so I fall down onto the bed, I quickly drift off to sleep.
***
I wake up feeling groggy, unusual since on my island I had everything I needed, here I did not even have access to a toothbrush.
I got up from my bed after a while of just laying there. I went to the bathroom sink and started splashing myself with cold water. I re-braided my hair, got my only possession - Festus in his suitcase form - and started to head down the stairs to the lobby.
***
Why wouldn’t this dumb dragon co-operate? It refused to fly and I think I might know why.
“You have to trust me. Leo is making his own way back” I groaned for the millionth time.
The dragon just stared at me and made some mechanical noises that are incomprehensible and quite frankly annoying. So I just sat down, against a rock in the small field by the park. All I could do was think and think and think. How could I get out of here?
Maybe I needed Leo after all.
No, I can’t. I can’t be involved with the gods again. Never again.
***
A day is all it took for me to decide I would help him, if only because he saved me once. Maybe I could even get him to help me more too in the future.
So after milling about the town, when the sun starts to set I head towards the playground. Where else would he have gone, he has no memories, money or home. It's a short walk but it's completely dark when I open the fence door into the area. I can see him under the slide.
This is going to be a long talk. With many questions, and perhaps I will answer a few.
[LEO POV]
She had sat next to me after my, well, headache or whatever but we still did not speak. Deciding to break the silence I speak “Are metal dragons normal”
She looks at me with a hint of fear in her eyes “Leo do you remember anything”.
“I know that's my name and yours is Calypso” I saw trying to sound upbeat. This seems to worsen her mood and she looks away from me.
“Come Leo let’s go, it will be easier to explain when we get there”. So I follow her, out of the park, down the street, into the town, until we reach outside of a small dingy hotel.
We looked at each other, she really had beautiful eyes “Leo look..” She was cut off when something had grabbed her, a big towering giant with one eye. It must have been 8 feet tall. She was screaming. I couldn't hear what I was frozen looking at the monster holding her. I was petrified.
I ran down the street, out of town, into the forest. I ran until I could no longer run.
It was a dream, it must've been. But why did it feel real?
Most importantly of all however, what the hell just happened and why.
Why did I still have zero answers?