The end of the path lay decayed and crumbled causing Leon to leap his long gangly legs a good distance and thump down on to the gritty sand. He turned to assist Heather, not that she needed help but she liked him to act the gentleman and servant to her, whenever it suited.
Landing on the baking hot sands scorching the soles of their feet, they hurried towards a cluster of flat red rocks hidden under a tall looming cliff. A long dark shadow thrown out by the cliff kept the rocks cooled. Jumping onto the shaded rocks soothed the bottom of their feet. This was only a small bay and not many bothered to clamber down the track any more. It was because of the seclusion of the bay that Leon had chosen it for their meeting. Clambering to the top of the largest flat rock he perched and put a little white whistle made of pearly shell husks into his mouth. Having proudly accepted this little whistle as a gift from his mother for his fifth birthday, she had described to him its secret power to call up sea creatures. It also served as a reminder of his mother, whenever he looked upon this treasure.
‘What is that thing you blow in to, it makes no noise?’ Heather looked up at him curiously. Of all the suncircles they had been friends, she had never seen this beautiful shiny pearl white whistle.
‘These are given to Royal children at a young age. As we grow older, we learn different tunes. Each tune is a means of communication with different sea creatures that only they can hear. I last contacted my seafaring friend of the huphins about seven moonwakes ago, to set this up for you. I’m not supposed to divulge the tunes to anyone, so don’t bother to ask me to teach you.’
Leon looked down at Heather, waiting for her demands to know more of this mysterious little whistle but she simply smiled at him and turned to look at the sea. He was none too keen to be doing this for her. If his father or older brother were to find out, there would be very serious consequences to pay. Use of the whistle was meant for emergencies only.
Gadon heard the echo of Leon’s whistle as the humming tune, carried with the wind, brushed across the surface of the ocean’s smooth waves and penetrated into the flow of the seawater. This enchanted tune opened up channels for Mindtalk with whichever sea creature the owner sought. Leon now Mindtalked with his huphin friend and let him know that they were ready for his arrival. Swimming up to the gritty red beach, Gadon peered out of the warm foaming water to locate exactly where Leon waited and noticed him stood on a flat red rock. Swimming the short distance towards the rocks, he was a little apprehensive upon seeing a long haired white beast sniffing around the shores edge. Slowly leaving the water and taking an upright stance, Gadon approached them cautiously.
‘Gadon,’ Leon greeted him in the human tongue, ‘you do me honour in answering my call for help. Glad I am to see you again. Come closer so I can explain my erratic behaviour and introduce you to Heather’.
I am somewhat baffled as to why we meet in such a secretive manner. If you can keep that beast away then I can come to the rocks, Gadon replied with Mindtalk, still suspicious of the dog.
Heather managed to listen in on the freely spoken Mindtalk and pulled Frizzle closer to her, to protect him. She too was a little suspicious of new beasts that she had never seen before but only heard about. She watched in amazement as the huphin walked gracefully out of the water and perched on the rock beside Leon.
‘I want you to meet my friend,’ Leon spoke, looking a little unsure as to how he should go about asking for this strange favour of his huphin friend.
She is one of the daughters of our Head Mage and she is also a Changeling, Leon finished in Mindtalk, somehow feeling the need not to disclose this to the world. He awaited a response from Gadon who just smiled in his awkward huphin way.
Her name is Heather, Leon continued, and she has never had the opportunity to try her ability of performing her Changeling skills. When she found out that I had a huphin friend, she asked if she could swim with the dolphins.
‘But why Leon, my human friend,’ Gadon spoke in the human tongue, ‘would you need me for this? Cannot she just simply jump into the water?’ Gadon was a little baffled.
‘N,no Gadon,’ Leon stuttered. ‘You see, once she jumps into the water her form will change to that of which she first images in her mind. She doesn’t wish to change into a dolphin but into a huphin. She can’t enter the deep waters without changing into a sea creature and she’s a bit too high and mighty to change into just any little fish. I think she sees huphins as ... the rulers of the ocean.’
‘Of this we are my friend Leon, we are indeed the most intelligent and advanced beings of the ocean, do you doubt this?’
Gadon looked at his friend with a confused expression written in his features.
No, Gadon, Leon returned to Mindtalk, hoping to evade Heather. I don’t doubt it. I know huphins rule the oceans but Heather is, in my view, being a bit particular who she images into and she insisted that it must be an intelligent being such as your race.
‘You’re not handling this very well are you Leon?’ Heather interrupted. ‘I would like to speak with you myself Gadon, as Leon here just pomps around without a clue of how to explain my request in a manner that befits a leader such as yourself.’ Gadon turned his head to Heather realising that this female of the humans evidently wanted to be heard. She reminded him very much of his own races equivalent gender and he patiently awaited her explanation.
‘You see Gadon, my father will not allow me to practice my skills, so to speak. I feel however that it is time that I saw what I’m made of and it is my skill after all, and not his. I‘ve heard that huphins are beautiful swimmers of the oceans, so, naturally you’re my first choice. I want to swim as you do, and I want to play with the dolphins, because as I watch them I‘m longing to experience the huge oceans and frolic in the waves. I grow weary of the lands, they’re shrinking me.’
‘I am not familiar with ssshhrink-in-g. What is this Heather of the humans?’
‘I need more space. I know I haven’t seen all of the lands yet but when I look at the waters I think it’s time I was in them, don’t you agree? I mean, what harm can it do for a girl to have a quick swim? None I tell you, none whatsoever. Leon here thinks I won’t be able to control my Changeling skills but how are we ever to know if we never try?’ Heather was determined that Gadon would bend to her will, as Leon had.
‘It is not for me to decide this thing for you,’ Gadon was conscious of becoming involved in family matters; he was after all a father himself and knew all too well of the impudent cheekiness of a daughter. ‘Fathers, in their wisdom, are always concerned about the welfare of their children and so make such boundaries. It is for you to know your father’s rules and decide where your boundaries lay,’ he advised. ‘The oceans are indeed a huge and wonderful place to be and I for one would never wish to leave the waters, as you wish to leave your land.
But, on this I agree, let us try this Changeling thing. I have heard of this skill. It would be my honour to assist in such an experiment with my new friend Heather. Come, take your first step into the water and I will guide you and let us see what events take place.’ Gadon was as curious as Heather to seek the outcome of this game.
Leon looked to Heather with a wary gleam in his eye and a squint to his brow. ‘Heather, you can’t stay out there for long. We don’t know if your Change is instant or what will happen,’ he pleaded.
‘Yes, I can and yes I will,’ Heather answered haughtily. ‘I’ll stay as long as it takes, young Leon.’
He accepted she was clearly going to go through with this and that all he could do was to stand by and pick up the pieces, should any disasters occur.
Chapter 15 Dolphins
Dayloon, showed itself during the moonwake, was halfway down the skies, indicating that the moonwake was half way over. Leon thought to himself that at least there was still half of the moonwake to go before anyone would miss them.
He watched anxiously as Heather tipped her toe into the swirling waters by the shore. Squealing with amusement as the water tickled her
ankles, she was delighted at the warmth of it. Gadon had now waded back into the sea and slowly circled near her.
‘Oh Leon, why don’t you come in as well? It truly is a wonderful sensation when the water washes around your skin. I wonder when I’ll Change?’ she giggled, carefully stepping from the shallow to the deeper depths of water.
‘No. Wait, no!’ Heather suddenly screamed. ‘I can’t do this. I’ve just remembered something.’
Sensing her sudden panic, Frizzle barked loudly, fretting that his mistress needed him.
‘What is it Heather?’ Leon shouted as he hurried to her.
Standing motionless at the waters’ edge, she tried to explain her dilemma. ‘My clothes, what will happen when I Change?’
‘Is that all?’ Leon could not believe his ears. ‘Is that it? You worry about how pretty you’ll look at a time like this?’ waving his arms exasperated that she could be so concerned at such trivialities.
‘No, Leon. You don’t understand. I don’t know if I should take off my clothes before I Change. I don’t even know what a huphin wears.’
Calm yourselves my human friends, Gadon Mindtalked to them both.
‘Yes, Gadon,’ Heather retorted. ‘But I must be able to visualise what a huphin wears or I will be naked.’
Frizzle, totally unnoticed by all around, had barked himself to a silent woof in his excited and confused state. Realising all was well he gave one last yap and settled himself crouching down on all four paws, ready to pounce if everyone started to shout at each other again.
‘All right Heather,’ Leon tried to think of a solution. ‘Gadon is wearing dark green pants.’
‘That’s no good to me.’
‘What!’ Leon yelled. ‘There’s just no pleasing you in this matter.’ Gadon, can you come back here so she can see your pants.
‘Leon, it is not Gadon’s pants I wish to see. I need an idea of the female clothing.’
‘Heather is right. Our women do not wear these, er, pants as you call them. If she visions only what I wear she will indeed be naked on her top.’
Leon burst into a fit of laughter at the absurdity of the situation.
‘What is so amusing, young Prince Leon?’ she was in no mood for humour.
‘You can be any creature in the whole of Aarabassa and yet you are so bashful about your own shape. And, stop calling me Young Prince Leon, I find it very patronising.
‘Ha,’ the argument was building in its intensity. ‘What shall I call you, a pig perhaps?’
‘There’s no need for that, I merely wished to point out that no one cares what you’re wearing.’
‘Well, I care and for your information, my maid Gloria would care also. She spends a long time arranging my wardrobe and my hair and she “cares”.’
Frizzle once again began his barking, he didn’t like to miss out on all the banter.
‘Right that’s it,’ Leon bellowed. ‘We will do this thing another time. I’m calling this whole thing off.’
‘No, I refuse to leave the water. You can’t make me. Gadon, Gadon are you there? Can you hear me?’
I think the whole of the ocean can hear you. Now both of you stop your lovers quarrel and let us deal with this very small problem. ‘Lovers quarrel!’ Leon was shocked at his friend’s statement.
‘Who could ever love such a selfish spoilt girl?’
‘I am not a spoilt girl and this is not a little problem. Gadon, please describe to me what your women wear.’
Gadon remained in the waters where he was safe from the fighting duo. I understand your dilemma Heather. Our clothing is twined tightly together from a dark green seaweed that grows on the ocean bed. Our females weave a costume that covers their body only. It has no sleeves and does not cover their legs. They cover their womanly form.’
‘Right, that was all I needed. Now I can imagine this costume and I will at least cover my own womanly bits.’
‘Woman, ha that’s a laugh. Don’t you think you should grow up first?’ Leon could not resist the temptation in retaliation to his own frustrations.
‘I’m leaving you now,’ she snapped back at him, sticking her nose in the air. ‘Maybe you’ll do some growing up yourself while I’m gone.’ She turned and paddled further into the warm caressing seas.
‘Gadon!’ she shouted. Unable to see him she Mindtalked, it’s getting a little deep here, are you there to help me?
I would not leave your side for a million pearls my human friend. I think you must start to focus your mind on my image, if this is to be your chosen Change.
Gadon swam up to catch Heather in his arms as the water under her became too deep for her feet to tread land at the bottom. He sensed Heather’s excitement at the idea of this game but was also aware that his friend Leon did not share this enthusiasm.
He called to Leon’s mind, do not feel so much worry for your friend Heather, I will not let harm come to her. I will treat her life as delicately as I would my own daughters. She must try this thing for herself. Wait.... I feel something is about to happen.
Gadon, tell me, what is it? Tell me quickly, I have to know what’s happening. Please, my friend, I can’t help but feel it’s bad?
He doesn’t need to Leon. Thankfully Heather’s voice Mindtalked him. I can tell you myself. I just simply imagined a huphin female and now I am one. I have a sort of grassy costume to wear. There was no pain, no blackness, nothing. It’s amazing. I love it. I’m swimming in the deep depths and feel no fear. Gadon is beside me and is happy for me. You should be too.
Leon looked out over the surface of the green waves but could see no sign of his friends. Frizzle whimpered, wondering how his mistress had so quickly escaped him. Why couldn’t he smell her scent anymore, she was always somewhere nearby?
‘Don’t fret Frizzle,’ Leon patted him reassuringly. ‘We’re both to wait this thing out, you and me. Let’s hope she doesn’t stay in the oceans too long. She might not be able to Change back.’ Leon mumbled in an attempt to reassure himself, as well as the dog, but his gut feelings were not good. He wished this moonwake over with and the next one to bring something really boring with it. He’d had enough excitement for now.
Dayloon had dropped further, drawing nearer to the horizon. His stomach ached but he was not sure if this was worry or hunger. Frizzle had found a shaded spot and quickly fell into a blissful dream of chasing a fast fat squirrel up a tall tree.
Leon paddled ankle deep in the frothy parts of the water, kicking at the rippling surf and longing for Heather’s quick return. He trusted Gadon with her life but that did not ease his gut-worry. With the Mindtalk link severed, all he could do was find some patience from somewhere. Leaving the water’s edge, he joined Frizzle in the cooler shade of the cliff. Frizzle pricked his ears up and looked to the top of the cliff, whining. For a moment he thought he had glimpsed a shape up there but realised he was squinting at the brightness of the sky so must have imagined it. Lying beside the dog, he too went into the world of dreams, anything, to stop his worrying.
Amazed that she could breathe so easily under water, Heather looked at her hands as she swam and noticed the webs between her fingers. Gadon swam in front of her following a school of dolphins, he turned his head to give her reassurance and she was shocked to realise that, just like Gadon, she would have no hair. Rubbing her webbed hand over her head, she felt a strange sensation as not only did she lack hair but also her skin no longer felt soft. Her skin was hard and slippery to touch. This would take some getting used to, not having her female human assets of golden curling locks and soft peachy skin. She felt happy; this confirmed that she truly was the Changeling. All her life people had told her that this was her born gift but it had to be kept a secret, known only by a few, and she could never try it out to see if it really worked. Now, she knew it did and it was her unique skill. Her father would be so pleased, she was sure.
Heather, Gadon Mindtalked. I am heading to the dolphins so you can swim with them before you return. Follow me.
What is it my sea friends? the Prince asked of them as he joined the small group.
They all replied at once in their eagerness not to lose his attention.
Prince Gadon we must speak with you.....
But you told us to leave you alone.....
We really must as it is very urgent.....
But we do not want to disobey you and.....
They proceeded to signal a strange squawking noise that seemed to vibrate through the waters.
They are distressed Heather, Prince Gadon explained. That is a distress call. I must find out why they cry out so. They are excitable creatures and it is probably something and nothing.
Quickly, Prince Gadon, Heather felt concerned at their frantic behaviour, do ask them what what worries them so.
One brave little dolphin swam up to the Prince and nudged his hands as if testing out whether the Prince would fend him off or stroke his nose.
Tell me, what is it my sea friend? The Prince asked of this little creature.
Guardian Dragons Page 7
