12 Echidna? I Barely Knew Her. (1/2)
”So, because I swallowed the stone-of-not-flying, I am currently, um, not flying,” Nelda babbled as she backed away from the advancing creature.Every time she said 'flying' the monster seemed to flinch and become angrier.
”So anyway, I am Nelda a priestess of Machina.This is HoneyBeard and BugleHead who didn't really plan to be here today.”
The creature stopped.”I am Echidna.”
”Oh, ah, that's a lovely name.Guys, isn't that a lovely name?”
”Most people never introduce themselves.They are to busy with the 'aaargh', and 'it's a monster', and 'run away!'” She raised her hands and waved them in a pantomime of panic.
”Monster? Oh no.You are clearly a lovely young, ah, lady.And such pretty scales.Clearly a very refined member of the, ah, dragon family.”
Echidna stopped and tilted her head.”Yes.Nice of you to notice.I am Drakaina.”
[What-ania?]”So, it's been a lovely visit….”
Echidna began to weep.”But none of the dragons will court me because—sob—of my deformity!”
”Oh, oh.” Nelda reached forward to pat Echidna's shoulder, but it was a couple of feet too high of the ground on her wyrm-like body. ”But. I. don't. see… anything wrong with you?”
”How can you say that?Look at this flimsy little head and what are these even for.” She indicated her ample bare breasts.”And worst of all, I can't fly!”
”Um, much as a minor priestess like me would hesitate to make a comparison but I have some of the same, um, equipment—and I couldn't fly until a few days ago.”
Echidna's eyes lit up.Actually literally lit up, as if small candle flames were flickering inside them.”You mean you actually did fly?” Spinning to the satyrs, ”Did she?”
BugleHead just squeaked.HoneyBeard managed to stutter out a reply.”Yes, she was pretty terrible at it but we were definitely up in the clouds. The big dragon saw it too, that's w-where we met her.”
Echidna swivels back to Nelda.”Neld-ah.How did you do it?”
”Well I, ah, took a herb.I don't have any actually on me, but I could get you some and, uh, bring it back here. Maybe.” [So long as you don't kill us first.] Nelda attempted to smile but her whole face felt rigid and tight.
Echidna coiled up the upper part of her body and leaned one arm on the coil.”I like that idea, but you might be a trickster. You might never come back.And I cannot have it known that I, a Drakaina, was fooled by some mere furry creature.”
”Oh, but sister don't you see?” Nelda gambled.”I have the great fortune to be related to you to this great family albeit distantly.Can you not see the resemblance?”
Echidna looked baffled.