Steel tumbled endlessly. The abyss never ended. It was the abyss for a reason. It was bottomless, therefore, you died by starving or of thirst. You feel the constant wind appalling your fall into nothing. In this case, Steel was lucky. He could use his last moments of life as a pegasus right about now, and turned around, flappign his wings to make way back to the vortex he had stumbled through, against the elders' banishment. He zoomed faster and faster through the black world until he reached the vortex, but slammed into it like it were a brick wall. Knocked unconscious, he fell down, head first, into which he would die as said so before. Only a few days left.
It wasn't until hours later when he was once again, conscious. He opened his eyes to the onrush of wind, and curled, righting himself so his back was against the wind. He rubbed his eyes of the tiredness, already accepting his fate. Free fall was actually exhilarating. The coold wind against your hto body, fallng limp and letting the feel of weightlessness kick in.
Steel stayed like that for a half hour, and once satisfied, got an idea of his own. He turned himself over, spread his legs and closed his wings, going into a dive. He opened his wings an flapped, propelling himself faster against the wind, but it quickly slowed him.
Steel Feather always wanted to break the sound barrier. He never could, and had failed many times, being ricocheted back many times in training. And now, having angered the old elders of the village...
He had all the time he needed, all the practice. He flapped harder and harder, qucikly feeling that effect of acids pulsing through his muscles with every beat. An eagle dive, and he maintained some of that momentum while resting his wings.
It took a while, but his wings stopped hurting, and he just endlessly flapped them. He should have broken the barrier by now, feeling that exhilarating rush of wind, that feeling that pulls your gums back, makes you cry. Nothing. It was a steady rhythm of increasing speed.
A ligth rushed passed him, too quick to distinguish, and he looked behind him, still keeping aimed down. Another in a different position. And another. teh ligths, as she flapped on, kept coming more frequently. He considered stopping, but this was the msot fun he had ever had. It made him feel like such a badass.
Continuing on, he could feel something enveloping him, becoming thicker on him as he flew down, faster and faster. The ligths were blinding into one another now, creating feint streaks. then everything ebgan to speed up much more quickly.
The streaks grew longer and longer, creating a centerpoint from which all the ligth flew from, to behind Steel Feather. His wings felt heavier with every beat, and every time he looked at them, he saw them the same. No change, though something told him otherwise. Instinct, maybe.
The ligth turned into a static-like star to which he flew towards, and he smiled, liking the light show, but saw something else there. Each light grew thicker and thicker as he flew faster and faster,a nd he began to see colors in those white lights, distinguishing a single area. t was an area o something, which meant that he couldn't make out details, but knew something was there.
It drove him further, and finally, it looked as if the tip of the blackness began to open for him. His wings flashed to life, giving off ligth that shocked him, and he looked behind himself, seeing that his wings had become like silver, reflecting the speeding ligths around him.
It drove him further.
It was like watching a show that urged you forward, kindled your spirits from a match flame into a raging inferno. He flapped harder, and the hum of metal began to reach his ears, despite him at least flew three times as fast as sound travels.
His wings were heavy, and larger than before, making every wingbeat sound like a giant majestic eagle taking to the wind at full speed.
Steel was almost there. he could feel it. the buzz of energy around him, his massive metal wings, the picture of something around him...
A crack of lightning whipped across him, leaving him unharmed, but it began twirlign around him, as if protecting him. Another, and another. Several arcs of electricity danced across his coat like glitter. He felt it at the last moment as his body was plunged out of the abyss.
A blue explosion, similar to in power and size of a super nova, pulsed through the formerly empty abyss, leaving a blue flame to wake through it's confines forver, or until the explosion finally became nothing more than a small heat wave. No doubt, future ponies might die from it, but Steel was free of the abyss. He was no longer surrounded in blackness, but instead, encased in a blue glow as he tore through the sky like a massive energy volley. He couldn't think of anyway to slow down, but natural wind resistance kicked in, unlike in the abyss, and he slowly slowed down, coming out of the super charged phase, and beginning to actually start to burn. He had a wake of fire behind him that began at least three meters away, and it was growing closer as he ripped further through the atmosphere of this new world. He looked down and found alarge mass of water below, of which he could use, but land to close to the edge, and he'd pile himself into the ground.
But at this speed, it'd be like hitting the solid surface of a flat cliff face. One way or another, he had to do somethign before those flames caught up.
Steel flew at more of a curve, aiming for the center of the huge lake, hoping that he could pile dirve his way through the water to save himself. As he approached, the water slowly dissipated before his wake, and as he slowed, the flames grew closer to him.
He plunged his hooves down and that was it. The fireball flew with him into the water, and though he continued on, the flames did not. Eventually, he began dragging slowly along the shore's bottom until he was driven into the sand of the beach, creating a sizable ditch in his wake, and leaving him half submerged in water as it slowly filled, stopping just below his chest.
Strawberries. Thats what he dreamed of. Or rather the mare he knew as his closest friend. that is...until she framed him. There is nothing mroe heart breaking than when your clsoest friend or friends do soemthing, and you get in trouble, because they framed you for it, and planted evidence. Like some, in-depth plan to get revenge on somepony.
Only Steel's closest friend Strawberry bush, didn't frame him for something, but did use him like a tool, which the event eventually got him banishment to the abyss. She hopped town before anypony caught her. What a fool he was...
The feeling of something grab a hold of him woke him abruptly, and he startled, writhing in the mixture of sand and water.
"Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you!", a soothing voice beckoned.
Steel stopped thrashing, got his bairings, and pushed himself backwards, into the water. Picking himself back up, he stood about leg deep in the water, and felt like a huge weight was clinging to his wings. To his surprise, hiw wings were still made of nothing but sharp, mirror polished metal feathers. And still larger than should be on a pegasus. Massive.
He looked towards whomever had spoken to him, and stared at the figure befor ehim.
It was a dragon. Or rather a small one. Red, young looking, a female too.
"W...what? Who are you? What are you?"
"I'm Psaner. I'm a dragon. Who and what are you?"
"A talkign dragon? You only see those when they're jerks, the female variant of a jerk, one of Celestia's gifted students' pets, or a domesticated dragon for an exotic pet."
"You sound distressed..."
"I am! I have no clue where I am, or what happened. One minute, I'm flying in the abyss, and the next, this anomaly happens, and I'm rocketing through the sky faster than the speed of sound! Next thing I know, I'm here, talking to a dragon."
"Well, I did find you by that which you call an anomaly. Its been a long time since we've seen that much magic used for anything."
"Magic? I'm a pegasus!"
"I know. We have a relative who once was like you. come, you must at elast follow me home, it is safer there."
Steel sighed and followed behind the dragon. As she made her way swiftly and silently through the forest, Steel Feather took his time shredding most of the underbrush with his massive wings, and occasionally losing a feather, painfully, when one got stuck in a tree.
"Are you having difficulties?", Psaner turns.
"Yes! I think that you seem to forget that I have a much large mass than you."
"Well then. Tis only past this layer of brush."
Psaner dove through the tall grass, ligth filtering through the underbrush as she passed through. Steel sighed and pulled his wings as close to him as possible, and they folded a lot more easily as smooth metal did on smooth metal. His wings were an acceptable size now,a nd he lept through the grass, still shredding the udnerbrush, even with all the efforts put forth. With anotehr sigh, he turned away and continued on into the clearing.
Finding himself in a large village-esque city, he couldn't help but feel right at home. It was just like where he was from, save for the humongous obsidian altar...
"Welcome newcomer!"
Steel flared his metal wings, and they fanned out wide and brilliantly, albeit slowly. It didn't not startle anyone else, but he sure did back up a step.
The dragon which spoke to him was much large than the others. Almost three times the average dragon's height. Around him stood two smaller version of himself, and Psaner.
"Oh..."
"I'm sorry for startling you, Metal Wing."
"My name is Steel Feather...", Steel mumbled.
"Well, I am grateful that someone new has shown up from Arax's origin. It's been a while since we've seen one of your kind."
"My kind? you mean a pegasus?"
"Actually, he called himself an earth pony. But you look close to what he did. Same color, too!"
"So...where is Arax?"
"In his home, currently. we have no need to bother him, but you will be permitted to wander among us as friends once you attend the feast of your welcoming.", the elder smiled.
"I'm not..."
He stopped as his stomach growled loudly, betraying his intentions.
"I guess I could."
"Wonderful!"
Steel was lead through the live village-city, up towards the center building, which was made of stone. Already, aromas of very many different spices wafted in the air, catching his nose with a strong sniff.
"That smells wodnerful!"
"Thank you. Our best cooks make the food for me, and my family personally."
Steel noticed that Psaner was following by the elder's side closely, and the elder caught his gaze, chuckling lightly.
"Yes, she is my granddaughter. Or, if you were thinking daughter, then she is not."
"Oh...Thanks..."
"Not a talker, are you?"
"No, sir. Actually, I am just speechless. You are very generous, and I am thankful for the oncoming feast."
"Well, I should inform you that the spices are used mainly for the main course of the meal.", the elder began climbing the steps, "Which to your kind, would not taste well at all, and would cause future problems, even sickness."
"Well, you are all dragons, I wouldn't have expected your diet to be short of carnivorous."
"We are actually omnivorous. Are you a scientist? If so, I could tell you mor eof us."
"No thank you. I'm not planning to stay long either."
Psaner gasped and bounded backwards to Steel's side, brinign herself close to whisper in his ear.
"You shouldn't say that. Grandfather sees short stays as that you are unsatisfied with his generosity."
"Oh, sorry...It's jsut that...I have a home of my own already, and I'm not sure if I can return, but if I can, I want to as soon as possible. I have nothing against this place though, jsut...I already feel out of place - homesick."
Psaner let out a small huff and rejoined the elder's side.
They all entered the dining hall of the cpaitol building, which was actually the only room there. It was jsut a stone roof held up by four pillar legs, like a table. The food was already adorned with various different foods, ranging between the two groups of meat and those of non-animal origin.
"Chose a seat anywhere, Metal Wing!", the elder motioned with a single claw, "I just hope that I may speak with you."
"Well, if etiquette is the same here as it is where I come from, elder gets the head of the table, either end of his or her choosing."
"That would be correct.", the elder confirmed.
"Am I to take my seat first?"
"You are the guest."
Steel tried to fold his wings up as much as he could, and took his seat two chairs from the end of the table, and the remaining dragons each took their seats, immediately loading their plates with food from the table. Steel Feather paid attention to how they collected their food, and it was quite ravenous, yet at the same time, civil. He requested that the bread, corn, and even carrots be brought to him, and each dish moved to him, only to be passed back once he had grabbed his fill.
"Already with a full enoug plate?", the elder asked.
Psaner was seat directly between the elder and Steel, earnign a glance from the pegasus before he spoke.
"Yes, sir. I should have enough to eat after this."
"Ah, but there is one thing upon this tabel that has noguth been brought yet. Can you tell?"
Steel looked across the table, and noticed no water or drinks of any type. Not even cups or bowls.
"Nothing to drink or quench ones thirst."
"Right. Psaneri, would you mind fetching the wine for me, and the first gift to our guest?"
Psaner nodded slowly, "Yes grandfather."
Psaner left and scurried off towards the large balcony which had been rested opposite the stairs they had come up, disappearing behind the next wall.
The elder chuckled, "She is still so young, yet learns quickly."
"I've understood that elders and families with valued blood, do tend to keep teachings, though centuries, even millenia old, alive. I had befriended the son of the chief, where I'm from."
"Son of the chief? A friend? you must have been close."
"We were not close at all, I will not say we were, out of respect for him, and...my mistake."
"istake? Did a mishap occure, injuring him?"
"Fatally...Though, it's not a burden I have the privilege to carry. My closest friend backstabbed me, trying to achieve something that I still have yet to figure out why, and it cost another stallion's life..."
"I...I understand."
"I apologize, but I'm afraid you do not."
"I have had a very similar situation when I was young, only...I had to kill my closest friend. It's somethign which I've reflected upon as a way that nature is teaching me a lesson. In order to take charge, you have to be stronger than anyone, or anything, else. In this case, to achieve my title as an elder, I had to down a mighty foe. Only...for that mighty foe to be my own friend with the same dream. I carry it a burden that he cherished the title as elder over our friendship. This recent confession of yours has taught me that I should trust you more, but keep my wits sharp about you. Anyone can lie, but the sight of real heart break is unmistakable."
Psaner returns, gently setting a large golden pitcher sloshing with a strong smelling liquid inside. She set down to silver cups, one for Steel, and one for the elder. Pouring each of the two the strong wine, she also set down a small golden dish, much like a soup bowl, only with a thick, dark blue fluid steaming inside.
"I apologize for telling you are wrong."
"It is understandable, as said before. Now, aren't you going to drink your wine?"
"I am unsure. I've not tasted anything so strong smelling."
"There is a first time for everything, is there not?"
"You have apoint there, sir."
Steel picked up the cup and brought it to his muzzle, taking a big sniff of the strong drink before tilting it back. It burned going down, and tasted sweetly bitter. Like cherry wine, only heavily strong. Setting down the drink, he swallowed the remnants of the wine he had in his mouth, and let out a small breath.
"Hahah! You really are not a drinker!", the elder laughed, downing his cup of wine, "Though, it would be best that you take your offering now, while your senses are still hazed."
Steel looked at the blue liquid, still steaming as it stays settle in the golden bowl, half filled.
"this is an offering?"
"To ensure trust, we go greater leagues as to even gifting newcomers, and those who stay as guests."
Steel lifted the thick blue liquid to his lips and drank it slowly. It burned even worse than the strong wine, and should his senses not be dulled by the recent appliance of the strong alcohol, he would have scolded his mouth. Otherwise, the liquid was a bit coppery, and otherwise tasteless.
"It's...It tastes a bit metallic."
"It always does. It's nothing that will make you sick or poison, I can assure. After all, Arax did not show any form of illness after consuming dragon's blood."
Steel's sinuses ceased up, and he gulped down the aftertaste of the blue liquid, looking over towards the dragon with a look of rage.
"What?! You made me drink your blood?!"
"Metal Wing, I must request that you not even mention that it is my blood, as it is not. I must also request that you calm down. This whole meal is dedicated to observing you, and deciding whether you are worthy of trusting at all, to answer your next question."
Steel huffed. The dragon was smart, he'll give him that.
"Why blood?"
"...I do not understand?"
"Why choose to feed one another dragon's blood?"
"To consume the blood of a dragon means to bond with them. In this case, you are bound with Psaneri, my granddaughter. She ahs sacrificed her strength to make sure you are as respectful as you are trustworthy. I have deemed you trustworthy enough in the past few minutes. But you act with great disrespect for our kind."
Steel took a ddep breath, then spoke.
"Sir, I am sorry if I have offended you. Where I come from, we don't feed one another our blood. It is considered cannibalism and vampiric to do so, which are both frowned upon very much. I...I don't want to disrespect you, and have aimed my anger at the wrong dragon..."
"Wrong dragon? It is already disrespectful to speak in a firey tone to an elder...but you are forgiven by me. Easily, I may add. but my granddaughter has suffered the brunt of your insult. She offered her own life essence for this gift, and you respond negatively. If it is anyone you should be saying you are sorry to, it should be Psaneri."
Steel looked away from the elder to Psaner, and let out a sigh of embarrassment.
"I-"
"Save it.", Psaner interrupted, escusing herself from the table."
The elder leaned back in hsi chair, relaxing as he looked onward in thought.
"You may stay one night. That gives you enough time to see Arax, and ask him the questions you ahve for him, and enough to rest up and leave in the morning."
Steel looked down at his plate, and nodded in understanding, "Yes sir. I will be gone by the time the sun rises."
"If you ever return, do not expect a warm welcome."
"Understood sir."
"You may still finish eating, but I would have expected you to leave by now."
"I can see that you carry much wisdom, sir. You can tell much of what I will say, and what I will do."
"It isn't just wisdom. I was young and foolish once too. you are nto the only one."
"Well, then what is it to be young and wise?"
"That is a question which you would have to figure out. Why don't you try it?", the elder smiled.
"Because in order to do so, I need knowledge that I have no right to ask of."
Steel excused himself from the table and ran off the stairs, taking flight with his heavy metal wings, flying over the village-city with haste.
The elder chuckled, drinking the rest o the wine pitcher in one go.
"If only he knew."
Steel had made his way past even the outskirts of the village, passing through the huge trees that towered above the underbrush of the forest floor, making it a very small challenge for him to surpass in order to get away from the village. Once the village had gone out of sight, he began looking for a landmark of which to use to try and make his way home from memory. He managed to spot a small, unnaturally made clearing shortly after, and with curiosity and success mixing, he made his way toward it, coming to land on a humongous flat smooth stone. His wing tips scraped sparks on the stone as he landed, and his hooves clopped onto it, echoing through the clearing. There were fruit trees in this area, mixed in with the occasional oak tree. And having not eaten, he gave a sigh of annoyance, walking towards one fo the apple trees. The ground around ti was clear of leaves and old, wrotten fruit, which was odd, seeing as there was no sign of sentient life for at elast a few kilometers, and that would be the village-city of dragons.
"Hello?", he called out.
"What are you doing here?"
Steel turned around to face Psaner, adn froze.
"Psaner???"
"Yes. Why are you here? At My personal garden?"
"I-I didn't mean to intrude, I'm sorry. I was only looking for a landmark to find out how I would get back to the beach."
"You didn't stick around the village I see."
"No. I don't see why, when I'm not welcome."
"Good, maybe that attitude culd get you a meal if you beg for it."
Steel bit back a retort, and swallowed his pride, ceasing the opportunity to try and make amends for what he ahd doen only but a few minutes earlier.
"Listen, I'm sorry for what I said earlier."
"What's to say that you relaly mean it, or that I should even accept the apology?"
"Because I'm putting up the effort to even continue trying to apologize. It may make me look like I'm onyl doign it to get somethign out of it, but think it however you want. I do have respect for others, and if I'm not wanted soewhere, I'll make sure I'm no more aburden than I have to be."
Psaner waited a moment, "Are you done?"
"Sometimes I ponder things. Mostly if something is worth taking, or refusing. If you won't accept my apology, I see no need to be here any longer."
As Steel turned to leave, Psaner stopped him.
"Wait."
Steel closed his wings, and turned to the dragon.
"The odds that you knew where I was, are impossible. I made it here by free running, and nothing can track a free running dragon in these forests. Yet you still apologized. You actually do look as you seem: like a greedy creature trying to get clsoe to us so you can get something out of it, but my grandfather thinks differently, and he has never been wrong. I accept your apology. If you seem so appalled by drinking dragon's blood, then you can finish apologizing by drinking more."
"Fair enough."
"Without any wine before it, and straight from the source."
"If my suspiscions are correct, you mean this to be a painful lesson."
"There is a plus side to it, but I'm not allowed to say anything of it, for bonding purposes."
"You take this bonding thing very seriously."
"It's not just a tradition, but it also has much to do with family. And you're lucky. My Grandfather chose me to be your bonding partner, which says a lot. It's the highest honor any newcomer can achieve."
"I'll take it that it's serious business. Now, the punishment?"
"Eager to try and tough it out? I doubt it."
Psaner raised her right paw to her mouth and bit down, making the blue life essence to dribble from the many holes left in the palm. Steel approached her, and she held her paw out.
"Open your mouth."
He did, and she grabbed ahold of his lower jaw, putting the palm against his tongue. using her other paw, she closed his mouth as the blood began to blister his mouth. Yet, Steel resisted the urge to pulled away, and swallowed hard, forcign the burning life essence down his throat. After the fourth forced swallow, she pulled her paw away, and cradled it, panting, as if she were enduring the pain, not him.
After forcing the last bit of the dragon's blood down, Steel let out a ragged breath, panting from the exertion, and swallowed a few more times, finding his mouth and throat much more leathery than before.
"I may need help getting home.", Psaner slouched.
"I could help you. Just climb on my back."
"Thank you, but I think I can still walk."
Steel nodded, "Alright then. It's about an hour's walk form her, or I could fly us there in a few minutes."
"You can really do that, with such heavy wings?"
"They are defintiely heavy, but work just as good as regular wings. I'm still able to carry more than my own weight."
"Well, only if you promise not to drop me.", she smiled.
Steel stayed silent for a second, then smiled back, "That's a promise I can make and keep with ease."
Steel felt vigorous. The reason why, he did not know, but he felt like he could accomplish a great challenge. It wasn't much, and he wasn't really a show off, but he wanted to prove that he can easily carry Psaner.
laying next to the dragon, he folded his wings back and motioned for her to get on, and she did. Once she was settled, as it felt, Steel stood up slowly, and fanned his wings wide, taking a few experimental wings flaps that would have put him in the air, alone. But they weren't enough. Flapping harder, he managed to get them off the ground, and that made it easier to lift them both. Once they were clear fo the smaller trees' tops, he turned to the direction which the village was in, and tok off, nearly throwing Psaner off his back, should she not be clinging tightly to his mane.
He made it back much faster than it would have originally taken, and for it, he was able to land on the top of the steps of the dining hall before the elder himself left.
The elder looked towards his right, watching as Steel landed gently on the appex of the steps, his wingtips throwing up sparks with each flap. Once Psaner dropped off his back, he smiled widely, and stood, makign his way to help Psane rhimself.
"Metal Wing."
"Yes, sir?"
"I was wandering when you two would return."
"You're always a step ahead, aren't you?", Steel asked.
"Yes. Now, I believe we haven't actually given names. Except for Psaneri to give you her own."
"Should I introduce myself first?", Steel asked, unknown tot eh dragon customs.
"Indeed."
"I am Steel Feather."
"And I, I am Valiur Aphorose. You may address me as Elder or Valiur."
"Yes, Elder."
"Now, Psaner has only told you her selective name, and even I don't call her by her elongated, full name."
"Grandfather, no!", Psaner whined.
"Oh, come now, Psaner, he is going to find out one way or another."
"Well, I'd rather tell him!"
"Hmm? Well, I won't deny my granddaughter's wishes. Though, I think I understand why."
Psaner smiled, "Thanks, grandfather."
"Now, I think it's safe to assume that you got to apologize to her, and that she accepts?", the elder asked.
"Yes, Elder.", Steel answered.
"Then you are welcome here at any time, if it is in need of shelter, food, or care."
"Grandfather, I have also..."
"Hmm? What, child?"
"He has had fresh dragon's blood."
the elder sighed heavily, and looked down at Psaner with a serious expression, "Be careful, Psaneri. Not too much, or even such a gift as to drink from an open wound."
"Yes, gradnfather, it is just that...I wanted to make sure."
"Yes, I understan. I expected you to accept his apology, but not feed him dragon's blood in such a fashion."
"This seems a bit of a delicate matter. May I know why it is such?", Steel asked formally.
"To make it simple, you are bonded with my granddaughter, and I'm sure she's told you how much of an honor that is. But, bonding also means to bond with one another, as friends, as family. Consuming dragon's blood in the manner of bonding does change your soul. And the body must change to fit the soul."
"You mean that it changes me every time I drink dragon's blood?"
"Yes, but if only to bond. Arax had trouble seeing this, and had consumed dragon's blood on a regular basis, wanting to achieve the form of a dragon."
"Was he successful?"
"Oh, after some time, he found a sweet dragon female to bond with, and they've eventually had a family together, but he has only achieved partial change. You, on the other (er...Paw? hoof?), would rather stay equine, correct?"
"I would like to yes. Being changed into a dragon does not bother me, but turnign native may destroy my desire to return home. I have unfinished business that must be dealt with."
"Hmm. Understood. Well, I have yet another gift for you. A home. And the last gift I can give you. The remainder of gifts you receive will be form any of the denizens who are grateful for your stay."
"Your kind really love to have guests, I take it."
"Hmhm! Very much so!"
"So, where am I to be staying?"
"You require to be able to return home, and fear nativity, so I shall offer you a choice of three houses, each of which are on the outskirts, wher ehumble life is common, and land is mor ewidespread. Though, since chosen to bond with Psaneri, you must at least acknowledge her from time to time. Make the trip here, at least."
"I can do that."
"Good. There is a house directly to the east, south, and north, choose whicher you like."
"I am to believe that the lake nearby is to the west, then. So, the south."
"Well, I don't know your reasons, which is a firs for today, but, I don't mind. I don't need to spend my time babysitting a full grown equine. I believe that it is noticeable by it's position, which is on the Klieki river."
"Thank you."
"Today, you are accepted, tomorrow, you bond. In your future, you seek."
Psaner waved goodbye to Steel as he approached the exit, and he smiled back, taking off.
It didn't take long to find the Klieki river, despite Steel's new knowledge that there even is a river. Just looking for a house near a river was easy enough, but the only one that was actually on the river, was like a bulls eye. Steel landed heavily on the deck, seeing as he did have heavier wings, and landing with them is still experimental. Thankfully, it's very sturdy. Newly built, by the looks of it. Steel approached the house, and seeing no activity, walked in. Still nothing. In fact, it was a one room circular house, much like a hut. A bed to sleep, three windows out all sides that are not where the door is, a simple fireplace to burn logs and heat the house, or cook, and a small table. good enough to live in. But not much to say that was there. It is just as easy to add stuff to it as it is to take stuff away. if this is all that Steel has, then he'll make due.
Steel skiped straight to the bed, feeling the fatigue he had been enduring for nearly the entire time he ahd been there. Its not even sundown yet, though getting lots of sleep would be perfect. But in the morning, he'd be sore.
Steel settled onto the bed, and actually tried to move the covers as gently as he could over his wings' sharp feathers. It may be an awesome change, and came without such notice, but they make him feel powerful, despite beign a new challenge to master.
As he drifted into sleep, he pondered what to do in the morning, falling into the familiar abyss he knew only in his sleep.
