Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Pandora

• Chapter 9 •

“What do you think, Nettle? This one or this one?”

“You literally know I’m not a fashion type.”

Bright made a frustrated face and showed the draping to Ember, who shrugged, already too caught up in promptly covering her horns with bracelets.

Bria watched them quietly as Bright and Ember proceeded to figure out what looked best on each other. Three days had passed since the mob, and the full moon festival was being hosted tonight. To be honest, Bria was excited for this one in particular. She hoped she and Pandora would really get to meet King Toxin.

“Bria! Bria, wear this,” Bright insisted, bringing over an ebony colored necklace and holding it in front of Bria.

“Oh, I don’t need to wear anything,” Bria told her, shaking her head.

“What harm would it really do, huh?” Bright asked. “Besides, the black will make you look almost just like your sister!” Pandora perked up from where she sat a little ways away, playing with some tied-up sticks on the carpeted floor. Her few black stripes were hard to miss, along with a few bits of it on her tail and the undersides of her wings. They matched her black eyes rather well.

Bria thought for a short moment, before sighing. “Alright,” she said, accepting the necklace and putting it on.

The sun was setting at a snail’s pace outside Ember’s den, and the Wyvern’s quickly finished getting ready as the sky dimmed. Bria stepped through the entrance to look out at the mountains and valleys and the lake below. Wyvern’s were spilling slowly from their homes, flying from all directions to a small plateau far off where the light of torches and fire’s could be seen.

“Could I, like, not go this time?” Nettle was asking, padding up to Bria’s side.

“It’s non-negotiable, Nettle!” Bright called from inside, before she jumped out next to them, now decorated in a few loose accessories and pretty bits of jewelry.

“READY!” Ember yelled last, running out and smashing into them. The four were knocked down on the ledge and Bright yelped and swatted at her. Nettle wriggled away and drew herself up indignantly, looking at them as if reevaluating her choice in friends.

“I’ll get Pandora,” Bria said as she stood and moved back inside.

She stepped into the den, feeling the soft rug under her claws as she did. “Pandora, we’re heading off, you ready?” She called gently. “It’s nearly sunset.”

Pandora flicked her tail and looked up from what she was doing, her eyes blinking once. “Yeah, I’m ready.” She stood up slowly and shuffled over to Bria, looking almost nervous.

Bria smiled reassuringly at her, before re-exiting the den with her and taking off with the others. They flew over the lake and up to the flattened ridge, and Bria was the first one to land with Pandora right behind.

They were almost instantly surrounded by other Wyverns of all four tribes, landing and talking and flying over them to the center of the festival. The last remnants of light from the sun had drowned behind the mountains, and the sky became a beautiful dark blue with speckled stars.

Pandora stuck right by Bria’s side as if tied to her. As Wyverns maneuvered around them and her friends, a few took small side glances at Pandora with different looks varying from startlement to disgust to intrigue. A couple of Wyverns stared at them, and in hushed voices turned and disappeared into the crowd as quickly as possible.

Pandora’s face was a confident neutral now. She lifted her snout and shifted a step from Bria, and Bright and Ember hurried towards the main crowd and called for them to follow.

I wonder if I’ll see Rainstone here, Bria thought.

A sound of rhythmic thumping reverberated from somewhere in the center of the gathering. Bria tilted her head and some of the Wyverns made their way towards the sound curiously. At the same time, Ember perked her head up excitedly at the sound, her blue eyes brightening before she went that way as well.

The moon slowly rose into the darkened sky as she and the others emerged into a much more open space. A little ways ahead, a Lightning Wyvern sat on a jutted slab of rock, two old-looking drums in front of her. She was hitting them in a slow, quiet motion with her tail, smiling up as the moon lifted.

Ember’s mouth opened in joy, and she ran over to the Lightning Wyvern’s side and sat next to her. They looked at each other and Ember grinned confidently, before bringing the claws of her wings down on the second drum. The sound echoed three times and then she stopped.

The other Wyvern observed her in surprise, before thumping her other drum. Ember did the same thing back, and the crowd watched as they began a symphony of beats together, the sound ringing through the clearing as the full moon shone down on them.

Tails tapped on the ground as Wyverns watched, as the mood lifted for the festival and voices began overlapping around. Bria watched in pleasure as the two Wyvern’s drummed along, Bright stepping out and bravely throwing herself into a dance that went along with the echoing sounds.

And behind Bria, she didn’t notice as Pandora slowly turned and walked away.

~

The muted gray-blue-green Wyvern loafed on a rock above the main section of the festival. His jaws parted in a yawn and he covered it with the back of his wing, before looking back at his two friends. Well, his one friend and the other one that didn’t seem to like him or her at all.

“It’s cold,” He observed to them.

Other one, otherwise known as Gull, didn't say anything as his twin Zeer laughed aloud. “Cold for you,” She teased. “We’re Ice Wyvern’s, remember?”

“And I’m a lowly Poison Wyvern, got it,” Nor replied.

Zeer climbed higher up part of the rock above Nor, looking down and folding her mottled white and dark blue wings. “And don’t you forget it.”

“Remember that King Toxin is a Poison Wyvern when you start feeling snarky,” Nor said smoothly.

Zeer laughed again, snorting and giggling childishly. Gull rolled his eyes and looked up at the stars, admiring them quietly. Nor glanced at him. Gull really was a strange one, that was for sure.

There was a tiny gasp from above him and he looked to see Zeer pointing down at something. “Look, look, it’s what's-her-face!” She whispered.

Nor looked down and raised his eyebrows in surprise as he saw the strange shape of someone walking casually down below them, away from most of the crowd. It was Pandora.

“You mean Pandora,” Gull corrected his sister.

“Yeah. Right.” She said dismissively. “The ugly Wyvern. Gull, go follow her.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” Gull said simply, scratching his snout with one claw.

“Do it, snow-for-brains! C’mon, she’s all by herself and there’s no way she’ll see you!”

Gull shot a glance at Nor and he gave him a look that said, “Just do it, bro.” Gull groaned and hopped down the rocks silently, gliding down the last drop and landing deftly. He glared up at Nor and Zeer and then went the direction Pandora had disappeared to.

Gull grumbled to himself as he walked. Stupid, stupid, just leave the damn deformity alone, guys. What did she ever do?

He couldn’t argue with his sister anymore and expect not to be clawed. He just wanted to enjoy the festival and watch the night sky, for once! And not get caught up in whatever Zeer and her dumb friend did. He kicked at a rock with a badgered look on his face, before hearing an echo of a second rock falling ahead.

He slowed down slightly, keeping quiet and staying by the rocks where he was more hidden. He looked back to make sure no one was following or watching him, then moved a little ways forward.

His white and lemon-yellow scales and spikes rippled gray under the moonlight. He flicked his tongue out, a cold breeze flowing past him. He stopped and looked up over a small lump of stone.

Pandora was sitting alone with her tail lying limply on the ground to her side, her wings folded and her head looking up at the sky. She looked peaceful, the air shifting past. She didn’t shiver.

Gull watched her for a moment before stifling a sigh, his heterochrome eyes glowing in the darkness.

He was about to turn back around to leave when Pandora’s head turned his way, and he was scared senseless by the sight of her black eyes and bright white pupils. She stared at him, her face quickly shifting to a glare of plain ire.

“Ack!” He ducked down back below the rock, taking a deep breath and staying like that for a few seconds. Hearing no further sound or movement, he peeked back over.

She was gone.

~

Wyvern’s had joined in with Bright in the moonlit stone clearing. Bria saw Nettle bat at a random lantern for fun beside her, sending it swinging back and forth from it’s hanging point. Dragons laughed and danced and talked amongst themselves in the mass.

Bria glanced back, smiling slightly, before her thoughts were cut off as she noticed Pandora was nowhere to be seen. She flicked her gaze around for a moment, but she couldn't see her.

She furrowed her eyebrows. “Where’d Pandora go?” She asked Nettle.

Nettle looked over and winced in guilt of not noticing. “I didn’t see her leave.”

Bria stood up on her hind legs and looked out at the festival’s crowd, only to see a different familiar face.

He was talking to someone, chuckling slightly before he looked and spotted Bria. The dark gray and blue Lightning Wyvern smiled kindly and waved to her. Her tail swished and she gingerly lifted one folded wing to wave back, before she heard talonsteps approaching behind her and Nettle.

“Hi again,” Izzabee’s voice said, and Bria turned around. Nettle’s eyes widened at the sight of her. “General Izzabee? KING TOXIN, OH, UH–” Nettle tucked in her wings and lowered her head, a sign of great respect.

Toxin appeared from behind his mother, looking bashful and only slightly anxious. “Hi, hi.” He looked over at Bria, and Izzabee took a few steps back to stand at Toxin’s side. “You must be Bria?” Toxin asked.

“Yes, that’s me,” Bria answered, pulling her wings in as well and bowing her head. “It’s great to meet you, King Toxin.”

“You really can just call me Toxin, um–” The Poison Wyvern shuffled. “Like you do with General’s.”

“O-OK,” She said quietly, drawing herself back up.

“I was told that–” He paused, looking around, then at Izzabee and then back to Bria. “Where’s– your sister?”

“I… don’t know at the moment,” Bria answered truthfully, feeling embarrassed. “She wandered off, but she’s here, I’m sure of it.”

“Oh.” Toxin said. “Alright.”

“Perhaps it’s just not time yet,” Izzabee said. “Bad luck.” Toxin nodded and shook himself, his dark and light sage green frills making a ruffling sound.

“YO!” Bright called. “IS THAT TOXIN YOU’RE TALKING TO, BRIA?”

~

Gull climbed back up to the two, looking calm but stroppy as Zeer stood up curiously. “Did you see her?”

“Yes, I saw her,” He answered. “And she’s freaky, OK? Just– let’s just go down to the festival and you two leave her alone from now on.”

“What are you talking about?” Nor asked.

“Leave her alone!” He snapped. “Gosh, do I have to repeat myself?”

“It was only once,” Nor said. “I was just showing you guys.”

“Well, don’t do it again. She doesn’t deserve it and I don’t want you guys making enemies.”

“Whatever, Gull, you make no sense.” Zeer said.

“Neither do you, Zeera.”

“Zeer,” She corrected her brother sternly.

He growled at her and Nor quickly stepped in between them, his wings raised. “Quit it. Gull’s right. Let’s go down to the festival.” Zeer gave him a look and he shook his head with a sigh, before jumping up and gliding down to the center of the gathering. Zeer followed him, and Gull hesitated, lashing his tail against the ground. Then he spread his wings and went after them.