[ShadyBro]

This poor dragon seems to have suffered the wrath of a hunters trap. They seem very shy, and are unwilling to eat. They need a good dragon trainer to show them a little compassion and get them back to full health.

Rider: ShimmerSolarPets
Name: Incandescence & Luminescence
Gender: Female
Species: Seashocker

Are all tasks completed?; Yes

[ShimmerSolarPets]

Name; Incandescence (left) & Luminescence (right)
Gender; Female

(Incomplete/Complete) Task #1 - First Interaction (Journal writing)
(Incomplete/Complete) Task #2 - Gaining Her Trust (Journal writing)
(Incomplete/Complete) Task #3 - Nurturing Back to Health (Journal writing)

(Incomplete/Complete) Extra Task #4 - A Home for Incandescence and Luminescence (Journal writing)

[ShimmerSolarPets]

First Interaction

Day 1 in the Sanctuary

The most unexpected thing just happened. I, Codetta Shimmersun, have been invited to come along to the hidden Dragon Sanctuary, along with many other dragon riders! It had almost been impossible for me to believe. I was hardly a true dragon rider. Why is that? Well, first of all, I can't even get Discordance and Artifice to not play any pranks on other dragons and their riders for a single day. Secondly, I can't even get off the ground without gripping Discord and Art's scales a little too hard. Then again, I am one of the local healer's assistants. Perhaps there were too many dragons that needed some tender loving care. Either way, I made up my mind to definitely take care of some dragons there.

Back in my hut, I could hardly contain my excitement. I opened all my personal herb storage cupboards. There were too many to choose from. I decided to take a bit of each herb and stuffed them into my satchel. My satchel bulged with the sheer number of herbs I had shoved inside. I hoped that I had packed enough herbs. Discord and Art stuck their necks through an open window in my hut. Artifice gave a small huff and puffed some green smoke, as if saying, "Hurry up!"
"Do you think I packed enough herbs?" I asked. Discord quickly bit my furry hood and pulled me towards the window. I sighed, trying to calm my pattering heart. "You're right. There will be MANY dragon riders there. I'm sure that between all of us, we can rescue so many dragons." I quickly shut the cupboards and locked them. I ran outside and climbed onto Discord and Art's back. My fingers wrapped tightly around the scales that jutted out from my Hideous Zippleback's back.

We took off into the air, flying to the direction of the Sanctuary. I looked around, seeing some familiar faces also taking into the air to head to the Sanctuary. Just seeing how many of them came along made me relieved. I was sure more than ever that all the hurt dragons would be saved. I scrunched up my face into a frown. Many say that most of the dragons were salvaged from the Dragon Hunters and their cruel traps. How could people be that cruel? The least they could do if they wanted dragons would be to give them a nice home and care for their wellbeing. Discord and Art cruised through the air, alongside some other dragons. I rechecked and rechecked my stock of herbs, out of pure nervousness.

Soon, we arrived at the Sanctuary. My mouth fell open as soon as I stepped into the hidden oasis. So many dragons, and so many people. I saw others talking to afraid dragons. I saw some dragons shying away as some familiar faces tried to approach them and give them some fish. I felt a tug at my heartstrings as soon as I saw the condition of these dragons. Poor, upset dragons, some with visible injuries, while others were immensely skittish and aggressive. Many were scarred, physically and emotionally, by the Dragon Hunters. Many of the riders who arrived with me quickly found their places and the dragons to treat. I felt really out of place. An assistant of the healer who hasn't yet found a dragon to heal? I felt really embarrassed. In addition, I was also quite late to the Sanctuary.

That's when I accidentally tripped on a rock and fell into a nearby water body. SPLASH! Well, if anyone saw me did that, they did not openly let on. Except for Discord and Art. Artifice fished me out of the water. As he did so, I caught a glimpse of a figure swimming up to the surface. I gasped for breath as soon as Art dragged me out of the water. Then, something caught my eyes. Ripples. Two bluish heads popped out of the water, only until their eyes went above the water's surface. I gasped. The dragon was very beautiful, with gentle, curious eyes. Removing my jacket so that it does not weigh me down, I held onto Artifice's neck while slowly swimming towards the dragon. The dragon shivered and kept retreating. "Shh, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you," I whispered. However, the dragon retreated, their eyes narrowing. Not due to aggressiveness, but due to skittishness. Suddenly, the dragon let out a screech.

Sparks of electricity emitted from their mouths. Artifice quickly fished me out of the water. The dragon flailed around in fright, revealing a few jagged cuts on its yellowish wings. Then, it quickly disappeared back into the water with a loud splash and swam away quickly (I could see it due to their bioluminescence). It saddened me to see such a gentle creature scarred in both ways, physically and mentally. I knew that she was the dragon I had to help.

[ShimmerSolarPets]

Gaining Her Trust

Day 2 in the Sanctuary

I did some research. I asked around about that Seashocker. Some said that she was too skittish to let them approach. A few things I got out for sure were: she was the victim of a Dragon Hunter's trap and that she refused to eat. I knew I had to do something. As everyone else started treating and taming their dragons, I quietly sat next to the water body where I had found the skittish Seashocker and started to mash herbs up. From time to time, I could see ripples around the surface, as if the Seashocker was trying to watch me from a safe distance. I guess she knew that I was the silly girl who fell into her pool yesterday.

I relaxed myself and continued mashing the herbs. I was planning to give the Seashocker a little something to boost her appetite. A cold feeling crept around my heart. I needed to be quick. I don't think the Seashocker can hold out much longer without eating anything. A Seashocker has two heads. They have more brains to feed. Discordance and Artifice helped me with creating the mixture. It was hard to keep my eyes off the dragon. She is really beautiful. However, once in a while, I made the mistake of glancing at her. Just a small glance, really. However, the Seashocker quickly disappeared back into the water as soon as I did so, leaving me with only the sight of a glowing yellow blur obscured by the ripples of the water.

I knew I was making progress, though. Every time the Seashocker resurfaced, she dared to come closer to me. An inch every time, but it was progress nonetheless. Seeing Discord and Art's friendliness and mischief around me probably helped her to calm her poor nerves. Sure, they pulled some pranks on me and slightly derailed the operation, but I quickly got back on track. Finally, the Seashocker came close enough to shore that I could easily swim to them and give them the mash. Still, whenever I looked at her, the Seashocker disappeared into the depths of the water.

I knew instantly that the Seashocker was an intelligent, curious creature, but very timid. I realized that I wasn't going to get anywhere near curing her if I did not give her the space to figure things out herself. To realize that I was a friend, not a foe. So, I set down the finished mash near the shore and hoped that it wouldn't tip over. Then, I pretended pay any attention to the dragon. I drew stick figures on the dirt with a... stick. As I expected, the Seashocker approached the mash. The two heads sniffed it and had a silent argument. I gave Discord and Art a bunch of dragon nip to keep them busy. It was a crucial step, and while Discord and Art could be helpful, I really did not want them to prank the Seashocker.

I grabbed a bunch of dragon nip. I held it out in front of me. Slowly, I crawled towards the Seashocker. The Seashocker was still busy examining the mash. As soon as both of their four eyes saw me, they almost backed away and disappear into the water. Almost. They caught the dragon nip's scent, and I could see them relaxing. I got closer and closer still, and when I got really close, the Seashocker nearly swam away in fright. However, one whiff of the fragrant dragon nip scent and they relaxed. Still holding out the dragon nip, I waited for one of their mouths to open. Sure enough, the right head opened its mouth. I held out the mash to it, letting a small drop drip into its tongue. At first, the Seashocker recoiled in surprise. However, I knew that the taste of the mash was quite decent. I kept on holding out the dragon nip. The Seashocker's tensed muscles relaxed.

Slowly, I fed the Seashocker the mash, feeding both heads equally. They were starting to trust me; I could see it in their eyes. Afterwards, I put a dragon nip in both hands and extended my arms out to them. At first, the Seashocker backed away. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you," I whispered. The two heads sniffed the dragon nip. Slowly, they reached out to me. The Seashocker finally dared to touch my hands with each of her heads. It was a truly magical turning point in our relationship that words would never do justice in describing it. "Incandescence and Luminescence," I murmured, naming each head.

After they pulled away, I got two fish for them and held them out in front of them. The Seashocker sniffed the fish and ate them. "There you go," I said, softly. I smiled reassuringly. "You'll be swimming around and hunting in a couple of days. You'll see."

[ShimmerSolarPets]

Nurturing Back to Health

Day 5 in the Sanctuary

I'm sorry, I haven't been able to write in your pages for quite a while, though I wish I had. The past few days have been so tiring, yet so rewarding. Incandescence and Luminescence are starting to get accustomed to my presence. I have been able to get them to eat using an appetite-inducing mash each day. She is no longer severely underweight, and it made me very happy. It's always very rewarding to see that a dragon's health is slowly restoring, and it's a very wonderful process. However, I cannot explain the feeling of happiness I have with Incandescence and Luminescence. I've grown fond of the Seashocker. It was like their pain was my pain, and when they're happy, I could also feel my own feelings soar. This feeling was akin to the one I reserve for Discord and Art. It has always pained me to see Discord and Art hurt, and the same goes with the Seashocker.

To get a taste of how the past few days have been, I've managed to squeeze in a small time to write in your pages of today's activities. Today has been a big day, and a very crucial turning point in the Seashocker's life that it spells out H-O-P-E.

I went to visit Incandescence and Luminescence, with Discord and Art helping me bring a lot of herbs. I had a lot of things to do with Incandescence and Luminescence today. I sat next to the pool they were kept in. Then, I got out a couple of fish from my satchel (it smelled so much like raw fish that some rescued dragons even went after me. NOT a good way to start the day in the Sanctuary, let me tell you). "Incandescence, Luminescence!" I called out. I waited and waited for the Seashocker to come out. That's when two heads suddenly erupted from the surface of the pool, sending a splash of water into my face. I sputtered and coughed, only to see Incandescence and Luminescence staring at me from the pool.

The two of them seemed to sniff the air curiously. Their red gaze drifted towards my satchel in synchronized harmony. Then, they lifted their gaze to me. Incandescence tilted her head. The look in their eyes said it all. 'Your bag smells like raw fish'. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, as she is a dragon and dragons like fish. I took out two fish from my bag and held them out to the two heads. The two heads sniffed them reluctantly. "Go on," I whispered. Incandescence's nose was a mere inch away from one of the fish. At first, they recoiled. "Please eat it. You need your energy," I said, encouragingly. Their eyes flicked their focus towards me and seemed to study my expression. Then, to my utter delight, they each pulled one of the fish away from my hands and ate them.

I could jump for joy. I could dance around and have everyone in the Sanctuary think that Codetta Shimmersun has gone mad. However, I knew that Incandescence and Luminescence did not take well to loud displays of excitement. So, I sat there and let a smile creep up to my face. It seemed like Discordance and Artifice knew about my happiness, because they chattered nonstop. I slowly approached Incandescence and Luminescence. They did not shy away from me. They simply floated there and watched me. I held their wing gently, and unlike two days ago, they did not flinch. I examined their wound, and my feelings soared.

It was healing remarkably well. I applied more herb mixture to it, and this time, she flinched. I could not blame them, however, as it was a natural reaction to pain. I was disinfecting the wound with the herbs, and I understood that it would sting. I spent most of the time feeding Incandescence and Luminescence the appropriate amount of food and tending to the wound. Their eyes reflected their health and happiness, now no longer as skittish as before.

It has been a very rewarding day. Luminescence and Incandescence have regained their natural appetite, and no longer needed the mash. Their wound was also healing very well. I'm looking forwards to the day I could finally find them a home, or perhaps even return her to her natural habitat. But, for now, I must focus on nurturing her back to health.

[ShimmerSolarPets]

A Home for Incandescence and Luminescence

Day 8 at the Sanctuary

This is it! Today's the day I could finally search for a new home for Incandescence and Luminescence. I looked around to find Discord and Art, but they weren't around. I thought they were off causing mischief somewhere, and I should find them as quickly as possible. I grabbed fish and herbs (fortunately, my bag no longer smells like raw fish) and hurried off to check on Incandescence and Luminescence.

The moment I got there, quite a surprising and heartwarming sight greeted me. Discordance and Artifice had arrived there before I did, and they were playing with Incandescence and Luminescence. Inny and Lumi were happily splashing Discord and Art with water. I had to hold back a gasp. Incandescence and Luminescence, a very shy Seashocker, playing with a boisterous Zippleback, like Discord and Art? The sight of the Seashocker finally learning to open up and spend some time together with other dragons made me smile in delight.

I knew that Inny and Lumi (nicknames of Incandescence and Luminescence) were ready to move to a new home. To open up a spot in the Sanctuary. However, the moment I took a step towards the pool, and the moment their eyes riveted towards me and met my gaze, I felt something hold me back from telling them the good news. I found my fingers clasping my bag tightly. A sense of reluctance filled me. I had been looking forward to this day since the first day I met Inny and Lumi. But, now that it has arrived...

Why couldn't I bring myself to tell them?

Putting that away from now, I decided to feed them some fish. Inny and Lumi gobbled them up without hesitation, showing that their appetite has indeed recovered. As they ate and chattered with Discord and Art, I gently grabbed hold of their wing and examined the cuts. It was healing very well. I knew that cuts as deep as the ones they had would leave a series of scars, but that was hardly anything bad compared to how they had looked the first day I met them. The thought of it made me smile, but it also left a pang of sadness.

This means I could say goodbye to them and lead them to their new home.

Honestly, I felt really selfish that time. I kept on silently chastising myself about it. It would be really selfish of me to keep them in the Sanctuary longer than they should be there. So, after interacting some more with them and checking that they're completely healed, I took a deep breath.

"Inny, Lumi, guess what? Today, you'll find a new home! Isn't this great?" I told them.

Their reaction was quite unexpected. I thought they would be joyful. Instead, I saw a small hint of fear in their eyes. Not fear of the new home, no. I looked into their eyes. The emotion reflected by them was a mixture of sadness, fear, and longing. I looked at Discord and Art, who seemed to be a little upset about leaving their new, two-headed friend. Then, I knew it.

Incandescence and Luminescence would miss us as much as we would miss them. They looked at me in a sort of pleading way, like saying, "Do we really have to go?" When I realized this, I knew what to do.

"How about... How about you come back with us? You can stay in the sea near the stables!"

Incandescence and Luminescence lit up, and I felt my own spirits soar. They quickly made excited noises and nodded their heads. I smiled. I looked up at Discord and Art, and saw them excitedly nodding their heads, too. I got up.

"Then, to the stables we go!" I said, cheerfully. I walked off to find a helper to help me get Incandescence and Luminescence to the sea, where we would start our journey home.