Blue lay in the gentle swaying hammock, his wings stretched out and resting against the soft leaf fabric. The cool, healing waters surrounded him, and the air was thick with the sweet scent of flowers and herbs, both calming and soothing his aches. He felt the tender touch of the dragons tending to him, applying salves and bandages with careful precision. The quiet murmurs of the two dragons working over him were the only sounds in the otherwise serene healing pool.

The white dragon with the star-shaped marking on her head was the more talkative of the pair, occasionally muttering to herself as she worked. "Hmm, you're different than our kind of SilkWings," she remarked, her voice soft but curious as she adjusted the bandages on Blue's wing. Her scales shimmered like the first snow of winter, and her deep violet eyes were both sharp and gentle.

The green dragon beside her, his scales like the leaves of the forest, gave a short, exasperated sigh as he rolled his eyes. "Don't be stupid now," he muttered, focusing more on preparing additional salves and ointments. His tail flicked in irritation, but there was a hidden warmth behind his words.

Blue, though still drowsy from his exhaustion, couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle at their exchange. He'd never been one to appreciate others fussing over him, but the care these two were giving him felt different. It wasn't patronizing; it was the kind of attention one would get from someone who genuinely cared about the well-being of another.

The white dragon shot a playful glare at her companion. "Oh, shush it," she snapped, her voice teasing as she continued to gently rub the salve over Blue's scratches. The cooling balm tingled on his skin, easing the sting of his wounds. "I'm just saying... he's not like us. His scales, his wings—they're not the same."

Blue let out a soft sigh, his eyelids growing heavier as the warmth of the healing waters relaxed him further. He didn't have the energy to explain his story—how he had been forced to leave his tribe, how his journey had taken him far from home, into places unknown, and into the hands of powerful and strange beings.

But he didn't have to. The two dragons seemed to sense it. The white one, her star marking catching the faint light as she worked, fell silent, clearly focused on her task. The green dragon continued his work, though with a softer edge to his usual gruffness.

As Blue began to drift into a light sleep, the peaceful hum of the healing waters and the quiet movements of his caretakers lulled him into a sense of safety he hadn't felt in weeks. His wings, though still aching, no longer felt like they were weighed down by his previous injuries. His muscles, too, began to loosen, and his breath became steady.

The green dragon, finally finishing his work, paused for a moment before speaking again. "He'll be alright," he murmured quietly, as though to reassure himself as much as his companion. "He's tougher than he looks."

The white dragon glanced down at Blue's resting form, a slight frown knitting her brow. "Yeah," she agreed softly, almost reluctantly. "But I can't help but wonder where he's really from... what's his story? There's something about him that's different."

The green dragon said nothing, but his eyes lingered on Blue for a moment longer than necessary. Finally, with a flick of his tail, he turned and began gathering the remaining supplies. "Maybe it's best we just let him rest for now," he said with a shrug. "We've done all we can for him. He'll tell us his story when he's ready."

The white dragon gave a small nod, her eyes softening as she looked at Blue one last time. "Yeah, you're right. For now, we just let him heal."

With that, the two dragons quietly retreated, leaving Blue to sleep peacefully beneath the gentle swaying of the leaf hammock, his wounds tended to, his body finally beginning to rest after what felt like endless days of pain and uncertainty.

As the water gently lapped against the shore, the soft glow of the setting sun bathed the room in golden light, casting long shadows across the stone walls. Blue's chest rose and fell in steady breaths, the only sign of movement in the otherwise tranquil space. He was safe for now—no longer on the run, no longer carrying the weight of his past alone.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Blue allowed himself to simply sleep.

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Blue blinked, momentarily disoriented by the dreamlike setting around him. The soft glow of the luminescent algae bathed the clearing in hues of purple and green, casting an almost otherworldly light on everything it touched. The air smelled faintly of moss and the coolness of water, soothing to his senses after the turmoil of the past days. For a moment, he wondered if he was still dreaming—until his eyes landed on the white, fluffy dragon sitting by the pool's edge.

Her scales shimmered with a pearly sheen, reflecting the soft light around her as she smiled warmly at him. Her wings were delicate, almost ethereal, with the faintest iridescence in their tips. There was a gentle elegance to her presence, as though she belonged in the heart of the world itself—unseen, yet always watching.

"Hey there, nice to meet you," she said, her voice like a soft melody, a perfect match for the peaceful atmosphere of the place. Her warm smile was inviting, and without hesitation, she patted the smooth rocks beside her, urging him to sit. "Come sit with me."

Blue hesitated for a moment, unsure of what was happening. Was this some kind of spirit? An illusion? He glanced around, noticing the ferns that framed the entrance to the pool and the quiet trickling of water from a nearby stream. The place felt safe—too safe to be real. And yet, the gentle flicker of light from the algae seemed to draw him in, comforting him, like it was beckoning him to let go of the tension that had gripped him for so long.

Reluctantly, he made his way over, his wings still feeling stiff but not as painful as before. The white dragon watched him with an expression of calm amusement, her eyes full of warmth, and perhaps something deeper—something ancient.

"You're not from around here, are you?" she asked, her voice low, but the curiosity in her tone was undeniable. "I can tell. You're a bit... different from the others. But you don't have to explain yourself to me. I know how it feels to be... out of place."

Blue lowered himself onto the rocks beside her, unsure of what to say. His usual instinct would be to shut down, to keep to himself—but there was something about this dragon, her gentle demeanor, that made him feel strangely at ease. The words, once locked behind his throat, seemed to come out more easily than he had anticipated.

"I... I don't really know where I belong," Blue confessed, his voice rough from disuse. He hadn't spoken much since his injuries, and now that he had the chance, it all seemed to spill out. "I used to think I had a place—among my tribe. But things... things changed. Now, I'm just trying to figure it all out."

The white dragon nodded thoughtfully, her eyes never leaving his face. She seemed to understand more than words could convey, the quiet wisdom in her gaze telling him that she had seen and felt things beyond what most could imagine.

"I know that feeling," she said softly, her wings folding around her as she sat up straighter. "Not everyone fits into the molds they are born into. But sometimes, that's okay. You might not have all the answers now, but you're on your own path. And maybe that's the most important part."

Blue's golden eyes met hers, studying her for a moment. There was something comforting about her presence, something that made him feel like he wasn't alone in the vast world. The idea of not being confined to one identity, to one way of life—it was new to him, but also strangely freeing.

"How do you know so much?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. "Who are you?"

The white dragon smiled again, a quiet, knowing smile that made her seem even more enigmatic. She didn't respond immediately but instead gestured to the world around them. The algae glowed even brighter now, casting a soft light on the surroundings, and the water in the pool seemed to hum with an energy that Blue couldn't quite understand.

"I've been here longer than I can remember," she said finally, her voice almost wistful. "Not in this place, exactly—but in this world. Watching, learning... and growing. I guess you could say I'm a bit of a traveler, just like you. I've seen many creatures like you, searching for something they don't even know they're looking for."

Blue felt a pang of understanding. She wasn't just talking about herself; she was talking about him, too. She had seen the uncertainty in his eyes, the way he constantly searched for a place where he could belong.

"And what about you?" Blue asked, turning the question back to her. "Why are you here, in this place? What are you waiting for?"

She seemed to consider this for a moment, her tail flicking gently in the water as she took a deep breath.

"I'm not waiting for anything," she said, a twinkle in her eyes. "I'm just living. And that's enough for now. The world will give you what you need when the time is right. You might not always understand why things happen, but that's part of the journey."

Blue looked out over the pool, his thoughts swirling. The idea of not having to force everything, of letting the journey unfold on its own—it was foreign to him, but it also felt right.

"Maybe you're right," he said slowly, feeling a small weight lift from his shoulders. "Maybe... maybe I don't need all the answers right now."

The white dragon nodded approvingly, her wings fluttering slightly as she stood, offering him a warm smile.

"Exactly," she said, her voice light and full of reassurance. "You're on the right path. Just take it one step at a time."

Blue stood with her, his wings stretching cautiously but no longer in pain. The weight of his worries seemed to have faded, replaced by a quiet sense of peace he hadn't known he needed.

"Thanks," he murmured, giving her a grateful glance.

She gave him a wink, her smile ever so serene. "No need to thank me. Just remember—you're not alone in this world. And you don't have to carry everything on your own shoulders."

With that, she turned and walked toward the glowing water, her form fading into the soft light. Blue watched her go, a sense of calm settling in his chest. For the first time in a long while, he felt like things might just be okay.