You take a look at your surroundings.
(if:$paststart is false)[There appears to be a (t8n-time:1.2s)[[bonfire->view bonfire]] in front of you and your (t8n-time:1.2s)[[satchel->view satchel]] is tucked away at a corner of the cave.(set: $bonfireviewed to false)(set: $satchelviewed to false)] (if:$bonfireviewed is true)[The warm fire in front of you keeps you cozy from the thin cold air. Your (t8n-time:1.2s)[[satchel->view satchel]] is tucked away at a corner of the cave.] (if:$satchelviewed is true)[Your belongings are set safe beside you. There appears to be a (t8n-time:1.2s)[[bonfire->view bonfire]] in front of you.]The bonfire is rather shabby, random foliage and sticks are used to keep the flame going.
It's kept you warm for however long you've been knocked out, and that warmth eased the (t8n-time:1.2s)[[pain->investigate pain]] in your body for awhile.
(set: $bonfireviewed to true)
(set: $paststart to true)(set: $satchelviewed to true)
(set: $paststart to true)
(if:$bonfireviewed is false)[Your bag is scratched and worn, smelling lightly of river fish.
Peering inside, all your belongings remain in tact: (cycling-link:"a photo of you and your sister.","a lighter.","your trusty hunting knife.","your journal full of collected crunchy leaves.", "a photo of you and your sister.")
Good to know that everything's still here.
This (t8n-time:1.2s)[[cave->beside the bonfire]] has a slight wind humming along the walls.] (if:$bonfireviewed is true)[You (t8n-time:1.2s)[[hear->dragon arrival]] something approaching you.]
A terrible ache in your side stirs you (t8n-time:1.2s)[[awake. ->beside the bonfire]]
(set: $bonfireandsatchelviewed to false)
(set: $paststart to false)(if:$satchelviewed is false)[You recall exploring outside the boundaries of your clan's home.
After losing your footing in the bamboo forest, you remember tumbling down a steep cliffside. It's no wonder why you're whole body aches.
You still don't remember how you got in this (t8n-time:1.2s)[[cave->beside the bonfire]].] (if:$satchelviewed is true)[You (t8n-time:1.2s)[[hear->dragon arrival]] something approaching you.]The sound of claws tap against the ground, hefty with weight on each step.
Your gaze falls upon a (t8n-time:1.2s)[[dragon->dragon viewed]] who's nearly large enough to block the exit of the cave.Its stature is filled with confidence and wisdom.
Your hold your breath. Its presence is intimidating despite it only watching, cautious, and seemingly wary of you, as you are wary of it.
(t8n-time:3s)[[Exhale.->dragon viewed 2]]
You let go of your held breath, remembering your training with your best friend.
(text-style:"blur")[//Just breath, she's not gonna hurt you.//]
(seq-link:"Inhale.","Exhale.","Inhale...","Exhale...","You'll be okay.")
(text-style:"blur")[//Stand tall, but not too tall. This is a game of trust.//]
(seq-link:"Stand...","Tall...","But, not too tall.","This is a game of trust.")
//(t8n-arrive:"fade-up")+(t8n-time:1.5s)[[Keep your eyes on her.->keep your eyes on her]]//You //can't// do it. Your body //itches// to run, to fight, to escape.
(text-colour:orange)[(text-style:"outline","expand","sway")[(cycling-link:"You were never good at handling dragons like your friends.","Not even like your brother.","Or your sister.","In fact, your hunting dogs handle dragons better than you do.") (cycling-link:"Wait, don't think.","You're thinking too much.","Too many thoughts.","I can't help it.","It's always like this.") (cycling-link:"Do you remember what happened last time?","There was blood.","It was an accident.","You did that.","I didn't mean to hurt her.")]]
No. //No.// Calm down, calm down...
//(t8n-time:2s)[[Breathe.->view dragon 3]]//Closing your eyes, you take a deep breath.
//Inhale.//
You hear a shift of the dragon's wings, quiet, soft.
//(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Exhale.->view dragon 4]]//
You open your eyes again.
The dragon lays beside the fire, relaxed, eyes focused on you and only you.
It doesn't look like it'll attack, but you're still scared.
You want to (seq-link:"run","befriend it"), you want to (seq-link:"fight.","win its trust.")
The dragon tilts its (t8n-time:1.5s)[[head->touch dragon head]], a gesture you vaguely recognize.
The protagonist is not used to being so close to dragons, based on their pre-established prejudice from their clan that the reader can find out about by browsing through their bag.
The dragon keeps trying to help, but the protagonist may struggle to trust it.
Complication + Climax + Reversal:
The protagonist finds out that this dragon is the one that killed their ancestors a long time ago.
The protagonist wonders, has the dragon only saved him because of an ulterior motive?
The dragon gets severely injured or maybe raided (perhaps by the protagonist’s clan).
The protagonist makes the choice to defend the dragon or rally against it for what it has done in the past.
Falling Action:
If DRAGON DEFENDED: The protagonist protects the dragon (somehow), and
If DRAGON RALLIED AGAINST: The protagonist rids of the dragon (somehow), and
Resolution + Denouement:
—--
View memory or view future, or stay in the present
Those bright eyes continue to watch you as you approach it.
You sit down and run your palm along (t8n-time:1.5s)[[the top of its head->dragon head description]].
Your body feels (t8n-time:1.5s)[[skittish->stare back at the bonfire]].Its scales are iridescent, but clearly worn with age.
You remember all the dragons you've seen. Many of them were young and beady eyed.
Under the gaze of this dragon, though you're (t8n-time:1.2s)[[anxious->stare back at the bonfire]], you are reminded of your grandparent's old stories and wisdom.You look back at the bonfire.
(link-reveal:"This dragon...")[ probably lit this fire.]
(link-reveal:"The fall from before...")[ you were saved, weren't you?]
(link-reveal:"The bag...")[ everything's in there. Even the knife.]
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Trust.->trust 1]]You hesitantly trust it, for now.
You're unsure if it will follow you. If it does, is it out of wariness? Or curiosity?
(set: $exploration to 1)
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Go outside the cave.->outside cave]]
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Investigate the walls.->investigate walls]]
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Look for the dragon's belongings.->dragon lair]](set: $exploration to it + 1)
The dragon did not follow, instead walking in a direction opposite to you.
You exit the cave. It was a bit of a walk, a few minutes at most.
Upon reaching the exit, there is nothing more than a gorgeous blue sky. It's clear, and the sun is peaking behind a mountain afar.
You recognize it.
You're far from home.
You're high up.
It would be too difficult to leave on your own.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Investigate the walls.->investigate walls]]
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Look for the dragon's belongings.->dragon lair]]
(if:$exploration > 4)[(t8n-time:1.2s)[[You feel the urge to wander.->deeper into the caves]]](set: $exploration to it + 1)
The dragon follows, tilting its head every once awhile at your actions.
You explore the caves, running your hand along the walls. You feel as if you see imagery splayed across the surface of the wall.
(seq-link:"Nature.","A family of hunters.","Soon, gatherers.","Tamers, merchants, a civilization.","Accidents.","Unfortunate accidents.","You feel sorry.","That's enough.")
The dragon does not seem interested in the walls.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Go outside the cave.->outside cave]]
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Look for the dragon's belongings.->dragon lair]]
(if:$exploration > 4)[(t8n-time:1.2s)[[You feel the urge to wander.->deeper into the caves]]](set: $exploration to it + 1)
The dragon is not with you, nor do you know where it went.
You find yourself in what seems to be the dragon's collection.
There’s an assortment of trinkets littered on the ground– primarily (t8n-time:1.2s)[[jewelry and totems->jewelry and totems]], but other toys like (t8n-time:1.2s)[[dice and puzzle boxes->toys]] scatter about. The ground itself is mossy, overgrown with shrubbery and mushrooms.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Go outside the cave.->outside cave]]
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Investigate the walls.->investigate walls]]
(if:$exploration > 4)[(t8n-time:1.2s)[[You feel the urge to wander.->deeper into the caves]]]After exploring, you head deeper into the caves. The dragon returns to its original spot at the bonfire.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[From tunnel to tunnel...->deeper 2]](link-reveal:"The dragon sleeps peacefully.")
[(link-reveal:" You must get out of here and inform your clan!")
[(link-reveal:" No.")
[(link-reveal:" Your hunting knife.")[=
No.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[The dragon.->return to dragon 2]]]]]
A lot of the designs were unfamiliar, but some felt reminiscent of what you saw in old history books or even in your grandmother’s drawers.
You pick up a bracelet and try it on. It fits just right, and the engraved markings are like the patterns you see in your dreams.
You don't like it.
You put the bracelet away.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Look around.->dragon lair]]There’s no use of gadgets for a dragon. Did the dragon grab these because they’re pleasant to look at?
Many of the dice have worn down paint, and the puzzles are all missing pieces. They feel otherworldly.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Look around.->dragon lair]](t8n-time:1.2s)[[It keeps on going...->deeper 3]](t8n-time:1.2s)[[The air is dry and rusted.->deeper 4]]You come across another den, another nook, another cranny.
There's gnawed bones of humanoid skeletons-- you're unsure if they're human, but the vague resemblance makes your stomach twist.
(seq-link:"It's just like last time.","No. It's not.")
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[Dusty books are left in shreds.->view dusty books]]Picking up one of the torn books, some trinkets fall out.
They're not unlike the ones you've seen before.
Just like last time, they're familiar.
(cycling-link:"Ancestors.","...","It has to be.","It wasn't an accident.","This was inevitable.","Those nightmares...","Those urges...","To kill.","To kill the ones at the farm...")
[[They're...->dusty books 2]]You know these trinkets. You know their origins.
(text-style:"blur","shudder")[They're from the past, aren't they?]
You're certain. You have to be correct. Were you ever wrong in the first place? You're not crazy.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"shudder")+(t8n-time:0.5s)[[You run.->return to dragon]]You think.
(after:2s)+(t8n-time:2s)[(link-reveal:"You could kill it, if you tried.")[ You refuse.]]
(after:6s)+(t8n-time:2s)[(link-reveal:"You could survive a jump off this cliff, if you tried.")[ No. You wouldn't.]]
(after:12s)+(t8n-time:2s)[(link-reveal:" Trust.")[(t8n-time:1.2s)[[ You're better than this.->return to dragon 3]]]]You sit down.
You take a breather.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[You know deep down, you can't trust this dragon, nor can you truly trust yourself.->finale 1]]
You've been making assumptions about the past.
You don't know the facts. You don't know the truth.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[You don't know this dragon.->finale 2]]All you know is you.
You know how to breathe.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[You know you've made mistakes.->finale 3]](t8n-time:1.2s)[[You know avenging your ancestors despite knowing naught, isn't what they want.->finale 4]](t8n-time:1.2s)[[Inhale.->finale 5]](t8n-time:1.2s)[[Exhale.->finale 6]]The dragon stirs, again.
It feels small when it is vulnerable.
You are much smaller. Much more vulnerable.
(t8n-time:1.2s)[[You breathe once more.->finale6-7]](align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[#Of the Past: A game of trust.]You won't be fooled.
You won't overreact.
[[You sit down.->finale6-7-7]][[For the first time, you relax beside a dragon.->finale 7]]