A/N:  This story was written by me, but it's in a world created together with Leewalbergs, Chimyra, and Gilmoregorls, who are also writing stories in this world, as part of the same series. 

You hummed a melancholy tune as you walked through the twilit woods to the lake.  Most people would need a torch, but you had always been able to see perfectly at night, sloe eyes piercing the darkness as easily as day.  Braiding your hair as you walked, you twisted the errant waves on top of your head, and fastened the heavy, dark mass with a silver pin.  Fireflies kept you company on the way, their soft golden glow comforting, if unnecessary.  

Upon reaching the lake you sighed, enrapt by the tranquil blue vista of still, mist-covered water, the dark surface broken only by the light of a pale waxing moon.  A nearby frog croaked, breaking your reverie, and after one last glance at the lovely scene, you lifted a foot to rest upon a nearby large tree stump, unwinding the the leather cords that bound your shoes to your feet before untying your garters and rolling down the pale cotton stockings that were embroidered up the back with a climbing vine of your signature red roses.  

That done, you planted tired feet into the soft moist earth, digging wriggling toes into the silt and enjoying the feeling of cool earth against heated skin.  Mind wandering to the evening ahead, you first untied the strings that had been holding a wicker basket, before untying the strings of your full black moleskin skirt from around your waist, idly admiring the red rose embroidery along the trim before tossing it on the stump with your shoes.  Your multicoloured cotton eyelet lace petticoats were next, after which, your nimble fingers made quick work of the laces holding together a black vest that joined the rest of your clothes, leaving you in nothing but a creamy linen shift. 

The first stretch after taking off the more restrictive of your clothing was always so delicious, and you indulged, lifting your hands, and deeply bending, first to one side, then the other, relishing the soft cool brush of fabric against your skin.  Crouching, you began to harvest the plump, vibrant green sedge that grew along the river--tops, rhizomes, roots, and all--as this unassuming plant was an ingredient in many of the tinctures, infusions, and tonics for the kumpania’s various health ailments.   

Work finally finished, you stood, and--end over teakettle--pulled your shift over your head, tossed it on the pile of herbaceous sedge, and sauntered into the summer-warm water.  Lazily backstroking to the center of the lake, your eyes searched the velvet night sky until they found your favourite constellation, Draco.  “Rastaban, Eltanin, Athebyne, Thuban,” you murmured, picking out each star in turn.  

Closing your eyes, you floated, letting your mind wander, desperately trying to release yourself from the stress of the day.  Sabina and Junmyeon had just married this afternoon, and tonight…  You shook your head, refusing to think about that.  Softly, you began murmuring to yourself, idly speaking aloud any thoughts that drifted through your head, a habit you had had ever since you could remember.  “Sedge, whiskey, tea, yixing…”  Opening your eyes, you fixed on Draco again, admiring the sinuous shape of the constellation.  Something dark glided through the sky, momentarily blocking Eltanin’s light.  Idly watching, you frowned as, in turn, it began to block Rastaban, Grumium, Altais, Dziban...Edasich…  As you moved from floating to treading water, the darkness grew and grew, until it began to grow clear to your sight--a great wingless wyrm plummeting from the sky.  As it grew even closer, you realized with some interest that this was no wyrm, but an immense black long, with shining gold accents.  Quickly noting its trajectory, you paddled to the side just as the massive body hurtled the last several hundred feet and hit the surface of the lake with a deafening splash.  

Silently, curiously, you watched the spot where it had plunged into the lake, waiting to see if it would swim to the surface...or float belly up.  You had always wanted to see a dragon up close, and while you would prefer a live one, you weren’t about to miss this opportunity.  A minute passed.  Two.  Cautiously, you swam toward where the dragon had fallen, peering through the black water to see if you could perceive the golden shine of the long’s scales, by the weak moonlight.

You had almost reached the locus of where it had disappeared, when something pale shot up in front of you.  Backtracking, you had turned to swim to shore, when you heard something that made you pause.  

A soft chuckle.