Contest - Titan's secret

WARNING! LONG DESCRIPTION!


This is my entry to 's contest, featuring Titan the dragon.

I desided to illustrate Titan as young. I love the rock he is standing on, but hate the sky in the background!
I suppose you wonder why there is a bunny in the picture? Well, I made up a story about how Titan became so peevish and temperamental.
All is made up by me! Nothing of this following is actual facts (but Galidor can take the story if she wants )


<sub>Titan has a dark secret, a secret that he has hidden from the world since he was just a whelp.
It all began when he was young and lived in the deserts far outside Hizen - an enviroment where the rule was eat or get eaten... pretty ordinary. He hanged around with the other young dragons, hunting and playing just like all young dragons do. But Titan was a little different.

Near the river, a colony of rabbits lived. Titan used to visit that place often without anyone seeing him, without the group's notice. There he had an forbidden friend - a fuzzy, sweet rabbit that he loved to cuddle and play with. All the other rabbits ran away by the sight of him, but not this one. They loved each other.
Their friendship lasted for several months, but then came the day that made Titan's life change drasticly.

Like usual, Titan's group were hunting among the many cliffs and ravines in search for prey. It didn't take long until they reached the river. They saw the rabbits, and when all the other dragons dived in excitement, Titan hesitated with a pinch of fear in his stomach. His beloved friend was down there somewhere. May the spirits forbid that they take it! But his prayers weren't answered, because within seconds a shout of victory was heard from the ground. The poor rabbit was trapped under one of the older dragon's paws, squeaking in despair.
- This little wretch is so skinny, I want a fat one! growled the oldest dragon. His name was Plagio, and he was the most dominant in the group. All the other dragons agreed with him in an hissing chorus.
- No! Stop!
Everyone stared surprised at Titan who landed with his eyes shining with anxiety.
- What is it, Titan? Plagio glared at him with suspicion.
- M-my rabbit... don't...
- What? Your rabbit?
Titan trembled and squirmed in agony. He had said too much! He stood dumb with fear in the center of narrowing eyes and increasing negative whisperings.
- You mean that you like this little wretch? His voice and gestures became sarcastic and patrinizing as he saw Titan's embarrassed look.
- You like to bouncy-bounce on the fields and eat grass with this fur-ball? Hahaha! You're supposed to be a proud dragon, but you are nothing but a smelly rodent lover!

One by one of the watching dragons began to laugh and tighten up against Titan, preventing him from escape. Plagio snorted with malicious pleasure as he lifted the terrified rabbit by the scruff of the neck.
- I bet it is a female... a parasite's nest and your little mate.
He sniffed and licked the rabbit's belly with his gruesome purple tongue and smirked at Titan who couldn't hold back the tears any longer.
- A female indeed! he laughed. But do you really love this smelly little shit, or are you a real dragon, dear Titan?
Titan remained silent. He could hear his beating heart drum in his head, and the laughter fell like shattered glass that wounded his soul. Salty tears flowed as he made an attempt to speak.
- I... I am a real dragon...
- Then prove it! Here...
He held the trembling rabbit in front of Titan's nose.
- ... Eat it!

A thundering sound of stomping, clawed feet and violently snapping jaws arouse like a storm around the two dragons and the rabbit. Voices screaming "Eat it! Eat it!" made the poor red dragon's head spin. He felt sick. Not in this darn world that he could eat his best friend! Plagio's patience ran out.
- So you are not a dragon, eh? Then say goodbye to your stinking rodent.
He opened his deadly purple mouth, revealing dozens of sharp teeth. The rabbit squeaked in pure terror.
- NO! I'll do it...
Titan could hardly believe what he just said. Plagio smiled and gave the fuzzy little animal to the broken dragon. He held it in his scaly paws once more, felt the warm fur soothing the skin. Their eyes met, and a tiny voice echoed in Titan's mind:
No pain, my friend. No pain. Then it happened so fast.

Down the long and dark throat the rabbit went, without a scratch from the dragon's teeth. The crowd stood silent, watching their victim's disgusted face. They were all astonished by the scene.
- Very well then... Plagio said quite amused.
- But you are still a whimp, after all.
He spread his wings and took off, followed at once by the others - except from one who gave Titan a sad and compassioned look before leaving. Then he was left alone, whimpering at the riverside.

When the group had disappeared behind the crest of the mountains, he began to vomit. In a great pool of gastric juice, a tuft of soaked fur that once was his friend lied. It was too late.
A big pile of rocks and stones became the beloved's grave. Titan mourned beside it the whole night, and by dawn he had come to a decision. He would move to central Hizen to start a new life. Now when his secret was revealed, no one would treat him nicely again at home. He could get a fresh start in central Hizen, of that he was sure. But maybe, just maybe, he could return one day to revenge the death of his dear friend.

---

Many years has passed by since then. Titan has grown up to a powerful and respected dragon. The memory of the event has almost withered away, but it has carved deep changes in his personality. It is repressed into his subconscious:
He gets mad easily and won't take shit from others. He is particulary aggressive against other dragons... and the colour purple.
Whenever the word "rabbit" or "rodent" is spoken, he gets into an awfully peevish mood.
Despite his temper, he is very gentle and caring to those who are smaller than him.

---
When the nights turns cold and lonely, warm dreams visits him in his sleep. He sees the mountains from his childhood and the glittering river. Sometimes he can even feel the warmth from a soft pelt againt his wet, scaly cheeks. No pain, my friend. No pain.</sub>

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Foreground with Polychromos colour pencils on drawing paper.
Background with watercolour and Polychromos colour pencils on watercolour paper.
Digitally put together in Photoshop.

Titan © =galidorthedragon
Image © *Sakalah