With the deftest of movements, she slipped into her cloak and tied it tight. Stepping on her blanket she dried her feet and sat down to pull on her boots.
Getting to her feet she gathered her wet clothes and jammed them into her rucksack along with her blanket—the bag nearly bursting at its seams. She grabbed her sword belt attached to its wide cummerbund and buckled them around her midsection. Throwing her bow and quiver over opposite shoulders, and sliding her vambraces over her forearms, she retrieved her quarterstaff and faced the boulder.
“Okay, you can come out, but don’t get too close, or else.” She swallowed. Or else what? She felt silly standing there looking the way she did. The cold night air blew against her bare shins between the hem of her cloak and the top of her calf-high boots. Her wet hair hung in tangles down her back, soaking her cloak anyway. The amused look on Junior’s face as he gave her a once over did little to appease her self esteem.
“I think it’s best if you come with me,” Junior started to say but stopped when Reecah hastily strung her bow and pulled an arrow from her quiver.
He put his hands up. “Whoa, girl. It’s just an idea. You can’t keep running. If I can catch you, you can bloody well bet it’s only a matter of time before the real trackers do.”
Reecah didn’t respond. There was no way she was about to go off with Junior. For all she knew, he could be trying to trick her like he had on more than one occasion.
“What’re you doing way out here?” He gestured at the forest with open hands. “Even without my father after you, parading around Dragonfang Pass is hardly a sane thing to do.”
“I can take care of myself.”
He gave her another once over. “I can see that. I found you in the dark, unarmed and without any—”
“Ya, ya. You got lucky. It won’t happen again.”
“You never answered my question. What’re you doing out here? And don’t say running from my father. I know you better than that. You’re more skilled in the mountains than all of Jaxon’s tracker friends put together. You could easily get by them and escape this cursed place if you wanted to.”
She lowered the bow. “For one thing, I don’t find this place cursed. For another, it’s none of your business.”
Junior blinked at her. “Then you’re as crazy as Father says.
The dragons are agitated. Unless you travel in a pack, you won’t survive long on your own. Come on, I’ll help you get past Father. From there you can go off to Thunderhead or wherever you wish.”
Reecah tilted her head. “Why would I trust you? Not only are you a Waverunner, you look exactly like your father.”
Junior’s voice gained an edge, a hurt look transforming his features. “I’m nothing like my father.”
She was shocked at his reaction. If she wasn’t so worried about what he really had planned for her, she might have apologized.
“Look. I can’t help what you think about me. Was I an ass to you when we were growing up? Yes. Believe it or not, if I could take back all the stupid things I said and did to you back then, I would. Heck, I would take back everything I said and did to everyone. Don’t think you’re special.”
He sighed, staring with concern to the west—toward the place where Jaxon would be coming. “Like it or not, you’re going to have to trust me. Tell me where you’re going and I’ll do what I can to direct my father in the opposite direction.”
“Tell them I went home.”
“Reecah, they’re not stupid. Jaxon will find your tracks. Besides, they aren’t leaving the pass anytime soon. The king’s men are here to eradicate the dragon colony. The farther away from here you are, the better.”
A cold chill passed through Reecah. “Eradicate the dragons? I thought they were here to—”
“What? Kill you?” Junior laughed. “You think highly of yourself, Draakvriend. They’re here to put an end to the dragons once and for all. More troops have landed in Fishmonger Bay and are on their way to join us. Elite forces, according to Father.”
Reecah swallowed her horror. Lurker and Swoop were in grave danger. She needed to warn them. Thinking it was odd they hadn’t returned to her, she felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. Maybe they were already dead.
“H-have they killed any more dragons?”
Junior muttered, “How would I know? I’ve been too busy trying to find you. As far as I know, we have nothing to do with the king’s men other than showing them how to access the pass. We travel with them to keep safe while we search for you.”
Her mind reeled. She had to do something. “How well do you know the valley?”
Junior seemed taken aback. “I-I don’t, really. Less than you, I would imagine.”
That wasn’t the answer she wanted. “Have you heard of the Dragon Temple?”
Junior frowned, nodding. “Aye. Many times. It’s rumoured to be protected by a legendary black dragon. Why?”
“No reason. Do you know where it is?”
“Why don’t you ask your dragon friend?”
She studied his face. She wasn’t happy Junior knew about her relationship with Lurker. “Okay. Well, like you said, I’ve got to get going.”
“Let me come with you. You’ll be in grave danger from both sides once the king’s men engage the dragons. What’s so important that you want to risk your life?”
Her hands tightened on her bow and arrow. She couldn’t decide whether to trust Junior or not. He was a Waverunner, after all, but other than Lurker, she had nobody to confide in. Junior had been the only person since Auntie Grim’s death who had shown her any kindness, and yet…
“I need to find something. In the temple. Please, if you know where it is, I need to know.”
Junior shook his head. “I already told you I don’t. This is the farthest I’ve ever been down the valley. If it were up to me, I’d be high-tailing it home. Let me help you.”
She desperately wanted to trust him, but given his family history, that would be foolish. Gritting her teeth, angry at herself for divulging her intentions, she restrained from verbally lashing out at him. “I’m better off on my own.”
Adjusting her equipment, her mind returned to the fact that she wore a cloak and nothing else. She pointed the arrow at him, searching for a way to cross the brook without getting wet. “Don’t you dare follow me or I’ll put this between your eyes.”
Junior glowered but made no attempt to stop her.
She skipped across several rocks in the stream and landed on the far bank, not quite believing she had threatened Junior with his life. It had been her voice talking, but it certainly felt like someone else had said it.
“Raver, to me!”
Raver squawked and flew unerringly to her, landing on her raised arm.
She half ran, half walked sideways, ensuring Junior didn’t follow.
The man’s profile flickered in the dying light of her abandoned campfire. He called after her, “If I had wanted to shoot your bird, I wouldn’t have missed.”
She frowned. What was that supposed to mean? When she had put enough distance between them, she concentrated on the ground in front of her, careful not to trip over the underbrush or go falling off an unseen cliff in the darkness.
The Drop-off
Swoop found Reecah wandering aimlessly across an open expanse of mountainside halfway through the night.
Stumbling across a wide glade, her mind not fully on the task at hand, she couldn’t push Junior from her thoughts. What was the eldest Waverunner boy up to? He had betrayed her twice already, and yet, there was something strangely comforting about his presence. She shook her head, her cheeks reddening as she imagined what Junior might have seen at the base of the waterfall. Just thinking about it raised her dander.
Hearing Swoop’s approach, Reecah dove into the tall grass and Raver flew away.
“Fear not, Reecah. It’s me.” Swoop’s voice sounded in her head.
“Swoop. Thank the gods, you’re okay. Where’s Lurker?”
&n
bsp; “He comes. I just let him know where you are. He was worried about you. He said you scared the life from him, whatever that means. He seems alive to me.”
Despite how tired, hungry and cold she was, Reecah couldn’t keep from laughing out loud.
Swoop’s dark form detached itself from the cloud cover as she spread her wings, catching the wind and easing herself gracefully to the field. She craned her neck to the west. “Here he comes now.”
Reecah couldn’t see what Swoop was looking at, but Lurker’s voice sounded in her mind, “There you are. I feared you were taken by the king’s men or worse.”
Lurker appeared over the edge of the forest, back flapping as he landed in front of her—his emerald eyes catching the little light filtering through the clouds and glowing in the darkness. He sniffed at her. “Are you alright?”
“I’m okay. I was beginning to worry the hunters had…” Shivering uncontrollably, she couldn’t finish her thought. “Anyway, I see they didn’t.”
“What happened to you? Your hair’s a mess and your clothing is different.”
“It’s a long story. Apart from freezing to death and feeling a little hungry, I’m okay. Just tired.”
The concern on Lurker’s face was obvious. “You’re freezing to death?”
“My clothes are wet but I’m afraid to stop and make a fire in case the men catch me.” She went on to describe her encounter with Junior at the waterfall. Both dragons listened closely.
Swoop padded over when she finished. “You needn’t worry about being caught tonight. They’re a good way back. Lurker and I will watch over you.” She turned her horned head Lurker’s way. “People are fragile things. Lie down and keep her warm.”
Lurker didn’t question Swoop. He dropped low and lay on his side—his bottom wing stretched out on the grass like a large blanket.
“Remove your wet clothing and lie close,” Swoop instructed as if it was a natural thing to do.
“Most of my clothes are in here.” She shrugged out of her rucksack. “I’ll keep my cloak on.”
Swoop examined her. “The back of your cloak is wet. Take it off and throw it onto a pile with the rest of your clothes. I will see to them.”
Reecah wasn’t convinced stripping naked was a good idea. Unconsciously searching the clearing and the wall of trees for peeping eyes, she admonished herself. Of course, there was no one around. Even so, she was bashful about baring herself in front of the dragons, which, as she thought about it, was silly. Taking into consideration their scaled bodies, leathery wings and ivory horns, they couldn’t be any more different from her. To them, she was just another animal.
She sighed. If she didn’t get warm soon, she would be in trouble. Unbuckling her sword belt and undoing the ties on her cloak, she took another look around before slipping free of the wet garment and looking questioningly at Lurker’s outstretched wing.
“It’s okay, Reecah. You won’t hurt me. Get on.”
“Wait. Where’s Raver?”
Swoop cast a glance around the clearing. “Over there in a tree. He’ll be okay.”
Reecah tried to identify which tree Swoop looked at but couldn’t see much in the darkness. The cold night left goosebumps all over her body. Swallowing her misgivings, she timidly crawled onto the underside of Lurker’s wing, surprised at how soft the leathery surface felt on her skin.
“Get close to my body,” Lurker said, curling his wing around her and holding her against him.
As bizarre as the scenario struck her, she snuggled into Lurker’s warm embrace. A huge smile creased her face as her worries seeped away. Lying vulnerable in a dragon’s embrace, she felt more content than she had in her entire life, with the exception of that magical day she and Poppa had sat on the hill discussing how high she could fly.
Swoop’s voice sounded as if from a dream. “Reecah, dear. Wake up.”
“Leave her. She had a rough night,” Lurker purred, squeezing his wing tighter around Reecah.
“Humans are coming. We must be gone from here.”
Lurker sighed. “Alright. Give me a moment. She’s so soft.”
Swoop rolled her eyes.
Reecah snuggled in, never wanting the magical experience to end. If she were to die right then in the dragon’s embrace, she would die happy.
“You’ll be sorry if they catch her.”
“Did you bring her clothes back?”
Reecah’s eyes popped open. She wasn’t sure whether they knew she could hear them or not. What had they done with her clothes?
“Of course. Dry as brimstone.”
“I’m surprised they did it at all.”
“They weren’t happy about it, but after I explained who we think she is, Grimclaw insisted on doing it himself.”
Reecah felt Lurker shudder.
“You actually spoke with him?”
Swoop laughed. “Grimclaw? You’re kidding, right? I waited outside the temple gate.”
“Temple gate?” Reecah asked, putting her hands against the edge of Lurker’s wing and popping her head into the bright sunlight.
“You’re awake. Good.” Lurker adjusted his wing to help her stand on the ground and glanced at Swoop. “Did you bring her food?”
Swoop hung her head. “I don’t know what humans eat.”
“No worries. I’ll be back.” Lurker spread his wings, jumped into the air, and disappeared west, beyond the treeline.
Reecah wrapped her arms around herself, looking for her clothes. The air temperature had risen considerably since last night but after enjoying Lurker’s warmth, the morning breeze was fresh on her exposed skin.
“Here, I had someone dry your clothes while you slept.” Swoop stepped sideways revealing her garments.
Conscious of her nakedness, Reecah scanned the area as she pulled her breeks on. “How did you dry them so well? They aren’t damp at all.”
“Fire.”
“Fire.” She inspected them for damage, but found none. “I didn’t think you were old enough to spout fire.”
“An adult did it for me.”
“The one called Grimclaw?”
Swoop’s head perked up. “You know him?”
Lacing up her tunic she laughed. “No, silly. I heard you talking about him. Is Lurker afraid of Grimclaw?”
Swoop nodded. “Everyone’s afraid of Grimclaw. At least the smart ones.”
“Why’s that?”
“Why’s that? Grimclaw is the ancient wyrm of the Draakclaw Clan,” Swoop answered as if that explanation was all that was required.
Buckling her wide cummerbund, with attached sword belt beneath her breasts, Reecah frowned. “What makes old Grimclaw so scary? Is he mean?”
Swoop looked around like she feared another dragon might be listening. “Grimclaw is our leader. He protects the ancestral tomb.”
“Is that the same place as the Dragon Temple?”
Swoop’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
Reecah stopped dressing, sensing she had hit a nerve. She couldn’t very well tell Swoop she was thinking of stealing the Dragon’s Eye from their sacred tomb. “Um, no reason. Just curious.”
Swoop’s brow furrowed but thankfully didn’t pursue the matter.
Pulling on her boots, Reecah grabbed her sword belt and pretended to be busy concentrating on getting the buckle adjusted properly. She was relieved when Lurker’s voice entered her mind.
“Reecah, good news. I brought you something to eat.”
Swoop must have heard him as well. They both searched the western sky.
Raver had no sooner squawked from the tip of a lofty pine when Lurker appeared over the treeline, gently flapping his wings. Something small dangled from each of his front feet.
He landed with barely a sound on his rear legs and held his front feet forward, a toothy grin directed at Reecah. “You shall hunger no longer.”
Reecah stepped forward to inspect what he had brought and stepped back in disgust. “They’re still alive! That’s gross. I don’t ea
t rats.”
Swoop regarded the catch, licking her lips.
Lurker looked puzzled. “I don’t understand. I thought humans were meat eaters.”
Reecah turned up her nose. “We are, but we don’t eat vermin.”
Swoop’s voice sounded demure. “I’ll have one if she doesn’t want it.”
Lurker looked between the two, not seeming sure how to proceed.
Reecah smiled for his benefit and used her eyes to direct him to give one to Swoop.
Lurker threw the largest one at Swoop who snatched it out of the air with her mouth and crunched into it—the rat emitting a loud squeak.
“Mmm. Thank you.”
Lurker smiled shyly, the second rat biting at his claws. “You want this one too?”
“Sure.” Swoop swallowed the first one, bones and all, before catching the second, flailing rat.
Reecah wrinkled her nose, cringing at the sound of crunching bones.
Lurker’s happy gaze remained on Swoop until Reecah asked, “Did you happen to see the men while you were off chasing rats?”
“Huh?” Lurker refocused on her. “Oh, yes. They were at the waterfall you spoke of last night.”
“I’d better get moving.”
“What about food?”
Shrugging into her quiver and bow, Reecah said, “Can’t do much about it right now. Hopefully I’ll catch something as I go.”
“I’ll fetch you something more befitting a human. I know just where to find one. Swoop, take Reecah to the drop-off. It’s time we introduced her to the colony. I’ll find you.” Lurker didn’t wait for a response. He took two quick steps and launched himself into the air.
Watching Lurker wing up the mountain and disappear over a distant ridge, Reecah couldn’t keep her knees from shaking. She wasn’t ready to meet a colony of dragons.
Using her quarterstaff as a walking stick, Reecah grimaced at the way Swoop clomped along behind her. With the female dragon crashing about, she would be lucky to get within a league of something to shoot with her bow. She hoped Lurker wouldn’t be too long. She was starving.
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