Dragon Fool

by Delaney Walnofer

"They were right here!" Rib said, circling the place he'd stood just last night. "Running away. A dragon and a rider."

  Tyrone stepped forward and stopped Rib's restless pacing. "I'll take a look around."

  Rib waited anxiously as the man searched the forest floor. It was only after he and Tyrone went to Cliffport to learn that Prince Griffith had already sailed away with Oriole and Damon's book that Tyrone agreed to help look for the strangers Rib glimpsed last night.

  There was a light mist in the air, nothing compared to the heavy fog hours earlier. Birds warbled in the newly leafing canopy above, not at all reflecting the high-strung energy vibrating inside Rib.

  Looking down at the ground, Rib gasped.

  "Tyrone, look! Here's a trail."

  The man barely glanced up before continuing his search, saying, "That's yours."

  Oh. Rib felt embarrassed. Tyrone had tried to teach him tracking by sight once Rib lost his sense of smell, but he never had enough patience to learn.

  "Here's something," Tyrone mentioned a ways away and crouched down, moving some snapped underbrush aside to reveal a few dislodged rocks. "Yes, this is what we're looking for."

  Rib followed right behind the man as he moved further into the trees. Soon, Tyrone seemed to have picked up a clear trail, for he headed on without a word. Rib also kept his mouth shut, afraid to break the man's concentration.

  Whose trail is it? Where does it lead? Questions rattled inside his brain like the twigs he brushed past.

  But what really made his muscles tense was when he considered the possibility of finding the strangers.

  "Have you actually seen any tracks?" he asked, his voice low.

  Tyrone pointed down at the soft turf he stepped over and Rib gawked at it. The perfect print of a dragon's foot was pressed into the ground.

  Memory?

  Rib silently held his foreclaw up to it. His was only slightly bigger.

  His heart pounded a little harder.

  Just as Rib thought there'd be no end to the trail, the trees petered out and land opened up to green, bouldered fields. Thunder rumbled in the distance and Rib could see dark clouds far upland. It looked like a smear of grey on the horizon.

  "Here's where they took flight," Tyrone said and halted at a certain spot in the mud. "The prints are deeper and you can see where the tail struck."

  "So?" Rib droned.

  "So the trail ends."

  "That's it?" he gasped. "We'll never know who it was?"

  "Well," Tyrone scratched his chin as he thought, "it's possible that they landed somewhere nearby. Among those rocks, maybe. Or farther down."

  "We have to see," Rib implored. "Couldn't this be?my sister?"

  The man gazed steadily at him, his expression solemn.

  "I think it could be, yes."

  Rib's heart fluttered like a little bird caged inside his chest.

  "I'm willing to split up and search the area, but you must be careful. Remember, even if by some small chance you come across your sister, she is still with a very dangerous man."

  "Yes, but?" Rib said. "What if he's changed? You know, like Mortaug?"

  Tyrone gave him a slight, grim smile. "That may be, but it doesn't change the fact he's avoiding us. And that's reason enough to make me wary of him."

  Rib nodded. "I'll be careful."

  "Good." Tyrone set off in the direction of the lower kingdom, saying, "You check up there, then. Look for prints, disturbances, stray items, any sign there might be."

  The dragon did exactly as the man said, soaring low over the land with eyes flicking back and forth. What if I found my other siblings' tracks instead? he thought. Or Tide or Lynx's. I might get excited over nothing.

  The storm approaching grumbled again. Rib could feel the warm dampness in the air.

  What if the rain comes to wash all our clues away? His worries increased and he glanced up to see how close the dark clouds were now. One bolt of lightning streaked across them with a flicker.

  I need to hurry, thought Rib, beating his wings for a faster glide. He aimed for the group of boulders Tyrone had indicated, but continued staring at the ground in hopes that he might spot something on his way.

  But when he reached the large rocks, he found that nothing was there. Rib alighted on the tallest one, disheartened as he looked over the fields, more rolling thunder behind him. He could see Tyrone headed along a slope, too far away to hear Rib if he called.

  It's hopeless, Rib told himself bleakly. If it was Memory, we'll never find her. She flew off.

  There was some movement in the corner of his eye and he looked to it. Fluttering past him was a solitary muffle moth, practically harmless on its own. Rib narrowed his eyes at it.

  Don't those fly in swarms?

  At the sound of another crack of lightning, he turned again to see the storm, but instead stared in horror at what approached.

  A billowing mass of white glided over the fields, stretching the entire length of the vast fields as far as Rib could tell. The tremendous cloud was nearly upon him, like a silent avalanche.

  Muffle moths!

  Hundreds of thousands of them!

  They're going to reach me and then-

  Tyrone!

  Immediately, Rib jumped into the air and sped for the distant man. As he did, he saw more moths around him, leading the swarm. Rib flew as fast as he could, memories of his past burning in his mind. He was a young pupil again, about to be swallowed by a deadly mass of insects. Except this time, without his book and dragon fire, Damon didn't have the means to cure him.

  "Tyrone!" Rib roared as he came. The man turned to see him, visibly stiffening at the sight of the moths. The fray of the swarm was up to his tail, Rib knew.

  There's no time!

  "Get down!" Rib cried. "Hold your breath!"

  Tyrone did so just as Rib and the moths reached him. Clamping his own mouth shut, Rib threw himself over the man the moment the swarm had them engulfed.

  So many. Rib watched in terror through his clear set of eyelids, innumerable moths flying at him, above him, all passing by. He had managed to curl his body around Tyrone, his wings acting as a barricade to keep the insects out. But nothing was there to protect him.

  With the seemingly endless moths fluttering into his face, Rib couldn't help but breathe in their thick dust. It swirled all around him, blown about by hundreds of little wings. His vision was turning white. He squeezed his outer lids shut, sobbing in fear, and lowered his head to the ground.

  He knew that with every breath, he'd grow a little weaker, until he could move no more, breathe no longer.

  I'm going to die, he cried inside. Damon can't save me this time!

  Scared for Tyrone, he peeked at the shelter he'd formed with his body. All the moths that ran into his wings simply glanced up and over his body. He didn't see any get inside.

  They're clearing away now, Rib recognized the thinning of the mass. Sky was beginning to show through. And I don't even feel like they've affected me?

  It perplexed him how well his body responded to his mind. He wasn't limp at all.

  "Tyrone?" Rib dared open his mouth to speak, amazed that his own voice came out so clear. He was sure he had gotten dust in his mouth. He could taste it on his tongue.

  "Rib!" Tyrone responded from under the dragon's wing. "Are you alright?"

  "I?I think I am. I breathed in dust but it didn't do anything to me!"

  Above, Rib heard the great roar of thunder and the sound of nearing rain. Now the moths had almost completely passed. Only a dozen or so were left behind the swarm, and Rib watched as fat raindrops pummeled them down. The dust still drifting in the air was soon weighed down by water, which dripped from Rib's snout and ran down his wings. Blinking, Rib looked back at the immense mass of insects quickly moving down land.

  They're fleeing the storm, he realized.

  "Tyrone, it looks safe now." Rib opened himself up to let the man out. "The rain is washing everything away." />
  Tyrone stared around and stood up. Water quickly soaked his hair, his tunic, everything. Checking himself over, the man turned to Rib and looked him in the eye.

  "I would have died just then," he said. "Thank you."

  Rib ducked his head. "I, um?you're welcome."

  Together, they peered after the swarm, fast disappearing.

  "This is bad," Tyrone spoke. "If they go any farther than the Swaine, Wystil will be in trouble."

  "I'll follow them," Rib volunteered. "Their dust can't hurt me anymore. You make sure your family's alright."

  Tyrone gazed through the rain at him a moment before nodding.

  Rib ascended just as a dash of lightning cracked overhead, blanching his eyesight for a startling moment. He flew low to avoid the storm clouds, looking back to make sure Tyrone was headed home. He was.

  Good, Rib sighed and flew faster to escape the rain, as the moths were. It was still shocking to see how far the swarm stretched, end to end. Soon, he was leaving the storm behind and he twisted in midair to send a dazzling array of sparkling water from his vibrant hide.

  He beat his wings for a long time, growing concerned as to how far the moths were migrating.

  They're passing over all the abandoned towns, Rib worried, glancing at the shabby villages and old settlements below. We'll be reaching the Swaine soon!

  No?Rib saw the curving river in the distance, saw the deathly moths pass over it. No, no, no!

  Rib also soared over the Swaine, panicking. What do I do?! People live down here!

  He could think of no possible way for him to stop the gigantic mass. There was no rain here. All the clouds above were a mix of brilliant white and light, light grey. Sunbeams cascaded down to shine on the abundant fields of grain and Rib watched in awe as the moths began to descend upon them. They dispersed. Each little insect hid away into the crops.

  This has got to be bad, Rib knew, seeing the expansive area turn white. Great clouds of dust were left hanging in the air, swept towards villages in the distance by the breeze.

  There's nothing I can do.

  Rib felt as though he were going to be sick.

  I can't stop the dust?

  Chapter 5