by LJ Davies
She took a deep breath, ruffling her wings and staring into her fire.
"I lay with her for hours, wishing she'd just get up. Boltock looked to me for support, he has ever since. It was a Dardien patrol that found us, a soldier named Reaver took us in, and cared for us until her own illness took her as well. At ten seasons, we inherited her nest and we’ve lived there ever since."
Tears ran from her eyes and she lowered her head to the floor.
"Sorry," I apologised, not daring to meet her eyes.
I didn't believe my opinion meant anything to her, and neither of us seemed willing to talk about the obvious subject.
"No, it wasn't your fault," she whimpered, wiping a tear from her eye. "They were wild men, from islands far to the north, not like the people you told me about."
There are people like that out there? That's despicable! Even so, I had to wonder about the few times I'd seen other tribes and villages cause trouble back home.
"Well, if it's worth anything. I think it's a good time to get some sleep," I proposed softly.
She nodded and slowly rested her head under a wing. I did the same, positioning my gaze towards the cave entrance.
I'm not going to sleep. Not that I can after what she’s told me. I now understood why she took her time to tell me. I knew why she'd been so shocked about my loyalty to Tarwin.
How can I have been so selfish? She put aside her own past to make sure I was comfortable. How could I have known? I was so positive about humans.
They'd been good to me, I could hardly believe they’d taken her parents away and ruined her life, just like mine was ruined by the wyverns.
I moved my head across the floor. Risha lay sleeping, her tightly closed eyes still dripping with tears. It was settled, for once my whole mind agreed on something. I was glad she'd insisted on coming along, glad that I now knew more about her past. Now I could make sure nothing like that ever happened again.
*
I was shaken from a light sleep sometime later, and after silently cursing myself for letting my guard down, I returned one wary eye to the cave mouth. The elemental battleground continued beyond the cave. Rain bombarded the earth, furiously bouncing from the rocks and trickling down from small cracks in the stone roof. My eyes still flickered until I forced them open, the fight against sleep becoming harder. I knew it would get the better of me eventually, but if I moved enough, I could delay the inevitable.
My new position allowed me to look over at Risha. A calm silence surrounded her. Her tears had faded, nonetheless the guilt I felt from hearing her story was still a weight on my shoulders.
Can't think of that now, there's nothing I can do. Reason attempted to remind me.
Standing up I shook the sleep from my muscles and moved towards the cave mouth. The warmth of the fire diminished and I stopped by the opening, watching the rain sweep in on the wind. Thousands of tiny droplets struck like cold knives against my scales, before gently dripping off.
I'm not gonna get any reassurance from the stars tonight, I told myself, glancing at the endless void above.
Either way, I sat for a while, contemplating exactly what it was I was doing, much as I'd done many times before. Time went by excruciatingly slowly, even so I maintained my guard, occasionally sticking my muzzle up high to sniff the air. All I got was the smell of damp landscape, wet bark, rotting wood and fresh pine. Eventually the rain slowed, allowing me to make out more familiar scents, most of which I knew from hunting back home.
Home. The thought triggered a deep yearning.
It's so far away. I've no real idea of where it is or if I'm ever going to see it again.
The deep contemplation drove me to stare deeper into the darkness. I revelled in my loose reflection, gladly slipping into the happier memories.
Just think how Tarwin would be if she were here now? She'd love being free like this.
The idea filled me with a fuzzy warmth I'd not felt in days, just enough to allow me to consider the idea of going back to sleep. Of course, that was when an unfamiliar smell caught my attention and a rush of adrenaline instantly brought me to full alert.
I rushed out onto the ledge, taking up a position a few paces away from the edge. I'd no doubt it was a new smell – and it was moving closer. I raised my snout to the air; but couldn't quite make out where or what it was. Even so, my eyes fixed on the pathway I'd used to get the firewood, assuming that anything wishing to scale the cliff would use it too. I crept forward, prowling through the drizzle like a mountain lion.
My hind leg muscles tensed, body held low, wings tucked firmly at my side, preparing to lunge if whatever was coming got too close.
The wet branches closest to the ledge shook, showering me with cold droplets. I bared my teeth and lowered myself further, continually judging the distance to the pathway and double-checking that my wings were firmly folded.
I took in another whiff; however, something had changed – there wasn't a single smell any longer, now there were two. The prospect of more monsters sent a shiver down my already chilled spine. I forced back my urge to flee, pressing myself hard against the rain-soaked rock.
There was a flash of movement in the darkness around the top of the ledge. I took in and held my breath, my eyes narrowing. My muscles instinctively started to uncoil when a dark shape rose up from the ledge. I was just about to launch forward when, at the last second, I saw a familiar face staring back at me.
"Boltock!"
The thought was such a surprise it materialised into a word as I slammed to a halt.
"W–well who else were you exp–ttt–ing?" he trembled; his body wracked by intense shivering. "T–the creators damn princess?"
Turning back to the ledge he reached down to the pathway. Recovering from my surprise, I peered over, unable to make out what he was doing. It quickly became apparent when a recognisable dragoness emerged from the darkness, her bright orange scales not as well hidden as Boltock's.
"Ember!"
I reached down to help the shivering pair up. Upon seeing the fire-lit cave the frozen couple quickly dashed inside and I followed, shaking off the rainwater as I entered.
Both took refuge by the flames while Ember summoned them back to life with a flick of her tail. I had to look at the pair several times to make sure they were real and I hadn't just fallen asleep again, one rapid eye-blink and a shake of my head confirmed the reality. In my rushed decision to leave, I'd never expected anyone to follow; let alone almost everyone I'd met.
Really, first Risha, now this?
"What are you two doing here?" was all I could think to ask.
"I could ask you the same question," Boltock replied, shaking the last drops of rainwater from his wings.
I diverted my eyes. What a stupid question. I know very well why they're here.
All the commotion was enough to wake Risha. Her weary eyes suddenly widening when they fell upon her brother.
"Surprise!" he declared, not quite so enthusiastically as he'd done back in the city.
"What in the great fire's name are you doing here?" she demanded, in a particularly serious tone.
Boltock snorted a puff of smoke, leaving Ember and I to watch the two siblings argue. Everything I thought I knew about them was shattered, they looked no different from Tarwin and her father. Risha's cold reasoning demolished her brother's angry sarcasm until he bawled.
"What, do you think you can just take off without me?"
His normally humorous inclination had vanished; his voice was firm, more so than I'd ever heard before. From my first impression of him, I'd thought he was a rather passive and sarcastically funny character, but this was quite the opposite.
"You said that we... you said you'd never leave," he declared, stomping a forepaw.
Risha lowered her head, her anger diminished. I knew exactly what he was referring to, and it made that guilt all the heavier. I'd caused this, I'd allowed her to talk me into letting her come, this was my fault.
"Reme
mber? You know what I'm talking about," Boltock pressed, jabbing a foreclaw at his sister.
She took a deep breath, seemingly holding back tears as she put on a brave face.
"Yes, yes, you're right."
With that, Boltock sighed, his firm expression deflating along with his wings. He looked almost puppy-like when he admitted.
"Okay, I'm sorry. I was just worried about you."
"And I'm sorry for leaving, I know I promised," she replied, raising her head and smiling at him.
"Well, I’m glad that’s sorted out," Ember interjected swiftly. "More importantly what are you two really doing out here? You know there's regulations about leaving Dardien?" she questioned, looking to Risha in particular.
I stood up quickly. I'm not going to let her take all the blame and questions when this is entirely my fault.
"We're going to find Blaze's friend," Risha replied, before I could say anything.
"What? The one we talked about back in the steam cave?" Ember replied, Boltock taking a little longer to recall the information.
"Yes!" I interrupted, offering Risha no opportunity to spare me again.
The pair glanced at each other. Ember rolling her eyes at Boltock, who just sat there still clueless. Either way, it was obvious that neither of them had any real idea about Tarwin, human or otherwise.
"Then you can count us in as well," the fiery dragoness declared, and it was no shock that Boltock had no objections.
Upon their arrival my expectation was for them to persuade Risha to return with them, not offer to join us! On the flip side, I found a new feeling of security in the fact that four of us would be better than two. I'd seen both fight during their training, so there was no doubt they were skilled, probably more so than me. Not to mention, they'd made it this far through the storm and still managed to find us.
Looking back at the three of them, I saw dragons who I'd known for no more than a few days, all keen to come with me and help find my friend, someone they didn't even know. It was a strange sensation and at that moment I realised they would do this for me out of nothing more than friendship. It meant an awful lot, because I knew that deep down, I really didn’t want to go alone.
"Hey, where’s Pyro?" Risha asked, eyeing Boltock suspiciously.
While I had my doubts, I'd probably have felt more secure having him here too – he was a soldier after all.
"Well this one was so worried about you that when he came to me, he had us rush off before I could get him," Ember answered, nodding at Boltock.
Funny, almost feels like that was a part of his plan?
"How did you find us?" I asked, the thought eating away at my mind. If they can find us, then what else can?
"I can find my own sister’s scent no matter where she is – I think you forgot that, Sis," Boltock replied, looking at her with a grin on his face.
Risha rolled her eyes. While I admired his commitment. It's just like how I know Tarwin's.
Ember yawned, stretching her wings and legs while arching her back like a housecat, her tail flicking from side to side.
"You know after all of that excitement I think I'll be getting some sleep. That is, if you don't plan on running off again?" she announced, eyeing Risha and I suspiciously.
Boltock nodded, copying her while getting as close to her as he could without touching.
I glanced over at Risha. She still managed a smile, telling me I should sleep too. I returned the expression, watching her head lower to the ground as she settled back into her slumber. I took one last look at the opening, where my sleepy eyes met the same wet, cold, rainy sight. I was so relieved that Boltock and Ember, not something else, had come over the ledge.
If something decided to come after us now, we at least had more power to repel it. With that increased sense of security, I moved away from the dripping entrance, settled next to the fire and rested my head on the stone.
Even so, I lay with my head in a position that allowed me to keep one eye on the entrance. I certainly didn't think that the appearance of two more adolescent dragons would completely put off the monsters I feared were lurking out there.
Chapter 7
Forest of Gloom
The world slowly came into focus when my weary eyes were urged to open by light beaming in through the entrance. The rain had ceased, the soaked evidence of its battle covering the forest. To my right I could see there was nothing left of last night's fire apart from a faint burnt smell and a pile of blackened charcoal. The others were still sleeping around its remnants, and feeling there was no point in waking them, especially since I had no idea how early it was, I left them to their dreams.
My body ached in protest when I moved to the mouth of the cave, the brisk morning air relieving the heat from my breath with small puffs of vapour. The forest’s silence was broken by faint birdsong and the slight rustling of branches on the breeze. The smell of wet pines and damp wood mixed with vegetation, permeating the atmosphere.
In the overcast daylight, the dense pines were clearly visible, their foliage glistening like the rainfall had planted millions of tiny diamonds amongst the needles. I walked out to the ledge, instantly feeling the drop in temperature as I peered down at the soggy mire that was the forest floor.
A sudden noise behind me almost had me jumping right out of my scales.
"Good morning," Risha announced, stretching and rubbing sleep from her eyes so casually, like this was completely normal.
For a moment I had to wonder if she, like me, had woken thinking she was back home. Regardless, her attention was swiftly drawn to Boltock curled up close to Ember. Creeping over, she placed a forepaw between his horns and started gently tapping until he responded.
"I'm awake," he muttered, pushing her forepaw away with his wing.
He raised himself slowly, his legs quivering, his face drooped. The new sounds were evidently enough to wake Ember, who gradually opened her weary eyes, peering up at the siblings.
"Well, you've woken me, what now?" Boltock grumbled, rubbing his face with a forepaw.
"We should get this fire started again," Ember suggested, and the moment she uttered the words Boltock jumped at the chance.
"Don't worry, I can handle it on my own," she shot him down with a slight laugh.
He looked on in disappointment while Ember approached the black pile of charred ashes, the marks on her sides flashing. She flicked her coiled tail, emitting a bolt of flame that ran along its length, gaining speed, until it was released from the tip, reigniting the remnants of the fire in a flash.
She certainly makes a bigger show of it than the others do.
Risha looked over to her fiery friend, appearing equally satisfied. Boltock, on the other paw, gawked like he'd just seen a mountain of treasure. Although I shared his amazement, I had a feeling it was not for the same reason.
Ember moved over to the cave entrance, tapping the end of Boltock’s snout with a swift flick of her tail as she passed.
"What do we do now?" Risha asked, glancing over to me.
Oh right, I'm the one in the lead here!
I might have easily managed to lead Risha, but leading a whole group was a different matter.
"We should be going," I replied, convinced it was the answer they were hoping to hear.
"What, without eating first?" Boltock objected.
His immediate need of food was supported by a raised forepaw, and a glance Ember's way to see if she approved.
Oh right, we need food. I'm not hungry, but I have to make sure they're fed!
I could manage long periods of fasting; however, I was beginning to realise that comparing myself to them was not the most realistic option.
"Fine, we'll get some food," Risha agreed, moving over to the cave entrance.
Both her and Ember immediately prepared to leave before either Boltock or I could even consider the fact.
"I think Boltock and I should go," I proposed respectfully.
Boltock jumped forward to join me, de
lighted by the opportunity to do something for Ember.
"Yes, I think we should go," he added, nodding frantically in agreement.
The two dragonesses frowned. The fact was, I wasn't saying we should go because I thought they were any less capable, in fact I would trust them more – they were both certainly more responsible – it was whether I could trust myself. I'd already let someone down and I certainly didn't want to do that again.
I can't let anything happen to Risha, not after her story. Whether she wants to admit it or not, I sang human praises in her face and she let me!
Not to say I didn’t hold Boltock in any lesser regard, he was extremely important to her. However, he was the most reckless. Part of me was worried that if I left him here, he'd unknowingly attract attention. I wanted someone responsible to be at the cave in case we needed to rush back.
"Not that I don't think you're capable... I–I just think it would be better if someone responsible stays here," I stammered in a fluster.
They both peered at Boltock standing at the edge of the ledge, swiping his claws and wings in the air as if pretending to battle an invisible opponent.
"Responsible?" Risha said with a nod, while Ember rolled her eyes.
"We'll stay here," the blue dragoness added knowingly. "Just take care of my brother, okay?"
Does she really trust me with the only family she's got left?
I trust her, with my life almost. I thought, nodding and assuring her I would.
By the time I reached the edge of the ledge, Boltock had already started jumping along the rocky pathway towards the forest floor. I swiftly moved after him, careful to follow the exact route I had the night before.
The retreat of the storm had done nothing to diminish the eerie effects of the forest’s confined atmosphere. The floor was a battleground of watery debris. My paws squelched in the mud, the addition of my weight pushing cold water between my toes. Pools collected in the gaps between tree roots and the undergrowth glistened in the morning light.