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he next morning, my eyes fluttered open to find Auslemaro and Emmayla rubbing noses. I rubbed my eyes, knowing that I must have been imagining things. Nope, no hallucinations. They were, in fact, sharing dragon kisses. Liluye must have noticed my puzzled expression.
“He’s her mate,” she explained.
“Oookay,” I wrinkled my brow and cocked my head, “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“You never asked,” Liluye rolled her eyes as I glared at her.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Mama smiled, “glad to see you’ve finally decided to wake up.”
“Are we leaving already?” I asked.
“No, I want to give Emmayla a few days to rest and Li some time to weave some pouches for the new infants.”
“Cool.”
I averted my gaze to a very miserable looking Sylabira, who was sitting quietly in a corner, far away from the dragons.
“What’s wrong, Syla?” I asked, walking over.
“I’m a bibliophile without even a can of alphabet soup to read,” she pouted.
“A what?” River questioned, a dumb look spreading across his face.
“A bibliophile: someone who loves books,” I defined the ‘large’ word for him.
“Oooh, a bibliophile. I knew that. I thought you said….. smibliophile,” he lied.
“Uh, huh,” Sylabira and I smirked.
“So,” I began, turning back to my depressed friend, “why are you so afraid of dragons?”
“What?” she laughed nervously, “I’m not afraid of dragons. What ever would give you that idea?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the way you stare warily at even the infants and how you jumped up and ran behind River when Ametista came near you.”
“Alright, fine,” she sighed, “I’m afraid of those oversized lizards. I have been ever since I was eight.”
“Eight?”
“Yeah,” Sylabira hesitated, then continued, “My brother, Lutur, was killed by a male dragon. He was fourteen and I saw the whole thing.” Tears spilled over her cheeks and splattered onto the stone.
“It’s alright, Sy,” I comforted her, “You know, not all dragons are bad. And you don’t even know why that one attacked your brother.”
“Yes, I do,” she butted in, “His rider told him to. The only reason I know that was because the bloody jerk was standing to the side, watching the whole thing, and laughing as his mount ripped Lutur apart. After the monster had finished, the boy turned to me and said that he’d told my brother that he’d pay. Pay for what, we still don’t know but it can’t be so bad that he had to lose his life over it.” Sylabira was sobbing now, burring her face into my shoulder.
It must have been hard to witness something like that, then be forced to tell the story over again to the police and to her family.
“Listen, how’s about I show the good side of dragons,” I suggested.
“I’d like that,” she smiled through her tears.
Since Emmayla was still resting, Liluye agreed to let Sylabira and me ride Eitali while she rode the more inexperienced Aquene. She was going to give me and the dragophobic a few lessons in dragon riding. With Syla’s arms wrapped uncomfortably tight around my waist, we took off, letting the sky envelope us in its blue emptiness.
It felt good so fly just for the heck of it. I felt free, as if a longing spirit had finally been released. Eitali’s wings lifted us higher amongst the clouds and I started to feel Sylabira’s death grip loosen. A laugh escaped her lips and she really seemed to be enjoying herself.
It’s about time, Emmayla’s rich voice pierced my mind, that girl needed a healthy dose of dragon. Maybe now she can finally accept that little one that won’t leave her alone.
Maybe, I thought back, I just hope this will help restore her faith in dragons. Life’s no fun without them.
Tell me about it! I could tell Emmayla was smiling.
“Alright now, Namaya, I want you two to hold on tight and tap Eitali’s front leg with your right foot and reach back with your left and squeeze! Just don’t forget to hold on!” Liluye instructed. I did as she said and Eitali immediately went into a right barrel roll.
Sylabira let out a blood curling scream, right in my ear, I might add, and tightened her already deadly grip. She didn’t stop either, until the roll ended and we levelled out.
“You alright?” I asked her when she’d stopped screaming and my ears quit ringing. Nothing. “Sy?”
“I… I think so,” she replied weakly, her voice quavering.
At the sound of Liluye laughing, I turned to look at the frightened girl. Sylabira had gone completely white, her eyes were even bigger than Samce’s, and she was shaking like a leaf in a hailstorm.
“So what’d ya’ll think?” Li smirked.
“It… it was awesome!!” Sylabira cheered, grinning broadly, “I mean at first I was like ‘Ah!’ Then we were like ‘whoosh!’ Of course I was like ‘oi’ at first, while Liluye was ‘ha ha’ but then I was like ‘Oh yeah!’”
Liluye and I just looked at each other.
“Huh?” we said in unison, staring at this sudden change of personality.
“Sorry, I forgot how carried away a used to get after a ride,” she blushed.
Are your ears still ringing? Emmayla butted into my head again. ‘Cause mine still are and I didn’t even get the full effect.
No, I answered with a giggle, but then again, I’m used to having people, and by ‘people’ I usually mean Kohan, yelling and ranting my ear off. It was an everyday occurrence and I didn’t realize until now how quiet things have really been since we left.
“Alright, you two,” Li called, “Now let’s see if you can get her to breathe fire on command.”
“Say what now?” Sylabira questioned, a look of pure terror on her face.
“You heard me,” Liluye smiled, “Now take her up, Namaya!”
I kicked Eitali’s scaled sides and she flew higher into the sky. We soared higher and higher, the temperature plummeting the farther we went, until Liluye gave us the okay to level out.
“Why are we so high?” Sylabira shouted into my ear.
“We might as well start at Eitali’s level,” Li explained, “She’d be able to conger up flames no problem down there, but up here, obviously it’s much colder and therefore, harder to pull together enough heat for fire.”
“So what’s the command?” I asked.
“Every rider has their own command for their dragons. It tends to reflect on the person’s cultural interests. Mine is ‘tinuer.’ It’s a mix of the German and the Gaelic words for fire.”
“Okay, cool.” I turned my attention back to Eitali, “Alright, girl! Tinuer!”
As if it was nothing at all, Eitali calmly sent a roaring jet of fire blazing from deep inside her. It was a rather weak flame, I’m guessing because of the cold, but still! I had just got a dragon to breathe fire on my command!
“Very good, Namaya!” Liluye praised me, “Now let’s see if we can bump that up a couple notches. Of course this will be entirely on Eitali, since you’re not her actual rider. If this were Emmayla or Kayles, you’d have to help your dragon to strengthen the flames.”
“How would I do that?”
“With your connection,” Li explained, “Obviously, you can’t breathe fire yourself, but you’d have to create the same effect and combine that with your mount’s. Now if you don’t mind, let’s try again. Shall we?”
“Tinuer!” I shouted. Once again, Eitali sent a burst of fire soaring out of her gaping mouth. Only this time, I felt the rush of warmth on my bare skin as the heat rushed to her centre and then out into the air.
For the next hour, we practiced barrel rolls and breathing fire on command. Sylabira fell off only once, but Liluye comforted her by saying that most people riding double fall off about nine times out of ten rather than one time in fifty.
That night all was quite and calm. Mama had already fallen asleep with Samce cuddled up at her side, lying up against Leimashea’s belly. Liluye and Sylabira were sleeping soundly by Eitali, who Syla had naturally bonded with during the lesson. All of the other dragons were doing the same.
Auslemaro was curled up with Emmayla and their little ones and the draglings were huddled together on their blanket with Allbe. Then the rest of the girls were sleeping over in a corner together. I, on the other hand, couldn’t sleep, even though my little Kayles was doing such, peacefully, in my lap.
Although my heart had stopped pounding with excitement over what I’d done that day, my mind continued to race with the thoughts of practicing again tomorrow. I sat with a leg dangling over the side of the ledge, my chin resting on my right knee. Gazing out into the darkness, I thought I saw the glint of scales amongst the trees, but decided that it was just my imagination. River silently slid up behind me, slipping his arms around my waist.
“Nothing really,” I answered, “Just reflecting.”
“Naturally.”
I smiled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re a dreamer. And I must say, that’s what I love about you.”
“So you love me do you?” I joked, not really expecting anything out of it.
“Yes, very much so.”
My heart skipped a bit. Does he really mean that or is he just saying it? I wondered, hoping for the first.
I didn’t get a chance to ask him since as soon as he said it, he released me and walked away. I turned around, starting to call him back, but he’d already laid down beside Deslaorto and disappeared behind her.
I sighed, longing for him to come back over, but not really knowing whether to call him or not. I would just have to wait, I guess. Turning back around, I resumed my gazing.
River didn’t even give me so much as a glance for the next few days. Is he ashamed by what he told me? I asked Emmayla, after retelling the story to her for the millionth time.
I don’t know, Namaya, she answered, Gosh, you humans are so complicated! With us dragons, the males just make total and complete fools of themselves for us, the girls pick the one we want, and that’s the end of it, unless something happens to split us up. Even then, we just find another.
Well, us humans aren’t that lucky, are we? I sighed. Guess I’ll just have to wait until he comes around on his own… unless…
Unless what? Emmayla questioned hesitantly.
Well, you can talk to Auslemaro and Deslaorto, right? I grinned.
I don’t like where this is going, Emmayla groaned.
So maybe you can, I don’t know, see if he has been asking about me, or something.
Please say that the ‘or something’ means I don’t have to do it.
Oh, please, Emmayla! I begged.
Namaya, what goes on between dragon and rider is a private thing! Emmayla reprimanded me, How would you like it if I told all my friends the secrets you share with me?
If you can get River and me back on speaking terms again, I really wouldn’t care.
No, absolutely not!
But Emmayla! I protested.
No! I won’t do it! End of discussion!
After that, my dragon closed her mind to me and not even my pleading looks would get her to open back up.
“You ready for our lesson, Namaya?” Sylabira asked, pulling me back to the reality of the cave.
“Yeah, I guess,” I sighed, giving up on the River problem for the time being.
“Alright, you two,” Liluye said, when we’d reached the edge of the cliff and were about to mount Eitali and Aquene, “Sylabira, I want you in front today. Namaya, you’ve done excellent so far, but I want Sy to learn how to do this, too.”
“Whatever,” I shrugged, waiting for Sylabira to clamour into Eitali’s saddle.
“What do I do now?” Syla questioned after I’d climbed up behind her.
“Take her up,” I replied blankly.
“How?”
“I don’t know, I’ve always just kicked her sides.” Sylabira slammed her heals into Eitali and the dragon let out a low growl. “Gently!”
“Sorry,” Sy said sheepishly. With much less force, she tapped the midnight blue scales and we were off, taking to the sky like a fish to the sea.
“You remember how to a barrel roll, right?” Liluye asked.
“I think so,” Sylabira answered, desperately trying to hide her nervousness. It wasn’t working too well, obviously, since instead of sending the dragoness into a right barrel roll, she took her into a sharp right turn.
Liluye rolled her eyes, “Try again!”
Syla did the leg motions once more and again, got only a right turn. Although this time she got somewhat of a slant out of Eitali. Several times she tried and several times she failed, but was gradually getting better with each attempt.
“Alright, once more!” Liluye instructed.
This time, to our utter amazement, even though she accidentally switched her legs, Sylabira sent Eitali into a beautiful and graceful left barrel roll. I was caught completely off guard, so slipped right out of the saddle as we flipped over.
About two feet before I hit the trees, thankfully, Liluye came to my rescue. Aquene snatched me in her talons just as Li brought her out of a dive, then flew over to where Sylabira was grinning broadly on Eitali.
“I did it!” she squealed, “Sorry about knocking you off though, Namaya.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I smiled, “You were great!”
We shared a quick victory hug and set back to work.
By midday, Sylabira and I were so dizzy, we could barely see straight, so Liluye called for a break.
“You were looking great out there, girls,” Mama praised us, setting out six plates.
“Thanks,” Sylabira blushed, “But Namaya did much better yesterday.”
“But I wasn’t just getting over a dragon phobia, was I?” I pointed out.
“I know, but you still were better.”
“But you only fell off once during the entire four days,” I argued, “I have fallen off at least ten times today alone.”
“But-“ Sy began.
“Alright you two,” Mama interrupted, “you can go over the buts later. Right now, it’s lunchtime.”
She had prepared another fabulous feast of roasted deer and larcamora fruit, which we all devoured rather quickly, wanting to get back to training as soon as possible.
As I stepped out onto the ledge with Sylabira, looking for a mount, I was quite surprised by what I found.
Instead of seeing the dragons merely stretching their wings and getting a bit of fresh air, I had stumbled upon Liluye and River in fierce mock combat. Li was perched on Alu’s back and River was on Auslemaro, while Deslaorto, Eitali, Aquene, Emmayla, and Leimashea watched intently. Their eyes never once left the battle scene and it took me a bit to catch Emmayla’s attention. Even as she flew over, she couldn’t stop watching.
Once at the mouth of the cave, she allowed Sylabira and me to clamour onto her back, then took off once more, so we could get a better look. Emmayla eased to a halt just outside the flame zone and sat there, hovering and taking in the battle.
River and Liluye had their legs slipped firmly under a strap that ran the circumference of each dragon, just behind the front legs. While River held sturdy reins, Li was using only her legs to guide her mount. I was sure it was much harder than it looked, but they made it look so easy. For a fleeting moment, I was almost tempted to join them on the battlefield.
“Hey!” River shouted as Liluye rushed at him, dived just before they collided, then had Alu tail whip Auslemaro in the jaw all within about a second, “That was a cheap shot!”
“You know what they say, River,” Liluye grinned, “All’s fair in love in war!”
For forty action packed minutes, the to senior riders continued to battle. Corkscrews, barrel rolls, dives of various slopes, some moves I don’t know the names of, crashes, headbutts, tail whips, more moves I can’t name, and many, many others were preformed with erratic degrees of success.
It was all rather amusing at times, really. Other times it was just, well, OUCHIEWAWA! (Sorry, only word I could come up that really expressed the, um… level of hurt involved.) Sure, it was mostly River getting the beating, but it was still funny. But all good things must come to an end at some point. In my opinion, it was way too soon, but I guess it can’t be helped.
Back at the cave, River and Li slid off their dragons, exhausted, and collapsed by the smouldering fire.
“So what’d ya’ll think?” Liluye panted, pulling off her boots.
“Amazing!” I breathed, still awestruck, “There’s no other word for it.”
“Sure there is,” Sylabira giggled, “There’s astounding, remarkable, wonderful, incredible, startling, marvellous, miraculous, surprising, mind-blowing, mind-boggling, and of course more, but I can’t think of them right now.”
“Ha, ha. You’re hilarious,” I rolled my eyes and then again with a laugh along with the others when River tried tugging off his riding boot and ending up smacking himself in the face with it.
That night I was woken by the sound of stifled screaming. I looked around, searching for the source, and found it was Sylabira.
“Sylabira?” I shook her shoulders, “Syla!”
“Please no!” she cried, eyes flying open wide, “Namaya?”
“Sy, what’s wrong?” I questioned, my hands still on her shoulders.
“N-nothing,” she stammered, “I-I’m f-fine. Really.”
Her pupils were dilated and were darting around in her sockets. It was obvious that she was frightened about something.
“Yeah, you were only screaming in your sleep and I had to shake you awake, but you’re perfectly fine,” I raised my eyebrows, waiting, “So?”
“It’s nothing!” Sylabira yelled, nostrils flaring, suddenly angry.
“What the hell is going on?” River’s voice came out of the darkness.
“Sylabira had a nightmare,” I explained.
“About what?” he asked.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
“Sy, what’s wrong?” River asked again, his eyes never leaving her.
“I’M FINE, okay? Just leave me alone!” she screeched, getting up and walking to the cave entrance, tears in her eyes.
River followed and in the faint moonlight I watched Sylabira fall into his arms, sobbing and choking out her fears.
Poor thing, I thought, sympathy oozing from my every pore. She’s gone through so much and I was proud of her for facing her greatest fear. Phobias were no easy thing to conquer and just trying can be almost as traumatizing as the random encounters with the fear itself.
I turned away, knowing I couldn’t help and that River had things under control, or would in no time. He was good like that; at least he seemed to be. I trust him to come through for her though.
My head still in post sleep mode, I laid down, slipping into a dream as soon as I hit the knapsack pillow.
A long, straight road stretched all the way to the horizon. The setting sun was rather ominous as the world around me dimmed more and more. I sat on Kayles’ back just a few feet from the dirt path. Nothing but flat, grassy planes rolled out before my eyes; the direction they were facing didn’t matter.
“Where are we going?” I asked as my subconsciously aged dragon flew on along the trail.
No answer.
“Kayles?”
Again, no reply. It was like she was ignoring me. Our light was vanishing faster as the seconds flitted by. I wasn’t sure what would happen once darkness fell, but something told me I wasn’t going to like it.
And I was right. The sun was gone and the moment it was all hell broke loose. Pebbles morphed into spikes and mere dirt transformed into scolding projectiles. All I could do was scream and hold on for dear life, as my mount dodged each new obstacle. Wind slashed at my dress, ripping huge gashes into it the vulnerable flesh beneath it. Bits of bloody cloth floated through the air like streamers and my terror practically broke the sound barrier.
Kayles didn’t seem to notice anything and appeared to be flying as if she wasn’t actually trying to avoid the pointy spines of death. In my lapse of concentration caused by pure disbelief, I forgot to move with her. My punishment: being forcibly removed from her back and dumped into the vat of dusty embers.
I awoke with a start, the minuscule hairs on my body standing up on end and goose bumps to erupt on my skin. Running a hand through my hair, I tried to get my charged nerves to settle. I was making good progress too, when I noticed something odd about the end of my dress. The frayed edges of the fabric were black which was odd considering the fact that it was supposed to be purple. I stroked it, feeling the now charred strands.
What in the world? I thought, very confused by this sudden development.
Your little girl is growing up, Emmayla’s smooth voice entered my baffled mind.
What do you mean?
Take a look, she responded.
Sure enough, when I looked down at my four and a half month old dragon (who was now the size of a small Pit Bull) there were tiny wisps of smoke puffing out of her nose as she breathed. The dragling didn’t seem to care though; she was only concerned with getting her ten hours of sleep. It was hard work being a young dragon after all. You had to play fight with the other younguns, flap your too-tiny-to-fly wings until they were sore, and stare at everyone all day with a curious look of pure evil on your face. I just don’t know how she does it.
Tears sprang to my eyes as I watched each cloud of smoke shoot out of her nostrils.
So my girl is learning how to breathe fire now! I’m so proud!
You should be, Emmayla chuckled. She’s growing fast and learning things quicker than most babies. Breathing fire at four months? That’s incredible! Usually they don’t even start the smoke flurries until six months.
Really? It’s not that I didn’t believe her; it’s just I was completely dumbfounded. I continued to smile and gaze for I don’t know how long when sleep began to grip my lids again and I laid back down. This time, no dreams of burning roads and deadly spikes came to me. Just a world of black that flashed in my mind for a second before I was reopening my eyes again to a new day.