by Lilly Wilder
I cooed him and comforted him. Eventually we relaxed as much as we could against the rocks and our eyes grew heavy. My last thoughts were of flying through the air, and during the night I dreamt about turning into a dragon myself. I was a beautiful, sparkling silver dragon flying through the air, free of all my doubt and fear and I could just fly through the stars to a new land, exploring something unknown.
12
When I awoke the following morning, I had an awkward crick in my back and stretched out my body, rising from the hard floor. I didn’t want to make a habit of sleeping on the ground so I hoped that we could get to Zerinthor as soon as possible, although by the look of it, it was going to take us a few days to hike up the mountain. Finn was already wake and was smiling at me.
“Thank you for last night. It’s good to have somebody to talk to about this, about everything,” he said.
“Are you really telling me that you’ve not confided about any of this to your friends since you’ve been in this world?”
“I’ve told them about Cal, but not about everything else. It’s not been the same. Like I said, I couldn’t reveal the truth to them because we’d only be persecuted. I wouldn’t have told you if you hadn’t been so persistent…but I’m glad you were.”
This Finn was much more palatable to me than the one I had first met. He had been rude and brooding, but now I understood why; he had been scared. This Finn was charming and kind, gentle, and had a depth of emotion within him.
Day had broken outside and the sun’s golden rays kissed the mountain. I stepped outside and although the air was a little warmer, it was still bracing and I shivered. I looked down at the lush green trees and my appreciation for nature only grew. This land had been beautiful in the night, but it had been cloaked in darkness. Now, it was exposed, for all the world to see, and it was wondrous. The mountains were slate gray, and below them were green forests. Small birds soared through the air and for the first time in my life I knew exactly how they felt. I looked up at the path we were going to have to take and I felt bitter for having to walk. Now that I had flown everything was going to pale in comparison.
“How do you do it?” I asked as we set off. Finn looked at me quizzically. “I mean, walking after flying? Surely everything must seem so slow and cumbersome to you. Up there in the air you were so free, able to move in any way you wanted without resistance.”
“I got used to it. I guess it’s like when you go swimming, but yes, it is hard not to indulge that side of myself as often as I would like. Even now I’d like to fly up to Zerinthor, but I don’t think that’s very wise.”
“I agree, not from what you’ve told me anyway.”
He stopped in his tracks and turned to me.
“Danni, when we find Zerinthor I want you to hide. He’s a dangerous dragon and he holds no love for humanity. If he sees you, he won’t have any qualms in killing you. Hide, run away, do anything you can to stay out of his clutches.”
“Okay Finn,” I agreed, but I wasn’t about to be some damsel. I wanted to help, and maybe if Zerinthor had such a low opinion of humanity he might underestimate me and what I was capable of.
We ascended along the mountain. The path was narrow and wound around the edge. We walked slowly, and being high up on this mountain was a completely different sensation to what I had experienced when riding on the back of Finn. Then, he was in control, and here, I felt completely at the mercy of the mountain. I made the mistake of looking down as we followed the path and the ground seemed to leap up at me. There was a thin layer of mist, but beyond it lay the far-off ground. I thought about what it would be like to fall through the air. It would take anyone an eternity to fall, and by the time they actually met the ground they would surely be conscious. I hoped I wouldn’t have to find out.
There was one moment when I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going and missed my step. I knocked a couple of stones away and they scuttled down the side of the mountain, falling into the abyss below. I shrieked in fright and backed away as far as I could towards the mountains, clinging onto the rocks as tightly as I could. Finn came to my rescue and told me that everything was going to be okay.
I was glad that we didn’t have to climb the mountains properly because I wouldn’t have had the endurance to do that. My legs were already aching just from walking, but Finn seemed to be in good spirits. He was determined, and I had no doubt that he was fueled by a desire to find Cal and make Zerinthor pay for what he had done.
I quickly learned to stop looking at our destination, because whenever I did, it seemed just as far away as the last time I had checked. It didn’t seem like we were making any progress and I wondered how we were going to make it there before I dropped dead. I didn’t air these concerns with Finn though, because I didn’t want him to think that I was weak.
We stopped for frequent rests, but they never lasted too long because Finn was anxious to keep going. I thought about Misty and what she must be thinking right now, wishing that I could have told her the truth. Part of me worried that I wouldn’t get out of this alive. Zerinthor seemed like a terrifying beast and all three of us might die at his hands. If that happened, I’d never get the chance to say goodbye to Misty. Nobody would even know that we were here.
We walked for the better part of the day until it came to rest again. I put my hand against the side of the mountain and panted.
“I can’t go on,” I said, my breath labored. My body was doubled over and I had a stitch in my side. I’d always intended to do more exercise, but it had never seemed like much of a pressing concern. Now, I wished I had made more effort. My knees shook and every breath scratched my throat as though I was swallowing nails. I craved water and I didn’t know where we were going to get any from.
Finn came up to me and put his hand on my back.
“Come on, just a little farther and there’s a place we can use to rest. There’s water there, and maybe a little bit of food. We can have a good rest and be fresh for the morning.”
The thought of walking even one more step was devastating, but the promise of water and food urged me on. I staggered forward like a zombie and followed Finn. I was a creature of momentum, putting one foot before the other, not thinking about anything else. I followed Finn blindly and only hoped that we’d reach our destination before my limbs fell off and I collapsed due to exhaustion.
We reached a point where the mountain joined with another one widened, creating a plateau between the two. It was shielded from the wind and I was glad to be able to fall to the ground. There were caves dotted against the high walls, and the path continued around the mountain, but the dwindling light was a sign that we had to stop traveling for the day and have a rest. My limbs burned and cried out with pain. My hands shook, and I didn’t understand how I was ever going to recover. My throat was raw too, and I could barely speak. Finn walked away. I watched him go into a cave, and he returned with a bowl.
“Here, drink this,” he said. The water was sweet and cool. I gulped it down eagerly and it trickled down my chin. I wiped it away and thanked him, although in all honesty I could have done with more.
“What is this place?”
“It’s an old place, a place of pilgrimage. This used to be where the leaders of our people held their council. In the old times, they’d come up here and debate the important matters of the day and make the decisions that affected all of us. It was a hallowed place, but as our people have been scattered to the wind, it’s rarely used. There’s a spring in the cave for anyone who wants to come here, and there are things to make fire as well. I’ll get us some food in a little while. You rest and I’ll make a fire so that we’re warm during the night.”
I nodded, glad that he didn’t want me to do anything strenuous. I lay back and looked up at the sky. The white clouds danced together and my heavy lids blinked regularly. My muscles throbbed and I closed my eyes, trying to push away the aches and pains that were in my body.
I didn�
��t know how much time had passed when Finn called out to me. The light had dimmed, and the sun was setting over the horizon, making the sky bleed red. Finn grunted as he slammed the body of an animal down on the ground. It looked like a goat, and he set about skinning it.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Dinner, he replied. He went to another cave and brought out kindling and wood, and then hit struck two stones together to make a spark. I watched all this with great interest. I had never been one for survival, and these skills were things I had never learned. If it hadn’t been for Finn’s presence, I would have been left for the dead, and I truly hoped that I wasn’t the last one left alive up here because I didn’t think I’d make it down.
Finn got to work at setting up a spit roast and after he skinned the animal, he set it atop the flames, the fire licking the carcass, cooking it, making the juices flow. I wasn’t squeamish when it came to food, but I wasn’t exactly looking forward to eating something that had just been killed, but the pangs of hunger in my stomach made me push aside for qualms. Finn dragged the carcass to the edge of the mountain and hurled it off. His hands were bloodied, and he went back to wash them. When he returned, he had blankets with them.
“We won’t have to cozy up to each other tonight,” he said. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed. With his help, I moved to the fire and lay my blanket on the ground. It offered a little comfort, although the hard surface was still apparent underneath the thick cloth. Sitting near the fire, I enjoyed the warmth and held out my hands. The heat eased the aching in my muscles and I was relieved to know that we weren’t going to have to move for the night. I tried not to think about the following day though. Nothing could have been worse than the prospect of walking along more mountains.
“Have you done this kind of thing before?” I asked, staring into the fire.
“When we lived as dragons, we did this all the time. We camped out and lived off the land. It’s actually very rewarding, although I can understand why your society has progressed to a point where everything is easy for you. There’s nothing like the satisfaction you get from killing your own dinner though,” he said, and watched the meat cook eagerly. When it was done, he cut some off with his knife and tore at it with his teeth, nodding with delight. Then, he passed me some. I took the meat in my hands and looked at it uneasily. I smelled it and then put it in my mouth. As soon as I had a taste, I bit into it with great hunger and started to chew it rabidly.
I wanted more.
Finn and I gorged on the meat, feeling satisfied. I’d never worked up such an appetite before.
“How many of you were there?” I asked.
“The four I told you about and a few others. It mostly fell apart after Dovalia died. People splintered off into their own smaller groups, and the community was no more.”
“Did you try to look for any of them and tell them what was happening?”
“I thought about it, but they have their own lives and once someone is in the wind, we don’t really have much hope of finding them again. We don’t have a sense for where each other are. I only know that Zerinthor is here because he doesn’t make a secret about it. But it’s not like I could walk down the street and tell you if anyone is a dragon or not.”
“I envy you, being something more than human. I’ve always hated the fact that I’ve been ordinary, that I’ve never really been able to help people in the way that I wanted.”
“I wouldn’t say that. You seem pretty extraordinary to me. We might seem special to you, but don’t forget that there are more than one of me. I’m just ordinary when it comes to dragons. And I wouldn’t sell yourself short. There’s clearly something about you that has allowed Cal and I to place our faith in you, and it’s rare that a human can accept this truth. You have not wavered. You have not been uncomfortable or given into fear. In fact, you have embraced the truth and you have shown yourself to be brave. You’re here to help Cal when it would have been easier to stay behind in your ignorance. I will never forget this.”
“I’m not just here to help Cal. I’m here to help you too, Finn,” I said gently and placed my hand on his arm. I looked into his eyes and a moment passed between us again. I felt a strong urge to kiss him, but this time I resisted. His gaze faltered and he turned to look into the fire. The feelings inside me were confusing, and I imagined they might have been for him as well. We were here to rescue Cal, and yet we were attracted to each other. There was no denying the truth, but neither of us wanted to hurt Cal. Both of us had strong feelings for him. I had never been in the position where I was attracted to two people at the same time and I didn’t know what to make of it. It wasn’t as though I felt more strongly about one than the other. Both of them had unique qualities that I appreciated and yes, Finn was directly in front of me, so it was easier to feel a physical connection to him, but I badly wanted to see Cal again as well.
It was a romantic setting really. We were high up in the mountains, away from civilization, with a roaring fire before us. If we stayed there something bad was going to happen, something we might both have regretted. I could almost hear Misty whispering in my ear, telling me to go for it, but I couldn’t, not when Cal was in danger. After all this we were going to have to go back and figure out what was going on. I was very aware that I might actually end up with nobody if Cal and Finn got together. The only thing worse than missing out on one man was missing out on two.
I focused on eating the rest of my dinner and tried to stay silent, not wanting there to be any opportunity for us to flirt with each other. I kept glancing towards Finn though, and there were a few occasions when I caught him flirting back.
“During the night you can sleep out here or you can go into one of the caves. I think I might let this fire burn itself out through the night just to give us that extra bit of warmth. I’m probably going to stay out here, but you can go into the spring and bathe. There’s a torch that you can carry.”
He picked up a thick piece of wood that had a cloth wrapped around it. He handed it to me, and I sensed that he wanted to be alone and this suggestion was really a hint, or maybe it wasn’t that he was alone but that I smelled and I needed a bath. It was actually a good idea, and I figured my aching muscles would appreciate a bit of relief.
I took the torch from him and picked myself up, wincing as I did so. I was moving a little more easily than I had before, although it was still a struggle. I took my blanket with me, wrapping it under my arm, and held the torch in my other hand. The flame illuminated a circle around me, and when I reached the mouth of the cave, I saw that Finn was sitting there with his head in his hands, no doubt brooding about what had come to pass.
I walked into the cave and put the blanket on the ground. The spring was a small lake at the rear of the cavern. The water shimmered. There were buckets and bowls placed around. I went to the edge of the spring and placed the torch in a bucket so that it still provided light, for the moonlight was not really strong enough to penetrate the darkness this far back. I sank to my knees and the first thing I did was cup my hands into the water and brought it up to my face. I gulped it down and gasped, pausing a little so that I didn’t choke on the water. It was fresh and cool. I would have preferred it to be warm, but beggars can’t be choosers.
I splashed some water on my face and felt the shock of the cold water. Then, I slowly peeled away my clothes. I looked back to make sure that Finn wasn’t there to see, but secretly hoped that he was. I dipped my toe in the water and gasped, but I needed to wash. I slowly and gradually lowered myself into the water, my naked flesh being swallowed by the calm pool in the cavern. I dipped my head underneath and felt instantly refreshed, and then rubbed the water all over my body. There didn’t seem to be any soap around, so I had to make do with clear water, but it still felt good to wash away the grime that had accumulated on my body as a result of the efforts of the day.
The water reached the rise of my breasts and lapped at my shoulders. I massag
ed the weariness out of my muscles, reaching deep down to my thighs, and I remembered what Finn had told me about swimming. I stretched out my limbs and swam through the lake, closing my eyes and enjoying the feeling of freedom that came with it. I reenacted my dream and pretended that I was a dragon flying through the sky, although it wasn’t the same because the water offered more resistance than the clear air. However, I did manage to lose myself, and for the time being, I was able to imagine what it was really like to be a dragon. I forgot about all the troubles that plagued us and about the threat of Zerinthor.
I was interrupted from my reverie by a cry of anguish and an angry flutter of wings. My eyes widened in fear and my heart almost jumped out of my chest. I heard a loud roar and I knew that it wasn’t Finn. It must have been Zerinthor. He’d found us.
13
My mind was panicked and I wasn’t sure what to do. Finn hadn’t told me this was a possibility, although I supposed I should have thought about it. If this was Zerinthor’s domain then he would know if there were any intruders. I thought about hiding in the spring. I doubted that Zerinthor would check in here. He only cared about Cal and Finn, and he had them already. Finn had told me to hide as well, but it wasn’t in my nature to do nothing.
I swam to the edge and pulled myself up. Water trickled from my hair and my naked body. I quickly rubbed myself dry with the blanket. The heat from the torch licked at my body as well. I pulled my hair between my hands and wrung it out. The water splashed against the floor and for a moment I froze, afraid that Zerinthor would hear and come in to burn me alive with his fiery breath.
