Gregor
I woke to the feeling of radiant heat dancing over my skin and a soft glow, not more than five paces from where I had fallen asleep against the tree. The dragon was still there. Reading of all things. Of what, I had no idea. It had been a long time since I had seen a book, let alone written word.
“You did not have to stay.” I should have thanked them, but I didn’t feel thankful. I’d given in to my weakness. I was another few days, maybe a week from death. I had not hunted and barely drank on purpose. After losing my mate, living without them seemed unbearable. I thought picking a fight with a dragon would have given me a swift end, but he’d refused to fight, fed me, and even started a fire.
“No, I didn’t, but I felt it was the better idea.”
“Why is that?” I asked, still groggy from sleep.
“Because I am on a journey to learn. And I am hoping you will teach me.”
“What could I possibly teach you?” I scoffed.
“You could tell me why you thought picking a fight with a dragon was a good idea.”
“Who said it was a good idea?” I said amused. This dragon was not what I expected.
“Then why did you try it?”
“I thought you would kill me. Dragons are known for killing when provoked.” Simple fact. Wolves stayed away from them. Tales of dragon wars and their size meant they were no match for a human or a wolf.
“Who told you that?”
“Everyone knows that.” I shrugged as if it explained my logic, and he laughed.
“Well, you’re still alive, so wherever you heard such a thing, they were wrong.” He said. He put a marker in his book and closed it. “At least, for the most part. If you had leapt at me, I would have defended myself.”
“I didn’t have the energy,” I confessed. “When you offered me food, I’d hoped it was a trap.”
“Poison, you mean?” Xavior asked.
“Or, a more violent method. It did not matter to me.” I took a breath and felt the weight of his gaze on me. I was still tired. The small fire was slowly sapping my will to stay awake.
“Why are you hungry for death?” He asked. His voice was soft, understanding. I wanted to weep for the concern I heard.
“My mate is gone. They were poached, and another wears their skin as a false shifter. A witch. He visited our home to trade things. We had met with him several times. I went to hunt for dinner, and when I came back, they were dead, skinned. The witch was gone. I tracked him until he disappeared. He did something to hide the trail.”
Xavior was quiet for a long time. When he spoke, it jarred me out my half doze.
“It’s possible my grandmother might know who they are. She’s lived here for some time. If you had something of his, she might be able to figure out his location.”
“You would do this for me?” I was astounded at the kindness this dragon continued to show me.
“You deserve justice, and your mate deserves peace.”
I looked across the clearing and saw the truth in his eyes. He was earnest in his desire to help me. His body language indicated that he had resolved himself to this effort. I almost denied his offer. But there was something about him that reached my soul.
“I accept your help.”
“Good.” He said as he pulled a blanket out of his bag. I wondered why until he got up and walked slowly toward me. He handed me the blanket. “Tomorrow, we’ll go to the stream not far from here and have you clean up. I can’t have you visit my grandmother in your current state, no offense. She would descale me. Then we’ll find what we need to help her find your villain.”
I took the blanket from his hand. He nodded and walked back to the other side of the clearing. I wrapped the cloth around me and felt an instant warmth and comfort that almost made me cry. I closed my eyes again and did not awake until daybreak.
Comments (9)
See all