~ Renea Goldson ~

The first thing that she heard as she woke up was the sound of purring. It was dark now, and as she let out a yawn she tried to wake up. Slowly she stretched her body and let out another yawn feeling the scales that touched her skin. Her eyes suddenly flew open as her memories raced through her head. Everything pounded through her head as she looked around the beautiful crystal cavern. Her mouth opened as it dried from the fear.

Slowly she turned her head around, unsure of what was behind her. Her heart raced as she looked at the dragon that was purring beside her. A slow sigh left her lips when she saw it was only Hearth curled around her. Looking around she saw that the rain was pouring down onto the ground harshly just outside of the cave, and the other way was down. Deeper in the cavern went down, it was lit by the beautiful crystal but she wasn’t sure what was there. It just kept going down.

“Cool,” She whispered as her curiosity got the better of her and she stood up.

Immediately she let out a cry as she crippled over as pain shot up her leg. She went falling down but before she hit the ground a tail wrapped around Renea’s waist and pulled her up. Turning Renea looked at her dragon with tears pouring down her face.

‘My human!’ Hearth’s voice echoed through her head as she pressed her snout against Renea’s body.

“I-It hurts,” Renea cried.

Hearth sniffed the air before a hot breath left her throat as she growled. Renea looked at the dragon with tears as she tried to sooth the pain that throbbed in her leg. She rubbed her hand against it only to rip it away when she let out a scream. Looking down her entire body froze, she could see her leg. It was a light purple almost all the way around it along with the swelling she had no idea what to do.

“I want Sarah!” She wailed as the pain in her leg began to increase.

‘Poison,’ Hearth’s voice echoed through Renea’s head and she felt fear fill every part of her.

She began to cry as Hearth let out what sounded like a growl mixed with a roar. It wasn’t long after before a streak of gray suddenly crashed through the entrance and into the cavern. Renea froze as her head shot up to look at the dragon in shock, almost immediately she stretched her arms out in tears.

“Sarah!” She cried as her keeper ran over to her as soon as she was off the dragon.

“Oh my words!? What happened to you!?” Sarah nearly shouted as she pulled Renea into a tight and comforting hug.

Renea just cried into Sarah’s chest as the fear and pain in her leg began to increase. Black dots began to fill her vision as her breathing became ragged. Heavy breaths began to fill the cave as everything soon became dark. The last thing she heard was Sarah’s fearful shout of her name.

“Renea!?”

>>><<<

The sound of delicate objects clinking together echoed through Renea’s ears as she slowly opened her tired and sore eyes. A loud yawn escaped her mouth as she looked at her surroundings. She was back in her room, Sarah was laying on the side of the bed her lower half sitting on a chair. Tears streaked down her cheeks and her complexion was rather pale.

“Sarah? Keeper Sarah?” Renea asked slowly while placing a hand onto Sarah’s back.

Almost immediately Sarah’s eyes snapped open and her head shot up to look at Renea. A new and sudden wave of tears flooded her eyes as she pulled Renea into a tight hug. Confusion was the first emotion to fill the young girl as she looked at her keeper. Nothing was making sense.

“Y-you’re okay!” Sarah nearly screamed with joy as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Sarah? Why are you crying?” Renea asked slowly in confusion.

“Oh my dear,” Sarah laughed through her tears.

Renea showed a look of confusion as she stared at her keeper. Not understanding what was going on. However the look of relief that covered Sarah’s face was one both of joy and absolute wonder.

“What’s going on Keeper?” Renea tried to speak but half way through her sentence a roar sounded outside of the room.

It was loud causing Renea to flinch but as she heard another sound she turned to look out of the window in shock. She saw Hearth sitting in front of the window, with the roars of her flock behind her. The roars were soft and sad. Slowly in confusion Renea tried to stand up, but immediately Sarah pushed her back into bed.

“No, don’t stand up yet. You need to rest your leg,” Sarah quickly spoke with worry lacing her voice.

“What happened?” Renea asked slowly.

“You don’t remember?” Sarah asked back.

“No?” It sounded more like a question than an answer.

“Maybe Hearth should explain, she was there when it happened,” Sarah responded.

Renea looked up at her Keeper in confusion before turning to Hearth who was nudging the half closed curtain. Reaching out for the curtain Renea pulled it, however as she did the rod holding it up broke. She nearly shouted when the whole thing slammed against the ground. Nearly jumping out of bed Renea wrapped her arms around Hearth’s snout, tears in her eyes.

“Are you okay!?” She shouted.

Behind her Sarah slowly let out a chuckle, before she burst into a fit of laughter. Turning Renea looked at her with almost a look of horror and shock from Sarah’s actions. She didn’t understand what was going on, but all she knew was that nothing was normal. Raising a brow Hearth pushed lightly against Renea’s chest.

‘You hurt your leg, a poisonous thorn got stuck inside,’ Hearth’s voice was stern as she explained.

“What? Was it when I fell down the hill?” Renea muttered to herself.

Almost immediately Sarah’s laughter died down to nothing but silence. Renea turned her head around to look at her keeper and froze at the deadly look that was across her face. However as fast as the look came was as fast as the look disappeared with out a trace.

“The Healer looked over you and you’re going to be fine,” Sarah said with worry.

“Really?” Renea asked as she looked down at her legs, they looked just fine.

“Yes,” Sarah responded with a nod.

‘It is time I head to the Den,’ Hearth’s voice echoed in Renea’s head interrupting the conversation.

“The Den?” Renea slowly said as she looked around her room.

“Awe yes, Hearth did claim a cave as her Den,” Sarah put in with a slight smile.

“What’s a Den?” Renea asked.

“Huh? Oh… A Den is a place where a dragon flock feels safe,” Sarah tried to explain.

‘It is our home, the place we live, sleep in and most of all protect,’ Hearth added as she slowly pushed Renea into Sarah who hugged her.

“See you Hearth, Renea you can go see the Den… After I know that you are completely healed,” Sarah said with a slight smile.

“O...Okay.” Renea nodded in response as she looked out the window with a slight smile on her face as she waved her hand at Hearth.

It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful how Hearth looked as she flew up into the sky with the rest of the dragons. She would be joining them later, she just needed to heal.