Chapter 5 #2
I repacked the satchel—adding a few of my own things to it—minus the purse, and removed my clothing for bed.
It was early yet, too early actually, but I would be leaving the house through the window in a bit anyway.
Thoughts of the other man—other dragon, for I’d seen it in his eyes—became clearer when I was in my dragon form.
After I blew out my lanterns, I lay down on my bed, waiting.
When I heard Da’s laughter, I smiled. I was happy for my fathers, but it got to be a bit much at times.
When the laughter turned to a moan, I got up and quietly opened my window.
I climbed out, and after a few steps away from the house, I called for my dragon.
He came quickly, always ready to stretch his wings and see where I allowed him to go this evening.
Once my shift was complete, I opened my wings and jumped. When I was airborne, I flapped a few times, quickly taking myself above the trees. I flew toward the gorge and waterfall, a place where I felt most at peace.
I heard the waterfall before I scented the water, and when it came into sight with the last threads of sunlight, I glided over toward it.
When I was over the river below, I glanced down, seeing clearly with my dragon’s eyes.
There was a family of bears down there, but I knew there was no way for them to get to us, for they could not access the top of the mountain without wings.
We’d made sure of that when we were searching for our new place to settle.
After I glided halfway down the fall, I flew toward it. I tucked my wings when I felt the spray on my face, and when I flew through the fall and into the hidden cave, I landed in the mouth of the cave and stopped.
With a quick breath of fire, I sent any small creatures scurrying, and once I located the prepped fire, I blew a breath of fire to it, igniting the wood.
I shifted back to my human skin and looked around the space I’d claimed as mine.
I wasn’t sure if my fathers knew of this place or not.
If they had discovered it, they hadn’t said anything to me about it.
I’d never scented anything other than myself and the unwelcomed creatures that always came back the moment I left in the early morning light.
I walked to the small trunk I’d brought here and took out the pair of trousers and pulled them on. Next, I removed the thick blanket I kept here, then lay down on the makeshift bed I’d created with logs and ropes after I placed the blanket on it.
I sighed, wondering if the dreams would come to me again tonight. Would they be about the mysterious dragon? I’d been captivated by his blue eyes and dark hair, but I couldn’t ever remember meeting such a man in person.
I put my arms above my head, resting my head on my hands, trying to will my mind to recall icy-blue eyes.
Perhaps he wasn’t even real. Maybe I was just so desperate for companionship I’d made him up completely.
Of course I had. I’d not been around another human, let alone another dragon, in decades. Of course I was losing my mind.
I closed my eyes and listened to the cave.
I heard a small rodent deeper in the cave, the crackle of the fire, and the roar of the water as it rushed by and crashed below me.
I rolled to the side and reached out, curious if my mate would want to join me in the cave?
I would never expect to live in a cave—we had a house that had more than enough room. But at times, I just needed away.
I closed my eyes, calling to the goddess for guidance.
Would she guide me to where I needed to be?
Would the fates bless me with the other half of my soul?
Was I needed here for other reasons? I’d considered that I wouldn’t ever be gifted with my mate.
Not all of us found our other half. It made for a sad and lonely existence, but sometimes it happened. Was that to be my fate?
I dozed off, wondering if I’d know soon or if the dreams I’d been having were simply wishful thinking.
I was in my dragon scales and flying. It was inky dark out, which was ideal because we could not be detected by the humans below us. The air up here was so much colder than down on the ground, but it didn’t matter in this form. Not only would my scales protect me, but my fire within kept me warm.
There were several lights down below, in the form of a square that was familiar from my homeland. Was I back there? When had this happened? The lighted torches that were used around the outside of the castles of our homeland weren’t as numerous in any of the more modern homes in the new lands.
I flew lower, wanting a closer look. When I was closer, I saw there were at least a dozen torches posted just outside the stone walls of the castle. That meant it was still inhabited. I flew lower still and realized I knew this castle and would have snirled my lip if I’d been in my human form.
Feiedrich Konig.
Why was I at his castle? He was human. After this long, he should be buried at this point as he was in advanced years when we left.
I flew close enough to land, but when I heard the familiar language of my birthplace, I pulled up and flew farther away.
Why was I here? I asked myself the question of why a lot anymore.
I landed, placing the satchel that Da had given me on the ground before I shifted. My dragon did not wish to give up control, but I pushed enough that he finally relented. I recalled Da’s words. They were the same as Father’s. Always trust in my dragon.
I looked around the area, quickly stashing my bag in some thick bushes. I pulled on the clothing I’d taken out, and after I took a moment to listen to my surroundings, I set out on two feet toward the castle.
Something was inside there. Or someone. Whatever it was, it had an influence on both me and my dragon.
I was surprised to find the entrance of the castle unguarded, but I easily slipped inside.
I had never been inside before and was not quite sure as to which direction to go, so I closed my eyes and asked my dragon.
He was pushing me upward, telling me we needed to climb to the second level and find our treasure.
Wait, our treasure? I was not here to pillage the castle. I did not have a need for treasures.
Mate, my dragon grumbled.
Mate?
Yes. Must hurry and rescue our mate.
I followed my instinct, heading toward the left. I located the stairs and quickly climbed them, finding myself in a long hallway.
Mate. If this were true, I would be able to scent my mate, but I was only scenting dragons. Many dragons. What did that mean?
Feiedrich was human, and as far as we knew, he did not know of our existence.
I proceeded with caution, stopping at each door to scent what was on the other side.
I found the first two had humans behind them and kept walking.
I paused at the third door, scenting a dragon behind it. I’d know that sulfur smell anywhere.
Why was there a dragon behind that door? My dragon agreed there was another like us, but it wasn’t the one he was after, so I continued on down the hallway. It wasn’t until I made it to the end of the hall that my dragon became agitated.
Whoever the dragon was behind the door, mine was screaming mate, and I needed to get inside to get to him. I pushed on the door, finding it locked. I used more strength, wondering if my mate truly was behind the door.
When the metal creaked, the lock breaking, I pushed the door open and peered inside. Immediately, the scent of my mate engulfed me, and although the room was dimly lit, I could see clearly enough. I found my mate shackled to the far wall, and when icy-blue eyes met mine, I roared in anger.
I jerked awake, gasping for breath. It took a moment for me to realize that I was in my cave and not in the castle in Germany.
I sat up, getting my bearings. The fire had died down considerably, telling me I’d fallen asleep and spent part of the night here.
I got up, quickly undressing and returning my things to the chest that I kept here.
Once the cave was back to rights, I called for my dragon, effortlessly shifting into my scales. With a quick breath, I had the fire out, allowing me to walk to the roaring water, where I leapt through, then spread my wings.
Like always, I glided downward until I pumped my wings several times, taking me back to the top of the mountain, where I soared just above the treetops and back to the cottage my parents and I had built. Once it was in sight, I landed and shifted, quickly climbing back into my window.
I listened for my parents, but no sound met my ears except their deep, heavy breathing.
They were still asleep. I went to my desk, pulling out parchment, ink, and quill, and quickly penned a letter to them, telling them of my hasty departure and why.
I knew if I waited to discuss this with Father, I’d be met with resistance, so I simply put my thoughts into written word.
I felt bad for doing so but left my parchment on my bed, along with Da’s purse, and gathered a few more things, stuffing them into the satchel that Da had left for me.
I opened my door just a crack, and after I tossed the satchel out the window and followed, I pulled the window down and walked away.
As I walked farther from my fathers’ home, I wondered if this was a fool’s dream. But why would I be dreaming of a dragon that mine said was our mate? Why did it feel so very real? Why would my dragon push me as he was to go in search of him?
The only answer I had was to listen to my dragon.
That meant shifting and starting the long flight across the land, then ocean, then more land.
It would be taxing and would require great strength, but I knew my dragon could do it.
He’d done it before and would again. Especially if our mate needed us.
Once more, I called for my dragon, and after I had the satchel securely in my claws, I took to the skies. It was going to be a very long flight.