Chapter 19 #2
Torch landed by the hot chocolate stand, and Emmeline dismounted.
Motu flew out of Torch’s paw to join her, staying by her side as she looked around.
The baby dragon struggled to fly in the wind, and even Emmeline braced against the cold.
She stopped walking, looking around, and Motu settled by her feet, his scaled body warming her leg.
Searching, Emmeline spotted a low glow of fire far away on the lake. It looked to be a bonfire, a group of adults surrounding it. Maybe she could ask somebody there if they knew where she could find Flint.
Emmeline started in that direction, walking along the frozen lake. The wind was worse on the open lake, tiny shards of ice cutting against her eyes. She made it about halfway when she heard someone coming after her.
“Emmeline!” Luke called over the wind. Her heartbeat quickened, and she slowed, but didn’t turn.
“What!” she cried back. Where had he even come from? Irritation flashed through her, though a part of her crackled with anticipation as she heard him jogging to catch up with her.
“Where are you going?” he asked, jogging to cut in front of her path. She was forced to stop, and she crossed her arms over her chest. Motu looked between both of them, his little face worried.
“What does it matter?” she asked.
Luke clenched his jaw. “You’re impossible,” he groaned. Despite her coat, a chill ran down her spine.
“Then why don’t you go back to ignoring me!” She had to shout over the wind, which seemed to be intensifying now that she had stopped walking. It pushed against her, propelling her in Luke’s direction, but she dug her feet in.
“Come on,” he said, reaching for her arm.
“No,” she said, throwing him away from her. “I’m going to find your friend.”
His face blazed, and for a moment, she almost shrunk back, his expression was so fierce. But she didn’t. Instead, she lifted her chin and met his burning eyes with her own. He muttered a curse under his breath.
“I told you to stay away from him,” he told her.
She wanted to throttle him. “Since when do you get to order me around?” she replied, livid. “I’ll do whatever I want.”
His hands clenched into fists at his sides. They were both breathing hard, dark eyes clashing. It was the most words they’d spoken to one another in days, but it wasn’t nearly enough. She wanted to yell at him, for him to yell at her, for them both to talk. The silence had been eating at her.
Motu whined, unhappy, and a moment later, Torch swooped over to join them. The dragon landed with a thud at Emmeline’s side, snarling at Luke. When Torch did so, Emmeline heard the flapping of wings, and soon thereafter Sharptooth was there, landing on Luke’s side, across from Torch.
Both animals were agitated, taking protective stances. The icy wind howled, and Luke reached for Emmeline again.
She swatted his hand away. “Don’t touch me,” she said. Luke held his hands up, but Sharptooth turned in Emmeline’s direction. She roared at her.
More surprised than afraid, Emmeline faltered back.
“Sharptooth, back off!” Luke cried.
Emmeline lost her footing, and her feet slipped on the ice. Before she realized what was happening, the sky tilted and she fell back hard, hitting her head against the frozen lake. Pain shot through her.
“Em!” Luke cried, reaching for her. Her head was spinning, but she heard Torch growl at him, and an alarm beat through her.
Torch was not happy, and an unhappy dragon was not a good thing.
As she tried to sit up, she saw her dragon step toward Luke.
“Hey, it’s okay,” he said, voice gentle and coaxing. “Torch, it’s me.”
But Torch only released another unforgiving growl.
“Torch, it’s okay,” Emmeline said, but her voice was weak, lost beneath the howling wind.
She tried to rise to her feet, and Luke took a step toward her to help. Torch bit at the air in front of him, the sound of her teeth snapping together a clear warning.
Then, everything happened so quickly.
In response to Torch, Sharptooth fired.
“Sharptooth, no!” Luke cried as Emmeline rose to her feet. Torch’s wings came in front of her as a shield, though Emmeline still felt the heat cut through the freezing night.
The moment the flames subsided, Torch’s wings fell and she jumped forward to retaliate. Sharptooth was waiting, and the sky lit with flames as both animals attacked.
Emmeline’s heart lurched. In a fight between a dragon and a chimera, a dragon would always win, and hers was a basalta breed, one of the biggest and strongest. One of the best.
“Torch, stop!” she called.
But it was too late. Torch roared and the flames overcame Sharptooth’s. The chimera was pushed back, bringing Luke into the crossfire.
“No!” she cried, her heart rising into her throat. She reached for Luke, but it was futile; she was too far away.
Sharptooth opened her wings to protect herself and Luke, but Torch’s fire was strong. The blast was enough to burn the chimera’s wings. Sharptooth cried out in pain, falling over with a thud onto the snow, which sizzled beneath his burned wings.
“Sharptooth!” Luke cried, crawling to the chimera’s side.
Tears blurred Emmeline’s eyes, and she ran over to the chimera and Luke.
“Luke,” Emmeline started, but he held his arm up.
“Stay back!” he cried, not looking at her. Guilt knifed through her, and she brought a hand over her mouth, horrified with what had transpired.
“Luke, I’m so sorry,” she said, voice broken. Torch seemed to have sensed her mistake then, sitting back with her head lowered. Luke shoveled snow onto Sharptooth’s wings with his hands, trying to ease the burn, but the snow immediately hissed and melted, not providing much reprieve.
Luke made a helpless sound, panicking.
Emmeline’s mind raced. She pulled out her phone, dialing Lavinia.
“Emmy—” Lavinia started.
“Lavinia, I need your help,” Emmeline said, hyper-ventilating. “Please. Torch fired at a chimera and he’s hurt. Can you come?”
“Hey, take a deep breath,” Lavinia said. “I don’t normally do this, but where are you? I’ll grab some supplies and meet you.”