Page 43 of Drakhana's Treasure
No one wants to say ‘freak’ right now. They wouldn’t dare. They are too afraid.
I turn back to my love and her smile is sweet and gentle. She gives a little shake of her head.
I pull her close to me and wrap my arms around her, finding her lips and falling into her. She’s right. It doesn’t matter.
We found each other and we saved our clan. The future will have its way sooner or later, worrying about it now wont change that.
Twenty-Nine
Kirralee
Rastus only had to have a short conversation with the others to realize that we had to fly back to the peak. I was completely lost, wondering why the others were looking at us like that when we just saved the nation. I let Rastus take a few steps towards the crowd but honestly, I was as afraid of them as they were of me.
The majority of our gathered nation stepped back almost has one. Rastus spoke briefly with Luke and the others. Plenty of fire dragons had to go back to Castle Peak and it made sense for us to go with them. The elders had to know about our powers and our relationship.
It was pretty obvious from the way we connected in the sky that we were lovers. There was no point in trying to deny it.
We set up at one of the trucks, cleaning ourselves off and wrapping in blankets while we had something to eat and drink. The appetite of a shifter can be enormous, especially after a battle like that. After we stuffed ourselves with soup and rolls, we were getting ready to fly again.
Dawn was breaking on the horizon as we took off, the angle of the sun lighting up the desert. The early morning breeze strokes my wings and my body starts to tremble as I get ready to take to the sky.
I still can’t believe that I was in a battle last night. I feel only a little tired and that surprises me. After my swim in the pillar of fire, I expected to be exhausted.
When I take off, Rastus is by my side. Both of us are larger than we were before, but still not the size of mythical, giant dragons. As we fly high to get into formation, the others tactfully change course so they aren’t flying with us.
It hurts me that they would shun us for having the greatest power known to our kind. If it is only fear then that is what’s wrong our clan, the reason why we have lost our powers. I find myself looking at them with some frustration, as if I should be able to order them to stop this foolishness.
Scouts left for home directly after the battle. They will be back at the peak, possibly even in meeting with the elders. This does scare me because for a long time the elders have been strict with no reason. The fear that prevented our race from embracing its heritage is clearly shown in the restrictions they impose upon us.
We have to go in there wearing our love as well as our pride. I know, the council will resist us. I have never been a favorite of the council, known for breaking rules or having special allowances in light of my strangeness.
The air gets sharper as we hit the ranges, the delicious cold creeping across my hot scales. I find it thrilling because even though the mountains beneath us are cold, I can sense my lava beneath. I spin and twirl around Rastus as we fly deeper into the wilderness, encouraging him to play.
We might as well enjoy this flight. After this our future is going to change. No matter what the council rules, our lives will never be the same. I’m prepared to flee with my lover if I have to.
The others stay in formation some distance away from us as we come into the mountain. I lead Rastus up over the main peak to the nest of caves beyond. I have many tunnels and secret hidden places here and I certainly don’t want to head straight to the council chamber.
I stumble on landing, my wings hitting the close roof. Only now do I remember that I’ve grown and my dragon shape might not fit into my tunnels and caves anymore. Rastus lands above the opening on a small outcrop, pulling his wings in and folding down into his human shape. He climbs down into the opening and I wrap my arms around him, throwing a blanket around us.
We watch the light on the hills for a few moments. I feel like my entire body is singing with pleasure and the mountains are calling to me, excited to have me home. I’ve been thinking about leaving with Rastus if the council are difficult but really, I’m fooling myself. The ancient fire in my blood wants to be here in the ancestral home of fire dragons, where we were first born.
“Are you hungry?” I reach up to brush Rastus’ hair from his forehead. He nods to me, eyes still fixed on the horizon. When I move away into the cave, he follows me, tearing his eyes from the view with some difficulty.
“Wow, you’re set up here!” he exclaims, looking around my cave. I grin at him as I pick up a small metal jug and boil the contents with a touch of my hand.
“Hot tea, biscuits, blankets, robes.” I grin at him as I set myself up comfortably. “Just like a 5-star hotel.”
He smiles and sits next to me, both of us leaning on each other. The silence seems to be full of our thoughts, all of them clattering against each other with too much chaos to be spoken.
“I’m affected by being here.” Rastus says softly. “I didn’t think I would be but I can feel it, like a vibration.”
“Does it feel good?”
“Not yet. I feel uncomfortable. Like something is watching me.”
“You’ve just been in the city too long.” I rub his arm gently. “You’ll feel better soon.”
He nods, taking a sip of tea. “What are we going to do, Kirra?” he asks softly.
