Crackerjack II

Chpt. 16: Questionable Tutoring

"Close your eyes."

Kristen lowered her chin. 

Spencer rolled his eyes. "Extra lessons aren't going to do anything if you don't take advantage of them. Just close your eyes."

With a sigh, she obeyed. 

"Forget everything else and only focus on your bond. Feel it humming. Feel it connecting you."

Kristen's breaths slowed and evened out.

"Good, now, try and touch it. Try and feel your dragon."

Kristen's hands twitched. She envisioned herself wrapping her fingers around the string. It quivered and jumped. Her breath caught. She could feel something. 

"Got him?"

"I, I think so."

"Okay, tell me what he's doing."

Kristen cracked an eye. "What he's doin'? How am I supposed t' know what he's–"

"See, now we have to start over! Close your eyes."

~

Kristen looked from Spencer to the twenty foot drop off the platform. "You've got t' be jokin'."

He crossed his arms with a grin. "Bonds are built almost entirely on trust. If you want to strengthen your bond, you have to strengthen your trust in each other."

"Is there not a..." Kristen inched closer to the edge, stomach clenching, "a safer way?"

Spencer raised his eyebrows. 

Kristen glanced over the side again. "I don't even see him down there."

"Well, you'll just have to trust that he'll catch you."

"And if he doesn't?"

Spencer wagged a finger. "That kind of attitude is not suited for trust building. Come on."

"Are you sure 'bout this?" 

He swept out an arm. "Oh, please, there's nothing to it!"

Kristen frowned and crossed her arms. "And have you done it before?"

"Are you going to take my advice or question it?"

Groaning, Kristen shuffled until her toes peeked over the boards. "Okay, here goes." She chewed her lip. "I'm goin' t' jump." 

"Alright, any time now."

She glared at him and leaned out. For a moment, she wobbled. Then, she was falling. Her breath flew out of her mouth and was caught away by the wind. Her heart thudded in her ears. Her limbs flapped against nothing. The ground rushed toward her. Closer, closer, closer. Her dragon was nowhere in sight. She was going to die! She crossed her arms in front of her face, bracing for impact.

She was snatched a mere foot from the dirt. She gulped for air and clutched the scaly, orange arms like a drowning cat. Tobias set her gently on the ground, but she couldn't let him go.

"You forgot to call your ride!" Spencer shouted through cupped hands. 

Kristen gritted her teeth. "Thanks! Thanks very much!"

~

The dragon nuzzled the ropes attached to his collar as if this were the first time he'd been hitched up for washing. Kristen maintained a fair distance.

"This is supposed t' help me how?"

Spencer tossed her the dripping brush. "Spending time with your dragon is great and all, but if you do him a service like caring for his environment and appearance, it does a lot more. It's a trust–"