Dragon Seekers

Chapter 14

After crying for what felt like a lifetime, Jamie finally calmed down. He felt like a completely different person from who he was when he first came here. He felt so enclosed, but now he felt more open. Was that normal in a situation like this?

Jamie tried not to think about what is normal anymore. Instead he focused more on what he should do next. He wondered if he should rest more, but Ember offered for him to meet her family properly. Not wanting to appear rude, Jamie accepted. With Ember's help, he was able to walk through the house and downstairs. That's where Ash, Pyro and his fiancé were waiting to see him finally out of bed. Still feeling ashamed, Jamie reintroduced himself to Pyro, trying to overcome the forest interaction they had. Pyro only laughed it off, reminding Jamie that he took no offence to his actions. He excitedly introduced Jamie to his fiancé, Blake, who was just as keen to speak to the boy.

Once introductions were done, everyone was seated around the dining table. They all had had a cool beverage, much to Jamie's relief. After telling Ember everything, he decided to come clean about how he got to where Ash found him. The family listened carefully to him. They seemed surprised at how he told them of his world and the fact that dragons didn't exist, only creatures to be told in stories.

"So, you're really from another world?" Blake asked, scratching his head confusingly. Jamie's silence only confirmed his answer. "I want to say that I don't believe you, but it makes sense when you consider everything."

"Let me tell you, if I ever see your stepdad, I'll beat him up so bad that he'll think twice about picking on weak people," Ash declared, scowling at how Jamie described how he ended up in this world. While he didn't tell them all the details of abuse, like he did for Ember, it wasn't hard for Ash to figure out.

"Ashley!" Ember scolded, appalled by what Ash had said.

"I'm just saying! If that guy thinks he can punch me, I'll show him a thing or two about abusing people!" Ash scowled, banging her fist on the table furiously. Jamie felt concerned as she said that. On one hand, he'd love to see Carl get a taste of his own medicine, but on the other, he didn't want to see Ash getting hurt. Not that he doubted her ability to fight, he just didn't want to feel like it would be his fault. You can't solve everything with violence after all.

"That's besides the point, Ash," Pyro pondered as he light drummed his fingers on the table. "Sounds to me that an old form of magic was what brought you here, Jamie."

"So, you know how to get me home?" Jamie asked, wide eyed with hope. Unfortunately, that that hope died as the family around him looked solum.

"Sorry, kiddo. You're looking at the wrong family for help," Blake sighed, looking like he wished that he had more to say. Jamie felt like the world was swallowing him up. It was bad enough for him to be far from home, but if no one knew how to get him home, it only made everything more grim for him. Ash frowned a little as she looked at Jamie. She seemed to be contemplating something before abruptly getting up.

"Right. Pity party over. Have the dragons been fed yet?" she sighed as she looked at Pyro and Blake.

"Not yet, sis," Pyro grinned.

"Good! Jamie, time for you to have a real introduction to our dragons," Ash smiled, before dashing off somewhere. "I'll get you some footwear."

"Ashley, Jamie isn't ready to walk yet," Ember reminded her daughter.

"I know! Which is why Pyro is going to carry him!" Ash shouted back, not giving Jamie a chance to say anything. After a minute of hearing her rummage through some things, she finally came back, carrying a pair of black boots, identical to hers. "Try these. You're roughly my size, so they should fit." The boots were shoved into Jamie's hands before he could say a word. Ash was incredibly insistent on him coming with her. He really should be recovering and relax, but he really wanted to see the dragons again. He gently slipped the boots on his feet, doing his best not to aggravate his injuries. The boots were more comfortable than he thought. He expected them to be quite tight and hard to wear, but his feet felt like he had stepped into something soft, like cotton. It felt great. As soon as he pulled his jeans over the boots, Pyro knelt down, back to him. Hesitantly, Jamie latched onto the young man, accepting the offer for a piggyback ride. Pyro carried him as if he weighed next to nothing. Ash stood by the door, holding a silver spear in one hand. The same one that dealt with the monster that attacked Jamie.