Zoe was almost eight. Daddy had said he would give her a surprise for her birthday. Zoe ate her breakfast anxiously and watched as Daddy and Mommy spoke with each other in too low of a tone for her to hear.
"Could you go outside for a moment?" Daddy asked Zoe.
Zoe nodded. She slipped out of the chair and onto the ground. She ambled outside into the bustling ForestTribe. She looked around at the Amazon Groves. She droned out the sound of the tribe and listened to the animals of the forest. Each bird had a song to sing. She looked at the beautiful JungleDragons. All perfectly slender and elegant. Each unique in color. Zoe watched as her friend Michelle's big sister led a vibrant red dragon through the village.
"Hey, Zoe." She smiled at her.
The red dragon chirped and sniffed Zoe. Zoe looked at its horns that followed it's neck.
"Want to feed Mars?" Michelle's big sister asked.
Mars cocked his head at the sound of his name. He looked from Michelle's big sister to Zoe. Zoe nodded her head excitedly.
"Come on, I'll show you where his favorite food is." She invited Zoe to follow.
Zoe hesitated then held a finger up to Michelle's big sister to tell her to wait. Zoe burst through the door into her house. Mommy and Daddy froze midconversation.
"What is it Zo?" Mommy asked.
"Michelle's big sister asked if I wanted to help feed Mars." Zoe said quietly, twisting her foot in the dirt.
Daddy smiled, "Do you want to?"
Zoe nodded.
"Go ahead and don't forget to tell Carrie thank you." Daddy reminded her.
Zoe nodded and walked back out to Michelle's big sister. She walked behind Carrie. Mars sniffed Zoe again then squawked as they came closer to their destination. Zoe covered her ears as his loud squawk rung in them. She shook her head, feeling as if she shook the sound from her brain.
"Sorry, Mars gets really excited." Carrie apologized for her dragon.
"It's ok, I think breakfast is exciting too!" Zoe said and pet Mars.
Mars chirped and flapped his wings gently. Carrie smiled.
"Do you want a dragon?" She asked Zoe.
Zoe thought for a moment then nodded.
They walked in silence for a bit longer. Then, Mars squawked loudly again and flapped his wings. Zoe covered her ears like before and looked forward. Strange plants with blue flowers and orange fruits were ahead of them. Zoe raced forward and looked closer at the strange plant. She pulled an orange fruit off. The plants' leaves flew around as the fruit popped off, as if it was waving goodbye to the fruit. Zoe ran back to Carrie and Mars, hand extended with the fruit in her palm.
"Passion fruits, Mars' favorite." Carrie said.
Mars squawked and sat, begging for the fruit in Zoe's hand. His tail swayed from side to side behind him. Zoe extended her palm. Mars slowly inched his beak towards the fruit then lightly lifted it from her palm. He held it with one talon as he ran his claw around the fruit. Then, he ripped the fruit in half. Zoe looked quizically at the inside of the fruit. It looked like goo packets with a single seed in each. Mars licked the fruit's innards. Carrie returned with three more fruits. She handed one to Zoe. Zoe held the fruit out for Mars. Mars snatched it from her excitedly.
"Thank you for letting me feed Mars." Zoe smiled at Carrie.
Carrie nodded as she watched her dragon eat. He ran his claw through the skin like before and ripped it in half. He chirped as he sniffed the fruit. Mars slurped up the inside of the passion fruit.
YOU ARE READING
DragonTribes #2: ForestTribe
FantasiZoe froze as a loud squawk sounded ahead of her. She looked down to the ground were she followed a blood trail. The dragon had stepped on something sharp as it fleed from Zoe. The poor thing, I just want to help. Zoe walked forward as quietly as she...
