The Curse of Phlangon

Chapter 13

Falgon stood...well, lay down half consciously...appalled. He had been awake when Falkor was explaining his duties as a healer and how that one healer had accidentally killed the patient. To Falgon, that sounded pretty suspicious. A healer, just so happens to kill another dragon...by accident? Besides, he thought he heard his mother say one time that there was a cure for Phlingerr poison. But Falgon wouldn't know, because he barely paid attention to what they said anyway. Now that he thought about it, that's probably why they sent him to the School for Troubled Dragonlings...

It comforted Falgon to see that Falkor and Mayka seemed to really like each other. Because if Falkor liked, um, someone else, and that someone else liked him, then that would not turn out good for him. His insides squirmed uncomfortably and Falgon forced himself to think about something else.

On another note, they really should have been heading out by then. They were so close to mount Florack (Falgon was impressed with himself for remembering that), he could just feel it down to the marrow of his bones! If they left very soon, they could reach Florack by afternoon, and maybe even collect some crimsonroot to bring home! But Falgon couldn't help but think...

I'm glad we're so close to getting the crimsonroot and saving the town, but I am going to miss flying around with Firebloom and Mayka. And who knows, I may even begin to get along with Falkor!

Aww, Falgon. Finally starting to think about your friends before yourself?

Well, at least I don't mistake dragons for chickens. Or lambs. OR cows.

I was delirious, Falgon. I couldn't think straight.

Ohhh, I get it! So you're delirious all the time then?

You know what I mean.

Happily arguing with himself, he heard Firebloom, Mayka, and Falkor begin to discuss when they would leave. He snorted rather loudly to gather their attention. They all jumped and looked around wildly.

"Oh, Falgon!" Firebloom said sheepishly and smacked her head. "What do you need?"

As if I could answer that, Falgon thought sarcastically.

"Sorry," Firebloom said, Falgon noticing her gold scales pinking slightly. "Let me rephrase that: DO you need anything?"

Falgon breathed yes.

"Okay," said Firebloom. "Do you want to come see Falkor's camp before we leave?"

He breathed yes again. Falkor was paying extremely close attention, apparently fascinated by their breathing code.

He also could be thinking about how Firebloom and I act around each other... Falgon thought with a slight uneasiness inside him. Mayka ambled over to where Falgon was laid, and crouched low to the ground. Firebloom grunted as she pulled Falgon up on top of Mayka, and Mayka lifted herself up. They all took off and flew toward Falkor's camp.

After a short time, they landed in a lush green clearing that made a dent in the ground, like a crater. There were three small caves at the far side of the camp, which each had a different purpose, Falgon observed. One had a heap of blankets in a corner which must have been the bedroom. The cave next to it had tall shelves on each wall filled to the brink with vials, containing bright liquids of all colors.

Must be the place where he keeps his potions and treatments and stuff, Falgon guessed intelligently. The last cave had sharp hooks lining the wall with meat dangling from them. Prey storage. The rest of the clearing had very green grass neatly trimmed, and a pile of firewood in the center, used for fires.