The Lost Prince || Dreamnotfound

ten

George and Dream continue to make their way through the Enchanted Forest. It's the fourth day Dream has been solely with George. He's never been with one person for so long.

They haven't spoken more than a few words since the night George shared his powers. Dream finds himself intrigued with George. He often doesn't realize he's staring until George says something about it.

George glances at Dream, pauses, then turns his head to look at Dream quizzically. "You're staring again."

Dream can feel the heat wash up his neck and over his cheeks. "Sorry," he mumbles, and looks away.

George continues to study Dream for another moment before resuming his pace. Lavlji trots beside Dream, brushing his head into Dream's hand. Dream smiles.

George leads them out of a thicket of trees. Before them sprawls miles and miles of mountains and cliffs. Dream gapes.

"I didn't know mountains existed beyond the forest."

"Well, humans haven't dared to come this far into the Enchanted Forest," George replies, as if the answer was obvious.

George walks forward, but Dream is rooted to the ground, a question rising up his throat. "If humans haven't traveled this far, then how was your mother captured?"

George freezes. Dream watches his fists curl. "Traitors," George says quietly. "They hoped to be saved from your parents' wrath, but the moment they turned in my mother, they were killed."

Dream doesn't know what to say. Anger fills his chest.

~

They're halfway up a mountain when Dream asks, "Is your home on a mountain?"

"No."

"Then what are we doing climbing this mountain?"

George glances over his shoulder. "I want to show you something."

Puzzled, Dream doesn't question it further. Once they're near the top, on a high cliff, George walks to an opening in the mountain. The ground beneath the rumbles as a giant creature approaches.

Dream stumbles back, almost forgetting about the cliff behind him. Lavlji cowers behind Dream, trembling when the creature emerges.

A dragon.

A red dragon, with scales as shiny as rubies, towers above George. It tilts its head to peer its yellow eyes at George. George says something, and upon recognition, the dragon lowers itself onto its belly, bowing before George.

Dream is in awe. Here, this beast that no man could ever imagine taming, bows before George. At the sight of peace, Lavlji bounds forward, squawking to meet his fellow winged friend.

"Your Highness," the dragon says, scaring Lavlji, who scampers back to Dream. "It is a pleasure to see you again."

"The pleasure is mine," George replies. He looks at Dream with a grin, his eyes encouraging Dream to approach.

Dream walks forward, unsure if he'll pass out or not. A mere exhale from the dragon could turn them to ash.

George says, "Dream, meet Prkosni." To clarify Dream's confusion, George adds, "It means 'the defiant.' She is one of the last of her kind."

Dream doesn't need to ask why. Guilt creeps in his gut. Prkosni lifts her head, seeming to smile. "No mortal will hunt me down. I've lived too long to die now."

Lavlji peaks around Dream's legs. Dream asks, "How long...?"

"Well over a millennia," she replies with a chuckle at Lavlji. She lowers her head to blow a puff of air out of her nostrils at Lavlji, who squawks in surprise. "Let me show you something."