Set Fire to the Rain

Chapter 5

Freya was up early in the morning. The sun had barely started to rise, yet she was full of energy and ready to start her morning. Freya glanced around for a while before her eyes landed on the healing book she had been reading the day before. Freya gently tapped her cheek with her pointer finger before sighing, she needed to visit that dragon, and this was the best time to do it. No one else was awake, and she could go around collecting things without anyone knowing.

The redhead grabbed her bag and filled it with herbs and small bottles filled with various liquids. After, She grabbed the large bag and swung it over her shoulder with little effort, immediately leaving the house to start collecting. The plan was simple. Freya only had to take as much food as possible. Then Freya would be able to see the dragon and make it back before anyone noticed she was gone.

No one was up this early besides her and those that worked around the village around this time. That was not a problem for her, though. She knew their schedules by heart and how to avoid them. Being the chief's daughter had its perks in cases like this. Freya quickly and quietly snuck into the food storage area. She grabbed various meat, filling the bag with as much as she could carry. Freya gently put a heavy cover over the top of the food and then started making her way through the village.

So far, her plan had gone smoothly, almost too smoothly. In the back of her mind, she could not help but think something would go wrong. The realist in her refused to believe it was this easy to sneak around the village.

Freya soon realized she was wrong. It was that easy to sneak around. Freya would have a few words with her dad about the security or lack of around the village, but only after this was over.

Freya walked to the path she took to get to the cave last time. It wasn't a long trek, but it was just far enough away that anyone from the village wouldn't just stumble upon it.

Freya stumbled into the cave and let out a sigh of relief. The dragon could smell her scent before she arrived. The beast slightly sat up only to groan and lay back down.

"Hello to you, but please don't try to get up. I'll come to you." She huffed, setting the bag of meat on the ground in front of the dragon. Freya gingerly touched the dragon's wing as she checked over it. In response the dragon growled at her. It clearly hated being touched on such a sensitive area. Freya wanted to check it, but she respected the beasts space and backed off.

"I brought you some food and water. I'll hand feed it to you. Don't bite my hand off, you will starve to death in here without me." She told it, opening the bag. Freya pulled out a fish and held it up to the dragon, "Do dragons even eat fish?-" She started to say before the dragon quickly gulped down the fish, "Oh! I guess you do." The dragon sniffed the food in the bag nudged her leg for her to move a little faster. Freya smiled and started feeding the dragon the meats in her bag until it didn't want to eat any more, then she opened the canister of water and slowly poured it into the dragons mouth.

"You know you're a very tolerant dragon. My human patients hate having to be hand fed after they injure their hands during dragon raids-" Freya paused and frowned as she looked down at the dragon staring up at her with wide curious eyes. She sighed and shook her head, "Nevermind.. let me check on your leg." She said as she sat down and opened her satchel, pulling out her supplies to start working.

Freya soon got sucked up in her thoughts. This dragon was different. This dragon had managed to defy everything she was taught by her dad, in a few days. Dragons were supposed to be vicious, bloodthirsty beasts that are always ready to take the chance to kill a Viking, but for some reason, this one wasn't. This one did the opposite. This one called out to her for help. This dragon allowed her to be near and treat it, then leave the area unharmed. Maybe it was just biding its time and when she healed it the dragon would kill her.

This dragon was supposed to want to kill or maim her, but it hasn't yet. It was less of a beast and more of a lost puppy. Either this dragon was special, or they've been wrong about dragons for years. Either way, it just made Freya all the more confused.

By the time Freya managed to pull herself from her thoughts, she had already finished applying new ointment and a new, proper bandage. A sigh left her lips as she looked up only to be face to face with the very dragon causing her mild duress. The dragon looked at her with curious eyes as if sensing her mood shift.

It was silent for a while before Freya stood up and dusted her skirt and leggings off, "You should be good to go in a few more days. It wasn't as bad as I initially thought. For now, I want to give you a name. I feel weird simply calling you dragon. It'll be temporary, just until you leave me. I don't even know what type you are so I'll name you and your species." She said, coming to stand in front of the dragon once more.

The dragon tilted its head and gave a small roar, laying down in front of her, Freya's brows furrowed, and she put her hands on her hips, "I'll assume you're male. For now I'll only name you, I'm not good at making up names for newly discovered animals." The dragon made no noise of disagreement, so she continued talking.

Freya tapped her finger on her cheek as she tried to come up with names, "Uh- what about Opal?" She offered, to which he growled at her in response, "Right, I didn't like it that much either."

Freya looked out at the rising sun, then back at the dragon who now rolled over onto his side to expose his pale blue and white belly, "Maybe Dawn? Your colors look like one, but maybe that's too soft. You need something better liked
Daybreaker." She teased, coming over to sit beside the dragon. He gave a huff of approval inching his head closer to her.

Freya sighed and shook her head the name still didn't fit. Freya fidgeted with the necklace around her neck, she looked down at it and smiled, "Starfire. I think Starfire fits you better. How do you like that Mr. Starfire?" The dragon, now named Starfire nuzzled his head on her hand. Freya looked down at him, his bright eyes staring up into hers. She hesitated before resting her palm on the cold scales of his head. She shuddered at the feeling, watching him close his eyes as he pushed his nose farther into the warmth of her palm.

The girl let out a sigh, turning her head to look over toward the rising sun again. Now that she looked closely the sun was starting to peek over the horizon. They didn't have much time together before she would have to go back home. Freya turned her attention to the dragon practically resting its head on her lap, she'd do whatever it takes to make sure this dragon was healed and could leave safely.