The Soul of a Dragon

Chapter 42

Snotlout

I wanted to take some time to clear my thoughts because a lot (A LOT) has happened these past few days, no weeks. That is why I went to the other side of the island, away from the gang, with only the sounds of nature surrounding me.

But I did not expect to find her standing there, whispering sweet words to the white devil (that dragon really beat my ass many times, okay) and caressing the side of its head. The dragon softly nudges Vara in response before it takes off into the open sky – freedom.

I admire my best friend from a distance. She smiles at the disappearing white dot in the sky and even though sadness shimmers in her eyes, I can see she is relieved that the light fury can go back to her home; to find her way to the Hidden World.

To be quite honest, I am afraid of approaching her. But I know I have to.

Cautiously, I walk out of the safety of the woods and clear my throat. "Vara? Is that you?"

She is startled by my presence and I notice her right hand immediately reaching for the knife she always hides under her skirt. She relaxes when she realises it's me. And while she does so, I allow myself to look at her for a few more seconds because I missed her. I worried about her. I still do. From the way her lips quiver ever so slightly, I can tell she's missed me too.

But I remain careful. I thought we'd lost her. Heck, I even thought she'd abandoned her dragon because she didn't want to face us or whatever was and is bothering her. I despise myself for thinking like that because deep down I know her – Vara would never leave Aria. Something is going on and she probably needed to take a breather before coming here.

That doesn't change the fact that I can't believe she's standing in front of me.

My silence stretches out and it seems to make her uncomfortable. She offers a small smile but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Hey, Snotmud."

My heart takes a leap at that nickname and the memory connected to it. I usually hate it when people make fun of my name. But for some reason, I have never minded her doing that.

I keep my mouth shut and I don't know why. In the time that I've known Vara, I have learned that she is one of the strongest, most resilient, intelligent, funny, but also stubborn people I have ever met. Something inside of me shatters at the sight of a tear building up at the corner of her eye. I can't help myself. I close the distance between us and throw my arms around her, in the hopes that I won't lose her again if I just hold on tightly enough. A tiny sob erupts from her and whatever hasn't been broken inside of me, crashes down at that sound. I fight to keep us both standing as I stroke the back of her head.

We hold onto each other for a long time. I don't let go, not even after her crying has ebbed down to a few sniffs.

"You know," I mumble into her hair but I need to start over because my voice breaks off, "you know you...smell, right?"

Vara tenses for a solid second but then her shoulders begin to shake with laughter. I smile and say, "You smell, like, really bad, okay."

Similar to adding dry wood to a fresh fire, Vara's laugh intensifies so much, I finally need to step away. We exchange one look and that's it.

We can't stop roaring with laughter and I am sure we must appear to be a pair of uncontrollable, wild beasts. We don't stop until we can't catch our breaths and our stomachs ache.

Tears are rolling down her cheek, but they are tears of joy now.

After what feels like an eternity of blissful but painful laughter, we stand giggling in front of each other. But we make eye contact then and I can't stop myself from saying, "I missed you."