A True Friend

Chapter 14

Jack's P.O.V

  By sunset, we finally made it to another island. And by sunset, I was sure my face was still red, although from embarrassment rather than crying. I never wanted to cry in front of anyone, especially Andi.

  We landed on the beach of the small island, and I climbed off my dragon. I wordlessly held a hand out for Andi. She took it and smiled, just slightly strained.

  "Being a gentleman, now, huh?" She joked.

  My eyes darted to the sand, and I hoped she didn't see how my face grew redder.

  She slid off of Guppy and seemingly scanned the beach before turning back to me. "I'm going set up camp. Do you want to help, or do you need a minute?"

  I wanted to help, but I really wasn't feeling up to it. Honestly, I just wanted to lay down and forget the world— both worlds —existed for a long minute. I nodded silently and Andi gave my hand a brief squeeze before heading to the treeline with Arrow. I sat down where I stood— more fell than sat —and Guppy curled up around me, laying his head in my lap.

  Thanks, I thought, scratching the scales on his head.

  Both of our heads snapped up as Andi shouted, "The f– Arrow!" All I saw was a blur of purple and sticks flying in the air.

  I jumped to my feet, heart already racing. Dragon hunters? Wild animal? Wild Vikings?!

  I quickly scanned the treeline, but nothing looked different. Glancing back at the sand, Andi and Arrow seemed to be... playing? The two were rolling around in a mess of human and dragon limbs and sand, and I would have been extremely concerned if it weren't for Andi laughing. The sticks lay forgotten on the ground.

  Guppy and I shared a glance, but he started wiggling slightly, tail flapping up and down.

  "Don't do it, Guppy," I warned, eyeing him suspiciously.

  He apparently did not care, as I immediately got a face full of scales and dragon breath.

  Time kind of blurred after that. After the initial shock of a dragon pouncing on me passed... it was fun. Most of the time, all I could see was sand, scales, or the sky. All I could hear was laughter— both mine and Andi's —and wings batting at my ears.

  I think I only registered that it was over when I blinked and found myself staring at the clear sky. Sand dug into my back. Guppy's head crushed my chest and his slobber was slowly drying on my skin. My heartbeat and heavy breathing in my ears were the only sounds I could hear.

  We lay there for a long minute. Long enough that I was slightly startled when the sand next to my ear shifted, and Andi leaned over to look down at me.

  She grinned and offered me a hand. "Come on. We still need a fire."

~~Time Skip~~

  "Ah, frick." Thud.

  That's what I woke up to hear in the middle of the night.

  I lifted the edge of Guppy's wing, and immediately blinked when the fire light stabbed my eyes. When the spots in my vision faded, I found where the thud came from. Andi was laying in the sand, Arrow's tail resting innocently behind her feet.

  I bit back a laugh as Andi pushed herself up and continued forward. She left my line of sight, and I shifted a little bit. She must have heard me, because she turned and caught my eyes. Startled, I dropped the wing.