Flight of the Dragon

Chapter 3 Dragon's fire

She stood and we crept out of our hiding spot. We moved quietly through the forest, and when Rat caught the scent of someone, we hid until they had passed. Moving like that meant it was completely dark with the moon high and bright in the sky by the time we reached the foot of the mountain. "Do you smell anyone?" I whispered to Rat.

She shook her head and looked up at the steep climb in front of her. She went pail, making me turn. That was when I saw Bear walking down towards us. "He's one of us." I whispered.

She nodded moving to hide behind me. Bear bellowed, standing on his back feet, making poor Rat flinch behind me. He was a massive brown bear standing 10ft when on his hind legs. Even to me, he was an imposing sight. He dropped back to all fours and kept coming towards us now he had stopped making so much noise. He stopped next to us and whispered. "Go on up. I'll scare the humans away."

He plodded away grunting and growling just like his wild relatives would if they found a disturbance in their territory. I waited a moment then walked out of the treeline. Rat followed me closely and was panting as much as I was when we reached the mouth cave. "Sit there and I will check your wound." I panted pointing to the wall opposite my rocks.

She sat against the wall and was shivering from the cold that had set in as night fell, made worse by the height of the cave.

"That was Bear?" She asked. I nodded as I lifted the bandage and saw it was clean then grabbed a couple of rocks. "What are you..." She started to ask before they started glowing in my hands with warmth.

I put them down next to her. Heat radiated from them so she started warming her hands over them. "That's useful." She said smiling.

There was a grunt from the entrance of the cave and Rat Squeaked morphing at the sight of Bear. "You bring pray into my cave now, Dragon?"

"She's one of us Bear. She was running from the humans." He came in and sniffed at her.

His big black nose brushed past my hand. Why is it wet? I asked myself rubbing my hand on my trousers. "Are you in the habit of bringing wounded pray home?" Bear asked gruffly.

Rat started shaking again this time with fear. "Bear don't be grumpy. She is scared and with the humans killing us, we need to stick together." I said giving his large head a gentle shove away from Rat.

Bear scoffed and handed me a pot of stinking ointment. "I don't like my cave becoming a refuge. I agreed to let you stay but if you bring every wounded....."

"As soon as I'm healed I'll leave Bear, as promised." I interrupted him, and after a moment, he nodded, shoving a package of food like the one he had offered me before into my hands.

I unwrapped the leaves and cooked the meat. "You could have brought food back." He grumbled.

"I intended to but Rat tripped over me."

Bear chuckled and moved to the back of the cave. "You both leave before the cold months."

"Of course. I wouldn't want to outstay my welcome." I replied smiling.

Bear grunted and laid down. Within moments he was asleep. Rat breathed out slowly, relaxing against the wall now Bear was asleep. "Here." I offered the fruit to her, and she frowned, eyeing the meat.

"Can I have meat?" She asked in a voice so quiet I was sure only I could hear it.

"You eat meat?" I asked confused.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'm a scavenger Dragon, not a Rabbit."

I tore the meat in two and offered her half. She took it in both paws and nibbled at it. "Do you eat fruit?" She asked after finishing the meat and licking her paws.