The Dragon's Mate

Chapter 16

Hunter says, "I am a Dragon, Emerald and I handle a little pain, do it." Emerald grits her teeth as she pulls on Hunter's arm as he winces. Hunter says, "more." Emerald pulls harder as Hunter's fingers dig into her flesh and he begins to shake. Hunter angrily says, "More!." Emerald pulls even harder, a rough scream tears from Hunter's throat as he bares the fill weight of his pain. Emerald thinks, 'he's protecting me, I don't feel anything!.' Hunter says, "more!!!." Emerald uses all her strength to pull one final time thrusting Hunter's bone back into place. Hunter collapses on top of her as his bare chest heaving from the strain. Hunter weakly says, "y-you...you... you did it...thanks. Emerald." As he slowly takes a deep breath and stands up he says, "that mud on the ground, could you bring some to me?." Emerald nods as she bends down and gives it to Hunter asking, "what do you need this dirt for, Hunter?." Hunter replies, "It's not dirt, it's a special mud which numbs pain, and I could really use that right now, I won't be able to keep you from feeling this much longer, can you... put this on me, Emerald?." Emerald sees the blood and cuts on Hunter's shoulder and chest as she thinks, 'he tore his wing to save me from that fall, he saved my life!.' Emerald nods as she rubs the mud between her palms until it's warm and slowly press it to Hunter's skin; Hunter sucks in a sharp breath but he quickly relaxes under Emerald's touch as the medicinal effects begin to help. Hunter says, "I feel so much better now." He closes his eyes and leans back as Emerald slips her hand over his muscles as she slowly loses control when Hunter winces bringing her out of her trance. Emerald asks, "am I rubbing too hard?." Hunter replies, "no...this feels really good." Hunter sighs as he grabs his shirt and puts it back on before Emerald asks, "are you feeling better?." 

Hunter nods answering, "yes, I should heal in a few minutes, thank you." Once Hunter and Emerald regain energy they both look around the cave as Emerald says, "it's so dark, I can't even see the escape." Hunter says, "hold on a sec." Hunter takes out a flint and creates a small flame in the palm of his hand as Emerald asks, "impressive but why not just breathe fire yourself?." Hunter replies, "I would have to transform and believe me you do not want to deal with my purple fire, Emerald." Emerald says, "really, why is that? is it hard to control?." Hunter says, "I can control it but make no mistake... it's deadly, it's the only fire that can kill other Dragons...." Emerald was not surprised as she knew that the Dragon's King power was legendary. Emerald saw how Hunter held the fire in his palm which slowly illuminated around the cave as they walk down a path before reaching a blocked exit as Hunter says, "damn, we are trapped." Emerald turns to Hunter saying, "we just need to slam your Dragon tail into the rock or maybe even use your purple flame to blast a hole." Hunter says, "that will take too long, even with my strength, we are going to suffocate before we are free." Emerald says, "we can't just sit and do nothing." Hunter says, "let me think for a moment." Emerald says, "we need to try something even if it's dangerous for me-." Hunter says, "Emerald, please!." Hunter's hand cuts through the air with too much force as the flame flies out of his hand heading right for Emerald. Hunter says shocked, "Emerald!." 

Emerald is shocked with fear bracing for the flame to engulf her however the flame doesn't strike or attack her. Hunter was even more surprised seeing this saying, "w-what in the world...?." Emerald feels the Dragon's mark starting to him softly against her skin as if is waking for the first time. Emerald thinks, 'I feel drawn to the flames....' The warm but not hot flame flicks down to her Dragon's mark as she feels a bold and confidence feeling as if she has powers. Emerald smiles thinking, 'I have no idea what is going on, but this feels so cool.' Hunter notices Emerald smiling in delight as he calls out to her, "Emerald!." Emerald felt a sense of hope as she says, "I can get us out of here, Hunter, I know a way." Hunter smiles seeing Emerald being able to use the flame within her mark which calls her softly urging both of them to turn away from the blocked entrance and towards the other side of the cave. Emerald says, "we have to go deeper." Hunter asks, "what do you mean by that, Emerald? The other way is blocked too." Emerald closes her eyes focusing on the flames flustering within her as she says, "show me."