THE DRAGON HEALER [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 7: THE DRAGONS

Alanna could not decide if she would go and see the dragons. She stood and was just busy wiping her tears.

Lady Eilin took a step closer to her, nodded her head. "Come, Alanna. I promise they are not scary."

"I have never, ever, thought dragon was real. It's too crazy!" she shook her head when her brain failed to give her any consoling explanation.

"Come," it was now Mom, the Mom she had known all these times, who took her hand and she followed when Mom guided her to follow Lady Eilin.

Lady Eilin walked first, followed by Mom, Alanna, and Dad. They went to the rock corridor that was directly in front of them, the corridor led to a rock staircase that was small and only fitted one person. The staircase was long and it wound down for some time, going much lower than the level where the entrance to the underground cavernous hall was. Spiderwebs hung thick and low, brushing Alanna's face and she was busy trying to wipe away the sticky strands.

Roaring of the dragons shook the staircase—the staircase that was already ancient with steps that were not the same height and made of rough rocks. This time the roar sounded much closer, and that rattled Alanna even more.

She stopped on her track just to manage her breathing that became faster and faster, while her hands got colder and colder. Then she walked again after Dad gently nudged her.

They got to the bottom of the winding stairs and saw light at the end of a short tunnel.

Lady Eilin who walked at the front, now turned around and found Alanna with her gaze. "Are you ready, Alanna?" her voice was melodious. She tilted her head slightly and waited for an answer.

Mom and Dad stood to the left and right of Alanna, and both stared at her now with anticipation.

Alanna knew she had not much choice. At least if she could go back to her own universe she had a great story to tell: To see dragons and live to tell about it! Nothing could beat that.

With small, shaky steps, Alanna followed Lady Eilin to enter yet another cavernous hall. The massive hall shaped like a rocky dome without a closed roof because right at the top was an opening, from which Alanna could see the sky, far far above. Could it be for the dragons to fly out? That thought crossed Alanna's mind.

The dragons were there.

Four of them.

They were wondrous creature, with black-gold scales and two smooth, glistening sharp horns. They had a pair of large wings, sharp claws, and red eyes with golden pupils, thick black eyelashes, and they stared at everyone in front of them with full focus. Their teeth were sharp, like canine teeth, their saliva dripped as they breathed out loud. The height of the tallest dragon was maybe about ten meters or so, and the rest was just a tad bit shorter.

"They are-are real ... shit ..." Alanna fought to maintain some semblance of control over her shock. She failed as her knees shook, her mouth opened wide, and her eyes stared unblinked at the four dragons.

"Anthor, the northern dragon also the oldest, biggest, and tallest one. Anthor is also his majesty the king's ride. Selivor, the southern dragon is the twin of Drathor, the eastern dragon, and the youngest of them all and the only girl, Rannathor, the western dragon. Four corners of the wind, four dragons," Lady Eilin introduced the dragons just like she did with friends. She nodded her head to them one by one and stated their name. Anthor, Selivor, and Drathor nodded their large head back at Eilin while maintaining a regal stand. It was the girl dragon Rannathor who let out a loud groan, her large eyes winked a few times in some sort of playful glint, and opened her mouth wide as if she was smiling at Alanna.