Jovari the Blue

Chapter 17: Reaching Esterpine

Northern Wilderness

Bedelth's lungs heaved. Each breath seared. He strained, ignoring the black pinpricks spreading across his vision. He had stopped feeling his shoulder joints hours ago, even though he knew his forearms were still in the same position, still cradling the beloved body within them. He'd wrapped her in her cloak to keep her warm.

A sharp pain splintered down his wing joint and he cried out, forced to drop in altitude.

No. Just a little longer. He could see the trees on the horizon. See the sea of green stretched across his vision. Five more wing beats, he told himself. Then he would stop.

Five beats later, he promised himself five more. And so on. And so forth.

His thoughts were fragmented. A mix of guilt and pain and fear. Fear so immense he couldn't think straight.

He'd gotten to her wound in time, using magic to keep the poison from spreading. Still, a good part of the skin surrounding it was already blackened. The sight brought too much pain to the surface. Reminded him of how Cyrus had suffered. How he'd died.

Just five more beats.

Another cramp seized his wings. Oh, gods. For a moment, they stopped beating all together. Then he was plummeting towards the earth below. A new panic took hold.

Ignoring the searing scream of his muscles, he forced his wings to flare out at the last moment, catching the wind before they gave out entirely. It was enough to slow him, but not enough to save them.

A roar burst from his maw. He curled his body around his beloved mate, striking the ground. He rolled, keeping Saffra protected within the cocoon of him. The earth shook with the impact, dirt and debris flying up as he carved a crater into the land. Then he just lay there, his giant draconic chest heaving.

He blinked once. Twice. Feeling the clear inner membrane beneath his eyelids stick to his dry eyes. Then, he scrambled into motion, unfurling his body to check on his love. Safe. She was unscathed. Her eyes darted frantically beneath her lids. She didn't wake. Hadn't for over a full day.

When he'd departed the ancient hatching grounds, leaving the foreboding mountains behind, he'd kept her cradled to his body. She'd drifted in and out of consciousness, remaining mostly unconscious for long spans, but never this long. Setting her gently onto the dirt, he lifted on his hinde legs and stretched.

Spasms wracked his body, seizing control. His muscles gave out and he immediately plopped down. He considered transforming, carrying her in his arms, and walking, but he didn't even have the energy for that. When was his last break? He hadn't slept in three days.

His vision darkened.

Sleep took him.

***

A pained scream tore his eyes open. He surged up onto a standing position, talons digging furrows into the dirt. Saffra was writhing on the ground. He dropped his snout to her, brushing his forked tongue gently over her cheek. Her cries turned to pained whimpers. Just a little longer, he wanted to say. He almost transformed, just so that he could speak out loud to her, but resisted the urge. It would waste too much energy. No, he had to keep going.

"Bedelth..." she managed, her eyes still squeezed tight. She knew he was there. Could sense him. That would have to be enough.

The moment he reached for her, she gave another cry. He pressed his snout to her cheek and was immediately engulfed in her mind. The pain seized his breath. He didn't breathe for several long seconds.