Ember (#Wattys2015)

Chapter Three- I'm two quarters and a heart down

I'm two quarters and a heart down
And I don't want to forget how your voice sounds
These words are all I have so I'll write them
So you need them just to get by

Dance Dance - Fall Out Boy

~CALCITE~

Cotton smoothes over my skin as I pull off my shirt. Ember looks lost, but when we get back to the village, she'll be fine. She's quite kinky, even when she's only half conscious she can still try to check someone out. I'm trying not to be repulsed as she reaches out to stroke my chest with a bloody hand.

It seriously looks like she's tried to make a paddling pool out of blood, not to mention the gigantic burn mark on her back. Speaking of that, I should really cover it.

Dabbing at the sickly looking red blister, I see her wince in pain. I pull her to her feet, walking back towards the village. Ember keeps falling over roots and collapsing into puddles so I give up and carry her. She really needs help, fast. Although she isn't wincing or complaining anymore, its kinda creepy when she keeps staring dully at my eyes.

~EMBER~

Wow. His eyes are stunning. They're like a perfect mix of green and blue, icy, yet somehow inviting. Wait, is that flecks of gold I see there??

I lean in closer to get a better look and he tilts his head away, sending me a quizzical look. I give him a defiant look and push in closer. Calcite deposits me carefully on the ground, steadying my shoulders and pushes me back.

"Stop! You're creeping me out, okay? You're injured, you aren't thinking straight and we need to get you to the medical shelter, okay? Come. On! Ember," he drags out my name the same way you would talk to a dog, "I will drag you, and you know it." I think back to when he was a dragon and, yeah, he is stubborn.

I nod obediently and stop straining to see his irises. Calcite then leads me through the city towards the building I have visited frequently over the years.

Good old infirmary. It has fixed two broken arms, three stab wounds, one mug brownie burn.. and a sprained ankle. Don't judge me, I happen to love mug brownies. The pain in my back is dulling, but I knew Calcite was right. Him and his gorgeous eyes were definitely right. I immediately recognize one of the nurses, Zina. She's really old, but dresses like a hippy. Its funny when you're high on laughing gas, she looks like a rainbow on legs.

Not that I've ever been high on purpose, I'd never... Do I look like a person who'd do such a thing?

Any who, Zina came strutting over. "What have you done this time Em?" She sighed impatiently. Is it bad we're on a first name basis?

Calcite answers for me, speaking in ancient Dragon Tongue. I hate it when Shifters show off, I mean for goodness sake just speak normally would you? Of course the only Dragon Tongue I know is the rude words, which aren't really useful.

Next thing I know I'm lying on my stomach, cringing as Zina casts a spell on my back. I swear my nails are creating indents in the metal bed frame. Apparently it couldn't be fixed the normal way, so they had to cast on it.

Which may I add is much more painful.

~RIVER~

Finally the other dragons surrender and the battle ends. I rush towards the infirmary because I have a nasty scrape all down my right arm from where that son-of-a-dragon picked me up like a rag doll.

I get to the shelter without further injury and greet Daya, one of the many skilled nurses in the realm, and show her my shoulder. She grimaces and pushes me towards a bed. In the bed opposite me I see Ember unconscious and a mossy haired boy sitting anxiously beside her, clenching her hand tightly against his chest. He hears the ruckus from my side of the tent and turns. Icy blue pierces me and a warmth runs through me despite the chilly hue. His face is familiar, but I can't quite place where I've seen it before. He smiles reassuringly and turns back to Ember.

Daya pushes me down onto my bed and I obediently lay back. A man I haven't met before stands beside me and nods once before pushing a needle into my shoulder, giving me no warning. Cold fluid trickles through my veins and I feel my body start to slump with unconsciousness. Just before my eyes flutter closed I see the anaesthetist murmur something to Daya. She nods in agreement and I fall into oblivion.

***

Stitches are the most annoying thing ever to have in your shoulder. They itch and pull and you can feel the material rub through your flesh. And then you try and scratch them and you open them and it's a freaking nightmare. They said they were overrun with magic patients so mine had to be done the 'normal' way.

I still haven't seen Ember make an appearance, not since lunchtime. Daya said NOT to engage in physical activity, but I guess going for a run doesn't count right?

I head for the dormitory Ember and I share with two other girls, Ash and Candy. Ash has short, dark brown hair and intense indigo eyes. She's tanned and holds the title as best runner in the academy. Ash is awesome because she doesn't give a fuck if anyone judges her sexuality - she's bisexual and panromantic. There was this one time a few weeks after Ember and I first arrived at the academy where this boy called her a number of derogatory terms and she whipped around and punched him square in the nose. Candy is equally as loud and brash as Ash, with her platinum eyes and magenta hair. Her full name is Candice but she hates it and prefers Candy because that way people then underestimate her just before she annihilates them in a one vs one sword fight. Her pale skin ripples over her muscles every time she defeats an opponent. Candy is savage with a sword, she almost dismembered another swordsman last week. She's an even better fighter than Maya, and that requires skill. Ash and Candy are soul bonded and unlike most of the bonded they actually date. They make an adorable couple because they bring out the softer side of the other. Candy calms Ash when someone insults her sexuality and Ash stops Candy from killing people when they try to cheat in fights. Just because Candy swings a brutal sword doesn't mean she's about to cheat and she loathes anyone who does.

I arrive in front of the dark oak door and shove it open. The door jamb is broken so you have to use all your weight if you want to get in. I swear one of these days one of the girls is going to get stuck inside. The room stands the same as where I left it and I pull open my drawers. Out comes my highlighter pink shorts and dark blue running top. I shed my current clothing and tug the shorts on over my thighs. I study my stomach in the mirror and run my hand over my fast developing abs. I guess running everyday really does help. As I pull the t-shirt over my head, one of my arms pops through the hole with a fair amount of force and I knock my knuckles into the door. Yelping in pain, I hop around the room hugging my injured fingers to my chest.

"Fu-uck." I let out a low groan as my knuckles throb painfully. Ignoring it I sit down on the floor to search under the beds for my sneakers. Sharing a room certainly makes sure you know how to share, Ash is always using Ember's hairbrush and we all share clothes, as we tend to average the same size. Some people find it disturbing but it's not like we borrow each other's bras or underwear. That would be a bit too far.

Triumphantly I hold up my grey and lime green shoes, celebrating my success. I slip my feet into them and set off for my run, making sure to close the door firmly behind me.