The Silver Owl

33

A/N: My Father's Dragon is a real book by Ruth Stiles Gannett. When I was little I adored this book, and it was the inspiration behind Lizzie's father's name. I own no rights to this book, but I've always really enjoyed it. I highly recommend anyone who has not read it, should read it.

I also do not own the Chronicles of Narnia as mentioned before, and the same with Moby Dick, and frankly anything else mentioned in this book.

I appreciate your understanding. :) 

"Why didn't you guys bring your weapons with you?!" Anne asks, as if we had weapons to bring.

I look around for Jewel, who is walking off into the woods. I'll call for her later.

"What do you mean?" Zac asks politely, "We never had weapons."

The unknown boy glares at Jackson, "Seriously? Nothing?"

"Cole! Stop that! I thought they had some already!" Jackson defects the blame onto no on in particular.

The boys stand side by side, and I can clearly see they're brothers.

Anne clears her throat, "So you just run off into the woods, completely defenseless?!"

Zac and I look at each other shamefully, "Yeah, kinda," I reply sheepishly.

Cole steps forward, "I'm sorry about that. This shouldn't have even been a problem. Are you staying in the cabin?"

"Yeah," Zac and I reply at once.

Cole nods, "Okay then, we will be back there later with a couple of swords for the both of you. I expect sword is fine?"

"Yeah, yeah."

We walk back together as a group of five. Zac walks very close to me. Our shoulders almost touch.

Anne walks to my left, behind Anne walks Cole, and to Cole's right, Jackson.

We walk in silence until we hit the cabin, Zac very gracefully invited everyone inside.

Everyone comes inside and Cole sits down at the grand piano. Zac and I begin to prepare some chicken, and Jackson and Anne sit down at the 'L'.

I am impressed by Cole's classical music skills, considering I can't really play any instruments, maybe I should work on that when I get back.

We serve the chicken and I watch the sun set through the window, the sunlight with the trees is beautiful.

Anne stands up,"Well, I'd better get going. We will bring you the swords tomorrow. I'd better head back and get some rest."

Cole smirks, "You just wanna go back and hang out with Ryan."

Anne rolls her eyes, "Shut up."

"I think Anne has the right idea,"Jackson stands up, "I think we'd all better get going."

The three get up, and thank us for the meal. They leave Zac and I to discuss today's events.

"I'm going back," Zac says looking me dead in the eyes.

"What?!" I nearly scream,"Are you telling me you're going back after today?!"

"Yeah, I think I was really close. Why else would there be all those monsters?"

"Ugh," I sigh, I trust Zac so much, but I think maybe he's going a little crazy, "When?"

"Tonight."

"Are you joking? You have to be kidding," I mutter.

Zac slides his hand across the counter, "I never said you had to come."

"What time?" I ask, biting my bottom lip.

"Around 8:45," Zac points at the clock, which tells me it's about 7:30.

"Let me think on it. I don't know if I'm comfortable going without something to protect me this time."

"Again, I never said you had to come. I'm just telling you what my plans are," Zac informs me. I know he doesn't mean anything by it, but I somehow feel like he's attacking me.

I turn around and retreat to the bookshelf, I'm not sure why, but I want to see what books this place has.

Moby Dick, Chronicles of Narnia, a dictionary, Russian Fairy Tales, books about wildlife, how to draw books, optical illusion books, My Father's Dragon, and more I don't particularly care to read the titles of.

I pick up My Father's Dragon as it sounds like a cute fantasy book. I thumb through the pages and open to a random one. The first word my eyes land on are Elmer.

My dad's name. Elmer.  

I think about how much I miss him. I then begin to think about James.

I return to the scene, the fire eats everything in the house with a ferocious hunger. I crawl on the ground how he taught me.

I crawl and crawl, looking for an exit, but I can't find one. My eyes water from the smoke, I cry out of fear, not knowing where to go.

"Liz?! Liz?! Where are you?!" I hear James yell.

"Here! Help!" I cry back, my brother was here to save me. I hear the crackle of the fire, as James calls for me again.

The supports start to snap and crash around us.

"James? I'm here!" I yell again, "Help! Please help me!"

James comes into view, as the flames nip at anything not already devoured and converted to ash. But when I see James, he's not how I expect to see him, he's in his protective fireman's suit.

At the time he was working as a firefighter, ironically, our house was the one that caught on fire this time.

"Liz! Just stay put! Don't mov-"

Crack.

A support beam falls, nearly crushing me. The heat surrounds me. James is composed even in the worst of situations.

James wasn't your normal 23 year old boy. He had a heart of gold. He never lied, and everyone adored him. He didn't think he was amazing, he always saw ways to make improvements in himself, and saw potential in others.

I remember the time that he found me crying because Lucy has accidentally broken my favorite toy, and James look the scraps from me, and tried to fix it.

Later that year, I couldn't find it again, and I was sad I had lost it. The next day, James came home from school, with a box all wrapped up. He gave it to me.

And when I opened it, it wasn't a new toy, James has found a way to fix the one I had always loved.

I drift away from the fire, and remember everything James did.