Songs of the wolves and dragons

Chp.8 Once upon an aon ago

It's been three weeks since we went to the bear kingdom and the bear king is still in a coma.
I really doubt he'll ever come out of it.
Xal has dove himself into constant research about the monster that attacked us. So far he's found nothing but he says he's real close to a break through.
"Mel can you hand me Ancient Curses?"
"Which one?"
"It says it's name on the spine. The big red one."
Phew. He said the color. Truth is I really can't read that well. Mother never really taught me, granted there were no books for her to teach me with so she really couldn't. She did teach me how to read sheet music though, I'm fluent in that.
I hand the book to Xal and he starts flipping through the pages.
I wonder what they say? I wish Xal would read to me whatever he's reading. Then I'd know if he's actually closer to finding out what destroyed the bear kingdom.
The king and queen sent more dragons to inspect the bear kingdom in hope of finding survivors, only a few were actually found. Now the bear people retrieved like here in the castle, cleaning, cooking, and helping around where need be.
I usually help out too, since I'm not really that much help to Xal. I used to help the servants for the Alpha king from time to time. If they didn't clean the mansion perfectly ever night they'd all receive beatings and some even death.

I head down the corridor and see Nita mopping the floors. She's one of the Bears rescued and living here. She's about the same age as me and Xal so I've grown to consider her a friend.
"Hi Nita."
"Hey Princess. Phew. What a day huh? Hey Wabu said he's almost done with dinner he said he's making a traditional bear dish for all of you dragons to try: Rabbit Sansi."
She and all the Bears think I'm a dragon, since I'm with Xal so much I don't smell like a wolf anymore. I like it though, not being reminded of those beasts and how I'm the same species as them.
"Hey can you help me with the old study. I won't want to bother you but it's almost the size of a ballroom and-"
"It's no trouble Nita."
She grabs the bucket and we head into the old study.
Nita was right, it is as big as a ballroom!
"Strange they don't use it huh? King Osto made sure every room in the castle was used every year. Even if that meant having a ball in a library."

We start cleaning. Nita starts at the book shelf and I start at the fire place. Above the fire place is a large old painting of a bird. It looks like the bird on my back. I stare at it for a long moment. It's yellow eye looking back at me.
I place my hand on the bird and I hear chimes and a piano start to play. I figure it's just Nita playing around.
The sound is quite beautiful, it goes alone nicely with the song I've been humming recently.
Remember Xal asked me about the song I was humming? Well I've still humming that. Day in and day out. I've even started writing lyrics. Ever night when I sleep I hear the words in my head along with the music. Actually this music is what plays in my head when I sleep.
I can't help but start to hum. Saying a word under my breath every now and then. It makes cleaning go by faster too, I look around I believe I'm in a ballroom.
I start dancing to the music while still humming. Why not? It'll make cleaning go faster. I start saying more and more of the words of my hum and soon I'm singing away.

(Author: parody of Once Upon a December from Anastasia.)
Dancing flames, painted wings. This that I should remember and a song someone sings once upon an Aon ago. Someone holds me safe and warm, birds of flame all hide in shame. Figures burning from the past across my memories.

As I look around the room I see fire every where! But I can't stop myself to help. The flames look distance somehow. And these animals are trapped in side the flames! Or at least I think they're animals. I've never seen any creature like them before. They even seem like they're more part of the fire then anything. Moaning and screaming! But there's nothing I can do about them. They're too far away!

Someone holds me from the pain. Birds of flames all trapped in shame, waiting for the war to end then they'll be free again!
Far away long ago, glowing dim as an ember this my heart should have known, things it needs to remember. And a song someone sings once upon an-Aon-ago.

I look back at the flamed creatures along the walls, and they slowly start to fade away like the music. They look like the bird in the painting. Strange.

Suddenly I hear a roar of applause coming from behind me. I turn and see the entire staff in the door way of the study!
They all have giant smiles and are clapping proudly. In front is Nita who looks awed and wide eyed at me. Next to her is Xal! Xal!
Xal heard me too! I feel redness wash over me.
Oh no oh no oh no! This can't be happening!
Everyone continues to clap. Some even say "encore!" Xal smiles at me clapping, and whistles. Not the "hey there hot thing." The "that was so freaking awesome! Encore encore!"
I don't know what to do, so I do the most understandable of things to do in a situation like this. I use the back door that nobody is in the way of and get the hell out of the old study.

(Xalanth)
I continue to try to find an answer as to what the hell attacked us, but I'm having no luck. Nobody has ever heard of a fiery beast that can actually hurt the Royal family. Only the sun god himself could have the power to do it.
"Argh! This is pointless!" I growl. I collapse my head on the book pile on my desk. I look to see if Mel is sleeping on the couch like usual. She's not really into reading I guess. Can't say I blame her. Nobody really in family other then me really likes reading. It's a lost art.
I hear knocking at my office door. Nita stands in the doorway a huge grin on her face,"you'll want to come with me. Believe me you won't regret it."
I follow her skeptically. She knows not to bother me, or my parents when we are in our offices.
We continue to walk and head down the west corridor the more we walk the more I hear something. It's beautiful. I see a crowd forming in front of a doorway. Pushing and shoving to be in front. The sound gets loader and loader as we get closer. It sounds like someone is singing.
Once we reach the room the others make way for Nita and me. When they all move is see the one who's singing is Melody!
She looks like she's in a trance. Her movements are so fluid and beautiful. Wow.
"Someone holds me me from the flames. Birds of flame all trapped in shame. Waiting for this war to end, so they'll be free again!"
And she said she wasn't a good singer. My Mel being modest.
"Once upon and-aon-ago."
When she finishes we all can't help but clap. She turns her face instantly going red. I whistle so she sees I'm watching. After I whistle she looks at me and runs out the back door of the old study.
Maybe I shouldn't have whistled at her.
I quickly run after her.

(Melody)
I decided to hide in my bedroom. I know not the smartest of ideas but it was the first thing that popped into my head. So here I am. On the floor curled in a pathetic ball.
"Oh Xal please don't find me! Please don't find me!"
"Hey Mel. Look up."
I do and I yelp. Xal is on the bed his head dangling over looking down at me. I curl more into a ball, thinking this will hide me again. I feel Xal snake his hands around me and pulls me up on the bed. He wraps me in his lap and cocoons himself around me.
Sparks explode all over me starting from where Xal grabbed me. It's so warm!!
Xal is always warm, I guess since dragons can breathe fire they'd always be warm. I wonder if he can breathe fire in his human form?
"Mel."
I keep my gaze down. I can't look at him!
"Mel. Come on look at me."
Nope! Nope! Nope! Nope!
He grabs my chin and pulls my face up and I look directly at his beautiful teal eyes. I can feel myself becoming a tomato.
"Why'd you run away?"
"Why do you think?!" It's not that hard to guess.
"But it was...You have the most beautiful  voice I've ever heard. Where'd you learn that song?"
"I made it up."
"You made that up?!"
"Was it that bad?"
"'That bad?' Mel it was amazing!"
I place my hands on my burning red cheeks.
"Can you sing it again?"
"I don't know. I don't really remember it,"that's a lie I can can tell you every single word I said, but I don't think my heart can put up singing in front of Xal."and when I sang it last time, there were these strange creatures all over the walls."
"Creatures? Like monsters?"
"No. They were animals. But they were trapped. They looked so sad, like they were reaching for something. They were all trapped in flames."
"Flames-"
Suddenly Ike bursts through, his face has is red, like he's been running. He breathing is  harsh as he stares at us on the bed for a minute as he tries to speak."Xalanth! Melody! It's the Bear King. He's out of his coma!"