Dragon Embers

Chapter 3

Finally! Chapter three! Ugh! I'm so done with this! NOT! I'm just running into lots of writer's-block for this story... I'm sorry.

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Not long after sunrise, I wake up to Deuis watching me intently, making me jump. "Ah!! Geez! Don't do that..." I get up and hug as much of him as I can. "So what is for morning meal?"

He turns and picks up a cow. 'Same as usual.' He tears it open and breathes on it to heat the meat so I am able to digest it properly. My stomach is not nearly as strong as his and I get sick easily when they don't do that for me.

I stretch my wings and the gauzy membrane catches some of the light, making them look like fairy wings. "Pretty..." I walk towards the dead animal and rip out some of the muscle. It is always good to have company when morning meal comes. It makes everything more enjoyable. Deuis eats and I finish up my first piece. "Deuis. I'd like to go outside please."

"Neg." 'No.' Straight forward and firm as usual.

"Please?" I proceed to attempt a face I hadn't done in a while, the 'pouty dragon' face. Tears well up in my now widened eyes as I puff out my cheeks and hold my breath, turning them red.

"Neg." He looks away, knowing he is still susceptible to it, no matter how disgusting it starts to look over the years.

I sigh and take another chunk of meat. "Fine... meanie." I tear into the piece and lick my hands clean when I finished. My gaze drifts towards the mouth of the cave and a sudden pang of loneliness and agitation hits me full force. Deuis said no more outside... But... For how long??? Would I be trapped in here forever!?!? I try to restrain tears at the thought. My life was the outside and now I was being cut off from it. Depressing.

As I sit in my little stare of sadness, I hear a sigh and feel something prod my back. I turn as I wipe my face to find Deuis looking away guiltily as he pushed me towards the opening. I realize what he means and smile widely before throwing my arms around what I could. 'Thank you!!' I use Draken just to make him a little happier.

I run out and immediately head to see if the unicorns are out but stop at the sound of Odette's voice. I would rather not listen to her so I head towards the town, grabbing my cloak on my way. I put it on and fold my wings tightly against my body as I pull the hood down just enough so the scales around my eyes don't show too much. I keep my tail loosely wrapped around my legs so I can walk and it won't be seen then walk into the town.

It is bustling and it looks like there is going to be a festival soon. The streets are decked with those festive triangles and people are setting up their stores so they look their best. I look around and see Julian, under a cloak like mine, surveying the process with a smile and dressed a bit fancier than when I last saw him. I try to avoid him and hide in an alleyway only to have him turn in there and bump into me. I fall to the ground.

I flinch and reach my hand out to him as he turns to me. We freeze as I realize my hood has slipped back just enough to see my face clearly. He grabs my face and looks it over before smiling. "You're... you're that girl... In the woods!"

I stare in awe and mutter, "Julian..." He widens his eyes and he looks around before pulling my hood down and pulling me up. "This isn't the place. We need to go somewhere private." He leads me by the hand, twisting and turning through the alleyways until we reach a dead end and he proceeds to reveal a hidden entrance. After lighting a torch and closing the entrance, Julian turns to me and looks me over before placing a warm hand on my cheek. "You can stop hiding now. You can trust me."

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I know. It's horrible and short. But I had to put it up some time. Geeeeeez.... Well I suppose this would be a cliffhanger but not really. I hope you guys enjoyed this even after I took so long. I'll try belting out the next 2 chapters.