Unexpected Heroes

Chapter 10- WTF

APOLLO'S POV.
Okay. I'm ready!
I call, "Pandora!"
She bounces over, and lies by my feet.
I open the envelope.
A blank white card falls to the ground.
I lift it up.
Blank?
I flip it over, just to double check.
My stomach bunches up as the crisp card turns to expose it's other face.
Pandora seems tense as she looks over my shoulder.
I close my eyes, and flip it over all the way.
Pandora asks polity, "Could you translate that for me?"
I look down.
The characters are familiar. Like the ones Kip taught me at lunch. I think for a secound, then gape....

Pandora growls, "Well? What does it say?"
I translate, "It's dragon language. It means "Hyper Winter X" or "Hyper Winter Cross"."
Pandora states, "Athena says we'll naturaly gain a fluent understamding of the language as we grow in our bond. All riders knew it because of an ancient knowledge passed down by DNA."
I sit against the tree, shocked.
I whisper, placing the card in the envelope.
Pandora seems happy with what she is. I'm dumbfounded.
She's two rares mixed. Kip never mentioned what happens when that happens. I need to ask Athena somethings.

After walking out of the forest, I find Athena polishing her dragon's scales.
I ask her, "So what do I do now?"
She replies, "Wait."
I stand there with Pandora for a while, and Athena turns to face me.
She calls, "KIP!"
Kip runs out.
My hand is still holding the envelope.
Kip takes it from my shaking hand.
He cracks it, and reads it.
He turns white, and looks at me and Pandora.
Kip whispers, "Him? It's this one? The runaway?"
Athena stares into my eyes like a creeper.
Then she looks at Kip and nods.
Kip looks me up and down, nodding in the process.

I ask, "Why are you guys being so creepy?"
Kip laughs evily.
I begin to back up, and pick up Pandora. I'm ready to run.
Athena smiles and replies, "You are the Corilo. Not any Corilo, though. A Tarri Corillo. A Super Strong Bond. You both are."
Pandora looks up at me with her gold eyes.... wow!
what?
I double take, and her eyes are gold.
I must have been obvious.
Athena commands, "Set her down, or she'll squash you."
I stare at her, but I set her down.
Athena grabs a bag from her belt.
She opens it, and pours it over Pandora.
A white powder fals onto Pandora, and she sneezes.
Athena smiles.
A sudden gust of cold wind and black snow sweep the hill and the shack.
Then, I see why I've been squashed.
Pandora is the size of a small horse.
Her wings are like ice caught on branches that flex in the wind.
Her head is elegant, yet strong, like the dragon from the stain glass in the castle.
Her white scales are tinted with black and blue, making them shimer.
Her paws are like clouds, big and gentle. Her posture matches a proud beast that nothing wishes to cross.
Athena cries, "Your dragon is now in Phase 2! Be wary. Her strenght is unknown."
I walk up to her, and her tail wraps around my feet.
It's no longer a small icicle, but one bigger than I am tall.
She cranes her head to look at me.
My breath catches.
Her golden eyes seem to glow with love and kindness.
Kip pats me on the shoulder.
I turn to face him, and Pandora puts her head over my shoulder.
I place my hand on her mussle, and she warbles.
Kip laughs, "Most riders wouldn't even let their dragons this close, but I see that you truly are the Tarri Corillo. I hope our lessons will help your bond be stronger. Stay sharp, and practice saddling. Pandora can carry you in two weeks. That's the next growth spurt. Then our lessons begin."
Athena laughs, "I'm starting your lessons tomorrow. I'll be your power control teacher."
I nod, and Pandora sends me a clearer message than she ever has.
She whispers, "Hello, Apollo."
I reply, "Hello, Pandora. How does it feel being phase 2?"
She smiles from over my shoulder.
She whispers, "Better than you could ever imagine. I no longer feel helpless. I can fly! What to see?"
I smile and whisper, "Of course!"