The Little SeaWing

Chapter 6

Auklet woke up in the SkyWing hospital, sprawled out on a stone slab and covered with a blanket. Shaking slightly, she stood up and stretched her wings and froze. 

She was a SkyWing! Anemone's spell had worked beautifully, and now Auklet was a dark red dragon, her horns standing straight up and the fire burning steadily in the back of her throat. She exhaled nervously and jumped back as a spout of flame jumped out of her mouth.

That was a mistake. Her blanket caught the blaze, and she tried to beat it out as the fire crept up to her. Another dragon rushed into the room, wrapped the fabric around his talons and yanked. The blanket and Auklet both tumbled to the floor, and the flame was quenched with water by a worried-looking healer. 

"And that's why we don't use fire indoors." The other SkyWing turned to face her, smiling even though Auklet could see the burn marks on his wrists and claws. He offered her one of his talons and pulled her up off the floor. 

That's him! Auklet would know that face anywhere! This was the dragon she had rescued! She offered him a smile back. 

"What's your name?" 

"My name is Aukl-" Auklet stopped mid-scentence. She couldn't be a SkyWing if her name was the same as the SeaWing's youngest princess. Someone would be bound to figure out who she was. "I don't remember." 

"You look like a Crimson," Cliff offered. Auklet, newly christened Crimson, smiled gratefully.

"Let's go with that." 

"You must be tired. My mother said that you could stay here until you feel better. She actually reserved a room for you." Cliff gestured for her to follow. 

Auklet let herself be comforted by the young prince, and her heart skipped a beat when Cliff twined his tail around hers and wished her a good night.