This short story is for Brian Kesinger's Writing Challenge. I finished it too late, but I wanted to finish it anyway. It's about a young artist that, with the help of her mischievous pet dragon, saves her home with her imagination and learns a valu...
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I looked up at Penn with a smile splattered across my face like wet paint. "How is it?" I asked, pointing to my newly completed drawing. Penn looked at it curiously. The she made an amused noise and darted behind my shoulder. I raised my eyebrow and critically looked down at the piece of paper that had consumed my attention for the last hour. My drawing was finished now that I added Penn in it, and I didn't look bad. Sure, one of her wings was slightly larger than the other, but it was barely noticeable. Also, my mom looked a little too short, but I figured that it would be okay. I pushed back my chair and stood up. Then I turned to ask my dragon friend what was so amusing. The words never left my mouth. Penn hurled a paintbrush at me!
I scrunched up my nose and glared at her half-heatedly. I ignored Penn's smirk and started to inquire about my drawing. However, Penn only stayed around long enough for me to see the mischievous glint in her beady eyes. I rolled my eyes before following her out of my floating art studio. I carefully walked across the rope ladder that connected the studio to my house. Conveniently, the only way anyone could access my artistic alcove was by going out onto the balcony that was joined to my room.
Once inside my house I looked for Penn in all of her favorite hiding spots. She wasn't in any of them though. She had disappeared as fast as a goblin that was caught stealing socks! I chuckled to myself as that image entered my head. I made a mental note to remember it for later when my paints and pens surrounded me once more. I abandoned my room to find my family waiting in the living room nervously. Penn was there too, but she wasn't happy and playful anymore. A frown found it's way onto my face, and my hands became stuffed in the pockets of my jeans. Penn flew over to me and sat down in my shoulder while the rest of my family watched with sullen expressions.
My voice found it's way out of my mouth, "Is everything okay?" The question floated around the room like cloud as it waited for answer. None came. I tilted my head to the side and swallowed nervously, "Come on. What's wrong?" My mother came to me and wrapped me in a hug.
"Sorry Ivy, but we have to move again." I slumped my shoulders and pulled back away from my mom. Her brown hair was still tucked away behind a hairnet, and flour was still on her apron. My heart cried out to her. Mom loved her new job at the bakery, I didn't want her to have to leave it behind. I looked over her shoulder at my dad. His tan face didn't hold it's smile anymore. I saw his clay stained hands come up to his face and wipe away what looked like a crystal tear. He couldn't leave his sculpting job behind.
I shook my head and asked, "why?"
Father's gruff yet friendly voice answered me cryptically, "Same reason as last time. We need 1000 bronze crowns this time, and our jobs are just starting off. We can't make that much by next week when the money's due." My eyes drifted to the floor. I was going to leave my art studio behind, and all of my friends. Again. My little brother Fitley looked up at me from where he sat. His eyes still shimmered with hope. His expression screamed at me to be a hero.
