Chosen

Chapter 14: Just getting started

     Annora gasped and tightened her grip on Ash, burrowing her head into his back and closing her eyes to the stinging air whipping past them. Ash laughed and bent down closer to Noctinge, giving out exited hollers. Their extreme incline forced Annora to squeeze Noctinge's sides with her legs, the steady beats of his wings bobbing them slightly. 

     After they had leveled off, Annora opened her eyes to slits, her face screwed against the winds. 

     "Wow." She said softly, her hands sliding off of Ash. Mountains were reduced to small mounds dotted with green; flowing rivers were now thin streams twisting around the small pebbles of boulders. The first time Annora had been conscious riding on a dragon, their flight seemed terrifying and hellish, but now, it was a thing of wonder and beauty. 

     Noctinge slowed his pace, his great wings beating lazily. Ash laughed again and raised his hands up to touch the nearby clouds, swirling the white vapor with his finger tips. He turned back to Annora, and saw that for the first time since he's met her, a small smile danced on her lips. She raised her hand to mimic Ash, using her free arm to grip the saddle. Swirling her fingers in the clouds, she laughed along with him. 

     Ash raised his eyebrows, surprised at how much her laughter sounded like singing. He grinned, noticing how her previous depression was fading, not completely, for there was still a dark shadow lurking behind her eyes, but it was a start.  

   Seeing Annora's uplifted mood,  Noctinge released a deep roar, suddenly folding his wings close to his body and diving towards the ground. Annora screamed, flinging her arms around Ash and opening her eyes wide. Trees came into definition at a break-neck speed and rocks stood dangerously below them. 

     Just before they hit the trees below, Noctinge unfurled his wings, jolting them up harshly. Ash released a cheer as Noctinge flew up again, this time low enough to glide in between the surrounding mountains. 

     Annora's scream turned into a shaky laughter as she observed her surroundings in wonder. Before, when she saw a dragon in flight, her only focus was on killing it, not imagining what it might be experiencing. Jutting and creviced rocks rested on the tops of lush mountains, tall wand twisting trees swayed in the breeze, their petals dancing in the wind as they passed. Deer and other woodland creatures startled and leaped into the dense greenery at the sight of the group. 

     After a couple hours of traveling, Noctinge landed lightly at the bank of a vast lake, taking care not to hit any fallen logs or rocks. Ash slid off easily and began unpacking various tools from the many pockets in the saddle. He carefully grabbed the egg and handed it to Annora, then unhooked and unattached the heavy saddle from the dragon's back. 

     He dropped the leathery material and walked to Noctinge's side. They locked eyes for a few moments, Ash nodding slightly every now and then. Noctinge looked towards the thick line of trees, and walked away from the two. As soon as he was at a safe distance, he took silent flight, turning towards the woods and disappearing into the sky. 

     "Where's it-er- he going?" Annora asked, stroking the egg worriedly. 

     "Hunting. He'll be back soon." He turned towards the fallen saddle and unsheathed two long swords from a long narrow pocket. "In the meantime, let's see how good you are." He tossed one of the weapons into the air, it's long blade shining brilliantly in the midday sun. 

     Annora caught the handle quickly, still holding the egg. "What the hell!" She yelled angrily. "I have the egg in my hand, do you want me to drop it?" She gently nestled the egg into a soft patch of fallen leaves.