Black as Blood (Part Two)

Getting Stronger

 The next week went by in a flash. Ralem worked as hard as ever to drown out his own thoughts. He felt like he was an emotional and mental wreck, his emotions brimming dangerously just under the surface. He was scared that he just might blow up, and that when he did someone would get hurt. And all these feelings just served to make him more annoyed that he was being so girlishly emotional. He wasn’t usually such an emotional man. Usually he knew how to go with the flow. But now everything seemed to weigh him down. First Arianna left him- but now Daemon is out to kill both him and his dragon? How was he supposed to work and much less fight alongside someone who had mortally wounded his closest friend and lifeline? It frustrated him so much that Vali didn’t seem to get what Daemon had done. Did everyone seem to think that if Ralem and Daemon were both Riders they would automatically become chummy?

And perhaps just as bad was his dragon side always trying to take control. He couldn’t seem to get rid of it! This was more terrifying to him than both the cats and Daemon together. Those opponents you can face, you can fight. But how can you fight something within you, which knows everything about you, something you can’t kill or drive off? How can you defeat yourself? This helplessness tied Ralem up in knots.

 He felt like every time he was in public he was wearing a mask. A mask that said that he didn’t care. That everything was all right. And almost everyone thought that he was doing just fine, except for maybe Ryan. But he wasn’t. And Jaydon knew it. Jaydon was, in fact, the only one who saw him with his mask off. It didn’t happen too often, but sometimes Ralem would just have to let it out, and he did so on Jaydon.

Ralem had never been one to open his heart to anyone so he was new at it. But Jaydon was perhaps the best listener you could ask for. He knew when to be serious (surprisingly) and hardly interrupted. He would just listen as Ralem ranted. Sometimes he even got yelled at himself. But every time Ralem had cooled down enough he would always apologize and give Jaydon a good chin scratching for his troubles. Any harsh word was readily forgiven with a couple nice scratches.

But even though Jaydon was ready to forgive, he still worried a bit for his Rider. He wasn’t the worrying type but the way Ralem always seemed stretched thin, like too little pastry over an apple pie, was worrying. The anger, confusion, regret, and fear that seemed to hover over him like a dark cloud (even though he tried to hide it) concerned the dragon. He became more of an introvert, shying from casual conversations with other people and keeping busy. Jaydon tried to keep it light. Being the closest to his Rider, he would spend time flying with him, talking and asking stupid questions that sometimes managed to make Ralem smile. He tried to fly as often as possible, keep Ralem away from his constant need for backbreaking work. “Rest,” he would say, “Come on, let’s just have some fun!”

“You don’t understand,” Ralem would reply, “I need to keep working.” And he did. His hard labor was already noticeably changing his body. Ralem regained the full height of his tan, his skin just shy of dark olive. He had never been overweight in the least but now he had shed any extra fat. His muscles were more defined and intimidating. A certain aura surrounded him one that told you that he was not to be messed with. The teenager-ish quality was gone, the only remnant of it was the dimples when he would give a rare smile. His eyes were hard and calculating and his moves were that of a creature of the wood; swift and almost soundless.

Jaydon had also changed; not only in human form but in his dragon self. Ralem had never thought of him as chubby, rather big-boned (and he was quite big boned), but now he had slimmed down until he was almost as sinuous as Thistle. His wing muscles were about doubled; his front fangs were as thick as a man’s waist. He was more graceful with his movements, and could fly with amazing prowess. Not only that, but they both were getting stronger together. Their connection was almost unparalleled; they fended off cat attacks every night with growing ease. They were learning to trust each other. They knew how to have each other’s backs.

Lauri noticed this and approved. This was what her training was all about. Trust. Riders and dragons were linked by it. Trust and hopefully, love. She approved of the way they were learning how to figure out things together and their determination. She hadn’t thought they would learn so fast. They will be ready for war sooner than I thought, she thought, just a few more months and they will be prepared enough.

Don’t count your chicks before they hatch, Vali reminded her. They need some work yet. Ralem- he is unstable. I can see it in his eyes. He needs to work through his own personal problems before he can become a reliable weapon. Before that happens, we must watch him closely. He is dangerous right now in his own indecision. For now, we must do our part and hope he does his.