The Dragon Hunter

19

"You know what I could use right now?" Luna asked, trying half heartedly to break the akward silence. She adjust Minx, trying to get a more comfortable position but only succeeding in jabbing Minx's spines into her back. "A boat."

They'd retraced their steps before doubling back and following the river north. No progress had been made; they were walking in circles.

"That would be helpful," Jags sighed. His fur was matted but pretty much dry by now, but still a few droplets nestled between the hairs. Luna nodded, trying once more to readjust Minx, this tine managing to bring her up slightly and move the spines thst were digging into her back.

"What would we name our boat?" she spitballed. Axel snorted.

"But we don't have a boat."

"We could have a boat. I mean, this is a river and of the world is ending someone could have left one behind," She smirked back. "And if we did, what would we call it?"

Axel glared at her. "But we don't have a boat."

She rolled her eyes as Jags snorted and Mind groaned. "We're talking hypotheticals here, wolfy," She sighed. Axel was one her before she and time to blink. Minx fell with a heavy thud to the ground as he held Luna down by the shoulders. His teeth were bared and his eyes were filled with fury.

"Don't you ever, and I mean ever, call me wolfy again. Do you understand?"

Luna just stared straight back at him, noticing the red lines crisscrossing the whites of his eyes. He squeezed her shoulders, pushing her further into the mud.

"Do. You. Understand?" He hissed, quieter this time. He dug his fingers into her shirt as his breathing grew heavy. She gulped and nodded. He let go, clambering to his feet and offering her his hand. After a moments hesitation, She took it, allowing him to help her stand.

"Listen," She sighed. "This is what they want, right? They want us against each other. I'm sorry."

Axel didn't reply at first but simply nodded before taking a deep breath. "Me too. Lets just focus in getting to the mountain, ok?"

"You two are like a married couple."

Luna turned to see Minx rubbing her forehead, leaves and twigs sticking to her scales. She smirked.

"You're awake then?"

Mind staggered to her feet, shaking herself and stretching her good wing, the other flapping lazily at her side. "You carried me for how long?"

Luna shrugged. "Maybe half a day or so." She glanced up at the brightening sky, orange and white rolling across the horizon. A stiff breeze picked up, rippling the surface of the river. "Most of the night."

Minx turned her head to one side, padding over to join them. "How'd you carry me for that long?"

Luna was about to respond when Jags voice interrupted the converstation, drifting to reach them from somewhere upstream. Axel smirked and Luna let out a short, sharp, if tired, laugh.

"What are we going to name it then?" Axel wiggled his eyebrows as Jags continued to call for them. He burst out of the bushes, grinning like a mad man.

"Bow before me mortals!" he puffed up his chest, standing proudly. "For I have found a boat!"

~

Minx stood at the stern, good wing outstretched as the canoe fought against the current. Axel and Luna were busy paddeling, and despite the fact they were going upstream the water was moving slow enough for them to be making good time. She didn't want to think about what they'd found in the bottom of the boat, half submerged in the water, thrown overboad where they'd watched it vanish beneath the surface. She shuddered, turning back to face the water. Willow branches brushed against her about, just long enough to stroke the waves, parting as their canoe sliced it's way forward.