Opposites: The Staff of Light [Book One]

38. Why Not Call it Zeda?

Colton

Yes, I'm alive.

Did I forget to mention falling from the sky to the ground hurt? No? Then, now you should know. In case you'd receive the same powers as I did, never forget your basketball gear when you try to fly. If basketball gear aren't available, go on and try taekwondo gear. They might be somehow effective.

When I woke up, I was just as surprised when I found myself alive. My vision was clear and I saw Combust and Mitch at my side. I looked at the heavens, brighter than the last time I was awake as day was making its way to noon, trying to picture myself stupid throwing myself into the mouth of a dragon and ending up falling. "You're alive!" I cried out, getting up. I patted myself—on the head, stomach, legs, and chest—and clutched my neck. "Holy—I am, too!" Suddenly, pain seared into my torso again. "And... everything hurts..." I fell flat on the ground, moaning, completely hurt along my arms, legs, head, and torso. My legs felt sore. But fortunately, I could breathe normally. I eyed Combust. "How are you even alive?"

"I guess there were two people who'd forgotten I was fireproof."

"Point taken," I nodded, "What happened while I was out?"

"Well, apparently, the dragon—" Mitch pointed a thumb towards the side. My gaze followed, only to catch view of the enormous dragon just past a few trees. "—he... stayed there." The beast was curled into a ball in the ground. Its wings served as its blanket, its eyes closed. "After you popped out of its mouth, well... it apparently didn't kill you and just hung out in that position ever since you landed."

I forced myself to sit up. "Get back down, idiot!" Combust hooted at me. As if on cue, migraine attacked. I managed to get on my feet, massaging my temple. God, I need a doctor right now. Combust hooted again as I walked uncontrollably to nowhere. I didn't concentrate enough to understand the guy.

"Colton, I don't think that's—" Mitch was saying.

I cut him off, "Don't worry!" I cried. "I know what I'm... doing." I grunted as I slammed into something hard, stumbling forward. Mitch yelped, not too far away from me. He must have followed me before I bumped into what I guessed was a tree. The ground I landed on wasn't quite ground-y. It was unusually smooth and even. For once I couldn't even feel a rock or pebble (mind you, I've fallen quite too many times).

I thought it was fine until the ground lifted; I fell backwards, opened my eyes, cleared my vision and immediately stood up, trying to back away.

Right before me was the black dragon with the widest of eyes that stared right into me. Fear built up in my lungs once more, and the pain worsened. "Ugh!" I grunted, my body failing. I fell forwards—yes, right against the dragon. My head hit the black surface of its rumbling arm. The dragon was purring. I clutched my chest, turning to my side to look at it. By then I was staring into the black harmless irises of the dragon over a blank shade of white. I thought you had red eyes... I gasped as the dragon moved its head towards me. Oh God, he's going to eat me. My expectations, thankfully, failed me.

It showed off its large set of teeth then picked me up by my shirt. How it was careful enough to actually carry me without biting me, I had no idea. It lifted my shirt up, a small portion of my abdomen in view. I frantically tried to grab hold of the dragon's teeth to prevent my fall. Surely, I hadn't gotten enough strength to summon winds and save me from falling again. The dragon relocated me beside its tucked arms and gently set me down. It rested its giant head behind me. I felt its warm breath against my back, blowing air through my hair and clothes. I crawled up one of its arms—which had been no larger than a 30-year-old tree branch, noting the claws. The dragon didn't seem to mind. I jumped down to the gap of hard ground between the two arms and pain erupted from my legs. I doubled over and grunted. HOW CAN THIS DAY ACTUALLY GET ANY WORSE?