The Final Storm (Part 3)

Arianna's Test

Jaydon, where are you? Ralem’s voice called into his mind, but Jaydon didn’t respond immediately. His thoughts were distant… on that beautiful dragoness who had loved him. It was only when Ralem’s voice became desperate that he responded. Jaydon! Jaydon, why have you left me? His cries tore at Jaydon’s heart.

            “Jaydon?” Jaydon realized that Sarah was looking at him strangely.

            Jaydon nodded brusquely at her, running his hands down the muscles of his arms. “Leave us alone for a moment, Sarah.”

            She nodded and eased herself away from Ralem’s bed. “I’ll get you some clothes.” She was eyeing Jaydon’s burned pants. Then she stepped out and lightly as a feather closed the door.

            The second she was gone, Jaydon curled up next to his Rider, fanning his wings over his body and sliding his hands under his neck, forcing them to be face to face. Ralem groaned as he was touched, frown lines wrinkling his forehead. Ahh…. His mental voice was laced with pain.

            Brother, I am here, Jaydon spoke, his voice purring.

            Jaydon, where were you? I couldn’t feel you anywhere! I thought I had lost you-

            You will never get rid of me, Saelfien. Jaydon chuckled.

            There was a slight pause before Ralem’s voice filled his mind. Jaydon.. are we going to die? Don’t lie to me.

            Not tonight. Jaydon leaned forward until he was nose to nose with his mirror image. Then he let loose a long, laborious breath. Power, like a lightning bolt flowed through their connection, setting alight Ralem’s blood and causing his heart to beat like a frenzied drum. His eyes fluttered as his whole body started rapidly healing, fresh skin emerging to replace the burned, his whole body trembling with the shot of energy.

            Jaydon… what’s happening? Ralem’s voice came, scared. Then his eyes shot open and green floodlit the room. His eyes were unfocused, their pupils large and wondering. Then they narrowed and he saw Jaydon, smiling at him with pure joy shining on his face.

            “Jaydon!” Ralem yelled. Then his eyes widened. “I can talk!”

            “Yes, you can talk,” Jaydon chuckled.

            Ralem tackled Jaydon right off the bed and they landed in a heap of limbs and wings on the floor. “Haha, Jaydon, we’re alive!

            “That we are!” Jaydon said back, smiling so wide that his smile muscles hurt. He rolled so that he was the one on top of Ralem. Then he started tickling Ralem where he knew he was ticklish- the crease of his jaw.

            Ralem screamed in laughter. “Jaydon- you- oaf- get- hahahaa!”

            At that moment Sarah swung in, her face bright with hope. “Ralem- is that- woah, what are you guys doing?”

            Jaydon got off Ralem and stood up awkwardly, still chuckling to himself. Ralem laughed too, wiping his face with the back of  his hand… before realizing he had no hand. His eyes about bugging out of his head, he held his arm directly in front of his face, twisting his wrist just to make sure it wasn’t there. “Wh- what?” he croaked.

            Jaydon’s face strained. “What- I thought that it would work-”

            “WHERE’S MY HAND?” Ralem screamed, almost falling over himself in a frantic attempt to shoot to his feet.