Tabithica's Journey

Chapter 13

Tabithica flew through the skies, letting her wings carry her far ahead of Flako. Aurora was nestled among her scaly backside, sitting in between her great wings. Tabithica's chest still heaved from being trapped underwater. She beat her wings fiercely and got an idea.
Aurora?
Yeah?
Do you want to do something cool?
Sure!
Alright, hang on.
Tabithica smiled to herself and surged forward, Aurora tightening her grip on her scales. Tabithica could barely contain her excitement. You ready? She asked.
Yes.
Tabithica didn't need a second answer. Tucking her wings, Tabithica felt gravity take hold and she began descending rapidly, feeling Aurora clench on harder. Glancing back, Tabithica saw Flako watching her while he hovered, beating his wings with a look of confusion on his face.
"Come on!" Tabithica jeered at him, beginning to spiral. Flako blinked then dove, a smile spreading across his snout. Tabithica shared his happiness and stopped her spiral, spreading her wings as she touches ground and pulled back into the sky, letting out a screech of excitement. Flako followed, but letting out a roar.
Tabithica felt Aurora tense. Ejats wrong? she asked.
Aurora sighed. I don't like him.
Tabithica furrowed her brow scales. Why?
Because he tried to kill me! Tabithica bit her lip, remembering. Who is he anyway? Aurora asked.
Tabithica swallowed. It's Flako.
Aurora gasped audibly. That's Flako?!
Tabithica nodded. Yes.
Oh. Aurora thought angrily. Tabithica swallowed and started hovering. Um, maybe it's time you should go home, your humans will be worried.
She felt Aurora relax slightly. Yeah, I should go.
Tabithica waited until Flako had caught up to her then cleared her throat.
"I've gotta take Aurora home, Flako." She explained.
He nodded solemnly in understanding, then began to fly away. Tabithica stopped him. "What?"
"Come with me ... er, us." She offered, correcting herself. Flako's golden eyes widened as he stared at her. "Are you sure?" He asked. Tabithica nodded, returning his deep gaze. As he came closer to her side to show he agreed, Tabithica took off and began soaring towards Aurora's home, quickly arriving and landing among the trees. Flako landed next to her and watched as Aurora slid off of Tabithica's back, landing in the marshy grasses. She placed her hands onto Tabithica's cheeks as she lowered her head.
Goodbye until tomorrow, Aurora, Tabithica thought carefully.
She smiled. Bye Tabithica!
With that, she took off through her yard, quickly disappearing into her home.
A snout nudged Tabithica's flank, and she turned to see what Flako had to say. "What is it?"
He pouted his lips, hesitating. "How is this going to work for you?" He whispered discretely.
Tabithica furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"
He shuffled his paws. "How is she supposed to give her earthling parents a reason every day as to why she's gone for hours on end?" He asked. "How is she supposed to keep this up without it interfering with your link?"
Tabithica gasped. "I'd never thought of that."
Flako went on. "And what about you? I can guarantee Deyitrans won't take it easily if you don't do anything for the deyr and are absent all the time."
Tabithica sighed heavily, but then a thought came to her and she smiled. "Or maybe I can."
Flako snorted in disbelief. "What?"
"Yeah, yeah! I can still hunt but I don't have to be present the whole time!" She exclaimed. "I can be present for most of the time, that way I'll be able to keep Aurora a secret from the deyr!" Tabithica exclaimed. A thought crossed her mind and She glanced at Flako. She glared at the cock dragon. Unless ...
She threatened, not finishing her thought. She didn't need to. Flako swallowed timidly and blinked.
"I won't tell any dragon, Tibi." Flako promised, a smile tugging at his lips. Tabithica's ears burned and she growled at Flako. "But seriously Tabithica, how do you think Deyitrans is going to react to you not being there one hundred percent of the time? It won't work."
Tabithica snorted. Spreading her wings, she took off into the skies, leaving Flako behind as she flew further and further from Aurora's home. He eventually caught up to her, gently bumping her flank with his own. She glanced at him, her gaze neutral.
"Tabithica, I'm worried about you and, Aurora was it?" She nodded. "I just, want you to survive and be happy, but I don't know how you will be with this new connection you've made."
Flako blinked at her deeply. She breathed in. "I know Flako, it is a hard fete, but we won't survive without each other." She pointed out.
He snorted again. "Yes, I know. You've told me Tabithica." Flake scoffed. "But I want you safe and-"
Tabithica interrupted him. "And you've told me that several times, Flako. What are you trying to say?" She asked.
Flako swallowed, not meeting her gaze. Tabithica arched an eyebrow. What is it? she asked him.
He looked at her. I like you Tabithica, I don't want to see you hurt, or worse.
Tabithica gasped, feeling her cheek scales heat. I, I don't know what to say, she thought.
Flako smiled. "You don't need to say anything, let's just go home." He growled softly, though it wasn't angry, but kind a of laughter. He beat his wings faster and pulled ahead of Tabithica, flying up over the Veil onto Over World. Tabithica followed more slowly, landing onto the island with ease, one with her thoughts.
What's happening to me? Tabithica thought to herself. I, I feel weird. I feel something I've never felt before.
Shaking her head, Tabithica shrugged it off and bounded forward, catching up to Flako.

The sun had set hours ago and the camp was cast in shadow, the moon and it's eerie glow the only light available. Tabithica blinked, straining to see in the dark, making her way to her cave she shared with Sanscript, she felt a tail hit her side.
She turned and snapped, "watch it!" Her eyes softened as she recognized Flako, his golden eyes betraying surprise. Tabithica's cheeks immediately enflamed from embarassment. "Oh, sorry Flako." She apologized.
He smiled. "It's alright, Tabithica. I just came to check on you." Flako said.
Tabithica snorted. "Check on me? Whatever for?" She questioned.
Flakos cheeks flushed. "Oh, to see if you were able to eat." He said simply.
Tabithicas thoughts immediately flashed to when she had eaten, being hesitant to take a bite, but it had stayed down. She blinked, coming back to reality. "I ate fine, thanks for being concerned, Flako." She said appreciatively.
He dipped his head. "Goodnight Tibi."
Instead of making a snarky remark, Tabithica flushed. "Goodnight, Flako." She said, and backed into her den. Sanscript raised his head when she came in, an amused smile on his face.
"Hey Tibi, spending time with lover dragon I hear." He teased, whipping her with his tail. She whipped him right back, curling up next to him.
"Shut up, Smart dragon." She said sleepily, and laid her head onto her paws and closed her eyes. But she couldn't sleep. She stayed silent for ages, to the point where she could make out Sanscript's dozing intakes of breath, slow amd steady. Her thoughts were racing, the only thing on her mind being Flako. Why couldn't she get him out of her head? All at once it hit her.
"In falling for Flako." She whispered aloud, staring at the starry sky. "In falling for, Flako."