Dragonvale Story

Chapter 10: The Unexpected Wizard

"Who... who is THAT?!"
Isabella shouts aloud as she stood up by the tree and rushed out from under the shade. Stumbling to gain her balance quickly, she rushes to the edge of the island to take a look at her "visitor". She rushes through the forest and hurdles over the boulders and stops at the barrier of rocks enclosing the island surface. Isabella tilts her head upwards to see the incoming dragon fly overhead as she follows it behind. Hiding between a couple of trees and bushes, she stares at the strange newcomer that jumps off the dragon's back and looks around the place. Holding her breath, Isabella ducks into the bushes, ever so slightly making a sound. Glancing through the tiniest holes between the bush leaves and branches, Isabella guesses that she is around the same height and age as the wizard who is wandering around "her territory". After taking in some air, she turns her focus towards the dragon. The dragon is a bit taller than the wizard in question and is yellow with big bat-like ears. It's arms had wings attached to it. With arms having to be strong muscles making it agile and quick into the air as if it was nothing. It's snout was wide, as if it could sense the heat and smell within the air. Isabella remembered seeing this type of dragon before but she couldn't place it where.
"Looks like this place is abandoned Inco. Let's rest up before setting out again. I don't think we were able to shake off them off our tracks so be cautious." The wizard spoke softly to  their dragon as they rub it's face gently with their hand. The dragon closes it's eyes and nuzzles into the hand, making innocent little dragon noises. Isabella watches the two for another few seconds before realising Sapling is still out in the habitat which is in plain view. In a panic rush, Isabella lost her balance and rustled in the bush. Holding her breath, she peers over to the wizard and dragon but they weren't in view. Eyes widen, Isabella scrambles onto her feet and makes a run towards the plant habitat where she could see Sapling's little wings, swaying in the motion with leaves, blending in. As Isabella neared the habitat, a sudden sound boomed from above and the pair of wizard and dragon loomed in front of the girl.
"Who are you?" The wizard asked as they pull out a wooden staff with a yellow gem embedded into the center of the tip. The staff had a softer shade of brown and was no longer than the wizard's forearm. Pointing it towards Isabella, they deepens their glare at her, making the effect more menacing. The dragon, which the wizard is sitting upon, was curiously staring at her, and sniffing her almost as it's a canine.
"Eh.... I'm a w-wizard! Like.. you... I think...?" Isabella answered as she hesitated while the dragon moved it's head towards her.
"Hmph. Then where's your staff?" The wizard questioned as they leered towards Isabella.
"I... have one... but it's not-"
"So you do have one? What a liar you are," the wizard states as they point their staff at her,"Kids like you shouldn't have a staff."
I just gaped at what this mysterious wizard said, leaving no way for me to be taken down, I blurted out in anguish.
"WE ARE THE SAME DANG AGE!"
The wizard, startled by my booming voice, stayed quiet and thought of the statement I just shouted. I change my glance over to the dragon and found nyself staring right into their eyes. We stared silently at each other until the wizard started laughing. It was a cheerful tone of laughter too, like a soft, high pitched melody fluttering through the wind as if it was sung by a fairy. It's almost as if, this wizard wasn't human at all by their laughter. Wiping their eyes beneath their hood, the wizard revealed a smile and asks me,
"What makes you think I'm the same age as you?"
Flustered, I covered my face with my hat as I realised how dumb my explanation sounded just as she asked that.
"I...it's be...cause you are al..almost my height.... and your skin l..looks young.."
I stumbled on my words as they fell out of my mouth, trying to prove some sense in my statement. Tilting my head upwards, I see the wizard holding in their laughter with both hands. The dragon was also using it's wing to hide it's smirk. Feeling my cheeks burn, I face away and remembered what I originally came for. I take a quick peek and see Sapling in their tree and make a burst towards the habitat while the two were holding in their laughter.
"H-HEY!" cried the wizard whose laughter dispersed and changed to a serious tone. The dragon shrieked as Isabella covered her ears and the sound waves administered from the roar.
"Wha-aaaAAAAHHHH!" Isabella shouts as she flipped forward when she sprinted towards the habitat. Face planting on the floor, she looks up to see the wizard looking into the habitat.

"Hm... just a plant dragon huh.. nothing special like a Lycan and not even a Poison dragon. How disappointing," the wizard said as they turn their head towards Isabella who was lying on the grass,"Not that I expected much from someone like your standards." Walking casually towards the girl, they lifted her chin with their hands and said,

"And here I thought you were something special. Shame to be the one where all the attention is on you too.. disappointment is followed I guess."

Isabella's body quivered as if she realise that this is no ordinary wizard. She held her breath as she stared into the darkness of the cloaked face. Her pupils shrunk as she swore she saw a pair of dragon eyes on the side of where their neck should be. Her body reflectively draws back before regaining her posture and stood up. Facing the wizard, her eyes gazed into the hood and said one statement,

"I may not be special but at least I have the will to continue after what has happened to me."

The wizard... said nothing but tilted their head downwards a bit before turning to their side and mumbling something.
"So we're the same..."
They take a step back, call over their dragon, hopped onto their back and replied,
"Maybe you are special afterall.."
Curiosity filled Isabella as she heard that, instinctively she questions,

"What do you mean by that?"

Before she got a reply back, the dragon beat it's wings into the air and vanished with a loud blast. Leaving a strong burst of air being blown outwards from where the two just stood. Leaving out a sigh, Isabella turns to see Sapling, whose expression showed worry. Surprisingly, the air didn't enter the habitat so Sapling was alright. Reaching for her hat, which flew off at the gust of wind, she placed it back upon her head and reached in to pull Sapling out. Rubbing their soft,leaf like feathers she smiled and closed her eyes. Thinking about the wizard, and who they were. Before Isabella knew it, she was lying down inside the habitat with Sapling nodding off by her side, looking at the stars in the sky.