Healed

Chapter 7

"What are you looking at?" Sora asked and handed Umber a cup of mint and rosemary tea. He was sprawled on his bed focusing intently a scroll but quickly sat up on his haunches to receive the small cup. As he took the tea he passed Sora the item he was looking at.

"I don't know. Flame dropped in during the fight yesterday. I thought it was just a scroll but I opened it up and it's full of pictures!"

Sora set her own cup down on the nightstand and plopped down on her own bed which was right next to his. She opened the scroll and inspected it with an intrigued expression. "You're right. There are TONS of pictures." She paused for a moment and Umber could see her eyes scanning the paper as she read the bits of text that accompanied each image. Umber sipped his tea to hide his frustration. I should have practiced my reading more. I really want to know what's going on in that scroll.

Sora finally looked up. "There seems to be a story and plot connected with the pictures," she noted and smiled gently. "The artwork is nice."

Umber perked. "So it is a story! What's it about?"

His sister shrugged and Umber hid his disappointment with another sip of tea. Any other time he would have just asked Flame, but now...

Flame's cruel words had been running through his head since yesterday. Umber had felt something was off as soon as Flame said he didn't want to cook. Maybe he shouldn't have pushed him to share. He should have just walked away and let Flame deal with whatever was bothering him in his own way. BUT NOPE. He had done the stupid thing and chased after him.

Umber sighed. He didn't know why it was bothering him. It's not like Flame hadn't said awful things to him before.

He must have let his hurt slip through since Sora quietly got up and sat next to him. Her eyes were warm and concerned. "You're thinking about Flame again aren't you?"

Umber had been trying to keep his hurt feelings to himself. He didn't want Sora worrying about him, but now that it was out in the open there was no stopping his rambling. He let it all out.

"I...I don't know." His shoulders sagged. "I guess I thought we were friends. We've been cooking together for a week and I thought we were having fun together." Umber recalled the afternoons spent with the angry SkyWing. As the week had progressed Umber was pleased to find Flame started to insult him less and actually even complimented him once! Well, he supposed many dragons wouldn't consider "Wow, you actually didn't burn anything this time!" to be a compliment but Umber would happily accept any kind words from the angry red dragon.

He felt Sora's tail wrap around his own and she leaned her head against his. "I'm sorry things didn't work out. I know you were excited to have him as a friend."

Umber rubbed his face and exhaled a deep breath. "I guess I just feel stupid. I knew something was bothering him and I thought I was helping but...I guess not."

Sora squeezed his tail. "You're not stupid, Umber. You're the most observant and kindest dragon I know. You were just trying to help and he just wasn't ready to accept it. You just have to be more patient with him." She gave her characteristic timid smile and it warmed Umber's heart.

"Yeah...maybe I should go and talk to him," Umber thought aloud but the notion chilled him. The last time he had seen Flame he had been talon-to-talon with a huge IceWing. He could just imagine how furious Flame would be today, stalking around his room cussing up a storm. Even though he dreaded seeing Flame like that, Umber had to admit he was worried.

OK, I'll go and visit him today and return his scroll...maybe if he's not too angry he'll tell me what it's about!

Sora and Umber finished drinking their tea until it was time for Sora to go to her appointment. Umber offered to walk her there and then would visit Flame afterwards. Before leaving their room Sora grabbed a little knapsack full of scrolls.