Healed

Chapter 13

"Now Flame, would you please explain to us why you ran off in the middle of the night? You should have not left the premises without at LEAST informing someone," Starfish scolded and clasped his talons together. His Healer didn't seem angry at all, only disappointed which made Flame feel worse.

Meanwhile Ibis stood close by. She had been wearing the same twisted grimace on her face since she had found Flame crawling into his bedroom window. As soon as Starfish had arrived that morning she had practically dragged Flame by the ear to see the SeaWing in his office.

Now they both stood looking down at him like parents scolding their hatchling.

Flame shuffled his talons. How the hell was he going to get out of this one? Was there some sort of three-strike rule for kicking dragons out of the Healing Center? Ibis cleared her throat impatiently and Flame took a deep breath to answer.

"I was...uh..." he decided to stick as close to the truth as he could, "hunting ghosts."

Starfish and Ibis stared at him like he had grown another head.

"Ghost hunting?" Starfish echoed.

"That's a lie!" Ibis accused and glared at him. "You were trying to escape, weren't you?"

Flame snarled. "How DARE you call me a fucking liar! And I am telling the TRUTH. I went to the old part of the palace and explored around for the night and then came back. I swear!" He looked to Starfish for support.

A spark of fear ignited in his stomach as he saw Starfish's uncertain expression. He believes me, right? Shit, maybe they ARE going to kick me out this time. What will mother say? Will she just send me off to somewhere else?

Finally the Healer spoke. "I had no idea you were interested in ghosts."

"I'm not! It's all a bunch of bullshit!" he blurted out defiantly and then bit his tongue. "Uh...but that's why I went." He tried to come up with a fib. "I heard rumors that there was a ghost up there and I wanted to see for myself. Also, spoiler alert, there is no fucking ghost. Just a bunch of moldy paintings and some raccoons."

Ibis scoffed. "Can you believe this?" She nudged Starfish and turned back to Flame. "And who told you these rumours to begin with?"

Flame shot his gaze up to meet her eyes and he clenched his jaw. If that bitch thinks I'm some sort of snitch she better think again!

"It's just something I've heard around," he answered vaguely and gave Ibis a smug grin. To his confusion she returned it with her own wolfish smile.

"I knew you would say that," she said. "So let me get this straight, you have NO proof or witnesses that can support your claims?"

Flame opened his mouth then closed it. Oh fuck.

"Well...no...."

"And you admit to breaking the Healing Center rules of leaving the ground without permission AND ditching your official guard?"

"What? Those aren't rules! You made that shit up!" Flame accused.

Cautiously Starfish spoke up. "Ibis, those rules only apply for high-risk patience."

"Okay so maybe he didn't need permission to leave but he still ran off without his guard present so he has STILL broken the rules." The SandWing nodded firmly and fixed Flame with a cold stare. "As such, he will have to be detained in his room until Queen Ruby decides how to handle this."

Both Starfish and Flame staggered back in shock.

"That's ridiculous!" Starfish exclaimed. It was the loudest Flame had ever heard his voice go. "Flame is NOT a danger. There is NO need for him to be detained!"