Dragonsong Book 1

Chapter Ten

From Isabell's eyes...

I awoke to find Nathan and a strange werewolf standing over me. Nathan's cheeks were slightly flushed. Was he embarrassed? Everything hurt. I tried to sit up, but a stab of searing pain washed through me.
"You fractured a rib. Try to be still." The werewolf said.
"Isabell, I am so sorry, I..." Nathan trailed off. He seemed more human than the last time I saw him like this.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Well, first you stole my job and healed every werewolf out there. Even old battle injuries that were untreatable! Then that dragon carried you off. Fajiro old boy rescued you and stayed the beast!" The old man was funny. He was a good speaker. I imagined him telling a story to a group of young werewolves. What did that dragon want from me?
"What did it want?" I asked.
"We don't know what he wanted." Nathan said, sounding more confident. "We need to disguise ourselves. I am already in character." He gestured to himself. "You need to change your look, and your signature."
"What? I haven't even signed anything!" I said.
"Your magical signature. It is unique and easily identified." Nathan said.
"Oh. What do you want to do to me?" I asked.
"I don't know yet... a dryad would be cool..." he inspected me thoroughly.
"How would you like to be one of The Forgotten?" He asked.
"Forgotten?" I asked.
"They are hybrid creatures or creatures who were cast out of their original clans." Fajiro said. "You could be half dragon, which would explain both your unusual energy signature and our tie to each other. I will be your half brother." He said.
"Sure, but HOW?" I asked, confused on how I was to become half dragon.
"I'll be right back." Nathan said. He ran to the back of the room. I started working on trying to heal myself, like I did the werewolves. I managed to get that light to come from my hand, but it made wild flowers spring out of the rough earth below me. I focused on the rib. Suddenly, I felt like I was on fire. I couldn't breathe. After a few minutes, I was back to normal. I tried to sit up. No pain. I started walking around the room, making sure I was functioning properly. When I was certain everything was okay, I stood behind Nathan and put my chin on his shoulder.
"What is that?" I asked, looking at a pot of strange liquid that he was working at.
"A potion." He said.
"I know that, but what's it for?" I kind of already knew the answer, but the silence in the room was awkward. I was so tired. Nathan dropped something into the pot and turned around to face me.
"We should get some sleep. We are traveling through Fay territory tomorrow." He said. He started towards the exit, but tripped after a few steps. I helped him up.
"Where are we sleeping? We never did get any rest. Well, you didn't anyway." I said, embarrassed that I had been unconscious.
"I think there is a flexioak tree nearby." He said.
"A flexi what?" I asked.
"It is a tree that can move. I kinda made up the name. I can't remember what they are called right now." Nathan said.
"I like flexioak." I told him truthfully.
"We can manipulate it into a warm shelter." We walked through the forest until we came upon the base of a huge tree. A light flickered beside me, and I looked to my right palm. It was radiating a warm yellow glow. I pointed it at a branch. Not only did the branch come to me, but it became denser and beautiful. It was covered in tiny pink flowers surrounded by huge green leaves. I walked up the limb to find a spiral of bare branches forming a large floor. The rest formed a tightly woven ceiling. Soon, airborne glowing seeds filled the high ceiling, illuminating the cozy space. When we entered, the limb we walked up folded up to join the rest of the branches forming the ceiling. A spot of moss sprouted up, large enough for two people.
"Woah." I said.
"Amazing." Nathan agreed. Then, something unexpected. He hugged me. After about ten seconds, we let go of each other. He put his hands on my shoulders.
"I-I'm sorry, I n-needed that." He said. We laid down on the moss, and found it to be warm and dry. We closed our eyes. I felt my way through the moss and found his hand. I held it tight. After him returning a gentle squeeze, we fell fast asleep.