Spirit Fire - Amos

Chapter 12 - Hatchling

I woke up with a cold sweat, my covers strewn across me. I noticed Icarus watching me.

     "I had a bad dream, that's all," I said, turning away from him, facing the wall.

     What was it about? He questioned softly.

     "Get out of my head!" I barked. After a moment, I gave in. "I think I saw . . . I think . . ." I started to breath quickly again and my heart raced as I remembered what happened.

     "I was in the forest. Alone. In the dark. I saw a large black dragon with red eyes. I tried to get away, but it followed me, hunted me. I tripped and fell. Then, as I tried to get away, I got trapped against a tree. Then everything went black and I woke up." I stood up, trying to walk my anxiety out. I looked through the window and saw that it was black outside.

     I turned around, opened the door to the main part of the house and looked over at the table where the egg sat. It had a crack.

     "It . . . it's cracked!" I sputtered with mixed emotions. I did not know if I should be scared, worried or excited.

     I hurried into the living room, picked up the egg and took it outside.

     Once outside, I exposed it to the light of the full moon. Icarus came out from behind the house and sat beside me. A high-pitched "peep" sounded and I almost dropped the egg.

     I sat it down on a stone and watched the egg. Icarus came closer and studied the egg, then closed his eyes.

     Soon, Vitalli came out and we all stood, watching the egg, waiting for something to happen.

     Smoke started to rise out of the crack and a dim red light peeked through as well. Then, more cracks started to appear, smoke and light coming from these too.

     I heard a slight humming noise and then a few squeaks. Cracks started splitting wider and the humming got louder. Light from inside became brighter and the egg started to wobble slowly at first, but became vigorous.

     It all stopped. There was a click. Then, all of a sudden, the egg exploded with a blinding flash and an echoing boom.

     The explosion, the noise echoing off the mountains, pushed everyone back.

     Once recovered, I looked at where the egg had been and there stood a small hatchling in the mess of the eggshell. It peeped and opened its eyes.

     The hatchling's scales were like black mirrors, the stars glistening off them, and its molten red eyes stared at me, unblinking.

     I slowly walked up to it, amazed. I reached out my hand and heard Icarus flinch, but heard Vitalli reassure him. The little dragon looked at my hand and rested its head against my palm. The scales felt as smooth as polished stone.

     "H-hi," I said, still shaken. The hatchling peeped and snapped at my fingers as I pulled my hand away. It looked up at me and jumped onto my arms. It was heavier than expected.

     I brought it closer to my chest and the dragon curled up in my arms. I carefully set the dragon back down.

     A small puff of smoke rolled out of its nostrils.

     Icarus anxiously walked up, talons clicking, and put his head up close.

"Rest, my son."