Spirit Fire - Amos

Chapter 3 - Family Reunion

"Now what?" I scratched my head and carefully walked to the edge of the cliff, peering down to the bottom where there were jagged rocks pointing upwards.

     I take you to him, Icarus implied.

     "How? If I fly on your back your scales will tear up my clothing, and I'm definitely not dangling from your claws!" I explained as I felt the tip of a sharp, tear-shaped scale on Icarus's side.

     Icarus puffed a large cloud of smoke at me and stared while lowering himself to the ground.

     I hesitated, but climbed up onto a back in a gap between his shoulders and his neck where there was not any spikes on his shoulders. Once situated, I held on to the spike in front of me.

     Are you ready? Icarus asked.

     "Wait! I have to say something . . ." I turned to look at the white dragon. "Goodbye. And thank you." I did not know why I said thank you, but the word past my lips without thought.

     Icarus carefully lifted his wings and kicked off the stone tower with one big push.

     I looked one last time to see the white dragon sit on its hind legs like a statue. She shuffled her wings and closed her fluorescent purple eyes, stiffening her body. Slowly her scales began to glisten as a crystal formed over it. Eventually, crystal covered every part of her.

     As Icarus flew away, I heard one last faint call in my mind.

     Goodbye, Aaron . . .

     How did she know my name?

     I leaned over Icarus's side and asked, "What is she doing?"

     She is resting, encasing herself in crystal ice that can only be broken or melted with dragon fire, Icarus explained and shuffled me back onto his shoulders.

     Icarus flew carefully between the mountains, tilting slightly as to not throw me off. The view was beautiful from our height and the cold, misty air streamed through my hair.

     As we approached our destination, a small brown cottage-like house resting on the rock face, Icarus slowed and glided down towards a small, flat circle in the gravel path beside the house.

     "Is that where my uncle has been all this time?" I asked as I pulled myself up higher against Icarus' neck.

     I was not always there to know. When I met him, he lived in the mountains to the north until it became too dangerous, so we flew here, where it is peaceful, Icarus replied smoothly.

     As Icarus landed, back claws touching first, I almost fell off but hung on to the spike in front of me. When he fully touched down, I jumped down to the snow-covered ground and rolled.

     I stood up and looked around. The house rested on the escarpment of a large mountain, making it seemingly impossible to climb up for the ground in front of the house hung outwards from cliff face.

     I studied the two-story, snow-covered cottage and noticed it was in the shape of a cross. The creamy brown face of the building, framed with large, cedar wood beams, rose to the roof in a long arch. The left of the house was similar but faced the left and had a large oval window facing the mountains.

     I walked to the large brown door, raised my fist to knock, but hesitated. I just stood at the door in the bitter cold, not contemplating if I should knock.

     Why do you wait? Icarus asked softly.

     "It has been so long. I'm not sure if I am prepared to see him again." I replied, still frozen with a raised fist at the door.