Healed

Chapter 37

Flame stepped through the entrance. The room was surprisingly warm with all the candles, but a chill ran up his spine at the sight of the black mass in the center. Gentle rumbles emanated from the stone dragon as his sides slowly rose and fell with each gradual breath. Flame took a step forward, inspecting the dragon. Was he asleep? It was impossible to tell since everything he did was painfully slow.

Feeling like prey out in the open, the SkyWing sneaked around the NightWing to get a look of his face, although it could hardly be called sneaking when his shadows danced along the jagged walls like a big, waving flag.

Flame heaved a relieved sigh when he saw the animus' eyes were closed. He was asleep. That relief vanished an instant later when he realized he would have to wake him up. For a second he considered getting Sunny to do the deed, but decided he should stop being such a pathetic pansy and get this stupid thing over with already.

Sucking in a deep, bracing breath, Flame marched up to the sleeping dragon, raised a talon to tap his nose, chickened out, gathered himself up again, and tapped Stonemover on the snout several times.

The NightWing snorted indignantly, shifted his head and then fell back to sleep, this time with a loud snore.

"You've got to be kidding me," Flame grumbled to himself. He tried again, this time adding some vocal assistance. "WAKE UP YOU OLD LIZARD!"

Stonemover's snore cut off and he lifted his head. "Huh? Wha –"

Groggily he unwound his massive neck and Flame was instantly reminded how enormous Stonemover was. Fully extended the animus' head loomed above him like a snake made of glittering shadows. The only thing that marred this illusion were the three thick, white gauges beneath the NightWing's jaw.

Flame cringed at the sight of the scars – the one's he had made – but willed himself to look up and meet Stonemover's glassy green eyes.

The old dragon was still partially asleep. He blinked his stone-dusted eyelids several times before they flew open. His sharp inhale made Flame stiffen.

"You," Stonemover accused with narrowed eyes.

Unsure of what else to do, Flame spoke a meek greeting, "Erm...hey."

Stonemover leaned away and Flame had a feeling that if old dragon's talons hadn't been made of stone he probably would have scuttled to the back of the cave. How could such a powerful dragon be so cowardly?

"So you did come after all. What do you want?" The urgency in his gravelly voice barely concealed a sharp panic.

"Uh, I-I just wanted to apologize for –"

"Well then apologize and be gone with you."

Flame was taken aback by the brash tone. He had never heard Stonemover speak faster than a bored drone.

"OK. Um. I'm sorry?" Even as Flame spoke the fated words they didn't sit right. He had practiced over and over how he was going to apologize, but Stonemover was throwing him off. Instead of a solid, heartfelt amend it had come out more as a confused squawk. This didn't seem to make any different to Stonemover. The old dragon turned away, refusing to look at Flame.

"Fine. Now leave." And with that black dragon curled himself back up and made a show of pretending to fall back asleep.

Flame opened his mouth to speak but close it. He blinked, feeling dazed, like reality had been pushed off kilter or something. Was... that it? Of all the scenarios he had run through his head, this certainly hadn't come up.