My beloved dragon

Chapter 2: Home Alone

The house smelled of food when Dawn walked in. She found her mother in the kitchen cooking dinner, water bubbled and pots and pans clinked. Dawn plopped down into a chair and watched her mother work. "Hey mom" She greeted and her mother turned and looked at her with deep blue eyes.

"Hi hunny, how was your ride this morning?"

Dawn smiled "as peaceful as always!". She watched her mother carefully. Something seemed off about her today, but she didn't say anything. Then Dawns father walked in, his boots made loud slapping noises as he walked. He smiled at his wife and daughter then walked to the bathroom to get cleaned up. Dawn went out to the stables to feed the dragons. There was Ruby, Wind, and Cloud. Wind was Dawn's mothers dragon and Cloud was her fathers. Dawn went over and grabbed a dead cow from the back of the meat shed. She dragged it to Wind's stall because she was first, then another cow went to Cloud and another to Ruby. Cloud and Wind were both called sky dancer dragons, the fastest breed in the air.

"Dawn!! Dinner!!" her mother called. Dawn raced back to the house, washed up and then sat down at the table. everything was quiet for a little while until her father spoke. "Dawn, me and your mother have something to tell you.."

Dawn swallow her food, "yes?"

Her mother looked sad, "hunny..we were called to help with some thieves in the north....we leave tomorrow morning.."

Dawn looked between her parents, "why? what about the army?"

"Not just regular thieves sweetheart.." Her father said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"You mean the thieves that have been stealing the dragons!? The ones that kill people and torture them!?!?" Dawn was shocked. She wasn't hungry anymore as she stared down at her plate. They finished their meals in silence.

Dawn laid in bed listening to her parents packing and talking. After they went to bed, Dawn grabbed her blanket and headed outside to the stable. Ruby lifted her head as Dawn opened her stall and curled up next to her. Dawn stroked Ruby's crown of horns and slowly began to speak. "Ruby..what if mom and dad don't come back...other than you, I have no one else.." Ruby watched Dawn fall asleep and moved a wing over the sleeping girl to keep her warm.

The next fogging morning Dawn woke up to the stable door opening. Ruby's wing was still over her and the dragon was looking out the stall. Dawn heard her parents getting ready to leave and got up to say goodbye. Her parents didn't question why she was in the stable. After saying goodbye, they mounted their dragons and left. Dawn sat in the stables for a long time, staring at the door. Finally she got up, pulled herself together and started doing chores. The stables pretty much sparkled after she was done cleaning. Ruby grunted happily when it was her turn to get cleaned and then when it was her turn to fly.

When they landed in their favorite spot, Alex was there. Sitting next to the water, the teen waved to Dawn and Ruby as they landed. Dawn smiled and sat down next to him. They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Alex looked at Dawn. "Hey, you ok?"

"Well..." She hesitated "no..my parents were called in to help get rid of those horrible dragon thieves..."

"Oh..I'm so sorry Dawn"

"It's ok. I'm sure they will be back soon" Dawn said, then she felt a hand on hers. She looked at Alex and for the first time she noticed how pretty his eyes were. He gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand. Dawn blushed and felt a small bump from behind. She turned to see Ruby's muzzle in her back, nudging her closer to Alex. Dawn just giggled and shook her head at her. Then Alex asked her a question she had never been asked before, "Whats's it like to ride a dragon, or to even have a dragon?".

Dawn was speechless, "You don't own any dragons?"

"No" Alex shook his head, "my parents always said we couldn't afford one".

"Oh well" Dawn grinned "what do you think Ruby? Shall we give him a taste of the air?" Ruby jumped up and trotted around like a circus pony, making excited snorts. Dawn jumped up, pulling Alex with her and running over to Ruby. Dawn climbed up onto the dragons back, then leaned down to give Alex a hand up.