Halfblood

Chapter 22

Thankfully, Spectrum has faster reflexes than I do because otherwise we would have been in trouble.

Before I could even process what was going on, Pythonia had started shifting again, leading Mardil to run after the moonstaff.

They were fast, but Spectrum was faster, and the two of them were jailed in separate bubbles of light before any harm could come to either of them.

"What should we do about these two?" It took me no more than a second to recognize the annoyance in Spectrum's words. "They keep trying to fight, and we just can't have that going on. We have a throne to find."

I nod. They are causing too much trouble, but my energy is slipping away as the moon rises, and the fog in my mind is just too thick for me to come up with a suitable punishment. 'Why can't you do it?' I'm sure Spectrum could pull something reasonable off the top of his head and do it. But of course he won't because...

"You're the one in charge, remember? You said so yourself."

Of course. Checkmated by my own words. 'Fine then. You have my permission to deal with Mardil and Pythonia's violent habits as you see fit.'

The dragon lets out a long sigh. "But I have no idea how to do so."

'Nor do I. So I guess just leave them be for now and I'll think about it again in the morning.'

Spectrum nods, goes over to the fire and curls up about five feet from it. I go into my tent and lie down, soon drifting off into an exciting dream about being back in my world... with superpowers. But that's just how dreams are sometimes.

I wake up the next morning to a loud yelp from Spectrum.

"OWWWWWWWW!"

Pulling on my shoes, I quickly exit the tent. "What happened?"

The dragon pointed an accusatory talon at the fire. "It JUMPED onto my TAIL!"

"Well, I wonder how that happened?" When no apparent answer presents itself, I make a mental note to interrogate our two troublemakers later. "If you want me to heal it or anything, I'm not sure if I can.."

"Likely not." Man, this dragon likes to snap at people. "But at least you can deal with those two."

He points his talon away from the fire and I look in that direction, to where Mardil and Pythonia are still sitting in their bubbles exactly where they were last night. "I did exactly as you said and left them be."

And neither of them really look happy about it. As a matter of fact, they look positively drenched. "Did it happen to rain last night?"

"It may have." I look over at Spectrum to see him staring at his claws. "Come to think of it, I did have to spread my wing over the fire last night to keep the rain from putting it out. Thankfully, I didn't get burned."

"Well then," I go back to glaring at the troublemakers. "It looks like you have been fairly punished for your near constant attempted fighting. Now," I look back at Spectrum. "Spectrum will let you out and you can dry off by the fire while I see what we have for breakfast. When I finish speaking, the bubbles are gone.

"There is bread and dried fruit in my pack." Mardil motions towards the other tent. I put it in there last night after I finished the fire.

"Go get it then." When he hurries off,  I look at Spectrum. "You may go hunt for yourself. But be back in no more than ninety minutes."

The dragon flies off as Mardil returns with the food. Of course, Pythonia notices this and decides to comment. "Where is he off to?"

The disrespect in her voice is enough to make my hands curl into fists, but I reluctantly push all thoughts of violence to the side. I can't risk starting a fight. "Spectrum is going off to hunt for himself, as he does not eat bread and fruit, and as we don't have enough to give him if he did. He should be back by the time we have finished tearing down the camp." I am so distracted by eating that I barely notice Pythonia reach out and grab some of the fire before shaping it into a sphere and popping it into her mouth. So she is also a pyromancer? That explains the fire supposedly jumping onto Spectrum's tail. "And you owe him an apology when he returns."

"For what?" She shrugs.

I open my mouth to speak, but only to be cut off by Spectrum. "You'll never guess what I just found."