Timeless

Devon

Waking up, Devon felt as if he had not only been hit by a truck, but it must have backed up over him again.

Groaning, he opened his eyes and sat up. Two questions swam through his mind of equal importance.         

1) Why the fuck was it so bright?         

2) And who the hell painted the Hulk black?

“How are you feeling?” Kate's voice.

Devon looked around as his eyes adjusted to the sunlight. She was to his right, next to a table with food on it. Grumble. Devon didn't think he'd ever been as hungry as he was now.

Ignoring both the black Hulk and Kate's question Devon asked, “Is that for me?”

Chuckling, the giant of a man said, “I think he's going to be fine.”

“I agree, Jax,” Kate returned.

Jax, Devon thought. Looking at Jax,  had the strange feeling that he knew him. This guy's skin was the color of…holy hell.

“This is Jax. He's the black dragon.” Kate said to Devon as he realized that exact thing.

Continuing to stare at Jax, Devon thought over all the things he'd told the black dragon in the last month.

“Oh, and Corvinus has returned,” Kate added in Devon's silence.

Just then, a small blue-skinned child ran into the room and announced, “The Old Ones are here. They want to talk.”

With a snort, Jax muttered, “More like command. I can't believe it took them three days.” Louder, “This must mean you have scared them, Devon.”

Scared who? Then he realized, “Three days?”

“Yes, you were unconscious for three days,” Kate informed him.

“Get up! They want to see you too!” the kid said excitedly.

Devon decided the kid was likely one of the young dragons. Groaning, Devon went to climb out of bed, until he realized… “Where are my clothes?”

“I washed them after I had Jax remove them,” Kate said as she handed him a neatly folded stack of clothes. “I also expect you to eat some of that food, too,” she added as she and the young dragon left the room.

“You can leave, too,” Devon told Jax since he hadn't moved.

“I'm going to assist you getting dressed. It isn't likely that you can on your own.”

“I don't need help with this,” Devon insisted.

“I'll believe that when you stand up,” Jax allowed.

Holding the blanket around his waist, Devon tried standing. As his legs buckled and he went to fall, Jax grabbed him.
…………..
After 30 minutes of protesting and negotiating, Devon was dressed and slowly making his way towards the entrance hall. Devon's only victory was walking on his own because it would make him appear weak to be carried.
   
Although appearing strong was Devon's excuse, he was actually freaked out that the dragon he had befriended could turn into a human. A freakishly large, attractive human with skin the color of his scales.
   
Reaching the entrance hall, Devon realized he hadn't been in this area since Corvinus brought him here. In the entryway, Kate, Corvinus, two men and a woman stood, waiting. The woman had skin of a silvery sheen, making her a silver-colored dragon. One of the men had deep burgundy-colored skin. The other, Devon couldn't stop wondering what creator would color a dragon pea green. After a moment, Devon realized the burgundy man had been one of the dragons he'd shot down. This is going to be fun.
   
As Jax and Devon approached, the woman said to Devon, “You must be the one who attacked my dragons.”
   
Devon saw Corvinus tense in his peripheral. Instead of smarting off, like he really wanted to, Devon just said, “Umm.” He didn't want to make things worse and was still trying to figure out what was going on.
   
The burgundy dragon lunged forward on the cane Devon hadn't seen at first in an attempt to grab him. Before anyone else could react, Jax had stepped in front of Devon and shoved the attacking man away.
   
Now seated on the ground, the burgundy man snarled, “So you've become attached to this boy, Jax?”
   
“Attacking one of your own over a human? Does this mean you are siding with humans now?” inquired the silver woman.
   
Without hesitation Jax replied, “As long as we kill them for no reason, yes.”
   
“You know the Laws.”
   
“The Laws should change.”
   
As both of the dragon males snarled, the woman said, “My visit today is to tell the spell-caster to leave within the week. However, due to unforeseen instances, I expect you,” Devon had just managed to get around the wall of Jax, “to be beyond the river within a few days. Jax, you will be gone as well. If you are found in Dragon Territory again, your death will follow.”
   
“Hey!” Devon decided he couldn't possibly make things worse. “Why can't we talk this out?”
   
Narrowing her eyes at Devon, the silver female growled, “This is us being lenient. If you and your companions will be on the other bank of the river by dawn or you and your companions, as well as those who housed you, will be executed in the dragon way.”
   
So I can make things worse. She included the orphanage and shortened the time frame. “Guess I can agree to that deal,” Devon said since the dragon seemed to be waiting on an answer.
   
“Good, then we have ‘talked things out’.” With this last comment, she turned and left through the doors. The green dragon-man jerked the other off the floor and followed.
   
Watching through the doors, Devon and the others watched the girl and green guy shift to their dragons. The burgundy guy was grabbed up by the green dragon as it launched skyward. That was definitely the ugliest green Devon had ever seen.
   
After they were out of sight, Devon listed a few questions on his fingers, “So, two questions. One, why are all dragons excessively large? All three of them were around 6-and-a-half feet tall. And two, how far is this river?”
   
Corvinus and Jax exchanged a look.
   
“What?”
   
“The river is just over two hours away,” Jax said finally.
   
“That's good.”
   
“By dragonflight,” Corvinus elaborated.
   
“Oh. What about on foot?” After a thought, “Isn't Jax a dragon?”
   
“Ah. I'm afraid I cannot shift right now.”
   
“Why?” Corvinus and Devon said at the same time.
   
Clearing his throat in a self conscious manner, Jax said, “I have not been able to since I caught you, Devon, after you defeated the Old Ones and fell from the slide.”
   
As Devon and Corvinus stood there and absorbed this information, Devon realized that this was probably why the burgundy dragon had not shifted like the others. Devon was the first to say something, “Sooo, what about my first question?”
   
Kate was the one to answer, “It's about a day's walk from here, with no breaks.”
   
Glancing outside, Devon realized it was just after noon. “Guess that means we need to be going before too long.”
   
Sighing defeatedly, Jax said, “We won't make it. That time frame isn't enough. Tara knows humans cannot make that kind of walk that fast. I don't even know what obstacles to expect on the ground.”
   
Amused and determined that the dragon wanted to give up, Devon retorted, “Tara must be the silver lady? She doesn't know how fast a determined human can be. Especially one who has so many people's lives on the line.”
   
“You heard the boy,” Corvinus piped up. He began issuing orders. “Kate you and the children begin gathering supplies we will need. Jax, help Kate. Devon, gather whatever you wish to take from your room and meet all of us in the throne room. I aim to leave before the sun touches the walls.”
   
They managed to leave right as the sun reached the top of the castle walls because of a few delays. Some of the younger werewolves had begun howling and wouldn't stop till Devon had calmed each one down. Two of the youngest elves had attached themselves to Jax and had to be pried off the confused dragon.
   
As they headed away from the castle, opposite of the mountains, the three travelers walked into an evergreen forest. Due to the thickness of the trees, anything Jax may have been helpful on was snuffed out. It was unlikely he had really seen anything in this stretch of forest. Corvinus took the lead of the little group.
   
“So Corvinus. Why did you decide to go with us?” Devon asked as his curiosity got the better of him.
   
“Because I know this forest. And I am not allowing you to be the reason that orphanage is destroyed.”
   
“Good reason. Now, you just have to find the fastest route to the river.”
   
Surprising to Corvinus, the pace he set didn't leave Devon behind like it had in the mountains. Another thing that surprised Corvinus was that he did all the walking in silence. Jax had no trouble due to his long legs.
   
As the sun was setting, Jax was the one to break the silence, “Isn't there a ravine in this direction?”
   
“Yes. And I understand your concern, but it will put us closer to the river going this way,” Corvinus responded. He braced himself for one of Devon's seemingly endless questions.
   
Instead of questioning anything, Devon sped his steps, matching Corvinus. “Guess that means we should get there before dark, huh?”
   
What Devon didn't mention was that a feeling of unease had been following him since they left the castle. He didn't know what it was, but was determined that it wouldn't slow him down. It is probably the time constraint Devon tried to tell himself.
   
Just after the last of the light had faded, they reached the ravine. Due to the lack of light, Devon couldn't see across, or much of anything.
   
“Is there a bridge, or something?” Devon asked. He was relying on his hearing to know that Corvinus had lifted something from the side of the hill.
   
“I just pulled it up and secured it. Jax, would you cross first to make certain there are no nasty surprises?”
   
Pulled it up? I hope it holds. Devon silently prayed to the sky.
   
Jax didn't reply, but he walked towards the bridge and began to cross. Devon focused on Jax's steps on the wood of the bridge. After listening for a few minutes, Jax's footsteps stopped.
   
“Jax, you good?” Devon called across as he waited.
   
“He's probably nearly reached the other side,” Corvinus said.
   
Distractedly, Devon insisted, “No. That sounded like he stopped near the middle.”
   
Not realizing that even Corvinus was unable to hear Jax's footsteps. “I'm going to see,” Devon said in what sounded like a distant voice, as if something was pulling him along.
   
Mimicking the way he heard Jax's steps, Devon began crossing the bridge. Even though there was a sway to the bridge, Devon didn't hesitate at all. Devon didn't slow until he ran into Jax.
   
Edging around the large dragonman caused the bridge to sway harder, causing a surge of fear to rise in Devon's throat. Pushing the feeling down, Devon got in front of Jax and realized he had frozen in fear.
   
So dragons can fear heights? Devon wondered.
   
By this time the moon was overhead, but not near its peak, illuminating the dragon in human form. Grabbing Jax's wrist, Devon began backing towards the other side after looking at the bridge just ahead. Since all the boards seemed present, Devon focused on Jax.
   
“Jax? Come on. Not much farther.”
   
Slowly, Devon was able to get the large man to start walking forward. Just as Devon was wondering how much farther, the bridge began shaking and swaying wildly as if someone was running across it.
   
Pulling Jax's wrist harder, Devon turned towards the side they'd been travelling towards. As Devon realized they were at the end, Corvinus ran into Jax. When they collided, Jax lost his balance and fell into Devon on the last plank. Hitting the dirt in a pile, Corvinus was easily the first back to his feet.
   
Devon was meanwhile trapped under Jax's mass. “Jax!” he gasped. “I can't breathe.”
   
As if coming out of a trance Jax lifted himself off of Devon.
   
“What the hell do you eat!? You have got to be 400 pounds or something.”
   
“Deer, mostly. Occasionally the tasty looking human.” This second sentence was said in a husky tone of voice that Devon decided to ignore.
   
As Jax stood, he was rubbing the wrist Devon had grabbed to pull him along. Before Devon could ask what was wrong, Corvinus began cursing.
   
What now? Devon wondered silently.
   
Without prompting, Corvinus spat out, “We aren't going to make it. It took too long to cross.”
   
Looking at the sky, Devon realized it was getting lighter. It couldn't have taken that long to cross the bridge, could it? Turning his attention to the ravine, Devon realized it was more like a chasm than a ravine. Even in the low light, Devon could not see the other side.
   
“We need to keep moving,” Devon insisted as he climbed to his feet and began climbing the hill blocking everything but the chasm from view, ignoring Corvinus' protests the whole time.
   
Reaching the top, Devon realized Jax hadn't followed, “Come on, Jax.” Turning, Devon looked to see what was taking so long.
   
Corvinus was just getting to him, but Jax hadn't even moved. Before Devon could do or say anything, Jax began changing.
   
“I thought Jax couldn't shift,” Devon said to Corvinus while he watched the large man become an even larger dragon.
   
“He couldn't,” was all Corvinus said.
   
“Guess this means we're going to make it?”