Dragon Matchmaker

Chapter 15

   Kinsey covered her mouth with her hands, tears falling from her eyes. "Oh my God! Why didn't you tell me this? Why did you keep it a secret?"

   He shook his head, his face tightening with emotions she couldn't read all at once. "I didn't wanna come off as some momma's boy. That's exactly what would be happened had I told that version of my story."

   She shook her head and wiped away her tears. "No. You're not a momma's boy. It's just that your father wasn't there for you and so your mother was the only one standing up for you. I sure hope you meet her again someday."

   A single nod was all she received before he sighed and glanced at the female. "Are you cool with the name Iris?"

   The female managed to give a purr and her eyes turned slightly pink amongst the yellow of her pain. "Then Iris it is."

   Wind blew through the valley, stirring up small flowers and leaves and twirling them through the air. The water from the pond rippled as that same wind moved over its surface, disturbing the stillness. Iris gave one more strain and suddenly she relaxed entirely, her eyes fading to pink again. She stood and gave a sort of roaring purr as she turned around. Kinsey had started to doze off against Aldwin's chest, but she gasped and looked over. On the ground was a shiny pale blue egg. Ceruleo rumbled his pleasure and he nosed it gently. From inside came a small thud.

   Kinsey jumped. "Did it just move? How far along are they when they're born? Almost ready?"

   Ceruleo nodded and gestured at Iris as the female laid down beside the egg and wrapped her tail around it, purring close to it.

   "Ohhh. I get it."

   She glanced back at Aldwin who had stood and come up behind her. "The period of it being in the egg state is the time when it first begins to bond with the mother. It's the earliest stage of its life and so it has to establish that it's mother is the one making that noise. That way it'll be able to distinguish her when it's born. Am I right? It sounded right."

   Ceruleo nodded, gaining an excited giggle from Aldwin. "Yay! I was right."

   Iris looked at Ceruleo and gave a rumble. Ceruleo glanced at her and then his eyes lit up with happiness. Kinsey glanced at him and cocked her head. "Umm…did she say it's gender?"

   He nodded and his tail lashed from side to side. "Is it a girl?"

   Another nod. Aldwin cam  up beside her and shrugged. "So what now?" Before she could speak, Ceruleo stuck his nose into her back and shoved lightly, sending her into Aldwin's arms. He caught her and chuckled, helping her back up. "That wasn't what I was expecting."

   Once again, Ceruleo tried again with his tail. As he walked towards the cave, he flicked his tail and tripped them up, making her fall over Aldwin's chest. He grunted, but as she struggled upright, he paused and took her hand. "Uhh…Kinsey? Earlier, you asked why I was always so hateful. I didn't get to answer. Can I show you now?"

   Warmth spread through her. Instead of diving in like Audrey had, he was going slow and steady, more lovingly. She gave a quick nod and as he reached for her cheek, her heartbeat quickened, exciting her so much even before he had touched her. She closed her eyes and awaited the kiss that would be so much more special than any that Audrey had given her.

   Then, a gigantic roar sounded from above. Not the sort of roar from Ceruleo, but much louder and scarier.

   They looked up, watching as a blood red dragon wheeled through the air up above. It roared down at them and started descending. Ceruleo suddenly stood over them, roaring at the newcomer. Kinsey gasped and started to run towards the cave. "Aldwin, we need to hide! Come on!"

   He didn't hesitate. His heavy footsteps were right behind her. Then, Ceruleo was knocked backwards. His flailing tail whacked her in the arm. She heard Aldwin yell and she looked up to see him collapse onto the ground, clutching his leg which was bleeding profusely. She gasped and rushed over, holding her arm tenderly. "Aldwin! Are you ok?"

   He groaned and his clenched teeth didn't open as he spoke. "Yeah. I just got nailed by a dragon tail. I'm just dandy!"

   She scoffed and knelt down. "Do you think it's broken?"

   He shrugged and let her take a look at it. The bleeding had only come from where Ceruleo's tough scales had given him a terrible collections of cuts and slices. She touched the part of his leg that wasn't bleeding and pressed. He shook his head. "Not there. My ankle hurts. That might be broken."

   She moved down and lightly touch his foot, turning it slightly. He yelled out and his grip came back down on his shin. She shook her head. "Aldwin, just stay calm."

   Frenzied roars from over behind them had her turning her head. Ceruleo and the newcomer were battling over near the steepest wall of the valley. Iris was huddling over their precious egg over to the side. She turned back and Aldwin snarled at her. "Stay calm?! I am calm! Calm for someone injured at the center of a dragon fight!"

   She frowned and grabbed his arm. "Then let's get out of the dragon fight and under some cover!"

   He rested his weight on her as he fought his way to his one good foot. They stumbled towards the cave and Kinsey led Aldwin over to the corner. She sat him down and he winced as she moved back down to his foot. "I think it's out of socket. Let me wrench it back in."

   His eyes widened and he shook his head. "Oh no no no no no! No way!"

   She grabbed his foot and held it in place. "If I don't, it won't get better. Now sit still or it'll get worse."

   Before he could tense or move, she shoved his foot back and a loud pop rang through the cave, followed by Aldwin's loud scream.

   "Oooow! Damn it!"

   Despite the danger of the new dragon and her hurt arm, she laughed. "There. That wasn't so bad, was it?" He looked at her and opened his mouth to yell something mean and nasty, but Ceruleo's agonized roar came from across the valley. Aldwin struggled upright and limped on his foot. "We've gotta help him. He's got a mate and a baby. He's helped us hasn't he?"

   She nodded and then looked around. "But how do we help. We have no weapons."

   Aldwin didn't get to respond. Ceruleo went down as the red dragon whacked him in the head with his tail. Iris roared in panic and she covered her egg with her body, trying to keep the red dragon away with fire, but it didn't work. The red one approached and shoved her away, crushing the egg with one hit from his talons.

   Kinsey had never felt so upset or angry. "No!"

   The red Dragon looked over and snarled, turning and stalking towards them. Ceruleo glanced at her and he looked like he tried to summon flames, but he was in too much pain.

   Suddenly, Iris, who had stood by her egg with a grief stricken expression on her face, roared in anguished flew towards them. Kinsey expected her to attack the red stranger, but no, she dove for her instead.