Dragons of Skylark: The Four Heirs

Moon Face

     "What are you going to do now, moon face?" Ronan laughed, pinning Seth down by his wings.

     "Something like this," Seth kicked him in the gut (Ronan's shriveled gasp was entertaining enough) and rolled out from under his brother.

     "Moon face?" That was a nickname I hadn't heard before.

     "Seth has spots behinds his eyes that look like crescent moons." May explained, chipper as always when I helped her with her garden.

     I thought about the carving of his face and placed the spots where I thought she might be referring to. Interesting, I wonder how long he'd had those. I'd just recently learned a second striped on my nose had faded in recently. I liked to think I hadn't gotten all my life so far without knowing this.

     Seth laughed through his shrieks as Ronan slide along the cave floor and a chomped at his feet. Eventually flipping Seth over again and promptly sitting down of his face. A dragon makes a very distinct noise when directly faced with a pair of cheeks.

      "Alright boys, that's enough. Ronan get off your brother, it's too late for rough housing."

     "Mum I can't breathe," Seth was gargling air and drama.

     "I got this," May's claws scuffled away at the rock and I assume, from the surprised yelped that came out of Ronan, slammed into him.

      Mum picked up the two squirming fledglings and ushered us to the den. Muttering about what she was going to do when our fire-breathing glands fully developed. Any day now, they'd said. Chewing on dry, and only somewhat tasty rock will pay off, they said. Yeah alright.

     Tonight, was a full moon, just as Hailpip promised. I was going to meet her again tonight. This time it would be only the two of us. I don't think I've ever gone somewhere without my siblings close by. The idea of going off alone, well—I was surprised the others couldn't hear my heart pound. Not from fear, but a yearning, trembling feeling I wouldn't dare name.

     I curled up, tucked my head under my wing and the triangle of my tail across my nose, and closed my eyes. I would not sleep tonight. Not with the buzz running just under my scales like they'd sprouted legs and begun to dance across my skin. There would be no rest in my self-contained fire burst of feeling and fearlessness.

     I waited until I was sure the others were asleep, counting the seconds between each of their breaths until they were long enough for comfort. I was hyper-aware of every twig and straw lying on the floor. Never before had a dragon stepped so quietly. In the silence, the familiar sound revealed itself, the mountain was speaking to me.

      Match your beat with mine, the mountain promised, and even the breeze will pass you by.

     Heartbeat on heartbeat, I slipped though the tunnels undetected.

      I noticed her sweet scent before she did mine.

      "Hello." My voice rasped.

      She started, rustling the dead plant life underneath her. "Oh! I thought for a moment you wouldn't come."

     I shrugged, "I'm here."

     She took a few nervous steps towards me. "Exciting, isn't it?"

     Skylark's eye, I could practically taste it. I hadn't ever eaten a live insect, bug I imagine the rush emanating from Hailpip was similar enough. I nodded, and laughed.

      "What's so funny?"

     "I shook my head to agree, I forgot you can't see me either."