Dragonsoul

Chapter 10

When the morning finally bathed everything in its golden glory, Leonie opened her eyes with slow deliberation wondering what had been real and what had been a dream. Were the nightmarish parts such as her father's death a reality or just a trick that her mind played on her to increase her insecurities?

Unfortunately, as she managed to chase away the fog of sleep that hung heavily on her mind, she was once again faced with the fatherless reality that was a challenge to accept. Every morning as she woke up and realized that the nightmare was a reality was hard. It was like learning about her father's death all over again.

However, before Leonie could go down the turbulent wind of pain, doubt, and anger, she remembered the little guy sleeping next to her. He had already started stirring in his slumber. It was as if all the negative emotions that were knocking on the door of his heart and mind were not allowing him to have a peaceful rest. 

Knocking was a mild word, Leonie's emotions were unconsciously banging on the door of Rim's being, seeking something. She wasn't sure what she needed, whether she needed someone to suffer with her, to share the pain or someone who would make the pain go away.

Her emotions were a mystery even to her. After all, her mother and brother were suffering as well, she was not all alone in the sea of pain. Still, she seemed to need something else, something more. However, Rim was so young, as of yet, unable to provide her with whatever it was she needed. Furthermore, he did not need to be overwhelmed with the weight of life before experiencing any of its joys.

That knowledge was what helped Leonie put away her pain, for the time being, to deal with it once both of them were stronger. Neither of them needed the crippling effect pain could have on any creature big or small. What they needed more than anything else at that moment was to learn. They needed to learn about each other, about their bond and how to live with it in peace and harmony.

With newfound energy and the dark clouds at bay, for the time being, Leonie rose carefully so as not to disturb the sleeping dragon. He seemed so peaceful and cute in his slumber. His chest was rising slowly, and his tail was wagging like that of a dog. The funniest thing about the picture in front of her was the fact that his tongue was lulling out of his wide-open mouth.

The snores coming out of such a tiny creature were so loud that Leonie was convinced they heard them in the house, which was a few meters away from the stables. The contrast between the small form sleeping peacefully in front of her feet and the loud sounds coming out of it reminded Leonie that one day, not so far into the future, Rim would become a fully-grown dragon. The mere thought of him as an enormous dragon had her in awe.

As she went on to do her usual morning chores, she could not prevent her mind from roaming towards the future, wondering what was woven into the tapestry of her life. How would she be able to take care of a fully grown dragon? Where would he live? Would he still be her Rim or would he acquire a thoroughly different personality she would be unable to recognize?

Those and many other questions were flying through her head with the speed of Peregrine falcon. There was no way for her to slow them down, to examine them, to understand them. The best she could do was acknowledge them and let them fly back to their nest in the back recesses of her mind.

Sometimes the best thing to be done to escape thoughts that were too difficult to accept was to lose oneself in work, and that was exactly what Leonie did. Her body moved with practiced precision, only focusing on the task at hand.

Never before had any living being been so focused on such menial tasks as Leonie was at that very moment. Not thinking or feeling anything for even a second was a blessing that she was all too pleased to receive.