Touched By A Dragon

Chapter 11: To The Limit

The rest of the knight school where build a temporary camp. 
“Hay Astrid,” Peter called. “Have you seen Destany?”
“No, not since she left,” Astrid replied putting the wood she had collected near the fire.
“Ok, thanks,” Peter muttered, worried.
As Peter turned back to face the fire, Astrid’s lip started to quiver. Then, with a clatter she dropped the wood and fell to the ground. 
“Astrid, are you ok?” Peter Cried.  
“Yeah, I’m fine, just a bit cold and shocked,” She trembled, trying and failing to get back up 
“Here come and warm yourself by the fire,” Peter offered.
“No, I’ve still got a load to collect; you know the knights honour code, as a night of the dragons I pledge to… keep my dragon close, let it know it is loved, protect it, my clan and my team to my dyeing breath, where help is needed I will help as best as I can, fight, train and serve the crown to the best of my ability, I will not give up, I will go the extra mile, I will obey every order given by the camp leader or someone of higher rank, I will do so with horror and without question, when camp is being set up I will pitch in and complete my duties without complaint and do so punctually. So sir I must first finish my duties.” Astrid recited, thoughtfully.
“If you want to play it like that then,” Peter paused taking in a deep breath. “Astrid, Rose, Hazelheart, I order you to warm by the fire and let me finish your load.”
“But sir…” Astrid started.
“No buts Astrid, the last thing we need is another rider missing, freezing, injured or dead! Now go, and that is a direct order…unless you want me to use your real name?” Peter argued.
Shock and horror flickered across her face. 
“No, no one can know who I am or Mike will find out and send me back home!” She exclaimed.
Peter’s eyes showed a hint of pity. 
“Are you shore you know what will happened? He trusts you, he always has. He might not send you home. Doesn’t he deserve to know? And your parents are probably worried sick right now, losing two of their children is hard enough, they should know that you are ok at least. And Mike will find out sooner or later, you cut and died your hair, but it won’t work much longer. You’re just lucky that you joined one day before…” Peter’s voice trailed off as he realised that he was hitting a nerve talking about Mike. “Just think about it.”
Silent and straight faced, Astrid slowly dragged her feet closer to the fire, stretching her frozen fingers towards the welcoming flames and despite herself, she was relived.
 “It’s not fair,” she thought, “Peter shouldn’t talk about what I am doing with my life like it’s his business then doing my jobs. I wish I could pull my own weight. He was the first one finished; he should be grooming his dragon to strengthen their bond, not doing my load or lecturing me.”
Peter’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“I’m finished Astrid, as soon as you’re ready, we’ve got to head back. The rest of the knights are waiting for us at curl up,” Peter said calmly, taking her hand.
Astrid cursed herself for making the clan wait of her again and quickened her pace to catch up to Peter’s long strides. 
When they got to the curl up site, the riders where on the floor and the dragons where testing their fire blowing skills to see who could do it the longest in one breath. 
“Sorry we are late everyone, I was having some trouble with my wood pile and had to get Astrid to help me.” Peter Shouted.
The camp moaned in a teasing way.
 “We’ve been waitin’ for ya!” Scar cried out.
“Sorry guys,” apologised Peter, “It was quite hard, kept slipping.”
“Hum, really?” Mumbled Scar under his breath. Then in his head he went on. “It was more likely that he finished early and took pity on Astrid.”
But soon after the late arrival was forgotten as Jewel rawed the final sleeping call and the riders got into a comfortable position. Then their dragons lay next to them and wrapped them in their wings for warmth and protection. They waited until their rider was sleeping and safe. Then and only then did they go to sleep, when they did they breathed out warm, breathable air to keep them warm. Jewel was the last to go to sleep. She raised her graceful neck to look over the sleeping clan and waited for everyone else to go to sleep; whilst she waited she thought about her love, her lost love. When all that could be heard was the soft hurring of the dragons, the quiet snores of the 10 riders that where left and a wise owl in the old tree, she relaxed her head and pulled her rider closer. Then she slept.
Long after that a pair of soft brown eyes peeped out between the trees. In search of warmth it came to the fire, limping badly and favouring its left wing. With a heavy hart full of neglect and loneliness it closed its eyes and dreamt of finding its rider and earing back her love.