Touched By A Dragon

Chapter 30: Don't Ask

Just before sunrise Pearl felt something grab her shoulder. Her training kicked in, and even though she was still half asleep, she grabbed the arm and twisted it.
“Ahh!” She heard a familiar voice scream.
Pearls quickly dropped James’s arm.
“Oh my Ethereal! James I am so, so, so sorry. I was dreaming of you and then you woke me and I didn’t know it was you because I thought you were in my dream and I…wait what. No I meant I was dreaming of another James and I just…” Blurted out Pearl very quickly, getting redder and redder by the minute.
“Um, right, well Peter wanted me to wake you. He asked for me to do it, don’t know why. Just fell asleep when Comet woke me. Said that you might have something to tell me?”
“Who me? Um no, he probably woke you because you’re dreamy, no because your dreaming yeah dreaming.” She stumbled over her words, face redder than a tomato.
James looked at Pearl for a second, confused. Then turned and walked back to his dragon, Comet. When he was out of sight Emerald turned to Pearl with a look of concern and said… 
“Seriously, just watching that was painful.”
“It’s not my fault that he’s so perfect.” Pearl wined.
Emerald pretended to be sick and Jewel looked over from Mike’s old text in concern. Panicked and embarrassed, Emerald turned back to Pearl.
“Um, Mistress, I suggest that we leave promptly to avoid being seen by other riders as the sun is steadily rising.” She thought to Pearl.
“Or are you just too above every other dragon that you can’t admit you were playing around?”
Emerald huffed and picked up Pearl by her shirt and placed her in her saddle. She then started beating her wings and with a kick off the ground, flew up into the clouds.
“So where are we looking then, Mistress?” Emerald huffed.
“Peter said to look for her where I saw her last. So that would have been above the ocean about half a day from Eternal’s cave. Do you know how to get there?”
Emerald looked slightly offended.
“Offcourse I do, the king of Dragons has a mighty presents that any dragon can feel. The real question is what are we going to do when we get there?” She spoke, composed. “Jewel is Ethereals’ Daughter so I dare say that he will help us out if we show our clan markings.”
Pearl just stared at her dragon, open mouthed and wide eyed. 
“Oh come on Pearl. It was a little bit obvious.” Emerald sighed and then her tone became playful. “Ah now, I haven’t been on a solo quest with you since I was a juvenile. Lets see if I’ve still got it!”
Laughing and yelling playfully (I swear there’s a word for this) , dragon and rider as one. They sored through the air, twirling and spinning, as fast as Emerald could go, they ducked in and out of the clouds, Pearl pressed closely up to Emeralds back and feeling as free as she ever could. She looked down at Emeralds face, her mouth open in a dragon grin and sharp eyes sparkling, looking as happy and live as when she was a hatchling.
“Ah, so this is what it feels like to be a dragon, free and wild.” Pearl thought happily. 
Too late did she realise that some dragons gave this up to repay a great debt. Unsure, she looked at Emeralds face again, this time seeing sorrow behind the playful glint in her eyes.
“Emerald, I’m so sorry, I...” She started to say. But Emerald cut her off.
“No my beloved rider, do not apologize. I was given a choice, we all where. Mikes parents saved the first dragon in over 40 years. I chose to serve you and the riders. I hope to repay the kindness of Mikes parents. You have been good to me and to all dragons. If I had to choose again I would stand by my choice, I still choose you.”
Unable to say anything because of the tears starting to run down her face,  Pearl just reached out a hand and placed it on the side of Emeralds long neck. In its own way this said more than a thousand words. Emerald closed her eyes and just hovered above the clouds for a moment.
“What’s happening girl?” Pearl asked, alert.
“We are here.” Came Emeralds short reply.
She dove under the clouds, straight down in a controlled fall. Just before they hit the water, she spread out her wings and hovered, the claws on her back leg just touching the seas surface. Pearl looked up and saw the cave where the Ethereal dwelled. A distant, echoed raw told her that he was home and that he knew he had guests. Emerald swooped up to the rocky cliff and gently landed on the rocks about a meter away from the cave entrance. Pearl dismounted and Emerald crouched close to the ground, her head bowed in respect. Pearl got down on one knee, following her dragons lead. At the very moment she did so, a great blow of air came out of the cave and a second later the Ethereal emerged. 
“Ah, my daughter’s healer and her...owner.” He started, swishing his tail. “I disapprove of dragons being in captivity, they long to be free and roam the skies, I feel this in them. But I must say that Emerald also wishes to serve you. This I find strange. 
“It is my privilege to help Pearl, my Lord, not as a pet but as a friend.” Emerald said, out loud. “We have come seeking help on our search for one of our clan. We believe her to be in danger.”  
The Ethereals eyes flickered with amusement as he bellowed a short laugh.
“The best place to find something lost is to go where you last saw it.” He bellowed, before quickly turning and crawling back into the cave. Pearl got up, annoyed and disgruntled. She mounted Emerald and tapped her neck. Emerald took off, flying up into the sky.
“Well, that was a perfect waste of time. How are we supposed to find her now? And where are you going?” Pearl asked Emerald.
“Well, my dear rider, I have figured something.  What is the thing that is lost is not actually Astrid, what if they are talking about something else?” Emerald thought to Pearl.
“That is a huge if and what else could they be talking about?” Pearl thought back.
“Home, where every scared person goes. Astrid is not lost, I have not received any distress call from Justice. Astrid is two years older than Mike and almost as good as riding Justice than he is at riding Flame. I think the lost they are talking about is the power that you have developed.”
Pearl thought about this for a moment, noticing that Emerald had used Mikes name in present tense but not dwelling on the thought.
“Yeah, I think you’re right, Emerald. Home it is then.” She whispered out loud.