Tooth and Claw

Chapter 9

I'm really sorry for disappearing for 3 days like that! My professors decided it was a good weekend for 2 projects at the same time, and I was swamped with work. I'm publishing 3 chapters today to make it up! Sorry again... :(

"YOU?! I exclaimed. "She's not a fire Prime!"

Leon grinned. "Yes she is! She has almost the exact answers as your test!"

"No! She.. she..." I struggled for words.

My mind flashed back to earlier in the hallway. "She stole my test!"

Leon cocked his head. "Aurora, she can control fire. Even if she did cheat, she summoned a fireball immediately and controlled it with extreme certainty. I'm sure only a fire Prime can do that."

I snarled, fury bubbling up in my stomach.

Emile smirked. "Right, I'm just as special as you, Aurora."

Leon didn't seem to notice my flame fury and Emile's smug expression. "Today, we'll be leaning to control your flames." Leon whirled around, exposing three large piles of firewood. "With your mind and hand movements, you will be able to control the level, of fire, the level of intensity, and to stop a fire immediately."

He went to the middle pile of wood. He took a deep breath, and shot out his hand. A fireball went sailing to the wood, lighting the pile on fire! The heat rocketed around the room, the cold room suddenly warm.

Leon lowered his hand, his eyes focused on the blazing red. The fire went down, and almost went out. Leon shot his hand up, the fire reaching and licking at the ceiling. He toned it down and spread his hands away from each other, and the fire split in half, each following his hands.

Leon put out the fire by clenching his fist. With that, he turned to face Emile and me. Emile was gaping at the black ash wood, but her face turned into a weird expression as she swooned.

I hid a laugh. Leon was actually pretty cool, but the way Emile is in love with him just dirties Leon's profile. He gestured to the two unburnt piles of firewood. Emile glanced nervously at Leon, then me. I smirked, rolling up my sleeves.

I was getting really cocky, now. I couldn't help it! Emile just seemed so snobby, and a teacher-student relationship is weird when you're in the middle of it. Emile summoned an orange-red fireball, and I made a blue one. The heat climbed up to my face, but I didn't mind. I thirst my hand forward, the fireball sailing into the wood. Emile nervously watched my wood pile burst into a large blue flame. She raised her hand, shaking, and the fireball landed in the wood. The firewood burst into flames, and Emile stumbled back.

Leon rushed forward to control the fire, helping Emile up with his other hand.

I focused my energy towards my fire, the heat beading down on me. Taking a breath, I raised both my hands at the fire and snapped it up. The fire struck up as well, reaching for the tall ceiling. I brought my hands down, but the fire raging on, I stumbled back. Exhaustion crashed over me, and I staggered back, into a chair. I sat down, steadying my spinning head with my hand.

Leon came over to me and put out the fire. As he turned to me, I could see Emile's smirk, even though she didn't even start yet.

"Great first try, Aurora! I think we can end today's lesson here." Leon clapped his hands. "I mean, it's getting pretty late."

He started walking away, towards the classroom door. As Leon left the classroom, Emile stalked over to me.

She grinned. "Alright, almighty Aurora. Now that you're not so special anymore, Leon will definitely love me."

I snarled. "Emile, listen. Don't get in my way. I just need to get through school, and I don't need a snot-nosed bitch blocking my easy path down the road."

"I don't give trouble unless the person receiving it deserves it." Emile growled. "So watch your back."

Emile fluttered her fingers at me, saying goodbye. She gave gave me a sarcastic nice smile and walked away.

She makes me so mad.... damn it. I picked up books, and out the door. I walked up the stairs, seething with fury. I opened our dorm door, and saw Ry.

"Hey, Ry." I sighed, putting down my books. "What's up?"

"Practicing this stupid spell." Ry muttered, twisting his hand at the rock.

"Okay, Ry. I'm just going to wash up, and go to sleep a bit earlier." I could feel all of the exhaustion sweeping in my body. "And besides, it's getting late. Goodnight, Ry."

Ry turned to face me, a smile gracing his sharp-featured face.

"Goodnight, Rora."

§~§~§~§~§

"RORA!"

The loud voice woke me up.

"What?!" I exclaimed, clambering out of bed.

"Look at the egg, look at the egg!" Ry screamed excitedly, pointing at the glowing egg.

"Woah, why is it glowing?" I rushed forward, touching the colder-than-usual surface. "It's still three days early."

"It's must have an extra start." Ry handed me the egg.

I sat on the bed, crisscrossed, the egg in my lap. The egg gave another glow burst, small snowflakes along the side of the egg.

"Read the book, read the book!" I Said, pointing at the brown, leather book in my bedside table.

Ry scooped up the book, flipping through the ages, "Uh... it says the dragon egg will briefly glow different colors, before a small show of the power they hold. If it is healthy, it will give a small crack, but if it's not healthy, it will stay in it's dormant egg form. If unhealthy, you have to knock it a little, making another crack."

I stared at the small crack that splintered through the white egg. "It's definitely healthy."

The crack broke off in more, and more. Right down the middle. The egg split down, and a baby dragon broke out.

The dragon had small little blue spikes protruding from behind the head. It had a completely white body. It's underbelly was a dull purple, and small spikes along its spine was propel as well.

"Hi, baby!" I squealed.

The baby closed eyes peeked open, and it let out a happy squeak.

"Hi my little girl!" I giggled.

The dragon nipped at my nose.

"Or him." I laughed, raising him by the armpits.

Ry snatched him up, and nuzzled his nose. "Oh you're just so cute!"

The dragon squealed angrily, biting his nose and scampered onto me, climbing into my lap. It curled up, his tail fluttering before settling down, curled around his small body.

Ry rubbed his nose, grinning. "That was amazing."

"It must like me better since he saw me first!" I boasted playfully.

It felt good to be someone's favorite for once, even if it was a baby dragon.

"So, let's switch off taking care of him." I explained, scooping up the dragon.

As I walked around, cradling him in my arm, I spoke. "So, today will be me, and tomorrow will be you, me, and so on."

"Deal." Ry nodded.

"So..." I contemplated. "What should his name be? Storm? Blizzard? No, that's too cliche."

"I like Storm." Ry said, leaning forward, his chin on his hands. "How about... Aspen? It's warmer, but my little brother was named Aspen. My mom says it represents a tree with heart-shaped leaves, and the cold breeze."

"Sure." I smiled, bringing Aspen up to my cheek.

He squeaked and nuzzled my cheek, letting a low purr sound.

Aspen. 

Word Count: 1270