VIOLENT TIDES (gxg - editing)

15

The dragon's snout appeared first, forming from the gloom as it approached the light. It took slow steps, wings unfolding as it left the confines of the cave to tower over them. Gael sucked in a sharp breath.

She had seen dragons. It wasn't like they were a rarity, although ones this big weren't all that common. But she had never been so close to one.

It was taller than the cave entrance, with a long, serpentine neck and an elegant head decorated with sweeping horns. Its wings nearly filled up the entirety of the small cove, casting shade over the two humans standing at the edge of the water. Bronze scales glinted dully where the sunlight hit it. Gael was acutely aware of the way her heart thudded in her chest.

"Ainsley?" She whispered, not taking her eyes off of the dragon.

"It's alright," the princess replied softly, gaze fastened on it as well. "She won't hurt us. Come on."

Somehow, Ainsley's fingers found her wrist again, and Gael resisted for just a moment as she was pulled a step forward.

"Ainsley, are you sure—"

"Yes. Trust me."

Ainsley stared up at the creature, and for a moment, Gael could almost sense the connection between them. Slowly, the huge head lowered until its unblinking scarlet eye was level with them. Gael could see her own wide-eyed reflection in the massive iris.

"Touch her," Ainsley prompted. "She's alright with it. Like this." Gael watched as the princess reached out and placed one hand on its face, fingers stroking the smooth, glossy scales. Her other hand still held Gael's wrist, which she lifted to place the captain's hand against the side of the dragon's snout. Gael uncurled her fingers, placing them flat against it. There was a faint thrumming deep within the dragon, something she felt in her mind more than with her fingertips.

"What is that?" She murmured. Beside her, Ainsley was grinning. She hadn't taken her hand off of Gael's yet.

"That's magic," she replied in a whisper.

"Magic? I thought such things were fake."

"Oh, no. Dragons work in ways we don't understand yet." Ainsley's gaze trailed admiringly along the creature's body, and Gael slowly began to stroke its cheek. It shifted its large head slightly, eyes closing in content. "Magic can be found in other places too, but... it's all dark power. No one is sure how dragons have it, but it's something else entirely. It's hard to describe."

Gael's hand slid down the side of its neck to its powerful shoulder, which she stroked. The creature's long tail swished gently back and forth, still mostly in the mouth of the cave. When she looked up, the sun shone through the slightly-translucent wings, illuminating every vein.

"She's—I mean—She's amazing, she's the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life, I..."

Ainsley was laughing.

"She is, isn't she?"

Gael was quiet, lost in the moment.

"I think I'm starting to understand a few things, Princess."

"About?"

She shrugged. "You. Dragons. The world. Myself. Everything, really." She paused. "Thank you for showing her to me."

Ainsley was silent, but Gael didn't miss the flush on her soft features.

"Do you want to ride her?"

Gael's hand froze on the dragon's flank. "Do I—what?"

Ainsley was grinning widely. "Let's go for a ride, Gael."