The Dragon of Charred Scales

Impending Eruption

Jheecu

"She's waking up," said a low voice. Darkness morphed into warmth as my mind woke up. Opening my eyes, I could see Lamau looking down at a spirit dragon.

"Well?" I asked, fighting a yawn.

"This should help to keep the tumors from sapping your magic and strength temporarily," said the spirit dragon, who supposedly was the one who performed whatever operation Lamau begged me to undergo. I will admit, already I feel a little better. "However, as we already knew, the cancer is far too advanced and too magic resistant to fully cure."

"She'll be okay?" Lamau asked.

"Oh, Jheecu will be fine for a while. I expect this kind of removal procedure to have to be done again, but that's months away. Jheecu, how do you feel?"

"Sleepy, but otherwise fine."

"That will wear off. Stay here as long as you need. Lamau, keep an eye on her for a few days."

The spirit dragon nodded at us, then left the stark white room.

"You know you are slowly dying," Lamau said after a minute.

"We all are," I mumbled back. Apparently my time is closer than it should be, but despite finally feeling more effects from the tumors, I do not feel as if I am dying. Just aged. I can find energy when I need to.

Dragons who are really dying feel it not just in their body, but in their spirit. I do not feel that.

"Please, mother, realize what the truth is. You must, otherwise you wouldn't have agreed to this."

"Harogbas and Hernat persuaded me too, you know."

She shook her head. "You persuaded yourself. Nobody can make you do something you don't want to. You're too stubborn."

I did not answer her.

"See, you know."

My stomach began to growl. Good, a way to change the conversation.

"Being out for a day didn't affect your ability to eat," Lamau mumbled.

"A day?" I asked. I thought this was only going to last an afternoon.

"Yes. A full day. That's how long it took for several dragons and other Laku to physically remove all the large tumors. You should feel fifty pounds lighter, at least. Your human form probably couldn't handle such a load. Good thing the tumors were only in your dragon form."

I growled to silence her. "They checked my human form?"

She nodded.

"And I had none in that form?"

Again, a nod.

"That's because the radiation that caused this hit me while I was in dragon form. And that happened over seventy years ago. Tumors don't take seventy years to kill."

"Not for humans. Not for weak dragons. Your body is just as stubborn as your mind. And I am glad, otherwise I would have never met you. And the rest of my nest mates would never have a chance to meet you. Just me, Karomba, and Novayar."

I shake my head and try to stand. Still shaky, I lay back down, not wanting to fall over. "Lamau, quit talking and get me some food."

"I'm supposed to watch you."

"Get me some food. Hernat or Harogbas can watch. Go fetch them, then."

I could see Lamau blatantly bite back a growl. She has yet to learn the art of subtlety. But she obeys me and leaves.