Dragon's Bond

Thirteen

   My scream echoes through the barn, scaring the horses. Ghost jumps awake too, and I slide off of his side and he stands up quickly, turning in circles with his scales opened and his head lowered defensively.
   "Ghost?" I whisper. He spins around, but relaxes when he sees me. He lays down so his body is curled around mine and he pulls me closer with his wing. "Hey, it's okay. What..." My eyes meet his. "You were
there, weren't you?" He takes another look around, like an enemy might jump out of the dark corners when he's not paying attention, then turns back to me. He nods his head. "You were in the dream?"

   It's about 4 in the morning, so we don't bother going back to sleep. We just lay there, huddled up to each other. While he's wrapped around me, I have my arms around his head, holding it close to me. He
doesn't resist, and eventually rests his head on my lap.
   "What was that?" I wonder. "He's gotta be the one burning down the cities. And he has another dragon, and followers..." Ghost lifts his head again and  I hold it again. "I have to tell Claire and Nick." A purring noise rumbles in his throat. "Who knows how long we'll have 'till they get here?" A sudden smiles spreads across my face. "But when they do, we'll be ready. We killed them once, or at least the big one, and we can do it again." Ghost gives me a doubtful look. "Well now I know he'll have the gun. I'll be more careful. Let's just hope it doesn't take place in the same setting." I lean back on him, but I can only hold still for so long. After a few minutes, I sigh and look at him. "May as well get started early, right?" He stands up as soon as I'm done talking. I laugh and stand next to him. "I'll be right back, alright?" I walk to the house, shivering in the chill of morning. I open the door quietly to get in, and assure Zip that everything is fine when he jumps out, ready to attack. I get to my room and call my friends right away. Luckily they both answer, although they're both tired and get mad at me for waking them. Ignoring the grumpy voices, I tell them to meet me in the clearing as soon as possible, and hang up without giving them a chance to reply. I
put on my new outfit, which I washed overnight, and this time I make sure to bring my bow, even if I am still working on my aim. At least I'm better than when I first started. I also take a pocket knife. Can't be too safe.  I leave a note for Jess after checking the horses, then saddle Ghost strap on my helmet. We fly to the clearing once again.

   "What is so damn important that you had to call at 5:30 in the morning to have a secret meeting about?" Nick's complaining before Striker's even landed. Claire is already here, but when I told her I'd wait for Nick before I'd explain, she decided to catch up on sleep, on Violet's back to keep dry. Striker's landing wakes her up.
   "Yeah, sorry about that, but it couldn't wait." I make sure that Claire's fully awake before continuing. "I did it."
   "It?" Claire asks sleepily, leaning on Violet. "Hey, nice outfit by the way."
   "Thanks. I changed the dream." This time her eyes fly open wide. Even Nick's expression has changed.
   "How? What happened?" He asks, sliding off of Striker's back.
   "I got on Ghost, like you said to. We flew around, and we saw the followers this guy has, and there's so many. We actually killed the giant." They both stare wide-eyed. "We were circling it, and it
stopped chasing us, but it was gathering fire in its throat, and it was waiting to shoot it at us. Before it could, Ghost threw fire instead, right into the thing's mouth. With his fire, and the fire it
was about to hit us with, which I think was a lot more powerful than normal, it lit the whole thing's head on fire. It went down, but the rider had a gun..." I almost wince as I remember the pain. "I got shot a couple times. Ghost took me to the ground, and the rider survived. He was on a night dragon, but he didn't attack us. He just kinda watched until we woke up."
   "Wait 'we?' Nick asks.
   I nod. "Ghost had the dream too. And...I think that man and his 2 had it, also."
   "Did you get a good look at him?" Claire asks.
   "Yeah, but I don't recognize him from anywhere."
   "But you'd recognize him if you saw him again?" She presses.
   "Yeah, I think so."
   "We need to tell someone about this." Nick says.
   "Like who?" Claire turns to face him.
   "The military! They'll know what exactly to look out for so they'll be prepared when the maniac does come!"
   "It's a good idea." I tell her. She doesn't argue.
   "So, to the base, then?"
   "To the base!" Me and Nick reply at the same time. We all mount and take off together. I can still feel the sleep tugging at my eyes, and I stare straight ahead, trying to keep them open. The helmet's visor helps.
   I yelp when I feel claws drag me out of my saddle, this time rougher than before. Ghost catches me, and I look up at Nick.
   "Really? You're gonna do this now?"
   "It wasn't him..." Claire says, staring up past Nick. He also turns his gaze up, and following it, I see our two new companions.