Valor's Impasse

The Impasse

"Valandi!" Christan screamed, fire erupting from her mouth. Her scream turned into a roar. The arrow that was aimed for her heart was incinerated before it could touch her. Its archer, just a few feet away, was gone with it. The fire roared to life around her. It's heat matched the intense anger that burned within Christan. Except this time Christan was not consumed by it. She was not turned into a blood thirsty beast that needed human flesh to survive. The flames responded to her will. Her emotions. Her anger. But as the flames burned her attention went back to Valandi.

The heat had caused Valandi's skin to droop. Christan could see her skull poking out from her face. Valandi's chest was still. There was no sign that she had once breathed a moment ago. Anguished, Christan collapsed to the ground, clasping Valandi tightly. Then she began to weep. Her tears sizzled against Valandi's leather armour.

"I love you." She whispered.

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A cool breeze danced across Valandi's skin. The light behind her eyelids was a warm orange. She slowly opened her eyes. Rolling hills were sprawled out before her, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The scent of wildflowers filled her nose. It was picturesque.

The arms that were around her squeezed her gently. She felt safe. Comfortable. And for the first time, at peace.

"Hey." Christan's voice said from behind her. Valandi looked up at her green eyes. She was lying down with her head on her lap, while Christan sat against a tree.

Valandi could feel herself slipping back into unconsciousness as the world grew foggy again. For a moment she just sat there absorbing all the details of Christan's face, trying to remember this moment.

"I love you too." She said at last. Christan smiled and Valandi went back to sleep.

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Valandi woke up to the smell of roasted meat. Her stomach growled. She was lying on some blankets next to a sleeping Ziba. It was dark and through the tree branches above she could see the stars twinkle. She looked to where the smell was coming from and saw Christan holding a stick with an impaled fowl. Her mouth was now a snout of a dragon as she spewed fire on the meat to cook it. Valandi sat up.

Christan noticed her stirring and immediately stopped to join her. She sat down next to Valandi.

"How are you feeling?"

Valandi felt her stomach, it groaned. "Starving." She said. "But otherwise alright."

Christan broke off some of the meat and handed it to Valandi. "Good, eat."

Valandi didn't need to be told twice. She took a huge bite. Then she almost immediately spat it out. It was bitter and almost completely char. She gulped as she forced it down. "Christan did you honestly just burn a perfectly good bird? You know you don't put the meat directly in the fire right?"

Christan shrugged sheepishly. "I guess I'm not used to cooking."

Valandi suddenly remembered how she did it. "How long have you been able to-" Valandi gestured to her mouth, then took another bite.

Christan grinned. "Pretty sweet huh?" She said and she put her hand in front of her and they watched as it transformed to scaly talons then back to her dainty fingers again.

"Woah," Valandi breathed.

"It's like I'm in control. There's no 'dragon'. The dragon is me now. It can't hurt me anymore." Christan looked at Valandi. "Thanks to you."

"What do you mean?"

"And when bestowed with their true love's kiss, you're inner turmoil will be amiss." Christan quoted.