Warriors Heir

Chapter 3

Cat and Hazel had a sort-of truce. It had worked out well so far. Cat made excuses so she could go to the forest and see Hazel. "I need my peace and quiet." and "It's not easy being stuck in the house with you guys." (She never actually said that one). Thalia seemed more suspicious than her parents, but never said anything. Cat's parents never asked about the rock/egg, which showed how long they could pay attention to Cat before going back to their truest love; their phone screens. Most of the time, Cat was glad for it. It made it easier to get permission to go to the forest and see Hazel, though it was a bit harder to explain why she was bringing her buffalo chicken wings, (her favoritest food in the world!) into the forest. Hazel had fallen in love with them the moment she tasted her first wing. Cat swore she could see hearts in Hazel's eyes. She had to physically hold Hazel back from the bowl, which awarded her with a dozen scratches all over her face and arms. 

She told her parents that she tripped over a branch, but that excuse was bound to wear out, since she started "tripping over branches" every time she went into the forest. As Cat washed out her cuts for what felt like the 1938475th time, she started thinking about how quickly Hazel was growing. It wasn't proving a problem at the moment, but dragons probably need more food than Cat's vegetables, handfuls of berries a day and some chicken wings every week. Already, Hazel was about the size of a medium dog. Hazel had to learn to hunt.

It was winter, the middle of February. Cat's birthday and Christmas had come and gone. (She got a couple of the books that she had wanted and a hoverboard. Thalia had been soooo jealous. Her birthday was February 27th, and she had always wanted a hoverboard.) To help Hazel learn to hunt, Cat brought stuffed animals she outgrew to use as targets. I'll throw the toys in the air somewhere, and you have to catch them and bring them down. Since you can't fly yet, you're going to have to jump. Hazel huffed at her. I can fly!! See? She hopped on to a big boulder. Wait!!! Hazel, no!! Hazel leaped, flapping her wings furiously, but it was no use. She plummeted like a stone. 

Cat jumped forward and tried to catch Hazel in her arms, key word being 'tried'. Hazel was getting kind of heavy, and all this succeeded in doing was knocking them both to the ground. Hazel stood up and shook out her wings. Whoof! Maybe I do need some practice. Thanks for cushioning me! Cat just covered her eyes with her arms and groaned, as Hazel's pointy parts poked and prodded at her. That's the last time I ever try to save you from becoming dragon kabob. Hazel jumped off her, purposefully digging her claws into Cat's stomach. Cat winced. Roasted dragon. Broiled dragon. Flambeed dragon. I could go on. You need to be more careful. Hazel rolled her eyes. Yes mother. 

Cat stood up, albeit shakely, and picked up a stuffed cat she had found abandoned in her closet. Hazel got into a ready position, Her wings spread, fangs gleaming in the setting sun light. 3, 2, 1, GO! Cat threw the animal as hard as could to the other side of the clearing, and Hazel pounced. A few seconds later, there was nothing left but some stuffing and a few threads of fur scattered everywhere. Hazel sat in the middle of the mess, chewing on the head. Cat couldn't help herself, and started to laugh. What did that stuffed animal ever do to you? You just needed to catch it, not pulverize it! 

Hazel just narrowed her eyes at her, then continued to chew the cat head. Cat sighed, and started to pick up the cotton and fur. She checked the time on her phone, then turned to Hazel, who had ditched the cat head and was now lying in a patch of sun, like a big cat. Cat walked over and lay down next to Hazel. Her breath crystallized in the air, forming abstract patterns. Sometimes she still couldn't believe that Hazel was a dragon. A real, live dragon, with scales, and claws, and wings. For some reason, Hazel never breathed fire. In all the books and legends, dragons breathed fire. Then again, dragons weren't even supposed to actually exist until Cat found Hazel's egg in the woods. How had Hazel even gotten there? Finding a dragon egg in the woods wasn't exactly common. Did Hazel have a mom, and dad? Siblings? They might never know. 

Cat rolled onto her side, and watched Hazel as she slept. Her huge chest lifted and fell as she breathed. Her sinewy muscles stretched out over the grass, her wings flopping all over the place. It was hard to remember how young Hazel was. The moment she had come out of her egg, she had been sassy and pompous, like she hadn't just hatched. She knew what a car was, what a lamborghini was. Could all dragons talk as soon as they came out of their egg? Why are you staring at me? Cat started so hard, she jumped. I thought you were asleep! She protested in her head. Hazel stood up, shaking herself off, and Cat jumped out of the way. 

What were you thinking about? Hazel asked, as she stretched, then yawned, in a way that was reminiscent of a cat. Cat leaned against a big tree, and rested her head against the trunk. Do you ever wonder how your egg ended up here, in these woods? Hazel's wings drooped a little, barely noticeable, before she answered. Sometimes. I must've had parents, but why did they put me here. Did they, just...not want me? Cat stood up, walked over to Hazel, and hugged her. She was surprised for a moment, and her body tensed, but she relaxed and wrapped her wings around Cat, burying her snout in Cat's shoulder.