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Chapter 13

Sleep wound Infinity tight like a silk blanket meant only for the royals on high. Previous nights of concerned dreams proved little concern to her delighted mind. Perhaps it was the enchanted day she had, or the green dragon she’d spent it with pressed up close to her scales. Either way, her mind was brimming with honied thoughts, unburdened by Hadariel nor Arctic Wind.

Instead she was gifted with endless fields of rolling viridian, set to the edge of thick forests of multicolored trees. Like a patchwork quilt they divided the mountain ranges on either side, the ones that towered high into the sky and looked like a dragon’s mouths open in a titanic roar. The sun shown high above their snow-capped peaks, free of any passing cloud except for the occasionally whisky string of white. Birds flew in flocks along the horizon, wings spread wide in uncaring bliss. Their freedom from the ground below apparent for all to see. Her mind was left with only one question.

Where even am I?

She bound through the fields of tall grass, perking her head high at intervals. She didn’t recognize this mountainside, nor the hills that seemed to breath with every paw step. Not the rivers that drove through it, nor the curvy trees. Not even the spots of human villages that looked like cut stumps. Though the next thing that came to her attention with her most recent bounce above the field was that the grass that’d she’d normally towered over was now nearly up to her face. Either this was the largest grass she’d ever seen, or somehow, she’d gotten smaller. Though when she peered along her body to inspect her scales and wings, they appeared to be in order. No wait…They looked smaller, younger…Like she was…She darted through the long grass like a cheetah, seeking out the nearest river she could find.

Don’t tell me.

She tried to pounce into the air, beat her tiny wings. But she flopped to her belly with a groan. They weren’t working! She scowled back at the wing membranes dotted with tiny stars. Silently she hated them, cursing them. When would she be ready to fly?

Ready to fly? Can’t I already?

She tried to pounce again, this time with a well prepared wiggle in her haunches. Though when she did gravity ensured the same result transpired, giving the dragoness a mouthful of the bitter grass.

“Shit.” She cursed, spitting out the grass with an angry stamp of her paw.

She forged through the grass like a human adventurer, seeking out her river. One that she and Axton used to read about, though usually they were after treasure or new lands. She wished she had one of those machete blades they wielded to cut the overgrowth getting in her way. She was getting tired of being forced to leap above the field like an antelope, just to get a general sense of her direction! When the forest of grass broke she stumbled along a sandy, steep slope, toppling head over paw down until she sprawled onto all fours in an undignified manner.

No one can see, no one can see.

She shot up, flicking her ears and shaking free the sand from her scales. This took longer than she’d have liked, evidently it had decided to get into every nook and cranny. Minutes after she was hissing, batting at the sand like the most hated foe. Smacking parts of her scales and still getting some to sprinkle on out.

“Stupid sand.” She hissed; her voice clearly younger. Almost like she was like Axton’s age. Something clearly was wrong. Had someone cast a spell on her? With a scatter of earth, the black dragoness peered into the crystal-clear waters lazily rolling along the creek. From its reflection she saw the inquisitive black and grey snout of a wyrmling. Emerald spheres stared back at her, looking just as confused as she.

“I’m a wyrmling!” She shouted, spines flaring as she shot back as if wounded. Though this did little more then have her falling on her back, earning her another bath of sand. With a series of curses from her lips she righted herself and resumed her eager assault on her sandy foe.

After vigorous thrashing and hissing the beach had been thoroughly ravaged by her claws. Not an inch lay unsullied by the dragoness’ growing ire.

Why am I even here again? What is this about? Where is Lyyreth and Cordenth? Did they abandon me? Was I captured again?

Heartbeats quickened with every thought, scenarios more implausible than the last starting to grow like an unruly weed. Her body was soon sprinting on its own accord, like it knew it needed to go. In her distraught mind she hadn’t noticed until she was already racing up the hill and back to the field. She breathed in, catching two most peculiar scents. One obviously belonged to a human, but another to something she’d never smelled before.

Round the field, over some stumps, even hugging a yellow berried bush. The dragoness’ snout nearly pressed to ground as she sought those illusive scenes. Anticipation hung on her tongue with every step, the scents was growing stronger. Could she eat it? Why was a human here? Last she recalled she hadn’t seen any in months!

Months? Infinity’s thoughts seemed almost like a whisper as she became more a spectator through her body’s eyes. Are these memories?

That’s when she spotted the fluffy tailed creature that alluded her. The bundle of fur was a tiny mammal with thin whiskers on either side of it’s spade like head. Wide yellow eyes regarded her with interest, as its tail flicked behind it’s tiny haunches. It would hardly come up to a human’s boot! What luck! It was something she could hunt! Without regard to her prior teachings she bound as quickly as her paws could carry her, a rumble radiating down her throat.

Wait until father sees. How proud he’s gonna be.

But the diminutive beast had other plans. With a hiss it darted like an arrow, straight towards the bark of a towering tree. Without the slightest hint of slowing down it shot right to one of the many spindly branches. Paw over paw until it rested out of reach, staring down by a thin branch. The creature stared down, tail flicking teasingly above her.

“Dragon’s bane.” Infinity cursed, rearing up and resting her onyx claws on the bark. Her talons dug in as she dragged them, growling in the back of her throat. She eyed the feline with the fury of a tempest before glaring at her wings, cursing their inability for her to fly.

The cat hissed down at her. So, she crouched and hissed back with a flick of her tail.

“See I can do that too. Much better than yours!” When it didn’t reply she shifted her talons through the bark with a snort. “I bet you taste good too. Hmmph.”

When was all this? I’ve never recalled anything like this. Why start now?

“Come on down.” Infinity whined, circling the tree with a snort. “At least come down and make a chase out of it. You’re being unfair!” She planted her haunches on the grass, pleading to the cat to come down. If nothing else to fight off the growing boredom. But the cat only stared at her, not falling for her sweet words. “Awwww..I’ll even let you have a few minutes head start! Just come down!” She was just about to expose this mammal to another round of insults before the smell of human came back to her nose. She’d been so focused on the cat she hadn’t noticed. Not until the sound of boots running through the grass pulled her ear.

“Get away from spot!” Cried the youthful sound of a human male.

Infinity was smacked across the snout with a thickly bristled broom. Once, twice, her entire vision was golden hay. The dragoness shot back after the third such smack, getting a few feet of distance before whipping around, baring her teeth and letting out a threatening hiss.

Before her was a dark brown robed human with a green sash around his waist. His blue eyes shown with a hint of doubt as he brandished his makeshift weapon with purpose. His brow was wrinkled together, an aura of determination on his olive skinned face. She didn’t know human ages, but he had to be at least a tad older than she was. Actually…She wasn’t sure, how fast did humans grow again? She knew it was leagues faster than dragons.

“She isn’t food.” The human swished back his shoulder length hair, braided with many beads. “Turn your tail around and go the other way.” He smacked her square on the head with the broom bristles again. They didn’t exactly hurt, but boy did they get under her scales.

“What did I do to you?” She growled, ears pinning to her head before she timed his aggressive swings. With a flash of her teeth she caught the handle. Though he may have been taller than her, he certainly wasn’t stronger. With a brief struggle she tore it free from his hands and tossed it to the grass. Adopting a crouched stance, she eyed him up and down as he slowly backed away with palms raised.

“That wasn’t a fun game. How would you like it if I smacked you with the stick thing? Wouldn’t be that fun would it?”

“Game?” The human eased only for a second, tension draining from his face. She would have shared his calmness if not for one of hands curled into a wiggly multiheaded snake. While the other pulled a manila scroll from behind his back. One that humans kept magic spells on. At least that’s what father told her. She was soon sniffing at the air, eying it with a most inquisitive look. Already she could feel the instinctual curiosity overpowering her.

“Hey?” Her head tilted as she sat, hostilities gone. “What’s that? Is it magic?” She started to smile, “I love that stuff. Father says I’m good at it. Knew a friend of mine….His name was Jandar. Good at magic…Bad at being a dragon.” Her snout wrinkled, though seemingly changing with the drop of her tail. “ Are you like him? Can you do magic? You sorta look like him you know!” She was soon bouncing on her paws, her wings flaring in and out with each question. The poor teen hardly got a chance to speak as she continued to bombard him with questions.

“Slow down. Slow down.” He backed away, chuckling softly. Clearly this wasn’t what he’d expected to happen. He composed himself, brushing off his robe. “You were trying to eat Spot.”

“A spot?” Her head tilted to the other side. “I was trying to eat that mammal.”

“That’s spot.”

“It called a spot?” Her snout wrinkled. “Humans name things so weird.”

The teen sighed. “No…Her name is spot.”

Up her spines flared. Eating animals was fine for dragons, but her parents had said to never eat sentient creatures. Ones that could think and talk. “She can talk?” Her spines flared out, ears pinning. Her father was going to be so upset. “I didn’t know she could talk!”

“No, no, no. She can’t talk.”

“Oh good.” Infinity sighed, relief washing out of her. “Then I can eat her.”

“But don’t!”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so?” The boy looked left and right.

“That doesn’t seem like a good reason.” She shot back with a chuckle.

“Cause she’s my pet and I care about her.”

“Like she’s one of the family?” Infinity pulled back her head, trying to wrap her little mind around the idea. “And humans do this…take things as pets…”

“Yes.” The teen squeezed his nose.

“You’re weird.” She thrust out a paw. “Who names an animal?”

“Well…do you have a name?”

“Infinity.” She said proudly, puffing out her chest. Though it only lasted for a moment before she nearly fell over. Just like the first time with a human she’d given away her name. Like lightning she curled her tail around herself, pinning her ears to her head.

“And you don’t find that weird?” The human wore a smug grin, leaning back and folding arms across his chest.

“Weird that what?” Little Infinity hissed.

“Well…you’re an animal…and you have a name.”

“Not an animal! I’m a dragon!” She tapped the ground hard, took a deep breath and let out the most ferocious roar she could. Though it must not have been at all intimidating cause the human wasn’t even shaking or shivering. Instead he was laughing and clapping for her.

“Bravo, bravo. Give it a few years and I shall be shivering in my boots.”

Her eyes narrowed at him. “Well it’s better than yours…Can your stupid face even make that noise?”

This time he laughed only harder. “Probably not. You have a point.”

Before she could insist on his lack of ability a true roar sounded out from the skies. One that shook every tree, scattered every boy, and more importantly, drained all the color from the boy’s face. He stared up past her catching something in his eye that made him tremble, then sprinted for the tree. “Come on spot we have to-“

The ground shook as a dragon with the brightest red scales landed on the grass with a mighty gust. He stood taller than the tree, pinning his grey membraned wings as he puffed out his chest with the same matching scales. Predatory eyes drifted from the trembling human frozen in spot, to Infinity, looking her over up and down.

“Are you alright?” He was stern but caring. She didn’t care, she was just happy to have him around. Her grin nearly spread from ear to ear.

“Father!” She belted happily, dashing over to tap at his scaled forepaws. “I met this human thing. I…” Her snout wrinkled. “I don’t even know his name.” She snapped her attention to the human who was now trying to creep away with his cat held in his arms. He froze the moment he was caught, a threatening growl from her father looming overhead. “Human, what’s your name?”

“Answer my child human.” Father’s tail curled around her like a city wall. “What is the meaning of your intrusion to our lands. I was told we’d be left alone for now. Least long enough to raise my daughter in peace…Free from your kind’s mechanizations.”

“I was curious!” The boy blurted, clutching the cat tighter as her father took a singular step. But even that was enough to make the boy’s whole-body flinch.

The red dragon eyed daggers at him, punctuating his demand with a threatening growl, “And your name?”

“Axton sir.” The human composed himself with a deep breath. Though the color hadn’t returned to his face. If she had to guess, he was at least trying to appear brave. She smirked, her father was the best of course.

Axton? Infinity’s mind almost came to a crashing halt as her younger self slowly approached the teen, a playful swish in her tail. He her Axton’s eyes sure…But that couldn’t be him.

The name must be common across the land. Nothing more than a dream concocted by a worried dragon.

She tried to will herself to stop looking, drown out everything that was going on. Though the past kept dragging her back with thick icy claws.

Her younger self was striding between her father’s legs, stomping her paws with added snorts for effect. “I was trying to eat his cat creature father. But he wouldn’t let me.”

“So, he was defending his cat then?” Her father curled his spade head to her, eye brow raised.

Suddenly she wasn’t so sure he was on her side anymore. She took a more relaxed posture, trying to play off the whole scenario. “He wasn’t there. I tried to hunt it. I don’t see his name on it. Nor does it smell like him.” She held up her snout, closing her eyes. Only peeking when her father sniffed the air and chuckled.

“I suppose you’re right little one. Regardless.” He turned to Axton with a snarl that brought the teen several inches in the air. “Stop battering my daughter with that broom. Or I’ll ensure that you will be battered with her tail or her personal chew toy. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal!” The boy’s face went red as he practically bent over in a bow. “Apologies.”

That seemed to please the older dragon as he flicked his tail in amusement. Father always liked to be praised and shown respect like this. He didn’t get it very often anymore. “Very well. Run and tell your father about this. I’m sure we’ll have words about it once the sun has set and the moon has shown it’s face. Now daughter.” Her father lifted a wing, guiding her away as the boy practically sprinted behind them. Back to where he lived no doubt. “Let’s have a chat about those tiny creatures and not what to eat.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yea, but you would have been so happy if I brought it.”

The smile that grew on his snout the older dragon couldn’t hide. “Well…” He chuckled. “Maybe a little bit.” He covered his maw with a wing. “But shhhh…Don’t go telling anyone about it. “

They burst out laughing as they trotted away over the field, basking in each other’s company. Internally Infinity was shocked, her heart close to bursting. Every bounce of her father’s chest bringing new waves of guilt slamming against her soul.

Enough. She begged as he nuzzled her little scales. The only thing on her mind how she’d killed him. _Please stop, I beg you. Father I…_She internally screamed, finally causing things to freeze.

The reality around them began to fragment. Thousands of minute fractures cracking and splintering every inch of ground, sky, and even the dragon before her. It shimmered in the air for a mere moment, before bursting outwards into oblivion.

Infinity awoke gasping for breath, all her scales feeling as though she’d been dipped into ice water. Her paw found her chest as she steadied herself, whispering to herself beneath the starry sky that it was merely a dream.

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