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I lay my head against Teras’ chest, taking deep, calming breaths trying to quiet my heart and the anxiety that was rapidly building at just the thought of him taking me into the air once more even if this time were to be more gentle and controlled.

Teras held very, very still, as if concerned if he moved that it would somehow spook me into running away, I thought, and despite my fears a smiled at the thought. He hesitantly placed one of his fore claws on my back and despite myself I flinched a little.

He crooned softly but didn’t remove his paw. “I will not hurt you, Erin,” he said in as quiet a voice as he could manage.

“I know, Teras. I know. And I do trust you, but it’s just the fear of heights and the last time you picked me up,” I reached up a hand and placed it higher on his chest as he started to protest “I know, hush, I know it wasn’t your fault and you were protecting me. It’s fine, Teras. I still have to get past it though.”

I stepped back and looked him over where he stood with is wings partially manteled around me, looked at the great swaths of hide that covered the bones and spars that made up his wings, then looked up a the dragon’s face where he looked back at me, concern writ large in his features.

“We can wait,” he said.

I shook my head. “No, we’ve lost enough time.” I took a huge breath and then turned. “Alright, put your claws…your hands around me gently like you’re going to hold me in flight.”

He very carefully put them around me and I muttered a prayer the whole time as they closed, begging the Maker for strength and peace. I barely felt them close about me and opened my eyes to find myself being held far more gently than before, almost the same way as he held me when sleeping.

I quickly scuttled that thought and looked up at him. “Alright, Teras. Careful now.”

The dragon nodded and carefully lifted me up and gently drew me to his chest as I held on tight to his forearms. He crouched down and I could feel his muscles tense up. Suddenly he burst into the air, his wings coming down in a half flap, then fully as he cleared the ground, beating strongly as he got enough height to level out and start to glide.

He peered down at me, whining through his nose. “You are well? You are okay? I have you! I will not drop!”

“I know, T-Teras. I’m f-fine. Just keep going to my hut,” I stammered out.

Teras glided smoothly along and I finally worked up the courage to open my eyes and almost wished I hadn’t. The ground was very, very far away and we were very, very high above it and yet somehow there was a particular beauty to it.

“I find the world nicer up here,” Teras said as if echoing my thoughts. “No humans trying to hurt, just the open sky and me flying through it.”

“You’re r-right, Teras; it is very nice from up here.”

“I must flap,” he warned, “I will hold you tighter.”

He peered down at me and I nodded my head and he gave a few strong flaps of his wings to gain height. Each time his wings came down it pushed him higher into the air with a jerking sensation that sent my stomach to falling and the feeling of icewater being poured down my back.

After a few pumps of his wings he retuned to gliding and looked down at me with a worried expression. I smiled a shaky smile at him, and patted him on the claw and his ears came up.

“I hope someday you will enjoy flying. Maybe with the saddle it will be better!”

“I hope so, Teras.”

After awhile I did begin to relax in Tera’s hands, shifting myself where I could wedge my feet onto his paws to hold myself up a bit better. I glanced up at Teras and he nodded, ears coming even farther forward.

“We are almost there,” he said. “We will come in to land. I will hold you tight until my back legs touch down then I will set you in front of me. You walk forward so I will not bump you when I go to all fours.”

“Okay, Teras,” I said, closing my eyes and hoping that it would go as smoothly as all that.

The amount of air and dust kicked up by his wings as he backwinged in was truly astonishing. He never kicked up quite this much dust when he landed by himself and it occurred to me he was being extra careful because of me.

The feeling shot into my heart like a warm, fuzzy arrow and I smiled at the sensation, feeling suddenly much better about landing and clearing the area for him to land.

“Ok, Erin, I set you down!” Teras said, voice raised to overcome the sound of the wind.

“Fine, Teras!” I shouted back.

He let me to ground and I staggered a bit, the hurried out of the way so the dragon could land fully. He fell to all fours then immediately came over to me and sniffed me over and I patted him on the nose.

“I’m fine Teras, you did well.”

He thrummed loudly and nudged me with his nose and I couldn’t help but laugh at the dragon.

“Alright, careful you! Don’t want to knock me over!”

He let out a low chuffing sound and I pat him on the nose once more and turned to start walking towards my hut, feeling a sense of contentment and homecoming that suffused me with a quiet joy.

That small voice in my head wondered how much of that was due to the dragon that was following me, but I quickly hushed it. No time to think of such frivolous things. There were things that must be done.

As we rounded some trees my hut came into view and I froze.

There was a candle lit inside and smoke coming from the chimney.

Someone was in there.