Chapter 21

Epilogue

    Arianna woke up to find a greenish yellow parchment-like substance over her head. Still not fully awake, she reached up to touch it. It was smooth and sturdy at the same time. Someone snuggled against her chest. She looked down to find a grubby little girl, angelic in her sleep. She was sucking her thumb, her beautiful curly hair made her look like she had a golden halo. The sight of her brought back the memories of the past day. She got up with a start, her head banging against the parchment-thing which shifted, unveiling the streaming sunlight. Arianna squinted, her sleepy mind trying to determine where she was. They were in a green valley, with flowers abloom and grass blowing lightly in the breeze. Arianna scrambled to her feet, waking the child who whimpered. Arianna beheld the huge green mass that she had been right beside the whole time. A ginormous brilliant emerald green head swiveled around to look at her and she gasped.

         “Is that you, Jaydon?” Arianna asked, her voice shaking.

          “Yes,” Jaydon said, shifting his body so she could see that he had no emerald on his chest.

          Arianna didn’t miss a beat, “Oh good! Where’s Ralem?”

          Jaydon’s eyes turned sad. He unclasped his claws, revealing Ralem’s still form. Arianna rushed to Ralem, “Is he all right?” She felt his wrist. “He’s alive,” she stated, then looked up, “What’s wrong with him?”

        Jaydon looked away, “He…. Sacrificed a lot to free me from the evil woman’s clutches. His body may be well, but his spirit …. It took everything he had to give me enough energy to rise up again. I will… try to heal him until he is well enough to rise.”

        Arianna blinked back tears, praying to every god she knew. She kissed him on the forehead. “May Urywhey guide your spirit home,” she whispered.

        Jaydon blinked, Urywhey?  He put Ralem safely in his pouch all male dragons had on their softer underbelly (along with the egg he had nabbed in the wreckage before he had flown away).

         Arianna felt something nuzzle her back. She spun around to find the Pegasus. “Oh, Sprite! I’m so glad you made it!” She hugged the Pegasus’s velvety neck and Sprite neighed softly. When Arianna pulled back, Sprite shifted her wings sadly. Arianna took one look at them and inhaled sharply, “Oh you poor thing!”

        “I won’t be able to fly in weeks,” Sprite complained, “My beautiful wings- ruined!”

          “Oh, they’re not ruined. We’ll fix them up as soon as we get to…” she stopped, “Where are we?”

            “In a field outside of Redfield. I came to drop Aren off here.” The dragon unfolded another claw to find a sleeping man who looked similar to Ralem, but with a squarer jaw and an unkempt beard. As soon as the sun’s bright rays fell upon his face, he yawned and stretched, opening his eyes. The second he saw the dragon towering over him he grabbed for the nonexistent sword by his side. When he found he had no weapon, he sputtered and scrambled to his feet.

             “I won’t hurt you,” Jaydon said in his deep rumble. Arianna reached out a hand to reassure Aren and he jumped back as if she was a snake. He spun around and ran as fast as he could, speeding toward town.

        “That settles it,” Jaydon exhaled, watching Aren’s retreating form, “We need to get a move on.”

         “But where to?” Arianna asked. Then she felt a pull on her dress. She looked down to find the child, her hands outstretched for Arianna to pick her up. “I miss my mommy and daddy,” she sobbed, hiding her face.

          “Where are your mommy and daddy?”

         “In my house,” the child sniffled.

           “Where’s your house?”

          “Baroke,” she said, her voice muffled by Arianna’s ragged dress.

          “Then that’s where we are going,” Jaydon said, before getting to his feet and crouching, one leg extended.

          Arianna didn’t move for a minute so Jaydon asked, “Well? Aren’t you going to come on?”

          “Oh. I didn’t know you would want us riding you,” Arianna said. The little girl looked up in wonder at the dragon, as if just seeing him for the first time, then squiggled out of Arianna’s reach. Arianna let go and watched in wonder as the child ran to the dragon, her little legs leaping as she climbed up Jaydon’s mountainous form. She seemed to know how it’s done. At the hollow between Jaydon’s neck and body, she sat happily, a smile on her face for the first time. Jaydon was taken aback by the lack of fear in the small girl. She reached out and grabbed one of his spikes in her small, chubby hand. “What is your name?” she asked in a sweet voice.

              “Jaydon,” he replied .

              “Are you taking me home?” she asked, her childish face perfectly serious.

              “Yes,” he replied, “Home.” He thought about the word. Home. Something he lacked.

              Arianna climbed up Jaydon’s side with almost as much ease as the girl had and sat right behind her, setting the girl in her lap, “I’m ready if you are. How long will the flight be?”

              “Not long. Sprite?” he said, looking at the Pegasus, who had been munching some grass, dejected at being excluded from the conversation. She looked up, “You know, when my beautiful wings were better I could’ve flown the distance in an hour. I was the fastest Pegasus around. I bet you would not have stood a chance-“ Jaydon rolled his eyes- “But now… I guess I do need a lift. Do they have carrots in Baroke?”

               “Of course,” Arianna said, “Come with me, puh-leeease!”

              “Okay. As long as I get at least five carrots a day and ten sugar cubes.” Sprite sniffed. Jaydon looked at her tubby belly and thought it might not be such a good idea to give her too much. “-Just don’t” Jaydon was already hovering in the sky, and he picked up the Pegasus around her rotund middle, “-Do that.” Sprite finished, her head hanging dejectedly.

              “It won’t be long,” Jaydon promised. He gained altitude until the field was the size of Arianna’s thumb and the landscape looked so small it seemed to be a green patchwork quilt. He hung there, glittering green against the azure sky, seemingly suspended in time. Or so Arianna thought, as this was the first time she had ridden on Jaydon’s back. It was dizzying and exhilarating at the same time to be looking from such a great height at the tranquil world and realize that it was very small. She put a protective arm against the child to keep her from falling, but she looked peaceful, her hazel eyes lighting up in wonder as she surveyed the clouds.   Finally Arianna relaxed and whooped as Jaydon attempted going as fast as he could again and they were speeding over the ground. She heard a BOOM as they went faster than the eye could follow.

                 Jaydon’s rudder-like tail worked furiously, changing direction. He searched his memories for the exact location of Baroke. He’d been there before. He remembered Ralem’s fearful face as he had swooped down and picked him up. That was the day he had hatched. It was hard to believe that had been less than three weeks ago.

                Sprite had her eyes narrowed intently, her little wings fluttering as if she was the one flying. “Beat this speed, high and mighty dragon,” she said, her little hooves flying as she galloped over the sky.

                In a matter of seconds they were at Baroke, which was dreadfully short for Arianna, who was just starting to enjoy it. Jaydon hovered over a field before landing by a copse in front of the castle, first setting down the Pegasus on the ground so that he could land on all fours. Arianna expected to feel a jolt but was surprised when she didn’t feel a thing. She had to look down to make sure she had landed. Jaydon bent down again and he let Arianna and the child slide off.

              “Wow,” Arianna said, breathless, “That was FAST!”

              “I know, I was fast, wasn’t I?” Sprite stated, but nobody was listening.

              “That was the fastest ride I’ve ever been on,” the child said, opening up, looking shyly up at the dragon before bowing ,”Thank you, Jaydon.”

             Jaydon looked shocked, which didn’t happen much, “Erm… you’re welcome.”

          Arianna looked at the girl seriously, “What do you mean, fastest ride? Have you ridden any other dragons?”

          “Yes. I’ve ridden Vali and Thistle, but they weren’t near as fast.”

           Jaydon’s eye’s grew almost as big as cartwheels, “There’s dragons- and Riders at Baroke?”
           “Of course,” she said, tugging at Jaydon’s claw, “Come on! I’ll show you!”

           The dragon followed the child like a tame dog and pranced to what would soon be his new home, Arianna running behind, (Sprite galloping to keep up) laughing as the tightness in her chest unwound. Finally they were safe.

END OF BOOK 1

References

Cover Art: Green Dragon  (N.D.) Retrieved from internet: Website unknown

Acknowledgements:

First I’d like to acknowledge my awesome editors: Cassie, Morgan, and Uncle James. Without Cassie there would not have been a Drake to save the day (and there also wouldn’t have been Brooke’s bitey problem but I suppose that was my fault). She also gave some other amazing ideas, and I hope to honor her faithfulness in the arrival of her own character in the next book.

As for Morgan, she gave me advice on everything girls. Without the joint help of Morgan and Cassie I probably wouldn’t have been smart enough to have Arianna. I absolutely NEEDED her to correct me on many points; even though I AM a girl I’m horrible at girl psychology. Meh. Can’t thank you enough, Buddyboo. Truly, you enrich everything I do! J

And for Uncle James; thanks for taking the time and effort to at least try to tackle my horrible grammar and primitive writing. I know you were just itching to rephrase so many things. Can’t thank you enough J

Other thanks I would like to point out would be for my cousin. Brooke, who although everyone else may think this is stupid she’ll always be my fan. Also for my mom, who put up with me holed up writing all summer and talking about it 24/7. My last thanks would be for my teacher, who has helped me on my journey to maturing as a writer. As you can tell I’m still far from that but it’s a working progress!

Thank you for everyone who has been devoted enough to follow me thus far. Anyone who is brave enough, please comment below and I'll dedicate at least one chapter to the first twenty five commenters. Again, thank you! :D