Chapter 18

"Ok time to start the interesting stuff," Destiny clapped her hands together.

She abruptly got up and started to walk out of the cave. Ephvangeline stood. Purple Eyes didn't move. Ephvangeline stared at her.

Purple Eyes was in her own world, it was a dark world.

Destiny's hands brushed the door and she looked behind her, noticing the dragon wasn't moving. Her face fell as she remembered. That dragon must be going through a lot and she was going to put someone on her back so soon.

Ephvangeline approached "Hey Purple Eyes."

Purple Eyes didn't respond. Her eyes were glazed over, staring deeply into something that didn't exist. In a direction that meant too much to her.

Ephvangeline placed a hand on her flank.

Purple Eyes jumped a little, her head snapped around and her wings flared. Ready to attack. Her eyes softened seeing Ephvangeline's soulful brown eyes.

"If your not ready it's ok," came Ephvangeline's soft voice.

No I'm fine.

Anyone could see through Purple Eyes' lie. But still they were outside and Ephvangeline mounted Purple Eyes, ready to practise.

Ephvangeline hoped that this would mean that she would be able to prevent the heartbreak that was destroying Purple Eyes so completely, she didn't know that there wouldn't be a second time. You could only lose a rider once.

"So the most important part of being a dragon rider warrior is to know how to fight on dragon back. Being knocked off your dragon for most riders means death," Destiny explained "So you see that weird saddle, I'm going to teach you how to use it."

Ephvangeline looked down. Destiny was right, it was a weird saddle. So many straps and few buckles. Ephvangeline was just used to riding Purple Eyes bareback. She hadn't needed a saddle, Purple Eyes' scales were smooth and warm.

Destiny came up to Purple Eyes' right. She grabbed one of the loops. "This goes around your foot" she did exactly that "this is what is going to keep you from falling."

Ephvangeline swallowed.

"Communication is key, because there are a lot of adjustments you need to make along with Purple Eyes' movements, we will go through all of them."

"I'm guessing in a battle I won't have a lot of time to make them?" Ephvangeline was staring down at the straps.

"Correct. However those loops you have on right now. They stay on no matter how your dragon moves. So naturally it is your goal in battle to cut the other rider's straps," Destiny explained.

"Why aren't they made of metal then?"

"Flexibility is also important. You can stand on Purple Eyes' back right now and you'll be needing to."

Ephvangeline swallowed again.

"Remember that Purple Eyes is not a horse, she is just as smart as you. In battle she will be smarter as she has experience. However you will need to protect her, as big as she is she can only fight the other dragon. The other rider will attempt to hurt her with their weapon. Blinding, damaging her wings or internal organs."

Ephvangeline nodded, this she knew. Purple Eyes was her best friend, and for the longest time her only friend. Even though she wasn't her rider Ephvangeline felt a true connection to the dragon one she hadn't felt with any other being before.

Destiny handed her a sword "Let's get started shall we?"

Long hard days of practise came after that conversation, Ephvangeline was in pain after the first one and in even more pain after the second. She felt as if the pain cycle would just get worse but it didn't, by the 5th day it actually got a little bit better, and so did she. She was stable on Purple Eyes, enough so that she could confidently swing a sword. She could keep her focus through Purple Eyes' flips and dips. Still every time she stood on Purple Eyes' back while airborne she got the same thrill that she had gotten the first day she did.

As days turned to weeks, then to months Ephvangeline neared perfection however she could achieve it. Not because of herself. She would putting everything into it but because of Purple Eyes. Purple Eyes' heart wasn't there and her mind was in another dimension, where the dead go. They could never achieve the perfect unison until then.

But still if Ephvangeline fell she would always swoop down to catch her.

Meow Myths,

Next chapter will be the last chapter. But don't worry there is one final book after this one. I hope you all have enjoyed this story so far, and sorry for the delays, moving house is hard. We still don't have internet so I have to write at school. Gross right?

Meow for Now