Making her way through the rocky terrain, Anna squinted in the midday sun, shielding her eyes as she looked for some sign of a cave. The dragon shifted his wing over her, shading her face.
Damn, if this thing wasn’t more of a gentleman than most of the men she’d met. “Thank you.” She rubbed the base of his wing. “But you’re probably going to get sore if you keep doing that.”
Nik lifted Puff’s right wing. “There’s shade over here if you want to hold his wing for a while.”
The dragon growled, and Nik held up his free hand in capitulation. “Okay, boss, okay. The girl doesn’t work. I get it.”
The older man, Pops, Nik had called him, took the wing from his grandson. “Allow me to serve, Great One.”
“We named him Puff,” Nik said.
Pops flared his nose. “I will not name a dragon lord after a fairy tale character.”
Anna cringed. Apparently the old man didn’t get the irony. The dragon didn’t seem to mind his name, though, and that was good enough for her.
They moved on in silence, following a line of people led by Tyler in the front, and, from the volume of the talking, a large number of people behind them concealed by the bulk of the dragon.
“Do I have to go all the way to the top with you?” Anna asked. “Can’t someone just drive me back to my hotel?”
Pops laughed. “No one is going back down.”
Well that was just great. Why couldn’t she be saved by a dragon and then dropped into a crowd of people heading down the mountain, rather than up?
Anna stopped. Her stomach hardened.
She’d been flown toward these mountains by a dragon, but she wasn’t the only one.
A hazy vision of Sybil’s unconscious body in the grip of that dark green dragon materialized in her mind. Anna took a steadying breath. That dragon had been trying to save them. If he flew her away, Sybil was safe. Anna had to believe that. The other options were unthinkable.
Sybil was fine. She had to be.
Anna repeated the words in her head, shivering. Yes, she was fine, and wherever she was, she was most likely busting a few brain cells looking for her baby sister.
Puff looked at her, concern wrinkling his reptilian brow. She flashed a tentative smile, and kept walking.
She caught Nik’s gaze. “Can I borrow a cell phone or something? I need to call my sister and let her know I’m all right.” And to make sure Sybil was okay, as well. She needed to hear her sister’s voice, to center herself back into reality.
“I’ve checked for service a few times,” Nik said. “I had some Wi-Fi back at camp, but there’s nothing up here.”
Wonderful. Just terrific. All her muscles ached. This was nothing a good night’s sleep wouldn’t help—the kind that needed a bed, not the rocky floor of a cave.
The dragon nuzzled her. She giggled.
“He said he will keep you warm tonight, if you’re worried about the cold,” Nik said.
Puff lowered one eye to her level. His gaze seemed so wise, so human. Were dragons pre-historic? Were they always intelligent, or had they evolved that way, like man evolving from apes?
Part of her wanted to get away, to run down the mountain and find her way back to her hotel and hopefully thwart Sybil’s impending sisterly breakdown. But something more than curiosity kept her beside this incredible creature. She felt drawn to him, as if an evening furled within his wings had created an irrevocable bond between them. Somehow, she knew that this majestic creature would always be there for her.
The crowd at the front of the procession cheered.
“At last, we have arrived,” Pops said. “We will have you safe in no time, Great One.”
They’d arrived? Arrived where?
Pops handed the injured wing back to Nik and scurried ahead as the rest of them remained behind with the dragon. This part of the mountainside looked no different than any other part they’d passed.
Tyler and his team spread blankets and drove unlit torches in the ground as the rest of the procession funneled in. Glancing around her own group, Anna was relieved to see a few modern flashlights attached to several belt-bags, and tucked inside webbed backpacks. Torches took this whole retro-dragon motif a little too far.
Nik’s grandmother shouted directions as people mulled about, several pitching tents, some starting small campfires while others broke out propane grills.
Anna’s belly rumbled. The dragon’s gaze darted to her midriff, and then to her eyes.
“Puff asked if you’re hungry,” Nik said.
She nodded to the dragon. “We humans usually eat breakfast first thing in the morning.” Was she actually talking to a dragon? Part of her waited for someone to jump out and say “April Fools.”
Nik turned to Pops. “The boss wants food for his—” He glanced at Anna. His lips parted, as if he’d stopped mid-thought. “For his new friend.”
Why did he look at her like that?
Within moments a blonde girl, maybe three or four years younger than Anna, handed her a plate of bread and apples. “Here you go. We’ll get you something more substantial once we get settled.” She curtsied to Puff. “How’s your wing, Great One?”
The dragon lowered his snout and nuzzled her hair.
Nik smiled. “He says it’s better, and thanks for helping stitch him up.”
The girl ran her fingers under Puff’s chin before turning to Anna. “He’s magnificent, isn’t he?”
Magnificent, magical, unbelievable… name your over-expressive adjective; nothing could really describe standing next to an actual living, breathing dragon.
“My name is Elaina, by the way, if you need anything.”
She bowed to Puff again and took another plate from a young child. Two men placed a large trough of water on the ground by Puff’s feet.
The dragon lapped the water slowly, seeming afraid to spill the basin that looked more like a saucer now that it was dwarfed by the dragon’s snout.
Elaina handed Nik the plate of food.
“Thanks.” He smiled again. “From both of us.”
Puff sat up and lowered his head to Elaina and the men who’d brought the water.
One reached up and ran his palm along the dragon’s neck. “I can’t believe you’re real.”
“He’s glorious,” the other said.
A pink flush flooded the area around Puff’s eyes. He turned away. Was he embarrassed by the compliment? How cute!
“We need your help at the doorway,” Nanna told the men. She turned to Nik. “You, too.”
Nik swallowed a bite of apple. “But I need to translate.”
“The dragon is smarter than all of us combined. I’m sure he’ll manage.”
She grabbed Nik’s arm and led him away, still clutching his plate.
Elaina pulled her hair into a ponytail. “I guess I’ll get going, too.” She waved her fingers at Puff as she started toward the mountain.
Anna ate in silence, probably the only one not stealing a look at the pearlescent creature seated beside her. Was she supposed to make conversation? Maybe. They all seemed to think the creature was far more intelligent than an animal should be.
She talked to her dog all the time. Little Dixie was a great listener, wagging her tail when Anna was excited, giving sad eyes when she was upset. Maybe all animals were inherently in-tune to human emotion.
That’s what could be happening with the dragon. It made the most sense, anyway. Either that, or these people were right, and there was more to this creature than modern thought could comprehend.
Puff gazed down at her, his eyes casting the same devotion she saw from Dixie every day. Damn, it was insane, but she could see how people would think this thing was capable of coherent thought.
The dragon certainly seemed to understand that they were trying to help him, though, and despite his size, and his teeth, the creature didn’t seem horrifying. Not like the gray ones from last night.
Back in the street behind the tavern, this little silver dragon had stood up to the others even though they’d towered over him. He could have been killed; but he’d fended them off, giving Anna, Sybil, and Connor time to run.
She rubbed her healing shoulder. This dragon was different from the ones he’d saved her from. She just wasn’t sure why.
Puff pushed her plate with his nose.
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
He balked, then shook his head.
“What, then?”
A light billow of smoke wafted from his nostrils.
Maybe taking his translator away wasn’t the best idea. But was Nik really translating, or was the guy full-of-it and making this all up?
Anna always imagined conversations with Dixie. It was pretty easy telling what her little pooch thought at times. Actually hearing words in your head, though, that was just crazy.
Puff’s scales glistened, hundreds of hues brightening his silvery-white hide.
Yes, hearing voices was crazy, but no worse than sitting beside a dragon.
She picked up an apple slice and held it out. “Are you sure you’re not hungry? They’re pretty tasty.”
The dragon nudged the fruit back to her.
“I feel bad, not sharing. Please, try some.”
Puff blinked twice, sniffed the fruit, and slowly bared a row of small, human-looking front teeth just under his nostrils. Anna held her breath as he eased the apple away from her, tossed it up, and snapped the wedge of fruit out of the air. Anna didn’t even see a swallowing motion.
“Didn’t your mother ever tell you to chew your food?”
He tilted his head and stared at her.
“I guess not.”
Nik returned with his grandmother.
“Great One.” Nanna bowed. “We need to ask a favor.” She looked back to the mountainside, where people were pulling vines from what looked like the result of an old rockslide. “We have to clear the entrance to the cave, and then reseal the chamber before nightfall.” She looked at the ground before returning her gaze to Puff. “Unfortunately, most of the rocks are too large to move. You won’t be able to fit through the opening the Maori normally use unless you shift.” She took in a deep breath, and released it through pursed lips. “I’m sorry, we never considered the possibility of harboring a full sized dragon.”
Puff stood and brushed Nanna’s cheek with the side of his nose.
“He says don’t worry about it.” Nik shoved his hands in his pockets. “He thinks we’re all doing a great job.”
The dragon cocked his head and looked at his interpreter. Anna wondered how much was getting lost in translation.
Puff poked his nose in the air twice, shuddered, and groaned before lowering his head.
“No, no.” Nik patted the dragon’s neck. “It’s not your fault. Don’t worry about it. We’ll figure this out.”
“What?” Nanna and Anna said in unison.
“He can’t shift. Something about concentration, and pain, and something else about his ripped wing. I can’t get it all. He’s sort-of rambling.”
Anna pursed her lips. Maybe Nik was the one rambling. She hoped they weren’t going to try to convince her that the dragon was the guy from the bar, again.
Nik glanced back to Puff. “He’s scared. Probably a lot more than he wants anyone to know.”
Puff jerked upright, nose to nose with Nik before the creature roared in his translator’s face.
Anna screamed, falling to her knees and covering her ears. Were they all wrong about this beast? Would it turn on them now?
Nik’s knees wobbled, but he didn’t back down. “What are you going to do, eat me for telling the truth? You’re scared, I get that. I’ve been in your big-ass reptilian head.” He shoved the dragon’s snout back. “I saw it all in your memories. I saw them attack you. I saw how big they were. I felt their talons rip through your wing. Shit, I’d be scared, too if I knew they were coming for me. But you know what?” He pointed to the people around the camp, and those at the mountainside, all of who had stopped and stared when the dragon roared. “These people don’t care that you’re scared. Being scared is normal. Human. They get that as well as I do. Let them help you.” He took a step closer and took the beast’s muzzle into his hands. “Let me help you.”
Anna’s heart pounded as the dragon and the human stared at each other. Puff had seemed so nice a few moments ago, but then to act out like that, was he really safe to be around?
Nik exhaled and touched his head to Puff’s nose. “I know,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
He was sorry? Sorry for what?
Nik turned. “It was wrong of me to tell you he’s scared. That was something personal.” He looked back to the dragon, but the creature looked away.
Anna gulped, not quite ready to believe the dragon wasn’t about to pounce on one of them.
Nik turned from the creature and faced the people who’d gathered around them. “You’ve all heard the legends. We’ve heard how the gray mountain dragons stole the crown from the crystal dragons eons ago. Well, apparently it’s worse than we’d thought.” The people in the crowd glanced at each other. “The Draconi are dying.” A few people gasped. “The crystal dragons have been lobbying to return to the skies, to ask the humans for peaceful coexistence like they had with our ancestors.” He looked at the ground. “I can’t put into words what he’s shown me from his memories; what those huge gray dragons have done to the rest of the Draconi, it’s unfathomable.”
Anna bit her lip. The gray dragons were the ones who had snatched her off the street, whose talons had bit into her flesh. She could appreciate anyone, anything being terrified of them.
Nik looked at Puff again.
The hush over the crowd loomed like a weight pressing them against the mountain. Anna rubbed her arms, warding off a phantom chill.
If there really was an entire race of dragons, where had they been hiding all these years?
Nik wiped his eyes and turned back to the crowd. “The gray dragons have been killing any bucks even remotely strong enough to win the Seventeen Year.” He ran his hand down the side of Puff’s glistening neck. “Our dragon wasn’t even on their radar. He’s too young to compete, but he was the crystal dragons’ only hope to break the cycle of terror.” Nik sighed, closing his eyes as if listening. “He’s only about seventeen years old.” Nik opened his eyes. “And they sent him out against huge males three and four times his age. They have to be desperate.”
Anna blinked. Seventeen years old. He was only a few years younger than she was, and his people had sent him out against those huge dragons? Were they insane?
Puff got to all fours. He growled in low, subtle tones and purrs. The crowd listened, rapt. Anna waited for the translation.
“He never expected to survive, let alone win.” Nik glanced at Puff’s injury. “But he needs to heal. He thanks us for our assistance.”
Puff walked toward the mountain. The people parted for him, following once he passed.
Nik held his arm out to Anna. “Coming?”
“I guess.” Where else would she go? And she was dying to see what would happen.
Nanna took Nik’s other arm. Her eyes glistened and her chin tilted a smidge higher when she looked at her grandson. Pops held an equally bright smile as they followed the dragon to the mountainside. What would it be like, knowing your grandson could talk to dragons? Especially since these people seem to have been waiting for this moment their whole lives. Even though no one was ever going to believe any of this, Anna was thrilled to be a part of something so momentous.
Puff fluttered his good wing when he reached the pile of rocks. He growled a few times, not a menacing sound, but more like the sound Dixie made when she wanted to go out.
Nik turned to Pops. “He wants to know if this is the right place.”
Pops nodded. “Our people walled the cavern up hundreds of years ago, when foreigners started to invade.” He looked back to the rocks. “Ruma Marama is one of our most sacred places. We couldn’t bear to see it defiled.”
He walked to the right edge, where a grouping of smaller rocks lay stacked like a totem pole. Pops and Tyler removed four large rocks from the top of the pile, revealing an opening about a foot and a half wide. “This is the entrance we use.”
The dragon approached, took a boulder in his massive jaws, and drew it from the hole, setting it a few yards from the opening.”
Pops beamed. “Thank you, Great One.”
So that’s what they meant when they asked the dragon to shift. They wanted him to move the rocks for them. But why not just come out and ask him for help?
Pops turned toward the crowd. “If everyone takes what they can carry, we will be inside in no time. We only need a hole large enough to get the dragon through.” He glanced at the sun, which had peaked, and now started its slow afternoon descent. “We must be within and have the camouflage back in place before sunset.”
Sunset—when the gray dragons would come looking for Puff.
The scars on Anna’s shoulders pulsed with a dull ache. It would be a long time before she’d forget the searing bite of the gray dragon’s claws piercing her flesh, if she was ever able to forget.
A child, probably no older than seven ran to the pile, grabbed a small stone, and set it beside the boulder the dragon had moved. The girl laughed when Puff nuzzled her, and she ran to grab another rock.
Puff turned, his gaze falling on Anna. She still wanted to fight the idea that this magnificent beast was anything more than an animal, but it was becoming harder and harder. Those eyes held wisdom, and the more she stared at them, the more she realized the devotion within them seeded so much deeper than modern thought would allow her to admit.
Her heart fluttered, and she had to fight the desire to reach out and stroke the dragon’s hide, to touch him and wallow in his warmth. No, this was not just an animal, or even just a dragon.
She took a step toward him and he lowered his head. He was in so much danger, up against such ridiculous odds, all with the slim hopes of saving his people from some sort of homicidal oligarchy.
Anna trembled, remembering the gray megalith rearing up, and the echo of the beast’s roar through the streets. Did this little dragon have a chance against anything so huge, when he was injured and unable to fly?
Three more children ran past, some working in tandem alongside the adults moving the rocks. The laughter from the children, the determined looks on the people’s faces, infused her. It had been ages since she’d seen so many people come together with a common purpose; unless they’d been paid to do so, that is.
If those huge dragons were coming, all these people were in as much danger as the dragon, yet they didn’t run. They labored on without question.
Puff limped toward the mountain and pulled out another boulder that no human seemed able to budge. All the smaller rocks above the boulder rolled away from the opening, widening the hole.
The people cheered, and Anna clapped with them. Near the opening, Nik took a large stone from his grandfather, while Nanna brought water to those laboring in the sun. Everyone seemed to have a job. Everyone but Anna, that was. Yet none gave her notice, or showed signs of annoyance at her lack of effort.
She pushed the fog from her mind. She really was the only one standing here, doing nothing. What was wrong with her? She was one of the few who’d seen what those gray dragons could do. She should be at the front of the line to help.
The children ran back toward the pile for more rocks. If Anna had been their parents, she would have dragged them down the mountain at the first mention of dragons. But their moms and dads were probably among those who toiled with the others. None of them worried about finishing in time. They just continued to work, many with smiles on their faces. They knew, without a doubt, that they would be safe within that mountain tonight, because they worked together toward that goal. She should be no different.
Anna moved toward the pile.
“Puff says stay back.” Nik placed the rock he’d been carrying on the ground. “He doesn’t want you hurt.”
She looked back to the dragon who stood with a boulder in his mouth.
“Screw that,” Anna said. “I’m in as much danger as everyone else.” She walked past the dragon. “Besides, I owe you my life, in case you’ve forgotten. What kind of girl would I be if I didn’t return the favor?”
Anna grabbed the biggest stone she could carry, and hauled it from the pile.