A Dragon's Heart: Book One [6]
It wasn’t until a month later when Ash returned from his ‘shopping trip’ at Gabriel’s black market hang out that they realised that Professor Michael Novak, former first Runner, was a devious son of bitch.
“Holy shit!”
“Jesus Christ!”
“In the name of Buffy, what the fuck!”
They all sprayed the beer across each other and the bamboo carpet of Andy, Ash and Adam’s shared room. It was disgusting and each of them was attempting to remove the taste of vinegar tainted beer from their mouths. Ash ripped open the sealed bag of gummi worms across the floor and was about to shovel the stringy sweets into his mouth until he realised that the sweets were all the same colour and moving.
“Worms?! Real worms! The hell?” Adam yelled as the boys' dragons descended on the wiggling creatures like a flock of hungry pigeons.
“Looks like Gabriel is siding with his brother now…” Andy muttered fetching water bottles from his drawers and handing them out to the spluttering group.
“Damn it. I thought he liked us!” Adam flopped back against his drawers refusing to pout at the victory Michael had gained.
“His allegiance is bought by interest. I guess he thought Michael’s idea would be fun. We just need to buy him back,” Garth offered.
“Any ideas?” Adam asked the boys.
They all looked thoughtful as they paused in their clean up attempt.
I have an idea… Zelda mumbled through a mouthful of meat.
Adam looked down the line of battle ready New Recruits with pride. These were his friends. He never had friends before. He was always the odd kid at school. Alienated for his intelligence and quirks at first and then for the father everyone seemed to worship. The other children at all the fancy schools hated him for sullying the great John Winchester’s reputation. Adam had a lonely existence that orbited his smiling caring mother and then suddenly she was gone. A cough was their only warning before she was ripped away.
Then he was dragged into a home where his father could barely stand to look at him. Where Mary Winchester never spoke and remained a distant ice figure of perfection and heartlessness. If it hadn’t been for Dean thumping him in the shoulder and Sam sharing his homework he’d have probably taken his own life years ago.
Now he didn’t just have Sam’s mother henning and Dean’s easy smiles. He had Harry’s twitchy arrogance and Ed’s weird beard. He had Garth’s happy optimism and Ash’s crazy ass parties. He had Andy’s ever constant nervousness and Sirenia’s snarky love.
“Target approaching,” Ash muttered distracted as he stared through his neon pink binoculars he fished out of a cereal box.
Adam seriously doubted they actually worked.
“Positions, Avengers!” Ed ordered.
The group of adolescents obeyed and collected their weapons. Dean had let them onto the roof of The House of Fire and the gravel shifted under their feet as they stared over the brick wall.
“Target locked! Attack!” Ash shouted and Professor Michael Novak looked up in confusion. Adam smiled and winked as Michael’s face dropped in realization. Their target had a second before Adam and his crew dropped their rainbow permanent dye filled balloons onto his head.
A small dark part of Adam’s soul was cackling evilly as he stole a glance at his rainbow coloured teacher sitting stiffly next to him in Singer’s office. Oddly that evil voice sounded like Sirenia….
“I have no idea what to do with you two idgits.” Bobby sighed as he eyed the half full glass of scotch on his dark ring stained rickety desk. He lazed back in his ragged old chair that looked far cosier then the hard steel chair he’d been pushed into by Michael. Adam resisted touching the ghost brand on his shoulder. Sirenia nipped at his leg in warning, he offered a silent apology knowing a hard on was not a good idea at that particular moment.
“Detention. Three months. Every night,” Bobby stated finally, keeping eye contact with the young student. Adam nodded not really feeling like the punishment was justified but unwilling to anger the scruffy old man. “With Michael.”
“You can’t be serious, Robert!”
“The hell! How will that work?!”
Oh sweet lord this can only end in homicide…My money’s on Michael.
“Shut it! The problem is with you two and if you’re not going to fuck this anger away, then you’ll work together to find a compromise. End of discussion, now get out of my office," Singer finished and all Adam could do was gape at the old rider in astonishment. Michael looked like he was in shock.
I like you. Sirenia smiled toothily at Bobby who smirked.
“Get!” Michael and Adam fled quickly following Bobby’s barked order. The Master Chief’s office wasn’t exactly a warm inviting space anyway.
“Hey, Castiel!” Adam yelled across the garden as he spotted the head of house. Castiel waved him over and Adam half jogged through the ankle high labyrinth of plant beds and cobbled pathways towards him. The garden hidden behind The House of Water was beautiful.
It was full of blooming flowers and herbs with reaching vines curving and climbing along the walls. A large glass pillar surrounded with black shining pebbles and over flowing with shimmering waterstood at the edge of the decorative first half of the garden. The rest wasreserved for a large open grassy field that actedlike a landing pad for the dragons. Curved glass benches were settled around the fountain and some of the hidden niches in the shades of blossoming trees. Adam hadn’t had much time to sit and enjoy the fragrant open space provided to the students of The House of Water.
“Hello, Adam,” Castiel greeted as Adam skidded to a stop next to the head of the house.
“Hey, Cas,” Adam greeted in return with an aborted wave.
“What can I do for you?” Castiel asked stepping away from the flower bed he’d been admiring. Adam studied the bright blue tiny flowers that acted like a blanket across one corner of the raised bed.
“Oh, uh. I was wondering if I could talk to you about bonding…and Michael…and possibly how Michael was bonded before?” Adam stuttered through his question. Forgetting the subtle speech he’d planned with Sirenia before she’d taken off in search of Deanna. Castiel cocked his head to the side as if confused by Adam’s nervousness.
“Of course I am available to discuss such things, Adam.” Castiel headed toward the fountain slowly prompting Adam to follow. “What would you like to know specifically?”
“Well…I guess I’m just curious about Michael’s bonding…I’m pretty sure that he should be dead,” Adam muttered as they passed a small group of giggling girls tying bows to their unimpressed dragons tails.
“My brother is lucky to have survived the death of his bond mate," Castiel started once they were far enough away from the other students. There was a line of tension in the brunette’s shoulders.
“I thought bond mates always failed to survive the death of their partner.” Adam frowned as he remembered the simple words in his textbook that clinically described the bond and its complexities.
“Though often the case, sometimes one can survive without the other. I know in my heart that if your brother passed, I would follow him instantly. Our bond is incredibly strong, almost like an eternal bond. Dean does not believe in the eternal bond like I do, he refers to it as ‘romantic fairy-tale nonsense’.” Castiel smiled as he mentioned Dean and Adam couldn’t help but giggle under his breath. His brother never failed to blush when Castiel was mentioned.
“The textbooks mention the eternal bond vaguely. There isn’t much on it except fairy-tale nonsense,” Adam prompted hoping Castiel will take the hint. He wasn’t disappointed.
“My father would tell us the story of the eternal bond. He said that those with an eternal bond, the pair could read each other’s minds as easily as a dragon can read their rider’s mind. That they shared each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It was even recorded one hundred years ago that an eternal bonded pair managed to bring each other back from the brink of death,” Castiel remarked settling on one of the glass benches in the garden.
“Sounds like a fairy-tale.” Adam settled beside the head of the house.
“I admit it does.” Castiel laughed as he watched Deanna glide into the garden not too far away from them.
Sirenia floated down beside the much larger blue dragon like a piece of paper at the mercy of the soft breeze.
“How did Michael survive?” Adam asked a few moments of comfortable silence.
Castiel frowned. “All though Lucifer and Michael were close…their bond was…it is hard to describe," Castiel sighed shaking his head.
“They weren’t compatible?” Adam questioned watching the older student struggle with something.
Michael was deeply in love with Lucifer…however the same could not be said for Lucifer. Castiel and I watched as Michael followed Lucifer blindly. He could not see the young man’s faults. It was hard for us as Michael refused to acknowledge Lucifer’s failings. In the end he did manage to atone for many of his sins but he will always be marked in our eyes, Deanna spoke on behalf of her rider.
Adam frowned deeply with the new information. “What did he do?” the younger rider inquired.
Sirenia hopped up onto Adam’s lap and watched the group curiously.
“He was…unkind to many of the younger students,” Castiel mumbled, hugging himself tightly and Adam realised that Lucifer must have hurt the head of The House of Water.
“If Lucifer hurt you, why did Michael stay with him?” Adam wondered enraged on Castiel’s behalf. One thing that Adam grudgingly admired about Michael was his protection and love for his siblings. He couldn’t understand why Michael would have allowed, much less stayed with, a man who would hurt his family.
“As Deanna said, Michael was blind to Lucifer’s faults,” Castiel stated.
“I’m sorry…” Adam mumbled for lack of anything else to say.
“It is in the past.” Castiel smiled sadly.
Somehow Adam didn’t think it was completely buried. He didn’t push though and the four of them sat in silence watching the sun lower in the sky.
After Adam’s awkward and informative talk with Castiel, the youngest Winchester was surprisingly nervous about his first detention with Michael. Sirenia was trotting alongside Adam as he walked slowly down the halls towards Michael’s personal office. He admitted to the furthest reaches of his mind that he was dragging his feet. He really didn’t want to be trapped in a room with the object of his desire for an hour of awkward silences and anger fuelled words…and possible molestation. He didn’t think he could handle it.
Please stop panicking, Sirenia grumbled nipping at his heels.
“Sorry. Can’t help it,” Adam replied his heart not really in it.
You’re ridiculous. Here…I’ll bite you if you start going in the wrong direction. Conversation and physically wise that is. Sirenia smiled.
“Thanks.” Adam smiled gratefully.
All of a sudden they reached Michael’s door. The lights of the corridors were dimmed as no one else but a few teachers where present. The students all settled into their houses or down in the Village for a night out. Adam let the fact that his merry band of crazy friends were waiting patiently for him back in his room comfort him slightly.
Deep breath my dear Adam. Sirenia bumped her head lightly against Adam’s leg.
Adam smiled down at her before steeling himself and knocked.
“Enter.” Michael’s controlled calm voice echoed through the thick wooden door.
Adam gulped then straightened dragging up some non-existent confidence before pushing into Michael’s office. “Professor Novak,” Adam greeted taking a moment to glance round the tiny cluttered office.
Michael would have had to climb over his desk in order to get out of the room it was that small. Piles of paperwork littered every spare inch of floor leaving only a barely there path to the single guest chair. The wall behind Michael’s head was covered in diplomas, medals and pictures. Some were grainy black and white, obviously cut out of a newspaper and others were bright and filled with smiles and hugs.
“Take a seat, Milligan.” Michael gestured to the single seat barely looking up so he missed the sharp painful look that crossed Adam’s face.
Don’t cry. It appears that Michael is making an effort to be civil, Sirenia offered sounding slightly taken a back.
I’m not going to cry, Adam denied trying to push the salted tears back. It was stupid to cry over a simple name but it really touched Adam that for once someone was acknowledging his mother. Adam folded himself into the chair and busied himself petting Sirenia to avoid eye contact until he got himself under control.
“Here,” Michael muttered pushing a small stack of papers across the desk. “You’re falling behind in Dragon War. This is test designed to see where you are weakest in the subject…though it appears you can declare war and execute attacks on your enemy quite well. Gabriel and Balthazar are quite smitten with you.”
Adam ducked his head to hide his smile at the compliment. “Thanks. Your brothers are quite the evil geniuses in the making,” Adam offered.
Michael snorted. “Begin. You have one hour to complete your test. Next time we will discuss what you need to work on and begin improving your grade. I have also been told by Professor Milton you are struggling in Dragon Law so we will be working on some aspects of that class as well,” Michael stated, shuffling some papers.
Adam shivered at the mention of Zachariah Milton and Sirenia hissed.
Michael raised an eyebrow at their behaviour.
“Sorry. Professor Milton creeps me out.” Adam shrugged lazily.
“Regardless, Dragon Law is a subject you need a passing grade in to graduate your first year at the Academy…if it helps most of the staff cannot stand him either,” Michael offered, his lush lips twitching upwards slightly.
Sirenia’s teeth latched on to his thigh lightly in warning and Adam winced. “It helps,” Adam replied before grabbing a pencil and getting to work on his test.
The three occupants lapsed into a comfortable silence only broken by the soft ticking of a hidden clock and the rough scratches of pencils on paper. Sirenia dozed on Adam’s lap offering answers lazily as Adam’s tongue teased his lips in concentration. Michael was humming quietly as he frowned at some of the essays in his hands.
The young New Recruit couldn’t help stealing sly glances from under his blonde eyelashes of the Professor before him. Michael was somewhat relaxed in a way that Adam hadn’t observed in the gorgeous teacher before. The youngest Winchester could admit that his simple crush was growing into something else the more he thought of Michael. Dreams of passionate meetings in storage closets were morphing into having a more domestic theme.
It was shocking because Adam was just fourteen. He shouldn’t be dreaming about settling down with a man he’d spent the first few months of his stay at the Academy tormenting. Sirenia snorted softly and Adam retaliated with broadcasting a pornographic dream at her.
“OUCH!” Adam screamed as Sirenia dug her sharp talons into Adam’s groin in revenge.
“Are you all right?” Michael asked raising a concerned eyebrow.
“Fine…just a difference of opinion,” Adam muttered swearing at Sirenia in his mind.
His tiny dragon chuckled. You should not be so worried. Sirenia yawned stretching across her rider’s lap.
Why not? I’m fourteen! Adam yelled mentally.
True but at this point Dean was obsessed with Castiel. Your brother is now happily bonded with the young man he has been thinking of since he was fourteen, Sirenia stated ignoring Adam’s freaking out.
Not the same. Dean hated Cas, Adam pointed out.
Yes and you hated Michael at first…. His glittering dragon remained curling in on herself.
…Fuck. Adam wanted to hit his head off of the desk but refrained.
Quite. Now finish your test so you can go bitch with your girlfriends about Michael. Sirenia sighed.
Why do I love you? Adam chuckled.
Face it my dear Adam. You are stuck with me. Sirenia winked up at Adam and he smiled.
A Few Months later…
“Happy Yuletide Bro’s!” Ash yelled early in the morning.
Adam groaned and shoved his head under his pillow. Sirenia hissed and clawed her way under the duvet leaving bloody lines down Adam’s back.
“Ash how can you be so cheery? We have our Physical Training section testing over the next few days!” Andy complained.
Adam listened with half an ear to the argument that had repeated several times over the last couple of weeks like a human countdown. Adam wasn’t worried…too much. The Physical Training section of the Academy’s New Recruit curriculum was hard work but had minimal theory tests so all he had to really worry about was completing certain tests in the allotted times.
“Because we have the Yule celebrations after. Dude, the Yule Week celebrations at the Academy are legendary!” Ash shouted happily whilst yanking Adam’s duvet away.
“Dude! Seriously come on!” Adam threw his pillow at his energetic roommate.
“You need to get up anyway. We have our Combat Training test in an hour,” Andy reminded helpfully, already half way dressed. Adam made a frustrated noise before throwing himself back on his bed.
I hate Combat Training…Bug does not play fair, Sirenia grumbled trying to dig herself under Adam’s back.
The blonde teen could sympathise. Joanna Harvelle and her ruby coloured dragon, Bug always fought dirty when they were paired together. Ash made the mistake of making fun of Adam for getting his ass kicked by a girl and Jo broke his collarbone as a lesson in respect of the fairer sex.
“Maybe you two won’t have to fight Jo and Bug for the test?” Andy offered unsure.
“Knowing our luck, that’s unlikely,” Adam groaned.
What’s after the Combat Training test? Badass asked from her spot on Ash’s pillow.
“Weapons Training test. Then tomorrow we have Protective Detail testing and the Guardianship Training test. After that is the Survival Training exam…you guys won’t leave me behind on that one will you? I know it counts for a lot of our overall grade I just….” Andy trailed off and Ash and Adam shared a knowing look. Andy had the most trouble with Survival Training and often got left behind during the runs for not being fast enough. Ash and Adam attempted to stay with Andy as often as they could but Professor Rufus Turner always pushed them forward.
“We’ll be there with you. Promise,” Adam offered his nervous friend an encouraging smile. Sure it did count for a big part of their overall Physical Training grade but Andy was their friend and the friendships you made at the Academy were for life. Far more important.
Indeed. We shall run by his side not only in the test but in life, Sirenia stated proudly.
How philosophical of you. Adam snickered mentally whilst poking Sirenia in the side physically.
I have my moments. Sirenia huffed before diving off the bed and hiding under it.
“Adam’s right, man! We won’t leave you!” Ash grinned wide and Andy relaxed visibly.
“Thanks guys.”
“Begin!” Professor Ellen Harvelle, like most teachers at the Academy, did not need a megaphone to be heard across the large cavern usually used for Dragon War.
Today instead of Michael’s rich tones bouncing of the rocky walls around their small class, the room was filled with the whole year group and Ellen’s rough orders. Each student was wearing a tank top and sweats in their house colour with their dragons in hard protective gear sitting beside them. The House of Water New Recruits were stood in line facing New Recruits from The House of Fire. Castiel and Dean were stood side by side near Professor Harvelle to provide support for their house members. Anna and Lisa were huddled together chatting in hushed tones at the end of their respective house lines.
“Ready to get your ass kicked, Milligan!” Jo smirked as she cracked her delicate looking knuckles. She looked like a delicate blonde flower but Adam knew by now not to be fooled by the pretty wrapping paper. Inside Jo was an angry young teenager trying to prove herself. Her father had died years ago during the civil war and Jo was determined to prove herself as good as her heroic father. Adam admired that, he admired her…he hated the fact she used his mother’s last name as an insult. Like being a Milligan was somehow less than being classed as a Winchester.
“Bring it, Baby Spice!” Adam growled.
Ash had kindly pointed out how Jo had beaten the crap out of a fellow housemate who commented on her baby like face.
The blonde boy had a moment to wonder if poking at that particular insecurity was such a good idea.
Joanna roared and launched herself at Adam in a furious ball of sharp nails and illegal moves.
Turns out it wasn’t a good idea…
“What have we learned Addy?” Dean’s voice was full of amusement.
“Insulting your unstable opponent results in a severe concussion and more bruises then the healers can count," Adam replied wincing around his black eye.
“Correct answer is ‘Hell hath no fury like an insecure teenage girl’,” Dean corrected trying not to laugh.
“Professor Harvelle apologised for her daughter’s behaviour. You have a pass grade in Combat Training…mostly for not blacking out, crying or curling into the fetal position during Miss Harvelle’s attack,” Castiel offered from beside Adam’s broken body on the matt.
“Yey…” Adam mumbled unenthusiastically. The only reason he didn’t cry and beg for mercy was because of the audience…he really wanted too though.
“My apologies for how Miss Harvelle conducted herself during your test today,” Michael offered without sincerity. Amusement rolled off the Professor in waves.
Adam groaned. “Is there anyone at school who hasn’t heard about that?” Adam grumbled ignoring the half written essay in front of him. Michael didn’t seem too fussed about it though considering the day’s events.
“Perhaps. Though by tomorrow that will be a distant dream.” Michael chuckled and Adam couldn’t help the warm feeling that spread through him at the sound. “How was your Weapons Training test?”
“Considering I can barely move because of your house’s little blonde Hulk? Fine. I passed. Though I need some work on shotgun usage and the canons according to Professor Elkins," Adam replied.
Michael nodded encouragingly.
Detention was the best time of day for Adam. He was a little upset that in a few weeks his time with Michael would be over. The first two months had flown by. Michael and Adam had become friends…sort of. There was still some tension between them but they got on well enough.
Now you have reached this stage maybe he will drag you over the desk by your collar and have his way with you, like during your shower yesterday morning. Sirenia giggled.
Is nothing sacred! Adam yelled. Please stay out of my brain when I’m in the shower!
And miss out on this material to tease you with…maybe. Sirenia smiled softly and Adam knew she wouldn’t but in during his ‘me’ time too often. But like a sibling it was her duty to annoy him sometimes.
“Are you worried about your Survival Training exam?” Michael asked finishing his current stack of assessments.
“Not particularly. Ash and I will be holding back to keep Andy company,” Adam replied giving up on concentrating on his essay.
“Why? You are aware that this will count as more than fifty percent of your grade?” Michael looked severely confused.
“Yeah we know that but Andy’s our friend. We can’t just leave him behind. He’ll have a panic attack every five minutes if we do. Anyway this way we have fun and we can hunt together. It’ll be fine.” Adam shrugged.
“Very well," Michael accepted. “Good Luck.”
“Thanks,” Adam said gratefully.
“Listen up Group Four!” Professor Rufus Turner yelled across the field and Adam poked Ash into paying attention. “Your journey starts here! From this point you will have the rest of the week to make it around the island. You’ll have to cross the barren plains surrounding The House of Fire. Traverse the forest of The House of Earth. Find a way across the inlet of ocean and climb the mountain near The House of Air before crossing the finish line here!”
“Just a walk in the park…” Ash muttered.
“Here are the rules! Anybody caught breaking them gets an instant fail!” Rufus looked far too pleased at that prospect but then again it was common knowledge that he couldn’t stand his students. “Rule one: you must travel with your dragon at all times. Rule two: you cannot sabotage your fellow students. Those are the rules. As always thirty percent of your grade is reliant on getting across the finish line. The other twenty percent of your grade will be awarded to those upholding the Dragon Rider way. So far only eight students in the history of the Academy have been awarded full marks, none in living memory. So good luck and GET OUT OF HERE!” Professor Turner’s dark green dragon roared loudly and fired a large autumn coloured fireball into the blue sky.
“Here we go!” Ash commented jovially. Adam shook his head with a smile and pulled his rucksack onto his back.
“Everybody ready?” Adam asked their small group. When they’d arrived early morning the gang had drawn together like magnets. Ash had mentioned that he and Adam would be travelling with Andy throughout the test and suddenly their group of three had expanded as Harry, Ed and Garth wanted to join them. Andy had almost cried and Adam couldn’t really blame him. If he was in the nervous teen’s place, he’d have been touched by the camaraderie of the group too.
“We’re all set. Let’s head out,” Garth answered as everybody else nodded.
The group set off at a brisk walk enjoying the early morning sunlight on their faces and the coolness of the air. Students rushed past, some running and other jogging. Nobody else seemed to have formed a group and Adam was slightly worried.
“Does everybody have enough water for the lava plains?” Ed asked, yawning.
A chorus of yes’s answered him.
“We want to get to the forest by nightfall. There’s supposed to be rain tonight and I know we have tents but we’ll be better protected by the trees if it’s a heavy downpour,” Harry mentioned.
“Good plan. Plus we can get something good to eat in the forest. On the plains we would just be stuck with our power bars. I figure we should save those for the water section of the exam,” Adam pointed out.
“This will be fun!” Garth and Ash side hugged each other as they marched forward in optimism.
“Yeah it will be,” Adam mumbled smiling widely.
The plains had been rough going and Adam was overjoyed and relieved as they spotted the forest just as night was falling. The rough uneven terrain had almost cost them Andy’s ankle and they had to stop several times to dig out one of their dragons. The tiny cracks and deceptive caves that appeared bigger than actually were, proved too tempting for their curious young dragons.
Their water reserves were almost completely gone and they’d fallen into silence a few hours before. The start of the journey was filled with songs, jokes and stories. Now everybody was tired, thirsty and hungry. They hadn’t seen another student in quite some time either and Adam knew Andy was feeling a little miserable because of it.
“Harry, you go find some firewood. Garth and Ed, you guys start on setting up camp. Andy, you go find a stream or something for water. Ash and I will go find some food,” Adam delegated taking charge of the small group of exhausted teenagers. No one argued and started on their appointed tasks.
I have the scent of a small boar not too far away, Sirenia said pointing with her wing tip in the direction of their dinner.
“Sounds good,” Ash drawled pulling out his crossbow and loading it. “Badass and Sirenia can lead it into an open area and you and I can bring it down.”
Adam nodded and unlatched his bow and quiver from his rucksack.
Harry had waddled back into their small campsite with his arms full of twigs and sticks. “There are some other students camping out not to far away. Watch out if you’re hunting,” Harry said dropping his cache of firewood in the centre of the clearing.
“Got it thanks, Harry. Can you go help Andy with the water? Bring back extra for cooking and if you see anything we can add to dinner nab it.”
Harry nodded and wandered off after Buffy.
“Meat!” Ash shouted cocking his crossbow happily.
Adam sighed.
With his mother Adam had travelled the world. She’d set out to heal and cure everybody she met. Adam had spent his summer holidays around fires in villages of the most remote regions of Africa. He listened as locals told stories in a language he barely understood, the voices joyful and full of wonder and their hands painting fantastic pictures. When Kate died, Adam figured those magical moments were dead too. But sitting around a small fire surrounded by his new friends it was like having that all back.
She is not gone, so long as you remember her. These new memories will not over shadow your mother’s…she would be proud of them and of you, Sirenia said softly peering over her shoulder at her rider.
Adam smiled sadly at her. He glanced around their small troupe sat on their empty packs circling the campfire. The warm light flickering on their laughing faces and their stomachs full tasty boar and berries. He was happy.
And there is more happiness to come young one. Sirenia smiled softly before settling back down.
Yeah there is…for the first time in a long time, Adam replied feeling at home in the cool green forest.
“Hey guys. We’re friends, right?” Ed asked quietly.
Everybody ceased joking and eating and turned to Ed and Harry who, despite sitting still, were vibrating with a nervous energy.
“Absolutely.” Adam nodded with confidence.
“We are the Avengers!” Ash yelled and Badass roared with her rider.
“Brothers of The House of Water!” Garth offered, raising his canteen.
“Uhh…what they said with the same enthusiasm,” Andy offered sheepishly.
“Good ‘cause…we’re…ummm…dating…” Harry stated timidly, his fingers intertwining with Ed’s. Both boys blushed under the fiery light.
“Good for you!” Adam smiled widely.
“So maybe not brothers….” Garth laughed and soon the whole group was giggling and clutching their sides.
Congratulations Harry, Buffy, Ed and Zelda. We are all most pleased with your union. May you have many years of happiness. Fizzles, Badass, Bianca and Sirenia bowed and spoke the formal congratulations. It was pretty old school and rarely used in modern times…mostly because people got together and broke up so quickly. Harry and Ed blushed and bowed awkwardly as they accepted the dragons' blessing. Zelda and Buffy intertwined their tails and bowed deeply in thanks.
“To Harry and Ed!” Adam cheered raising his canteen. “And to their roommate Garth and his noise cancelling headphones! Congrats!”
“Here, here!” The group cheered laughing as they clinked together their steel water containers.
The intrepid House of Water students had traversed the forest easily enough. The harbour was a little harder but together they had fashioned a raft. Not that it helped them stay dry when every five minutes they pushed each other and their dragons into the cold salty water. By the time they reached the other side of the inlet nobody was dry or warm.
They made camp on the beach and grilled some fish their dragons had caught as they ducked and dived under the gentle waves. When they retired for the night Adam wasn’t surprised that Harry and Ed had only set up one tent between them. They were more relaxed in the group then they had been before and Adam felt bad for the tension they’d carried before.
The next morning a fog had rolled across the ground and shrouded the island in a shimmering mist. Adam’s breath curled in front of his face as he yawned.
“This shouldn’t be a problem on a mountainside…” Adam muttered sarcastically.
Maybe for you. Twenty-twenty vision my scaly ass. How you chimps climbed down from the trees and colonised the world without falling off cliffs like your attempt at being the Lemming God I’ll never understand, Sirenia grumbled.
“Hey! It’s not my fault they wouldn’t listen to me. I was merciful Lemming God.” Adam huffed.
You self-destructed the little purple bastards in a fit of rage, Sirenia pointed out smirking.
“Fuck off.” Adam sighed.
“We have two days left to reach the finish line!” Andy shouted over the howling wind.
Your point, Badass yelled struggling to remain airborne alongside the group.
“I don’t think we’re going to make it at this pace…leave me behind. I’m holding you back,” Andy replied.
“Hell no!” Adam shouted. His face felt frozen and the icy blasting wind hadn’t let up since they’d begun. Despite their warm thick outdoor clothing it was clear their group was feeling the chill right down to their bones. Adam had to check his fingers were still clutching the mountainside as they’d become numb some time back. Even without Andy they’d still be stuck at their snail pace.
“Brotherhood!” Garth shouted. Adam couldn’t see him anymore.
The insanely optimistic one is correct! We do this together! Sirenia screamed against the wind. Adam reached out to his flailing dragon and thankfully felt her talons tearing into the flesh of his arm as she clung to the offered lifeline. Andy followed Adam’s lead and Bianca tumbled into his coat and gripped his chest. Badass flung herself into the mountainside and scurried across the rock face to the safety of her rider.
“Guys I’m serious! Its better one of us fails instead of all of us!” Andy pleaded.
“I never passed a single physical education class in my life! This won’t kill me!” Harry yelled from further back.
It might! Buffy shrieked.
Adam agreed, if it continued they’d have to stop. A passing grade wasn’t worth the mortal danger they faced.
The pale blue of the mountainside and the dark sapphire outdoor coats they wore were the only colour in the cruel silver around them. Adam wasn’t even sure how high up they were and that was a frightening thought he no longer wanted to contemplate.
“AHHHHH!” Ed cried out. His voice barely heard over the howling wind.
“ED!” Harry screamed turning back quickly, the spot were Ed had been clinging to the wall was eerily empty.
Adam swallowed thickly at the heart wrenching sound of Harry’s scream and the empty spot where their friend should have been. “ED!”
Zelda! Ed! Buffy screeched hovering like a humming bird in the all-consuming fog. There was no answer and Adam’s stomach plummeted.
“Guys we have to go back!” Harry shouted and Adam could hear the tears in his voice.
“Alright! Sirenia, Bianca, Badass, you three see if you can find Ed and Zelda. Harry stay put we’re climbing back!” Adam ordered already beginning the slow climb back; their dragons dived into the grey disappearing from sight.
Ash and Garth began retracing their footholds backwards and Andy shuffled across the rock face towards Harry, who was leaning away from the mountain and straining his eyes to see through the thick fog.
Adam just hoped the unnatural silence underneath the wind was his imagination.
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