Chapter 18

I flared my wings and lowered, setting down gently near my home. Xyon slid down my leg and stood next to me. "I'll have to yell pretty loudly...you may want to cover your ears." He raised a brow but did so anyway, pinning his wolf ears against his head. I took a deep breath, then shouted, "Mother!" In the dragon's language. I heard her coming our way and started to regret. What if she hurts him or something else happens? Too late now...she can already see us. I moved my tail slightly closer to him when she landed, her wings generating strong gusts that tore at Xyon's clothes.

Her eyes stayed on him for only a moment, flicking over to meet mine. "Yes, Zavi? Did you want something?"

She's not directing hate at him, only wariness. "Uh, yes...I never told you before, but when you let me explore for the first time, I almost died…" She gave me patience--the willingness to hear out why I had brought someone to our nest before grilling us both alive. "It was this boy who saved me that time...I was afraid to tell you about him or show him to you...but he has continued to help me…"

"And?"

"Mother, this is Senra Xyon. He's an orphan and half beastkin, half human." What am I doing?! What was the point of this?!

"Right...now, explain to me why you brought him to our nest?" I don't know! My mind feels like it's on fire! Xyon clicked his tongue and I snapped to attention. Woah!

Was I under some sort of spell? "His father was killed by the green dragon!" The snake-like presence in my mind reeled and disappeared. She was doing something to me!

"What? That green dragon?"

"Yes…"

"Then it knows his scent?"

"Maybe…"

"Then it can follow him here?" I froze, my eyes growing wide. She's…! The world seemed to slow when she took a deep breath and said, "Then we'll have to remove that threat!" She released a billow of flame at him and he ducked, covering his head. No! I went to move knowing full well that it would turn him to ash, when a loud thud was heard. Her fire was being repelled by an invisible barrier at the same power level. Wow! Where'd that come from?! My mother's expression turned to one of confusion, and Xyon hesitatingly stood straight. She cut off the fire and huffed smoke before whirling on me. "Zavi! Did you give him one of your scales?!" I could only stand there in shock. She just tried to kill Xyon. "Zavi, get ahold of yourself!"

I glared at her. "You…!"

"Answer me!" Her bellow banished any thought of rage.

"Y-yes...I did." She showed no change of emotion, just frustration.

"Ugh! You silly dragoness! But...I do have to admit that your scale will cancel out his scent and make it your own. At least that explains why I could only smell you." She nipped me and faced Xyon. In his language, she said, "I'm not afraid to admit when I'm wrong, because I wasn't. If she had not bequeathed that scale to you, you'd already have been dead long ago. That dragon never allows its quarry to escape. Why you saved my daughter back then, I don't know, and I don't ever expect to. Now, can you give me the real reason you came here?" Her gaze bore into me.

I wracked my brain for the answer, knowing it was in there somewhere. Ah! "I want you to teach him how to fight. He wants revenge, and I recently realized he's not strong enough." That slitherhowl almost ate him and only didn't because I died for him. "Then I would appreciate it if you could allow us to learn to fight together. I have questions I need answered, and I believe traveling with him after that dragon will help me." Where did I get the courage to say all that?

She scowled and I wanted to hide...but then she suddenly smirked. "Finally! I've been waiting for you to talk back to me for years!"

"Does that mean…"

"Yeah, I'll train both of you. Him to fight and both to synchronize with one another. From what I can tell...Senra Xyon, right?" He flinched when she turned her attention to him. "Your element, is it dark?"

"Y-y-yes."

"Alright, then your first lesson is to resist your own element's mental attacks. Zavi, you might not want to watch this." She raised her paw near his trembling frame, mana circulating around it before darting out at him. He jolted, then fell over. I wanted to rush toward him, but I could hear his heartbeat and breathing. He's fine...for now.

"What did you do?"

"I trapped his mind in the dark dimension--in a nightmare. When and if he escapes, I'll teach him. Otherwise it's not worth teaching someone who can't handle even this tiny attack."

"It's an attack?!"

"Hush. Yes, it is. When he runs into danger, or especially feels pain, he'll writhe and scream. I did tell you that this wasn't something you'd want to watch. Now, Zavi, come with me." She gently set Xyon in her paw and shoved off, flying away. Fine...I'll go with her. I had to pound my wings to catch up, but that was fine. I don't want him out of my sight...I feel like that would be dangerous. She spun in place and raised her free paw to make me stop. "This maze of glaciers should work. You won't be able to travel far just holding him in your paw, nor will you be able to fight. I'm sure you've already let him on your back." The knowing glint in her eyes made me want to squirm. "Seeing as you are so determined, I'll make sure you're unstoppable...don't want my daughter dying, after all. You will never know what situation you can end up in, so while he's unconscious, I want you to carry him on your back through this maze. And not slowly...you'll be dodging my attacks the whole time. Learn to protect both yourself and him." She glided over and placed him carefully right where I'd told him to sit. I was right! "He won't be able to hold on, so be careful not to drop him. I'll be firing at him, by the way. If he falls, even if the flame won't actually make contact, the force against the shield will send him flying. Keep that in mind. Now go." I nodded, adjusting the spikes on my back to hold him in place more before racing off. My danger sense blared at me and I zagged to the side, the tip of my tail becoming engulfed in fire. She's already attacking?! I'm not in the maze yet! And she's chasing me! I yelped in shock when she swerved into sight in front of me. How's she get there?! "You'll have to try harder than that." She charged at me and swiped at Xyon. I curved my back, barely managing to lower him enough. At least her talons were sheathed.

She came from underneath me, snarling. I linked paws with her, wrestling midair. Xyon began to slip and I put more pressure on him. I don't know if my spine spikes can hold him down! Her grip tightened and she pressed in closer, snapped at my shoulder. She's still after Xyon!  I growled and bit her, forcing her to let go and vanish behind glaciers. Hurry, I have to hurry! I furled my wings and dived into the maze, beginning to understand the lesson. I need to protect both of us and lose her inside the maze! He's still staying on my back for the moment, so there's the good part. The bad is that I'm being hunted down while he's unconscious. It took most of my attention to avoid slamming into ice within this world of reflections. "Why?" I whispered to myself in this eerie silence to bring sound in. But why is she being so vicious?

"Zavi!" Her roar startled me, almost making my spikes go straight. No, if I do that, he'll fall! I panicked as she drew closer. What do I do?! Fly faster and risk dropping Xyon?! Stand my ground and fight it out?! My eyes caught on a crevice between the tightly fit glaciers. There! I can hide! With a beat of my wings, I was over there, holding Xyon in my paws so I could wiggle my way inside. After I figured I was far enough in, I breathed out a wave of ice, sealing the opening. This should help long enough for me to find another way out. I turned away from there and went deeper, chasing after the glimpse of light I could see at the end. Once I had slipped free, I held Xyon against my chest with a cupped paw. I still have three to use in a fight, but it's still one less than the enemy. He's not very secure either...I'm not exactly a big dragon, not yet anyway. Xyon started groaning and I instinctively covered his mouth before he screamed. The nightmares she told me about! This will expose our position! I zipped off, trying to gain distance from where we'd been. Not good! Without so much as a slight warning, she slammed into me from the side, aiming to snatch Xyon. It was clearly surprising to her that he wasn't on my back, but it didn't take long for her to find him. "He's safer, but you're weaker!" She blasted fire in my face, blinding me for several seconds, but I only tightened my grip on Xyon and put my other paw on top of him, completely shielding him. I don't care...he's the main focus right now. I inhaled deeply, accepting the fire inside my lungs. She cut off the moment I released my blue flame. It was shocking to watch her dodge it in a panic. Is that really so strong? I never thought it was.

I stopped, taking deep breaths. "No! I'm stronger when I have someone to protect." I fought the darkness clouding my vision. I've been using high-level skills and I'm getting tired and hungry.

"Too naive. Your determination practically doubles, but you grow exhausted faster because of a state of fear...the fear of losing the one you're protecting." She's...she's right. "You've already lost. I've backed you into a corner...any idea how to get out of it?" I shook my head slowly, trying to think clearly. My strength drained, I went numb, passing out.