Healed

Chapter 12

Flame whirled around tightly to find no one was there. "What the hell? Did you hear that?" he demanded Umber who only returned his question with fearful eyes.

"Flame...stop messing with me. I-I didn't hear anything."

"But you must have! It was right behind me I swear-" Flame slammed his jaw shut. He was sounding as crazy as Umber was. Taking a deep breath Flame hid his fear. It's just my imagination getting the better of me. There is no one here...especially not Stonemover. Although a terrifying thought came to mind. Could he be using his animus magic to curse me? Is this revenge for trying to kill him?

"Flame?" Umber's gentle voice tore into his thoughts. The MudWing was looking at him with concern.

Fuck. I can't let Umber see me freaking out. With a deep breath Flame hurried forward. "Sorry. I just...thought I heard something. It was nothing though," he fibbed. Umber seemed unconvinced but silently followed Flame out of the library They entered into a small bedroom about the size of the room before, but Flame wasn't paying all that much attention.

There's no way Stonemover would curse me. He wouldn't even use a sliver of his power to heal my face! That stingy liar. No, all this stuff is just in my head. Jet's stupid 'darkness is a mirror to the unconscious' crap is just freaking me out. There is no ghost here and even if there was I would SO kick its ass!

"What are you doing?" the MudWing's worried voice spoke up and Flame snapped out of his thoughts to realize he had just been pacing the room.

"Oh, uh, just checking the room. Yep! No ghosts here!" He gave Umber his best reassuring smile, which looked more like a grimace.

The mud dragon fixed Flame with a hard stare. "Listen, just relax Flame. Nothing here can hurt us. It'll be alright," Umber gently placed his wing against Flame's and the warmth calmed the SkyWing's racing heart but it didn't prevent the twinge of irritation that coursed through him.

"Yeah, I KNOW that! That's what I've been telling you this whole time!" Flame paused and narrowed his eyes as he realized something. "Five seconds ago you freaking out and now you're telling ME to calm down? What gives?"

Umber seemed just as shocked at this development. "Yeah, you're right." He scratched his neck in thought. "I guess when I saw you were upset I just...forgot about my own problems for a while."

WHY IS HE SO FUCKING NICE?

Flame snorted. "Well you can go back to being terrified now because NOTHING is wrong with me and I am NOT upset about anything."

Umber gave Flame a warm smile. "It's alright to be scared, Flame." The MudWing reached a talon out to touch Flame but the SkyWing flinched out of his reach.

"Let's just get out of here. This room leads to nowhere." Hiding his blush Flame fled the room and Umber followed shortly after.

Stupid Umber. I am NOT UPSET about anything. In fact I have never been less upset than I am right now and I am not making any sense but that's fine because I am fine and everything is fine...holy crap I sound insane.

They were now back in the hallway outside of the library. He felt Umber sit close to him.

"I forgot how dark it was out here," Umber spoke before breathing a plumb of fire. In the quick light of the fire Flame could see more portraits hung on the adjacent walls. With a quick stream of fire Flame set a nearby painting ablaze.

"Flame!" Umber scolded and in the flickering light Flame could see his frowning visage.

"I did it to give us some light!" Flame defended. "Let's see if we can find some candles or torches somewhere."