Josh dreams of dragons.
He thinks it's just a welcome escape from everyday life. Until one morning, he wakes up with scales, wings, and a tail.
Josh faces a harsh new reality: he has become something that shouldn't exist outside the pages of his fan...
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I ignored the commotion around me and immediately sprinted across the field. Alex ran toward me as well; I saw Scott and Ferenor spill out of the trees after her. In a matter of seconds, I had closed the distance and had to brake with my talons, slowing myself but still crashing into my sister hard.
She let out a cry but held on tight to my neck. I wrapped my forelegs around her, holding her close, feeling the tears escape my eyes. Alex pulled away after a long moment and wiped a hand across her face. Then she surprised me with a playful punch to the shoulder.
"That's for almost knocking the wind out of me," she said with a tearful smile. "And for nearly getting yourself killed."
"I'm so sorry, Alex," I said. "I didn't think...I should never have put you in danger like this."
"It's alright," Scott chimed in as he stepped closer. "You couldn't have known how it would play out. Besides, Ferenor got us out of there right away." He looked at the slight young dragon. "He really saved us."
I met Ferenor's silver eyes. "Thank you," I said. "I...I can't tell you how thankful I am."
The dragon looked at his paws. "I just tried to do what you said."
I gave Scott a quick hug too, not caring if it made him a little uncomfortable. "It's really over, isn't it?" he asked; he shaded his eyes with a hand and stared at the volcano's peak. "How did you do that?"
"Yeah, we saw you and your friends with this really bright light coming off you," Alex added. "And then the whole battle seemed to turn around."
"I wish I could explain it myself," I said. "And maybe it's a story best left for another time. It's a little...a little too fresh right now." My voice trailed off and I dipped my head.
Alex's gloved hand stroked my neck. She had seen the whole thing; she had to know. "I'm sorry." Her words were soft like the breeze. "It must be hard to lose someone close to you."
"Yes," I mumbled.
Ferenor's eyes were still fixed on the ground. My athka gently embraced his. It was so quiet that I heard a tear fall on the back of his paw. The young dragon's spirit gripped me, and we shared our common understanding, I thought of Rofar's ice-blue eyes and how they were so much like Jackie's.
"Thank you," he whispered to me. "Thank you for stopping them."
Alex's hand patted me gently. "Should you be getting back there? You probably have some things to take care of. We can wait."
I lifted my muzzle and nodded, giving my sister a final brush of my nose as a farewell. Ferenor trotted next to me as we crossed back over to the crowd of dragons. A cloud of muted conversations hung over the group, the remaining clan dragons tending to the wounded and dazed among them. The prisoners under Eysri's spell were silent, almost statue-like.
