A few moments later, a huge silver dragon landed a couple feet away, causing the grass in the valley to sway. But the dragon wasn’t what made me smile. It’s what was riding it. The owner of the voice singing the song. My song. I stopped playing and stood up just in time for a figure to come crashing into me. “Angel!” I cried happily as we both toppled over. Angel Van Zephyr was a thin somewhat tall, though she only came to my shoulder, seventeen-year-old girl with light, light brown hair and blue eyes. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT say she is a dumb blonde. She will kill you. Her hair is light brown, not blonde. And she’s nowhere near stupid. She’s one of the nicest, most intelligent girls I know. I don’t know how I deserve to have her as a friend when I’m an outcast of her village.
She laughed as she squeezed me tight. “Dragyn! I’ve missed you!” she all but squealed as we rolled down the hill. When we stopped, I pinned her to the ground and arched an eyebrow at her.
“You only saw me day before yesterday, Angel.” I corrected, trying to hold back a smile to no avail.
She pouted. “Yeah, well that’s a long time for me, Dragyn.” She grumbled. “You’re my best friend!”
I loved hearing those words from her, even though I still couldn’t believe them. This girl could have any friends she wanted between her looks, personality and status, but she chose people like me over people from her own class. That set Angel above the rest in my eyes. “Heh. You have to learn the concept of time, Angel. One day isn’t horrible.”
“And you’re a rotten liar, Dragyn.” Angel cut in. “I saw your face when you realized it was me and Liam. You were just as happy to see me.” She pulled herself out of my grip (I let her) and looked at me. “Don’t bother to deny it. It’s written all over your face.”
Dang, why could she see through me so easily?!
Angel giggled at my expression. Shoot, I was blushing…Hope to the Elders she didn’t see. She’d have a huge advantage over me in our banters if she knew how easily she could make me blush. Good thing I looked away when she said that. Jeez…
Angel shook her head, still giggling as she smoothed the light blue tunic over the short blue skirt she was wearing. I noticed she didn’t bother with her leg wraps and sandals today. Who needs them riding anyway, I guess…I sighed.
Angel stopped giggling abruptly and peered at my face in concern. “Are you okay? You look kinda down…” she said softly.
I managed a grin at her and ruffled her hair. “Nah, it’s nothin’. Just dreaming.” I assured her. She was so adorable when she got all worried! Her eyes get all wide and the way she looks at you is just so…yeesh, what am I saying?!
Angel moved around so she was right in front of me and planted her hands on my knees (I was sitting cross-legged), shoving her face inches from mine. “What is it?”
The way she asked, the tone she used, I couldn’t not tell her. “Those…” I replied, gesturing to her tunic. The tunics were a gift given at the time when a youth meets their dragon. There were several different types of tunics and the type you received was determined either by your dragon’s element, or your own personality. Angel had been given the Angel’s wing tunic both for her personality and her dragon’s wind element. “I wish…I could have one…” I barley whispered, speaking slowly; reluctantly.
Angel’s eyes softened. “Oh, Dragyn…” she said sympathetically, hugging me around the middle. “You’ll get one…I know you’ll find your dragon one day.”
I stiffened slightly and faked a laugh. “Ah, enough of the pity!” I joked, gently pushing her away. “You look like an idiot when you go soft.”
WHAM! Angel’s fist connected with my face. It didn’t hurt that much. She wasn’t that strong, but it still caught my attention.
“I look like a WHAT?!” she screeched. “I hope you said a pretty young girl and not what I think you said!” She shook her fist at me threateningly.
I laughed again. “Easy, Angel. Don’t hurt yourself.” I said with all the calmness I could.
Angel crossed her arms and sat down next to me with a huff. “ Yeah, well, you’re lucky I know better than to pick a fight with you.” She grumbled, sighing in annoyance. “You know, sometimes you really get on my nerves, Dragyn.”
Grinning inwardly, I gave her my best ‘baby dragon eyes’. “Aww…but you still love me, right, Angel?” I said pointedly, sticking out my lower lip.
Angel’s eyes widened. She stuck up her hands and shook her head. “No, no! I didn’t say-!” She glared at me as I started laughing and smacked me upside the head. “You’re impossible!”
I ruffled her hair again. “Yeah, I know.” I agreed nonchalantly.
Angel sighed. “And you’re proud of it, right?” she asked, rolling her eyes.
I grinned “You betcha!”
Angel glared at me, but instead of hitting me again, she took a deep breath and started a song.
Come now,
The time is here.
To finally show
The bonds we share.
The world knows
Not of truth
So we must go
And open up their eyes.
Find me,
At fate’s crossroads
And bring me back
To the blinding world
As she sang, I started playing my ocarina along with her voice. It was the same song I’d played earlier. I’d made up the melody and she had thought of words to go with it, so it was kind of our song now.
As we finished the song, I heard another whisper of wind. In a flash, Angel’s dragon Liam stood before us in his human form. His flowing white hair almost disappeared into his billowing robes and the cloudlike wings behind him made it impossible not to realize he was a wind dragon. He gazed at Angel with abrupt seriousness in his silver eyes.
“Milady Angel.” He said in a low tone. “We have been summoned. Your uncle wishes to see you.”
Angel groaned. “Aw man! Again?!” Angel stood up reluctantly. “Alright…I suppose I gotta go…” She brushed herself off. “The work of a village elder is never done.” She sighed and leaned down to wrap her arms around my neck. “I’ll see you later, Dragyn.” She said softly, squeezing slightly.
I smiled and pat her arm. “Yeah…see you, Angel.” I replied.
Angel let go and looked at me worriedly. “I bring you some food when I get back, okay?”
I shook my head, forcing a laugh so she would smile too. “Nah. I’m okay. Don’t trouble yourself over me so much.” I chided lightly. Then my face fell. “I’m hardly worth it…”
Before I could see what she was doing, Angel slapped both her palms on either side of my face and made me look at her.
“Never say that again, Dragyn. Ever.” She said, sounding almost angry as she gazed intently in my eyes. Then her eyes softened. “You are worth it. And it’s no trouble to me to help you. You’re my best friend. I want to help.”
I stared back at her, stunned. “Ang…el?” I stammered.
“Milady!” Liam said impatiently, transforming back into a dragon. “Your uncle will be cross if we do not get back now!”
Angel huffed and let me go again. “I’ll be back soon, okay?” she said over her shoulder as she walked away.
“Y…Yeah.” I said, still stunned by her sudden change of attitude. I watched as she mounted Liam and waved to me as they flew off. I smiled and waved back until they disappeared into the mountain mist. I slowly lowered my arm when I knew they were gone. “She wants to help me…even though she could get in huge trouble if anyone found out.” I mumbled. With a sigh, I put my ocarina back in its hiding spot. “Ah, Angel…Why are you so quick to help an outcast like me?...” |
