Daughter of the Dragons

 

**Part Three**

 

The dragon was quiet and cooperative at the fact that Trunks was practically a complete stranger. Draekon seemed to be comfortable with Trunks, almost like the dragon had known him for practically his entire life. But Trunks figured that Draekon wasn’t going to argue with him because he was the only way Jade would get home safely, and continued to follow the large lizard to wherever it dwelled. Trunks checked the sleeping girl for any changes. Nothing. She still lay practically lifeless in his arms. She sighed in her sleep and shifted her head’s position against his chest. Other than that there was no difference or sign of her waking up. Trunks looked up in time to stop himself before crashing into the dragon.

 

“What’s wrong Draekon?” Trunks asked as he regained his balance.

 

The dragon looked back at the prince and then out to the side of the trail once more. It seemed to be alert and concentrating on seeing if there was any movement in the brushes. Trunks followed Draekon’s stare. There was no movement or sound. He looked back at the dragon, which snorted and continued onward. After about another ten minutes of walking, Draekon led Trunks to a lake in the middle of the forest.

 

“Good idea… I guess we could use a short rest, Draekon.” Trunks said.

 

The dragon cocked its head at the prince in reply and walked up to the lake and began to drink. Trunks smiled at the dragon and then stepped out into the clear. He could see the sun as it began to set behind the gargantuan mountains. The skies had become a radiant orange with streaks of magenta lazily floating past the late day sky. He smiled at the brilliance of nature’s work he cherished so much. If only he had someone to share such splendor with.

 

Trunks’s attention was dragged away from the early evening sky as Jade began to move in his arms.

 

“Ungh………nnngh… Wh- what’s going on?” Jade said hazily as she barely opened her eyes.

“Hey, you’re awake.” Trunks said softly.

 

Jade opened her eyes a bit more and saw Trunks’s face smiling down at her. When she realized who it was she opened her eyes completely and tried to sit up.

 

“Heh… Calm down… If you want me to set you down just say so…” Trunks chuckled softly and held her more upright. Jade put her arms around his neck for balance and looked around and saw where they were, then realized she had been asleep in Trunks arms.

 

“What’s going on?? What happened? …You… you carried me all this way?” Jade asked Trunks while he smiled in amusement at her confusion.

“I did.” He answered.

“But… From where we were when I passed out… It would have taken…” Jade started.

“About half a day.” Trunks finished her sentence, smiling.

 

She looked at him and then away. She moved to get down and Trunks gently placed her feet on the ground. She looked at Trunks again and he smiled.

 

“Thank you.” She said as she let go of him.

“Don’t worry about it.” Trunks replied, “So… do you know why you just… fainted all of the sudden?”

“No… I don’t… But, it’s nothing to worry about. I get those kind of fainting spells every now and then.” She answered with a reassuring smile. “It’s not the first time it’s happened and I’m just fine.”

“Alright. If you’re sure.” Trunks said doubtfully.

“Trust me, Princy,“ She answered back with a playful punch on the arm. “I’m fine.”

 

Trunks smirked and shook his head.

 

“Alright then… Well, it’s getting late,” Trunks started and threw an arm over Jade’s shoulders, causing her to slightly lean forward from lack of balance, “and I suggest we move on so we get to your home by night fall.”

 

Jade looked at Trunks’s with a perplexed expression, confused with his sudden carefree, more playful mood. She stood up and smiled at him.

 

“Okay then. Let’s go.” Jade replied as she looked at Draekon who was staring at the two. “What are you looking at?? ……… Oh shut up.” With that the dragon cocked its head and started to walk away. “Well… shall we?”

“Lead on.” Trunks said smiling.

 

Huh… What was that about? Shut up? Draekon didn’t even do anything.

 

Trunks shrugged the thought off and started to walk with Jade, his arm still slung over her shoulders.

 

“It’s not that much father. We should get there right before dark.” Jade stated.

“That’s fine.” Trunks replied with a small smile.

 

He became a bit more quiet and looked to his side at the forest trees. He got a feeling of uneasiness but couldn’t understand what was wrong. He looked over to Jade and wondered if she felt the same way. If she did she was good at hiding it. She walked quietly, staring out to the calm waters of the lake and watched the ripples of water bend and play with the yellows, oranges, and magentas the it received from the summer sky. From what he could see from the side of her face she seemed to have a sorrowful expression. He was about to say something when she turned her gaze forward and then noticed him looking at her. She looked at Trunks and then gave him a slight smile. He decided to let it go and just smiled back.

 

When they got back into the forest trees Jade was walking next to Draekon and Trunks just slightly behind her. Without a warning she sprinted forward, ahead of the other two. Trunks was slightly startled by this, but Draekon didn’t seem to care at all. Jade stopped, jumped up and hung on a branch. She swung her legs back and when they came in front of her she flipped herself up onto the branch disappearing behind the leaves. A few moments later, an apple came flying in their direction.  Draekon jumped forward and caught the airborne fruit in his mouth.

 

“Nice catch Draekon.” Jade said smiling as she jumped out of the tree.

Trunks smiled.

“Here.” Jade said to Trunks as she tossed him an apple.

He brought up a hand and caught it.

“Thanks.” Trunks replied.

“Sure. Now come on! We’re almost there.” Jade yelled back as she started to run ahead.

 

Draekon sped up and ran after her. Trunks took a bite of his apple and then followed them.  Jade laughed as she ran.

 

“Come on you two slow pokes!! You can run faster than that can’t you?” Jade yelled out as she rushed down the path.

“You got a head start!” Trunks yelled back.

“That doesn’t matter!! You should still at least be able to catch up!” She replied with a laugh.

 

Draekon spread his wings and flapped. Trunks shielded his eyes from the flying dust with his arm.

 

“Hey!” Trunks said, smiling.

 

Draekon took off and flew ahead of the two humans.

 

“Draekon!! No fair flying!! You cheater, get back here!” shouted Jade as Draekon flew over her head.

“Heh. You’re getting slow there, princess.” Trunks said out of nowhere.

“Huh?! Hey!” Jade said in surprise as she realized he was running right next to her.

 

Trunks laughed.

 

She ran ahead into the clearing ahead of them and Trunks wasn’t too far behind. In the clearing was a large patch of dirt and a large entrance to a cave. Jade was halfway across the clearing when out of the mouth of the cave burst a white dragon that looked similar to Draekon. Before she could react to the sudden appearance of the creature it had knocked her onto the ground. Trunks managed to stop himself before toppling on top of them. The white dragon pinned Jade to the ground and she couldn’t move.

 

“AAAH!! Get off of me!!” Jade yelled.

 

The dragon did nothing but stared at her. She was about to yell out again, but before she could the dragon licked her on the face.

 

“YAH! Falcore! Sick! Get off of me!” Jade said smiling.

 

The dragon did as she said and moved back so she could get on her feet again.  Jade got up and dusted herself off. Trunks stared wide-eyed at the dragon.

 

“Um… Wasn’t he… black?” Trunks asked confused.

“No. Draekon is black. This is his brother Falcore.” Jade answered with a smile as she petted Falcore’s head.

“Oh…” Trunks replied.

 

Flacore looked at Trunks intriguingly and Jade smiled.

 

“Don’t worry, Falcore. Trunks is a friend.” Jade reassured the dragon as she motion towards the prince with her hand.

 

Trunks smiled at the white dragon, but suddenly turned at the sound of rustling bushes. Jade’s reaction wasn’t much different. They waited for another sign of movement. A few moments later a full-grown deer jumped out into the clearing. The two let out a sigh of relief and relaxed. Jade reached to grab her dagger then realized she no longer had it.

 

“Ah! Great! I don’t have my dagger anymore.” Jade said. She sighed and then the deer continued back into the forest.

 

Before the deer disappeared behind the trees, Draekon ran out from inside the cave. The dark dragon ran into the forest and chased the deer deeper into the wooded area. A few moments later, Draekon returned with the carcass of the woodland creature dragging in his mouth.

 

“And our champion hunter returns.” Jade smirked.

Trunks laughed as Draekon approached with a seemingly proud gait. 

 

Jade rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“Come on hero, bring it here and I’ll see if we can’t get a fire started” she told the dragon as he stopped in front of her.

 

She walked over to a fire pit near the mouth of the cave and dropped in some large pieces of wood that were set against the wall nearby and a few handfuls of dry grass. Before she could find any flint to start a fire, Falcore approached the wood and briefly blew into the pit and a small flame shot out, starting a small fire that quickly grew. Jade gave Falcore an unimpressed look.

 

“Where is Skyye?” she asked the pale-skinned dragon.

 

Trunks listened. Nothing but silence was Falcore’s reply.

 

“Has she eaten already?” Jade inquired once more.

 

Again, silence. Trunks was now perplexed as to how she was going to get the answers to her questions from silence.

 

“Alright. Can you tell her I’m back and about our guest?” she requested.

 

Falcore turned and walked into the cave. Jade smiled and turned to ask Trunks if she could borrow his dagger once more. He agreed and handed it to her. When she began to skin the deer’s lifeless body, Trunks sat down on a rock nearby. Draekon was quietly laying next to the entrance with his head down and listening to the two humans as they began to converse.

 

“Tell me something…” Trunks began out of nowhere.

“Yes? What is it you wish to know?” Jade replied as she continued to slice the deer’s hide.

“How do they talk to you?” Trunks inquired, “How do they answer your questions… the dragons that is…”

 

Jade smiled and wiped the sweat on her forehead away with the back of her wrist. Her hand was covered in animal blood and she was careful not to stain her face with it.

 

“They speak with their minds.” She answered.

“Their minds?” Trunks mindlessly echoed in question.

 

Jade chuckled.

 

“Yes. They cannot speak the same language that we do… but they think in the same patterns as us. It’s just that most of the humans aren’t in tune to what is around them… They’re far too caught up in their own minds and don’t listen to what’s around them. I have learned to listen. Living here alone kind of limits your options on what you can do.” Jade smiled as she said that.

 

“So, you are saying that anyone can learn how to speak to the dragons?” Trunks asked in an interested tone.

“Everyone can speak to a dragon. I said that they couldn’t speak the same language, I didn’t say that they couldn’t understand.” Jade laughed.

“Oh… So…” Trunks started, and then looked over at Draekon, ”Draekon can understand everything that I’m saying right now?”

“Every word.” She answered.

 

Jade stood and picked up a broad stick with an end sharpened down to a point. She began to prod the end of the stick into the large pieces of meat that she had cut. When she was finished she placed the wooden spit over the fire pit. 

 

“Come on inside… I have to wash the blood off my hands.” Jade suggested.

“Okay.” Trunks replied and got up to follow her.

 

They entered the cave. The walls seemed to light up with a vibrant amethyst tinge, the ceiling seemed to fly higher and higher with ever step taken deeper into the grotto. The stalagmites raised up farther into the cave most dripping with clear spring water from a hidden lake atop the immense, stone hill the cave was carved into. Each droplet found a resting place in a miniature pond that appeared to give off a subtle lime glow.  Jade stopped as a larger collection of water that had carved a bowl-like container out of a stalactite.  She dipped her hands in and rubbed off the caked blood. As she did so she noticed as Trunks continued pore over the opulence that surrounded him. She chuckled to herself.

 

“Do you like it?” She asked as she shook her hands dry.

“It… It’s beautiful!” Trunks commented.

 

Jade smiled and took his arm.

 

“Come on… I’m sure that Skyye wants to meet you now that she knows you’re here.” Jade said as she tugged on his arm.

“Who’s Skyye??” Trunks asked as he was being dragged farther into the cavern.

 

Before Jade said anything to answer his question, they stopped and Falcore came forward.

 

“Does she know we are here?” Jade asked.

 

I do., answered a voice.

 

Jade smiled and looked up as the head of a great dragon came forward. Trunks stepped back a bit when he saw the rest of the large dragon appear in the light. A dragon possibly the size of Falcore five times over, intense blue eyes, and scales that emitted a brilliant emerald green glow. She was the most magnificent creature that Trunks had ever laid his eyes on. The drawings and illustrations in the books that he had studied once before were nothing near as great as the real thing.

 

Jade held out her arms and the dragon’s head nosed against her welcoming embrace. Jade laughed as she hugged the dragon and it seemed to purr as well. With its large size its drone seemed more of a growl, but it was easy to tell the dragon was happy to see Jade.

 

Is he the one that Draekon said saved his life? And yours as well?, The voice continued.

 

Trunks heard nothing. Even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to answer. He was still taken by the dragon’s intimidating appearance.

 

“Yes.” Jade answered.

Teach him to listen. I wish to speak with him on my own.

 

**End Part Three**