Ember of Hope

The forest stretching below them was half hidden under the mist… dark and mysterious and beautiful. It spread for miles and miles on uneven terrain. Raegan had asked Valiance and Damien to fly low over the trees. And now with her heightened senses she could almost smell the fog and the foliage… and hear the cries of animals and trills of birds. It was like a magical place inside a magical place. Being a dragon didn’t turn out to be all that bad for her.

There were beautiful little villages inside the forest. According to Valiance they belonged to smaller shifters mostly and a few wood sprites who liked to be left alone. Beside them; Damien was promising to bring Sarah back whenever she wanted and Raegan grinned on how amenable he was being to her friend.

“She has him wrapped around her little finger already”. She whispered not so quietly to Valiance. Atop a grumbling Damien; Sarah gave her a cheeky wink as if to say did you expect anything less?

After an hour or so of flying; Sarah started feeling tired and they immediately decided to take a break. They were now crossing over the edge of the forest where there were scarcely any trees. A brook gurgled merrily amongst them. As soon as the girls were off; Val and Dimi shifted back and Dimi was immediately by his mate’s side. Raegan pulled out the vial of medicine the healer had provided them for their journey back and handed it over to a panicked Damien.

“Damien I’m fine. Quit worrying” Sarah tried to once again reassure him but he didn’t quite get it. Raegan knew the situation would soon end by Sarah becoming annoyed. She didn’t like anyone fussing over her like she was a little child… and especially after she’d been so vulnerable and helpless at the hands of Titan. So she tapped Damien on his shoulder and shook her head at him; silently asking him to leave her be. He understood what she meant and reluctantly got up to join Valiance a little farther away.

“He’s just scared Sarah. He almost lost you. Give him some time to come to terms with the fact that you’re not leaving him”. She took her friend’s hand in hers and placed it on her thighs.

“I know. I know he means well Ray. I just… I don’t know how to handle everything”. Sarah sighed.

“I know how you’re feeling. I’ve been there not too long ago” she looked at her mate talking to Damien in the distance. “I know it’s overwhelming. But trust me sweetheart, when you finally decide to open your heart fully and let him in – it’ll be worth it”. She smiled at Sarah and got up; extending a hand for her to help her up as well. They walked to the brook, removed their shoes, and sat at the edge with their feet in the water.

“You guys should talk Sarah. I’ll send him back. This is as good a time as any”. She patted her friend’s shoulder and went in search of the boys. When Damien looked at her she sent him back with a little smile of encouragement.

“Hey you. I missed you.” Valiance took her in his arms and pulled her flush against him. Burying his nose in her hair; he inhaled deep and sighed.

“I missed you too baby”. She snuggled closer.

“Are you tired?” he inquired; looking in her eyes as if the answer to his question was etched there.

“No, not really. Why do you ask?”

“I kind of wanted to… see your dragon” he hesitated.

“It’s alright Val. You can talk to me about it. I’m alright, I promise”. She assured him and just because she wanted to; placed a kiss on his lips. “I would love to show you, only I don’t know how. I don’t know how I turned the first time and how I turned back. I think I was just so angry at everything and my emotions triggered the shift.”

“May be. But I can help you with it. Mates can call forward the dragon in each other. They respond to each other’s call”.

“Really? You can do that? That’d be amazing” she felt excitement at the prospect of shifting again. How many humans could claim they’d turned into a dragon and not be branded mad?

“Yes. Shall we?” Valiance asked, “You’d want to take your clothes off because you don’t know how to keep them while in shifted form”.

“Oh I didn’t think about that”. She smiled sheepishly and then her eyes widened, “Damn, that means when I fell in the river I was butt naked and I didn’t even realize it. I thought maybe they had to get the clothes off for treating me and that’s why I had a change of dress when I woke up. I had no idea they didn’t have to bother”. She cracked up, “Alright. Let’s go over there so I can change without flashing my poor friends”. She pointed towards a cove of trees nearby.

When she had stashed her clothes neatly in a pile with her shoes she rubbed her hands together and looked at Valiance expectantly. “Well, whenever you’re ready”.

Valiance put a hand over her core and closed his eyes. After only a second or so she felt a pull in her gut and something changed. Next thing she knew; she was transforming into a giant dragon. When she stood tall and looked down at Valiance; his mouth was agape and there was surprise in his eyes like up to this moment he hadn’t really let it sink in. “So, what do you think?” she turned in a circle and spread her wings wide to show off a bit.

“You’re beautiful my love”. His voice held awe, “Like a sculpture made from the burning core of lava”. He smiled brilliantly at her, “I knew you’d be as beautiful as you are in your human form” she nuzzled his face and just because she was feeling impish; she licked his whole face in one go and grinned. Valiance feigned disgust but ended up grinning and scratching her below the ears. She let out a contented purr.

“Hey guy, look what we have here.” Valiance called out over his shoulder and Damien and Sarah turned around from their spot to look.

“Whoa. Is that who I think it is?” It was Damien who came bounding as soon as he saw her. “Hey red”, he grinned, “You’re tiny. Isn’t she Val?”

“She’s beautiful is what she is”. Val replied and Raegan bared her teeth at Damien.

“Wow Ray. I didn’t really look at you the last time because I was so busy panicking. You’re gorgeous babe. Can you fly?” She asked excitedly.

“I don’t think I can but let’s give it a try.” Anticipation coursed through her as she took off running and flapped her wings hard. She took off from the ground… sailed through the air like a drunken sailor… and landed back on her ass. “Ow fuck”. “I think I can’t yet fly” she wheezed. Valiance and Sarah ran to her as Damien laughed his ass off in the background. Fucker.

“You alright love?” Valiance asked.

“Yeah I’m okay. Just a broken bum and bruised ego”.

“That’s how you learn to fly. Val used to fall on his ass a lot.” Damien grinned and she huffed. “I want to learn to spew fire ASAP so I can burn his ass. Then we’ll see who’s laughing”.

“There’ll be no burning of asses. Damien, don’t antagonize my best friend”. Sarah came to mediate while Val stood there just amused at their banter.

“Or you could just zap his ass now Val”. She ignored Sarah and looked at her mate expectantly.

“He is my best friend. He won’t”. Damien challenged.

“He is my mate. He will” she shot back.

“Guys please keep me out of this. Damien dude don’t tempt me to really zap you. Sarah you should probably take your mate away before she figures out how to actually set his ass on fire”. Valiance; even though sounded exasperated, was still amused.

“And I’m feeling okay now so we should probably get going”.

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