It didn’t appear all the time but every so often. Sometimes it tromped along in front of them with its head held high as though leading a great quest. Other times it played hide and go seek around rocks. Other times still, it zoomed along the ceiling or leapt from rock to rock.
“I would have thought spirits that needed help would be gloomier.” She chuckled at the dragon’s antics. “He or she seems pretty upbeat.”
“He.” Tor seemed surprised by his own certainty. “It’s a male dragon.” He shrugged. “As to spirits being gloomy, not always. Some are frightened, others confused. Unaware they died. Then, on rare occasion, there are upbeat ones. Typically very elderly or those who battled sickness for a long time. They’re happy to be free of their physical bodies. To feel the energy and lightness they once had. To sense a new beginning on the horizon.”
“Yet this is a baby dragon we’re talking about,” she reminded. “He couldn’t have been alive all that long.”
Though Tor had no answer for that, she knew his general disposition matched hers. The more they climbed, the closer she felt to something enormous. Like she was drawing nearer to something remarkably important.
“You feel it too, don’t you?” she asked Tor. They were nearly to the top of the mountain, and the air had thinned. “This incredible draw.”
“I do,” he confirmed.
She glanced at Cian but, of course, got nothing out of him. Rather, he seemed more on edge than he had since this all began.
“Why do I get the sense our final battle isn’t all that far off?”she said to Tor telepathically.“The higher we go, the more tense Cian gets.”
“I sense it too.”He glanced back at the wizard.“I think we should be prepared for war soon.”
“What’s going to happen to the little dragon if we have to fight?” she asked aloud. “Does it just meander around waiting?”
“Likely.” Tor shook his head. “I’ve never gone to battle while helping a spirit. The two never seem to happen at once.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“Hard to know,” he said. “It could be they don’t sense my undivided attention or even that they prefer not to be around people dying.”
“Makes sense, I suppose.” She slowed when the tunnel ahead ended in a rock wall. “Why would it lead us here?” The dragon peaked its head back out of the rock when they hesitated. “Doesn’t it realize we can’t go any further...”
She trailed off, sensing something she hadn’t moments before.
“It’s another one of my safeguards.” Raven closed the distance and rested her hands against the rock wall. “It’s very real and very thick.” She shook her head. “But it won’t stop me...or either of you because you’re part of me.” She removed her hands from the rock, closed her eyes, and concentrated. “When I walk, you guys follow.”
Like her other safeguards, it was a matter of not believing what her eyes told her. Of understanding it had been put there to bring her and Tor closer. To keep them on their destined path. To help them find their truth.
A path of enlightenment she visualized rather than saw with her eyes or felt with her fingers.
Seeing the way clearly now, she stepped forward, surprised by the sheer intensity of this particular safeguard. Its protective nature was so strong she almost hesitated but didn’t. Not when she realized the strength behind the protection spell was heavily made up of her inner dragon. And it had meant business.
Fire sizzled in her throat.
Heat curled over her body.
Breathing became a struggle.
“Keep following me,”she said into Tor’s and Cian’s minds.“This one’s more than a little uncomfortable, but my dragon will let you pass.”Then, just to be clear how strong this magic actually was.“Keep your eyes closed. Trust the path that rises up. Otherwise, you might go blind, burn your lungs and throat from the inside out, or be solidified in rock and crushed to death.”
While she should have been more worried about them, she wasn’t. Couldn’t be. Not with what lay ahead. Because it needed her undivided attention. Needed everyone's undivided attention. There was no time for fear or worry.
They had to make it through.
She kept going, surprised by how far she had to walk. How much thicker the rock was than she initially thought. Eventually, however, it came to an end. An end she never, not for a second, could have anticipated. When she opened her eyes, she was hit with such a strong wave of emotion her knees nearly gave out.
Tears welled.
Her heart turned sluggish.
The tiny dragon did indeed need help.
