Page 17 of Escaping my Dragon

“I would never eat my hatchlings,” huffed my beauty.

“I should hope not.”

Then Pollita dared to ask the question I hadn’t. “How many dragons have you consumed to have so many gifts?”

“A few, but I never sought them out. They came after me and suffered the consequence.”

“Your shifting ability…” she further queried.

“My own as are my refractive scales that hide me when I fly. The command voice I can use was also naturally inherited, but not until I’d reached a millennia in age.”

A thousand years? I didn’t know if I had the patience to wait that long.

“Interesting,” Polly mused aloud, “But I’m thinking our focus should be on this thing Tiamat called the Destroyer. What is it?” A question directed at Shamash.

“I’m not entirely sure, but when I ran into Malone in Scotland, he mentioned something about a dragon, one asleep for so long it’s been forgotten.”

“Which would make it much older than you,” posited Pollita.

“And I am already eons in age.”

“Malone must have lied,” I interjected. “If a dragon went to sleep that long ago, then it likely died of starvation. I doubt I’d last a week without food.” I struggled going a few hours.

“Your hunger is normal, since you are both growing hatchlings; however, a mature dragon doesn’t need to feed as often. I can go years without sustenance if needed.”

“Years isn’t millennia,” I scoffed.

“Hold on a moment,” Pollita canted her pretty head and horns. “You think our dreams are related to this sleeping dragon Malone spoke of.”

“I do.” A theory I already knew about—and didn’t want to believe. And this despite the dream I’d had showing Malone by my shivering mountain.

“If true, then that wall seemingly made of scales taller than me would make this sleeping destroyer beyond massive.”

“Aye,” Shamash agreed. “Which is why I wish for us to gather and seek out this dragon before it fully awakens.”

“To do what?” I asked.

“Whatever it takes.”

A statement that really deserved ominous music.

Chapter Six

To my surprise, the captain joined us in the lounge that evening, looking casual in jeans and a woolen pullover. He sat by himself, cradling a beer while others partook in board games. I wandered over to invade his peace.

“What happened? Did my usual babysitter call in sick and you had to come keep an eye in person?” I’d yet to figure out who might be spying on me. All I did know? Whenever I left my room, the captain appeared shortly thereafter. Only once he dropped me off at Building 155 around dinnertime did he disappear, but I had to wonder, if I stepped out at night, would he suddenly reappear? One evening, I’d test it for shits and giggles.

“A man’s allowed to unwind.”

“I didn’t think you hung out with us nonmilitary folk,” I stated, sitting down in the chair across from him.

“No rules against it,” his reply before taking a long sip.

“What’s the plan for tomorrow?” While I’d provided a list of locations I wanted to visit in person, I left the logistics to others.

“Thought we’d visit Blood Falls.”

I snapped my fingers. “That’s the one that runs red because of the metal and stuff in the water.”