The Last of the Dragon Line - Chapters 2 and 3

Chapter 2

After weeks.... This is where I die... Amara felt the cold seeping into her skin freezing every cell in her body. She felt no more pain. Only numbness. She opened her sea colored eyes and gazed up at the beautiful snowy sky. It's so ironic how something so beautiful... can be the death of me. Her heartbeat was faint and she knew she didn't have long. The trees around her rustled in the breeze and a wolf howled far off into the night. They said I was meant for more... Maybe the seekers of truth were wrong... Her breathing was quick and short and the only thing she could move was her eyes. "So this is the mighty dragon?" Amara barely heard the whisper in her ear. The snow covered her dark lashes and clouded her vision.

Maybe he has come to take me back... or kill me. The thought made her strangely more calm. This man has come to end my suffering. She could feel a sudden heat swirl within her chest. It made her cry out in pain. It traveled up and down her body. Spreading throughout her arms and legs. She could feel her limbs coming back to life. The coldness was being driven from her so quickly, it was as if it was never there before. "Get up dragon." Amara began to slowly sit up making sure she didn't lose any fingers or toes. When she was satisfied she stood up and turned around. A man about 5'9 with olive skin and light green eyes stared back at her. He wore dark blue jeans and black shoes. A long simple black coat covered half his body. His black hair looked ruffled from the wind and some fell in front of his eyes. He had a strange-looking scar on his wrist.

He looked her up and down in a way that made her uncomfortable. "So what now?" The wind blew and she felt the heat inside her send a blast of warmth that kept her mildly warm. She shivered nevertheless. The man stood looking at her as if she was some kinda specimen. She held his gaze not wanting to be the one that backed down. "My name is Kiran. I am here to bring you to my master." Amara took a step back and bumped into a tree. The cold bark dug into her back and snow fell onto her shoulder. "Is that a choice?" Kiran looked as if he wanted to say something but when he finally spoke, he said in a voice that held no emotion, "No, I was ordered to bring you there alive." Amara tried to keep her chin up and show no fear but she already showed weakness by backing up. Well what the hell... She took three steps till she came to a stop in front of him. "So your master wants me? I'm not surprised I am pretty hot." The man's eyes glinted in the moonlight and she fought to not show her fear. "I am sure your looks are of no matter to him. More of what's inside of you. Of what you are." He laid a hand on her shoulder and she flinched at how cold he was.

"Are you cold by any chance?" He frowned and took his hand off her shoulder. "No. You're just very hot." "So where are we off to Kiran?" He grabbed her arm and began to walk off into the forest. "We are off to my master. That is all you need to know beast." Amara grimaced at his choice of words. "I do have a name you know. It's Amara." He grunted in response and kept navigating them through the cluster of trees. Every time Amara felt even the least bit cold the warmth inside her stretched out and warmed her. She was guessing she was pretty warm because Kiran was walking very close beside her. She again couldn't help but notice how beautiful the forest was at night. With the snow falling down from the sky and the moon creating the most beautiful glow. If she only thought about the night and its beauty. She wouldn't have to face that the man beside her was probably bringing her to her death....

***********************************************************

Chapter 3

He feels after all.
***********************************************************

"Are we there yet?" Amara trudged along as she shoved branch after branch away from her face.
Kiran sighed in frustration This is supposed to be the famous dragon? She whines like a baby. "Will you just be quiet already?"
Amara hid a victory smile behind her hand. Finally a reaction out of him. "So when did you start working for your so-called,' she used air quotations with her hands, 'boss?" She walked beside him trying to watch his face for another reaction.

"That's none of your concern." He shoved a branch out of his face and began to pick up his pace.
Amara bit her lip in frustration This is hopeless. He'll never open up to me. Unless...
"My parents died when I was very young. I don't remember much of them." She watched as his shoulders tensed at her sudden openness. "Yeah, I don't need any pity though. I don't remember much of anything except from the past weeks."
Kiran stopped suddenly and she all but ran into him. The sudden contact threw her off-balance and he had to grab her around the waist to keep her from falling. He looked down into her eyes and a blush rose into her cheeks. "Kiran..."

Suddenly the look in his eyes disappeared and he brought her up to stand straight. "I sense the presence of another person." As he said the words he suddenly twirled around and shoved her behind himself. The forest was suddenly silent. Not even the sound of birds could be heard. Amara felt as if a thousand spiders were crawling on her skin. "Kiran, something doesn't feel right." The sun shone down on them and Amara had to put a hand over her eyes for shade.

Kiran studied there surrounding with a fierceness that astonished Amara. The way he looked seemed almost dangerous. As if he was a vicious predator. The sensation on her skin grew and grew every minute until she couldn't take it anymore. Something inside her was dying to get out. Something inside her wanted to be free. Suddenly she fell to her knees and she could barely hear Kiran saying her name. She could only feel a burning sensation building in her chest. She clawed at the dirt floor crying out in pain. Then she heard him. Amara... You need to fight the beast inside you. It isn't safe to change here. Fight it Amara. You are stronger than you realize. Then... all was silent.

"Kiran..." She opened her eyes and he was there, looking down at her with a worried look. He's worried about me... Then suddenly the same mask came down and he closed off his emotions to her.
"Get up dragon. It's not safe to be here anymore. The threat has left for now. I'm guessing it was just a searcher here to pinpoint our whereabouts. The real threat will be around soon."
Amara braced herself against a tree and reached inside her to where the heat inside her swirled. Everything seems calm... but I know what I felt... It's the dragon. It wants out of me.

"Kiran, was that you in my head?" She steadied her breath as he turned around and looked her in the eyes. She almost thought that he was going to say yes.
"I have no idea what you're talking about beast. Let us be on our way." He gave her a gentle shove that said get going and walked off into the forest again.
"Are we even remotely close Kiran?" She gazed around at the surroundings The trees grew thinner and thinner as they walked and she could see the sky more and more. The white fluffy clouds floated around the sun and the birds chirped their beautiful songs. The trees rustled in the breeze and caressed her sun-scorched skin. They had been walking for two weeks and the clothes she was wearing were becoming rough and uncomfortable. Her shorts scraped against her thighs uncomfortably and her white tank top was damp with perspiration. She swiped her hair out of her eyes and slapped her arm as a mosquito started to feast. "Is there a stream around here where there's water?"

Kiran shrugged and looked around. "The nearest stream is an hour away. I think you can manage until then."
Amara seethed with frustration, "I preferred the freezing weather to his heat." Then Kiran did the most unexpected thing ever. He laughed. He laughed until he cried and was bent at the waist.
Amara frowned and crossed her arms. "What's so funny about what I said?"
"You are a dragon. You are made of fire yet you say you love the cold." He whipped away the remaining tears and stood straight.

Amara cracked a smile. "Maybe I'm a special dragon." Suddenly his mask of carelessness fell into place and he turned around.
"We should get going."
Amara couldn't help but feel that she got through to him. No matter how much he acts like he doesn't have emotions. Like he disliked her. He did somewhere deep down inside himself... feel.