Resistance C29: Little Talks

Resistance
Chapter 29: Little Talks

[Fenek]

It took quite a lot more convincing than I thought I would need, but Atheros eventually gave me what I needed.

The next day, the morning would be mine.

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Of course, Keane woke complaining of a headache, which I removed for him. We had breakfast and such, and I brought him to the usual field. He noted the absence of his son, but didn't comment on it.

I sat him down on a stump, while I brought in one of my own with magic and did the same.

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[Keane]

Fenek was acting strange, and Atheros was missing. Next, he had brought me to a field and then sat with me in the middle of nowhere... The morning was going to be interesting to say the least.

Fenek, however, seemed to be in no mood for funny business, and went straight to the point. "We need to talk."

I raised an eye ridge at him. "About what?"

He placed a hand on my shoulder. I noted how much mature he now was... He had changed, and I hadn't noticed given how busy I had been... "Something is bothering you. I see it in your eyes and your thoughts. You got drunk on purpose last night too."

I blinked. "Well, this is news..."

Fenek sighed. "Perhaps you don't realise it?"

I shook my head. "I know what is the trouble, kid. You just aren't happy I drank, are you?"

Fenek huffed. "That's not the issue here! Come on! I'm your companion! There's no point in covering it up! We're bonded. I know everything, and it pains me to see you like that."

Frowning, I scratched my head. "Like what? I'm perfectly fine!"

With that, Fenek began to list things. "You're stressed, and I know that you're not happy about being a dragon. I also know that you wish your plans work out better..."

My mouth worked. Subsequently, I sighed. He was right. There was no point in hiding something from someone who could literally get inside your head. "Yes, and on top of everything, I can't even handle this body properly, even if I wanted to. I'm pathetic aren't I? Trying to lead the town in this state... Who am I kidding?"

Fenek gave me a smile. "You are far from that. Come now, look at all you've accomplished! "

I shrugged. "Perhaps."

The brown dragon stared at me for a moment then pulled me into a hug. "I understand how you feel. As you get used to being a dragon, you'll feel better. Trust me."

I rubbed his back a little as he let go. "Yeah, hope so. You cancelled training to talk to me, didn't you?"

Fenek nodded, though he looked to be expecting a scolding or something. I gave him a weak smile. "Thanks. I appreciate it. Really. Though, next time you can just ask. I Bury myself in work, yes, but I also have a shovel."

Fenek nodded, and switched to his large quad form, his scales sparking in the early morning Sun. He extended a foreleg and looked at me expectantly. <It's been a while since we went flying.>

I shrugged, then chambered up and sat in my usual spot. "Yeah. Been a while."

Fenek glared, replying, "Good that you know."

I shrugged. "Like we both know, too busy."

The brown huffed and took off before I could say more, snapping his massive wings open. With one flap, we were in the air.

"Perhaps you could try flying alongside me with your own wings?" He added, twisting to look me over.

I shrugged. "Nah. They're still recovering. Give it a few more weeks. Don't want to end up floundering in the air, or worse; breaking half the bones again."

Fenek blew a lung full of air in my face with a sparkle in his eyes. I glanced down to realise that we had almost sailed above the clouds. However, unlike last time, I didn't quite notice the cold, or the lowered oxygen content.

However, before I could say anything, or even arrange my thoughts for that matter, Fenek dropped into a steep dive, and I was smacked head first with a wall of air. My shouts of surprise were carried away by the wind as it whipped past me, on my shout and through my hair.

Once I saw past the initial fear as we plunged down, I actually found it white exhilarating, while Fenek chuckled in my mind. <This is what it means to be a true dragon!>

Caught up in the moment, I threw my arms up in the air and whooped, though it came out as a rather loud roar, the effect was all the same.

However, that moment was short lived as the wind caught on one of my not too well folded wings and tore me from the brown dragon's back.

One moment, I was seated and having a ball of a time, and the next, I was fumbling around, then thrashing about in the air, with nothing to grab onto...

On one hand, past experience told me that without a parachute, I was as good as dead.

On the other, the dragon side of me screamed at me to follow the compulsions of my instincts and open my wings.

Down below, I heard a roar of alarm as Fenek himself realised what had happened. There was the steady thumping of his wingbeats as he rushed up.

I cursed, and made my choice. With a loud snap, I flared my own wings. Instincts surfaced to teach me to stabilise my own flight, how to use the tail as a rudder, and how to angle myself.

Knowing was one thing, but doing was quite another. I frantically flapped the wings, angled them, and adjusted them again and again. After a while, I wasn't tumbling all over the place, but I was still being tossed about a little.

Below, I heard Fenek shouting my name as he came closer. I felt his mind scrambling to find me, and I opened up to him, showing him what I saw.

His relief was immense as he glided alongside me, and allowed me to land on his back. It took considerable effort not to land painfully on my crotch, but I managed it to some extent. The wings ached and throbbed, but didn't seem damaged as I folded them tightly against my back.

As we landed in the field, next to Atheros who must have been waiting, I felt Fenek swell with pride as he boasted that I could fly. I rolled my eyes and pointed out that all I did was to hover very unsteadily, but neither dragon would have any of it. I was brought home for lunch with a celebratory air.

<See? Believe in yourself, and you'll find that you're capable of more than you think!> Fenek added as we ate, while as usual, I fended off a barrage of questions.

It turned out that Drae'kos had brought in some textbooks that he had been studying, and the children had gotten their claws on them. I faced the aftermath of the curiosity explosion...