Page 87 of The Exiled Dragon

“Almost there.” Creed laid beside me, his own black smoke intertwined with mine. I felt no pain, just the pressure of my body shifting into something that was not human. Rolling onto my stomach, the purple smoke erupted higher above my head, lightning cracking several more times until my head reared back and a massive roar left my scaled lips.

Chapter Fifty-One

Odessa

Iwasstaringintoa whole new world when I opened my eyes. The colors were more vibrant than before. The dirt between my fingers, well now claws, scratched at the tiny rocks in the soil. My talons were enormous, purple, just like the Dragon in the dream I had when I met my father. The scales shimmered in the suns, causing a beautiful rainbow reflection.

“I’m a Dragon?” My voice came out louder, deeper, but still with a feminine edge. Wiggling my claws, I could see a large black one next to mine. Straining my neck upwards, I saw none other than Creed’s black Dragon, only this time his matte black scales shimmered, and they had a dark rainbow color reflection to match mine.

“We are mated, we are one and the same.” His voice bore deep. His Dragon’s head touched mine. I automatically closed my eyes, feeling the warmth coming from his face. “We changed each other.”

“You are so pretty,” I cooed. “I mean, pretty ferocious,” I corrected, hearing him snort.

“Are you ready to stand?” I shook my head. I was perfectly happy staying on the ground. If I started walking on all fours, it would make this too real, and I’d wake up from this surreal dream. I mean, I was a Dragon! A Dragon!

“Come on.” His snout nudged my shoulder. “I’m not leaving you.” My legs were not shaky, like I feared them to be. They were as strong as the trunks of trees. I picked up one at a time, wiggling each of my toes. My feathers swayed in the wind as the updraft tickled my face.

The cliff wasn’t very large. In fact, we were quite crowded now, and walking was going to be a problem. “Are you ready to fly?” Creed looked up to the suns, basking in the rays shining down on his now shiny scales.

“Are you kidding? I just stood up. Shouldn’t I walk first?” I backed up, only for my tail to bump into the ridged rocks behind me.

“There isn’t enough space, and your body is now too large to walk back down the path,” Creed pointed out.

I gasped, “Are you calling me fat!?” I shook my head, now looking at how long my body actually was. I was massive, not as in fat but just long, tall and very lean.

“No, my fledgling, you are not fat. You are quite the opposite of a Dragon. I’ll have to fatten you up, catch some bears or even beasts up north to fill your stomach.”

“Now I’m a baby again?” I wanted to pout but my newly scaled lips couldn’t move in such a way. Instead, my tongue slithered out of my mouth like a snake, smelling the air. It smelled like someone was cooking at the palace.

“Yes, you are my fledgling.” Creed’s forehead continued to push me closer to the cliff. “You are like a fledgling Dragon, so I will teach you like my mother taught me.”

“Were you at the top of the cliff?” My neck curled, looking down. We were really high up, like super high. My legs wobbled until I sat down with a thud in the grass.

“I lived on the mountain. There are cliffs at all angles,” he snorted. “So, I am going to help you fly, are you ready?” Shaking my head, feeling the feathers trail down my neck, I panicked.

“What are you going to do to help me fly?” My claws dug into the soil.

“Just a push, like a bird coming out of its nest.” I whimpered, feeling my head drop between my front legs. He expects me to jump and just fly? Some birds don’t even fly once they are kicked out. They hop on the ground like wounded prey, and I knew for sure I would be just like that.

Creed’s Dragon purred loudly, now straddling my Dragon as I laid on the ground. My eyes were closed tight and the soft underbelly of his Dragon sunk into my back. It wasn’t sexual. He didn’t move his body, but it vibrated heavily. His tail wrapped around us, the smooth calming growls had me relax and loosen my frame.

“My fawn, I have always told you I would protect you.” His voice sounded hurt.

“I’m sorry, I’m just afraid,” I said, feeling guilty. “What if I fall?”

“Then I will catch you.” He lifted up. Feeling better at his comforting words, I stood up, still eyeing him warily.

“I won’t push you; you go on your own. I’ll be right behind you, Odessa.” Nodding, I felt my Dragon’s heart accelerate. She seemed to know what she was doing as my wings opened for the first time. They were massive, much longer than I expected. The wind howled, coming up the cliff until finally my wings caught the wind as I gently stepped off the rock.

My body flew downwards, my wings catching the wind again as I flapped them ferociously, worried that they wouldn’t hold me, but I was completely wrong. It was like breathing. It was the instinct of the animal inside me that took over. We were three feet above the ground when Creed’s shadow flew over us.

He let out a gruff and dare I say a toothy smile, beckoning to follow him, to which I let the animal inside me take over again. We flew over the ocean, letting the ocean sprays fall on our scales. The warm water had me lean side to side, the tips of the wings acting as a finger dancing through the water. Creed would fly higher and higher, only to fall backwards and let his Dragon catch himself at the last minute before he would plunge into the ocean.

Creed continued to fly around me, much better than I was, of course, but I still had the most fun trying to keep up. My claws ran with the wind, trying to catch hold of Creed’s tail until he would take the most unexpected turn, causing me to laugh hysterically.

Creed led me up to the palace. It was so tall when I first arrived here on Creed’s back, but now that I inhabited this Dragon’s body, it didn’t seem that large at all. We circled each tower, hovering over large windows looking inside, laughing when we could see Osirus and Melina pointing up at the skylight.

Ferocious roars echoed through the enormous towers, having my Dragon clutch its claws with fright. “It’s all right; it is Amora!” Creed’s eyes lit up, seeing a light brown and green Dragon latch onto the side of the smallest tower column. Amora’s bright green eyes scrunched, imitating a smile as another navy blue Dragon grabbed hold behind her, tucking her closer to the stones.