Part 18
A Surprise Meeting

I rubbed my hands together for warmth over a crackling fire I had just set alight. I was cold, hungry, and out of ideas.

I had run from the pack of Slayers as fast as I could, and I ran at speed for what felt like hours. I eventually stopped, of course, but only seconds before my heart burst. And now I was now somewhere in the wilderness, in a cave, with no knowledge of where I was, nor where Franklin was.

But the most prevalent feeling I had was fear. I was scared. As far as I could figure, this was the first time I was scared since I had become a dragon.

I sat back and stared into the flames, accidentally leaning on one of my wings in the process, starting a chain reaction that caused a bolt of pain to shoot through my spine.

I hissed lightly at the pain, straightening up immediately to try and relieve some of the burning, caused by the phoenix rounds the Slayers had used.
As time passed, I just kept the fire stoked and hoped that the Slayers wouldn’t find me. That and I was also trying to come up with a plan… I needed a way to get pass the Slayers, without being seen.

I began shuffling closer to the fire, trying to find a more warmth from the flames.

“You know… it has been a long time since I have seen another dragon.” An old, crusty voice said from behind me.

Startled I snapped around, looking for the voice. All I saw was the cave slip into darkness as the tunnel slipped deeper, and deeper into the mountain… but I didn’t see anyone. I tensed up, ready for a possible ambush.

“Do not be alarmed. I am not here to hurt you.” Said the voice.

“Where are you?” I asked.

“I am hiding deeper in the cave… and I am considering whether or not it is a good idea to come out and sit next to the fire…”

“I don’t see you.” I called out.

“I don’t expect you to.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“When you’ve been living in the wilderness for the past seventeen years, you learn stealth like a professional.”

“Well come on out here. The fire is warm and as long as you are not a threat… I won’t hurt you.”

I then saw a shadow dart across the cave wall briefly before fading away again.

“Well then I see no reason not to join you.” Said the voice.

I waited with baited breath for who… or what, to come out from hiding. For what seemed like a minute, nothing happened, but then, I saw something break from its cover and approach me.

I soon realized it was a human! What on earth was a human doing out here!?

“May I?” the man asked as he gestured towards a spot next to the fire.

“Please do.” I said.

The man sat down, groaning slightly as he did so.

“So… what’s a man like you doing out here?”

“I am no ordinary man.”

“It would seem so…” I said under my breath.

“Not that kind of ‘non ordinary’… and stop looking me like that. I am not crazy…”

I raised my eye ridge questioningly.

“I am a dragon. Much like you as a matter of fact. Reason why I said ‘its been a long time since I have seen another dragon’…” He continued.

I looked at him intently.

“Well… Actually… I was a dragon. About seventeen or eighteen years ago, I was in an accident with a nasty man… he somehow managed to kill the dragon side of me… he bolted me to a metal chair, knocked me out and next thing I know… I am stripped of most my power.”

“Were they Slayers?”

“Slayer. One slayer…”

“One Slayer?”

“Yes… one… His name was Hugo LaMort… He was a different kind of Slayer… He did his homework, unlike a lot of other Slayers…”

“What do you mean?”

“He was extremely smart… Not only in battle, but also scientifically. He managed to find a way to remove a dragon’s essence with light incantation and science.” The man shivered at this.

“But before the incident… I was a dragon. Same kind you are, I believe… an Ancient, much like yourself. Coloring was a bit different, but same kind. I was grey and a very light sky blue.”

Something seemed off about this man sitting before me…

“Not that I have lost all my power, but I can still cast a spell or two… but my magic capability is much reduced compared to a proper dragon’s.”

“What kind of magic can you cast?”

“The usual stuff. Spark a fire, summon a wild animal… simple stuff. A walk in the park for you, but a challenge for me.”

I looked at the man… something was off…

“What’s your name?” I asked him.

“Oh pardon me. Where are my manners? My name is Jean Meraux Brie.”