Phoenix (Saga of Steel and Bone, Book 2)

We pass by an enormous cavern with a large pool that glows from within, lit by some sort of shimmering light. The rocks along the bottom seem to be some sort of gem that glows an emerald green. The water face gleams a light green as she lights another large torch hanging over the dragon sized pool.

My eyes follow it as we pass by the water and enter a smaller cavern, but not by much. Within is a comfortable array of dark grey scales turned into what I would call nests. Large nests. Big enough to hold a dragon. Three round nests. The first is in front where the scales are strewn about in a mess. A second is further back and larger that is shaped perfectly into an oval, and then last is a small but comfortable cocoon with what looks like animal fur that would still fit twenty of me. The other two would hold forty or fifty of me. Comfortably.

My eyes finally catch movement. On the smallest nest in the back corner is three small forms. What I thought to be animal fur is actually three small dragonlings. They are perhaps only three times my size, with cute brown and black eyes set in angular faces. They have fur sprouting from their neck down that is slowly being replaced in certain places with black scales. Scratch that.

I nudge a scale on my ride aside with my nose, and underneath I find the same soft, downy brown fur. Huh. The scales grow over the fur, much like a second layer of protection.

The three little ones look like oversized bunnies running around in lizard shaped bodies with wings.

The largest keens to her mother, and she trills back. At the sound, the three bound up to their mother, running their jaws along hers in a sign of affection.

I feel like an imposter in a touching family moment. But the She-Dragon somehow feels this. She plunks a wing upon the ground and I shift to regain my balance. The three dragonlings clamber up the wing with happy trills and countless nudges as they each fight to reach the top first. A low grumble from mom sends them all ducking their heads with a small chirp from each. I chuckle inwardly. Momma reprimands are apparently universal.

They climb up slightly slower afterwards.

I don’t think about what is going to happen once they reach me. I’m too enthralled by the new world the dragon is allowing me to glimpse.

At last, they reach her back, but the top stops dead in her tracks as she spots me. A low hiss comes from her, but a sharp chirp from the She-Dragon puts an end to that. The second bumps into the first, putting the little thing that is three times my size within paw lengths. She freezes, as if afraid. That's when I realize she is. Deathly afraid. Her eyes are wide and glowing.

The third dragonling bumps the second, who bumps the first, which sends the first bumping into me with a loud, shrill scream. I quickly back peddle so that she doesn’t squash me. I stop as she scrapes to a stop. We are nose to nose. I decide to test fate once more. I lick her nose then rub my jaw along hers as I saw them showing affection to their mother. Totally demeaning for a wolf to act like a cat, but who is going to tell?