The cave's mouth was as tall and wide as a large pine tree. Inside, the cave was even larger. It looked like it could swallow me whole, but I wouldn't satisfy its hunger. I was thankful for its enormous size. If it was cramped and small, I don't know if I could have gone in, no matter how tired I was. Enclosed spaces terrified me.
I entered the mysterious cave, wanting a reprieve from the freezing chill. What I got was a lot more than I bargained for.
CHAPTER 5
I had expected to use what little power I had left to light the cave. I didn't have to. There were burning torches attached to the walls.
I stopped dead. Torches meant people. Who could be living at the top of this godsforsaken mountain? Was it the angel who had visited at my birth? Someone who had the answers I sought? Or something more dangerous and hostile?
I put one hand against the rough rock wall, leaning against it and breathing heavily. I listened to see if there were people in here and if they were nearby. Several long moments went by, and all I heard was the trickling water from the melting ice.
My body wouldn’t let me go farther. I didn't take off my bedroll and backpack. It was more like I couldn't support their weight and they rolled off me and crashed to the ground. I followed suit. My teeth chattered and I couldn't stop shaking. The cave was warmer than outside, but the cold still permeated me. What really unnerved me, though, were my swollen, blue and purple fingers. I needed some kind of warmth. I did my best to latch onto my inner fire, but all I got was a small spark of flame. I couldn’t get my power to work.
I decided to do it the old-fashioned way and crawled into my bedroll, trying my best to avoid looking at my damaged hands. I covered up with my sheepskin and horse's hide, feeling the warmth creep back into my body.
I unsheathed my dagger and clutched onto it. I wasn't going to drop my guard now. My mind and emotions may not have wanted me to sleep, but my body screamed for it. It didn't take long for my body to win the argument, and I drifted off to sleep.
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A low rumble like an earthquake vibrated throughout the cavern. I struggled to open my eyes. I moved my fingers and toes, no longer feeling frozen and stiff, even though my body was still exhausted and aching. I needed more rest.
The sound became deeper and louder, and it headed in my direction. I woke all the way up and scuttled behind a huge boulder, dagger in hand. I flexed my battered fingers and found that their color had returned to normal.
I peeked from my hiding place. From the long tunnel at the back of the cave came a billow of smoke. The ground trembled. There was something coming, and it was huge. Then the smoke cleared—and a dragon emerged.
He was slim and snaky, longer than Farmer Andrick’s barn, and the color of fire—bright red with hints of yellow and orange. He loomed above me, as awe-inspiring and as fearsome as the mountain I had just climbed. The smoke came from his long and pointed snout, as if he had swallowed a forest fire. The stench of sulfur filled the air. He could kill me with a flick of his razor-like claws or a twitch of his tail. And his bloodshot, hungry eyes were the most fierce and frightening of all.
“Who goes there?” he thundered. The cave shook around me.
I clutched my useless dagger tighter and held my breath. I didn't want to give him a sign where I was. Sweat rolled down my temples and splattered on the ground. I prayed he didn't hear the loud sound it made.
“I know you're here. I can see your belongings, and I can smell you.” He inhaled and thrashed his fiery red and orange tail. “Since you won't come out, I'll blast you out!” He veered in my direction and flames spewed out of his mouth in a spiral funnel. I leaped out of the way just as the boiling fire melted the boulder. “Well, there you are,” he said. “I was wondering when you’d come out and say hello.”
I had heard stories of dragons being protectors, but this one was far from it. This powerful creature wanted to kill me.
“Stay back! Stay back!” I said. “Don't come any closer, I’m armed.” I brandished my father's dagger.
“Oh no, I'm scared. Look, the little human is armed. Are you going to pick my teeth with that thing? They could use a good cleaning.” The dragon grinned, showing me his rows of pointy teeth. There were bits and pieces of meat in between them.
There was nothing I could do to defeat this dragon, so I tried to reason with him. “Please don't. I'm just a boy.”
“If you're just a boy, then how did you get up here? Prepare to be roasted like a cow.” His predator’s eyes gleamed. “Moo. I hope you taste as good as the last human that was up here.” He slurped his tongue in delight.
The dragon breathed in, and smoke seeped out of his flaring nostrils. He opened his mouth and blew the flame towards me. In a panic, I dropped my dagger, and instead of running or dodging the flame like someone who had half a brain would do, my hands flew out in front of me. It was a futile attempt, to shield myself from the danger that came my way.