Chapter 1 (part four)

Tempest burst into the main lobby slightly scaring Gale who was doing some light dusting. He didn’t give her a chance to talk as he charged up stairs to his room. Inside the partitioned room he stared at the sword before him, glaring at it with determination. He reached a hand out to touch it’s blade, but paused midway through. Even though he knew he must use it, a slight fear trickled its way to his finger tips. They tensed up as his hand neared it. “I-I have to do this…”, he thought to himself, “To get her medicine so she can smile again…”

He took a deep breath and withdrew his hand and walked behind the dividing wall to sit on his bed. The soft daylight peaked through, but wasn’t enough for him to see the details surrounding him. It was then that he was reminded of his earlier goal. Tempest slightly cursed under his breath and headed out of his room and down another set of stairs. Gale watched him as he walked on to the right of her down another set of stairs that led to the cellar. “Need something?” she asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry, get some rest.” was all that he mumbled in response.

Down in the cellar it was dark. A small lantern hung at the doorway for use. Tempest took the lantern and moved it around for him to see. He walked around boxes, barrels, and bags of various items till he reached the back. He crouched down before a small wooden box and slid the easily accessible top back to reveal some oil. He reached in and removed the contents and placed it to the side. As he went to recover the box he spotted something out of the corner of his eye. It was large and covered by a brown cloth. He hadn’t remembered his family ever possessing something like that. He held the lantern before him, to get a better look. As he examined the foreign object he unveiled it to find out that it was a large, orange and red spotted egg. “W-what’s something like this doing down here?” he spoke softly perplexed. He stretched a hand out to touch it. As his rough hands touched it’s surface it began to move. Tempest quickly withdrew his hand, a little frightened by the sudden movement. He watched as the egg started to shake more furiously till several cracks appeared on it’s surface. With several sharp snaps a small creature covered in mucus freed itself from it’s container.

Tempest stared at the small creature as it wiggled and stretched from it’s new found freedom. It appeared lizard like, a light red-orange with a yellow-orange underbelly. Two short and blood-red colored horns sprung from the back of it’s skull as small, rounded spikes lined it’s spine. Two little webbed wings released themselves from the creatures body and flapped spreading the mucus in a small spray. “Mommy..” The creature peeped, “Take me.. To my mommy…”. Tempest stared in astonishment, he had never encountered a red dragon chick before. It was very rare to see them without getting massacred by their protective parents first.

“Out of all the times and all of the chances..” Tempest muttered.

“My mommy.. She’s with the ruined human household…” The dragon purred, “Take me to her and you can get some pretty flowers…”

“The flowers…” Tempest repeated. He took a small moment to think about the situation, as he did so, the little hatchling rolled about and shook in play. Tempest watched it and then returned the top of oil box to it’s rightful place. He then tucked the oil for his lamp into a satchel. “Ok, little one.” He felt silly talking to a dragon, which were feared for their ferocity, “We will go to where your mommy is..” The small hatchling roared with joy. However it sounded more like a tiny, high-pitched screech. Tempest then stood up fully and began to walk a little frightened to see Gale’s reaction at his new little “follower”. “Follow me..” He said hoping it would understand. The dragon hopped around a bit and then with a small squeal it followed suit.

Gale was no where in sight while Tempest snuck into his bedroom. She must have gone to one of the other rooms to do some more cleaning, or was finally resting; which was doubtful. Tempest quickly refilled the lamp next to his bed and then walked over to the sword. He looked at it once more and trembled. “I-I can’t.” He thought turning back to his wardrobe which he could now see clearly with the lamp lit. He opened the pale maple door and peered inside searching for the next available weapon. All that appeared before him was a long and feeble sword. “It will have to do, for now..” he grunted as he grabbed it and turned back toward the lamp to turn it off. The dragon had made little sound during this entire time and seldom glanced around at his surroundings. Tempest exited his bedroom and proceeded to walk out of the house without further hesitation.