Shannon Pemrick [Pemrick - Secrets

D ead leaves crunched under the hooves of my mount as we traveled through the dense forest. Birds chirped their late afternoon songs while a light breeze rustled the leaves in the canopy, and a brook babbled in the distance. I looked around, my violet hair threatening to get in my way due to the wind, and inhaled the petrichor odor still clinging to the air from the remnants of rainstorm earlier this morning. I had no idea where I was, but Tlalli had assured me this black elk knew the way, so I trusted her words and this elk to bring me where I needed to go.

The elk stopped suddenly and exhaled. Looking around briefly, I slid off the giant elks back and walked away from him. Taking a quick look around, I turned and removed the bridle and reins from the elks face. Giving him a quick scratch on the nose, I stuffed the bridle and reins into a small bag sewn into the cloth saddle. The Elk huffed at me before heading back the way we had come.

Now alone, I had no real idea where I was. Tlalli had said the elk would bring me to the edge of their territory, but that didnt help me get back to the campsite if I was lost. Inhaling deeply, I caught the faint scent of Raikidan. Inhaling again, I was able to figure out that it was a few days old, and not far from my current location. Making sure my bag was secure on my back, I headed toward the scent.

We had traveled near here when we had been searching for the burial site, so if I headed north, I knew Id end up at the campsite. It was weird traveling back alone, but it was for the best. The moment I had woken up, I spent little time waiting. I had eaten with my men, gave last-minute orders, and headed out, all before Raikidan had woken up. I didnt need him or his little games around. I had important things to deal with. I had real lives on the line and real problems to deal with. Raikidan could take his boredom and waste someone elses time.

I stopped walking when a large shadow blocked out the sun briefly. I looked up at the sky but saw nothing. Shrugging it off, I continued on until the shadow appeared again, but this time it lasted longer. I stopped walking, but didnt look up even when the shadow left. Instead, I listened. Wing flaps. Large ones that could support the size of the shadow I saw.

When the shadow appeared for a third time, I looked up and surprised by the sight of a black dragon descending from the sky. What would a black dragon want with me?

The dragons head turned, revealing a red stripe running down the center of his head and back. It cant be Still several feet above me, the Dragon shifted into a nu-human shape. His muscles rippled under his tan skin upon impact of the ground. He ran hand quickly ran through his black and red hair before he looked at me with his piercing sapphire eyes.

Raikidan I wasnt sure what to think of him being here.

You left without me, he accused.

Leave him here and be on your way, the haunting malevolent voice in the back of my head said.

I turned on my heels and continued heading north. I told you to go home.

And I told you I wasnt going anywhere, he said as he followed. You dont understand

I whirled around. I dont understand? How the hell am I supposed to understand when you dont tell me?

Raikidan looked down. Its its complicated

I snorted. Im sure it is.

Good, dont believe his lies.

Raikidan grabbed me by the arm as I turned to continue on my way, and he forced me to look him in the eye. I could see it there. How complicated it was for him, but that didnt excuse him.

Dont believe it. Its an act.

Do you just not trust me? I asked.

Do you not trust me? he shot back.

I grunted and turned to continue on. Lets go, then.

Not that way, he objected.

My brow rose. This is the way we came. It leads us directly back to camp.

I found a faster way, he said. Trust me.

Dont trust him.

I sighed and followed him. Youd better not be pulling my leg. Ill kill you while you sleep if you are.

Raikidan chuckled. Well then maybe I shouldnt sleep for the next few days just in case.

Raikidan! I shouted.

He laughed. Im kidding. Just trust me on this one, okay?

I frowned. Fine.

I looked around with caution. The sun had sunk low in the sky and Raikidan stopped walking, not by choice though. We stood in front of the mouth a large cave that I wasnt at all comfortable with. Id rather go a different way.

Scared? he teased.

I snorted. No. I just dont see how a cave can have an exit.

It does, he insisted. I told you I checked it out before I came to find you. Besides, we need to get to the higher ground aboveor did you forget we had to scale a cliff to get down here? It took you forever to get down. I dont want to think about how long it will take for you to climb up it.

I didnt take forever, I muttered as I pushed past him. I nearly free-fell the entire way down, only being able to use the cliff face every once in a while to prevent myself from dying at the base of the cliff. So, sorry I cant sprout wings and fly, instead of taking a whole extra few seconds to jump down to reach the ground.

Raikidan sighed and muttered to himself in his own tongue before following me. Once inside, I lit a fire in my hand and led the way. His lack of protests on me leading confused me, but it wasnt long into the walk before we came to a fork in the tunnel and everything became clear. He knew I was going to have to follow him in the end.

This way, he instructed as he chose to walk down the left tunnel.