Dragon of Storms

Chapter 7

 Getting out of the cavern was fairly easy with the newly formed ramp. The hard part was trying to find a village or road when Reyna had no idea where she was. The sun was at its apex, so she'd have to wait until night to even attempt navigating through the thick canopy. That didn't stop her from trying though.

The baby dragon happily sat on her shoulders, with his tiny little head peering through her curtain of hair. He seemed relaxed, and just happy to be out of the cave. Reyna knew that their time in the forest would probably be a piece of cake compared to going into the city. In the capital, there was a very big chance he'd be seen.

While they walked, well Reyna walked and the dragon sat on her shoulders, she started to go through the finer details of hiding him. The saddlebag would have to do for a while, plus if she could get her hands on a cloak he would be able to hide in the hood and her hair. They'd get a horse from the first village they reach, ride to the capital, then Reyna would go straight to her rooms, claiming she needed rest before talking to anybody, which was true. If she had to talk to her father or Lord James before a proper meal, warm bath, and comfy bed, she'd lose her filter and say things nobody should have to hear. She wouldn't regret it, but she didn't want to deal with a reprimanding when all she wanted was sleep and food.

After wandering around, Reyna found a familiar stream. It was the one she had first bathed in. "We both need a bath," She said to the dragon, finally breaking the silence that followed them from the caves. He looked up at her through a golden sheet of hair like she was crazy. Technically he had gotten a bath earlier in the caverns lake, but she hadn't.

With no warning, Reyna jumped in causing the dragon to make a strange yelping sound. When she came up, she noticed that he had scrambled out of the water quickly, and was now shaking the water off himself. "It's not that bad," Reyna laughed out. The dragon only narrowed his eyes, presumably glaring at her. She just laughed before dunking her head, letting her hair flow around her.

Again, she came up, and after attempting to scrub the dirt, dust, and blood off of her, Reyna got out. She didn't really mind that her clothes were dripping, or that they were suctioned to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. She began to ring her hair out, then her clothes, piece by piece. "Okay, I know where we are," They were near a small trail that would lead to a road, then to a village. When the dragon looked up at her with a questioning glance, she continued. "We're near a road that'll get us to a village."

He seemed satisfied with the answer, and began to get closer. Reyna picked him up with ease, as he was about as heavy as a cat, and let him onto her shoulder. "You'll have to get in the bag, once we reach the road," He began to make a whining sound. "Look," She started, looking for the best way to put that fact that somebody would kill him if they saw him. "People here haven't seen a dragon in a long, long time." Like thousands of years actually. "And I don't know how they'll react to seeing one." Gods only know what'll happen. People may panic, they might want to kill him, they may try to take him and use him for their own gain. The things this dragon could do in the wrong hands were innumerable.

"So we'll keep you hidden," Reyna said, trying to shake the thoughts from her head. "To keep us both safe." Finishing with her horrible explanation, she looked at the dragon, he looked unconvinced, but somehow, she knew that he'd listen. He seemed just as worried about her, as she was him. "Alright?"

The dragon blinked once in compliance before shuffling to lay down across her shoulders. "Alright." She repeated firmly. The two made their way down the small trail, which led to a smaller road, then to the main road. Reyna could make out some wagons and travelers in the distance, but none were too close. The dragon stayed around her shoulders, making no move to stray into her saddlebag.