Searching for Thanksgiving (Dragonlings of Valdier)

Chapter 15

15

A part of Crystal’s mind braced for the impact with the floor that she knew was coming even while her eyes remained locked on the massive, terrifying creature standing in her doorway. While the midnight black shape had followed her, it had always kept its distance. Now, the frightening creature surged toward her with a speed that took her breath away and made her realize how vulnerable she was on this alien world. Silky bands caught her, holding her suspended above the ground. Any thought that the alien being was a figment of her imagination disappeared when she felt the surprising warmth encase her in a gentle, yet firm grasp.

There was something else mixed with the warmth?—

Pain… and grief. I feel its pain and grief.

She recognized it because the sensation and emotion were as familiar to her as her own body. For a brief second, she wondered if she was projecting her own emotions onto it. She shook her head.

No… this feels… different.

She tentatively touched the being as it righted her. The creature shuddered under her touch and pressed against her hands, as if desperate for the contact. Her lips parted again, this time in awe at the silky exterior of a being that looked as if it was made of liquid. It reminded her of Christoff’s symbiot—yet, it was black.

“You… you can let me go now,” she choked out.

The creature shuddered again. It reluctantly released her. She warily watched as it changed shape, moving from an undefined formation to a form that was a cross between a dragon and a large cat.

The creature pushed past her, lifting its head and tilting it from side-to-side as it scanned the interior of her small home. It padded to the bathroom, nudging the door open with its nose. The creature poked its head inside, released a loud, violent sneeze, and turned its head to look at her with an almost accusing expression.

“I would have warned you I have herbs drying in there if I had known you were going to go sniffing around,” she chuckled.

She kept the table between herself and the dragon-cat as it continued its exploration of her home. A low rumble that sounded like a cross between a growl and a purr caused her to take a step back. It took a second for her to realize it was glaring between her untouched plate of food and her with a hint of disapproval. The wave of annoyance that swept through her earlier returned.

“What?” she demanded.

The dragon-cat walked over to the table and nudged the plate with its nose. She pursed her lips and crossed her arms. She was so not taking orders from some liquid alien blob. Between her parents, her grandmother, and Christoff, she was done with everyone treating her as if she couldn’t take care of herself!

The creature appeared to sense her displeasure. It rounded the table and came toward her. She backed up until she was trapped against the back of the couch. She leaned backwards as far as she could when the dragon-cat paused less than an inch from her.

They stood like that as the seconds slowly ticked by. There was something in its eyes that pulled at her. It wanted something from her.

“What do you want? Why are you here… following me?” she whispered, unable to look away.

The dragon-cat extended its neck a touch more, but didn’t touch her. Crystal felt an odd compulsion to stroke the creature. She wanted to comfort it… but she also wanted to know more. She had communicated with Christoff’s symbiot by touching it. Perhaps she could do the same with this one.

“I… I won’t… I just want to…,” she stammered.

The creature froze when she reached out to tentatively touch it again. Her lips parted in surprise when streaks of glistening gold appeared on the surface where she ran her hand. Curious, she continued stroking the smooth, velvety coat. The black receded, as if shying away from her touch, but returned when she lifted her hand. Crystal stared into the dragon-cat’s eyes with a puzzled expression.

“What happened to you? Where do you come from?”

A soft gasp slipped from her when images exploded into her mind. The kaleidoscope played like a video on fast-forward. Her head tilted back, and she closed her eyes as she tried to understand what the creature was sharing with her. Her fingers tightened, curling into the creature, as a wave of dizziness threatened to send her to her knees.

“You are wrong! What you are doing is wrong!”

“You do not understand the power that is within my grasp. I’ve been given the power of the Gods and Goddesses. Not even they will be able to stop me once I have control over the Valdier, Sarafin, and Curizans.”

The next image did weaken her knees, and she awkwardly slid down the back of the couch to the floor. The images of a man, ravaged by pain and trapped in darkness, ripped at her heart. The creature pulled out of her grasp and backed away. She blinked several times to clear her vision, dazed and confused to find herself back in her small, cozy hut.

Licking her lips to moisten them, she stared at the dragon-cat. It’s coat was black again, though there were streaks of gold in the shape of her fingers now marring the areas where she had held it. She breathed deeply, trying to calm her racing heart. The man needed help.

“Where is he?” she finally asked.

The dragon-cat shuddered. Ripples ran down the creature, causing a wave of distorted images reflected from the room to shimmer along its body. She could feel the power emanating from it. Another emotion—she wasn’t sure if it was her or the creature’s—pulsed like a heartbeat.

Hope… and relief, she thought as she struggled back to her feet.

She held onto the back of the couch for a moment when the room spun. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. The thought that she should contact Christoff and share what was happening flashed through her mind before she pushed it away.

No, the creature had come to her seeking help. She could do this.

She opened her eyes as determination filled her. A slight, uncertain smile curved her lips when she noticed the creature was frozen in mid-step, as if as uncertain of her as she was of it. Straightening her shoulders, she lifted her chin and gave a sharp nod.

“Let me gather some things, then we will leave,” she assured the creature.

The creature looked from her to the door and back again, as if willing her to hurry. Crystal grabbed the bag she used to carry things back and forth between her hut and her grandmother and Christoff’s home. She packed a torch, a small medical kit, some food, and folded a long woolen shawl into it before she pulled on her long coat, then picked up the trekking pole she used to help steady herself along the uneven path.

She had no idea where the creature would take her or how long she would be gone. Biting her lip, she grabbed the communicator on the counter and shoved it into her pocket. If the man needed immediate medical attention, she would have to call for assistance. She knew basic first aid, but that was the limit to her skills.

“Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go,” she said, adjusting the strap on her shoulder and stepping through the open door.