Same thing here. Editing help, critiques, tips. Sorry if it's long. And thank you to Livinginfantasy for helping me so much. Your reviews are greatly appreciated.
Inspirational Songs: Glow and Critters Have Feelings by Todd Edwards, Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Chapter Six: Royally Screwed
I don’t know if you’ve ever been airborne, but it’s a pretty sweet thing. Or it would be, if you weren’t clinging to the back of a dragon for dear life. The view was amazing, even though I could barely keep myself from throwing up. There wasn’t much to see except the never-ending forest, but we were so high up in the air that even that looked amazing. I didn’t know how Munchie was feeling at this point. He was probably the most scared he’d ever been in his life.
Carmen flew around Niveous Mountain, and there wasn’t much to see on the other side but more trees. She flew a long distance away from the mountain and into the woods. She landed in a small clearing of trees. She skidded to a stop in front of a little pond so abruptly that I flew off her back. I landed in the cold, clammy water with a splash. I took that as a sign of how the dragon felt about me.
Luckily, the water wasn’t deep; I could stand up in it. I stood there, dripping wet, staring into the dragon’s eyes. She didn’t look mad, she looked annoyed, but I didn’t think she would try to attack me. The dragon turned her back to me (nearly whacking me with her giant tail, I might add) and walked over to a giant tree. She plopped down and curled her tail around herself with her head on her front claws. The expression on her face could best be described as…stressed out. I mean, if it was possible for a dragon to look stressed.
I felt Munchie shivering in my pocket and took him out. He was curled up in a ball, the poor little guy. I rubbed his fur in comfort. I climbed out of the water and went to sit on a rock as far away from Carmen as the clearing would allow.
She ignored for so long that I wondered if she knew I was still here. I decided to pretend she wasn’t there, either, but I couldn’t do anything to stop my heart from thundering away. What would she do if she got hungry? Would she eat me?
Thinking of food made me hungry. I hadn’t eaten in the last twenty-four hours. I suddenly realized I was starving. I looked inside the back pack Dewey gave me and checked out what he packed. Bread, cheese, water, and some biscuits. Way to go all out Dewey! I thought to myself. Couldn’t he have at least packed some cake or something?
I took out the large loaf of bread when I realized Carmen was watching me. I looked up at her and saw that she was staring at the food in my hands.
“Er…are you hungry?” I felt stupid. Here I was, practically inviting a dragon to have me for dinner.
She stood up and walked over to me cautiously, as if I was the scary animal. She spared a few yards between us so as not to frighten me, I figured. She sniffed the air curiously. I was a little confused. Didn’t dragons eat meat?
“Um, you want some?” I asked. Why was I being polite to a dragon again? Oh yeah, so she wouldn’t tear my head off.
She nodded eagerly. Dewey packed two of everything in the sack, so I decided to give her the whole bread, though I wasn’t completely sure a measly loaf of bread would satisfy a dragon. I threw it towards her and she caught it in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed in about five seconds.
“Cheese?” I offered. She nodded again. I threw it to her and she finished it in the same manner. When she was done, she whined for more.
“Sorry,” I chuckled, “I gotta eat, too.”
She sighed and walked over to the pond. She leaned down and lapped up the water with her tongue.
“So, uh, you can understand everything I say?” I couldn’t believe I was trying to make small talk with a dragon.
She nodded without lifting her head from the surface of the water.
“Weird,” I muttered, “Anyways, sorry I joined you for the ride.”
She turned her head in my direction and rolled her eyes as if to say whatever.
“For the record, you saved my life,” I amended, “Those guys back there were after me, not you.”
This got her attention. She tilted her head to the side and her dark, fearsome eyes were full of questions.
“Long story,” I said.
The dragon sat down, got comfortable, and folded her clawed hands over each other as if to say I’ve got time.
“Okay,” I chuckled, “I’ll give you gist of it: I got drunk, got in a fight with a mob leader, and now he wants to kill me. So I’m on the run.”
She narrowed her eyes, and her expression was that of one who scolds. I laughed.
“So, Carmen, huh?” I wondered, “What’s your deal? On the run, too?”
She shook her head.
“Must be tough being a dragon, though.” I said, “Everyone’s always trying to kill you and all.”
She sighed again. The words were clear on her face. You have no idea.
“Well, that guy back there seemed to want to protect you,” I said, “So at least you have someone.”
Suddenly I heard rustling close by. Carmen turned her head and listened intently, her face hopeful.
Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear. Red-cape guy emerged from the depths of the trees, looking disheveled. Twigs and leaves were stuck to his pants and boots, and his shiny black hair was messed up. He looked around the clearing, panting wildly. When he saw me, his eyes narrowed.
“You!” he yelled, pulling out his sword and coming forward.
“Whoa!” I screeched, flinching back when he held the sword to my face.
“Where is she?” he demanded, “What have you done to her?”
“She’s right there!” I pointed behind him frantically. He looked behind him with the sword still aimed at me. Carmen was on her feet now, looking anxious as she watched the rapier held to my face, like she was worried.
“Oh, Carmenita!” Red-cape guy breathed in relief, his Spanish accenting his speech heavily. He ran towards her in a hurry, and I, for one, was glad that I no longer had a sword at my throat. He looked deep into her eyes, and it was weird the way they were staring at each other, like they were a couple or something. Ugh.
“There was no need to worry,” he spoke to her in a soothing voice, “There is no mountain high enough, nor valley low, to keep me away from you, my baby.”
I rolled my eyes, “Oi! Romeo!” I called. I wanted to know what the deal was with Brutus’ men. I walked up to him and the minute he heard me behind him, he whirled around and pulled out his sword again.
“Stay back you mongrel!” he ordered, keeping Carmen behind him. I almost laughed, if Carmen wanted me dead, I wouldn’t be breathing right now. She didn’t need this guy’s protection.
“Dude, do you seriously think a scrawny kid like me could take on a dragon like that?” I asked, pointing at Carmen.
He scrutinized me, the words breaking through to him. He looked back at Carmen and she nodded. He turned back to face me and lowered his sword.
“Hmph,” he muttered, “You’re probably right.”
I sighed in relief, “Thanks. So, who are you, anyways?”
“I am Prince Alejandro Ricardo Remirez,” he announced proudly, tossing his cape over his shoulder.
Was this guy for real? Was I seriously supposed to believe he was a real prince? Was that even a real accent?
“Right,” I decided to just let things go, “I’m Clover.”
“Clover,” he repeated, his lips twitching at the corners, like he was about to burst out laughing.
“Yeah,” I muttered, “I want to know what happened to those guys back there.”
His amused expression changed abruptly, now looking suspicious.
“What business is it of yours?” he questioned.
“Well, they were trying to kill me, not your dragon.” I explained.
“You?” he asked incredulously. His expression said it all. What makes you so important?
“Yeah, so what’s the deal?” I asked, frustrated now.
“I don’t think they will come after us any time soon,” he assured me, “The fools have no sense of direction.”
“Good,” relief flooded through me, but quickly came crashing down when I realized I now had no where to go.
“So, where are you and your…pet, going?” I asked Alejandro, hoping that maybe I could come along once more.
Both Carmen and Alejandro looked completely offended. Carmen growled at me and I leaned back. Did I say something?
“She is not my pet,” Alejandro said, clearly abashed by my word choice. He turned around and took one of Carmen’s giant claws in both of his hands. He looked at her sweetly and stroked her head.
“She is my princess,” he murmured lovingly.
Okay, this was getting too weird.
“Little piece of advice, buddy: maybe you should find yourself a real girl.” I said. I mean, seriously, even I wasn’t that obsessed with my hamster.
Carmen snarled at me again.
Alejandro turned back around to face me, “You see a dragon before you, but in truth, she is a girl.”
“Yeah…a girl dragon.” I said.
“This is not her true form,” Alejandro contradicted my words, “She is cursed.”
I blinked. I thought I was the only who was cursed around here?
“What do you mean?” I asked stupidly.
Alejandro sat down next to Carmen wearily, “Nearly two years ago, I was engaged to the beautiful Princess Carmenita Alexandria Renato - no, she was not a dragon then, she was human!” he snapped when he saw my expression, “But she was turned into a dragon on the night of her eighteenth birthday by the most cruel, evil b-…witch.”
I stared at Carmen in shock, “Seriously?”
He nodded.
“But why?” I wondered, dumbfounded, “Why would anyone do that?”
Alejandro shrugged indifferently, but his expression showed how much disgust he felt for the so-called witch.
“I would not marry her, so she turned my love into a monster so that I would never take my rightful place as king. She knew that I would refuse the throne if Carmen would not rule by my side.” He hissed.
“That’s awful.” I murmured, “So, who rules your kingdom now, then?”
“My father,” a stress line creased his forehead when he spoke, “But he’s getting old. I don’t know if he can handle it anymore.” He pulled a piece of grass from the ground and tore it into little pieces.
“Sorry,” I said, not knowing what else to say.
“I’ve searched for a way to turn Carmenita back, but every witch and wizard keeps telling me the same thing. Only the witch who placed the curse on her to begin with can remove it.” He gritted his teeth, “But she has disappeared. I can’t find her anywhere, though I’ve been searching for the last two years.”
I stayed silent, unsure if I should say anything.
“Enough about me,” Alejandro said, “What’s your story?”
“Well, it’s not as interesting as yours,” I said sheepishly, “I got in a fight with a mob leader, now he wants to kill me, and so I ran away from home.”
Alejandro nodded slowly as he absorbed the information, “Those men back there?”
“Henchmen.”
“I see.” He mumbled, “What is his name?”
“Brutus.” I informed.
His eyes widened, “Brutus? Brutus Incognetus?”
“Uh, I don’t know his last name.”
“I know him.” Alejandro said, “He once came to our kingdom. My father banished him. He is no longer allowed to set foot in Benjamin.”
I grimaced, “Is he really that bad? I wouldn’t know, I was too drunk to remember anything about him.”
Alejandro nodded regretfully, “Ogres and trolls are his…amigos, you could say. I would watch my back if I were you.”
He got up and brushed himself off.
“Where are you going?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“I have to find a new hiding place for Carmen,” He looked at me meaningfully. I grimaced.
“Sorry.” I said.
“This will take a while,” he said to himself, “Maybe behind a waterfall or something.”
“Hey, uh,” I searched for the right way to ask him, “Do you think that I could maybe come with you? Help you find a spot, maybe?”
Alejandro hesitated before answering. He scratched his head, clearly uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry, mi amigo, but you seem to be, er, the kind of person who…attracts danger.” He said regretfully, “And I don’t wish to put my Carmenita in any more danger than she’s already in.”
“Oh.” I said awkwardly. He was right, though. I couldn’t go with them, no matter how much I wanted to.
Carmen purred behind him, as if trying to convince him otherwise.
“I’m sorry, Carmen, but it’s for the best,” Alejandro said to her comfortingly. She whined softly.
“It’s okay, Carmen. I’ll be fine on my own. Always have been.” I lied. Her eyes told me she wasn’t convinced.
“Besides, I have Munchie here to protect me if I need him,” I tried to make her laugh. She didn’t. Munchie had finally gotten the courage to uncurl himself, and was now perched on my shoulder. Carmen shifted her eyes between me and the hamster and shook her head. Something that looked like a smile formed on her lips.
It surprised me when she began to walk towards me. She leaned down and laid her head on my other shoulder. I didn’t know exactly what to do, so I rubbed the side of her giant, scaly head. It felt strangely smooth. I guessed since I was probably the first person she’d talked to besides Alejandro in two years, she’d warmed up to me a little.
“Yeah, it was good to meet you, too.” I returned. She stepped back and stood beside Alejandro once more.
“Well, uh, I guess I’ll see you around, then.” I said to the prince. I turned around and was about to head back into the woods when Alejandro stopped me.
“Clover.” He called. I turned back around and faced him intently. Did he change his mind?
“I haven’t been to Benjamin in two years,” he began, “But I have no doubt that it is still a very safe kingdom. I would suggest that you go there, since it is immune to Brutus Incognetus.”
Woo, that sounded like a good idea.
“Okay, where is it?” I asked eagerly.
“Head south from here,” he said, “It’s a long journey, so you may want to stop at the inn along the way there. You won’t miss it, and they don’t charge you anything.”
It was a good thing I had that compass handy. Otherwise I’d most likely get lost.
“Thanks, Alejandro.” I said.
He smiled slyly and climbed onto Carmen’s back. I hadn’t realized they were going to fly.
“Oh, um, one thing,” I started. Alejandro and Carmen looked at me curiously.
“If you happen to cross a town called Shelton, there’s a bartender there. His name is Dewey. If you see him, tell him I’m okay, would you? If you have the time, I mean.”
Alejandro scrutinized me again, “I will definitely try to.”
“Thanks again.” I said.
Carmen began flapping her wings until they were hovering about a foot from the ground.
“Adios, amigo!” Alejandro called before they ascended in the air. I watched the dragon and the prince fly up into the sunset tinged sky and disappear in the distance.
