Chapter Text
Fireflies.
No. Fire. Fire flies.
Fire flies from the mouth of the dragon.
From all three of its gaping mouths.
We’ll be burned.
There is no escape. We won’t survive this.
Heart, you whisper. You’re the heart.
And I know that must be true.
Because I feel it.
I have it - right here, softly fluttering in my cupped palms.
I’ve clasped them tight - not tight enough to hurt it.
I just don’t want it to go.
But I’m afraid. Afraid if I hold tight it won’t be able to breathe.
It needs oxygen. Its fluttering falters in my hands.
Its frantic beating grows quieter.
Oxygen.
It needs oxygen. Like fire.
I move towards the dragon.
Please, I whisper. Please don’t hurt it.
I think it wants to fly, like you.
I begin to open my palms. I feel it stutter back to life.
The dragon leans in. Breathes deep.
My hands open.
Fireflies.