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"Mira, you’re a Sorrengail, so you will survive. Perhaps not as spectacularly as I have, but we all can’t live up to my standards, can we? All kidding aside, this is everything I’ve learned. Keep it safe. Keep it hidden. You have to live, because Violet is watching. You can’t let her see you fall. Brennan.”
Book of Brennan, Page 2
Page 2 of the Book of Brennan burns in my mind whenever I’m dealing with a huge amount of pain. It’s how I ground myself in the heat of the moment; I must survive. This time, though, I do not think the passage could help me. I slowly roll to my side, mentally reaching out to Teine. “Are…Are you okay?” I can feel his power through the bond, a gentle nudge of his snort touching my hand. A simple way for us to tell the other is okay without words. A small sigh of relief before my eyes landed on the window. I slowly opened my mouth, trying to speak, but I felt something stabbing my throat. Quickly closing my mouth, taking notes, I cannot talk.
I felt something crawling on my leg. I could feel my body freezing, reaching for something—anything—as a weapon to defend myself. Soon, as my hand reached behind me, I heard a very small meow.
What. The. Fuck?
I whip my head back around to stare at the small orange kitten doing some weird motion on my knee. The kitten meows loudly, and it makes odd motions with its front paws. It’s marching in place on my knee. What is this kitten doing? I’ve never had one before, but it seems happy. I think it's happy. Fuck, what is the gender of this kitten again?
I scoot myself up, leaning against the headboard. The kitten made a small meow, sounding displeased when I moved. However, it moves to a new spot on my knee, doing that weird front march again. I look around the room to take notes in case of danger. It has a simple oak dresser at the back of the room. The door is on the right-hand side, with the window mirroring the same location on the left-hand side. There is a chair on the left side of the bed with a nightstand on each side of the bed. It would have been pointless to reach for something as a weapon earlier unless….
I shift to the right and look under a nightstand to see a small dagger. I can feel a grin, noting it was one of Violet’s daggers. Good, my little sister made sure I had a weapon nearby. If only my brother were as useful as Violet is. I sat back up watching this kitten be weird. It’s making some bizarre noise, and I think its throat is vibrating, curling up against my knee. Wasn’t it doing its weird forward march a little bit ago? If anything, I’m slowly learning I am more of a dog person than a cat person.
My body turns rigid at the sound of the door opening. I can feel my fingers gripping the edge of the bed, ready to move at a moment's notice if things turn sour.
“Oh, hey, you’re awake,” part of me wishes it was an attack after hearing that cocky voice. Instead, it’s Drake Cordella. I cross my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. It’s quite annoying not being able to speak. I have so many questions about what happened. Why am I alive? Is my dragon okay?
Eighteen hours have changed a lot for me, because my third question is: Why is he smiling at me?
“Hey, you’re awake now,” He beamed, walking around the bed to the empty chair. I noticed he was carrying a box. Why is he carrying a box? What is in the box? Is the box for the weird cat who is asleep right now? Did he get another kitten and put it in the box?
“So, I bet you’re wondering if this box is for you or Broccoli.” He pats the box. I narrow my eyes at him, wondering if I should pray to Dunne to give me the strength to wipe that smirk off his face. “The box is for you. A small gift from yours truly.” He places the box on my lap, then takes a moment to get up and walk around the bed, grabbing Violet’s dagger. “Your sister thought you might want a weapon nearby. While I agree with the idea…I didn’t like it attached to your uniform. So, I placed it in grabbing range for you.” Drake places the dagger on top of the box before taking his seat again. I grab the hilt of the dagger, carefully opening the box. I’ll admit, I can’t help being curious about what’s inside the box. I swear, if he has another cat in the box with a weird name that doesn’t make sense…. I place the dagger at my side, then look inside the box. It has about four notebooks and a couple of quills. I make a note of four ink bottles.
I took one of the notebooks, flipping it open. Once I got the ink bottle open, I dipped my quill into it and began to write on it.
“Oh, you’re still alive,” I wrote out. He chuckles softly, leaning back in his chair, “Don’t write so disappointedly, I might think you don’t like me.” He cracks a joke as I narrow my eyes at him. It took everything in me not to throw one of the ink bottles at him. Since he is nice to me with his gift, I will try to be nice to him.
“Though, I have a question about Teine,” His eyes light up, which made me raise an eyebrow at him. “Is there any special treat Teine likes? I ask because I often give Sovadunn little treats when she is recovering, but I have no idea what a dragon would like.”
I tilt my head at him, blinking a little bit when he has this huge smile on his face. Most people would stay away from dragons, not even look them in the eyes. He visited Teine? How is he alive? Why didn’t Teine growl at him?
“He tried to help the other dragons in tending my wounds until Tarin growled at him,” I feel him nuzzling my side gently in our bond. “I figure I will let him help, similar to how he helps Sovadunn, who has been keeping me company when there are no dragons nearby.”
So, is Drake either brave or stupid? Maybe both? But it’s nice he is trying to make sure Teine is taken care of, since I may struggle in that area at the moment. “Do you wish for me to tell him to get you some chicken then?” I ask down the bond. I know Teine enjoys eating chicken occasionally, but he rarely gets a chance to eat it.
“Inform him not to cook it, I will be able to cook my chicken,” I chuckle softly at the answer. Of course, he would say yes with a small request. Nothing would prevent him from getting some chicken.
“Bring the chicken raw without the feathers,” I wrote to Drake. I looked over to witness him blinking at me a few times.
“Chicken?” he asked.
“That’s it. Yes, raw chicken.” I wrote back.
It’s a bit different to see a flier curious about how to take care of a dragon. A lot of the time, they tend to take care of themselves outside of the rider checking in spots they can’t reach or see. I would mention Teine’s favorite spot to scrub down with soap and water, but that’s a bit personal to me. Maybe that experience Brennan forced them on a while back helped folks understand dragons? Who knows, I’m more curious about why the fuck Drake is here looking over me.
“All righty, next topic…I made sure that anything you are going to eat helps you recover enough to whisper,” Drake leans back in his chair, looking up at me instead of his leaning forward position he had a few moments ago. I furrow my brow, tapping my fingers against the notebook. “Mostly, I know you’re dying to say something and would hate writing it out.”
It’s taking everything into account not to write fuck you to this smug, cocky flier. Yes, he’s being nice, but come on, he’s acting as if he is enjoying helping me. Who enjoys being a caretaker besides Dain with Violet?
“Besides fuck you?” I wrote it down in the notebook, then showed it to him. Drake shakes his head with a laugh or two, “I mean, if looks could kill.” He winks at me. I dropped the quill, staring with wide eyes.
What. The. Fuck?
Anyway, I’m going to grab you something to eat and bring back a small gift,” Drake says slowly, standing up, biting his lip. “Broccoli, snuggle up against her for me, ‘kay?” He orders the kitten.
He orders a kitten. A kitten. I’m going to question now if Drake has any critical thinking skills in that thick head of his. You can’t tell a cat what to do; that’s why they are cats and not dogs. Now I wonder if cats are mini dragons because you can’t order a dragon to do anything.
I watch the kitten yawn and then stand up to walk to my lap, curling up once more. “Good,” Drake nods before he heads out the door. I am left alone with a kitten who is asleep on my lap and in my thoughts.
All I knew
This morning, when I woke
I know something now
Know something now that I didn't before
This morning is different than yesterday; something changed within us, but what is it? I cannot tell. My thoughts kept looping around that I knew something had changed, but I could not pinpoint what it was. Maybe Drake’s presence is somehow comforting? He has been thoughtful about making sure Teine is taken care of and making sure I have a voice via writing. It’s a bit odd, I will admit, having someone looking over me who isn’t family or a healer is a nice feeling, but it also feels odd. I was always the one who took care of others, who protected others. I never needed to be taken care of...until today.
I glanced at the door when it made a small noise for Drake to walk in. I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the sight of him holding the tray. The tray had food, of course, and tea most likely from the kettle. The vase, though, is odd. It had some lilac, pink roses with pink lilies, and apple blossoms. The most bizarre thing on the tray was the catus…Why is there a catus on the tray? Seriously, why?
I suddenly felt nervous at the gesture. I can feel butterflies dancing with each step he comes toward me. “Okay, so I talked to Violet a little bit…mostly asking how I could test poisons without you know…. eating it. She brought up the idea of using silver on plates and drinks, thus why this looks like something Xaden has. He sighs, gently moving the kitten from my lap. “Come on, Broccoli. She needs food.”
And open up the door for you
And all I feel
In my stomach is butterflies
Am I okay? I feel okay physically, but emotionally? I am very confused about how things are going. He is here, taking care of me. Not my sister, not my friends, but a flier of all people. Did he tell them to back off? That he has it under control?
“...I am wondering if anyone else is taking care of me besides you?” I lifted the notebook to show him the question. He smiles brightly, nodding a few times. “Yeah! Violet has been worried sick, but I reassured her I can watch over you and give her updates. She ate lunch in here while you were asleep.” While I am worried that my sister is concerned about my well-being, maybe my brother is too. I was hoping to see her here instead of Drake. “Your siblings are busy and refused to do anything while you were asleep until I volunteered to be your caretaker.” My mind keeps going around in circles on the fact that he took the burden to watch me to help my siblings.
Yes, he is doing this for them so they can help with the cause. It’s not because he has a small crush on me, that is right. I am going with that line of logic because no way this flier has feelings for me.
“If he didn’t have feelings for you, Mira…then why did he try to make sure I was okay and risk being eaten?” I could feel the soft growl in my bond with Teine, pointing out the obvious. I’ve always had my walls up, guarded from the world. I had to be the strong one for Violet when he ‘died’. My mother taught me never to show weakness, and emotions could be taken as weakness. I do not know how to handle my dragon telling me to stop overthinking it.
“Shut up, don’t you have a Tarin to be snippy with?” I retorted in our bond, knowing it was pointless. Teine can feel my emotions, knowing I am curious about the idea of seeing where this could go with Drake. Though instead of an answer, I hear him chuckle before the wall goes up. He wants to shut out my overthinking thoughts, which can annoy him sometimes, with how guarded I am. I know it’s something I should get over, but I can’t help it. I was raised in a world where weakness could get you killed by a dragon, a person, or a flier. I wish I could talk to someone about this problem or try to break down the walls.
“Miiiira,” Drake calls my name, snapping me out of my thoughts once again. I snap my attention toward him, tilting my head to the side and wordlessly asking him what was going on now. “Okay, you did not hear my question because you would try to get out of bed,” Drake chuckles softly.
I cross my arms, narrowing my eyes when he laughs at my space-out habits. I am only spacing out because of him! He is causing problems, not making them easier! Drake holds up his hands,” Okay, I was wondering, tomorrow maybe I can help you go see Teine?” I begin moving the tray to the side, and Drake grabs my arm, shaking his head.
“One day, that’s all I am asking for you to rest for the rest of the day before you try flying with her,” Drake pleads. His grip on my arm is soft, allowing me to move if needed. However, I can’t find it in me to fight him. I stare at his eyes, his pretty eyes, seeing them full of pleas and worry for me.
He wants me to rest, just enough to be able to see Teine. He understands how important my dragon is, but he wants to ensure I'm okay with traveling. I can sense her, which helps with my dragon anxiety. I’ve never had someone besides Violet beg me to rest. It’s something different. My brother cares, I know he does, but we need to fix a lot of things before I even think about how he would care about my well-being again. I move my arm out of his grip to begin writing on the notepad once again, taking the second to word this correctly to him, “One day, but I want to see my dragon soon. Got it?” I wrote out the question, then drew a small fist on the same paper.
“Of course, if you didn’t punch me…I would think you are more injured than you are currently.” Drake jokes, laughing softly. He took a moment to lean back once more, watching the door for a moment.
I raise my eyebrow at him, wordlessly asking what is going on now. I don’t remember much about what happened. “What happened in the battle brief?” I wrote out once more, flipping the page to him.
“Just the reports of what we did,” His eyes flicker for a moment. Do I see a hint of worry? Or is that my mind is overthinking something that is not there? “I will say, I am happy to hear your name wasn’t on the roll call.”
I’m glad, too; however, it feels odd to hear it from someone else. Someone who wasn’t on my squad, who isn’t my sister. It’s a nice, odd, but nice feeling. “Just focus on resting for now, okay?” He stands up once more, taking the tray from the bed. He places it on the floor next to his chair. Drake pauses for a moment, looking at me, then at the bed, “I’m going to risk a punch here,” he mutters. I watch a full-grown man pull the covers up against my upper body, then lean over me. I curl my fingers into a fist, punching him square in the mouth for being too close. I watch Drake stumble back a bit, holding the right side of his face.
“Ow, good to know you can still punch,” Drake remarks. He had a small grin when he spoke, as if it was a good thing I punched him in the jaw. This is the weirdest reaction I've ever had with my punches. Everyone whom I ever punched curses my name. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with this man. “Though your knee hits harder in my opinion.”
Never mind, everything is wrong with this man, and I want to know more about him. Drake cracks a small smile, “All righty, I’ll let you get more sleep…but before I do, I need to inform you of one thing.” I raise an eyebrow at him, wondering what else this man has to say now.
“…You know, I’m glad you’re okay. I'd rather have you punching me and not being able to speak, than not seeing you,” He rubs the back of his neck, grinning at him. “Now, good night, Mira.”
As he walks out of the room, I slump down on the bed. I stare at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to get to me. A part of me hopes to see his green eyes in my dreams. Drake Cordella is a simple name, but a name I enjoy.
I just wanna know you, know you, know you
'Cause all I know is we said, "Hello"
And your eyes look like comin' home
All I know is a simple name
And everything has changed