Oh, the feeling of wind in my long brown hair, oh, the feeling of freedom, oh, the feeling of absolute sheer terror! I hate heights with an undying passion and that's something I should have considered before climbing on the back of a dragon. Have I mentioned I'm not the brightest person in the world? I held onto Firedrake's spine for dear life and I didn't dare look down. If I don't look I'll be okay. If I don't look I'll be okay. I repeated in my head about twenty times. I don't even like airplanes! What in the world made me think I could handle being on the back of a dragon?! My legs were shaking violently as Firedrake moved slightly to the left. When he moved the only thing I could see in my mind was me falling to my certain doom. I hate heights, and yet I said yes to do this.
"Tammy!" Firedrake suddenly called back to me.
"Yes?!" I yelled over the roaring winds as my fingers closed tightly around his spine for dear life.
"There's a sign down there, read it for us and tell us where we are! We'll figure the rest out from there!"
"Okay! Will do!"
Like he said he would do: he dropped down out of the sky towards the bright blue city limits sign. The road was thankfully deserted which gave me plenty of time to jump down from his back and look at the sign. Let me tell you, I took my sweet time walking to the sign that's for sure, I wanted to stay on the ground as long as I could. I got to the sign and I instantly felt confusion overtake my mind.
Pulaski- 20m
Chattanooga- 100m
"...I know Pulaski… but where the hell is Chattanooga I don't think we have that in Illinois..." My hand instantly smacked my back pocket for my phone in order to search up Chattanooga but of course I only came back empty handed. I felt a presence beside me and turn to see Sorrel next to me with the map in her furry paws. So, I looked over at the map, my eyes scanning for Chattanooga on her map. For a moment I saw nothing and felt worried, if I didn't know where we were then I'm no help for them at all! I felt panic start to rise as my eyes scanned the map faster and faster in mild panic until I finally spotted it. Off in the corner of-
"We're in Tennessee!" It was an instant dose of relief to figure it out. I sighed out happily at that before pointing to Chattanooga on the map so Sorrel could see. "We're really close to Florida! If we keep going to Chattanooga we'll cross the border into Georgia and from there it's just a clear cross to Florida!" I announced to the both of them. I could feel Firedrake's hot breath wash over my back as he was clearly looking over our shoulders.
"And… where is the south-west of Florida?" Firedrake questioned softly.
I expanded the map a bit so all of Florida was visible and traced my finger down to the south-west and circled the area. "These eight area's here are all the south-west. I lived in Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, and Naples."
"Then you can pinpoint exactly where to get this flower then?" Sorrel asked in an almost demanding tone.
"Nope. I don't even know what flower you two are looking for."
Sorrel seemed to pout a little at that as she suddenly turned the map around to the blank side. "The professor wrote it down for us, here."
"Ghost Orchid… well, that's a problem. I've never heard of it. I'd normally look it up on my phone, but I don't have that on me… I'll have to do some research try and land near a town if you can." I told Firedrake this time as I made sure to look at the dragon in the eyes. Firedrake's golden eyes stared back at me with such intensity that I instantly looked away. "Please," I added last second as I realized I forgot my manners.
"Well, we can't land too close to the humans! If we get caught it'll be a disaster!" Sorrel harshly spoke to me with an attitude that was highly uncalled for. I knew I must have made some sort of face by the sudden unpleasant look she gave me back. I crossed my arms across my chest in a sort of defensive stance.
"Understood." I stiffly added as I turned my head away away from her. "Best be off!" I turned around and hopped on Firedrake's back. Again, I knew I shouldn't be angry, I mean she was just telling me the truth, but if there's one thing I couldn't stand it was attitude. It took me forever to get used to one of my coworker's who had an attitude almost twenty-four/seven (and was a bit of a bully as well) but this felt completely different, it almost felt like she hated me just because I was there. I swept my ponytail away from my shoulder and waited for Sorrel to climb up on Firedrake's back. For a moment I was so filled with my own pettiness that I forgot about my fear of heights… until Firedrake flapped his wings and we were in the air again.
I was practically kissing the Georgia ground when Firedrake landed for the morning. The moon now gone from the sky and the morning sun just starting to peek over the Georgia wilderness sheltering us from the town just a few miles away from our resting spot. I was so fast to jump off of Firedrakes back that I almost knocked my thick glasses off of my face. The air was no longer freezing it was chilly, yes, but I could at least feel my face now. Hell, it was was almost too hot for my thick Miami Dolphins winter coat. Was I sports fan? Hell no, was the jacket coozy? Yep! Still, I shredded the jacket off for the time being and fished through my pockets for my cigarettes. Once I found them I wasted no time lighting one up and taking in a deep breath.
"Urg!" Sorrel let out a disgusted gag as she hopped off of Firedrake's back. I only rolled my eyes while my back was turned to her before turning around to face her with a less bitchy face.
"Yes?" I asked before taking a nice long hard drag of my cigarette.
"What is that?! It absolutely stinks!" She complained before trying to fan my smoke away from her.
"It's a cigarette-"
"It stinks! Get it away from me!" She ordered harshly. My lips pursed in anger but still, I sucked in a deep breath and turned around, walking a few paces away from Sorrel before turning back around.
"Better?" I irritably asked her before sucking on the cigarette once more.
"No! Farther!-"
"Sorrel-" I think Firedrake might have been trying to reason with Sorrel, but she cut him off sharply.
"-Don't tell me you can't smell that horrible stench, Firedrake! I don't want it around me! Farther, Human!"
"I'll make it easier! I'll go into town… at least there I don't have to deal with you…" With an eye-roll and not so subtle scoff leaving my mouth before turning around and storming off before anything else was said. Angrily I huffed and puffed on my cigarette; my temper getting to me again. I spat on the ground and took another puff of my cigarette. 'God, it's going to take a fucking miracle for me to get along with her!...Miracle…' My mind went to my mom's giant mutt, a white dog by the name of Miracle. She was friendlier than any dog I've ever seen always wanting attention and loving to play. I kinda already missed that dog… 'That's a good mindset, miss the dog but not your own mother.' My brain sarcastically thought. I stepped over a stump on the ground and slowly brought my cigarette back up to my mouth. 'What the hell did I do?' I thought suddenly as I stopped in my tracks.
'I literally just up and left my whole life behind! My apartment! My job! Why?! Why?!-'
'Just give me twenty dollars! - You're really selfish you know that?"
The image of my sister flashed into my mind and suddenly threw my cigarette on the ground before violently stomping it out. 'That's why! She ruined me! She just takes and takes and takes and takes! I needed to get away! Maybe now she'll actually appreciate all that I fucking did for her!' Grinding my foot into the dirt below me I kept the snarl on my face before picking myself back up in more dignified manner. So, I just continued to walk onwards like nothing happened. Still, I reached into my pocket it and pulled out another cigarette. I'm normally not a chain smoker, but I just needed one.
Once I finished my second smoke I safely managed to walk into town, and it wasn't until I was there did I realize something kind of important. My eyes went down to my clothes, I was still in uniform! I even still had the apron on! Still, I decided… screw it! What can I do? Besides I was in Georgia! There's no way they got word of my disappearance yet; Also it was still early morning so I figured I was good. The first place that sparked my interest was the Wal-mart. I knew I needed a few things and I had money! Money I could actually spend! It felt great! So, without wasting a single breath I practically ran to the Wal-mart.
It was ten am by the time I got out of there. I picked up a backpack, some non perishable foods, mostly canned, and new clothes, a hairbrush, small first aid kit, and even some shampoo and conditioner… just in case...Okay, it was on sale! I'm never one to turn down a sale dammit! All and all I spent close to eighty dollars on everything, but I knew it was money well spent. I was starting to feel exhausted by the time I walked out of the Wal-mart. Of course I was, I've been up since 2pm yesterday! I needed to get back to Sorrel and Firedrake. Still, as I was walking down the street, all my new stuff in my brand new backpack a smell hit my nose and my head turned. Starbucks! 'Some coffee for the way back will help me stay energized!' I reasoned to myself.
I crossed the street anxiously, waving to cars as I did so. I practically rushed inside the Starbucks with my mind racing as to what I wanted. I looked at all of my options on the menu. The store was quiet with other coffee drinkers either on their laptops and talking amongst themselves in hushed tones.
"How can I help you?" The barista greeted me as I walked up to the counter I still continued to scan my options.
"I'm sorry…" I hastily apologized.
"Thorntons. Never heard of that place before…." The barista pointed to my work shirt.
"We're a growing company! Yeah!"
"Huh… okay…"
"Can I just have a mocha frappe, please?"
"Uh, sure… I'll… be right back…" The barista left quickly into the backroom, leaving me frozen there in panic. My blood ran to ice. 'Leave… leave now!' My mind screamed. 'He knows! News hit here that I went missing! He knows!' I needed to run, to get out of there, but I couldn't move my legs. I was just frozen in place unable to move. My hands were shaking something horrible as the back door opened up. I expected twenty cops to just come bursting out of there like they were waiting for me to get a damn coffee! There were so many things I didn't get to do! I was going to jail! "Sorry about that, I'm new! And I need my manager to show me how to make frappes!" The barista laughed quickly as came back from the back room and started to ring me up for my order.
'Dickweed!' "Oh! Yeah, we've all been there…" I let out a low breath of relief.
"Okay, Joseph! Pay attention because this is the last time I'm showing you!" The manager practically barked for the barista.
With a weight lifted off of my shoulders, I sat down at the nearest empty chair and waited for my order to be made. I honestly wished I had my phone to pass the time, to text Candace or Leon… I wonder if they knew I went missing already? 'Or if they care…' The darker part of my mind spoke. 'Shut up, nobody asked you…'
"Alright! Here you go, Tammy!" Joseph handed me the mocha frappe. I wasn't at the counter anymore so he actually walked it to me. For a moment I wonder how he knew my name, then I realized I still had my nametag on.
"Aren't you sweet… here…" I handed him a five dollar bill. "For helping me…" I smiled at him before taking a sip of my drink. Joseph happily took the money and then looked up above me.
"Huh, looks like someone went missing…"
"Huh?!…" I noticed that he wasn't even looking at me so I spun around and realized that there was a TV in the corner of the small store. I didn't even hear it because, well, the volume was off but the subtitles were still on.
"-Last seen wearing a Miami Dolphins winter jacket." That's all I needed to read. I didn't want to look suspicious so I slowly stood up from my seat. That was a picture of me leaving the store in my Dolphins jacket.
"Thanks, Joseph. I have to get going now. Back to work and what not! Bye!"
I didn't even wait for him to respond. I was out of there in seconds.
"Where have you been!?" Sorrel instantly demanded once I finally managed to come back.
"Shopping. Look, yell at me later, but there's something that needs to be done and l-l-like now!" screaming out I set my half-drunk coffee down on the ground before looking at Sorrel. "My clothes! The jacket too! Burn it!"
"Whoa, whoa calm down! What are you going on about?" Sorrel threw her furry paws up in the air.
"Sorrel, I am officially missing in the public eye! I just vanished from work off camera, I never came home!-"
"You aren't homeless?"
"...why?" Was all I could ask her in a scathing voice.
Sorrel shrugged. "I just assumed with that torn up jacket of yours, also you so willingly came with us we just figured you didn't have a home to go to."
"Excuse me! Who are you to assume anything of the sort based on my clothes! You don't even wear clothes! Also, that jacket is fucking awesome!"
"Says the one that wants to burn it."
"I don't-..." I paused sucked in a deep breath and forced myself calm before rubbing my temples. "Look… I don't want to fight with you."
"-Also, can't you just… hide your clothes if you like that jacket so much? Just shove it in that new backpack of yours."
"I can't…" I growled out.
"Why?"
"Because the jacket is too bulky to fit in the bag!" Okay, that came out harsh. Harsh enough to where I knew it was a little much. "-... I'm sorry… I don't mean to yell… I think I'm just tired…"
"Then… sleep! I mean if you're tired you sleep, simple logic…" Sorrel shrugged at me. A part of me wanted to fight with her, but another part of me was really, really tired.
I sat down on the ground beside the resting Firedrake. My hands reached for my Miami Dolphins jacket and I held it close to my chest. Yeah, the jacket was stained, dingy, and had holes where I tried to sloppily stitch it back together, but it was my jacket. This jacket was mine and mine alone!... I've had it for years and I really didn't want to burn it to cinders, but the stupid thing was a dead giveaway! I searched the jacket up online and there were none other like it! Literally, I looked, none. It was unique and that was a fucking curse! If I'm caught with it… I'd be found instantly.
Still, I folded the arms of the jacket up and laid it on the ground for a pillow. I was out within seconds.
'It's all a dream…'
It had to be. I mean, flying on the back of a dragon with a furry? Like I'd do anything that crazy! It just sounds like something from a fever dream of some sort.
"Tammy, wake up! The moon is rising!" I felt my shoulder being shaken. I opened my eyes only to be greeted with the night sky. I couldn't see any stars, but I could see the moon in all its silvery glory. "C'mon Tammy! It's getting dark, we have to go!" Still in a sleepy daze I moved my head to look over at Sorrel. The furry in question was waiting impatiently for me. "C'mon! Get your butt up!" She urged me. I sat up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. My gazed turned to Firedrake. Firedrake was already ready and looking eager to leave.
"Fuck me, man…" was all I could fathom to say at the moment. Firedrake looked at me quizzically.
"I hear you say a bunch of words, bad words, Tammy," Firedrake slowly and sternly spoke. I lifted myself off of the hard ground and wiped my back for any dirt. "I don't like those words being spoken." He finally said it like an angry father.
"Sorry…" I yawned loudly before stretching my arms above my head. "I'll try to be a little more courteous in the future…" I promised before walking over to my new backpack.
"Please do- where are you going?"
I had snatched the backpack off of the ground and started to make my ways over to the trees. "Changing my clothes! I can't be seen in any of this!" I yelled over my shoulder; and continued to yell as I was changing. "I don't think Sorrel told you! But I can't be seen in this clothing! I'll be taken away and forced to go back home!" Throwing my work shirt, pants, and apron all away from me, I proceeded to pick out one of my new clothes.
"Can't you keep them?" Firedrake's eyes followed the wad of clothes that were tossed over his way.
"Nope! No room, also I see no reason too!"
Now in a tank top and jeans, I came out from behind the trees. "Aside from my jacket, these clothes have no real purpose. It's all work clothes and, well...I'm no longer working! I do wish I could keep my jacket, but it's a dead giveaway! It's a very unique jacket and… it's best here… in the middle of Georgia!-Besides I hate sleeves."
Firedrake only snorted in response as I started to climb back up on his back. My stomach turned upside down as fear and anxiety started to grab a hold of me turning my blood to ice. I silently strapped myself in with the rope, Sorrel sat behind me already strapped in.
"Are you ready?" Firedrake asked the two of us.
"Y-Yep…" I stuttered softly before holding onto his spine for dear life. I watched as his wings unfolded and in one giant swoop we were in the sky. I didn't shut my eyes this time around, no I was fascinated with the ground as I kept my eyes glued to my jacket left behind. I watched as the higher we got the smaller it became until Firedrake moved away and I couldn't see it anymore. 'The sad thing is that I'm probably going to miss that jacket more than my sister or mother…' I thought to myself sadly. Resting my cheek against Firedrake's spine, I watched the the ground below. A lot of people say not to look down, but I didn't feel scared or frightened too much anymore. Yeah, my anxiety is still there, big time, but I felt… like an odd weight was lifted from my back, like… I was truly free now.
Sorrel was right, we reached Florida before daybreak. I still had no idea what time it was by the time we got there, but I could tell it was still very early in the morning. "So, you researched that flower right? You know exactly where to find it now?" Sorrel asked me once we landed in the outskirts of Naples, Florida.
"Ah… No." I suddenly remembered that I forgot to research about the stupid flower. "I-uh… forgot-"
"What?! Tammy!-"
"-I'm sorry!-"
"-Don't give me that! This is literally life and death! If you aren't going to take this seriously then-"
"-I'm sorry! Okay! It was just a mistake! My mind wanders a lot!" I threw my hands up in defense. "And what do you mean this is about life and death? You guys never even told me what you wanted about this flower… I feel like I should of asked about this sooner than now…" The air turned heavy once I finished my sentence. I could feel the uncertainty surrounding us. Firedrake looked to Sorrel before looking at me and speaking.
"I have another rider, Ben. Every winter break we always go on these adventures together. This time we went to Vietnam, he wanted to see the creatures they have there...we don't know how it happened but-"
"-He probably did something he wasn't supposed to!" Sorrel accused loudly.
"Sorrel… about a month ago he… he got sick. At first, we thought it was just a stomach bug, but it never passed, the weeks passed and he was getting worse and worse. To the point that he can't even hold down food anymore! I tried to heal him, but my fire isn't working. That's when we found out he… he has what is known as con sâu huyền diệu."
"The hell does that mean?" That was the only thing I could bring myself to ask.
"It's Vietnamese, it means 'magical worm'," Firedrake informed me generously.
"... a parasite? Ben has a parasite?"
"Well if you want to be direct about it, yes. He must have eaten or drunk something in Vietnam that held this worm."
"-And you need the flower for him to eat? I'm not sure about that most orchids are poisonous-"
"-A potion… we're making a potion. We need the Ghost Orchid, the hair of a mermaid, the horn of a Kikimora-powdered down- and a white apple."
"..." I just couldn't fathom anything that was just said by Firedrake. My mouth was constantly opening and closing as I just tried my hardest to say something, anything. "A white apple?"
"It's the rarest of the rare!" Sorrel finally spoke up. "It's located in Brazil-"
"-Wait… what about the mermaids?" I bit on my thumbnail, I was honestly itching for a pen to write any of this down, but alas...
"Greece."
"And a… kaike-"
"Kikimora. That's in Russia."
"Ohh, I need to sit down…" I did just that and plopped down on the wet Florida ground. Firedrake blinked at me curiously before tilting his head.
"Is this too much for you?" Firedrake softly asked in concern. I only shook my head.
"I just don't know what to think about it is all… give me a moment, okay? Then I'll figure out what to do…"
'Pros: Travel the fucking world! Cons: Have to go to Russia. Pros: I can finally get away from everything and have a slim chance of being caught! Cons: I don't know any other language outside of English! Pros:... Cons: Russia- Tammy- Russia!'
"Okay… I know what to do. I fucked up, clearly, so we can either wait till morning and I can find the nearest library, or-"
"Tammy, language!" Firedrake quickly scolded me. "What's your other idea?" I stood up quickly from my spot on the ground and dusted off my hind side.
"I break into a library tonight and try to search up what I can as fast as possible," I spoke as softly as possible. "Those are our two options."
"We aren't resorting to stealing, just yet," Firedrake told me in a firm manner.
"Firedrake, we were supposed to be gone from here a day ago! We're already behind… I think we should just take the book! Ben's life depends on it!"
"Oh, I don't plan on stealing a book. I plan on using a computer to research what I need." I told them both carefully. "I mean if I had my phone-" It hit me so suddenly I actually had to take a step back. "-I'm an idiot!"
"Well, you are-" Sorrel started but Firedrake nudged her to be quiet.
"Phones! Almost everyone has a phone on them! I can just ask someone if I can use their phone real quick!" I gasped out before clapping my hands gleefully together in triumph. "Oh, this is great! I'll be quick!" Practically jumping up and down at this point I took off running towards the town.
In all honesty, despite not living in Naples for almost six years I still remembered my way to town. My the bottoms of my pants were wet from the dew on the ground and my legs were sore from all the walking, but I made it there still. Of course, everything was shut down because it was still in the dead of night, but just seeing the shops: the IL Primos right next to the Publix with the Mcdonalds just about a hundred feet away in the same parking lot gave me goosebumps, or maybe that was the slight breeze in the air. Still, I knew I had two options. I could go into the Publix, which was twenty-four hours, or I could try my luck at the Mcdonalds. It didn't matter how I got the phone I just knew I needed it fast. I moved some of my hair out of my face before really thinking about it. Publix had more camera's and Mcdonalds were only open through the drive-thru. What was I to do? If I tried Mcdonalds I would have to knock on the window demanding attention just to borrow a smartphone, and I don't even know if news of my disappearance hit here yet. I mean I was on the news in Georgia odds are they know about me here. I stood in the parking lot of Mcdonalds just wondering how I was going to do this.
'Dad already knows…' That dark thought hit me like a hammer to the chest. 'Dad knows and he's worried. You're a horrible disgusting selfish person! You're letting your whole family worry about you while you go on this adventure! Horrible…' I took a step back and sat down at the curb in front of the Mcdonalds. I fished into my pocket and pulled out a cigarette and lit it up as quickly as possible. 'What do you think your mom's doing right now? I'm sure she's crying. Horrible… You're Grandma Grace is probably crying over you as well.'
I sucked in a deep breath of the cancer stick practically inhaling a good third of it in one good go. "Stop it… I had to get away…" I whispered out loud as I rocked back and forth on the curb. Then it happened. I started crying. The tears started to block my vision and I sloppily tried to wipe them away with my hands, but no matter how hard I wiped they still just kept on coming. 'Yes, you just had to get away, but in the process, you're hurting others. Man up! You're Not the only person hurting in the world! I'm sure there are other people who would love to get away on the back of a dragon!'
"Ma'am? Is everything okay?" My head snapped up at the woman that addressed me. A teen, probably sixteen by the looks of it, she had on a McDonald's uniform and seemed to be coming out for her own smoke break. I sucked in several deep breaths trying to maintain my composure but all that did was just making me look like an asthmatic sobbing mess. The girl cautiously sat next to me on the curb. "Did something happen? Do I need to call the cops?"
"No… no. I'm fine."
"This doesn't look 'fine'." She pointed out point blank to me. I only sniffled loudly and brought my cigarette up to my mouth to suck in some more cancer. It didn't look like she was going to leave either. Sweetheart.
"... Can I use your phone for a second?" I asked her as I was still trying to get my crying under control.
"Need to call someone?" She asked as she fished her phone out of her pocket.
"I need to look up directions. I'm a little… lost…" I breathed out the end of my sentence before bringing my cigarette up to my lips again.
"Of course."
She unlocked her phone for me; shifting myself on the harsh concrete I happily took her phone. "Thank you…" Wiping tears away from my eyes. I looked at the screen and hit the browser. 'Look up your name…' That little voice in my head demanded of me. I almost did, but I quickly remembered that I had a mission. I sniffled loudly and quickly typed in the Ghost Orchid. Within seconds I got my answer.
It habitats in moist, Swampy areas in south-western Florida.
Then right below that was something else that made my eyes go wide with excitement. My tears were forgotten almost instantly.
The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary trying to get the Ghost Orchid off of the endangered list with its amazing Greenhouse!
'Corkscrew swamp sanctuary!'
"Thank you!" Giving the teen her phone back I was booking it towards Firedrake as fast as I could. I left my dark thoughts behind for the time being as I ran faster than I ever have. I knew I must have made an entrance because by the time I, literally, came sliding up to Firedrake and Sorrel they both looked at me like I was insane. Out of breath, with a runny nose from crying, I was trying so hard to just say words, but all that came out of my mouth were just… noises.
"Flower! Orchid! Sanctuary! All the time as a child! Hurry!" Was all that came out of my mouth in my excitement.
"Fool's Mushrooms! Calm down, human!" Sorrel hissed at me as she suddenly tossed a mushroom at my head actually causing my senses to come back.
"Tammy, what did you find?" Firedrake asked cautiously as he brought his eyes down to meet mine.
"The Ghost Orchid! It grows in swampy areas of Florida! The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, which is in Naples, is our best bet! I know that place I went there all the time in middle school!" I yelled as loud as my lungs would allow. Breathing in and out heavily I just had to sit down; falling back on my but I crossed my legs and sucked in a deep breath. "They have a greenhouse full of them! Which is great because, you know, it's winter and what not."
"What does winter have to do with it?" Sorrel asked me as her ears gave a twitch.
"Oh, they wouldn't have been in bloom. We probably would have been shit out of luck in that regard." I shrugged. I could easily see that I said the wrong thing as the realization slowly dawned on the two of them.
"Wow… I guess we're really lucky then…" Sorrel breathed out a slow sigh of relief.
"Shall we be off then?" Firedrake asked me. "You still need to lead us to this sanctuary and we don't have much time before the sun rises." I jumped up from my spot quickly and smiled at him at Firedrake.
"Of course!" I rubbed the back of my head happily ready as I'll ever be for this.