Dragon Child by Kirkmenistan

Chapter 8 - Cold and Warm by Kirkmenistan

Author's Notes:

Edition two!

OI Dragen!

On your marks... Get set...

And go!

Jet was working hard in his home.

He had the sleeping area set out nicely, it was spacious with enough room for him to just about stretch his wings. This was quite a feat considering that yesterday it was just a small hole in the cliff. Well, a very deep hole in the cliff, to be fair. Currently he was searching for the old water stream. It was useful, being able to have a drink without going outside.

He tried placed his leathery ear to the rock face, listening for anything.

His world slowly drew down to that one ear. Concentrating on hearing something, anything. Slowly the sound of a trickle of water fell into his ear. He began digging again. His Elder would most likely look into his cave. He wanted to impress him.

xxXxx

The winter was once again, harsh. Freezing cold winds accompanied by a heavy snowfall. Several of the smaller caves were snowed over; the Elder's cave was nearly covered too. But Jet was very happy in his cave high on the cliff. Now and then munching on frozen meat. An eye open on the entrance throughout. Eventually the snowstorm stopped. It was still freezing cold outside, any dragons who chose to leave their homes would die on that day. Jet was snug and warm in his cave though. The bough branches insulating him from the cold floor.

All was quiet for a month.

Then She came along.

In one of the smaller caves, a group of dragons had been forced out because snow filled their cave. The only dragon that was awake enough to survive the incident without freezing outside by escaping to another cave was a young female dragon. Her mind reeling with the shock and the cold she sought shelter.

She wandered close to the cliff wall in which the pair of outsiders dwelled. They never fought; perhaps she could shelter there…

She saw an outcropping that was surprisingly free of snow.

xxXxx

Jet's open eye sensed movement. This had never happened before. He imitated sleep; depending on who entered he would react accordingly.

Slowly, very slowly, a dragon's head entered. It was a female, the vague softness in her eyes and slenderness of her head and body showed that. She was about fourteen years judging by her size, she was larger than him, though not by much. His reputation should ward her away if need be. She slowly ventured into his home, gazing around at the massive interior. She drew closer. Time to react.

A single growl. One, deep, harsh growl.

She instantly froze. Her gaze fell upon the now awakened form of Jet. His tail raised above the ground, slowly waving side to side. A warning that if she was to venture closer, he would strike.

She slowly slunk to the other side of the cave, lowered in a submissive posture. Jet growled his reluctant acceptance of her behaviour. He did not survive years of living on his own by being kind and accepting, but his base instincts to protect his own home warred with the logic and kindness that the Elder had instilled in him. They both slowly edged back to sleep. Jet still keeping an eye on this strange female who would dare enter his domain. He should kill her for even thinking of taking what was his... but he remembered his talk with the Elder. The right thing to do was give by need; and she needed a place to stay, or she would die. She had done nothing to wrong him, it was perfectly safe for her to remain, so long as she would stay out of the way. She seemed willing to submit to him, so he would allow her to stay so long a she knew her place.

xxXxx

Now that the predominant part of Jet's brain was shut down, the fire could roam freely through his body. Most of it was spent on growth, turning him from the slight flying thing to a dragon with a little bit more mass, a little bit more presence. He could still fly as he used to, but he had just that tiny bit more… substance, strength that was now displayed. Some of it however, changed a small part of his mind. He would be learning about important things soon. His memory would need to be improved further to remember it all.

Then the cold snap happened.

The temperature fell to record lows, the keepers withdrew to their huts. No meat was given to the dragons. Only the strongest survived. The keepers believed that any dragon below the age of 13 years would certainly die, above the age of 20 the dragon would likely live, if they had a decent enough cave. Some Wizards later theorised that this cold was a result of a test held in the Romanian version of the English Department of Mysteries into using energy from the world to fuel particularly powerful temporal spells. The experiment was never attempted again.

Two dragons in a cave however were going to prove the keepers wrong. Jet had finished his growing and was patiently waiting for the warmth to return, his reserves already built up once more. Then his body noted extreme differences in temperature. It had fallen greatly. He was surprised to see that his roommate was still alive. Though only just. The cold air was slowly killing her. Her inner fire flickered and waned, but refused to go out. He had to admire that level of stubborn will.

Harry had no worries about killing before. But his education had shown him things. Taught him things. Some things were sacred; at least they were supposed to be sacred. Life was one of these sacred things.

Jet believed it was a tribute to life when two dragons fought against each other to the death when it was for a good reason. It was a beautiful struggle of dominance. It was things like the 'Alpha' that put a disfigurement on the name of life. Things like him didn't deserve life when so many didn't enjoy it to the fullest. It was a shame for a dragon to die like she was. With no fight, no chance for her to say her piece, prove her worth with no glorious end. He would save her so she could enjoy life, live it to the full, and die living it to the full.

Jet warmed up his muscles. This would require movement.

He slowly raised himself to his feet, munching on a particularly frozen piece of meat as he made his way over. The female's eyes shot open in fear. Then in shock as she watched him set himself in front of her, creating a warm shelter around her body, facing his body to the cold. Before she was larger than him, now he was a little bit larger than her.

As his body made a ring around her, his wing moved to cover the top. She was in a warm place now. Jet's head was also within. Using his inner fire to heat himself up a bit faster than usual. The small strip of meat now thawed in his mouth was offered to the female dragon. She graciously took the strip, wolfing it down. She paused briefly before giving his face a soft lick in thanks before curling up within her new nest. Jet curled closer, reducing the gap between them. Drawing warmth from the little bundle within. Eventually there was no space between them. Snuggled against each other.

Both warm in the cold.

Both surviving.

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