I humbly ask for your forgiveness for the extremely and ridiculously long wait for the update on this story. Two years, my God. Please forgive me, I am truly sorry.

Please enjoy this chapter. Oh, and I think Jane is a little OOC in this chapter, maybe it's her time of the month or something. Anyway, enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Jane and the Dragon, it belongs to Martin Baynton.

O0oo0O

Red Snow

Chapter 5: Warmth

Heat.

All Jane could feel was burning flames throughout her aching body as her soul within felt utterly frozen cold. Heat escaping her eyes, the warm liquid cascaded down her face in a ceaseless flow. Flames seeped from her smoldering throat in hot ragged breaths as Jane lurched forward with lightning speed even though her legs ardently burned with each forceful step. The yellow trees rushed past her.

Jane was running faster and faster to flee from those echoing, heavy words that were deeply etched into her shattered heart. The immense weight of those dark haunting words dragged her soul into inescapable darkness, and deep within the core of that horrible abyss was the strong feeling of guilt.

Images flashed before her mind: her wish of becoming a knight, her oath to Jester, Dragon's friendship along with his help in securing her dream, her smiling friends and parents once the news of her accolade was announced.

I let them down… I let them all down, thought Jane.

All of Jane's struggles, her sweat, blood and tears, all for the glory and honor of being bestowed upon the honorable title of Knighthood, the completion of the greatest wish in her heart: shattered.

The dream slipped from Jane's hands, her foolish hands. She was the very person who broke her dreams. That precise thought horrified Jane as she pumped her legs even faster. The merciless flames licked her exhausted legs until she buckled beneath them and collapsed, crumbling the golden leaves underneath her knees. Jane gave an anguished scream reflecting the torment within her heart and soul then plummeted to the brown ground underneath, shuddering and struggling to draw breath.

Jane did not know how long she was lying there in a daze on the earth's cold soil. The autumn leaves and trees were swaying to each cold burst of wind passing through them. Time did not seem to pass at all; an eternity appeared to have passed by with little changes to the earthly surroundings. Suddenly, Jane's ears caught something faint and strangely familiar in the wind. She could not discern the sound, but it seemed to be calling out to her. The unintelligible sound grew louder and clearer in Jane's mind as she struggled to sit up. Jane heard the sound of wings beating in the crisp fall air and a strong familiar voice calling her name. A dark cloud lifted from her eyes as Jane realized it was her most cherished companion, Dragon.

A great rush of wind blew past Jane as Dragon slowed for a landing and the earth trembled as he did so. Jane could not even bear to look up at her friend, to find disappointment in his face would destroy her.

"What happened, Jane?" asked Dragon, "I was waiting for you in the Throne Room, but you did not show up. The King went on to knight that short-life Gunther."

Jane's head sunk even lower.

"When I asked Sir Theodore about you," continued Dragon, "he said that you are not yet ready for Knighthood, and that you ran off into the woods."

Dragon paused then asked in a concerned tone, "What's wrong, Jane?"

She could bury her emotions no longer.

"I am sorry," Jane softly cried. "I let you down, Dragon. I am so sorry…."

"What?" asked Dragon, taken aback by Jane's sobs. Never in all the years he spent with Jane had he seen her in so much pain, it surprised and worried him greatly.

"I am sorry," Jane whispered, lowering her head to the ground as warm tears streamed down her cheeks and trickled to the cold ground below.

"What are you apologizing for, Jane?" Dragon gently asked.

"I have let you down, Dragon," Jane choked, "I am not a Knight."

Dragon's ruby eyes widened in surprise at her words and the emotion it contained. Dragon's lips then formed an understanding smile.

Leave it to Jane to judge herself too harshly,mused Dragon.

"It's alright, Jane," Dragon soothingly replied, "Sir Theodore said that you are not yet ready, and I suppose old rusty legs could be right."

Jane's face was crestfallen.

"Could be," Dragon firmly repeated. "And if he is wrong then just prove it to him."

He then reassured her, "Remember, Knight or no Knight you will always be my friend, Jane. And I can assure you that will never change. I will always be there for you, always."

At those words Jane's crying ceased as she lifted her tear stained face to behold Dragon.

It was dusk; the sun was setting directly behind Dragon's head lighting up his emerald scales in the fading light. The clouds caught the purple, pink and orange colors of the setting sun as a gentle breeze swept past them, rustling the leaves around Jane and the Dragon.

"Dragon…" Jane called out earnestly and softly. "Thank you."

She had just come to her senses and realized how foolish and childish she was acting. The shock of being told that she was not going to be knighted caused her to behave so irrationally as to believe that it was the end of the world and that she had failed everyone she cared about.

My time to be knighted will come when I am ready, thought Jane. I am not ready yet. Dragon is right, everything is going to be alright, and there is nothing to be upset about.

"Now," said Dragon cheerily, "is it not time for patrol duty?"

"Yes," replied Jane with a smile, "I believe it is."

Jane quickly picked herself up off the ground and brushed away the crumbling leaves and dirt off her surcoat. Dragon lowered his jade head and Jane then nimbly mounted the base of his neck, placing her hands on his golden horns. Dragon then unfurled his wings and beat them thunderously into the air; the ground beneath them becoming further and further away as Dragon took off into the sky, flying towards the sunset. The warmth of the sun's last rays and the warmth of Dragon's words brought peace into Jane's heart and soul.

O0oo0O

Hmm, there were times when I really did not know if I should just scrap the whole thing, but I decided against it and posted it up. *sigh* Well, please review, they mean so much to me! I have a whole outlined planned for this story, time is the only factor against me since I cannot find the time to write this story, but I promise you, I will finish this story unless I die unexpectedly. But in that case how should you know that I died? Heck, I haven't updated in two years! Oh dear! Forgive my ramblings, please review and tell me what you guys think! :)