Chapter 10

Ray turned into the pick up area for the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Planes the size of his house were landing and taking off. It always astounded Ray that something made of metal that size could fly.

Ray parked at the side of the pick up lane, after showing his ID and parking ticket to the toll booth. There were dozens of other people awaiting pickup. He watched a car screech to a halt in front of him. A man burst out of the driver's side door and embraced a young woman, laughing and crying. Other people hopped on the shuttle which would take them into Atlanta.

He'd hosed his blue Honda Civic the day before, and cleaned up the interior. It had a musty smell from disuse, but Ray hung an air freshener on his rearview mirror. It seemed to be worth a dollar and fifty cents.

Ray checked his phone. It was 7:15 in the evening. Surely Ben should have landed by now. Since he had some time, he began to space out and think of all the things he'd need to do before he'd leave with Firedrake. For one thing, Ben was not told. Firedrake figured it would be better to ask Ben in person, so Ray waited. After all, Ben wouldn't have a problem with him coming. To his surprise, Sorrel seemed to be alright with it.

"Maybe I've grown on her," Ray thought.

He wanted to buy a pistol, something for Ben or just a sidearm. Ray's rifle was made for long range combat or hunting. At point blank, he could be at a disadvantage should something arise. Plus, the advantage of having two people with firearms compared to one is substantial. Since he was under 18, he wouldn't be able to buy one at a store. That wouldn't be a problem, Ray knew where to find weapons. Illegally, of course.

He'd already bought a small survival kit, a solar-powered GPS unit, and had been reading up on living in the wilderness. Ray had already started planning the route to the Himalayas, but he was going to wait until Ben arrived before he went any further on it.

Food shouldn't be a problem. If they were going to stick to landing in patches of what little wilderness remain in North America, then he could hunt game. Otherwise, canned food was going to be his best friend.

Of course, since he was leaving, maybe it would be fine if he sold his car or...

His motorcycle. Ray had been thinking so much about leaving lately, he forgot about his Kawasaki. If he sold both his vehicles, he could buy gear of the highest quality. After all, he wasn't planning on coming back to society any time soon. Even though he was going to go live with dragons, Ray kept cringing at the thought of leaving his motorcycle.

His prized possession, he knew he would probably never see his Kawasaki Ninja again. Ray sighed.

He snapped out of his daydream and looked around. There, walking towards him, was the same skinny teenager that Ray had met on the internet more than two weeks ago.

Ray opened the door and stepped out of his car. Ben was smiling, tugging his suitcase and his backpack was only hanging by one strap.

Ray opened his arms. "Welcome to Atlanta."

"Thanks, Ben laughed. "It's a lot more different here than I expected."

"So, this is the famous Ben Greenbloom," Ray joked. "The Dragon Rider."

"Some call me that," Ben tried to lift his heavy suitcase into Ray's trunk.

"Here, let me help you with that," Ray heaved the suitcase in his trunk and slammed it shut.

He let Ben in his car and hopped over the hood to the driver's side door. He took the scenic route, showing Ben everything Atlanta had to offer. "Are you hungry?" Ray asked as he was getting close the The Varsity, a burger joint local only to Atlanta.

"Uh," Ben looked up at some skyscrapers. "Sure."

Ray parked, and the two walked in the front doors. It was a long line, but after a few minutes the line dispersed. Finally, Ray and Ben were at the front.

"What'll ya' have, what'll ya' have?" The perky woman at the other side of the counter asked them. "Um," Ben said nervously.

Ray ordered for them. Two burgers, two milkshakes, and two pieces of peach pie. A heart attack on a plate.

Ray pulled out his wallet to pay, but he was missing his debit card. He searched through his wallet and found he only had seven dollars. "I don't have my debit card," Ray turned to Ben. "Do you have any cash on you?"

Ben pulled out a few british bills. "I didn't get these changed yet," Ben sighed.

"Oh, don't worry about it," The woman handed him their food.

"Welcome to America, by the way," She winked at Ben.

"Thanks!" Ben waved as they walked up the stairs to the tables in the scenic area.

The glass walls all around them allowed them to watch the city.

"That's southern hospitality," Ray said with a mouth full of food.

"What's that?" Ben asked, taking a sip of his milkshake.

"Exactly what it sounds like," Ray replied. "I went to live in the North for a few years, but I hated it. When I came back, I knew that southern hospitality really does exist."

Ben seemed to be thinking about something else. "Huh?" Ben looked up.

"Sorry, was kind of thinking about some other things."

Ray glanced around. "Firedrake?" Ray said.

"Of course," Ben responded.

"Well, why didn't you say so?" Ray laughed. "I just wanted to show you my city, I should have done it another time. Ray thew out the food and they headed back to his car. They drove up the interstate, and exited onto a familiar country road.

"Is all of Georgia like this?" Ben rolled down the window.

"No, it's pretty urban in most places. I just happen to live in a more rural area."

Ray pulled into his driveway. Already the sun had set, and the dull heat that clung to the air began to fade. Firedrake and Sorrel knew Ray was going to pick up Ben, and Ray told them to make sure to be awake. Since it was dark now, they should surely be up.

Ray flicked off his high beams and pulled in front of the garage. The door was open, so they must have been around back. He put his Honda Civic in park and turned off the engine. He withdrew his key and opened the door, and Ben followed.

"Where are they at?" Ben asked, looking around.

"They must be around back," Ray replied, gesturing to dragon-sized footprints leading around to his backyard.

Ray led Ben around the side of the house, and Ben stopped dead in his tracks.

Firedrake and Sorrel were sitting around the fire pit, and Firedrake had started a flame in the middle. The flickering light shone off of his scales, reflecting light in several directions. They were busy chattering about something else, and didn't even notice Ben and Ray.

"Firedrake," Ben murmured. Firedrake made eye contact with Ray, and looked Ben up and down.

"Ben!" Sorrel raced up to Ben and tackled him in a hug.

"Woah, easy there!" Ben almost fell over.

Firedrake stood up and and trotted over to them.

"You've grown!" Firedrake nuzzled Ben and toppled him over to the ground. Firedrake sniffed him all over and licked his face.

"Okay, okay," He gasped. "I missed you too!"

They huddled around the fire pit and spent the night chatting. When finally, they got to the subject of leaving.

"Ray, you can help me plan a route, right?" Ben asked.

"Sure," He replied, winking at Firedrake. At first, Firedrake didn't seem to understand. But then, he remembered they hadn't talked to Ben yet about Ray joining them.

"Ben?" Firedrake blew more flames onto the fire.

"What's up?" Ben moved back a bit from the blaze.

"Well, Ray and I were talking the other day," Firedrake looked at Ray. "And we had an idea."

"What about?" Ben said.

"Well, about Ray. How would you feel if Ray came along with us to the Rim?" Ray felt a bit shy at this point and looked around. "That sounds great!" Ben elbowed Ray. "Really? I'd love to have you come with us," Ben smiled.

"I'm glad you feel that way," Ray smiled nervously.

"What made you want to come with us, though?" Ben asked. Ray was quiet for a minute, reflecting on his entire life. Why did he want to go?

"My entire life I've wanted to see the world, but I've never been able to travel. My family and I were never too close, and it seems like all I've ever done is work. There's nothing here I'd regret leaving," Ray sighed. "Except my motorcycle."

"I saw it in the garage, it looks fast," Ben laughed.

"Sorrel will confirm that," Ray replied. Sorrel grimaced just thinking about the ride on the back of his bike.

After a while, the fire died down and the sun began to rise. Ray headed in at six in the morning, but Ben stayed up, fueled by jet lag. Sorrel was passed out, laying against Firedrake.

Ray woke up later in the afternoon. He showered and threw some clothes on, then headed back downstairs. Ben had collapsed on the couch, his suitcase and backpack cluttered Ray's living room. Ray headed into the kitchen and grabbed an apple, and sat out on his porch. Everyone else was asleep, so he had some time to himself.

Just as he was about to take a bite, his phone began to ring. He checked the ID, and dropped the apple.

It was his mother. Why couldn't she just leave him alone? It's not like she's ever been around before, why call and check up on him?

Ray put this phone up to his ear and pressed the talk button. "Hey, mom," Ray sighed.

"Hello, haven't talked to you in a few weeks. Is everything going alright?" She and her Russian accent sounded hungover.

"Yeah, everything's just great. How's California?" Ray tried not to sound angry, but talking to her made him bitter.

"Warm, sunny, just how it always is. I sent a check for you in the mail, to cover groceries and your insurance this month."

"I've got a job, mom. I don't live off my inheritance like you do, you know," Ray took a bite out of the apple.

"Don't go into that with me now, Ray. Your father took a toll on us both, don't you forget," She said.

"You haven't been around anymore than that Ruski bastard has since I was in the third grade!" Ray stood up and walked away, realizing he'd raised his voice and didn't want to wake Firedrake or Sorrel up in the garage.

"You know what? Fine. I might just stay in California however long I feel like it. Have fun taking care of yourself for a while, you little brat," She rebutted.

"Fine with me. It's not like I'll be doing anything different. If you were here, you'd just be out drinking or be at home passed out from drinking!" Ray gritted his teeth.

His mother was speechless. "If that's how you feel, then fine. Good luck with the rest of your life, Raymond. I expect you to be gone by the time you're eighteen, anyway."

Ray was silent for a few moments, and then spoke a language he had tried to forget.

"Dasvidania, Nataliya. Maya u vas yest' horoshaya zhizn' bez menya." His mother was in shock of him calling her by her first name, and speaking the language of his homeland once again. She said nothing, so he pressed end, and stood motionless for a minute. He felt numb, almost like someone had died.

There was nothing keeping him here now. Ray was full of sorrow, but he repressed it. Ray took his lighter out of his pocket and retrieved a box of cigarettes out of his back pocket. He took out one and held it by the filter, then put it in his mouth. He thought for a moment, then lit the end and inhaled.

Ray inhaled deeply, but coughed. He coughed violently. After that had settled, he felt incredibly lightheaded. He tried to walk to his porch, but he was so dizzy he had to sit down to avoid falling. He tried to inhale again, but he had the same result. He smoked the entire cigarette, only getting in one good hit without coughing. It was because Firedrake had healed him, and it took all the nicotine out of his system. He felt worse than before. Since his body wasn't used to smoking anymore, it rejected it.

He threw the cigarette butt away, grunting with frustration. Did he really want to get back onto cigarettes? He had no cravings, and it's not like he'd have an endless supply out in the wilderness. Ray stood up, taking in the aroma of burned tobacco. He coughed again, cursing in Russian.

"Chertovski der' mo," he muttered. It felt strange, speaking Russian again. His parents were both immigrants, and so was Ray. They brought him to America to flee the post communism riots and violence that were throwing the country up in arms, not to mention the economic strain from switching to capitalism. Since his parents had both turned their backs on him now, he had his reasons to forget his native tongue.

Ray grabbed his keys and got in his car. He left a note for Ben, in case he would wake up. Ray pulled out of his driveway and picked up his cellphone, dialing a number he hadn't called in a long time.

"Yeah?" An angst filled voice answered.

"Hey Carl, I'm looking for some weapons, word on the street is that you might have some things I'm looking for," Ray replied.

"This is Ray, right? I used to deal to you, what happened?"

"I quit," Ray said. "Do you wanna do some business or what?"

"Fine, swing by my place. I'll see what I've got."

Ray pulled into the driveway of a rundown trailer. A man in his late twenties, sporting a 12 gauge, walked out to greet him.

"Right this way," Carl lead Ray into the dank and messy trailer. It reeked of marijuana and gunpowder.

They entered a back room. Weapons of all kinds were hung on the walls. Machetes, 9mm pistols, hunting rifles, M16s, you name it.

Ray picked examined a pistol that was laying out on the table. It was a .45 H&K USP handgun. A .45 might be too big for Ben, living in England he'd probably never shot a gun before.

"So, what can I get for you today?" Carl asked sarcastically.

"I need a 9mm," Ray replied.

Carl opened up a box, sporting an assortment of 9mm handguns. Ray examined them all, and then settled on an FMK Model 9C1. It was compact, easy to use, and had a number of good safety settings. Ray saw it as perfect for Ben.

He slipped Carl a few Benjamins and got back in his car.