Dri didn't know how long she'd been lying on the beach, but she thought she heard Quina's panicked voice. "Help me! She's still alive!" Dri tried to sit up, to tell Quina that everything was going to be okay, that she was alright, but the darkness overtook her again.
The next thing Dri knew, she had woken up in the chief's house. Not really believing she was alive, she sat up and placed her hand to her chest, where the dragon had taken her heart. Or did he? As her hand came close, she heard the dragon's voice, only now she could understand it. "If you would face me…"
Dri quickly sat up straighter, looking around the room in a panic. No one else was awake in the room. What was that? Could it've been…my wound? She looked down at it, both curious and frightened at the same time. Trying this theory out, she tried to touch her wound again. Again, she heard the dragon's voice, and understood it. "Take up arms, newly Arisen." Dri gasped, glancing around in shock.
Okay Dri, calm down. Deep steady breaths. As soon as she was calmer, Dri started thinking about what had just happened. Okay, I can hear the dragon's message if I touch my chest. I can actually understand him now too. Why did he call me Arisen? Dri's mind pondered that for a while. Wait, Arisen? As in THE Arisen? From the stories? As the reality of what happened hit her, Dri didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Her life had taken a complete new turn, and she knew that she would never again have another day like two days ago. Or was it more? Just how long have I been out? You know what, I'll figure that out later. Dragon's message is more important. What else did he say? Oh right, take up arms. Good enough with me. Hopefully no one minds if I just borrow some stuff, she thought, as her eyes landed on a table with weapons on it,
Dri stood up and took a good look at her body. She felt okay, albeit a little sore from being bounced off the beach and fighting with the dragon, but hey, what are you going to do? Nothing felt broken, just a little battered. She gingerly walked toward the table, and noticed that there was also a change of clothes. Looking down at her bloody and torn shirt, she decided it would be a good idea to change. Not to mention the horrid scar down her chest. As she changed, she could tell at once that this was made for her lean and petite body, as Quina was more curvaceous than her. Saying a silent thank you to her for thinking of new clothes, Dri finished getting dressed.
Looking back at the table, she saw a sword and shield, a pair of daggers, a bow and quiver, and a staff. Dri quickly, or as quickly as her body would allow her, grabbed the daggers and bow. She sheathed the daggers in her belt, strapped the bow and quiver to her back, and exited the room.
She was about to walk out the front door, when she saw Quina and her father, Chief Adaro, talking. "You say it's left a glowing scar?" The chief quietly asked his daughter, obviously not knowing that Dri was awake. Dri quickly stepped back into the doorway, thankful that both Quina and Adaro are facing the other way. From here, Dri could only see Quina's long brown hair, and the top of Adaro's balding one.
Quina nods. "Yes. The wound has closed, and it seems the worst has past, but her heart. It lies silent." Lies silent? How can that be?
Dri once again took her hand to her chest. "If you would face me…" the dragon's message began once again. Does that mean…..the dragon did steal my heart? What is going on? Dri looked back at them as Adaro replies.
"You are sure of this?"
Quina nodded, slightly uncomfortable. "Yes."
Adaro slightly shook his head. "Ill magic. The work of some curse. The whole world's already gone mad for fear of this dragon, Won't no good come o' this." From where she was, Dri saw a look of concern on Adaro's face, both for her and for Quina. Quina and Dri were more than friends, they were like sisters, especially since Adaro had helped Dri out after her parents died. "I must go see to the others, Quina. Tell me if aught changes here."
"All right." As Quina watched her father leave, Dri stepped out from the doorway and into the hall, where Quina almost ran into her. "Cos! I didn't see you there. You really should be laying down, your wound was quite serious."
Dri hesitated, not sure what to say, and looked Quina in the eye. "Does your father really think I'm under a curse?"
Quina sighed, and looked back at Dri. "You never were the one I could keep secrets from."
Dri smiled. "No, that would be your father. Otherwise, you'd have gotten in a lot more trouble when we were younger."
Quina laughed then, just a small chuckle, before sobering up and looking at Dri. "In answer to your question, yes, Father does think that. You've been out for a whole day. I was starting to get worried."
"Well, I have a story of my own as well." Dri quickly related what happened to Quina, from the battle on the beach, up until now.
"You, the Arisen? Oh Dri. I don't know whether to be happy for you, or frightened. What does that have to do with your heart missing though?"
"I think the dragon took it for whatever reason suits him."
Quina pondered this, placing her chin in her hand. She eventually shook her head, and looked back at her friend. "Well, for now, go home and relax. You'll probably want to get back out on Neptune tomorrow."
Dri's eyes had begun to glisten with tears as she shook her head. "I can't. My ship was one of those the dragon ruined." She heard Quina gasp, out of pity and remorse.
"Oh Dri. Everyone knew how much you wanted that boat, and how much you loved her."
Dri quickly dried her eyes on her shirt, knowing there was nothing she could do now. "I know, but maybe it's fate. If I'm to be chasing after the dragon, I wouldn't have much time to spend with her anyway." Dri took a breath to regain her composure. "I'll swing by Benita's and the Inn before I head home. I want to get a few jobs lined up if I can. I know Benita will need help if there were a lot of injuries." With a final hug for Quina, Dri walked out the front door, ready to meet with whatever's thrown her way.