Chapter 4

Back at the arena, Serenity was busy pulling out all the obstacles her fellow Draconians would use during their sparring matches. When they were all out and set up, she sharpened Chris's swords. She was just about to finish, when she heard Tenor's roars of pain. She immediately put the swords away and grabbed her medical bag, which she had brought with her. She reached into it and pulled out a long, black, metal tube. She flicked a switch on the side of it, and the wider end of it lit up. Inside the tube was a large glowing crystal. She pointed the light forward and set out to find out what was going on.

Windwalker waited anxiously to see who had won. She didn't have to wait long. Soon Tenor emerged from the shrubs. He was limping badly, his left hind leg was broken. When he reached the clearing he collapsed. He was breathing heavily, indicating that he was in excruciating pain. Windwalker heaved herself onto her feet. She crawled over to Tenor, and got a better look at his injuries. He had bite and scratch marks all over his body, except for his wings. Windwalker nudged his head gently. There was a huge gash in his forehead.

"Tenor? Can you hear me?" Windwalker whispered. Tenor groaned and scrunched up his face. But then he slowly opened his eyes.

"I can hear you," he said in a hoarse, broken whisper. Windwalker breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, Tenor I'm so sorry I didn't listen," she said. "Please say you're going to be okay."

"To be honest, I don't know," Tenor whispered. "I'll be lucky if I last the night."

"What happened to the Sand Wraith?" Windwalker asked. Tenor snapped his teeth together.

"Quick bite," he said.

"Oh," Windwalker said.

"Yeah," Tenor said. "Do my a favor and don't tell Serenity, it would make her very upset."

"Really? She would be upset over a Sand Wraith than you?" Windwalker asked.

"She values the life of all dragons," Tenor said. "Not just me. She hates it when dragons fight, especially when one gets killed."

"But all dragons fight, sooner or later," Windwalker said. "If she doesn't like it, then maybe the dragon world isn't really for her."

"Well we're the only family she has," Tenor said. "If we're all killed in battle, she'll have no where to go."

"Speaking of Serenity, maybe I should go find her," Windwalker said. She turned to go.

"No," Tenor said as loud as he could. "Don't leave me, I don't want to be alone." Windwalker laid next to him.

"Are you afraid to die?" she asked.

"Erm, a little," Tenor admitted. "But I'd rather die next to family, than die alone." Windwalker nuzzled him, and he purred.

"Thank you," she said. Tenor smiled. "I guess it wasn't fair of me to call Serenity useless and lazy."

"No it wasn't," Tenor said. "If you knew her for as long as we have, you'd see why we value her so much."

"Does it have to do with her past? Is that why she's so against fighting?" Windwalker asked, she was trying to keep Tenor talking.

"Mmm, I'm sure it played a big roll," he said. "She doesn't like to talk about it."

"Why not? Sometimes that helps," Windwalker said.

"She says she doesn't want to burden us with her worries," Tenor said. "Especially when we have other things to worry about." His eyes were getting heavy.

"What exactly happened?" Windwalker asked. "All Chris said was that she came to the castle all bloody and beaten."

"I will tell you everything I was was told," Tenor said, his voice was getting weaker. "She spent the first five years of her life being abused. They rarely fed her and they made her sleep in the basement which was no cleaner than this very clearing. As a result she was very much alone.

Then she met Ruby. He changed her life, and she wasn't so alone. Shortly after that her family said 'we're going to punish you for being friends with that dragon, if you won't get rid of it then we're going to get rid of you'. Then they beat her up, with their fists and feet, and with a shovel. Then she was thrown out onto the street, at night, in the rain and mud. Ruby found her and brought her to our castle. When she came here she was in very bad shape. She was beaten up, filthy, scared out of her mind, and half starved to death. Ruby raised her as his own, and well, you've seen the results."

"Is that where she got the scar on her face?" Windwalker asked. Tenor nodded. He laid his on the ground and closed his eyes.

"Tenor?" Windwalker panicked. "Tenor?" He didn't stir. She nudged him harshly. He opened his eyes an inch and looked at her. She could barely see the tears in his eyes. Then she could feel tears running down her own face. She nuzzled him again

"I love you," she whispered in his ear.

"I love you too," Tenor said in a whisper so quiet she could hardly hear him. He closed his eyes again and his whole body seemed to relax with a groan. Windwalker laid her head next to his, their noses touching.

Suddenly there came a loud rustling in the shrubs. Windwalker sat up and looked around. Then there came a bright light from the darkness. Windwalker growled. But then Serenity emerged into the clearing, holding her light and her medical bag. Windwalker breathed a huge sigh of relief. She'd never thought she'd be so happy to see the dragon healer.

"Oh Serenity thank goodness," she said, so relieved. She slowly got to her feet.

"What happened?" Serenity asked, shining her light on Tenor. She immediately rushed over and knelt down near his head.

"I was attacked by a Sand Wraith," Windwalker said. "Then Tenor came to my rescue, he got hurt really bad. I don't even now if he's still alive." Serenity pulled out her stethoscope and listened to Tenor's heartbeat. She also put a hand next to his nostrils, checking to see if he was still breathing.

"He's still alive," she said finally. "He's just sleeping, it's the only way to escape pain." She pulled her bag over and opened it up. Windwalker moved out of the way so Serenity could address Tenor's wounds.

"His left hind leg is broken I think," Windwalker said.

"Okay, thank you," Serenity said.

She got right to work. She cleaned all Tenor's wounds with Night Fury saliva. Then she stitched them all up one by one. Windwalker watched quietly, amazed at how fast and carefully Serenity sewed.

When all the wounds were stitched up, Serenity began wrapping them up in bandages. Luckily Tenor's wings and fins were undamaged. He wasn't wearing his saddle, bridle, or armor. When he was bandaged up, Serenity addressed his broken leg. Tenor stayed asleep the whole time.

"Serenity, I'm so sorry for what I said earlier," Windwalker said quietly. "I know you're not lazy or useless." Serenity paused in her work. And stroked Windwalker's nose.

"It's okay Windwalker," she said. "I forgive you." The Night Fury purred and licked her face. Serenity giggled and hugged the dragon's head. Then Serenity turned back to Tenor's leg.

"Is he going to be okay?" Windwalker asked, worried.

"He's going to be just fine," Serenity said without looking up. Then Windwalker spotted the tube with a light coming out the end.

"What's that thing?" she asked.

"Aurora calls it, a flashlight," Serenity said. "Humans will invent them later. But they will use electricity, the dragons use the glowing crystals. It's quite handy."

She fixed his leg and wrapped it up in a cast. With all his wounds addressed Serenity put her things away. She reached into her bag and pulled out Tenor's bridle. She slid it onto his head and secured it. She then pulled out her tiny vile of Dragonroot extract. She waved it under Tenor's nostrils. The sent was so strong that it woke him up and he jumped to his feel. Serenity quickly corked the vile and put it away. She got to her feet with her flashlight. Tenor shook his head.

"What's happening?" he asked.

"Serenity came just in time," Windwalker asked. Tenor looked down at his rider. He gently nuzzled her cheek.

"Bless your heart love," he said. Serenity hugged his head.

"You think you can walk?" she asked. "The arena's not too far."

"I suppose," Tenor said.

"What about you Windwalker?" Serenity asked. Windwalker was about to answer when she was suddenly hit with pain. It felt like someone had head butted her in the stomach, and she knew what it was.

"Oh, no the egg," she groaned laying down. Both Tenor and Serenity rushed over to her. Tenor laid next to her, forgetting his injuries. Serenity opened her bag up again. She found her canteen which was full of water.

"Oh, I didn't think it was going to be so soon," Windwalker moaned.

"You're a different species than Aurora," Serenity said. "Some eggs grow faster than others. But it's okay." Windwalker curled into a ball, she could feel the egg move. Both Serenity and Tenor began coaxing her. Serenity gave her water, keeping her hydrated and it kept her from panicking. Other than that, Windwalker did all the work. She wiggled about and roared in pain. It felt like it took forever. But then Windwalker gave one last big heave, and the egg was out. She relaxed, breathing heavily. Luckily dragons couldn't sweat. Serenity gave her more water and she drained the whole canteen. Then she sat up and looked under her wing.

There was the egg; a round, black sphere the size of a small watermelon. Windwalker nuzzled it, happy that the painful part was over. Serenity pulled out her stethoscope and listened to the hatchling's heartbeat.

"It's sounds ok," she said.

"We should get it back to the village," Windwalker said.

"Can you make it back?" Tenor asked.

"Yes, but once I get there I'll probably go right to sleep," she answered. Serenity took off her riding jacket and wrapped it around the egg.

"I'm so glad that's over," Windwalker said as she got to her feet. Tenor slowly and painfully got to his feet. Serenity was the last to get up. She put her bag around her shoulders, and picked up her flashlight with her free hand. They all slowly made their way back to the arena.