REVISED AUTHOR'S NOTES

4/3/2022

Uh yeah, if you read this before and were expecting me to change the beginning of the chapter... Nope! It has a purpose.

Chapter 4

"Winter Worries"

My head was ringing, but I felt nothing, and thought nothing. I felt warm, I felt nothing else. I opened my eyes, there was nothing, nowhere. I was dead, every thought came out as truth, there was no thinking anymore. And honestly, I didn't feel scared anymore, I had accepted my death a while ago. Eventually after a few seconds, it was as if I was receiving the thoughts of another. Except it was much more... synthetic. Or was it that it was all I could see any more? This was all very confusing.

"Is this your fate?" I was asked in some way.

I struggled to even laugh at the idea, as I thought to myself 'I'm dead, and I'm just now getting asked if I'm alright with it? I would think that if I'm dead that pretty much solidifies my fate right?'

The thoughts invaded me again, "Revival imminent, time to heal will be 4 days." I still had a hard time grasping what was happening. It was like information was being given to me, a voice with no sound that confused me greatly. Yet I felt almost as if it made sense.

I groaned inwardly, 'What is this a video game or something? Am I piloting a mecha dragon? I don't want to sit here dead for 4 more days.'

"Current damage is severe. Early resurrection possible, however it is not advised."

I sighed, accepting that this was just how things would go now, "How long before I can continue?"

"Earliest ressurection possible in 13 hours."

I mentally shrugged, "Alright go ahead and resurrect in thirteen hours then."

"Your fate has been altered."

Huh... Okay.

After becoming a dragon and wandering a forest for two days before being eaten by a pack of wolves, I really was not in the mood for questioning what was going on. After all, I was prepared for heat sensing laser wolves, and found out they were just normal ones. This was practically a given! Though I don't understand why… Does everyone in this world respawn?

"..." I felt a noticeably negative feeling, and took it as a no to whether others respawned.

Is this thing like a computer, will it answer any questions I have? Or is it like an 8-ball or something… 'Are the people in the village aware of my death?'

I felt nothing at that, I guess it had a bias against which questions I asked. But frankly I didn't care, I needed some sort of answer! 'Can you resurrect me on earth where I come from?'

"..." An overwhelmingly negative feeling enveloped me.

Once again I expected actual answers but got none, but it didn't bother me too much. On the bright side, the thirteen hour wait felt like it was nothing. There had been absolutely zero way to tell time, and I couldn't feel anything, honestly it was relaxing being dead.

After what felt like a while, but not to long, it prodded my mind, "Resurrection possible, are you sure of this?"

'What are you, my mom? Of course.' I thought angrily.

"..."

I noticed the inky void fade, as I slowly began to gain feeling back in my body. My eyes were blinded by a light blue flash, and a loud humming sound. After a few minutes it all stopped and my eyes were still blinded. I slowly tried opening them, and noticed that I felt extremely cold, my vision was mostly white and there were pine trees around me.

"Oh, joy." I said outwardly. It was at that point that a searing pain shot up my spine, and my eyes widened in horror. I couldn't even hold it as I released a pained scream. I glanced backwards, my body was halfway stuck into the snow, which was slowly turning red. The remnants of my tail laid behind me, the skin and scaled had mostly been removed, and in a few spots I could see my tail bone. I quickly became sick at the sight, my lower left side had a sizeable chunk partially hanging onto the rest of my body. My back left leg was gashed and had skin falling off. I turned my head forward and threw up. And whilst doing so I realized my neck was bleeding, I felt the warm liquid fall, and wondered what was wrong with it. My body ached with chills from the cold, and this was some of the most unbearable pain I've ever felt, and I had a rather high pain tolerance.

'Not to mention, this isn't even where I died…' I thought bitterly, all that progress for absolutely nothing. I just died, and was back in a worse situation this going to be my life now? Forever stuck in the wilds of a foreign world, always teased with civilization yet brutally murdered before reaching it? My eyes teared up, my body was extremely pained, yet my wounds had been closed, the bleeding hadn't stopped in certain places. 'I did only let it heal critical wounds. Maybe not smart on my part.'

I curled in on myself, I had no hope of standing up. I only wished that I had a way to die easier, and less painfully. After all, if it revived me once it'll work again right? The idea flashed in my mind that it might not have been myself that did it, and that I might no be so lucky a second time. My mind was filled with fear, I could die still, I wasn't suddenly invincible…

I forced myself to my feet, it took almost all my effort to do so, and I grunted in pain as I felt my vision blur. I noticed the snow covering the ground came up to my chest while standing, there was no way I was walking through this. I looked around, and was clearly on a mountain top or in a cold region but not much else was obvious. Maybe if I make a sound someone will find me? The thought was silly, nobody was up here. Nevertheless I attempted it, "Help!" I yelled as loud as possible, it echoed, but was still pitiful. My voice was barely working for me at this point, I threw up once again due to the pain.

"Help me! Somebody!" I called desperately. A few moments passed and I grew colder, there was nobody.

"Please somebody help!" My tears streamed down my face and I fell back into the snow, I was so cold. Too cold… I hate this, I should've stayed on earth this is torture, I'm alone, completely confused, and scared. I feel so alone. I shut my eyes to wait for the inevitability.

I heard the crunching of snow nearby, and my ears perked up. I had no energy to stand up, so I gave one last pitiful call, "Help..." Though it was much quieter and practically useless.

"Yes hello? Where are you?" I heard a feminine voice say. I heard her gasp and heard the steps approach me much quicker. I looked up to meet her face as she came upon me. It was some kind of snow leopard, yet she stood on two feet like a human. I wasn't complaining, finally someone!

I cried, and looked at her pleadingly. "Please." She nodded and shushed me, she took her satchel off quickly and rummaged through it. After a moment she pulled out a blanket.

She hovered over me with a look of concern, "Alright this might hurt, little one, but it'll make you warm okay?"

I barely nodded as she lowered it down and wrapped me. It did sting a good amount as another shot of pain hit me and I groaned in pure agony, but the warmth instantly began to spread through my body. She completely wrapped me in it and brought me up to her chest and held me there. "I'll take you to my village, don't worry."

I barely let out a; "Thank you," as she began moving once again.

After what seemed like hours she began to slow down. I couldn't see anything, but I guessed she had entered the village, as I heard many more voices around. She came upon a particular building and entered, the extra warmth immediately helping. "Please, I have a little dragon here, he needs help."

After a pause they spoke, "Of course, let me see."

She set me down on a hard surface and gently pulled away the blanket, I shivered but stayed still as I looked at the new person. It was another snow leopard, yet he had a darker gray color to his fur. He had on a white coat, almost like a regular doctor. And some gray pants that were more like draped down, like a bunch of cloths strung together. He looked at me with pity, "Poor thing, what are you doing all the way up here?"

Not waiting for an answer he looked back up at the female, "We'll help him right away."

The doctor held his paws out and slowly offered them to me. I noticed he was asking for trust so I nodded, "It hurts, please." Wasting no time he smiled and then gently picked me up.

As he carried me away the female who saved me looked at me with a smile and concern, I looked back with a thankful smile. The doctor brought me to another room, with a lot of soft tables, he set me down gently on one and said, "I'm going to start by disinfecting your wounds, and it's probably going to hurt…" I nodded.

He brought over a bunch of supplies, and offered a towel to my mouth, "I need you to be as still as possible, bite into this for the pain." I took it into my mouth and waited.

After a few minutes and one thoroughly bitten into towel, he sighed, "Thankfully it wasn't too bad, now I'm going to have to stitch your wounds and bandage it, alright?"

Whatever you need to stop the pain, please. I nodded weakly and he quickly disinfected a needle and threaded it. I was so stuck in pain, that the feeling of him stitching it barely registered in my brain. He started with my side, and moved to my tail, I heard him mutter that there wasn't much to stitch back together, which didn't surprise me, that thing looked unredeemable. He held my head down gently while he stitched something on my back neck as well. After a rather long session, he seemed finish as he began putting the needle away. I was breathing heavily just trying to keep myself conscious, he glanced at me, "You're lucky little one. The wounds were very clean so I doubt you'll acquire an infection. And you seem young enough, I'm sure your body can recover easily." I huffed and he took a pause as he studied me, "Please forgive me for not using red crystals yet, it can be dangerous to do when wounds are that... severe. I didn't want you to lose half your side."

I vaguely understood what he was saying. I nodded regardless and he brought the bandages out, he gently wrapped my tail with it until the whole middle half was covered. Then he wrapped my back left leg all the way up excluding my paw. He very gently wrapped my neck, and he finished with my torso. I mildly growled at the pain, he sighed, "I know little one." After a moment he nodded. "There, all wrapped up."

Afterwards he stepped back and inspected me, and other than my completely defeated look, I was much better off. I tried to move a bit, but after trying to take a step I just fell right back on to the table, I teared up again. The doctor tried to hide his amusement as he walked over, "You were very brave. I don't really think it'd be best to poke you with needles so… Are you hungry or thirsty?"

I nodded vigorously, "I haven't in… two days." I said slowly as I tried to think.

He looked concerned and nodded, "I'll put you in a proper bed and we can get you fixed up alright?"

The doctor held his arms out and gently picked me up, being careful of my bandages. He took me to the room across the hall which was lined with beds, it was completely empty until he set me down in one. "There you go, I'll bring back some extra blankets as well."

He began walking away and I struggled to say, "Thank… you." I smiled as he turned to me.

His smile was infectious as he nodded, "You're quite welcome."

I looked around the room, it was rather old fashioned, with no rooms of any kind. It was two walls lined with beds and heart monitors. The woman hadn't carried me down at all, she actually carried me farther up the mountain. Which I was surprised that they even had electricity up here, they had to have some kind of… magic or something. Are the only race of intelligent creatures these cat people as well? I didn't see any dragons, though I imagine I wouldn't see any up here anyway. They've been nice to me so far, so it's not like I'm some special talking dragon, the doctor wondered why I was so far up the mountain, and honestly I have the same question!

The sound of the door opening alerted me to the doctor's presence. I turned and he was pushing a cart, with a couple blankets on the bottom and a basket of red gems I guess? The food enticed me the most, he had what looked like some kind of soup, a plate with a large piece of meat on it, and a glass of milk. The meat was nearly completely uncooked but… I am a dragon…

After stopping in front of me with a smile he started, "I thought we were all out but I found some crystals for you!"

I looked at him curiously, "Thank you?" I said awkwardly.

His eyes widened, "Do you not know what they do?"

I shook my head nervously, and he sighed leaning down to pick one up. "Dragons can absorb them, to heal, gain energy back, even to power themselves up."

I looked at it in amazement, we can just… gain power by touching some colored rocks? That's useful. He placed one in my paw and I began turning it over in my paws, my smile turning to confusion. "I think it's broken…" I said.

The doctor's face scrunched up in confusion, "No, it's something else. Usually direct contact is enough, at every age."

My disappointed look fading as I looked back up at the food, the doctor noticed and let out a sheepish laugh, "I'm sorry, you're probably hungry. I'll think about it for a while, you need to eat. Make sure you drink all of that milk, if you can't eat the food at least finish that, alright?" He insisted, as he placed it down in front of me on a small table.

"Thank you!" I said, before unceremoniously digging in. The soup was rather good, if only because it was the first thing I've put into myself in forever. I paused as I got to the meat, but after taking a slow bite the whole thing was practically torn to shreds. Though I noticed it was much harder to chew than expected, and after sticking a paw in my mouth, determined that it was my teeth being extremely small, also I had no canines yet! I shrugged as I quietly finished my milk.

The doctor chuckled as he returned from somewhere, "You baby dragons sure are… terrifying, honestly."

I looked up to him with a mouthful and most likely blood lining my face, "Are there no dragons around here?"

He shook his head, "There's only a single village of dragons up here. The others at the base of the mountain don't bother. None tend to come up these mountains, and none of your kind specifically are usually on this entire continent."

My kind? "What do you mean?"

He sighed, "You're really lost aren't you little one…" he started, "The only dragons around here are usually the northern types, they are quite different from your kind of dragon, but still much similar than say… us."

He sat down on the bed next to me and gently put a paw on my back, as I slowed down from eating, "Which brings me to the question, where are your parents, little one?"

I froze, and the bite that I was lifting towards my mouth was dropped back onto the plate. I hadn't really thought of how to answer that, I was alone wasn't I? That's why I was going through this anyway… I looked down, and then slowly back up at him with a shrug, "I don't have any."

He nodded solemnly, "Have you always been alone?"

I shook my head, "No they died when I was young, it was an accident."

He looked at me quizzically, "How young? It can't have been long, why, you're barely six months old."

Cursing my slip up, and surprised by the low age number, I put on a smile and laughed, "Maybe a month or two."

He nodded, "You have quite the vocabulary for your age. Most hatchlings speak unfiltered and reactionary."

It was true, I was making no effort to hide my ability to speak. I really wasn't quite sure how to speak, I mean, I just learned I was six months old. Yeah it'd be pretty weird to hear a baby essentially speaking like they were quite a bit older...

He put his paw on my head and rubbed gently, making me lean into the feeling. Though I realized he was essentially petting me, it felt good! "So you have no parents, then how did you get up here? You were halfway up the mountain when you were found."

Now even that I didn't know. "I just kind of… teleported I guess. I was about to die to a huge pack of wolves, and I blacked out and woke up on the mountain." I bent the truth a little, not sure how he'd react to a reviving dragon…

He merely smiled, "Either you're a powerful little guy to teleport out of danger, or someone's looking out for you hmm?"

"It doesn't feel like anyone's watching out for me, and if it was me, I left a lot to be desired…" I said disdainfully.

"I mean I've been wandering forests aimlessly, and nearly dying to wolves."

He looked down at me, "You are very young, but you're also much smarter than your age would suggest…"

I shrugged, "This world doesn't care about maturity."

He grimaced, "But you shouldn't have to care about that. You should have guardians of some kind, to protect you."

I looked away and tried to hide a few tears, "Life isn't fair."

He sighed, "You're an enigma, that's for sure."

He put a paw on my back, "Listen, that young girl who saved you is quite worried and wants to meet you. When would you feel comfortable with that?"

I nodded, "Soon as you'd like. I have nothing else to wait for."

He stood up, taking the finished food as he set the basket and blankets next to my bed. I laid down and pulled the covers up over my head. So much was happening, and I had no idea why, or what it was. I haven't gotten a good night's rest in way too long, well, since I got here. A minute passed and I heard the door open gently, and some quiet footsteps approaching my bed. I peeked out from under and the lady from earlier was staring at me, with worried purple eyes. I relaxed a bit, and smiled, "Thank you for saving me."

After a moment I began to look at my bedsheets nervously. She wasn't doing anything as much as she stared at me, and it made me feel like an alien. Which I was, but that's a different point. A few seconds later I heard her shuffle and looked up to her gently approaching me, "Of… course." She put on a small smile, but the hint of hesitation caused me to be weary.

Once she was closer she kneeled over and pulled me into a rather surprising hug. I was confused for a few minutes as she gently held me against her body, the warmth overtaking my senses. Until the thought came to me, 'She wasn't staring, she was trying not to cry… '

She pulled back and gently ran her fingers over my new wrappings, being sure to ease off if I seemed uncomfortable. "My my little one, you've been through quite the adventure it would seem." She said with amusement.

Ignoring the rather intrusiveness of her actions, I laughed a bit, "An adventure in the underworld, yes."

She looked at me with a slightly raised eyebrow, before silence fell over us again. I looked at her curiously, "So… What's your name?"

Her eyes widened and she lowered me to the bed before bowing, "I forgot my manners! So sorry, my name is Renallia"

"I'm Gale," I replied.

She sat down on my bed, she reached a paw out and I allowed her to start scratching a spot right behind my ears. I almost instantly melted, the feeling was absolutely wonderful. After a minute I was basically incapacitated on my bed, she laughed, "You aren't terribly different from northern dragons, it would seem."

She stopped, awarding me time to function, yet I was mildly disappointed. I looked up to her, "Do you have any world maps around here? Maybe a couple of books on history as well?"

She nodded, "I do, but they're all at my home on the other side of town."

I nodded with a sigh, and the doors opened for the doctor once again. He smiled at us, as he carried an odd device. "We might be able to figure it out with this." He said.

I looked at him oddly, "Figure what out?"

"Why the crystals aren't reacting to your presence!" He replied.

The device was rather odd looking. It was just a little handheld device with a large sensor made of crystal at the top. He pointed it at me and turned the thing on, "Don't worry, you won't feel it."

Regardless of what he said I still made a bit of a yelp, as a beam of energy shot towards me. It hit and I really did feel nothing, maybe a bit drowsy but that might've just been me being sleepy. It covered my whole body with a light energy field and after a few seconds his device stopped and made a beeping sound. He read it for a few seconds and scratched his head, "What is it?" Renallia asked.

He looked up then back down with a huff, "Well according to this device he has absolutely zero magic power."

I tilted my head, "Huh?"

"Every dragon has magic power. It starts off small when you're younger but the more you use it the better it gets. Hatchlings usually have more than any other race does even at adulthood, yet you have none…"

I sighed, "So I'm just defective…"

Renallia placed her paw on my head and rubbed gently, "I don't think that's the case. If anything you're quite special for having none."

"Yeah I'm the most useless dragon, what a power." Renallia sighed and the doctor held his paw up.

"Now just wait a minute. I'm rather certain it's not that you lack any magic power, but more that it's been sealed away." He smiled.

"Why do you think that?" I asked.

He showed me the device as he pointed it towards himself, "When a being with no magical power is detected, it does nothing. However," He repositioned it towards myself, "When it points to you it says you are a magical being."

With not much else to go off of I sighed, "Alright but how would I remove this."

He shrugged, "I'm not really sure, but I know who would be sure."

"Really, who?"

"The Guardians. They would know how to help you more than anyone else, baring the purple dragon himself!"

He was saying a lot of things that didn't make much sense to me, but I was becoming excited. "Cool, where are they?"

"A full continent away." He said.

I slumped in the bed, and nearly let myself fall, if Renallia hadn't put a paw up to catch me. "Gale, you need to be with the rest of your kind. It's much too cold in this region for dragons like you." Renallia said.

I nodded, "Yeah but how do I get there, I can't even fly."

The doctor thought for a moment, "We are at least a few days out from the ocean, from the bottom of our mountain to the ocean I'd say a solid three or four days with good weather. To cross the ocean, you'd need to try and get a ride on a boat at the port town of Oransa. From the shore of the Dragon Isles you'd be another week or so from the city of Warfang."

I sighed, this was starting to sound like a video game or something. I nodded eventually, "So when can I start?"

The doctor looked down at me, "I'd give yourself at least a few days to heal. And after that you're free, but you'd need help getting around, as there is no chance you will make it there by yourself."

I nodded, and Renallia smiled, "Doctor. Do you think I'd be able to bring Gale with me back to my home? He wants to read some books, and you know I can take care of him with the right supplies." I looked up at her in surprise and she smiled down at me and winked.

The doctor put a paw to his chin, "Well… It's very cold, it might be warmer in your house. And you did train for medical help under me…" he looked up and nodded, "Go ahead!"

Me and Renallia smiled at each other as the doctor continued, "But you absolutely have to-"

"Redress his wounds before and after bed every day."

He paused, "Yes, and don't forget about-"

"Cleaning the wounds every day, keep him well rested, fed, warm, and keep an eye on his temperature. You've taught me this all before."

He paused and smiled wide, "Of course, I taught you well! Well whenever you decide to, you may leave. But let me make a basket of supplies for you."

Renallia rolled her eyes, then looked back down towards me. "Sorry about not asking for your opinion first, but… I'm rather sure you'd be happier in a bit more of a cozy place than this prison."

"I heard that!" The doctor said on his way out.

I laughed, "Thank you, for everything you've done. You don't have to do this at all."

She used her paw to lift one of my front paws, "I don't have to. But I always help people, and you're no exception."

I shook my head, "But you're still helping me… I'm so helpless it's a joke."

"Confidence," I looked up at her in confusion and she continued, "You may not be able to fight. But your heart is strong, you survived out there by yourself, that's not helpless. You're smarter, and braver than you give yourself credit for."

I began tearing up, I tried to discreetly wipe them away but she used her other paw to lift my head. "Hey… I'll be with you now, alright?"

A few minutes of her gently rubbing my head, as I started falling asleep, "Are you ready to go?" She asked.

I looked up sleepily and nodded, she carefully picked me up from underneath with a blanket, I winced a few times and she apologized. Then she wrapped the rest of the blanket around me until I looked like a little dragon burrito. I laughed at the thought and she looked at me with a raised brow, then she shook her head.

She made her way out of the room and up to the front desk, where she dinged the bell. "Teran, we're heading out!"

He came rushing out of the back rooms, "Wait, wait!" He huffed as he dropped a large basket on the counter.

Renallia gave one look at it and sighed, "I'm not carrying that, I have all this stuff at home anyway…"

He crossed his arms, "You're still taking it in case of misjudgment."

She grabbed hold of it, "Fine, we're off then!"

As we left I shouted, "Thank you, Teran!"

I could see him nod then wink at me as we walked out of the front door, and back into the cold. I shivered and looked around, it was a nice town. It was mostly log cabins for houses, every chimney spouting various amounts of smoke. Some buildings were made of brick, such as the hospital. There were a lot of pens for animals, some which I recognized and others I didn't. There were a surprising amount of people out and about, and basically every one I could see was a snow leopard person. There were a few others but I realized they were just children…

Renallia noticed my curiosity, and began to talk about which buildings were what. I listened eagerly as we weaved our way through a few crowds. Some people who saw me looked infinitely confused, which amused me. A couple of them cooed at my passing, making me blush heavily as Renallia laughed at my expense. I forgot that I was literally six months old, I'd have to get used to that…

"We're here," She said as we approached a smaller cabin on the far side of town.

She walked in, setting her things down as she set me down on a large couch. She went to a closet nearby and grabbed more blankets, then came back over and opened them all over me. The warmth becoming better she walked over to her fireplace and began starting one. I wouldn't want a fireplace in a log cabin but, hey, everyone here does it fine. The fire started and Renallia approached me and knelt down, "Are you warm enough now?" Her face was full of worry.

I smiled, "Yes it's really warm now, thank you Renallia."

She layed a paw on my cheek, "You can just call me Rena, alright?"

I tilted my head, "You sure?"

She nodded, "At least, that's what my friends and family do. If it makes you uncomfortable I-"

I was slowly drifting to sleep at this point, yet I laughed, "Thank you, for everything, Rena."