Warrior Rising

Chapter 4 – Settling In

Antony followed Emile down the hall. The young red dragon came to a door and opened it with one paw. Inside was a bedroom with a wide bed, two wooden chests, a desk, and a bookshelf. Paintings hung on one wall. Each painting depicted a scene that told a story. Antony stared at the paintings, drawn to them. When he had been human and lived on Earth, he remembered visiting an art gallery with his mother. He remembered looking at several paintings, busts, sculptures, and artworks and describing how each made him feel when his mother asked.

Emile gestured to the room and grinned. "Welcome to my abode, Antony. Beautiful isn't it."

Antony nodded. "It's wonderful. I like the paintings."

"The paintings?"

"Yes, each one tells a story and has a meaning behind it."

Emile nodded. He searched the room for two minutes. His golden yellow eyes rested on a painting depicting a battle between two dragons. Antony glanced at the scene and noted how both dragons stood upon a mountain cliff and battled each other. Their fangs were bared. Their wings opened and spread wide. Between the two dragons lay a scroll. Antony wondered how important the scroll was to the dragons. Was it a map to treasure? A spell? A family heirloom? Antony was curious.

"That's one of my favorite paintings," Emile said. "It is two warriors battling over a map to a treasure trove."

"It's amazing."

"Sure is." Emile nodded. "Anyway, we'll share my room. Dad and I can help you find work in the morning."

"Sounds great. I want to make the most of my life," Antony replied. "I appreciate Kehlani helping me."

Emile chuckled. "My big sister has a good heart and a big head."

Antony smiled at that. He trotted over to another painting that caught his attention. The painting showed two dragons, a male and a female, lying side by side on the beach. Both smiled and intertwined their tails and enjoyed each other's presence. The dragons both wore string necklaces with heart-shaped pendants. Antony stared at the painting for a long time, feeling drawn to it most. It reminded him of his life back on earth as a human. He had once been in love when he was 15, but the relationship was short-lived. He remembered the girl he had dated had moved away, and he had never seen her again. It had left him heartbroken, but he still hoped and longed to love again, now that he was 17.

Maybe…as a dragon, I can truly live and love again, Antony mused.

"Antony… are you okay?" Emile asked, a concerned look.

"Yeah, I was admiring this painting."

"This one…it's my second favorite. It's called Sea Side Lovers. Looking at this painting reminds me that all dragons want to be loved and have a soul mate. One day, I'll have my mate."

Antony looked to Emile. The red dragon stared at the painting. A wide smile and a hopeful look showed on Emile's face.

A knock sounded upon the bedroom door. Antony and Emile turned around. In the doorway stood Kehlani.

"Dinner will be ready in an hour," she said. "Don't be late."

"We won't," Emile said, making a face. "Antony and I are enjoying these paintings. We're not just brutish males. We're cultured."

Kehlani rolled her eyes. Slowly she trotted into the room and approached Emile. She patted her little brother on the head and scratched one of his horns. Emile snorted and poked Kehlani in the snout with a claw. Kehlani poked him back.

"You're just showing off," Kehlani said. "You would rather fight, exercise, compete, and flex your muscles than look at art."

"Shut up! I have a love for art," Emile replied. "Besides, you like to nurse wounds and write love poems and seek the perfect boyfriend."

Kehlani winced at that and looked away. Emile smirked at that and continued.

"You want a boyfriend that you can shower with kisses and gifts and …"

"Shut up, Emile! Don't you embarrass me in front of Antony!"

"Ha! I'll embarrass you anyway. That's what little brothers do." Emile turned to Antony. "Hey…you want to hear about the first love poem she wrote?"

Antony looked between Emile and Kehlani. He shook his head. "I'm good. I don't want to make your sister mad."

"Fine." Emile chuckled. "Her first love poem was so cheesy."

"You're one to talk," Kehlani replied with an annoyed look. "You don't want to admit your crush on your fellow guardsman Ingrid."

Emile snorted. He turned sharply and stomped the floor. His gaze went back to the painting of the two dragons at the beach. Antony wondered how close Emile and Ingrid were. He didn't press the issue.

"It's not a crush," Emile said. "Ingrid and I have been friends since we were kids and recruits. I respect her fighting prowess, honesty, and fiery personality."

Kehlani laughed. "Yes, but you talk about her a lot…how well she fights, how she keeps her skin and scales clean and shiny, and how her toothy smile inspires confidence and courage. Sounds like a crush."

"It is not!"

"It is. You get choked up whenever she visits our house and has dinner with us." Kehlani turned to Antony with a knowing smile. "It's the funniest sight ever."

Emile huffed. He poked Kehlani's nostrils hard, and the blue dragon gasped and smacked his paw away.

Antony laughed. He looked between Emile and Kehlani finding their banter and actions heart-warming and funny. It didn't surprise him that they would tease each other and fight with each other. It was typical for brothers and sisters to argue and fight. But brothers and sisters still loved and cared about each other.