(Blog 14) Years Ago
Join Spyder’s adventure!
Submit your dragon idea for a chance to see your character come to life in the story!
(Continued from our last post…)
The crisp October air wrapped around Pip and Spyder as they meandered through the forest, like they did on most days after school. The trees ablaze with hues of fiery reds, deep oranges, and golden yellows stood tall. A low sun cast long shadows across the forest floor, dappling the path with warm light. The occasional splash of fish breaking the water’s surface of the creek broke the harmonious rhythm of bugs chirping and frogs croaking. It was the kind of autumn afternoon that made everything feel alive until it wasn’t.
Pip noticed the trail first. The site of occasional blood marked the ground between scattered leaves. They had walked the area several times since she went missing and had either overlooked this evidence or it was new. Pip’s heart began to race as he crouched down, tracing in markings to make out a trail. Without hesitation, he surged forward, following the marks into the thick of the woods.
Belle had been missing for weeks. The town had all but given up, assuming dreadful theories about a mysterious monster that might have taken her.
“Pip, WAIT!” Spyder said panting as he stopped beside him at the mouth of a cave where the trail stopped. “You don’t know what you could be walking into…”
“She’s in there,” Pip whispered, barely able to hear himself over the pounding of his heartbeat. He stepped inside without waiting for a response.
The darkness swallowed him whole. He reached around and felt a loose branch beneath him. With the branch in hand and careful not to extend his flame past it, he breathed a quick spark of fire onto the wood, igniting a torch to see.
And there she was. He found her. Belle was crumpled against the far wall, a small, broken thing in the dim light. Her tiny body was covered in bruises, her wing twisted unnaturally, scales matted with blood. She was shaking, barely able to lift her head, but the moment she saw him, a weak, warbling cry escaped her throat.
“Oh, no… oh, no, no, no,” Pip murmured, kneeling beside her. His hands hovered over her frail body, unsure of where to touch without causing more harm. Spyder was once again standing beside him. He swallowed hard, trying to formulate a plan quickly while Pip tried to console Belle with little success.
“We need to get her out of here,” Spyder said with urgency.
“I know! I know, just…” Pip handed the torch to Spyder and carefully slid his arms under her, lifting her with the gentleness of someone handling glass. Belle whimpered and then began sobbing, her tiny claws grasping weakly at Pip’s scales. Pip’s heroic energy suddenly crumbled into a panic.
“I don’t wanna hurt her,” he choked.
“You won’t. Just keep holding her like that. She scared.” Spyder placed a steadying hand on Pip’s shoulder before leading the way out.
Sunlight illuminated the exit as they emerged. Pip laid Belle down carefully on a bed of moss, his claws shaking as he examined her injuries.
Belle was trying to say something through her tears, but her words were lost uncontrollable sobbing that exhausted the last of her energy. Spyder leaned in, brow furrowing as he tried to understand. Pip, usually the confident one, looked completely lost. Two teenage dragons trying to calm a bawling infant might have been comical in another scenario, but in this critical moment Belle’s wellbeing depended on their ability to act fast with limited resources.
“What’s she saying?” Pip asked, glancing at Spyder in desperation.
Spyder frowned, trying to piece together the broken words. “I… I think she’s saying ‘home.’”
Pip’s throat tightened. “We’ll get you home,” he whispered, brushing a comforting hand over her uninjured wing. “I promise.”
“We need help,” Spyder said, scanning the forest, half-expecting someone, anyone, to be there to tell them what to do.
“We can’t wait,” Pip said, shaking his head. His voice was thick with panic. “She needs a doctor - NOW.”
Spyder’s eyes landed on a sticker peeking out of his satchel, At school that day, teams of reptiles were rallying for homecoming and a group of girl dragons were passing out stickers. Spyder couldn't even recall their names, but one flagged him down and ask for his vote before giving him a beautifully colored sticker that said, Dragons Rule!.
“Belle,” he said gently, “Look at this.”
Her watery eyes flickered open, her gaze settling on the sticker. For a long moment, she just stared. Then, ever so slowly, her tiny claws reached for it and she began to calm down.
With the last of her strength, Belle reached up toward Spyder, silently asking to be held.
Spyder hesitated. He wasn’t anymore sure than Pip was for what to do, but he gathered her into his arms. She was so small and light, and as he wrapped his wings around her, she nuzzled into the crook of his neck.
Within minutes, she had fallen asleep, still clutching the sticker.
Pip reclaimed his focus and stood up. “Okay, let’s get her to the doctor so she can go home.” he whispered.
Spyder nodded, his grip on her tightening.
To be continued… New posts each Friday. Subscribe below to follow the dragons. Read the beginning of it all at Blog 1: New Adventure Awaits.
