Chapter 106: Pepper
The laughter of the two young dragons doesn't help in the least.
"See, Cantor, I told you she can't hurt us. She doesn't even know how to land without skinning her nose," the larger red dragon says to the blue one. "Who are you?" the red dragon asks with an air of superiority.
"I'm Pepper," I finally say after another fire-breathing cough.
"You are Uncle Tahr's mate?" he asks in disbelief.
"No, not his mate. I'm just a dragon. A very special dragon," I say because I remember what he said the first time I met him.
"Hmm." A thin trail of smoke leaves his nostrils. "I am Ashrac and this is Cantor. Our fathers have gone to Tahr's
because they felt the presence of a new dragon and they think Tahr has mated. That is the only way for a female to transcend, so I think you have your facts wrong."
Oh really. "I am not mated to Tahr and I don't even like him. I'm sorry that he is your uncle, but he's a jerk and don't wish to ever see him again."
The younger dragon peeks around Ashrac. "Why is she so ugly? She should be silver like Uncle Tahr."
I don't allow Ashrac to answer. "I've said I'm not Tahr's mate, and yellow is not ugly, it's beautiful like the sun and
certain flowers."
"If you say so," Cantor replies and I wonder if all male dragons are this rude.Yes, they are. They're all the same.
"It is a rather strange color for a dragon," Ashrac adds.
I can't believe I'm standing here defending my color to two boys. "I will ignore your rudeness and the insult you've given me if you tell me what I must do to change to human."
"You don't know?" Ashrac asks with an arrogant huff.
"If I knew, I wouldn't ask. If the two of you handsome dragons would be so kind and teach me, I would appreciate it."
They roll their eyes and I guess they aren't as gullible as I suspected.
"You're in Uncle Sarn's realm," Cantor replies. "We fly here because Uncle Sarn lives in the earth realm with his mate and his castle is haunted."
"Shh," Ashrac snaps. "It's not truly haunted."
"You said it was," Cantor replies sullenly.
"I was only teasing." He glances at me and shakes his large head. "It would be best if you went back to Uncle Tahr. He will teach you what you need to know."
Heat rises up my throat at the mention of returning to Tahr. "I do not belong to your Uncle Tahr. I am my own dragon and will go anywhere I choose. If you won't help me, I will find someone who will."
Cantor steps forward and puffs up his chest. "My mother will burn you with dragon fire if you get close to her nest.
She's very cranky right now and it would be a shame if you sizzled on your first day as a dragon."
That makes me laugh, and fire mixed with black smoke pours from my nose. The two dragons jump back. "So sorry," I cough.
I breathe in too quickly and it's having a domino effect as I sneeze and release more flames and smoke.
Ashrac and Cantor start laughing again and when I can finally breathe; I join in, which makes my smoke thicker and my fire brighter. Another coughing fit takes hold.
"He can't breathe fire yet," Cantor says when I'm finally able to stop hacking.
"I'll be able to very soon," Ashrac grumbles and then he sighs. "I guess we can teach you a few things. I would hate for you to burn off your tail." He ducks as my uncontrolled tail flies at my head. "Think of your human body and pull in your magic. It's easy, and that's how you shift."
"My magic?"
"Yes, it takes magic to be dragon."
I think about that. I can feel the same tingling awareness that I got from touching Tahr. It's all around me now. I do as Ashrac suggests and the next second I'm human. And naked. I quickly turn my back to the boys and feel heat creep up my neck when they giggle. I pull the magic in again and return to my yellow dragon form. "Thank you for that lesson, but I need clothes before I try it again," I say quickly trying to cover my embarrassment.
"You're funny," Cantor laughs. "And you sound like Ashrac's mother."
"My mother and her rules," Ashrac grumbles and rolls his large red eyes. "Uncle Sarn's lair has clothes. The castle is pretty much a mess, but his bedroom isn't too bad. Would you like us to show you?"
"Yes, please."
Ashrac and Cantor call out instructions, so my launch is slightly better than my landing. The three of us fly to Sarn's castle. I'm exhausted by the time we arrive and my entire body aches. I refuse to complain, especially to these boys. We enter Sarn's room from his tower perch. Most of what I've seen of the castle is a crumbled mess, but when I peek inside the room, it's intact just quite dusty.
Ashrac gives me a flash of his amazingly large teeth. "There are some of Uncle Sarn's old clothes in his garment room. I don't think they'll fit, but you can try. I must return Cantor to his father's realm or we will be in trouble and his mother will come after us with her battle ax."
Surely he's joking. "Oh... okay. Umm, thank you for your help. I'll stay here if you don't think your Uncle Sarn will
mind."
"I don't think he'll mind." They launch gracefully from the perch and fly away after I thank them profusely for their
help.
When they're completely out of sight, I shift and enter the room. The clothes are covered in dust too. I shake out a large shirt and put it on. It doesn't smell too bad and it hangs to my knees. Next, I shake the dust from the top cover of the bed and lie down. I'm tired but I want to try something.
"I am dragon," I whisper into the room. I hear my stilted throaty words and I say it again louder. Then, I close my eyes, too tired to even think about speech or my empty stomach.
