Stevie's Arc

Chapter 3 of 7

Stevie spent the next morning walking the woods with her phoenix on her arm. She needed a second companion. Every creature she found ran before she could speak. A fox, a stag, a hare. Her voice caught in her throat each time. She could not even call out. By midday she had approached nothing. Two days left, and she was still alone. She stopped at the great tree. Its trunk was wide as a house, its face carved deep into the bark. The old god tree opened one green eye and looked down at her. "You bring grief with you, child," it said. Stevie shook her head. She had no words for it. Then she heard a low sound from the roots. A dragon lay in the dirt. It was young, larger than a horse, with gold and black scales gone dull. A long gash ran down its side. Its breath came slow and wet. Stevie knelt without thinking. Fear left her. The dragon watched her with one tired eye. "He fled another of his kind," the tree said. "It cost him everything. He will pass soon. I woke to comfort him." Stevie reached out. She laid her hand on the dragon's neck. His scales were cold. She did not speak. She only stayed, so he would not die alone. Her phoenix hopped down her arm. The little bird looked at the dying dragon, then at Stevie's wet face. It made a soft cry. Fat tears rolled from its dark eyes and fell onto the wound. Where each tear touched, the torn scales knit shut. The gash sealed. The dragon's breath grew strong. His dull scales brightened to gold. The dragon lifted his head. He looked at the phoenix, then at Stevie. He pressed his warm snout into her palm. Stevie laughed, shaking. She had not run from him. She had stayed, and he knew it. "Thank you," she whispered. It was the first thing she had said all day. "He owes you both his life," the tree said. "He will not forget." Stevie rested her forehead against the dragon's brow. A name came to her, bold and bright. "Andromeda," she said. The dragon rumbled low, pleased. He stood on strong legs and folded his wings behind her, as if to guard her. Stevie stood too. Her hands were steady now. She had found her second companion, and she had not needed to chase him. She had only shown mercy, and the phoenix had shown the rest. She looked toward the town where the herald waited. The trial was one day closer. But now a full-grown dragon stood at her side, and a lion no longer seemed too large.