Perhaps it was merely the encroaching shadows of the forest or the way Kaleb's handsome face was lent something of the sinister by the bobbing of the firelight, but as she sat there, eyeing him, she felt a fresh wave of suspicion wash over her. “No, she's always by my side,” said Minx emphatically. “This isn't like her at all. That is, unless, someone hurt her or captured her...” She shot the dragon shifter a narrow glance, then turned away.
“It's possible,” replied Kaleb, stretching his legs. “But who?”
Recalling that Kaleb had picked up the scent of a dragon earlier, Minx was more than happy to throw the blame on his kind. “I don't know, but maybe that's a question you ought to be asking your friends, the dragons. After all, you picked up a strange dragon's scent around here, didn't you?”
“I did...” He hesitated to go on further.
Minx snickered, turning away from him and tucking her hands around her torso. The night was cool, and despite the warmth issuing from the blaze she still shivered. “For all I know, you're in on it. You're just playing along while one of your fellow dragons takes Mau to some far-off place.” She squared him with a steely gaze. “How do I know you're not involved?”
“You don't,” replied Kaleb with a yawn. “I guess you'll just have to trust me.”
“Trust a dragon?” she muttered. “Fat chance.”
At this, he sat up, eyes flaring in annoyance. “I spared your life, Minx. I've helped you look for Mau and I'm sitting here with you now. But you still doubt my word?” He held his hands to the fire, warming them pensively. “I guess what they say is true. You Fae are mighty fickle, aren't you?” He preempted her reply by adding, “Where I come from, the word of an honest man means something. It would appear that's not enough for you.”
Angry and worried though she was, it made little sense for her to antagonize her only ally in this struggle. Minx dropped it, tending once more to the fire. “Well, anyway, we've got a long time before dawn. We should arrange a night-watch so we can both sleep. Do you want to go first, or should I?”
“A night-watch?” asked Kaleb, chuckling. “No need.”
“Of course there's a need,” she spat back. Everything with this dragon shifter was destined to become an argument. “What if someone tries to attack us while we're sleeping? What if Mau comes back and we miss her because no one's keeping watch? Is this your first time camping out, spending time on the road? This is elementary stuff, Kaleb.”
Kaleb withdrew from the fire a few paces and then donned his dragon form, a massive scaly body springing up where only a man had stood moments prior. The tremendous creature settled upon the ground softly and curled into a tight position, his red scales locking tightly into one another and effectively blocking his every vulnerability behind a shield of glistening red. His large yellow eye glared at her smugly for a moment before it, too, was closed.
“Oh, neat trick,” she muttered. “I guess dragons don't need to keep watch at night, huh?” The Fae huntress had no such trick up her sleeves, however. Remaining fireside, she peered down into the flames and did her best to calm her mind. I guess I'll be keeping watch solo. That's not so bad, right? With that loudmouth sleeping, at least things will be quiet.
While staring into the tongues of flame, she reviewed the troubles of the previous day, giving special attention to those last moments she'd spent with Mau. She'd ordered the Faelyr to approach Kaleb and prepare for a sudden attack, and by all appearances, Mau had been prepared to follow through. In the minute or two between Mau's flight from her side and her own battle against the dragon, something had happened, though.
Where did you go, Mau? she wondered, hoping for a telepathic reply. When none came, Minx looked over at the slumbering dragon and grimaced. Does he have something to do with it? He claimed to smell another dragon in the area. Was it a friend of his? A friend intent on capturing Mau—or worse? She didn't have any evidence to prop up this claim, and in all fairness, Kaleb had seemed as honest and forthright as any dragon could be. Even so, she remained skeptical. The timing of Mau's disappearance was simply too suspicious. Mau vanishes just as I'm about to begin my first dragon hunt, and there are signs of another dragon in the area? What are the odds?
The cooing of nested birds broke through the still night, joining the popping of the fire and the hum of far-off bugs. Minx rubbed at her eyes, then stretched out her legs to warm her feet. She'd spent many nights in the field, roughing it without complaint, but had never done it without Mau at her side. She considered her new companion and nearly groaned. Though powerful, the dragon shifter hardly seemed like an upgrade. She wondered how long she'd be stuck hanging around with him, how long it would take for the two of them to find Mau.
Maybe I should kidnap Kaleb, she thought. If I hold him ransom, perhaps this dragon friend of his will return with Mau and we can swap hostages... Eyeing the dragon, she quickly backtracked. Then again... he's kind of huge. There isn't enough rope in all of Pandling Grounds for me to keep him bound up.
No, the only path forward was to trust him. The handsome young dragon had spoken much about honesty and the value of one's word. She had no choice but to take him at his, however bad a taste it left in her mouth.
The night wore on and the surrounding woods echoed with the sounds of insects. Curious luminescent bugs hovered between the trees
