She carefully cleans out his visible wounds before checking on mines. After we had left the beach, we went to the village. A flintstone and striker. Three quick hits and the glowing sparks flew. We carefully held onto the makeshift torches to the local village. 

“Let’s go eat...and drink,” Rachel said. We unanimously decided to go to the bar before staying at the inn.

Rachel orders us the first round. We start talking about the mighty dragon. I gulped. “He must be over 100 feet long and almost as tall. In all my life, I’ve never seen anything as magnificent” It felt like fire down my throat and made my ears burn.

Titan orders us another round. “It would be extraordinary to see the dragon.” 

“It would kill us but still.”

I order another round. “I have to work up the courage to go through with this plan.” 

Rachel orders another round. She figures I could use a little more courage.

“I can do this.”

“We're going with you. Remember that.”

“Why would you do that? Why risk your own lives?”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought I didn't want you around because you might get me killed. Now I know I was wrong. I might end up getting you killed instead.” The fire burning down my throat is almost unbearable. I cough. “I think we’re done for the night.”

I get up feeling a bit wobbly.

I instantly realize my stomach is empty. The alcohol churns and burns in my stomach.

Before going to sleep, Rachel repaired my wounds. She gently removed the blood-soaked bandages.

I groaned as Rachel tried her best to repair my wounds again. “How do you even know what you're doing?” I ask Rachel.

“I don't, but you can't continue in this shape.” She's right. Titan glanced at me frowned then looked elsewhere. “Your wound looks hideous. We have to do whatever we can. Plus, you reek of blood. And I can't stand it." Her nose wrinkles. 

I groaned as Rachel tried her best to repair what wounds she could see. It wasn't just my arm it was spreading all over. My cheeks reddened. There was nothing we could do for my body now that it was imprisoned in this armor. 

That night before our journey to the forbidden mountain I dream of being burned alive by the dragon. He had whispered fiercely to me “Wake up” before he breathed out a fire that flew around me like a tornado. It didn't matter. I enjoyed a pleasant life, despite everything. I managed a smile. It was all right. The others were secure. Fire seared me, every muscle and sinew, and cut off my fierce scream before it started. I wake up screaming hysterically for the first time in my life, and it burns.

My voice tears through my throat and jerked me from the nightmare. It takes me a minute to shut off my screams and another one to recover my breath. Then the ringing in my ears quiets, and I start to feel the cold sweat on my body. I woke up the other two.

By Cristina Collazo