Page 58 of Full Moon
"Diaval, do you remember if the worms live in nests of mated pairs? I never crossed paths with them before."
"As far as I can remember, mated pairs. The hatchlings leave immediately. Otherwise, the parents, if starving, eat their young."
Feray cringes visibly. "Eww... that's disgusting." She shudders dramatically. "Let's get moving. I think I see a suitable place to sleep for tonight." She gives the stone worm one last look before heading deeper into the cavern.
We walk for what feels like forever before Feray stops and moves off to the right. Giant talon gouges mark the walls from the ground to the ceiling.
"An ice dragon dug this out," Diaval says, stepping forward to study the marks. "It's very old, so I doubt it's still being used."
"Do you think it's the den of the dragon in Feray's family crypt?" I scan the area, noting old shed scales and broken eggshells but no evidence of something currently living there.
"It's possible." Diaval strokes his chin.
"Come on, let's set up and stop yammering like a bunch of old ladies," Feray shouts as she unbuckles Torben from the sled.
"Your safety is our main priority, my flame." I arch a brow at her.
She arches one back. "You can't keep me safe if you're too busy staring at gouges in ice instead of the female in question." She points two fingers at herself, then returns to pulling the sleeping bags out.
Well, shit. She's right.I shake my head, moving to help with the camp. Feray shifts back into her wolf form, and along with Torben, they clear the area. Their claws dig through the ice fragments with determined efficiency. The old scales get pushed off to the side as Torben uses the ice chunks to block the crosswinds. Feray pushes the sheds into the pit she dug.
"Why is she doing that?" I motion to the shuffling of scales.
"The scales are from an ice dragon and act like insulation against the cold," Diaval explains. "My dragon told her to use them to separate the sleeping bags from the ground." His eyes narrow into slits as he stares at where Feray is working. She stops, tilts her head to the side, looking at him for a moment before returning to her task.
"What happened?"
Diaval turns slowly to look at me, then back at Feray. "He was telling her how good she was doing and that one day he would build her a proper nest." A small smile tugs at his mouth before he moves to help Khal. The dragon has been saying that a lot lately. Building nests. Making plans. Thinking about a future none of us dared to dream of before Feray came into our lives. Khal moves the sleeping bags into position while Torben stands by his makeshift wall. Feray steps between them, then turns to face us.
Climb in and get comfortable.
Her voice resonates in my mind, and I quickly move to claim my sleeping bag. Torben shifts his large body to block the chilling wind. Feray climbs into our makeshift nest and stretches out, her body becoming a source of warmth for us.
"Are you going to be okay? It's freezing," I ask, my fingers gently stroking her fur as she rests her head on Torben's front paws.
I'm not the one the cold bothers. Get some sleep. We'll keep you warm. Torben and I are fine.
"I can shift and help shield everyone. I'm bigger than both of you," Diaval offers, moving some of the fluff on Feray's tail.
You would burn way too much energy trying to keep warm. I will hunt in the morning, and we can start on our way again after breakfast.Her voice is soothing yet firm.
"I just heard Feray," Khal says, glancing at me with curiosity. "Maybe it's because of direct contact." He shrugs and turns on his side, pulling his sleeping bag higher.
"That's probably the case. Let's get some sleep. Everyone keep close to conserve heat." As I close my eyes, the cold seepingthrough the gaps in our shelter, I can't help but think that tonight may be the second longest night of my life. But as Feray's warmth seeps into my bones, as the steady rhythm of Torben's breathing fills the den, I realize something.
We made it through the day.
Two frost worms turned to stone. A dragon's den claimed for the night. Our mate safe between us.
Tomorrow, we face whatever waits on the other side of this mountain.
But tonight, we rest.
Together.
