Our Last Ride

Peritus Nervosa swept through the town of Oldwood. Citizens were passing away left and right from the disease at such a high rate they piled bodies outside of their homes. The town’s young doctor, Liam, ran between homes to check on his patients who had caught Peritus Nervosa while the nurses fetched water buckets and towels. The nurses had tried to comfort the townspeople as the disease had taken over their bodies, which caused chills, fever, vomiting, mental confusion, and death. Many of Oldwood’s nuns walked the town bringing the children to the church for safety. A little girl in a red dress clutched her teddy bear as she cried out for help while sitting next to her mom’s lifeless body. The town of Oldwood had never known such devastation and death.

The church's nuns helped the children pack up to leave Oldwood, hoping to get shelter in the town of Dry Creek. Each child had a backpack and blanket. The cries of small children filled the crisp nighttime air as they set out to follow the trail which circled the infamous Ancient Ashwood Forest.

Those who entered the Ancient Ashwood Forest never came out. The leaders were front and center in the line of children, not looking back. A toddler by the name of Landon with blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes became curious and wandered off.

The Ancient Ashwood Forest was far-reaching, thick, and lush. Aspen, chestnut, and holly, and cascading lights bouncing between the leaves allowed for bright plants to sprout in the branch, and the twig-laden ground below ruled its canopy. There was a clamor of wild sounds, which were caused by a small creature, the cacophony backed by the zephyrous sound of the wind blowing gently through the forest.

Landon became cold and hungry as he wandered around the dark, eerie forest. He wept as he hoped someone would come and rescue him. The forest whistled as the wind passed through the trees, which caused Landon to run. Landon tripped upon a small stump in the middle of a clearing in the woods. As the darkness crept over the forest, he was lost. Not knowing where he came from, he curled against the stump and drifted off to sleep. Landon tossed and turned throughout the night as nightmares invaded his little mind.

A huge red dragon circled the clearing and heard small whimpers from beneath the canopy. The dragon's calm amber eyes sat high within the creature's long, horned skull which had given the creature a mild looking appearance.

The dragon tilted his head as he spotted Landon, walked in a few small circles, and curled next to the small child. Landon curled into the dragon’s chest and rested during the night peacefully. Landon rolled away, stretching as he woke. He felt the scales of an enormous beast. Landon jumped to his feet, rubbing his eyes, and a red dragon stood before him. Despite the dragon standing tall before Landon, his bravery didn’t sway. He raised his hand in the sky. The dragon placed the tip of his nose in Landon’s palm.

“What’s your name?” Landon looked up at the dragon.

The dragon entered the small child’s mind to communicate.

Ryu.

Landon looked around, confused by where the voice came from.

Oh, child.

Landon looked at Ryu, the dragon, and cried.

“Home. I want to go home.”

Where’s your home?

“I don’t know.”

You’re lost?

Ryu laid down his wing for Landon to climb upon his back. Landon shook his head as he was afraid to fly.

I’ll stay low to the ground, put your arm around my neck and hold on.

The boy slowly walked up the dragon’s wing and back to the ground. Landon fiddled with his fingers the higher he got. He sat on the highest part of Ryu’s wing and scooted up till he reached the dragon’s neck and wrapped his arm around the beast’s neck.

Ready?

“Yes.”

Ryu expanded his massive wings and leapt into the air. Landon tightened his embrace and laughed as he felt the freedom of flying. It connected the two of them as one during their flight. Every turn Ryu made, Landon leaned into it. The center of Oldwood was filled with burned bodies as Ryu circled the town. The smoke of burned flesh singed Ryu’s nose, filling the air as they razed buildings to the ground. The chaos knocked food stands over while the fruit rotted and decayed.

There was nothing left of Landon’s home. Ryu’s chest tightened at the thought of him losing everything. He took off back toward the Stonehead Mountains on the other side of the Ancient Ashwood Forest to bring Landon to his new home.

“Where are we going?” Landon yawned.

To our home.

“Home.” Landon looked around him as the forest below was a green blur, as the night sky displayed a beautiful sunrise.

Ryu dropped with a thud that shook the pebbles on the flat edge of the Stonehead Mountains. A boulder had blocked the entrance to Ryu’s home so that no intruders could invade his fortress. Ryu pushed the boulder aside and looked at Landon. Landon walked into the massive cave and placed a hand on the wall.

“Home.” Landon traced his fingers along the stones.

Let’s get inside, child. Welcome to your new home, Landon.

“Are my parents here?” Landon walked into the cave and looked around.

I’m afraid not my child. I don’t know where they are, but you have me now.

“Ryu?”

Yes?

“I miss my family.”

I know. I do too.

Ryu led Landon down the stone cave to the center of his home. Light had shown down onto a bed of rocks where moss had grown over. Water seeped into the opening, causing the light to glisten off the walls and his treasure. A stock of chalices, jewelry, and other treasured items were stocked neatly on the back of his bed. He piled animal bones to the side of the cave. Ryu tried to hide them from Landon.

Can you climb up the rocks to the bed?

“I think so.” Landon put one foot on the rock wall and tried to climb up. A rock had become loose, causing him to land on his butt.

Here, let me help.

Ryu placed his head under the boy’s bottom and lifted him to the top of the mossy bed.

Get some sleep. We will hunt for food in the morning.

“Good night, Ryu.” Landon kissed Ryu’s nose.

******

Five years later.

“Ryu! Look what I can do,” Landon shouted as his ten-year-old self hung from a tree branch.

Get down before you hurt yourself.

“Oh, Ryu, you’re no fun.” Landon teased as he continued to hang from the branch.

We need to gather wood. It's going to be a frosty night. I need to go hunting.

Landon sighed as he let go of the branch and landed on his feet. Ryu knocked over a few trees for Landon to chop up and wrap together in bundles to make the trip back to Stonehead easier.

Do you remember how to wrap the bundle?

“Yes, you showed me a hundred times,” said Landon in a sarcastic tone.

Even during the day, Ashwood Forest was eerily quiet and dark. Landon shook off the night as he wandered into the woods, scared and alone. He wasn’t a kid anymore; he was ten years old, practically a man.

Alas, I shall depart for my hunt. Don’t wander off.

“I’ll be here,” Landon swung his wooden-handled steel ax, “Hurry back.”

Ryu leaped into the air. The force of the wind caused Landon to stumble back.

Did I surprise you?

Landon chuckled.

As he chopped the last of the wood, Ryu landed in front of Landon with a deer in his mouth. He laid the deer on the ground.

Here’s our stock for the next few nights.

“I’ll wrap him up and get a fire going once we get back to Stonehead.” Landon looked away from the dead deer.

Landon loaded Ryu’s back with the bundles of wood and the deer. He grabbed onto the dragon’s neck and got himself situated, “Alright, I’m ready.”

Hang on.

Ryu teased him. Landon leaned forward and held on as Ryu leapt into the air. As often as Landon had flown on Ryu’s back, he couldn’t help but laugh and shout. There truly was no other feeling that surpassed the rush of flying. There was a magic to the blur of the green forest below and the painted clear blue sky of the unblemished cerulean.

An opening in the forest looked like a small town, “What’s over there?”

An abandoned town. It burnt down years ago.

Ryu’s chest tightened at the thought of how Landon had lost everything that night.

“Do you think the townspeople came back and rebuilt it?”

I doubt it, my child.

“Why?”

Too much devastation and death.

Ryu shifted his wings to the left and kept the abandoned town behind them. Landon looked back one more time. A familiarity stung at him.

The cave now had a wooden door instead of a boulder, and torches had lit the way into their home. What was once a dragon’s cave full of his treasures, and bed, now had a small cot and a table Landon had made with the guidance of Ryu. It wasn’t Ryu’s normal treasures, but to them, it was everything.

Landon piled some wood together, and Ryu lit the logs in a quick, controlled breath of flame.

“Thank you.” Landon placed a hand on Ryu’s leg.

Of course, let’s get this deer cooked up for you.

Ryu ripped off a leg of the deer and placed it at Landon’s feet.

Landon picked up the heavy piece of meat and held it over the fire.

“Do you think my parents are looking for me?”

I’m not sure. No one ever comes to the woods.

“Are there other towns nearby?”

There are.

“Can you take me?”

We can discuss this when you’re older. It’s not the time. I couldn’t go with you. I’d have to drop you off near the edge of the forest.

“Why can’t you come?” Landon sat on the floor with his cooked meat.

I’m not welcome.

“Oh.”

Now eat. We have a busy week ahead. The white winter shall blanket us soon.

The sun had set behind the Stonehead mountains, and the night grew cold. Ryu went into the cave, leaving Landon alone.

Landon watched as the trees swayed. He wanted to see the towns around him and interact with others, but he didn’t want to go anywhere Ryu wasn’t welcome. Ryu wasn’t dangerous. But Landon couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like with people like him.

*****

Six years later,

Are you ready?

“No, I don’t want to leave you.” Landon choked out behind tears.

I should have taken you back a long time ago, this is no way for a child to live and for that, I’m sorry.

Ryu lowered his head and pressed it against Landon’s body. Landon grabbed onto him as he lost control of his emotions.

“Don’t make me leave you. I need you. You need me. We’re family.” Landon cried hysterically.

I’m much older than you, my child, and my time will soon come. I can’t leave you in this cave. You have to go back to your people.

Ryu felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. Landon may not have been his dragonling, but he loved him as if he were his own. Ryu knew this needed to be done, but didn’t mean he wanted to.

You’re sixteen now—A man. You’re big and strong. Handsome. You will be successful and meet a wonderful lady, who you may choose to be your wife. There is more to life than me and this cave.

Landon dropped to his bottom and stared into the cave he has called home for the last eleven years of his life. The torches flickered along the stone walls, casting shadows Landon had always been crept out by. The furniture he made over the years lined the wall; chairs, and tables, a crude drawer made of mahogany. The tools he made to hunt with Ryu were scattered along them.

“Home.”

You will always have a home here.

Ryu nuzzled his chest.

In your heart, you will know where you are from. Stonehead is your home.

“Okay, let’s go.” Landon stood up and straightened his back. He knew this was what he needed to do.

Ryu laid out his wing for Landon to climb up. Landon grabbed onto Ryu’s neck and positioned himself. He drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out, preparing himself for his final ride.

Ryu leapt off the cliff's edge, diving toward the top of the forest trees. He spread his massive wings and glided along the upper edge of the canopy. Landon let out a laugh and shouted. Ryu showed the town he had come from before taking him to the town with the humans. He glided left and right because he knew it made Landon happy. Ryu shot them higher into the sky with a whoosh of his wings.

Alas, our final ride.