Cole's heart skipped a beat as he felt the tap on his shoulder, sending a shiver down his spine. He turned around and looked at Elanor.
“What?” Elanor asked.
“Nothing. I thought…I thought I felt something,” Cole replied.
“Maybe just the branches brushing against you," Elanor suggested.
“Maybe,” said Cole.
Just as he and Elanor were about to dismiss it as a tree, a soft chuckle echoed through the night, sending a chill down their spines. Their gazes darted around, searching for the source of the sound. No one was there. All he could see were the trees and bushes.
Cole and Elanor continued their journey. Again, Cole felt a tap on his shoulder. Who was doing this to him?
Then, a flicker of movement caught Elanor's eye. “Look! Over there!”
A pair of glowing amber eyes gleamed in the darkness, followed by the shimmer of obsidian purple scales.
"What-what are you?" Cole stuttered, his voice trembling
The creature approached Cole, their movements graceful yet mysterious. "I'm an Emberflame dragon," they replied with a mischievous grin.
"A dr-dr-dragon?" Elanor stammered, her mind struggling to comprehend what she was seeing.
"What? You've never seen a dragon before?" the Emberflare dragon asked, their tone playful yet curious.
Cole and Elanor shook their heads, their eyes wide with wonder and disbelief.
The Emberflare dragon gave an unamused look. "So...uh, my name is Aurora. What's your name?"
Elanor gave a respectful bow. “My name is Elanor. It's a pleasure to meet you.”
"I'm…Cole," Cole answered, his voice still tinged with awe.
"Coal?" Aurora questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Cole nodded. "Yeah. Cole."
"Well, you certainly don't look like a piece of coal," Aurora stated, poking Cole curiously.
"Because I'm not coal!" Cole exclaimed.
"But you just said you were coal," Aurora pointed out, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Whatever," said Cole, "I'm just gonna continue going."
"Okay!" Aurora purred.
Aurora bounced as she kept up with Elanor and Cole. “Where are we going?” Aurora asked. Aurora gasped. “Are we going on some sort of dangerous adventure? This is gonna be the best!”
“You're not coming with us,” said Cole, “It's just me and Elanor.”
“Is Elanor your mate?” Aurora asked, her face looking absolutely dumb.
Cole blushed furiously at Aurora's assumption. "No, Elanor is not my mate. She's my friend and ally on this quest."
Elanor chuckled softly at Aurora's misunderstanding. "We're just companions on this journey, Aurora. Cole and I need to save our kingdom."
Aurora's eyes widened with excitement. "Something like the Gem of Power? …or was it the Hunter's Diamond? Anyway, that's a legendary artifact! But it's not here in the Whispering Woods if this is where you think it is.”
“So where is it? Cole asked impatiently.
“I don't know, but it's not in the Whispering Woods,” Aurora replied.
Cole gave an unimpressed glare. “You just said that.”
“Did I?”
“Yes.”
“Oh…Well uhh… I can help you navigate the Whispering Woods and protect you from any dangers along the way!"
Cole sighed. "Alright, Aurora. You can come with us. But please, no funny business. This is a serious quest."
Aurora nodded eagerly, her tail swishing behind her. "You got it, Coal! And I promise to be on my best behavior! Now let's go save our kingdom!"
With Aurora joining their party, Cole, Elanor, and Aurora the Emberflare dragon ventured deeper into the Whispering Woods, their determination burning brighter than ever. Little did they know, their journey was about to become even more perilous as they faced ancient guardians, treacherous paths, and unexpected allies. But with their combined strength and resolve, they believed they could overcome anything and bring peace to their land once more.
Night fell upon the land. The group found a cozy clearing to set up camp. Cole, ever the eager but clumsy companion, stumbled over a fallen branch as he gathered dry wood for a fire, sending sticks flying in all directions. Elanor, the calm and collected potion brewer, sighed and shook her head as she watched him.
"Careful there, Cole. We need those sticks for the fire, not for launching into orbit," she teased, flashing him a playful smile.
Cole rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, grinning in return. "Sorry about that, Elanor. Just trying to lend a hand."
Meanwhile, Aurora darted around the perimeter of their camp, her tail swishing excitedly as she investigated every nook and cranny.
"Hey, Cole, do you think Aurora can breathe fire like the other dragons?" Elanor asked, glancing over at Aurora who was inspecting a particularly interesting rock.
Cole scratched his head, pondering the question. "I have no idea. Let's find out."
As if on cue, Aurora returned to the campsite, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Guess what, guys? I found a patch of wild berries nearby! Who's up for some late-night snacking?"
Elanor raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "Are they safe to eat?"
Aurora shrugged nonchalantly. "Only one way to find out!"
Before anyone could protest, Aurora popped a handful of berries into her mouth and chewed quickly.
"Oh, you have got to try this stuff!" Aurora exclaimed through a mouthful. "It's good!"
Cole exchanged a glance with Elanor, who sighed and shook her head in amusement. "Well, when in doubt, trust the dragon's taste buds, I suppose." With a shrug, she reached for a handful of berries herself, while Cole, ever the cautious one, hesitated before carefully sampling a berry, half expecting disaster to follow.
Aurora scrunched her face. "That has a spicy aftertaste." As if on cue, she burped out a small flame, startling both Cole and Elanor.
Cole's eyes widened in surprise. "I guess that answers the question about fire-breathing."
Elanor chuckled, patting Aurora on the back. "Looks like those berries have quite the kick."
Aurora grinned, still licking her lips. "I guess I can breathe fire after all! Who knew spicy berries would do the trick?"
Elanor nodded thoughtfully. "This could be useful. If we run into trouble, we have a fire-breathing dragon on our side."
Cole, feeling more confident, looked around the camp. "Let's just hope the next discovery isn't quite as fiery."
They all shared a laugh as the fire crackled, casting a warm glow over their campsite. The night continued with stories, jokes, and the occasional burst of flame from Aurora as she ate the berries.
That night, as everyone rested, Cole tossed and turned in his bedroll. Aurora snored loudly, her snores echoing through the clearing like a small thunderstorm. Cole couldn’t understand how Elanor was able to sleep through such a noise. She lay peacefully, her breathing steady, completely undisturbed by the racket.
Cole sighed and rolled onto his other side, trying to block out the sound with his blanket. He glanced over at Aurora, who was sprawled out, her tail twitching occasionally as she dreamed.
Cole tried covering his ears with his hands, but Aurora's snores seemed to penetrate every attempt at blocking them out. He sighed and rolled over again, staring up at the canopy of leaves above.
"How does she do it?" Cole muttered to himself, glancing at Elanor, who looked as serene as ever.
He considered moving farther away from the group, but he didn't want to stray too far from the safety of the firelight. Instead, he decided to focus on something else. Cole closed his eyes and tried to think about their adventures, imagining the day when he would finally become a knight and prove his worth.
Despite his best efforts, the snoring continued to invade his thoughts. He chuckled softly, thinking about how even a dragon's snores could be so powerful. With a sigh, he resigned himself to a restless night, hoping that morning would come quickly and bring new adventures.
As he lay there, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with nervousness. They were on a journey that could change their lives, and even though it was challenging, Cole had Elanor and Aurora at his side. Together, they could face whatever came their way.
Finally, exhaustion began to take over, and Cole's eyelids grew heavy. He drifted off to sleep, his dreams filled with visions of bravery, friendship, and the fiery bursts of a snoring dragon.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
