Samantha Edwhan

Alita's Youth

Chapter 8

Spring 2833

A year later, Alita and her friends were gathered near the caves with the other fledglings their age as they finished a lesson on math. The day was a little overcast and Alita had heard the adults muttering about rain on the horizon.

When the lesson finished, the fledglings began talking amongst themselves and wandering away. Alita placed her practice slate against the stone wall next to the cave entrance. Their teacher gathered up all the slates, wrapped them in vines, and carried them inside.

“Let’s go to the obelisk next,” Matthias suggested.

“Actually, I was thinking we could practice our hunting skills,” Erika said. “Dad agreed to take us to the forest today for a lesson.”

Matthias considered this for a moment. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea.”

Cloe smiled. “You just don’t want Erika to get more lessons than you in case she becomes a better hunter.”

“That is a very real concern!” Matthias insisted. “I predicted that I would be the better hunter last summer, remember?”

“Alright then, let’s see you make that come true,” Erika said with a grin. “Are you coming, Alita?”

“Actually, I’m going to the cove. Kailey asked me to meet her there after the lesson,” Alita explained.

“You two have been spending a lot of time together lately,” Erika commented.

Alita shrugged her wings. “We’ve become friends in the past year. It’s not a big deal.”

“But the cove?” Cloe raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re not going to date my half sister are you?”

Alita squinted at her. “No? We’re just friends… right?”

“You don’t sound so sure,” Matthias said.

“I-I am!” Alita said a little too loudly. “I am sure. We’re friends.”

“Special friends,” Erika joked with a smirk.

Alita wrinkled her snout at her. “That’s not funny, Erika.”

Erika waved a wing. “I’m just teasing. Go hang out with Kailey. No hard feelings here.”

Alita glanced at Cloe. Of all dragons, she was the one most likely to be upset by her new friendship. Cloe smiled and gave her a small nod.

“It’s okay, Alita,” she said.

Alita smiled back and turned for the cove. She ducked through the brush and emerged into the sheltered area. Kailey was already there, sitting in the middle of the cove, where a break in the clouds allowed the sunlight to reflect off the sand with a nearly glittery effect.

Kailey grinned at her. “Alita! You came!”

“I said I would, didn’t I?” Alita sat next to her with a smile. “So what are we doing here?”

“I wanted to speak to you about something,” Kailey admitted.

Alita waited for her to continue but Kailey grew quiet. She ducked her head away and ran one forefoot through the sand. Her tail tip was flicking nervously.

“Is something wrong?” Alita asked.

Kailey shook her. “No, not wrong. Just… well, I wanted you to know, um, I’ve-I’ve always thought you were cute.”

Alita’s eyes widened. “Wh-what?”

Kailey smiled at her. “I’ve always thought you were cute. I… was always a little scared to say something though. You had all your friends and seemed happy with the way things were. I didn't think I could do anything that would make my presence important to you. But this past year, you've seen me differently, I think. We've spent more time together and I feel like I've become someone important to you.”

Kailey paused and Alita blinked at her, unsure what to say. “O-oh… I guess… I find you cute too?”

Was that right? Alita wasn't sure. But they had spent so much time together lately and Kailey had laid out such good reasoning. Alita figured that was the right response, given that Kailey’s cheeks darkened a little.

“So… I guess now we start dating,” Kailey said.

Alita blinked. “What?”

“Well, I find you cute and you find me cute, so the natural next step is to date each other,” Kailey explained. “It's not illegal under Tribe Law for two hens to date.”

Alita thought for a moment. The idea of dating Kailey seemed kind of weird. She wasn't quite sure why but figured it had to do with what Cloe said earlier. Kailey was Cloe’s half sister after all, and their relationship wasn't exactly close. But what Kailey said made sense to her. If they both found the other cute, why shouldn't they date? Alita couldn't think of a reason.

Finally, she said, “You’re right. I guess this means we're dating now.”

Kailey beamed at her and thrust her nose into Alita’s. She flinched back in surprise.

“What's wrong?” Kailey asked.

“I… I didn't know you were going to do that,” Alita admitted.

Kailey tilted her head a little. “It’s what dating dragons do though. My parents do it all the time.”

“Oh, okay. Let's try again,” Alita said.

She leaned forward and carefully touched her nose to Kailey’s again. Kailey closed her eyes and sighed a little, her face flushing. Alita watched through partly closed eyes. She wasn’t sure if she was supposed to be feeling something or not. Her nose tickled. Was that all she should be feeling? Stories of dragons in love usually featured magic and sparks and warmth; a whole display. But maybe it took time. Maybe, if she gave it a few months, she would start feeling all that and more.