Dragon's Breath

Author's Note:: Hello Hello Everybody. This story should be rather interesting as I am writing I purely with out any forethought or new for me. Please review and tell me what you

The hot and dusty wind roared across the desert with all the fierceness of a she-dragon protecting her drakes. The heat was relentless, smoothing the dunes into silky humps, and filling in the footprints that led from the pale cliffs. The wind originated from these cliffs, and it had come a fair distance from them, gradually losing it's power as it was caught and swirled by other drafts hurrying on their own errands.

Fine glittering sand swirled around the girl's feet, sticking to her calves like sugar to a child's fingers. The girl walked alone and silent, breathing shallowly to minimize the dust that would gather in her lungs. She was wrapped in many layers, despite the heat. She was no stranger to the desert, and her skin was burned dark by it's new sun. She paused and looked back at the cliffs from which she had come. Her pale eyes were dry now, but her face bore the tracks of bitter tears. One fist clenched around a bright stone, red and glimmering, and she ignored the slight pain as the facets cut into her flesh. "I will return," She said aloud, in a voice cracked by thirst.

Her feet found a new path, one her sense told her lead to water, and life. She turned away from the wind which whispered to her, rejecting the voice which for so long had been her only companion. She was on her own now, and she did not look back again. Her head bowed, dark hair fell forward, hiding her face, and she concentrated only on swallowing the pain which threatened to overwhelm her. The only thing which mattered now was to live, so that she could return.

She walked on for three spans of the sun+, gradually growing weaker and weaker , in need of an end to her thirst. She knew that there was water nearby, but false oases confused her, and she stumbled in a zigzag line, not bothering to think anymore, only wishing, longing for cool shade and a place to rest. Her breath came loud, grating against her dry throat, and she coughed, tasting the sand that coated her mouth. She tripped, and fell, crumpling in a heap in the lee of a large dune. She did not get up.

+about three hours or so ~~~

Solhe hunted for the large lizards that populated the desert. They were good to eat, but tricky to catch, often running just ahead of his long, pointed staff. The wind buffeted him as he forged up yet another dune, and his long light hair was blown around his features. Soft gray eyes, and crinkles that were evidence of his humor. He had a cloth wrapped around his face, keeping the sand away from his mouth and nose. As he crested the dune, he surveyed the desert lands, his homeland. The bright dunes stretched away in all directions, and to the west was the dark sea. His eyes looked east to the cliffs, north and south, finally resting on an unfamiliar shape. Solhe knew the land's features as he knew his own mother's face, this was something new. He trotted down the slope, leaning backward to avoid slipping, and slowed when he felt the ground level. His precious lizards were forgotten now. As he walked closer to the lump of what looked like sandy rock, his grip tightened on his staff. All people who lived in the desert were fierce and independent, and Solhe knew that many would not think twice before killing him for what meager possessions he had.

He stepped around the person, not looking straight at it, using his peripherals to watch that this was not a trick. Even as he knelt to feel for a pulse, he was tensed to jump and run, or fight. But no ambush happened. He set his staff down, and uncovered the person's neck. A pulse was there, but it was very faint. The person, a woman, was barely breathing, and Solhe wondered distractedly how long she would live. No matter, He told himself. Her family will probably find her in time. He knew that was unlikely to be true, but she was not his concern, unless she had anything valuable. It was after all, the desert's law. He searched her, and when he found nothing, stood to leave. But.

Solhe looked down at the woman, wondering about her. She had probably come a far way, and something in him would not let leave her to die. Father always did say I was too soft, he thought. He shrugged and tried to turn away. It was no use. H turned back, and picked her up, slinging her unceremoniously over his shoulder. With his staff in one hand, and steadying his burden in the other, he turned and headed home. He never noted that her fist remained clenched, even as her mind faded.

The sun set behind the dunes in a blaze of liquid gold, shining like an amber eye, outlined in red and orange. Solhe returned to his family home, a little more than an exceptionally large rock than that been hollowed out, just as the night winds were beginning to pinch him. He had had to stop three times that afternoon, and each time the girl had looked less and less alive. He had tried to force some water down her throat, but the drop had only spilled back out of her mouth, and she had not returned to consciousness.

The Slab of rock that served as a door moved slightly, and Tehan, his younger sister, slipped out. "Solhe, What-?" Tehan strode over to her brother, but her rebuke died on her lips when she saw his burden. "What is this?" she asked in a softer voice.

"I found her in the desert. She was all alone, and she seems to have come far."

"it matters not where she has come, Solhe, she can not become another wounded bird!"

"It's too late, Tehan. I won't just leave her here to die."

"But--Sol, Father will not let you keep her. Especially not in the mood he is in now. He has been searching for you all afternoon, and now you have him as angry as the rains in midsummer!"

Sol knew the true reason for his sister's worry. "I am sorry Teh. I know you do not wish for an argument tonight. But I can see no other way out of this. I can not leave her, for I know she will die."

"You have seen death before, Sol, and you have even brought it on your own blade."

"In protection of you, yes. She," and Sol nodded to the girl still slung across his shoulder, "Is no harm to anyone." Sol looked down into his sister's eyes. "Please, Teh, help me in this."

His sister, tried to look away, but she had already decided. "Alright. Take her to the back caves, and I will meet you there--soon." Their father's voice could be heard even through the stone. Tehan turned away shooing her brother off, "Go!" and then she was gone. A moment later her voice was heard, quietly pacifying her father and mother. Sol sighed with relief, and headed for the caves.

The great rounded lump of stone had once been a large hill. Now most of it was buried in white sand, and the top hump stuck up like the curve of a reptile. The back of the rock ad long sice been abandoned , because that was where the wind and storms gathered, and the weather was worse. It was here that Sol set down the girl, in one of the more sheltered alcoves. He felt her hands, and frowned. The seemed to be warm, which didn't make sense. His own hands were beginning to grow numb thanks to the desert night. He glanced up at the pale blue moon which was rising above him, smiling down on him with a full round face. He heard his sister come around and sat back on his heels. Healing and nurturing was women's work now. He watched Tehan take hold of the girl's clenched fist, watched as she frowned to, and was secretly proud of himself for noticing the same thing she did.

In the desert, men hunted, and fought, and women cooked and made the harsh lands habitable. And any time that their men were injured they would care for them until they were well again. Sol knew that this was how it had always been and that there would be no changing it. It had been the start of the rift between him and his father when he expressed an interest in the healing art. Sol had never mentioned it again, but neither forgot. And from then on his sister had always hidden the creatures he brought home, ad always helped him heal them.

The girl stirred, then, and Sol leaned forward. She opened her mouth like a tiny bird, and Tehan was there with cool water, trickling it gently, drop by drop, onto her cracked lips. The girl licked her lip, and opened her mouth again. But Tehan did not give her more. "Sleep," she said softly, placing a cool hand on her forehead. "sleep and heal, and waken fully." The girl seemed to relax then and her body went limp. "Why didn't you give her more water?" Sol asked curiously. His sister placed a thick blanket over the girl's body, and then began to lay out another bed. "Because She had not had water for a very long time, and too much could damage her even more." Teh stood and stretched. She turned to leave.

"Wait," Sol said, "Where are you going?"

"To get another blanket for me and to tell mother that you are safe. " Tehan frowned. "Father has already gone to bed, and I do not want to waken him. You," she emphasized the last word, "will deal with him when the morning comes. And you will not hide her for long either. This is no wounded bird." Tehan left then and Sol sat back down on his bed. It looked to be a long night. ~~~~~~~ Authors note:: Hello there!! I hope this makes some measure of sense so far. Feel free to read my other stories as well, and please review! Just a word or to, so that I know people read

Chapter two: Healing