Talk to Me

“There weren’t always dragons in the valley.”

“What? No way! That can’t be true Gram!”

She chuckles at me, her white hair bouncing with her.

“Oh, it’s true, Edythe. Long, long ago, we were just simple humans with a very boring lifespan.”

I try to imagine life without the dragons and can’t. It hurts my head, but mostly my heart. “How did they do it? How on earth did they survive?”

My grandma seems bothered by this question, but I have no idea why. “Humans did what we’ve always done. We survived. Taking care of our own, and having relationships with others across the country.” I know she speaks pridefully of the capability of humans, but when I think about not being able to go for a ride in the sky, or being unable to talk to these majestic beings, it fills me with dread. Although, no one knows that I can speak to them.

The only person who knows isn’t even human, but a dragon.

“Edythe Macmara are you even listening to me?” She smacks me playfully in the head with her wooden cane, and my red hair falls over my face.

“Sorry Gram! I was listening, I swear. I know we humans are capable, and I’ll show you how competent I am by getting water from the well, and I’ll milk the cows again tonight.” She smiles at me, and I know I’ve won her back over.

“Thank you, darling. I sure do miss your grandfather. I hate that you’ve had to step up like this, but my legs just aren’t what they used to be.” She rubs her swollen knees, and I pat her on the shoulder.

“Well, I truly don’t mind. You’ve taken care of me for so long now. It’s about time you let me return the favor.” All I can think about is leaving this cottage so I can see him and hear his voice again.

“You know, Edythe, if you were to participate in the season this year, you may finally find a husband, and then you wouldn’t have to help me like this. It would be his responsibility.”

I try to hide my disgust as I chuckle. “Maybe one day, Gram. Better get started on my chores! See you later!”

“Edythe!” She calls after me as I race out the door, picking up the water pails as I leave. I don’t have it in me to tell Gram the truth. The idea of marrying a human man fills my throat with bile. To be forced to conform like all the other women in our country. To have to produce heirs for essentially the highest bidder. No, and especially after what happened to my parents. I could never.

Although then, that leaves my future open-ended and uncertain. I fear for my grandmother if I were to go off on my own, but I also know even if I left, there would be nothing but troubles for a woman as disobedient as myself. The first time a man told me I couldn’t do something or commanded me around, I know that I would bark back, and soon be sent off to the gallows for being a witch.

No, I really couldn’t do that to Gram, so I have to figure out something.

“Lost in thought again, little one?” I jump at the massive voice and the water pails fly from my hands and smack him in the snout. He snorts once to show his disapproval and I hold back my laugh.

“I’m so sorry Sol! You know I tend to overfocus when I'm walking!"

“Yes, yes. Your human ways do amuse me.” His voice causes vibrations to reverberate throughout my chest, and I try not to think about how it makes me feel.

“Well, thank you, oh mighty one.” I giggle and recollect my buckets, heading back towards the well.

“Edythe.”

I stop to turn back to him, but his large eyes are only inches from mine. Blood rushes to my cheeks and I know he can hear my heartbeat. Sometimes I forget how massive he is. It's easy to read his facial expressions, even with the scales, but I know we can never act on our whims. We’re simply two like-minded souls, trapped to our fates. I, the poor spinster woman. Him, the dragon on the run.

“Uh, Sol?”

“I think-“

A gasp breaks our attention, and there from where I’ve just come, is my elderly grandma. Her eyes break a record for width as she takes in our proximity.

“Edythe! Come away from that beast!”

“What? Gram, no. This isn’t what it looks like!” However, Sol reacts harshly and growls. It’s dangerous for him to be seen here, but she can’t hear what he has to say as I can.

“Edythe. Tell your Gram she can’t speak of this or she’ll have to pay with her life.” His voice doesn’t sound threatening, but I’m well aware they hold the truth behind them.

“What?! I’m not telling her that! We can work this out.” A soft thud sounds as something small hits Sol in the side of his head, and I can see it’s my grandma’s treasured cane.

“Runaway child! I’ll hold the monster off!”

Despite humans coexisting with dragons, our relations are usually all business and nothing more. I can see why she would think he was a wild one, but the truth is just so complicated.

“Gram, no!” She doesn’t falter in grabbing rocks and beginning to throw them at my only friend.

He could easily slip away, but if it was reported a dragon was loose in these woods, we’d never be able to see each other again, and I don’t think I could bear it.

He gives my grandma another thunderous growl, but she seems intent on trying to save my life.

“Edythe, run!”

She sees a nearby branch, somehow breaks it off, and charges toward him. My instincts kick in as I rush between them, unaware of Sol taking a deep breath to shoot a fiery warning shot at her.

“No!” I throw my arms out and his blast and her branch hit an invisible wall simultaneously. They both stumble backward and finally freeze. I can’t help but feel grateful they’ve stopped until I realize I seem to be falling.

“Edythe!” His deep voice resonates within me, and I groan, wishing only his voice could speak to me for the rest of my existence. I fall against his surprisingly velvet-like scales.

“You can talk?” My Gram practically screams.

“You can hear me?” He asks in return, his voice just as shocked as hers.

I can feel them looking at me, but the way he feels underneath my fingertips is keeping me distracted. As the seconds go by it seems my energy has only left me further, and I hear Sol whisper, “Ryoko.”

“No, no, no, no, no. They said it was gone.” My grandma wails, and I can’t open my eyes right now, but as the darkness takes me, I’m certain of one thing. They know something, and I will find out what.