Entrapment (Thor's Dragon Rider #3) - Katrina Cope Page 0,25

I push with my arms and slide on my backside across the warm stones toward my beautiful dragon friend. Elan’s unmoving form dampens my mild pleasure from my healing and fills me with panic.

I scramble to her front, holding my hand before her nostrils and praying for hot breath to cover them. Within moments, warm breath streams out of her nose as she exhales then reverses as it’s sucked back in, weaving over my fingers.

“Good. You’re alive. Now, I need to see what's wrong.” I stroke the end of her nose, hoping my touch will awaken something in her.

Since I know she’s breathing, I focus on other parts of her body. Her legs are folded awkwardly underneath her, alerting my suspicion that they may be damaged.

Sliding on my backside, I make my way over to the exposed legs, assessing them and feeling for broken bones. They seem to be intact. I maneuver to her far side, pulling on her scales to help me rise to my feet. Grabbing the top wing, I stretch it out, checking the bones and membranes. When I don’t find anything untoward, I fold it back by her side. I shuffle around her, using mostly my good leg and skipping lightly on my healing leg.

Blood has gathered around her, and her bottom wing lies in a strange position, partially underneath her body. It looks like she needs help healing, or she won't be able to fly.

I set to work on the small bones in the exposed part of the wing. I straighten the first bone, hold it in place, then allow the healing magic to flow out of my palms and into the damaged area. Each bone mended raises a small smile on my face. Slowly, I work my way around her body, healing any open wounds along with the bones. I don’t know where the larger puddle of blood stems from. I hope it is a collection from every injury, not something more sinister hiding underneath her massive form. Just in case, I press more healing magic into her through the soft skin under her scales, coaxing it to slow down any blood loss, buying time for me to get to the wound.

Although healing the small wounds brings me comfort, I know from the position of her wing that her larger bones have a more substantial break. The problem is that I have no way to roll her onto her other side. Her form is too big to budge in any direction, and nobody could drag the broken wing from underneath her massive form without causing it more harm. The yanking might break the wing further or tear a hole in her membrane. Even if I were at my full strength, that would be an impossible task.

With every visible wound healed, I continue injecting healing energy into her through her soft nose until my knees go weak and raising my arms becomes an effort. My energy depleted, I crumple to the ground, draping over a large rock close to Elan’s massive form, and rest my head on my folded arms. My eyes remain open, fixed on my recuperating friend’s condition, taking in her body, thankful she’s still alive. My eyelids droop, and I force them open. Remaining awake is a struggle as I cling to hope that she’ll wake up soon to keep me company in this dreadful place.

- Chapter Thirteen -

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Jolting awake, I curse myself for falling asleep again. I’m torn between the needs to stay alert and to grab the sleep I need to function. The time we’ve spent in this fiery realm is undecipherable. Without the sun's rise and the company of the moon, each day or hour blends into the next. The lava-filled fields under the dark sky look the same no matter how many hours have ticked by. One thing is certain: I've spent way too long without a decent night’s sleep.

Prying my cheek off the rock, it twinges where a point dug into the flesh. I massage the spot lightly with my fist, stimulating the circulation, before pushing off the stone to rest on one hip. My bones ache with each movement after sleeping in such an uncomfortable position. As I straighten, I study Elan. My concerns dampen slightly with each movement she makes. Her restless stirrings are welcome, giving me hope for her recovery. A clunk sounds as I shift from my hip onto my backside, which drags my attention down to my leg. I forgot