Part 6 - Loss
#6 of Reincarnation: Dragoness
In part 5 we see the return of tragedy in Anna's life. Hunters came and have invaded the forest, looking for Anna, and her father Cloud. Upon Finding Anna alone with her friend Gwen, a faun, the hunters proceed to hunt Cloud, while the boss and his right hand man take advantage of the two girls. When Anna sees her friend being hurt badly by the "boss" a rage takes her, and she shifts back to her dragon form killing the boss. As she is taking Gwen out of the cave she realizes that the boss was her uncle, in his human form, who were hunting her and her father. She ran to Gwen's home, hoping to escape any other hunters in the area.
I crashed though the trees. There were no more humans insight, and I wasn't going to conceal myself just to slow me down. I held Gwen close to me as I ran. Her breathing was hard; I could tell that she was hurt badly. I needed to get her home, her parents should be able to ... I ran faster not wanting to think about it...
I heard Mrs. Faun's cry even before I saw her, Mr. Faun had warned her when he heard rumors of humans in the forest. I moved to the entrance of their home, setting Gwen down gently.
"Attacked...Humans... after my father..."
I blacked out, falling next to Gwen. When I awoke I was inside their house. Dusk was falling, and a fire crackled somewhere near my feet. I tried to sit up, but found I was unable. I also realized that I was in human form...
"How..."
"Your awake? Mrs. Faun Anna's awake. We expected you to be out for a few more hours still. The last time you transformed you were out for about 3 hours, and this time you've transformed twice in one day."
I saw Mrs. Faun's form move into the room.
"Go let the healer know Anna is awake again."
She nodded and left. Mr. Faun looked over me.
"Nothing seems wrong, except fatigue, but I'll let the healer treat you. I just wanted to thank you Anna. You saved Gwen's life. If you hadn't been able to get away... I don't know what would have happened to the two of you. Rest now, the healer will be by to look at you."
I fell back asleep again, not really dreaming but remembering what had happened earlier in the day. I wondered about my father, and my uncle. Where was Cyrus, if that was my uncle, he couldn't be far away.
I drifted off into sleep. I awoke to the healer standing over me. She was an elven girl with pale, mousy blond hair and grey eyes. A single gray gem hung on her forehead, and her dress was gray as well. On her shoulder sat a small whit mouse.
"So you are awake. That's good to see. I'm sorry that I had to put you back into human form, but a dragon would not fit in this house. Don't worry; I didn't do anything weird, just a reverse enchantment to reverse the last effect of a spell put on you. I don't think we met before. I'm ElexIa, healer from the temple of Ispep, though I do not follow any deity. You are Cloud's daughter right?"
I nodded a little. For some one who was supposed to heal and sooth people, she did talk a lot. I watched her quietly as she worked, testing different things, coughing on command.
"Alright... you seem to be fine Anna, maybe a little tired but other than that you seem well. There will be a permanent scar across your body, it is healing nicely but it will be there still, in both of your forms. Gwen will be alright as well." She added turning to Mr. and Mrs. Faun. "There was no permanent damage. I set her broken arm and she should be fine after some rest. Maybe some emotional trauma... but she will be ok after time. If she ever wants to she will be able to mate and have a child of her own."
She smiled and disappeared. I fell back asleep, and awoke to the smell of Mrs. Faun's famous stew cooking. I tried sitting up, this time it worked all right.
"Oh good, you're just in time for dinner Anna. Just sit there and I'll bring some stew over to you. Gwen was awake a little while ago, but she's asleep again. At least she had some bread and butter. Mr. Faun is out looking for your father again."
The stew was delicious, and I lay down again after eating. I didn't sleep, but stared back at the ceiling. I heard Mr. faun come in.
"Are the girls awake?"
"No, Anna just had dinner and went back to sleep. Why what's wrong?"
"We found Cloud... he... didn't make it. He took out a few humans in the process, but they poisoned him. The humans are gone, and since the one who invited them in is gone they won't be coming back. They agreed that there will be a funeral for Cloud, but... I'm not sure if we should tell the girls or not. It might be too much for Anna."
"She's stronger than she looks honey. If she wasn't as strong as she is, our little Gwenie wouldn't be here today." She kissed him gently. "Plus it's her father, she has a right to know."
I rolled over to my side and cried a little. I don't ever remember crying in my life before that. I lost my brothers, and now my father. I felt alone, and I didn't know what to do... I cried my self-asleep, and woke up in the morning.
"Anna... it's your father..."
"I know, I heard you and Mr. Faun talking. I'll be alright."
We had the funeral that evening, burying him in the cave behind the waterfall that we called home. I didn't cry this time, but Gwen did. I held her gently, kissing her forehead.
I stayed with the faun's for a few weeks while I was looking for a new place to live. It was hard to be a dragon and live in a little house in human form. I had learned how to transform, so I now wanted to go back to being a dragon again.
I also made up my mind that it was time to leave the forest, I just didn't know where to go, or how to get there...
To be continued...