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“Shit!" I shouted as I shot upright in my bed, rigid like plank.

The alarm-clock on the bed-side table was flashing twelve o'clock. The power must have cut out last night. So I checked my watch.

It was past noon. I didn't have much time left before Arh would have to return to his world. And if I wasn't with him, he would be returning empty-handed.

A surge of energy coursed through me and I scrambled like a maniac. Running back and forth in the apartment as quickly as I could stuffing a knapsack with what I thought I'd need, as well as a few small stacks of books sorted yesterday.

My hand was soon on the handle of the door as I closed it… And then it refused to let go.

Only for a moment, but that was enough to dredge up a shred of doubt.

I reached my hand into my pocket and grabbed the bottle of pills. An instinct by now. I knew they would stop what was starting from taking over completely.

My hands trembled, rattling the bottle in my pocket, and the handle of the door.

A thrumming sensation sprang up from the core of my body.

My breathing became short, quick, and shallow.

My eyes darted around, trying to identify whatever threat my body was telling them to look for.

And my legs were nearly tingling with the impulse to move. To run where I could be alone and I could try to calm myself.

Rubbing my thumb along the familiar knurled cap I debated if I should. If I took a dose I knew it would be suppressed, but my mind would be muddled and I would have a difficult time thinking clearly.

Would I still feel the pull from yesterday with a head full of cotton?

… No, I couldn't take that chance. I had to quell it the other way. The hard way.

Step one: breathe. Slow in, hold it for a few seconds, then relax and let the air escape.

Step two: What was my last address? The one before that? What was the phone-number?

Step three: focus on the here and now. Not what you think you see, but only what your senses show you.

It took a bit of time, but I managed to pull myself down. Not completely, but just enough to be able to lock the deadbolt, sling the bag over my shoulder, and head out the door into the sun.

I followed the same path as before. And when I was three paces in, that tugging sensation returned.

I wasn't too late but I had to go quickly.

When I burst into the clearing, Arh was there as he was before, laying on the stone slab and appearing to nap.

“You came back!" he said. “For a moment I was fearful you would not."

Panting, I tried to respond. But the run I broke into when I found myself back on that strange path through the forest had stolen the wind from me, and my energy.

“Come, sit with me." He said. “You are here now. And time does not quite flow the same here as it does elsewhere."

I climbed up onto the slab and took the same spot from yesterday leaning against his chest. Feeling him behind me did more to scrub the remaining anxiety from me and I closed my eyes.

“So, just to be sure you are aware of what you are about to do… it is unlikely that you will be able to return." He brought his eyes to meet mine. “I only want you to be sure this is what you want."

“Yes. I want this. I want to come with you."

His smile widened and a purring thrum rose up from his chest. I didn't think dragons could purr. But then there was a lot of things that seemed to be untrue that I used to believe.

“Can I stay for a few moments more?" I asked.

“Take as much as you need."

I wanted to remember as much of this as I could. One really good memory of my time on this world at the very least.

The cicadas continued their romance while the birds sang and chittered among the branches. I sat there with heavy-lidded eyes taking in as much as I could. This would be a good memory to close this chapter of my life in this world on.

“I think I'm ready now." I said after taking in the view.

His smile widened and he moved his tail off me. “Then climb on my back and we shall depart."

I had to move, and I almost didn't want to. But he was getting ready to stand.

Having climbed off the stone slab, I turned to look.

Seeing him stand might have been a strange thing to notice, but it was the first time I saw him do so. I could see his muscles underneath his skin flexing as he righted himself. I was in awe when I saw just how large he was.

He brought his wing down to help me up on to his back.

Sitting there, I knew then why he suggested longer pants; the scales on his back were rougher, and longer, than elsewhere, and they trailed all the way down from the top of his head to just below his hips, somewhat like the mane of a lion.

Looking back at me, which was easy for him with his longer neck, he told me to lean against him and hold on.

I did as instructed. Feeling my arms reach around him was his signal to rear up and prepare to leap.

I won't lie, I was scared. When he stood on his hind legs, I could see across the tree-tops of the forest spread out around us. The view stretched for miles and the buildings of the city I lived in appeared so far off in the distance. Surely magic was at work because the park I thought I was in was surrounded on all sides by the city.

I felt the leap he was about to make before he made it. Laying with my arms clasped against his neck I felt the power in his body as his muscles bunched and tensed in preparation for what was to come next.

And in less time it took to swallow, he had leapt high into the air, thrusting his wings down to further propel him upward.

When he was high enough to clear the trees, he spiraled upwards, pumping his wings hard to help him gain altitude. And with every thrust I felt his strength.

Higher and higher we went, circling around the clearing until, when the clearing appeared no bigger than a postage-stamp, he leveled out and circled.

“Hold on tight." He urged.

When I redoubled the effort to hold myself against him, he then dove forward, and down.

We plummeted towards the earth fast, and that stamp-sized clearing grew larger as we came careening towards it.

In the pit of my stomach a kernel of dread grew. The fear and exhiliration tried to claim my throat but before I could let out even a squeak, Arh took a great breath and exhaled a plume of orange fire down towards the clearing.

The fire that poured out was thick and embers danced on its edges, but where it hit the ground it started to pool and swirl.

He took breath after breath, and shot out more and more fire, that by the time the clearing was almost upon us, we were headed directly towards this pool of fire.

I closed my eyes. The fear was too great and being the coward I was, I didn't want to face what felt like my last breath facing down this storm of flame below us.

Instead of hitting the ground, we crashed through the fire with what sounded like shards of glass, but the sound was deeper and duller than what I knew.

And in that moment everything changed.

My guts were twisted because no longer was he falling toward the ground, he was now shooting upwards again.

Fighting through the disorientation, I pried open my eyes; all I saw was sky.

But this was not like the sky of the world I had just departed. No, this sky had a much richer blue to it and I could see stars, few as they may have been, twinkling in it's azure expanse.

Arh leveled off again and continued flying.

Looking below me, I saw trees and fields stretch out beneath us. I tried to turn my head to see where we broke through, but I couldn't do that without letting go. It made no sense to me to risk dying in this new world on my first day from falling. So I looked forward again to watch the ground slide past us as Arh's wings propelled us along with great grasping strides.

The wind on my face pulled the tears from my eyes.

Everything looked bright, and just a bit more vibrant. It was like I was looking at a color photograph for the first time after a life of dreary monochrome.

As we flew the landscape below showed me scattered settlements and various pastures. Eventually, however, those passed and we were approaching a cliff with a forest stretching out below it.

He circled once, slowly descending, until coming to a landing on the edge of the cliff, below the opening to a cave.

Climbing up, he then crouched to allow me down.

“This is my home. It may not be much, but it is comfortable."

He was right; It wasn't much. There were some small alcoves carved into the walls, and some pegs driven in that held bags and other items, but other than that and a few other items hidden in various nooks, it was rather barren.

Even the floor was somewhat plain. While it looked to be mostly level, it wasn't very smooth, and near the opening of the cave there were many scratch marks from years of his claws raking the floor.

“Though please do not assume that you will be sleeping on the floor. My nest is further in." He said, but then shock spread on his face. “Oh, forgive me. It would be rude of me to assume you would be sleeping with me. Though there is more than enough space in my nest, if you wish to be on your own I will sleep on the floor."

“No, it's okay." I said. “I don't mind sharing a bed with you."

The smile he showed after hearing me say that was wide, but sheepish.

Looking around, my eyes were drawn to the vista just outside. It was a beautiful scene and I knew in that moment why he called this place his home. The thought of waking up to that view every morning made up for what the rest of the cave lacked.

“Arh, how long have you lived here?" I asked, trying to pry my eyes from the horizon.

“I have been living here for nearly a century." He said while coming up to lay near me. “This has always been my favourite part of living here. It is spectacular, is it not?"

“It is." I nodded. “Though… do dragons generally live in places this… rough?"

He chuckled. “Not often. I have not had much of a reason to secure the services of the builders guild." Then he stole a sniff of my hair. “That could change, if you desire better accommodations."

I sighed. To say this was a downgrade from how I lived previously would be a bit of a stretch. My building was considered to be on the “wrong" side of town, and as such it wasn't the most attractive building.

“I'm okay with this. Though I imagine when I am a dragon this will be a bit…"

“Ahh, yes, I understand. And you are correct. This cave is suitable for one greater dragon, but two? Perhaps not."

Then a rare moment of sobriety crossed my mind. “Look at us, we're going on like our lives are destined to be shared and here I am latching on to the one person… err, dragon… that's shown me kindness."

“Is that a concern?"

I didn't know how to respond to that. Perhaps I was desperate from loneliness. And here I was thinking that he and I would be suitable for one another. But we barely knew each other.

“I believe that when you answered the call, the gods would only bring us together. I did not want to assume that you and I would… that we…" he was struggling. His face was slowly showing the price he paid for his solitude.

I reached up and touched his muzzle. His skin was soft, and my fingers slid over the bumps of his scales with ease.

“I guess we'll have to find out."

My stomach decided that now would be a good time to announce that it hadn't been filled today.

When Arh heard it, he nearly leapt up mollified. “Gods above and below I would forget my wings if they were not part of my body. I have food…" he turned to face me with furrowed eyebrows. “It is not much, and it would not sate my appetite, but I hope it is to your satisfaction."

He went to one of the alcoves in the wall and pulled out a makeshift bag from tied cloth. Untying it, he placed it on the floor and carefully pulled it open.

“All I have at the moment are various fruit." He nearly jumped up, and reached into another alcove to produce a large gourd with a cork jammed into an opening. “And I also have something to drink, should you feel thirst."

He stood there, holding the gourd out to me. I had to grab it with both hands as it was large. And when I did, I could feel his hands trembling.

Putting my hand over his, I looked into his eyes and smiled. “Thank you. Will you be eating as well?"

He shook his head. “No, I ate yesterday."

I shot a look of disbelief at him, to which he stammered.

“I… we… greater dragons do not need to eat daily. When we do feed, it can sustain us for a few days."

Smiling, more to try and defuse his anxiety, seemed to give him his cue to sigh and lay back down.

“Little one, I apologize. It has been quite some time since I have entertained guests. Especially ones that may become my keo'vah."

Taking a swig from the gourd, the taste pricked at my tongue. It was a wine of some kind, but not like any I had tried before. Though I must have been thirsty as I managed three gulps that warmed my stomach before slaking my thirst.

“There's that term again. Keo'vah." I asked after wiping some wine from my chin. “What does it mean?

“It…" his head sagged, as if embarrassed. “The closest translation we have to the common tongue is that it means hearts beating as one."

“So, we're going to fall in love?" I teased with a slight grin.

“It does not necessarily mean romantic love." He said with flushed cheeks. “It is difficult to truly explain. The best I can offer is that it signifies a bond that goes deep." He paused, but continued as if to correct a misconception. “But for many it is treated as synonymous with love… albeit many in the scholars guild would likely have a few words to say to you if you were to proclaim it as the same."

I sat next to him and grabbed a pear to eat. He seemed to appreciate it when I leaned into his chest.

“But I must be honest, I cannot assume that we will find love with one another." He said. “But I will say that I am happy to have met you."

“I am happy to have met you." I said. “And for bringing me here."

“You are welcome, William." He said, then chuckled. “This is rather odd. Normally I try to rein in my emotions, but with you, they seem to defy attempts to quell them."

I looked up to see his expression. His face was caught between those same emotions of hope and fear as my own face was.

We broke eye-contact and both chuckled.

I finished off the rest of the pear and ate in the awkward silence that descended.

I reached for more food. This time a bunch of grapes.

“I could get used to this." I said as I relaxed against him, stroking his tail which he kept near me.

“As could I." He purred.