"I am Ari. We are going to have to stay here for a few weeks until Ruby has grown and I have found the ore I have come here for. I must go now. I shall bring us food after I'm done looking for the ore, until then,please try to get to know Ruby and observe your hand." she said, then headed back towards the town.
I frowned. My hand? I glanced down and on my right hand was a symbol, kind of like an "e" It didn't hurt, and I wondered how long it had been there before now.
Now off to the first task, getting to know Ruby. She was sitting in front of me, staring at me with her big eyes. "So, Ruby. Are you hungry?" i asked her and she nodded her head. "What do dragons eat?" I wondered aloud.
Ruby's head jerked up as if she heard something and she bolted out of the cave. "Ruby, no!" I called. Ari had wanted us to stay put for a reason. But, I couldn't very well just leave Ruby run off alone.
I took off after her and followed her deep into the forest. She found a little hole, looked like a rabit hole and dug her way inside. I heard little squeals before Ruby came out with three rabbits in her mouth. She broke their neck and started eating them one by one.
I tried not to gag as I watched her eat them. I shuttered. Looking around, I tried to make sense of where we were. "Come on Ruby, we have to get back. I don't like being out here without Ari," I said once she had finished eating.
I lead us back through which we had come and I noticed a small stream off to the right. I searched through my bag for a canteen that I had been smart enough to bring along. Calling Ruby to follow, we headed down to the bank. I figured we would need water, so I waded into the middle and filled the canteen.
Ruby lapped at the water as I washed my face, trying to clean the dried blood from my cheek and lip. Glancing at my reflection, I hardly recognized myself. I was such a bloody, bruisey mess. My face was so swolen that it hurt to smile.
"Come on, Ruby," I sighed as I got up and headed back to the cave, which wasn't as easy to find as I would have thought. I felt as though we were walking in circles.
I finally just stopped and and sat at the base of the tree. Ari would come and find us, I hoped. Ruby came and curled up in my lap. I talked to her and asked her questions. I did what Ari wanted me to do, get to know my dragon.
