One

Corithias dragged his injured body down to the water. His wing was severely damaged from mortar fire, and two of his ribs were broken by the large arrow sticking between them. As he made it to the rocks, he collapsed, passing out from exhaustion.

Alicia had gone down to the waterfall to swim. She made sure she was alone before stripping her clothes and jumping into the stream. The water was cool at first, but her body adapted to the temperature, and it was pleasant for a morning swim.

The girl had come to this stream many times throughout the years and had never worried about being caught. No one ever came out to their farm, especially this early in the morning.

She saw the dragon fly overhead, screeching in pain. She saw him fall, and although he was a dragon, she felt sad that they had killed the beautiful creature. At least, she thought he was dead the way his body fell so lifelessly.

Alicia swam over closer to see if it was dead or not. To her surprise, he was still breathing. He was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen. She came closer so she could examine the amazing beast up close.

He was suffering, having trouble breathing because of the arrow in his ribs. Alicia loved animals, she always had. No matter how dangerous this enormous beast could be, his pain caused her sadness.

Quietly, she slipped her dress on and slowly crept closer. Alicia decided she had to see if he was still conscious before determining if she could help him or not.

One quiet step at a time, Alicia came upon the dragon. He was blue, purple, and green and his skin shone in the sunlight like oil. Being a girl who knew no fear, she carefully reached a hand out to touch him. After all, it was not every day that you got to touch a dragon, she thought.

He didn’t open his eyes when she gently touched the side of his face. That gave her courage to examine him. Alicia had hopes to be a Doctor of Animals, but she knew that was just a dream. No one would take a woman seriously.

Carefully stepping around the animal, she found an arrow sticking out of its side. Although he was unconscious, she pet him the way she would a dog to calm him.

Climbing up where she could get a good grip on the arrow, she pulled with all her might, sealing the hole with sap out of a tree beside him. He was close to the stream, so she tore off the hem of her skirt and soaked it in water to clean the big gaping tear in his wing.

Alicia pulled the thread out of her hem and fashioned a needle from a large thorn. It was a difficult job, but she was able to make sutures to close the wound in his wing.

Using elephant ear leaves and the tree sap, she created a makeshift bandage to cover the area. She sat back and praised her handiwork when she was done, smiling.

Fearing that the hunters would come in search of the beautiful creature, she took branches, heavy with leaves, and covered him.

As if the dragon could understand her, she spoke softly to him, petting his velvety snout and assuring him she would keep him safe until he was able to fly.

Alicia hated to leave her patient, but she was the servant of the Richwood family, and they would be getting up soon, expecting their breakfast.

Explaining her plight to the sleeping dragon, she kissed him gently on the snout, assuring him she would be back to check on him. Alicia grabbed her shoes, checking once more on her patient before running back to the mansion.

After the girl left, Corithias opened his eyes and looked around. His little mountain doctor had done an excellent job at treating his wounds, he thought. He smiled, thinking how brave and resourceful she was.

Corithias had aroused when she started cleansing his wounds, but he kept his eyes closed, listening to her chatter as he allowed her to treat his injuries.

“What a brave and thoughtful young lady to show care and concern for a dragon,” Corithias thought as he transformed into his human form.

Standing to his feet, he realized that he was naked. Luckily, the young lady had left her towel hanging on a branch to dry. He wrapped it around his waist as he knelt at the stream to wash his face and get a drink of the cool water.

He knew he could not stay here long, because the dragon hunters would be looking for him, but he knew he was too weak to fly just yet. “I’ve got to find someplace to hide out until I’m stronger,” Corithias told himself.

He walked around the area, spotting a cave opening around the bend of the mountain stream. “There, that should be good, that is unless I run up on a bear,” he thought, speaking out loud to himself.

Grimacing at the sharp rocks and sticks under his bare feet, he made his way to the cave. “Hello? Anybody home?” He yelled into the cave, hoping he didn’t get a response. Cautiously he stepped into the cave’s entrance. Luckily, the cave was empty.