Toni
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Episode Two Hundred and Six: Reflections
🕑 Added 2025-12-26 15:00:19 +0000 UTCThe Cat closed his eyes next to me on the counter, still ignoring his coffee and the cookie.
I wasn’t sure if I should interrupt the conversation or not. All focus in the shop was on it.
“That’s a question for the Fates,” answered Allisa, her voice softer than before. “I have been asking that question since the testing came back clear. The Fates are the only ones with an answer, and we all know they don’t often explain themselves.”
The Fates.
The Cat jumped down behind the counter.
“Cat…” I whispered, yet didn’t know what else to say.
Indigo started chirping, drawing all of the attention between both groups.
“Oh, it's the little dragon,” squealed one of the other Elves, from the bigger group. The tension dissolved immediately as the rest of them got up and joined the larger table, leaving the one girl still standing.
Indigo gladly took all of the attention, leaping into the air and flying around their heads.
The trolls all relaxed, passing glances among the three of them.
The shop picked back up again, until the middle of the afternoon. I didn’t dare stop for lunch and ate way more cookies than I should have.
Hearing my own stomach grumble, as the last couple of folks were leaving I asked Betty to warm up the leftovers we had of Chinese take out. Hopefully, I could find the Cat and we could have a decent evening.
Still, I wondered.
Why had the Cat needed to hear that? The good news, yes, but the other statement basically accusing her of something? That he didn’t need.
Not when he was the only one who could heal the illness, from what I’d gathered.
Finally, the last person walked out and the lock snapped shut.
Indigo lazily flapped her wings before actually getting into the air.
“Long day…” she chirped as she landed on my shoulder. “Fun though.”
For a moment she felt heavy, then suddenly she was lighter. Our small dragon grew slowly, but she was getting bigger, bit by bit.
“Let’s get some real food,” I said as I turned to the kitchen. “Cat, dinner is ready!”
It really wasn’t dinner, but a combination of lunch and dinner. It was still hot.
Despite his missing breakfast and lunch, he didn’t appear.
Indigo ate some fried rice and some of her noodles that were still left. It wasn’t her favorite, but she did like any sort of leftovers.
I had plenty of eggrolls and spicy chicken.
“Betty, can you let the Cat know we miss him…”
Indigo’s head jerked up at my comment.
The island top rippled a little and warmth rushed through the shop, almost like a gust of wind.
A few minutes later, he padded into view.
“I didn’t realize we had food,” he said softly as he jumped onto the counter. He didn’t sound like himself.
“We have plenty of spicy chicken,” I added with a smile as I piled his plate high. I had to fix this, but I didn’t know how. The Cat was like a shell of himself.
He dove into the chicken without a problem, just quietly eating like everything was normal.
Indigo ate a few more bites, then suddenly burped. Her eyes went wide.
I giggled. I just couldn't help myself.
“Sorry!” she said with a look of horror.
The Cat even chuckled a little.
“Maybe you’re getting your fire in,” I added, trying to think of something to talk about.
Indigo glared at me, along with the Cat.
“That’s not how it works,” she said, staring at me. “It comes when it comes.”
“But not with burps…?” I asked, actually having no clue. Though, it reminded me of the book for parents about raising a little dragon. I needed to spend some time with that this afternoon, and maybe figure out if they did become like teenagers or not.
“No!”
We all went back to eating, but the room felt better, lighter and a little more normal. Indigo finished first, and waited for the rest of us. The Cat completely cleared his plate.
“Nothing else for today,” said the Cat, before he jumped off the counter.
I went to respond, but he was just gone, vanished from the room.
“More books!” Indigo jumped up before flying out of the kitchen, leaving me alone in the room.
I let out a sigh as the mess from lunch sank into the island top, leaving my mug in its place.
“Well, Betty, let’s see what the books say about dragon growth, and maybe the Fates…” I headed to the front of the shop and quickly made another latte. My caffeine intake had increased since working here, but I didn’t care.
Once upstairs in the living room, I got comfortable on the couch. The fancy book Indigo had gotten me for the holiday rested on the coffee table.
“Maybe Lorestone has some knowledge about growing dragons…” Before I even finished my statement, Lorestone rose out of the wooden coffee table.
“Hello Lorestone,” I said with a smile.
“Lady Sable, how many I assist you,” said the stone without moving. The carving of the smaller dragon curled up against the larger one made me smile.
“I am wondering about how dragons grow.”
“What exactly do you want to know?” asked Lorestone.
“What would you tell someone who is responsible for a small bookdragon?” I asked with a chuckle. I opened the book that Indigo had gotten me as a present.
“Oh. The Clan of Book Dragons grows from the collection of knowledge. The little ones will need… Lady Sable, what is that?” asked Lorestone.
“A gift from Indigo. It’s a library all stuffed in one little book.” I held it closer to the rock.
“That’s one of the most amazing items I have ever seen…” his voice went soft for a moment. “Right. Book dragons, and how they grow…”
His voice continued on, telling me all sorts of things to be aware of. It turned out, burping was not a thing about her fire breath. Her breath, in fact, might not even be fire. Some purple dragons had lightning, or a black fire that wasn’t fire.
We couldn’t know what Indigo would have until she did it the first time. I couldn’t decide if that was exciting, or a little worrying.
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I stared at the small tree, wondering what the point of all of this was, anyway. I’d healed her, yet there were others in my children’s line still broken. Now I knew, but I couldn’t help them. Was this more punishment?
The damned Fates.
