Zephyr pt.3

for the next few days he had not gone to see Zephyr.  nor had he seen Naomi either.  strange... he thought, maybe I should go apologize...  after school he went straight to the forest and noticed Naomi's bicycle hidden in plain sight (he almost missed it).  naturally, he got suspicious and crept to the cave.  when he got close he identified Naomi and Zephyr's voices.  here is what he overheard "...he's a good kid, but he has trouble with emotions.  he keeps them pent up inside, never tells anyone..." Naomi replies, "emotions?  like what?"  "anger, frustration, and exasperation at himself for not being perfect (even if no one is).  then love and compassion for you."  he could almost feel Naomi blush at that answer.  "but how? everything always seems perfect with Rick..."  questioned Naomi with the reply of "it's his smile...he's always smiling that soft smile that seems to make everything look good, even a failure...however his eyes cannot hide the truth...his eyes are..."she broke off at the sound of rustling outside.

"hold on..." Zephyr said sniffing the air "I smell...(yes, you do..., thought naomi, gigling)...an intruder.  I'll handle him" she said as she slithered out silently.  pressed against the outside wall, Rick was eavesdropping, when he became aware of the silence in the cave.  that's when two powerful, yet beautiful arms pressed his shoulders into the hard rock surface.  "why, hello, Rick! nice to see you!!" she snarled.  "listen to me! I came to apologize for my mistakes.  you must understand... i'm a teenager... this is... a very emotional period in my life... i knew it then and i know it now.  i do love her.  it's just... i'm kinda shy.  you are a wonderous dragon, don't let anything I say make you doubt that.  please... don't be mad, Zephyr."

the dragon hugged him tightly.  Zephyr started to cry first.  they just stood there with the dragoness crying on his shoulder.  their embrace had brought them closer than ever.  she had then wiped her eyes, thanked, smiled at him, and went back inside.  he just hurried home.

it was dawn of the day when Rick found Zephyr one year ago.  he had come to her cave early in the morning and smiled at the dragon curled up on the floor.  he had brought a hand-woven quilt with her name on it and draped it over the slumbering figure.  he then began to tidy up the den.  she had half woken up, noticed the blanket (and him), and fell right back asleep with a pleasent smile on her face.  

later when she had woken up (again) Rick greeted her happily.  "how are you feeling, my dearest dragon? I was hoping we could go for a walk today" eagerly agreeing, Zephyr led him out of the cave, walked a bit further than him and streched her wings.  he had silently signaled Naomi (who was hiding in the bushes) to replace Zephyr's old furniture with a brand new couch, rug, table, and a twin-sized bed.  Naomi had also brought some food and beverages, such as cake, pie, soda, etc. and party decorations.

"I had the most wonderful dream.  I was soaring over the land and the wind felt great running through my claws and on my face."  "how's your wing?  when I patched it up it looked really bad" Rick asked.  "it's still kind of sore, but it doesn't bother me as much." Zephyr replied with a kind smile.  Rick just smiled back.  

as they approached a clearing in the forest Rick asked Zephyr "sooo... how goes life?"  she had the expression of 'what the heck are you talking about?'  "ok, let me rephrase that... um... how are you?"  "can't complain"  that set rick off "i hate it when people say that!  you CAN complain!  and now i want you to."  "wait..what?"  "complain.  do it.  nao."  "did you just say 'nao'?"  he waved a finger "that's not complaining."  Zephyr sighed "fine.  i'll complain..."  she did, for three hours.