Atmais the Dragon Mimic: Part Two (special preview)

I hadn’t been in the woods since I was little. I guess I hadn’t been there since the last time I saw Atmais. It was strange going through the trees, looking for him again. Despite all this time, I found I was still able to follow the landmarks I did as a child. There was more overgrowth, but I could recognize the rocks and trees that had served as my guideposts. There was the spot where I used to find the best moss. Another where small pink flowers would grow. There was the tree that was always surrounded by acorn no matter the time of year.

Eventually, I came upon the spot where I had found Atmais all those years ago. Although, It was much more changed than anything else. Now there was something built there, a large cavern made of sticks and mud, covered with moss and other plants to form a burrow. Inside I saw two red eyes glowing as I approached, and Atmais came out.

“So, you remembered.”

“Like it was so hard.” I was huffing and puffing from the hike.

Atmais lowered himself down then placed his hand upon the top of my head. “I was wondering when you would come and visit.”

I felt so tiny under his palm. I pushed against it, but he wouldn’t be moved. “I had to work!”

“Oh, right,” Atmais chuckled. “Not flying.”

“I could if I wanted,” I huffed at him, smoothing my hair back down from him mussing it.

Atmais tilted his head to the side. “But you don’t want to?”

I swallowed and continued fixing my hair as an excuse not to look. “I simply can’t.”

Atmais sniffed then turned his head away, looking through the trees that pointed towards the ocean. His eyes became distant, and then a familiar twinkle came to them. His mouth opened wide with a gasp and he looked at me excitedly. “Then why not fly with me right now? There’s no stopping you, no sense in waiting. I could take you up into the sky this minute. What do you say?”

I shook my head. “I can’t.”

The twinkle disappeared, replaced by a darker haze that blotted his eyes. “You can’t? Yes, you can. I can fly. I’m right here. There’s nothing to stop you.”

“No! I’m telling you I can’t-” I stepped away from him as he started to come out of his burrow.

Atmais stood before me. “What happened to you? All you ever wanted was the sky. Now...it’s almost like you’re afraid of it.”

I hung my head down low. “I’m sorry. People grow up, they change-”

“I’m not dumb. I know what happens. Look at me! Am I the same chubby squat you knew? No. I grew. I changed. You promised me once that we would fly together.” Atmais’ voice was low and even. “I waited so long for that moment. I waited in the sky for days when I came back just to surprise you. And when you weren’t there, I was afraid that-” He stopped and cleared his throat. “Stop with all the excuses. Why won’t you fly?”

I sat down on a tree stump and placed my face into my hands. I took a deep breath as I tried to work through the shame to share with him. “Grandpa, when he died, he died in his plane. Something went wrong and-” I hated talking about it, even mentioning it. Even thinking about it brought up that swell of tears I couldn’t fight off.

“Okay, so you’re scared.” Atmais knelt down beside me and his tail coiled around the stump and my legs. “You could have just said that.”

“But I couldn’t!” I huffed, wiping my face. “I feel so worthless! This never would have stopped him. But any time I’m even in a plane, I get cold sweats and go all pale. I almost fainted the last time.”

Atmais laid his head on my lap. “When was the last time?”

I sniffled and patted his head. His scales felt the same as when he was little, but the sharp ones around his eyes were so much bigger. “Five years ago.”

“I never thought you’d be afraid of anything. I looked up to you for that,” he murmured.

“Me neither,” I grumbled under my breath.

Atmais lifted his head and came extremely close to me. Next thing I feel is his tongue gently tapping against my cheek and licked away the tears that have fallen. It was both gross and very sweet at the same time.

“You belong in the sky,” he said. “No matter what it takes, I’ll get you back up there.”

“Atmais, please don’t,” I huffed. “You must have so much more to worry about than that. It’s fine.”

He glared at me and I looked away. “You made me a promise a long time ago!” He snapped. “You promised to fly with me side by side.”

I wiped my cheek where he had licked. “I didn’t think such a thing would matter that much.”