46 Chapter 46 A Glimpse of Beauty (2/2)

The drake backed away from them as it seemed to think of something. ”There is a village of lizardfolk that live further along the coast, in the direction you are traveling. If you give them one of my scales, they will heal your vision.”

”They will?” exclaimed Tom, his voice full of incredulous excitement.

”What would you ask for a scale?” asked Gia, uncomfortably.

”I have a collection in my cave, that you could organize for me,” it said, looking to the other side of the cove, where a cave entrance could barely be seen.

”What kind of collection?” asked Carla, an eye twitching in fear.

Gia could imagine a collection of skulls or furs, maybe gemstones or coins. What would a drake collect?

”Shells,” said the drake with a wide grin that showed lots of teeth.

”Shells?” asked Carla. ”I have some beautiful shells I collected after the last storm!”

”Really?” asked the drake, perking up.

Gia closed her eyes and slumped in relief as her mother started chatting with the drake in an excited voice, pulling out the shells she had shoved into her pockets and her bag. The drake oohed and aahed over most of them, telling her about the shells it had collected that were similar to them.

”It will take you too long to walk all the way around the cove. Hop on my back and hold on to my spikes and I'll swim across,” said the drake, turning sideways and lowering itself to the ground.

Mikey hopped on first, squealing in glee. Vonn helped Tom get on while Carla and Gia glanced at each other uncertainly before finally climbing on themselves.

”Pull your feet up so they don't get wet,” said the drake moving carefully to the water.

The ride across was very quick and they were soon climbing up to the cave entrance. Inside, the drake had shells in piles all over the cave. In the middle was an obvious nest where it slept. Carla didn't waste any time in pulling out all of her shells to show the drake. It searched through its piles in excitement, to show her shells that were similar, but bigger or more colorful than the ones she had found. Instead of being upset by the drake's actions, Carla was delighted to see the shells it showed her.

The rest of them found spots near the entrance to put their bags and settle down for the night. Outside, it had become windy and overcast. The storm was blowing in fast.

As it became harder to see, Mikey asked, ”Do we still need to organize your shells? It's hard to see them, and I'm tired. But I really want my dad to be able to see again. He's not ever been able to see me! And I'm sure he would love to be able to see you!”

The drake looked over at them, as Carla pulled the last shell out of her bag. Without saying anything, it looked at the shell Carla was setting down gently. Picking up the shell gently, it turned it around thoughtfully.

”The storm will be rough tonight, so get as much sleep as you can. We will discuss it in the morning,” said the drake, returning the shell to the pile Carla had made in front of its nest.

”Okay!” said Mikey, cheerfully.

Gia glanced over at her dad, but it was too dark to see what his expression was. They got their sleeping rolls out and settled down to sleep. The crash of thunder woke them several hours later. Lightning flashed most of the night, but they were able to ignore it and slept through most of the night.

When they woke the next morning, the sun was out, and birds could be heard calling to each other, probably eating the dead sea creatures that had been washed up on the beach again. Gia turned to speak to the drake. She didn't want to take so much time sorting the collection it had, but when she looked at the nest, she saw it was gone. Where Carla's pile of shells lay, three beautiful blue scales lay, perched against the largest shell, which was the one she had pulled out last.

”Where's the drake?” asked Mikey, picking up one of the scales.

”I don't know, but we don't really have time to stay and sort shells,” said Tom.

”There's so many shells,” said Mikey, getting a good look around at the thousands of shells piled around the cave.

They put away their bedrolls, and quietly ate rations, waiting for the drake to return. As soon as they stepped out of the cave, the drake appeared on the beach below the entrance.

”Still here? I figured you would have taken the scales and left.”

”No, we are not thieves,” said Gia.

”Take them anyway. No one should be denied my beauty. Give one to the lizardfolk to use in their magic to return your sight, and another to trade with them for your safe travels through their land,” said the drake.

”What about the third one?” asked Mikey.

”So, your father can see how beautiful I am,” said the drake with a grin.

”Why are you being so nice?” choked Tom, wiping tears from his face.

”No one should be denied a glimpse of my beauty,” said the drake.