The Awakening by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson Read Free Book Online

themselves.
    Jahrra nodded, then turned back to sit beside the fire.
    “You should try to get some sleep,” Jaax called over his shoulder. “We traveled far today and we’ll need to travel farther tomorrow. I hope to make the headwaters of the Saem River within the week and we cannot do that if we are over-tired.”
    Jahrra didn’t argue but fetched her bedroll from beside the log where Phrym had settled for the night, trying not to wonder if her nightmares would return now that she felt a little more relaxed on their new path. She hated the idea of being helpless against her dreams. To be so overtaken by fear felt like weakness and Jahrra knew she had survived too much to become weak now. Jaax had assured her many times she was the farthest thing from fragile, that she had no control over her dreams, but she couldn’t accept that. There had to be a way. For now, she would try to get some sleep and pray to Ethoes and all the other gods and goddesses that her dreams would remain untarnished. But if they had to torment her, then the least the goddess could do was send her green cloaked companion along to help.
    A few minutes after settling into her blanket, Jahrra heard the rustle of Jaax’s wings as he left to hunt in the dim twilight. She must have dozed off, because it only seemed a few moments later when the sound of her name startled her. She looked up, blinking away bleariness from her eyes as the dim firelight danced in front of her.
    “I saved a haunch for you. It’s roasting over the fire,” Jaax said quietly.
    Jahrra craned her neck and caught sight of the deer meat, skinned and nearly ready to eat. Jaax had let her sleep and she hadn’t dreamed. Feeling somewhat rested, she sat up and yawned, reaching for the dagger she always kept beneath her bedroll when she slept. She murmured her thanks and gingerly cut off a piece of the meat. It would be too much to eat but they could leave the remainder of it behind for wild animals.
    The night drew on and Jaax took his spot at the opening of the stone cairn, curling up and resting his head upon the ground. Jahrra watched him as he fell into sleep, wondering, not for the first time, who he really was. She thought she knew him well enough and Hroombra had trusted him completely, but there was still so much about this strange dragon she didn’t understand.
    She reached for her dragon scale pendant once again, her mouth quirking into a smile as she recalled her thoughts from just a few weeks ago. Would she and Jaax ever be good friends? Would she ever trust him as much as she had trusted Hroombra? She thought about that for a while as the sky grew darker and the fire burned lower. Trusting someone was not examining all of their flaws and secrets and then deciding whether or not they were dependable. Trusting someone was to accept them as they were, follies and all, and to know that, despite their misgivings, they would do their utmost not to let you down.
    Jahrra shook her head. Now was not a good time to have such philosophical thoughts. She was willing to admit that she didn’t know everything about Jaax and she was comfortable with that for the moment. After all, he didn’t know everything about her even though he thought he did. Jahrra grinned. In a way she felt like she had the upper hand, for Jaax may find himself surprised on several occasions, but Jahrra had braced herself for truths she may not be able to handle.
    Besides, what could be more shocking than learning you were the only human being in Ethoes and destined to free a world from its curse?
    Nothing , she thought as she smiled and allowed her mind to wander off into sleep, nothing could ever surprise me more than that.

- Chapter Three -
    Crie
     
    A few days later and just before it was time to make camp for the evening, Jaax, Jahrra and Phrym turned from the main path that followed the lake and began traveling beside a great sluggish river.
    “The Saem River, Jahrra,” Jaax murmured over his