defeated

Burren Forest echoes with the torrent and cacophony of Daren's rage. I doubt there's a deer, scorpion, or hawk within two miles who hasn't heard his fuming.

I groan and bump my forehead against a tree trunk. The bark scrapes against my skin and I watch a tiny spider wind its way through the grooves in the wood an inch from my nose. A cool breeze tickles the back of my neck and the heavy smell of rain tells me a storm is coming, fast. We should really get back to town.

I twist around and lean my back against the tree, my sweaty shirt sticking to my skin. Daren keeps going like I haven't moved. Knowing him, he won't notice anything short of me slapping him until he's finished howling.

"There's all the evidence they need! Right there! Every fool thing I told them, and they still won't listen and can't seem to use plain sense! Why are they even a council anyway? If they can't see clear facts right in front of them! Argh!" Daren whirls toward a tree and punches at one of the low-hanging, dead branches. The wood cracks but doesn't give and Daren starts cursing at the tree in reply before resuming his raging. "Those addled DEADHEADS!" He screams the last insult louder than before, and I know he's almost done. "WHY THE GRAVE CAN'T THEY JUST GET FOX?!"

Daren slumps to the grassy floor, completely oblivious to his surroundings. He's still fuming, but instead of getting hotter, his anger is simmering down. I push away from the tree and sit down next to him, now that he's in a state to talk. A Yellowtail Scorpion scuttles toward my bare feet and I carefully kick it away.

"So." I lean over and bump Daren's shoulder. "I know something that might cheer you up."

"Oh yeah?" Daren shoulders me back, almost knocking me over. I laugh. Daren manages a tight smile. "What could possible help me forget that my mum's dragon was stolen, and that the thief is getting away without even a lash? And that we'll probably never see the dragon again? What could possible fix that, Terian?"

Well, now I know he's finished cooling down. Daren always calls me Terry, never Terian, unless he's feeling utterly defeated. Then he stops being a wolf and is more like one of the tame dogs that Gretel Lark keeps. The demeanor doesn't suit him.

I rock back to my feet and drag him into a standing position too. The first drop of rain hits Daren's cheek and runs down toward his chin like a tear. Like the sky is crying for his mother's loss and can only show it in the form of a tear on the wolf-boy's face. But wolves shouldn't cry. They're better off hunting and howling at the moon.

"Oh, just a little something I have for a prank." I smile slyly and a spark of interest lights up my brother's face. "You'll like it, but we better get back to town before the clouds open. They're already warning us now." I flick at a drop of rain that lands on my arm.

"Alright." Daren doesn't even try to get me to tell him what the prank is. He knows dragons are good at keeping secrets. It's part of riddling. "Race you back to our place?"

"Sure." I flash a feral smile and kick his legs out from under him. I take off through the trees as he struggles to his feet, laughing. I turn my head and call over my shoulder, "But you know I always win!"

Daren charges after me, dodging through the trees and covering more ground with each successive stride. I fly ahead, too shrewd and swift for even the Wolf to catch me. Nothing can match the speed of a dragon once he takes to the air, and my feet send me flying with each bare step.