Lou

  "Basil! I’m happy to see you!", Lou heard Harper's mother say. Her voice echoed through the corridors of the cave. He pressed close to Harper, listening to the approaching footsteps.

  "We urgently need to do something about the darkness!", muttered his friend next to him. His family had already tried to make Lou's stay more enjoyable with a small campfire. But the words alone were enough to make him cry. "It would be safe. There is no smell of any gases here and a fine breeze brings fresh air. May I make it bright for you? Vivi?"

  Immediately, Lou shook his head. "No fire!" He remembered the pain of falling into hot fmes. Since then, he has avoided any fire. Fire was cruel. His home had gone up in fmes. He had heard the dragons breathe fire. Had many of the houses been burned down? Were people doing well? His family? Was their house still standing? Was the attack his fault? If it was his fault, then he deserved to sit in the dark.

  Endless questions raced through Lou's head until he got a headache. He moaned nguidly. "Please. No fire."

  "But you can't see anything in the dark", Harper grumbled, stroking Lou's hair. He stopped as Lou whimpered softly. "All right. It's just me, okay?"

  "What have you done again?" Hallie grumbled. She and Basil had arrived in the dark cave by now. Since their footsteps were retively quiet, Lou knew that they had both come in human form. He could see the glow in their eyes. A blurry light in the darkness. "Why is the boy crying?"

  "Mom! I didn't do anything!" Harper immediately defended himself. "Nothing."

  "You don't make such cute boys cry!" Hallie snorted. "Oh... I feel like I've become a mom again! Basil? Are you sure I can't keep the boy?"

  Someone sighed. Probably Basil. Lou narrowed his eyes. Keep me? Why?

  "To eat him?" More footsteps came into the cave. Lou recognized Renan's high-pitched voice.

  "Don't be silly!", hissed Basil immediately. "Why is Lou sitting in the dark? How long has he been sitting here? Without light? Since he's been here? Have you forgotten that humans can't see as well as we can? And Lou is almost blind!"

  Hallie sighed. "He's also afraid of fire. We tried. You have to be very careful with the boy. Any movement is enough to frighten him."

  Stop talking about me! Stop it! Lou pulled his hair until Harper carefully stopped him.

  "Mom. He's sitting here! You're rude!", his friend grumbled.

  Basil ughed softly. "Well, we've got the promised stuff with us. Food, a jug of fresh water, some pillows, and a bnket. If necessary, we bring more. But we have to be careful. Remy is still in town. To make it look like we just brought him home. Lou? May I come over to you? I have the bnket and a pillow. Renan has the food for you. Are you hungry? You had to wait a long time. By now it is night. We couldn't leave faster."

  "Hm..." Lou didn't want anyone but Harper around him. Harper was safe. Safe and warm. He wouldn't hurt him.

  "Was that a yes or a no?" Renan asked uncertainly.

  "I don't know?" Basil snorted. Then Lou heard slow footsteps. "Lou? I'll put the pillow and bnket at your feet, yes? I won't get any closer. That's a promise."

  "Heavens! The poor boy is trembling terribly!", whispered Renan, at the same time Lou clung to Harper as if his life depended on it. The world was spinning. Harper didn't hesitate and pulled him onto his p, wrapped his arms around him, and wrapped him in his warm wings. "Thank you!", he replied for Lou.

  "He can't sit in the dark!" Lou heard Renan hiss. Goes away again.

  "I know", Hallie replied. "We'll try again ter. When he's calmed down."

  "Fine. Basil? Let's go", Renan turned to the other dragons. "Come. The boy needs... Honestly, I don't know what he needs. But we should go. Forgive us, Lou. We don't want to scare you."

  Go away!

  "Yes. We should go..." Basil, still kneeling in front of Harper and Lou, got up and walked over to the other dragon. "See you soon Lou. Harper. See you tomorrow."

  "We'll find our way out", Basil said. "See you soon."

  "Come home safely!" Hallie stayed with Harper and Lou while the other two dragons disappeared into the dark corridors. He heard Renan tell Basil that Lou was in desperate need of a mother. Lou thought of his mother. Is she still alive? Hallie snorted. In general, dragons seemed to snort a lot. She slowly walked over to her son, who looked more like a ball made of fluffy feathers than a human or a dragon. She stroked her son's wings lovingly. Lou heard the rustling of feathers. "Harper? Let me see your friend. Okay? He must be hungry. And we have a bnket for him now."

  "Are you hungry?", Harper asked Lou.

  Lou shook his head.

  "Do you want the bnket?" Harper asked.

  Lou shook his head.

  Nevertheless, Harper opened the wings. He cradled Lou gently in his arms while his mother carefully wrapped him in the bnket. She was careful not to touch him. If Lou hadn't been afraid, he would have been grateful. But now he narrowed his eyes and buried his face in Harper's neck.

  "So, now you have it even softer!", said Hallie. I'll put the jug and the bag of food next to you. Then you can eat as soon as you're hungry. I'll check on you two again ter. It's te. You should get some sleep."

  Lou grabbed the bnket and pulled it over his head to hide underneath. Carefully, Harper slipped a hand under the bnket, which Lou hesitantly grasped at first and then pulled to him. Hallie stroked her son's hair. "You tell me if you two need something?"

  "I'm hungry too!" Harper smirked. His hand was warm. Lou touched each finger, causing Harper's breath to stall. Lou paused but didn't compin.

  "Your father is hunting. He'll bring you something."

  "Good." Harper stroked Lou's back with his other hand. "I eat when Lou sleeps." Lou wondered why, but then he remembered that Harper ate raw meat and would probably take on his dragon form. He shuddered at the thought.