Stryker

"Hello, Cindy," he said, breathing out two puffs of smoke.

I shook my head in shock, unable to believe my eyes. "What the hell? Is it really you?" Part of me wondered if I died back there and this was some kind of afterlife dream. I hadn't seen the dragon in two years, since he helped me save Snow's mom. After our return, he simply vanished.

"Yes, child, it's really me." Like a cat, he curled himself into a ball and rested his head on his front paws. "It seems your life is still crazy. I thought after you saved Ariel and began teaching full time, you would settle down a bit. Perhaps even marry your chayot boyfriend. Obviously, I was mistaken."

"Obviously," I said, crossing my arms.

He chuckled, sending twin clouds of smoke from his enormous nostrils.

"How did you get here? How did you know I was in trouble?" I wiped the soot and tears from my cheeks before rubbing my palms on the bodice of my dress.

It had a really rough day, but it still seemed to be in one piece.

"I've been aliv