Swear Not By The Wings
16 The Race

It's been a week since my kiss with Elio. I thought that what we had that night was special? Apparently, Elio doesn't feel the same. He hasn't spoken to me since the incident. It's as if Elio and I are constantly on and off. I don't know what could possibly be the reason behind my bad luck.

First, I lose my mother. Now, my love life ends before it even starts! I try to think of all the possible scenarios as to why Elio is avoiding me. Do I smell bad? Is he not into redheads? Oh no, I'm a bad kisser! That has to be it! What else can it be?

One day he's all sweet and saving me from being eaten by the Ijiraq. The next day, he's ignoring me like a disease! What does this world want from me? I try to think happy thoughts so I won't cry. I can feel the sadness creeping up on me!

Stay strong, Arrietty! You don't need a man! This is what I tell myself when I'm experiencing heartbreak. This is also what I told myself the first night I got here when I realized that I completely missed my date with Landon. A tub of ice cream and sappy romance movies were much needed that night!

Right now, I'm strolling around the woodland, not looking forward to anything in particular. The wind blows against my yellow dress and I try not to stumble. My muscles are really sore from the amount of training I've been doing.

Practicing for the fae tournament is both nerve-racking and relieving. It's nerve-racking for obvious reasons, but relieving because of each and every day, I feel like I'm closer to my friends and mom. I smile at the thought. I'm about to head back to my cottage when I hear a fairy shout,

"Dragon race!" And that's all it takes before I'm leaping off of my feet to get at Dart. After I locate my dragon, I successfully climb onto his back, by myself! Dart and I meet a bunch of other fairies and their dragons at the starting line.

Chance counts everyone down and on the mark of three, the racers all take off. I feel the gust of wind run through my ruby red locks as Dart soars past the rivalry.

I withstand the heat all around me as the fiery creatures compete, passionately. I've never done a dragon race before, but it's quite thrilling! Suddenly, Dart and I get dethroned from our place in the race. I look to the side and see Ellowyn is beside me riding a white dragon, who I believe goes by the name Celeste. I smirk at the pink-headed fae who winks at me.

"Outta the way losers!" Shouts an incoming Freya. Bartholomew is little, but can sure move fast!

"Who's the loser now?" Savvy challenges while easing past us on her multicolored dragon called Chandra.

"Come on, Dart! We're losing!" I whine to my dragon. Dart roars back at me and speeds past the other fairies. That was easy. I chuckle and continue focusing on the race. I see a new dragon in front of me. Is that Arden? Dart moves beside the gold dragon who was in front of us.

"Oh, hey there Arrietty!" The crafts fairy casually greets.

"Hi Arden, I didn't take you as a dragon-race-kind-of-fae!" I shout to the boy who gives me a playful glare.

"I am full of surprises," Arden barely gets out before he gets swept away by a tree branch. I gasp at the sudden occurrence.

"Seth! You could've warned me!" The curly headed-boy yells at his dragon. I laugh in shock when I realize that I'm currently in second place!

There is only one dragon in front of us. The fairy that occupies the beast's end is none other than Malachi. He is riding a sapphire blue dragon with orange spikes running down its spine. Malachi panics when he discerns that Dart and I are on his tail.

"Hey Purple, I'm going to win this race! Mark my words!" I holler. The purple-headed fairy snickers at me and shakes his head.

"Not a chance, Flower!"

"Flower?"

"Your last name is Spring, is it not?"

"I suppose it's fitting, " I reply. The interaction between Malachi and I ends when a whistle is blown. I wasn't sure who gained a victory, but when Chance waves a flag over Dart's head, it's pretty clear who the vanquisher is.

Malachi and his dragon dramatically fall to the floor, humorously.

"Melvin! We were so close," Malachi sobs as he hugs his equally upset dragon. I scoff at the pair and kiss Dart on the snout. When Dart is safe and sound, I make my way home to my cottage. Right when I go to open the door, I hear a bunch of fairies chanting "fight!" Who's fighting?

I push past the crowd of bystanders and gasp.