Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Coming of Age
Since Mia and Gage had established the link between their thoughts they spent all day, every day communicating with each other. People found them strange and started to avoid them. They didn’t really care; they were both planning on leaving and meeting up after their 20th birthday, which was the next day. There were many preparations to be made as this was the coming of age celebration.
“Mia, Get in here, we need to add the finishing touches to your dress”, Mia’s mum shouted for the third time. Mia was sat under the tree again, she had been communicating with Gage about the best way to tell her mother. She sighed and sent a thought to Gage, Got to go, Mum is nagging about the dress. Bye. She got up and went in the house; she decided she would tell her mother now.
“Ma, I need to talk to you about something” she was interrupted by her mother.
“Later, we need to sort the dress first”. Mia resigned herself to her mother’s fussing.
Back in Stonefield Gage had just told his mother that he would be leaving the day after the coming of age party. She was very annoyed and Gage was enduring a lecture about travelling and it not being good for you. He wasn’t really listening to his mother, he was looking through Mia’s thoughts, she was thinking about when she could leave and do what she wanted to do, instead of the things her mother wanted for her.
The next day there was stalls and people in the village square everywhere Mia looked, she would have to go up onto the dais that was currently been put up, she had to make a speech about what she would do now. Everyone was going to be so shocked, hardly anybody left the village, and she wondered how people would react.
Gage was already in his party clothes; he was prepared to make his speech and was currently practising it.
At midday the celebrations in both Stonefield and Oakland began. There were presents, food, dancing and music. Mia did not enjoy it much, she was anxious about the speech. Gage could sense her anxiety and sent her a quick thought, Calm down, you will be fine. Good Luck. She sent a thought back, that’s easy for you to say, you have got your speech and told your mother already. Mia continued to sit through the festivities, not really taking part. All too soon the speeches came. First her mother spoke, then it was her turn. She got up and stood in the centre of the dais.
“Thank you for all the beautiful gifts and for making this a wonderful coming of age party, I will never forget it.” The crowd clapped and cheered. She smiled and carried on,
“Now you will all want to know what I have decided to do with my life, I am going to….”
Just at that moment there was screaming as two dragons landed in the village square right in front of the dais. People scattered and babies cried, parents ushering their children out of the way.
The moment Mia had looked into the gold eyes of the emerald green dragon she knew he was hers, a part of her soul. She moved towards him as he took a step towards her. Their eyes never leaving each other, their bond was made.
“I have been looking for you for a long time, I’m Scorch and I am your guardian” the dragon spoke to her.
“Scorch, that’s a beautiful name, I’m Mia and I accept you as my guardian” she don’t know why she said these last words but it felt right. She reached up and ran her hands down the nose of the dragon.
A man jumped off of Scorch’s back, Mia was shocked and stepped back slightly afraid. He looked old but he was agile and walked like he was a young man.
“I’m Balance the wizard, like Scorch; I have been looking for you. We need to leave now. I will explain everything later.” She looked at Scorch, who nodded. She was unsure of what was happening.
Meanwhile Gage had made his speech, no one was surprised to hear he had decided to go travelling, they all knew he hated being in the city. Whilst he was making his speech he had realised there was something wrong with Mia, her emotions were ranging from shock to confusion. She was also flicking through so many thoughts there was no way of keeping track. He had gone into the house he shared with mother, under the pretence of packing. He sat on his bed and sent a thought to Mia.
MIA, he actually had to shout the thought to get her attention. When he did he was bombarded with thoughts. Gage! I don’t know what to do. A dragon and wizard as just shown up during my speech, the dragon said he was my protector. This I believe because I felt something stir inside me immediately. He is meant to be with me, the wizard as said we have to leave immediately. What do I do? Gage was shocked by these thoughts, he wasn’t sure what to send back and it took him a few minutes to decide. Go with them, if this dragon is your protector you know you’re safe with him. Tell them you need to meet someone near Stonefield, in the big oak forest. I was going to leave tomorrow but I will leave today and meet you in the forest. By the sounds of things they will go wherever you want to.
Mia had been listening to Gage, whilst she was doing this Balance was studying her carefully, he knew she was communicating with the other one. Finally she looked up and spoke,
“I will go with you; however, I need to go meet a friend in the big oak forest near Stonefield.” Balance smiled, this is what he wanted. She was going to lead him right where he needed to be.
“That is fine, we will go to this forest, it will be great cover for the dragons too.” He replied. She looked again at her dragon and couldn’t help but smile.
“I’ll go pack what I need, I will meet you back here in an hour” Mia said. She went into her house and started to go upstairs, she hesitated when she heard sobbing coming from the kitchen. She knew it was her mother, what was she going to say to her?
“Ma, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was always going to go, but now the wizard and dragons have shown up I have to. I belong with the dragon.” Her mother looked at her confused.
“You belong with the dragon?”
“Yes, I can’t explain it but he’s mine and I need to be with him, please tell me you understand?” Mia pleaded.
Her mother looked annoyed as well as confused.
“Mia, I do not understand any of this. Dragons are dangerous, and the person who claims he is a wizard is a stranger, and you just want to go with him?” she shouted.
“I know you don’t like this but I am going with your support or not”, and with that Mia stormed upstairs to pack. She was running over the conversation in her head whilst she packed, suddenly she got a thought from Gage. That was a bit harsh; she is just worried about you. This made her feel guilty, she decided she would apologise to her mother before she left.
When she went back downstairs she went into the kitchen. Her mother had packed some food and water for her.
“Ma, I’m so sorry I got angry, I will miss you so much.” She went to hug her,
“I’m sorry I shouted. I just worry about you and want to keep you safe. I have packed you some food and water, please come home soon. I love you.”
She pulled away from her mother’s embrace and wiped a tear from her face, she packed the food and water into her rucksack.
She embraced her mum quickly, whispering
“I love you too. She put on her rucksack and left the house, not knowing when she would see her mother again.
The dragons and the wizard were stood alone; everybody had gone inside and kept peering out of the windows. She stood near Scorch,
“I’m ready to go.” she said looking at the wizard. He could see tears in her eyes but he also saw strength and determination in her face.
Scorch looked at her,
“Up you get then and we can be off.” She looked at the wizard confused, he understood, she didn’t know how to climb onto a dragon. He quickly showed her where to stand to get up and where to put her legs so she wouldn’t fall when she was in the air. Once she was seated he climbed atop Quill. The dragon flew into the air, Scorch following, she looked down on her village that was slowly becoming smaller.
“Bye” she whispered.