A Reluctant Hero

       Flying around the haven was calming, serene, and boring. I sighed, flexing my wings adjusting to the air currents. This is how most of my days have been lately since I moved here. No more battles, stealing, learning new abilities . . . just boring same old peaceful lands. 
 
       As I soared over the Oktikus lands, Dawn and Vertis waved franticly to get my attention from above. I groaned inwardly and circled to land. 'What could those crazies need me for?' The only reason I didn't ignore them completely and kept flying is, because Flames loves these kids and would hate me for it.
  
       As I landed Dawn and Vertis ran up to me in a panic.  "Inferno!!! HELP! HELP!" Dawn shrieked, grabbing my arm and tugging me to fallow her.

       "What's wrong?" I asked bewildered. Most of the Oktikus kids stay away from me, especially Dawn, because of ("if you could call it, a rivalry") between their father Vidas and I. Flames has told me on many occasions that I have the "personality of a stump", that could also be why they hardly come near me.

       "It's Flex! He looks dead!" Dawn cried pulling me faster.

       My heart started pumping rapidly. The Oktikus kids might give me a headache every time they speak, but they are good kids. I hope Dawn is just over reacting and Flex is having a laugh by scaring his sister.

       She led me to a recently unearthed cave that Vidas had discovered just this morning. Inside, lying in a pile of wild mushrooms was Flex, lifeless.

       I rushed over to him. "He is alive." I sighed in relief. "His breathing is faint. I believe he is in a comma."

       "A comma?!" Dawn squeaked. Relieved he was alive, but now worried about his comma. "Can you heal him?" She asked, knowing about my magical abilities.

        I grabbed one of the mushrooms off of Flexes stomach, he had obviously been eating. A quick sniff and I could tell this was the reason. I glanced over to Dawn and then to Vertis who was just about to taste one. "DON'T EAT THEM!" I growled. Vertis through the mushroom like it was on fire. "They are paralysis inducing."

       "What?" Vertis asked.

       "It means that your brother is not in a comma, he is paralyzed." I opened Flex eyelid and waved at him knowing he could hear and see me, but was not able to react. 
 
       "So what do we do now?" Dawn asked in a calm manner. She was back to normal now, knowing that her brother was not in any immediate danger.

       I shrugged. "Hope it's not permanent and it wears off." Dawn's face instantly became worried again.

       "Do you think it could be permanent?" She asked.

       I sniffed the mushroom again. "It's hard to say."

       Dawn began gather mushrooms "Why do they have to eat everything they see?" She asked herself more than anyone else. "I'm going to burn these things!"

       Vertis looked at his sister, then to me. "Can't you heal paralysis Inferno?" He asked me in a tone that suggested I was on trial and he was the judge.

       "This is more of an herb healing thing. I can heal paralysis from injury easily, but I know nothing about this mushroom. I could run the risk of making his condition unstable."  

       "Unstable?" They said in unison.

       "Seizures" I clarified.  Their jaws dropped, and I shrugged. "You asked."

       Vertis looked irritated with me and scowled. "I'm going to find Flames. She will know what to do." He announced.

       Insulted, I sneered. "You are going to find Flames to help you with this? She knows maybe a quarter of the magic that I know. She will come find me to help you! Or botch the whole thing and have me fix it!"

       "At least she will try something instead of watch Flex waste away!" Vertis shouted in my face.

       He was ready to fight me and I was only happy to oblige, until Dawn stepped in. "Knock it off! This isn't helping Flex." She commanded. We glared at each other, but let it go . . . for now. "We need to stop fighting and think of solutions. I'm going to call the others; I think Mum and Dad would like to know what's going on anyway." She said with grace, knowing not to insult me.
  
       "Fine, call them, but leave me out of this. I'm going home." I stated, walking out of the cave.

       "Of course you are. You're the type to leave in a pinch." Vertis spat.

       I surmised that he was probably acting this way out of fear for his brother, but I couldn't care less. I grinned at him as I left. "Daddy issues? Feeling abandoned?" I knew that would get him, I knew he's had abandonment issues with Vidas. His father has been known to leave without notice and come back months or years later.  Something to do with SORUS I think. Whatever, I don't really care.

       He roared and lunged after me, only to be caught by Dawn. They argued. I really couldn't care what was being said between them anymore, I just sailed into the air and headed home. Those kids are such a headache.
       


 ******************** 
Hours later at my house.
     
       
       I was jarred awake by loud smacking on my window. "Inferno! (smack) (smack) INFERNO! (smack) (smack) (smack) Inferno! (smack) (smack) Infer –- OH! You're up! Inferno! We have a big problem!" Tiffin shouted through the other side of my window as I glared at him.

       I growled "Someone had better be dead."

       "It might come to that!" Tiffin breathed heavily. "Half of Haven is paralyzed!"

       I opened my window so Tiffin would stop fogging my glass with his face.  "Dawn said she was going to burn the mushrooms." I said confused. Tiffin looked equally confused that I knew about them.

       He blinked it off. "Vidas gave all of his friends the mushrooms he found this morning, and now everyone is paralyzed! We have to do something!" He said with passion shaking my shoulders.

       "First of all, get your paws off me." Tiffin quickly obeyed looking surprised with himself. "Secondly, why aren't you ridged? I thought you are one of Vidas' pals." I asked.

       "Mushrooms don't agree with my stomach. I gave mine to Flames."

       "FLAMES?!!! YOU MEAN FLAMES IS PARALYZED TOO?!!" I roared.

       Tiffin looked at me as if I was metal "Well yeah. Why else would I wake you up?"
  
       I slid down the side of my wall and put my head in my claws.  "Crap."

       Tiffin hung half his body in my window to look at me on the floor. "So what are we going to do?"

       My mind started racing. If the Dark Dragons get wind of this, we are sitting ducks. Crap. "Tiffin, this is really important, I need you to gather everyone that has been paralyzed and put them in Vidas's mannor."

       "Why?" He asked bewildered.

       "Because, it's easier to protect them that way." I said through my teeth. Tiffin was one of those guys who ask a question about everything.

       "Protect them? From what?" He asked. I just stared at him and let the wheels in his head turn. In seconds he came to realize what I feared. "Oh . . . right. Ok, I will do that. What about you? What are you going to do?" He asked.

       "Looks like I have to learn some new magic. . . I have to go see that old loony Elder Magus." I complained. I can't stand that geezer, but Flames adores him, maybe he will agree to help me for her sake.
       
       
 ************************
In the Dark Dragons lair

      
       "Lord Lakazo, a message from the border has arrived." My subordinate announced.
       Intrigued I let him live, otherwise killing him would have been my entertainment.  I nodded for him to read it.

         "A strange phenomenon has occurred in Haven. Half of the dragons have been unable to move for most of the day, it is unclear if it will last. They are being gathered by the furry one. Location unknown." The minion finished reading with a hungry look in his eye that mimicked the rest of the room.

       I looked to my number two. "Give the orders." I grinned to my room of howling Dark Dragons. "Haven will finally be ours."