16
The beach goers had long gone home and all was quiet save for the soft lap of the waves against the sand. I stumbled along the beach with my eyes to the twinkling sky and reached the edge of the water. A dark shape blotted out the stars far above me, but I recognized the gray wings of a grayscale dragon.
I cupped my hands over my mouth and took in a lot of air. “Caius! Over here!”
The shadow paused for a moment before it dove down. Caius splash-landed in the water a few feet ahead of me and rushed through the waves. I offered him a smile, but he swept me up in a tight hug.
His body shook as he nuzzled his face into the nape of my neck. “Is it you? Is it really you?”
I laughed and returned the hug, though not so tight. “I’m not a ghost.”
Caius drew us apart and looked me u
