12. Winter

Winter had finally come, although just barely, but Brinn would still go out once in a while to check snares carefully set for snow hare.  Regal went with her, bounding through the snow.

          Brinn never had to worry these days about dangerous animals, as long as no other dragons came around.  One day a wolf came around a rock in front of them.  Regal snorted and the wolf was gone.  He had no plans to argue with a dragon.

          Even though it wasn't as cold as normal and the snow was only about two feet deep, it was still nicer inside these days.  Brinn learned how to set broken bones, how to make an onion poultice for chest congestion, and how to properly stitch up a bad cut.  That was fairly easy after her sewing experience, though some of the knots were different.

          One day Brinn noticed that the healer had spent quite a bit of time studying out of one particular book.

          "What are you going over, if I may ask?"

          "I'm glad you did ask."  Talsha flipped back a couple of pages. "I should include you in my thoughts.  This winter has been the warmest one we have had in quite some time.  Springs that follow mild winters tend to produce many insects, especially if we get our fair share of spring rains.  You do know that many diseases are carried by insects?"

          Brinn nodded.  "My mother told me about Malaria going around when she was a child.  Some of her friends died."

          "Yes, I remember that plague.  Many people died.  Your mother was lucky.  That is exactly what I am afraid we will have to face this summer."

          "Malaria?" asked Brinn, more than a little worried.

          "There are many different diseases we could see.  I think now would be a good time to learn about them."

          Through many cold winter days Brinn spent much of her time learning these diseases and coping down their symptoms and cures into her notebook.  One disease caught her attention, sea bird fever.

          "There is a special complication with that one," Talsha informed her.  "Although it is easy to treat when caught early, the plant whose leaves we need is found only on Lonely Island as far as I know.  Volcano Thistles like the ground around old volcanoes and, since that is how the island was formed, they do very well there."

          Lonely Island was off the southern coast of Sea View.  Hardly anyone went there because the waves and the currents between the island and the mainland had caused many problems to brave sailors.  Even worse were the rocks around the island.  There was no safe place to bring a boat onto shore.  The sharp volcanic rocks that surrounded the island would sink any boat that tried.  A promising young sailor had tried to make the trip just last year. A storm blew in and he was never heard from again.

          Brinn made a note in her book and went on.

          While Brinn's knowledge grew, Regal grew in size.  He was now as tall as Brinn.  Brinn also noticed that Regal seemed to understand her and she could sometimes sense how he felt.  She was on a walk with him the week before when suddenly she felt frightened.  She had hardly ever felt frightened since she had been in the mountains.  When she turned around, she saw Regal looking into the trees.  Then he looked at her and moved into a thicket.  Brinn felt a strong urge to follow so she did.

          Almost as soon as Brinn was covered, a group of men out hunting came into view.  Brinn didn't recognize any of them and was glad Regal had warned her.

          Brinn told Talsha about the hunters when she got back.

        "Hmmm… I think the two of you should stay around the house for awhile," the healer told her.  "I don't want either of you mistaken for prey."

          During her free moments, when Regal and Mousy weren't out hunting, Brinn would lay on Regal's back and study her notes.  Her quilt and his body heat would keep her warm.

          One day, on her way to chop ice at the stream to get water, Regal stopped in front of Brinn.  He looked at her and and lowered his shoulder. She realized he was offering her a ride.

 "Are you sure?"  She put her hands out and started rubbing his shoulder.  He snorted and bumped her closer with his nose.  "Fine.  Just don't dump me off."

It was wonderful!  She fit comfotably with her legs right in front of his wings.  His walk was more rolling than when she rode her horse, more like riding in one of Pell's boats over the waves.  Brinn couldn't help but wonder if she was the only person to have ever ridden a dragon.  She would have to check into that sometime.