Flame Song awoke the next morning with Aidan snuggled comfortably around her, his arm draped over her. He was warm, but it was a bit eerie to not be able to feel or hear him breathing. Usually when she woke like this his breath was tickling the back of her neck. “Aidan? Are you awake?”

“Hmmm?” he relied muzzily.

“You know it’s a little weird to be laying here with somebody who isn’t breathing. I’m used to having you breathing down my neck in the morning.”

“This better?” Aidan said, and blew a warm breath over her neck. She giggled.

“That tickles.”

“Mmmmmm,” was Aidan’s only response.

The house was silent. Littlespark was still asleep, probably tired out after chasing the rabbit around in the middle of the night. Flame Song twisted around and kissed Aidan again. “Spark is still sleeping you know.”

Aidan yawned. “Sorry.” His eyes had closed again. “Sun’s up, too tired, ‘l take a rain check.”

She smiled. It had taken forever for her to get used to some of the odd sayings that Aidan had gotten from Earth but she knew what that one meant. She got up and got dressed for the day. Aidan’s new nocturnal habits could get to be a nuisance, but she didn’t really mind. So she spent the day around the house while Aidan slept. She wrote a letter to Tara, the Dragon Queen, telling her their story and asking if she could send an amulet for Aidan. With the snow now on the ground she wouldn’t be able to send the letter until spring thaw, when the passes opened, but she wanted it to be ready to go as soon as possible. She played with Littlespark and fed her. She was starting to eat solid foods now, and gaining an increasing vocabulary of simple words. About noon she started to nod off, and Flame Song put her down for a nap.

She tiptoed out of the spare bedroom and into the room where Aidan was sleeping. “Aidan?”

He opened one eyes and said, “Yes?”

“Spark is down for a nap, so I thought we might use that rain check of yours.”

His eyes were closed again and he didn’t answer. With a smile and a sigh Flame Song lay down on the bed next to him and curled up. Oh well, she thought. I could use a nap after last night anyhow.

And so their days went by. Finding it nearly impossible to get Aidan to be coherent during the day, Flame Song and Littlespark gradually switched to a more nocturnal schedule. Aidan seemed to finally be coming to terms with his new existence, though at times he would still sink into depression. The winter passed slowly, and the long dark days came. The sun would barely lighten the sky but did not rise about the horizon. The cold deepened, and even Flame Song with her thick furry coat ventured out no more than she had to. Aidan got better at hunting, keeping all three fed with a combination of vampiric speed and the power of flight. He could surprise prey from above and would usually take his own meal then and there to avoid having to eat in front of Flame Song. He was adjusting to this life, but he still wanted to protect her from all aspects of it as much as possible.

At long last the sun peeked above the horizon. Gradually the days began to lengthen. The weather was still bitingly cold, but spring would come soon. Then the temperature began to rise and the snow began to soften and melt. Flame Song kept an eye on the distant mountains, and when the solid white began to show streaks of the gray stone beneath, she knew that the pass would soon be open.

She dug the letter she had written out and handed it to Aidan. “What’s this?” he asked.

“It’s a letter to the Dragon Queen, explaining our situation and asking if she can send us an amulet. Could you fly it over to Coppertop tonight and see that it’s mailed to her as soon as possible?”

“Yes sir!” He gave her a mock salute.

She laughed. “Get going then!”

Saluting again, he spun around sharply and marched out the door. Flame Song grinned at his retreating figure. He was starting to act like his old self again. She hoped this was a good sign. It was hard to see him when he was depressed.

It wasn’t too long before Aidan returned. “I had a bit of a time getting it mailed. Mysteria needs mail slots you can just put a letter thought anytime. I finally found someplace open that could send it on to Snowcap. They were a little suspicious of me. I guess Belak wasn’t lying when he said that the dwarves aren’t comfortable with me anymore.” He sighed. “But in any case it’s now on its way. The fellow I spoke with said the first spring caravan would be going out tomorrow, so we had good timing.”

“Well, now we just have to wait, I guess.”