text: Walter returned to the cavern, back into the main room. Benvolio stretched out on the cavern floor, head down. “Everything ok Buddy?” Walter looked at Benvolio’s posture and face, there was something very familiar in the expression, though he hadn’t seen in on a dragon before. Benvolio bobbed his snout up and down. “I have a theory, but I must consult the author of the book.” Benvolio explained. “Would you be agreeable to a bit of a flight?” “Um, flight?” Walter asked. Walter realized that in this place, with this company, a flight didn’t mean some cramped airline seats and half a can of soda. “We need to travel a dozen leagues.” “That makes sense.” Walter replied. Benvolio nudged the book with his tail. Walter nodded and put the book in his backpack. They walked towards the entrance of the cave. Benvolio crouched down. Walter looked apprehensively at him, then braved the conversation. “So, you want me to ride you? Would it be uncomfortable to you?” Walter rubbed the back of his head. Benvolio snorted a laugh, smoke spilling out of his nostrils. “Oh, of course not. You will be no burden at all for me to carry on my back, though we will need to find a way to secure you to prevent you from falling off.” Benvolio explained. Walter rummaged through his sack, finding some rope. “That will do.” Benvolio replied. Walter was thankful that his love of hiking and the outdoors had left him nimbler than most men his age. He had some light arthritis, but nothing unbearable. He managed his way up onto Benvolio’s back, then the two of them worked together to fashion the rope around Benvolio and Walter so that Walter was secured up there. Walter, like any self-respecting suburban dad, had mastered the art of tying Christmas trees to the roof of his car, so he hoped the skills would translate. Plummeting to his death in a strange world seemed like an unpleasant way to die. “Are you ready?” Benvolio asked. Walter looked down, truly taking in how steep a drop it was from the side of the mountain where they were. He closed his eyes and thought about Sam begging him for piggyback rides. Walter felt a bit embarrassed, but then resolved that instead of him being a grown man getting a piggyback ride, he was a mighty dragon rider. “Onward!” he called out, as if trying to convince himself. Benvolio backed up a few paces, then began charging towards the edge. Walter let out a high-pitched scream as Benvolio leapt off the side of the mountain. For the span of a breath, they were falling. Walter clung to the rope, still wailing like a banshee. Then Benvolio’s wings unfurled, the force of the wind catching them, and they were aloft. Walter’s scream of terror transformed into a triumphant cry. The only Earthly thing Walter could even remotely compare it to was riding a roller coaster. Benvolio glided on the air, he swooped lower for a moment, just a few yards above the tops of the trees. The gust of the wind kicked up thousands of tiny pink flowers. Walter craned his neck to see the jet stream of flower petals trailing behind them. Walter closed his eyes, feeling the rush of air in his hair and on his cheeks. He smiled, basking in the moment. After a few hours, the sun dipped down towards the horizon. Benvolio began his descent, spotting a nearby clearing where they could land. Walter held on tightly, and Benvolio gracefully landed in a large meadow. Walter untied himself and stretched his legs. He took a drink from his canteen, and then pulled out a stick of jerky. “Want some?” Walter outstretched his hand, as he made the gesture it occurred to him that the tiny stick of jerky was probably not very enticing to such a massive creature. Benvolio carefully pinched the offering between his claws, thanking Walter before taking a bite. “Most tasty indeed. Though let us make haste. The village is about a quarter of a league up ahead.” “Will we meet the author there?” Walter asked. “In a way,” Benvolio paused. “Andromeda Chronos is deceased, so first we must visit someone with the ability to talk to the dead.” Benvolio explained.