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I didn&039;t really have on could be as quiet as a stealth boreen soared toward us, soundless, itsas flames licked its teeth My heart leapt into my throat and I nearly choked

The fire bombs struck it in the mouth, the chin, and the neck Ralph relentlessly threw the fire at the creature It flew higher into the sky, obviously pissed, trying to get out of range Throwing fire at a dragon didn&039;t seeons were fireproof Maybe vaon didn&039;t seeirl Up close, I could see her injuries were bad Her odd skin had slashes fros to shoulders, and several wounds were so deep I could see ether I could freak out later

"What can I do?" I unzipped my purse and took out my box of ipes I dabbed her face, wiped off her mouth, scrubbed her neck

"Please" Her voice was a mere whisper

From a side pocket, I pulled out ustatory sin I was a vegan But that didn&039;t hts of junk food

"I&039;m sorry" Tears crowded my eyes God, I felt so helpless She had to be in a lot of pain "It&039;s all I have I promise I don&039;t have cooties"

She smiled and I raised the bottle of soda to her mouth She drank some, but it took effort I could hear Ralph&039;s shouts, the constant roar of fire, and the growls of the blue dragon Their battle continued, but I feared this worasped ers Her red nails pierced the et my powers" She pulledlast requests, but kissing a girl? "I&039;h was hoarse "I promise I don&039;t have cooties"

She yanked ht that entered ht was "Seriously! No tongue!" And then I realized the kiss wasn&039;t a kiss There was nothing sexual about it

Fire shot froether I felt her fingertips against -into-the-sun hot

I was burning, burning

"Libby!"

Ralph&039;s voice sounded far away I couldn&039;t respond I couldn&039;t do anything but accept the fiery gift of the dragon

Then it was over

She collapsed to the ground, her hands falling away fro to draw in breath Energy pulsed at the base ofheat to every nerve ending It was al only the cleansing h e blurred my vision

My sto black liquid What had she done to s His white sneakers were battered andmy puddle of ick, and helped rabbed the box of wipes and yanked one out He cleaned my face, but the swipes were painful Every inch of ripped his wrist and he stopped wiping ed to whisper

"As soon as you and the other woman went inferno, the blue one took off"

"Howisshe?"

"She&039;s gone, honey," he said gently "Whatever she did to you, it was her last act on this Earth"

Soh h I had been subrayed I felt like I was sinking under the inky black of the cold ocean Drowning in it

I grabbed Ralph by the arms "Myp-parents"

"We&039;ll find theainst my forehead Electricity arced between us Ralph was thrust away froe-red flames I reached for him, tried to call his naly sank into the beckoning dark