Kat's eyes ran over the outline within the glassy surface trying to figure out what it was. She was stunned. That thing was huge, the shape indefinite.
Sam set up his recorder and pulled out digging tools. "What are you waiting for? We've got to find out what the hell that is."
"No we don't." Rina protested, she was tried, cold and hungry. Why should she do this for no good reason.
"Suit yourself." The twins said at the same time. Sam used a pick axe to deal with the top while Kat dug straight on with the small shovel. Her strength was impressive to say the least.
After ten minutes of watching the two get nowhere, Rina picked herself up, as well as a tool and joined the cause. There was nothing better to do and she needed a distraction from the stormy sounds outside.
"You think its what that Rigdewood guy is searching for?" Sam asked.
"Probably, we could sell it you know?" Kat replied simply, "Make some solid cash."
"Look at the size, even through frozen water." He grinned.
Rina didn't say much other than reminding them it could be something very useless.
Two hours and three feet later they struck something; large and deep black. They didn't touch it but instead continued digging. The object slowly came to proper view. First a torso then back legs followed by a large spiky tail. The dug in the other way and found sharp claws, till at last; the chest, the neck and the head.
Rina shrieked dropping her shovel immediately and running behind Sam.
The beast was still unconscious, probably dead, frost still clung to some parts of its body.
"Kat, I think that's a dragon." Sam said raising his pickaxe for defence.
She held up a hand so they remained quiet. Her eyes didn't leave the creature they just dug up. This couldn't be real. Her heartbeat doubled, excitement warming her up. With this that Rigdewood might pay them millions. She took off her gloves. Taking an axe. She ran a hand along the scales from the head to the neck.
Her mind still unable to process it. 'You're gonna make me rich.' She reached the chest and let her touch linger, unknowingly she was emitting warmth and heat. A thud vibrated through her hands.
She staggered back in disbelief.
Her eyes widened as they heard a growl echo through the enclosed space. Kat took a few steps back.
The dragon slowly got up, breaking of some chunks of the ice that held it, fixing all of them with a piercing gaze of eyes that could simply be called molten gold. It snarled at Kat, eyeing her weapon. It crouched down, snapping its jaws ready to pounce.
Kat stood still, looking so composed on the outside when on the inside, they never taught us how to handle dragon... crap, crap, crap! What do I do?
And that's the best description of inner turmoil at this point. She stared the beast straight in the eye, gathering courage.
'Bring it on snake eyes.'
The beast simply swayed, or what looked like such, and fell back to the ground.
They all stood shocked and speechless until, a bright yellow light surrounded the dragon. They shield their eyes and opened up ince the glare had subsided.
In place of the dragon lay a boy. Handsome with fading blond hair and pale skin. Also he was half dressed. Rina and Kat struggled not too feel to awkward. He was unconscious anyway.
Sam ran to cover the guy with his coat. "Kat, some hot water and small blankets from the bag."
His sister nodded and came back with the items in no time.
The guy was still breathing, thank goodness. But the state he was in was terrible on its own. Bare from the waist up, his pants were shreds and he looked like a ghost. The thing Kat really noticed was a necklace around his neck.
"Is he going to be okay?" Rina asked.
"I think." Kat said resting her palm on his chest. There was a steady beat. Her hand moved on to the necklace.
"The real question is, did this guy just shapeshift from a dragon?" Sam ran to his precious camera.
There was a loud gasp as the strange boy woke up and tried to tackle Kat who evaded in time. She went in for a submission but he avoided. It ended with her holding a pickaxe to him
"Stay back." She warned.
"I should be telling you that." He growled, a hand around the necklace the rest just noticed. "Who are you people?" Before they could reply, "are you villagers?" He turned to Kat, clearly stunned at the way she had matched him. "You don't fight like a villager."
She ignored his comment. "What's your name?"
"I asked you first."
Kat got irritated quickly, he was talking like a seventeenth century movie. "Talk."
He drew himself to full height with pride and cool, he didn't care how undignified his clothes. "I am prince Dante, heir to the throne of Valour."
"What?" Sam exclaimed. His brain was screaming ideas. "You're a prince?"
"You asked about my name, I answered, now tell me what I need to know."
"You were frozen in ice, wierdo." Kat said bored of him already. She wondered how much she could charge Ridgewood.
"Kat!" Sam and Rina exclaimed.
"It's the truth."
"You're horrible." Dante scoffed.
"You're one to talk for almost killing us."
"Ignore her." Sam told him. "What's the last thing you remember Dante?"
"Bloody hell!" He groaned. "I'm a prince, I'm heir to a throne, what more explanation do you need?"
"Much more unless you want us to leave you to freeze here." Kat walked up to him. They were almost the same height, he had just a few inches to his advantage but her eyes spoke more than her words. She could see he needed them but if he didn't talk they abandon him.
"Rina, Kat, I think he's from the past." Sam pointed at the necklace. "Its old, like old, old."
"What do you mean, I'm from the past?"
"That sounds crazy." Kat added.
"Think of it." Sam told her. He turned to Dante. "Do you know the queen of England?"
"Queen of where?" Dante raised a brow.
"Give us a minute." Kat dragged the other two to another part of the cave where they discussed in very hushed tones.
"Can we believe he's a prince? That comes first." She began.
"He talks like one." Rina said
"What about the dragon thing? And how does he speak modern English."
"If he stays with us we'll find out more." Sam told her.
"I say we hand him to Ridgewood." Kat grinnned wickedly hoping for support. "He's worth a lot."
"That's not nice." Sam frowned.
"He's confused and innocent we have to help him." Rina said pleading.
Kat sighed. That way it was settled. They would take this kid back for the meantime but she would find someway to convince the others that him staying was bad news.