by Koren Rabe
"Hmm."-aHe-asaid-aaloud,-alooking-aat-athe-adead-adeer.-a
"I-athink-aI'm-asupposed-ato-aremove-athe-aintestines-aor-asomething-alike-athat,-aright,-abefore-acooking?"-aHe-arubbed-aa-aclaw-aagainst-ahis-aforehead,-atrying-ato-aremember.-a
On-aEarth-ahe-ahad-abeen-aa-asimple-auniversity-agraduate.-aHe-aknew-aa-alot-aabout-amath-aand-aphysics,-ahad-aparticipated-ain-aa-acouple-adancing-aclubs-aon-acampus,-abut-ahe-ahad-ahardly-abeen-athe-atype-ato-ago-aout-acamping.-a
He-ashrugged,
"Whatever,-aI'm-aa-aDragon.-aIt'll-aprobably-abe-afine."-a
He-aturned-aaround-aand-atook-aone-aof-athe-alonger-abranches.-aHe-ashaved-athe-aends-aof-aeach-aside-ato-amake-ait-apointed,-ameasuring-ait-aso-ait-awas-aabout-athe-alength-abetween-athe-atwo-awooden-astakes-ain-athe-aground.-a
He-apoked-atwo-aholes-ain-athe-astakes,-amaking-asure-athey-awere-ahigh-aup,-aand-adouble-achecked-ato-abe-asure-athe-alast-apiece-aof-awood-acould-aconnect-athem.
He-athen-aturned-ato-alook-aat-athe-adeer,-alicking-ahis-alips.-a
"Time-ato-aget-acooking!"-a
..
WHOOSH
A-asmall-agust-aof-awind-ablasted-aoutward-aas-athe-aflying-aship-amade-aout-aof-amagic-adissipated,-afalling-ainto-anothingness.-a
William-alooked-aaround-athe-amountainside-athey-ahad-alanded-aon,-ahis-aeyes-acareful.-a
The-ajourney-ahere-ahad-ataken-aa-avery-ashort-atime.-aThe-aship-athe-aSpace-aWizard-ahad-acreated-awas-aable-ato-amove-athrough-aspace-aat-aan-aabnormally-afast-aspeed,-ablinking-athrough-athe-asky.-aIt-aalso-ahad-athe-aability-ato-ahide-athe-apresence-aof-athose-aon-aboard,-ameaning-ait-acould-abe-aflown-ain-adangerous-aareas.-a
They-ahad-atouched-adown-ain-athe-amiddle-aof-athe-amountains,-avery-aclose-ato-awhere-aWilliam-ahad-ahunted-adown-athat-aIronhide-aWolf.-a
According-ato-aOblong,-ait-awas-abecause-aof-athe-apresence-aof-aseveral-aGrandmaster-aClass-abeasts-alurking-ain-athe-aupper-aregion-aof-athe-amountain-apeaks,-aas-awell-aas-ahim-asensing-asomething-athrough-ahis-aFate-aMagic.-aLanding-adirectly-ain-athe-avalley-abetween-athe-ashattered-apeaks-awould-aprobably-alead-ato-athem-abeing-adetected-aand-aattacked-aeven-athrough-athe-aSpace-aMagic-aprotection-awhen-athey-awere-ahigh-ain-athe-asky.-aIt-awas-afar-asafer-ato-aland-aon-athe-aside-aof-aone-aof-athe-aempty-amountains.-a
They-acould-adeal-awith-athe-aattacks-aof-aseveral-aGrandmaster-aClass-abeasts-aif-athey-aneeded-ato.-aBut,-ait-awould-abe-amuch-asafer-aif-athey-acould-aavoid-athem,-aand-aif-athey-astarted-aa-aruckus-ait-amight-aalert-awhatever-aanomaly-athey-awere-atrying-ato-afind.-a
What-aexactly-athey-awere-alooking-afor-aOblong-ahadn't-amade-aclear-ato-aWilliam.-aJust-athat-athey-awould-aknow-ait-awhen-athey-asaw-ait.-a
It-aonly-atook-athem-aa-afew-ashort-aminutes-ato-areach-athe-avalley-awhere-aWilliam-ahad-afound-athe-aIronhide-aWolf.-aOnce-athey-areached-ait,-ahowever,-aOblong-ahad-acalled-athem-ato-aa-ahalt.-a
"Hmm…"-aThe-afat-aFate-aWizard-asat-aon-athe-aground,-arubbing-ahis-achin.-aA-alook-aof-acuriosity-acovered-ahis-aface.-a
"Has-aanything-anotable-ain-ahistory-ahappened-ain-athis-aarea-ain-athe-apast?"-aHe-aabruptly-aturned-ato-aWilliam.-a
William-awas-aslightly-ataken-aaback-aby-athe-aabrupt-aquestion.-aHe-athought-aabout-ait-ahard-abefore-acoming-aup-awith-aa-aresponse,
"Legend-ahas-ait-athat-aa-astray-ahunter-afound-aa-agreat-atreasure-ahere,-amore-athan-a800-ayears-aago.-aThere's-aalso-aa-alegend-athat-aa-agreat-aflood-aof-abeasts-arushed-afrom-athese-amountains-aafter-aa-ablinding-ameteor-acrashed-ahere,-aswarming-aand-aalmost-adestroying-athe-apredecessor-aof-aYor-aCity.-aIt's-apart-aof-athe-areason-afor-aYor-aCity's-agreat-awalls."-a
Oblong-apaid-aclose-aattention-aas-ahe-aspoke,-arubbing-ahis-achin-aa-asecond-atime.-aHe-aturned-ato-ahis-acompanion,
"I-adon't-alike-ait,-aGraxital.-aThere's-asomething-aweird-ahere,-aa-astrange-aaura-aof-adeath."
The-aBlack-aLightning-aWizard-ashrugged.-aHe-awas-acurrently-ascanning-athe-anearby-aarea,-akeeping-aon-aalert.-aThe-awarriors-athey'd-abrought-ahad-aset-aup-aa-asmall-aperimeter,-aprotecting-athem-afrom-aany-asurprises.-a
"We-acan't-aturn-aback-anow.-aWe'll-ajust-ahave-ato-apush-athrough."-aHis-avoice-awas-acool.-a
Oblong-astruggled-ato-ahis-afeet,-ahis-aportly-afigure-atrembling-aslightly.-aThe-aRoyal-aWizard-aAymon-awatched-athis-aall-adispassionately,-aa-aslight-ahint-aof-amockery-ain-ahis-aeyes.-a
"Yes,-abe-athat-aas-ait-amay-abe…"-aOblong-abegan,-amotioning-awith-ahis-ahands,-a"I-astill-athink-awe-ashould-amake-aour-apath-acarefully-aand-"-a
Before-ahe-acould-afinish-aspeaking,-ahowever,-aone-aof-athe-aMaster-aClass-aBlack-aIron-aGuards-arushed-aforward,-ahis-ahelmet-apulled-aup-ato-areveal-aa-aface-aof-aabsolute-aconfusion.-a
"Uh,-amilords."-aThe-aguard's-agruff-avoice-acut-aoff-athe-awizards-aas-ahe-abowed,-aand-athen-astood-aat-aattention.-a
"Yes-aman?"-aOblong-asaid,-ahis-avoice-agoing-aback-ato-aits-aregular-acheer.-a
"We…-auh-,-afound-asomething,-asir."-aHe-asaid,-astumbling-aover-ahis-awords.-a
"Found-asomething?-aWell,-awhat-ais-ait?-aDon't-ajust-aleave-aus-aat-athat,-aman."-aGraxital-abroke-ain,-aa-alook-aof-aannoyance-aon-ahis-aface.-a
"Uh-…-aum,-aI--aI-adon't-aknow-ahow-ato-adescribe-ait.-aYou'll-aneed-ato-asee-afor-ayourself-asir."-aThe-aman-awiped-aa-asheen-aof-asweat-afrom-ahis-aforehead,-amotioning-abehind-ahim,-awhere-aa-asmall-atrail-aof-asmoke-awas-arising-ainto-athe-aair.-a
..
"
"Careful-aSalum."-aGaia-amuttered,-astroking-aher-aBlood-aWolf-aslowly-aas-ait-achomped-adown-aon-athe-acorpse-abefore-aher.-aShe-agazed-aat-ait-alovingly.-a
A-alarge,-a3-ameter-aBlue-aFurred-aApe-alay-aon-athe-aground,-adead,-ared-ablood-aflowing-afrom-aits-abody-ainto-athe-ahuge-awolf.-aA-astrange-ared-aaura-aseemed-ato-amerge-athe-atwo-abeings-atogether,-agiving-athem-aan-aodd,-aunholy-aappearance.-a
They-acurrently-astood-ain-athe-amidst-aof-athe-aNebra-aMountains,-avery-aclose-ato-aa-apair-aof-aoddly-ashattered-apeaks.-aAn-aeerie-aair-afilled-athis-amountain-arange,-amaking-aboth-aher-aand-aBrutus-ashiver.-aSomething-aunnatural,-asomething-adeathly-ahad-ahappened-ahere.-a
Blood-aMagic,-athe-amagic-athat-aall-aof-aher-akind-aused,-awas-aincredibly-adiverse,-awith-amany-adifferent-aapplications.-aThere-awere-aso-amany-abranches-athat-ait-awas-acalled-aa-avirtually-aunlimited-atype-aof-amagic.-a
Even-athe-ahumans-astudied-ablood-amagic,-aseeking-ato-aunlock-aits-amysteries.-aThey-awere-ano-amatch-afor-anobles-alike-athemselves,-ahowever.-aTheir-apitiful-askill-awas-anothing-anext-ato-amasters-alike-aherself.-a
"It's-ajust-aa-aBlood-aWolf."-aBrutus'-avoice-acrudely-acut-ainto-athe-amoment,-aruining-aGaia's-aquiet-aappreciation-aof-aSalum.-a
Gaia-aspun-aaround,-aglaring-aat-athe-ahulking-avampire.-aHer-aeyes-aspat-adaggers-aat-ahim-aas-ashe-aresponded,
"Salum-ais-aa-abeautiful-aboy,-afar-amore-athan-ajust-aa-aBlood-aWolf.-aHe-ais-amore-adeserving-aof-alove-athan-ayou,-aBrutus."-aHer-aeyes-atook-aon-aan-aunhinged-alook-aas-ashe-aresponded,-aa-adangerous-aaura-astarting-ato-arise-aaround-aher.-aSmall-alines-aof-ared-alight-abegan-ato-ahover-aaround-aher-aarms-aand-ahands.-a
Brutus-agrinned-aas-ahe-asaw-athis,
"You-awant-ato-ago-aat-ait-aagain-anow,-aGaia?"-aHe-aclapped-ahis-ahands-atogether.-aImmediately,-atwo-ablood-ared-agauntlets-aappeared,-agleaming-abrightly-ain-athe-amidmorning-alight.-a
A-alook-aof-afury-aappeared-aon-athe-afemale-avampire's-aface-aas-ashe-astruggled-ato-acontrol-aher-aemotions.-aSlowly,-ashe-atook-aa-adeep-abreath,-arolling-aher-aeyes-aas-ashe-aturned-aback-ato-alook-aat-aSalum,-aa-asour-alook-aon-aher-aface.-a
"We'll-aeat-amore-alater,-aSalum.-aLet's-akeep-amoving."-aShe-asaid,-astroking-athe-aBlood-aWolf-aonce-amore.-aIt-aslowly-agot-aup,-amoving-aaway-afrom-athe-acorpse-aof-athe-aMaster-aClass-abeast.-a
She-agave-aBrutus-aone-amore-aglare-abefore-afollowing-athe-awolf-aas-ait-aheaded-ainto-athe-avalley-abetween-athe-atwo-ashattered-apeaks,-awhere-aa-alone,-aplume-aof-asmoke-arose-ainto-athe-asky.-a
..
Drago
-agrinned-ain-adelight,-awiping-aoff-ahis-aclaws-ain-athe-anearby-ariver.-a
Making-aa-aspit-ahad-aturned-aout-aexactly-aas-ahe-awanted,-aand-acreating-aa-afire-ahad-abeen-aeven-aeasier.-aHe-alooked-aback-aat-athe-aroasting-adeer-acorpse,-asalivating-aalready.-a
The-asizzling-afat,-athe-ataste-aof-awarm,-acooked-ameat-arolling-aon-ahis-atongue,-athe-ajuices-amelting-ain-ahis-amouth…
He-acould-aalready-aimagine-ait.-aHe-adid-aa-ahappy-alittle-adance-aas-ahe-awalked-aaround-athe-afire,-apleased,-ahis-aluscious-agreen-ascales-aglimmering-ain-athe-asunlight.-a
"I-adon't-ahave-aany-aseasoning-aor-asauce…"-aHe-amuttered,-ascratching-ahis-ahead.-aHe-atook-aa-abrief-aglance-aaround,-afailing-ato-afind-aanything-athat-alooked-alike-aa-aseasoning-aor-asauce.-a
And,-aif-ahe-awas-aperfectly-ahonest,-ahe-ahad-ano-aidea-awhat-atype-aof-aplant-awould-aact-aas-aa-aseasoning.-aWere-aseasonings-aeven-amade-afrom-aplants?-aParsley-awas,-ahe-aknew-athat.-aBut-awhat-awas-asalt-amade-afrom?-a
…salt?
He-ashrugged-aagain,-ablaming-ahis-alack-aof-ainterest-ain-acooking-aor-achemistry.-aIf-ahe'd-aknown-ahe-awas-agoing-ato-abe-areborn-ain-aanother-aworld-awhere-amagic-aexists,-ahe-awould-ahave-aprepared-amuch-amore-aextensively.-aIt's-anot-alike-ahe-aasked-ato-abe-ahere.-a
*sizzle*
A-asizzling-asound-awoke-aDrago-afrom-ahis-athoughts,-athe-adeer-aon-athe-awooden-aspit-aroasting-asmoothly.-aHe-awalked-aup-ato-athe-aspit,-aturning-athe-adeer-aover.-a
"Should-aI-ahave-aremoved-athe-askin?"-aHe-aqueried,-adeciding-athe-anext-atime-ahe-acooked-ahe-awould-atry-athat-ain-athe-afuture.-a
As-ahe-awatched-athe-ameat-acook-aon-athe-afire,-ahe-aleaned-aback-afor-aa-amoment.-aHe-afelt-alike-ahe-awas-ain-aa-acowboy-awestern,-aliving-aout-aon-athe-aAmerican-afrontier.-aCooking-afood-ain-athe-awilds-aof-athe-awilderness,-afar-aand-aaway-afrom-acivilization.-a
While-athe-aWild-aWest-adidn't-aexactly-ahave-adragons-ain-ait,-athe-aimage-astill-afilled-aDrago's-amind.-a
A-atune-aof-aa-asong-ahe'd-aheard-arecently,-aon-aEarth,-arose-aup-ain-ahis-amind.-aHe-aslowly-abegan-ato-ahum-ait,-atapping-ahis-aclawed-afoot-ato-athe-abeat.-a
..
A-ahundred-ameters-aaway,-athe-agroup-aof-ahuman-amages-aand-awarriors-aslowly-acrept-athrough-athe-aunderbrush,-asneaking-aabout.-aSoon,-athey-areached-aan-aopening-ain-athe-atrees,-awhere-athey-acould-apeer-ainto-athe-acenter-aof-athe-avalley,-awhere-athe-ariver-aran-athrough.-a
Near-athe-acenter-aof-athe-avalley,-athe-agroup-acould-amake-aout-aa-asmall-agreen-adragon,-astanding-anext-ato-awhat-aappeared-ato-abe-aa-alarge-adeer-acooking-aover-aa-afire.-a
"Halt!"-aGraxital-awhispered-afiercely,-astaring-aat-athe-asmall-adragon-ain-aconfusion.-aWilliam-afroze-awith-ahim,-ahis-aheart-apounding-anervously.-a
"Do-ayou-ahear-athat?"-aGraxital-aheld-ahis-ahand-aup,-amotioning-aat-ahis-aears,-aand-athen-atowards-athe-acenter-aof-athe-avalley.-a
William-astrained-ahis-aears,-alistening-aas-abest-ahe-acould.-aVaguely,-ahe-acould-amake-aout-aan-aodd-astring-aof-anoises…-acoming-afrom-athe-asmall-agreen-ascaled-adragon.-a
"Country-aroooads…-aTake-ame-ahoooome…-aTo-athe-aplaaaace!-aI-abeloooong!"-aAn-aodd-abut-amelodious-avoice-acontinued,-aechoing-ain-athe-asmall-avalley,-aseemingly-acoming-afrom-athe-asame-asmall-adragon-abefore-atheir-aeyes,
"West-aVirginiaaa!-aMountain-aMamaaaa!-aTake-ame-ahoooome!"
Oblong-astared-aat-athe-asmall-adragon-awith-aan-aunknown-alook-ain-ahis-aeyes,-aboth-ahis-ahands-aheld-aout-ain-athe-aair-agiving-aoff-aa-asense-aof-aloss,
"Is-ait…-asinging?"
###-aChapter-a13-a--aGodly-aDragon
Gaia-astood-astill,-aher-ahead-atilting-ato-athe-aside-aas-ashe-alooked-aat-athe-aodd,-atiny-agreen-adragon-astanding-aat-athe-acenter-aof-athe-avalley.-aHer-ahand-alay-aresting-aon-aher-aBlood-aWolf,-astroking-ahis-ashoulder-asoftly.-a
She-aturned-aaround-aand-alooked-aat-aBrutus.-a
She-athen-aturned-aand-alooked-aback-aat-aDrago.
And-athen-aback-aat-aBrutus.-a
And-athen-aback-aat-aDrago.-a
"That-ais-aone-aof-athe-abeings-athat-ahas-atwisted-aFate?-aThat-acaused-aHighlord-aMarcus-ato-asend-aout-aa-ahunting-aorder?"-aGaia's-astatement-awas-amore-aof-aa-aquestion,-aher-avoice-afilled-awith-aincredulity-aas-ashe-akept-astroking-aSalum's-ashoulder.
"If-athe-awolf-aled-aus-ahere,-athat-asounds-alike-aa-asafe-aguess."-aBrutus-aresponded,-astaring-aat-athe-asmall,-aweird-adragon-awith-aa-abored-alook.-aEven-afrom-athis-adistance,-ahe-acould-afeel-athat-ait-awas-aa-aweak-acreature.-aHe-acould-aprobably-adefeat-ait-awith-aa-asingle-ablow,-aunless-ait-awas-ahiding-asome-asecret-apower.-a
"Is-ait…-acooking-aa-adeer-aover-aa-afire?"-aHer-avoice-awas-adeadpan,-aalmost-aemotionless.-aHer-aeyes,-ahowever,-awere-acompletely-aserious.-a
"Seems-alike."-aBrutus-agrunted,-asupremely-aunconcerned.-a
"And-anow-ait's-asinging?"-aShe-acontinued,-aher-aeyes-alocked-aonto-athe-asmall-adragon.-aDrago's-asinging-avoice-acarried-aquietly-athrough-athe-avalley,-ajoyfully-aspreading-ahis-alove-aof-aWest-aVirginia.-a
"Yep."-aBrutus-areplied,-arubbing-ahis-achin.-a
"And-anow…-ait's-adancing?"-aGaia-ablinked,-aand-athen-alooked-adown-aat-aher-ahands,-apinching-aherself.-a
"Energetic-alittle-afella."-aBrutus-ashrugged.-a
Gaia-aturned-aand-aglared-aat-ahim,-arolling-aher-aeyes-ain-aannoyance,-a"Would-ait-akill-ayou-ato-ashow-ainterest-ain-aanything?"-a
Brutus-agave-aher-aa-agrin,-ashowing-athe-awhite-aof-ahis-apointed,-avampiric-ateeth.-a
"I-ahave-aquite-aa-afew-ainterests.-aWhat-awould-ayou-acare-ato-alearn-aabout?"-aHe-awas-aabout-ato-acontinue,-agiving-aher-aa-aleer-afilled-agrin,-abut-aabruptly-agrew-acompletely-aserious,-ahis-ahead-awhipping-ato-athe-anorth.-a
Gaia-afroze-aas-awell,-aturning-aher-ahead-ato-athe-aopposite-aside-aof-athe-avalley,-aher-aeyes-anarrowing.-a
"Humans."-a
..
"It's-aso-atasty!"-aDrago-adid-aa-alittle-ahappy-adance,-ahis-atiny-adragon-afeet-apitter-pattering-aas-ahe-aran-aaround-athe-afire-ain-ahappiness.-aEvery-alittle-athing,-aeven-athe-asmall-athings,-aseemed-ato-abe-aso-amuch-afuller-aafter-ahe-alet-ago-aof-ahis-aworries-athe-aother-anight.-a
He-awas-acurrently-amunching-aon-aan-aentire-aroast-adeer-athigh.-aIt-awas-ameaty-aand-awell-acooked,-athe-ainsides-amelting-awith-ajuices.-aThe-aflavors-arolled-aover-ahis-atongue-aas-ahe-asank-ahis-ateeth-ainto-athem,-athe-afat-asizzling-ain-ahis-amouth.-a
"It's-aSO-agood!"-aTears-aof-ajoy-acame-ainto-ahis-aeyes.-a
It-ahad-atruly-abeen-aa-along-atime-asince-ahe-atasted-asomething-aas-agood-aas-athis.-aEven-awhen-ahe-awas-aeating-aother-abeasts-aas-aa-aRed-aSalamander,-awhere-ahis-ataste-abuds-ahad-aadapted-afor-araw-ameat-aand-adelighted-ain-ablood,-athere-awas-aa-acertain-amental-alimit-aDrago-aplaced.-a
As-asomeone-awith-aa-ahuman-amindset,-ahe-ajust-acouldn't-afully-aenjoy-aeating-araw-ablood-aand-ameat.-a
But-athis-adeer-athigh…-ait-awas-awell-acooked…-ajuicy-aand-adelicious…-athe-agreatest-athing-ahe-ahad-aeaten-asince-ahe-acame-ato-aexist-ain-athis-aworld.-a
Drago-alooked-aup-aat-athe-asky-aand-athen-aat-athe-adeer-athat-awas-astill-aroasting-aon-athe-aspit.-aHe-abowed-aslightly,-ashowing-ahis-arespect.-a
It-awas-aright-aafter,-ahowever,-athat-ahe-anoted-athe-apresence-aof-aseveral-ahuman-abeings-awalking-atowards-ahim,-acausing-ahim-ato-ainstantly-ago-aon-aalert.-a
..
"Hey-alittle-aguy!"-aOblong-amotioned-awith-ahis-ahands-ain-aa-anon-threatening-away,-akeeping-ahis-avoice-aand-atone-adown.-a
After-aobserving-athe-asmall-agreen-adragon,-ahe-acould-atell-ait-awasn't-avery-apowerful.-aWizards-awere-avery-asensitive-ato-athe-astrength-aof-aother-abeings,-aand-acould-ausually-atell-aif-aa-abeing-ahad-aa-astronger-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-athan-athem.-a
He'd-aalso-acast-aa-avery-afast-aFate-acantrip,-adesigned-ato-agleam-ageneral-ainformation-aabout-aa-abeing.-aFrom-athat,-ahe-adiscovered-athat-athe-acreature-awas-avery-ayoung-afor-aa-adragon,-athough-ahis-aspell-aresults-ahad-athrown-ahim-aslightly.-aThe-adragon-a
was-aeither-aa-arelatively-asmall-anumber-aof-adays-aold,-aor-aaround-atwenty-ato-atwenty-afive-ayears-ain-aage,-ahis-aspell-acouldn't-aseem-ato-adecide.-a
It-awas-athe-acurse-aof-aFate-aMagic,-ahe'd-athought,-ashaking-ahis-ahead-ain-aexasperation.-aAny-aspell-athat-atried-ato-aunravel-aFate-awas-abound-ato-abe-adifficult-ato-aunderstand,-aespecially-athe-aless-ainformation-ayou-ahad-aabout-asomeone-aor-asomething.-a
Still,-athe-abeast-abefore-athem-awas-adefinitely-aodd,-aand-adefinitely-ayoung,-aand-ahis-amagic-aindicated-athat-aFate-aaround-ait-awas-atwisted.-aIt-awas-athe-atarget-athey-awere-alooking-afor.-a
He-amotioned-awith-ahis-ahands-aagain,-athis-atime-ain-aa-agentle-awaving-agesture,-aindicating-afor-athe-aguards-ato-astep-aforward-aand-astart-ato-aencircle-athe-adragon.-aThey-acouldn't-ahave-ait-aescaping.-a
Graxital-akept-aa-aclose-awatch-aon-athe-abeast,-ahis-ahands-abehind-ahis-aback-agathering-aa-asmall-aball-aof-ablack-aenergy.-a
The-aRoyal-aWizard-aAymon,-ameanwhile,-awatched-aeverything-adispassionately,-astaying-aat-athe-aback-aof-athe-agroup.-aHe-adidn't-aseem-ato-atrust-aanything-aabout-athe-aappearance-aof-athe-abeast-abefore-ahim,-aprobably-asomething-athat-acame-afrom-aexperience.-a
"Just-arelax,-awe're-ajust-ahere-ato-acome-atalk.-aLet's-abe-afriends!"-aOblong-acontinued-ababbling-anonsense,-afocusing-aon-ahis-atone.-aNo-aone-ahere-awas-afluent-ain-aDraconic,-aand-awhile-awhatever-athe-adragon-awyrmling-ahad-abeen-asinging-awasn't-ain-aDraconic,-ait-acertainly-awasn't-ain-aa-alanguage-ahe-aunderstood.-a
The-asmall-agreen-adragon-astood-afrozen,-araising-aa-ahalf-aeaten-adeer-athigh-ato-aits-amouth-aas-ait-astared-aback-aat-athe-aapproaching-ahumans.-aIt-aseemed-alike-ait-awas-aabout-ato-abolt,-aits-abody-astarting-ato-atremble.-a
"William."-aOblong-asaid,-aturning-ahis-aeyes-ato-athe-aside-abriefly.-aThe-ayoung-aWood-aMagic-aWizard-ahad-aproven-aadaptable-aand-acalm,-aeven-awhen-afaced-awith-asurprises.-aOblong-ahad-abeen-aquite-aimpressed-awith-ahis-aperformance-athus-afar.
In-aaddition,-aWood-aMagic-awas-atruly-aa-aversatile-aand-auseful-atype-aof-amagic.