by Marc Secchia
Everdeep nudged him fondly. You’ll remember all those waves first time around, right?
Eh … I’ll try?
He could not feel his paws. Sisters? Brothers? Relatives covering the beach?
Too much!
His befuddlement must have communicated all too clearly, for Sirensong spent a few minutes chatting to Aria and Azania before returning to him with eager joy. Her wings spread over him with great longing; they nuzzled for the umpteenth time, breathing in the wonder of being together at last.
Next, his sisters and brothers gathered about him, jostling and teasing one another good-naturedly to squash their long-lost brother as flat as a Human welcome mat.
Somehow among the jolly huddle, Sirensong whispered into his left ear, There is something which must be done without delay. He’s itching to tell you.
He – who?
This Dragon was still trying to find his paws, and struggling to decide that he was not dreaming. Aye, he had just discovered what it was to be the little brother. Siblings!
In our clan, my precious son, there’s a tradition of naming eggs according to respected clan names drawn from our history, his dam told him. We call this custom ‘Naming the Wave.’ Before the Devastators stole you, your egg was named. Would you like to know who you are among us?
It’s … alright to have two names?
Many Dragons around him chuckled in appreciation.
This will be your name in Dragoceanic, Sirensong said. Friends and family, draw close!
≈FAMILY!!≈
Dragon nearly jumped out of his skin at the mighty roar that rolled over the beach. Thundersong stood in what for him were shallows, waters over thirty feet deep above the reef. His immense stature made every Sea Dragon around him seem tiny. Although he was over two hundred feet in wingspan and a towering fifty feet tall at the shoulder, his flame-white eyes crinkled inside with patterns of enormous fondness and goodwill.
A mighty paw gestured toward Aria and Azania. All our family, attune your waves to what I shall proclaim. This day, a long-lost wave has returned to our shores. Our joy is as unbounded as the very oceans of our birth! So long did we grieve the treacherous theft of this egg, even I lost faith, but I should have known better. Today, our sorrow turns to joy! Our grieving is drowned in exultant song. For I declare: ≈Ocean always rises!≈
≈OCEAN ALWAYS RISES!!≈
A thousand voices sang in deafening salutation. Aria’s eyes shone. Azania dabbed helplessly at her eyes, smiling with her entire being.
Lowering his muzzle toward Dragon, he said, This Naming of the Wave gives me particular pleasure, for you see, my great-grandson, you were Named to follow in the wave of my paw.
He shook his muzzle, not entirely following.
Oh! Azania squealed.
Oh, indeed, the titan smiled down at her. Stepping forward, he laid a talon upon Dragon’s forehead. Everdeep, please translate for our guests.
Dragon gazed up at his great-grandsire, effervescent with wonder. So brilliant had his colour become, he could scarcely make out the browns anymore – yet he knew the colour was present, for he would always retain the distinction of being half a Dragon of the air, and half of ocean born.
He said, ≈Speak, honoured great-grandsire.≈
Drawing a rasping breath, Thundersong declaimed, ≈Wave of my Wave, Song of my Song, Name of my Name, I declare before our assembled pod that you are a true wave of ocean born, the son of Sirensong, who is son of Farsong, who is son of Thundersong – a name of renown which we now share. It is with pride as deep as our very oceans that I Name your Wave, THUNDERSONG!!≈
The beach exploded with joy, ≈ WAVE OF OUR WAVE! HAIL, THUNDERSONG!!≈
THE END
Ride Dragonback across Solixambria to the thrilling climax to the Dragon Fires Rising series: Thunder o Dragon!
About the Author
www.marcsecchia.com
www.dragonsglory.com
Marc is the bestselling author of over thirty-five books and is published in five languages. Born in South Africa, he lives and works in Ethiopia with his wife and 4 children, 2 dogs, a rabbit, and a variable number of marabou storks that roost on the acacia trees out back. On a good night you can also hear hyenas prowling along the back fence.
When he’s not writing about Africa or dragons, Marc can be found travelling to remote locations. He thinks there’s nothing better than standing on a mountaintop wondering what lies over the next horizon.
If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com. Every review matters and I read them all!
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Twitter: @marcauthor
Email: [email protected]
Other Books by Marc Secchia
Call me Dragon: Spill-your-coffee hilarious!
Blitz the Devastator has never done a decent day’s devastating in his life. Fireless, artistic and shunned by his Dragon Clan, he struggles to pillage even the meanest village. A future full of misery and failure beckons.
This much is true until the day the burly brown Dragon successfully – imagine that – kidnaps the Princess Azania. As a black Princess of T’nagru, this spirited beauty is by definition the most unforgettable woman in the seventeen realms. Knights errant, men-at-arms and sundry Princes expire at her feet in drivelling worship.
Unfortunately, they all want his scaly head on a platter shortly thereafter. Goes with the territory.
To Blitz’s consternation, the royal nuisance refuses to behave herself and be a typical pampered Princess. With humour, unconventional flair and the odd stomp of her diminutive slipper, she sets out to reform her Dragon.
One question remains. Who will save the Dragon from the Princess?
Call me Dragon
I am Dragon
Thunder o Dragon
Santaclaws: Discover the true origins of Santaclaws in this seasonal Dragon tale.
When a boy brings home a Christmas miracle to his suffering family, everything will change. Wishes are different when it comes to Dragons. Wishes take wing, and come true.
A Dragon for Christmas: Santaclaws #1
A Hatchling for Springtide: Santaclaws #2
A Fledgling for Summer’s Rising: Santaclaws #3
A Talon for High Summertide: Santaclaws #4
A Fang for Autumn’s Richness: Santaclaws #5
A Dragoness for Winter’s Storm: Santaclaws #6
Shapeshifter Dragons: Be the Dragon!
Five allied series of bestselling epic Dragon adventures. Prepare to wing away to a unique world of mighty Dragons and volcanic Islands above the deadly Cloudlands! In chronological order (Island-World timeline):
Dragonfriend series: Dragonfriend, Dragonlove, Dragonsoul and Dragonstar
Scrolls of Fire series: The Dragon Librarian, The Dragon Loremaster
Shapeshifter Dragon Legends series: The Pygmy Dragon and The Onyx Dragon
Shapeshifter Dragons series: Aranya, Shadow Dragon, Song of the Storm Dragon and Beautiful Fury
Shapeshifter Dragons linked book, read after Song of the Storm Dragon or after Beautiful Fury: Chaos Shifter
Standalone Books: Dragon Thief, Tytiana
Set in the same world as the Shapeshifter Dragons series, join Zhialeiana in an oceanic adventure with Whales and Sea-Dragons:
IsleSong series: The Girl who Sang with Whales, The Girl who Loved the Whales, and The Girl who Swam with Whales, after which this series connects with Shapeshifter Dragons above in Dragons of Sea and Sky, coming soon.
Mister Drainpipe: The power of dignity and redemption.
Contemporary literary fiction. A wrenching story of a homeless man living in a drain in modern Ethiopia.
Mister Drainpipe
Whisper Series: Enter the canyon maze!
Conjured by the sadistic Warlock Sanfuri, Whisper faces a stark choice. Run with his message, or die. Bound by the Warlo
ck’s unbreakable magical imperative, Whisper is forced to navigate the tortuous pathways of a labyrinth twenty miles deep, riven by Dragon-infested canyons and scorched by sunstrike. An extraordinary legend is born.
Whisper Alive
The Equinox Cycle: Amputee, survivor, heroine!
Trapped in a car wreck, crushed by a train. In seconds, Zaranna’s world is torn apart and she must start life anew, as a survivor. A double amputee. Yet why does this promising equestrienne remember a flash of sulphurous fire, and a crimson paw hurling her mother’s car onto the train tracks? Why does a tide of beguiling butterflies flood her increasingly chaotic dreams?
As Zaranna Inglewood adjusts to life minus legs, plus gorgeous Alex, the paramedic who cut her body from the wreckage, she learns the terror of being hunted. Relentless and inimical, the enemy lures her to a world where dreams shape reality. Equinox. A world of equinoctial storms; lashed by titanic forces of magic, dominated by the Pegasi and their centuries-old enmity with Human Wizards and the Dragons. This is a world where a girl can Dream her destiny. Where her soul can fly, or be chained forever.
She is Zaranna, the Horse Dreamer. Survivor. Fighter. A girl who doesn’t need legs to kick an evil fate in the teeth. All she needs is courage – the courage to Dream.
The Horse Dreamer (Equinox Cycle Book 1)
The Shioni of Sheba series: Discover ancient Ethiopia!
Unique African historical fantasy adventures set among the myths and legends of ancient Ethiopia.
Shioni of Sheba #1: The Enchanted Castle
Shioni of Sheba #2: The King’s Horse
Shioni of Sheba #3: The Mad Giant
Shioni of Sheba #4: The Sacred Lake
Shioni of Sheba #5: The Fiuri Realms
Shioni of Sheba #6 – The Night of the Hyenas
Shioni of Sheba #7 – The Secret of the Simiens
Shioni of Sheba #8 – Storm over Sheba
Shioni of Sheba Box Set – Books 1-5
Epic fantasy (New Adult and Adult readers) Epic length tales of unique worlds and powers.
Feynard
The Legend of El Shashi
Foreign language editions
Italian – Dragonfriend, Il Drago Pigmeo, Aranya
Spanish – Dragonfriend, Aranya, El Dragón Pigmeo, El Bibliotecario Dragón, Tytiana
Portuguese – Aranya, Shadow Dragon, The Pygmy Dragon, The Onyx Dragon
Chinese – The Pygmy Dragon (US, China) Aranya (US, China)