by Sarah Hite
They followed his lead and turned toward the back of camp. On the way Elder asked, How is Pai? Kei-ata did not answer right away; his wing beats slowed, and they detected worry behind his eyes. He finally spoke as they neared the back of camp. He did not look at them, and said without enthusiasm, Alive.
The dragon council had known about Pai’s injury, but they did not understand the seriousness of the injury until they saw him while landing. His chest was still bound tightly, and his breathing was still strained. Kei-ata helped Chekal land next to Pai, and the young dragon settled down for a nap. As he did, Pai opened his eyes and saw him… and his injury. What happened?
I picked a fight with a Fire dragon… and lost, Chekal said somewhat sarcastically. He looked at his friend and said, I didn’t come alone either. The council is here, and they brought the army.
Pai looked up at Kei-ata, Easy Pai. He had only managed to lift his head a few inches.
Is he well enough to answer a few questions? Kei-ata looked over at the King and then back at the scout. After a moment he nodded. The king lowered his head so that Pai could see him. I have heard what happened from Chekal, but I need to hear your side of the story.
Pai slowly lifted his head. It took a little effort and he snorted when pain lanced up his neck. He quickly told them of how he had met the kids, and what had happened before they had met Chekal in Aretell. He then added what had happened after Chekal left. He finished by saying, Moon left this morning when she saw you coming. He paused when he saw Shaelynn sneak up on them. Shaelynn, he called to catch the little dragon’s attention.
She looked over at him, and slowly approached. She was acting unusually timid. The sheer number of dragons was making her uneasily. Since she had never seen that many before, and since she had been warned about what they might do to her, it was understandable. Yes?
Do you know where your mother is? She looked at Pai and then over at the council members.
They seemed just as thrown off by her as she was by them. She looked back at Pai and shook her head. She was gone when I woke up. I don’t know where she is. She paused a moment and looked back to where they would normally sleep. I haven’t seen Papa either. There was a note of worry in her voice, as if she sensed something was wrong.
The council members looked at each other. They were not surprised to see her, since they had been told of her existence; however, they were concerned about what the other dragons would think when they saw her, especially since dragons of her coloration had only been seen preceding times of great trial and were considered ill omens. They knew that she would be in trouble if the others saw her. Kyeon lowered his head to look the little one in the eye. She stepped back away from him, as if she wanted to run. “It’s okay, little one,” he said, trying to allay her fears. She looked up at him and then over at Pai. The King did not get a chance to continue. Shaelynn suddenly ran away from him and over to Pai, where she curled up by his side. He looked down at her and said soothingly, It’s okay Shaelynn, really. He then looked up at his father. Father, can you introduce them? She’s afraid that they have come to hurt Moon, or her. She knows that Moon fears the other dragons, and she knows that she’s afraid of what they would do if they saw her. Maybe, if she knows who they are, she won’t be afraid of them.
Kei-ata looked down at his son admiringly. “That might help,” he said. He turned to the council and quickly told them Pai’s proposal. They agreed and soon, with a little more help from the scout, Shaelynn crept back out and away from him, if somewhat unwillingly. Kei-ata turned to her and said gently, “Shaelynn, this is Lyong Ryou and Elder.” He motioned to them in turn as he introduced them. “This is Prince Seoung and the King, Kyeon Mangjul. They are your uncles, your mother’s brothers.” Shaelynn looked from the prince to the king. She slowly nodded. Before the King could say anything else, Shaelynn’s head snapped around. Someone was calling her. Without saying anything else, she turned and ran toward the voice. A girl stood at the edge of camp. She wore chain mail and carried a bow and a sword. She played with the little dragon for a few minutes after Shaelynn reached her. Then the girl pulled a bundle from her bag and set it on the ground. She unwrapped it to reveal a large chunk of meat. Shaelynn grabbed the junk and carried it away as she left with the girl.
The council watched them go. After they had disappeared inside the camp, Seoung asked, “Who was that? She had no fear of us, and the way she played with Shaelynn, it’s as if they were raised together.”
“That,” Pai said aloud, surprising them all, “was Ania Dragonheart, Thorin’s child.”
A few hours later, Kei-ata entered the dragons’ camp. Many were surprised to see him, others simply offered their greeting. After a few minutes, he spotted Hana. She turned as he called her. “Good morning,” she said. He returned her greeting and then asked, “Do you know where the council is?”
She nodded and led him to a section of the camp that held only a few dragons. There they found not only the council but Kym as well. She was curled up on the ground, Sayden was asleep by her side. She looked up as he approached. “Good morning, Kei-ata.” The council looked up as she spoke.
“Shaman,” Kyeon said in greeting; Kei-ata nodded to him. “There has been a request from the Lords Ryell and Mychal. They have asked to meet with you and the council.” Kei-ata told them. He sounded rather drawn, unhappy. “If you’re willing, they would like to meet with you in the clearing south of the King’s camp in a half hour.”
Kyeon looked back at the council; they nodded in agreement. A half hour would give them enough time to arrange the warriors. As they left, Kym asked, “How is he? I heard from Kyeon that he wasn’t doing well.”
He sighed. “No, Pai’s only real improvement is that he can now lift his head without too much pain. He still has trouble breathing and he can’t stand, let alone sit up. I fear it will be a long time before he is out of danger.”
“I’m sorry. I know we thought he had been lost, and now that he has been found alive…” She stopped and looked up at him. “Pai has lived on his own for nearly twenty years. He helped the kids save Shaelynn’s egg and protected the prince. He’s smart and strong.” She carefully stood and, stepping forward, she put a paw on his shoulder and said comfortingly, “He’ll make it.” He nodded, knowing she was right.
He decided to change the subject and inquired about Sayden. “He’s been doing rather well. I knew he was smart, but he keeps surprising me,” she responded.
“Shaelynn is quite intelligent. She has surprised us many times.” He sighed. “Moon still doesn’t believe he exists. I have tried to convince her many times, but she can’t see how it’s possible.”
Kym looked out toward the human’s camp. “Is she all right? I haven’t seen her at all today.”
“Moon is…,” he began. He was unsure of what to say. “Moon is healthy, but she is not the same dragon who left. What happened that day, and everything since, has change her.” He started to turn away, but turned around and faced the queen. “I just don’t know what to do,” he said, somewhat exasperated. “I have tried to tell her, convince her that she can go home, that they can go home, but she doesn’t listen. I have tried to tell her that Kyeon isn’t angry with her, but she doesn’t believe me. I just don’t know what to do.”
With a sad expression, the queen offered her opinion. “He may have to talk to her himself. I fear the only way to reconcile the situation is to get them together and make them talk to each other.” She decided to change the subject. “You know what we should do? We should get the children together. That way they could meet each other, and they would be able to play together. It would also give Moon a chance to see him for herself.”
He smiled. “That is a fantastic idea.” He paused a moment before saying, “I should go check on Pai and Chekal.” They said their farewells, and he returned to the infirmary.
Later that day, Shaelynn, who by now had grown curious about the other dragons, had snuck into their camp. Using the shadows to her
advantage, she worked her way toward the center of camp, where she suddenly stopped and raised her head. She could not believe what she saw. There, in front of her, was a dragon who was her age. He was curled up in the sun not fifteen feet in front of the row of trees she was hiding behind. At that moment he uncoiled himself and stretched. He looked around, as if he were looking for something. He saw a group of adults a little distance away and watched them for a few moments. Then he turned in her direction and spotted her amongst the trees. He did not seem to wonder at her appearance; instead, he crouched. He wanted to play. She cocked her head and looked at him. He jumped to the side and back again.
Shaelynn looked around, she had been cautioned about the other dragons, but this was one she could play with. She looked over at the adults and then crept out from the tree line. He crouched again. This time she flared her wings and pounced. They met each other mid- jump and fell rolling to the ground. They played together for several minutes, rolling, tackling, chasing, and pawing at each other. He backed away, and jumped at her. She dodged him and tackled him when he landed. He pawed at her and pushed her off, and tackled her in return. They continued to play unheeded, until their little grunts and squeaks caught the attention of one of the adults. Kym, who had been among the group, looked up. She saw the two playing and smiled to herself.
One of the other adults, a female, looked up and was grumbling, “What is he doing? He’s being awfully loud.” She turned toward the noise and saw Shaelynn. “Ahh! What is that thing?” she said loudly and with such disdain it caused the rest of the group to look.
“It’s a black dragon!” one of the others said in alarm.
“A bad omen,” said another matter-o-factly.
“It should not be allowed to live,” another declared unpleasantly. The group turned in near unison, and began to surround the two; only Kym held back. She looked at each of them with a sense of alarm and cried, “Wait, don’t hurt her!” The others paid her no mind. Their only concern was ridding themselves of what they considered a blight. They tightened their circle around the two, who by now had noticed their presence. Shaelynn backed up, trying to find an opening to the trees. The queen tried again. “Stop! Leave her alone! Dea- hyun, Quetalla!” She tried to get the group’s attention a few more times and watched in horror as they cornered Shaelynn, leaving Sayden to watch, confused. He got up and ran to Kym who, after being completely ignored, shouted mentally, Kyeon! I need you. Shaelynn’s in trouble.
At the same moment, Shaelynn, who now was trapped between a stone wall too high for her to climb and the angry adults, called for help. She knew she was in trouble. She had disobeyed her mother and put herself in danger. She was terrified, and rightly so; these adults would surely harm her if help did not come… and fast.
Just as the gang moved in to grab her, an angry growl startled them; a small dragon leapt over the stones and landed in front of her. He growled again and flared his wings threateningly.
The cluster of adults were taken aback by this thin dragon. He was covered in scars and wore a band of iron around the single horn that adorned his head. He growled again, and Shaelynn willingly hid behind him. “You would protect this thing?” Dea-hyun asked incredulously.
“Yes.” He looked at them in turn. “And if I have to take you all on to defend her, than I will.” He crouched defensively over Shaelynn as one individual repositioned himself. He looked as if he were going to test that theory.
“What’s going on here?” A voice from behind made them turn around. Kyeon, his brother, and Elder stood looking over the group of instigators. The king saw Shaelynn trembling behind Kwan; he lowered his head and mantled his wings. “Leave them. There is work to be done, and you all have jobs to do.” Both the king and Kwan kept their wings mantled as the rest of the dragons slowly left. Kyeon lowered his wings and looked up. He studied the dragon before him as he slowly lowered his defenses.
Kwan turned to Shaelynn and told her sternly, “Return to camp. Now.” She hesitated only a moment before taking off at top speed. He watched her go and made sure she was well within the King’s camp before turning back to the King. As he did, he was surprised to see him, as well as his companions, studying him. Kym sat a short distance away. She was trying to calm Sayden, who had been frightened by the violence of the others. She looked up when Kyeon spoke, “That was some show. Are both of you all right?”
“Kyeon, I do believe he would have fought them all to protect her.” Kyeon turned to his brother. He nodded, having reached the same opinion himself. This also gave him a good idea about the identity of the smaller dragon. As it was, Shaelynn has said that her father was here. He turned back to the other dragon. “What is your name?”
“The humans have several names for me. Although most of them have come to call me Fire Heart, but the other dragons call me Kwan.”
“Walk with me.” Kyeon said and then turned toward the outskirts of their camp. Kwan followed after a moment.
Shaelynn hid in Ania’s tent until the next morning and then curled up next to Kwan. Moon had returned just after dusk with fresh meat. She left at sunrise to continue hunting. While she was gone, Kym came to the infirmary to see Kei-ata. She brought Sayden with her, and the shaman showed her to the section of camp where the dragons stayed. Kwan looked up as they approached. “Is she all right?” Kym asked. Kwan looked down at her. She was not asleep; rather, she was watching the other hatchling from behind his forepaw. He nosed her out of hiding and stood so she would be forced into the open.
“She’s had quite a fright.” He looked back at Shaelynn, who was pressing herself into his leg. “It’s all right; there’s no need to fear.” She looked up at him with a disbelieving expression.
Kym looked at the little dragon. “Shaelynn,” she said soothingly. “This is Sayden. He’s your brother.” That statement took Kwan by surprise. Moon had said nothing of the possibility of another. He looked up at the shaman. Kei-ata nodded. “I have been trying to tell Moon, but she won’t believe me. We thought, if she saw him, she might believe.”
“He was named after Moon, and his grandsire. His whole name is Sayden Konjon,” Kym told him. “I thought I would bring him over here to play… because of what happened yesterday. They should have someone to play with.” It took some coaxing, but they managed to get them to play, especially after Kwan picked Shaelynn up and dropped her on her brother.
After watching them for a moment Kym took her leave. She would return for him at dusk, knowing that the boy would need to get used to his parents. She would bring him over again in the morning.
When Moon returned, just before dusk this time, the dragon council saw her deliver another deer to the cooks. She turned and walked to the back of the king’s camp where she disappeared. “Perhaps you should let her come to you.” Kyeon turned to a very large dragon, who was almost completely white, except for a few pale blue markings. She somewhat resembled a block of ice. “Perhaps you’re right, Shaman,” he said unhappily as he looked back at the humans’ camp.
Moon knew she had been seen, but she no longer cared. She had made a promise, and she could not up- hold that promise if she continued to hide from her problems. She approached her friends and stopped in her tracks. She starred at Kwan, who was looking rather comfortable. Shaelynn was asleep at his side, but there was another patch of color that she did not know. “What—”
Kwan looked up and saw her confusion, which confused him until he remembered that Sayden was still there. Kym had decided to leave him for the night after finding him curled up and sleeping with Shaelynn. He looked back at the children and said quietly, “Kym brought him over this morning. His name is Sayden Konjon.” He looked up at her. “They named him after you.”
“How?” Moon was not sure what to do. She had been told of the existence of another, but had refused to believe in the possibility.
“Kei-ata found his egg buried at the back of the cavern. They figured out he was yours by the egg’s age. When they brought it out to as
k you, you had already left.” Still in shock, Moon slowly approached him. She had intended to look him over; instead, the sound of her approach woke Shaelynn. She jumped up and ran to her mother, waking Sayden up. Sayden looked around trying to figure out where she went, only to see her nuzzle Moon’s leg. He looked from Shaelynn, to Moon and back again. Finally, he rose and went to her. She inspected him and, to her surprise, he also nuzzled her. After a brief moment of astonishment, she returned the gesture. The four of them soon returned to bed, although Moon and Kwan talked for a while before turning in.
The next morning there was another council meeting. Moon returned from it to find Sayden still there. She had promised Kwan that she would try and speak with her brother. He had made her a deal; if she spoke to her brother, he would speak to his family. It was a bit of a one-sided deal. Since Kwan had already spoken to the King about his family, and since Kyeon had not yet been able to find them, this left Moon with the more difficult end of their bargain. She looked down at the little dragon and asked, “Will you do me a favor?”
Sayden ran back to the dragons’ camp and interrupted the dragon council’s own meeting. He rubbed against Kym to get her attention and looked at Kyeon. They both looked at their nephew curiously. “What is it, Sayden?” he asked.
She wants to talk to you. He looked back at the other camp for a moment, and then back at Kyeon. Kyeon, who followed his gaze and understood, asked, “Where?”
A few hours later he was at a lake about a mile away. Moon reached the lake first and was looking at her reflection when he landed. She heard him and turned away, unwilling to meet his gaze. He noticed that she had become leaner and more muscular.
“Moon?” he asked attentively. She did not look at him. “Moon, please. Look at me.” She still did not look up. He sighed. She had agreed to meet with him, but he had known that this meeting would be difficult, for both of them. When she still did not look up, he sat down with a heavy heart. This would be harder than he had anticipated. He took a deep breath and said sadly, “I’m sorry.”