by Karine Green
"Now all I have is the foot soldiers." He jumped into the air and flew high to avoid the arrows of the archers.
Less than an hour later Luca came running up. "We got the mop up. Go get Rini, and be careful because no one has seen the Red wizard. He wouldn't just leave his troops-there had to be a reason he left."
Arlen nodded and flew off to pick up Rini. Soon he realized he was in trouble. The southern forest was vast and there were caves everywhere. "Rini! Where are you?" he roared as he checked the third cave and found nothing. "No, no, no, no, no, you didn't lose her." He flew off to look for her again. He searched cave after cave, and hill after hill. He even checked some streams figuring that Rini would logically hide there so he could find her. But, as he withdrew his paw from the water with no indication of a Stone Dragon for hundreds of miles he laid down feeling hopeless.
“Where is she!” he sighed. “No! Get up! Find her!” He flew off toward the caves to start looking again. Two weeks later he was in the process of rechecking some areas he was sure he had seen before. She was nowhere to be found. Tears ran down his face. "Rini where are you."
He sat down at a cave entrance, wondering if the Red wizard had tricked him. He had brought his pregnant wife out here...and left her.
"Arlen, you idiot. What were you thinking?" he flew toward the spot he was sure he had dropped her off, hoping to start the search over.
~~~
The terror of the last month was still reeling over and over in Arlen's mind as he used his dragon's breath to wall himself up in the ice cave he’d found. He finished icing himself in and then trampled a bed. He laid down with the full intent of allowing himself to starve to death.
"I hate this place, I hate being a dragon, and right now, I really hate being alive!" he shouted.
He was devastated. Their egg was due to crack and he had just dropped her in the middle of nowhere. He’d literally misplaced his family. He had searched feverishly for her for the entire month, but could not find her, or even the scent of her. He would miss out on his pup. He or she would not know his or her father if the hatchling even lived. At least, his own father had an excuse, because he had been murdered by so-called allies in his sleep.
Arlen had no such excuse, other than that he was a bungling idiot. He was unworthy of the trust and love that his wife had shown him over the last year.
"Poor Rini is out there somewhere, and if she was alive, all she would be able to tell our pup is that your father forgot where he put me." But he feared the worst. Stone Dragons were also of Earth. She would have just walked home...if she were still alive. He couldn't think about that.
He had considered trying to find Sarnia, to tell her about Rini, and get help. But he had heard she wouldn't speak to him. She had returned to her home village of Pumice Plains and seemed content to have him and Rini out of her life.
"I miss you, Rini. I'll be with you soon." He cried himself to sleep, the tears freezing on his snout.
He hated it that Nancy was right about him. He also hated it that the dragon trainer was right about him too; he was everything that was negative about the Water Element. If he had taken a rider, the rider could have helped him remember where Rini was. The one bit of advice that would have preserved his family, he hadn’t taken. And now his beloved was out there alone, with a hatchling, and it was his fault; if she was even still alive.
He closed his eyes, willing his brain to be still. He would eventually pass into death, and people would hopefully forget that he had ever existed. Maybe that cursed Forgottenness Blessing will finally be useful for something.
The White Witch
Mack awoke to a commotion outside – only it wasn't toward his private training yard as usual but in the village.
Oh, no! Surely the enemy isn't here already. He picked up his head and nudged Méi awake. "Something is happening." He wondered if he should go downstairs and get Misty and Suki.
They crept over and looked over the balcony to the street below. A stranger was talking to Romayo. The villagers were chanting a welcoming song to the stranger. She was a tall, white-haired woman, elderly, but still had a youthful glow about her face. Her robes were the purest white Mack had ever seen.
"She could advertise for a bleach company," he said, frowning at her. Something was familiar about her; he wanted to bite her. He squashed the thought at once.
You can't bite people, Mack.
"The White Witch!" Méi said, flying down to her.
Mack landed next to her.
The White Witch greeted them smiling. Her silvery blue eyes sparkling with joy. "Makani! You weren't supposed to be back for at least another month. Everything was set for you to return one year after your first adult birthday.”
He fought off the urge to snarl. “I guess the Forgottenness spell was too strong.”
I am sorry, darling. It was the only way to keep you safe. I am glad you found your way home." She waved a twiggy looking wand over him and chanted a reversal spell. "The only way you would be back here was if your life was in danger in the other realm. The Forgottenness spell must have caused you to be left somewhere dangerous."
He smirked, causing a little dust devil to blow up. "You have no idea."
All of his remaining lost memories came rushing back: The initial battle in his parent’s home, the White Witch, LaDeara was her name, everything. He had two brothers, Loraly and Delanynus. His two sisters, Airlenis and Romayanna. He remembered vividly, and not vaguely, playing in his room with them. He remembered tail biting fights, and getting into trouble with his father for biting Delanynus' tail, hard. He was supposed to train with Romayo at the start of the next dry season. And then, everything was gone, including the little boy who had been his parent's first choice for his rider. They would have trained and played together, grown up together. Now he remembered how much had been taken from him.
Méi smiled. "I am pleased to meet you, again. I am sorry for the bite all those years ago," she said, bowing her head slightly.
"I couldn't be more pleased to meet you, Méi. And, do not worry about the bite, you were a frightened pup. Terrible things happened that night, and this bite was not one of them." She pointed to her arm.
Mack smiled, only half hearing the conversation as he remembered playing a dragon soccer-like game with other dragon pups his age. He wagged his tail slightly, before catching himself, and laying it flat.
"What brings you to Blue Valley?" He gently brushed his cheek against Misty’s shoulder, as she and Suki walked up. The riders took their place at the hind left quarter of their dragons, standing almost at attention.
"I had come to get help from Romayo. I was hoping he still had a dragon's sheath, but Méi being here is so much better, especially in your current state. What a stroke of luck," she exclaimed, smiling broadly with hope in her eyes.
"I will help any way I can," Méi said.
Mack glanced at her, wondering if they should ask what was needed first.
"Excellent," she exclaimed, smiling. She turned to Romayo, "Is there someplace we can all talk privately? I have a package, and I don't want it revealed just yet."
Romayo nodded motioning toward the lower level of Mack and Méi's barn. "The refugees are gone, rebuilding Blue Ridge, so we can be alone here."
They all followed Romayo into the barn. A sleepy looking Suki closed the giant double doors behind them.
LaDeara stepped toward Méi, "Upon your hindquarters."
"What?"
"I need help, and you accepted. Please, now, up on your hindquarters."
Méi leaned up on her hind legs, and LaDeara opened Méi's pouch. "Undignified!"
"No," LaDeara said sternly. She knew how to address Fire Dragons, "Merciful and species preserving." She gently pulled a tiny black dragon pup out of her robes and placed him in the pouch, closing it up. The little pup was no bigger than a small rabbit. She pointed to it. "Newly hatched Stone Dragon. His mother was near death when I found her; attacked by the Red Wizard, but I foug
ht him off. She died soon after he emerged from his egg. According to her, his name is Wren."
Mack looked over at Méi, "A Stone Dragon, so we aren't the only ones?" He felt stupid, Of course, Fabian had mentioned Stone Dragons, but there are no dragons within a thousand miles of here.
She shook her head, "There are only about three thousand, or so, Stone Dragons left. There are crazy rumors that some escaped by way of the Western Ocean, so we can’t know for sure how many there are. They live near the foothills of the volcanic mountains of North Dragons Ridge. It’s a place called Pumice Plains. I need you to take him to his village. He needs to be properly cared for by his own family. He is too young to survive outside the pouch for another two months. He eats meat, so just feed him some of your scraps, he won't eat much."
"North Dragons Ridge? Isn't that on the other side of the planet?" Mack asked, looking at the ceiling as he tried to remember the map on his wall upstairs.
LaDeara nodded. "You must be careful, the Mad Dragon King lives nearby. His castle is in North Dragons Ridge."
Mack smiled at the look of horror on Méi's face as she reopened her pouch to look at the little pup. He could tell she was torn between tossing him out, and helping him get to his home. He was still so small that his presence could only be detected by someone looking for him.
LaDeara smiled. "Thank you, he would surely die without you. Romayo says there has been much debate about you leaving, and that you two are unwilling to leave the village unprotected.”
Mack nodded.
“I will stay and protect the village with my magic, in order to return this great favor you are doing for me." It was uncommon for a magical person to make such an offer. They were not to take sides in battles, but in this case, she was trading a service for a service.
Mack smiled. Now Méi was locked into this. She would have to pouch the infant until they found the Stone Dragon land.
"Everything okay?" Suki asked. "Surely, news that dragon survivors exist wouldn't cause that look on your face. It is cause for joy."
"Yes," Mack said, smiling. "Misty, pack for a long trip."
Misty nodded, and ran back into her personal quarters.
Méi flew up to the balcony and low crawled into their sleeping den. Suki followed her up the newly refurbished stairs.
"He won't hurt her, will he?" Mack asked.
"No," LaDeara said. "Stone Dragons are half Fire-based. She will be the perfect surrogate for him until he can be turned over to his village. The hard part will be for her to let go of him once she absorbs the idea of him being in her pouch." She smiled and clasped her hands over her heart. "I was so trying to save him, and was losing hope, but Méi, in her state is a game changer for him. What incredible Karma for little Wren considering the tragic circumstances of his hatching."
"I have also just been informed that the Earth Dragon returned on time and will be near Red River Fork," Romayo said, smiling. "You can stop on your way and meet her. She will need to return here with you and, hopefully, the Water Dragon."
"He's there alone? Was he so-called blessed with Forgottenness?" Mack asked, with more than a hint of sarcasm.
"She, her name is Dunia, and she returned on time so the Forgottenness did not travel as strongly with her. She has been schooled and protected by the Blue Wizard, but he passed away recently. I sent a message bird that I would send someone. She should have my bird in a day or two. I was worried I would have to walk there, but you can reach her on the way to Pumice Plains," LaDeara said, still smiling brightly. Mack could almost feel the relief coming off of her. "Finding two adult dragons, unexpectedly, is a true blessing."
"Why don't you help get ready for the journey, and I will get the White Witch settled in the inn across the way. We'll all have a meal later tonight, and then we’ll see you off tomorrow morning," Romayo said, kindly patting Mack's neck. "You know, the Stone Dragon will be gone before your little one emerges, so there is no danger."
Mack's eyes widened. "My little one?"
"Yes," LaDeara said, smiling. "You have your memories back now. You should know a pregnant dragon when you see one. Her pouch is open, just try to open a non-pregnant female's pouch; or perhaps not, that is a good way to lose a limb.”
Romayo nodded. “The point is that the pouch is covered by hardened scales and unable to open until about two or three weeks before the delivery of the egg. I have been dropping hints all along. Now if you don't mind, Suki is no match for a protective, pregnant dragon mother. You should warn her to stay away from Méi until Méi allows her to approach again. Tell her not to take it personally, it is just the hormones."
He nodded and flew upstairs. He was in trouble. Big trouble.
Méi was in the corner of their sleeping den with her wings spread out, blocking the area off. Suki was trying to look in, but Méi growled at her. Tears welled in Suki’s eyes.
“Have I done something, my dragon?”
"Don't worry Suki, it isn't you. The White Witch gave her a newborn pup to care for and see safely home. Female dragons make momma bears look neglectful. Hopefully, we will also find the Earth Dragon while taking the little pup home." He decided to keep LaDeara's observation regarding his own egg to himself for the moment. “Why don’t you pack for the journey?”
Suki nodded and went downstairs, but tears were still welled in her eyes.
Mack carefully approached Méi. He nudged the tip of her tail. "May I approach? Can I guess why you were looking so horrified?"
"I am pregnant. That is the only way the pouch scales would be soft enough to open up. I can feel two eggs in me. They feel close to ready to being laid into my pouch."
"Are you furious with me?" he asked, wondering if this was a wise conversation. Ed had told him once that knowing when to be silent when your wife was upset was one of the keys to happiness.
She shook her head. "I can't be mad at you. I approached you as often as you did me. I am relieved about one thing, if there are still Stone Dragons, at least, our pups will not be alone in the world."
“Maybe it’s okay -- perhaps, everything will work out.”
If the circumstances were different, he would have loved this situation. Méi was a strong, intelligent, and powerful dragon. She would give him strong, intelligent, and powerful pups.
He came closer, something about the way she narrowed her eyes at him seemed dangerous.
She initially growled, but then nodded. He peeked around her wing, being very careful. She was shredding some meat with her claws. "He's hungry. I can tell. And he is freezing." She quickly finished shredding the meat and opened her pouch to drop it in.
Mack picked up a piece and dropped it in. He could tell that she fought the urge to growl at him as Wren ate the meat greedily.
"What is wrong with me? Growling at everyone, even you, Mack.”
He head-butted her gently. "I am told it is just the hormones, it will even out."
She dropped more pieces in. Wren quickly devoured that too. Soon, he was sound asleep, full and tired from his ordeal. She curled up on the bed, occasionally blowing fire on her belly if he shivered.
Mack watched her, trying to stay out of her way. He never imagined she would take so quickly to mothering anything. He smiled at the look on her face. “You look very content.”
“It is profoundly satisfying. I am so happy that our own pups will not be alone in the world. It makes me feel something I had long forgotten; hope for the future.” She put her head down like she was going to sleep, but kept one eye on him.
He retreated to the living room to pace around for what seemed like hours, with Méi occasionally yelling that whatever Mack tried to scratch on was SCRATCHED! He had several granite and other hard stone scratching posts to sharpen his claws.
He froze mid-scratch and lifted his claw off the post. The staff would be upset at the dusty mess. “Sorry- just a bit nervous.”
“Mack, stop it, don’t make me come out there!”
He smiled, incessant scratchi
ng was a nervous habit of his. He couldn't remember if he had nervous habits as a human. He walked over to their den door and peeked around the corner at Méi. She was laying on her side, facing the door.
She picked up her head. "Stop being nervous. It is what it is. We need a plan, not new living room décor," she said, and then growled. "Why don't you come lay next to me, if that will stop the scratching."
"I think it will. I can't help but be nervous." He trotted over and lay next to her for about an hour. "There are two eggs," he finally asked.
She nodded, looking at the floor.
"Hey, why that look?" he asked, placing a paw on her shoulder.
"I am scared. What sort of place will our pups grow up in? I don't fancy moving to Pumice Plains to be by other dragons. I love our life here, but our pups will be so lonely for other pups to play with."
"We have a long time to decide that. Initially, they will have each other. If it becomes an issue, we will deal with it then. No sense in borrowing stuff to worry about."
"Méi." They heard Suki's voice. "The White Witch wants to know if she can examine you and Wren."
Méi sighed. "Yes, I'll come out there, though. Mack, can you go fetch a small rodent for Wren, I can feel him waking up."
Mack nodded and followed her out into the living room before flying off to hunt.
LaDeara had left by the time Mack returned. For the rest of the day, Wren only awoke to eat and go back to sleep. They lounged in their den, not speaking for a long time. Mack simply stared at her, occasionally looking at Méi's pouch.
"What are you doing?" Méi finally asked.
"Waiting patiently for you to say something. Perhaps it would be easier if you just tell me what LaDeara said?"
Tears welled in her eyes, and her lower jaw quivered. "Wren was so hungry. The pouch is very sensitive to a pup's needs." She took in a deep breath. "Mack, if my pouch is that sensitive we have about two weeks before our twins will be in there."
"Two weeks?" Mack's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Two weeks, what about Wren?"
"Two weeks will be fine for him. Remember Mack, you know you remember. Dragons have a short infancy, short childhood, and a long adolescence, before adulthood."