by A. D. Adams
Terra and his family returned to the crevice. He was pleased with what had happened with the dragons. He knew that they now had a chance to win this fight.
Chapter 31 - Fienna the Dragon Returns
(The joy of being your true self.)
- The Time of the Draman -
Fienna had stopped giving milk for seven sun-risings. It was the sunset of the full moon rising. It had been so long since Fienna had changed back into a dragon, she no longer paid much attention to when the full moon rose. They had decided to go to their private coastal niche. Fienna began to feel odd and stood up. She had not felt this way for a long time. Fienna walked naked to the edge of the water. Terra laid against the rocks holding Cardana watching his mate.
As the sun rose above the horizon her human body began to glow yellow-orange, matching the setting moon. She began to grow in size, while Terra watched. Small nubs appeared on her back as her body grew larger. Her wings slowly emerged to their full magnificent expanse. Her neck grew longer, and her legs extended and bent. Her arms moved forward, and her beautiful hair receded. She was once again the beautiful dragon Terra had fallen in love with.
She stretched her great wings and moved them up and down to limber the unused muscles. She stooped down and launched herself into the air with her powerful back legs. Her wings pushed down and drove her up into the sky like a great cloud. Terra smiled as he felt her joy in the pure pleasure of flying. A dragon was a creature of the air, not the land, and Fienna had been trapped on the ground far too long.
“Fienna, go feed. Take your joy. I will be here with Cardana,” he thought to her.
“I don't want to be apart from you,” she thought back.
“You will never be parted from me. No matter what?”
Cardana reached her tiny hands out as her mother flew off.
“Don't worry, my little leaf. She will come back soon,” Terra said to his daughter, which seemed to calm her.
Fienna enjoyed her flight. She had so missed it. She came across a small group of prey beast. Fienna flew into the sun and turned. She dove from the direction of the sun into the beasts. They did not see her until she was just above them. She sunk her talons into a mid-sized beast and lifted it off the ground as if it weighed nothing. She reached down and broke the struggling animal's neck. She grasped the beast with her hands and pulled it to her chest. Landing on a rocky cliff, she took her time, enjoying her first fresh kill for what seemed to be an eternity.
She returned to Terra and Cardana by high sun and landed on the warm sand. She lay down and Terra walked over to her with Cardana in his arms. She settled into the sand, and Terra lay against her side as they had done so many times before. She extended her wing to shade the ones she loved. All three fell asleep in the warmth of their world.
As the sunset, Fienna felt the change coming on again. She stood away from her family as she slowly returned to her human form. From then on, she changed each sunrise and sunset.
Chapter 32 - Preparations End
(When preparations end, fighting starts.)
- The Time of the Draman -
The preparations were nearly complete. The dragons' training had exceeded even Terra’s expectation. They operated literately as a single unit. It was an amazing sight to see a flight fire a ridge of rock. It would be terrifying to any opponent.
The sea nymphs had finished drying the dragons' food. They had prepared the harnesses, and the dragons had started to practice flying fully loaded. The food deliveries to the humans had also begun. They had already started to move the food to the mountain tunnels.
Terra planned to start the fighting the sunrise of the no moon sunset. He would take approximately five thousand, or four Flights of dragons, three sun-risings before the no moon. They would fly over the mountains to the land nymph's valley. The dragons would drop their harnesses and fly into the local mountains and perch. The next sunset, Fienna would bring the second five thousand. On the third sunset, about thirteen hundred dragons would travel with Hectise and stay in the valley. The sunrise of the fight, the dragons would fly in waves of single Flights. They would fire the dwarf villages in nine waves, and then the land nymphs would attack.
The Guards had control over Solana and Southlake. The word was slowly spreading through the valleys of the fight to come. It seemed every human Guard that heard of the fight was coming to the collection points Naron had set up. They understood the need to return to their traditional homeland beyond the mountains. Everyone in the valleys saw their plantings lessen each set of seasons and the herd beasts slowly disappear.
Terra had discovered that humans were a unique group. They seemed to have every flaw and every good quality that existed. They were the bravest and most cowardly at the same time. They loved the deepest and hated the most of any creature he had ever met. All these things seemed to exist in every human to a different extent. It made them the most dangerous of all those on Tone, for no one knew what they might do. Naron knew the humans. After healing him, Terra had a sense of his mind. This allowed him to trust in Naron's decisions and leadership.
Rammy was an amazing human. She had helped Dawra and Hectise train the dragons faster than he had thought possible. Dawra trusted her completely, and Hectise had a grudging respect of her talents. She was now helping him plan the dragon attack on the dwarfs. Terra planned to take Rammy to the land nymph's valley three sun-risings before the fighting started.
Terra had asked the Old Sinut to contact the land nymph wizard and tell him Terra's plans. He would start this nightmare in ten sun-risings.
Fienna was flying as much as possible. If anything, she felt even stronger than before her daughter's birth. She had regained all her flying skills and had trained with the dragons practicing in the valley. She even had mastered the dive Terra had demonstrated. She was an incredible creature no matter what form she happened to be in.
Chapter 33 - Plans Finalized
(All must understand their place and their importance to all others.)
- The Time of the Draman -
The Old Sinut floated above the black pool within his cave. He passed his hand over the pool and the image of the old land nymph appeared. He was warming his hands over a fire in his small hut.
“My friend, can you hear me?” the Old Sinut questioned, as the nymph looked up.
“Yes, I hear you. You're going to tell me he's coming soon,” the land nymph said as the Old Sinut's image appeared above the fire. He smiled at his old friend.
“Terra plans to start in ten sun-risings. He's first going to have the dragons drop off food in three groups over three sun-risings and then start the fight. He plans to bring a human three sun-risings before the dragons start showing up in your valley.”
“A human?” the land nymph asked in a confused voice.
“This human called Rammy has been assisting in the dragon's training. She's the daughter of the leader of the human Guard. She's also second in command. Treat her with respect, Terra values her.”
“What will she be doing here?”
“Terra wants her help in organizing how the dragons and the land nymphs will fight together. She will bring all the information you need to know.”
“Well, he's in control. He and his magic will be the driving force of the entire fight. We all must follow his leadership.”
“You don't sound pleased he's our leader,” the Old Sinut remarked.
“He has no desire for this fight. He's resistant to killing those bastard dwarfs,” the old wizard said with concern in his voice.
“You expected a warrior. A strong, driven fighter, not a man of love and peace.”
“Yes, I did.”
“When you experience his true power you may be grateful he is resistant to violence.”
“Perhaps…Perhaps you are right,” the old wizard said slowly as he considered what his friend had said.
In the black mountain, the dark figure sat hunched over a sputtering fire. Fires in this place seemed to th
row off little light and even less warmth. He passed his hands over the small fire, and two images of ancient women slowly emerged from the flaring flames.
“I need you to return here,” the old wizard commanded the two trader Solans.
“It is a difficult journey. We are old, and our magic is weakening,” Nikit said to the Wizard.
“You cannot stand against the force that will attack. Together we can stop this Draman.”
“We both have the amulets. Even though we joined you, the amulets still have their powers. No one can destroy an amulet and its power is controlled by the one that holds it,” Gopu replied to the wizard.
“You will come here or I will reach out for you, and the amulet will not protect you.”
The two women feared this powerful wizard and knew he could reach out from his mountain fortress. In the previous fight, one of their numbers had refused to obey an order and was destroyed by a blackness that surrounded her. She was crushed to death with her screams filling the air. As she died, the amulet fell to the ground unharmed. None of the other trader Solans could touch the fallen amulet, so it still lay where it fell.
“I will come. It will take me ten to fifteen sun-risings before I can leave. Can you stop the storms, or do you want me to follow the mountain edges?” Nikit said, with fear and loathing in her voice.
“I will not open my defenses to that thing. You come down the edge of the mountains, and I will stop the storms for a short time in the gap,” the wizard replied.
“I will also come. Nikit, can you stop and pick me up?”
“Yes, of course. You will see me in twenty-five to thirty sun-risings.”
The images of the scowling Solans faded back into the dwindling fire.
“You think they can help you?” the vicious laughing voice from the blackness asked the wizard.
“They can delay him while we prepare.”
“Prepare what?”
“You can surround him, and I will attack. We can stop him. You and I can stop him.”
“He is coming for you. You are the great human wizard. You need no ones help,” the voice said laughing.
“You brought me to this point. You promised me I would control Tone. I control nothing but desolation.”
“I promised that I would assist you in obtaining control of this world. It was up to you to fulfill your desires. I gave you an undefeated fighting force. They drove those you wish to destroy to the ends of the landmass. You allowed the Solans and those feeble wizards to stop you,” the voice said, with an amused tone, to the old decrepit wizard.
“You promised me a world,” the wizard said in anger.
“You have your world. Look about you,” the hideous voice said, exploding into crackling laughter.
Map of the Northern Dark Plains of Tone
Chapter 34 - Time to Start
(A Dread of a Coming Fight will not Stop It)
- The Time of the Draman -
Terra sat holding Cardana in his lap on the edge of a coastal cliff. Fienna was about to change back to her human form. He watched a group of feathered fliers wing down the coast, following the wind. Fienna began to glow as she began her change. This would be the last sunset that the little family would have together. At sun-rising, they would take Cardana to her new home in Lampo.
Fienna walked over to her mate and lay down next to her family. Terra put his free arm around the female he loved. They did not talk or even trade thoughts. They simply enjoyed each other’s company and this peaceful time before the nightmare of this fight.
They stayed the sunset on the cliff edge. In the morning, Fienna returned to her dragon form and they returned to the crevice. His mother and Suti greeted them. The sea nymphs had prepared to take Cardana and Reicka to the underwater cave. Cardana was sleeping and Fienna held her small daughter in her hands. She looked down and if it had been possible for a dragon to cry she would have. She loved her daughter and was afraid that this would be the last time she would hold the small bundle of love.
Terra's mother climbed onto his back with Cardana tied in a cloth to her chest. Sifar climbed on and straddled Terra's neck just in front of Reicka. Fienna followed Terra to the waters above the mountain. Terra extended his magic to Fienna and they dove into the water. Reicka and Cardana were protected by Terra's magic. They met the sea nymphs at the entrance of the cave. The nymphs had built a number of homes around the mountain, and there were several hundred nymphs actively building more as they quietly guarded the cave entrance. Terra returned to his human form and swam with his mother and daughter into the tunnel leading to the cave. Fienna remained at the entrance of the cave, unable to change back to human form until sunset.
Sea nymph guards were in the entrance tunnel and would stay there for as long as Terra's family remained in the cave. They came to the entrance separating the water from the air and climbed through the threshold. The sea nymphs had filled the cave with soft water weed and toys for Cardana. Setilan and two nursing mothers awaited the family ready to feed Cardana. Two small sea nymphs lay in the play area. Sifar walked over to the small ones, sitting and watching them play.
Terra looked about and was satisfied with all the sea nymphs had done. He looked at his hand and reached deep within himself. His hands started to glow white instead of orange as they always had. He placed his hands onto the crystalline walls and the light flowed into every corner and crevice within the cave. A soft glow infused the entire cave, creating a spirit of love throughout the chamber.
Terra then took his daughter and the light from his hands flowed over her small body. As her skin glowed white, she giggled and smiled at her father. The light faded and Terra handed her to Reicka.
“What did you do?” Setilan asked.
“I added a bit of protection to this home and gave my daughter a goodbye gift,” Terra said with a smile as he walked to his mother. He reached out, took her into his arms, and hugged her gently.
“I must leave you once more; I promise this will be the last time. Take care of her and yourself,” he said into her ear.
“You have never left me. You’re always in my heart. Cardana will be safe with me, be careful come back soon.”
“I will, mother,” Terra said, as he released her.
“Setilan, I depend upon you to keep them safe.”
“I pledge my life to you and them.”
“I will see you all soon,” Terra said as he dropped through the cave entrance.
Terra and Fienna returned to the crevice where Rammy and Dawra were awaiting their return. They rested until high sun, and then left for the land nymph's valley. Rammy would ride on Terra's back while he carried Suti in his hands. Terra's decision to take Suti with him was based upon the thought that she would be an extremely powerful and loyal fighter. Twenty dragons in all flew with them, Terra's normal guard and ten other dragons that would stay with Rammy and Dawra. Dawra came with them to stay with Rammy in the land nymph’s valley while Hectise stayed behind to command the last flight of dragons. He, Fienna, and Terra would bring the three groups of dragons to the valley.
Terra planned to bring the first group in, and then Fienna would arrive with the second group. The final group would come in with Hectise. The group landed before the mountain crossing in the same place as they had during the first visit. They stayed for the sunset and continued on at sun-rising. Terra landed first at the base of the wall. Fienna and Dawra landed next to Terra. The old wizard came from his small hut with three other land nymphs. Rammy climbed down from Terra's back and placed Suti on the ground. She ran and stood by Fienna as Terra changed back to his human form. Terra and Rammy with Suti following behind walked to the nymphs.
“Welcome, Draman and young human. Where is your mate?” the old wizard asked.
“I am here,” Fienna said with a powerful voice. The Wizard looked up and saw the magnificent blue-green dragon. He had not thought of Fienna as the Wogan, but she was only second to Terra in power.
“I see. We are prepar
ed for the fight. Our fighters are organized and ready. When will the dragons come?”
“They will start arriving in three sun-risings. They will come in three groups. I will bring the first. Rammy and my mate's mother Dawra will describe our plans to you,” Terra said as he pointed to a large green dragon next to Fienna.
“I understand. Can you give me the basics of the plan?”
“Thirteen hundred dragons and I will fire the village and then eight more waves of dragons will do the same. After the first pass, I will fly above the village and direct the fight. You will have your nymphs collect in front of the wall. When the dragons are done, your nymphs will wait for the ground to cool and then attack. I expect the Solan to come out at some point, and I will deal with her.”
“How will you stop the Solan?”
“That depends on what she does.”
“Do you plan to stay the sunset?”
“No, we're departing now. I need to get back to lead the first five thousand dragons to your valley. I'm leaving ten guard dragons; they will help find perching areas for the dragons to come. The slese cat is my friend, and he will stay with Rammy. He won't hurt anyone. He's been fed,” Terra replied to the nymph.
Terra took off with Fienna and his guardian dragons. He flew high and looked over the area outside the wall. Mountains and the great wall had formed a small box canyon of a sort. Beyond the canyon was a village. The caves and huts were made of thick stone. In the center of the village, was a tall cave with a flat top. He assumed that was where the Solan lived. He noticed that dwarfs were moving around the tall cave as if they were preparing for something.