The Dragon Healer of Tone (World of Tone)

by Adams, A. D.

  Chapter 21 - Terra’s First Flight

  (Sharing Joy with a Friend is a Great Gift.)

  341 set of seasons since the coming of the Averons

  Fienna had been flying for more than ten full moon risings and had grown strong. Her skills had nearly reached the level of her mother’s.

  Fienna desperately wanted to take Terra with her when she went flying, but her mother insisted that she was not yet strong enough. She was only half the size of her mother and nowhere near as strong. Since Terra had healed Tepic, the three of them had become friends. Fienna and Tepic often practiced flying together. When they returned, Fienna would describe everything to Terra. She did not understand his disturbance when she talked about all the fun she and Tepic had together. Terra hid something from her, but she did not quite know what; it was odd.

  As the moon’s changes passed, Fienna grew larger and stronger.

  Terra also grew and became very strong, for a human. His small arms were able to break bones and sticks with little effort, and Lowlack constantly had to get him larger clothes. Fienna’s attraction to Terra grew with her size. She could not imagine being without him, and in both of their minds, they would always be together. Fienna was finally tired of her mother saying she wasn’t strong enough to take Terra with her. After all, she could carry runner beasts twice his size without trouble.

  Fienna finally told Terra, “It is time for you to fly with me.”

  “Your mother says you are too small to carry me.”

  “I don’t care. I’m going to take you with me.”

  “How do you plan to carry me? I don’t think you can hold me in your arms; it would be to tiring.”

  “You might be right. Maybe Lowlack will have some idea. Let’s talk to him when he comes. We will tell him that when I’m ready to take you flying. We thought carrying you in my arms would be clumsy, and we’ll ask what he suggests.”

  “That sounds good.”

  “Now, don’t you tell my mother what we’re planning? I know you want me safe, but I think it’s time.”

  “I won’t tell.”

  The next sun-rising Dawra was hunting, and Lowlack was in the cave with them. Fienna brought up the subject of flying.

  “Lowlack, when I’m able to take Terra places, we think that carrying him in my arms won’t work so well. Is there any other way I might carry him?”

  “Well, let me think. This has never been a problem; dragons carry their young only until they start flying. Nevertheless, you are talking long term carrying. Let us see now.” Lowlack paced back and forth while he thought about the problem.

  Then he said, “The humans sometimes sit on top of their work beast, and the beast carries them where they want to go. Perhaps if Terra sat with his leg wrapped around your neck, between your back ridges, right above your shoulder. He could sit, and your arms would be free.”

  “That is a great idea, Lowlack. When I’m big enough, we’ll try it.”

  In a few sun-risings, Terra and Fienna were alone in the cave, and Terra climbed up between the ridges above Fienna’s shoulders. He straddled his legs over her neck, and Fienna hopped up to one of the high ledges. She spread her wings and glided down to the floor. Terra, at first, had a hard time holding on, but then he felt Fienna’s muscles through her thoughts. He matched his movements with hers. They practiced like this for a two moon risings.

  Then one sun-rising, it was time to really fly. Terra mounted Fienna, and she hopped to the edge of the cave to launch herself. Terra held tight, and Fienna jumped. At first, Terra had a hard time holding on, but as Fienna gained height, he got his balance. She flew around the top of the cliffs above the cave. A sudden gust of wind tilted Fienna to one side. Terra could not hold onto the back ridge and started to slip. Fienna panicked; she was losing Terra; her mother was right. Then, he stopped sliding; some force held him in place. It was as if his legs became part of Fienna’s body and would not allow him to slip or even be separated from her. Fienna regained her balance, and the two landed on the cliff above the cave.

  Terra climbed off and said, “I was slipping, then I felt as if I became part of you.”

  “I felt the same thing.”

  “I think we are meant to fly together.”

  Terra mounted Fienna again. This time there was no slipping. They did loops, turns, and dives with no problems. As they cavorted, Dawra returned and saw them. She signaled them to land in the cave. Fienna went straight to the cave and landed inside with Terra on her back.

  Dawra then landed.

  “What are you two doing? You could have both been killed. You’re not big enough to carry him yet!”

  “But, I am mother. I had no problem at all. In fact, I can’t even feel Terra on my back. It’s as if he’s part of me.”

  Dawra had known this sun-rising would come but wanted to control when and where. It was too late now; they had done it and had come up with the same solution she had thought of, Terra riding on Fienna’s back.

  “Well, I want you to practice in the fields till I say it’s all right for you two to fly on your own.”

  Dawra watched them over the next several moonrises, and it seemed almost useless. It was as if the two were one. They appeared to belong together.

  Dawra finally let them fly on their own without supervision. They were free now. Terra no longer had to stay in the cave while Fienna flew off. They were rarely parted after that, sun-rising or sunset.

  Chapter 22 - Freedom

  (Freedom is Joyous, but it can be Trouble.)

  342 set of seasons since the coming of the Averons

  Fienna and Terra were finally free to do whatever they wished.

  Every sun-rising they went flying wherever the two wished. One sun-rising as they were in flight, they found an unusual crevice in the coastal cliffs. It was as if the earth cracked open and left a deep cut in the rocks. The crevice was fifty dragon lengths wide and at least one hundred deep. Fienna flew over it, and the two could see a small lake in the bottom surrounded by woods. At one end of the lake was a clearing large enough for Fienna to land. The two decided to investigate this little lake. Fienna slowly spiraled down to the clearing and landed with no problem. Terra dismounted and walked over to the water. He could see small swimming creatures like the ones Dawra brought home for food but much smaller, more his size. He tasted the water, and it was sweet and refreshing. Fienna’s great head hung over Terra watching him.

  “Well is it good.”

  “Yes, it tastes wonderful. Try it.”

  With that, Fienna tasted it and agreed that it was good. She waded into the lake and found it deep enough for swimming. Terra stripped off his coverings and jumped in. But he didn’t go deeper than his chest.

  “What’s wrong, Terra? Come in further with me.”

  “I can’t. I’ll sink.”

  Fienna paddled to him and said, “I don’t. You will not either.”

  “But your mother taught you to move through the water. No one ever taught me, and I don’t have wings to stretch out on the water’s surface like you do.”

  “That’s true. Well, get on my back, and I’ll take you out.”

  Fienna lowered her great neck, and Terra climbed on. It was as if they were flying through the water. They played until they were both tired.

  Fienna waded to the shore, and they stretched out in the clearing to rest and warm themselves in the sun. Both Fienna and Terra fell asleep.

  Fienna was peacefully sleeping when she felt Terra trying to wake her.

  His mind was pushing, calling her and his small body was poking her arm.

  “Fienna, wake up. Wake up, Fienna. I found something, “ She slowly came awake and little by little she understood what Terra was thinking.

  She said groggily, “What did you find?”

  “Come on, you sleepy dragon, and I’ll show you.”

  Fienna got to her hind feet, partly walked, and partially hopped as dragons did on the ground. Terra led her to the edge of the trees an
d stopped.

  “You’re too big to walk through the trees. There’s enough space to land though.”

  “Land where?”

  “It’s about ten dragons’ lengths beyond these trees.”

  “All right, get on and I’ll fly us there.”

  Terra hopped on her back, and they flew the short distance to a flat rocky area were Fienna landed. In front of them was a large opening in the rocks. Terra led her into a huge cave. The cave was much larger than the opening. Light filtered in showing a beautiful place with crystal fingers hanging from the ceiling. As the light struck the crystals, small shafts of light reflected through the large cave. A small stream flowed through the floor of the cave with deep shelves on either side. The stream emerged from the rear of the cave and emptied out one side of the entrance. It flowed down the side of the flat rock and disappeared into trees below. It would make a perfect place for a dragon and a man to live in.

  “Terra, it’s beautiful. Maybe we should not tell anyone about it.

  Keep it our secret place.”

  They decided to do just that. It would be their private place to visit.

  It was starting to get late, and Fienna’s mother would be angry if they weren’t home by dark, so they left the cave. Terra mounted Fienna, and they flew home.

  Chapter 23 - Learning to Swim

  (A Skill of Life in a World of Danger)

  343 set of seasons since the coming of the Averons

  Fienna thought that Terra should learn to swim. After all they could play in the water of the lake if he could. The next morning Lowlack had brought his normal package of seed rocks and plants for Terra. They approached him, and he knew by their manner they wanted something.

  “Lowlack,” said Fienna.

  “Can you help us? Terra can’t swim. Do you know how to teach him?”

  Lowlack looked a little puzzled at first and then said, “I know the humans swim. I’ve seen them, but I never watched humans being taught to swim. Let me go see if I can figure out how they learn, then I’ll come back and teach Terra.”

  Lowlack found the thought of teaching Terra to swim a challenge.

  He liked being useful, so he flew to a lake that he had seen the humans swim in. Every sun-rising he went and watched from the top of the mountain peak next to the lake. Finally, one sun-rising a young female with a small female child came to the edge of the lake. She took the small ones clothes off, then her own clothes. She picked up her child and walked out into the water until she was waist high. She held the child out in the water just even with the top of it. Then the little one started to kick her legs and move her arms like she was grabbing for something in the water just ahead of her. The woman started to walk while the child was kicking and reaching. The two of them did this for a while, then they went back to shore and left. The next sun-rising they came again and did the same thing. sun-rising after sun-rising they did this until one sun-rising the woman pulled her arms away. She stayed close to the child but was no longer holding her. The little one started to swim without the woman’s support. Over the next several sun-risings, the little female swam better and better until the woman did not need to be in the water with her. One sun-rising a male came with them and watched the little one swim. Lowlack thought the male looked very familiar but could not quite decide why. He thought he must have seen him before.

  Lowlack realized teaching a human to swim was much like teaching a dragon to fly. He was sure he could teach Terra. That sunset he flew to the cave and told the two he now knew how to teach him to swim, and they would go to the sea the next sun-rising and start. Fienna and Terra were both excited about the idea. Dawra was not too sure and decided to go with them just in case this turned out like the cave fire.

  The next morning the four went to the sea and landed on a wide beach. The sand was black but soft to the touch.

  “Terra, Fienna come here,” Dawra said.

  There are creatures in the sea called sea nymphs; they can be deadly.

  They trick their victims by appearing as a friendly animal. Now they have learned from bitter experience not to bother dragons. But Terra you are in danger from them. I want you to always stay near one of us.

  You understand?”

  “Yes, I understand,” Terra said not really paying attention.

  Lowlack walked out in the water until it came about half way to his knee. He then lay down in the water and told Terra to come to him.

  Terra walked out, and the water was almost to his neck when he reached Lowlack.

  “Now get into my hand and lay on your belly,” Lowlack instructed Terra.

  Terra climbed into Lowlack’s out-stretched hand and did as he was told.

  Lowlack lowered Terra into the water until he was just even with it,

  “All right, start kicking your feet.” Terra did.

  “Now cup your hands and reach out and pull the water towards you.”

  Terra did everything Lowlack told him to do. Lowlack found that Terra’s small body started to move away from his hand, so he had to hold Terra in place. Even then, it was difficult to hold his little body.

  This seemed odd since he had grabbed humans before, and they weren’t nearly as strong. Terra kicked and reached for what seemed to be forever to a human boy. But he was patient and did what he was told.

  Every sun-rising for a moon rising they did the same thing. Until one sun-rising Lowlack let Terra go. His body moved out of the great dragon’s hands and through the water. He had no trouble keeping his head above the water, and it seemed so easy to move through the sea.

  Lowlack had to stand and walk next to Terra to keep up with him.

  Fienna was bouncing up and down on the shore in excitement.

  “Mama, look how Terra swims; he so fast.”

  Dawra watched as the little body moved through the water with incredible speed. Lowlack could hardly keep up with him now. Terra finally turned and swam toward Fienna who was already in the water bouncing toward Terra. The two met in the water at a depth such that Fienna’s head was at water level. Terra grabbed Fienna’s jaw and kissed her. At that point, a surge of energy flowed through the two that surprised them both. They did not know what it was, but it was pleasant.

  The two played for a while in the water as Lowlack and Dawra watched from the shore.

  “Lowlack, have you ever seen a human swim with such power and speed?”

  “No, in fact I had trouble holding on to him.”

  “He is much stronger than what I thought humans would be.” Dawra said with a sly little smile on her face.

  “I think he is much stronger than any humans I have ever seen,”

  Lowlack said without really thinking about it.

  In the sea, three pairs of eyes were watching the human swim with the dragon in disbelief.

  Chapter 24 - Meeting a New Friend

  (Hunters and Prey can become Friends.)

  344 set of seasons since the coming of the Averons

  Terra and Fienna went to the sea often to swim and play. One sun-rising they found a secluded cove where they could lay on the sand and sun themselves on warm afternoons. The cove was surrounded by high cliffs and could only be reached by flying or swimming. The sandy area at the base of the cliffs was a semicircle completely open to the reddish colored sea. It was mid-afternoon, and Fienna was asleep.

  Terra was looking at the sea half asleep himself. He thought he heard something, but he couldn’t quite make it out. He decided it was nothing and laid back against Fienna’s side.

  As he started to dose off, he again heard a cry or something. Terra got up and walked down to the edge of the water. The waves lapped up at his feet as he looked out over the sea. He didn’t see anything and was about to turn away when he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. There in the rock on the edge of the cove was what appeared to be a creature that looked similar to him except with long golden green tinted hair and a slim body with two large mounds in it’s chest area. It’s skin appe
ared as smooth as his and was the color of the sea at dusk when the sun is setting. It did not have legs but two tail-like limbs similar to the sea creatures he and Fienna often ate. He was, for some reason, attracted to this creature and found it very alluring. He didn’t understand why. The creature seemed to be calling to him, so he walked toward it. As he approached, he could see that this creature was quite beautiful, and he was very attracted to it. As he got closer, it looked at him with large green blue eyes that seemed to draw him in.

  “Who are you?” Terra asked.

  “I am here for you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I am yours.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Come closer and sit next to me, and I will explain.”

  Terra saw no harm in this and did what she asked. As he sat down, the creature put her arm around his back leaning her hand on his shoulder.

  “Now what do you mean you are here for me.”

  “Well, I am going to take you into the sea with me.” With that the arm suddenly turned into a tentacle and wrapped around Terra’s neck.

  Terra’s body began to glow orange, and with that, the creature screamed in pain. Fienna heard the scream and woke up. She instantly saw Terra with the creature. Suddenly, three more came up out of the water and wrapped tentacles around Terra’s body. They all began writhing in pain and finally released their grip on him. Fienna was on her feet and furiously half running, half hopping toward Terra. The creature that had originally attracted him had fainted from the pain and fell against a small pointed rock. Blood was coming from its head.

  Fienna reached Terra as he started to stand.

  “Terra what happened?” Fienna’s mind said to him.

  “They attacked me for some reason.”

  “Why did they stop?”

  “I don’t know,” Terra said in a questioning tone.

  The one lying on the rocks just below Terra was dying. He could somehow feel it.