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Date Posted: 20:17:35 03/06/05 Sun
Author: DS
Subject: Ch.5
In reply to: DS 's message, "Ch.4" on 20:10:03 03/06/05 Sun

Ch.5

It took Nite a while, but by the time the dragon was five weeks old, they had regular conversations. Both Nite and the black had been delighted to realize that, even when Nite was in her house, they kept a bond in their minds. In fact, the reach got farther every day. By the fifth week, Nite could walk about ten feet into the woods and still keep the black informed.

Nite was fast asleep one night, tossing and turning a bit in the cold of winter. It was about three in the morning when…
Nite?
At first, it was just a whisper, accompanied by a little prod in her mind that the black tried to awaken her with. Nite grumbled, and turned, but didn’t awaken.
Nite? /i>She whispered.
No response.
Nite! /i>
That got Nite out of her trance and sitting up in all of two seconds. What?
I feel a presence nearby. /i>
At first, Nite didn’t understand. A… presence?
Yes, Nite! Someone is nearby.
That got Nite out of bed. Cursing under her breath, she reached for her tan over clothes. Is it a person, or—
Yes. Wait… no. It’s two creatures, I believe.
Nite was heading out the door by now, and she could sense that the black had found a way out of the shack. Meet me at the door.
I will.
As Nite left her room, she made special care not to awake Ray. Silently, she slithered down the stairs and reached the door in a matter of seconds.
The black was there to meet her.
In the air. The black said, ruffling her wings to the side and nudging Nite with her head. Climb on.
But, you don’t know how to—
I must learn. The black replied.
Unsurely, Nite stepped over the black, which was starting to become too tall for this kind of mounting. Cautiously, she sat down at he base of the neck, a found a little dip in the shoulders that was perfect for her. She was reluctant to put her full weight to the black, but was surprised as a strength seemingly impossible for a dragon so small held her up.
The wings were huge. Nite’s estiamte before seemed about right; they were three times the body length. They had before looked fragil to Nite, but now, as they extended and streched upward, she could see an immense power witheld in them, and could not doubt that they were strong.
The black streched her wings to their full extent, and pulled them high over her head. A silver gleam of determination in her eyes, the black took a deep breath, and crouched.
The legs sprang, and the wings beat down as hard as they could. Both the black and Nite were shot as if from a canon into the air.
Nite’s sharp gasp was lost in the howling of the wind as it whipped her hood back and flung her hair out behind her. Wind pushed sharply into her eyes, and she had to squint to see, and even then it was too dark to see much. The wind roared on, and she tried to scream to the black, but found her voice lost in the immense strength of the wind. It seemed the only things stopping the wind from rushing her away, too, were her arms around the black’s neck and her legs around the black’s middle.
You are alright? The black asked, slipping up on her speech like she sometimes did. It the only thing her mind seemed to register in the winds. The dragon’s voice held excitement.
I.. think so. Nite said, trying to gather herself after the shock.
Good. The black answered. She turned suddenly, almost thowing Nite off. Sorry.
S’alright. Nite said, trembling in the cold of the winds and snow, wishing she’d brought some more clothes. Do you see them?
Yes. The black said, turning a bit. They are just below us.
Nite carefully looked around the black’s neck, and saw a faint emerald glimmer below them. Before she could register any thoughts she might have about it, the black gave a loud gasp.
Nite!
What is it? Nite asked, alarmed.
It’s a dragon!
Several seconds passed in silence of all but the wind’s roar.
She wants me to land. The black said, breaking the silence.
What? Nite asked, surprised.
She, the emerald, bespoke me. She wants us to land.
Then we shall.
The black said nothing, but pulled her wings back, and Nite’s scream was lost in the rush of their dive.
The black pulled out of her dive just in time, and landed about twenty feet from the house, near the woods. The sight that met them was amazing.

An emerald green dragon stood there, about a foot taller than the black. The emerald scales were finer than the egg the dragon had come from, and she had the same ridges, spikes, and facial features as the black. Her eyes were swirling purple, as were the black’s, with a curiousity at meeting one of her kind.
Beside the emerald was a familiar figure; the elf from the library.

Nite gently lifted herself from the black’s neck, and stood beside her, looking over at the elf. Giving a small gasp, she pulled her hood back up, but the damage was done.
The elf didn’t look surprised at all. In fact, he looked as calm as he did the last time they’d met.
“You are Nite, correct?”
Nite nodded weakly.
“Yes…” he whispered, and took a few steps closer. He was now only about a foot away from her, and she coulds see him almost as clearly as she had before. “So… you’ve been chosen as well.”
“Chosen?” Nite asked, putting a hand on the black’s neck to comfot herself in the strange situation she found herself in.
“Yes.” The elf aswered. The emerald dragon walked up behind him, and loked at the black.
They are bonded, as we are. The black said. Nite nodded weakly. “Chosen… for what?”
The elf’s eyes glinted slightly. “You’ve been chosen to raise your dragon, of course.”
“Oh.” She said, shaking slightly. “Well… then… so have you, I expect.”
“Yes.” He gave a faint, almost dazed smile. However, it was soon gone. “You must leave.”
Nite was taken aback. “What?”
“You have to leave.” The elf’s face was grave. “You and I are in danger here.”
“But, why? What would harm us here?” Nite asked. What’s going on?
“Please,” he said, his eyes shining in concern over something. “I’ll explain on the way. But, we have to leave.”
“But, my little brother—”
“That’s why we leave now.” He said, with an elf’s everlasting patience. “To keep your family from danger.”
“But—”
“I promise that, if I am wrong, we will know by morning. Then, you may return to your brother.”
Nite looked at him uneasily, then to the black. What do you think?
He is one of us. The black replied. And the emerald is worried, as is he. I think their fear is genuine,
“Alright.” Nite said, sighing. “I’ll come.”
“Good.” The elf nodded. “Mount your dragon, and follow us.”


After flying over the forest and into the nearby mountains, the emerald form in front of them finally dove. After a small landing on a ledge, both riders dismounted.
Nite walked over to him, and crossed her arms.”I think,” she said, looking up at the elf, who remained calm, “that you owe me an explanation.” She thought for a second. “And a name.”
“My name is Eph’lyn.” He answered. “And my dragon has recently accepted the name Volaine.”
Nite stared at that. “Recently accepted?”
“Dragons, it seems, are born with a name.” He explained. “They will not remember it at birth, but they know it when they hear it. Most are from their own language.”
Nite’s eyes narrowed. “And how did you figure out her’s?”
Eph’lyn gave the smallest of smiles. “I am, m’lady, an elf. Do not be surprised,” he added, seeing Nite’s shocked expression. “An elf can see what other’s can’t. And, incidently, the elven language has derived many words from the dragons. As have the tongues of many other creatures, including human’s Latin.”
“Oh, yeah.” Nite said, remembering a book her mother had given her on languages. “What does Volaine mean?”
Eph’lyn thought for a moment. “I believe it has something to do with flight in the dragon’s language. At least, it does in elven.”
“Oh.” She said, looking away for a moment. Then, she looked back. “At any rate, do you care to explain why you dragged me away?”
“If you wait a moment, you shall see.” The elf answered, pointing to where, just barely visible in the distance, her house could be seen.

For a few minutes, all was still. Then, just as Nite was about to ask Eph’lyn for an explanation, she saw them. Five black horses were coming in the distance. And, judging from their gear and the attire of the men riding them, they were of the King’s Army.
As Nite watched, the five figures dismounted the beasts, and all gathered around something. Nite saw a golden glimmer in the lead man’s hand, but couldn’t identify it. After a minute, they mounted the horses, and sped off, into the forest.
“What… what was that?” Nite asked, amazament flooding through her voice.
“The King of your Camyl found out about us.” Eph’lyn answered, breaking Nite from her trance. “You do know how the king was crowned, don’t you?”
Nite looked up. “He supposedly did something for the good of the land, so the sterile king of the time announced him the heir.”
The elf’s eyes narrowed. “’For the good of the land’.” He said in a mocking voice. “Sounds just like Xumnites-d. ‘The good of the land’… so pradictable…”
Nite just gave him a weird look, halfway because of the herisey, and halfway because she was wondering how hard it must be to be both mocking and calm at once. “Did… did you know King Xumnites-d?”
The elf looked at her as if he’d forgotten she was there. “Yes.” He answered firmly. “Yes, I did. Stupid little mortal…”
Nite cleared her throat, and he bit his lip. “Sorry. No offense.”
“None taken.” Nite said, frowning. “But, what do you mean?”
“What he did was not for the good of all. In fact, I believe that it would all be much better if he’d never shown his face in these lands. However, I’m sure you humans think very highly of the rat.”
Nite just stared at him. After a moment, she found her voice. “What did he do?”
“Pardon?”
“He does something ‘supposedly’,” she wiggled her fingers for emphasis, “for the good of all, and that apparently makes him a rat. I think I’m missing the point here. What did he do?”
“You mean, they never told you?”
“No,” Nite said sarcastically. “They told me, but I forgot. What do you think?”
He just glared back at her. Minutes that seemed like hours passed, and Nite was worried he’d stop talking when his voice came back.
“What he did, fair child, was not for the good of all, as I’ve said. He carries a hated reputation among all creatures for what he’s done, aside from the humans. No, you should not know just yet. You will, however, learn in time.”
Nite sighed. “I am not a child.” She responded firmly. “And I can handle it.”
“No,” Eph’lyn said, somewhat to himself. “No, I shouldn’t be the one to tell you. Not now, that is.”

A few minutes passed by in silence, until Nite spoke. “So... will my family be safe now that they’ve past?”
Eph’lyn’s face turned grave. “No,” he said softly. “No, they won’t. You saw the golden glimmer in their leader’s hand, didn’t you? It will track us down.”
Nite hesitated. “What... what was it?”
Eph’lyn paused, and his eyes met hers. For a moment, Nite felt as if he were looking into her soul. “It was the scale of a dragon.”
“What?” Nite said, taken aback.
“The scale of a dragon. I don’t quite understand it, but apparently a dragon’s scale can track down other dragons, tell you when they’re nearby. As long as your black is with you, they can find you.”
Nite was quiet for a while. “So... I’m putting them in danger.”
“I’m afraid so. If the King finds your dragon, you’ll most assuredly be put to death. Maybe your family as well.”
Nite got a fleeting glimpse of little Ray, eyes wide in fear, being led away towards the gallows by soldiers. She gulped.
“W... what can I do, then?”
Eph’lyn sighed. “I’m going out to find the others. You’re welcome to join me.”
Nite stared. “Others?”
“Of course.” Eph’lyn gestured to Volaine and the black. “Did you think, my dear, that these two were the only surviving dragons? While it’s true they could be two of the maybe three or four, possibly even five, they are not the only ones. There must be a male out there somewhere, in any case. Nature would not leave two female dragons on Earth by themselves.”
Nite?
Yes? Nite asked, looking at the black.
I...I believe them. There are other dragons. I can sense it. Not many, but others.
Nite didn’t know what to say. “But... Ray...”
“He’s not safe with the King’s Army searching for you.”
“I know, but...” Nite swallowed back tears. “How will he live without me? I’m the worker, the hunter. He can’t survive without me.”
“I do believe you have a friend who’ll be more than happy to take him in. And pay the expenses for your mother.” He gave Nite a look to silence any questions. “Benjil told me all about it. He thinks very highly of you, and has more than enough money with his jewels. Also, he will be lonely when Jelzan marries, and Lillian thought fondly of him. I’ve already mentioned that one day you might leave, and he said he’d be very honored to set your affairs in order.”
Nite wanted to protest but couldn’t. All he said made sense, in a bizarre way. Finally, she sighed. “Just let me get some personal tuff from my house, and I’ll join you.”
A smile tugged at the elf’s mouth. “We can learn about dragons together,” he said comfortingly. “The two of us, and the other dragons we can find.”


It was slightly exciting to learn that all she held dear and didn’t wish to leave Ray fit into the sack she’d carried the black’s egg in on the gather day. Her favorite beltknife. One of her father’s plates. The compass her mother had given her for her third birthday, back when she acted like a girl. A picture of her, Lyzel, Benjil, and Jelzan on her sixteenth birthday, with Koalle and the girls in the background. An eagle’s feather.
Nite sighed as she put all these into her bag, and then her eyes rested on a little picture on her desk. Ray had drawn it for her a few days ago. It was of him with his wooden sword and Nite with her hunting bow. Smiling, Nite placed that in the sack, and slung the bow around her shoulder.
As she tiptoed out of her room, a sudden urge struck her. Gently, she walked into the room at the end of the hall. Her mother’s room.

The room was quiet. Nite walked up to the bed, where her mother slept. She gave a faint smile, and brushed a few loose hairs out of her mother’s face. A small blue book caught her eye, and she picked it up. It was a translation dictionary for Latin. Never noticed that…
Deciding her mother wouldn’t miss it, Nite put the book in her bag. Latin had, after all, been derived slightly from the dragon language, according to Eph’lyn.
Nite looked at her mom, and knew she couldn’t bear it. She was leaving her mother alone with Ray. Her eldest child would be forgotten, just a distant memory or dream.
Nite walked from the room, only realizing when the moonlight from the window fell on her that she was crying.

After that visit, there was one more. Gently, she stepped into Ray’s room, and smiled. Pictures of the King’s Army and posters of swordsmen filled the walls and all sorts of things were scattered around the ground. The wooden sword lay next to the bed, in easy reach of the young boy.
Nite walked over, and the sight of her little brother pulled at her heartstrings.
It isn’t goodbye forever, is it? The black’s voice was soothing.
I hope not, black. I hope not.
Smiling sadly, the girl bent over, and kissed her brother softly on the cheek. She knew there wouldn’t be a day she didn’t think of him.
Bending down, she found a piece of paper and a quill. She quickly scribbled a note.

Ray,
Gone. Don’t know if I’ll come back. Go to Benjil in the morning, and tell him Nite and Eph’lyn (he’ll know who) need his help with what they spoke about. He’ll understand.
I love you very much, Ray. Just be strong, and I’m sure Daddy would be proud of you.
Nite


Nite walked over to the wood where the forms of two dragons and an elf awaited her. Once she reached them, she looked back, and tears filled her eyes. The place had been her home for years, and now she was leaving it all behind...
A warm hand touched her shoulder. Eph’lyn gave her a small smile.
“Ready?”
Nite nodded. Together, the two walked to the dragons, and mounted. Soon, they were just two specks, somewhere in the distance, racing over the mountains.


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