The Dragon Healer of Tone (World of Tone) (20 page)

“That’s nice, but what do I do. I have to go to the cave soon. What do I say? They are connected in a way I don’t understand. He is more powerful than any creature I have ever seen. As far as I can tell, there is no force on Tone that could separate them. How do I deal with this?”

Dawra said almost overcome with emotion, a state a dragon was rarely in.

“Calm down. Just ignore what happened and treat them the same as you always have. You know he will always protect her and her him.

Just ignore what happened. I will tell them of the dragon council’s decision in the morning although I don’t think it will mean much to them.”

After a while, Dawra did calm down with Lowlack’s help. They both flew back to the cave. There they found Fienna lying asleep by Terra who was sleeping next to her. She had curled her tail around his small body. He looked so small, virtually helpless compared to Fienna’s powerful body. Lowlack and Dawra now knew different though; of the two, he was the most powerful.

The next morning Dawra was awake before the two had even stirred. She had already hunted and had a small piece of meat cut off for Terra. When the two awoke, Terra walked over to Dawra.

“I wish to say that I’m sorry for what happened. I feel terrible that I hurt two dragons. I don’t know why I did it, but I promise you it will not happen again. If you wish, I will leave, and you will never have to see me again,” Terra said with such sincerity that it surprised Dawra and Fienna.

Dawra had not expected Terra to feel so bad. A dragon would have been proud of defeating two others that were larger than he but not this little human. He was actually sad about what had happened. Dawra felt so sorry for him that she did something she had never dreamed of doing before. She gently wrapped her tail around his body and said, “Don’t be foolish; nothing has changed. We are still a family. I have a piece of meat for you. Go ahead and burn it. Fienna, there’s half a running beast in the corner for you.” With that Dawra uncurled her tail so Terra could move.

By the time they were both done eating and Terra had bathed in his small pool, Lowlack had shown up.

“I need to talk to the both of you,” Lowlack said in a serious voice.

“About what?” Fienna said with a curious look on her face.

“After you left, the dragon council decided to make Terra a dragon.

He now has the full rights of a dragon and the responsibilities. He must be presented to all the dragons at the next gathering. It was agreed that he would fly on your back Fienna for his flight.”

Fienna beamed with pride and excitement, but Terra had a worried look on his face.

“Were they not angry because I injured those two males?” Terra said with concern.

“Terra, most dragons would have left them for dead after what they did. You healed them. Don’t worry. All the dragons on Tone know you and know you will help them if they have need. They also have a healthy fear of you and dragons respect that.”

This seemed to help calm Terra’s concerns.

“Will there be any trouble when I come to the next gathering?”

“No. There will be many dragons watching for any troublemakers, and they will be dealt with. It’s nothing for you to be worried about.”

“Very well, I will be proud and grateful to become a dragon,” Terra said in the most elegant voice he could muster.

“One final thing the dragon gathering is known to no other beings.

You must always keep it a secret.”

“I shall,” Terra said.

Chapter 42 - Finding a New Home

(The First New Home must be perfect.)

350 set of seasons since the coming of the Averons

Although Fienna was still growing, she had been presented at the gathering, and it was time to start preparing her own cave. Dawra had started to look for a cave that would suit Fienna and Terra. She never imagined that they had found their own place. Dawra had been flying the coast for full moon risings looking for the perfect cave. She loved her daughter, she had even grown to love Terra, and she wanted them to have the best possible home. She had found four possible caves, all close to her. She wanted to be close to her daughter unlike other dragons that virtually forgot their children once they left. She would talk to Fienna that sunset about the caves she found.

That evening as they all settled in for the sunset Dawra brought up the subject.

“It will soon be time for you two to have your cave.”

“I know mother. We have been looking and found a nice place.”

“You have!” Dawra said with surprise. Few young dragons even think about it.

“Yes, it’s very nice; we can take you there.”

I would like to see it, but I also have found some places you should consider. We’ll look at them all starting at sunrise.”

The next morning the three flew off to look at all the caves. They first went to the ones that Dawra found. The first was very much like the one they presently lived in. It had a small stream flowing from the back, but it was not protected from the wind. It was deeper than their present home, which would help with the wind, but it still was not perfect. The second cave Dawra showed them was in a box-shaped crevice that did protect it from the wind, but there was no water in the cave. They would have to carry water in. This did not please Fienna, and that cave was ruled out. The next was in the wall of a sea cove. It was protected from the wind, and a waterfall did cascade over the top of the wall and fell partially across the front of the cave’s opening. The water splashed into the cave creating a small misty area in the cave’s opening. They did not rule this cave out. The cove was one of the many that were cut off from the coast beaches, and Terra could exercise and relax in it. Dawra saved the best for last. It was a cave on a high cliff that over looked several small islands. The islands were in such a position that their peaks sheltered the cave from the sea winds. A large spring rose out of the ground in the back of the cave and drained through a hole next to it. The spring formed into a small pool, before it drained, large enough for Terra to bathe in. The cave had a number of layered steps, several of which were large enough for Fienna to sleep on. This was obviously a wonderful cave and would work for them.

They then began the flight to the cave that Fienna and Terra had found. As they flew up and over the cliffs, Dawra wondered where they where going. She followed as Fienna turned inland and flew toward a large crack in the rocky terrain. They finally flew down into the crack where a small lake came into view. Dawra could see that as they descended a sandy path had been created. It led from the lake to a large cave opening fronted with a large slab of flat rock. They landed on the rock, and Dawra was impressed with the cave’s opening, and the lake that looked just big enough for Fienna to bathe in. They walked into the cave, and it was quite spectacular. Its interior seemed like an enchanted place with the reflections of the great crystal finger that hung from the roof, which were more beautiful than anything Dawra had remembered seeing. A stream ran through the cave. It was cold and clear as the crystal that hung from the cave’s ceiling. A large flat terrace several levels above the stream would be a perfect place for Fienna to sleep and slightly above this terrace was a small shelf that would suit Terra.

Dawra had to admit that this was an ideal place, but it was so close to the ground. No dragon had ever lived this close to the ground. As Dawra looked through the cave and then the outside, it was obvious how excited the two were about this place. They had even created the path from the cave to the lake. It was well protected,and Dawra thought no one would know where they would be staying. That would make this place safe. Terra could stay here while Fienna was hunting and would be able to leave the cave without help. She saw that even though she had found nice caves for the two of them to stay in this place was the best suited for the unusual arrangement they had. She agreed to their new home.

It would still be one more season before Dawra would allow them to move, and in that time, she wanted to help them with their new home.

That sunset Fienna and Terra excitedly talked about their new cave.

“Fienna, I think we should tell Setilan where our new home will be.”

“Why?”

“She is our friend, and I think she would like to know.”

“She doesn’t know where we live now.”

“That’s true, but she did help you with the sand, and I think she is a good friend and deserves to know.”

“Well, just her, no one else.”

“If that’s what you wish. We’ll tell her after my sunrise lesson when were alone.”

The next sunrise Terra and Fienna were at the cove ready for his lesson. After the lesson, Terra asked Setilan to stay a while, and she did.

They told her of their new home and that after the season was over they would be moving there. After describing the crevice and the pool, she told them that it was possible that there was a path from the sea to the pool through underwater caves. She had many times traveled in these caves and found fresh water pools. They asked Setilan to keep their new home a secret. They wanted it as private a place as possible and she agreed.

“Now how can you show me where it is?” Setilan said almost to herself.

“Well, why don’t we fly down the coast, and Fienna will land on the cliffs. You can then swim to us, and we will fly a little farther, and then you can again swim to us. After a while, we’ll reach the cave,” Terra said with Fienna shaking her head in agreement.

“That sounds good, is it far?”

“We should be there by high sun. Can you get rid of those that follow you around?”

“Oh, those guards are not very smart; I can lose them. Go to that high clif, and I will be there as soon as I’m alone.” Setilan pointed at a cliff down the shore.

“We’ll be waiting,” said Terra.

It wasn’t long before Setilan’s head popped out of the water below them, and Terra pointed down the coast. Setilan watched where Fienna landed and swam to them. Soon they were at the spot on the coast just opposite the crevice. Setilan dove down and found a rather large cave below where Fienna and Terra were sitting on the cliff. She surfaced and signaled them to wait at the pool, and then she dove again. The cave’s opening was large, but it slowly narrowed until it was only big enough for two or three large sea nymphs to move through. The light slowly diminished but that made little difference to Setilan; she could send out sound, and when it returned, her mind converted it to pictures.

She didn’t really need light to see. The caves must have once been dry.

She could tell this by the large fingers hanging from the ceiling. That only happens in land caves. She soon saw a dim light and started to swim toward it. She could see that it was an opening to a pool, and from the taste of the water, it was fresh water. When she surfaced in the pool, she saw Terra and Fienna lying on the flat area at the end of a sandy path. It must have been the path she had helped Fienna create.

Setilan swam to shore, and there where the two of them sunning themselves.

“Weren’t you worried about me?”

“No, I knew you were fine,” Terra said in an unconcerned voice.

“How did you know?”

“I just know things like that. I don’t really understand how, but I do.”

“Well, are you two going to show me around?” Setilan said in a mildly angry voice.

“Don’t be angry. I’ll show you around,” Terra said in a soothing voice.

Fienna stayed at the shore sunning herself as Terra showed Setilan the path and cave. She was impressed as Dawra was with the cave’s beauty. Setilan calmed down; she could not seem to stay angry at Terra.

No one seemed to be able to do that. When they returned to Fienna, the three of them swam and played in the lake. As sunset approached, Setilan returned to the sea through the underwater path she had found, and Terra and Fienna returned to her mother’s cave.

Chapter 43 - Preparing to Leave

(It is Hard to Leave a Place of Comfort.)

351 set of seasons since the coming of the Averons

The seasons on Tone varied depending upon where you were. The misty valley of humankind had four seasons, although they seemed like one long cycle of rain with a few changes. The growing season was warm and moist and became the time for the growers to produce what food they could. Then a time of cooling occurred, which was used to harvest the crops, and then the miserable cold rains started. Finally, the cold rains gave way to a short dry warming period, which was the planting season and then the cycle started once again. There was, of course, one constant during most of the seasons. RAIN!

The dragons, however, seemed to only see two seasons. There was the warm pleasant time when dragons could stretch out and sun themselves, and the stormy colder season that had less sun and cooler sun-risings. During this time, violent storms would sometimes blast the coast causing the dragons to stay in their caves for sun-risings at a time.

It was the colder season, and a good time for Fienna and Terra to start getting their new home ready.

Dawra had started them off by showing Fienna a cliff were she could get light but gritty rocks. These were odd rocks. They weighed almost nothing, but they were very coarse. The rocks had air bubbles all through them, and Fienna wanted to know where they came from.