“Rayina,” the voice echoed through her ears. She could feel that twilight was near, but that didn’t mean she had to get up already, did it? She felt the familiar nudge on the small of her back and the melodic voice came again. “Rayina, darkness comes, you must wake.”
With a sigh, the girl rolled over and stared up into the green-gold eyes that had met her every morning for as long as she could remember. Triphe moved her large reptilian head back and her eyes smiled. Rayina glared darkly at her. She didn’t want to get up yet.
Triphe turned and ambled towards the mouth of the cave, the setting sun glinting off her red-gold scales.  Rayina pulled herself out from under the skins that kept her warm during the frost season and walks over beside Triphe to watch as the last sliver of sun slipped behind the horizon. The girl turned back to the cave, her own dark chocolate eyes quickly adjusting to the darkness that she spent most of her time in. sitting back down on her skins, she picked up the comb that she fashioned out of bones. Dragging it through her long chestnut hair.
Triphe paced slowly around the cave, impatient as always to get down to the Dragon Meet. Rayina finished pulling the tangles out of her hair and followed Triphe to the mouth of the cave again. The large dragon lowered her shimmering neck to allow the girl to vault onto her back. Rayina settled between the ridges of Triphe’s neck and hooked her calloused hands around the ridge before her. Lowering her center of gravity, she leaned forward and felt Triphe’s muscles bunch before leaping into the sky. Her large leathery wings caught the air, and they glide smoothly down across the cliffs.
Rayina closed her eyes, smiling as the wind blew her hair behind her and whistled through her ears. The nightly glide down to the main cave where they met for the Dragon Meet was always her favorite part of the night. She would never tire of riding dragon-back. The feeling of being completely free to soar through the clouds with the chilly night wind pricking at her face was so invigorating. The routine had been nearly every night for as long as she could remember, but that didn’t make it any less special.
She saw the large entrance to the main cave and her heart saddened. Her flight was nearly over, and she would spend most of the rest of the night inside, babysitting the younglings till the adult dragons returned with fresh meat for both them and her. Every once in a while, one of the new mothers would stay to keep her company if her youngling wasn’t yet off It’s milk, but as far as she knew it had not been long enough since any of them had their scales shine gold and fly off with the others in hot pursuit. It had been nearly a moon ago that Triphe had gone gold for the first time, but it would another moon at least before the youngling came.
Triphe alighted on the rock outcropping and Rayina slid down to the ground. The two walked into the cave, Rayina standing at Triphe’s shoulder. The huge royal-blue dragon that looked down with his usual stony-eyes met them. Rayina felt the usual feelings of contempt wash over her as she forced herself not to shrink back from his golden-eyed stare.
“Greetings, Triphena,” his voice was low and resonant, seeming to vibrate against Rayina’s bones.
Triphe looked up at the larger dragon. “Greetings to you as well, N’Koi,” she answered. Rayina watched as their eyes locked. She saw the battle of wills that took place every night when they entered. It was common knowledge that N’Koi thought that Rayina should never have been admitted to the Dragon Meet, and that he still thought she should be cast out to find her place among her own species. Fortunately, Rayina had Dylian’s favor, and he was the most respected figure in the Meet, otherwise she would have found herself alone in the hills long before now.
Finally, N’Koi broke the gaze. Rayina beamed with pride. Triphe was one of the strongest females in the Meet, and N’Koi was only middling with the males. But, as such things usually become, N’Koi became somewhat of a bully, always picking on the weaker males and females. If Rayina had not always been with Triphe, she would most definitely have been the main object of his tyrants. Now he turned and lumbered away, his pride hurt from being beaten once again. Triphe turned to Rayina, and the girl nodded. They walked the rest of the way into the cave.

ab

Rayina sat on a small rock outcropping in the wall, hands on her knees; she watched the younglings who slept at her feet. It had only been minutes before that she had tossed them the last of her night’s store. They had to be kept fed often, unlike the older dragons that would gorge once a night, then return and be fine until the next sunset. She had finally gotten these ones to sleep, and was exhausted. Wandering to the cave entrance, she looked out to see the moon not even at it’s high point yet. She sighed. It would be at least another hour yet before Triphe or Dylian returned. Until then, she had no company. With a sigh she returned to her rock, pulling her knees up to her chest.
“Enjoying your break?” Rayina whirled at the voice to find N’Koi standing behind her, a malicious smile in his golden eyes.
“Shouldn’t you be out hunting?” Rayina answered, her voice icy. She wouldn’t let N’Koi intimidate her. Even if they were alone, he couldn’t do anything to her. He wouldn’t dare face the wrath of Dylian, would he?
N’Koi’s smile was sugary sweet. “I have eaten my fill already. It takes me not even half the time as the others to find my nights fill.”
“That’s because you steal the idiot cattle from the human farmers,” Rayina shot back. N’Koi’s eyes narrowed.
“You listen to me, human-girl. The only reason your still here is because that old coot Dylian took pity on you. If it weren’t for him you would have been abandoned in the hills long ago. And as soon as Dylian is removed from his throne, mark my words, you will be. I know what your up to, you little spy, and I have every intention of exposing you for who you really are.”
Rayina stared at him in amazement. “What are you talking about?” N’Koi tossed his head, a cruel laugh emitting through his reptilian jaws.
“Don’t play coy with me, spy. I know why your really here and who sent you. Your little masquerade may fool some, but not me! You were sent by the humans as a spy, to find out information about us to make it easier for them to attack!” by this time, the dragon had pulled himself up to his full height and was pointing one silver talon accusing at her. “You are a traitor! You wish to bring a downfall to us all! But ah, you weren’t counting on this were you. N’Koi’s got you figured out. I will foil your plans, and there is nothing you can do to stop me. Your precious Triphe isn’t here to protect you now, lets see how you do on your own!”
Rayina stared at him through all of this. Had he gone completely mad? He must have, his accusations were ridiculous. She had always lived with Triphe and the dragons. She had never known anything else. She leapt from her seat, fists balled in rage.
“Ground-crawling lizard spawn!” she shouted the old insult that she had heard used only a few times, and it seemed to take him aback. Seeing this, she plowed onwards. “You fancy yourself so mighty, but you last not seconds against some of the weakest of your kind! Instead, you pick fights with those who are naught but younglings themselves! And me, we both know in true combat I would be no match for any dragon, even a weakling like you. The only thing you will ever be good at is babysitting, and even that I seem to do better at than you! I have lived with the Dragon Meet for 15 out of 15 frosts, and you now accuse me of rallying information to the humans who wish to destroy us? Explain to me this, I have no wings, how do I escape from your caves?” She stood, brown eyes flashing with rage, facing down the dragon 4 times her height.
N’Koi hissed and glared down at her. “You see how much knowledge you have already gained from us? And we trust you with our Younglings, our futures! How do we know that you are not already corrupting their minds?”
“If you doubt my skill as an egg-watcher I would gladly surrender the job to you, though I believe it may require a bit more skill than you possess.” She spat back at him. He reared back in rage, golden eyes taking on a hint of red. His silver talons flashed in the moonlight and Rayina took a step back, wondering if she had gone too far.
“N’Koi!” The thunderous voice shook the cavern, and the dragon whirled around, taken by surprise, to find the formidable figure of a gigantic deep blue dragon, his golden eyes flashing dangerously. N’Koi seemed to shrink visibly in the presence of the great dragon, though he still held his defensive stance. The blue dragon moved farther into the cave, authority hanging in the very air around him. “What may I ask is going on here?”
N’Koi began stuttering an answer, when the large dragon gave him a fierce look and he closed his mouth quickly. “I do not believe I was talking to you N’Koi, but to Rayina. I have found that in instances such as this, you tend to stretch the truth a little.” He turned to Rayina. “Now, child, tell me, what is going on here?”
Rayina hooked her hands behind her back and looked up at the dragon, keeping her back strait and her stance respectful. “I was watching the younglings, as is my position, when N’Koi came in and accused me of being a traitor and selling you off to the humans for your destruction.”
Dylian turned back to N’Koi, his large eyes narrowing. “This is a serious accusation, one that, if convicted, could result in Rayina being discarded from the Dragon Meet. Have you anything to base this on?”
N’Koi nodded eagerly. “Indeed I do, Dylian! This very night while I was hunting I heard a conversation between two farmers. One was complaining of his missing livestock every night, when the other laughed and told him that his troubles would soon be over. That the queen had decreed that anyone who could bring her back the head of a dragon would be highly rewarded, and an even greater reward would go to one who could tell her where the dragons were hiding. This human,” he spat the word at Rayina but she just glared back at him. “ Is nothing more than a spy, sent here by the human queen to bring back information to help them to destroy us. A common spy in this only for the reward.”
Rayina felt the anger bubbling up inside her. How dare this insolent dragon accuse her of these things! She had been with the dragon meet all her days, and knew nothing of human culture. She tried hard to control her anger. Dylian looked as if he were about to answer when there was a commotion at the mouth of the cave. The old dragon whirled about as two dragons soared into the high-ceilinged room, one supporting the other, and dropped to the floor. The one on the bottom crawled out and bounded over to Dylian, fear clouding her golden eyes.
“His wing! The humans got him!” she cried frantically. Rayina recognized the dragon as Cornath, one of the younger dragons in the dragon meet. His head drooped to the floor and he did not attempt to get to his feet. She could see that the thin membrane of one of his wings was badly torn. With a cry she pushed past Dylian and N’Koi and ran to him. He had been one of the few that had always been kind to her. She kneeled next to him, her hands gently going over his bronze scales. She touched his wing and he jerked away from her, roaring in pain. Whispering softly to him, she quietly took the numbing weeds she had collected from her pouch and squeezed their soothing juice onto his wing. Distantly, she heard N’Koi’s triumphant voice behind her.
“You see! I told you she would be trouble and now look what she has brought into our caves. Why Cornath? Why not myself, or Dylian, or that friend of yours, Triphena? I’m guessing one of us will be next, and soon you’ll have the entire Dragon Meet!”
He probably would have continued if Dylian hadn’t silenced him then. Rayina turned back to look at them, the young female was watching her and Cornath, her eyes worried. Dylian turned to her suddenly, and growled, “Get old Nmentha, quickly!” The young sea-green female’s eyes widened, but she spun and began scurrying to the back of the cave, when an cracked aged voice came echoing from the shadows, causing her to stop and scuttle quickly back.
“I’m here already, youngling. Do you think I’m weakening in my old age?” From the shadows of the back of the cave emerged the oldest dragon that Rayina had ever seen. Her scales were a pale, almost translucent color, and her skin sagged off her old bones as if it were much too big for her. Her wings were tucked tightly against her back and her silver talons clicked as she walked across the floor. At her appearance, all of them bowed their heads in respect. The legends of Nmentha were old, and many had begun to wonder if she really even existed.
She stalked up to where Rayina was kneeling beside Cornath and looked down at her with interest. “Look at me, human,” her voice was commanding. Rayina slowly raised her eyes to meet those of the old dragon and couldn’t stifle the gasp as she saw her. Her eyes were a deep Emerald Green, shot through with strikes of gold. In her pale head, they looked all the more radiant. Rayina fought to pull her eyes away from the old one, but found that she couldn’t. After a moment that seemed to last for eternity, she felt something release her and she could move her head again. The old dragon nodded slowly, her strange eyes thoughtful. “You have quite a task ahead of you, human. Let us all hope that you do not fail.”
With that, she advanced on Cornath, Rayina scurrying out of her way, her eyes wide in awe of this strange dragon. Cornath’s eyes were wide as he watched the old one examine his wing. Finally, she harrumphed and turned back to the others.
“The way you all were carrying on, I would have thought that this was something serious. Your must all be getting soft now-days. It’s only a little tear, and should be healed in a few days. Till then, he’ll stay in the cave to care for the younglings at night, and sleep here in the days.” Her eyes zipped back to Rayina. “You were the one who put the numb-root on his wing?” She asked, her eyes piercing. Rayina swallowed the lump in her throat and slowly nodded. The dragon nodded. “Good job. Keep doing that twice nightly and it should leave barely a scar. Now the rest of the Meet should be returning soon, so I’ll leave you. Don’t want to stir up anymore trouble than I already have.” She turned slowly and walked back into the shadows, talons clicking on the stone floor.
As the sound of her footsteps faded, four sets of golden eyes turned to Rayina, who still sat dumbfounded where she had watched Nmentha retreat back into her home in the inner catacombs of the mountains. Before anyone could question her about it, they heard the swooping of wings as the rest of the dragons returned from their hunt. Their eyes met, and they all knew that they would not tell anyone of what had gone on only moments before.

ab

After Triphe brought her at dawn, Rayina lay tossing and turning for most of the day. After a few hours, she threw off the skins and walked out into the sunlight. She held a hand over her eyes as the brightness surprised her. She moved into a small alcove off to the side of the ledge and stared out over the land. There was a thick layer of white snow covering everything. She shivered. Frost season was always cold. She wished she had brought her skins out with her. She stared blankly out over the valley below, watching the animals of the day wander through the white fields, pawing at the snow to get to the tender shoots of grass beneath. Slowly, she let go of her thoughts as Triphe taught her to do, and let her mind wander.
What had Nmentha meant? She had quite a task ahead of her? What could she possibly do? She was just a small human youngling, nothing special. She had never been farther than the valley below the cliffs, and that was only when Triphe brought her down for more of the greens that she needed.
And her eyes. Something about her eyes was just, not quite right. All the legends say that Nmentha had powers beyond those of the other dragons, that she could see the future and the past. Maybe it had something to do with her eyes, she had never seen a dragon with eyes like that before. All dragons’ eyes were gold, just simple solid gold. Except, she thought, sitting up abruptly. Except for Triphe’s eyes. They seemed very much like those of the old one. Could she… no, that was impossible. It was truth that no dragon is immortal, even Nmentha. The legends told that when she reached the end of her years, another would come to replace her.
Oh well, it wasn’t her place to worry in the affairs of others. Triphe’s destiny was not her concern. What did concern her was this task thing that Nmentha was talking about. As she sat there, pondering this, she heard a loud whooshing noise and looked up to see the large form of Dylian silhouetted against the high sun. He drifted down to alight on the landing before the entrance to the cave. He turned his large golden eyes to where Rayina sat. He folded his wings and walked over to the small alcove and settled himself down.
“I had hoped I would find you out here,” he said. She turned her eyes to the stone below her. Dylian had been her friend for as long as she could remember, but sometimes she wished that he didn’t know her so well.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she stated flatly. The large dragon nodded his head.
“She has that affect on a lot of us.” Rayina looked back up at him, surprised. He gazed down at her, laughter in his eyes. “What, you don’t think seeing a legend come to life bothers me, too? The only reason I’m not quite as distressed about it as you are is because this isn’t the first time I’ve seen her, but I still can’t sleep.”
“What she said to me,” Rayina started then shook her head. “She said that I had a difficult task ahead of me, and that we should all hope that I don’t fail. I can’t figure out what she meant, what could I do that would be so important?”
Dylian paused a moment, considering. “After the rest of the meet left, I stayed back with Cornath to make sure he was well situated. After I finally got him to sleep, I went back into the caves, to find Nmentha. I needed to ask her something about what was going to happen. I know she can tell the future because she has before. I’ve seen it. With Cornath being attacked by humans, and N’Koi’s story about the human’s rewards, I needed to know. It didn’t take me long to find her, but she wasn’t surprised to see me, so I think that she knew I was coming.
“I asked her about the future of the Dragon Meet, saying that I was concerned after today for what might happen. She wouldn’t tell me much, I didn’t expect her to, but I was surprised at how much she spoke of you. She said our fate lies in your hands, and that it is up to you to lift the price from our heads. She would tell me no more than that, so I finally left.” He watched her for a moment, waiting for her reaction. “I believe she wants to you to speak with their queen.”
Rayina stared at him. Talk to the human queen? But how? She knew nothing of human culture, and why would a queen listen to her? She was just a youngling. She knew that human standards were much different than dragon as far as aging went, but she was pretty sure that she would still be considered not old enough to know what she was talking about. “Dylian…” The older dragon watched her, hope in his eyes. She knew that she was their only hope, and that she couldn’t turn him down. She sighed. “Oh all right. I’m not making any promises, but I’ll do my best. Now, what do I need to do?”
Dylian considered, then nodded. “All the humans that I’ve seen from the sky while hunting, though I don’t get as good a look at them as N’Koi does,” Rayina grinned. “They seem to take more care with the skins that they wear.” Rayina looked down at the crude sewing job with the bone needle that she had sharpened and used rawhide to stitch together some leather hides the dragons brought her back. It covered her and kept her warm during frost season, but she knew it really wasn’t that good of a job. She looked back up at him.
“I can fix them. What else?” He nodded, sure that she would find some way of making her clothes match those of the other humans.
“Humans sleep at night, so your going to have to go during the day. I’ll take you down to a place near the human city tomorrow after dawn. I’ll come by here again. Don’t tell Triphe about this, you know she’ll have my head if she finds out I’m involving you in this.” His eyes grinned at her and she laughed.
“Alright, I’ll be ready. But I better get some sleep since it doesn’t look like I’ll be getting any tomorrow.” She stood up and nodded a farewell to him, then turned and walked back into the cave, where she curled up in her skins, thinking of what was to come; she slowly drifted off to sleep.

ab

Rayina stood in the grassy field outside the human city. She looked down once again at her coverings. She had spent the entire night before while watching the younglings fixing them so that she would look normal. Dylian had dropped her off a little farther out than this, so that he wouldn’t be seen. She looked up at the buildings before her. They seemed so small compared to the caves and cliffs she was used to. She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. They couldn’t intimidate her. She had stood up to N’Koi, and many of the stronger dragons that had taunted her. She wouldn’t let some city stop her now. With this in mind, she started walking towards the establishment.
It took her only a few minutes to reach the city, and her eyes widened as she walked through the streets. There were so many things! And so many people, they were everywhere! She stopped to ask someone where the queen was. He threw his head back and laughed.
“Aye, ye gave me a good laugh today lass. She be up at the castle where she always is, rulin over us lowly subjects o’ er’s. Th’ castle’s th’ big building up on th’ hill over yonder,” the man pointed to a large stone building behind heavy gates. “Ye’ll have t’ get past the guards though, ‘fore they’ll allow ye to see ‘er.” Rayina nodded her thanks and headed along the winding streets towards the huge castle.
She found that the castle only seemed to get bigger as she got nearer, and even though she was used to the towering mountains surrounding the little valley where she had lived all her life, she found herself a little awed and shaken by the forbidding look of it. Remember, Dylian had told her, Don’t let those humans scare you just because you haven’t always lived the way they do. You’re still human, even if your heart is dragon.
Keeping the strong picture of Dylian in her mind, She walked up to the gates and moved confidently up to the guard in front. Dylian had explained to her how this worked. There were people you had to talk into opening the steel gates before you could get into the queen’s lair. He didn’t know why you had to go through this, but it was just a human custom. As she had suspected, the guard stopped her and asked her what she was doing.
“I must speak with the queen,” she stated simply, holding her chin high and trying to keep a lofty expression when her insides were churning.
“You mean Queen Iries?” the guard asked, looking a bit surprised.
“Well how many queens do you have in there?” Rayina snapped, wondering if perhaps these humans were like the dragon clans of some of the far off lands that Dylian told her about, with many queens that ruled together. No, everyone always talked about the queen, not anyone specific.
The guard shook his head quickly. “No, Lady, we only got one. But I’m afraid I can’t let you in just like that.”
“Well then, what do I need to do to get you to let me in?” She was getting impatient. What was wrong with this man? It was a simple request, not really hard to figure out.
“Well, for starters, you need to tell me why you need so desperately to see her,” the guard seemed to be looking more and more nervous all the time.
“We have business to discuss. What that business is, is not your affair.” If anyone asks, tell them that you have business to discuss, and that what it is, is not their affair. Through dragons like N’Koi stealing livestock, and legends bred from other lands with different dragon clans, the humans have begun to fear us and will surely toss you out if they learn of your true errand.
“Well, uh, you see, Lady, I uh, can’t just let you in without, uh…”
“Aw, come on, Solom.” A young man swung down from above the gate and grinned out at her. His sandy hair was mussed as if he had never taken the time to try to control it in the morning. He had laughing blue eyes and an honest smile “The lady wants in, let her in. She’ll probably have enough trouble finding the queen, let alone getting a chance to discuss her business with her.”
The guard Solom stuttered for a few minutes more, while Rayina tapped her foot impatiently on the cobblestones. Finally, he gave in and opened the gates to admit her. She walked briskly through, ignoring her teachings to thank the man. Her chin held high she strode confidently into the courtyard. From behind her she heard running footsteps and turned to see the young man who had helped her to get inside. He caught up with her and walked beside her for a little while. Finally, he spoke.
“First time in the city?” he asked. She turned and looked at him sharply; his blue eyes were smiling.
“How could you tell?” She asked, turning her head back to the path she was following.
“Well, everyone around here knows how easy it is to get past Solom if you donate a few coins to his purse.” He winked. “Besides, you just don’t really have a city girl look to you, what with that strange dress and all.”
She looked down at her skins that she had spent so much time on. She lifted her chin again, and kept walking, not bothering to comment.
He ran up to her again and stepped in front of her this time, forcing her to stop. He held out his hand. “I’m Athan of Terale, knight in training.”
She looked at his hand confused, then remembered what Dylian had told her on the way here of the strange human custom of shaking hands when someone is introduced. She took his hand. “Rayina,” She said.
“I could show you around a bit, if you’d like. Help you find the queen.” He offered, dropping her hand.
She shook her head slightly. “I can find my own way, thank you,” she said and pushed past him.
“Really,” he said. “Well, you might want to know that the castle entrance is that way.” She turned around to see him pointing in the opposite direction she was headed. She glared at him and walked off in the direction she pointed. As she walked, she heard his footsteps coming up behind her again. Didn’t he ever give up?
“Well, Rayina, I’m afraid that it’s my knightly duty to help you whether you like it or not. So, you want to see Queen Iries. I wish you best of luck, she’s more snake than woman, that one.” As they walked, Athan kept talking, telling about life at the palace and his friends that were also squires, whatever those were.
They entered the castle and Athan led her down a series of twisting hallways till they came to a chamber door. He held it open and bowed as she entered. From behind her, she heard him say, “Milady, may I present to you Lady Rayina. She has some business that she needs to discuss with you.”
Rayina entered the chamber, feeling suddenly very small and insignificant with all these elaborate designs everywhere. Sitting on a throne on the far end of the room was a woman with pale skin, pale blond hair that was tied tightly back and icy blue eyes that stared at her with contempt. Taking a deep breath and holding her chin high, she strode into the room. She stopped in front of the woman on the throne, realizing that it was situated much higher from the floor to make the person sitting on it seem much taller than whoever was addressing her. Fortunately, Rayina was used to addressing beings that were 3 to 4 times her height so this was not at all intimidating.
“So, what is it that you’re complaining about?” The queen asked. She drummed her fingers on the arm of the throne absently. “Taxes, land, raiders?”
“The Dragon bounty,” Rayina stated. The queen looked up sharply.
“So you have information for me?” she leaned forward with interest. “Do you know where their caves are? I must remind you that any information you give me will be well rewarded.”
“Actually, no,” She said, a bit taken aback by the queen’s eagerness. The queen sat back, obviously disappointed. “I came to ask you to lift it.”
The look of amusement and surprise on the queen’s face caused her to rush on.
“They aren’t bad at all, really, they are kind and good as anything. There are only a few that kidnap the livestock, and with Dylian’s help we can make them stop doing that too…” She stopped at the look of suspicion in the queen’s eyes.
“And just how do you know so much about the them?”
Rayina’s jaw dropped. She hadn’t wanted to reveal that she had been living with them for all of her life, but it appeared she had no choice, and the queen didn’t seem very convinced yet. She started to answer, when a roar of rage thundered through the walls. The queen shot her a look and then jumped from her throne, flying down the hallways, with Rayina close behind.
They burst through some doors into the open courtyard and stopped dead, a scream frozen in Rayina’s throat.
A red-gold dragon stood in the center of the courtyards, her head thrown up in defiance, green-gold eyes wild with fear and rage. She fought against the ropes that had been slung across her back and held her to the ground. At another roar, Rayina’s reverie was broken and she raced across the courtyard, arms flailing screaming.
Athan appeared from nowhere and tried to hold her back. “Are you crazy?” he cried, “Stay back or she’ll kill you!” She pushed past Athan, her eyes only on the dragon.
“Triphe! Triphe!” She screamed as her friend pulled against the ropes that were being held by about twenty guards surrounding her. At the sound of her voice, Triphena stopped her struggle and turned to the girl running toward her.  Her eyes whirled between fear and relief.
“Rayina! I found you! Dylian told me what he did, I can’t believe he would do something this foolish.” The guards parted as Rayina ran up to the dragon, tears in her eyes.
“I was fine, what are doing here? You could have been killed. I’m human, they won’t harm me, but you, you’re a dragon. You’re the whole reason I’m here. Nmentha told Dylian that I was our only hope, and so he sent me here to try to convince them to lift the bounty from your heads, but oh, now you’ve ruined it all!” She wrapped her arms around Triphe’s neck, her tears falling over her scales.
Hands gripped her shoulders, pulling her back. She was sobbing so hard; she had not the energy to resist. She watched as they threw the first spears into Triphe’s chest, then squeezed her eyes shut, but she was unable to block out the screaming. The screams echoed in her ears as she slumped back against the arms that held her.

ab

The small girl sat alone on the side of the street, her chestnut hair that was likely once shining and rich with life, now hung in dirty unkempt tangles. Her face was smudged with dirt and her dark eyes stared listlessly at the cobblestones. The carts passing by her gave a quick look then went back on their business. Just another homeless beggar, ready to steal their purses at her first chance. A few looked closer, noticing that the fierce chestnut color of her hair, something that wasn’t seen often in Amahdra. They would often wonder, why was she here? Perhaps she was banished from Solana, or another nearby country. That seemed likely. But for what? What stories would this ragged girl have to tell? Often they simply wandered off after that, sure to forget around the next corner.
At night she would disappear, only to come again to the same corner the next morning. A few people tossed her coins, which she slowly picked up from the ground, and pocketed in her worn leather dress.
One night, one man followed her from the town, unable to contain his curiosity of where this strange girl went. He trailed her at a distance. Keeping to the shadows and hoping that she wouldn’t notice him. He finally found her stopping at the edge of the forest and calling to something within. From the trees emerged a large lizard; it’s scales blue tinged with gold. It lifted its muzzle up towards her and she reached down to stroke it lovingly.
“Tearthea,” Rayina whispered quietly as she stared into the green-gold eyes of her dragon. “Daughter of Triphena.”