Part 14: Interesting Turns

Time marched on and soon spring did come. The chill went out of the air, grasses began to regrow, and soon, flowers were budding. Indyana had convinced Krisr and Raina Lynn to stay for the Spring Festival, and all the excitement was just what Raina Lynn needed. Dragons from all over came back to the Realm to celebrate, delicious foods were everywhere, and music was always in the air. There were contests for art and writing, the laying of the White Egg, and even more exciting, the arrival of several very strange eggs through magical portals. This had taken even the Kailan and Indyana by surprise. They were Bishel Dragon eggs, ones from other clans! This was cause for even greater celebration, as it meant that other dragons has escaped the Dark War and survived. It also meant that the Kailan's plan to find other clans was working: Although no one had actually located the new clans, they had made contact with Bishen Realm, which meant they had heard of the Machesri Clan. When the strange Portal eggs hatched, they revealed amazingly different wyrms. These wyrms were found proper homes during the Festival and sent to live with trusted bondmates... all except one. One single wyrm had such a bad disposition that no one could be prevailed upon to take him (or, perhaps more accurately, he couldn't be prevailed upon to go). Raina Lynn was reminded of Irtira, the Hirgyae wyrm from the previous fall. This wyrm seemed to instinctively mistrust humans. Despite his sullen behavior, Raina Lynn couldn't help but feel a sort of affection for him. He never spoke, but she could tell he had a sharp mind and a willful nature. She felt obliged to watch over him.

Little Portal Wyrm

Unknown to the others at the Realm, the strange wyrm had taken a vow of silence around the infidels of Bishen Realm. Even though he had been just an egg when he left his home, he regarded humans as inherently evil creatures, and any dragons that associated willingly with them must also be evil or must be under the control of the evil against their will. He had vowed to remain silent and observe them, to better ascertain his situation in this strange land. He was an odd little dragon compared to them, to say the least. His skin was tough and gray, like the mountin stones, and his scales were hard as rock. He had two ram-like horns and a long, harsh mane the color of faded grass. For his part, he didn't truly mind Raina Lynn. She was a powerful young dragon, even if her colors were a bit strange... but she was a human-lover. The despicable human she insisted on fraternizing with was a nuisance, to say the least. Whenever the man came around, the wyrm would hiss, he would growl, he would puff up and whip his horns back and forth, but, for heaven's sake, the man-creature did not get it! He grinned his toothy grin and said something like, "Well, aren't we getting big?" or "Yes, you have horns. What an observant little wyrm!"

Finally, one warm spring day, the rock wyrm could stand it no longer. He had vowed silence in the midst of these human-lovers, but it was too much.

*How can you stand it?!* he loudly demanded of Raina Lynn, seething as the man went off to laugh with his grotesque mate. Raina Lynn looked at the wyrm with surprise.

*Certainly Krisr can be a bit cheerful, but he isn't that bad,* she said, watching as her bondmate smiled his goofy grin a Ramona, who, for once, was returning the expression.

*He is HUMAN!* the wyrm protested. *Your clan must be daft... brainwashed even to have humans as allies, the traitors of nature!*

*All humans are not taken by the darkness, as were those who destroyed our homeland, young one,* Raina Lynn told him gently.

*... so you remember the war?*

*Not I personally, as I am too young, but I have been told of it by the elders.*

*Then... you are not brainwashed?*

*No.*

*Are you enslaved? Do you need help?*

*No.*

*So you choose to remain with humans?*

*We all have the choice. Many of us are raised by outsiders--not just humans, but other creatures and beings. It allows us to develop new powers, makes us stronger.*

*Many... but not all?*

*No, some dragons never bond but live here at Bishen Realm.*

*... with humans...*

*Yes, we share the land. This entire Refuge is home to thousands of creatures, protected by all of them.. and it was started by a human.*

*A human wants to protect nature... now there's a change.*

After this statement, the wyrm sat quietly, pondering the situation. The dragons had a choice... the humans were not enslaving or brainwashing them... so Raina Lynn said. He was not so easily convinced... humans were cunning. He stole a glance at Krisr. Well... most humans. In any case, he had to be certain nothing foul was afoot.