Prologue

It was an extremely stormy night. Rain poured down relentlessly and showed no signs of letting up. Thunder boomed across the heavens and all creatures took refuge in their homes. That is except for one small boy. Lightning illuminated the sky and the ground. "Now I can see," the twelve-year-old muttered. He continued trudging forward. He had to find his little brother. "Warren! I'm sorry! Just come back home, please!" he yelled into the foreboding night. Suddenly he toppled forward into a large hole. he rolled down the steep sides and landed on his stomach. He quickly stood up and dusted himself off. As he glanced around the room he came face to face with enormous green eyes. "Hello?" he said cautiously.

"Hello," a sweet melodic voice said back. Just then lightning provided enough light for the boy to see what he was talking to.

"You're a dragon!" he said in awe. He just couldn't help staring at her silver scales and luminous green eyes. Then as an afterthought he added, "Please don't eat me."

"Oh, I wouldn't eat you. To tell the truth I'm astonished you can even talk to me. Tell me, why aren't you frozen in fear? And what is your name?" the dragon sweetly said.

"My name is Dale. I don't know why I'm not scared of you. I'm mostly just worried about Warren, he's my brother." Dale answered truthfully.

"Why are you worried about this... Warren" the dragon asked thoroughly interested.

"Well, see, he got mad at me and ran off. His temper always gets the best of him. But now he's probably lost in this storm. And if one dragon is around here then there are probably others and I can't let him get eaten! He's my responsibility! I'm the oldest. And now he's probably dead. And it's all my fault." Dale paused to wipe the fresh tears off his face, then looked up at the dragon, his new friend.

"I can help you, Dale." the dragon said.

"Really? I need all the help I can get." Dale said excited that a real dragon was offering to help him.

"All I can do is look in all the homes of the other dragons. I can sense if a human was there five minutes ago. Then I can sense if a human is there now. I can only sense recent stuff so the only human I will be picking up will be your brother." the dragon explained.

"Okay, I'm just glad you're willing to help." Dale answered truthfully.

The dragon closed it's eyes and seemed to go off into a trance. "Nope...nope...nope...nope...hmmm." The dragon then opened her eyes. "There was a human boy in cave 5 a couple of minutes ago. About ten years old. Is that your brother?" the dragon asked.

"Yeah! That's him!" Dale shouted, excitement bubbling up inside of him. He was going to be able to see his brother again!

"Okay let me see if he's still there." the dragon once again drifted off into a long trance. Dale noticed that the dragon's face looked a bit worried when she came out of the trance.

"He's okay, right?" Dale asked fear creeping up from his toes to his head.

"All I could get was blood. Everywhere. I'm sorry Dale but I don't think your brother survived his ordeal with those dragons." The dragon said truely sincere.

"No!" Dale shouted angrily. "No! He can't be dead! No," Dale muttered. It was no use the dragon was probably right. Warren was dead. He'd never be able to tell him how sorry he was. He'd never be able to see his little brother ever again. Tears started trickling down Dale's cheeks. First slow then faster then ever. "Thanks anyway," Dale said as he stood up to leave.

"Dale, you truly are a dragonbrother. If you ever need my help call my name. My name is Shira. Sorry about your brother, and I'll miss you. Come visit me soon!" Shira said as she boosted Dale out of the cave.

"Shira. That's a pretty name and of course I'll visit you. Bye," Dale said as he trudged back howm, his tears mingling with the rain.

A couple years later a scratched up Warren appeared at the door. Over the years Dale repeatedly asked what happened on that fateful day. But to this day Warren has never answered that question. All he got was a strange look in his eyes. Eventually Dale realized that Warren would never answer him and gave up. But the question still haunts him. What really did happen to Warren on that stormy night?