Hais :) I hardly have time to write my stories, much less update them... Bah! Homework, exams, textbooks... Why can't they all just disappear? They eat up all my time. :(

Anyway I've got a bit of a block (I know, already) with Alalea and I'm in the process of chipping away at it - that takes an awful lot of time than I expected - and so I'm still on the first two lines of the new chapter. *scowls*

The bottomline is, I'm stuck.

I came up with this story while I was chipping - I just thought it might be worth typing out, so I tried it - here it is. It was a bit confusing to write (type, technically), but I just hope you enjoy it. ;)

Oh wait - just to inform you, most of the "he"s mentioned in this chapter refer to Shruikan-unnamed-yet. Sorry if it leads to any confusion...


Chapter 1 - KVETHA, FRICAI

Just one more, tiny push…

Crack.

Cold-sting-fresh air hit his lungs, filling them, burning them with an intensity he had never felt before -

Bright-blinding-yellow-beam light filled his vision, leaving behind streaks of such colours as he had never seen before.

He stretched – his limbs were thin and scrawny, his tail like a piece of string waving feebly. Tiny sparkling scales covered his body like so many links of a fine mail, glittering like polished black adamant. His crumpled wings slowly unfolded, still warm and damp, casting a slight shadow over him.

Everything was suddenly so bright, so full of life, so… beautiful.

He loosed a puff of smoke from his nostrils, much to his own surprise. How had he done that? What was that strange puffy substance that floated as if with no weight?

He swatted it with his foreleg, and it broke and wafted away into thin air.

He stared, puzzled.

And then he felt a Presence – a being other than himself, surrounded by a surprised, hot-muddled-cold air.

He clumsily swung his head round towards where he'd felt it. Yes, something was there – it was huge, so much bigger than himself.

But he was not afraid. The figure felt strangely familiar, as if he had known it all along.

"Kvetha fricai." Greetings, friend.

The voice echoed and rang in his ears. His blood warmed. He understood – but who was this?

Caution forgotten, he crawled forward and curiously sniffed at the figure, and immediately recoiled, nose wrinkled. It smelled strange. Whatever it was, he knew it was not like him, yet not unlike enough to kindle fear. Just curiosity.

Then the figure moved into the light – what a strange creature, he thought.

It had two legs – not four, not six, but two. He wondered how it even managed to stay upright. It had an angular, flat face and two pointed ears that protruded at an odd angle from the side of its head. Its limbs were long, and its movements lithe and flowing. It was a both strange and admirable creature, but not something he wanted to be.

As he watched more of them began to appear, like wraiths from the shadows. Their mouths were stretched wide to either side, and they seemed to be making strange noises. After a while he decided that these creatures stretched their mouths to look wider when they were pleased. He released a puff of smoke. What a strange thing to do.

Then a two-legs, the one that spoke to him, slowly, deliberately moved forward and stretched out its hand.

An icy chill blast hit him and he snarled, his blood like frozen fire. His very flesh burned. His legs gave way and he collapsed on his belly.

His whole body tingled as he slowly got up. His limbs were aching as if he had gone through some strenuous exercise. He was shaking uncontrollably. His head was spinning from confusion-muddled-shock.

The two-legs had somewhat collapsed too, or so it seemed. It was difficult to tell when it looked so different from him.

Something pressed against his mind, ignoring the supposed-barriers that armoured it.

Another consciousness. He cautiously touched it, curious. The consciousness seemed as shocked as his own – with a jolt he realized it was the two-legs-pointed-ears in front of him.

He studied its consciousness closely. The thing that puzzled him most was the obvious delight that emanated from within the consciousness like a sun. A sun? He thought, puzzled further. What's that?

The two-legs was definitely older than he was. It was… female? Yes, whatever that was. He gave a slight growl. All this was so confusing. How had he come to know all these things? And if he knew them, why did he not know about them?

Kvetha Fricai. The repeated words emanated from the two-legs. No, not two-legs. An Elf.

Elf?

He let out a frustrated growl. Smoke streamed from his nostrils. He seemed to have memory which he should not posses. What was going on?

His belly growled. He was hungry. He wanted something to eat. He sent it through the link in his consciousness with the elf.

She blinked. Then another two-legs-pointed-ears-elf stretched its mouth – smiled, and looked up.

Strong wind buffeted him, suddenly picking up from nowhere. A shadow fell over the clearing, and something enormous dropped from the sky. It landed with a resounding boom that jarred his bones.

A presence entered his mind – a vast, powerful being. A dragon.

It swept aside his attempts to flee from it like dead leaves before an autumn storm – he wondered if it even noticed his efforts. It said, Greetings, young one. Welcome to our order. He understood it perfectly – it was a male adult, judging by the feel of its consciousness. My name is Umaroth. My Rider is Vrael.

He immediately felt resect for the older dragon. Rider? He asked, curious.

The white dragon blinked. I see you have already been Bonded with your Rider.

A flood of memories and images passed into his mind from Umaroth's. Memories older than he could measure. The knowledge of a hundred years. History so ancient he could hardly understand. He gasped. I – what – why –

You are now part of an ancient society, forged by our many predecessors who fought hard to win peace. Umaroth turned to the elf. You must not let them down. Great expectations lie upon you both.

"Yes, … Ebrithil," The elf said. "I understand." He sent a similar message through his link with Ancient-Dragon-Umaroth.

Good, the dragon rumbled. Now we have a very important matter to decide upon. This is for both of you to discuss – and both of you only. You must understand that I cannot interfere with this ceremony.

He wondered what it might be, but waited patiently for Umaroth to explain. The huge dragon turned to face him. You must receive a name, so that we may address you by it. Choose well, for you will carry it with you for the rest of your life, and shall be known by it.

He blinked – it had never occurred to him that he needed a name, but he realised it would be necessary, essential, if he were to perform his duties as a Rider's dragon. He dipped his head. I understand.

Ancient-Dragon-Umaroth now looked at the elf. But before that, I think you should introduce yourself to your new life-partner, Lírya. I take it that you haven't spoken to him yet? he said. The elf, Lírya, shuffled uncomfortably under his powerful gaze. "No… not properly, Ebrithil. I was much surprised when I was chosen, among all the elves, as a Rider. I never expected such an honour…"

Then you must introduce yourself now, before any more events come to pass. Immortal as our races may be, time still flies the same. We cannot sit idly all day.

Yes, Ebrithil. Lírya bowed her head respectfully to the dragon. She turned to him. Greetings. My name, as you have heard, is Lírya. I'm very glad to meet you. It is an honour beyond words to be chosen by a dragon as its Rider. I fairly hope that we get along well. She smiled warmly.

He returned her warmth – he felt very much the same way. Lírya paused. Her smile widened; I have made my choice. I name you Shruikan, Partner. Shruikan hummed with satisfaction. Shruikan… I like that name. Thank you, Lírya.

Umaroth extended his consciousness to encompass all the elves in the clearing.

It has been decided. From today forth you shall be known as Shruikan. Shruikan, Lírya, I welcome you as a Rider and Dragon into our ranks on behalf of the Order.

And so the ancient ritual of Dragon and Rider was completed.


Thanks for reading! Please feel free to review. ;)