From the tree-top, Isliadurna looked down on the forest world below. Although Osilon was a beautiful city, Du Weldenvarden was her favorite place to be. She turned her head up to look at the sky. Clouds were swirling, shifting, dancing, running in front of the sun and dashing back again. The sun was beginning to sink behind the horizon…. It was sunset already?! The realization that she was late for the Choosing of the Riders jolted Islia out of her daydream. She sprinted back to the little house of living tree where her mother Sache and herself lived. Luckily, it was close- they lived on the edge of the city. She greeted her mother, freshened up, put on her finest tunic, and hurried to the heart of the city.
Queen Arya, Firnen, and the youth of Osilon (as well as the nearest villages) were present. There were about 15 of them, all processing around an indigo dragon egg. They were hoping it would hatch and choose them as one of the legendary Dragon Riders- not that it was likely to happen. A dragon could wait thousands of years in its egg to find the right Rider. Isliadurna's turn was to be soon when a wild eagle of a remarkable size swooped down and grabbed the egg! Panic disrupted the orderly procession. Arya and Firnen immediately took to the sky, calling down to the citizens to stay put and not panic. Islia doubted they could find the eagle's nest in time, however. She remembered avoiding a large nest when climbing the tree earlier today….
Isliadurna ran into the forest the direction she took before. She found the tree, which she had put stones around to mark, and began to climb. It wasn't long before she saw several large eagles on various branches of the pine. She knew she could never push past them, so she called out in the Ancient Language, "Mighty rulers of the sky! I must approach, but I shall not harm you. Let me through!". Worried that the egg had been damaged, she climbed to the nest. When she saw the egg, it was difficult not to weep. There were cracks all over its surface and several small holes. One on the top, however, was steadily growing….
A tiny head popped out of the egg with sparkly indigo scales and intelligent silver eyes. It was followed by a pair of bat-like wings… A graceful body… Muscular legs… And a long, spiked tail. There must have been a mistake, Islia thought. No way she had been chosen. The dragon stretched its wings and made a squeaky roar. It awkwardly walked towards Isliadurna. She reached out to touch it…. And felt thousands of sensations at once. Cold, heat, power, energy, the wisdom of wise men and the instincts of animals, much more, all flowing through her body in a matter of seconds. Then it was over. A silver shape now shone on her palm as a realization struck her.
Isliadurna was a Dragon Rider.