Dragon Kyn: Chapter One: Flee, Lyf, Flee!

Lonesome it is

when the sea-steeds toss their frothy manes

far from the home- hearth.

~Kragish Skald

"Mommy? What are farin?" Kaeldra looked up at her mother. "Where's Kragorm? Where are the dragons? Do dragons really exist? Mommy, what are dragon-sayers and dragonslayers?" her mother looked down at her questioning daughter and sighed.

"Well, Kael, I don't know how to explain this to you. You are farin. Dragons are real, you have a special gift that lets you understand them, Kara's Gift. Kragorm? Nobody really knows exactly where it is, but if you sail the Kragish sea long enough, you'll find it. Or so they say. The dragons are at Kragorm, only far away from it. You are a dragon-sayer. The dragonslayers are your enemies. Only some say that they are dragonslayers but they're really helpers from Landerath."

"Who is Landerath?"

"Landerath is trying to save the dragons. But it's very hard because they eat so much and people get suspicious. So, hopefully, at the next hatching, some will survive. Hopefully."

"Is Landerath my enemy?"

"No, Landerath is your friend. If you ever see this-" she took the amulet out from under her dress. It was a dragonpod bloom. "You'll know, that they are trying to help you. Any one with a dragonpod bloom is on your side. The side to save the dragons. When you grow up, you will save the dragons."



Kaeldra woke from her dream smiling fondly of the memory. But only for a few minutes. Then reality came back and ruined her happiness. Her mother was dead. The only thing that she still had of hers, was the dragonpod bloom. The boy who stood next to her, also had one. Kitt had originally said he was a dragonslayer, but with proof of a dragonpod bloom, Kael trusted him. He had sandy blonde hair. That was always flying in front of his eyes making him look irresistible. His clear blue eyes only made him more attractive. Kaeldra also had blonde hair, but her eyes were fiercely green. She was dressed as a boy so she could run from the real dragonslayers easier.

A thrumming sound came their way, and both looked up. 3 small shapes came towards them, their actual shape and size was not determined until a few minutes later.

Embyr! Pyro! Synge! Good morning to you! Kael called with her mind. That was her gift, understanding and communicating with dragons. Kara's Gift.

"They're coming." she said.

"I guessed." Kitt said.

not hungry anymore! Pyro called back.

it hurts Synge whined. Kael felt a twinge of pain in her shoulder, feeling Synge's pain. Lyf, Kael's daughter, woke up and looked at Synge, the smallest dracling. Lyf looked like Kael. Green eyes, blonde hair. She too could understand what the draclings were saying, only not as well. She squealed with joy at the draclings. Lyf loved the draclings, and they loved her.

sleepy Embyr walked slowly towards them, belly full.

sleepy too. Pyro said, also with a bulging belly.

hurts Synge complained again.

"Lyf, come here, darling." Kael smiled at her daughter. A hand rubbed her shoulder and she looked up into the eyes of her husband, Kitt, who smiled down at her. They were a happy family. But they still had to run. They had to save the draclings and then furthermore, protect the dragon kyn.

Suddenly, there was a clashing of swords against shields. King Orrik's men had come.

"Come Lyf." Pyro! Synge! Embyr! We have to go. NOW. Kael shouldered her pack, Kitt grabbled Lyf, and both began to run, the draclings trailing behind.

help! Hurts! Synge was far behind, because of her wound.

"Synge!" Kael turned and ran back. She picked up Synge and began to run back.

"Kael! Hurry!"

Cave. Pyro said helpfully.

"Kael, I know you're there!" how did someone know her name? Especially among the King's men? Kael didn't spend a long time pondering this. She was almost at the cave, when they began to shoot arrows.

"No!" she ran harder, and just barely made it in the cave.

"Oh my gosh."

WHO ARE YOU? the mind-voice burned the inside of Kael's head.

WHO ARE YOU?

Kael!

why are you here?

I'm running away from the King's men. And trying to return the draclings to their kyn.

I'm Byrn.

"Byrn." Kael turned around to come face to face with a very large green and black female dragon. The unusual thing was, there was a gyrfalcon resting upon her shoulder.

who's that?

the bird? Shiva. She was Kara's bird. But Kara let her return to us when she met us.

KARA!

yes, you know of her?

she's my mother's mother's mother.

really? So you are related?

yes, and Lyf here, "Come here Lyf, Byrn won't hurt you." is also.

"B-big dracling. Mama, I scared." she quivered in Kitt's lap.

Kael laughed. "This isn't a dracling, Lyf. It's a full grown dragon. This is how big they look, all grown up." she's only seen the draclings, never a full grown dragon. She can talk to them and call birds.

hmmm. A young one?

yes. Can you tell me about Kara?

why, of course. Kara was-

"Kael!" a man came running into the cave and stopped dead at the site of the dragon.

"A-are you Kael? Daughter of Kara's grand-daughter?"

"Y-yes, why?"

"I'm Kazan."

"Oh? And..."

"Her husband. Kara lives. I swear. Kara lives. Hello, and you are?" looking at the dragon.

"She's Byrn."

ah, Kazan he's the one who knew of the island with fire in the land.

"Did you know of the place where the dragons left at the Migration?"

"Yes. I was there describing it to Kara that day. I recognize you."

he should. Kael laughed.

"What?"

"She said you should recognize her."

"Yes, well, the King's men are still looking for you. Rath is waiting."

"Rath?"

"Landerath. His nick name is Rath. That's what we called him when he was about 10."

"Oh. I see." she thought of the memory of her mother. Then shook her head sadly. Her mother was dead. She'd watch her die. Luckily, Grandmyr had been 'round so she was saved. She was 12 then. It had been 18 years ago.

can I help you with anything?

no. Just a place to rest for the night

okay.

"Well, Kael, you may yet see me again. Till then." Kazan left and Byrn retreated to the back of the cave. Kitt and Lyf relaxed.

"Why was I ever so foolish as too wed such a girl?"

"Hey, that's not funny."

"I'm kidding." Kitt grinned.

"Oh. okay. Now what?"

"I dunno. How 'bout a-" an arrow hit the ground.

No body moved for several seconds. Waiting to see if any others would follow. None did.

I get Embyr offered as she wattled towards it.

NO! I'll get it Kael went out and grabbed the arrow, pulled it out and came back.

"There's a note." she untied it and unrolled it.

Dragon-girl-

come down and bring the dragons.

If you don't, you'll wish you had.

-King Orrik's Men.

Kael gulped. She guessed what they were going to do. They would slay the dragons, eat their hearts and drink their blood then take the heads and mount them in their cozy rooms. Just as it said in the Bok of Dragon:

A dragon's head, mounted, protects the hall from fire;

a dragon's heart, roasted, fends off the bite of blade;

a dragon's blood, boiled, repels the creeping death.

"Kael, what do you say?" Kitt had read the note.

"You, Lyf, and the draclings, you must flee. I'll catch up."

"But-"

"Go. Now. Before they come."

Kitt nodded.

"C'mon Lyf, we have to go."

"But what about Mama?"

"She'll-" he hesitated. "She'll join us later." he tried to be confident, and failed.