A/Notes: Posted 6-10-2012

I stumbled upon this old {old} story that was written years ago by myself and another fan. I ask you to forgive the less than polished writing. But I felt it should be presented very close to the way it was originally written; as a roleplay exercise.

I hope you enjoy it. Also, I am still working on my other stories... slowly, but surely.

One more thing, Please take note of the important Author's Note at the end of the chapter... Thanks


The Simplest Save

Part: One

Looking up into the sky the three year old child spotted a glimpse of red through the canopy of trees. Her head tilted to one side. She had seen the blue dragon fairly close before, and was rather sure that what she was now seeing was also a dragon.

Having been sent to a 'safe zone' by her older -over protective- sister, Ta'Leah had quickly grown bored, and taken to occasional exploring; and without permission, it must be said... This was one of those times. And being very small, she was very good at it.

She hurried up the wooded mountain path, but she really had no hope of catching up with the flash of color she had spotted. Instead she just enjoyed the chase.

Above, the ruby colored dragon growled. He wasn't sure what he'd seen through the trees, but as he was hungry and on a hunt, he decided to swing around and investigate the movement.

He soared a lazy arch back to the direction he'd come from, and landed on the path just ahead of the tiny girl. She had to have seen him now. His face scowled as he discovered that his prey was only a human, and a small one by the size of it.

Ta'Leah's little adventure to find the dragon soaring overhead had been a fun game, little did she expect that she would actually run into him. The girl halted in her tracks and froze with a startled look on her face.

"th... th... Thorn?..." she inquired, hardly believing her eyes. Oh she was going to get into big trouble over this.

Thorn was pleased to be recognized and his frown left him. What was a human chick doing out here in the woods all alone? He noticed her fear and smiled wickedly, stepping towards her.

**You wouldn't make much of a meal for me small one.**

The little girl's eyes widened in fear... This was a thought that she had not considered.

"Do dragons eat little girls?" she asked her voice shaking a bit.

She took a step backwards, hoping that the answer to her question was 'no.'

Thorn liked nothing better than to intimidate and impress the humans he encountered, and he lowered himself to look his great red eye into the child's.

As the dragon's eye narrowed, a deep growl rumbled in his throat.

"I would have to try it once before I could say either way."

With that his tongue darted out expectantly.

A chill of fear coursed through the girl and her face contorted with uncertainty.

Her breath came in quick gasps as she backed up, and tears began to stream down her face.

"Please d...d...d...don't eat me..."

Thorn was having a great time watching the tiny human cower. It made him feel powerful, and he himself not even a year old.

**There isn't a lot to you, but you do smell tender,** he teased.

At that the dragon took a considerable inhale, that pulled the girls hair towards the dragon's nostrils. As he scented her, his tongue darted out in appreciation of the appetizing aroma. In truth, she did smell tasty.

**Umm..**

Ta'Leah gasped at the dragons words, and tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

As Thorn inhaled her scent, her hands moved to secure her hair as it danced about terrified face.

"Please... no," came her choked whisper.

Her eyes were squeezed tight, her hands balled into small fists and pulled up to her chest in an attempt to brace herself against his immanent attack.

Thorn watched the girl. She was shaking, and frozen with fear, but she didn't run, or try to fight. She just waited for her fate to befall her. Images of himself as a hatchling being beaten down by Shruikan suddenly flashed in the ruby dragon's mind, and thoroughly robbed him of his enjoyment.

Why did he have to go and think of that? Was Murtagh right? Was the dragon going soft?

**Be still child...** he told her gently. **I have changed my mind. I won't eat you.**

The child was still shaking but she opened her eyes to look at the face of her tormenter. He seemed sad, but the girl could barely even think through her tears.

Her lower lip trembled as she tried to get control of herself and then suddenly she felt her anger rise. And rise it did. Hauling off, she swung her little arm, and slapped the dragon on his sensitive muzzle.

"You are mean!" she accused with more conviction than a three year old should normally have. "You are so mean to me... Go away!"

Thorn's eyes widened at the sting made by the tiny hand, and he pulled back from her reach. He saw her trembling pout, and held back a grin of admiration. Many grown men would never think of striking him so.

"Yes child," he nodded sadly. "I was being mean to you, and that was wrong."

The dragon smiled then, and held his claw opened and face up in a giving gesture.

"But I'd like to make it up to you. Climb up and I'll take you for a ride in the clouds."

The child eyed the dragon suspiciously as she listened to his 'sort of' apology. She flinched at the huge red claw in front of her at first, but then she gasped. It was then that she comprehended his offer of a flight. It was then that her eyes widened with surprise, and a bright smile flooded her pretty face.

"Sure!" she squealed with delight as she climbed up into the dragon's claw. "Oh my gosh!"

The girl's easy acceptance of his offer, moved Thorn. He took her gently in his talons, and looked down at her smiling face.

**Hold on, little one,** he said as he pressed his hind feet against the earth to leap into the air, and he pumped his wings to gain altitude quickly.

The ground dropped from beneath them, and the child's view was spectacular as the dragon held her to his chest; close to his heart.

The child's excited giggle turned into a gasp of terror as everything she was used to seeing fell away. Then her eyes looked up, and the whole of the world was in view. Her gasp of terror disappeared, to be replaced by a squeal of delight...

"Look how big it is..."

Thorn's smile grew, and his thrum of pleasure could be felt through his chest reverberating against the girl's back.

**Yes little one,** he agreed with a nod. **The world is very big.**

The wind blew her hair, and made her blink. But there was nothing more thrilling than the feel of the dragon's heart thumping in his chest behind her. She could feel it from where she was held against him. It made the child feel very alive, and very safe.

"Oh, thank you Thorn," she said above the whistling air. "I want to ride a dragon when I get big."

**But child, you are already riding a dragon and you are only a hatchling.**

Ta'Leah giggled and nodded at the dragon's wise words. She was already riding a dragon, and therefore she was a dragon rider.

Thorn smiled at her enthusiasm, until he felt his rider's mental call of distress. From the flash of images he was sent, he could see that Murtagh was under attack by a group of urgals.

Growling, the dragon turned, and increased his speed in an attempt to reach his partner's side in time to assist him.

**This may get dangerous, little one** he warned the child.

At the sound of the dragon's growl, the girl felt a chill run through her. Fear gripped her; not knowing what was going to happen... something dangerous... something bad...

Gripping the talon that encircled her, the little girl made herself even smaller in an attempt to disappear entirely.

The dragon shielded the child from the branches of the trees as he broke through the canopy over the battle scene.
The rider was surrounded by urgals, most of them already dead, and now that a dragon had appeared, the remaining batch of unwholesome creatures made a dash for the woods.

Murtagh slumped to the ground exhausted as the dragon landed next to him.

**Need a ride?** the crimson beast smiled wryly.

Murtagh's amusement showed on his face till his eyes lit on the girl in his claw.

"Thorn, what the hell is that?"

**Heh heh... this is my new rider.**

The child pushed her hair back, and pulled out a bit of leaves and debris that had caught in her wind swept hair. She blinked to see the urgals as they ran from the scene, terribly outnumbered now that reinforcements had arrived.

Uncertainty filled her heart at the rider's reaction to her presence, but the dragon's words gave her the courage to flash a smile and giggle.

"Are you Murtagh?"

Thorn would have been surprised at her question, if she had not known who he was when they met. It was unusual for one so small to be aware of the names of the enemies about her.

Murtagh was left speechless, though he did nod 'yes' to answer her. The rest of his conversation was a mental joust with his dragon.

~Thorn, what in the world are you thinking?~

**She is cute, isn't she?**

~Thorn!~ the rider blinked in disbelief. ~You already have a rider... unless you are looking to replace me with another.~

The dragon's amused thrumming reverberated in the air, and tickled the girl's back.

**Can I keep her?** Thorn pleaded. **Please?**

TO BE CONTINUED...


A/Notes:

Many of you may have heard of the so called "Purge." But have you considered both sides to the argument? Open your eyes to what is really happening...

There is a huge push going on, intending to force the hosting site "FanFiction" to alter their rules, and bend to the will of a boisterous minority of authors.

I find this to be just another example of Author-Bullying. This sight belongs to the Administrators; and it is their tedious job to keep this place working smoothly, and within the established laws and parameters. They do this so we can enjoy sharing our imaginations and enjoyment with each other in a safe and legal environment.

The Admins deserve our support!... not our contempt. For more information, or to voice your opinion, you can visit the following Forum. There you will find intelligent discussions about the issue that so many are up in arms against, but so few really understand.

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w w w . fanfiction forum/In_Support_Of_The_Admins /112143/

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I challenge you to keep an open mind and visit the Forum listed above. Remember, it is always wise to look at both sides of an issue, before choosing a side, or putting you name to a petition.