Jared yawned loudly as he swung his axe-like tail through the grass. The dead plants couldn't stand up to the razor edge, and the work was easy. The grass seemed to grow even when it was the middle of winter, and it was a little disturbing. Jared chuckled as his sister tripped over a tree root, sprawling on the dirt.

"It's not funny!" She cried as she stood.

It's very funny, Kat. He said as he swung his bladed tail an inch from her face. She didn't flinch, as she knew he wouldn't really hit her. Why must you be so clumsy?

"Why must you be so annoying?" She spat back as she picked up a stick and swung at him. Jared grabbed the stick in mid-swing with his claws and snapped it.

Nice try, but I've always been the faster. Kat laughed sarcastically, punching him hard on the shoulder. You know you can't hurt me, even if you used a real sword. It was true. Time and again he had proven that his scales were the strongest surface in the world, and nothing had ever drawn his blood. He didn't even know what color his blood was, but he assumed it was red like every humans'.

"Are we going to actually do anything today?" Kat asked, shaking her head at the perfectly even grass. "We went to town yesterday, and that wasn't nearly as exciting as I thought it would be."

Maybe we could go back? There has to be something worth doing there.

"I don't really want to. Something about being around other people makes me feel weird."

I know what you mean. People keep giving me strange looks…like I don't belong there. It felt like I was unwanted.

"You know, I don't think I'm going to town for a while."

I'm still going myself, just to see if the mood has changed. Jared spread his wings. Tell mother and father where I am. Kat nodded and he took off, the village coming into sight much more quickly without a passenger.

The air was frigid, but it didn't bother him, even though there was frost on his scales. He landed outside the village this time, to avoid attracting too much attention, and he padded silently into the village. The streets were nearly empty today, and he knew something was wrong. The only living thing he saw was an old man standing outside a tavern with a cup in his hand. He was blind, and if anything had happened that the village had to be cleared, he wouldn't have known.

Jared sighed, entering the building as quietly as he could. His brown scales blended with the dim light, and he couldn't even see himself. Here was where the town had gone, all of them facing a man on a table. He was ranting about taxes and such, something that he had never had to deal with. He supposed it was a town meeting of some sort, but why they would gather to talk about taxes was beyond him.

Excuse me, sir? Jared asked a man quietly. The man turned and his eyes widened. What's going on? The man said nothing, a bead of sweat rolling down his face. Jared sighed, shaking his head. His scales rustled and another man turned to look at him. But there was no reaction. He shook his head and turned back to the man on the table.

Jared was confused. The man had looked right at him and there had been no reaction. He smiled as he realized that his scales made him nearly invisible in the dark room, only his golden eyes showing. He left the building, wondering what there was to do. The blind man tapped him on the shoulder.

"Please, sir. Could you spare something for an old man?" He asked. His voice was hoarse from the dry, cold air.

I don't even have the clothes on my back to give you. The only thing I have that you don't is sight, and I can't possibly give that. The man dropped to his knees.

"I must be in the presence of a god!" He cried out. Jared realized that he was talking about his manner of speech. When he had spoken in his mind the man had thought that a god was speaking to him.

I am no god. Jared said. I am just a farmboy that speaks with his mind. Jared reached down and pulled the man to his feet. Suddenly Jared felt a rush of energy leave him, and the man looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. With tear-filled seeing eyes.

"If you are not a god, then how can you heal a blind man's sight?" The man hugged Jared about the neck. "Thank you, your lordship, thank you!"

Please, sir. I don't know how I did that, but I assure you I am no god. I am just a boy from a farm.

"You are not a boy, you are a dragon." He smiled at his expression. "You don't know what you are? Dragons like yourself have been around since Alagaesia was born, and you are one of the greatest of beings! Even the elves worship your power, and I met a few dragon riders when I was a boy. I won't bother you anymore. Thank you." The man laughed to himself, hobbling inside the tavern. Jared stood outside in shock.

I'm not a human?! It explained a lot, but he didn't want it to be true. Maybe it's just the ramblings of an old blind man…

Jared wandered for a while, wondering what was happening. He realized he was walking into the woods. He sighed, his hot breath melting the snow in an instant, turning it to steam. He could speak with his mind, breathe fire, fly… all were things that humans couldn't do. And he had healed a blind man with his touch! Jared shuddered at the thought that his parents had lied to him his entire life.

A net was thrown over Jared from behind, and he turned and saw a man grinning to himself. His grin vanished when he realized the net wasn't big enough to hold him. He drew a club and tried to hit him on the head, but Jared just raised his head out of reach. The man tried to run away but Jared grabbed him in his claws.

"Ahh!" The man screamed. "Doyle, help!" an arrow shattered on Jared's scales and he grabbed the man who had shot him. "Ahh! We're going to be eaten alive!"

Why would I eat a human? Jared asked, trying to put his newfound identity to the test. The men squirmed even more, beating on him with their fists. If you don't want to be roasted, I suggest you stay still. The two men stopped moving immediately. Now, would you be so kind as to tell me why you were trying to catch me?

"It was his idea!" One said.

"No it wasn't! You're the one who suggested that we try and tame a dragon! But you didn't say they would be intelligent!" The first man tried to reach out and punch his companion.

Quiet! Everything, even the wind, died down. Now, explain why you were trying to tame a dragon.

"I wanted to tame a dragon and then I'd be a dragon rider!"

"You said I'd be the rider, you little-"

Did you hear me?! They went quiet. Now you know that you can't catch a dragon, so I'm going to let you go. Jared set the men on their feet, and instead of running off they began beating each other with their fists. Jared sighed and took off, heading towards the farm with a smile on his face.

His smile vanished as he saw the farm.

Or, rather, what was left of it…