Dragon Cave (DragCave) is copyright to T.J. Lipscomb, the dragon breeds and art are copyright TJ and their respective artists, these individual dragons, characters and the storylines belong to Zephyr_Drake and LightningRip. Probably rated higher than necessary because there may be fighting, there will be a zombifacation (eventually) and mating flights.

This is another backstory chapter (cue cries of "but we want dragons") but needs to be in here. First , second and forth parts by LightningRip, third and fifth by Zephyr_Drake.

Chapter 3: Packing Time

Layne dashed up Hannah's sidewalk. She opened the door and rushed inside without waiting to knock. "Hannah!" She called, almost running into her friend. Both had letters with dragon seals on them in their hands. "Open them together?" Layne asked. Hannah nodded and both girls excitedly tore open the envelopes.

"Layne Herring,

I am happy to announce that you have been chosen to come to the Tender Academy. In a week or so, an escort will arrive to take you to the academy. Bring clothes and whatever sentimental things you'd like to bring. It is advised to bring pictures and gifts from your family and friends, as you may never see them again. Please keep in mind, all that you bring you must be able to carry. Since you live so close, you will be picked up at Hannah Collins' house. Please be ready to go at 6am sharp."

"The Headmaster," Layne read out loud. "We made it! Both of us!" She clutched the letter tightly to her. "I'd better go home and pack…" She said after a minute. "See you at school tomorrow?" She asked, folding the letter back into the envelope to take home. "Yeah, I can't wait to see their faces when they find out!" Hannah smiled.


Layne dashed up the steps and burst into her house. Her mother looked up in surprise. "What's gotten into you?" She resumed chopping a carrot after peering into a pot of boiling water. Layne held up the letter and smiled. "I got into the academy!" She exclaimed, and her mother gasped and hugged her. "When do they pick you up?" She asked her daughter, looking at her. "Next Sunday." Layne responded. Her mother reached over and dropped the carrots into the sizzling stew. "Well, I need to go to town, take that off the stove in an hour. Keep it covered and put it in the fridge if I'm not back by then." She covered it and set the timer. Layne sat down on one of the five stools lining the counter as her mother reappeared minus her apron. "Angel!" Her mother called upstairs. Layne watched her little sister come pounding down. She was only one year younger, but she was a baby to Layne. "Yeah?" Angel asked. "We're going to town." Their mother said, and Angel's face brightened immediately.


Running back into her house, Hannah squealed with delight. As she ran past her mother, she began running with a sort of victory dance somehow worked into the pace.

"Why are you so happy?" Hannah waved the letter above her head "I got in! So did Layne!" Her mother shook her head "Well I never, I always knew you too were attatched at the hip, but how did you manage this?" Hannah smiled cheekily as she walked into her room to start packing. It was Thursday, a public holiday too, so the was one day left of school.

Grabbing a suitcase from under the bed, Hannah began shoving clothes into it. She had heard that you were given new clothes before you became a tender, but only a few shirts and pants, and they wouldnt give you any good clothes. So going through her cubard, she tried to think of what she would need both over the next year and chose a few light plain and tie died shirts, a few pairs of summer pants and skirts, and two summer dresses. She knew it wouldnt always be warm where they would be going, she she dug into her wardrobe to find her winter clothing too. She eventualy found them, and pulled out a few long sleaved shirts, a coupple of Jumpers, three pairs of jenes and a good sturdy belt. Chucking in the last few things; a few good shirst, shoes, a hat, under garments, PJ's and a large sturdy coat, Hannah struggled to close her bag.

"You probably could have packed that better" Hannah looked over her shoulder to see her step brother standing in the door. "Go away twerp, Im busy" The 10 year old boy shrugged and walked off, probably going back to his computer games.


Layne stuffed the big pot into the fridge and dashed upstairs into her room. Hers was the only room on the 3rd floor, her older brother's old room and her little sister's room below on the 2nd. She quickly stuffed her clothes into a big suitcase and everything else into a big backpack. She sat on her bed and looked around her now bare room. Faintly she heard the rest of her family come home from town and pounded down the stairs. Angel rushed past her and up to her room, clutching a little bag as if it her life depended on it. Her mother came through the door with several bags, followed by her father who had groceries weighing him down. "Start the stew to heat and then go get the last of the groceries, Layne." Her mother called over her shoulder as she disappeared into the back of the house. Layne shook her head and put the stew back on the stove on high.

Layne came back inside laden with groceries. As she finished putting them away, the aroma of vegetable stew was almost overpowering. She spooned out four bowls of soup and set drinks on the table just as Angel came downstairs and her parents reappeared. "Thank you, Layne." Her father said as they all sat around the large round kitchen table. Only one chair was unoccupied; her older brother Zayne's. Her father said a prayer and then they all started eating. Layne could detect some Neo and Canopy scale seasoning in the soup. Her mother used it rarely as it was expensive, so Layne was a little surprised but enjoyed the flavoring.


Sitting at the dinner Table, Hannah cheerfully talked with her siblings and parents over a meal of fish and salad, enjoying the hectic conversations of 9 people at one table. She would probably share with more people at the Academy, but for now she was happy to be annoyed by her little sister and five brothers.


Dont worry about the reference to Neo and Canopy scale seasoning. Dragon scales are shed regularly and sold for a variety of reasons, Neo and Canopy scales are spicy and crushed to be made into seasoning. Next chapter SHOULD be up within a week *crosses fingers*