Dragon Mage

By Courtney C

(This is not my works; I am simply publishing it for a friend. PLEASE R/R!! No flames please, just constructive criticism!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Tamora Pierce books, however I DO own Maddy, and all characters in this story that were not created by Tamora Pierce as well as the storyline itself.



Long ago in the forests of Tortall there lived a girl with amazing powers. Her gift was with animals. It was not normal wild magic; it was different. Learning how to speak to animals at a young age, but her power came with a flaw, she could heal hours on end and not lose any energy, but she could not turn into any animals like the wild mage Daine. Living in the woods, unknown to most people, she lived in the trees and cared for all the animals. In return for her care, none of the animals would tell the wild mage Daine who she was or where she lived. Her name was Maddy.

Abandoned by the goddess many years ago, no one knew how. They just thought that someone left her out one night and never came back. Her home was in the trees since she could remember and her family was the animals. She had dirty blonde hair and was no too tall, but could match a boy's height. The thing that was also different about Maddy was her eyes. They were a dark yellow, almost orange with a bit of red in them. Most who looked into her eyes were scared and trembled. Most looked away and could not look back. She had all her needs in the forest except clothes, which she stole. Keeping it simple with a white tunic, brown breeches and boot. Never liking to stay in the open with a lot of people and no animals, she kept only to the woods. They were her friends, and her life, and she would give up hers in their places.

One day a tiger came running up to her rambling about something nervously. Maddy was sitting on a tree branch relaxing. Jumping down and stroking his fur trying to get him to calm down and talk slowly.

"Shhhhh…. what happened? Slow down!" she said.

"They got him, caught him in a trap!" The tiger said.

"Calm down and tell me who took who and what trap?"

"Storm! They took him, the men from the palace, they want him for some stupid event. A game of some sort!" Maddy was silent. She hated people who took the animals for some game. It was cruel and not fair to the animals, which they probably kill after the event. She had to stop them. Storm was a black leopard who had helped to raise her. She had to get him back.

Unwillingly, Maddy had to go to the market and find out who took him. She prayed that she wouldn't be too late and find him already dead.

Pulling up the hood of her cloak so it covered her eyes. She began to walk down the crowded market street. Slowly, finding her way through the sea of people. Almost everyone seemed to be pushing towards the arena. It was used for jousting and events, sometimes celebrations but something was scheduled today. That would be a great place to start looking. Walking through one of the entrance gates, she could hear the shouts of the spectators and the roar of some beast. Looking down into the ring she saw a man with a rope trying to catch storm, which was in the corner striking out and roaring. Looking around, Maddy saw that royal box with king Jon, queen Thayet, the mage Numair, and the wild mage, Daine trying to talk into his mind. It also had some knights and two commanders looking back at Storm, who was still putting up a fight. Walking along the ring until she was above the corner, also noticing it was directly across from the king, she spoke into his mind.

"Stop roaring storm! And sit!" He actually listened to the order and sat, waiting for more directions. Daine turned in curiosity and so did almost everyone else. The railing was about three feet tall and the drop into the pit about five. Vaulting herself over the edge and landing next to storm, Maddy saw everyone in the stand abruptly turn silent. The king got to his feet as did the commanders, but Storm just sat there and looked at her with his yellow eyes. The hood still covered her face. The man that was trying to rope Storm ran out into the city streets by a gate, not closing it. Maddy walked across the ring with Storm lightly stepping along her side. When she reached the wooden gate by some unknown force, it closed. Looking back at the royal box, the mage Numair was on his feet with black magic surrounding his hand, which was outstretched towards the gate. Storm growled, looking at Numair.

"Quiet!" Maddy said calmly. Storm listened and turned to her. Talking in his mind she said, "Scratch that lock." The people and king and queen were watching in amazement as Storm walked forward towards the gate, raised a mighty paw, claws out, and with a terrific roar, struck the lock and the gate door swung open. The kind could not find his voice as everyone continued to stare. Everyone in the market place continued about their business, but gave a wide berth to the girl and her black leopard. Maddy neared the edge of the town. "Just a few more feet" she told herself when she was tackled from behind, knocking off her hood. Getting to her feet just in time to say "stop!" as storm was about to attack her assailant. Maddy looked at her attacker as Storm circled, hunches raised and growling. "Storm!" Maddy called as the black Leopard returned to her side. Her attacker was a lady dressed in a tunic, breeches, and boots. She had a belt with a sword and several other weapons. She had short-cropped red hair and violet eyes. Maddy could sense that she was nervous, but not frightened. Maddy's eyes were shining as bright as gold and were as sharp as a hawk's. She could see as far as any as she could hear as well as any bat. Maddy did not want to waste her time so she turned around to walk out when another knight came in front of her, sword drawn and pointing at her. She did not need to turn around; she could hear several more swords being drawn. Maddy glanced at Storm and told him. "Go, run, tell everyone that I'll be back later." At that Storm bounded out from between the knights and took off for the woods.

"Don't follow it, we have what we need!" the red haired knight called.

"Turn around!" one of the knights behind her said.