4

Dragons, Large and Small

In her dream, Lorette stepped down the spiral rock stairway from Melikar's chamber to the tunnels of Mandria drive.

Rushing along the main avenue, she followed it's winding curves through the town, dodging horse drawn carriages full of visiting dignitaries.

Shops along the way glowed in the Marnies' warm candlelight-- a dim imitation of the brightness she'd glimpsed above the wishing pool.

The dream journey took her to Ameka's cottage.

Her tutor wasn't home.

Suddenly panicked at being comepletely alone, Lorette pounded on the cottage door, shouting for Ameka.

Lorette's eyes flew open. Instantly she blinked them shut.

The brightness of the fiery sun was remarkably intense. Cupping one hand over her eyes, she sat up squinting into the glow, feeling it's warmth for the very first time.

Dizziness filled her head, making her feel as if she'd just danced the quick-stepping volta at a ball with her friend Dagon.

Lorette steadied herself, peering at her surroundings in spite of the painful brightness in her eyes.

Where was she?

Suddenly she realized what she was sitting on. A curved wooden footbridge. Under the bridge, blue-green water sparkled in the light, like jewels on a royal crown.

Lorette caught her breath. The pool was below her.

Her heart soared. For once her magic worked!

Scrambling to her feet, Lorette felt as excited as she had the first time she'd been allowed to visit Melikar's chamber--and had caught her earliest glimpse of the world above the river.

She must have been sent up through th water, but her clothes weren't wet-- not even damp.

She placed a hadn to her head trying to recall what had happened.

All she remembered was being drawn into the pool.

The tingling sensation had swept over her with such force, it's subtle beckoning had become an urgent pull.

She'd heard herself chant. Then an earthquake had rumbled through her head. What happened after that was hazy.

She stood transfixed, captivated by the scene that had always been out of view from under the river.

No one was in sight. Still Lorette hurried off the footbridge and into the forest, just to besafe. Here, shade from the great trees was much easier on the eyes.

Inhaling one long breath after another, Lorette wandered into the forest, sampling fragrances all new to her.

Finding a boulder within clear view of the footbridge, she sat to think things over. Surely Melikar would materialize in a lightning flash on top of the footbridge, robes flapping about him like wings, and rescue her if she got into any trouble.

As excited as she was about being in this world, the fearful fluttering of her heart told her she didn't want to misswhat might be her only chance to return to her world.

Minutes passed and nothing happened.

Lorette recalled Melikar's warning: The wizarding world isn't safe for non magical beings. Luckily or unluckily, she was from a long line of wizards. Both her mother and father were witch and wizard's.

"Well I'm where I wanted to be, but Cam's not here," she said out loud. Now her voice sounded small and trembly. She and Cam had aways planned on taking this adventure together. Neither had suggested she do it by herself, but after the circumstances she didn't want to stick around much longer.

Lorette hugged herself, wishing she'd broughten a jacket. Her light tank top was no protection from the cool breeze. "I'm all alone," she whispered.

"I'm here," came a tiny voice from behind.

Lorette leaped to her feet. All she saw was an ancient tree with gold and red leaves rustling in thebreeze. "Who's there?" She twisted her braid through her fingers, taking a wary step backward.

"Me...."

The misty form of a creature, no taller than Lorette's knee, shifted like a candleflame in front of the tree trunk. Then Lorette realized what the creature was, for the first time she was talking to a Canagon.

Canagon's were hyper creature's, with lots of adrenaline unning through they're veins. They came in many colors, this one happened to be white and blue. With its dragon like scales and wings along with it's golden beak and fiery feather's, it's surprising that they aren't seen often.

Tiny canagon's emerged one by one from the plants and trees nearest her. The moment she walked away, Lorette knew they'd dissapear into their living homes.

"I can't stay and talk," she told them "I'm sorry."

Remebering who she was, Lorette returned to her rock, straightening the torn lace on her skirt.

"Who are you?" she asked when she notice the tiny creature had followed her and sat beneath her on the fresh moss.

"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Scrimage," she announced. "Deliverer of good news and old friend of Melikar the wizard."

"Melikar?" Hearing the wizard's name stratled Lorette so much, she sprang to her feet. "You know Melikar?"

"Nope, I lied....offcourse I know Melikar, him and I go way back," he said chuckling to himself.

"So what are you doing here all alone?" asked Scrimage.

"I ran away from home, and I've got nowhere to go and no one to talk to."

"Well actually you've got me now, isn't that right?" said the creature smiling back at her.

"I guess so...but why would you want to--" and she was cut off short as she felt a sudden warm gust of air hit her shoulders.

"What was that?" she asked curiously wanting to find out the source of the warm heat.

Then out of nowhere a blaze of fire sprang up from the other direction she had come. She decided to find out what was going on. So with all her courage and her new friend bwwhind her, they both jogged along a path in the ground that looked as if it had been used very often.

Lorette heard a crackling sound coming up ahead, and when she turned around to see wether Scrimage was still behind her, she hadn't noticed the large dragon right ahead over her. When turned around it was too late. The dragon had hit her with a fiery blow in the back knocking her to the ground unconcious.

When she came to, she heard voices in the surroundings. She sat up and to her amazement and bewilderment, she saw five wizard's trying to calm down the same dragon that had given her the blow. At the same time they all shouted "Stupefy" in unison, and the Stunning Spells shot into the darkness like fiery rockets, bursting into showers of stars on the dragon's scaly hides-

Lorette watched the dragon teeter dangerously on it's hind legs; it's jaws stretched wide in a suddenly silent howl; it's nostrils were suddenly devoid of flame, though still smoking- then, very slowly, it fell-several tons of senewy, scaly black dragon hit the ground with a thud that Lorette could have sworn had made the trees behind her quake.

The dragon keepers lowered their wands and walked forwards to their fallen charge, the size of a small hill. They hurried to tighten the chains and fasten them securely to iron pegs, which they forced deep into the ground with their wands.

Seeing the dragon made Lorette feel uncomfortable even in it's sleep. But then without any knowledge, the dragon sneezed and blew flames an inch away from her hitting a tree and burning it to a crisp. Turning back to see the tree Lorette took one glimpse and fainted right there on the spot.