Sixteen years later
Ember danced across the glade humming to herself, in one hand was the water she had been fetching from the nearby spring, and in the other a stone of a dull blue hue about the size of a chicken's egg, wet from its recent cleaning. It was well into spring and the tree branches were laden with pale blossoms, their petals littering the ground like confetti.
-Blaze,- she called as she scrambled up the slope towards the cave that was her home, -come look what I found.-
From the back of the cave a large green dragon, about thirty feet long from nose to tail tip, ambled forwards, -what is it?-
Ember set the bucket of water down and held out the stone in her other hand, -can you make it shiny like the rest of them?-
Starfire eyed the stone intently, -hold it up to the light.-
The girl did so and waited patiently for her guardian's reaction. Eventually the dragon nodded its head, -perhaps you could try this time.- The dragon said, making her way into the warm patch of sunlight coming in through the entrance, -you saw me do all the others.-
Ember looked at the stone dubiously, -you think so?-
-Honestly, what do you think I've been doing all your life, teaching you nothing? It's hardly the most difficult magic I've asked you to do.- Starfire's tone was amused not irritated.
-Fine,- Ember sighed in resignation. She sat down on the floor next to Starfire and crossed her legs, holding the stone in the palm of her right hand.
-Now concentrate,- the dragon said, shifting her position so she could see her pupil when her wedge shaped head was resting on her forepaw.
Ember closed her eyes and repeated the incantation in her head. Her lips motionless, why should she mouth sounds she had never heard? A green light began to emanate from her hands as she covered the stone with her left hand. After about a minute she opened her eyes and uncovered the stone. Her face lit up in a smile, -I did it!- she said, turning to beam proudly at Starfire.
-Well done,- the dragon replied, -perhaps we'll make a mage of you yet, kit.-
Ember stuck out her tongue, -I know you think I'm good for a human, not that you've met any.-
Starfire bared her teeth in a grin, -You are entirely too sure of yourself little human. I like that, it reminds me of me.-
Ember burst out laughing, getting to her feet and walking over to the bag of stones she and Starfire had collected to add the latest addition.
Starfire yawned and stretched, -I'm going to go get us some dinner,-she announced, taking off into the air, powerful wings beating to keep her aloft, -any requests? I fancy cow today.-
-Whatever you like,-Ember called back amicably.
While her green guardian took of to fetch the dinner Ember lit a fire with a spark of magic and set some water to boil. Starfire had educated her in magic since she was old enough to understand what the dragon was saying to her. She had learnt all her lessons diligently, Starfire, or Blaze as Ember affectionately liked to call her, was a good teacher. Lessons had also included reading and writing in dragon and various other languages that Starfire had known. The dragon was very fond of telling Ember what a good student she had been when she was a kit and how intelligent the teachers had all thought her. Starfire had also included everything she knew about humans and their world, but Ember had never seen another human. The only existence she knew was her life with Starfire.
Starfire had also taught her how to use magic to carve objects out of stone. They had a whole array of pots and cups of all shapes and sizes which tracked Ember's magical education over the years. There were the very early ones she had made at the age of six, that were entirely crude, right through to the more ornate ones she spent her days carving out in her mind now. They also had furs and leathers which Starfire had created from the animals she brought back for them to eat. She did this herself, saying she enjoyed the smell, which Ember thought just as well-she hated it! But she did need the furs when winter came. The leather they used to make various storage pouches, such as the one she kept her stones in, and also she used them to clothe herself. A strip round her from waist to mid-thigh and another tied behind her neck and then again behind her back were all she wore in the warm weather.
The next day Ember persuaded Starfire to fly out with her. Sometimes the two of them would fly together, Ember astride her neck. They never went very far, but today Ember wanted to follow the little river down through the forest, curious as to where it would end up.
Ember strapped a water bag and another pouch filled with dry fruit to her side and clambered up onto Starfire's lowered neck. Once she was seated, the girl gripped on tight to the pointed neck ridge in front of her and clamped her legs to the side of the dragon's neck.
-Let's go!-
Her haunches bunched in a half crouch as she prepared to lift off, wings spread wide preparing for the first downbeat, then she leapt and they were airborne.
Ember let out a fierce cry of joy as the wind swept her hair out behind her, buffeting her skin. She could feel Starfire's powerful muscles at work through her legs, beating strongly lifting them higher. Hitting an air pocket they dropped suddenly, Ember's stomach lurched and she gasped, her fingers and legs gripping on tightly. A rope like thread of magic snaked up round her waist, holding her steady.
-Thanks Blaze.-
-Anyone would think that you didn't know my real name,-returned Starfire good-humouredly.
Ember grinned and turned her head to look down at the ground below. The steep mountain where they lived was rapidly giving way to gently sloping woodland, the river running clearly through it, widening as it went. They flew onward, Starfire angling her wings so as to descend over the river itself. Glancing down Ember could see hers and Starfire's reflection in the water. The river ran on, swelling as it went until it rushed noisily over the top of a small outcrop, tumbling down into a large pool at the base before continuing on its journey. The land dipped here too and as Ember looked up she saw the beginnings of her first houses.
-Look!- she cried to Starfire, leaning forwards in her seat to get a better look, -let's go over there, please!-
The dragon grumbled but obeyed, understanding the girl's curiosity. Steadily they swept nearer to the small habitation. The scattered patching of thatched cottages progressed into brick houses and eventually a large and elegant stone manor house, ringed with stone. Below them frightened townspeople ran out of their houses, pointing aloft in dismay, calling to one another. Soldiers on the battlements called for reinforcements and mages as the dragon and girl flew nearer.
Starfire's longsighted eyes spotted the gathering anxiety beneath them and flapped her wings steadily taking them higher.
-Oh, please go back down,-begged Ember, -I was just beginning to make out the people.-
-It isn't safe down there,- the dragon told her.
-Why not?-
-Humans are afraid of dragons.-
-Why?-
Starfire sighed as she wheeled round, taking them back in the direction they had come, -ignorance mainly, they believe we are ferocious beings that would eat them.-
Ember laughed. -Seriously?-
-Seriously.-
-How odd!-
-Well, they don't really know any better. And there aren't many who could equal a dragon in combat.-
-Only mages right?-
-That's right kit, only mages.-
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A/N: woo-hoo, look at me with the quick update! Felt a bit bad giving you ppl such a short start. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews!! I didn't expect to get so many in such a short space of time- I guess you guys like this huh?
Next chapter you see where it was she flew over and some familiar faces. I can't promise that it'll be up as quickly as this chapter was, but lots of reviews will encourage me *grin*