(Author's note: this is where I have picked up again, after a very long absence from writing about the Dragon Thieves. I am still using the plot I devised way back then, while I was still writing about them, but you may notice a change in quality and style.)

Ever watched a rose bush wither? It's a very pathetic sight. The petals curl up and turn black, finally falling away to rest in the dirt around the base. Then the leaves shrivel, huddling their sides in towards their hearts and casting a glare at the world around them. Then they too are brushed away by the wind. In the end, all that's left is the branches and the thorns. They remain, brittle, broken, and hissing at the world around them in bitter distaste. The last thing to happen is the bush is dug up and thrown in the fire to turn to ash and scatter across all the earth. Then there is nothing.

I could not help but think about this as I left the house that day. Taffin called something after me about actually staying at home for once. I slammed the door behind me as a response. I couldn't stay there. The petals were already sagging.

There was a lump of black fur collapsed on the sidewalk just by the shadow of our house. I stopped before the pet, glaring down at him.

"The hell you doing?" I snapped.

"Napping," he replied, "Had to get away from the house and this is the warmest spot around. Please don't block my sunbeam."

"This is my house."

"Sidewalk is public property."

"Lardass," I snarled and walked past him, stepping on his tail in the process, "Go find some other piece of sidewalk."

I didn't have any particular destination. The Gelert had put me in a sour mood and all I really wanted to do was get my aggression out in any way possible. So I walked. And walked. I had no destination, I just meandered out of the neigborhood, across streets, through parks, just anywhere my feet took me until I was completely lost. It wasn't a bad feeling; not knowing where I was. I was used to it.

It was growing dark by the time my senses oriented. I could hear thunder in the distance and I dimly realized that a storm was rolling in. A thought appeared in my mind – I could ride the storm, gliding along the very crest of it. Maybe some of its power would be imparted to me or maybe I would become the storm itself, like legends of old. Or maybe I would just get wet and cold. Either way, I had other things to consider first, such as why this particular street was tickling my memory.

I had been here before, years ago. It was a different Zafara that had walked along this sidewalk, someone lonely and longing for something she could not even name. I suppose that the only thing that had really changed was my appearance.

I found my old house at the end of the block. There were lights in the windows and I could see the shadow of a figure moving around, tall, human. I stood there on the sidewalk, just watching and listening to the approaching thunder.

The shadow paused by the window, then vanished, and the door opened. I almost ran but he spoke before my muscles reacted.

"Yes, hello?"

My throat grew tight and it was an effort to breath. When I finally replied I found my voice was hoarse and broken.

"Nothing. I'm sorry."

"Alright, you just looked lost there."

Another voice from behind him. I saw clawed feet and fire patterns.

"Tim? Who is it?"

"Some Zafara."

"I'm sorry for bothering you," I said, suddenly afraid of this new pet behind my old owner, "I should be going."

"Better hurry. The storm looks like it's about to break."

The krawk appeared then. Wide eyed, like I used to be, and everything I'd wanted in my old life. A family. A home. A place of my own.

"It's far too late," I whispered and something in the human's eyes shattered. But I had started to run before the recognition blossomed to full effect.

The rain started to fall, heavy bullets that beat into my fur and created a stampede of sound all around me, rattling off gutters and bouncing off the pavement. I just ran. The streets were deserted save for a lone dragon-winged Zafara, running as if her heart would burst, sobbing and unsure what was water and what was salt. I could have been there, with Tim, with the rest of my old family. I'd chosen this path, this miserable excuse for a life, and there was no one to blame but myself. Finally, I ran out of momentum, staggered, and fell into a puddle.

I'm not sure how long I was there. Water slipped into my nose and made me sneeze. My head cracked against the pavement at the movement and the resulting pain throbbed behind my eyelids. Maybe it was the footsteps. I wasn't sure. But someone picked me up and carried me inside their house, laying me out on the couch, wrapped in towels and a fire blazing along the far wall. I didn't see much of who it was. Just the hands, long fingers, bony and smooth. Pale skin. Thin wrists. I didn't care to ask his name or why he was taking care of me after I collapsed in front of his house. He stayed with me throughout the night until I finally fell asleep.

I woke to a wet nose and the smell of pancakes. The wet nose was actually not my own, it belonged to a black snout that was nosing about my ears.

"Nmmph," I mumbled, "Back off or I'll rip out your liver."

"Threats so early in the morning?" the pet replied, stepping back, "Very civil of you."

I blinked the sleep from my eyes and regarded my host. A shadow Gelert, silver collar around the neck and matching anklets. He seemed familiar.

"You are…?"

"Lardass," he affirmed, "But you can call me Leantainn, if you wish. I prefer it to lardass."

"Nianso."

"A pleasure. Want breakfast?"

He vanished in the direction of the smell before I could answer. I busied myself with sitting up and trying to stretch some of the soreness out of my neck, shoulders, and wings. I probably wasn't too far from home then, if that Gelert had meandered into my neighborhood simply for a nap. While I waited for Leantainn to reappear with food I studied my surroundings. The house seemed quite barren. Either these people were poor or they hadn't been living here very long. Outside the window I saw water still dripping from the roof, tiny crystals gliding along the sunbeams.

"Ah, you're awake."

This time the voice was different. I looked over and saw the human that had carried me in during the storm. He was tall, skinny, and wore his hair in a brown ponytail. Leantainn was walking just behind him.

"I'm Tapaidh," he said, placing a tray on the table before me, "My pet says you are Nianso."

"Thank you," I replied awkwardly and started to eat.

"It's not a problem. I saw you collapse the other night and couldn't just leave you in the rain."

"You live near my house?"

"I think so."

I marveled at how far I must have ran then. Or had they carried me? I couldn't remember. Everything was so jumbled in my mind. I think I was carried for a distance but in my ragged state last night a minute was an eternity.

"Would you like me to call your owner?"

The food lost its taste.

"Sure," I replied, simply because that seemed to be the appropriate answer. Tapaidh rose and left the room. Leantainn stayed and watched me eat.

"You're creeping me out," I growled.

"You're awfully blunt."

"You have no idea."

He seemed to just roll with it, like a boat on the ocean. I wondered if anything could faze him.

"You know," I said, "you're taking a big risk here, bringing a stray pet in like this. One with dragon wings no less. There's no telling what I am."

His ears just went back and one brow lifted slightly.

"I mean, I could be very dangerous. What's to say I wouldn't just draw my dagger and kill you both?"

"What dagger?"

I dropped my hand to my waist.

"Well shit." I must have left it at home the other day in my haste to get out of the house.

He laughed and I returned to the task of eating. Maybe I'd have Skyil read his mind and tell me what would rattle his composure.

"She's coming over," Tapaidh announced from the doorway, "Should only take a couple minutes."

I nodded.

"Hey Nianso. I know I hardly know you and you're someone else's pet and all, but can I ask you something?"

I didn't reply, just ate. He came over and squatted on his heels before me.

"Why'd you leave home like that, in the storm?"

"Probably the same reason Leantainn there left his yesterday."

They both grew very quiet and exchanged glances with each other. Leantainn was the first to speak.

"Somehow, I doubt that." And there was something in his tone that forbade any other talk until MiracleStar arrived.