Step Six: Feet Forwards
Humans grow and mature. But it doesn't happen quickly. It happens over time, through learning and experience, and sometimes people never mature. But what if something had matured already and still had a giant life ahead of them? What could you teach them? What would it feel like to know there was no more to learn…yet you had a giant hole in your heart… The years ticked by very, very slowly. Kitzer and Strae had taught Nore to walk, she was now eating solid foods, and was talking like a grown up. But that's when more problems erupted. Strae and Kitzer started to get irritable around each other. Soon, Prin stayed home, afraid they would fight again, and every night they did. Nore eating solid foods had caused problems as well, problems that normal humans had. Then, one week, Strae left in a huff and did not return. Kitzer was outraged and left to go sit by himself, leaving a small and walking Nore behind. He was on his way to his Cliffside spot…when he remembered. Flipping around, he sped back. When he arrived at home, he didn't see her. He frantically searched for her. She didn't appear to be in the cave. He dove into the ocean and asked the blues if they had seen her. No one had. Sadly, he flew up and back into his cave. Tears filled his eyes as he saw her standing there, in the middle of the giant room. She smiled at him and waved. Even though she was five years old, she was very advanced. She could read any Draconian and Human literature with ease and could already heal minor wounds. She could speak Draconian fluently, almost better than Kitzer and her English was remarkable. The elder was amazed when, at the age of seven, she started attending the meetings with Kitzer when they spoke to other races. Kitzer taught her all he knew and the other dragons raised her as well. They spoke to Kitzer one night and said that they all felt the were one family now, even the blacks and reds. Nore was loving and never wanted anything nor blamed anyone but herself. She was an excellent cleaner and, with her magic, she started cleaning the dens wonderfully when she turned eight. Even Strae came back and made amends with Kitzer. She wasn't such a great cook though. Kitzer smiled and told her to keep trying…even when she burned his dinner one night. She had just smiled and tried again. Every night, they watched the sunset go down and before the last glimmer went down, they both tolled, "And so ends another day! Please send us good dreams Great Dreaming Dragon!" Nore laughed every time and hugged her father, whether he was a dragon or not. Then she smiled at him. And like Narn with Purn's smile, his heart broke in two and he never looked at her. He closed his eyes to which she always responded, "Oh daddy, you should go easy. Look! You're falling asleep! C'mon, it's time for bed." Then they would light a torch and sleep together, Kitzer curled around her tiny form. More years went by and Kitzer began to realize he had no more to teach her…until she began to question him. She also developed a great curiosity about the human race and wanted to know everything about them. It got worse when she turned 14. "Father, how come I am not a dragon?" "Because you aren't turned into one dear." "No…I mean, I know I can turn into one…but something doesn't feel right when I do. I like being human. Why?" Kitzer was stunned. "How long have you felt this dear?" "Forever I guess…" He looked back at his tome and pondered this when she asked another question. "Dad…who is my mom…" His eyes widened. He wasn't prepared for this at all. Sighing, he closed the book and looked at her. "Take a ride with me, I'll take you now…" "Where?" "To a place that you'll fear…for no reason." She smiled and put the books away. He turned into a dragon and waited for her to get on his back. When she was aboard, he dove out of the cave and spread his great wings above the water. A blue jumped up and waved hello to Nore as she laughed. The air felt wonderful to her face. Kitzer said nothing, only flew steadily. She watched the pillars of High Home rush past. All the dragons waved as she checked her progress on cleaning their dens. A lot of her magic was at work. Rosa had long been gone and they were all very glad. After awhile, they were on the mainland, where Nore was told never to go. She began to be frightened a bit, but as long as her father was there, she knew she would be all right. She saw the path from the harbor to the village and they flew over the giant forest…to a barren land. Nore leaned over and looked. What she saw was horrific and made her sick to her stomach. Dragon carcasses littered the ground…some already turned to skeletons. Kitzer landed on a cliff overlooking the death as she went to the edge and looked out. The stretch of rotting flesh was vast…as far as she could see. Tears filled her eyes. This was her family. She turned to Kitzer, who's head was bowed. "Father…who did this…" "Humans my daughter. They used to be peaceful, but now they conquer all with their giant wooden weapons and fiery arrows. They kill us for sport and prize." There was hate in his words. Seeing giant tears coming to her father's face made Nore sad. She felt a new feeling well within her heart she had never felt before. It was deep and it sent shivers to her fingers, causing her hands to make fists. She was angry and mad at the humans. And she began to fear for her family's life. "What can we do to stop this?" Kitzer had no answer. She snorted and punched the ground. "You are human dear but these murderers are not like you. They hate us." Nore was taken aback. Had her father just called her the scum that had murdered her family? "Wh…what?" "Your mother was human, Nore…but she was from a different generation. She was peaceful." "I don't understand…" "Nore…I think it's time we went home now." She didn't question him any further nor did she protest. She simply rode home into the setting sun. No chant was said to the sunset as they bedded down. Nore's dreams were filled with all kinds of images of humans and dragons. Her curiosity grew and grew.
Over the course of two more years, dens were constantly kept clean, wars solved and new hunting grounds found. Nore had spent time with all the dragon races, learning their secrets and their accent of the tolling language. Two of the dragons had named themselves her sisters. Wrathing Mortins, a black dragon with a sharp tongue and Malicestanre Melamytholin, a white dragon with a quick wit and great strength had grown to love her. They protected her from the bigger male dragons, for Nore had remained quite small. She loved her sisters dearly and loved the time they spent together. But there was still a giant void in her heart. Kitzer noticed she wasn't as happy as she had been growing up. He watched her looking for signs as to what it was. Then one night, as Nore was readying for bed combing her bright red hair just like her mother, he heard her praying. "Morin…I need an answer. Why am I so empty…is it because I am part human? Why can't I be happy anymore…have I not done a good enough job? I'll try harder…I will…just please, give me an answer and put me at ease. My father is worried about me and I don't want him to fret. Please…help him. Watch over us all as we soar the skies and may we soon join the stars. Ayenm." He shut his eyes as she climbed into her bed, blowing the torch out. He went to the cave entrance, silently turned into a dragon and made for the elder's cave. He called an emergency meeting and everyone was in attendance…except Nore. As she slept, her father made the hardest request he thought he would never have to make.
When she awoke, her father was in her doorway, looking at her. She stretched and smiled at him. "Hello da…" "Shhh…get dressed. Then meet me in the kitchen." He left the doorway and Nore sensed him using a silent spell. She was a bit confused but did as she was told. She pulled her red robe on and brushed her hair again, tucking into her robe. She rubbed her horns, and smiled at herself in the mirror. Then she went to the kitchen. Kitzer was stuffing food into a pack that held clothes and a few little trinkets…including some of his gold. He signaled for her to be quiet. She looked at the entrance and saw it was still dark. Turning back, Kitzer handed her the pack and went to his giant hoard. Climbing up to the top, he grabbed something and slid down. Walking over, he placed a pair of Elvin sai in her hands. She was scared now. Shouldering the pack, she grabbed a belt and fastened the sai to it. Kitzer grabbed a cloak and tied it around her shoulders. He put the hood over her head and told her to stay as quiet as possible. She nodded as he went and turned into a dragon. Then he nodded for her to get on. As she did he said, "Stay low and make no movement." She crouched down, hugging his neck tight. He lifted off quietly and shut the doors silently. He looked around warily and then banked right. He glided on air currents so he was silent as a shadow dancing on mountain sides. Nore watched the cold and eerie towers of High Home go past her as they usually had when she traveled anywhere…only now she felt she wasn't coming back. They glided for a long time and then Nore watched as the mainland came into view. Then, it slowly grew under her. They were landing. He silently padded into the grass on the shore. She slipped from his back as he sat in the moonlight, looming over her like a giant shadow. "Father, what's going on…" Tears filled her eyes. Then he spoke to her in Draconian, his voice soft and strong. "Everything will become clear to you… when you see things through another's eyes. Whatever's meant for you, you will find…everything you need to be the one you need to be. Do not be scared daughter. Only remember…you can trust no one here. You are on your own now…as soon as you couldn't see High Home, you're magic returned to you. Humans will shun you for your horns but do not listen to them. I love you my daughter…but I cannot go with you…" He hugged her close as she cried and then kissed her, turning away. He lifted off as she called after him. His roar made the ground shake and her heart melt. She felt the warm drafts of air as she sank to her knees. He had left her. He was gone and she was in a foreign world…
