Here's a little something I threw together. Sorry it took so long, and sorry about the shortness, but if I didn't post something soon, this story probably wouldn't have ever seen the light of day again.

Lorelei.

"Stop it!" I cried, exasperated, and whirled around.

Myara raised her hands. "I'm not doing anything!"

I saw movement on my bed and turned to look directly into my dragon's violet eyes.

Lorelei.

I gaped at the glittering lizard on my bed. Was it truly the little creature that was trying to speak to me? It seemed impossible that an animal was talking to me, but then again, looking at the events of last night, I was willing to go on a little faith.

Tentatively, I reached out with my mind, sending a tendril of thought into the enormous nothingness that I was still afraid to get lost in. The space was so vast, so empty that, even though I was used to communicating with Myara in such a way, I still feared that one day I would be unable to pull myself back. I soon made contact with another mind which immediately let me in. I gasped inaudibly. This mind was large also, larger than any human's, and was full of inexplicable wisdom and knowledge.

Hello? I asked softly. Little dragon, is that you?

I felt happiness through the connection we shared, and a female voice, one too mature for the hatchling's minuscule body replied, yes.

I blinked in surprise and was dimly aware of my body moving over to kneel on the floor next to the bed.

How can you talk? I wondered. You are so small; so young. You are… I bit my lip.

An animal? Replied the amused voice.

I nodded, flushing.

I am no ordinary animal. I am a dragon. We are magical creatures. Do not be surprised at our abilities. As for my age, the reason my sister and I have hatched; the need of the land calls for us. We are maturing more quickly than any other dragon has ever before, without the aid of an outside force. We are needed, mature and powerful, not small and weak, so we grow. When we are no longer needed so desperately, our growth will slow.

I nodded slowly. What do we need to do?

The dragonet blinked at me with her bright, trusting, violet eyes. You must take us to the Varden. From there, we will travel to the elfin city of Ellesmera to see the queen of the elves. It is there that you will learn the deeper secrets of dragons and riders. She fell silent, and I had the feeling that she would say no more, but I decided to ask one final question.

What is your name?

The dragonet blinked and said with a smile in her voice, I am Kalea.

Kalea, I repeated. It is a pretty name.

Kalea hummed her contentment and continued watching me with those deep violet eyes that so matched one of my own. A sudden noise from the open door wrenched my gaze away from Kalea's in surprise. Myara stood, looking down on me, with her baby dragon in her arms, and a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Her name is Galadriel," she said softly, turning slightly so that her dragon was looking into my mismatched eyes.

"It is an honor to meet you Galadriel," I replied, smiling. I picked up my own companion and held her at Galadriel's level. "This is Kalea."

The two dragons touched snouts and began humming happily.

We are sisters, Kalea said in my mind. We have known each other for many years.

Myara and I just smiled at them and set them back down so we could continue packing for our journey. As I emptied my dresser, Kalea clumsily climbed up onto the top to sit and watch me as I worked. My smile grew and I stopped every so often to pet her or scratch under her tiny scales, causing her to hum in a way that sounded almost like purring. Soon, our bedroom was empty, and we moved on into the kitchen and larder to pack everything away and fasten it to the backs of our horses, D'artanyan and Larkling.

It was just past midday and the sun, beginning it's descent from its highest point in the sky, shone brightly down on my sister and I as we stood outside our little home, dragons perched on our shoulders. Kalea's thin tail was curled gently around my throat like a strange necklace, and her head was next to mine as she hummed in my ear, causing me to smile once more.

Myara put her hand on my unoccupied shoulder, causing me to look over at her.

"Are you ready to go?" she asked. "If we leave now, we can get there by midday tomorrow."

I nodded my head in agreement after casting one final look at the cabin that had been my home all my life (and Myara's for the past two and a half years). Turning swiftly, I mounted D'artanyan and set him off at a trot, sending not one glance behind me as Myara and I made our way toward the fringe of trees at the base of the spine.