Chapter 3
They arrived at Dragon Guardian sanctuary later in the afternoon, Charlie was panting heavily he'd over exerted himself trying to race here. Emily slid down his shoulder and hugged his head when they'd landed in the landing field "You silly thing I'm so proud of you.'' And she kissed his muzzle affectionately, "I'm so thirsty may I have some water.'' As he said so three men appeared caring a large tube full of clear fresh water which Charlie quickly chugged down and Emily thanked the men who nodded their heads, they were of the Seminole tribe which worked with the Corps. The tallest of the men shook Kevin's hand when he'd offered it to him, "We've come from Key Covert I've been assigned to a dragon egg here.'' He said handing the man a sheet of paper with his orders.
The man looked it over and nodded his head "Yes we've received a message that you'd arrive soon.'' And he said something in his native tongue which Kevin could only catch a few words from. The two other men nodded their heads and went off and the man turned back to Kevin, "My name is Apenimon I'm one of the care takers here, come with me and will talk of the egg and get your dragon something to eat.'' He said looking at Emily who was patting Charlie who'd finished his drink and was looking around anxiously and then turned to Apenimon and spoke a few words in the native language which was no surprise since he was hatched here and probably learned the language from the shell like all dragons did.
Apenimon smiled and said in English so they could all understand " Mother and Father dragon are in the western side of land training new hatchlings that wouldn't go into harness.'' He said and Charlie sighed looking towards Emily who nodded her head "Go love and be quick about it though.'' He rumbled happily rubbing his smooth muzzle against her cheek and took flight heading west of the sanctuary.
Apenimon lead them down a dusty trail and all around them both American and native men and women were busily working some fixing fences others were herding cows and other livestock that fed the dragons into pens. Kevin then spotted a team of horses pulling a wagon filled with hay and in the hay he caught the glimpse of dragon eggs freshly laid and collected. Apenimon saw his gaze "The dragons are producing a lot of eggs this year it is because it is so warm. It's gotten to the point where we can't find all the eggs in time, most of the dragons give use the eggs but others mostly those that are feral hide them from us it's some sort of game they like to play.'' He said and stopped near a large lake side where a large group of dragons of different breeds were frolicking in the water splashing about like hatchlings.
"Dragons here are well kept and are good teachers to the young.'' Apenimon said Kevin nodded his head and smiled as the dragons played. "My people are a proud group and have worked with dragons for generations.'' He said proudly and then added "But we still have much to learn from them.'' And Kevin could only agree to that and Apenimon lead them onward.
When they finally arrived at the main station of the sanctuary they had seen many dragons snoozing and lazing about and some training youngsters who went feral. Apenimon lead them to a large cottage built building, "This is where the Chief Alo is he runs the sanctuary he will see you now.'' And he quickly nodded to them and went on his way, Emily who had remained quite the whole time said finally "Well go on its hot out here.'' She said wiping some sweat of her head with her bandana around her neck, heat had increased of the course of the afternoon and already Kevin and Emily had stripped themselves of the riding jackets and walked into the building.
Chief Alo was there at a desk petting a large black dog that barked at them furiously, "Hush Chogan.'' He ordered sternly and the dog went quit and laid back down his eyes still focused on them, Alo got up and scratched his bold head " Sorry , Chogan doesn't like strangers.'' And he shook Kevin and Emily's hand and offered them a seat. "Would you like some water its cold and will refresh you.'' He passed them both a cup of cold water which helped cool them down.
"I'm glad to see you again Emily. How is Charlie fairing I'd love to see him.'' He said happily and Emily smiled "He's fine Alo his eating everything in sight but is still curious as ever despite his clumsiness.'' And they both laughed sharing in the private joke; Kevin had forgotten that Emily had been here before for Charlie's hatching which got him back to the errand at hand. "Sir not to seem rude but may we discuss the egg I was assigned to please.'' In a little impassionate tone which Alo had caught and chuckled to himself humorously "Yes, yes I understand your urgency as are we to see the egg in safe hands. Admiral Omar has sent me an email of your record and it is quite impressive I must say you've down quite a lot.'' He scratched his head and whistled for Chogan who welcomed the ear scratched offered him.
"The egg you've been assigned to is one of the Chinese eggs we traded with a few months ago I'm sure your aware of the trade.'' He said filling his cup again with water offering the same to Emily who gladly excepted after draining hers. Kevin nodded, he knew of the trade the United States Corps had finally after months of debate had finally talked the Chinese into trading some of their eggs with there's of course they wouldn't let them have any of their Imperials or Celestials which they understood was out of the question.
But agreed to send some of their fighting breeds to start the trade they agreed to three eggs each to test if the dragons would fair there before they sent out, more precious breeds and in return the U.S.A corps sent two of the Native American tribes eggs off as well as one of there's a n Ironwing egg he recalled.
"Well the three eggs have been put in our care since it's so warm here and we've had such a good success rate at dragons going into harness here.'' He said a little smuggle "And one of the eggs has already hatched a beautiful creature I must say. But getting to the point your egg is one of the remaining two eggs one of them is close to hatching now the other might still have a few months to go but yours I'd say a week perhaps.'' And he stood up Chogan rising as well "If you would follow me I'll take you to the nursery side of the sanctuary.'' And he stepped out into the baking sun his hat on his head and he went towards a white golf cart nearby Chogan took his usually seat in front while Kevin and Emily took the backseats.
Pulling out the park space they sped down the road causing a cloud of dusty in their wake, during the whole trip Aloe pointed out different things about the sanctuary from the large pools where the dragons drank and bathed to the other types of wildlife that shared this land with them. Emily looked quite bored with it all and stifled a yawn which he was thankful Alo didn't notice or wasn't paying attention too. Chogan then started to bark when a flock of dragons of different sizes but the same coloring flew from above. Kevin looked at them inquisitively they were a black dragon that bleed into a lighter blue coloring, the wings of the beast were pitch black except for the splashes of blue in the center of the wing they looked like a middle weight breed.
"Those are Katahdin-Ma'heen gun. Which means great mountain wolf in the Penobscot language.'' He said stopping the cart to look as the beast flew onward. He smiled and pushed the cart forward following a swirling road further and further into the grounds.
The nursery of the sanctuary was a rather large collection of clearings with large barns scattered around the barns were steaming with heat, Kevin could clearly see from the steam clouds that spewed out from the chimneys of the barns. Workers mostly women were here tending to the eggs as well as the hatchlings that went feral who were constantly under guard and watch by older dragons who surrounded the area very protectively.
Aloe parked the cart and leaped out Chogan staying close to his heels as he lead them on a tour of the grounds, " The eggs are kept in the barns which are always monitored by the women.'' He said waving at a few of the women who were shuffling out bales of hay into the barn. " The eggs are then moved into special stalls when they are close to hardening, we then begin teaching them English as well as other languages so they can be more rounded as well as give them something to do.'' he said leading them into one of the barns smaller than the others.
Sliding the barn door open a cloud of steam slipped out and covered them in sweat in seconds " Hurry inside we like to keep the doors closed.'' He said urging them inside, the heat was over bearing and Kevin felt really unconvertible, his cousin wasn't faring much better her hair already damp from being inside for only a few minutes.
Aloe didn't seem as effect though his dog was panting heavily but otherwise didn't seem to mind either, the women who were inside tending to the heating stoves that kept the barn so warm didn't seem effect either and kept busily at their work shuffling out hay and keeping to the stoves. Some were talking happily to the eggs wrapped in warm silk and cotton to keep the heat in; the eggs were in small niches in three sets of rows the larger eggs on the bottom. The women were most careful to, two eggs in particular who were housed in a small stall heavily wrapped in silk and cotton and hay in a sort of nest shape.
A dragon's breed could be determined by the color of the shell, these two were quite different in color and nothing like Kevin had seen before. One was white with a bluish-grey coloring the egg looked of fine porcelain and indeed without a doubt a Chinese breed. The other was larger and had the same porcelain look but had a reddish tint to it with a hint of gold as well, it was darker in coloring a clear sign that it would hatch soon. Aloe stepped closer to the egg an smiled at the women who was reading a few parts of English from a book to the eggs, she smiled at them all and looked back at the egg as Aloe rubbed his hand against it, Chogan gave the eggs a sniff but then snorted and went to one of the women who gave him a playful pat.
Aloe patted the egg " This my friend is a Sháo-Lung in English it is Scarlet Flower, the best of their fighting dragon breeds they love to fight and that is good but they need a good hand to manage them.'' Then he pointed to Kevin who looked at him wide eyed " This is your charge now we will move the egg tonight to a solitary stall so you may bound to each other.'' He said and the women looked at Kevin her eyes shining "You will take care of little one yes?'' she asked looking back at the egg then at him again. " Yes of course I will.'' He said with pride he would take care of it, he would do all he could for it.
The women seemed pleased with him and closed her book and quickly got the women ready to move the egg. Aloe patted the egg and then lead them back outside, the sun was setting and Emily sighed "Oh dear will be in trouble for this.'' She said putting on her riding jacket she was supposed to be out on her training route hours ago but had fallen behind on the time, " Who knows where that silly Charlie has gone off to by know.'' and she zipped up her jacket.
Luckily for her Charlie was back at the main station eating a sheep greedily two other Winchesters were with him large then him in size. Emily ran to him as he finished his meal and greeted the two Winchester happily these were Charlie's parents. His dam Aiyana was taller than her mate Honovi who was more bulker and had a muscular build to him, they were quiet happy to see Emily who was answering all there questions about Charlie showing they still carried about his health unlike dragons who normal didn't show parental bounding since a dragon was born ready to defend itself .
Emily answered all their question as best she could before finally saying "I'm sorry to say we must be off were far late on our training route and will be in grave trouble if were even later.'' She said and bowed and looked at Charlie who was finishing his meal and licking his chops, " If your quit done stuffing yourself you'd better clean up and hurry were way late.'' Charlie started licking his talons clean like a cat and then belched loudly the smell of dead sheep making them all cough well the humans anyway. Aiyana and Honovi chuckled at their hatchlings manners "You will have to learn manors soon.'' Aiyana said and nudged Charlie affectionately and rumbled "Off you go then don't keep your captain waiting.'' And she backed away so he could take flight.
Emily shook Kevin's hand "When I see you next time you'll be a captain.'' She said with pride looking at her dragon who was sitting on his haunches waiting patiently then said "You tell me to hurry up, but you're taking longer than I. So obviously were not so late as you say if you can chatter on and on.'' He said in a good point and Emily snorted "Alright you smart aleck.'' She said and said her goodbyes to Aloe and the dragons and climbed onto his back. And with a final wave they took off and vanished into the fading light.