( 5 years later)

"Ok what does this sentence say?"

"'The sun shined through the clouds.'" Drake reads to me.

"Very good. That's exactly right Drake. At this rate you'll have the whole book finished in no time." I smile at him and put the book away.

"Thanks Kalias. Reading is a lot harder than I thought. Thanks for teaching me," Drake hugs me.

"Hey what kind of sister would I be if I didn't take the time to teach my little brother how to read," I groan a bit from his hug and smiles at him.

By now Drake has grown to the size of a Great Dane. He started talking when he was 4 years old. Colt was surprised when he came to visit and Drake ran up to him and said "Colt". He was so proud of him. After speaking lessons, Drake asked me to teach him how to read. We started with children books and now he is starting on chapter books. With his progress, it won't be long before he doesn't need my help anymore.

"Kalias?"

"Yes?"

"You said you're my sister, but are you sure," He asks me.

"What do you mean am I sure? Of course, I'm your sister." I say and look at him in concern, "Why would you ask something like that?"

"Well, we don't look anything alike. I mean, you have fur on your head and I have horns. You have 5 fingers and I have 4. Not to mention my claws are longer and sharper too."

"Drake I want to show you something. Come here, "I say as I lead him to a mirror and have him sit down with me.

"Look at that mirror and tell me what you see."

"I see scales on my face, horns on my head and sharp teeth. I also have wings on my back. And, oh, Kalias how can we be siblings," He cries and looks at me, "We're too different! Look at me!"

He closes his eyes and lowers his head as he turns away from the mirror and me. I sigh and turn him to face the mirror again.

"I am Drake, " I say and cup his chin," And do you know what I see?"

He sniffles and shakes his head when he looks at me.

"I see one, two eyes like mine. And a nose right...there, " I boop him on it. He laughs a bit from that.

"And a chin," I tease and tickle him a bit under there. He laughs and tries to get away, but I caught him and pulled him to me, "And a belly."

"Stop! Stop that tickles," He laughs and tries to roll away from me.

"Ok what else," I laugh as I sit in front of him.

"Two paws," He asks as he lifts his front paws to show me.

"Well in a way, yes," I agree as I touch my hands to his paws.

He looks at how his claws over take my hands before putting them down. I see sadness in his face and wonder if he's starting to wonder What he is. I know I will have to tell him the truth but for now, I need to get him to see that we are siblings. Even if we look different.

"Drake close your eyes. Now what do you feel," I ask him as I put his paw on his chest.

"My heart, " He says as he opens his eyes.

" Ok now here, " I say and put his head to my chest.

"That's your heart," He smiles as he listens to it beating.

"See? They're the same. We may look different on the outside. But in here, " I say as I point to my chest and rest my hand on his, " We're the same. And that's why you're my little brother. I love you so much Drake.

"I love you too." Drake says as he hugs me, " Kalias my sister."

( Time jump to 12 years.)

Drake keeps getting bigger and bigger everyday. By now, he's the size of a horse and has the strength of one too. It seems like only yesterday he was a tiny little hatchling. But now, he's grown up in more ways than one. Take today for example.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Kalias, I swear I will be fine. I never leave this place so I know I'm safe here. Besides, I overheard Friar Peter at the door that the church kitchen was low on apples. And since I don't leave, you have to do it. Sooo...go pick some with Colt. He's back from border patrol isn't he," Drake says as he pushes me towards the stairs to the door with his head.

"Alright Drake, "I say as I start to climb the stair but then turn back, "But are you absolute-"

"Yes, " He growls in annoyance at me, " And I promise I won't go outside. Now go! "

"Alright, alright," I chuckle as I avoid getting hit with his tail, "I'm going. I'll be back later at dinner time. I love you."

He nods to me before going back inside to get a book and lays down in his bed to read it. I head for the kitchen and grab two big basket. As I head for the entrance, I see Colt is talking to Friar Peter and a young boy Mansel.

"Colt," I call out to him and embrace him, "Mmm I have missed you."

"I know and I've thought of your beautiful face everyday I was gone as well," Colt says as he strokes my face and kisses me.

"Good day Friar Peter, Mansel," I greet them after breaking the kiss with Colt. Mansel's eyes widen a bit and then he lowers his eyes.

"G-good day Lady Kalias," He softly says to me.

"Good day Lady Kalias," Friar Peter greets me and turns to Mansel, "You can go about your chores now Mansel."

"Yes sir," He bows his head and does the same to me and Colt, "Good bye Lady Kalias, Sir Colt."

"He's a sweet boy," I say as we watch him leave, "A little shy but polite."

"Yes he is and very kind too. Good to see you out of the dungeon for a change," Friar Peter says to me.

"Yes Drake insisted I get out to go collect apples for you, " I chuckle to him, " He said something about a shortage of them in the kitchen. But I think he just wanted to get rid of me."

"Well he's right about there being a shortage but I think you're also right about him wanting to get rid of you."

"Kalias, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you hover over him like a mother hen," Colt says to me with a wince.

"WHAT?! "

"Well, think about it. He IS a dragon and I've been reading about them in Draco's scrolls. Normally dragons Drake's age would be out of the nest by now and exploring the world, "Colt calmly explains, "Since we can't let him get away from his nest yet, the only way he feels he can get some time to himself is to get his parents away. Namely you and me but mostly you."

"Oh. I see your point my love," I say to him and sighs, "Ok I'll talk him about me not being so smothering anymore. I'll be around him come meal times. Now, would you like to come with me? "

"Of course, I would love to give you a hand. Besides, I've missed spending time with you too," Colt lovingly smiles at me as he takes one basket.

The apple orchard grows not far from the monastery. Late King Bowen and Queen Kara had the orchard planted between the castle and the monastery. And the orchard is so vast and rich, everyone is welcome to it as long as there's enough fruit to reproduce the following year. I look at the delicious red globes hanging from the branches and start picking from the lowest branches. After a while, the weight of the basket starts to hurt my arm. So I set it on the ground to continue picking. I watch Colt put a bunch of apples in his shirt and then puts them in his own basket. I pick 2 apples and set them in the basket, but when I turn back to get some more, I notice something.

"Hey Colt? Did you have some of the apple in my basket as a snack," I ask him.

"No why? "

"I thought I put," I say and scratch my head," Maybe I miscounted. Oh well."

We continue to work and I collect more apples with his help. This time, I see half the apples in my basket are missing and Colt isn't anywhere near my basket. And I thought I hear footsteps retreating from it.

"Hmm," I hum to myself as I look around and then see something. A child's shoe is sticking out of the bushes. I smirk and chuckles to myself.

"Wait a minute, what am I thinking?! Why am I wasting time on this tree when the really juicy apples are on that tree over there," I say out loud and turn to Colt, "Colt?! Colt will you come help me gather the juicy apples on that tree over there?!"

"Uh sure," Colt says and whispers, " Why are you talking so loudly?"

"Because I have a feeling we have company," I whisper as I hear someone coming up behind us, "Now when you go to pick the apples, I'll grab him."

We move to a green apple tree and set the baskets down. I pick 2 of the apples and set them on the top. Then I move around to the other side of the tree as planned. Right as Colt turns his back, I grab a hand reaching into the basket and come face to face with a boy with dirty curly hair. He screams and draws Colt's attention.

"Hey let me go lady," The boy rudely shouts at me as he forms a fist to punch me.

I let go to avoid getting hit. But he twists around and lands on his stomach. Then he tries to kick Colt but Colt grabs his ankle and holds him.

"No fair! Get off me," He shouts at him and tries to get away, "Let me go. I'm sorry! You can have the apples back, just let me go!"

"Easy, easy there lad, "He says as he lets the boy go, "We're not going to hurt you."

"Here now calm down, "I say to him and give him a handkerchief.

"Thanks. Sorry for trying to hit you," He says as he wipes his eyes and blows his nose, "But whenever I ask anyone for help, they take one look at me and yell 'Get away from me you filthy brat!' and sometimes they hit me before I have a chance to say anything."

"I promise we won't hit you lad. What's your name?"

"My name is Geoff. What's yours?"

"Kalias. And this is my husband Colt. When was the last time you ate?"

"3 days ago and that's because I stole a loaf of bread that was cooling on a window sill of some house."

"You stole it? Why? I don't think your parents would be proud of you going around stealing thing," Colt scolds him.

"I don't have any parents. They died of sickness when I was little. I've been on my own ever since, " Geoff sadly says and then scoffs to hide the hurt in his eyes, "But it's no big deal. I can take care of myself just fine."

"You have no kin whatsoever," I ask him and see him shake his head, "Well here Geoff, you can have some of the apples."

"Oh thanks," He says in excitement and starts eating them with gusto.

"Colt. Colt come here," I whisper to him. "Colt we can't just let him go off on his own. Look at him. His clothes are rags and with how skinny he is, they barely are hanging off him. His whole body is covered in filth and so is his hair. From what little I can make out of it, it looks like he has blonde hair."

"Aye. The next person he steals from might not be as forgiving as we are. They might alert the authorities and stick him in the dungeon," Colt agrees with me and turn to Geoff as he finishes off his fourth apple, "Geoff? If you'd like, you could come where we live. It's a place where food and shelter are given to those that ask for it."

"You don't need to feel sorry for me, " He frowns at him and crosses his arms, "I'll be just fine."

"Well alright," I say and give him 4 more apples before going back with Colt to collect more.

"Uh...wait," Geoff calls out to us, "If you guys need the help, I guess I could stay."

"Good and we'll take care of you. We promise, "I smile at him.

He takes my hand and attempts to help carry my basket back. Colt takes it and let him carry as many apples he can in his shirt. Geoff isn't a bad child. He, like me, just needed someone to look out for him and care. Just like Draco did for me.