The next few days were spent learning as well as studying magic/ In that span I also met two other dragon clans that lived on Tarkir. Atarka and Kuligan. They had gotten wind of me, and wanted to see for themselves. Atarka was a dragon that only really cared about hunting, and eating but she also had a desire to hear me sing which I agreed to do with Ugins blessing. As for Kuligan She only spoke with lightning, and thunder which scared me a bit, but Ugin kept me safe, and calm. Ugin said that the clan wanted to take me hostage to sing for their leader, but he of course did not let that happen, and even Kuligan had enough sense to know that she could not beat Ugin. so she let it go. They both also left me scales as gifts or more bribes, but Ugin said that I was okay to keep them since they left them with us. I fashioned them into a necklace along with Ugins gift so that I had them all with me. Ugin was pleased by my acceptance of dragon magic as well as his own, though he liked the fact that I kept his tear gem in the middle of the pendant.

One morning A representative from the dragon Silimgars clan came asking us to come or more specifically me. They wanted me to sing for his master. Ugin told them that he had no intention of letting me go alone, and I would not anyway. The clansmen frowned but said nothing. Ugin, and I then headed to the lair of the Silumgar clan also known as the swamps.

This place honestly gave me the creeps. Even though it was a bright sunny day it seemed so dark in the swamps. I stayed as close to Ugin as I possibly could. Ugin did not seem that pleased either considering the fact that the trees were so close together that he could not fly, and his feet kept getting stuck in the mud. I was glad that Ugin had his soft blue glow. Because the blue light was at least soothing in the gloom.

We reached an opulent palace in the gloom. That seemed totally out of place in the darkness. We were led in, and met the black dragon who lay atop a huge pile of gold as well as gems. It seemed rather wasteful, and I said as much to Ugin in his mind, he agreed. "Gold begets nothing," he said.

"I agree," I said.

The black dragon then stood eyeing Ugin, and me.

"I only asked for the girl, not you." Ugin replied, "I will go where she goes. She stays with me."

I nodded in agreement with Ugins words.

"What would it take for you to give her over to me? Name your price."

Ugin glared at Silumgar while I was completely stunned.

The black dragon continued, "I have as much gold and jewels as any dragon could want, and they could be yours for that measly small child. We are both dragons. We need treasure to fill our lairs. We can come to some sort of agreement, right?"

Ugin said nothing, but I could tell that he was angry. Finally he spoke: "You presume much Silumgar to assume that you and I have the same interests. I have no interest in treasure or trading."

"All dragons need treasure."

"Perhaps, but treasure does not always mean gold, and jewels."

"Then what do you consider your treasure Ugin?" Silumgar asked.

"Knowledge, Ugin replied, "and Serenity," he added, looking at me gently Stroking my face with a forefinger. Silumgar snorted: "knowledge is not required only money and power, and I have power as well as money. If you do not hand over the girl willingly then I will take her by force."

With those words some clanspeople began to aim weapons at us.

Ugin spoke into my head. "Please stay close to me."

I nodded as the guards approached closer. Silumgar also stood baring his teeth at Ugin.

"You cannot take us all on Ugin, and keep her safe at the same time."

With that the black dragon spat acid breath at us.

Ugin flapped his wings using his aura to disperse the fumes. I covered my mouth and eyes just in case. Silumgar spat again, this time Ugin summoned forth his ghost fire, and again used it to dissipate the acid breath.

Now I knew that Ugin was mad. He roared, and summoned forth another blast of ghostfire, and spoke quickly into my head. "Please sing the healing spell with this. I do not want to harm him, but I want to teach him a lesson that he will not soon forget."

I nodded, and began to sing. Silumgar saw the spell, and heard my voice he tried to spit more acid at us, but Ugin released the ghostfire with the healing and the force of it totally disapaited the acid, purifying it, and striking the black dragon.

Silumgar screeched in agony, and fell to the ground rolling as the spell dissipated around him.

"I am burning I am burning burning help me you fools!" the dragon shrieked. I covered up my ears from the noise. The clansmen and other dragons watched their leader have what equated to a meltdown.

Finally, Ugin spoke: "You are fine Silumgar I merely sent you with a healing spell."

After a moment the dragon stopped his flopping, and stood up glaring at Ugin.

"Give her to me," he said as he backed up.

Ugin simply said, "no," and with that, he took off, and began to return home to the lair. As we flew in the distance we heard the dragon shrieking, "bring back my treasure!"

Once we were out of the swamp Ugin took a deep breath of fresh clean air as did I. Ugin looked at me, "I am so sorry that happened."

"It's alright, Ugin."

"I had no idea that he was going to do that."

I shook my head. "I don't really understand why dragons put so much value in gold, well for that matter humans do the same thing."

"True, and very observant Sera."

After a moment of silence Ugin then spoke again. "I hope that you realize that when I called you a treasure how I meant it."

"What do you mean Ugin?"

"I do not consider you a possession, you are not something that I own, but I do treasure you because you make me happy, and I care for you."

"Ugin, I knew that," I said smiling.

We flew the rest of the way home in a happy silence.

When we got back to the lair. Ugin landed, and we went inside. Clouds were starting to form outside signaling that a storm was coming. Ugin sent the sion for some food while we got settled.

I asked, "Ugin, why do dragons like treasure so much?"

"Well mostly because our kind is covetous, owning things like wealth, power, and clout are very important to a dragon's status."

"But you are not like that."

Ugin looked thoughtful. "No not in the same way, but I do value knowledge, but that is something that is not to be hoarded, it is something to be shared. If you keep that to yourself then it is lost to history."

I nodded. "I am glad that you share your knowledge because I love learning, and just spending time with you learning it."

Ugin smiled. "I am glad that you feel that way," Ugin said.

A Few moments later the scion arrived with some food. Tonight's dinner was going to be berries, and some nuts as well as an edible grass that was very very salty, but when mixed with the nuts was quite good. I ate as rain started to pour outside. Thunder crashed, and I jumped a bit.

"Why are you afraid of thunder?" Ugin asked me.

"Being alone in a dark room in a world where it had a lot of storms outside, and a master that liked to use it against you… I guess that it still scares me, though I do think that it is getting better," I said hopefully.

Ugin nodded. "I shall do as much as I can to help you, and comfort you."

With that, Ugin settled down in his favorite spot to rest, and lifted me up on his chest, laying me on my favorite place against his chest right on his heart. The sound of his heartbeat lured me into a calm state. Even when the thunder crashed I merely shifted a bit. Just enjoying the sound of his heartbeat, and the steady rhythm of his breathing. Ugin sighed his chest rising, and falling in a rhythm which I snuggled into. The next blast of thunder sounded so close it shook the lair. This time Ugin lay his hand over me to give me a bit more comfort, and I snuggled closer to him.

"It's alright, my little one," Ugin whispered. I snuggled against him again, and slowly I began to fall asleep despite the storm raging outside.

I was glad that she had fallen asleep despite the storm. I was sure that seeing me have to fight Silumgar had perhaps upset her just a bit, but it had not affected our bond. I was glad that I had taught the black dragon a lesson without hurting him in any way, and that was thanks to Serenity. Serenity shivered in her sleep as another rumble of thunder came from outside. I pressed my hand over her blocking out a bit of the noise, and whispered gently: "it's alright little one. I am here."

Her response was to snuggle into my chest. I smiled a little glad that I could help her. Slowly I returned to my meditations. Every once in a while checking on my little one, my treasure.

A couple of days passed by without anything going on. I continued to study my draconic, and was really beginning to get a feel for the language, and was even beginning to use it in some of my magic songs.

One day we saw some people coming into view. Ugin picked me up, holding me in his hand as they came closer. We recognised them to be guards of Silumgar's clan. Ugin warned me that they might be up to something which I agreed that they might, but we did not attack either. Ugin wanted to hear what they had to say.

When they got closer they put their hands up in a sort of surrender, and we let them come closer.

When they got to us they spoke: "Is there any way that we can convince you to change your mind, and give dragonlord Silumgar her?" One asked, pointing to me.

Ugin shook his head slowly, sighing. "No, he said firmly."

"I see, then we will be on our way then, but we offer you this for your trouble."

With that, the man dropped a black scale on the ground, and began to backpedal away, and then they eventually turned, and ran from the direction that they had originally come in.

Ugin shook his head again, "That one will never learn," he said about silumgar. He then picked up the black scale and handed it to me. It might come in handy. It would be wise to accept it as well as the others I nodded, and took ity clipping it to the pendant that I was wearing.

"Well, that was eventful," I said, shaking my head as well.

"Indeed. Let's get back home, and have dinner before anything else happens."

I agreed, and we made our way back home to rest and spend time together.