Free The Finding by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson Page A

children.”
    Jahrra was shocked to hear such things. Hroombra would never hurt anybody!
    The old dragon sighed and shook his great head, shocking Jahrra back into the present. He’d been listening and watching the children the whole time and he knew there was nothing he could do to make this easier for Jahrra except to leave her and hope her classmates would find a way to put aside their differences.
    “I’d best leave you now Jahrra,” he said quietly for only her to hear. “I fear I’m causing you harm by being here.”
    Jahrra whipped around, terrified at the thought of Hroombra leaving her alone with this horrible group.
    “Master Hroombra! Don’t leave!” she pleaded, running frantically after him.
    Hroombra stopped and turned around to speak to her, “Jahrra, I can’t explain why those children say what they say but you must stay and learn to be patient with them. You’ll be alright. You have Gieaun and Scede. Try not to let the others get you down, just focus on your lessons and know that your family awaits you back at home.”
    Hroombra gave Jahrra one last encouraging grin then turned to leave. Jahrra watched him go, fresh tears beginning in her eyes. The twin brother and sister took another besmirching look at Jahrra and then the girl glanced at Gieaun and Scede and said, “You know, you still have a chance to be our friends. But you can’t talk to her anymore.”
    The girl finished her speech with a jerk of her head in Jahrra’s direction. Jahrra hadn’t even heard what the girl had said; she was still trying hard not to cry. Gieaun just crossed her arms and stuck her chin in the air, a gesture that contained more gall than Jahrra had seen from the timid girl all day.
    “We don’t want to be your friends,” was Gieaun’s reply. “We like Jahrra and Master Hroombra.”
    The awful girl just glowered and said, “Fine, you can’t be part of our club then.”
    The other children seemed too reluctant to defy this girl so they just stood there, looking between her and Jahrra. A malicious glare from the mean girl quickly made up their minds and they all stayed right where they were, except for the older children who tapered off on their own, eager to talk about the huge dragon who’d brought three first year students to school.
    Gieaun and Scede walked over to Jahrra and put their arms around her shoulders.
    “Don’t listen to them,” Gieaun murmured encouragingly. “We’ve met them before in town. Their names are Ellysian and Eydeth. They’re twins and their father is richer than anyone else in Oescienne. They think they’re better than everyone else so they’ll treat you badly. Just ignore them.”
    What Gieaun said comforted Jahrra and even though Scede still wasn’t talking, his comforting gesture was nice just the same.
    The small group of the youngest children waited a while longer for their teacher, on separate ends of the schoolyard of course. Jahrra, Gieaun and Scede found a large granite boulder resting against the side of the hill with a great sprawling oak wedged between. While the three new friends sat waiting for their instructor they quietly endured the unkind comments drifting across the meadow to their side of the schoolhouse.
    As Jahrra listened, the tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally spilled over.
    “A dragon!” the girl called Ellysian exclaimed, managing to sound amused and shocked at the same time. “And did you see her uniform? How horrible! I bet it is made of old potato sacks that her mother dyed blue!”
    Gieaun hugged her new friend tightly when she saw the look of hurt and confusion on Jahrra’s face. “Oh, don’t listen to her! She screamed the first time she saw me and Scede. She was frightened by our dark hair!”
    Jahrra looked at the two siblings, eyes wide with surprise. Gieaun closed her eyes and nodded somberly.
    “She had no idea that anyone could have black hair, and when my mother walked by her and her mother I could hear her