will strengthen the mind and the will.”
“But, what is the injury?” Fracco wondered.
Before the Healer could answer, the young dragon stretched and awakened. The memory of the incidental bond came flooding back to him and he reared back his head and bellowed.
* * *
The dragon’s roar rocked the cliff side, sending birds flying and small rodents scurrying for cover. Fracco and Blessa rushed to their child’s side, the Healer only a pace behind them. They found the young dragon wild-eyed and disoriented. The three adults reached out to him telepathically, attempting to soothe him and calm his distress.
Finally their efforts had effect. The youngster’s breathing slowed to a normal pace and his eyes regained their normal orange hue. Still, his heart beat too fast. Something was still amiss. What, they wondered, could so frighten a dragon?
“I don’t know how it happened.” The dragon cried.
“How what happened, child?” His mother asked.
“The bond! A human has bonded with me!” Panic was in is voice.
The Healer spoke, “Relax young one, and tell us what you remember.”
“Where to start?” he thought, aloud.
“The beginning is always a good place,” replied Fracco, “start there.”
He’d been hunting herd beasts on the plains when he felt a sudden pain in his belly. At first he thought maybe he’d eaten too much or too quickly, but then another burst of pain slightly to the side of the first struck him. Arrows had pierced his underbelly. Such a thing was almost unheard of. Few humans had the strength to launch an arrow with sufficient force to penetrate a dragon’s armored scales.
Instinctively he inhaled deeply, inflating his stomach and forcing the arrows out of his body. But the damage was done, and his blood flowed. Immediately he set out for home and safety. Scales fell as struggled to reach his cave. And, of course, his blood fell to the earth. A storm hit him, but the rain actually helped, as he drank of it even as he flew raggedly homeward. At some point he felt something. Some weak connection being made. But when he barely made it home he fell to sleep, forgetting about the strange sensation until just now, when he woke up.
“I feel better now. But still, it is strange to feel a part of something so foreign.” He looked to his elders. “What should I do?”
Tallon got out of bed and tested his legs. At first he thought he’d be weak. After all, the doctor had been rushed to his side to see why he could not be awakened. However, now he felt wonderful! Never better, in fact. He decided to get dressed and help his father with the chores after all. As he passed the mirror in his room he glanced at his reflection and stopped cold. Before him stood a lad of imposing build. No longer were his arms mere sticks, but rather muscularly corded limbs. His chest was bigger, and his legs were stronger looking, too.
“What has happened to me?” He asked himself.
“Whatever it is, it ain’t natural.” The doctor had reentered the room.
“Do you know what’s happening to me, Doc Arrek?” Tallon asked.
“Why don’t you tell me what you remember of last night?” He answered. “Then maybe we can figure out what’s going on here.”
Tallon and the doctor joined Cruss and Maryll in the cottage’s small kitchen. As Maryll served heated drinks, Tallon told his story.
He’d been walking home late last night, trying to avoid Cimian and his group of roughnecks when he’d heard a sound like rushing wind. He looked up and something struck him down. He remembered a burning sensation in his mouth and chest. Some goop was on him and he tried to wipe it off on his pants. He did not feel any pain, but when he got home he felt very tired. He had some strange dreams during the night, but could not recall them much, now.
“Well,” the doctor said, “I’ll just take them clothes of yours back to town. Maybe that goop has something t’ do with this. Meanwhile, I’d keep to home if I was
“But, what is the injury?” Fracco wondered.
Before the Healer could answer, the young dragon stretched and awakened. The memory of the incidental bond came flooding back to him and he reared back his head and bellowed.
* * *
The dragon’s roar rocked the cliff side, sending birds flying and small rodents scurrying for cover. Fracco and Blessa rushed to their child’s side, the Healer only a pace behind them. They found the young dragon wild-eyed and disoriented. The three adults reached out to him telepathically, attempting to soothe him and calm his distress.
Finally their efforts had effect. The youngster’s breathing slowed to a normal pace and his eyes regained their normal orange hue. Still, his heart beat too fast. Something was still amiss. What, they wondered, could so frighten a dragon?
“I don’t know how it happened.” The dragon cried.
“How what happened, child?” His mother asked.
“The bond! A human has bonded with me!” Panic was in is voice.
The Healer spoke, “Relax young one, and tell us what you remember.”
“Where to start?” he thought, aloud.
“The beginning is always a good place,” replied Fracco, “start there.”
He’d been hunting herd beasts on the plains when he felt a sudden pain in his belly. At first he thought maybe he’d eaten too much or too quickly, but then another burst of pain slightly to the side of the first struck him. Arrows had pierced his underbelly. Such a thing was almost unheard of. Few humans had the strength to launch an arrow with sufficient force to penetrate a dragon’s armored scales.
Instinctively he inhaled deeply, inflating his stomach and forcing the arrows out of his body. But the damage was done, and his blood flowed. Immediately he set out for home and safety. Scales fell as struggled to reach his cave. And, of course, his blood fell to the earth. A storm hit him, but the rain actually helped, as he drank of it even as he flew raggedly homeward. At some point he felt something. Some weak connection being made. But when he barely made it home he fell to sleep, forgetting about the strange sensation until just now, when he woke up.
“I feel better now. But still, it is strange to feel a part of something so foreign.” He looked to his elders. “What should I do?”
Tallon got out of bed and tested his legs. At first he thought he’d be weak. After all, the doctor had been rushed to his side to see why he could not be awakened. However, now he felt wonderful! Never better, in fact. He decided to get dressed and help his father with the chores after all. As he passed the mirror in his room he glanced at his reflection and stopped cold. Before him stood a lad of imposing build. No longer were his arms mere sticks, but rather muscularly corded limbs. His chest was bigger, and his legs were stronger looking, too.
“What has happened to me?” He asked himself.
“Whatever it is, it ain’t natural.” The doctor had reentered the room.
“Do you know what’s happening to me, Doc Arrek?” Tallon asked.
“Why don’t you tell me what you remember of last night?” He answered. “Then maybe we can figure out what’s going on here.”
Tallon and the doctor joined Cruss and Maryll in the cottage’s small kitchen. As Maryll served heated drinks, Tallon told his story.
He’d been walking home late last night, trying to avoid Cimian and his group of roughnecks when he’d heard a sound like rushing wind. He looked up and something struck him down. He remembered a burning sensation in his mouth and chest. Some goop was on him and he tried to wipe it off on his pants. He did not feel any pain, but when he got home he felt very tired. He had some strange dreams during the night, but could not recall them much, now.
“Well,” the doctor said, “I’ll just take them clothes of yours back to town. Maybe that goop has something t’ do with this. Meanwhile, I’d keep to home if I was