"Why won't you tell me why Father is sending me back to Ishlyn?"  Kenton was as weary of the question as his ward was of travel.
 
     "Because, he felt it might be dangerous for you to stay." He had not been commanded not to tell her.

     "Why dangerous?"

     'That Sarah' he thought 'is it is not good for a child to be so full of questions.'  "Because, the serpent beasts have returned.  And you cannot be trusted NOT to go riding  in the Wood alone." he answered curtly.

     Sarah felt her face flush hotly.  "Dragons?" she rolled her eyes.   "What? Is he afraid one will snatch and gobble me up?"   Kenton's eyes grew hard and cold.

      "They are evil beasts and we shall hunt them down if it takes the last man to do it."

      Sarah was a bit shocked by the bitterness.  "Dragons devouring maidens.  Those are but stories told to frighten children".  Sarah sighed. "I have never heard a true account of such things" Sarah searched Kenton's eyes "Why do you fear them? The true reason?"

      "I do not fear them" Kenton replied with a little too much vehemence.  Sarah, puzzling over his reaction, fell silent and focused her attention on the space between her mount's ears.

      A spine tingling sound shattered the still air suddenly, causing Sarah's horse to rear frantically.  The next several moments seemed to pass in slow motion for her.  While fighting to regain control of her mount without loosing her seat, she watched Kenton reach for his sword.
 
      Crouched on a rock on the other side of Kenton was a very large jet black cat.  Kenton grappled with the reins while trying to fully draw his sword to bare on the cat.  Not quickly enough, however.
 
     Sarah did not realize until later that the scream she heard was her own as she watched the lithe shadow launch itself at Kenton. The man was knocked from his horse and tried in vain to escape the razor sharp claws that ripped through his clothes and into his flesh.

     Sarah watched in horror as blood began to flow freely.  Kenton uttered one garbled scream as the panther sank his teeth deep into the man's throat. She froze as the massive cat lifted it's head and it's eyes met hers.

     The depth she saw within was unfathomable.  How long they stood, eyes locked, she would never remember.  All she knew was at one point she felt as if the cat had decided something.  It released her from it's probing stare long enough for her to kick her horse into motion.

     She rode on and on, tears stinging her face and Kenton's dying sound echoing in her mind.  The horse slowed to a walk long after the sun had set and a full moon rose to light the rocky terrain.  Finally , no amount of urging could make the animal go on.  It stood head hung sweaty sides heaving as Sarah slide off and collapsed into the grass sobbing.

     A sound caused Sara to jump.  She realized that she must have drifted off because the moon no longer hovered in  the heavens.  Her eyes strained in the darkness.  Had the cat decided to follow her?

     Long moments passed.  In the east, the sky began to turn pink, then streaks of orange and yellow appeared.  Sarah's eyes searched for signs of her horse in the half light.   It was full light before her need to find her mount overcame her fear of the lurking panther.  She had not taken three steps when the sound that had awoken her reached her ears again.  It was a pained sound, a cross between a growl
and a moan.

     Sarah turned slowly toward it.  No more then twenty paces from where she had crouched lay a very large serpentine creature.   How had she not seen it before?!

     The sun glinted off it's shiny blue skin giving the same effect light has on a pearl's surface.  It was by far the most beautiful thing Sarah had ever seen.  And it's eyes! Her breath caught in her throat, Wisdom beyond reckoning swam in those depths.

     'Fear not'

     Sarah blinked.  She had heard a deep rich voice , not with her ears but in her mind, clear and comforting.  "I...I am not afraid".

     The dragon seemed to smile.  "How is it I did not see you?" Sarah asked, her voice shaking.  There was something akin to humor in it's voice as it answered, "Some things are not meant to be seen until one is ready to accept them."
 
     The dragon shifted his position and the moaning sound escaped it again.  It was then that Sarah noticed the gaping wounds that etched deeply into it's hide, dried blood crusted over them.  The movement had caused several to begin to flow again.

     Without a thought, Sarah rushed toward it.  "You are hurt!"

     'Yes, gravely....Soon I shall join the others.  That is why i had you guided here..   If you cannot see your power as of yet..then perhaps you will learn the truth about my kind"

     "I wasn't guided here" Sarah felt tears well up in hr eyes again "I was chased.  A monstrous beast....." Sarah stopped as she realized the dragons gaze was fixed on something behind her.

      She turned to look and stumbled back against the soft hide as she caught sight of the night black panther laying on a rock not far away.

      'Yes.  He led you to me'

     "But that thing... It killed..." but the tears did not return...nor the fear.  A feeling entered her as she looked into the eyes of the panther.  A feeling that surprised her; one of recognition.

     'The one he killed is responsible for the wounds that now are killing me slowly'.  Sarah's eyes grew wide.  "Kenton?  Kenton did this to you?"  "He and the ones that hunt with him.' The dragon answered.

      Sarah remembered the hatred she had seen in Kenton's eyes and knew that the dragon spoke the truth.  "But, why?  I do not understand."

      'They fear us.  And, fear drives men to do many things.'

      Sarah took in the beauty and wisdom she saw in the creature before her.  "I find nothing to fear in you.  Why?  Why would they fear you so?"

      The dragon heaved a big sigh.  'The unknown is what they fear.  Because they do not understand they seek to destroy.  The knowledge we were given was meant to be shared with those worthy of carrying it.  Those who would not abuse it.  Those who have the will not to allow the Power of it to be used to control others for their own gain.  It takes someone very special.'  The dragon focuses his eyes on Sarah once more.  'One such as you.'

      Sarah blinked.  "I am not special." she lowered her eyes.  "I am no one, really."  A deep, rich laugh filled her ears.

      'Little one, You have held the power in your heart before and shall, one day, again.  In you , and others, we see the hope in some distant future.  That what has been broken shall be healed.  And once again we shall be free to soar the skies, and to share the wisdom that is ours to give.'  Sarah was filled by the love and understanding that sparkled in the dragon's eyes as he looked at her.  "And, until that time We will insure that our hope is guided and protected."

      It was then Sarah noticed that the panther had moved to stand beside her.  She knew when she looked into his eyes that she have nothing to fear from him.  For a long moment they shared a knowledge of mutual respect and devotion; a shared quest.

      Her attention was diverted when, with a moan the dragon lay his head on the ground beside her.  His breath was ragged and shallow.  "NO! You must not die."  The realization hit her suddenly.  Without thinking, she placed her hands on the gaping wounds that scored his side.

      Tendrils of light spread from her fingers lacing the wounds.  Sarah gasped in wonder at the power she felt well up from the earth beneath her as it filled her body.  Slowly, the gaping wounds closed and the dragon's breathing became more regular.  She collapsed in exhaustion as the energy left her as quickly as it had come.

      'Thank you, Little One' the dragon sighed.  'I see the choice was a wise one.'  Before Sarah could question his meaning, he lifted himself from the ground and launched gracefully into the air.  His last words echoed in her mind.

      'Prepare yourself for the time to come.  We shall never truly be far away.'
 

By Skyye Rainchild