The Dragon's Nest

Chapter One

The flames rose higher and higher. Smoke licked the sky and intoxicated the clouds over the head of Mina Thompson. The house in front of her crumbled. No one was there to experience it with the frightened girl. Dying screams could be heard within, screams of help and pain. Mina didn't understand what was going on, but was crying anyway. "Mommy?? Daddy?? Kip?? Say something!!" She wailed as the screams silenced, only the flames crackling under her call of distress. "Mommy! Daddy! Where are you?! I'm scared!!" She wailed some more. The fire started to die as the rain come on, softly at first before coming down harshly onto the soot covered house.

Mina Thompson was 6 years old when it happened. She never understood the fact of death and learned it the hard way when she found her family's charred bodies. Theran watched the young girl who cried for her mother and father to wake up. Poor girl, losing heard family to something as simple as a house fire. It was so harsh to put on her, but hey, that's life. Theran walked out of the shadows of the woods towards the girl. He rumbled quietly before nuzzing her side. Frightening the shocked little girl, she backed up and cried more.

It wasn't long until Mina realized that the pale gray and forest green fur covered animal was not trying to hurt her. She crawled over to it and petted it. "Pretty.." She mumbled. Petting Theran's mane, she seemed to forget her parent's dead forms. "What's your name?" She coninued to pet the fur. "Names can be discussed later, we need to get you out of the rain." A deep male voice filled Mina's ears as the dragon grumbled. Theran picked her up and set her on his back. She started playing with his mane, giggling and trying to braid it.

The male dragon smiled, walking back into the forest. The rain had let up but it was still raining. He reached his den and went to get the girl off before finding her asleep on his back. He huffed slightly before gently laying down next to his mate before trying to go to sleep. "Who's the human." His mate's feminine voice asked. "Mina Thompson, she lived in the cabin in the wood. It burned down so I brought her here." He said tiredly. "What of her family?" His mate asked. "Dead, they were all killed in the fire." He mumbled lowly. He knew his mate wouldn't handle death well.

Meet Theran and Monosia. These are the Cave Alphas of their small pack. Monosia, a large gray and orange guardian and Theran, a pale gray and forest green coated tundra. These two have been through the falls and hills of life for 200 years. They had always taken in homeless hatchlings but never a human girl. A little human at that. That, to them, was the worst of their problems.

Monosia had tensed. "So, the child of John and Tally? And what of the other one?" Theran sighed. "He is dead as well." The female leader lifted her head to look at the sleeping child. "She'll get cold if she continues to sleep on your back Theran. Set her down between us." Monosia said and shifted so she made a space for the sleeping child. Theran picked her up by the hem of her shirt and set her down against Monosia's belly. Mina curled up against the dragon, bringing her thumb to her mouth.

"We will care for her." The female said.

"How? What food will she eat? Where will she sleep? How are we to train her?"

"She will eat our food, sleep with us, and we will train her."

Theran was taken aback. Had Monosia finally made the decision? He gained a look of concern. "Monosia, are you sure about this? She is only a child!" He said to his mate. "I am sure. It will be easier for her to adapt to our ways of living as a child. She can't live on her own." She looked at him and nuzzled his neck. "She will be one of us." Theran nuzzled Monosia before looked at the child. "So this is the dragon child?" He mumbled, partially to himself. Monosia nuzzled the sleeping girl, who tiredly giggled. "Yes Theran. She is the dragon child." They layed their heads down and waited for slumber to overcome the two.

The next morning, Theran woke to see Mina looking into his eyes. "You never told me your name!" The girl pouted. Had she been talking this whole time as the male dragon slept? "Come on! My name is Mina, what's yours?" She was awefully impatient about knowing his name. Theran seemed to smile. "I am Theran." He said and lifted his head. The two seemed quiet for a few minutes.

"Are you my new daddy?"

Theran looked at the girl in surprise. "Am I your what?" He said confused. He knew what she meant. Monosia seemed to wake up at that exact moment because her chuckles could be heard. This excited the girl and she bounced over to the gaurdian. "Who are you?" She asked and Monosia opened her eyes. "Monosia, why do you feel the need to know child?" Mina giggled. "I was curious! Anyways, Mr. Theran. Are you my new daddy or not?" She said and grinned.

Theran, unsure of how to aswer, looked over to Monosia. "Well, we can't leave you with no one to guard you..." Monosia smiled. "We'll be your parents, Little Mina." Theran looked at her, sending a look of 'Are-you-sure?' Monosia nodded. "You will be our dragon child." Monosia stood.