The Dragon's Nest

Chapter Three

Few years had passed since Mina had joined the clan. She got used to eating raw meat and trained, more like played, with Tanima, Monosia, and Theran everyday. Nazumi taught her the basics of medcine and Cocona taught her how to hunt silently. She had grown finely, her personality did not alter. Her appearance did however. Her hair had gotten cut down to the slight shave with hair in the middle. It had grown a dark brown dusted with black. It was challenging to say that she was only fourteen as she looked. She looked so much like her father but acted so much like her mother. It pleased both Monosia and Theran.
Mina and Tanima were wrestling in the dirt like they had done as kids. They did it on a daily basis to train to reach their goals. Monosia and Cocona went for another hunt and to finally pick up Kurenai and Toma. They had stayed a few more years to serve under the Fire Summoner. It was a good deal that if they served under him, they could hunt in different reigons. After the shortage in High Falls Valley, it was an offer they couldn't pass up. Today was the day that they would return from they're voyage.
Nazumi emerged from the cave, holding Bayleaf and Thundergrass in her mouth as she came up beside Theran. Putting the herbs down, she looked at him. "They have been training an awful lot these last few years." She sorted the herbs as she laid down. It was almost time to quiz Mina on her herb knowledge so she had to sort them. Theran watched her. "Yes, of course they have, they are Fire Gaurdian dragons after all!" He chuckled softly. They had all considered Mina a dragon shortly after she arrived.
"So, has Monosia chosen a name for the child yet?"
"No, she said that Kurenai has a name for the child."
"Kurenai? Why does she have the name?"
"The Fire Summoner was notifed of Mina's presence in our clan, so he was the one to name her."
"Is that so?" Nazumi said as she sorted the last of the herbs. It had bewildered her that the Fire Summoner had even bothered to name the child. She wondered why but decided against asking. Mina came over to them, dust on her clothes and hair. Monosia had gotten Mina clothes over the years because she grew out of her old ones. Nazumi huffed a little at her dusted hair and smiled. Mina grinned and bent over, shaking the dust out of her hair and off her shirt a little.
After that, Nazumi took her into the cave to quiz her and educate her afterwards. Tanima hopped up onto the rock that lead out of the mouth of the cave. "How was your little sparr?" Theran asked, amused as she groomed herself of dust. "It went great! We're training ourselves to learn new moves!" Tanima shook slightly and grinned at Theran. Her childish nature hadn't gone but her shyness had. She was as bloomed as a flower in the spring.
Theran chuckled and looked out at the pasture surrounding the cave. There was a beautiful forest surrounding the pasture, keeping the dragons in their spot except for hunts. Mina loved to go on hunts because it meant going outside the forest walls and seeing different creatures beyond what the grasses held. Tanima enjoyed both hunting and staying inside the walls because of the safety it gave the dragons. Humans today do not know of their exsistence since the dragons were forced into hiding. A magic mist-like form gaurded their eyes from seeing them.
Theran looked to the western bank of the pasture, where Monosia arrived with Cocona, Toma, and Kurenai from the wood. Kurenai was a bright green dragon with goldish wings. She looked like the common dragon humans would draw but was considered a fallenwood dragon. Toma was in tow behind her, a hennin dragon that was dark tan with red wings. A group of three dragons emerged behind them, all with snakish body's, much like the common chinese dragon. These were snake faes, commonly known in Timberland Falls and the Ashfall Waste. The two males had light gray bodies with white wings. The female had a white body with yellowish wings.
Theran got up. "Welcome home, glad to see you survived." He said to Toma and Kurenai. Kurenai gave a slight chuckle. "Just barely, but we did." Theran smiled. "And who might the young snake fae be?" He asked, looking at the three siblings behind them. "These are Ciara's children. The two twins are Jayca and Zayca, you can tell them apart by their eyes. Zayca has blue and Jayca has green." The two brothers bowed, a grin plastered on their faces. "Pleased to meet you, Alpha Theran!" They said in sync. Theran smiled. "No need to be so formal, it's just Theran." The two nodded.
Theran looked at the female, who had a serious look on her face, as if displeased by something on the trip back. "This is Opimasa." Kurenai introduced, smiling to the young female. "Pleased to meet you." She said and bowed. Theran tilted his head. "Why so serious Opimasa?" He asked. "First impressions are everything." She replied and sat up. Theran put a paw on her shoulder. "Relax, no need to be so uptight, you don't have to be serious to make a good impression." He made a silly face that made Opimasa break into a grin.
He backed up. "Well, since you are all alive and well, let's take you to see Nazumi, Mina, and Tanima." He said and started. Toma and Kurenai looked at each other in confusion. "Mina? Who is Mina?" Toma asked and flied up next to Theran. "You will see." Theran replied a smiled. Toma had a wide mind, a curious one too. Monosia walked up beside her mate. "Have they been training?" She asked and Theran nodded. "Yes, Mina had to go study her herbs though so she may be a few minutes." He said and sighed.
Theran suddenly looked at Toma. "Wait, I thought you knew of Mina." He said. "I haven't told her yet, we hadn't been able to talk long while we were up there." Kurenai broke in to stop confusion. Theran nodded slightly and turned forward again, walking towards the cave. Upon arriving to the cave, Theran lightly roared to get Nazumi and Mina's attention. Racing out of the mouth, Mina halted to a stop and kept herself from falling off the edge. "Quite excited, aren't you?" Cocona chuckled. Mina nodded. She fixed her hair and stood upright. "Hi! I'm Mina! Who are you guys?" She asked to the new arrivals, at least to her. Toma was busy observing the child, Kurenai smiled. "I am Kurenai, I went off before you got her so I understand that you do not know me. That over there is Toma." She pointed her tail at the hennin dragon. She had a slight glare on her face, as if the child bothered her.
"Nice to meet you!" Mina grinned again. "Aren't you going to introduce the other dragons?" Mina looked at the three snake fae who were observing her as well. They all bounced up, grinning. "We're Jayco and Dayco!" The twins said, again, in sync. Opimasa smiled at Mina. "I'm Opimasa! I'm their sister." She said and looked at the twins. Toma still had not spoken, but her face did come to a soft one. Hennin dragons were known to look into the eyes of organisms and search their past. After searching Mina's, she felt sympathy towards the girl, as she lost her birth parents as well.
"I am so sorry for being rude Mina. I'm Toma." Mina smiled. "I know!" Toma smiled. "Now that everyone knows names, it's time to reveal Mina's new name." Kurenai said bluntly, unaware that it confused Mina. "New name? But I like my name.." She said quietly. Kurenai looked at her. "And that name you may keep, the name we shall call you is different." Mina nodded in understanding. "The Fire Summoner has taken time to think of the perfect name for the dragon child. This name has been revealed to me and only me. I must now pass it on to it's rightful owner. Mina, I welcome you into the Fire Guardian's embrace as Kihomina." Kurenai smiled. Mina grinned happily.