The Gardenkeeper's Daughters

Lotus- 11

The next day, a large dragon descends from the sky, knocking a tree out of the way, and lands before us with a loud thump.

If you've never woken up to a large dragon in your face, I wouldn't recommend it. It's loud, terrifying, and probably bad for the native flora. All of us look into its large slit eyes upon waking up and immediately smell its breath, which reeks of fish and decay. It has large yellowish teeth, all pointed, as well as enormous batlike wings that extend all the way past its tail. It's tail is long and slender, like a whip, but with a pointed curve on the end. Around its head are large, ear like pads that form an almost complete ring, which twitch ever so slightly in the wind. It also has large talons and two horns that go upwards before sharply curving out towards its snout. It cuts an intimidating figure, making my heart race in my chest.

"You're the ones she mentioned. Ay, thought I'd never find you. Did you have a nice sleep?" booms the dragon in a voice that would make Obsidians cower.

Gash is cowering behind Natrina, who in turn is on the defensive, but Aislyn strides right up to the dragon and exclaims, "You made it!"
"Heh. There's the little dreamer. I think I remember you from Dimension-" She growls loudly in a slightly higher voice.

Aislyn nods. "That's one of my favorites! Nowhere near as nice as here, though. After the Obsidians are out of the picture, I think I'm going to settle down here! I've already made great friends, and we're off to save the world (you know how it is) but after that, I'm sure we can all find some place and-"

"Wait, wait, wait. You know a dragon?" Natrina asks, "More importantly, you know her from another dimension?"

"She's a dragon. They can travel across worlds at ease." Aislyn says as if this is obvious.

"That's right. As a dimension traveller and protector of the timeline, I can't say that the space-warping Canis are anything but our natural enemies, but somehow, we've managed to work things out. The gold might have helped a little." the dragon adds.

"How much gold?"

"Enough solid gold to fill the clearing up. Never mind how they got all that. Do you whelps want to walk all the way back or are you going to hop on?"

"How are we going to STAY on?" Natrina asks.
"Saddle. Telekinetically tie the knots on it to keep your paws in."

Though I myself am still unsure of all this, and Lotus and Vivian seem to share my sentiment, Gash charges ahead and sits up above, wagging his tail. "Nice view up here!" He says.

Natrina follows him, Vivian follows her, and I follow Vivian. Once we get up there, Natrina ties herself and Gash in while I do my own ties.

"I'm sure Gash could tie himself in." Vivian says.

"No. The mixed genetics kind of... take a toll on my powers. I'm lucky they cancel out. Other mixed species children have it much worse. Some flow over with deadly amounts of energy, unable to reconcile with their own genetics. As for the drop in power, males aren't as magically adept as females to begin with, and as long as I have my family, I'll be fine."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize..."
"It's fine! Anyhow, you're part of my family now. Do you mind backing me up sometimes?"

"Of course I'll back you up." Vivian says, "I'm here for all of you."

Though Natrina is still clearly ticked at Vivian's comment, she tries to let her fur lay low and instead turns to Gash.

"Hey, um... dragon?"

The dragon turns its massive head, shifting us ever so slightly. "Call me Orrael."
"Why are there only four saddles?"

"I'm flying!" Aislyn calls.
"You're what?" Natrina says, "Aislyn, there is no way you can make that distance."