Fireball

Where's My Dad?

"Where is your father?" Malvina asked, her heart racing.

"I don't know." Replied Fireball. "I was hoping he was here. I reached our rendezvous a little late and he wasn't there. I waited until it was dark, but thought I had better get home. I was hoping he had raced me here."

Malvina always worried that working with the wizards could be dangerous, but Khalid had assured her that it was a time of peace and it was very unlikely anyone would get hurt. Fearing the worst, she had to go searching for her beloved, right away. She raced to a nearby cave, with Fireball in tow. It was the home of Dardon, the elder. Dardon's son flew with Khalid and the wizards. Dardon had flown with the wizards, decades ago, but his growing distrust led him to cease his service. Since that day he had avoided wizards. No one knew the reason behind Dardon's distrust. They'd stopped asking years ago.

When Malvina and Fireball arrived at his cave, Dardon wore the same worried expression Malvina had been wearing when Fireball had arrived home. Dardon's son had not returned either. Dardon, Fireball and Malvina set out immediately to search for Khalid and Darius.

The trio covered ground quickly, but not as quick as Fireball usually travelled. It was very dark and the clouds hid the moon, but the heavy rains had stopped. The darkness did not slow the dragons. They saw every bit as well in the night as they did during the day.

As they reached the rendezvous site, Fireball and Malvina weaved in and out of the trees and large bushes surrounding the area, in search of any clue to the disappearance of the dragons. Finding nothing, they moved on.

Dardon took the lead as he knew the area where the dragons met up with the wizards. As they arrived, Malvina knew something was very wrong. There were many wizards scrambling around the area and several massive holes in the ground, but no dragons. It was far from normal, Dardon assured them. Beyond the wizards and the holes, Fireball saw smoke and some flames.

Wanting to head to the fiery area, Fireball began to fly off. Before he got far, Dardon stopped him, cautioning him.

"I think you should wait here, Fireball. I'd better check these fires out, alone."

Malvina grabbed hold of her little Fireball and hugged him tight as Dardon flew off toward the smoke and flames.

Dardon was gone for only a few minutes. He returned, setting down in front of them, bowed low. He said nothing. He didn't have to. Malvina could see it in his expression. She knew her dear Khalid was not coming home. She squeezed little Fireball even tighter.

Looking up at his mother, as the tears fell from her eyes, Fireball felt numb. He didn't understand what was going on. He knew that something was wrong, but where was his dad, he wondered? He had never experienced, nor did he understand death. He had never been witness to it before, in his small community of dragons.

Still confused by the chaos and not understanding where his father was, Fireball flew home with his mother and Dardon. He peppered them with questions, but the two said nothing. They did not know what to say. Even when Fireball asked about Dardon's son, Darius, the old dragon said nothing. Why were neither of these dragons flying home with them, wondered Fireball?