Jolene

Chapter 25 Loki

"First day of winter and it's warmer than it has been in weeks," Elodia said.

"It is a beautiful sunny day with a clear sky, and the ice is melting on the pond," Theodora added.

"In Lakepointe we would have had four inches of snow by now."

"Jody likes snow," Adrianna teased. "Look, there's Loki." The dragon circled and landed near the pond.

"Are Mother Ruth and Mathilda coming too?" Loki asked.

"Yes, here they come with the rest of the coven."

"I see your dragon's are here, and the little dragons? Oh, I see them."

"I just don't know what to do," Jolene whispered.

"You're the Tiger, the queen. I have every confidence in you," Loki said softly.

"That's very kind of you."

"I'm not being kind little one. The little dragons have shared with me everything they have with you. We have a huge obstacle to overcome. The imperial dragons are too angry to reason with. Their ill treatment has so filled them with hate they are extremely dangerous."

"What if we offered them freedom?" Jolene asked.

"They would not know what it is. They have been brutalized since hatching. Even happiness, friendship or love has been denied them."

"Isn't the desire to be loved universal?" Elodia asked.

"Mother Ruth, Mathilda I'm so glad you came," Jolene said. Loki nodded at the new arrivals.

"Yes Odie, even dragons hope for love and cherish freedom," Loki said.

"Are you happy Loki?" Jolene asked.

"Yes, I love to soar high in the air and swim in the ocean. I love being with my little pod of dragons. I really enjoy your visits, especially when you rub my belly and brush and oil my skin. I like talking and your teasing."

"It's the same for us, we love visiting. I love flying with Blue and seeing him react to my care of him."

"You can brush me all you want Jo," Blue whispered.

"Where are you going with this Jody?" Kathleen asked.

"The imperial dragons have never felt any of these things. They've never soared in a clear sky, or swam in the sea. They have never felt the touch of kindness, had their skin brushed."

"We know that," Elodia said.

"Unless they can feel these things, experience them even if only vicariously we will never reach them. I see it clearly now."

"What do you mean," Mother Ruth whispered.

"The Wyvern are our answer, Shep, Pixie, Dixie, come here." The little dragons flew to her and settled on her shoulders and arm. "We need everyone for this, Loki we need you and your pod too."

"I'm listening."

"The Wyvern have a special gift. They can enter your thoughts, feel your feelings."

"Isn't that how you discovered the anguish of the imperial dragons?"

"Yes." Jolene turned to Shep, "Could you send our thoughts and feelings to the other dragons?"

Shep looked at the other two Wyvern and spoke to Jolene's mind, "Yes."

"They can Shep said, so this is how we will proceed. Each day the Wyvern will visit three of us, Loki, you and your dragons, our dragons and all of us, current and past dragon riders."

"What will we do?" Elodia asked.

"Remember, precious moments together, flying free in the sky alone or with a friend, the joy of witnessing a hatching, brushing and oiling or being brushed and oiled, use your imagination."

"Jody, my precious dragon passed years ago," Mathilda said her eyes tearing.

"Remember the joys and the sorrow, sorrow is born out of love. The Wyvern will share these with the captive dragons."

"I can do that Loki replied."

"If those other dragons can feel and hope there is more to life then pain and suffering we can turn them."

"What you are offering then is hope," Blue whispered.

"Hope and faith is all we really have," Jolene said firmly, "All else fades with time."