Fireball

Fallen Dragons

In the weeks following Khalid's and Darius' disappearance, the dragon community grew solemn. Dardon's disdain for wizards spread through the dragon population like wildfire. Malvina and Dardon felt that a ceremony for the fallen dragons would bring some closure, and then the community would start to heal and mend the relationship with the wizards.

Malvina consulted with Dardon and they agreed to have the ceremony together.

In a lush clearing in the woods, beside the river, two large circles of stones were built. Pyramids of small trees were piled up inside each circle. Three petrified dragons eggs were laid at the center of each circle. The first represented a new life coming into the world, the second represented a dragon's working life in Terrenox and the third represented the afterlife. One circle for each fallen dragon.

Every dragon from the Isle of Khalinor attended the solemn ceremony. Malvina spoke of Khalid and Dardon spoke of Darius. Then the two dragons each turned toward a circle. They inhaled deeply and breathed flame into the pyramid of trees, setting them ablaze. Everyone gathered around and watched until all that was left was embers. The eggs were gone, leaving only ashes.

In the weeks after the ceremony, the community began to return to normal. Fireball was an exception. He would not leave the cave. He spent his days staring at the entrance to his cave, as if his father might walk in the door at any moment. Meanwhile, Malvina went through the motions of daily life, cooking and cleaning and often crying. Fireball refused to eat or move from his post near the door.

Malvina woke early one morning and gazed across the room. She saw a shell of her little Fireball staring at the entrance to the cave. Her once energetic and vibrant son was wasting away. At that point, she realized she had to do something that would allow both her and Fireball to move forward. Malvina believed a new start might raise her spirits and get her son back. She walked across the room to Fireball, squeezed him tightly, and looked down into his hollow eyes.

"Come on Fireball." She said, with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. "We are leaving."

He looked up at her, puzzled. Her tone was serious, but Fireball wasn't sure what she meant. He hadn't been out of the cave since the ceremony. Perhaps she meant they were leaving for good. Fireball stared up at his mother.

"Are you suggesting we move away from here? What about my father? If he comes back and we are gone, he won't know where we are!"

Malvina looked at her son, and gave him a sorrowful smile, concealing the true pain she felt. She hugged him very tight and sat him down to talk.

"I'm very sorry Fireball, but Daddy isn't ever coming home again, whether we stay or go. It is very hard, but we need to leave. We both need a fresh start. We need to move far away from the wizards. I don't like them, nor do I trust them."