Fate of Dragons

Chapter Thirty-Four Part II

The sun shone bright in the cloudless sky and reflected off of tiny ripples in the water. From above, Tesa could see the different patterns of ripples where opposing wind currents brushed over it. Orrie and the other dragons climbed these currents and let them carry them over the glittering sea. Once Tesa had satisfied herself that the Yennar-Leian ships had not followed, she settled herself on Orrie's back and let herself enjoy the warmth of the sun on her cheeks.

The dragons did not tire as quickly using the wind to carry them, and they, too, seemed to relax as they glided between the sea and the sky.

For awhile, all Tesa could see was the glittering water and the blue sky on all sides. They'd left the island and Yennar Lei far behind. But it wasn't too long before a speck appeared on the horizon. Then a fe more specks grew alongside it, until finally, a chain of rocky peaks formed ahead. A flutter of excitement rippled through the flock of dragons as they picked up speed.

At first sight, the scattering of rock pillars looked forbidding and in hospitable. Gray rocks towered above the water and only jagged ridges marked their sides. Tesa didn't see what Chiree and her dragon had been so excited about, but at least this would be a safe place to rest before they leapt off in search of their next safe haven. Tesa bit her lip. She didn't know much about the world outside of Arethia. What if these rocks were the last bit of earth in an endless sea? Where would they go then?

A screech cut into her sudden trepidation, and then another. The dragons at the front of the flock dipped and caromed as they approached the looming rock towers, and Tesa realized that the chorus of cries that now went up were cries of joy.

What is it? She asked Orrie. She craned her neck to see ahead, but all she could see was that the stone pillars looked even bigger now, more monstrous and gray and looming than they had seemed a few moments ago.

Orrie had begun to pump his powerful wings harder to shoot ahead of the air currents that had carried him lazily a few moments before.

Home, Orrie said. I think it's home. He put on a burst of speed and climbed higher in the air, pushing toward the largest tower of rock, which now seemed as large as a mountain peak in enval. Large enough to hold a small city, and surrounding farms to support it, if it were more than just a tower of stone.

Then Tesa saw it and she gasped. The first flash of green peeked into her view. Her mouth dropped open as they flew closer and she saw more.

Like the sunrise gradually emerging above the horizon and taking over the whole sky, the green bowl of forest came into Tesa's view over the ridge of the towering rock. This pillar of rock, which looked solid and lifeless on the outside, actually contained a whole world, a whole place.

Lush green forest spilled down the rock walls on the inside, tumbling toward a lake in the middle. Colorful birds flew in and out of the trees, and some small deer-like animals grazed in an open meadow near the lake.

Already the first dragons to arrive had descended into the bowl and now landed on the sandy shores of the lake. Some of the dragons had dipped their snouts into the water, and now one reached his head up and trumpeted.

It's fresh water, Orrie translated to Tesa, though she had guessed herself at the reason for the dragon's joy. Her stomach dropped as Orrie dipped into a dive and sailed down to the earth with the other dragons.

Tesa slid down from Orrie's back and joined the rest of the dragon riders as they gaped about in wonder.

"You were right," Malía said to Chiree. "It does seem like home."

Finally, all of the dragons and riders landed within the green bowl. Afternoon had begun to drift toward evening, and Malía sent a few scouting parties out to assess the forested hills for hidden dangers.