Forgotten Past

To Begin Again

      I looked over the valley we had settled just a short time ago. Quickly shooting the ground below me with a blast of flame, I roared with all I could. The pesky Emrín boy was following me... again, for the second time this week. Growling when he came to close for comfort, I watched as he shifted. His rose scales were pristine next to my muddy ones. He was so relentless with his courting. Flinging myself at him in a rage, I drew a long scratch of blood on his long neck. Roaring one last time, I turned on my heel, letting my whip thin tail smack him in the face, I leaped into the air toward my home.

      My brother opened the for for me as I walked in to where the pool lay in the ground; and noticing him pale skin, I made a note to ask him if he was alright later. Slinking in, I let the water clean my scales. Humming in pleasure, I noticed that I had my new set of horns coming in. Smiling to myself again,  I mind linked to mum and dad, telling them my exciting news. With the coming of my new set of horns, I would be seen as a adult dragoness in my tribe. In my tribe, once you got your second pair of horns, you were considered an adult. Quickly feeling my parents minds as they told the tribe elders, I cleaned up my scales with oil to make them shine. Banging a nearby rasp, I filed all of my claws to a sharp point. I also did my spikes along my back and down my neck. Shooting some flame out, I got rid of anything between my teeth.

       Feeling someone mind link with me, I let them in and was annoyed when it was Emrín. Shutting him out immediately, I focused on my horns. The pearly white horns were just starting to emerge and in a few short weeks they would be fully grown. And then my ceremony would happen and and.... What would I do? Growling, I came to the realization that I would just be another Shifter, not a Royal, with their 3 pairs of horns. Only a few were ever chosen to become Royals out of the common folks.  It would be a miracle if I was a Royal. Sighing, I went to help with the building efforts again.

~~~

Straining under the effort of carrying the large slabs of slate and granite to where the nursery was being made, I slowly lowered the rock into the corresponding piles. Laying down on the cold stone felt wonderful after working the afternoon away. I would have to clean my scales again, and take a bath. I reeked of sweat and dirt. Looking over to where my best friends, my sisters in arms, Azanna and Kaparia were flying, I envied how well they worked together.

      Azanna and Kaparia were Partners. Azanna had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, unusual for an elf, and Kaparia had aqua scales. She was of the Sefem tribe and had just been recognized as a Dragoness in full a month prior to the journey a year ago. They had saved my brother when he has almost drowned.

      Calling them over, I made plans to meet them during after time tomorrow. Growling playfully, the older dragoness sped off. I tryed to catch up but instead I flew higher to get into the tailwinds above. Most dragons rarely flew that high, they preferred to stay below the clouds. Knowing that I would win, I angled my wings down and dove toward the finish, a large wizened oak with knobby branches. Flaring my wings at the last second, I roared my victory out to the few stars starting to come out. Glancing at Azanna jumping down, I shifted. Laughing in my twinkling laugh, I hugged her.

      "Great race! We'll have to do that again soon! So how has your family fared so far?" I asked Azanna and Kaparia. Walking over to Kaparia I scratched her chin, making her hum pleasantly. Smiling, I looked back over to Azanna when she stated to speak.

      "Thanks, you too. Your getting faster, have you gotten your second set yet? And my siblings are fine. Mother and father are Elders now, so they can relax. How about your family?"

      "I actually just got my second set. They should be grown in a few weeks time. My family is doing fine, though mother's is thinking of adopting one of the hatchlings that were orphaned..."

      "Really? Wow, does she know all the work that entails?" Nodding my head she smiled broadly. "Well looks like someone coming, see you tomorrow right? Link up with me when your able. See you later!" And with that she bounced up onto Kaparia who flung open her some to rise into the air. I shifted and turned around to see Svaelon coming in to land. Sighing I walked over to him.

      "Yes? Do you need something?" I asked irritably, plastering a large smile on my face. I quickly dropped it when I noticed that he was without one.

      "It's your brother... He's caught the sickness..."Looking down at the ground he turned around and lept into the air, with me right on his tail.