The Dragon Healer of Tone (World of Tone) (25 page)

Setilan was rearranging her living space, which she did at least once a new moon, when the entire palace began to shake violently. She tried to swim to the door, but the water seemed to be vibrating making it impossible for her to move in the direction she wished. Her body seemed to be forced toward the back of the room. All her possessions were floating everywhere. The shaking stopped in a few moments, but to a frightened sea nymph, it seemed like an eternity. As the shaking stopped, she was able to move. She quickly swam out into the corridors that led to the main meeting chamber where her father was. The various wall hangings along the corridor were slowly floating to the floor. She entered the main meeting area where it seemed like half the sea nymphs of the city were collecting. Two of her father’s guards saw Setilan and immediately took up positions on either side of her.

“Take me to my Father,” she said in an imperious tone.

They escorted her through the crowd until they finally reached him.

“Father what’s happening?” she said in a loud voice to make herself heard over the noise.

“It was a ground move. I’m afraid one of the schools collapsed.

Many children are injured,” he said as he reached for her and pulled her in with his strong arms.

“I’m glad you’re all right my little one,” he said as he gave her a great hug.

“Father, how many are hurt?”

“I don’t know yet, but it’s bad. Very bad. We don’t have enough healers.” The school was the only building that actually collapsed, but many were hurt throughout the city by falling things,” he said into her ear in an unbearably sad voice.

“Perhaps I should go get Terra. He is the greatest healer we’ve ever seen.”

“Yes, that would be good. Take the two guards and go see if he will help,” he said still hugging her.

As soon as Setilan could break away from her father and the crowds in the palace, she and the two guards headed directly to the caves that led to Terra and Fienna’s home. As they swam, they could see the damage to the school. All three were drawn to help, but they kept to their task knowing he could do more than anyone. As they approached the cave entrance, she told the guards to wait. They did not wish to let her go, but finally relented. She quickly swam through the caves and into the small lake. When she surfaced, she could see Terra swimming and Fienna sunning herself on the shore. She swam to Terra who was surprised by her as she approached. Instantly, Fienna was aware of her even though she seemed to be sleeping. She still didn’t understand how whatever Terra knew she also knew. The two swam to shore. It was quiet amazing to Setilan that Terra seemed to be able to out swim her.

He had no tail or even webs on his hands and feet, yet his swimming power was better than any sea nymph she had ever seen. As they climbed onto shore, she began telling her story of what had happened.

That many children were hurt and dying. Suddenly, she felt a bit odd, and then it passed. She sat down thinking she over exerted herself.

At that same moment, Terra seemed to be able to picture the entire disaster that Setilan had seen. Fienna also experienced it. She felt as bad as Terra for the pain the children were suffering.

“Shall we go Fienna? I will keep my promise to you if you think we should not,” Terra thought to her.

She could not stand the thought of the children dying and in pain.

“Yes, let us go, but you must promise if you become too tired you will quit.”

“I promise. Shall I offer her a ride with us?”

“Fienna thought for an instance and didn’t see any harm in taking Setilan on her back. “Are you sure she can stay on?”

“I’ll just hold her. It’ll be fine,” Terra thought.

“We’ll come and help. Do you want to ride with us?”

Setilan was surprised by the question, riding on a dragon, in the air!

“I guess it would be faster that way, but there are two guards waiting for me in the sea near the cave entrance.”

“You can send someone for them when we get to the city,” Terra said.

Terra climbed onto Fienna’s back just where her neck came into her shoulders. He then reached down and easily lifted the small Setilan up behind him. He told her to put her arms around his stomach and hold on. Then Fienna’s great wings started to unfold. As she launched herself into the air, Setilan became fearful at first, but Terra put his hand on hers with a reassuring touch. Setilan could feel the connection between the dragon and her man. It was as if they were one being. He had no hold on her body except where his legs were, and they did not move from Fienna’s great neck. Her legs could have never held on even if her life depended upon it. She had never felt so secure though.

Terra’s skin was the softest thing she ever felt but just below were rock-like muscles that seemed to flow from his body right into the body of the dragon. She knew no sea nymph could have muscle like this. As they rose into the sky with Fienna’s great wings moving gracefully through the air, she could see the ground fading away. When they reached a height that she could see the coast and the crevice, it became apparent that she was the only sea nymph that had seen such a sight.

Terra was truly lucky. They flew over the coast and out to sea. When they reached a spot just above her city, Fienna spiraled down and settled into the water. Terra released her, and she dove onto the water.

She looked back and watched as the two began to glow orange. Then Fienna dove under the water. Setilan quickly dove and led the two toward the destroyed school. They settled in an area just next to the building where the sea floor was flat. Setilan swam around the school and started to direct the injured to them. Terra had moved and was being held by Fienna in her great hands. As each injured child was floated to him, he quickly healed the small bodies. It seemed like an eternity before they stopped coming. Terra was becoming a little weak.

When they finally finished, Terra mounted Fienna’s back once more.

Setilan swam up.

“Thank You. You have saved so many that I can’t even count them all.”

“I’m getting tired; I think we will go home now,” Terra said in a weakened voice.

As the two rose off the sea floor and were just above the city, a low and powerful sound rose; it was thousands of voices repeating two words “Thank You.”

They slowly rose to the water’s surface and flew into the air. Fienna could feel how tired he was, but she could not stop him from helping the poor little one’s that were brought to him. Many were in such great pain and needed so much healing even she became horrified by the sight. As they landed in the crevice next to the lake, Fienna made Terra go lie down on the warm sand and rest. She went and got him some of the seed rocks he liked, and he pulled one apart and began chewing on it. Fienna then flew off to one of the local mountains and quickly scooped up a runner and came back to their home. As she spiraled down, she could see Terra had taken off his clothes and was in the lake washing. She landed in front of the cave and pulled a small piece of meat from the runner’s hind leg. She then heated a rock until it glowed red with her fire and threw the meat on the rock. Terra had come from his washing and started to turn the meat while Fienna ate the remaining part of the runner. The two of them then settled on the warm sand with Terra lying against Fienna’s side with her tailed curled around him, and they both fell asleep in the warmth of the setting sun.

One full moon rising later Setilan appeared on the shore of their lake. She walked out of the water up to Fienna who was sunning herself. Terra was in the cave bathing.

“Fienna would you and Terra come to the cove when the sun is at it’s highest in the sky?” she said in a questioning voice.

“I suppose we can. Why?” Fienna said, already telling Terra mentally of Setilan’s visit.

“My father wishes to thank you both for what you did.”

Terra told Fienna that it would be fine if she wished to go, but it was up to her.

“We will come.”

“Don’t you have to ask Terra?” Setilan said.

“He’s already agreed,” Fienna said without seeming to think about it.

Setilan tilted her head with an odd look of surprise and wonder on her face. “I will tell my father,” she said as she walked back into the lake and disappeared under its’ mirror like surface.

Fienna and Terra arrived at the cove and saw only Setilan waiting for them. Fienna gently settled into the soft warm sand where Terra dismounted. Setilan waved to them and then walked to the edge of the water and splashed her hands several times in it. Within a few moments, thousands of heads popped out of the water. So many that no one could count. Then from the water, Setilan’s father emerged with several adults and five children. They all walked to Terra and bowed.

“Fienna, what are they doing?” Terra asked her mentally.

“I don’t know. I think they’re thanking you.”

In a loud voice, the king of all Sea Nymphs said in a very gentle voice.

“We have come here to thank you for what you have done. Without your help so many would have died. We owe you more than you can know. Whatever is ours is yours. You will never want or be friendless as long as a single sea nymph lives. I make this promise to you.”

“I want nothing. I have all I need. I only want your friendship nothing else. You owe me nothing. I enjoyed helping, and I need no reward. I do not feel you owe me anything.”

Terra said with an honesty and humility that could only be answered in one way. The thousands raised their hands and voice in a cheer that reached the heavens of Tone.

After this, the sea nymphs brought food for both Fienna and Terra.

Many more came ashore, and Setilan and Seana sat on ether side of him as they ate. Fienna was right behind him with end of her great tail against his back. All knew whom he belonged to. That sunset after the feast, they both were as full as they ever remember. They fell asleep quickly and deeply.

Chapter 51 - The Prize

(A Prize for One is Another’s Loss.)

352 set of seasons since the coming of the Averons

It was a glorious sun-rising for flying. Glon had been in the upper winds gliding through the thin clouds. He was a large young male out on his own. He had just left his mother’s cave forever, and he and another young male were sharing a cave on the coast. He was free to do whatever he wanted. As he flew over the coast and headed inland, he thought he might do a little hunting. He flew across the valleys where those odd little creatures lived. He could see them scurrying around as his shadow crossed over them. He knew Terra, the healer, was like them, but he seemed different somehow. He couldn’t quite figure out how though. Glon slowly spiraled down and landed on the top of a high mountain. He looked around and saw no running beasts. So he launched himself and flew further inland.

As he glided around a high peak, he saw the tail end of a large flier disappear behind a far mountain. He picked up speed to see what it was, and as he crested the far peak, there it was. It was the largest Averon he had ever seen. It was still far smaller than he was, but it must have been twice the size of any other he had ever come across. It was odd looking though it had two black bands separated by a yellow band around its long neck. He had never seen those markings before. His thoughts then turned to how great a prize it would be. If he killed it he could show it off to the other young males that congregated around the small island just off shore of his cave. He would be known as a great hunter even before he started mating.

Glon started to climb and flew into the sun. He then folded his wings and dove out of the sun directly down on the unsuspecting Averon. He extended his powerful back legs. He hit the Averon with so much force that he could hear its bones crack. Glon quickly closed his talons into the flesh of his prey crushing the life out of the Averon. The dragon unfolded his wings and began to gain height. It was a bit difficult as the Averon weighed more then he expected. Finally, he gained enough altitude to slowly fly home just over the tops of the mountains. As he approached the cave, he saw ten or so of his fellows perched on the island. He decided to land on a flat rock near the water. He slowly spiraled down in a way that all the other dragons could see his kill. All the young males watched as he settled onto the rock. They all flew down to see what he had killed. The questions and comments came all at once. “Where did you kill that? Look how big it is! It’s the biggest Averon I’ve ever seen. Are you going to share, there’s enough for us all.

Look at the odd markings on its neck.” Finally, the others calmed down, and Glon proudly walked around his prize.

“I found it flying in the mountains. It was a hard kill. See how big it is.” The others mumbled in agreement over his statements.

“I’ll share, but I get the first cut.” With that, he grabbed the leg and pulled it off the dead body. Glon then walked to the side to eat his fill.

The others moved in and tore pieces off until the entire Averon was split up among them. For that sunset and many sunsets after, Glon was the talk of the group. He told his story of how he dove onto the Averon and how he had to struggle to kill it. He told of the difficulty of flying the heavy beast home. Each telling of the story became more glorious, and the struggle with the great flier more difficult. Even Glon was beginning to believe the exaggerated version.