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Among Dragons

1. An unexpected encounter

The breakfast here in the trekking hotel in the valley of the Adyl-Su is eaten, I look out of the window again. All right, the weather is fine, so I prepare my backpack - I want to hike along the river Schchelda.

The hiking vacation in the Caucasus this year starts really good, right now with warm weather here near the Elbrus. Before I had thrown myself in my trekking clothes yesterday, the first two days we had somewhat inconstant moderate weather, but to acclimatize myself a little, I 'visited' the Mount Elbrus by car and the ski lifts, so it didn't cause any further problems. But just in time for my entry yesterday in the Adyl-Su Valley, the weather was better. Sunshine, but not too warm - this makes the trek fun. Yesterday I hiked up the valley comfortably along the river Adyl-Su to stay in the accommodations here a few days and explore the valleys around. Although the accommodation is basic, but I need only a roof over my head to sleep and the breakfast is plentiful.

Well, and today I want to go into the side valley of the Schchelda that begins right here - this promises to be a beautiful mountain creek.

The flat walking path leads up through the, at first mostly dense forest, partially close the Schchelda along the valley. An hour later on my way, the forest is sometimes a bit lighter and the trail offers beautiful views over the valley. Or I cross small clearings and can hear the creek rushing over the stones, while the birds are chirping and buzzing insects between plants. After about four hours I arrive at a large area on which the Schchelda has spread with its sand and gravel banks, in which the creek flows through. A loose, low growth of small pines and fir trees mixed with shrubs, form islands of vegetation, grow between the gravel banks.

This view and the warm sun invite me to rest here. Yes, I'm a little hungry, it's noon, so I'm with a few quick steps through the tall grass down there and find my way through the more sparsely vegetated gravel fields - wherein I avoid the areas with coarse gravel. In addition to an island vegetation I find an area with a beautiful fine gravel, on which I make myself comfortable and get the sandwiches and energy bars from the backpack.

After two loaves with a kind of salami and a few sips of tea, I lie down and relax to let the sun shine at my belly.

Somewhere there's a rustling in the bushes behind me - an animal? I listen - no, it does not sound like a bear, so I lie quiet, when it noticed me, it will surely disappear quickly, so I do not need to scare it. Well, perhaps a little nap...

Maybe two or three minutes later I hear a faint crunching on the gravel next to me and then a sniff, just to the right, then before me. A warm breath touches my face. Ah yes, another hiker who is comfortable with his dog, which now roams curious around here. I slowly open an eye, while I don't try to move, I do not want to scare the dog. Against the sun, I can hardly see a silhouette.

• No, that's not a dog. A deer or a gazelle - there's gazelles here? No idea, so I just did not inform me about the wildlife here. In any case, the animal is very trusting. I'm slow open both eyes and try to get used to the light. As the gazelle noticed that I look at her, she tilts her head and looks at me from large, pretty green cat eyes.

"Hello," says a child's voice. -

"Hello, this gazelle is with you?" I reply

The gazelle raises it's head and looks around.

"What gazelle?" asks the girl's voice.

• Right, which gazelle... - Now that my eyes have adjusted to the light, I wonder that too: head shape and horns still fit halfway to a gazelle, but the leaf green scales and the bright green cat eyes somehow not right.

"Well, if that's what just look at me interested here, is not a gazelle - what is it?" I ask the girl.

The gazelle suddenly shows me an impressive number of pointed teeth, which does not seem alarming for me, more than she would grin. "Oh," says the girl. "You mean me - I'm a dragon."

Ah, yes - sure - its clear now. A dragon. And he is talking to me.

"Please do not joke with me." I say to the girl.

The gazelle looks at me and shakes his head vigorously.

"No, honestly, I'm a dragon." Replied the girl.

I slowly sit up not to scare anyone. The gazelle take a step back and look at me, as I look around briefly. Nowhere a girl or anyone else to see. I look back to the gazelle. Wait a minute, the girl had said: 'I'm a dragon.' Could that...?

She had watching me interested, but is now sniffing at my rucksack. So now I can watch herself better. Her whole body is covered with fine leaf green scales, the chest scales are much larger, more plate-like and slightly lighter in colour. The almost black, rear-facing horns are quite short, but seem to want to grow. On the nose there are larger, broad scales that run from the nostrils to the forehead and are slightly lighter green. The straight scaly line of her eyebrows gives her glance a bit fierce. But the somehow friendly shimmer in her eyes denies it.

The hind legs are very similar to those of a cat, maybe a jaguar, but the front legs look more like arms with fine five-fingered hands, almost human, but just covered with scales, and equipped with obviously sharp claws.

• Yes, and then the wings, almost like a bat, the arms and hands of the wings also show fine scales, the flight-skin is smooth. In same colour as the body. So if that is not a dragon... But how and where, that would actually be known...

• Fortunately, at least this dragon seems to have a friendly, peaceful way towards humans, not as in some medieval legends. Because, even she is only slightly larger than a deer - okay, there's some long slender tail to add - with her teeth and claws, she could hurt me hard, and I couldn't really fight her.

Meanwhile, she has sat down almost like a cat and looks at me again with her bright green cat eyes - no wrong: dragon eyes. I scratch my head.

"Excuse me please, I have not believed you. But I see now that you're apparently really a dragon, or a dragoness. - You know, at my home there are none, and that some lives here, I was not aware. "

Again, she shows me her impressive rows of teeth, which can hopefully be meant only as a friendly grin.

"I see. - Yes, here are just a very few, but in my home there are more of us. "

Her face gets serious, she lowers her head and digs a little embarrassed with her claws in the gravel. "Um-mm, Sorry..." she looks at me almost like a little dog... "I am a little hungry - and you've got there..." A glance towards the granola bars.

I'm forced to smile.

"Yeah, well, I have more of that, than I need - but the granola bars are probably not the right, the stuff may stick in your teeth. And as far as I know, dragons are also more likely known to eat meat, right? I always have some dried meat, even unseasoned, that's for sure better. "

She nods vigorously. Again, I have to grin and grab my backpack, I have hardly the lid off, her head is already inside and I hear that she sniffs intensive. I let her do now. After a moment she remembers apparently of something, she pulls her head out of the backpack and looks really guiltily at me, again scraping the gravel.

"Oh, please excuse me - that was rude, but it smells in there so interesting... and I'm so curious about you humans... "-

Smiling, I stroke lightly with my index finger over the scales at her nose - that feels the same time hard, but also somehow very soft - she seems to like it.

"It's okay," - I tell her - "we can later unpack my rucksack quickly, then you can see what is in there."

She nods - and acts kind of glad that I'm not angry with her.

The bag with the dried meat I have found quickly and opened it. I take a small piece out of the bag and eat it, in order to show her that everything is okay. She sniffs at my piece of dried meat, then at the bag and fishes with two fingers, or exactly the talons, carefully a piece out. Without hesitation, a piece is bitten. Yes - that's a gazelle with razor-sharp dinosaur teeth - this is definitely a dragon...

"Hmm, that tastes good - may I still..."

So, this dragon knows the 'puppy dog eyes', even with her lovely green dragon eyes, no question.

"Sure, just eat." I reply.

She moves at my right side, nestles against me, places her left hand gently on my right hand, in which I keep the bag - carefully, not to hurt me with the talons. Obviously it is clear to her, that my soft skin would not necessarily speak well on her claws. Surprisingly, her palm is very soft, and it seems to me that she gently strokes over my Hand - I can feel her body heat, it's really enjoyable. She catches little by little more pieces of meat from the bag - clearly more cautious than I would suspect of a dragon, especially since I have the suspicion that she is still quite young. Although that she could swallow the whole pieces of dried meat at once, she always bites off small pieces, I don't know, if she just enjoy the taste, or she don't want to scare me - it obvious that she can not chew with their teeth.

In the time I look at her and think about, where a dragon lives here as well, and why no one knows anything about it. But somehow familiar it seems to me too - I don't get the idea that something here is wrong, or that I should be scared. Does she telepathically control me? And, how do we understand us actually, we are here in Russia and I'm from Germany - and I've subconsciously spoken German with her - I believe... Does a dragon in Russia speaks German?... On the other hand - if she controls me, I would be hardly allowed to think about it...

I push the thought aside and make up my mind just to enjoy our get-together. The closeness which she seem to seek at me and gives me the same. Can I build a real friendship with the little dragon? - We might have one?

A little later she looks in the bag, in which a few pieces remain, and likely will decide against

"No, that's enough, it's dried meat."

Since she is still holding my right hand, I'm looking with the left, for a PET bottle of mineral water from the backpack.

"Do you want a drink of water?"

It does not take long.

"Yes, thank you."

She takes the bottle with her right hand - her left hand holding my still - she pushes it a bit, is apparently reconsidering and then submit it to cross into the mouth uh, maw - between the teeth - raises her head and bites. With a sip of, the discharge water is drunk.

"But Huh, that tickles," she says, surprised and delighted, looks at me and giggles. "Otherwise you think at the end, I am a human..." -

"Oh, did you hear my thoughts?"

She shook her head.

"No, just sense your feelings and then guessed."

Grinning, she returns the now perforated plastic bottle that I store in the backpack again. Meanwhile I realise that she sniffs on my right cheek. I turn my head to her, to see what she wants, but already she licks me across the face.

Puzzled, I look at her.

"Are we already at tongue kiss...?"

She grins briefly, but serious again, looks at me and suddenly spreads her wings with which she holds me, embraces me practically.

"You know, I like the humans, they are interesting, sometimes funny - but I like you especially"

For a moment she holds me, then she lets me, stands up and stretches relish with outstretched wings.

So, with outstretched wings also provides a friendly, small dragoness already a quite impressive look. - But somehow it seems to me her wings a little small to bring her into the air.

If I may ask, I do not want to hurt with a stupid question...

"Uh, please excuse if I now maybe make a stupid question - I also do not want to offend you or anything like that." And I start looking at her wings. "But, uh..."

Noticing my gaze she answers me. "No, I can not really fly yet, just a little slide. My flight arms are too weak now, but that will not be long. And you may ask me that, no problem. "

Now I have to stretch myself, anyway I would have probably soon be on my way back. But there is a little time left, that I would like to spend with my new acquaintance. I go over the gravel banks of the Creek, just to make a few steps. The little dragoness running along beside me, looking and sniffing curiously around the area. We talk about this bush and those pebble, why the creeks and rivers flow, what is this strange white stuff up there on the mountains - she has never seen snow, she says to me, obviously she isquite young - wedabble a little in the water - as being unfair, she is dry immediately as soon as she comes out of the water, while my shirt is pretty wet. The water simply runs off to her. And so we determined to spend more than an hour together. A time that seems to particularly enjoy my little friend.

As a cloud crosses over us, she looks up, begins to jumping around like a little girl and excited shouts:

"Mum is coming!"

I look up immediately, but nothing to see, blue sky, just a few cirrus clouds on the horizon.

Mum? Damn it! To that conclusion I haven't come all the time, although she's just a young dragon - that might also dragons raise their young and care for them. This sweet brat but has proven to me all the time that she is highly intelligent, because that is some training behind - and certainly not in a human school. And whether civilized or wild: never get between a worried mother and her child! This is true for bears, humans - and dragons for sure! And when I think of, as this little dragon could injure me if she wanted to, I do not like to think how a full-grown dragon will treat me. How big her mother may be - twice or three times? I have to get out of here quickly, maybe I will be lucky - but I do not now simply run away, I want it to explain at least to the little one.

She stands next to me, I crouch down, take her head gently in my hands and try to explain to her why I have to leave now, while I try to memorize her, to always remember me, remember her beautiful green eyes. I've always liked green eyes, but this bright green dragon eyes hit me just like a full hit by the world champion in the super heavyweight division.

"My little dragon friend - oh, I've completely forgotten to ask you for your name..." -

"Manvinkona" she says quickly. -

"My name is Ralf. - Manvinkona, I'm very sorry, but I have to go urgently now. "

She looks at me in amazement.

"But mum comes right now..." -

"Yeah, right. And I would also like to meet her. But I'm afraid your mother is not quite to agree that I have here with you so close contact. She has surely seen me here stand straight with you and I am afraid that she is now just very concerned for your safety - and very angry at me because of that. And you probably know better what an angry dragon can do to a human. I'm sure your mother would otherwise probably don't harm me, but but now it's about you, her child. "

The little girl is fighting with herself. But she seems really to understand.

"Yes, I understand. I am glad to have met you and hope to see you again sometime soon. "-

"Yes, I was also very pleased. Maybe it works, that we meet once. "

I don't really have hope for that. I hug her again, give her a quick kiss at her nose and then walk to my backpack to grab my things together. Manvinkona follows, head hanging, with slowly steps from the creek. God, I'm sorry for the little girl. But it's better this way - for me, she will surely recover soon.

I take my backpack, a last waving and I turn to the forest edge. Even before I took two steps I hear behind me a deafening roaring shout that the world has probably never heard before and that freezes the blood in my veins.

This can only have been a dragon! I do not want it, I want to get away - but totally shocked I turn around - I have to! And freeze.

A dragon is just going to land at the brook, with three, four strong wing-strokes - he, no more likely she, is forest green - very similar in shape and colour as my little Manvinkona, but just darker - and bigger. No, wrong, not bigger - Huge!

I lack the comparison, but the upraised wings tower over the trees here very clear. Her head is elongated than that of Manvinkona, not so juvenile, deer-like- more like an Impala, angular, also fit her long horns - the bright emerald green eyes with the typical narrow slit pupil and the typical menacing look of the dragons seems through her anger much more threatening.

This huge dragoness crouches, lowers her head just above the ground, bristling her scales on the nose - she bares in addition to the needle-sharp teeth, four huge fangs and produces another roaring shout, which makes me shiver.

I want to turn around, run away - but I do not move, her roar made me freeze completely. Let me just stare at this huge dragon that just gives me very clearly to understand that I do, if anything, have only seconds left to live.

In the corner of my eye I see that Manvinkona apparently wants to put herself in the way of her mother to stop her - but it get not really in my mind. I only see the fangs, the bright emerald green eyes and the huge Talons coming at me, as the dragoness jumps towards me.

I am trying to make two steps backwards - pointless, I stumble and fall on my back in the gravel, the backpack falls out of my hand. A green mountain is falling down on me, I close my eyes and hear Manvinkona screaming

"Mum, NO!"

Dear little dragoness, I do not regret my encounter with you, even if it was the last experience in my life, just a shame that I can tell you no more. Then an infinite weight drops on me, presses me into the ground, squeezes me the last breath from my lungs.

• Silence.

I guess I was just unconscious, anyway, I wake up feeling out of unconsciousness. Strange - no white light, no colourful pictures, no near-death experience - so I must still be alive.

But it must have been a landslide, an immovable weight lies on me, I can barely breathe, so it pushes me flat - I can move neither arms nor legs, but my right hand is with the palm up, I grope at the rock, as far as I can move the hand.

Odd - I do not feel any hard rock, but a velvety surface. A surface that reminds me of something. I open my eyes. It's not dark, my head lies freely, I look to the right and recognize something, what I have just seen not long ago - I turn my head and look the same on the left.

A large, sharp claw on each side of my head at the end of long fingers, which are covered with dark green scales. It was no dream, it's reality. The hand of a giant dragon, more specifically a female dragon, the mother of my little dragon girlfriend, squeezes me in the ground so that I can hardly breathe.

Now is also the head of the female dragon in my limited field of view. From sky high vantage the two emerald eyes looking at me, still fierce anger in them. Nevertheless her head looks really pretty, so dark green scaled, narrow and elongated, with the long, black horns that protrude from the forehead to the back.

The dentition, which also a T-Rex would certainly fear, is now not to be seen. The scales plates that run up the bridge of the nose from the nostrils to the forehead, are more apparent than that of the small Manvinkona and still bristling in anger. Similarly, the large scales plates that cover the front of the neck and chest, are stronger pronounced - well, the dragon, which pinning me straight, is obviously mature and determined 10 meters - about 33 feet - high. She growls, a rumble that I can feel through her hand up into my body.

Now Manvinkona appears into my field of vision - her face shows a horror that even I recognize clearly. She screams - not as she has previously spoken with me, but a call from her vocal cords, from her mouth.

Desperately she tries to pull her mother's claws, to raise her hand and to free myself. Her mother hissed at her, but she defiantly shouts back and trying further to free me. A hissing again, sharper in tone, Manvinkona shouts back, loud, defiant, I mean almost clear to understand "NO!" The little dragoness stops the attempts to free me up, lies down behind me and takes my face in her hands. She looks at me very sad. I hear her whisper.

"I'm sorry."

Painfully I try to answer, I can only make brief breaths.

"I ... am glad ... that I ... am allowed... get to ... know you."

I'm running out of air. I do not have any pain, but Manvinkonas mother pressed me up so that I could barely get air. She growls at her daughter now threatening. But the girl still resists, she lays her head on against my forehead. The wave of her grief washed me almost away, so clearly I can sense her feelings now.

The heavy deeply growl that her mother now produces, makes her shudder, apparently the very last warning. She slowly lifts her head, looks sadly into my eyes, once again she caresses my face and then she slowly gets up and withdraws.

As soon as she is out of my field of vision, her mother lowers her head and stops with her huge snout right in front of my face. She opens her lips and shows me the pointed, sharp incisors, her fangs are laterally visible.

"What have you done to my daughter?" she roars at me.

The pressure on my body has become even stronger over gasping is not possible for me, I feel like something is moving in me, but feel no more pain and do not feel anything break or crack.

"Just ... friend ... ship."

More imagined than spoken, apparently she understood me anyway, she raises an eyebrow slightly. But the pressure releases a little, again something seems to move in me. Has the dragoness feel that? Somehow I see a tiny little uncertainty in her eyes flare.

"Please ... let me ... not suffer... Do it ... fast ... just because ... Man ... vinkona."

So fast I can't even breathe, so the tiny breaths will suffice.

'Please end it. Briefly the full weight on the hand that is on me and I will be free. '

I try to put these thoughts in my eyes, as I look into her emerald dragon eyes. Probably the last thing I'll ever see. - So please - now...

Suddenly I see doubt in the gaze of the dragoness. She looks at me piercingly, sucks the air in her nostrils. Suddenly she looks up, probably at Manvinkona and I recognize with already slow dwindling senses something like slight desperation in her face - or more in her eyes. She jerks back, raises her hand from my body and shakes her head.

"Oh no - what I've done..."

She raises her head in the air and lets out a sigh.

Air, finally air - at the moment the only thing I can think of. I take deep breaths as deep I'm able to, the stabbing pain in the rib area first ignoring. My senses are quickly recovered - fairly...

As soon as I am free, Manvinkona is again there, lies down next to me, grabs my right hand which I can still move largely painless - what my little dragoness probably feels very precisely - and begins to lick with deeply sad eyes my face as if she take away my pain, or wants to take me in her.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out if I can move without pain - but don't get very far. The right forearm and the hand working, but the shoulder hurts already strong, on the left everything seems to be broken, seems better I move the arm rather not. I can turn the head, but when lifting a severe pain shrugs through the lower neck area. And now I know why I felt no pain: not far underneath the arms, I no longer feel my body. - Oh great...

Anger rises in me - rage against Manvinkonas Mother: Why did she do that? I haven't done anything to her daughter! And Well, if she does already, then why not to the end, short, quick - done! Finish!

• But this little one next to me licking my anger with her tender little tongue quickly away.

"My dear little dragon..." I whisper.

She smiles at me sadly, she probably knows better than me, what about me:

"Please stay with me, Big." She whispers back.

Her mother lies down slowly, almost cautiously half before, half beside me. She lies there looking at us from the side.

With a soft and somewhat sad voice she tells me.

"Ralf - um, Manvinkona told me your name - Ralf, I'm really sorry, I've never really had any intention to harm you severely. I'm here for a visit and my daughter had begged to be allowed to come along.

Because she can not fly yet, I have left her here because here she can deal with herself and hide herself well, if humans come along. Especially, I have enjoined her not to show herself, if humans should come here. - But then you arrived and the secret desire of Manvinkona - to meet a human of this world - came true."

The little girl has now put her head on my chest and adds:

"I thought he was asleep so I wanted to look at him once - and he was also alone..."

At her mother's gaze, she silences.

"Anyway, this rascal here has used the opportunity - and apparently having good fortune to meet a human who could not only handle it, to encounter surprisingly a for him mystical being, but also is still a soul mate in some way, such as I notice.

So I come back and have to see that a human being is along with my daughter. - Please understand me, because the concern and fear comes up in me at the same time and also anger because my daughter did not obey. - But then I made the mistake of transferring these hassles without concerns on you, Ralf, although I could not know if you're guilty.

And so I've decided to scare you severe, grab my daughter and then quickly fly home. But then..." she sighs

"... I do not know what went wrong, perhaps, I lack the familiar force of my world, so that my inner balance is disturbed - and the attempts of Manvinkona to stop me made me more and more angry, because I have you now blamed, you had my daughter somehow under your control.

Anyhow, I still really won't seriously hurt you, just teach a lesson - but I was not paying attention, had my physical strength not properly controlled, not considered your human frailty and you unfortunately very badly injured.

And worse - I will not believe my daughter when she told me that I hurt you so hard and then made it worse. - Only at your request, that I may kill you, I began to understand what I have done... - Sure you do not know what this means for me - a Guardian of the Life Force kills without need... - Out of revenge... "

It sounds desperate.

I'm getting problems to focus on - I'm starting to realize, that rescue for me will probably not arrive in time.

"Thank you, uh..." -

She interrupts me:

"What is wrong with me... I will kill you and conceal my name to you, please excuse. My name is Fjörgyn, Earth Elemental and Great Guardian of the Life Forceof Erce, eorðan módor"-

"Thank you Fjörgyn, I understand your motives and don't know what I would have done in your place. It is, as it is now. - But I think I... um - I mean, maybe you can make it easier for me - also as a guardian... "

Manvinkona startles.

No!! Please, stay! You can not go, Big! "

She begins again to lick my face. -

"Fjörgyn if you do not want to do it, then you both go home, please, I have a phone in the backpack so I call the mountain rescue. Should I still be alive when they arrive, I simply say, a dragon stepped on me. Although they will not believe me. "

I have no idea whether she understands my weak attempt to make a joke.

"I'm sorry Ralf, I'm in a dilemma." Answers Fjörgyn "I would take you on your way, no matter where it leads you, even if your soul in this world then is lost into the void...This, at least, I owe you. "

Manvinkona groans at the last words.

"But my daughter clings to your soul, because she do not want to let you go. I even think that you're just not gone, because she simply let you not go. And if you go now, I'm afraid that I can not stop her to follow you, wherever it leads her. Although she is young and inexperienced, but her power is already awake and very strong. Something intense and great happens between you. "

At first I must sort this, not that easy any more to me, as my thoughts often get lost now, although I actually feel a little better again. Manvinkona now holds my head with both hands.

Somehow I get my right hand up and stroke her again lightly with your index finger on the scale plates on her nose.

"My little, brave dragon. Now please do not be silly. My soul will arrive somewhere, I've always wanted to travel to the stars - but if I had to give me then the accusation, that your soul is lost because of me... - No, let me just go and live in your memory. In your memory I will live so infinite much longer, than any human before or after me. "

I also do not necessarily want to live with this destroyed body, but I would rather not tell her. But she just shakes her head and says urgently.

"Mum - Please."

And holding me further. In fact, I now believe not only feeling her hands on my head, what holding me. Fjörgyn now comes to the thing that they seem to have considered.

"There you see my little stubborn. - There is also another problem: if they find you here, so crushed, with a deadly wound from talons - they will begin to search for tracks. And that would betray my visits here quickly. If I let you alive, you will report our meeting, which could be even more dangerous for me when I come back here."

I raise my hand slightly.

"Sorry, that was a joke I made, I will not betray you."

She tilts her head and looks at me quizzically.

"Why won't you tell the truth, you would have no advantage by it."

I smile weakly.

"Because then you might let me live later, if I survive now?" -

Something like understanding light up in her eyes.

"Ah - yes, that sounds logical. - Though it would be dangerous for me, because you have no logical explanation for your injuries and so eventually it could betray me. So I should actually kill you, but then I can not let your corpse left and I do not eat humans, out of principle. So I would have to dispose you somewhere... - Sorry, that's probably not appropriate to talk about you like this, as long as you're alive. But I would have to hide your body and for that I have no more time, if I do not want to be discovered. "

She gives me now a piercing and serious glance.

"There is but one possibility. It will sound strange to you, and probably represent a departure from your previous life:

We take you out of your world with us to our world.

Our world is not very different. It is also the earth like you humans prefer to say, but it has taken a different development. The life there - the humans too - is connected with the life force of Erce, that equips us guardians with special powers. My son Græðarinn is a healer and he can accomplish things that are not even your doctors are able.

But should that also be not sufficient, then we can lead you there on the way into the life force of Erce, where Manvinkona will find your soul one day - although she should have to search for you the next 10,000 years.

And if you're healed, you may then come back here, come back to your world, but I certainly can not promise you. "

What is now the alternative for me? My thoughts race: Here I die in any case, I'm practically already dead - and perhaps I am then also responsible for the death of Manvinkona. But over there - wherever 'there' is - there I have at least a small chance to live - and who knows, even a chance at life after death - they both are so very confident and if I in this regard can believe to someone, maybe a dragon...

And - at least a friend, a very good friend, I have already: my little dragoness. I stroke her again on the nose.

"My little one, please tell your mother that I go with you."

Two pairs of green eyes looking at me with noticeable relief.

"Then quickly now, I do not know how long Manvinkona you can still hold in your body. In our world, her powers are stronger. "

Fjörgyn stands up and looks around.

"We take your backpack and without a corpse, no one will care on the tracks, they will vanish quickly and no one will notice something of our presence."

And briefly considered:

"Hmm, if you have something private to do, or want to take things with you - so we'll take care of it later, do not worry about it. But now we do not have the time. "

I just nod and try now to concentrate on Manvinkona, because somehow I feel that if I'm doing it, it'll help, so I try to hold me at her.

She noticed it immediately.

"Yeah, good - fight Big, hold you tight to me."

Fjörgyn is right in front of us, has hung my backpack on the talon of her little finger and looks at us from high above.

"Hmm. Ralf, you can not cling yourself at me, also Manvinkona not at the moment - is best, I'll take you in my hand... "

A sudden thought lets her hesitate and embarrassed gaze at her hand - the hand that has crushed my body a few minutes ago.

Slightly nodding - Manvinkona still holding my head in her hands - I agree.

"Yes, that will be best. Why should I be afraid of your hands, while the hands of your daughter holds me. "

Something in the eyes of the big dragoness seemed to say: 'would she have hold you only earlier...'

Manvinkona positioned herself new. Carefully taking care to cause me any pain or additional injury, she climbs over me, that these small, young dragon lady practically lying on my stomach. She raises cautious now my head which she still holds in her hands and lays her forehead against mine.

Her eyes - Dragons are hunters, so they can directly see forward - are now so close to mine, that while I can not focus on this, but sink into them bright green. I focus on this green, on my little dragon friend and notice only indirectly, through the resulting compound with Manvinkonas mind, as Fjörgyn takes my paralysed, crushed body with the body of her daughter on it, carefully in her, to a bowl folded, hands and, erecting herself, protective at the same time raises them to her chest. The wings spreading she jumps with a huge jump of her strong legs up in the air and with heavy blows of the wings wins Fjörgyn altitude quickly.

A small group of hikers who are on their way from the plateau back to the Adyl-Su river through the Schchelda Valley, just near to notice a few sudden gusts that rush through the branches and quickly across the floor flitting shadows, but they do not pay attention.

The wing beats of Fjörgyn quickly gets calm and steady. This and the constant noise of the wind act calming and soporific effect on me -

No! Do not fall asleep! I say to myself - I have to stay awake, to hold me at this bright green lake that fills my eyes. Cling to these gems, precious than anything in this world that are the eyes of my little dragoness.

I'm looking for her, my friend, try to find her with my thoughts, with my soul. And suddenly I have the feeling that I am in warm, velvety-soft hands that hold me. I see myself lying in two small, leaves green scaly hands that have placed around me to protect me from the darkness around us. And understand what my consciousness translates for me. My soul, my self, my life, that is protectively held by Manvinkonas soul and her power. And I try to help her by firmly stick to her hands. I feel confirmation - but I also feel kinda slow smaller and smaller, weaker. Is it too late?

Manvinkona calms me, draws my attention to the front. There I see a gate, round, like a Stargate - I suspect again a parable from my memories. We quickly come closer to the gate, dive in - a strange pulling feeling makes itself felt short. I realize that this feeling is real, not a parable, not only here in our souls. And suddenly it is seamlessly light around us.

A warm, comforting brightness as before - how long? Two hours or three? - As I lay in the sun and Manvinkona first sniffed me curiously. And I feel not only her hands strengthen more, much more - this pleasant warm brightness feels good, infuses new strength to me and makes me more confident. Reluctantly, I let go Manvinkona, feel her consent, let her all go - and suddenly see large green shed plates above the hands where I lie.

Manvinkona sits on my stomach, she has left me, and smiles at me.

"There you are again, Big. Welcome to my home - or almost, a short way had Mum still to fly, before we are there. "-

"So this is your world?"

I tell her about what I had 'seen' and felt in the last few minutes - or was it hours? -

Astonished, she asks:

"That you have seen? I did not know that humans the power of Erce can also experience such as. The other, which I know there, are unfortunately blind for that. "

Fjörgyn goes over to a glide now, we seem to have arrived. After a short time she starts her touch down with sharp blows with her wings. Then she gently lowers her hands and Manvinkona sets off, Fjörgyn keeps me in the palm of her hand.

"You still have to endure a moment. We prepare a quick nest, a kind of bed for you. "She informed me.

I nod - though it does not really matter, even if they would lie down on a bed of nails - I could not feel it yet. Although now I feel good again, and surprisingly strong, but whether the power of this world can also restore my body, I doubt a little. But more important is that Manvinkona is safe - what happens to me, I feel, is currently almost no matter.

I look around me, as far as I can. Fjörgyn sitting there quietly and I'm lying in her open palm. On the one hand I see some mountains, all are free of snow or ice, the slopes are covered up far upward by forests and meadows. Also around us I see forest, we are obviously in a mountain meadow, behind me I hear a creek flowing. To my left I just see a cave in the trees and there is now a dragon coming toward us.

Fascinated, I watch him, despite its size, the movements of the long-legged figure with a comparatively slender, elongated body and an elegantly curved neck are very smooth, like a race horse, crossed with a jaguar - or... a dragon. Fjörgyn I've not seen so exactly until now, but I'm sure that their movements are not less elegant one iota.

The approaching dragon is darker than Fjörgyn, charcoal Gray, almost black his smooth scales shining in the sun. His chest scales are dark blue, as the light tiger stripes the body drawing. The horns, however, are almost ivory colour as the cheek spines, otherwise his head shape and the body is very similar to Fjörgyn and her daughter, just a little bit stronger in the expression. I suppose that he is Fjörgyns son.

A short time later, he confirmed my suspicion.

"Welcome to our world, friend of Manvinkona, I'm Græðarinn, her brother and the son of Fjörgyn." -

Nodding to him I reply:

"Thank you for the welcome, Græðarinn."

Somewhat surprised he looks at me with his orange eyes. Manvinkona that constantly stays close to me, come to me for help.

"He comes from Over, since they all speak differently and dragons they do not know."

Fjörgyn gives me a briefly explain:

"Here you will probably occur the language a bit dated compared to your world especially for a German like you. But in particular we dragons use some old forms - we long-lived are quite conservative. The Salutation to a Great Dragon is the 'Lord' or 'Lady', in younger, not yet fully established, it would be 'Sir' or 'Dame'. Only with very close relations, as in the family, we also accept your German 'Du' and waive the salutation.

Ah yes - well, that could also be more complicated, I'll probably manage:

"Thank you, Lady Fjörgyn, for the instruction and beg to apologize my ignorance and previous rudeness." -

"Woe to you talk to me like that" Manvinkona threatens me with flashing eyes.

I shake my head:

Never! Where would I be now without you. "

She grins, but is thoughtfully:

"Probably save at home..." -

"Hey, little friend! Now not beginning to talk up any guilt - Normally, I would have run away screaming scared when I saw you. "

I notice about her, that she is just imagine: me, screaming in fear, running away from her and she smiles back.

Fjörgyn it is probably similar, as she says, smiling at me:

"Of course I forgive you, Ralf. Yes, it would be correct - but let us remain the simple Form, after all, our relationship is so pretty... 'special.' "-

And Græðarinn says:

"I am then also with the simple salutation, and we'll even come to a close contact." -

"Thank you, both of you..." I reply, "... how we go from here? Fjörgyn will certainly not want me to keep forever in her hands. "-

"Correct. There, next to the pond is a strong cross point of the life force that will help us." Græðarinn answered my question.

Fjörgyn nods and carries me a little further. Now I can see something more - the meadow, which lowers with a slight slope from the edge of the forest to us here forms a flat surface at the edge of a maybe 150 meters by measuring lake is located, through which the stream flows, which I've heard before. Behind, the meadow probably determined eight hundred meter goes further into a smooth arc, before it runs out in a forest, which more steeply descends towards the valley. Maybe two or three kilometres further I see the next mountain range on the other side of the valley. A beautiful mountain landscape, I'm surprised that even the higher mountains are snow-free.

Not far from the lake Fjörgyn lays me down on a surface covered with thick moss, the lake behind me. Then lies down at my feet with an elegant, flowing movement. - "At my feet" sounds funny when a, overall at least 20 meter long dragoness lies in front of a little human. Græðarinn followed us and is similar to a 10-meter high cat sitting at my left, his hands almost touching me. I had to look straight up, so see his eyes high above. Manvinkona anyway never leaves my side and sits again to my right, apparently her favourite position. She has the only matching size to me in this round. If I compare her with her mother and brother, both about 10 meter tall and 20 meters long, I wonder how old my little friend may be.

"Have no fear, not even my healing fire, I will inflict no pain on friends."Græðarinn prepared me. Hmm, healing fire sounds strange, I can imagine nothing about.

Græðarinn places his right hand gently on my body, even paralysed, I can feel that he barely touched me. He closes his eyes and concentrates, I feel a tingling sensation, even in the legs - whether real or imagined, I do not know, I hope that I can really feel it.

He pulls his hand back, takes a deep breath, opened his mouth and blows a blue fire blasting down at me. Startled, I hold my breath and close my eyes - until I realize that it is not hot. I feel a warmth around me, but not the heat, which I would expect from a fire. I slowly open my eyes again and see Græðarinn further blow his blue fire on me, enveloping me.

I try to breathe, no problem - this is his healing fire? What else, it must be. It will be best if I relax, trying to absorb his power.

After a surprisingly long time ends his flame - his healing fire has apparently not directly to do with his breath. Slowly passes even the lights around me. Græðarinn again puts his hand on me, takes back a few seconds again and shakes his head almost imperceptibly.

Again he focuses and now puts both hands on me. I feel that he again directed his blue fire on me this time focused and strengthened by his hands. Now that I know what is going on with the blue fire, I try to absorb the force in me. Again, it takes some time until the light around me again passes. Græðarinn takes his hands away again and I can see that he is confused.

I see on Fjörgyn who has raised herself up and looks at us quizzically. Something extraordinary must have happened, something unexpected. They will surely speak to me, so I just wait on.

Then I hear Manvinkona:

No!! Why?

Presumably they were talking about something and just my little friend has involved me, or am I so firmly attached to her that I keep hearing? Fjörgyn realizes that I've noticed something and wonder what's going on.

"Sorry, Ralf..." she speaks to me now. "... my son did not want to say it out loud - there's a problem. Youdon't respond tohis healing power. "

Why not? But I have tried myself to open for him...

Græðarinn assumes:

"Yeah, sorry, my sister you probably involved with - and she's right, it's all about you. It's true, my powers have no effect on you. That is, actually on your body - I felt, that you yourself were willing to have opened up, you wanted to take the healing power. Only your body wants - or can't sustain the forces.

It is unusual, even humans respond to my healing powers. I can only guess that it is because you come from Over and your body didn't know what to do with our life force. On the other hand, your soul is ready - maybe through deep contact with Manvinkona. But unfortunately I don't know the answer now."

Roller coaster - up and down. Once more down...

"Still, there is a solution..." suggests Fjörgyn. "... but for this I must speak with Lord Eldflóð for he has to decide and knows what to do. At least - even if it is only a small consolation for a human - if everything should not be enough to save your body, your soul is ready to enter into the life force of Erce and will therefore remain. And who knows which forces my daughter will still develop, perhaps to bring you back. - But this is only the last solution, still do I see another way."

I try to look confident, but I do not quite know what I should think of all this.

Fjörgyn adopted for a short time - she wants to meet with Lord Eldflóð to get the path of my healing, which she sees as a solution and to obtain the permit. That seems to be something extraordinary, but I refrain for the moment ask on what this solution will be then.

Græðarinn remains here in my area. First, he puts me in a more sedentary position in which I can look better and speak with them. Yes, that's me are really comfortable and since at least the pain in the arm and in the back almost gone, I feel almost as if nothing more.

He offers me something to eat, but I'm only a little thirsty. Manvinkona - which is of course also with me - storms off immediately and comes a short time later, with a, for us both small here, handy shell with fresh spring water. The dish she balances with her flight hands in front of her - they are therefore not only suitable for flying. Two additional arms for a quadruped are actually quite practical, I realize. The water refreshed me much, I was thirstier than I thought.

Then explain Manvinkona and her brother to me a little about life here:

I find out that the dragons are not the only six-legged species here. All of them, like the dragons, hybrid creatures somewhere between dinosaurs and mammals. She tells, for Example of Tireks, quite powerful built 6-legged, slightly larger than bulls or steers, however stronger. These are used by humans as a burden and draft animals. And then the Bant, lighter, slimmer, which serve as mounts for long distances, not as fast as horses, but very persistent. Some others are probably still here - even a kind of Griffins - but most animals do not differ from the species known to me.

The humans are represented here anywhere, but the population density is much lower than ours. The main difference lies only in the small number of available technology, which is also much less well developed. For this, many humans here have a connection to the power Erces, few can actively use. So there is - little - magic and the like in this world, even in humans.

The dragons form several groups here. First, the Wyvern: These are just a small species up to a maximum size similar to dogs and are the only four-legged dragons, so the arms at the same time serve as wings. Also of the intelligence at most on the level of dogs. Special skills they have not, so do not spit fire or something.

Then there are the real dragons, what means quadruped with the additional wing arms, as my host. First a larger group designated by Græðarinn as "the little dragons", which he also explained to me, be broken by themselves in small, medium and large. All about as smart as the humans, special skills have especially some of the larger and medium-sized species.

And then at the top are the Great Dragons which all shows an almostdinosaur like appearance and all have those special skills.They include Fjörgyn, their children and also Eldflóð. At least as smart as the human in general but even wiser as mortals by their extreme longevity. They are also called the 'Guardian' because they watch over the life of this world. For this example Græðarinn uses his healing abilities. And the little Manvinkona seems to have gotten a whole new skill that is still in development, eventually she is only a little over a year old. With her already high level of spiritual maturity for the Great Dragon is normal, as both me assure, her abilities only seem to be already very far developed.

There are also a few real dragons have quite a human-like figure with a body which stands upright and bipedal, only with the exterior of the dragon. The Great Dragons - and also some of the smaller - also have the ability to transform themselves into such a 'Anthro-Form', so they are able to convert between Feral and Anthro willingly. However, this is very unusual to the Great Dragons in the presence of others. Nevertheless Manvinkona would like to present it to me, but she is only capable of in a few years. I refrain to ask Græðarinn what he noticed with relief.

And their own subculture forms the so-called half-breeds, but they are not the result of a genuine genetic cross, but from natural mutations. There are dragon-men who are predominantly human, but have lizard-like features, such as scales, sometimes claws or similar - some have even wings. On the other hand, the men-dragons are practically Anthro Dragon, but have no flying arms. They are largely recognized by the real dragon as a dragon-like after all.

I can hear that the hybrids are not very well considered. Furthermore, especially the humans are considered as very strange by the dragons. They understand human emotions and their actions only very superficially. They do not despise the humans though, but keep distance to them.

Even Græðarinn does not really find access to me, but as a healer, he also takes care of human and to me especially for his sister. He tries to seem not too repellent.

After I was fed with informations and in the meantime I'm also fell asleep for some time, due to my injuries - Græðarinn looks in the direction, Fjörgyn had flown into.

"Ah, Mother and Lord Eldflóð approach. Soon we will know what happens next. We'll see if Lord Eldflóð agrees, but it is said that he is quite friendly to humans. "

I can still see nothing of the two, only several minutes later I see two points getting quickly closer. Græðarinn tells me that Lord Eldflóð occupies the leading position in the world of dragons, even though this is not quite comparable to the humans. So I turn my attention back to the two large dragons, as they are already landing. They touchdown a piece on away, probably they want to give me the opportunity to get used to the sight of Lord Eldflóð. Because... Wow...

In his appearance, Lord Eldflóð meets most closest to the Dragon, which are represented in fairy tales as evil, man-eating beasts.

A deep black dragon, about the size of Fjörgyn, but much more massive built. His scales are consistently larger, angular, jagged, with sharp corners, appear almost spiky, act like coated with shiny tar. These angular scales can be found everywhere on his body, arms, legs, tail, and head. Which is wider, more massive than that of Fjörgyn, with strong horns and thorns, even on the chin. Even his hands looks by the scales and the very strong claws far more like paws, than the delicate hands of 'my' three dragons. Al in all, the appearance of a real male dragon.

The flight skin looks a bit 'frayed', only the chest scales are smooth, but also heavier. A kind of inner glow that seems to permeate through the scales, he is a fire-elemental and actually seems to burn internally. And the deep fiery red glowering eyes who want to burn through you. At first glance as a whole an image of pure dark malice. But I feel now that this impression is misleading.

Nevertheless, I feel a little uncomfortable, hopefully keeps my voice because I have decided to greet him befitting as the first, even if the courtesy of the Dragons would certainly tolerate this.

As both stop in front of me, I put my right Hand on my chest, and interpret a bow with a nod.

"My Lord Eldflóð, I greet You in the joy that You grant me the honour of a visit. Please forgive, that the circumstances denies me, to greet You befitting."-

He tilts his head also,

"I thank You and greet You also, dear visitor of the other world. Your misfortune I regret deeply and would like to assure You that it is not the way of our people."

That he addresses me in the same way, seems to be good, Fjörgyn closes her eyes and nods to confirm. -

"Meanwhile, I'm already sure, My Lord. I learned here at home of Lady Fjörgyn careful record, for which I can not thank enough for. "

He tilts his head again. Then, he is factual.

"I see that You know the rules of our civility, but its enough now. Lady Fjörgyn told me about your encounter and what happened. Especially Your deep friendship with the young lady Manvinkona here has prompted me to agree to the request of Lady Fjörgyn and to help.

And I see now that You are ready, despite Your negative experience with our people, still to provide the friendship. "

All do know something, but not I... Slightly bitter smiling, I say quietly:

"My Lord, forgive. But I see myself here surrounded by three of the great dragons, sorry, four with my little girlfriend - does not have the pure instinct of self-preservation dictates the friendship?"

Oh shit, too late - hopefully I have not screwed it up now...

Eldflóð lowers his head slightly, almost as if to hide a grin.

"My friend, You are really honest, merciless to yourselves And I understand your thoughts. But I clearly feel that You are actually interested in friendship, not only because of self-preservation. "

Phew, lucky - he recognized that it was pure self-irony.

Suddenly I feel odd, somehow the earth beneath me wants to turn away, or I turns of her? As if I want to become dizzy. Manvinkona is immediately next to me, looking at me intently.

I raise my hand and stroke her on the nasal scales.

"Al right, everything is fine."

But she shakes her head slowly.

"No, it's not fine..."

Eldflóð looks at me intensely.

"It is time, his body begins to fight against this world. - Ralf, Lady Fjörgyn had the idea to 'infect You' with the life of this world, so that Your body and this world can recognize each other and so healing is possible. I am sure that it works, it has repeatedly in the past.

Lady Fjörgyn is willing to share their blood with You. I came along, to concentrate the forces of Erce on You with her together, so the conversion can proceed. And Sir Græðarinn can heal You then."

Fjörgyn added:

"There is also a crux of the matter: you would as a result be a hybrid, a dragon-man. Unfortunately, these are not well regarded among the humans, even at the dragons. But the impact to you will be surely so low, that you can live undetected among humans. With the influence of Lord Eldflóð and me at our people, you will surely be recognized by the dragons like a normal human. - But, you will then no longer be able to permanently return to your world, because then you'll be a part of this world."

Manvinkona turns my face with her hand to her and whispers.

"Please say yes, Big. You will always remain for me whom I met there. "

She licks me three times across the face. I notice that Eldflóð embarrassed looks down, because as I learned later, that's a very private demonstration of love within a family or among partners - and Manvinkona was already wise enough to know this.

Another slight vertigo forces me not to think twice. And something in me wants to survive. So I say yes.

They don't hesitate, I'll laid back flat on the floor. The dragons grouped them self around me. Fjörgyn at my left, Eldflóð to my feet and Græðarinn to my right. The little girl stays at my head, she refuses to leave me alone.

Fjörgyn briefly explained to me what will happen.

"Ralf, I have to bring my blood directly into your heart to make it work - but that means I have to pierce your heart - and so to kill you, as you probably know.

But through our efforts, your soul is held in your body. Once I have given you a little of my blood, Græðarinn will the healing begin with our support, everything takes just a moment.

By Manvinkona you will be able to see everything, it will probably scare you, but be confident that it is not the first time that we do this. "-

I just nod. -

"Ready?"

I nod again.

With a quick sweep of her talon Fjörgyn has cut my shirt and made my chest free. She sets the fine needle-sharp talon of her index finger on my chest right over my heart - a slight pressure, and the claw slips between my ribs like a hot knife in soft butter. My body twitches and cramps - as far it still can.

Shit, that's why she did not say: 'It will not hurt' - because it hurts - oh shit that hurts... - This stabbing pain, the rising fear of death, as the heart stumbles, suspends, beats again, aching - my body sags to the ground, the heart stops, I'm dead.

I see myself lying there, the dragons who just killed me, around my body. The large, dark green dragon just pulls his claw, which he had driven into my heart, out again. A huge gush of blood from the wound flows over the paw and claws of the dark green dragon, but will roll off like water on a lotus flower.

What will they do now with my body - eat? Likely. Somehow flow thoughts in me - 'that's not normal' - 'he would actually never lost all of his blood' - 'no matter, I give him everything he needs'... I do not understand what they want to tell me, what are these thoughts?

Again, the dark green dragon dips his claw into my body - now he is surely go to shred it immediately. The black dragon wants to secure his share, he arrived with his paw over my body, let play his claws - but misses, he violated the dark green on the finger. The blood of the dragon begins to flow down his claw. Will they begin to fight, because the black has the green hurt? No, but he pulls back his paw, while the blood of the dark green drips on my body, is absorbed like by a dry sponge, until as much of the blood of the dragon is in my body, as previously shot out.

Then blows the third dragon with the blue chest a blue flame on the wound of the dark green dragon, all three put their paws on my body - soon I will become ground beef... A blue glow surrounds the paws of the three dragon when suddenly a white-blue beam of light shoots through my body from the ground and envelops everything.

Beaming brightness dazzles me, but not unpleasant. On the contrary - it is a warm summer day, I lie in the sun and enjoy the warmth that surrounds me. Was that a weird dream, three dragons around me, claws, blood - strange. Ah, so wonderful to lie in the sun. The rays surrounded me, caress me, fill my empty battery.

I stretch myself that the bones crack. Images streak past me, I see a world, a beautiful green world, in pure. The humans of this world live in harmony with nature, deal gently with the resources, the energy that is needed for the most basic tools, comes from renewable energy sources. The enemies were expelled, destroyed, like in a dream, I fly over this world in which humans live together peacefully.

A voice speaks to me:

'Welcome to my world. We need you, your knowledge, but also your power, your strength. I welcome you back from your long journey, Eldingar, my guardian.

What was that? Completely weird dreams, if dying is like this... - Well not really bad, but confusing - I do not know if I want to go through that again. But I have to go through it probably sometime again, when I really have to go the way into the force of Erce. - Funny, I've accustomed me so quickly, only a few hours ago a quite another place was the goal of my soul.

I open my eyes. Although the sun is quite low, but I still have to squint because of the brightness, but already that's over. Above me I see the faces of Fjörgyn, Græðarinn and Eldflóð who look at me with uncertainty in mind. Then Manvinkona moves in my field of vision, with radiant eyes.

"Hello little one." I say. -

"Hey, Big. She answers. "Well, that has worked out."

Am I actually healed? I try to wiggle the toes, yes - though it somehow still feels weird, but it works. I try to adjust my back, it feels like I'm lying on something and here and there a still unusual sensation, but hey! I can feel it! And I can move. - Weird, like the three look at me: Fjörgyn acts concerned, Eldflóð with a mixture of doubt and understanding - and Græðarinn simply amazed.

"Well Græðarinn, everything went well?" I ask.

He will answer, but hesitate. Fjörgyn answer to me:

"Well, yes - just... from the humans, you can't quite hide the dragon's blood how I had actually promised you... "-

Græðarinn added dryly:

"But he has as a Man-Dragon..."

A sharp "Psst" from his mother silenced him.

Manvinkona giggles:

"You're going to be surprised."

One second - what said Græðarinn? Man-Dragon...? But those are...

I pull my right arm up and stare at the arm of a dragon. Smooth, dark, almost black scales cover the entire arm from the shoulder down to the fingertips, from which now lean, long, sharp talons suddenly shoot out.

"Great!" the little girl says happily. "I would like, to be able too."

On the outside and back of the hand, the scales are slightly larger, fine on the inner side of the arm, the palm of my hand covered with tiny, seemingly soft but yet resistant scales. The left arm - looks the same... I pull the right leg on and stare at a hind leg of a typical toe-goers with paws almost like a tiger. In a thought snap the sharp talons also from their toes out and back again.

But - of course - everything covered with the smooth, dark - a light reflex flits across the scales - uh-huh, midnight blue scales. The left leg I don't look no longer, I feel the talons come out. And what else is that - a long, slender tail, which lifts into my field of vision, with fins sideways, just before the tail tip - the scales, which also cover the tail, I already not mention. -

...A thought flashes through me: What's with my head... slightly trembling I lift my hands to my face - and touch a long snout. I grope on my head and suppose that I similar look like Græðarinn, a little stronger in the forms maybe - if I were the same size. However, I feel a kind of crest - movable spines, connected by a kind of membrane, which I obviously can also smooth back and which ends somewhere in the neck.

"H-how..."

I am now completely finished. What am I - a dragon?

Fjörgyn tried to explain to me:

"You know - something has interfered..." but don't know to continue.

Eldflóð considered calmly:

"The guidance fins on the head and tail - either a good swimmer - but he has no webbed feet and fingers - or a strong flyer, maybe a storm-flyer. But without wings... "

Manvinkona jumps for joy, because she has seen something that the others do not know.

"Turn belly down, Big! "-

Without turning my head a lot, I gaze at her with one eye - the field of view is therefore also become much more... - She nods at me encouragingly.

Okay, I roll onto my stomach and I'm already gets on my hands and knees. The strange pressure in the back is gone, I move my shoulders to relax a little, look to the right, to the left... and see two flight arms unfold to at least five or six meter wingspan.

"That's it!" The Little is pleased - and certainly for me, which I currently still find difficult: - "Now you're flying even earlier than me!"

Of Fjörgyn I hear, with a little relief in her voice:

"A Full-Anthro..."

Apparently she foresees for me now a better life as a full Anthro, at least I would belong to the dragons. Should I be happy about too...? -

"Wrong!" shouts my little friend, who hops of joy in front of me.

I don't get it - if I have understood anyway, it would never have allowed such a thing possible.

Panic rises up in me. I - a dragon? Why, How? Yet so I can never go back! No! I'm a human, not a dragon! My thoughts race! With growing panic I look at my body, left, right, bottom, stomach, arms, wings - no, I don't want that... - suddenly I feel an energy shoot through me. What else is now!

Everything around me gets smaller. My hands now give me the ability to go on my fingers, the body converts from the lean, muscular, human-like shape to the elongated, slender and far not less muscled body of a Feral, the neck is longer, it makes no effort to turn my head far back. Then the energy boost is over.

The three dragons are not longer huge above me - they are shrunk to my size. No, wrong, I am grown up to their size. Somewhere down there, 10 meters deep below me, now caressing the tiny hand of Manvinkona a few scales of my right hand.

"Well, did I not say: 'Big'?" and adds in a whisper, audible only to me: "Likewise, I have seen your soul, as I have held you over there."

Suddenly I am calm. I look down the meadow, see at the very back, the bees buzzing from flower to flower, hear the squirrels scurry along the trees in the woods behind it. On the other side of the valley I can see a hawk, which 3 kilometres away strikes his prey, a dove, out of the crown of a fir. I suck the air through the nostrils and smell a herd of deer in the valley.

I remember the voice in my dream which said to me, 'Welcome to my world, my guardian' - and now I know who there has spoken to me: Erce!

I look down to Manvinkona and say softly to her:

"Yes, my little friend, that you have said every time."

Then I raise the head and follow the urge.

And for the first time, this world hears my shout, miles audible, that friends reverent listen - and enemies forces to shudder:

The thunderous roar of the Great Dragon.