FSE

Furry search engine

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I walked into town of Frenick. It was a fair sized town despite its position on the northern frontier. It was mostly a wooden town with only a few brick buildings here and there. It had a single wall around its perimeter for defense. Unmortared stone made up the foundation of the wall with wood beams and planks making up the upper structure.

It sat atop a small hill with the most important buildings at its peak. The governor's house as well as a few temples were at the very top. Temples to the sun, moon and sky were the largest and some of the few buildings built of brick. These things were at the core of the town peoples' belief. The sun brought warmth and light, the moon showed the passing of the seasons and the sky brought the life giving waters to the land.

I walked up to the gate, leading my horse behind me. I had it loaded down with furs mostly. They were things that I had killed and eaten on my journey. Their hides always brought good prices. I also had a sizable bag of raw gems. The mountains to the north were littered with them if you knew where to look. I happened to know were to look. Most people didn't travel there because of their fear of dragons. They were certainly there but it didn't concern me too much.

I walked through the gate without the guards giving me a second glance. They were there simply to keep the peace and to close the gates at night, nothing more. As long as brawls didn't break out they didn't care.

I eyed the ballistas as I passed through the wall. There was one at least every hundred feet down the wall. Only a handful were actually maned in case of emergency but they still made me nervous. The thought of those things being able to pass clean though me and continue on bothered me.

Once through the gate I turned my back on the powerful weapons and continued towards the center of the town. The markets were just below the temples and were my favorite part of the town. The various wares always caught my eye and finding unique things was my pursuit. I didn't have any other reason to come to Frenick. I was more than sufficient on my own and had no need for supplies.

I passed into the market and eyed the towers that stood sentential around it. They were just a simple wooden construction with some arrow slits towards the top but what always caught my eye about them was the ballista atop them. The towers were concentrated around the market and temples but they stood all over the town. The ballista was honestly the key to the town's independence. They were good at building them and the machines were necessary for the beasts that would sometimes wonder out of the mountains and towards the town, not dragons but other things. Dragons knew better.

The ballista also scared off any other nations that had an eye on the town. Invading armies couldn't survive the onslaught of the ballista and there were many hidden tunnels for supply. The cost of taking the town far outweighed any benefit.

I wondered the market a while, selling my furs to the highest bidders. I managed to get a couple gold coins out of them. I had quite the substantial pile of furs. The horse seemed more than happy that they were gone too.

I had only one man in mind to sell the gems to. I made my way towards his shop in the forum. He was a jeweler and made some of the finest pieces of artwork that I had ever seen anywhere. I had an ongoing deal with the man where I would bring him gems and he would use the biggest and most beautiful of them to make something exquisite for me. I didn't care what it was as long as it was some of the man's best work. He seemed exceptionally happy when I came around just for the chance to make whatever he wanted. Then again he also received a large bag of gems as well.

I stepped into his shop and when he saw me, he said, "Arnsel! Welcome!"

"Hello Logan. What have you got for me today?" I asked him.

"Oh, I think that you are really going to enjoy this one," Logan said and walked over to a set of iron reinforced cabinets. He opened them and withdrew something covered up with a piece of cloth. It was of a fair size, much larger than most of the things that he did. He sat it down on the counter in front of me. "You told me that you wanted something involving dragons and, well, I wanted to play around with making goblets. Anyways..." he said and pulled the cloth off.

I was mesmerized by it. The majority of it was out of gold. The gold wasn't what had caught my eyes, it was the stem. The stem was made up of three dragons standing on their rear legs and forelegs outstretched toward the center. Their necks curled so that their heads looked towards the center while the bowl of the goblet rested atop the back of their necks. At the center of the stem was a large teardrop shaped ruby. It wasn't faceted but polished smooth instead. It was a brilliant blood red and without a flaw that I could spot. The top and bottom of the ruby touched the bowl and base of the goblet while the outstretched forelegs of the dragons kept it in place.

"You most certainly are right. That ruby... there was only one gem that large that I brought you last time and it wasn't nearly that color. How did you do that?" I asked him.

"Jeweler's secret. Are you satisfied with it?" he asked.

"More than usual. I think that this is the best piece of work I've seen you do so far," I said.

"Thank you. So... do you have some more gems for me?" he asked.

"Don't I always?" I asked before grabbing my bag of raw gems and pouring them out onto his counter.

"Are those emeralds?" Logan asked poking at a couple of them.

"They might be," I replied.

"When are you going to reveal to me where you get these gems?" he asked me.

"But I've already told you, they come from the mountains," I said.

"I don't believe that for a second. I think that you have a place just outside of town where you go and dig them up," he said. I just smiled. "Well, let me package up your goblet. I'll have something else for you in a month or two."

"I look forward to it," I said.

In just a few moments he had it gently packed away in a red oak box with brass hinges. It had been lined with cork to help protect the goblet. I gathered it up and made my way back into the market.

"Arnsel!" I heard yelled over the crowd. I recognized the voice even before I spotted her.

"Rei!" I said once she came into view.

"Why didn't you tell me you were here?" She asked.

"Rei, I'm here," I said.

"Shut up! You know what I meant," she said.

"I've only just gotten here. I haven't had a chance to go looking for you. Besides you're what, twenty? Shouldn't you have a husband by now?" I asked here.

"Very funny Arnsel," she said.

The thing with Rei was that I had known her for a while. I had found here when she was ten wondering the woods a long ways from anything. She never explained how she got there and personally I didn't think that she knew. I helped her and fed her. Then I led her to Frenick so that she could properly be cared for and raised. She had never forgotten me though and was always happy to see me.

"Do you want to see what I got from Logan this time?" I asked her.

"Of course I do," she answered. I opened the wood box and carefully pulled out the goblet. I handed it to her. She marveled at it for a few moments before actually taking it. "I think he is getting better."

"So do I," I said."I found some emeralds for him this time and I can't wait to see what he does with them."

We were quite a few moments while she continued looking it over. After, she handed it back to me and I carefully put it back into the box.

"Take me with you," she said.

"What?" I asked surprised. I wasn't sure that I had heard her right.

"Take me with you. Where ever you go I want to come," she said.

"The wilds is no place for a young girl. Your place is here where you can make your own family," I said.

"I could make a family with you," she said. That definitely caught me off guard. I was careful in choosing my next words.

"Rei, I care for you a great deal but my place is out there where the monsters are. Out there isn't anyplace for you to be or a place that you would want to raise a family. I can't stay here anymore than you could come with me. Please understand," I tried to explain.

"But..." she began with tears in her eyes.

"No Rei," I said and turned to leave. As I did she reached for me to try and make me stay. Her hand brushed against my chest, catching on my amulet. She pulled with considerable force and the simple twin that held it around my neck snapped. The spell that hid my true form was broken.

I was a dragon and I was left standing in the middle of the market as such. I was a good few times larger than a horse and many times longer. The head of a human came up to the base of my neck. I was red in color with a slate gray underbelly. Four horns protruded from the back of my angular head and spiraled slightly. Naturally I had large sharp claws at the end of every digit all the better for frightening humans. My claws along with my horns were the same slate gray as my underbelly. My wings were substantial. Dragons were, after all, creatures of the sky. I had a complete second set of shoulders for them and they stretched across my entire back. Outstretched they were nearly twice as wide as I was long. My chest was longer than most creatures to support the second shoulders and covered in a substantial amount of muscle to keep me in the air. All of my substantial power was quickly noticed by everyone around me including the guards on the ballista towers.

There wasn't any screams or gasps. No one ran. No one went for their weapons. There was absolutely no noise as everyone simple gaped at me along with Rei.

"Rei, give it back," I said. If I could get the amulet back I could reactivate the spell and maybe still get away unscathed. It was like she didn't hear me though. She just continued to stare.

"Please Rei, I need it," I begged her. This time she ran.

Rei running was like a spark that started a wild fire. It brought everyone back to their senses and most people simply ran. Women and children screamed. Men ran for weapons and guards came with spears. All the ballistas were turned towards me and bolts were being loaded into them. I laid down and covered my head with my wings. I was expecting a bolt to strike me at any moment.

Minutes passed so slowly that they felt like hours. The bolt never came though, much to my relief. I slowly uncovered my head to look around. I was surrounded by soldiers armed with spears and crossbows, large crossbows powered by torsion springs. There was several ballistas being rolled up and put into place less than twenty feet from me. There was no hope of escaping without being killed. I was caught the moment that spell had broke.

A man in full plate mail with a large square shield slowly approached me from the front. "Do you understand me dragon?" he asked.

I hesitated before answering, "I do."

"Then you must also understand that there will be no need for ropes or anything of the sort. If you try and do anything funny we will turn you into a pincushion. You won't be able to get away," he said.

I sighed and then said, "I know. I've never done anything to wrong the people of Frenick. Why not let me go and I'll continue to not do anything to the people of Frenick."

"Then how do you explain the burnt farms and villages on our boarders?" he accused me.

I instantly realized that there must be another dragon, ones whose territory bordered a different area of Frenick, maybe to the west. Realizing this, I asked, "You realize that there is more than one dragon in the world, right?"

"Then we will know the truth if the attacks continue while you remain here. Now, follow me or be shot," the man said and I had no choice but to obey.

I hobbled along, carrying the box with the goblet in one fore claw. It only took a moment for the man to notice it. "What do you have there?" he demanded.

"Nothing of your concern," I replied. He didn't like that too well.

"You will hand it over or be shot," he said.

"Go ahead and I'll see how many men I can kill before I die," I said without a moment's hesitation. The man looked back at his men for a moment before he continued on without another word. The throng of guards ensured that I followed.

He led me to the market square which had been quickly cleared for my arrival. The reason for the choice was clear. There was a ballista tower at each corner. Other parts of the town I might have been able to escape under the cover of darkness but these towers were too close together for that. Even if I flew exactly between two of them they would be no more than a hundred feet from me. I would be a perfect target. The only way I was going to get out of the mess I had gotten in was by getting my amulet back. I only hoped that Rei would come back to talk to me.

Once they had me positioned in the square, the man said, "Stay," as if I was a dog he was giving a command to. He left along with some of the guards. The ones with the crossbows stayed behind. I was more thoroughly held fast than any chain or rope could do. I was frustrated.

The day ground away. No one came to talk to me or tell me what my fate was to be. My only source of entertainment was watching the crowds gather at the edge of the square to gawk at me. I was hoping to spot Rei but I never did.

The light eventually faded and darkness began to set in. The guards changed shifts. The crowds faded and then fell away. Still there was no sight of Rei. I had really hoped that she would be able to accept what I was one day. I had given small hints here and there over the years but I guessed that she never caught on. I had never worked up the courage to tell her. Now I wondered if I had waited to long or, maybe, she would have just ran like she did when she first pulled my amulet off. I tried to push such thoughts from my mind and go to sleep. I had nothing better to do after all. I never found sleep though, just restlessness.

"You crazy girl! Don't go towards it!" I heard at some point. I opened my eyes, not having been truly asleep. It was still dark and the waxing moon was still high in the sky.

I looked towards the commotion. It was Rei. She had strolled straight past the guards and into the square. The one that had spoke didn't follow her past the edge of the square. She walked bravely towards me but her courage faltered when she came close. "There is nothing to fear," I told her.

She stared at me a few moments as if trying to solve a riddle. She took a few steps closer until she was just in front of my head. "Arnsel?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes Rei, it's me," I explained.

"Is...is this the reason you would never take me with you?" she asked.

"Yes."

"But how?" she asked.

"The amulet you pulled off of me allows me to hide my form. Without it, well, you saw," I said.

"And I pulled it off of you, endangering you life," she said and sat down despite soiling her clothes.

"It's alright Rei... do you have the amulet?" I asked.

"Yes," she said and held it up but she didn't move to give it to me. There was something gnawing at her. I could see it in her eyes. Finally, she said, "Why are you attacking those people?"

"I'm not Rei. It must be another dragon," I tried to explain.

"How could you not know if there is another dragon?" she asked.

"Because I don't ever go that direction Rei. This is as far south as I come. It becomes dangerous if I go any further. I stay in the mountains where there are plenty of mountain goats and sheep to eat. There are many dragons there Rei. Why one of them has came south I don't know," I said.

"Will you make it stop if I help you get out of here?" Rei asked.

"Yes Rei, regardless if you try and make me or not. You see, Frenik acts as a buffer for my kind against the human nations of the south. You leave us alone and we leave you alone. We don't want that to change," I explained.

She hesitated but handed me the amulet. I took it gently from her. I felt like a great weight had been lifted from my back and the sky would be mine again.

"Aren't you going to change?" she asked me.

"They're all watching. I'm going to wait until they're not paying any attention." I said and she nodded.

"Do all dragons have amulets like that?" she asked me.

"No, just me as far as I know," I said.

"Where did you get it?" she asked.

"A wizard gave it to me many years ago," I said.

"Why?"

"Well, when it happened I thought he was giving it to me in exchange for me letting him go. Looking back on it though, if he made the amulet he could probably just have turned me into a rat and walked away. To be honest I don't have the slightest idea why he gave it to me and I haven't seen him again to ask," I told her.

"So now you just stroll into towns without anyone knowing that you're really a dragon?" she asked.

"No, just Frenik," I said and she smiled. She scooted up to me and leaned her back against my shoulder.

"Will you take me with you now?" she asked. I hesitated.

"Maybe," I said. She didn't say anything but she smiled.

"Will you take me flying?" she asked a few moments later.

"You mean let you ride me around like some mule?" I asked and she was quite. "Of course Rei... as long as no one is around to see." She just laughed.

I looked at the guards. There was more staring at us now than when Rei walked into the square. It was going to be a long night. It didn't help that Rei fell asleep soon after as well.

I could see light on the horizon when the guards finally stopped paying attention to us. I quickly used the amulet to change before tying it back around my neck. I gently nudged Rei awake.

"Shh, we need to be quite if this is going to work," I said. She yawned wide and looked at me with a smile.

"Wait, where did your cloths come from?" she asked me.

"A couple thousand pounds of dragon disappears and you wonder where my cloths come from?" I asked.

"Well... yeah."

"I'm not really sure where they go or come from when I change. Now, if this is going to work you can't smile or laugh. You have to look like you're being punished. Do you understand?" I asked her. She nodded. "Alright, come on."

I walked straight towards the guards who had yet to catch the fact that the dragon was gone. There was a guard that I knew somewhat and that was who I was walking towards.

"Charles!" I said when I was behind him. He jumped and wheeled around.

"Arnsel! What are you doing here?" he asked surprised.

"Apparently having to watch out for Rei. She was asleep in the middle of the square like some vagabond. What is the meaning of this?" I demanded. He looked past me and his eyes went wide when he didn't see a dragon.

"But..." he began.

"No! There is no excuse for this. I paid to make sure she would always be well taken care of and _you're_letting her sleep on the street. What is going on here!" I demanded again.

"The dragon!" he managed to stammer out.

"Dragon?" I asked and looked around as if I had no idea. "What on earth are you talking about? There's no dragon."

"But there was..." he said in barely a whisper. By now other guards had noticed the lack of dragon as well and they were starting to mutter amongst themselves.

"I don't care. Let me through. I need to get Rei cleaned up," I said. He stepped aside and we walked right past the guards and down the street. Thankfully he hadn't noticed the box I was carrying. I was sure that it was going to give me away.

Once we turned the corner Rei burst out laughing. "You were so mean!"

"Maybe but that was far better than being shot with a bolt," I said.

"I can't believe that you've been a dragon all this time," she said.

"I've been giving you hints over the years," I said.

"I realize that now... I'm sorry that I ran," she said.

"It's alright Rei. The important part is that you came back. Thank you for coming back," I said.

"You're welcome but I shouldn't have ran to begin with," she said.

"Don't worry about it Rei. It all worked out. Now, I think that I need to go see the governor of the city," I said.

"But why? Shouldn't you be leaving?" Rei asked surprised.

"There is another dragon attacking the people of this town, remember," I said.

"Get to safety first Arnsel and then worry about it," Rei pleaded.

"I'll be fine Rei as long as no more young girls pull off my amulet," I said and she blushed. "Now go home and get cleaned up."

"No, I'm coming with you!" she said.

"No Rei."

She sighed before saying, "Fine but I'm going with you afterward." I just smiled.

She turned and began making her way home while I started my way up the hill. Atop the hill was the important religious and ruling buildings of the town. At the very summit sat the temple of the sun. Supposedly the first version of it had been built even before the town was. I wasn't that old so I couldn't attest to that. The temples of the moon and sky sat to either side of it, just below. My favorite was the temple of sky but then again I was a creature of the sky.

Below the three temples sat the governor's mansion. It wasn't as grand as the temples but then again a house for a man shouldn't be more extravagant than the temples to the providers of life, at least, in their eyes. It was still something impressive. It was made primarily of red glazed brick, almost the color of ruby, so that it didn't reflect the colors of the temples which were yellow, white and blue. Golden bricks outlined the windows and doorways while blue made up the pediments. Various creatures were done in relief and full color along the walls. Creatures that symbolized great power seemed to be the theme. There were the great cats of the southern plains, the beasts of the northern mountains that even I refused to tangle with and even a few dragons. The dragons were all wrong though: their bodies were too short, wings too small and their expressions simply looked strange. I had always been amused by that.

Anyone in Frenik could go and see the governor but some people had precedent over others. My steady supply of precious stones gave me that precedent. I was amused at how alike dragons and humans could sometimes be.

There were guards posted at the main door but they recognized me and let me in. I walked down the main corridor and into the throne room. "Arnsel," the governor called before I even had a chance to look around. The room itself was done much like the outside with glazed brick. The depictions were much more intricate, depicting battles and triumphs all along the walls. The throne itself was raised a few steps above the rest of the room and was made of gold inlaid with gems. There was a lot of precious metals and gems to pass through Frenik. The governor seemed to be having an audience with someone but was now completely ignoring him.

"Hello Roderick," I said in greeting.

"Did you see the dragon?" Roderick asked while he waived the man in front of him away.

"but..."

"Later," Roderick said and the man left looking rather angry.

"I heard that it got away," I said.

"What!" he yelled, standing up.

"It's not as bad as it sounds," I said.

"Not as bad as it sounds! That dragon was our ticket to stopping the attacks. How am I to protect the people of Frenik now? Sending men to fight this attacking dragon only costs them their lives. Tell me, Arnsel, how is that not as bad as it sounds?" he demanded.

"Because I bring news from the dragons of the northern mountains," I said.

"You speak with the dragons?" he asked exasperated.

"How do you think I travel those mountains without being killed?" I asked him.

"Alright then," he began while setting back down, "what news do you bring from the dragons?"

"That the one attacking your town is not associated with them. There is a semblance of peace between you and them where they don't bother you and you don't encroach into their territory. They want to keep that, not break it. They're sending someone to take care of it," I said.

"Alright, so when should I expect this someone?" he asked.

"He is not far from here, awaiting my return with information about where this dragon is attacking and its patterns. The hunt will go much quicker with that information," I said.

"I'll send you to one of my generals then. He'll be able to explain it better than I. I do have one question; what was that dragon doing in the middle of my town?" he asked.

"I have not the slightest idea," I lied. "They know that any one dragon would be quickly taken down by your machines of war so they wouldn't come except in force if they meant harm. It was probably a youngster more curious than he should have been." Roderick seemed to accept this explanation.

"Alright then. Go, quickly. I want these attacks to stop and now. Make sure that they know that I've sent for wizards and dragon hunters from the south. If you can't stop this dragon then I will use any means necessary to do so. I need my people to be safe," Roderick explained.

"I understand," I said.

Roderick called for a servant and one quickly came running. "Yes my Lord?" the servant asked and bowed.

"Lead Arnsel to General Jones," Roderick commanded.

The servant bowed and ushered me on. He led me through several corridors and up a flight of stares before stopping before a door. I went in without knocking.

It was just a simple room with a wooden desk. The walls bore some decoration but so did everywhere else in the mansion. There was a couple paintings, one of mountains and one of the sea. The desk and paintings were the only thing of note in the room besides the general behind the desk.

"It had better be important," Jones said without even looking up.

"Roderick sent me to gather information about the attacks so that I can relay it to the dragons of the north. Without it, it will be more difficult for them to stop this rouge dragon," I said. It certainly caught the general's attention. He looked at me as if he was trying to riddle out exactly what I was. I wondered what he would do if he knew.

"It's Arnsel, right?" he asked.

"Yes."

"I told Roderick that you had to have some allegiance with those flying lizards," he said.

"Dragons."

"What?"

"Dragons," I said again. "Calling them lizards would be like them calling you monkeys."

"And I'm sure they do it all the time," Roderick said. He wasn't wrong. "Alright, explain why these dragons are willing to fight one of their own for us?"

"Because it risks destroying the mutual agreement to leave each other alone," I explained. The general accepted this.

"The attacks are coming mostly from the southwest. Unfortunately that is all the more we really know. The attacks seem completely random, a burnt house here a missing person there. When we sent soldiers they disappeared a few at a time with only the faintest glimpse of the beast. There is no pattern to them, at least none that we can figure out. If we could figure out where it was going to be we could set a trap but it seems to know that. I can't decided if it likes hunting humans or is trying to scout out a way to do something far worse," Jones explained. I nodded and thanked him before leaving.

I made my way down the hill and to the southern gate. I didn't need my horse but I wondered what had happened to it. It had been exceptionally difficult to get one use to being flown around by a dragon. I had raised from a foal in order to accomplish it. I wasn't sure what had been more difficult, taking care of it or resisting the urge to eat it.

I walked out of the gate and immediately southwest even though there was no road. My path took me across fields and pastures but I didn't care. It was a couple of miles to the tree line. I hated walking. It was tiresome and took way too long to get anywhere. Once I was in the tree line I changed and launched myself into the air. I didn't care if anyone saw me. They knew what I was up to after all.

I began searching the trees and sky for any sign of the other dragon. First I flew for a couple of hours to the southwest before backtracking and zigzagging on my way back. I still didn't have any luck so I widened my search. By the time I was about to finish my third pass the sun was beginning to set. The onset of darkness gave me some luck. There was a fire in the distance. There wasn't any farms or houses out where I was and the fire looked to be too big for a human camp. I made my way towards it.

I made a quick pass over the fire. There was a clearing in the trees and there was a dragon laying beside it. It was green, like that of a summer forest. It had two horns both of which were straight and smooth. It looked to be a little smaller and somewhat more lithe than me. It was most certainly female as well.

I circled around and landed in the clearing on the other side of the fire. I laid down. She jumped up and took a rather defensive stance. "Nice fire," I said.

"If you think that you are going to get..." she began.

"Don't worry, I get plenty of that back home," I said and was quite while she watched the fire. She stared at me for several minutes before finally laying down.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

"What is your name?" I asked.

"Minsilik if you must know," she answered.

"I'm Arnsel," I said.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded again.

"I was just wondering what you were doing out here?" asked.

"Claiming territory," she said.

"It is an interesting place to be claiming territory," I replied.

"And why is that?" she wanted to know.

"Well, you are closer to humans than the mountains. In reality you've put yourself right into the thick of them. It would be much safer to the north and there is plenty of room and food," I said.

"Why do you care?" she asked.

"Because you're lying to me," I said. She was quite a moment.

"I'm here to make the humans pay for what they did to my hatchlings. This is where I'm going to start. That town is vulnerable and I'm going to burn it to the ground," she said.

"Oh!" was all I said.

"Will you help me?" she asked.

"Where are you from?" I asked.

"I'm from the coast of the southern sea," she answered.

"Why did you come here?" I asked. She didn't answer. I suspected that in her grief she simply ended up here. "We're safe here in the north. Humans don't go any further than that town and we don't mess with the town. You're threatening our safety. Come with me to the northern mountains and I'll make sure you're safe. I'm sorry about you're hatchlings but these humans aren't responsible," I explained,

"All humans are responsible! They hunt us to take our territory, scales and bones!" she yelled.

"Not these humans," I said.

"All humans do!"

"Not these humans," I said again.

"You won't stop me," she said.

"You won't ruin the peace we have with them," I said.

She didn't hesitate to launch herself into the air. I jumped up and quickly followed. Once I was above the trees I realized she was just gone. Minsilik had simply vanished. What ever her trick was I had to learn it.

I realized that there could only be one place she was going. With me threatening to ruin her plans she had to be going straight for Frenik. After a few moments of searching for her I began winging my way back towards the town.

I made my way there as quickly as I could but there was no sign of her anywhere along the way. She apparently hadn't arrived yet either. I made my way high up into the sky over the town. I was going to need every advantage I could get and I needed to spot her before she could get to the town.

I circled over Frenik for over an hour without any sign of Minsilik. I was begging to hope that she had changed her mind and left. Then, out of no where, something blew past me. It was Minsilik in a dive going straight for Frenik. She must have flown even higher than I had. She was a clever girl.

I plummeted after her. She still had her wings partly outstretched for control. I closed mine close to my back and dropped like a stone. I managed to catch up to her half way down. I grabbed a hold of her. She clawed, kicked and bit me but I managed to throw her off course and away from the town. I threw my wings open to slow myself down. The landing was still hard. Minsilik landed not a hundred feet away from me.

I glanced back at the town. She had been going for the south west corner. I noticed that there was only one ballista that could point southwest and it was unmanned. She was right, the town was vulnerable from that direction.

Minsilik took a few steps towards me before flaming. A little of her fire hit me but most of it landed in front of me. Dragon fire wasn't all that dangerous to dragons. The flames jumped into the air between us, obscuring my view of her. I knew that trick. I readied myself to jump into the air. She came jumping through the flames at me. I launched myself up at her belly. We collided mid air and landed in the flames.

The fire bit at a few vulnerable places on my body but it was nothing serious. We rolled around a few moments in the fire biting and clawing at each other until the heat became too strong for even dragons to resist. We let go of each other and scrambled from the fire.

"Don't deny me my revenge!" she roared before jumping into the air again, going for the town. If she managed to set fire to the wall it was likely the whole town would burn. I flew after her.

There was a man standing halfway between us and the town wall. How he had gotten there I wasn't sure; I hadn't noticed him before. He wore a large faded green cloak that draped in folds around him. He also had a wide brimmed pointed hat of the same color. His white beard hung halfway down his chest. He held onto a staff with a white gem at the top of it. Oddly enough he seemed familiar.

What really concerned me was that Rei was standing right beside him and was tugging on his cloak. Minsilik must have saw them when I did and began making a beeline for them. I pumped my wings as hard as I could to catch her. I collided into her hard. We both came crashing down to the ground, just missing Rei and the man. It hurt to say the least. We stumbled to our feat. Minsilik wasn't putting any weight on her right foreleg. One of my rear legs protested my weight.

"You bast..." she began but froze mid word. In fact she wasn't moving at all. The man was holding up his staff towards her.

"Young, angry and easily stunned," he said before turning towards me. "Arnsel, I see you still have my amulet."

"You're that stupid wizard!" I said much surprised.

"Maybe not so stupid," he said.

Rei ran towards me and up against my foreleg. "Are you alright Arnsel?"

"I'll be fine girl," I replied.

The wizard walked up to Minsilik. He lowered his staff which must have released her from what ever spell he had over her. She stumbled a moment before trying to bite him. The wizard stunned her again.

"Lets have a civil conversation dragon. I am Fredin and this town is under my protection. This is all the closer you're going to get to it. It is time you moved on," he said before lowering his staff. Minsilik didn't attack.

"I will find a way to kill you. Humans killed my hatchlings and I will kill them for it," she said.

"I'm sorry but have you considered how many human children have been lost to dragons? This pursuit will not bring back your children," Fredin said.

Minsilik growled at him but turned in defeat and took to the air. "She'll be back," Fredin said and turned towards me. Just as he did Minsilik veered back towards the town. There was the noise of a ballista firing and the scream of a dragon. The bolt had passed clean through her shoulder. Apparently the towns people had managed to man the ballista while the two of us had been fighting.

Minsilik didn't drop from the sky though. She turned and flew away. I started to go after her to try and help.

"Don't Arnsel," Fredin said.

"Why," I demanded, a hint of roar in my voice.

"Because there is nothing you can do to help her wound. It will either kill her in an hour or so or she will be fine. She needs to learn from this," Fredin said. I stared him down a few moments but he didn't yield. My gaze turned from the wizard to Rei.

"Lets get you out of her Rei," I said to her and gently lifted her up on my back.

"Are you going to take me flying?" She asked eagerly.

"Yes," I said.

"Are you alright Arnsel? You don't have to right now," she said.

"I'm fine Rei, don't worry. Now hold on," I said.

I gently launched myself into the air and began flying towards the tree line. "Why were you out there?" I asked Rei.

"It's so beautiful, even in the dark," she said.

"Rei?" I asked.

"Oh! Um, I was afraid that Fredin would hurt you. I wanted to make sure he wouldn't," she said.

"You shouldn't have Rei," I said and we were quite a moment. "Thank you."

"Always, Arnsel. So... are we going looking for the other dragon?" she asked.

"Her name is Minsilik and yes. I don't care what that wizard has to say she shouldn't have to be alone and hurt.

"Are all dragons as wonderful as you?" she asked quite like a little girl. I chuckled.

"You make me sound like a puppy. I thought that you just saw the answer to that," I said.

Even though it had only been a few minutes since Minsilik had left there was still no sign of her. I searched most of the night. I had to return because Rei had gotten too cold.

I searched for Minsilik for the next three days with no sign of her what so ever. On the fourth I flew over a small farm early in the morning. I spotted a tail sticking out of the tree line. I turned and landed beside it. It was her and for a moment I thought that she was dead. She was just sleeping. The wound on her shoulder was terrible but it looked to be healing. I wondered if her wing would work right afterward.

I nudged her awake. She jumped but then groaned from the pain it had caused. "I'm sorry," I said. She was quite a moment.

"No, I'm the one that is sorry," she said and looked back towards the farm house. The family was standing outside looking our way. They must have been quite brave. "They helped me, fed me and even tried to heal the wound. They're not all that different from us, are they?"

"Not as much as we would like to think," I said.

"I've been a fool," she said.

"It's nothing. Once you're feeling up to it you can come north with me," I said.

"Thank you," she said.

"How is you're shoulder?" I asked.

"It hurts and it doesn't move right," she said.

"Maybe the wizard can help," I said.

"Why would he help?" she asked.

"I don't know why he does anything. I think that he knows far more than I do," I said and she laughed.

"Males aren't that smart anyways," she said.

"Very funny. Will you be alright while I go back for him?" I asked. She looked back towards the family.

"Yes."

"I do have to know, though, how do you vanish like that?" I asked. She laughed again.

"I take to the air and land back in the trees. Then I wait for you to fly away," she said.

"You have got to be kidding."

"Nope," she said and laughed.

I just shook my head and said, "I'll be back," and took to the air.

I had made my way back to Frenik before mid morning. The farm that Minsilik had taken refuge on hadn't been far away at all. That had been part of the reason that I had trouble finding her. I landed just beyond the gates and waited on the wizard. There was a good many guards gawk at me from the wall but none of them moved to fire any of the ballistas. They were use to the sight of me now.

It only took the wizard a few minutes to make his way out of the gate and to me. He had been just as anxious to find her as I was. I had yet to figure out why; the issue couldn't have been very significant to him.

"You're back early. Did you find her?" he asked me.

"I did," I began and proceeded to explain where she was located.

"Good. Roderick wishes to speak with you again. It would be best if you oblige him," he said. I rumbled in frustration.

"Why does it matter to him. The killing has stopped," I said.

"But he wants punishment for what has been done," he said. I sighed.

"Fine I'll oblige him. I'll meet you at the farm later. It should give you time to make it at least a little ways there," I said. He just smiled before walking done the road towards the farm.

I quickly made off to the tree line before using the amulet to hide my form once again. I then made my way back into Frenik and and towards the top of the hill. Soon enough I was being summoned into Roderick's throne room.

"You requested me?" I asked.

"Yes Arnsel. I know the dragon is searching for the other. This insult can't go unpunished. I'm sure that you can understand that," Roderick said.

"I can but do you know why she was attacking you?" I asked him

"It doesn't matter," Roderick said.

"If a boy steals does it matter if he is starving?" I asked quoting a portion of their laws.

"Fine, why was this dragon murdering innocent people?" he asked.

"Because men who were after her horns, scales and bones killed her children while she was away. She was seeking justice for what men had done to her children. In other parts of the world do you know how many dragons are hunted down to make trinkets for old men to be able to make love to young women? She did not know that this place was different," I said.

"So you think that those people's who's lives that were lost should not be avenged because of a misunderstanding?" he asked.

"Her children were killed for something far less meaningful. Besides, do you want to risk war with the dragons of the north over a misunderstanding? How many more lives would be lost in it? Are you sure that you could win?" I asked him.

"Alright but if this happens again I can't be so lenient. Make sure that they know that," Roderick said.

"I will," I said and turned to leave.

"I know that you are the dragon Arnsel, the red and gray one that is helping us," Roderick said. I turned to him.

"Why do you think that?" I asked hiding my surprise.

"It's quite obvious really. No one recalls seeing you while we had the dragon caught. Whenever I request you the dragon leaves. The nail in the coffin is that you side with them," he said.

"Then you understand the weight that my words carry?" I asked.

"I do. Why do you come here?" he asked me.

I smiled before asking, "Where else am I going to trade worthless rocks for great treasures?" I didn't wait for an answer. I just turned and walked out.

I was back at the farm before mid afternoon. Somehow the wizard had beaten me there. I wasn't sure how. It should have taken him many more hours on foot. I didn't understand the man one bit. I didn't bother asking him how he did it I just asked, "Is she going to be alright?"

"She'll be fine as long as she listens to me," he said.

"You poured liquid fire over my wound! Why would I even consider listening to you after that?" she demanded. The wizard ignored her.

"She needs not to fly for a month or she'll be likely to hurt herself worse," the wizard said. She rumbled at that.

"Can she walk?" I asked.

"As long as she doesn't use her wing. I fixed the worst of it but using it will undo all my work," he explained.

"You heard him," I said to Minsilik. She rumbled again. "Tomorrow we can begin walking north to my home. I'll take care of you until you can fly again."

"I would rather take care of myself," she mumbled.

"You've turned out better than I could have hoped," the wizard said to me. The idea of a man manipulating my life really irked me.

"All the decisions I've made in my life were my own," I said.

"That they were," he said with a smile.

"It is best you leave wizard before I change my mind about our original agreement," I said. He just chuckled.

"Surely you've figured out by now Arnsel that I was never in any danger," he said.

"Unfortunately," I said.

"Until we meet again," he said before walking off into the trees.

"Looks like you're his little pet," Minsilik said.

"I don't want to talk about it. I'm going to find you some fresh food. You're going to need it for tomorrow," I said and took to the air.