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Dragons of the Mist

“Welcome human, interesting welcome." Jake lowers his shotgun to the slug being stopped in mid air. As if the very fog between the object and it's destination prevented it from going further. It floated then dropped to the floor a moment later. “ Who? What? Where am I?"

The creatures massive figure moves and Jake realizes the creatures bigger than he originally thought. “ Who I am is not important. What I am is a dragon."

Jake pumps his 12 gauge shotgun to load another shot. Right now the creature; dragon seemed peaceful. “ Interesting indeed, at first look I thought you a warrior. Then what warrior would wear both patterns for hiding and bright colors to be spotted. Then of intelligence, but I see that not accurate as well."

Jake raised his gun for another shot. If it should attack at least he wants a chance to possibly put a slug into it. “ Then tell me why I am here dragon?"

It seemed amused as it moved it's head into the light further. “ You are being given a choice. I have been here for five hundred years and none have yet have been given the chance."

Jake lowered his weapon. “ Choice, of what exactly?"

The dragon was amused by the question. “ That is a good question. I will not answer it yet however. Let me observe you a little more first. You are strong. Of body and will. You fear little of death but wish to live. Yes, you are a human of strength and conviction."

Jake remains quiet. Jake remained motionless as the dragon examined him. He was not one to just lay there. “ Please dragon, you do not have to say such things. It is as if you are examining a meal."

The dragon opened it's jaws for the first time and hollered, as if truly amused. “ Eat you no. Dragons are known to play with our food on occasion but your suggestion is stupid. Why so much effort for a small snack? I have seen enough. Human what is your name?"

Jake was hesitant before giving it. “ Well Jake what is the last thing you remember before coming here?"

Jake thought it over a moment. “ I was hunting. Tracking a bear threw the brush. One moment I was taking aim and the next I felt the ground under me leave. Then you."

The dragon nodded it's head and steam came from the floor. Images of his hunt appeared. Jake was on the edge of a steep bank and his weight added to the dampness caused the ground under him to cave. He fell forward then stopped in mid fall. “ And so you are here. This point is a nexus of your life for it could continue or it could end. Every end is a beginning. You have been chosen to choice to end you old life here or continue it back there."

Jake knows that stretch of creek well. He has hunted it sense a boy. Where he would have fell would be rocky. Not all of them smoothed by the water either. He would not be the first experienced hunter to by killed by them by a reckless mistake. Jake looked at the fog image of himself. Even if he survived his chances were good he was not getting away unhurt. Jake put the gun on his shoulder and felt hopeless. “ What do you want from me?"

The dragon heard the pain in his voice. “ The choice is yours of course. In fact you have a few. First you go back and second you stay. We can always use another competent pair of hands. Second a soldier, one never knows when they need another brave soul. Third the educated. Those that can keep books and use such knowledge. You do not look the type but one never knows blindly."

Jake thought it over a moment. Now he was over the fear and impossibility of the situation he wanted to know more. “ I have a life, a job, a home, a girlfriend; why should I give that up?"

The fog changes to illustrate his four arguments. “ Your profession, let us start there. You work as a, let me be sure this is right, burger flipper at a place called Burger King."

Jake's face turns red out of embarrassment. At least it was full time with decent pay. “ Not very fulfilling by your reaction. Now your home. Not very large or spacious. In an area not very good for raising whelps, pardon me children."

Jake knew it was true. Two years ago he was living on a thirty acre farm till his own sister sold it after she inherited everything. All that was left was the hunting cabin that was his mothers where he spent some weekends hunting. He would live there if it gave him a nearby job. He was just getting ahead again financially. “ And your, ahem, mate candidate. Is she the choice you want?"

Jake knew he had been living with a tramp. However a bed by yourself is unsettling. She was better than nothing. “ As for your life I can not examine as such defined. However I can tell you if you stay you will experience things you would never in your original."

Jake wondered about that a moment. “ Such as what things?"

The dragon withdrew into the shadows. “ Here she comes now. She can tell you better than me."

Jake looked at the new dragon amazed. After the big one went to sleep or just hid it's head to listen in more privately, Jake was startled to be up close to the new and younger one behind him. “ I said are we going to mate?"

Jake looks at the new addition still confused and trying to make out the words said to him. “ What?"

The blue dragon leans forward and Jake takes a step back. “ Grandmother did tell you right?"

Jake was still confused as he said, “ What, no?"

She sniffs him before leaning back again. “ Oh, she is getting forgetful in her."

The young dragon pauses and looks behind Jake. “ Prime. I am sorry I am just as surprised I was called here. None my generation has. I think none my mothers generation either."

Jake relaxes some a little less cautious of the dragon in front of him. “ I am sorry I was not told much. Just that I have a choice?"

The new dragon laid down. “ Yes, I suppose

-----from the notebook-----