The hot sun beat down relentlessly on the dark emerald wings of the dragon flying over the desert sands. As Sheyl's midnight-black eyes scanned the dunes for a sign of life, she began to lose hope. She thought of her hatchling Rona, waiting back at the aerie for mother to bring back some much-needed food. They had been three weeks without food, and Rona's delicate bones were beginning to show. Suddenly, from far off, Sheyl caught a glint of light moving slowly towards her. Perhaps?.....

Linna hugged Terlyn closer, hoping they could find water soon. It had been almost three days since they last stopped at an oasis. She remembered all too vividly what had forced her to run out to the wastelands. Two years ago, she had been married to Darlan, who had been her true love. She had a girl-child, whom she named Terlyn. A month after that, their settlement had been attacked by barbaric outsiders. All the men had been killed, and their heads put on sticks. All the women and children were taken back as booty. Linna's dark beauty made her the object of many squabbles. Finally, she was 'married' to a dirty oaf named Calus. Calus put Darlan's head on a pole outside their hut so that Linna would see it always. He had beaten her horribly the night before she ran away, calling her a whore and threatening to sell Terlyn to whomever offered the most. She had screamed curses at him and tried to hit him with a broom, to the effect that she was beaten even more severely. Later that night, she quietly took Terlyn out of her crib, packed as much food and water as she could, snuck out to the stable and rode away on Calus' best stallion. That had been five days ago. Their food was almost gone, as was their water, and the horse had dropped dead somewhere along the way. A dark shadow passed overhead. Mustering her strength, she looked up, and almost fainted. A dragon was swooping down towards her!

Sheyl, upon getting closer, saw that the glint was a cloak-clasp on a human, wrapped in a cloak to protect her from the desert sun. She was surprised that it was wandering around in the wastelands without a horse, and surmised that it was hungry and dehydrated. It looked up as she dived in. It was a female. She seemed to be holding something. As Sheyl's talons closed on the woman's shoulders, she clutched whatever she was holding tighter.

I'm going to die, thought Linna. For a fleeting moment, she wished that she had not brought Terlyn. Then she realized that Terlyn would probably have been punished for Linna disappearing, and who knew what Calus would have done to the infant?! Was that really better than death? Perhaps, but not much. She stopped thinking of such matters. The ride would have been exhilarating, but for the fact that she was going to her, and almost certainly Terlyn's doom. She could see, a few miles away, what she supposed was a nest. Something black was in it.

Landing back at her home, Sheyl deposited her prey by Rona. Rona snapped at her meal, but the mother shooed her away and turned her gaze on Linna. The woman was obviously terrified and not in the best of health. The bundle she was holding turned out to be a young human, not more than two years old. Just because Sheyl was a dragon did not mean that she did not have empathy with the mother she had caught to feed her young. Perhaps the human would understand that, being a mother, Sheyl had to care for her young, just as the human had to, but she doubted it. Humans were noted for their lack of communicatory skills, even among themselves.

Why is the dragon waiting? thought Linna. It was plain to see that the dragon youngling was as hungry as she was, yet still the beast delayed. Linna thought that for a second, she saw sympathy in the dragon's eyes, but dismissed it as a desperate hallucination.

The human does not understand, Sheyl knew. How can I show her that I will not harm the small one? Thinking of no other way, she gently took the child from Linna and set her down on the floor of dried grass next to Rona. Terlyn woke and began to cry. The woman rushed to soothe the infant, and the dragon did not stop her. Linna wondered again at the dragon's behavior. She thought that maybe this was some trick of a neighboring sorcerer, for she had heard tales of sand-wizards that could make illusions that were solid to the touch. But why would a sand-wizard do this to them? Rona started to cry as well, for she too was confused by her parent's behavior. This morsel of food was obviously delectable and healthy, but Sheyl didn't let her eat it. Hungry!, she growled to Sheyl. No, later, was the older dragon's reply. She nudged Linna away from the baby with an outstretched claw, and made an almost crooning sound to Terlyn. To Linna's astonishment, Terlyn responded not with squeals of fright, but with happy babbling. Perhaps...perhaps...the dragon will take care of Terlyn...thought Linna. Without knowing why she did this, Linna said to the dragon ,"Will you care for my Terlyn?" Maybe it was coincidence, but Sheyl nodded. Linna's eyes widened in shock, and she fainted. Sheyl was relieved that she had. To make sure that the human did not wake and feel pain , she quickly severed her nerve cord. The dragons quickly ate Linna. Sheyl, feeling guilty, yet invigorated, glanced at Terlyn. She was blissfully asleep. Rona purred with satisfaction and fell asleep as well.

* * * * *

Terlyn stretched luxuriously on the soft grass. Spring was here . Birds sang, flowers bloomed, and small animals abounded. She sat up and ran over to the pond with the waterfall. Rona was sleeping in it with her head resting on the bank. Terlyn cannonballed into the calm blue water and splashed Rona beautifully, waking her up from delicious dreams of plump cattle and sheep. "Hey- that was NOT nice!", Rona mock-scolded Terlyn, pushing the slender human under with her tail. "Hypocrite", muttered Terlyn when she resurfaced. "Now, now, younglings�behave yourselves," smiled Sheyl. It was a stroke of unbelievable luck that she had found this oasis on a foraging trip. It was a huge lush patch of land at the foot of the mountains, moistened by water flowing down from the mountains. It being such a perfect watering hole and resting point for animals, the dragons always had plenty to eat, and Terlyn could gather fruit and succulent plants in addition to the meat..