:: http://www.geocities.com/dragynmistress ::
:: By Jennifer Vromant			   ::
:: jen_vromant@yahoo.com		   ::
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Aerdancer - Chapter 07

The humans and mythical animals all speak the same language.  It is said that a kind dragon once taught the humans to talk, before they moved into Mythopia.  So humans and mythical animals would understand each other if spoken to.  Humans need to talk to communicate clearly, but we don't have to.  All mythical animals are connected in some way.  The gryphons and dragons and equines and even the squirrel-like mothkyns.  No mythical animal has ever spoken to a human since the one dragon, and since then humans have come to think of us as stupid animals, like deer and sheep, who can't think, but function automatically on instincts.  They believe we can't think ahead or realize exactly who and what we are.

The humans had at least a hundred captured mythical animals in all sorts of cages and pens.  A herd of pegasi and unicorns were trapped in a high, shallow cave by a large net of thick vines.  Their anger had calmed and they were waiting patiently to see what would happen to them.  Furious dragons and draclings were in seperate reinforced steel cages, trying to break out by clawing and throwing fire.  There were nets with the elusive mothkyns squeaking and chattering at each other in indignation and anger that they let themselves be caught.

But what got to me the most were the three gryphons chained to a large boulder.  They called us the kings of the sky, and these three sat there with their heads bowed in defeat.  All three were still dusty brown, so they were about a year old.  I figured they were all from the same nest.  Young nestmates cuddle to fall asleep, but these three were chained too far away from each other to cuddle.  Anger washed over me and I wanted to attack, but I made myself observe more.

I could see that the humans had brought wood from the forests to make shelters from the wind and rain.  They had dug a hole in the ground and put rocks around it to make a well.  This couldn't be a long-term home, because there was no way to get food nearby, but it wasn't a short-term home, either.  I figured they would maybe stay a moon cycle or two and then move on.  That would give us time to get to the dragons and back to rescue the other animals.  With that thought I climbed down from my ledge and followed the path the others had taken.