Mercanyin entered a small clearing, wondering where he could possibly be. Tessa entered beside him, just as curious. She saw the dragons first, but didn’t know what was going on. "So help me, if we get eaten Mercanyin, I’ll kill you." Mercanyin gave Tessa a dirty look. The creature sat down.
He looked around the valley and realized immediately that he shouldn’t be here. Dragons filled the air as eggs hatched. A few people had already bonded to the Hathian dragons and were leaving the clearing. A small light blue, dragon-like creature flew at him. Finally! The creature tried to pull him forwards. C’mon, c’mon you’ve wasted enough time.
"What in the name of the Abyss is this?!?" He demanded of no one in particular. He reached for his sword and prepared to dispose of the creature. He began to draw his sword when the Keeper of the Warren appeared before him. The creature flew to her arm and he stood shocked.
"Anitraya, you cannot stop your children from choosing. Lift your wing." Her voice was calm and commanding. The dragon reluctantly obeyed.
Mercanyin snorted and glared darkly at the assembly. He turned abruptly on his heal before the Keeper had time to say anything to him. He possessed very little magic in his body and could not feel the sensations Tessa could though. She knew he was supposed to be here. She knew it’d mean new responsibilities and new problems for the both of them, but Mercanyin was supposed to be here, this was supposed to happen. She dug her teeth into his shirt sleeve, as she had done once before, and dragged. "Y’re nt leving. Yu brrugh us here so pay da prce." She growled at him, but wouldn’t let go.
Mercanyin smiled his un-nerving smile. With a quick tug he removed his shirt from Tessa’s mouth and knocked the blue-furred creature over. "Very un-ladylike Tessa." For a moment Tessa thought he’d leave again, but instead he strode past her to stand with the only other candidate there. He glared at the girl, but it didn’t work. He was in a bad mood. He didn’t even want a dragon partner and now here he was standing next to a girl he could break in half with a look, and yet who wasn’t intimidated by him, waiting around for some stupid eggs, to stupidly hatch and then......
Mercanyin’s ramblings were cut short by a blast of emotion from a tiny silver hatching at his feet. The creature was proud and impatient. It wanted food. Mercanyin gazed down at it, amazed.
"Uhhhh....." Mercanyin didn’t know what to do or say. His gaze was lost in that of the little silver hatchlings. He was shocked silly. Pain woke him up quickly. A little red hatchling snapped at his knees.
"Hey!" Mercanyin jumped out of the way of the red’s teeth. He smirked at the two hatchlings. Much to Tessa’s amusement, the red smirked back, looking just as unnerving and insolent as Mercanyin himself. "I could get used to this." Mercanyin decided and knelt to lift the two hatchlings. Two voiced filled his mind as soon as he lifted them.
I am Greth and I am honoured to know you. The silver nodded his head proudly.
The red smirked. I am Kamlin and I could have bit you a lot harder.
Mercanyin laughed. Tessa almost dropped dead from shock. She stared, openmouthed, at her best friend. Mercanyin looked to first the silver, than the red. "Greth and Kamlin."
Mercanyin’s mind flooded with emotions. His dragons were hungry. He walked off to the feeding grounds, Tessa following close behind.
"Hey!" She called, fearing he’d forgotten her. "Hold up. Forgetting something?"
His back was towards Tessa, otherwise she would have run in fear at the smirk that was present on his face. "Oh, I didn’t forget you Tessa. Trust me I’ll never forget you." The urgencies of the dragons hunger pounded in his head. "And as soon as I get these two fed, I’m gonna thank you."
The four entered the feeding grounds. Mercanyin set Greth and Kamlin down near the food and turned to find Tessa. She was already sitting beside him, watching the hatchlings eat with a smile on her face. Mercanyin was amazed. Normally when he threatened her she avoided him, left him to himself to calm down. She snorted and tossed her head. "Nice try Mercanyin. I was almost scared." She smiled at the look of pure astonishment on her face. "I’ve seen too much in the last few days. Too much has happened to us or around us or because of us, but I’ve learned something from it." She smiled up at Mercanyin. The only humanoid she’d ever trusted, even though he’d never asked for her friendship, or even wanted it. Even though he’d tried to force her away, pretended to hate her, threatened her constantly and swore he’d kill her; she knew better now. Even though he sat there now, glaring daggers at her, scowling and looking to all the world like he could have joyfully murdered her, she just smiled up at her best friend. She lay her head in his lap and began purring. He was astonished and looked like he might say something. She interrupted him. "I know now, my friend." His scowl faded to shock as she used those words out loud for the first time. "I know now that beneath that scowling, threatening, hateful exterior, that you really care for me and you’d never do anything to hurt me. And even if you never admit it Mercanyin, we’re friends." She closed her eyes and left her head in his lap. Soon Greth and Kamlin joined her.
It was a beautiful moment. The three creatures with their head in his lap. The dragonlings and Tessa warmly curled around their friend. Beside them were other groups of animals and humans, all bonding together. Other people gazed lovingly into their dragons eyes and whispered beautiful promises. Tessa thought wistfully of all the wonderful things Mercanyin could have said to her and the dragons, his promises to protect them, admitting that he cared for them, just telling them that he was glad they were there. Instead he flopped down and sighed gazing up at the sky as it faded to twilight. "Great. I’m a pillow."
Tessa smiled. He could have said all sorts of wonderful things. But, She smiled and watched Kamlin yawn and bury his nose in Mercanyin’s shirt. But then he wouldn’t be Mercanyin and none of us would be lying here. She yawned and went to sleep alongside the hatchlings. Even though it was uncomfortable for the youth, Mercanyin laid perfectly still. He didn’t want anything to disturb their slumber.
Read Mercanyin’s candidate story!
Mercanyin bonded to Greth and Kamlin at Mystic Dragon’s Forest.
Tessa’s picture from The Silver Unicorn.
Background from Jolie Designs Web Graphics.
