| To be or not to be is not the question. Are you willing to be or not to be is the question. -Rules of Life, pg. 6 Part 26 My head ached. I opened my eyes, meeting with familiar green ones. [. . . Tiovex . . .] [I�m right here, Kitiane. What do you need?] [. . . Surface . . .] [No. I won�t take you back down there.] [. . . Have to go . . .] [No you don�t!] [. . . Ziaden . . .] [He can care for himself!] [. . . Some other way? . . .] [Yes . . . One.] [. . . ? . . .] [Be a human again until you�ve recovered.] [. . . Do it . . .] [But . . .] He sighed at me. [Okay. If you�re sure that�s what you want.] I nodded and he cast the spell. Seconds later I was human, still clothed as I had been before. I felt a lot stronger and was able to sit up. [Your nose will heal on its own, but it will take time. When your nose is healed, you will automatically become a dragon again.] I nodded again. � Can you take me to the ground, please?� [ . . . Yes.] I dropped off the table and onto his back. [But I will be watching closely and if that boy does anything like that again I�m bringing you right back here where I know you�re safe.] I didn�t answer, prefering to lay along his back as he moved, giving him directions as I sensed them. When he landed I got off and looked around. � Madain Sari. Wonder what they�re doing here?� He rubbed his head against my arm. I peeled off pieces of skin on his head and neck. He closed his eyes and grinned a toothy dragon grin. Bright cobalt blue scales shone back at me. [Mm~m. Feels good. Will you do this for me every year?] � I suppose.� [Great!] He kissed my cheek and took off. [Remember what I said!] I entered Madain Sari and had three seconds to see the place before I was attached to. I was about to hit them when I noticed the familiar head of blond hair. It was Zidane and he was sobbing his eyes out, clutching fistfuls of my shirt as if I were about to disappear. � Mother! I�m so sorry!� � What for?� I asked, stroking his back. � For being such a jerk! Please forgive me!� � Oh, come now, Ziaden. You honestly believe that I took everything you said to heart?� � Yes!� I clucked softly. � You still have much to learn then, Ziaden.� � I don�t care! As long as you don�t do that ever again!� � Do what?� � Leave!� I hugged him and got down next to his ear so I wouldn�t have to speak loudly. � You are my hatchling, Ziaden. I will never be far from your side. Whether I am truly there or not, I will never be far.� � I . . . I love you, Mother.� I pushed aside my surprise and kissed the top of his head. � I love you too, Ziaden. I always have and always will.� He smiled through his tears as he looked up. � Oops. I got your shirt wet.� *~~* Iifa Tree. Tiovex had warned me of it. . . . [I can sense it near here. Be sure to steer clear of it. Nasty tales and all that Mist make it a suspicious and dangerous place. If that boy of yours insists on going in there, call me. Your magic is severely weakened as a human and if you overstress your human self, it�ll drain onto your dragon self and kill you.] . . . I best call him. There was a roar of split air and Tiovex landed beside me. [Oh boy,] he said sarcastically, shaking his head and neck as he lowered it toward the ground and crouched his front end as lazy defense. [We�re heading into an adventure now, aren�t we? Well, I suppose I should count my blessings that you even bothered to call me.] Eiko stared at me. � You can call dragons?� � Of course she can,� Zidane replied for me. � She�s a sorceress.� [He�s talking you up, isn�t he?] [Well, it is true . . . In a way.] Tiovex started laughing. [May I ask what�s so funny?] [You! Just you!] [And what about me is so funny?] He grew serious. [I don�t know.] He let out a fake gasp. [I must be getting hysterical!] [Over what? We haven�t gone anywhere yet.] [I don�t know that either.] I bopped his head with my fist. [Moron!] He snorted. [My my. See if I ever help you again.] Eiko was wide-eyed. � You know their language too?! You must be a powerful sorceress!� � No, not really. I�ve known it ever since I was little.� Vanel appeared by my foot. [I made it!] Eiko jumped. � Where did that one come from?!� Zidane turned and patted the side of his leg to get Vanel�s attention. � Come here, Vanel.� The hatchling ran and leapt into his arms. [Ack! Promise not to leave me behind anymore! It was awful catching up to you!] � Okay, I promise. Hey, I have someone for you to meet.� He held Vanel out toward Eiko. � Vanel, Eiko Carol. Eiko, Vanel.� � Hello, Vanel.� � Greetings, Eiko.� <--Part 25 Part 27--> |