Arindell

Her time was nearing, this she knew. Though in human terms she would still have many decades yet. Her strength had not diminished so much that she need worry about adversaries, at least not yet. Eventually others of her kind might try to unseat her, for now though, they still feared her legendary prowess.

So, as she warmed her wings with the morning sun, perched high amongst the craggy peaks, she felt almost content. Her rule of these mountains stretched for leagues in all directions. Still her nest was empty, as it had been for the past forty years. All her mating had produced nothing. No speckled egg to fuss over. No hatchling to feed fresh kills. Nearing the end of this mating cycle it would be centuries before the next one. She knew that in all likelihood she would not survive to see it.

Shaking off the nagging thoughts of her eventual demise, she launched herself into the sky. Tucking her wings, she descended into the valley below. Her speed increased immediately. Reveling in the moment, she stayed in the dive until the very last moment.

Brushing the tree tops she unconsciously used some magic to help pull herself out of the dive. The air shimmering around her from it’s use. Making the leaves that came in contact with its use, return from fall’s golden hues to their greenness of spring. Flapping her wings again she continued towards one of her favorite hunting grounds. Reaching with her mind for signs of life, she turned left towards a strong vibration of what must be a stag, or perhaps a wild boar. Soon her vision was all she needed to see the deer. It hadn’t ventured far into the meadow, preferring to stay close to the safety of the forest.

Climbing into the sky, she paused midair to survey the strike. She started her fall only to see the stag quickly look up and then bound for the trees. All creatures possess some magic and this stag was no different. It’s magic must have been strong for it’s breed to have sensed her presence.

She pulled out of the dive and considered weather or not to pursue the stag. Deciding to follow it for a bit on the off chance of catching it crossing a opening in the forest. Climbing higher to give it some sense of having avoided her attack. Floating lazily high up with the winds, she could still sense the deer’s vibrations, then another vibration came to her from the forest below. Small and weak, it had almost escaped her notice. The stag forgotten, she turned towards this new development.

It had been several years since the last time that she had felt this higher vibration. No where near the vibrations of a dragon, but this creature possessed quite a strong spirit. Stronger than most humans. Easily one of the strongest that she had sensed in centuries.

Her curiosity peaked, she followed the trail emanating from below. Little did she know, that the winds she rode on this day, were the winds of destiny.

A small glen below proved to be where the human was hiding, her amazing red hair giving her away easily, trying to hide amongst some boulders near one edge. Several moss covered standing stones formed a semi circle on the far edge. Abandoning caution she dropped down and landed a short distance from the rocks. There was no movement coming from between the boulders, so she moved closer. Reaching out with her mind, she sent a message of peace and trust. This human seemed confused by the language of the mind but still stirred from within the rocks. It was a child who poked her head out of the crack where she was hiding. Yelping at the sight of a huge dragon befor her, she immediately returned to hiding. Hoping that she hadn’t been seen.

The world seemed to pause in this moment, as if it was holding it’s breath. What was to happen next would decide in which direction this reality would proceed.

She pondered weather or not to leave this child to it’s fate, crouching down to spring into the air. She reconsidered. “Damn it” she thought in the language of the dragons. More forcefully this time her thoughts commanded the child to come forth. Yet it still resisted. “Amazing” she thought. Never before had she seen a human be able to push back against her magic. She could sense the girls abject fear so she decided that a different approach was in order.

“Child” she said softly with her voice, “come forth, I mean you no harm” It had been a long time since she had last spoke the human language, and it felt strange to her ears. Going against all her ancestors guidance she decided to tell the girl her name. Not the name that they called her, but her dragon name, her true name. “I am called Arindell, what is your name?” Finally, this tactic seemed to have worked as the child’s fear abated somewhat and quietly she squeaked out her name “River”.

The world shifted for Arindell, all her ancestors memories, ingrained within her came into focus with that one word. River. “The strength of the river would move mountains” was always the saying. Was always the prediction. “This couldn’t be true” she thought, “it must just be a fluke.”Her intuition knew better.

Addressing the girl, Arindell said “You must be cold and hungry, why don’t you come out into the sunlight and let me see you. I’m sure the sun would warm you.” River “was”cold and hungry, yet this ten year old knew enough of dragons to be extremely cautious. But there was something in her intuition as well that told her this would not only be ok but necessary. Taking a deep breath, she stepped from within the rocks.

Arindell watched as this slight child with such beautiful red hair stepped out in front of her. Dirty and disheveled she still had a shimmering about her. “Did she know her power? she thought. “ She would only get stronger as she aged.” Asking the obvious, “Are you hungry? made River’s eyes light up and the quick nod gave her the answer. Knowing that humans cooked their meat she asked “Have you the means to start a small fire? If so I will go and bring you back something to cook.” River reached into her shoulder bag and brought out her fire starter. Arindell nodded and launched into the air.

Shortly she returned with a hare, dropping it by the small fire that River already had going. Soon it was cooking over the flames. Arindell took this opportunity to ask her next question “How is it that you have come to be here?” The tears started to well in River’s eyes, her shoulders dropped and she hugged herself. Her pain was clear on her face as she told what had happened. “They came for me” she started to say. “The villagers”

“My father had started to hear rumors, they were saying that I’m a witch. That things were happening whenever I was around. That’s when my father and I left, before they could take me. But they still came for me, chasing us, my father told me to go. Told me to follow my thoughts to where they led me. Then he stayed to fight them.”

“That is why I am here” she added

Arindell was amazed, she couldn’t believe how far the humans had fallen in their ignorance of what should be celebrated. “You are no witch, child” she spoke to her in her mind. River looked at her, tipping her head. “I can hear you in my head” she said. “Yes” replied Arindell “ You have much to learn, and, it appears, it falls on me to teach you”

Arindell searched her collective memories of dragons and humans interacting over the millennia. There were some very old suggestions that it was once common. This Was no longer the case. “What am I to do with this child” she thought to herself. “Why have I been chosen this task?”

As River sat and ate the rabbit, Arindell contemplated what was to follow. Addressing her with her voice she said “River, you and I are now linked. Our futures are connected, this world will forever be altered by our union. Now finish your meal and let us be about it.”