FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Run! Flee! Must get away away awayawayaway...

No! No hurt no hurt no...

Pax?

Run Ryan! But Pax he will hurt you...PAX!

Bastard! Must fight must fight MUST FIGHT!

Leavmealone!

Must flee, must get away,must! Father! Mother! Tanner? TANNER!

"TANNER!" Ryan woke up roaring in fear. Athena was over to him in an instant

"Easy my prince, you're safe," she said, stroking his neck. Ryan looked around wildly, trying to figure out where he was and Athena continued to pet him until he calmed down. "You're safe inside, my prince," she said gently. "You're in my treatment room. You'll be fine, I promise."

Ryan looked into her eyes for a moment and exhaled, lowering himself back to the bed. "I was having a nightmare."

"I am not so very surprised my prince," Athena said as she walked over to a cabinet that hung on the wall. She pulled out a large glass bottle filled with a blue liquid and measured out some into a glass, then filled the glass the rest of the way with water. "Here my prince, drink this."

Ryan eyed it. "It will not taste bad will it?"

"You will not know until you try," Athena said sweetly.

Ryan looked at her and figured she would probably do something unpleasant to him if he said no. He sighed and took the glass in both fore claws and drank the blue liquid down with a gulp. He started in surprise; it didn't taste bad at all!

Athena laughed in a rich voice. "Not so very bad was it my prince?"

Ryan shook his head and sighed. "Please, do not call me that. Call me Ryan."

"As you wish, Ryan."

Ryan started to stretch and then groaned I pain as he pulled against his wounds. "You're going to be sore for awhile but I assure you that you will live and be able to fly once your wing is healed."

Ryan blinked at the news. "I am never allowed to fly anyway."

Athena looked shocked. "Never?"

He shook his head. "No. My parents were afraid that I would be seen and taken from them."

"Oh Ryan, I am so very sorry," she said. She stormed his neck and he felt the warmth of her hand and voice to be very soothing.

"It is not such a very big deal."

"It is, Ryan. Flying is very much part of being a dragon. I promise that you will be able to fly here without fear of discovery."

"Oh that would be so very wonderful!" Ryan said wistfully and she stroked his neck carefully again.

"Yes it will be. I look forward to seeing you in the air. Your mother was so very graceful; I am sure you will take after her."

He stiffened. "You knew my mother?"

"Yes Ryan. We were friends," she said and realized that the young dragon was looking up at her, trembling. "Oh I am so very sorry my prince. I did not consider...forgive me, please."

Ryan nodded, unable to speak for a moment. "What was she like?"

"Graceful as a ballet dancer in the air. More so really, a dragon in flight is one of the most graceful things in all the world, far more than any human dancer could accomplish."

"I wish I knew--" he broke off. "I cannot wait to meet her," he finished. If he refused to believe that she was gone, she would be fine, she would be safe and come back to him. She would be alive and well and coming running to him, open arms...

Athena watched the young dragon drift off into thought and smiled. "I have a few pictures of her, if you would like to see them after you wake up."

"I am awake now!" he protest.

She smiled. "Not for very much longer I'm afraid."

He glared. "That stuff you made me drink?"

"I'm afraid so, Ryan."

He growled at her but suddenly nodded off so quickly that she caught his head and lowered it gently to the bed. "You will feel better when you awaken my prince," she said softly and walked back to her desk, sitting in the large leather seat. She opened the drawer and pulled at a picture, looking at it for a long while before she sighed and put it away, going back to her paperwork.

"It wasn't his fault, Allen," Beth said quietly back in their rooms. He spun on her, eyes flashing in anger, but she just stood there calmly. He opened his mouth to say something and closed it, then turned away.

"You are most likely right," he said grudgingly.

"I understand your anger at Tanner and I share it it part, but you need to be reasonable. You're upset because Ryan has been hurt and I am as well, but don't take it out on Tanner."

"Weren't you the one saying you were worried about him and his intentions?"

"Yes, and I still worry a little, but not so much as I was. No matter what you need to be calm. Ryan has a great deal of affection towards him and if you going blundering in trying to keep Tanner away from him it could well make him angry, or if not angry upset. Isn't he upset enough?"

He sighed. "I'll try to control my temper."

"You need to apologize to him."

He tensed. "Tanner?"

"Ryan more than him, but yes him too."

"I'll think about it."

She shook her head. "It's not the end of the world to admit you were wrong, Allen."

"I know that!" he snapped. "Let just drop it, okay?"

"Fine," she said and settled down on the couch, turning on the TV, hoping to find something to watch to keep her mind off the situation.

Tanner paced back and forth in the garden, furious over what had just happened. How dare Allen say such things to him! Especially when you considered how he treated Ryan! He barely understood the boy, tried to damp his draconic instincts, and was just plain impatient with him. Bad enough behavior with human children; disastrous with a dragon in Ryan's situation. It was frustrating to watching Ryan look to him for approval, approval that Tanner wasn't certain would ever be forthcoming.

He sat down on a bench and put his head in his hands, sighing. He did have to admit that Ryan's father did soften towards him after the explained how they found Ryan. He also had to admit that he was angry which tainted his view on the situation. Even still, it was lousy of Allen to treat Ryan the way he did.

And there wasn't much he could do about it.

Frustrating. Was he going to listen to Allen and stay away from Ryan? He had no idea. He hoped that Allen would see reason and allow him to see the boy. The idea of loosing contact with Ryan hurt him far more that he expected. He sighed again, rubbing his head with his hands. What was he to do?

"What is wrong?" he heard a soft voice say. He looked up to see Kith standing there in her bipedal form, looking at him curiously. He admired her beauty; she was a very attractive dragoness. Well proportioned, well built, sleek, all of the things that would attack the attention of may males. He wasn't very familiar with her breed though he had seen a few of her kind before. They were one of the fastest dragons he thought.

"I am fine, milady," he said respectfully.

She snorted. "I hardly thing pacing the garden and sitting with your head in your hands counts as fine."

"You're observant."

"It is part of what I do," she said. "And I know you are here with the young prince so you are likely worried about him."

"You've got that right," he admitted. "Your healer says he'll be fine and I'm sure she's right, but it's hard to see him hurt."

"Yes, quite," she agreed. "Are you close to him?"

Tanner laughed bitterly. "I've just been forbidden to see him or be close to him by his father."

She cocked her head. "Why? I see no harm in you being near the prince."

"Ask him. He's angry that I allegedly abandoned Ryan to be attacked. I brought him back to the house and assumed that he would listen and go to his rooms, but he decided to go back out and go exploring. I'm not blaming the boy, but it was just a stupid accident. Who knew someone would be out there trying to hurt him?"

"I agree. Even still, we cannot keep him under glass. I just had that conversation with Cladden and Kheros. From what I know he has had a very sheltered life and he has been kept utterly ignorant of dragonkind. He needs to be free to explore and be a dragon."

Tanner nodded. "Just so. I don't blame Allen and Beth for being nervous around other dragons, but he does need to be allowed to get out and learn what it is to be a dragon."

"You have a great deal of affection for him."

Tanner felt his face heat up. "Yes."

She nodded. "I am going to check on him and then get back to my duties."

"What do you do? If you don't mind me asking."

"I help Cladden with administration and I catalog draconic history as a hobby."

Tanner blinked. "I would be very interested in seeing your history."

"You read draconic?" she asked, head titled.

"Not very well," he admitted, "but what a reason to learn!"

She laughed. "I would be happy to show it to you at some later time."

"I look forward to it, milady."

She smiled. "Just call me Kith."

"I am honored, Kith," Tanner said, standing up and nodding to her. She nodded in return and walked back into the house, her stride and movements graceful.

"How are you feeling, Ryan?" his mother asked him as she carefully pet him, trying to avoid hurting him.

"I am well, mother; you need not worry so. I feel so very much better today and Athena says that I will be fine," Ryan assured her, not wanting her to worry.

'That's good to hear my son," she said smiling at him reassuringly and his ears came up.

"I'm glad you're feeling better, Ryan," Allen said, standing a short distance away. Ryan looked at him, ears still perked, but then they slowly came down. "What's wrong?"

"I disobeyed, father," Ryan said, looking down.

"Did you?" Allen asked carefully.

"Yes father, and I am so very sorry! Tanner brought me back inside but I decided to go back out. The garden was so very pretty and everyone said that I would be safe here. I did not think someone would try to...hurt me," he trailed off, looking haunted.

Beth gave Allen a warning look and he nodded. "You should have listened, Ryan, but I understand."

Ryan looked confused. "You are not angry?"

"I'm very angry! But not about you disobeying, but that you were hurt." Allen sighed. "I think Tanner should have made sure that you came all the way back to the room to make sure you were safe. He agreed to watch over you but did not."

"But you said that it was not his fault, father! You said that he as fine because it was me that went back out. Please do no be angry with him," Ryan plead.

"It's a difficult situation, Ryan," Beth said, petting him. "No one is going to be in trouble over it, however. It hunk the dragon who attacked you would have found a way no matter what and we're fortunate that Pax was there to protect you and that you were so fast on your feet." She pet him and he glowed under her praise. He glanced at his father and the glow faded.

"I am so very sorry father," he said again. "Please do not be so very upset with Tanner. If you wish to punish someone, punish me, but do not punish Tanner."

Allen looked down. "No one is going to be punished, Ryan," he finally said. "Don't worry about it."

They were all quiet a time and Athena finally said, "Pardon me, but Ryan needs his rest. You can come back tomorrow."

"We promise to be back, Ryan," Beth said soothingly as Ryan swallowed nervously.

His ears came up. "It is not as if you are so very far away."

Beth laughed. "When your son is hurt, ten feet is too far away." She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead in a familiar gesture of affection. His father pet him a few times and they both walked out.

Athena prepared Ryan's sleeping draught, thinking about the conversation she had witnessed between Ryan and his parents the entire time. It was clear the boy feared his father to some degree. That was troubling. She was not certain that the young prince's father was abusive physically, but mentally? Emotionally? That she was very troubled by. She wasn't sure she would be able to tolerate it if the boy were actually frightened by his father. Ryan was the prince and he deserved much better. Further, she was reasonable, other dragons not so much.

His mother seemed to be protective of him, even towards his father, another thing that concerned her. She want to ask him if he were being abused or if he was scared, but worried that it would make him even more nervous than he was already. She was already developing the protective instincts towards him as most dragons did with the very young, and even more so that he was the prince. She would have to be careful.

She resolved to ask Sulvius. He was the one who discovered the prince; perhaps he knew more about the situation. In the meantime, it was her responsibility to make sure that Ryan received the care and attention he deserved and need.

"Ryan, time for your medication," she said.

He sighed. "You wish for me to sleep again."

"Yes, Ryan. It's the best thing for you right now."

"I know, but it is so very boring!"

She laughed. "Better bored than hurting. Plus you would find that you have little energy once you started moving about anyway."

He took the drink from her but hesitated. "Athena, you said that you had pictures of my mother."

"I did indeed," she agreed. "How forgetful of me!" She went to her desk and pulled out a pair of picture frames. She brought them back to Ryan who set down the drink and took them into trembling claws. In the first picture there was a very pretty young woman that he recognized as his mother in her human form. She was younger in the picture that he had seen before. "She is so very young," he murmured.

Athena laughed. "Oh, younger then than now."

Ryan looked startled. "She is alive?"

She sighed. "I hope so Ryan. I think that she is. Your mother is very wise, very intelligent, very resourceful. If anyone could survive the situation it is her and your father."

Ryan nodded, swallowing around the lump in his throat, and looked at the other picture. This one was of his mother in flight, the person with the camera a little below and in front of her. Ryan's breath caught in his throat. "Beautiful," he said.

"Oh yes, very much so Ryan Your mother was one of the most graceful dragons alive. I loved to fly with her, though she could easily fly circles around me."

"How well did you know her?"

"Pretty well. We spent some time together during our youth. Her mother was a healer and I learned much from her," Athena said, her eyes lost in memory for a moment. "They were good people Ryan, such good dragons. Id id so love being at their house, eating with them, learning from your grandmother, hearing your grandfather tell stories..." she trailed off. "He would trill us to sleep, some nights, when we had trouble sleeping. He was a very wonderful person."

Ryan felt the tears streaming down his cheeks for the family that he never knew. "I do so wish that I could have known him."

Athena shifted to her bipedal form and kelt down, carefully taking him into her arms. "I wish you could have too, Ryan. At least you have our memories so they are not fully gone to you. Think of it that way," she said as she carefully hugged him. "Now take your medication and go to sleep, little dragon."

"I am not so very little," Ryan said and sniffed. He took the drink and swallowed it down.

"Little enough, my prince," Athena laughed and watched as Ryan settled himself as the drink took hold. She stroke chis neck until he started thrumming quietly in his sleep.

Tanner took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Ryan's room, feeling tension like a bundle of wet rags in his stomach. He hated feeling this way, but felt the need to apologize. He would do far more to be able to see Ryan and that thought concerned him.

Beth opened the door and smiled. "Hello, Tanner."

"Hello. May I come in?"

"Of course," she said and stepped aside. Ryan's father was sitting at the table, eating his breakfast, and reading a paper. He looked at Tanner and closed his eyes. Tanner sighed, stopping.

"Before you say anything, I'm sorry for what I said. If you truly want me to stay way from Ryan, then I will do so."

Allen shook his head. "No. I'm sorry, but I was just angry because Ryan was hurt and was lashing out. I needed someone to blame and you where there. You may visit him; he has been asking about you."

"Thank you," Tanner said. They exchanged mindless pleasantries for awhile before Tanner left, eager to see the little dragon. Ryan's parents watch him go and Beth turned to Allen.

"Thank you."

Allen shrugged. "I only hope that Tanner is not what he seems."

Beth sighed. "I know," she said quietly as she sat down to her breakfast, both of them lost in their thoughts.

The sun shown brightly in the sky, a warm breeze blew at just the perfect temperature, and a just in general wonderful day was at least half mocking Ryan as he sat on the deck in the back of the house. Athena had graciously allowed him to convalesce on the deck, actually agreeing with him that the sunshine would do him some good. Ryan was surprised and elated at first at his new found freedom, and then of course quickly chafed at the restrictions as any adolescent, human or dragon, would.

He knew he shouldn't complain, he really did, but it was terribly hard not to, especially after Athena said he would be able to fly. Oh to be able to fly! Athena was right: flying was very much part of being a dragon. He grumbled and settled back in his chair, grumbling at his sore ribs.

"You'll be back on your feet in no time, Ryan," Tanner said as he ran his hand over Ryan's head. Ryan pushed his head into the petting, briefly.

"I know. But it seems so very long."

"Of course it does. Even still, it isn't," Tanner looked out at the garden. "At least you have something wonderful to look at." He pet the young dragon again. "I need to go my friend; Cladden wants to talk to me."

"Alright, Tanner. I will probably just nap; there is little else to do."

"There's a good dragon," Tanner said smiling. With one last pat he walked away leaving Ryan alone.

It didn't last long. He ears swiveled as he heard the sound of tiny wings carrying a tiny dragon towards him. He looked up to see Pax fluttering his direction. Fluttering was probably the best way to describe his flight while in his small form. He landed carefully on Ryan's knee. "How are you feeling, my prince?"

"Much better," Ryan said. He did, however, wish they would stop calling him prince. He did have a name, it wasn't a hard one to say really, and he would prefer that they used it. No matter, he was glad to see Pax. The dragon had stopped in to see him several times during his stay in the hospital room, but was never able to stay long. Ryan hoped to get a chance to talk to him further.

"I am so very glad to hear it, my prince."

"Ryan please. I am not so very comfortable being called prince."

Pax cocked his head in what appeared to be a universal draconic gesture. "I understand that Ryan, but you will become adjusted to it in time."

Ryan look uncomfortable. "What if I do not? What if I do not wish to be a prince and just want to be a normal dragon like everyone else?"

Pax sighed. "I am afraid you will find that to be impossible. You were born as the breed that you are to the parents who had you, and there is nothing you can do about that. It is part of who you are. Cheer up, my prince, it will not be so bad once you get used to it. Ryan, I mean," Pax said, grinning at his slip.

"I hope you are right."

"I know that I am. Responsibility of any sort takes getting used to."

Ryan sighed and looked off into the sky. Puffy clouds were gathering about like so many balls of cotton. He scented the air, catching the smell of the nearby flowers. He looked back at Pax who was perched as neat as you please on his knee. Ryan found that to be incredible, but decided not to say anything about it. Like Pax riding on his shoulder, it was cool, but he figured to say anything about it would be insulting.

"Pax?"

"Yes?" Pax said, closing his wings a little more tightly to his back and settling himself further.

"Is that your full name? In noticed that some dragons seem to have a short name they use, or even two names, one human and one dragon."

"No, it is just Pax. It is the only name that I have; my parents did not give me another. I seldom venture into human society anyhow."

"Ryan is the only name I have. I know not if my parents had a draconic name for me."

"I am certain they do, Ryan," Pax said gently. Ryan's head snapped up at the present tense and he smiled hesitantly.

"You think they are alive?"

"I think they are, yes," Pax replied. "Your parents are very clever. If anyone would survive, they would."

"Athena said the same thing."

"Then you should listen to her!"

They were silent a moment when Ryan finally worked up the nerve to ask how old Pax was. "268," Pax replied and Ryan's jaw dropped. Pax laughed. "Dragons are fairly long lived."

"How long do you expect to live? I mean how long is average?"

"For my breed 400 years or so. My family is a bit longer lived, mostly, mother is 298 and still going strong, stubborn though she is."

Ryan shook his head. "You were born in the 1700's!"

Pax smiled. "True."

"You would have seen the revolutionary war, the civil war, the French revolution, steam engines, so many different things!"

Pax nodded. "I have seen a lot, yes, both the good and the worst in human behavior."

"You said that John Adams was president when you were in school? Surely you would have been beyond school age?"

"For a dragon, not so much. My parents forced me to go to a human school as I had developed a rather strong dislike for humans at the time. They hoped that if I were to be associated with them that I would become more tolerant. It worked better than they expected, to their chagrin."

"How is that?" Ryan wondered.

"Well, I had always abhorred slavery. How a person could treat another thinking being that way is beyond me. It was one of the reasons that I disliked humans. After going to school, I became interested in antislavery causes and joined several, admittedly to annoy my father."

Ryan laughed and Pax lowered his ears. "Yes, well, I was young once too."

"Did you fight in the Civil War?"

He nodded. "Again, it frustrated my father, but he told me that I had to do what I thought was right. I obviously fought for the Union."

"Were you in many battles?"

"Several. I lost many humans I considered to be friends. It was a very hard thing for me."

"I am so very sorry, Pax," Ryan said. He hesitated. "Did other dragons fight?"

"I know of a few that did yes. Fortunately there were no dragon casualties."

"That is so very amazing!" Ryan said. He reached out carefully and pet Pax's head wit his knuckle. The littler dragon thrum mat him and he withdrew his hand in surprise.

"Ryan, Pax," Tanner said as he walked up.

"Hello Tanner! Pax was telling me about his childhood!"

Tanner laughed. "Interesting I am sure."

"He is 268 years old!"

"A youngster then!"

Pax snorted. "Flattery will get you no where."

"Tanner, do you know how long my breed lives?" Ryan asked.

Tanner shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I think the average is about 300 years, isn't it Pax?"

"Something around that I believe."

"So very long," Ryan murmured, looking down.

"I can image it's a bit of an adjustment on your part. You were raised to expect 80 or so years, if you even thought about it at all, and now you learn you have more than twice that many," Tanner said.

Ryan shook his head I amazement, then froze. "I...I will outlive my family..."

"Most people outlive their parents, Ryan," Tanner said.

"Yes, but I will outlive you and everyone else who is human! If mother and father had a child, I would outlive my brother or sister as well as their children!"

"It is something you have to adjust to, Ryan," Pax said quietly. "Some dragons refuse to develop attachments to humans at all for that reason."

"A little late for that now is it not?" Ryan said bitterly.

"Easy, Ryan. You have a long time to learn to deal with it. Do not think about it now," Tanner said.

"I suppose you are right," Ryan said. The idea that he would loose all his human friends...of course he really didn't have all that many, now that he thought about it.

"Indeed," Pax said and yawned. Ryan couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the tiny little dragon yawning just as he would, mouth agape, jaws snapping shut at the end, Pax blinking several times. The little dragon grumbled at him and he apologized.

"If you don't mind me asking, Pax, I heard that you were involved in the antislavery movement?" Tanner asked.

"For many years, yes."

"By chance did you ever meet William Wilberforce?"

He nodded. "A few times, yes. Is he a relation?"

"Not as far as I know, thought it would be an honor to be related to such a great man."

"What other famous people have you known, Pax?"

Pax fluttered a wing. "Fame is fleeting, Ryan. Many of the people that I knew during my youth that were quite famous are near completely unknown now. Fame means little, Ryan. Always remember that."

Cladden leaned back in his chair, wishing that his headache would go away, very far away, and take most of this problems with it. He looked at Kith and Kheros who were sitting in front of him. "So there has been no word on where Xerxes as gone?"

"None," Kheros replied. "He has dropped off the face of the planet as near as we can tell."

"We could not be so very lucky," Cladden said. "They must be hiding him somewhere. I worry at where he will show up next or what problems he may instigate in the mean time."

"I worry more about who is controlling him," Kith said. "Xerxes by himself is not much of a threat, but with someone guiding his actions..." She shook her head.

"I have personally seen to the security of this place," Kheros said. "Everyone is on alert and the prince is always under supervision, even if he does not know it."

"Probably best that he does not. He seems to take an independent streak from time to time," Kith said.

"Puberty. Lovely time for it," Cladden said sourly.

"It is a little soon for his breed I believe."

"Athena said the same. She thinks it was being forced into human form for so long that did it. She will keep an eye on him but does not think there will be any side affects, at least she hopes not."

Kheros looked worried. "I do not like this."

"There is nothing to be done. No use flying over swept ground," Cladden said with a sigh.

Kheros hesitated. "We...have discussed before about setting up a guard for the prince."

"Yes?" Cladden asked.

"I would like to be his guardian."

"He is frightened of you, Kheros," Kith said gently.

"I know, I know. But if I were to tell him about his father..."

"That may not be for the best."

"But I knew him!" Kheros protested.

"And is it wise to overwhelm him? The prince is overwhelmed enough right now my friend. Give him room to breath."

"You are correct as always, Kith."

She snorted and even managed to make that look graceful. "Oh, not always, but close enough as far as you are concerned."

Cladden laughed and Kheros growled at him. "And you put up with her?"

"She is not so very bad, so long as you keep her in line," Cladden said in a serious voice.

"Keep me in line, Cladden?" Kith said all to sweetly.

"Ah, perhaps that was a bit hasty..."

"What can I do for you, honored lady?" Athena asked Beth as she sat down in front of her desk.

"Honored lady?" Beth asked, confused.

"You are. You kept the prince safe and nurtured him. That is a thing that dragon will never forget. You have done us a great service and dragons remember."

"Ah, well, yes. Thank you," she said, embarrassed.

"So what can I help you with?"

"It's about Ryan..." she trailed off, looking unsure.

"I figured it would be," Athena said with a soft laugh. "What is your concern and how may I ease it?"

"We raised him having no idea of what we were doing really. I worry that we mishandled him and that it has caused him harm."

"Why would you think this?"

"He is so timid," she said. "I would think that dragons would be bold and forward and not so shy."

Athena laughed. "Well, let me tell you that legends are not always accurate about us. Some breeds are more prone to excitability than others, but in general dragons are pretty in control of themselves. We have to be. Fighting amongst ourselves would be a disaster.

"Secondly, yes he is a little timid, more so that I would expect form a dragon his age. His breed tends towards caution and careful consideration, but not timid per se. His breed is noted for wisdom and patience and that is one of the major reasons that they were made rules in the old days." She paused. "Ryan's mother was a bit of a hothead however, just thinking about it."

Beth laughed. "She did display a temper with us several times."

She snorted. "It's the red hair."

"Agreed! But you were saying Ryan is more timid that you would expect?"

Athena sighed and nodded. "He is. I feel he will grow out of it, but yes, he is certainly timid. Shyness is no great deal, that may well be just a part of his personality. His father was rather shy."

"He gets spooked sometimes," Beth said quietly.

"Young dragons do. I would not be surprised if he were more prone to it. You didn't do anything wrong in the way you raised him, you can rest assured of that. There is not much that could have been done differently. You had to keep him safe and away from other dragons and that breeds a certain amount of paranoia, not to mention being taught to not attract attention."

Athena looked down. "I hesitate to bring this up, but his father seems a bit harsh with him."

"He's never abused him!" Beth said abruptly.

Athena raised a hand. "I'm not saying that he has. The fact remains that Ryan flinches away from him and looks to him often as if to make sure he's doing the right thing."

Beth was quiet for a time. "Allen is very protective of Ryan. He worries that Ryan will be taken from us and harmed in some way, that the government or someone would find out about him. It scares him.

"He also...has trouble understanding him sometimes. He knows that Ryan isn't human, but it seems hard for him to make the adjustment. Some days he does better than others but Ryan tends to frustrate him quickly, especially when his instincts are causing him to act differently. Ryan knows that and tends to be overly cautious when his father is around."

"I guess that is understandable," Athena said. "He is going to have to learn to adjust much quicker now, I fear, now that there are other dragons around. They will not be so very understanding of someone acting that way towards their prince."

Beth stiffened. "We're his parents and it's none of anyone else's business."

"And to a point I agree with you. You have to understand, however, that Ryan is very important to dragonkind. It's instinctive, the way most dragons feel about him and towards him. The urger to protect and guard over him, especially as young as he is, is very great and I would hate for them to think Ryan was in fear of his father or that his father meant him harm."

"Great," Beth said. "This isn't going to go over well with him."

Athena shrugged. "It is where dragon clashes with human. I am sorry for it. I suppose you knew when you accepted him that him being a dragon would mean a lot of adjustments on your part. I suppose you never considered how it would be if Ryan were accepted into dragon society however.

"You do not have to fear that you would be kept from him. Ryan would not tolerate it and neither would I, nor would most others. There may be those that will try however, so you should be alert it to it. I cannot tell you how to deal with your mate, but if there is anything at all you can do to help him I would do so. I would also help Ryan, if there was any way you could."

"I don't think telling him that there could be clash would be helpful. He frets over us enough as it is."

"You know him better than any of us. I will be guided by you in this and see that others are as well.'

"What does Cladden think? He's in charge here right?"

"After a fashion yes. I'm sure he is watching the situation and listening to the advice of myself, Kith, and Kheros. Tanner is a respected dragon friend in England so I am sure his voice weighs in here too. Sulvius is highly respected as well. I would not fear him; Cladden will be on your side."

"And the other dragons?" Beth asked quietly.

"Let us not worry about them for now. You have done a great service keeping Ryan away from those who would harm him. They will recognize that."

"I hope you're right. What should we do about Ryan being so timid?"

"Encourage him. Let him play and be with other dragons. Allow him to interact more with others. As he sees how dragons act amongst themselves he will be less frightened of the situation. Assure him that you will never leave him and keep him strong in your affections." She smiled. "He is entering puberty so there will be times you will wish he was more docile."

Beth laughed. "Tanner said the same."

"Has he come into season?"

Beth blushed. "Yes."

"I thought that he might have. Keep that to yourself."

"No problem," Beth muttered. "Ah, why thunderstorms?"

"No one is certain. Changing of the atmosphere, pressure drop, ionization, who knows? It has always been that way however."

Beth blushed harder. "It was very surprising."

Athena laughed. "Oh, I am certain!"

"I had an audio CD of thunderstorms...I hid it from him..." she trailed off feeling even more embraced if that were possible.

Athena arched an eyebrow. "It won't."

"Well I didn't know!"

Athena stared at her and then burst into laughter. After a moment, Beth joined in.

Ryan tired to to be nervous by the presence of Kheros standing behind him in bipedal form as he rested out on the deck. It was almost as if the huge dragon were guarding him. He supposed that he was, really. Ryan wasn't sure if that mad whim feel better or scared him further.

He wasn't sure of how to handle Kheros. He couldn't deny that the dragon made him nervous. He was huge, loud, and just...intimidating! And yet when he carried him back to the house after he had been injured, he had crooned the whole way, being so very gentle. It made Ryan feel odd. It was so at odds at what he expected from the dragon. He knew that he shouldn't stereotype, but it was so hard not to.

He thought about talking to him but he had no idea what to talk about and every time he got ready to open his mouth, he choked on the words. His mind went back to Kheros looked so disappointed when he scared him at the dinner table. Ryan still felt guilty over that.

He glanced up at Kheros and just watched him for a moment. Kheros was scanning the area, for threats he assumed. The large dragon looked down at him, gave him a half smile, and Ryan returned it, then looked away. He took a deep breath and looked back at Kheros, determined not to be nervous. "Kheros?"

"Yes my prince?" Kheros asked in a much quieter voice that he usually used.

"I...I am so very sorry."

Kheros looked surprised. "For what?"

"Being scared of you," Ryan said, lowering his eras.

"Oh, my prince, do not be sorry please! I know that I am very large and that you are not used to dragons, but I promise that I would never, ever hurt you. I would rather myself be harmed than to hurt you."

"But you do not even know me!" Ryan objected.

Kheros hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something. "You are my prince. I need not know anything further. It is more than enough."

"Please, I do not wish this!" Ryan said, becoming agitated.

Kheros raised a hand. "Alright. I am so very sorry Ryan. I did not mean to frustrate you."

Ryan looked away. "I did not mean to become frustrated."

Kheros knelt down and Ryan drew away before he could stop himself. Kheros almost froze, then sighed. "I seem to have upset you again. I seem to be rather good at it. I will call someone else to watch over you, my prince. You need not be made nervous by me again."

Kheros walked away with Ryan watching, a stricken look on his face.

"It feels better, really it does!" Ryan said to Athena as she stood there waiting for him to extend his wing.

"Well I am so very glad to hear that!" Athena said brightly.

"So you will go?" Ryan asked hopefully.

"I didn't say that. If you wing really is feeling as good as you say, then you certainly won't mind me looking at it now will you?"

"But that is not--" Ryan broke off, realizing that he had just been had. He sighed and groaned as he extended his injured wing for her to look it.

"Thank you, my prince," she said gravely and he rumbled at her.

He gritted his teeth in pain as she pull don his wings, palpating the muscles, gently squeezing the joints. He actually squeaked in pain when she ran her hand over the fabric of his wing. "Sorry, my prince," she said. "The good news is that you a re hearing nicely. The bad news that you still will not be flying for at least three weeks."

He shrugged. "I have not been able to fly up to this point, so I will scarcely miss what I never had."

"You are wise, my prince."

Ryan sighed. He had all but given up on getting most dragons to stop calling him "my prince". It seemed to be ingrained in them somehow. "I will replace your bandages and then you may go."

"Thank you," he said and looked to his mother who had come with him.

"You'll be back to normal soon, my son."

"Thank you, mother," he said, glad that she was not worried about him.

"So what are you going to do today?"

"If Athena will allow it, I would like to spend some more time in the gardens."

Beth looked at Athena and she pursed her lips considering. "That should be fine, so long as you do not over do it."

"I will not!" Ryan said happily.

Athena gave his mother a look that she correctly interpreted as "He's not going to get as far as he thinks, watch him."

The two walked together in the garden, enjoying each others company. Ryan was stuck in his dragon form for the time being. Athena did not want him to try to change forms while injured as it could cause further problems, that and he may find it impossible to shift forms at the moment due to the injuries.

"How is father?" he asked his mother quietly as they rested at the central fountain.

"He's doing fine Ryan, just trying to adjust to this like we all are."

"He has not come to see me so very often."

"I know Ryan. He doesn't like seeing you hurt. He worries that he'll get angry and you'll think that he's mad at you."

Ryan sighed. "I understand. But I do wish to see him."

"I'll tell him, Ryan," she said and leaned over to pet him.

"He is not so very angry with me, is he?" Ryan asked hesitantly.

"No Ryan. He wasn't happy that you disobeyed but he's far happier that you're okay. He's forgiven Tanner as well, so you needn't worry."

Ryan sighed in relief. "I do not think he likes Tanner so very much."

"Why do you think that?"

"Just the way he acts." He looked at her in confusion. "You should see that."

"I do, Ryan. I guess I was hoping you wouldn't notice."

Ryan snorted. "Hard not to, mother," he said and she laughed. He made a chuffing sound, happy to have made her laugh.

Ryan watched the water splash in the fountain for awhile, listening to the music it made as it kept and fell back into the pool. He lay his head in his mother's lap, thrumming contentedly at her presence, the warmth of the day, and the feel of the water carried in the breeze as it blew over them. His mother pet him and all was right with the world.

"Mother, what do you think is going to happen next?" he asked quietly.

"I honestly have no idea, Ryan. I think the dragons are going to use you to try to unite the dragons and try to do away with the ones who killed your family once and for all."

Ryan lifted his head. "Use me?"

"I don't mean in a bad way. I mean use you as the prince to rally the dragons together."

"I do not want it."

She sighed. "Then we won't let them do it."

Ryan was quiet for a moment. "But they expect it of me."

"Reasonable assumption."

"I think it may be instinctive, mother. I think the dragons look to me as being important on an instinctive level. I think they would be inclined to flow me even if I did not trill," he said and sighed. "I do not think I will have much of a choice."

Beth sighed as well. "Athena said much the same thing to me when I spoke with her about it."

"Tanner and Pax have also said it. I guess I should get used to being the prince of dragons." Ryan snorted. "Look at me. Most people would probably be elated to find out they were royalty. Me? I am not so very sure that I wish it."

"Most people would probably use their newfound power to lord over people too," she said and scratched him bend the ears. "I would never worry about that with you my son."

He thrummed loudly at the compliment and rubbed his cheeks against her hand. "Thank you so very much, mother."

"You're welcome, child."

"Mother? Do you think my parents are alive?"

"I hope so."

"You do not worry they would take me?"

She shook her head. "No. Your parents wouldn't do that to us. They were good people and some of our closest friends."

"I would not leave you or father anyway. You raised me and I love you both so very much."

She smiled down at him and kissed him on the forehead. He snorted at the attention and pulled away and she laughed at him. "You'll never be too old, so don't ask."

He grumbled. "Mothers!"

Sulvius walked with Ryan in the garden. Ryan was moving much better, the only bandages left were ever his wing and around part of his flank where he had been scored deeply. Sulvius watched him walk, feeling a sense of relief. When had first seen Ryan laying on the ground all bloody, it had been all he could do control himself, fearing that Ryan had been seriously injured or even killed. He noticed others dragons watching their prince from a distance, also relieved at the sight of him moving better.

"So what do you think of dragons so far Ryan?"

"I have not met so very many of them, but so far I like them," Ryan said and laughed. "As if you would think that I would not like them! We are the same species!"

"Yes, well you were raised with humans and so they may seem very strange to you."

"There is that, but I still like them and cannot wait to learn more."

"Kith collects legend and history. I'm sure she would be happy to teach you."

Ryan's step faltered before he could stop himself. "That would...be nice."

Sulvius grinned. "Not so very sure are you?" he asked an Ryan just look down at the ground, ears folded back. Sulvius laughed. "She's quite the lady, Ryan. I don't blame you for being a little flustered by her."

"She is also the first female dragon I have seen."

Sulvius nodded. "And I'm sure that was an experience. Athena is female too you now."

"She is old and pokes and prods at me," Ryan said dismissivly.

"I don't know that I would let her hear you say that," Sulvius said in amusement.

Ryan felt his hears grow hot as they continued on. "How old is Kith?"

"I'm not sure, Ryan. As with humans it's not polite to ask a ladies age. That being said, she is a young female."

"Oh," Ryan said, not sure if he was pleased or not.

Sulvius kept his amusement to himself with some effort. Ah to be young again! "Would you like me to ask her to teach you draconic history?"

Ryan hesitated. "That would be nice. Can Pax help her?"

Oh ho! Sulvius thought. The boy wants a chaperon! "I am sure Pax would be happy to."

"Good," Ryan said, sounding relieved.

Sulvius couldn't help but chuckle softly and Ryan glared at him. "So how are you doing with Tanner?"

Ryan nearly tripped. "Why do you ask?"

"He cares for you a lot, Ryan."

"He is my friend," Ryan said, puzzled.

"That he is," Sulvius agreed. "Has he been seeing you lately?"

"Every day. He spends as much time as he can with me," Ryan said and looked up at Sulvius. "Is there something wrong, Sulvius?"

"Not at all, Ryan."

"Everyone seems to be leery of Tanner. My parents are. You have asked about him and Cladden and Kheros asked him all sorts of questions. I know not why," Ryan said slowly.

"We just want to make sure you're safe."

"He is a dragon friend!" Ryan protested. "A very good dragon friend!"

"I think you're right Ryan, but we have to be careful."

"I do not like people saying such things about Tanner!" Ryan snapped. "If they do not like him then they may leave!"

Sulvius stopped and looked down at Ryan for a long moment. "I see. You protective of him?"

"And if I do?" Ryan said belligerently.

Sulvius sighed. "Calm down, Ryan. No one is trying to send Tanner away."

"They had best not," Ryan growled, tail lashing, body stiff in anger.

Sulvius inlet down and ran his hands back over the little dragons head, covering his eyes. "Easy, Ryan. There is nothing to be upset about."

Ryan instantly calmed. "I am so very sorry, Sulvius. Something just made me so very upset!"

"You just want to protect Tanner," Sulvius said, trying to sooth the young prince. "Why don't you go to your parents and see how they are doing? I'm sure they miss you, Ryan."

"Okay, Sulvius," he said, He rubbed his cheek against Sulvius' leg and walked off towards the house. Sulvius watched him go with a speculative expression on his face.