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I have known sensations of horror, but the like of what I beheld immediately above me induced a degree of terror that would compel my gentle soul to kill.

I stood in the snow, shivering in the moonlight as the flakes slowly came down, staring at the creature that stood above me. Everything in my training called out for me to attack, to use the gifts I had been given to kill, but I couldn't move. Coming face to face with our ancient enemy took the spirit from me and filled me with a fear I had never known.

It stood, watching me, and I wondered if it were going to attack as all such demons did.

After what seemed like an eternity, it spoke.

“Please," it said.

If it were possible, I was even more frozen to the spot. It spoke to me!

My mind raced over all that I had read about the creatures, all that the sacred scriptures said, but I could find nothing about them speaking, nothing about them possessing any voice that could or should be heard by mortals.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came forth. I closed it, swallowed past a throat that seemed constricted tighter than a misers purse, and rasped out. “Stop. I will not hear your words."

It cocked its head. “Please," it said once more.

I lifted a hand. “Stop!"

It dropped down to all fours, folding its wings to its back. “Please, I need your help."

I froze once more, then a laugh burst from my chest. “Help? You? You need the help of one of the White Sisterhood? You're the very spawn of hell itself and I should strike you down where you stand!"

The creature flinched back. “No. Please! I need…help."

I started to chant, to summon up the power that was mine by right of the Sisterhood, but then I stumbled to silence at the look in the creatures eyes. Sadness, loss, fear, all emotions that were supposed to be beyond these things.

“No. No, you're trying to trick me!"

It shook its head. “No, please. I need…need your help. Hurt."

I summoned up my courage and nearly growled. “If you're hurt then you deserve it!"

It shook its head once more. “No. Not I. Child. My mate and child."

Something struck me to the core; I felt myself go cold. “No. You lie."

It whimpered and my heart lurched. “I not lie. Please. Please! They die…you help?"

I took several steps back, then several more. “No…no! You'll not fool me and endanger me soul!" I turned and fled as fast as I could, dropping the bundle of sticks behind me as my feet churned through the snow as I sought the shelter of my little hut. Behind me, the creature cried out, not a cry of hatred or vengeance, but one of loss and heartbreak.

I steeled myself, plugging my ears, and ran on. Dragons were never to be trusted.

I ducked into my little hut at the edge of the forest fence and slammed the door behind me, throwing down the bar to block it which I seldom did. There was very little danger in these woods and less that would bother a Sister.

But now there was a dragon out there. A dragon that claimed it had a mate and children. A dragon that claimed it needed help.

I put my hands over my ears again as if I could still physically hear the creatures cry of anguish and heartache. I didn't need to hear it physically.

The sound was etched into my heart.

I clinched my fists and started to sing one of the hymns of praise, trying to block out the sound, trying to convince myself that I had done right, had done what the order would have had me do, but those reassurances rang hollow.

And the sound rang on.

I sat down at my little table, at where I had been cutting herbs for drying just moments before, at peace with the world and with myself. The sound of the dragon's cry still echoed through my mind.

It was hurting, terrified of whatever had happened to its family.

I swore, something that we were never supposed to do. Dragons didn't have families! They didn't have emotions! They were hell spawn and we were duty bound to banish them whenever we found them, to strike them down or hold them until justice could be served. The creature was lying; it had to be lying.

I pulled out the book of sacred scripture and set myself to reading but my mind and heart wasn't in it. I couldn't shake the sound of that dragon's cry.

I tossed the book aside with a snarl, another offense. Books were to be treated with respect; it was one of the first things you learned as an acolyte.

That damned creature was causing me to sin.

I banked the fire for the night and threw myself into my bed without bothering to get my nightclothes on, swearing that I would feel better in the morning. My evening vespers were hollow and provided no peace as I tried to fall asleep.

The dragon's cry haunted my very dreams.

I awoke, my eyes gritty, head foggy with lack of sleep and sought to pray but my heart was not in it. The dragons cry, over and over and over again, echoing through my ears.

I swore once more, grabbed my staff and healing kit, and set off into the forest.

The snow crunched under my booted feet as I made my way back to where I had encountered the dragon. I still wasn't sure why I was going back or what I was going to do when I got there or, for that matter, if the dragon would even be there. Hopefully it would have flown off and I could go back to my studies and be quit of this whole confusing business.

As I approached the area I slowed down, staying alert in case the dragon was waiting in ambush. I crept closer and could clearly see the dragons tracks in the snow where it had stood in front of me and my tracks leading away from but there was no sight of the dragon itself.

I walked onto the path and looked down at the prints and at the scattered snow where it had evidently taken off in flight. I was almost relieved. I'm a skilled tracker but could hardly track a dragon in flight. I shrugged and turned to head back to my hut. Surely no one could fault me for being able to track the creature, a creature that I likely shouldn't consider rendering aid to in the first place.

Then why wasn't my heart light? Why did I still feel some weight of guilt tugging at my heart? The further I walked the more frustrated and angry I became. Why did things have to be so complicated?

Before this encounter things were simple, black and white, cut and dried. Dragons were evil hell spawn, demons themselves, deserved to be killed, and certainly didn't try to engage in conversation.

Now I had spoken to one, a fact that worried the condition of my soul, and it had requested help for it's mate and child, something that struck a chord in me. Sisters were to heal and support people, women and children most especially. It was one of the founding principals of our order and our companion order of the Brothers.

But not to hellspawn! Not to vile creatures!

The closer I came to my home the more my thoughts tumbled out of control, my emotions wresting any comfort and peace I had.

I arrived and placed my hand on the door and stopped. My head sank down to my chest and I exhaled a huge sigh. I turned to look around, looking up at the sky as if maybe I would see the animal and could perhaps settle my confusion, but it was nowhere to be seen.

I went inside to prepare my breakfast, still deeply troubled by all that had happened.

I had managed to put the whole thing out of my mind and was eating lunch when there was a large thump outside that shook the table. I quickly grabbed my staff and cracked the door open to peek out.

Laying in front of my hut was the dragon, the dragon that had spoken to me.

And it was clearly injured, bleeding from its side.

I nearly swore again. Why wouldn't this damned thing leave me be? I almost shut the door when it whined and my heart gave that little lurch again. I froze in place, as uncertain as I had ever been in my life.

I should leave it there, but I had gone back to see if I could find it with my healing kit, obviously with the intent of healing the creature's mate and child if I could, even if I tried to hide that truth away from myself.

I groaned and grabbed my kit and walked out, and cautiously approached the wounded creature.

The dragon lay on its side, bleeding slightly from its flank and, from what I could tell, had some sort of contusion or bruise on its head. I walked around to its head, keeping a goodly distance back and my staff at ready.

It opened one eye and fixed it on me and I froze. “Please," it murmured. “Help."

I stood there, swallowing nervously. “What happened to you?"

“Tried…others. They attack…hurt me."

“Other sisters?"

“Yes and the males…hurts."

“Why do you keep coming back to me?" I asked, quite nearly angry.

It closed its eyes. “You…kind. Nice to the animals and others. Your heart is good."

I nearly staggered back in shock. “My heart," I said, and shook my head. “What do you mean, beast? You have no right to use magic on me and I'd have felt it!"

It shook it's head again. “No magic. Watch."

“You've been watching me!"

It groaned. “Please. Need help. Watched you for help…I hurt."

I closed my eyes and my knuckles went white as I gripped my staff, cursing myself for getting involved in this in any way shape or form. “I should call the others and have you destroyed," I said, but it came out in a mumble, not in the strident tones that we used when reciting in chapel.

It whimpered and my heart lurched. “Please…if you are going to get them…kill me now, quick. I do not wish to be tortured for days."

“They would never!"

It eyed me and I had to look away. “Please…help?"

With a groan I reached for my pack and pulled out bandages and salves, walking over to where he had been struck by some sort of large blade. The wounds were fairly deep and jagged and would need stitches, by the looks of them.

I looked back at the dragon who had laid his head down and was breathing heavily. “This may sting a bit and I may have to put stitches in."

It just nodded. “Better than infect and die."

“I suppose so."

I set out to putting the salve on his wounds and stitching them back together, for a time forgetting what it was I was working on and loosing myself in the healing arts that I had so earnestly practiced while at the college. I was always considered one of the best an it was something I did with pride.

The dragon was silent the whole time, only flinching a few times as I cleaned the wounds and stitched them back together.

I went to it's head, feeling more nervous than I had ever felt and looked at the contusion there. It opened one eye and I stepped back. “What happened to your head?"

“Magic," it murmured. “Sister did magic…hurt."

I quickly muttered a basic detection spell and could feel the magic that was still feeding on the dragons life force, keeping it confused and in pain. I hesitated. I could easily remove the spell, but that was considered the height of rudeness amongst the sisters. You never undid what someone else had done without asking them for permission first.

Clearly, asking in this case was not possible and even if I knew who did it, the answer would be no and to kill the creature. I found myself not nearly as adamant about its death as before especially after I had gone to the trouble to heal its wounds though I still didn't understand why I did.

“In for a penny, in for a pound," I muttered to myself and dispelled the magic. The dragon blinked and looked at me with much clearer vision.

“Thank…you", it said.

I took several steps back as it rolled over onto its feet, then took a few steps away to huddle in front of me. We stared at each other for some time until I could no longer bear to look at its visage, to bear the weight of it's gaze and looked away.

“You…help me?"

“Yes, I did," I snapped and it flinched.

“Please…help my mate? My child?"

I pursed my lips. “Haven't I done enough?"

It looked down and pawed at the ground, leaving furloughs in the snow. “If…if is too much you can undo my healing and heal them. Please. I…I will try to give you things. To pay you…"

“I can't take payment," I said almost automatically then sighed. “And I'm not going to hurt you to heal someone else. That's wrong." I shook my head when I realized that I was going to go through with it.

“Where are they?"

The creature looked at me with a cautiously hopeful expression, its ears coming up. “You…will help?"

“I said I would!" I said low. “Where are they?"

It looked over its shoulder and pointed its nose at the mountains to the east of the forest. “There. In cave."

I pursed my lips. “That's a two day walk."

It cocked its head. “I fly. You fly?"

“Does it look like I have wings?"

It shook its head. “No. I fly you."

I took several steps back in shock. “No!"

It flinched. “But faster. Not tired."

“No, damn it! I'm not going to fly anywhere do you hear me?"

It looked down. “You still help? Walk?"

I closed my eyes, trying to come up with some reason not to go, but every excuse rang hollow before I even spoke it. I opened my eyes to see the dragon looking at me with its ears up, head slightly tilted and mouth open slightly in an expression that could only be described as hopeful.

Blast me for getting into this, I thought, and turned to collect my travel things from my hut.

I walked along a woodcutters trail that lead up to the mountains. The woodcutters would be home at this time of year and not come out again till the snows started to thaw so I felt safe enough, as safe as one could feel walking with a dragon anyway. The dragon walked a little ahead of me or kept pace with me, its stride a little awkward on land, moving with sort of a hop between its front and rear legs, reaching forward with its forelegs and bringing its rear legs up.

I watched for a moment and shook my head. “Do you always walk that way?"

It stopped and considered me. “No. Walk like this with you. Too fast other way."

“Show me."

It looked puzzled, then turned and strode off in a far more graceful walk, looking rather like a cat, and I could see that its speed would be considerably faster than mine, possibly faster than a run.

It stopped and looked over its shoulder, waiting for me to catch up. I walked up next to it, still wary. “I see. Well, you're more graceful on land than I thought."

It looked puzzled, then bobbed its head. “Thank you?"

I just stared at it, the words “you're welcome" freezing on my lips, and nodded in the direction we were traveling. It looked puzzled again, then continued along with me in its odd hopping gate.

There was silence between us for which I was quite grateful. I had no idea what to say to it, shouldn't have been helping it much less considering speaking to it. And yet here I was traveling with a dragon, with a creature of darkness.

I watched it surreptitiously as we traveled on, telling myself that I was keeping an eye on it in case it tried some sort of attack or some foolishness but my heart told me otherwise. I didn't want to admit that I found it to be fascinating to watch, watching how it moved, how its ears swiveled about catching sounds, the way it smelled the air or even the way its tail moved across the ground as it walked.

It wasn't a terribly large beast from the descriptions that I had read about dragons in general, though considerably larger than myself, a bit bigger than a large draft horse and larger still if you took its long neck, wings, and tail into account. It was covered in dark red scales, nearly black in some places, and had scutes that ran along its legs and belly.

The tail ended in a pointed tip, no spade like had been described by some, and the few times I had seen the creatures tongue while it was drinking it didn't seem forked to me. I wondered if the idea they were related to serpents was in fact wrong and, for that matter, reptiles in general as it seemed to have no troubles with the cold and fading light.

This was more than I could say for myself as the air took on a chill as the sun sank lower in the sky. My coat was heavy, but even still the air was growing uncomfortably cold as we slowly made our way up towards the mountains. I looked around for a place to stop for the night, to light a fire and make some hot tea as well as to eat.

I watched the dragon shuffle along for a moment then cleared my throat. It turned its head to look at me curiously. “We need to stop for the night. I need to make a fire and eat."

It blinked. “But…my mate, my child is hurt."

“I know that, but I have to stop. I can't walk all night, especially in the cold."

It hesitated then sighed. “Yes."

We walked along together until I found a small clearing a short ways off the woodcutters track. I quickly set my pack down and started gathering together twigs and branches, picking them from places I knew would be dry so they would be easier to start.

I used a small wooden shovel I had fashioned to clear away some of the snow and dig down a bit, put the branches and twigs into a small pile, then took my fire starting kit. Within a few moments I had a small blaze going and I couldn't help but smile at the light and heat that it produced. I said a small prayer of thanks, then turned to get my tea pot from my pack and found the dragon standing somewhat close behind me, watching curiously.

I yelled and nearly fell over and it snorted in surprise, taking several steps back, its eyes wide in alarm. “Blast you, don't sneak up on me like that!" I yelled.

It flinched. “I am sorry. Wanted to see."

“Well, see from over there," I gestured a distance away.

It looked to where I pointed, then shuffled over, its head hanging low and, blast me for feeling so, I felt sorry for having yelled at the creature. I kept a grip on my feelings and fetched my tea pot, scooped up some snow to melt in it, and placed it over the fire, then set out to preparing my meal.

A short while later I was sipping at my tea, eating some bread and cheese, occasionally looking over at the dragon who either watched me or the ground depending on if he caught me looking. Blast the creature, why did it have to stare at me?

I cleared my throat again and it looked up. “Are you going to eat?" I asked.

It cocked its head, considering. “I ate…three sunrises ago. Do not need."

“Oh," I said, feeling dumbfounded at the information. “I didn't know."

It bobbed its head. “Dragons do not eat daily, usually. Eat big, then not eat for a few days."

I grunted and sipped at my tea. “What do you eat?" I asked absently.

It considered. “Deer? Elk? I think you call them. Meat."

I glanced over at it and it looked away. I should have known it was a carnivore, with those teeth and claws. Distasteful, really. “Just meat?" I said with a note of contempt in my voice.

It shook its head. “No. Like honey, some berries. Pize…paze…pie? Pie, I think you call them."

“Stealing pies are you?"

It flinched and looked away. “Was hungry," it mumbled. “No food for days."

“Any excuse is it?"

It sighed and hung its head. “I was sorry. Did not want to steal. But…was hungry…had no food since getting away."

I looked over at it sharply. “Getting away from what?"

It whimpered. “The men in the caves."

“You escaped from your owners?!"

It closed its eyes. “Not owners. I not a slave! Free dragon they…they caught me…chained me."

“Which is what you deserve!"

It flinched again. “Please. I did not want to be struck anymore, to be made to work…wanted to see light again. Please, I had to get away. It hurt…"

I stood up in anger and the creature cried out as if it expected me to strike it and my anger fled like a vapor in the wind. “I…" I stared to say, then shook my head, closing my eyes.

This was not how things were supposed to be. Dragons were hellspawn, evil, had no emotions, and deserved destruction. They weren't supposed to be fearful of being hurt, being in chains, and certainly weren't supposed to make one feel pity!

I opened my eyes again and looked at the shivering creature. “You should have stayed with your masters," I said evenly.

It lifted its head to look at me. “But they hurt me." It lifted a forearm and gestured to its chest, pointing out scars that ran between its scutes and ones along its nose. “They whip when I…did wrong."

“So you admit to doing wrong!"

It shook its head. “No. Wrong…not do enough. Not lift or dig enough or get sick and not able to."

I just stared at it for some time, then spun around to get my sleeping furs out. “I…I'm going to sleep!"

It whimpered. “Did not want to upset-“

“Just shut up and go to sleep damn it!"

It whimpered once more and lowered its head to its fore claws while I prayed and did everything in my power to not consider what I had just learned.

Morning came softly as always and I quite nearly forgot about my situation until I sat up and saw the dragon sleeping just a few feet away from me. I jerked, startled by its proximity. It started the night further away where I had told it to go after it startled me while I was making tea.

I stared at it for some time, longer than I was really comfortable with, and had to admit that it looked quite peaceful in its sleep. I shook my head. Lion cubs looked peaceful when sleeping and yet grew into beasts that could kill. Cuteness was hardly proof against ill behavior.

I quietly set about stirring the fire and preparing my morning tea, trying not to think about the beast that was sleeping just a few short feet away. After the water was on I walked further into the woods to perform my morning ablutions.

I had just finished, standing up and drawing my breeches when I heard harsh laughter. I spun in the direction and hands grabbed both of my arms and spun me about, pinning my arms to my chest and slapping a hand over my mouth.

“Well, well," the man said. “What 'ave we 'ere? A sister a bit away from home is it?" I bit his hand and he cuffed me hard enough to set my ears to ringing. “Oh, none of that now! I'll be taken' anything you have on you and then taken' you to a friend o' mine who deals in…goods. Should fetch a pretty penny I thinks as pretty as you are and a sister to boot."

I raised my legs and tried to bring them down against his shins like we were taught but he was too fast and dropped me down onto the snow with a harsh laugh. “Oh yes, try to fight little sister! I know yer tricks. You won't 'ave been the first I've taken to slave."

I tried to cry out but was muffled by his hand. Panic set in. There was no one to yell for and I couldn't do magic without my voice. I foolishly left my staff back by the fire and now it looked like I would pay the price in the most humiliating manner possible.

Suddenly there was a roar and the man let go, startled, and fell backwards. The dragon's head peered down at him, teeth bared, growling, its ears pinned to its skull. The man screamed and scrambled to his feet and tried to run but smashed headlong into a tree knocking himself out cold.

The dragon growled and walked forward to nose at him a few times and all I could think is that it was going to eat him. It turned and looked at me, ears coming up slightly. “You are fine? Not hurt?"

“I…I…" I stammered, then shook my head. “N-no. He didn't hurt me you…you…" I stopped and just stared at the dragon for a long moment, then spun on my heel and walked back to the fire.

I sat down on my sleeping furs, hard, my mind racing with what had just happened. Nearly robbed, sold into slavery, if not worse and that dragon…that dragon saved me. My mind couldn't come to grips with it, couldn't grasp what had happened.

I heard the sound of snow crunching under its paws as it hesitantly came over to where I was sitting and I turned to look over my shoulder at it. It cocked its head and considered me and I closed my eyes. “Thank you," I managed to say after a long silence.

I opened my eyes and it bobbed its head once more. “You…are well?"

“I'll be fine."

It sighed and its ears and wings drooped. “Sorry…sorry…should have been awake. Did not think any would be out here and the fire was warm…"

I watched it and shook my head. “It's okay," I said quietly. “You couldn't have known and I didn't expect bandits either."

It looked back at me and cocked its head, considering, then nodded. “You are right. We….go soon?"

I sighed. “Yes, let me get my tea and breakfast and we can set off again."

We set off down the woodcutters track once more after I bound the bandit and left a marker on the track. There was a small village at the base of the mountains we were heading to where I could contact the local sheriff to collect him. The weather was nice enough that he would be in no danger from it.

We continued in silence, the dragon looking over at me occasionally, but looking away if I returned its gaze. It was an odd thing really. A dragon, a powerful creature, a creature that was by all I had been taught evil, was seemingly made nervous by me catching it looking. It didn't measure up to anything that I knew and this troubled me.

Speaking, moving to my defense, being evidently made a slave and escaping, wanting to find help for its mate and child…this was all so wrong, so very wrong as compared to everything I knew to be true.

And yet I found myself following it, willing to help in some way.

I considered reporting the dragon to the sheriff while reporting the bandit but it didn't sit well with me after healing and promising to help it. But did I truly owe this thing anything at all? It was evil, by definition, did any promise that I gave it hold any weight?

I could work my way out of this predicament and return to my home easily, return to my work, to my herbs and medicines, and back to my studies. No more dragons, no more bandits, just a peaceful easy routine that I had grown to love and cherish over the years.

The more I thought about it, the more the idea appealed to me.

It would be a simple thing, really. The creature would have no idea what I was doing and by the time it realized that I had betrayed it it would be too late for it to do anything. I smiled, then froze, going cold inside.

Betrayal.

Why, oh why, had my mind come up with that word! It wouldn't be betrayal, it would be justice! There was no good in this creature, no reason to honor any promises made or vows given! It was evil, totally evil, and it was just some of aberrance or some trap that it had spoken to me and somehow tricked me into following and helping it!

I started walking again before it noticed that I had stopped, my thoughts tumbling over themselves as we continued. I glanced over at it as it walked in that shuffling gate it had adopted while walking with me, trying to somehow see into the creatures heart, to somehow confirm the evil I had been taught.

It stopped suddenly and sat back on its haunches, and pawed at its nose, then shook its head. It pawed again and its eyes grew wide and it suddenly sneezed several times, looking almost startled by it.

Laughter burst from my chest before I could stop it and the creature looked at me sheepishly. “Sorry. Sometimes dust makes my nose tickle."

I clamped down on my laughter and angrily gestured forward. “Just keep walking."

It flinched, bobbed its head, and continued to shuffle down the track while I followed, trying to settle my mind and heart.

Night came up and I found a good place to settle for the night. A rocky outcropping formed a nice little cusp to set up camp in and keep the wind off.

I went to shovel some of the snow away to make a fire pit and a place to put my furs when I heard the dragon approach behind me. I spun around, lifting my staff up in reaction and it ducked down low and stepped back. I lowered my staff and glowered at it. “What do you want?"

“I could help move snow," it said in a small voice, its ears drooping down, looking up at me with what could only be described as a nervous expression.

“I can do it."

It sighed. “Just would like to help you for help me."

I hesitated. “Fine!" I said and stood back. The dragons ears perked up and it quickly shoveled away the snow and left a much larger place to set my furs and make a fire. I hesitated once more and said. “Thank you."

It looked at me, ears up again. “You are welcome."

I grunted and gathered up wood for the fire and got it started, then scooped some snow into my teapot and put it over to heat up. The dragon watched me curiously and I did my level best to ignore it as I prepared my evening meal, heating up some of the way bread that I had brought and spreading some jam over it.

It sniffed the air several times as I started to eat and I turned to look at it. The dragon averted its eyes and looked down at its foreclaws. I stared at it for a moment, looked at my bread, then back at it. The teachings of hospitality came to my mind and closed my eyes and sighed, warring between two different sets of teachings and the situation I found myself in.

“Would you care for some," I finally forced myself to say.

It looked up, ears perked in evident curiosity. “It smell good."

I sighed again. “Elderberry jam. I make it myself." I looked at the bread, then fetched another loaf and cut off a small piece and spread some of the jam over it. I carefully walked over to where the beast lay and it watched me, looking hesitant as I held it out for him. “Here."

I glanced at my hand, then raised a paw, palm up, so I could set it down. I did and it was all I could do not to jerk my hand away as he took it, sniffed at it, then placed it in his mouth.

The dragon closed his eyes and hummed in evident pleasure as it chewed and swallowed, then looked at me with its ears fully forward and head drawn back on its long neck ever so slightly. “Thank you. It was good. You make?"

“Yes, I make it, I said that," I grumbled as I walked back to my seat.

It took a partial step forward then stopped as I frowned at it. “I…would like to get more. To pay you for it?"

I just stared at the dragon then sighed. “Perhaps."

It bobbed its head and settled down for the night as I finished my meal, then drew my furs about me as I read from my scriptures, my heart troubled and my mind finding little relief within the pages.

As we approached the small town in the foothills below the mountain the dragon started to walk slower, looking visibly nervous, to the point that I finally turned around and glared at it, putting my hands on my hips. It looked away and I sighed.

“Why are you slowing down?"

It fidgeted. “Humans don't like me. The town would try to hurt."

“Well, I suppose you have a point," I said reluctantly. I looked around and then gestured to one of the rocky outcroppings that dotted the landscape. “Just go hide behind those rocks over there. I'll tell the sheriff where the bandit is, get some more supplies, and then come back for you."

The creature looked over at the rocks uncertainly and then back at me. I sighed and pointed over at the rocks. “Go!"

It whined through its nose. “You…will come back? My mate, my child…"

I gritted my teeth and bit back a sharp retort. “I've been with you this far haven't I?"

It bobbed its head then shuffled a few steps my direction. “But…other humans. You could get them," it said and started to visibly shiver.

“I wouldn't do that!" I snapped, feeling guilty, knowing that I had thought exactly the same thing and even angrier that the creature had also thought of it.

It flinched. “No…no you are good. I can tell. Have good heart. I go wait for you…be careful, please?"

I stared at it and spun on my heel, heading for the town.

I made my way down the dusty road into town, the warm afternoon sun shining down and providing a welcome relief from the cold of winter. People nodded at me respectfully, some putting two fingers to their brow and saying “Sister," it a gesture of respect.

I returned the gesture with a nod and smile and made my way down the dirt road to the local sheriff office. It was a wooden building which surprised me; most of them were made of stone.

The door was open and I walked in to find the local sheriff sitting at a small table eating his breakfast. The smell of pork sausage assaulted my nose and made me a bit queasy. I had long since given up meat like most sisters did. It wasn't a requirement of the order by any means, but was a tradition of sorts that most followed. Honestly, it was no great sacrifice on my part as I had never much cared for meat to start with.

The man looked up in surprise and stood, bowing slightly. “Sister! I'm honored by your presence," he said, and touched his fingers to his forehead.

“Thank you, Sherrif," I said quietly.

“How may I aid you, sister?"

“While making my way to the town I was accosted by a bandit on the road. I was able to subdue him and left him bound just off the road. I left a mark so you would know where to retrieve him. He has food enough for another day."

The man sighed. “I'll go get him. Unfortunately we've had more run ins with them here lately."

I frowned. “Any idea why?"

The sheriff shrugged. “Hard to say. Could be hard times down on the plains, could be they're just better organized."

I nodded and hesitated a moment. “Have there been any dragon sightings in the mountains?"

The sheriff gave me an odd look. “Funny you should ask that, but yes."

“Funny, why?"

He sat down and rubbed his chin for a bit. “Well, there's evidently a few dragons up in the mountains yes. I was rather worried by the sightings at first but the dragons have done nothing to bother anyone really. In fact the few encounters with them they've fled each time. I can't make any sense of it."

I nodded. “Yes, dragons are supposed to be vicious and attack on sight."

He shrugged. “Well, these ones haven't, fortunately. I don't have the strength to fight them off and help would be slow coming due to the snows. I did send a messenger to Brookhaven and the guard there said they would look into it."

I nodded again. “Yes, well, probably for the best then."

He grunted. “Can't say as though I like the idea of the guard tromping through town but if it keeps us safe then so be it. Still, they've done nothing to try to hurt anyone so far and I'm willing to live and let live."

I frowned again. “You know what the scriptures say."

He held up a hand. “Peace, sister. I do understand what they say but at the same time we're not in a position to do anything about them. There are no sisters or brothers here in town, at least not regular, so we do the best we can."

I considered. “As you say, no reason to put anyone at risk."

The sheriff looked relived. “Well, I suppose you could do something about them if needed…"

I managed to control my reaction. “If needed, yes. May the light bless you," I said.

“And you as well," he responded automatically, putting is fingers to his head. I nodded and walked out the door.

I shopped for more supplies, feeling troubled the whole time. The encounter with the sheriff didn't sit well with me for many reasons. The dragons were evidently known about, had caused no problems for anyone, which was totally against everything I had been taught.

Some part of me was hoping that they had seen the dragons, that they had attacked the towns people, giving me reason to turn the creature in. Then the sheriff asking if I would be willing to take care of the beast if needed…

If he only knew what I was doing.

Why, again, why had I gotten myself involved with this mess? Why didn't I just bind the animal like I was taught, turn it over to the guard or the sisters and be done with it? What possessed me to heal the damned thing then follow it to it's lair to try to heal it's offspring and mate?

The conflict within raged nearly out of control giving me no peace of mind, none at all, and the scriptures that would usually lend me strength and peace failed and failed abysmally to quiet my soul.

A quiet voice inside whispered that what I had been taught, some of the principals that I had dedicated my life to could be wrong.

I flinched hard enough at the thought that the shopkeeper looked at me curiously. I shook my head at him. “Sorry, just a bad itch."

“Oh, aye, I get those from time to time," he said knowingly and went back to filling my order.

I stood there, torn between wishing the man would hurry up so I could be alone in my misery and hoping that he would delay my return to the creature, the beast that had somehow trapped me in this conflict.

“Ok, Sister," the man said, nodding respectfully. “Here's the things on yer list. Did ya need help carrying it?"

“No, my good man, I will be fine," I said quietly. “May the light bless you."

“And you as well," he said, putting his fingers to his forehead.

I left the shop and walked slowly down the road, trying to keep my expression neutral so that no one would see the turmoil inside, nodding to the people I passed and even pronouncing a blessing on a child, something that would generally grant me peace but failed.

I paused when I was a good ways from the town and looked over my shoulder to insure that no one was watching or following me, a cold spike shooting through my gut as I thought about what I was doing and what the people would think. I walked further down the road and stomped off in the direction the dragon waited.

I drew near the outcropping and looked around for the creature but it was no where to be seen. My heart leapt; perhaps it had become frightened and flown away to leave me in peace! I could return to my hut and no one would be the wiser that I had been helping out this hell spawn.

I looked around the outcropping and smiled to myself, not seeing any sign the creature had been there. Oh, blessed maker, I was free! Free from the evil act that I was committing! Surely the maker had blessed me!

The sound of wings behind me dashed that hope and I spun around to see the creature land a few paces away, looking at me with its ears perked up and its tail flickering behind it. “You came back!"

It took all I could not to scream at the creature and even to this day I don't know why I didn't. “Yes, I came back, I said I would! Where the hell have you been!"

It flinched and rubbed it's muzzle with one paw and I could see the smear of blood. “I was hungry. Needed food."

My stomach lurched at the thought of this animal eating and it lowered its head. “I…wait for you to leave. Know you do not like meat."

Oh maker what was I supposed to say? To do? The creature was obviously thinking about me and trying to be courteous! “I…well…thank you," I finally said.

It shuffled forward and squatted uncertainly in front of me. “You…are okay? Humans not hurt?"

I shook my head. “No one in their right mind would hurt a sister," I said, then thought about what they would do if they found out was helping this beast.

It bobbed its head. “Good. Don't want you hurt. You are kind."

“Stop saying that!"

It blinked. “W-what?"

“Stop saying I'm kind, that I have a good heart, that I'm nice!"

It looked confused. “But…you are these things."

“To humans! Not to dragons!"

It took several steps back looking confused and even nervous, its wings held tight, rustling against it's back, tail flicking uncertainly. “But…you are going to help me? Why—"

“I don't know damnit!" I yelled and turned to walk up the path. I could feel the dragons eyes on my back, nearly feel its confusion, then the sound of it shuffling along behind me. I refused to look at it and continued down the road.

Fortunately, I suppose, the weather held as we made our way into the mountains. I found myself constantly wishing for some sort of interruption, something to happen that would release me from the situation. Every step forward, closer to the dragon's cave, felt heavier and the heavy feeling in my chest grew to an almost unbearable pressure.

The creature didn't seem at all nervous and shuffled it's way along, occasionally pausing to sniff at a rock, even rearing back and tasting the air a few times. I almost asked it what it was doing but stopped myself. The less I knew about this monster the better off I would be. Get to its cave, heal the others, and get out, go back to my hut and leave this all behind; it was all I wanted to do.

We continued on, the way growing steeper with every step. My leg muscles were starting to ache, unused to walking uphill. “How much farther?" I asked.

It turned and cocked its head. “Not sure. Do not walk, fly. Take less time."

I grumbled. “Well, do you see the mountain your cave is in?"

It nodded and gestured with one of its wing fingers “That one."

I looked over at it. “I would guess a few more hours, then," I said.

Its ears perked. “Today?"

“Yes, probably today."

“I fly and tell them we are coming!"

“No!" I said, sharply and it flinched. “There's no telling what kind of beasts roam these mountains! I'm not going to walk up this trail and be easy pickings for them."

“But…sisters fight?"

“Yes, but I'm not that good at it and our magic is designed to defeat creatures of darkness," I said, looking at it meaningfully.

It flinched and nodded. “I stay. Keep you safe."

“Good."

We approached its cave as darkness was just starting to fall. The creature called out something in its own language and I winced at the sound, muttering a short prayer to keep the words from finding their way into my heart. I wanted no evil thing planted there, not even the smallest of seeds.

It hesitated, ears drooping and I asked it what the problem was. It looked at me and I could actually see the worry in its eyes. “They not respond. We hurry?"

“Yes, yes," I said, annoyed, and picked up my pace.

Even before we reached the cave I could smell the stench of decay. The creature obviously did as well as it flinched and cried out in alarm, bounding forward in a speed that I had never seen it display before.

I swore softly to myself, and ran forward to enter the cave, chanting a short incantation to light the end of my staff. The smell of decay was nearly overwhelming and I pulled my cloak over my nose to try to block it out.

The dragon cried out sharply and I looked to see it standing over the corpse of a dragon that had been dead for some time. I quick glance at it showed stab wounds and I quickly surmised that it had been attacked and unable to defend itself due to its illness.

The dragon cried out again, a heart rending cry, and ran to the back of its cave, calling out in its language, evidently looking for its child. I winced at the sound and slowly backed out, staying alert lest its grief turned to rage and it attacked me.

I stood a short distance away, upwind of the stench fortunately, and waited, totally out of my depth, utterly uncertain of what to do or even say.

I stood there uncomfortably as the creature wept over its fallen mate. I had no idea if it had found the body of its child in the cave and my heart tugged a little at the thought of a child being killed. I shook my head. Hellspawn, I muttered. Better off dead.

But my heart wasn't in it.

I backed away, then turned to sit on a rock that overlooked a steep drop off that ran about four hundred steps downwards at a fairly steep grade. I contemplated this a bit nervously; if I had to flee, going down it would be dangerous at best. A forest began at its base and it would be all to likely to loose control and go rolling down into them.

Hopefully I could make it back down the path if the creature became angry or out of control. I had my magic as well, which I knew to be effective against them, or at least it was supposed to be effective. I had never used it save for practice and never against an actual beast of darkness.

I brooded over this until I heard the shuffling steps of the dragon approaching. I turned quickly, lifting my staff and it just stared at me. I jerked back at the sight of tears dripping of its muzzle. Damn it, these things weren't supposed to have emotions! And yet there was no way I could deny what I saw.

It sat their miserably, silent for a time, then finally said in a near croak. “She is dead. My child is not there."

“I…I'm sorry."

It nodded and looked around listlessly. “I…will burn the body."

I narrowed my eyes at this. Fire was cleansing, holy, not to be used on such things. They were to be buried and left to rot in the ground and the ground sanctified three years after.

It didn't seem to notice, looking down at its fore claws. I watched for a moment, trying to figure out what to do, what to say. I finally mustered up the voice to speak. “You didn't find your child's body?"

It shook it's head slightly. “No. Not there. Don't know where he went."

“Well…" I said, trailing off. “I suppose if they were attacked by wild animals they could have carried him off."

The creature jerked back and whined through its nose, then shook its head. “No…not animals. Blade…sword did this. Swords cut her. She was sick, weak, could no protect…herself…him…" It stopped and tilted back its head and keened a long, quivering note that sent my teeth on edge, and drew my heart up into my throat with the pain of it.

It drooped back down, whimpering, and it was all I could do not to tear up myself. I grit my teeth and muttered a prayer, wishing the emotion would leave or be replaced by an appropriate one like disdain. Maker, what in the world was going on!

The dragon finally looked up at me. “I…will burn her. Then…", it looks down and swallowed, “then…go."

“Go…where?" I asked.

It looked up at me with sad eyes. “Beyond…the end."

“What!?"

“There…is no life for me here. Mate dead, child gone…no reason to be here."

I felt my mouth work soundlessly for a few moments, then looked down, closing my eyes. After a long moment I said, “No."

“…No?"

“No. That's not right. You shouldn't kill yourself," I muttered.

It sat back on its haunches, looking confused. “You say I am evil…darkness."

“Yes, yes, but…you shouldn't kill yourself. It's wrong."

It cocked its head. “Why?"

“The scriptures say so!"

It stared at me then titled its head the other way. “They…say I am evil…hellspawn you say. You say you should not help, threaten me, want to leave me. I hear. Why would you care?"

“Damn it I don't know!" I shouted and it jerked away. “I don't know why I'm helping you! I don't know why I didn't turn you in! I don't know why I didn't just run away and I have no idea why it's upsetting me that your child is gone! I don't know why I care—" I stopped short, jerking up straight.

I cared. I really did.

No matter how hard I tried to hide it from myself, I actually cared what this creature did, actually wanted to help it and heal its mate and family. And I had not the faintest idea of why.

It stared at me for some time. “You…want me to stay?"

“Y-yes," I stammered.

It looked down. “Why?" it said very softly.

“Because…I said I'd help and I meant it. I don't go back on my promises, ever."

The dragon sighed. “So how will you help now?"

I walked away, pacing for a moment, then looked up into the sky as if I expected answers to appear there. I started to pray, started to recite a liturgy, but stopped. All that was said there, all that I knew to be true, had been flipped on its head by the creature standing not ten feet away from me.

Oh maker, what was I going to do, and why, oh why, did you put me in this position? I let my mind churn for a bit, mulling over thoughts, ideas, trying to sort out what to do next. After a long while I turned to it.

“I'll help you find out what happened to your child."

It jerked up straight. “You…will help?"

“I said—" I started to shout, then stopped, looking at the poor creature. “Yes. I'll help you find your child. If it's still alive and hurt I'll heal it. If it's captured…we will see about freeing it. If it has died…" I looked down, heart pounding. “Then I'll help you in whatever rites you have."

It stared at me for a long, long while, then carefully shuffled over to me and nosed at my shoulder. I flinched away then stared at him in shock as he laid his head against my shoulder.

“My name is Teras," he said in a quiet voice.

“I…I'm Erin…"