She was graceful and pale , like moonlight . He 'd never seen anyone with skin so light . Her hair hung down to her waist and was the color of a corn husk , yellow and absolutely straight . She was very tall and lithe in a long white gown that swept the ground . " Welcome Fulkar . I was expecting you , but a boy and a dirt dog ? These are a surprise . " She spoke slowly , her words as lovely as she was . " Thank you for the welcome Celeret . I am sorry for bringing guests unannounced , but this boy , Ardan , is gifted . He needs your guidance . " Ardan gasped . This woman was the aged , wise magician that wuld teach him so much . He realized that his mouth was hanging open and quickly closed it . " Ma ' am . Celeret , I . . . I 'm Ardan . My parents are from Balti , but my father was murdered because he wouldn 't teach the dark magic . My mother ran , so I was born in the desert village of Soumae . I am asking for guidance , for a teacher . " He was surprised at himself . His voice didn 't shake , and he somehow knew just what to say . " You are very brave little dog . You are all welcome here ; I will show you where you can stay . " Then she turned and led them deep within the mountain . They followed a wide tunnel that was lit by lanterns sitting in carved out shelves along the walls . The air was cool inside the tunnel , and Ardan found himself shivering slightly . " I apologize for the tightness Fulkar , but as you can imagine these caves weren 't built with Drakons in mind , " Celeret said from the front of their line . Fulkar had his wings tucked in as tightly as was possible and was crawling on his belly . Still his spikes scraped the ceiling . " It 's not your fault , my size can sometimes be a hinderance . " They reached an archway , and the tunnel opened up into a great room . There were fires burning in large fireplaces at either end , and the walls were lined with books and art . A large table was set t one end of the room , lit by candles and at the other , rugs and large , comfortable - looking chairs were placed around the fireplace to make a very appealing and cozy sitting area . There were two tunnels leading out of the opposite wall and yet another tunnel ran parallel to the one they had just exited . The room spanned four - hundred yards at last , and Ardan reeled slightly at it 's unmatched size . They entered the great room and Fulkar shook his entire body , flexing his muscles and releasing his wings from their tight hold . " Ardan , Rheto , If you will follow me I will show you to your rooms . Fulkar , you know where you are going ? " Fulkar nodded and entered the tunnel across from them . " Drakons find sleeping indoors , a bit , confining , " she said as she led them toward the tunnel parallel to the one Fulkar took . " That tunnel leads to a courtyard that was formed in the mountains centuries ago . It is only accessible by that tunnel and the sky . " The followed them down their own tunnel , passing a door to the right and the left . As they made their way down the second tunnel , Ardan had the distinct feeling that they were walking uphill . The feeling passed in just over a minute and soon the tunnel was lined with doors interspersed between the torches . At the third door on the left , Celeret stopped . " Ardan , don 't worry so much . You 'll be wonderful . No one could help but love you . Plus , we 'll help you . Won 't we Fulkar ? " Rheto interjected . " Absolutely . " Ardan felt a little better , but their words didn 't stop the millions of butterflies in his stomach from flying around as if caught in a thunderstorm . He tried to relax , but as the mountains loomed closer he couldn 't help , but become anxious . This was most likely going to be one of the most important times of his life and he desperately wanted to do it right . " Tell Celeret why you 've come . That you want to be taught . Bow when you say hello and be respectful . I 'm sure that everything will be fine . " " Well , you must . We 're here . " Ardan 's breath caught in his throat . He hadn 't realized how close they were . The mountains were shrouded in a thick fog and when Fulkar landed , the mist rolled out from under him in thick waves , spilling over the edge of the outcropping where he set down . Ardan 's hands were shaking so badly that it took him three tries to untie the rope . He slid to the ground and tried to straighten his vest , nervously running his fingers through his hair over and over again until there was a deafening crack and the rock in front of them began to move . It opened like a door , revealing a well - lit interior , and the most beautiful woman he had ever seen . As they rose into the air , Ardan watched as the great water , the lake , he had just felt so small in , became as small as one of his own hands . He watched as the forrest sped by underneath him like a green rug in his mother 's tent . He looked all around trying to take in everything he saw . As the sun began to set , he stared as the colors washed over the mountain , painting them in reds and oranges . They were the most beautiful , the most indescribable things he 'd ever seen . The colors danced over the rocks , and it was like a fantastic dream - a wonderful , amazing dream , and he wished his mother could see it . She would have loved the way the sun played over the land and filled the sky . He smiled thinking of the joy it would have brought to her face . Then his worst fear hit him , a thought that had dwindled at the edge of his mind since his first flight with Fulkar . His eyes couldn 't focus on the sunset anymore . Instead he saw his mother 's face , the look in her eyes when she woke that morning and found that he was not in his bed . The tears that filled her eyes when Taur came to their tent , his eyes on the sand , telling her where her son had gone . He saw his mother sit down on the floor , her strong arms limp by her sides , and her beautiful hair hanging over her face . He tried to look at the sunset , at the mountains or the forrest , but her face filled his mind , pushing everything else aside . He realized exactly what he had done to her . What she must be going through , not knowing where he was or if he was coming back ? Those thoughts swam through his mind as he drifted off to sleep , tossing and turning and keeping Rheto awake , muttering to himself in his sleep . When Ardan awoke , his cheeks were wet with tears . The sky was like ink , but the stars were burning so brightly that he felt as if he could reach up and touch one , that it would burn his fingers . The mountains had grown incredibly large and quite ominous while he slept , he could see cliffs and steep slopes and wondered how Fulkar could ever land on such terrain . " Really ? An hour ? Oh wow . . . " Ardan 's face grew serious . " Well , now that it 's happening . . . I mean , now that were here . . . I 'm nervous . " The water wouldn 't let him sit down , but he pushed against it keeping his head under water ; which filled his ears and caused his hair to dance around his face . He counted to three and then opened his eyes . All around him was blue . He could see tiny things floating in the water . He didn 't know the names , but some swam and others just drifted . He saw a few fish , but they all darted away so quickly that he couldn 't really get a good look at them . It was like being in a different world . His arms felt weightless ; he had to struggle to move them , to keep them under the water . He turned his head quickly and watched his hair slowly follow . Everything seemed new to him . He allowed some air to escape between his lips and watched as the bubbles found their way to the surface , their incandescent spheres reflecting everything . He had been so distracted by the beauty , the calm of his newly discovered world that he had forgotten about his quickly - emptying lungs . His chest screamed for air ; His heart beat loudly , filling his ears and his head with its rhythm . He froze and then began to panic . He didn 't know how to swim . He didn 't know what to do , how to get back to the air that his body needed so badly . Then he remembered the sand between his toes . He pushed against it and after three seconds of eternity , his head emerged atop the waves . He gulped in air , his chest and shoulders heaving . Fulkar was still there staring at him , worried lines connecting his eyes . Ardan pushed back his hair with his hands , and Fulkar relaxed as a grin spread across his face . On the shore Rheto called , " well done ! " . Ardan threw back his head in a triumphant war whoop , a call of his own victory over the water and over his own fear . His smile had taken over his features , his eyes shone brightly and his teeth were revealed , contrasting sharply against his skin . His dark hair was slick and still dripping , even longer when wet . Fulkar slowly came towards Ardan , his large body causing waves that would over turn a small boat . Ardan planted his feet , preparing for the water . Fulkar 's body appeared more and more as he came into the shallower water , until finally the water no longer reached his belly , but stopped just below his knees . He bent his neck forward and tilted his head until one giant eye peered at Ardan . " I 've never known it could be like this , so . . . comfortable and green . . . not a desert . " Ardan laughed at his own inability to put his feelings into words . Fulkar smiled , as much as a drakon can smile , enjoying Ardan 's inexperienced glee . " You 're right . " Ardan pulled himself up the beach , back to his bag . He got out his sand cakes and broke one into pieces . Fulkar stretched out in the sand , his belly carving a ditch in the beach . " Aren 't you going to hunt ? " " Yes . I suppose so . I 'll be back soon . " He raced off into the trees , his body changing from the black and white of the sand to the green and brown of the forrest . " Well , magic 's use is depends on the magician . Some , like your father it seems , use it to teach . Some , to gain power or respect , some for healing , for discovery , or to gain knowledge . Others use it for war or to cause pain . It is up to you to decide how you want to use the magic . " " Of course . You can call on magic and whatever power it gives you is the power you have to call on . I have known magicians who could move mighty rivers , that could call people back from the dead , but things like that . . . " Fulkar moved so that he could look Ardan directly in the eyes . " Things like that require sacrifices from the magicians , sometimes it is just a drain of their energy , they sleep it off or eat a good meal , and the energy is restored . Sometimes it takes a part of them ; they age so to speak because the magic has taken years from them . Other times , if the magician is not powerful enough or practiced enough , the magic claims his life . Celeret will be able to explain better than I . Drakons do not live under the same rules as humans . Magic flows through all of us like blood . It is part of us . If taken from us , it can kill us , but I have never heard of a spell that could kill a drakon . " " No . We cannot bring things back from the dead . That would kill us for another reason . There is certain magic that is forbidden among our race . Our ancestors made a great pact hundreds of years ago . It is that great spell that would take the life , not the use of the magic . It is to keep a single one of us or a group from becoming more than we were meant to be . Do you understand ? " " But Rheto ? " Ardan jumped up as Fulker stood and stretched his wings . He stretched his body from his neck down to his tail and looked toward the trees . Ardan smiled as Rheto emerged holding another rat in his mouth . He ate it and agin buried the refuse in the sand . Rheto and Ardan climbed back onto Fulkar 's back and as Ardan tied them on , Fulkar stretched his wings preparing to fly . " Were not too heavy for you ? " Ardan insisted . " You have carried us a long way . " Fulkar shook his head laughing and leapt into the air . " Start slowly . Put your feet in and work your way deeper . Neither of us expect you to swim like a fish . You have never had more than a bath . We will keep you safe . You will not drown . " Rheto spoke quietly as if his words were a secret . Glancing at his pet , Ardan stood up . He removed his bag from across his chest and laid it in the sand . Next he took off his vest and folded it on top of his bag . His bare chest shone in the sun ; his young muscles strong and taunt . His dark skin seemed even darker here against the backdrop of green . He walked toward the water slowly . He was determined to be brave , but there was no bravery in foolishness . The water lapped at his toes , making the sand under his feet squish and stick to the tops of his feet . He walked until the water flowed up around his ankles and then stopped . Fulkar was still in the water , Ardan could see his nostrils , eyes , and ears peeking from above the waves . He was less than twenty yards ahead . The water must be very deep . Fulkar watched him intently , his eyelids the only perceptible movement . The water was cool , but not cold . It had been warmed by the long , hot sun . Ardan stared out across the waves wondering if his mother had had to cross this lake . If she could swim , perhaps the sad look that had often flitted into her eyes was not just for his father . It was easy to understand how someone could miss this . It was beautiful and serene . He stared and stared ; making sure that he would be able to remember this place in his mind as long as he lived . Ardan gradually walked deeper in the water until the bottoms of his shorts were dark with wet . The water began to creep past his knees and he stopped again . Rheto and Fulkar couldn 't see , but his feet were buried in the sand under the water . Perhaps he was afraid the waves would carry him away or perhaps it was just something familiar to hold onto . He leaned to his left until his fingertips brushed the water . He let them dance across the surface , and then he proceeded deeper . The water reached his thighs , his waist , and then it was up past his navel . He stopped again , letting both hands drop to his sides . He could feel the soft current against his palms , making his body sway gently . He knew he could not breathe underwater and yet he desired to know what it felt like to be encompassed by something so great and vast ; to feel the water lift his hair . He took a deep breath and just sat down . As they flew , Ardan watched the earth below turn green . It was green as far forward as he could see , until the mountains began to take over the horizon . He studied the ground . He 'd never seen trees of this shape . They were impossibly tall with thick branches , heavy with leaves . Fulkar flew with the wind , and it swept him close over the tree tops . The leaves were shaped like stars and once he even caught a glimpse of an animal he had never seen before . It was so graceful . It was thin and tall , on four legs that were long , as were it 's ears . There was a herd of them , like gazelle , but bigger . They raced swiftly through the trees , winding and diving through the trunks . He gasped when he saw them and Rheto leaned over to see . " Those are deer . They are much like the gazelle that the hunters bring back , but they are larger and with bigger horns . They cannot be tamed like horses , but they are very beautiful . " Ardan only nodded , watching as the herd slipped from view into a deeper part of the forrest . As they neared the mountain they passed over a great expanse of water , and as they reached the far side , Fulkar began to drop again . This time Ardan prepared himself for it and was not so caught off guard as to lose his breath . They dropped down onto sand , only it was like no other sand that Ardan had ever encountered . It was dark gray with small black and white pebbles running through it . He sifted it through his hands . The grains were larger , it was heavier in his hands , but most different of all , it was cool to the touch . Ardan stood staring over the great water , his eyes wide , his mouth in a pensive line . " This is a lake , " Rheto told him , answering his question before he asked it . " It is a medium - sized body of water . There are also seas , which are bigger , and oceans , which I could never describe in a way which would allow your mind to dream of them . They are like the desert stretching many weeks journey and leading to unknown lands . " The water was a deep blue . Deeper even than Fulkar 's darkest scales . Fulkar shook his body free of the ropes and then plunged head first into the water . His whole mammoth body was enveloped by the water . All that remained were rings of waves . Rheto too leapt into the water , splashing and diving until he was as sleek as a diving bird and half his normal size . Ardan sat down in the strange cool sand and let it seep between his fingers . He had never been afraid of water before , but now , with this water , he was . He wanted to leapt into as Fulkar and Rheto had , but he couldn 't make his body perform the action . What if it swallowed him whole ? " Celeret is wise and mighty and powerful . A magician who can teach you many great things , but can also seduce you with promises . You must learn all you can , but be wary once we reach the mountains . I do not wish to be the reason that you are lost to the dark arts , to greed or the hunger for power . Even immortality may be offered to you , but you must resist all of these temptations for they always lead to despair and great loss . They are forbidden magics and are so for a reason . You will have to be very strong , little one . " " But you will be there to protect me ? And Rheto ? " Ardan asked , now more concerned than excited . What if he was walking into a disaster ? " Yes . I will stay , and Rheto loves you too much to let you freely walk into such atrocities , but these things are very tempting . Men have turned from their families and killed their friends for the knowledge that will be offered to you . Know this though , and do not be dismayed , for all the doubt that you labor yourself with , I see much good in you . You shine like a star in my eyes . There are not many I have seen that shine so brightly . I do not think you will need us to guide you to what is right . " Ardan sat , chewing slowly on his sand cake as he contemplated these things . Was it worth the risk to go to the mountains ? Could Celeret really teach him so much as to risk his being , risk the light that Fulkar saw . He did not believe that Fulkar would lead him knowingly into danger , and Rheto would never allow him to become dark . Ardan was about to ask another question , but closed his lips when Rheto came scurrying back onto sand . Ardan watched as his fur shifted from browns and greens to the pale yellow of the sand . It thrilled him every time he saw Rheto change , and even now a smile spread across his face . Rheto carried a rat in his mouth . It hung limp , and a little blood was gathered in the corners of his mouth . He had never known Rheto to be a hunter . " Good hunting , I 'm guessing ? " Fulkar asked as Rheto dropped the small , furry , brown creature into the sand . It 's long tail lay limp , and it 's beady eyes held no light of their own anymore . Rheto nodded and then began to eat . It didn 't take him long to finish off the rat , tough he left behind the tail , claws , and head . After burying them in the sand , he cleaned his paws and looked up at them . " Yes . If you , well , if we , ask nicely . " Ardan settled back against Fulkar 's spike and glanced down at Rheto who - surprisingly - fast asleep . He began to daydream as they flew higher until they were above the clouds . He could see himself now , magician . Learning from an aged , wise and wonderful magician , casting spells . . . soon he too was asleep , snoring slightly ; his eyelids fluttering as he dreamed of his new life . He woke as he was jolted , causing the net to cut into his abdomen and thighs . Rheto yelped , and Ardan 's eyes flew open . It was night again , and they had reached the edge of the sand and a forrest . The trees were thick and packed together . He had never seen so many trees , and all of them were so large ! Ardan 's eyes too grew large as he realized that Fulkar was falling out of the sky . He opened his mouth to scream , but the air was stolen from his lungs as they descended . " I 'll untie us , " Ardan said . He reached down and pulled a loose cord and all the netting fell away from Fulkar 's back . Rheto leapt to the ground , shaking his body vigorously and then took a long roll in the sand . Ardan slipped down and landed lightly in the sand . It was fully night now , and the moonlight bounced off the sand and cast long shadows from the trees . " Well , now I feel better . " Fulkar said laughing . " I 've never had anyone ride me before , and it causes me to itch terribly . " Ardan laughed along with him as Rheto smiled . " Now , you two need some food , am I right ? " Fulkar asked , one great eye examining them closely . " I brought a little bit of sand cake , but it won 't be enough for more then one meal . " Ardan replied dropping his bag in onto the sand . he reached his hand inside and quickly pulled out two small , flat cakes that were yellow and dry . He took a bite out of one , cracking it loudly between his teeth . The other he offered to Rheto . " Yes , we are , " answered Ardan . His hands flexed as he tightened his grip on the nets . Fulkar lowered his body to the ground , bending his knees until his belly touched the rough sand . Suddenly he launched himself straight up into the air , opening his wings and soaring in the wind . Ardan opened his eyes only after he felt the great wings settle into a rhythm . He hadn 't realized he had closed his eyes , but they were wide open now . They were so high in the air that the largest trees looked like small seeds , and the fastest horse in the world could never have dreamed of matching their speed . Ardan was amazed . In the first second of flight , he saw more of the world than he had in the whole of his lifetime . The sand stretched out as far as he could see . It touched the rising sun on the horizon , but in the sky that was still dark , rose what he could only assume to be mountains . He had heard of them , learned of them through stories , but never seen them . They were massive and beautiful and as he stared at them , trying to take them in , he realized that Fulkar was flying toward them . No one spoke for a few very long minutes . Ardan was tight - lipped , his eyes stoney , but slightly damp . Rheto 's face was on his paws , his eyes glancing from them to Ardan every few seconds . Fulkar was still calm , but it was obvious he was thinking hard . " You have great magic also , little friend . Do not think that it is not passed in the blood . Your father could speak any language , and so far , you are following in his footsteps . Perhaps you will be able to avenge his death someday , " said Fulkar slowly . " Not likely , " Fulkar said snorting , blue flames spurting from his nostrils , that almost singed Ardan 's curls . " If they do not know he is coming , if they do not know he is magical , and if they do not the extent of his magic , he could do great damage . " Fulkar 's giant eyes were only slits and his voice grew serious . " I know someone who could teach him . I was on my way there when I stopped to rest here . You two are welcome to come along . " Rheto and Fulkar both looked at Ardan . He didn 't answer them right away , but sat for a minute contemplating . " I do not want revenge , " Ardan stood up . " but I want to go with you Fulkar . I want to learn and be powerful and someday , I want to return to Balti with my mother . I want to finish my father 's work and to not be afraid . " Fulkar 's eyes brightened . He stretched his body and fluttered his wings . " No she won 't . She will hear the story from Taur and know I left . She will also know that I will return . " Ardn threw his bag back across his shoulder and turned to Rheto . " You have been with my mother for a long time , I do not expect you to leave her , but you are welcome to come . " " Your mother was born in a large city , many , many miles from the desert . You can 't imagine a city Ardan , so I will try and explain . There are no tents , but instead , houses made of hardened clay , stone , or wood . Instead of everyone working together to survive , people in the cities strive to propel themselves only . Everything is traded or bought . Nothing is given freely . " " The city , named Balti , is run or controlled by a group of people called the Sumi , magicians who are greedy and sometimes cruel . There are six of them . I will not tell you there names because it has been so long that the six I knew may no longer be in control or even alive . Underneath the Sumi are the Tace , there are usually twelve of them . They too are magicians , but not as old or as powerful as the Sumi . They each control small sections of the city . For example , one watches trade , one medicine , one education , and so forth . The third , last , and lowest level are the Culon . These are many . Almost one hundred when I left . They are younger magicians . They speak for the people , teach at the schools , judge the crimes , and settle disagreements . Your father was a Culon . He was called Culon Bizo . " Ardan rolled the name around on his tongue . Bizo . . . Culon Bizo . . . He did not speak , but listened on . " Your father met your mother four years before you were born . Her father was a Tace . Tace Agnon , a grand man , who was well respected and greatly loved . He was over education and loved children , and your father was one of his favorite teachers . He had him over for dinner one night and there he met your mother . Let me interject here , your mother received me as a gift on her eighth birthday , so I was there when this happened . She was only fifteen , but she fell in love with your father that first night , even though he was twenty . She used to speak to me every night about him . When she was seventeen , they were engaged , but turmoil broke out in the city . One of the Sumi , a very old man named Callis , died and the struggle to find a replacement divided the people . When Jannen took his place , the turmoil died and to your grandfather 's great pleasure , your parents were married . " " They had a nice house in one of the better neighborhoods , your father was incredibly gifted . He could speak every language and was always reading , which made him very intelligent . He also had some control over the weather . . . though to be honest I never saw him do more than move clouds , so that the sun would shine on your mother . When Arta became pregnant , your parents were thrilled . She sand all the time and your father seemed to float through the air . But just a month later your grandfather died and Ghava , a greedy , dark - souled Culon took his place . He changed all the education to suit him ; began teaching dark magic and that power was more important than anything else . Your father was disgusted and made his feelings well known . He fought the changes , and he and some friends refused to deviate from what they had always taught and more importantly , what they believed . Eventually he taught in secret locations , to any child that was brave enough to come . Ghava 's father - in - law , Tovu , was a Sumi . A man who 's views were only kept in check by the others , but he began to gain power and supported his son - in - law whole - heartedly . It became illegal to speak ill of him or doubt him . " " By the time you were four months along , two of your father 's closest friends had been arrested and stripped of their magic , one had been banished and the other killed . Two months later they came for your father . He was reading when they came for him . They were non - magical men , but they had weapons . They arrested him , but before they dragged him away , he whispered to your mother to run away and he would find her ; to hide , so they wouldn 't get her as well as you . She did not leave immediately though . She did not believe they would truly hurt him , but an hour later a storm began to rage over the Sumi council building and then suddenly died . Moments after the storm had finished a close friend came to the door . The council had accused your father of treason and heresy . He had gone into a tirade about the morality of teaching , had accosted them for their behavior , and they had retaliated . Culon Bizo . . . your father . . . had been killed . " " Your mother did not leave immediately , but packed two small bags along with plenty of food and then she ran . After two months of travel , she and I arrived here , just two weeks before you were born . It was your mother 's only option . They would have killed you as well . That is the law in Balti . If a father is treacherous , so shall the son be , they are both put to death . You know the rest from there , but now you know the truth . I am sorry Ardan . It is not a happy tale . " " I 'm afraid I do not . I have never seen anything like you . It is not an insult . Please enlighten me on your species , I find it most interesting , " Fulkar said , his enormous head leaning closer to the little dirt dog who was slightly smaller than one of the great eyes that was studying him with such interest . " A dirt dog is a mammal as is probably obvious . We are not a species of dog , but were named such because of our similar appearance . We are all relatively the same size and males and females are only discernible by the length of the tail . Males , like myself , have a tail , that as you can see , can wrap almost all the way around under my chin . Females , on the other hand , have short tails that do not curl when carried , like males , but point almost directly upwards . We are magical creatures and are incredibly gifted at hiding . Our fur changes color depending on the surface we are standing on . " " It used to be one of my favorite games when I was a child , " Ardan informed Fulkar . " I would lay down different colored blankets and watch as he changed color . I was never allowed to tell anyone though . " " Of course . May I ? " Rheto gestured towards Fulkar 's giant paw and after a nod proceeded to gingerly step over the talons and onto the scaly skin . After only a few seconds the fur on Rheto 's feet turned a deep blue , followed by his legs , belly , back , and ending with his head and tail . His fur even mimicked the appearance of scales and the metallic texture of them . Fulkar gasped , his eyes wide and shining . " Most amazing ! " Fulkar exclaimed " if it weren 't my own foot , I don 't believe I would know you were there at all . Has there ever been a surface you could not duplicate ? A pattern too complicated or a texture too rich ? " " We have a life span of just under a century , though many have lived mush longer . I myself am only a child . I will be twenty - three when it turns cold again . And you Fulkar - I know in tales that drakon lives spanned centuries upon centuries - is it true ? " " It is . I myslef am young . I am 167 years old , but my grand - sire is still alive and will be 632 in a very short time . I 've never known any that lived too 1000 , but there have been stories . " Ardan had been speechless for moments , but this left him dumbfounded . In his village you were inducted into the ancient table at fifty and most man lived no more than sixty . There was a woman who was near eighty , but 167 ! Not to mention 600 ! That was incomprehensible . " Which in human years is almost grown , so we are all young . But do not feel downtrodden young man . Just because we are young does not mean that we are not important . " Ardan lifted his eyes fro the sand . He had trouble believing that he could be important , but when Fulkar said it , it wasn 't as hard . " There 's not much to tell . I was born in the village just over the dunes , near the oasis . My mother is young , her name is Arta , but my father is dead . He died of a disease just before I was born . . . " Ardan stopped because Rheto had flinched noticeably , a barely audible whine escaping his throat . " Rheto , what is it ? " asked Ardan , looking at the small dirt dog with large , round eyes . " I feel . . . now that I can truly use it , i cannot hold my tongue . Your mother would be furious with me , but I cannot help but feel you must know the truth . " Fulkar tilted his head , obviously interested and tried his best to look at both of his new friends , but was having trouble . " I believe . . . " Fulkar said soothingly " that whether for your own good or someone else 's that you have been lied to . " Ardan 's mouth hung open . He couldn 't believe it . For twelve years he had lived among the people , believing they were just that , his people . Now , he would doubt everything . " Please don 't be angry with anyone Ardan . " Rheto began , placing his tiny paw on Ardan 's knee . " Your mother and everyone else who knows the truth lied for your own good . You are not of the desert people . You were born in the village , but your mother was not . She came here only a few months before you were born . She had no choice . It is a long story . " " All right Ardan , but do not interrupt or I might lose my nerve and never finish . " Ardan nodded and Fulkar inclined his head . So , the little dirt dog cleared his throat and began . " No . I 'm sorry . I don 't . I 've never been outside this desert . " Ardan was ashamed . He felt silly and young . His eyes no longer flitted between Fulkar 's giant ones , but found solace in the sand underneath him . " Well , then I wouldn 't expect you to have heard of us . We are from a land with much water that is covered in green . We almost never travel through the desert . " Fulkar saddened as he thought of his home , but the sadness soon it left his eyes and he continued . " Drakons are the oldest beings there are . They were here before anything else . We feed off of the moon and water . The moon gives us energy and water keeps us alive . It keeps our scales bright and out minds , as well as our talons , sharp . " " No wonder you don 't come to the desert much . There 's not much water here . Well , not enough for you anyway . " Ardan was impressed by this polite , ancient , incredible being . " You are quite right . I did not intend to stay , but after my drink I fell asleep and woke up bound . Now I cannot leave . " Again Fulkar 's eyes filled with with sadness and he rolled his eyes upwards to stare at the sky with longing . Ardan fingered the knife on his belt , trying to make a decision . " Of course I could , but I find that most everything has a bitter taste and an even worse aftertaste . " Ardan stood , pulled his knife from his belt and slashed at the nets holding Fulkar 's head to the sand . It took him several minutes and more than one attack , but shortly the net snapped and Fulkar 's head , as well as some of his neck , lifted from the ground . Fulkar sighed and shook his great head , his ears flapping and creating such a gust of wind that Ardan was knocked to the ground . " I will not eat you . That would be most dishonorable of me . " Fulkar was looking Ardan directly in the eyes , and Ardan could see the seriousness of the spoken words . He quickly stood and began working on the rest of the nets . It took him much longer than he had expected , but after stripping off his vest and bag and laying them in the sand , his forehead and chest slick with sweat , the final bond was broken and Fulkar launched himself into the air with a deafening roar . Once again Ardan found himself lying on his back in the sand . He laughed . Fulkard spread his gigantic wings and soared above the ground like a shining bird . Rheto yelped and ran , but Ardan could only stare as his new , magnificent friend flew even higher . He lay on his back watching , only sitting up when Fulkar landed , shaking the ground with his immense weight . He stretched his wings and his neck to their fullest , letting out another roar that was accompanied by blue flames that shot from his mouth and nostrils . " Thank you ! " roared Fulkar . He surveyed his own body , craning his neck to the left and the right . His scales were back to color and the cracks had healed . He felt the strength running through his limbs like a rushing river . " You 're the biggest living thing I 've ever seen . It 's a good thing that you don 't eat , for you would never be full . " laughed Ardan . he let out a whistle and Rheto appeared out of the dark , still a little shaken and eyeing Fulkar apprehensively . " Of course . I do know that language . I learned it when I was very young . It is the language of all small mammals . you have a true friend with you tonight , " Fulkar answered , inclining his head toward Rheto . " It was not I , little furry one . I believe your master has had the talent all along . It has just taken such an opportunity , such a night as this to awaken it . " Fulkar bent his back legs and sat . His tail curling around him , the very tip twitching methodically . " But . . . it can 't be ! " cried Ardan , jumping to his feet . " I mean . . . I 've never heard anything before . Rheto , you 've lived with me for my whole life . I 've never heard you speak . " " I know . There are so many things I 've wanted to share with you . " Rheto sat in the sand , his eyes turning sad . " there are so many things you do not know . " " Now you can tell him , but first things first , we must finish our introductions . I have told you who and what I am , now I would like to know the same about both of you . " Fulkar was leaning down over them , even more gigantic now that he was so close . " Ardan , I would like to hear from Rheto first . If you don 't mind . " " It 's fine . I would like to hear about you also . I know what you are , but not necessarily who . " Ardan found himself realizing that all these years he had thought of Rheto as just a pet , not a being with real thoughts and feelings . Now he knew better and was ashamed . " I don 't know what to say , not to the two of you anyway . I 've spoken to many smaller , lesser beings , but never a human and especially not a great drakon , though I have heard stories about them . " Ardan 's mouth fell open at this news , that Rheto knew more than he did . " As Ardan knows , because his mother told him , I am a dirt dog . I am not a natural inhabitant of the desert , but moved here along with Arta while she was still pregnant . I do not mean to insult Fulkar , but do you know what a dirt dog is ? " Ardan blinked his eyes rapidly and stared at the most enormous and most beautiful animal or creature he had ever seen . It had scales the color of deep water and the stars bounced off of them causing their light to dance . It had a huge head that was attached to it 's body by a long , powerful neck . It had spines down it 's back and a thick , long tail that ended , like it 's ears , with a tuft of blue fur . The creature 's feet were almost as long as Ardan himself . It 's talons were like long , curved knives , sharp and shining . He gasped when he saw it and felt Taur grab his arm in shock . " Yes . It grunted or roared or whatever sound that kind of animal makes . It 's angry and we should go home . " Taur replied tugging on Ardan 's vest . " He knows we 're here and he says we should introduce ourselves . He called us rude . " Ardan began walking toward the beast , but Taur grabbed him . " Introducing myself . " Ardan smiled and pulled away from Taur , picking up Rheto as he half - walked , half - slid down the side of the dune . Taur watched him walk down toward the creature and then , almost in tears , followed him at a distance . Upon reaching flat land Ardan set Rheto back down on the ground , but continued striding toward the giant thing . He skirted a stake holding down the nets , slowing his walk as he drew even with the creatures head . " There you are , " said the giant voice . It was much louder this close . Ardan could have reached out and touched one of the great ears , but he didn 't dare . " Please , come where I can see you . " Ardan swallowed hard and slowly came around the great snout with nostrils bigger than his head and a mouth . He could have easily slept inside . The great eyes pierced him to his soul . Each one was as large as one of the village fire pits and light blue like the eggs he sometimes found , but shining like smooth stones . " Unfortunately not . I am not as learned in all the languages as I should be , but it 's lucky you were here . I 've known very few who were so young that were so skilled in drakon speech . It is not easy . " Ardan 's mouth hung open . He had been speaking drakon , whatever that was . Taur couldn 't understand the creature and the creature couldn 't understand Taur . His mind was buzzing . " Tell her the truth . " Taur 's mouth fell open , but he didn 't answer . He just stalked off in the direction of the village . Rheto followed him a short way , but then returned and sat beside Ardan , who was still slightly dumbfounded . " Yes , he 's younger than me and he 's scared . So , he went home . He 'll regret it in the morning and he 'll feel bad and i 'll forgive him because he 's my best friend . " Ardan took a deep breath and looked up at the creature only to realize that it , that he was laughing . " Why are you laughing ? " Ardan asked , a little irritated . " But I could eat you . . . I 'm bigger and stronger and much more dangerous than you . How do you know your friend , Taur , wasn 't correct in being afraid ? " It was cool outside . He had had a most refreshing sleep . He opened his eyes and began to lift his head , but found he couldn 't . His neck was restrained by something . He tried to stretch his wings , but could not move them . His whole body was immobile . He tilted his head and revolved his great eye so that he could see his body and groaned . Thickly woven nets were thrown across his body and staked to the ground . Even his tail was under them . There were layers of them across his back and they gave only inches when he strained against them . He had been foolish and now he was trapped . As weak as he had been he should have flown further . He should have found a safer place . Now he was trapped ; the greatest insult to a drakon was to be restrained by force . His eyes fell along with his pride , but he did not give up . He sniffed the air , but smelled nothing living . The nets smelled of plant and desert . They could not hold him forever . He rolled his eyes upward and stared at the moon . " Give me strength , " he begged of the glowing orb . He kept fighting , but the nets seemed to move even less . It would take all night , but he would be free again . A whistle came from a grove of trees and a pair of feet appeared from beneath the closest tent 's edge . Taur wriggled backwards out from underneath the tent , a woven bag clasped in his left hand . He glanced around the dark village and then sprinted to Ardan 's side , hiding in the grove . " What took so long ? " Ardan whispered , Taur just gaped at him , slightly disgusted at the question . " Nevermind . I 'm glad you came . " " I hate you , " replied Taur , narrowing his eyes . He threw the strap of the bag across his chest and glanced inside , checking the contents for what was most likely the tenth time since dark . Ardan smiled , but did not reply . He whistled a different pitch and his pet appeared out of the darkness . " Fine . " replied Taur following on Ardan 's heels . " I can 't believe you brought him . " he said pointing to the little tan animal . " He 's going to get us caught . " " Ha ! Rheto is quieter than you and much braver . " Taur grumbled to himself , but followed Ardan into the open desert on the other side of the grove . Ardan glanced at the sky , noting the stars , as his bare feet hit the sand . " You said west right ? " Taur nodded . " So , let 's go . " He began walking away from the grove , going a little to the right as Rheto bounded along behind them and taur dragged hid feet . In the starlight it was noticeable that Ardan had added a light vest and a small woven bag to his body , along with a knife on a belt around his waist . Ardan took the last ten yards to the dunes ' crest at a run ; Taur did not . It had been a hard trip to the dunes . Ardan 's legs were longer than Taur 's and he had had to work to keep up with the older boy 's persistent anticipation . Now Taur was dreading what he would see when he finally made it to the top . He slowed his steps , but jumped and ran when Ardan exclaimed . He had been working for hours , but still could barely wiggle his toes ; whoever had tied him down made very strong nets , perhaps even magical ones . Still , he had not given up . He would never give up , for drakons were known for their optimism , but that did not mean that he wasn 't frustrated , only that he believed it would all work out for the best . He was preparing to try and stretch the nets once again when a new smell caught in his nostrils . He sniffed the air and because of his surprise , tried to swing his head around to see behind him . His head struck a stake in the ground and he grunted . Not from pain , but from annoyance . Sneaking up on someone was rude , and he was being snuck up upon . " I know you 're there . There are two of you and a small mammal . It is very rude not to introduce yourselves and since I am bound and you are not , it falls on you to begin the introductions . " Fulkar landed with a heavy thud , dust rising into the air , making him snort . The land was dry and dusty , but there had to be some water here . Small , yellowish grass sprouted out of the dirt every few feet . Grass needed water . So did a Drakon . It was because of this , and only because of this , that Fulkar had landed in this part of the desert . He had been flying for nearly two days and had seen only sand and large black rocks . He was desperate for water . The scales on his back were dry and beginning to crack . ; their deep blues and greens turning paler . He dug his boulder - size paw at the ground ; his talons making deep furrows . The ground moved easily , but no water appeared . He dug again and again until his whole paw disappeared into the ground . What felt like an hour passed and suddenly , he felt damp soil between his toes . He dug almost frantically and in just moments the hole was muddy . When the mud settled a bit , he quickly lapped up the water before the sand could swallow it again , his tongue shooting out repetitively like a forked , blue flame . His eyes closed , and the liquid hit his throat and then his belly . When the water was gone , he dug deeper , drawing more and more water from the soil . Soon his great thirst was gone and his scales were starting to darken . His nose was tilted up , pulling the time and the weather from scents on the wind . He was relaxed . His bat - like ears flat against his head , their tips covered with sky - blue hair that moved in the breeze . His eyes , which were the color of the coldest ice in the north , showed only through slits as a purr began to rumble from his trunk - sized throat . He knew he needed to fly on , but his wings , which were a filmy blue and stretched just short of a hundred yards when fully extended , were sore and aching . So , he curled his thick tail around his legs and fell asleep . There was a great racket coming from the the western village border . A boy with dark , curly hair and sad eyes stuck his head out from a tent flap and stared as villagers hurried to the west , whispering or calling between one another . He couldn 't understand what they were saying , but still he turned back inside , calling to his mother to come and see . He re - emerged from the tent wearing only a thin pair of shorts . his body was dark and muscular , and he was very tall for one so young . His eyes were kind and now lit with excitement . His full mouth broadened into an excited grin . His feet were bare , but the hot sand did not burn them . The tent flap moved behind him and a small animal , barely discernible against the sand , ran toward the boy , a rough barking sound coming from it . It jumped up against him , only reaching his knee , and the boy rubbed its overly furry body lovingly and called for his mother again . " Ardan , I 'm coming . Whatever it is , it will wait . " said his mother . She had just stepped from the tent and was wearing a loose - fitting , sleeveless dress . She too was tan and muscular , but her dark hair hung in ringlets that were tied back at the base of her head . She was no taller than her son , but her hands were rough and slightly blistered by work . " Everyone is going , Arta , " he replied impatiently " Everyone ! " he stamped his foot on the ground . " It must be something big ! " She dismissed him with a wave of her hand and a sigh , allowing the boy and his pet to run ahead without her . He ran past tents and fires and people who were still milling around their doorways cautiously , but he didn 't slow . The little puff ball beside him was surprisingly nimble and quick to be so weighted down with fur . After many minutes he reached the border of the village where the grass grew more sparsely , and the sand was hotter . There , most of the village had gathered and were speaking together wildly . " Ardan ! You shouldn 't . . . I mean . . . you mustn 't sneak . . . don 't do that ! " Ardan laughed and clasped Taur 's shoulder . " Yes . They couldn 't very well drag it back . It 's as large as half the village . Besides they said it looked terribly dangerous . It wouldn 't be safe to bring it here . They said it isn 't far , just half a moon west and then over the big dunes . They say it dug a hole . " Taur was very pleased with the knowledge he possessed . He drew himself up to his full height and puffed out his chest , daring Ardan to challenge his information . " Wings ! " Ardan exclaimed . Luckily everyone around them was involved in their own conversations so no one noticed his outburst . Taur grabbed onto him anyway , dragging him to the backside of the nearest tent . " Taur ! Taur we have to go see it ! You heard them talking . Are they moving it ? Guarding it ? You know we can find it , you just said where it is . . . " Taur cut him off by stomping his foot . " No , no , no ! I won 't do it . I won 't go . It 's a terrible , dangerous creature . You won 't get me to help you this time . It could kill us ! " " You said they netted it ! It won 't be able to get to us . Taur , when will we ever be able to see anything like this ever again ? When ? ! " " I don 't know ! Ardan , my mother would kill me ! So would yours . . . " but Taur 's resolve was faltering as he began to give in to his curiosity . Hi all ! I never thought I would be a blogger , but right now I am job hunting , bored , and desperate to share a little bit of myself with the world . Just a bit about me : I am a 25 yr . old with a history degree that I haven 't been able to put to any use what - so - ever . I rescue animals , love to sing , but most of all I am a writer . I know , I know . . . another writer . I decided to post a chapter of a book I am writing everyday for two reasons . One : it will make me finish faster . Two : my mom and dad talked me into it . So , I guess I 'll get started . Feel free to leave comments or advice , even criticism , but please be nice . I didn 't do anything to you . . . . This blog is just my way of sharing what I love to do . Which is telling stories . A chapter a day is just that . A chapter a day of a book I am writing . It 's about a young boy and his journey to finding himself and the truth about his family . It is total fiction and something I 've been working on for the past year . This is LIGHT .