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 Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:38 pm
The little dragon heard OS tell them to gather round and as he started telling the story the little golden eyed dragon padded over towards him and sat down listening. He looked like he understood and yet spoke nothing of matters.
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:40 pm
He turns back. {You are young, but you need to know this. Do not trust the humans. Avoid them at all costs. The lean times weren't just due to famine, there was a great plague. Too weak to hunt, many dragons starved to death, and there were none able to help them. Others lingered on, getting by with the occasional meal, but eventually succumbed to the disease. We do not know who sent the plague, but I suspect it was a human. You will notice that aren't very many humans in the mountains. There used to be none at all, unless we invited them. That is because this our terrain, and we are guardians of these hills. I do not who sent the plague, and I do not know if I will ever find out, but until we have regained sufficient numbers and strength, it would be wise to lay low and not let the humans know that we have returned.}
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:41 pm
Sforkok's face fell, as did her heart. Heartbroken, she leaned against Cart for strength and comfort.
{But, Old Silverback,} Cart insisted, ignoring the sorrowful part of his heart, {surely we should attack the humans? Take vengence for our lost parents?} Cart tried not to show that a part of him felt shattered inside.
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:43 pm
Khala stares at Old Silverback, horrified. {We're orphans? Don't we even have cousins or something? How did you survive? If you survived, is it possible others did? If others did, do we have family, still?}
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:44 pm
Emblem turned to face Old Silverback, the growling of his stomach ignored. {So..my parents are..?} he asked, his ears flat to his head. {Is that true?}
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:47 pm
Cart curled his tail around Emblem and Sforkok. {It's okay, Khala,} he said comfortingly. {We have each other. Emblem is right; we'll have to be each others' siblings from now on.}
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:47 pm
Old Silverback shakes his head. {No! We lived in peace with the humans once, and I believe we may do so again. Only one, or very few humans are responsible. I will not let you take innocent lives.} He turns to Khala. {There are still dragons that live in the deep mountains and up north. Some of them may be distant relatives, I do not know. If you meet them, I doubt they will know either, for some of them were born in the deep mountains after the plague started and do not remember what it was like before.}
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:48 pm
Old Silverback nods at Cartography. {I will do my best to be like a father to all of you. Or perhaps a grandparent?}
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:50 pm
Cart sighed. {Okay, Old Silverback. I was just wondering.} He sighed and listened as Sforkok whimpered.
Suddenly, it struck him like a hunk of hail from the upper atmosphere. The wander-lust. He wanted to see it all once more...but he couldn't leave Emblem and Sforkok! That wouldn't be right!
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:52 pm
Emblem wiggled close to Cart, feeling as if his new world was starting to slip out from under his tiny paws. {We might be the last ones?} he asked, ssorrow creeping into his voice. {Will the humans ever come up here and find us?} The little orange dragon looked at his paws. {If they did send that plague thing...then does that mean they're bad?} He turned to Sfor, resting his head against her shoulder. But...does that mean the're gonna come up here and find us, or cause another plague?
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moineau bavarde Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:54 pm
Freckles sits down and hangs her head low, tail wrapped around her forefeet. No parents, no family... she tries to swallow the empty feeling inside. But then she glances over at Cart, tail wrapped protectively around Emblem and Sforkok and gathers hope. If Cart can take it this well, so can I! I must be strong for the little ones.
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:58 pm
{If they come up here,} Cart said fiercely, {I'll attack them! The foothills are ours! No one will take them from us!}
Sfor sighed. {Thanks, Grandpa,} she whispered. {For...saving us. For everything, really.}
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:59 pm
{Perhaps I should have waited before telling you,} Old Silverback says regretfully, {but it will never get any easier. And do not worry, little one, for I will protect you. If you are truly worried, once you are old enough I will tell you how to return to the deep hills where you will be safe. But do not be too hasty to judge the humans. I do not doubt that most of them have forgotten us, but we used to have a friendly relationship. We helped them when they were lost in the mountains, and they would help us when we needed it. Occasionally we would find stray goats for them, and in return they would heal our injured. I am sure we can regain this lost relationship one day. In the mean time, I will teach you how to hide, how to hunt, and how to live invisibly. I will teach you how to know if a human is near, and how to watch them without being seen.}
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:59 pm
Khala curls up into a ball, whimpering at the empty feeling inside and trying not to scream and cry. Then she looks up as an idea strikes her. {Grandfather, are you sure there weren't any more eggs in our home nests? Or were there others that couldn't be hatched or something?}
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