Wrrim's Story

Raina sat by a shallow stream deep within the Dragon’s Forest. It was late night and the air was cool, so she decided to let her black, wavy hair hang free around her shoulders. She felt completely at ease in the forest, her dragon companions never leaving her side. One currently flew overhead, riding the thermals with the ease of an expert. It had rough, pale white skin and fierce green eyes that could spot prey from miles away. Size wise, it was relatively small having yet to reach the age of maturity.

Raina smiled as she watched the graceful creature dance through the air. It was a wonder how anyone could despise such beautiful animals, but there were those who made no secret of their disdain. At the thought of the arguments between her father and the head farmer, her mood was instantly sullied. Images flashed through her thoughts, reminding her of the fight that had broken out just weeks ago. It was the same argument they continuously revisited year after year. The head farmer, Kaleo Akoni complained about how the dragons got into his crops and Raina's father would remind him that no damage was caused. However for some reason or another, the heated exchange would continue until both were frustrated and exhausted from the effort.

She shook her head and stood, deciding it was time to go home. It was getting late and she had a long walk back to the Castle District, where a warm bed waited for her inside a welcoming two bedroom house. Her footsteps were quiet as she walked between the trees. She had learned long ago to tread softly so as not to startle the temperamental creatures of the forest. It was dark, but the moonlight supplied sufficient light for travel from its high position in the sky. She was sure of her footing, having trekked the same path so often, but she was quickly approaching something too small to see on the dark road of plodded earth. It caught her completely off guard when her foot hit a hard object causing her to trip and fall forward into the dirt. She cursed aloud as she sat up on her knees and felt around for what had caused her misfortune. Whatever it was felt hard and cool to the touch like dried sea sponge. She could tell it was an egg of some sort from having held so many in her lifetime. However any other details of the egg were kept hidden by the darkness.
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The journey home took hours, but Raina barely noticed in her excitement to return and get a better look at the egg. When she arrived at her house, the candles had longed burned out and the rooms were quiet save the sound of her father snoring. The hearth was still lit in the mainroom and she used the fire to light a candle as she took the few strides to her room. After shutting the door behind her she set the egg on her bed and proceeded to light more candles to get the room bright. After she was satisfied, she plopped down on her bed and took a closer look at the egg. It was red causing her to initially believe that a fire dragon was growing inside, however, upon closer inspection, she noted the speckles of black that dotted it surface, a feature she had never seen on any fire dragon egg. Her eyes widened and a grin quickly spread across her lips as she wondered if she had discovered a new species. All she could do now was wait for it to hatch.

Raina sat by a shallow stream deep within the Dragon’s Forest. It was late night and the air was cool, so she decided to let her black, wavy hair hang free around her shoulders. She felt completely at ease in the forest, her dragon companions never leaving her side. One currently flew overhead, riding the thermals with the ease of an expert. It had rough, pale white skin and fierce green eyes that could spot prey from miles away. Size wise, it was relatively small having yet to reach the age of maturity.

Raina smiled as she watched the graceful creature dance through the air. It was a wonder how anyone could despise such beautiful animals, but there were those who made no secret of their disdain. At the thought of the arguments between her father and the head farmer, her mood was instantly sullied. Images flashed through her thoughts, reminding her of the fight that had broken out just weeks ago. It was the same argument they continuously revisited year after year. The head farmer, Kaleo Akoni complained about how the dragons got into his crops and Raina's father would remind him that no damage was caused. However for some reason or another, the heated exchange would continue until both were frustrated and exhausted from the effort.

She shook her head and stood, deciding it was time to go home. It was getting late and she had a long walk back to the Castle District, where a warm bed waited for her inside a welcoming two bedroom house. Her footsteps were quiet as she walked between the trees. She had learned long ago to tread softly so as not to startle the temperamental creatures of the forest. It was dark, but the moonlight supplied sufficient light for travel from its high position in the sky. She was sure of her footing, having trekked the same path so often, but she was quickly approaching something too small to see on the dark road of plodded earth. It caught her completely off guard when her foot hit a hard object causing her to trip and fall forward into the dirt. She cursed aloud as she sat up on her knees and felt around for what had caused her misfortune. Whatever it was felt hard and cool to the touch like dried sea sponge. She could tell it was an egg of some sort from having held so many in her lifetime. However any other details of the egg were kept hidden by the darkness.

The journey home took hours, but Raina barely noticed in her excitement to return and get a better look at the egg. When she arrived at her house, the candles had longed burned out and the rooms were quiet save the sound of her father snoring. The hearth was still lit in the mainroom and she used the fire to light a candle as she took the few strides to her room. After shutting the door behind her she set the egg on her bed and proceeded to light more candles to get the room bright. After she was satisfied, she plopped down on her bed and took a closer look at the egg. It was red causing her to initially believe that a fire dragon was growing inside, however, upon closer inspection, she noted the speckles of black that dotted it surface, a feature she had never seen on any fire dragon egg. Her eyes widened and a grin quickly spread across her lips as she wondered if she had discovered a new species. All she could do now was wait for it to hatch.

There was a knock on the egg as it gave itself a slight shake. Right on queue, cracks began to form on the surface of the egg. A moment of struggle later, several pieces of the egg fell off as a curious looking reptilian creature poked through from the darkness. Slowly but surely, it crept forward and as it did, the creature seemed to close its eyes as it dragged itself out with its arms.

The first thing that could have sent a stir was how frighteninly pale it was. Indeed the "dragon" had been so white that if it had been sleeping, one would have guessed in the egg itself. It looked soft, rubbery even, though this was mostly the case for young hatchlings. However, what did seem alot more off was the fact that it was still dragging itself along with its arms and for good reason too. This creature had no legs.

Instantly, it began to yelp for help, crying out as if crying to its mother. However, such things would perhaps not come for the more and more the creature yelped, the more it looked as though it was abandoned.

Its eyes struggled to peel open, glints of its red eyes peering through the narrow slits. It was looking at Raina . . .

As Raina sat on her bed staring at the egg it began to tremble and pieces started to crumble away. The creature that emerged was pale and soft looking. It had no visible scales which made her afraid to handle it. She watched as the last remaining bits crumbled away and the small creature struggled across her rough wool quilt using only it's arms. After analyzing the rest of its body she noticed the lack of legs. She took in a ragged breath as her heart took up a rapid beating. Fear was mingled in with excitement and a strong feeling of motherhood. The creature looked utterly helpless and alone as it mewled over and over.

Suddenly, its eyes opened and it began to stare up at her. It had red eyes and though it was a strange little animal, she found herself wanting to take care of it. Proceeding with caution, Raina held her hand out in front of the creature. She did not touch it or otherwise coax it into coming to her, but instead waited to see if it would trust her on its own. It was a show of friendship.

Feeling its only sense of warmth in Raina, the hatchling dragged itself to her hand. The egg goop that had covered it, stuck to her hand in a warm gooey embrace. It nuzzled her.

The feeling of dragon goop on her hand wasn't an abnormal sensation, so she brought the Wrinn to her face welcomingly. It was warm in her hand and she wondered to herself what it was.

As the creature looked at Raina lazily, it cooed and gurgled happily. For whatever reason, it seemed as though it was bonding fairly well to Raina. Suddenly, its mood changed as it struggled around. The drool and squeals were familiar, like that of a starving dragon asking for a meal.

Raina looked down at the creature worriedly. She wasn't completely sure if it was a dragon. What did little pale things eat, she thought to herself. Being as gentle as she possibly could she set the creature back down on the bed and hopped up to go to the kitchen. There was a pot of stew in the stove simmering lightly. Her mother had probably put it on before she went to bed so it would be ready some time the next day. The meat inside was still slightly raw and so she thought she would give it a try as many of the dragons she took care of ate meat. She headed back to the room and placed the small cube of beef on the bed in front of the Wrinn.

The wrinn tilted it head as it smelled the meat. Immediately it went for it, failing miserabely as it chewed the meat without any sort of teeth or cutting bits within its mouth. Its tiny arms tried to help, but they too were unable to do much. Luckily, the creature's efforts had dragged on to the point of actually wearing down the meat and it would soon be in its tummy in no time. The creature was smiling ... or at least, what could be percieved as smiling.

Raina laughed as she watched the little animal sucessfully eat the piece of meat. She was happy that she had been able to satisfy one of its needs. A yawn escaped her lips and she realized the hour was very late and it would soon be morning. There would be plenty of work to be done when the sun came up. The dragon breeders of Autumn Island were responsible for taking care of any newborns that were to be sold to the dragon riders. She would have to check that they were fed and practice riding with them so that they could get used to the weight of a person on their backs. She stood and blew out most of the candles, save for a few that would burn out on their own. After heading back to the bed she picked up the Wrinn and set it on the small table next to her bed on top of a clean towel. She hoped it have sufficient comfort as she leaned back on her bed and let her head rest on her pillow.

Feeling its only sense of warmth in Raina, the hatchling dragged itself to her hand. The egg goop that had covered it, stuck to her hand in a warm gooey embrace. It nuzzled her.

The feeling of dragon goop on her hand wasn't an abnormal sensation, so she brought the Wrinn to her face welcomingly. It was warm in her hand and she wondered to herself what it was.

As the creature looked at Raina lazily, it cooed and gurgled happily. For whatever reason, it seemed as though it was bonding fairly well to Raina. Suddenly, its mood changed as it struggled around. The drool and squeals were familiar, like that of a starving dragon asking for a meal.

Raina looked down at the creature worriedly. She wasn't completely sure if it was a dragon. What did little pale things eat, she thought to herself. Being as gentle as she possibly could she set the creature back down on the bed and hopped up to go to the kitchen. There was a pot of stew in the stove simmering lightly. Her mother had probably put it on before she went to bed so it would be ready some time the next day. The meat inside was still slightly raw and so she thought she would give it a try as many of the dragons she took care of ate meat. She headed back to the room and placed the small cube of beef on the bed in front of the Wrinn.

The wrinn tilted it head as it smelled the meat. Immediately it went for it, failing miserabely as it chewed the meat without any sort of teeth or cutting bits within its mouth. Its tiny arms tried to help, but they too were unable to do much. Luckily, the creature's efforts had dragged on to the point of actually wearing down the meat and it would soon be in its tummy in no time. The creature was smiling ... or at least, what could be percieved as smiling.

Raina laughed as she watched the little animal sucessfully eat the piece of meat. She was happy that she had been able to satisfy one of its needs. A yawn escaped her lips and she realized the hour was very late and it would soon be morning. There would be plenty of work to be done when the sun came up. The dragon breeders of Autumn Island were responsible for taking care of any newborns that were to be sold to the dragon riders. She would have to check that they were fed and practice riding with them so that they could get used to the weight of a person on their backs. She stood and blew out most of the candles, save for a few that would burn out on their own. After heading back to the bed she picked up the Wrinn and set it on the small table next to her bed on top of a clean towel. She hoped it have sufficient comfort as she leaned back on her bed and let her head rest on her pillow.