13. Chapter Thirteen #2
“I think I know the perfect spot for these,” I said, and led him to one of the low pillars I’d carved where the rock wall curved.
On it I’d previously kept a chonk shell that was used as a horn on many occasions, but shortly before their arrival, I’d moved it deeper into the horde, to rest beside a tome of maritime tales Caro had given me. The pillar had remained empty ever since.
“It’s perfect, thank you,” Kes said, placing the box there before carefully removing each of the shells to arrange around it, leaving the box partially open when he was finished, all of the cotton balls neatly pressed into a soft bed on the bottom.
“I’ll add more, now that there’s room to keep them.
I had others over the years that I left on the beach when I found something new.
It was hard sometimes to pick and choose so in the end I kept the hardest ones to find in the hope that I could replace the others one day.
Now I don’t have to. You have every shell in existence in here. ”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t add more,” I replied.
“Happy too,” Kes replied. “I always wanted to start a sea glass collection too but would have had to sacrifice clothes and supplies to make room for another box in my bag.”
“No more living out of a backpack for you,” Caspian declared. “We have mountains and an ocean in easy reach, there’s no reason for either of us to ever have to go anywhere again.”
Brother’s, lockdown now!
Ionus’ harsh order shattered the tender moment between me and my mates, but there was no better place for it to happen.
“I have to go,” I said, already striding towards the door. “Do not leave the horde.”
I trusted them to follow my instructions and felt a sudden flash of worry from them that quickly faded.
More trust.
I’ll be home as soon as I can.
We know. We love you. Stay safe.
Their thoughts blended together as I hurried to meet my brothers on the pitch. When I arrived, Baird and his warriors were assembled, ready to fly, tails lashing back and forth, nearly tangling, they were so agitated.
Baird reported shadows moving over the mountains. His warriors lost them in the northern forest where the trees were thick. That’s where we need to go to pick up the trail. Let’s fly.
He didn’t wait for comments or Odem’s smartass snark. He took to the skies and we followed him. The northern forest was on the edge of our lands, and far too close to the compound for anyone’s comfort.
Spread out into the forest but be careful not to harm the trees if you can help it, let’s see if we can flush them out. Stay within sight of each other. Don’t allow anything to slip through.
We flew, gliding between the trees, being mindful not to damage them as we waited for the shadows to move.
Sector by sector we found nothing, until we reached an area where the trees were so thick that it took some precision flying to avoid doing catastrophic damage to the forest. That’s when the shadows flowed along the ground in front of us, dragon shaped and fleeing as we neared their hiding place.
We chased them through the forest, driving them towards a clearing, eight in total, once we’d surrounded them there.
Never did they try to turn around and combat us.
All were smaller than our warriors and huddled together, wings outstretched and wrapped around one another, forming a much larger shadow that darkened most of the clearing.
Fuck off you Gorynych bastards! One of the shadow dragons roared. My Papa says you’re all gonna die when the protectors find you if he doesn’t find you first!
Papa? Ionus…
Warriors, stand down! Ionus thundered, the sound of his roar shaking the nearby trees.
Every warrior froze as the realization that these were dragonets quickly sunk in.
We are not the Gorynych, Ionus declared, his dragon’s voice far gentler this time. You’ve found the Protectors and our allies. Where are your parents?
They made us memorize the map of the snake mountains and told us to stick to the shadows until we found it, the youngest one said.
We don’t know where they are now. They found a way to trap some of the Gorynych but wanted us safely away from our caverns first. They will come for us in Dragon City once they’ve destroyed as many of them as they can find.
Then they are our allies too and we will help them in any way we can, Ionus announced, but first, we need to get you all to Dragon City. These lands border ours but do not belong to us. It isn’t safe for you to remain out here.
The clump of shadows huddled tighter, wings wrapping tighter, drawing their shadow away from the edge of the clearing as they seemed to confer with one another.
I am a father, Ionus said, gentling his voice even more, there are four dragonets at home with my mate. Two of my brothers are fathers too and one is expecting. We would never harm a child.
More discussion seemed to take place among the shadow dragons, before the one acting as their leader spoke again.
Papa says the Protectors each carry the scale of an ancient warrior. Do you?
Aye, Ionus said, displaying our father’s scale, prompting my brothers and I to do the same.
Even in dragon form, we carried it with us, tucked among our own scales as a tribute to him.
Shadow wings dropped, allowing us to see why they’d used such a strategy when cornered.
The smallest among them could not have been more than ten years old, while the largest looked to be the size of a teenager.
The tension around them eased as they relaxed and moved closer.
Their wings and ears bore similar traits to the bats the dwelled in the caves around our home, as did some of their facial features.
You are the Protectors, the oldest one declared.
It was enough to prompt the smallest to rush forward and cling to Ionus’ leg with claws and wings.
We’re safe! the little one cried.
Aye, so let’s keep you that way, Ionus said as he bent and lifted the small dragon.
Yes please, it’s scary out here in the big world without our caves.
Then let us be off.