Gotcha!

Then heaving a great sigh, he reminded himself that it was precisely because of those “important matters” he had been asked by the Elders to join the search himself. Goblin raiders had been making more frequent forays and pushing further into the Dragonlands than ever before. And as Leader of the Clan Guard it was his task to discover why and stop it. There had always been periodic raids by the neighboring goblin tribes, but the number and intensity of incursions over the past few seasons had reached alarming levels. Now was definitely not the time for an adventurous youngster to be wandering off.

Rankith beat his great wings hard to gain altitude as he completed his survey of the narrow valley. Even among the scouts there was no other Dragon among the Clans who knew all of the secret places in the vast expanse of the Dragonlands as he did. No other Dragon had his memory for terrain or his ability to tell instantly if something… anything… about a given area had been disturbed however slightly. Only Aerith came close and she was searching elsewhere.

As he caught a new thermal to ride to the next valley over, he found himself again having to suppress a surge of irritation over the hatchlings antics. Though long out of the nesting grounds himself, he still remembered what it was like… testing one’s evolving abilities and skills, the urge to explore beyond the next hill (an urge that was almost instinct among the population of the Clans).

He remembered well the scolding he had received from his father for doing just as this child had done and flown off for an adventure of his own.
But times had changed drastically since then and goblins were not the almost constant threat to an unwary Dragon-child as they were today. And that, Rankith admitted to himself with a deep, rumbling growl that none but the winds could hear, was the real source of his irritation. Why had the goblins become so increasingly bold? What could possibly be driving them to risk open war with the Clans? What could they possibly hope to gain except their own utter destruction? They had not yet mustered the courage to attack a fully-grown Dragon, but a child would be easy prey. And just thinking about the fate that would await a captured child was enough to make Rankith’s blood boil with the desire to bring flaming death to any goblin he might encounter. He pumped his wings harder and picked up speed…

One thing was certain, Rankith thought, he was definitely going to speak to the Elders and LoreKeepers about this young one. Although barely old enough to fly any significant distance, the child had an astonishing ability to shield his mind and “hide,” even from his parents (which was why Rankith himself had been brought in on the search). A Dragon child with such ability would make an excellent addition to the Clan Guard when properly trained.

Rankith banked left and turned into a new valley even narrower than the last. Many of the other adults doubted the youngster had the wing stamina to reach such a remote valley. Even among the older Dragon children only the most daring would make the attempt to reach it. Surely it was too far a journey for one so small, but Rankith knew better. He had not been any older than this rascal when he first discovered this little valley so many seasons ago. Adult Dragon rarely paid the little valley much attention since it was so far away, held little of interest, and was too narrow to effectively hunt in. But for the younglings it was a different matter entirely. For them it was the thrill of the journey… the excitement of flying so far from the safety of mother and father…. not destination itself that made it an attractive prospect.

Rankith smiled to himself as he remembered his own childhood adventure among the tall grasses and thick brush of the valley below. He remembered the warm breezes sweetened with the fragrance of wild flowers and the cool, sweet waters of the narrow stream that flowed through the little valley. He had caught his first rabbit here and had eagerly flown home to show his father what a great hunter he was. Jolinar had confessed much later that he hadn’t known whether to scold his son for flying so far from home or praise him for his accomplishment. It was the knowledge of what his mate’s reaction would be if Jolinar had done the latter that caused Rankith to be confined to the lair for a week!

“By the Winds! I will now allow our children to be denied such adventures of their own because of those filthy goblins!” Rankith vowed to himself. “ If it’s the last thing I do, I will see an end to these cursed raids”

A sudden flash of movement to his right caught Rankith’s attention. Dipping his wing tip, he began a shallow spiraling descent and extending his senses Rankith began probing the narrow valley below him. The child was here, he was certain. And although the scamp may have learned how to shield himself from his parents, he was quarry for the best hunter in all the Dragonlands!

Again, Rankith spotted a hint of movement in a large clump of brush growing near the valley’s small stream. The child was undoubtedly aware of Rankith’s presence overhead and was attempting to conceal himself. Smiling to himself, Rankith decided to have a little fun of his own and teach this little Dragon a lesson he would not soon forget. Pumping his great wings, Rankith quickly climbed higher into the air once again and flew towards the valley wall directly opposite of the hatchling’s hiding place. Giving voice to a very convincing bellow of frustration, Rankith soared over the valley rim deliberately angling his body so the sun glinted impressively off of his crimson scales.

Once he knew there was no way the hatchling could see him, and shielding his own mind very tightly, Rankith quickly circled back around to the mouth of the valley and slipped back in. No other Dragon could fly as silently as the Guard Leader and Rankith now flew as silently as if he were infiltrating the black heart of a demon’s domain, skimming just above the valley floor with barely enough speed to keep himself airborne.
Suddenly cupping his wings Rankith touched down so softly he didn’t even disturb the butterfly sipping nectar from a nearby cluster of wild roses.

As softly as fog he crept up behind the little Dragon concealed within the bushes. He could even hear the child laughing softly to himself. Probably rehearsing the story of how he outwitted the mighty leader of the Guard to tell his friends later, Rankith thought to himself behind his own very tight shields. Well, under ordinary circumstances Rankith might have allowed the child to keep his little “victory,” but these were not ordinary circumstances and it was time to teach the child that sometimes obedience was vital to survival.
With lightening quick reflexes, Rankith lashed out with a golden-taloned hand and grabbed the little Dragon by the scruff of the neck and pulled him into the open.

“GOTCHA!” he bellowed and heard a satisfying yelp of terror from his now captured quarry. Rankith then dropped the hatchling unceremoniously to the ground, legs, wings and tail in a tangled heap.

“So, think you are the clever one do you?” he asked, towering over the frightened child in apparent furor, his own wings spread wide in an imposing spectacle. “So clever that had I been a goblin raiding party you would now be on your way to be sacrificed!” Rankith accompanied his words with mental images of the butchered remains of a Dragon child surrounded by dancing goblins and a leering demon.

Stunned by his sudden capture and unable to escape the raw images he was shown, the youngling began to cower and hid his head under one wing. Rankith held his position for a moment longer before relenting and furling his own wings along his back. He then sat down next to the child and gently reached over and nuzzled the child’s shoulder. Very few had ever seen this side of the aloof Guard leader and even those who knew of it’s existence would have been amazed at the radical switch in demeanor.

“Come now, Rolth, none of that… not from one with the courage to explore so far from home,” Rankith said, then added as the little Dragon’s head popped up in surprise at hearing his name, “Yes… I know your name. Your parents are very worried. You must understand that your mother and father have good reason to keep you close to them. We are entering a dangerous time… far too dangerous for one as young as you to be wandering around alone.”

Rankith then sent the hatchling images of his parents in obvious distress when they realized their hatchling had used his abilities to run off. He showed the fear in their eyes as they followed the chief Elder to ask the Guard’s assistance in finding the child before disaster could befall him.

“Even now they worry, fearing what may have happened to you for we are too far away for a direct mental sending to reach them” Not that I haven’t already had it relayed through my scouts back to them that you are safe, Rankith thought very privately to himself. By now Rolth was no longer trembling in fear from his capture by the Guard leader. And though his small wings were drooping somewhat is shame for the distress he caused at home, his little head was up and he was looking at Rankith with understanding in his eyes.

For the first time the little dragon spoke saying “ I am sorry, sir. It was just such a wonderful day for exploring and I was sure I would be home before I was missed, and…”
His young voice trailed off as he choked back a small sob. So contrite was his tone and so disappointed in the knowledge that his explorations were most probably at a permanent end that Rankith again did something that would surprise all who did not know the aloof Dragon very well.

“If you will give me your solemn promise that you will never again disobey your parents while living under their care, I will bring you back here one day soon. I know these lands very well and can show you many wonderful places to explore.” As Rankith spoke, Rolth’s eyes grew wider and wider and he began excitedly dancing from foot to foot.
“I promise! I promise! I promise!” Rolth squeaked in delight.
Laughing at the child’s antics Rankith reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t get too excited, young one,” Rankith cautioned. “You are still in trouble and are going to have to accept whatever punishment your parents may impose. It could very well be quite sometime before you are allowed to leave the confines of the lair’s immediate surroundings… even in my company.”

This news did cause the hatchling’s exuberance to diminish, but not to a great extent. And Rankith was pleased to note that Rolth made no attempts to get the Guard leader to intercede on his behalf with his parents once they returned home. He had done wrong and was willing to accept the consequences. Rankith then stood and began walking to the more open end of the valley and Rolth immediately followed..

“You go first, little one,” Rankith said as he nodded skyward.

Once the child was safely aloft Rankith leapt into the air himself with seemingly little effort, his rear talons ripping up clumps of dirt and vegetation as his powerful hind legs kicked against the ground. He then positioned himself under the hatchling and caught the child on his broad back. Gliding smoothly, Rankith gave Rolth a few moments to get settled into position and then began pumping his wings to gain altitude for the journey home.

As they left the little valley behind, Rankith remembered his earlier thoughts about speaking to the Clan Elders about this child. He smiled to himself as they flew and thought “yes, this one would make a fine addition to the Guard and the Dragonlands would be much safer for it. And who knows… maybe one day this little one will take my place”

But for now Rankith simply sent a relayed message back to the child’s parents: Their little one was coming home.

© J’Karrah EbonDragon, 2003
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