Dragon Kin Part 3: Mother By Taylor Knapp Rayne looked out the window in her home in the Dragon Village. The sun was rising in front of her, and she could hear the signs of the earth waking up to the new day. She enjoyed having her home back. It had taken her and her father a lot of time to rebuild it, but together, they had managed to return it to what it once was, although that wasn’t much. Dragon’s homes were sparsely furnished, but Rayne’s home was made of white stone and had many balconies and windows. It felt to her as if she were in a grand tower. The sunrise made the world in front of Rayne so peaceful, but she was not. A lot had happened within a month, but despite all the challenges, there was still a gap within the new age that was dawning between dragons and humans. That gap, Rayne knew, could only be filled by her mother. Rayne had been meaning to talk with her father, Vaiden, about it, but so far she hadn’t found the right opportunity. She had talked with her father about it shortly before the Hunt, but every time she asked, he only replied that her mother had simply “moved on.” Rayne remembered a few things about her mother. She remembered her deep crimson scales, her singing voice, her lithe features. She remembered that her mother had been very warm and kind to her. Where her father was rough, but caring, her mother was soft and adventurous. A real visionary. Her mother, whose name was Ileea, had one day disappeared when Rayne was young. Her brother seemed to be old enough to understand the hidden reason to the disappearance at the time, but he had never said anything to Rayne. Now that Margus was dead, he could never tell her. So she would have to get it out of her father. This was a daunting prospect. Her father could be very hotheaded at times. He usually was in control of himself, but no one ever mentioned Ileea around him for a reason. It tore him apart on the inside. Rayne left her room to catch a glimpse of her father’s ebony-scaled tail going around the corner into his own room. She approached him and he noticed her. “Ah, good morning,” he said to her. “How do you feel?” “Well,” Rayne answered simply. “The sunrise reminds me of those days you and mother would sit up to watch it rise.” This sentence sounded tactful to Rayne in her head, but once it left her mouth, she knew she had rushed the topic. “Your mother did love mornings. She always said that she liked to be next to me at sunrise. She was convinced that the morning sun warmed my scales better than any other light,” Vaiden said, looking at the ground distantly. “What else did she used to say?” Rayne asked, not wanting to push again. “She said that she was glad you looked like me. She had always wanted a daughter with black scales, and she was so excited when you hatched. One you arrived, she announced that we were the perfect family.” “We aren’t now, though,” Rayne commented. Vaiden picked up on his daughter’s notion. “What would make it perfect?” he asked her.
“Finding her again,” Rayne answered quietly. “Rayne, dear, if I knew where to find her, I would have already. She just disappeared. She said that she wanted change, not be stuck in the village, cut off from the rest of the world. I had hoped that the Hunt would bring her back, but it didn’t. I haven’t seen her in fifty years,” Vaiden answered painfully. “There has to be some way. Now that humans and dragons are finally cooperating, it’s only fair that she join us. How could the world gain so much, but we lose so much more?” “Rayne, you and I both know that the world isn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that your brother, my son, betrayed us, and it certainly wasn’t fair that you had to be the one to stop him. But that’s just the way things are.” “But we can change things. Look around, there’s plenty of change. I say it’s time to make this change personal to our own family.” Vaiden sighed and said, “I know you. When you get like this, there’s no way to talk you out of it. What annoys me is that you get it from me. Do what you must Rayne, but I want no part of it. This is something you must do, but I don’t think my heart could bear it.”
Nathaniel stood outside of his church, looking at the same sunrise that his close friend Rayne saw. He sighed contentedly as he thought about her.
Many would have thought it odd for a human like himself and a dragon to be such close friends, but the day he rescued her from the Hunt, before he even knew she was a dragon, he could tell they would be close friends. Some of the dragons had been revealed, sealing away their human forms within their magic amulets, and many humans accepted it. Nathaniel himself had become quite famous for preaching cooperation with the dragons, and had made himself out to be a leader in this great movement. Many things came with fame, and money was one of them. Nathaniel was a priest by trade, so money wasn’t something he asked for, but he used the donations he received to build his own church, which worked tirelessly aiding the homeless, ill, and wayward dragons that arrived at his village. Nathaniel simply stood there for hours. He was a quiet meditative sort, and now he was simply trying to take in all that had happened in the past month after the Hunt. A lot had occurred, but he wouldn’t change it for a moment. It had been a while since Nathaniel had seen Rayne last, though. He did miss her. The young priest wondered where she was, and if she was alright. He imagined her majestic ebony wings rising over the horizon he looked over now. His imagination seemed quite vivid to him, though, because moments later, he did see dragon wings silhouetted against the sunrise.
Nathaniel then realized that he wasn’t imagining, and soon Rayne had landed gracefully right in front of him. “Rayne,” he said. “It’s good to see you.” “It’s been far too long, Nathaniel. But I won’t mince words.” This didn’t surprise Nathaniel. Rayne has never been a talker, but more for action. “I need to find my mother.” “Your mother? What happened to her?” “She left fifty years ago, and I haven’t seen her since.” “And you’re beginning your search now?” “The time is right,” Rayne replied. Nathaniel had to agree, and Rayne continued. “Many people and dragons know you and come to see you. I had hoped that with all the passerby, you had maybe heard news of her.” “Hm,” Nathaniel thought for a moment. “Tell me about your mother. What was her name? What did she look like?” “Her name was Ileea. She had scarlet scales and was curiously strong for her build, but I have her voice, according to my father,” Rayne answered. “I don’t think I’ve seen anyone like that. The only news I’ve heard about dragons is about one female that’s travelling far east to some ancient draconic temple. The dragons called it Torchlight Tower. Do you know of it?” Nathaniel asked. “Yes,” Rayne replied. “It is an ancient temple, but no dragon had gone there in hundreds of years. It’s said to contain an ancient power, too great for any one being. We dragons respect that power, and give it a wide berth,” Rayne explained. “So you won’t go?” “I will. This female, this pilgrim, she may have gained the tower’s power. I think she can help me.” “Will you take me with you?” Nathaniel asked. “I’m sorry, but this is a personal matter that I alone must take care of.” “I understand,” Nathaniel replied. Nathaniel had another visitor later that afternoon. A large green dragon had come to the village, and had been asking to see Nathaniel. Nathaniel saw the dragon and greeted him. “Hello,” he said, “what brings you here?”
“I was on my way to the southern shore, and I heard that your home was on the way, so I just wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for us. It’s not often you find a human quite like you,” the dragon replied. “Well, I’m honored, really. So you’re from the Dragon Village?” Nathaniel asked. “Yes.” “Then would you happen to know anything about Torchlight Tower? A friend of mine is going there, and I’ve been curious as to what it’s like,” Nathaniel inquired. “Actually, I’ve been there recently. There was a beautiful female staying there, alone if I do recall. She says she’s been waiting for revenge,” the dragon answered. “Revenge?” Nathaniel was beginning to see a link. “What did this dragon look like?” “She had deep red scales, and somewhat thin features, but she was a tough one, I could tell you that. I can’t remember for the life of me who she was waiting for, though.” “Her daughter?” Nathaniel asked urgently. “She did mention that she would like to see her daughter, but I don’t think she’s planning to get revenge on her daughter. She seemed far too nice for that.” But Nathaniel did think that. He was pretty sure it was Rayne’s mother at Torchlight Tower, and he was also sure that Rayne was in terrible danger. The dragon left, and Nathaniel worried about what he would do. He needed to do something, but he just couldn’t see what he alone could do to help his friend. Alone. Nathaniel realized that alone, he was helpless, but he in his fame had gained many friends and much influence. He would enlist the aid of others. It was a sheer stroke of luck that a group of dragonslayers had arrived at his village to apologize to him for their misdeeds against the dragons. “Here’s their chance to redeem themselves,” Nathaniel thought.
Rayne alighted at the foot of Torchlight Tower. She raised her head up, gazing at the massive Spire. The temple stood on a cliff overlooking the ocean, and was the land’s only lighthouse. Dragons used to tend it, using their fire to light the beacon that helped travelers. That was ancient times though, and now the place had stood deserted for many, many years.
Rayne entered. She was met with a wide lobby, and saw a spiral staircase leading upward, with many doors off of the staircase. She began to ascend the stairs, using her acute dragon hearing to detect life beyond the doors. There was no life behind every single one. The place was completely deserted, like it always had been. Rayne reached a trapdoor at the top of the spiraling staircase, and opened it, peering through. She saw nothing, so she entered the top of the tower. The room was as large as the lobby, and much emptier. The only furniture was a large altar on one side, with two round indentations on it. The floor had ancient draconic symbols and designs on it, ones so old Rayne couldn’t read them. The room also had no walls, but columns leading up to the domed roof, where a large basket filled with firewood hung from chains. The trapdoor slammed shut behind her, and Rayne turned around to see a red dragon that she had not noticed. This dragon seemed very familiar to her, so Rayne asked, “Ileea?” “Rayne,” the other one breathed, and the two approached each other, mother and daughter sharing their affections. “I’m back, mother,” Rayne said. “Yes, I know. I’ve heard so many things about you, all the deeds you’ve done. I’m proud of you.” “Mother, what are you doing here?” Rayne asked. “I’ve been waiting for you,” Ileea said. “Long ago, I discovered clues of an ancient ritual, one that could save our kind. I’m sorry that I had to leave you and your father, but it was better that you didn’t go with me. I flew all over the world, finding out more of this ritual, and now I’ve made my way here. All I need to start the rite is you.” “Me?” “Yes. The ritual requires two dragons of the same blood to lay their amulets on this altar, and then light the beacon together,” Rayne’s mother explained. The beacon is enchanted, and the amulets will absorb its power, and then you and I can take this power for ourselves. Think of the good we could do for the world!” “You’re right,” Rayne replied. “Here.” With that, she took the amulet from her neck and handed it to her mother. Ileea took her own amulet and she laid both of them on the altar.
Mother and daughter flew up to the beacon, and were about to light it when Nathaniel, holding a sword and shield, burst through the trapdoor, several dragonslayers behind him. “Stop!” Nathaniel called. “Rayne, get out of here.” Rayne was surprised. “Why?” she asked. “This is my mother.” “I know, but she’s trying to kill you. To get revenge for killing your brother.” Rayne looked at her mother. “Is this true?” she asked. “Of course not,” her mother answered. “Yes, my motives were revenge, but not on you, my sweet daughter. It is the humans we can punish.” “What?” Rayne asked in shock. “Don’t you see? These humans have been killing us for years. Even now that we make peace with them, they still tried to kill you. So many dragons want peace, but I see the truth. These humans are curse on the planet. Their hearts are filled with greed and evil. Once we complete the rite, we can wipe them out altogether, and we dragons could rule the world! You and I, Rayne, could start a better world together.” Rayne scoffed at her mother. “So a better world starts with genocide? Mother, that is what Margus tried to start, and look what happened to him.” “Yes. You killed him,” Ileea answered. “Are you going to kill me too? Are you going to betray your own kind? Betray your own kin?” Rayne faltered. She didn’t know if she could kill her mother, but her doubt was soon replaced with her resolve. “If it is what’s right, then yes,” she answered. Ileea lunged mid-flight at Rayne, tackling her to the ground. Nathaniel and the dragonslayers closed in on the red dragon, forcing her to move before she could injure Rayne. Rayne rose in flight, staying below her mother so the dragonslayers could reach her if she came close, but Ileea stayed high up, and it soon became a firefight between the two dragons, each trying to force the other to move to a more advantageous position. Ileea made a daring move, swooping down towards Nathaniel, covering him in a jet of flame. Nathaniel raised his fire-proof shield in time, hiding behind the curtain of flames. Rayne followed her mother, tackling her to the ground. The dragonslayers were tearing at Ileea, but she refused to give up. She breathed another jet of flame right at Rayne’s head. A dragon’s scales were heat-resistant, but only to a certain extent. Nathaniel knew he had to make a move, or lose his friend. Nathaniel ran, shield in front of him, directly into the line of fire, leaping into Ileea’s open maw. Nathaniel stabbed at the inside of her open mouth, but couldn’t make a powerful strike as long as he stood in the flames. Rayne bit her mother’s neck, and her mother reared her head up, screaming, and threw Rayne off of herself, Nathaniel still in her mouth. Ileea jumped from the top of the tower, but the dragonslayers had torn many holes in her wings, and she couldn’t fly very well. Rayne dove down after her friend, who was close to being eaten. It didn’t take her very long to catch up with her crippled mother, and she tackled her mother again. The two began a dead fall, going at fast speeds. Rayne wouldn’t let go until Nathaniel was safe, but if Rayne hit the ground at this speed, even on top of her mother, all three would die. The ground was racing up perilously fast. Ileea was trying to bite down on Nathaniel, but he quickly hacked his way out of her maw, and leapt towards Rayne, clinging to her neck. They were a second from impact when Rayne kicked off from her mother, sending her to the ground faster. Ileea landed with a heavy thud, her spine shattering. Rayne alighted, Nathaniel still attached to her neck. He let go and stood on the ground, both of them looking up to see the dragonslayers at the top of the tower, cheering their victory. Rayne, Nathaniel, and the dragonslayers returned to Nathaniel’s village, and nothing was ever the same again. The story of Rayne’s mother spread quickly, and the slayers, who were once enemies of the dragons, told of how proud they were to fight by Rayne’s side. They even traveled to the Dragon Village, and became friends and partners of a few dragons who had chosen to cast aside their amulets completely. These couples became known as the Dragon Riders, symbols of justice who traveled the land, acting as negotiators and warriors of peace. The Riders’ harmony with their draconic partners made the most fearsome fighters in the whole land.
But by far the greatest symbol of the humans’ unity with the dragons was Nathaniel’s marriage to Rayne. It was the only marriage of their kind, and would be for many more years to come, but they were truly happy together. They had become living legends of sorts, and together, led the dominions of human and dragon into a golden age of prosperity. It all began when the Dragons’ walls fell down.
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