::\\SilverLight and Wokendae//:: Prologue

Prologue

IndigoStorm, born Daeren Waakai and called Storm by his friends, watched his latest pupil as she meditated. Storm was what was known as a MindHealer, a special kind of Mage, but at the same time a Healer.

Magic on Otykaii could be divided into two types: Magic and Magik. Magic was the much more common of the two, the kind that mages did, the kind that most people were familiar with. Magik was much more secret, specialized and dangerous. Magik was the innate ability of a very select few to basically become one with something else. If Magic was to conquer and to bring the forces of nature under the control of the Mage, then Magik was to become one with the forces of nature and work together with them to accomplish the Mage's task.

However, the Magik Mages weren't free to 'bond' with just any force of nature, it was only a very specific part of nature (term used loosely), and even then, each person could 'bond' with 'their' force to different degrees. And sitting in front of Storm, meditating, was one of the strongest MindMages Storm had ever seen.

Clear Your Mind

Kerathana sat loosely, her legs crossed comfortably, hands resting gently on her knees. Her mid-back length red hair was loose except for two small braids clipped to the back of her head. Her eyes, had they been open, would have revealed alert gren irises. Slender and of a medium height, the most remarkable thing about Kerathana wasn't something you could see on the outside.

Kerathana took a deep breath and Reached her mind out towards her teacher, who was waiting for her to do just that. Kera, as she was known to her friends (or rather, she would be if she had friends), had been under IndigoStorm's tutelage for over seven years, Storm having pulled her off the streets at age twelve. Kera had seen other students come and go, and sometimes she wondered if she was still here because she was somehow stupid, or a slow learner who couldn't keep up with the rest of the class. But then she'd remember that she was learning things that the other students never even heard of, so it must just mean that she had more to learn than them.

Kera didn't delude herself by thinking she was a particularly strong Mage, after all, she was just Kerathana, the little orphan girl who didn't even know her last name. Not that her name really mattered anymore, as soon as she finished training she'd take a new name, one that reflected her new self.

Kera's mind Touched Storm's and she immediately set about the task that had veen assigned her before they'd started the exercise. Kera melded herself into the mind of her teacher with only a slight pause as he tried to throw her out. Kera merely slipped past him 'objection' and began 'calming down' the mind of her 'patient'. Then she did the standard scan, followed by a more thorough one, before finally finishing the test with a little trick that would immobilize an unwilling patient's body.

Once she'd finished Kera slipped softly outside of Storm's mind, only to find her teacher regarding her with tear-filled smoke-grey eyes. "I'm sorry!" Kera exclaimed, "what's wrong?" she shot to her feet, worried that she'd somehow harmed her precious teacher.

"It's alright, Kerathana," IndigoStorm said softly, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder in a fatherly gesture. "Forgive an overly sentimental old man for becoming misty at the thought of his favorite pupil leaving him."

"You're not old," Kera protested softly to cover her embarrassment.

"I no longer have anything to teach you, Kerathana, you are free to leave this place and explore the world."

"I--you--what?" Kera stuttered.

Storm smiled, "You are finished your education. All that is left is for you to chose a life-name."

Kera blinked, the information that she was finished her training still sinking in, "SilverLight," she whispered.

Storm smiled, "Well, SilverLight, I hear that Reikaee is looking for strong MindMages in his Court."

"Reikaee's Court!" Kera exclaied in surprise, "I'm not good enough to get into the Court..."

Yes you are, Kera. Reikaee has been asking me for over a year for a MindMage to replace GreenHeart."

Kera shuttered, every MindMage knew the story of GreenHeart, a cautionary against trying to do more than they were capable of. "But... if GreenHeart couldn't do it..."

"SilverLight," Storm interrupted, "You can do it. You are strong, stronger than I am, stronger than anyone I've ever seen. If anyone can help Reikaee, you can."

"Stronger-- I'm not--" Kera stumbled for a few more moments before Storm silenced her.

"I'll send Reikaee a message for you," he told her with a smile, "Go gather your things, I'm sure he'll want you as soon as possible."

"All-- alright..."

Reach Out

SilverLight stared at the fortress that would be her home for the foreseeable future. Taking a deep breath, Silver entered, striding confidently into her new home.

"Ahh... You must be SilverLight," an old man said softly to Silver's left.

Silver turned to the man and said as confidently as she could, "I am."

"Follow me," the man said, turned and walking away before Silver could respond.

The man lead her further into the fortress and Silver was quickly lost. finally they stopped before a small metal door. "Reikaee is waiting for you within," the old man informed her.

Silver nodded her assent and the man disappeared back the way he'd come. Silver took a deep breath and knocked softly on the door. "Enter," came the soft call from within. Silver pushed the door open and stepped meekly inside.

"Ah... You must be Heitshu's replacement... SilverLight, yes?"

"Hei... Heitshu?" Silver questioned quietly.

Reikaee laughed, "I suppose you would know him as GreenHeart, wouldn't you? I always forget he has that name. Annoying, that is. Why you MindMages don't just take the Mage title and keep your birth name is beyond me."

"A-- a MindMage's name holds power over them. W-well, anyone's name holds power, b-but because our minds are so open it's important to p-protect ourselves, s-sir."

"Huh," Reikaee commented softly, regarding Silver. "Has Storm told you the duties you'll be performing?"

Silver shook her head, "Just that you were looking for someone to replace GreenHeart, sir."

Reikaee nodded. "You'll be my personal MindMage. To help me keep my sanity and all that."

Silver nodded, "W-what else?"

Reikaee squinted at Silver across the desk, "Goodness! You needn't be so nervous SilverLight! I'm not going to bite you!"

Silver nodded, "Yessir," she responded automatically. Storm had been very clear about how to act around nobility.

Reikaee pursed his lips slightly, regarded Silver for a moment longer, before sighing. "Your only other duty will be to help with my pet project."

"Your pet project, sir?"

Reikaee smiled, "I'll introduce you to it soon enough, my-girl. In fact, if you're interested, we could do that right now." Silver nodded eagerly. Reikaee laughed, "Alright then, I'll show you to your quarters and then we'll go down to the labs."

"Alright, sir," Silver said as Reikaee stood.

Reikaee frowned at Silver slightly again. "On thing, SilverLight. I'd like it if we could be friends... It's very... lonely being the ruler of a country. Please, I'd like it if you'd call me Reika. You can call me Reikaee if it would make you more comfortable. But please, no more 'sir'."

Silver regarded Reikaee for a long moment before Reaching out gently and brushing the edge of his thoughts. On the surface the man was all sincerity and desperation. Silver didn't push futher, nodding her assention, "Alright."

Reikaee practically sighed with relief, "Alright SilverLight, let's get you settled in."

Breathe In

Silver looked around the room that Reikaee was giving her with something akin to awe. It was a large room decorated in shades of dark red and dark cherry wood with muted gold trim. The first room was the greeting/sitting chamber, followed by the living room. Off the living room was a small kitchen, a study and the bedroom. Off the bedroom was a small meditation room and the largest bathroom Silver had ever seen. All of the rooms were decorated in the same colour sceme as the first.

"...And this door leads to my rooms," Reikaee said, gesturing to the final door in the bedroom.

Silover opened her mouth to say something, found she couldn't and closed her mouth again. Reikaee watched her do this several times before he asked, "Is everything satasfactory?"

"S-satasfactory?" Silver stuttered, "Everything is amazing! Is all this really mine?"

Reikaee smiled slightly, "Yes, is that really so hard to believe?"

"I-I've never had anything more than a cot in the dormatory..." At Reikaee's startled look she added, "As is proper for a student."

"Well all this is yours," Reikaee said firmly. "The... the decor has not been changed since Heitshu however... I will have it changed for you...?"

Silver looked over at Reikaee, surprised at his hesatant tone. "Th-thank-you. But really, this is more--"

"Please," interrupted Reikaee. "I would like to make it more to your tastes. I- I would not... I wouldn't want you to think I'm comparting you to Heitshu in any way."

Silver blinked, "Thank-you," she said, genuinely confused and surprised by Reikaee.

"Would you like to see the project?" Reikaee questioned gleefully.

Silver smiled at the change of subject, "Yes, please."

Reikaee smiled back, "Right this way," he said, turning and walking out of the room. Silver set her bag at the foot of the bed and hurried after the excited man.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Reikaee led Silver to a steril-looking white and gray door. There was a small black plaque on the door that read ETHEREAL STAR in white block letters. "Are you ready to see my pet?" Reikaee asked, fidgetting slightly and sounding for all the world like a five-year-old with a surprise.

Silver smiled slightly, "The suspence is killing me." In the back of her head Silver noted some surprise at how quickly she'd become accustomed to Reikaee, how quickly she'd become comfortable with him.

Reikaee smiled back and opened the door. All activity on the other side of the door stopped and seven heads turned to look at Reikaee and Silver. "SilverLight, welcome to Ethereal Star," Reikaee said, pushin her through the doorway. "This is the team working on Star. There's Arkonyy, the Head Mage on the team." Arkonyy was a dark skinned human with very short black hair and black eyes. "An his three underlings, Toyeinyy, Ciicaryy and Greynyy." Toyeinny was a tall young human with red hair and blue eyes. Ciicaryy was a half-lizard with green scales so dark they were nearly black and yellow eyes. Greynyy was a young elf with blonde hair and blue eyes. "And their underlings, Rail and Spot, they're twins." The two boys were half-lepords, their entire bodies covered in tawny fur with shaggy brown-blonde hair and green-yellow cat eyes. "Boys, this is SilverLight. She's going to continuing on where Heitshu left off."

"Hullo, SilverLight," Toyeinyy greated in a friendly tone.

"H-hello..."

"You missed someone, Reikaee," Arkonyy said, "You gotta be polite or you'll hurt her feelings."

"Sorry Woke," Reikaee said, moving past Silver to pat the nose of a small dark red dragon. "SilverLight this is Wokendae, the only other female on the team. Sorry. Besides this lot there's you, me, Heitshu and the two scientists - Kelly and Turaj-"

"Don't forget Rathrahk," Rail added from behind Greynyy, who hit him sharply.

"Shut up, cub."

"Well, I suppose Rathrahk's part of the team. Sort of. So she's another girl."

"Thirteen. Powerful number," Silver commented weakly, still overwhelmed.

"There were supposed to be fifteen but... complications arose." The men all bowed their heads and Silver could feel the sadness radiating off them without even Touching them.

"T-tell me about Wokendae. I've never seen a real dragon before."

Arkonyy looked up at Silver, "We made 'er. Her and her brother. Reikaee can tell you the whole story later--don't look at me like that, I know you will--but we've been working on creating dragons for a couple years now. Wokendae's the only one that's survived. This project's the first to combine science and magic so we're pretty happy with that. Thing is, we're not sure how Wokendae's mind is--"

"And that's where you come in, toots," Toyeinyy interjected.

Arkonyy thumped him upside the head, "Shut up Toyein. The only one who the beauty ever spoke to was Heitshu, and only to tell him her name. Shortly after that he... got his own problems. Never got to try to talk to her again."

Silver nodded slowly and stepped up to Wokendae. Part of her registered that Arkonyy was talking about how Wokendae had been created but Silver had already thrown herself into medatative trance. After a few moments she Reached out to Wokendae. :Hello Wokendae.: There was no response. Silver slid further into Wokendae's mind, surprised at how utterly lonely the dragon was feeling even surrounded by all the people on the Pet team. :Please Wokendae, let me try to help you.: Speaking mentally had been one of the greater challanges Silver had faced in training--one of the last things she'd learned--and she'd never expected it to come in handy so quickly. :Please Wokendae. Let me help...: Silver projected all the sincerity and caring she posesed at Wokendae.

Who!

:SilverLight. My name is SilverLight.:

I am Wokendae.

:Hello Wokendae,: Silver said again.

I... Have not spoken in long time. Strange.

:It's okay. I understand. It was strange the first time I mind-spoke too.:

Not my first time... Heitshu! Where is Heitshu?!

Silver could feel Wokendae begin to get agitated and tried to calm her. :Sh... Quiet down Wokendae... I don't know where Heitshu is, I think he is resting.:

I want Heitshu! I want my Bonded!

Silver blinked in surprise, :Bonded?: she asked. :I don't sense any bonds in your mind, Wokendae...:

Heitshu is my Bonded. He spoke to me. Brought me these abilities-- he must be...

Silver pushed herself deeper into Wokendae's mind, searching it thoroughly for any sign of this Bond Wokendae was talking about. There was none. :Wokendae, Heitshu is not your Bonded!:

Yes he is!

:No, he's not! I looked! You have no Bond with him or anyone else!:

You cannot see Bonds, liar!

:Yes I can! Open your mind to me if you don't believe me!: Silver was vaguely aware of Wokendae's body thrashing around her and someone yelling but she pushed it away and concentrated on Wokendae.

You see! Here! Here!

Wokendae pulled Silver into her mind. Deep inside to an image of the first thing Wokendae saw and felt as she woke for the first time. The face of an elf that Silver assumed was Heitshu and then a soothing pressence in her mind, sorting it out and setting it up for her. Then the image ended. Wokendae tried to push Silver back out again, shouting, See! See! My Bond! Now get me my Heitshu!

Silver rebutted Wokendae's attempts to push her out and instead pushed her way through the memory to where the Bond would be if Wokendae actually had one. Instead Silver found a gaping hole-- an overwhelming feeling of loss, lonelyness and depression. Silver heard a scream, she wasn't sure if it was her or Wokendae, but he next thing she knew she was out of Wokendae's mind and Reikaee and Arkonyy were pulling her bodily away from Wokendae, who's wild thrashing was calming down visably now that Silver was out of her mind. However, Silver was certasin that even the others could feel the sadness radiating from Wokendae.

Arkonyy was yelling something at Silver, but all she could hear was a loud ringing sound, as if someone had put a large bucket over her head and smashed it multiple times with a stick.

When the dragon finally stopped thrashing and laid on the ground breathing heavily and shaking Silver heard her voice ask softly, What have you done to me? What have you done to my Bond?

:Nothing.: Silver panted, aware for the first time of her heaving chest and tear-stained cheeks. :I just showed you the truth.:

I feel so empty. So alone.

:You're not alone. And maybe I can help you feel a little less empty.:

W-will you... Will you help me find my Bond?

:I'll do everything in my power.:

Thank-you.

The two were silent for a moment and Silver became acutely aware of how tight the grips on her arms were and the angry glares she was recieving from the others. :Could you maybe talk to them? I think they think I've hurt you...:

Wokendae looked up at her keepers for the past year, taking not of their angry expressions and Arkonyy's overly-tight grip on Silver's arm. Don't be mad at her, Wokendae said. There was no reaction and Wokendae said with a frown, They can't hear me.

Silver frowned. :Try again,: she said as she Reached out to the other seven occupants of the room, :But try to talk to them through me.:

Alright... Wokendae said slowly and Silver felt Wokendae reaching out to the Star team through Silver's connection to them. Don't be mad at SilverLight, Wokendae said again.

The other jumped, "Wha!?" exclaimed Rail and Spot symultaneously.

:I think they heard you.:

I think so.

"Was that-- Was that Wokendae?" Reikaee asked quietly.

Yes it was, Wokendae said.

"How do we know it ain't just the MindMage, pretending, to be Wokendae so we won't be mad at her for hurting her?" Toyeinyy demanded.

:Because I sound completely different!: Silver exclaimed at the same time that Wokendae yelled.

Because she sounds completely different!

Reikaee blinked and let go of Silver's arm. "Well that solves that." Arkonyy didn't look as sure and his grip tightened slightly on Silver's arm.

Let her go! Wokendae suddenly shouted, snapping her head around to growl at Arkonyy. She just helped me and you can do nothing but hurt her!

Silver blinked at the spots that were appearing in front of her eyes at the force of Wokendae's yelling and the effort it took to connect Wokendae and the humanoids. "I just--" Arkonyy said as he let go of Silver's arm.

Silver stumbled slightly and felt Reikaee grab her shoulder, "SilverLight? Are you okay?"

"I'm just-- gimme a--" Silver took a sharp breath when she realized she was running short of energy and she was about to burn herself out. Silver pulled herself out of the others' minds and took another shuddery breath, feeling her legs giving out.

Reikaee's other hand shot out and caught Silver around the waist beore she could fall too far, "SilverLight?"

"I'm-- just a little tired," Silver murmured, her head flopping down onto Reikaee's chest.

"Are you sure?" Silver blinked at the panic in Reikaee's voice.

"Don't worry Reikaee," Silver murmured, so quietly that he had to lean down to hear her, "Your new MindMage isn't broken yet. Just tired. Very very tired." Silver felt her eyelids sliding shut and her last thought was He must think I'm a weak little girl now...

Breathe Out

Silver groaned softly as her eyes flicked open, a steady throbbing hammering away in her head. "Here," a voice said softly beside her, "drink this." Silver was helped into a sitting position and a glass pressed gently to her lips. When the glass was empty it was taken away and Silver was lain back down. A cool hand was placed on her forehead and almost immidiately the pounding in her head eased.

Her eyes flicked open and she saw Reikaee sitting beside her bed, an empty glass in his hand, the other glowing a soft blue. "Reikaee?"

"Feeling better?"

"Much... What did you do?"

"Just a little Magic I've picked up from the years in court."

"Ah... I'm sorry... About passing out on you... I... don't usually do that..."

"It's okay. I understand. As soon as you passed out Wokendae couldn't talk to us anymore so we figured you were the one letting her talk to us."

"She couldn't? Damn." Silver pushed herself into a sitting position. "Is she feeling alright?"

"She seemed to feel fine. Better than she has in the time I've known her. But still, you might want to talk to her."

Silver nodded, "Alright, I'll do that," she stared to swing her legs out of bed but Reikaee grabbed her legs and stopped her.

"Not now. Now you rest some more."

Silver frowned, "But I feel--"

"Sleep. That's just my magic. You'll feel like crap again in an hour." Reikaee raised an eyebrow, "Wouldn't you rather be asleep when that happened?"

Silver laughed, "Yes, yes I would," she said, lying back down on her bed and closing her eyes.

"Goodnight, SilverLight," Reikaee murmured.

"Silver," she said softly, on the edge of sleep, "Call me Silver."

"Alright. Good-night... Silver."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

When Silver opened her eyes next the throbbing pain had lessened considerably and the lights didn't seem quite so harsh. "Ah, you are awake again. This is good."

Silver propped herself up on her elbows and looked over at the half-lizard Ciicaryy sitting in a comfortable looking armchair beside her bed.

"Hello, Ciicaryy," Silver said softly, "I'm sorry--"

"Don't be. And please, call me Ciicar. We are all equals on this team, SilverLight."

Silver smiled softly, "Then you must call me Silver, Ciicar." There was something about the half-lizard that made Silver instantly willing to trust him.

"And how are you feeling this afternoon, Silver?" Ciicar asked with a small smile.

"I'm feeling quite well. Well enough that I would like to check on Wokendae."

Ciicasr's eyes widened slightly, "Already? By you are--"

"I'm fine. Reikaee told me earlier that Wokendae was unable to communicate with anyone after I disconnected with her. I want to make sure everything's okay with her."

Ciicar regarded Silver sceptically, "I do not think--"

"The only reason I had problems yesterday was because Wokendae was extremely distraught and because I was connecting the eight of you."

"That takes a lot of energy?"

"I've never done it before," Silver admitted.

Ciicar's eyes widened again, "Never?"

Silver shook her head, "MindMages don't 'make bridges'--for lack of a better term. We work one-on-one with a patient."

Ciicar looked thoughtful for a moment, "Perhaps that is why Heitshu had problems..." Ciicar looked up at Silver, "And yet you created a network throughout eight different minds."

"Not a network... I was connected to each of you and just 'broadcasted' Wokendae's thoughts down the links. It woudn't have worked in reverse. It probably only worked in the first place because Wokendae is naturally telepathic."

Ciicar looked thoughtful, "Perhaps we should look into making a network?" At Silver's startled look Ciicar elaborated, "between only a few to begin with. Perhaps it is possible for others to train their minds to accept the network and some of the strain of maintaining it." Ciicar shook his head as Silver bit her lip thoughtfully. "No matter. That shall be saved for a later date."

"Let's go see Wokendae," Silver said hopefully.

Ciicar smiled, "Alright, Silver, we'll go see Wokendae."

Silver grinned and swung her legs off the bed and stood, "Let's go!"

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Silver heasitantly poked her head into the Star room. Wokendae's head immidiately swivelled around to look at her. Silver!

Silver smiled and stepped into the room, :Hello, Wokendae.:

"Who's there, Woke?" came Arkonny's voice from the other side of Wokendae.

Silver felt a slight pulse of anger from Wokendae, :What's wrong?:

I... dislike that name.

:Then why do you let them call you that?:

They like it... and they've taken such good care of me...

:Certainly if they care for you as much as they seem to, they won't mind calling you a name you like.:

I... Wokendae sighed.

"What is she saying?" Ciicar asked from behind Silver.

"Ah..." Silver said, unsure.

"Ciicar!" came Arkonyy's boom, saving Silver from having to respond. "Aren't you supposed to be watching the greenh--" Arkonyy stopped flat when he saw that Silver was with Ciicar.

Wokendae huffed at Arkonyy, Can you connect me to him?

:Can you promise not to yell?:

I will try.

Silver took a deep breath and Reached out to Arkonyy, :You know, I should feel guilty about this, I think it violates the Creed,: Silver told Wokendae as she slid past the amge's shields and gripped his mind gently. :You're connected.:

Thank-you. Arkonyy. Silver carefully 'echoed' Wokendae's 'voice' down the 'path' established. The mage jumped and shot an accusing glance at Silver before looking at Wokendae.

"Yes Woke?"

Don't call me that, Wokendae snarled and Silver wasn't the only one surprised at the vehemense in Wokendae's voice.

"Wh-what do you want me to call you then?" Arkonyy asked.

Wokendae. That's my name. Use it.

"A-alright Woke--" Arkony shook his head, "Wokendae." Arkonyy glared at Silver, as if accusing her of causing Wokendae's sudden backbone.

Wokendae put herself between Silver and Arkonyy, Why do you hate her so much? Wokendae demanded loudly.

"Wokendae," Silver whispered, touching the dragon's hidquarters gently.

Sorry Silver.

"It's okay Wokendae, just... no yelling."

Wokendae turned back to Arkonyy, Well, Arkonyy? Why do you hate Silver so much?

Silver could see that Wokendae using Arkonyy's title hit him like a physical blow, "I-I don't hate her..."

No? Well, you're doing a very good impression of it!

"You've got another minute, Wokendae," Silver said softly, moving her hand in a soothing gesture across the dragon's hind-quarters.

Are you okay?

"Just taking it easy, finish up your conversation."

Arkon... Wokendae's voice was soft, You're like a father to me, but Silver has helped me more in the hours that she was here, than anyone ever has. I can't understand why you hate her.

"I... Wokendae... I just..."

Wokendae turned her head to look at Silver, Will you take me outside?

Silver blinked, disconnecting Arkonyy abruptly, "I don't know... Are you-" Silver looked over at Ciicar, "Is she aloud to go outside?"

Ciicar blinked, "We've never before..."

Wokendae bugled loudly, rearing up onto her hind legs, I want to go outside!

"Okay! Okay!" Silver yelled over the reverberations of the dragon's yell, putting one hand to her head.

Wokendae dropped back down and nuzzled Silver's shoulder gently, I'm sorry...

Silver patted Wokendae's shoulder, "It's okay, Wokendae." Silver turned to Ciicar, "I'll just take her...?" trailing off into a question.

Ciicar looked like he was going to protest Silver's going out but then he just sighed, "Take her to the courtyard." Silver was about to ask where the courtyard was but saw that Arkonyy was heading towards the door and just pulled the directions from Ciicar's mind.

Silver was two steps out the door when she turned and looked back at Wokendae, "Um... is the door big enough, Wokendae?" Wokendae tilted her head, regarding the door, as Ciicar moved quickly out of the way. The red dragon finally sucked in her breath, pulled her wings as tight to her as possible and thrust herself through the doorway. A few minutes of pushing and scraping later and Wokendae was in the hallway.

The dragon ruffled her wings lightly, looking at the skin left on the door jams. You'd think they'd never expected me to leave the room... she muttered before looking at Silver, Shall we go?

Silver smiled, "Yes, let's."

Freedom

Silver sighed happily as she looked up at the sun, her life had changed incredibly in a short amount of time. It was just... three days ago that she had been just another student of IndigoStorm's. Silver looked down to see Wokendae prancing and bouncing through the grass and flowers, and now, she'd helped Wokendae sort out her mind and Silver had the feeling she'd found a life-long friend in the dark red dragoness.

It's so beautiful Silver! Wokendae exclaimed, I mean, they told me about the outside, but they never told me it was so beautiful!

Silver smiled at the dragon's exuberence, and wondered why no one had taken Wokendae outside earlier, as she was obviously enjoying it. Wokendae suddenly flopped down in the grass and looked over at Silver, Come sit with me, I want to tell you a story. Silver blinked at the sudden seriousness in Wokendae's tone as she walked over to the dragon.

"What's the story about?" Silver asked lightly, leaning against Wokendae's side.

Wokendae curved her neck so that her head was resting on Silver's lap, It's about a country in danger and a leader with a crazy plan...

Silver tilted her head, "Really?"

Well, sort of... It's more about a little dragonette who lost her brother and the only person who could talk to her...

Birth

The first thing I knew-- you've already seen. My hatching was an easy one- I broke the shell cleanly, and was born strong-- my mind and body healty. Heitshu checked my mind briefly when I first hatched, making sure I was 'all there'. I told him my name-- I don't know how I knew it, I just did. He cemented my telepathic powers-- and... I think he tried to give me teleportation- I've never tried to use it though.

Then my brother hatched. He was early, underdevelopped, and weak. Heitshu left me to try and keep him alive. He succeeded, but his mind was weak-- I've been thinking, and I understand now what Heitshu did.

Heitshu did not Bond to me, he merely helped me, as you told me. However, my brother -- Dyrendae -- his mind wasn't fully developed, Heitshu did the only thing he could to keep Dyrendae alive and hopefully help his mind developed. He Bonded him.

Heitshu took Deyrendae away to work with him individually, to try and save him. The others took care of me -- very good. They were great, but they weren't Heitshu, I couldn't speak to them. To be honest... I didn't really want to...

It was an uphill battle for the entirity of the next year. Heitshu tried so hard to save Deyrendae, to make him whole. But... it wasn't enough. At the end of that year, Deyrendae died.

It broke Heitshu. His scream could be heard throughout the entire palace. He'd spent an entire year deep within my brother's mind. It was like he'd lost part of himself. A necessary part. It tore his mind open and he couldn't close it.

He lives now, with his sister shielding him constantly, deep within the palace. But, with his mind like that, he couldn't come see me. I was alone. It was... hard... being alone for years.

Wokendae sighed, I don't want to be alone anymore. Wokendae looked over at Silver, I don't have to be alone anymore, right?

Silver shook her head, "No. Never again. I promise."

Knowing You

Silver and Wokendae stayed out in the courtyard talking about inconciquencial things for several more hours, until Silver's stomach began to rumble.

The unlikely pair headed back inside, Wokendae took off some more skin squeezing back into her room, and Silver went off in search for dinner. A brief mental scan sent her in the direction of Reikaee's rooms, as he was the closest of the few Silver would have felt comfortable going to.

When Silver reached her rooms she tapped lightly on the door connecting her room to Reikaee's. "Come in," he called.

Silver opened the door quietly and poked her head into the rooms that adjoined hers. "Reikaee?" she asked quietly.

"Silver," Reikaee said, pleasure radiating from him.

Silver smiled, "You wouldn't happen to know where I could get some food, would you?"

Reikaee smiled back, "I'm just sitting down to dinner myself, if you'd care to join me?"

"Alright," Silver agreed, slipping into the room and shutting the door behind her quietly.

Reikaee slid out from behind his desk and led Silver into what she surmised was the main room. Looking around her she found that his room was decorated in very neutral shades of beige and brown, with a few accents of a neutral green.

"Very... comfortable," Silver commented tactfully.

Reikaee pulled a face at her, "You mean impersonal."

Silver grinned, "That too."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Silver and Reikaee ate their dinner with friendly chatter. Reikaee managed to drag out Silver's favourite colours (which were suprisingly enough: dark blue, dark green and light purple). Silver wormed Reikaee's favorites out in retaliation (bright yellow, green and blue). In fact, Silver found herself as relaxed as she had been with Wokendae, which was more relaxed than she'd been in quite some time, and definately more relaxed than she'd ever expected to be in the presence of the ruler of Otykaii.

The days continued in quite a similar manner, until...

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Silver was quietly sitting on her bed (which had been redone in a dark-green-and-cream colour scheme), meditating, when a sudden roar of emotions from the next room shocked her right out of her meditation and nto the floor.

"Reikaee!" she gasped, flinging herself off the floor and towards the adjoined room. Those emotions... there was no way such an intense depression and self-loathing was gradual, something must have triggered it.

Silver almost-paused long enough to consider that Reikaee might have someone in his room, but if they were causing such emotions and they were still there she'd tear them limb-from-limb herself!

However, when Silver burst into the room Reikaee was alone, slumped in his chair and stairing blankly at the air in front of him.

"Reikaee," Silver gasped again, dropping to her knees beside the chair and grabbing Reikaee's arm. "Reikaee," Silver tried louder this time, but there was no response from the man.

Then Silver took a deep breath and without a second thought threw herself into the turmoil that was Reikaee's mind.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

When Silver finally felt that Reikaee was out of the immidiate danger his emotions had presented, and Silver had put a barrier between the pain and Reikaee's consciousness, she had tears running down her cheeks and she was angrier than she could ever remember being.

A growl escaped her before she could hold it in, I'm going to kill that tramp for this... she thought, more uncharitable than she could ever remember being.

The woman that Reikaee had been courting for almost two years had just broken up with him, in the harshest and most critical way possible, laying all the blame on Reikaee.

Silver, no matter how she would like to go right off and rip that tramp to shreds right that moment, forced herself to take several deep breathes to calm herself. Then she helped the half-asleep Reikaee to his room and his bed, removing his shoes and overjacket.

Silver sat by Reikaee's side for a long time, the door between their rooms still wide open, Reikaee's pain still resonating in her mind.

Leaving

As Silver worked with Reikaee, getting him over the grief of his breakup, she became more and more aware of just how much she loved her employer.

She was also very aware of how much he needed her friendship and how much her love could destroy everything.

That was why, when Wokendae brought up the notion of going to another world to try for a dragon, Silver wasn't so dead set against it as she could have been. In fact, it was her that breached the subject with Reikaee.

Reikaee rubbed the bridge of his nose in a tired gesture of stress, "You really want to do this?" his voice was soft and ragged, showing emotion that Silver knew didn't leave this room.

Silver and Reikaee were in Silver's rooms, where nothing short of an army marching up to the Palace and setting fire to it could make anyone disturb them. Silver tried not to show her nervousness, "Yes," she said simply. Reikaee looked hurt. "Deira tells me that the dragons have an ability to shift between times as well," she explained hurriedly, feeling the betrayl radiating from Reikaee. "I'll barely be gone a few days for you." Silver looked at Reikaee with all the entreaty she could manage in her eyes, "Please, Reikaee..."

Reikaee looked down, mumbling, "Fine, go." But Silver caught the tears in his eyes, and could feel the sadness pressing in again.

"Reikaee..." she murmured, dropping out of her chair so she could kneel by his knees, "What..." she searched his eyes, "Why..." she couldn't quite figure out how to phrase it without sounding insensitive. "It'll only be a few days..." she finally murmured.

Reikaee finally looked up, meeting Silver's tear-filled eyes with his own, just as watery. "But for you it'll be years... What if... what if you forget me?" the last was said very quietly. "I love you Silver."

"Oh Reika," Silver breathed, moving up to embrace him.

"Silver..."

"You know I'll never forget you," Silver said fiercely. "Never. I promise."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

SilverLight arrived at Darkling Dawn Weyr behind Deira, astride Green Ne�nachc�th, with Wokendae behind. Deira and her two dragons, along with another girl named Fyre and her bond, had been teaching Wokendae more about being a dragon, and the red had been so proud when she'd finally mastered teleportation.

So now, here they were, at Darkling Dawn. Both of them to Stand for a clutch.

SilverLight and Wokendae are standing at Darkling Dawn.