Zaran

Zaran was once know as Z'ran until his bronze bond was killed by Rampaging Plant burns. Now he spends his days milling about the Caer, half alive and half dead, waiting to be revived by something or someone.   Tera often feel sorry for the young man as he wander about though Casero had told her repeatedly that he didn't need to be felt sorry for. He needed his Peukath back.   "Zaran?" Tera sighed, placing her hand to the young man's shoulder. "Do you want to go help Nactara in the kitchen? She needs help cleaning up since the Hatching Feast has left the kitchen in shambles."   Zaran nodded slowly as he started down to the kitchens, his eyes completely void of any emotion other than sadness.   Jedayi, Nactara's frala-maraz, greeted him at the entrance, "Zaran, did Tera send you down here again? Shouldn't you be helping Loman with the Field Crews? Oh, well, I guess it doesn't matter."   "Of course it doesn't matter," Zaran's rough, unused voice croaked. "I don't matter anymore. You people shuffle me around like a mismarked Caer Coin."   "Zaran," Nactara sighed. "We don't shuffle you around."   "I just don't know anymore," Zaran sighed, tears welling in his eyes.   Nactara reached out to his, hugging him close, "Zaran, love, son, please, don't cry. I hate to see you cry."   "I'm not me anymore, mom," Zaran cried. "My soul was crushed when Peukath left me."   "Everyone died a bit on that day, Zar," Nactara sighed as Jedayi place a paw gently on Zaran's leg. "It just affected you more fully."   "It ripped my heart out of my body," Zaran sighed. "I..I can't stay here. It's too painful."

Nactara nodded, kissing her son on the forehead, "Do what you must, Zar. Leave for as long as you want. Just promise you will come back and visit me."   Zarana smiled at Nactara, "You're the only one who really cares. My mother. I'll miss you." ***   Zarana wasn't sure where Xeirth had landed, but he knew that it had to have been a long way. Xeirth was exhausted. If he keep going like this, he'd eventually not come back from one of those jumps. No, he didn't want to think like that.   As Zaran moved around the Caer, he heard a name echo in his ears, "No, Peukth, you can't go."   Zaran rushed towards the sound of the voice. Did they say Peukath? He wasn't really dead, and he was trying to return to him.   "Peukath! Peukath!" Zaran exclaimed, rushing into the dank room.   I'm Peukth. What is it you want? A small green sighed, glaring at Zaran.   Zaran's heart drop as he stared at the small green. He could hear the distinct lack of the 'a' in the name now. The green crooned angerily.   Go away! I'm going to find my rider! Think she can leave me! The green growled, knocking into Zaran.   Zaran collasped on the ground. Suddenly, a scream burst from his lungs. He couldn't take this anymore. He had to end it. He had to follow Peukath. He grabbed up a piece of rope from the floor of the room. He wrapped it around his neck, but as he pulled, he felt the rope snap.   What do you think you're doing?! Green Peukth exclaimed. There is no reason to end your life! Just go out and find your bond!   "I can't," Zaran growled. "My bond is dead! You are dead to your bond! If she left you here, you mean nothing to her!" I...I...can't believe you! The green crooned, sadly.   Zaran's heart ached to see a dragon like this, even this little green. He reached up and cradled the green's head, "It's all right, Peukth. It's all right."   No, it isn't, Peukth crooned sadly, lowering herself to where she could lay in Zaran's lap. Tayia left me here to rot and no other will ever love me. Tayia was my only hope. I am merely a green.   "There is never any merely about it," Zaran growled. "You are a green, and a beautiful green at that. Also, you have a lovely name."   Peukth? It sounds like I'm vomiting, Peukth sighed.   "It almost the same as my bronze's name was," Zaran sighed. "I miss him."   Everyone misses someone, sometimes, Peukth crooned. Everyone needs somebody, sometimes. Zaran, I know I'm just a green, but...you're the only person who's been nice to me in so long. Would you be interested in...   "Peukth, if you're asking whether I'll be your new Dragoneer, I'd love to," Zaran, once again Z'ran, sighed. ***   It was good to feel the wind in his hair again. He whooped happily as Peukth did a loop, flexing her freshly washed, oiled, and exercised wings. Peukth landed on the meadows outside of Wild River Caer. Z'ran patted the green affectionatly as he rushed towards the Caer.   "MOM!" Z'ran shouted. "Mom!"   Nactara stepped out of the kitchen to see who was shouting and shrieked happily as she saw Z'ran rushing towards her, "Zaran, my Zaran!"   "It's Z'ran again, Mom!" Z'ran shouted. "It's Z'ran again!"   "What...what do you mean?" Nactara sighed.   Peukth crooned happily, and Nactara smiled. Jedayi jogged out of the kitchen and greeted Z'ran with a happy yip.   "Who's the green? What's her name?" Jedayi cried, spotting Peukth right away.   "Peukth," Z'ran beamed.   "Love, the same?" Nactara asked.   "Missing the 'a', but she is the same, spirit and mind," Z'ran sighed.   Talking about me while I'm not around, huh Z'ran? Peukth laughed as she bound over to the group. I'm Peukth.   "Nice to met you, honorable dragon," Jedayi barked.   Nactara laughed as Z'ran and Peukth both chuckled, "It's nice to see you laugh again, Z'ran," Nactara sighed, smiling at her son.   He'll be laughing as long as I am with him, Peukth crooned, nuzzling the young man. Continue...