The sun was only a glittering, gold gem on the horizon, announcing the coming morning. As if tired of the dull, black expanse of night, the light surged across the sky, painting it with rosy pinks and vibrant, beautiful blues and violets. Birds awoke to the gentle, warm touch of sunlight on their feathers and raised their voices in greeting to the rising morning. Silvery drops of dew glittered and glistened on the lush, rolling grass fields. A wash of light spread across the land, dancing off thatched roofs of houses and over the plots of wheat and grain outside the town, finally coming to an end by wrapping a warm, loving embrace over the tree tops of the nearby forest.
In the small, peaceful town, people began to wake and smiled at the cheery day promised outside their opened shutters. It was just a normal day, filled with the buzz of business and laughter of children at play. Men groomed and fed themselves, strutting around their wives (or wives-to-be) before heading off to a long day of work in the fields. Woman woke the children and set out the food, eager to finish the days chores and have a bit of spare time to visit neighbours and chatter incessently.
A small, wooden house on the outskirts of town was last to get going. Not that the occupants of the quaint, happy little family were lazy. The problem was getting all nine of the people within up, dressed and organized for beakfast without beginning one of the ritual 'food fights.' Villagers clucked their tounges and shook their heads at the poor state of the lot, often pausing to listen to the ruckus that vibrated through the very walls of the hut. Yet within, not a single one of the people were unhappy. They loved their chaos and would have it no other way.
Ruana walked briskly from one room to the next, catching a squealing sibling before they ran head long into the wall. She hefted the laundry basket to her hip, spinning around two more children as they tore down the hall to the dining room. Dodging moving obsticals while completing three chores at once was routine for the seventeen year old girl. She was oldest and in charge of the massive group. That group consisted of five sisters, three brothers, four cats and two dogs. The animals had a tendancy of arriving via one child or the other.
The youth would claim that 'he followed me home, can I keep him?' while trying to desperately hold onto a sqirming puppy or energetic kitten. To this comment, Ruana would always reply 'he has four legs. He could have walked himself here if he really followed you.' 'But he doesn't know the way.' That innocent comment accompanied by a pleading look would usually win over the lovable, older sister and their household would gain yet another member.
"Sasha, Palia, Nala, Cindra, Yalana, Garret, Larin, Fet, BREAKFAST!" Ruana bellowed. She pressed herself tightly against the wall as five more children, all of varying ages, gleefully dashed towards the food she'd prepared upon awaking. Four cats and two dogs skittered after the children, either being chased or chasing one another to their own meals. When the hall was clear again, Ruana let out a deep breath and brushed a lock of her fiery red hair away from her eyes.
She smiled softly as she pushed through the ragged curtain that separated the laundry room from the rest of the house. The chamber was small and lit only by one, dust encrusted window. The young woman dumped her load of clothing into a basin of fresh, hot water and set to work removing the multiple grass stains and dirt smears.
For a few moments, there was peace. A scream and smash of shattering plates ended that in a hurry. Ruana winced, pausing half way through scrubbing a nasty food stain. She sighed, closed her eyes and waited.
"Ruaaaaanaaaaaa!" One of the girls, Sasha, screeched angrily. "Garret made me spill my cereal!"
"I did not!" Came the indignant reply of the thirteen year old boy.
"Fet!" Ruana called over her shoulder. Luckily, their house was small enough that sound carried through the walls. Any walls.
"Got it!" The second oldest of the group bellowed back. Before tears could flow, the older brother calmed Sasha and repremended Garret for starting the trouble. After all, he'd been there to see it. Ruana happily went back to her wash when the crisis was averted.
This was the daily order of things in their home. Ruana woke at the crack of dawn, prepared breakfast, ate her own quickly, set out food for the animals, went to the various rooms to collect laundry and wake the children at the same time, then went about the millions of other chores that had to be done. Fet, Garret and Palia brought in the money, helping their eldest sister care for the five younger children. Everyone had their place doing something helpful. Even Nala, youngest at only five years.
Fet was two years Ruana's junior, Palia was a year younger then him, followed by thirteen year old Garret; then the twins, Cindra and Sasha at ten years, Larin at seven years, and Yalana at six. Nala was the last to be born to their 'active' mother before she passed on. The children had never known a father for more then a year at a time. Their mother jumped from one man to the next, giving little care to the rumours and slander that followed her through town. She had finally passed on the year before, killed by a diesease passed on through one of her 'outings'.
Though seemingly thoughtless, Ruana's mother cared very deeply for each of her children. In truth, the nights she had spent with other men had been to gain money for the large family. Every cent earned by giving herself went towards clothing and feeding her group. Including the pets the children loved so dearly. The villagers called her a slut and whore, but she had done it all to support her loved ones. On her death bed, she had cried because she was leaving her children without a mother. Ruana had sworn on that day to care for her siblings, no matter how hard things got.
"Ru'. Me and Garret have to get going." Fet poked his head past the small curtain. He smiled charmingly, bringing a grin to his sister's lips. The wild mop of brown hair that hung near his ears and obscured his bright, blue eyes gave him a childish look that always cheered her up. He and his brother worked in the fields, hired help for families that had that kind of money. Ruana nodded slightly, hanging up a shirt to dry on a line that passed out the window.
"Alright. Don't forget to drop Palia off at Lady Faluna's house." The reminder was un-necessary but she did it anyway. She hated knowing that Palia had to work as a maid for that horribly snobbish old lady. But they needed the money. Fet nodded quickly, casting her another, quick smile before disappearing again.
The children all knew their chores for the day and, when the three workers left, it was almost quiet in the house. Ruana sighed deeply, pausing while she hung up one of Nala's small, pink shirts. She gazed at her reflection in the dirty, small window, seeing a woman matured beyond her years staring back at her.
Long ringlets of coppery red hair curled around her teardrop shaped face, ending near her slender shoulders. A smattering of freckles crossed over her smallish nose, dark against her tropical tan. Deep pools of forest green reflected on the foggy surface of the glass, set under dark lashes and thinned brows. She smiled lightly, lifting the corners of her small, ruby red lips. Ruana was tall, beautiful and strong willed. She carried her slight frame with an air of pride that most people thought she shouldn't posess. Especially since she turned down every marriage proposal that came her way. Ruana reasoned that she was already caring for her large family, she couldn't be responsible for some rubble headed man as well.
The wash finished and hung out to dry, Ruana wiped her hands on her tanned, leather pants and walked down the hall to her own room. Sasha giggled as she ran past, trying to beat Cindra to their shared room to start cleaning up for the day.
"Don't forget your lessons today!" Ruana shouted after them, chuckling as both girls called back an affermative. She loved all her siblings dearly but sometimes, it was hard keeping food on the table, clothes on their backs and still have some money for the children's lessons. Ruana had never been able to have a proper education. She taught herself everything she knew, either by watching others or trial and error. She wanted the others to at least have something to stand on before being released into the world.
The door to her room squeaked on rusty hinges as she slipped inside. She glanced over the sparse, wooden walls and the three beds crammed into one corner. She shared her space with Nala and Yalana, the two youngest. All three kept their meager selection of clothing in one dresser and used a single table for their trinkets and hair brushes. One, large window looked in from the east wall, filling the room with warm, bright sunlight. The only uncluttered unit in the entire bedroom was a small work table set in the far corner.
Ruana paused as she passed the table, looking over the stacks of neat papers and orgaized quills and ink wells. She suppressed a longing sigh before tearing her eyes away and continuing on to make the beds. Though she loved her family and would do anything for them, this wasn't what she wanted to do with her life.
Ruana wanted to be a herbalist and draconologist. She was facinated by the many uses of plants and on the point of being obsessed with dragons. Her heart longed to take her to the Warren, where dragons of every size and shape could be found. She even had a reason for going there. Ruana, determined to make herself useful to the world, had been working on a substitute for firestone for some years now. Ever since she had learned that the Old World dragons needed the chewable stone found on their world to breath fire, she had been trying to find a way to give them flames without travelling back and forth all the time. She had found it in a mixture of herbs and plants that, when mixed with the dragon's naturally secreeted enzimes, would create a flame that lasted longer and went father then anything firestone could produce. Now, if only she could show it to the dragon riders.
Ruana clenched her jaw grimly, tugging at the sheets at the end of Nala's bed to put them back into place. She was so busy taking care of her family that she had no time for her own persuits. Getting a chance to go to the Warren was like trying to grow wings. Impossible.
"Meow." Ruana started at the human sounding cat call. She looked around, then down, and found Nala crawling around on all fours, followed by four cats. Ruana grinned, laughing lightly as she knelt by her youngest sister and petted her silky, blonde hair.
"Good kitty. Have you washed up yet?" She asked sweetly. Nala loved playing house or animal or whatever game her imaginative heart desired.
"I'm a cat. I don't have to wash up." Nala replied innocently, sitting back on her haunches and gazing up at her sister.
"Ah. But cats don't speak and you just did." Ruana grinned as Nala pouted in defeat. She ruffled her soft curls lightly and gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Go on, now. Make sure Yalana does too."
"Larin doesn't have to." Nala continued to sulk, pushing herself to her feet and lifting a black spotted feline in her arms at the same time. The cat meowed and batted at the young girl's shirt sleeve gently.
"Larin already has." The eldest sister smiled, watching Nala scurry from the room with the wide-eyed cat in her arms. She laughed as she heard the girl's young voice call out for her sister in a commanding, blunt manner.
"Ruana!" Sasha's loud voice called from the other end of the house. Unlike her twin, Cindra, Sasha was very outgoing. "Someone's at the door!"
"Well let them in!" Ruana called back, quickly tucking in the last corner on Yalana's bed before briskly walking down the one, straight hallway to the kitchen. That was the largest room in the house, holding both kitchen supplies and a table large enough to seat everyone. The front door also adjoined this room from a small alcove off to the north side.
The seventeen year old caregiver ran a hand through her tangled locks and wiped her hands off on her pants quickly. People rarly came to visit but she always tried to present them with someone decent looking and well organized, even if they still believed this place to be a poor house.
"May I help you?" Ruana was pleased with the mature tone of her voice as she peered around the alcove corner. Her heart leapt to her throat and a look of pure shock froze her on the spot. Sasha stood by their guest, helpfully taking the woman's cloak and hanging it up on the coat hook by the door. The fact that Sasha was able to reach the tall hooks wasn't what had her stunned, though she would be quite proud of her sister later on. Framed in the doorway was a woman of proud stature and shining golden hair. Red dominated her slender, silken dress and was accented by a trim of gold on her velvety cloak. In one, slender hand she held a golden staff that shone with a light not of the sun's creation. The woman turned a golden eyed gaze on Ruana and smiled politely.
"Good day, m'lady. I would like to speak to a woman by the name of Ruana." Mystic said.
* * * She was amazed. She was beyond amazed. Here, in her house, sitting in one of her chairs, was Mystic Dragon. Leader of the Warren and rider of silver Myrah'Care. Ruana had studied everything she could about the woman but never once thought she would actually be talking to her. In her own house.
"Are you alright?" Mystic asked curiously, setting aside her cup of tea and looking at the slack jawed Ruana.
"Uh- yes." Ruana blushed, quickly snapping her jaw shut and looking away. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
"Good." Mystic smiled, a mysterious upturn of her lips that always seemed to hide some important information. "I have some business I would like to discuss with you." She sat back in her chair, pausing to smile at the grouping of children in the hallway, come to gawk at a dragon rider.
Ruana half-turned in her chair, casting her siblings a quick glare and motion to shoo them away. Sasha giggled, ducking her impish head around the corner and out of sight. The others followed suit, Yalana and Nala giggling with the other girl.
Mystic chuckled softly. "Quite a group you have here."
"Yeah." Ruana smiled, trying to calm the flutter in her stomach. The soothing aura eminating from Mystic helped a bit, easing her discomfort in the situation. "They're my siblings."
"So I've heard." The mage commented, taking a sip of her tea. She raised a brow, studying the woman across from her. "I've also heard you have an interest in dragons."
"Um.... yeah. Just- just a little one. I study plants and stuff and... uh..." She trailed off, her cheeks turning a rosy red with another blush. Mystic grinned softly.
"Rumour has it that you have a substitute for firestone. May I see your work?"
Ruana looked up, wide eyed and amazed. How had anyone else found out about her work? Sasha giggled again and she had her answer. "Of course... I'll go get it." Excusing herself, she stood and began walking to the hall. Larin stopped her, grinning broadly and holding up her sheets of research. "You four are impossible." She whispered, grinning almost as much as the young boy.
"You make us happy and now we want to make you happy." He whispered back, innocent joy dancing in his green eyes. Green like their mother's. Ruana smiled softly, planting a quick kiss on his forehead as she took the sheets and walked back to the table.
Mystic fell silent as her sharp gaze scanned the volumns of paper, 'hmm'ing and 'haw'ing over the intricate studies and mathimatical equations. The raise of her brows and intense interest in the writing caused Ruana's heart to flutter twice as fast. She suspected that the knowledgeable woman liked it but a part of her mind would always doubt her own work.
"This is amazing." Mystic said in earnst, flipping over the last page and fixing Ruana with an admiring glance. "This research you have done could possibly be the solution we're looking for." The mage smiled softly, folding her delicate hands on the table. "We could use someone of your skills in the Warren."
"Really?" The word came out as a breathy whisper, betraying the utter shock that created a blank wall in Ruana's mind. She had dreamed of going to the Warren, even played out the events in her mind, but she had never thought it would actually happen. Her heart nearly burst with joy, then fell to the pits of her stomach as a childish giggle drifted briefly through the air. She couldn't go. Ruana lowered her awe struck gaze, no doubt puzzling the red mage. "I- I can't go."
"Whyever not?" Mystic inquired. Her brows shot together in a look of bewilderment.
"Be... cause." Ruana replied hesitantly. She tried as best she could not to look over her shoulder and pin point the four sets of eyes that bore into her back. A long, heart-felt sigh shuddered in her chest but got no further. She clamped her jaw tightly over the emotion and managed to lift her gaze to meet Mystic's with a small degree of assurance. "I can't leave my family."
"Is that all?" Mystic chuckled, leaning back in her chair while a mysterious smile played across her lips. Ruana blinked in confusion. "If you agree to work for me and create this miracle paste of yours, I will supply you with food, clothing and shelter for you and your siblings." She waved a hand absently, brushing away the last of Ruana's concerns. "And if they desire to find work of their own, the Warren has many professions to offer."
For the third time that day, Ruana's jaw literally hit the ground. The four younger siblings that had been listening from the hall tore into the room, squealing and jumping around their oldest sister. Glee lit each face while demands of whether or not they could go assulted her hearing.
Ruana swallowed a lump that had grown in her throat. Her heart beat like the wings of a humming bird in her chest and her head reeled in amazment. "I-" She began weakly, startled when her voice cracked on the single word.
"Can we? Please Ruana? Can we go to the Warren?" Sasha bounced in her lap and clung to her sister's shoulders. Glee lit her face and the faces of her siblings as they waited breathlessly for Ruana's answer.
"Yes." The single word left her lips and brought a chorus of cheers and joyous giggles from the four children. A small, flitting smile touched Ruana's lips as she watched them dance around the kitchen, singing to their new victory. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Mystic's pleased smile.
* * * Eight years later...
Tension coiled in her muscles after long hours of bending over a desk with the tedious task of writing. Her hand ached and she was certain her wrist would be forever stuck in a curled posture. Rolling her neck languorously in a circle , she waited until it cracked with a satisfying sound. Ruana smiled to herself, thankful for whatever pain, fatigue or panic her work put her through. She was in the Warren, doing what she loved most of all. Those problems were just a reminder that she had finally achieved her dream.
Ruana stood slowly, stretching her arms over her head and leaning back while her spine cracked back into place. She winced at a particularly loud pop and reminded herself to take breaks more often. She, like Mystic, worked all hours until her task was finished. The only difference between them was that Mystic had Aaron to literally drag her away from work when the sky had grown dark... then gray... then bright with morning. Right now, crickets chirped a song to the starry night, their music muffled by the thick walls that made up the Warren.
For eight years, Ruana had been the Warren's herbalist and one of the many draconologists. She worked alongside E'rik in the Infirmary and had actually found time to apprentice under the Master Healer. Her 'miracle paste', as Mystic called it, had been put into use after the first batch had been perfected. While working out a few bugs, E'rik and Ruana had come across the un-nerving revalation that, should the paste be taking by a dragon that had used firestone, the results would be.... explosive. Fortunatetly, very few of the Warren dragons had chewed the sulfuric rock. Though some complained bitterly that they would have preferred a mountain of it to taking Ruana's paste once a month. Taste had been one thing Ruana hadn't been able to fix.
The twenty-five year old woman gathered together sheefs of work and bound them with a single tie. Pride swelled in her chest as she placed them on the shelf where E'rik kept his volumns of medical information. Many of her own writings were scattered among the numerous shelves. She turned with a happy sigh and hesitantly began to feel her way through the dark Infirmary Records room back to her own chamber, adjacent to the large cavern.
When at last Ruana found her bed (with a minimal amount of bumped knees and disturbed items), she fell into the soft sheets and closed her lids over dry eyes. For a long time, she lay in the silence of her chamber, feeling the softness of her pillow and the cool air that breezed through her window (she was one of the rare few who had one). Crickets chirps and in the far distance, the ocean lapped against the beach. Everything was peaceful and blissfully quiet. Amazingly quiet. Too quiet.
Ruana tossed and turned several times, attempting to find the sleep that eluded her. At home every night had been filled with the rhythmic sounds of sleeping children. Five year old Nala often woke in the night and came whimpering to Ruana's bed. Ruana would then have to drag her under the covers with herself and sing her softly back to sleep. Though at the time she had been annoyed at having her sleep disturbed, she missed it now.
Ruana let out a long, heavy sigh. There was no way around it, she was lonely.
Each of the children had taken to the Warren like a fish to water. Their shared room was nestled a few tunnels away from Ruana's and provided the children with much easier access to the main hall. The eldest three had immediately taken up jobs; Fet and Garret with the riderless dragons, and Palia in the kitchen. A few years later, Larin and the twins followed their elder siblings and chose interesting duties in one of the many chambers around the gigantic cavren. Yalana and Nala, now fifteen and fourteen respectively, were busy with studies to discover what profession they would like best. Even the pets had come along and filled their giant room with constant noise and company. They all had friends among the riders and staff, even with the dragons. They were all happy and healthy and together... all except Ruana. Though she had been extatic (and still was) to be doing what she loved most of all, she hadn't realized that her work would take time away from her family.
Another shuddering sigh left her being while the herbalist finally closed her eyes. Tomorrow, she'd have to find someway to relieve her lonliness. A dragon companion would be nice...
* * * The next morning, Ruana finished her duties quickly and slipped away from the Infirmary before E'rik had a chance to notice. She shook her head at the thought of the Master Healer. Sometimes he acted more like a mother hen then a man. Her feet carried her quickly through the tunnels, sure to stay to the main path. Any other tunnel led to any number of wrong chambers. Though she had lived eight long years in this place, she still didn't know every nook and cranny that made up the entirety of the Warren.
A few minutes passed before she came to the large, duel-den that served as Mystic's chamber, study, meeting room, and personal library. The dragons had plenty of room of their own while Aaron complained constantly about the stack of books that often cluttered their bed room. Ruana drew in a calming breath, knocked once, then entered at the muffled sound that beckoned her in.
Mystic sat at her desk as usual, hunched over a pile of paperwork that never seemed to empty. A cheery fire and brightly burning candle provided her with light while Hope acted as a paper weight, snoozing happily atop the largest stack. Ruana smiled lightly while stepping forward and waiting to be acknowledged. She had grown to know the red mage as a friend and enjoyed her company whenever she came to visit.
Mystic glanced up once, briefly, and nodded for Ruana to take the seat across from her. Ruana oblidged while the mage put the finishing touches on one of her research papers with a flourished signature. She watched as Mystic sighed in content, leaning back in her high-backed chair and easing the tension from her shoulders. Her familiar, mysterious smile crept across her lips when at last she opened her eyes and met Ruana's gaze.
"So, what brings you into my humble presence?" The mage questioned, studying Ruana's stance for any hints as to what to expect. She could have read her mind... but that would be impolite.
Ruana took a deep breath, thinking quickly over how to word her request. When her mind drew a blank, she let the breath out slowly and stared vacantly at the desk. Again she tried, this time lifting her gaze to meet Mystic's golden stare. "I- uh..." She began weakly, feeling the sudden urge to fidget. "I'm... lonely."
"Oh?" Mystic implored, raising a brow as a hint to go on.
"Yeah..." Ruana hated voicing her complaints. She felt so... stupid. "I'm used to having my family around and since they're all off on their own, my place just feels kinda... empty. I'd like to bond a dragon, if that's ok. I'm not sure how it works. If I'm not suited to it, I understand. I don't want a big one either. Just someone to keep me company. Maybe help with my work. Right now I know I'm babbling so if you find any of this half as stupid as I do, just ignore me." She finished lamely, biting her lip in agitation. Once she had started the flow of endless words, her eyes had trailed away from Mystic's and settled on anything that wasn't the mage's curious gaze. Therefore, she was notably surprised when Mystic chuckled softly.
"My dear girl." Mystic grinned openly, watching the look of innocent bewilderment that crossed Ruana's face. She had grown quite a bit since that day eight years ago. She was thin, but not overly so, and smattered with a light covering of freckles from head to toe. Her body curved in suggestive places and swayed when she walked. The long ringlets of copper-red hair that had ended by her shoulder blades in her youth now extended to mid-back. While the better portion of it was held up in a neat and elegant braid, strands had come loose from her morning activities and now hung close to her tapered cheeks and small brow. She sat with assurance and pride, even though her eyes glittered with uncertainty. Mystic chuckled again. She had been waiting for Ruana to pose this question for some time. "You are more then elegable to become a dragon rider. Not only that, but I believe there is a place that will suit your specific needs."
"Really?" Ruana asked skeptically. She didn't honestly believe that everything was this simple.
"Yes." Mystic's grin was infectious and soon spread to Ruana's face. The place in question had only been around for a short time as far as she knew, and the dragons there seemed perfect for someone like Ruana. Hopefully the herbalist would be as enamoured by them as she herself had first been. They were certainly darling little things. "I know just the place."
Ruana is a candidate at: The Lian Dragon Nook