Dragon Riders of Paranon

There, naturally, weren't always dragons in the valley of man. THIS dragon hadn't landed on its shores by accident either...

The mountains of Tri-Peak overlooked the Valley of Paranon and the warriors that protected it. The witches of Tri-Peak had always sought the valley's dominance. Sagia, their leader, had made it her greatest goal for conquest. Arteman, her sooth-saying, servant boy, kept his constant sights on the valley; and his mystic gaze remained always fixed on the dragon.

As the council of witches met, Sagia barged into Arteman's quarters once more as he focused beyond his walls; and beyond the peaks.

"I did not hear you knock, empress." Arteman mumbled, his face hidden beneath blonde-highlighted raven locks and his form concealed by magenta robes as his visible mascaraed eye flashed in recognition.

"Does a true sorceress knock for her soothsayer now?" Sagia demanded. "YOU, a man among witches, would ask that I knock? You, who eclipsed Paranon's sun for all of two minutes or who projected the rainbow?"

"I who also sent our dragon cub into the valley when your talents were too distracted for the task." Arteman retorted as he finally turned to face his empress.

"True." Sagia murmured. "Where is our unwitting steed now?"

Arteman gestured to the cauldron for his mistress to take a look.

"With the son of a warrior." he retorted. "Treyos, I believe."

"A baby dragon; and a hatchling of a warrior boy!" Sagia sneered. "Is this how you promise me Paranon Valley?"

Arteman's visible eye glowed and he grinned mischievously.

"What dragon baby?" he demanded in a distant voice. "Though I guarantee you that the boy is the same age as before. He was never my magic servant..."

Sagia gazed into the cauldron once more as it foretold exactly at Arteman had said. She could only grin wickedly...

=======================

Treyos, third-born of Angard, the Great, had finally found a friend. Corr had never been a trustworthy friend. Sorra was a friend who he longed for a deeper connection with but it was uncertain to him. His brothers were not friends. No; the puniest of boys had a surrogate in the smallest of dragons...

"Imp?" he called to his new companion. "Imp!"

A roar was his answer as a lizard-shaped shadow draped its way over him. Treyos glanced up in wide eyed shock at the new development.

Treyos could only take in the newfound sight before him. This was indeed Imp; he still recognized his friend...

"Imp," he tried again, "it's Treyos; your friend."

The threatening roar and the flames had dissipated into a snort and smoke. Then, with a low growl, Imp, the displaced infant of dragons in a magical angry adult facade, settled his head on the ground by Treyos. The youngest and weakest of human boys sighed in relief and even patted his dragon ally's head.

"You were...somehow...misplaced here in the valley without your fellow dragons; I've always felt out of place among my friends and family." Treyos added soothingly.

Imp, now a rather large dragon, stared back at the child.

"Friends!" he huffed in a voice that sounded like a cross between his baby speech and that of a fully grown beast.

Treyos sighed in relief one more time.

"Right; friends." he confirmed. "Let's see what we can do for..."

Suddenly, Treyos's heart leapt in his chest. He knew that reaction; even if he hadn't seen her face yet. No; he simply somehow sensed her nearby arrival.

"Oh no; not Sorra; not here; not now!" Treyos declared to no one.

Meanwhile, Imp raised his head once more and gave as low of a growl as he could.

"Treyos, baby dragon, I...AH!" Sorra screeched as she clamped her hand over her mouth.

"Sorra; no!" Treyos pleaded. "It's...it will be...alright. That is still Imp; the baby. He just...grew like that."

"T-Trey', nothing about this is alright." Sorra insisted. "That is a dragon that we're describing a growth spurt in; not a weed!"

Imp sensed that the young girl was discussing him and he snorted and snarled once more, prompting Sorra to jump into the protection of Treyos's arms.

"Dragon!" another voice suddenly shouted as a familiar shadow joined the proceedings.

"C0rr!" Treyos declared.

"What are you doing here?" Sorra demanded.

Corr put his hands on his hips as armed warriors lined up behind him.

"I was following you." he answered as the assembled warriors flexed their weapons. "...and I'm glad that I did. That dragon's been spooking us all!"

Treyos set Sorra back down to gather behind him along with Imp.

"He has not!" Treyos finally stepped up to the other boy.

Meanwhile, the adult warriors were done listening to any other voice of reason. They gathered their weapons and advanced menacingly...