Narmanath

Woosh, woosh, woosh, the sound of flapping wings whispered into the cold and partly cloudy night. Moonlight that peeked through the clouds, reflected off of tears streaming down silver scales from piercing blue eyes. Narmanath, the Great Defender, was fleeing from his home in the Rising Rocks Mountains. His breaths were labored between sobs of grief, the sounds of the war cries of men, magical explosions, and dying dragons still rang in his mind. His chest ached and his stomach sank. How could they? After everything the good dragons of Tucaro had done for them, how could the people betray them so? The heat of rage filled his heart, the tears stopped and were replaced with fire, he took a sharp turn and began to soar towards the nearest village when he heard. “MAMA! MAMA!” Narmanath stopped and searched for the source of the cry.

A toddler was standing alone in the middle of the forest, tears and snot streamed down his soft face crying out, “MAMA!” Wolves also began to surround the child, they had gotten used to feeding on weak prey such as this. The wolves were ready to pounce when a large form crashed down and covered the child. A loud roar boomed, and a large blanket of ice hailed down on the wolves. With yelps and cries, those not caught in the blast ran off, those caught were left bloody and frozen where they stood. Silver scales shined, and the dragon Narmanath moved over and turned around to face the toddler. It continued to scream and cry, “MAMA!” Narmanath stared at the strange-looking child, it had charcoal gray skin, blazing red eyes, and two small bumps on its forehead. The dragon’s fire had extinguished, and his rage sunk down to make room for compassion and sympathy.

“I see,” said the dragon, “you too were abandoned and betrayed by those you trusted. We are cut from the same cloth, you and I.”

The child continued to wail, Narmanath cocked his head and then nodded, “I understand,” and he walked off into the forest.

A few moments passed and a humanoid creature with piercing blue eyes, pale almost reflective skin, shiny silver hair, and two curling horns on either side of his head approached the child. The toddler stopped screaming, stopped crying, and he sat there staring at the man before him.

The man smiled and crouched in front of the abandoned child, “Much better now huh,” Narmanath reached forward and wiped the tears from the child’s face, the child raised his arms toward Narmanath and the disguised dragon picked up and held the child. They both smiled at each other, the baby put a hand on Narmanath’s face and then smacked him. The dragon winced, and the baby let out a roaring giggle. Narmanath chuckled and said, “A fighter I see. Well then little warrior, I believe it’s time we both found sanctuary.”

Narmanath was trudging across the forest floor, he was sweaty, he was smelly, and he was exhausted. Little Warrior was sleeping in his arms, the child’s chest rising and falling softly with each calm breath.

“You know Warrior,” Narmanath whispered, “I used to have children of my own, barely hatched. Never once did I expect a human child to be more difficult than four baby dragons.” He chuckled to himself, and his heart sank. He thought about his children and how he was too late and stopped walking.

Warrior started to stir and fuss, so Narmanath, the Tired Caretaker, immediately began looking for some kind of fruit to mash up for his child. He found multiple different kinds of berries that he knew were safe, the Valucian Forest always had plenty of fruit to eat. Warrior was crying and screaming, and as soon as the fruit met his tongue, he was silent. “You eat quite a lot, Warrior. I may have to start hunting cattle just to feed you!” Narmanath said with a chuckle.

Warrior finished his last bite and was content and giggling, but then, thunderous steps drowned out the laughter, whole trees snapping and crashing with each stride. Narmanath swept Warrior up into his arms and dashed behind a tree. The steps got closer and closer and closer, and Warrior started to grunt and fuss. Narmanath reacted immediately, bouncing Warrior in a comforting manner, and whispering to him. “Shh! It’s okay, don’t be afraid, I’m here I will keep you safe. ” Warrior’s fussing slowed and quieted. The steps had stopped approaching and were fading. Then, Warrior sneezed, “Wah!” the child’s own sneeze startled him awake and he was screaming once again.

The once fading steps stopped for a moment and then got louder, and louder, and closer, and closer. Narmanath could feel his heart racing, his stomach was knotted, he bounced Warrior up and down trying desperately to calm the child. Then he stopped, and he stood up straight, he was a dragon, and here he was cowering away from a lesser creature. His rage arose once again, the fire returned to his eyes, this rage is different from the one he felt on the night he found Warrior, this rage was not directed towards others but at himself and his cowardice. He determinedly turned the corner around the tree and stared up at the singular eye of a massive cyclops. It sneered at Narmanath and licked its lips. Narmanath stared down the monster and did not budge. The cyclops blinked, then it shook its head and looked closer at the small silver creature in front of it. It shot up and took a large lumbering step back. Narmanath took a step forward, the cyclops stepped back, Narmanath took a step forward, the cyclops stepped back, then Narmanath lunged at the creature. The cyclops stumbled back and tripped. Trees cracked as the colossal creature crashed to the forest floor and a loud popping echoed through the now-open canopy. The cyclops did not move, it didn’t even breathe. Narmanath paused, confused, his aura normally just frightened creatures. He walked around the body and found below the giant’s neck there was a large, jagged, blood-covered rock. His arms were aching, Warrior was not a small child, so Narmanath set Warrior down for a moment and tore some fabric from the giant’s covering. He then wrapped Warrior in the cloth and tied it around his torso. With Warrior suspended off the ground and Narmanath’s hands free, the trek became much easier for the two.

Narmanath’s feet dragged on the forest floor under him. He could barely move, his stomach growled and ached, and his legs shook with each step. His legs began to give out, but he forced himself to continue. He looked down enviously at the sleeping Warrior, the child content and tightly wrapped in the carrier woven from the clothes of a fallen giant. The forest was dark, but his dragon eyes had no issue seeing in the dark. His eyes closed, then opened, his consciousness slipping away from him. Through the brush in front of him, he spotted lamplight, quite a bit of it. Like orange stars shining in the night sky. He trudged his way towards them, each foot feeling like 100-pound weights. He made his way through the brush and spied the source of the lights. A small town sat in a large clearing, the houses were not very fancy or large but seemed cozy enough. Narmanath made his careful approach, his steps were as light as his exhausted body could make them. He entered the town and finally his fatigue caught up with him and he collapsed to his knees.

“Someone get Berthella!” a voice yelled out. Hands lifted Narmanath to his feet accompanied by “Are you okay?” and “Who are you?” and “Is that a child?”

Narmanath raised his head with the energy he had left, the townsfolk surrounded him. They were all varying races, giantkin, dragonkin, dwarves, elves, but they all looked strange. It was a sea of different colors, not natural colors for these races, some of them had vibrantly colored or even reflective hair, some had multicolored skin, and many of them had eyes that nearly glowed even in the dark of the night.

“Alright give the man some space!” yelled a beautiful elven woman. Her hair reflected gold in the moonlight and her eyes were a shimmering golden hue as well. “He has obviously been through quite the ordeal.” She took Narmanath by the hand, “You can all return to your homes, I have it handled! Hello sir, please accompany me back to my abode where you can have a nice long and well-deserved rest.” Narmanath nodded and stepped in line behind the woman as she lightly and confidently strode through the town. The houses and huts were not shabby but they were not extravagant. Her house though was easily the biggest, it was large enough for a medium-sized family at least. When they entered it had some cobbled-together furnishings, and the light of a fire from a fireplace lit the room in orange flickering light. She guided Narmanath to a room and opened the door. It was small with a singular cot.

“Thank you,” Narmanath said.

“You’re welcome, now I can take the child for the night so you can rest fully.” said the woman as she reached for Warrior, Narmanath turned Warrior away from her.

“No, Warrior stays with me.”

“Okay, have a good rest, I’ll give you a tour in the morning.”

The room was dark and Narmanath was truly exhausted, he still laid down gently so as not to wake up Warrior and promptly passed out.

He opened his eyes and no longer felt the weight of Warrior on his chest. He shot out of bed, sprinted out of the door, and stomped down the stairs. When he heard, “Yes you love these mashed peas don’t you young one?” he flew into the room to see the beautiful woman feeding Warrior a mashed pile of green glop.

“Oh good morning!” she said with a bright smile, “This kid can really eat!”

“Oh, yes he can, it really gave me trouble trying to feed him out in the wilderness,” Narmanath responded.

“I hope I didn’t scare you, I heard him crying and you were so exhausted you must not have heard him.”

“Oh well, then I am very appreciative, he means the world to me.”

“I can imagine.”

After they all finished their meals they moved out onto the tour of the town.

“First things first, my name is Berthella,’ the woman said, “Berthella Gorithnia, I am somewhat of a mayor here. What is your name?”

“I am,” Narmanath thought for a moment and looked down at Warrior in his arms, “Grant, Grant Narmanath.”

“Well Grant, and I believe you said Warrior? Welcome to Fristuario.”

They walked through the town, there was a carpenter, a cobbler, a smithy, and other necessary things to keep a village up and running. They walked across the entire village and finally happened upon two small huts. The trio approached one of the huts, and Berthella opened the door.

“This is your new home,” she said, “That is if you choose to stay here.”

Narmanath is taken aback for a moment and hesitates to respond.

“I would assume that you are just like the rest of the people here. Ran out of where you were initially because of your's and your son’s looks. Every person here was an outcast and persecuted by their own communities, their own families, and their own lovers. You and Warrior fit right in here.”

“Thank you,” said Narmanath the Thankful Guest, “for your hospitality.”

“You are very welcome, also, you have a neighbor, her name is Ellie, she should be over in a minute to help you get settled in.”

Narmanath sets Warrior in a nearby high chair that had been set up, the hut was small, there is a table with two chairs and a highchair, a small couch with a side table, and one other door. Where a single bed and a crib were placed.

Two knocks popped on the door, “Hello?” a pretty woman with dark hair and piercing purple eyes stood in the doorway, “I was asked to help you get settled in?”

“Oh, you must be Ellie,” said Narmanath, while he shook Ellie’s hand.

“Yes, and your name is?”

“Grant, Grant Narmanath.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Grant!” Her eyes lit up and she stepped over to Warrior who was slapping the tray on the high chair, “and who is this handsome little guy?”

“His name is Warrior.”

Warrior reached towards Ellie, “May I?” she asked.

“Go ahead,” Narmanath said reluctantly.

She lifts Warrior up onto her hip, “Warrior? Not much of a name, it’s more like a title isn’t it?”

“Well, the boy’s quite the fighter even at this young.” Narmanath was mildly irritated with her remark regarding Warrior’s name.

“How about Krieg?” she suggested.

“Krieg?”

“Yes, short for Kreiger. In my native tongue, Krieger is the word for warrior.”

Narmanath felt uneasy at changing his name, but liked the sound of Krieg, “Krieg.”

Ellie helped Narmanath and Krieg get the food they needed and other things like utensils and washbasins.

“So what brings you two to Fristuario?” Ellie asked while they were shopping.

Narmanath gulped and sweated for a moment, explosions sounded out, and dying roars rang in his mind, he shook his head and responded “Well, I was run out of my home by people that I trusted, and while I was running I found Krieg in the forest. He was going to be attacked by some wolves so I grabbed him and ran.”

“I see, I’m sorry. I was also chased away from my home, I lost my family during the chase, they might be out there somewhere though. At least I hope they are.”

“I understand,” Narmanath thought about his own family, “I hope they are too.”

The two shared a smile and continued about their day.

“Thank you again for all your help Ellie,” said Narmanath

“Of course! I know how hard it can be to move into a new town without knowing a single soul. I did it myself.” She said with a chuckle, “If I didn’t have anyone to help me I would have been clueless for months!”

They entered the hut with hands full of necessities and put them in their proper places.

“Well, I hope you both get settled in nicely,” she bent down to be eye to eye with Krieg, “I hope you have a wonderful childhood here young one!”

Narmanath smiled warmly at Ellie and the giggling Krieg. “Thank you again, I really appreciate the help!” he said.

“Anytime!” she returned his smile, “and if you ever need anything, I am right next door!”

Ellie shut the door as she left, and now Narmanath the Grateful Newcomer remained in the hut with Krieg.

“A whole town full of people that were scorned by the people they cared about.” Krieg waddled around the house as Narmanath spoke. “It’s a blessing, we have a place to live, with people like us. Well,” he walks over and picks up Krieg, “People like you. I’m a bit of a different case.” He took a seat with Krieg in his arms. Krieg is wriggling and writhing, obviously wanting to explore his new environment. Narmanath set him on the ground again. “If there are this many outcast people here, then there must be more all over the continent then.” Krieg was not listening and was busy opening the drawer where Narmanath just put the new knives. Narmanath removed the knife from his grasp and carefully placed it back in the drawer. “Maybe I can help out those other outcasts. Find some of them, bring them here?” He found Krieg rummaging through another drawer and lifted the child into the air before he could find something else dangerous. “You certainly like to cause trouble don’t you?” Narmanath thought for a moment and decided it was time for him and Krieg to have a rest for the night.

Narmanath walked over to Ellie’s hut the next morning, “Good Morning Ellie I hope I didn’t wake you.” Narmanath said with a smile.

“Oh not at all, I wake up early most days anyways.” She replied with an upbeat tone.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Oh, well go ahead.”

“Would you be willing to watch Krieg for seven days?” Narmanath sweated, and his heart beat so hard in his chest that he was surprised Ellie couldn’t hear it.

“Oh, well absolutely!”

“I hope I’m not asking too much of you.”

“Not at all! I’m happy to look after this little one! He’s so precious!”

“Thank you so much! I hope He isn’t too much trouble for you. He certainly likes to get into things he isn’t supposed to.”

“Well most children do, they like to explore and try new things. Do you mind if I ask where you’re going?”

“Well, Krieg and I were talking about how all of these people here were outcasts and needed a place to stay. So, I, uh, we figured it would be good to go find people like us, like you, and to bring them here.”

“That is very noble of you.”

“Thank you, I hope to be back within seven days.”

“Well if you aren’t back by then I’m happy to continue looking after him!”

“Don’t worry I’ll be back.”

Narmanath the Noble Rescuer took a single day to hike far away from the town where he could transform secretly. Though he waited and slept until the cover of night, then he took flight. Narmanath had almost forgotten what his dragon form felt like, like a glove that was just the right size, or a warm hug from a friend not seen in a very long time. It was warm and welcoming. The air rushed across his scaled face. This freedom is something he had not felt in many days. Then he saw them, a large group of people running with torches and spears, and one singular form sprinting away from them.

Huffing, and puffing through an open field, a slender young half-dragon was running towards the Valucian forest, with a whole mob of people right on her tail. Her legs were aching, and her lungs were burning, she was about to fall and just accept her fate. She fell to her knees, the stomping sounds of angry boots drew closer and closer. Screams of hatred and prejudice filled her ears and she began to sob. She was about to die, she was alone, scared, and about to die. The light of torches crested the hill behind her, she continued to sob, and the yells became more distinct, “Dirty dragon blood!”

“Scaled monster!”

“Die!”

A blast of cold air rushed over her body, she shivered and looked behind her, a wall of ice had appeared behind her. She was confused, her heart was still racing, when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Please come with me, that ice wall will not last forever.”

The girl looked up into the piercing blue eyes of a pale-skinned, silver-haired man with horns.

“Please just come along before they find a way around!”

She took the man’s hand and he ran her to the edge of the forest. They kept running for what felt like hours until the man slowed and stopped.

“We’ll make camp here.”

They started to set up tents and a fire pit and the man cooked a meal of small animals he caught.

“My name is Grant, Grant Narmanath, what is your name?” said the man

The girl looked at him, swallowed what she had in her mouth, and said, “My name is Forang, Forang Hildorad.”

“Well Forang, it is lovely to meet you, I won’t ask you too many questions, I’m sure things must be hard.”

Forang didn’t answer, she just kept eating.

“I am going to head out again, to find more people like you, like us. I will return, there are enough dry rations and firewood to last a week for many people, please only use enough for yourself.”

Narmanath rose and walked out further into the woods, Forang didn’t say anything else and just finished her meal. Over the next few days, Grant Narmanath brought back 4 more people, one adult, two adolescents, and one child. Each one looked vastly different from their respective races, a dwarven man with pointed ears like an elf, a gnome with tusks, a human with pearlescent hair, and another half-dragon. Grant guided them through the Valucian forest to the town.

The townsfolk all rushed to see Grant’s return. Questions were fired at Narmanath from all directions mostly about the children.

“Alright give the man some space!” Berthella approached, waving the crowd away from the colorful troop, “This is certainly a familiar sight! Are you planning on doing this often, Grant?”

“Potentially, if this many people continue to need sanctuary,” he said with a smile.

“Well, then I guess we need to get started expanding then!” She turned around to give orders when a hand came to rest on her shoulder.

“Actually, I wanted to speak with you about that. As you can see most of the people I recovered were children.”

“And?”

Narmanath smiled.

“Goodmorning Grant!” called out a man with horns on his head.

“Goodmorning!” Narmanath replied.

“Goodmorning Krieg!” called out a woman with a snake tongue.

“Goodmorning!” Krieg said.

The two, horned individuals were walking down the street of the now expanding town, with twice as many houses. Krieg walked completely on his own, only using Narmanath’s hand as a guide to their destination. Good mornings and hellos were traded throughout their path until they arrived at a large house that occupied the space where two huts once stood.

“Goodmorning Grant!” a pretty woman with dark hair and piercing purple eyes greeted Narmanath from the playground outside. Children of all ages ran around yelling and playing.

“Goodmorning Ellie!” Narmanath greeted her with a smile and a kiss on the cheek.

“You’ll never guess who’s volunteering for us today!”

“I’m sure I have a good idea as to who you might be referring.”

“Hey! Stop running in the halls! You’re going to hurt yourselves!” A taller slender half-dragon woman yelled at a group of three children. She ran up to Narmanath and greeted him with a hug. “Goodmorning Grant,” Forang said

“Goodmorning Forang, are the kids giving you trouble today?”

“Always, but these kids are so good and so much fun!”

“I’m glad to hear that, and how are things over in Berthella’s?”

“Still amazing! She’s been a little stressed as of late finding enough people to work the gardens and fields to feed the town, but otherwise absolutely amazing.”

“I’m so glad we could find you a true home here.”

“Well, you know this place will always be my first home.”

“Thank you Forang, you should probably get to watching these kids, I don't want to take away your time with them more than I already have.”

Forang nodded and walked back into the house. Narmanath picked up Krieg, put his arm around Ellie, and walked into the house. Night fell, and all the kids were tucked into their bunks. Ellie and Narmanath returned to their room on the top floor of the orphanage and turned in for the night. Narmanath closed his eyes, and sighed, he was full, he was content, and he was proud. Once the Great Defender, he now went to sleep the Proud Father.