The Encounter

The festival in the elven town of Floradell was in full swing. The music hung in the air and the sounds of laughter and wonder of the townfolk could be heard through the large clearing north of the town of trees. While the adults mingled and shared tall tales and watched competions of archery and acrobatics, the chidren played in a section that was set up just for them, playing tag and capture the flag.

A few of the older children were in a group talking about what game they could play next. After a bit of chin wagging, one of boys snapped his fingers and looked like he had an idea.

'I have it!' exclaimed Fierldas. 'Lets play seek the lost.'

A few murmered, then after a bit of low talking they all looked at Fierldas and nodded.

'So what would be the stipulations then?' asked Miurynne, a girl with flowing red hair and green eyes.

'Well. . . .we can't go to far, but to the north of this clearing the woods are thick enough with good places to hide. Draw straws to see who is the 'seeker' and the rest have a count of one hundred to hide and become the 'lost'. You cannot hide with someone else. . .and you cannot climb the trees.' Fierldas taps his chin. 'Hmmm. . .one other rule. You cannot go more than one thousand paces out lest you get really lost. I don't think that will bode well with our parents if we truly get lost.'

A younger voice sounds outside of the circle of older children. It was Mathoras. Only six, still considered a toddler in elven years, he had shown great skills even though he was reall young.

'May I play too. Pleeeeease.' He looked anxious as he tugged on Fierldas' tunic. 'Please???'

Fierldas thinks about it then says 'I dont know Matty. You may be too little to play, especially since we are going into the woods. What would you do if you really got lost and came face to face with one of the denizens of the forest?' He knew the sounds of the festival would keep most of the animals away but he didnt want to let Mathoras know that. He also knew that he was one of the few that could speak with the animals. Ony a scant few of every generation had the gift. Nevertheless he still tried to dissuade the young one from the game.

'I just think it is to dangerous. You are too young and little and could be eaten in one bite. I have to say not this time little brother.'

'Oh come on,' huffed Cherynne, sister of Miurynne. She had the same green eyes of her sister, but had a long shock of platinum hair. 'You know he can handle himself better than some of us older children.' She crosses her arms and scowls. 'You know better Fierldas!!' The rest of the group nods in agreement, putting in their vote for Mathoras.

Fierldas looks down at his little brother and sees a tear squeezing out of the corner of one eye as he says 'Please big brother. I want to play.'

He sighs, defeated . 'Oh alright. You can play. Go get a handful of straws so we can draw to see who gets to be the 'seeker'.'

'Yay!!' Mathoras scampers off to go find some straw. As he does Fierldas says to Cherynne. 'I need to rig the straws so Matty picks the long one. He is less likely to get lost if he is seeker.'

'Aye, you are right. At least we would have some sort of control of him not getting lost.' She looks and sees Matty coming back. 'Here he comes. That was quick.'

A little winded he goes up to his big brother. 'Here is your handful of straw. Can I draw first?'

'Hold on. Let me shake off the dust and get them a little organized.' Fierldas slips one straw out of the bunch then takes a small knife out and trims the group to the same length. He then trims the last straw to be a little longer, gathering them all together in one fist. He covertly puts the longer one on the edge because he knew his little brother always picked things from the front. 'Gather round. Matty wants the first draw. There is just enough straws for everyone so make sure you only pick one.' He bends down slightly and holds the bunch out to his eager brother. 'Go on Matty. Choose.'

Mathoras taps his lips with a forefinger brooding about which one to choose. After a bit he reaches in and touches the long straw that his big brother covertly placed in the front. He then wrinkes his nose. 'Nah. I think I'll pick one in the middle instead.'

Fierldas' shoulders slump slightly as one by one the others draw straws knowing this game might go awry. The last straw was a short one, so he was going to be one of the lost. 'Damn! That went wrong.' he thinks to himself. He looks around at the group as they all compare straws to see who drew the long one.

Kyrenic, a tall lanky boy is the one who exclaims 'I have it. I have the long straw!'

One of the others mumbles 'Oh great. He would have to get it. Now we will all stay lost!'

'Stow it Destruin!' Miurynne growls. 'That is not funny!'

Looking sheepish, Destruin visibly slumps 'Sorry. I was out of line.'

'Yes you were!'

'Alright everyone thats enough.' Fierldas looks at his brother. 'Are you ready Matty?' He nods at his brother.

'Aye. I am ready.'

'Go to the central tree Destruin and begin the count. Does everyone else remember the rules?' The rest nod that they did. 'Right. May the lost hide well. The ones that are not found are proclaimed winners. The rest that are found will help in the food kitchen cleaning up when the festival ends.' He points to the woodline and says 'If you are not found by the time the sun almost skirts the horizon, please make your way back so you are not in the woods after dark. GO!!!'

Everyone makes a beeline into the woods, disappearing as only elves can as Destruin counts.

*******************

Over the next few hours after Destruin finished his count, he entered the woods and meticulously hunted through trees and underbrush. He did fairy well as he found eight of the twelve pretty quicky. He glanced to the west to see where the sun was, and knew time grew short. He still had yet to find Fierldas (who incedentally was the best 'lost' player) the sisters, and Mathoras. He was rapidly running out of time.

He found Cherynne hiding between a boulder and a thick mat of brush. 'You are found Cherie. Sorry.' She gives a humph and makes her way back to the festival ground.

He thinks to himself that time is amost gone and sees the sun touching the horizon. As he does he hears a blast from a horn the Fierldas's voice filtering through the trees.

"Time is up. Return, return the rest that are lost.' The horn blast with the same message sunds twice more so Destruin turns and mkes his way to follow in the direction Cherynne went.

Not long after Destruin joined the lost that had been found, they all dispersed to find their parents as the evening feast was scheduled to happen as the sun disappeared from sight. Fierldas and Miurynne came out of the woods and struck off to find their own parents. None had stuck around to see if everyone was present and accounted for.

*************

Mathoras was in the woods as the sun dipped to the horizon. He had heard Fierldas blow the horn and shout that it was time for the game to end, but it was really faint and he could not recognize which direction it came from.

'Oh no. I am in trouble.' The only thing he could think of was that his parents would punish him. Most likely he would have to clean up with the lost ones that had been found. Not to mention grounding from everything. But he remembered father teaching him that if you ever get lost and others of your party are near, just stay where you are. An elf will never leave another elf behind.

He took a small stone out of his tunic and rubbed it a few times. This stone was a sunstone. It had magic in it that when activated would shine and throw some warmth Many elves carried them so as not to have to create a fire in the forest effectively protecting it. He found a small patch where he gathered leaves and creep moss to make a mat so he could be comfortable. Placing the sunstone at the edge he sat down and readies himself to wait. He went back into his pocket and drew out a small trinket in the shape of a dragon. His grandfather had given it to him just last year and told him that long ago dragons and elves lived in alliance with each other. It had been many moons since any dragons had visited them, but if you were vigilant, you would occasionally see them flying in the distance.

He hoped his brother and friends would find him quickly because he was getting hungry and had forgotten to eat earlier in the day. After a bit he stated to doze. He was sound asleep a few minutes later, tightly gripping his dragon.

Deeper in the forest the night insects went quiet. Seven sets of eyes appeared as the rising moon struck them, glowing bright yesllow.

************

'Where is your little brother Fieldras?' His mother looked very concerned and worried.

'What? He did not come back from our game? I thought for sure he would be one of the first lost found.'

'And you did not think of doing a check to see if everyone had made it back?'

Stuttering, he said 'N. .n. . .no. I thought the ones who had been found aready had done that.' He gave his mother a bewildered look. 'I'm sorry mumma. What have I done?'

Typhonas, father of the brothers comes over, hearing his wives' frantic voice. "What is this? your brother is missing?'

'Matty must still be in the woods. I thought he would have been back early.'

'You, son, should have known better.' Typhonas takes his sons horn which was still slung on his shoulder and sounded three long blasts, signifying an emergency, calling the designated scouts of the clan to come. Once they have assembled he apprizes them of the situation that his youngest son was lost in the woods. 'Take bow and sling. The woods are very dark in the north. We must make haste lest any harm happens to Matty.'

The party leaves as Typhonas retrieves his bow from the range where the archery competition had been held. 'I want to go too father. I want to help find him.'

'Have you done enough already son? Or should I say 'not done'?' He shakes his head. 'Nay, you stay here so your mother doesn't go buggers. That is what you need to do right now.' He then follows the scouts, vanishing into the night.

Fieldras whispers '~I'm sorry father.~

**********************

Mathoras jolts awake, not knowing how long he had been sleeping. The dew had condensed on the moss, so it had to be a while. He looked up and scanned the sky, seeing a dim brightness where he suspected east was. The sunstone had long went out, so he picked it up, rubbing it profusely to reactivate it as he had a sight chill. Before it got to full shine he felt a presense behind him. . . .a big one.

A low booming voice sounded from behind sending a shiver to his soul. 'What are you doing here in the wee hours of the night all alone little one?' Matty turns slowly and sees a massive head of a dragon melt out of the shadows, the light from the sunstone dancing in his eyes.

'Uh.. . .oi. . . .*koff*. . . I got lost playing a game with my mates and couldn't find my way out of the forest before the sun went to sleep.' Matty cowers from the dragon nearly wetting himself. 'Y. .y. .you aren't going to eat me are you?'

The dragon laughs softly, sounding like a dog barking. 'Now why would I eat you? There is nothing to you.' He grins and says 'Nay. I will not be eating you. But I will stay with you until the sun lights the land again, Or someone comes to find you.' He comes closer and sits on his haunches. 'So your mates just left you here? That is not very honoable.'

'Nay. I went further than our game rules allowed. I didn't want to be one of the lost that the seeker found. I was trying to win. It is my fault.'

'Hmmmm. That may be so, but they should have made sure you had come back. That was very unattentive on their parts.' The dragon sighs. 'My name is Glycereen.'

'Mathoras. Pleased to meet you. I think.'

Glycereen chuckles. 'Do not fear me. I will let no harm come to you.'

'So what are you doing here sir dragon?'

'Ah. No need for formalities. Call me. . Glyke. If it is easier.' He looks around scanning the woods outside of the sunstones reach. 'These are my woods. The dragons have all been very close to your clan. We are always watching.'

'So why do you never come down and see us if you are so close?'

'Well now Many moons ago our tribe was banished from the elven city after a long time living in harmony. It was the elder elf king Pontentys that banished us and decreed we never return. I suspect he did not like sharing his regency with the dragons, even though we had never aspired to rule.'

'But Pontentys passed when my father was younger. My father is the leader of our clan now.' Matty gets a pensive look on his face. 'I wonder why he has never spoken of this? Only my grandfather has spoken to me in length about the dragons, but not of this. Oh. . . .' He feels in the moss for his trinket, finds it and shows it to Glycereen. 'He gave me this. Said it was very important.'

Glycereen looks at the trinket, then he recoils a little in surprise. 'Well now. That is interesting. You have no idea what you hold do you little one?'

'Nay. I do not. What is it?'

'It is a bauble from a pendant of the Dragon Riders. One who holds it is bound to a dragon for life as his cohort. They were inseperable except by death.'

'Wow.' Matty processes this thought for a second 'Wait.. . . Does tha mean my grandfather was a Rider? He never told me.'

'A Rider passes his pendant to his son unless there is a second generation alive. That would be you.' Glycereen scans the woods agin more attentively. 'What is our grandfathers name'

'Bytaryss.'

'Aye. He was a Rider. He paired with my brother Maelstreen. He was slain in the war against the orcs before your father was born,'

'Does that mean I am a Rider too?'

'That depends on if we are needed again. But you would have to find one that would accept you.'

'Oh.'

Suddenly Glycereen sounds a low growl. 'Stow your sunstone. There is something out there. We may be in danger.'

Matty shoves the stone deep into his tunic. It takes a few minutes, but his vision adjusts quickly to the diminished light but he sees the forest lit up just enough for the trees to throw shadow.The sky was starting to lighten a little more to the east which meant sunbreak would be soon. But to the west is where he noticed Glycereen looking. He looked as well and saw a number of shapes shifting and advancing torwards them.

'Get down little one. We are being suffered by a pack of wolves!!!'

Matty got down and behind Glycereen but not before he saw the first wolf crash through the underbrush, fangs bared.

******************

'Come on. I think I saw the light from a sunstone just ahead men.' Typhonas whispers to the five scouts with him. 'Bows at the ready. . . .'

As they advanced closer they all saw the statuesque form of a dragon. Typhonas scanned around and saw Matty crouched behind it looking very scared.

'What the?' Typhonas screamed 'Matty!!!!! Get out of there!!!'

Typhonas gave the order to fire, and six arrows blistered straight for the dragon. The dragon saw the missiles and turned, spreading his wings over Matty as if to protect him. Then all hell broke loose.

The wolves bounded out from deep in the woods and circled the dragon. . one close enough to sink its teeth into his tail.

Typhonas watched as the dragon seemed to close his wings tighter around Matty. It was then he knew that the dragon was protecting him.

'Holy! The damned dragon is protecting my son!' He shouted at his scouts to reload and fire at the wolves that had started to tear and bite into the dragons hide.

Two wolves got struck with fatal shots, and the remaining ones turned to face the elves to attack the new threat. They all advanced torwards the elves at brisk trot, forgetting about the dragon.

Glycereen watches out of the corner of his eye as two wolves are downed by the silent but deady missiles vollied from the approaching elves. He stands to full height and spits 'Vermin!' and takes a deep breath. As he expels his breath a thin stream of fire streaks torwards the wolves, each of them getting their pelts singed, but not totally immolating them. The remaining five wolves dash yipping in pain back into the forest, their hides spewing fireflies of sparks into the night.

Matty touches some of the gashes on Glycereens hide. 'You did not slay them. Why?'

'Because little one. You cannot blame nature for acting like nature. You cannot condone slaying a being for doing something instinct tells them to do. However. . . .' He turns, a tear in the corner of his eye, 'Men and ones who are closely related do not have that instinct. Theirs is greed, ego, and malevolence . . .all ingredients that create war. This is what the dragons and the elves strive to avoid.'

'Grandfather told me that there is harmony between flora and fauna and it aligns the good energy in the world.'

'That is correct.'

Typhonas and the scouts walk up eyeing the dragon with wary eyes, the scent of burning fur still hanging in the air.

'Do not fear. I mean you no harm.' Glycereen nudges Matty to his father. 'I know of you Typhonas. And I know your father as well. He was close with my brother.'

'Glycereen? You were just but a fledgeling drake the last time I saw you.'

'Aye. It has been quite some time.' He places one of his claws on Mattys shoulder. 'You have a great son here Typhonas. He is wise beyond his years. And I sense great strength in him as well. You should be very proud of him.'

'Aye, I am.'

'Take him home, sir elf. Teach him well. And the old ways. He will have great use for them.'

Typhonas nods, then goes over to the two slain wolves to say elven prayers of departing for them.

'Will I see you again Glycereen?' Matty asks.

"Aye. I do believe you will.' He winks. 'And to you it is Glyke.'

'Ok. Glyke.' He beams a smile from ear to ear knowing he just made a new friend.

'In your day of greatest need, I will be there Mathoras.'

'To you it is Matty.'

They both grin at each other as Glycereen turns and launches himself into the brightening morning sky.

And they would meet in the very near future.

But that... . .. . .is another story.