FSE

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It felt as if he were flying though jello, as if the air had taken on a thick consistency. He struggled against it trying to get through to the other side, even though he had no idea where he was going or why. He only knew that he must go, he must make it past, he had to get through. He struggled, writhing, trying to to cry out for help but his voice failed him; he couldn't muster the slightest breath with which to cry.He pulled harder against the blackness, struggled to find light. He thought he heard someone whisper his name and he wanted to respond but speech was again denied him. He threw back his head and howled a silent, frustrated, howl.

From out of the darkness a hand reached for him, grasping at him. He squealed, he thought he squealed, and tried to escape. Too late, it held him fast. He thrashed, struggled to get away and a voice said. "Ryan? Ryan, it's okay, it's your mother. Hush Ryan, you're safe."

Everything faded with the roar of awakening in his ears. "Mother?" he mumbled.

"I'm here, Ryan. You're safe," she said as she rubbed his wing joints. She was rather good at it, he reflected muzzily, but then she had had a lot of practice.

"Tired," he mumbled.

"I know love, but that will pass. I have some coco on the stove for you and cinnamon to add to it."

"I like cinnamon," he said as he struggled to get to his feet, looking around the cabin blearily.

"I know you do," she said as she pet him fondly. "Easy now; take it slow." She reached out to steady him, petting him gently as she guided him to his feet. Ryan took a hesitant step forward and she reached out a hand again to steady him. Ryan carefully refolded his wings to his back and took a few more experimental steps forward, his mother close by the whole way, ready to catch him should he fall. She smiled down at him and stroked his head, petting him, and he pushed his head into the petting in a way that he knew she loved, trilling in contentment.

There was a knock on the door and she quickly covered him up with a blanket, hushing him. He drew back, frightened by her actions, but it was only his father. He walked in and set a grocery sack down on the table and Ryan crawled out of the blanket, looking at him sidelong, wondering if he were in trouble.

His father turned and smiled. "Hello Ryan. I brought you some crumb donuts and chocolate milk to go with your coco!"

Ryan's ears perked. "Thank you father!

"You're welcome!"

Ryan took another step and staggered. "Do you need me to carry you?" his mother asked.

Ryan looked down, feeling embarrassed. A dragons pride could be a touchy thing and his was wounded to the core by the though of needing to be carried. After a moment he lifted his arms to her and she knelt down to him, arms open. He crawled into her arms like he had done countless times before and rested his head on her shoulder. She pet him as she carried him over to the table and then let him climb down on it with a kiss on his forehead.

Ryan watched as she poured the coco from the pan into a bowl thrumming in anticipation as the steam curled up from it, wisping away into the air. She tapped some cinnamon into it and he darted his tongue out involuntarily at the wonderful smell. He started to drink and then drew back hesitantly. His mother didn't like it when he would drink from a bowl, lapping "like a dog" she would say. He looked at her uncertainly and she placed a hand on his neck.

"Go ahead Ryan; you're fine."

The little dragon lapped up the coco, thrumming in pleasure, his tongue darting out and drawing the coco up with it. They used to worry that he would choke if the thrummed and ate at the same time, but whatever mechanism allows him to thrum was seemingly disconnected from eating.

"Here, Ryan," his father said, handing him a large crumb donut. Ryan reached out and took it in both foreclaws; it was too large to hold in just one. He considered the donut for a moment, head cocked, and then took a bite out of it, eyes closed as he chewed, thrumming happily. His mother laugh softly at the sight of such a small dragon with such a large donut and he glared at her.

After he finished eating he licked his talons clean as his parents sat down to their own breakfast. He finished and jumped to the bed, spreading his wings slightly for added lift. His mother looked up and smiled, admiring his grace and he chirped softly at her. He settled himself down and started to preen himself. Ryan had the instinctive drive to groom himself from time to time, his mother called it preening and the first time she had seen him do it she forced him to take a bath and tried to keep him from doing it again. They discovered it frustrated him to no end to try to stop him so she enforced frequent baths and showers. It wasn't like he was picking up much dirt.

"Do you need a bath?" she asked.

"No mother, just felt the need to preen," he said and she nodded and went back to eating.

He finished preening and watched his parents eat, wondering about what happened last night. It was such a blur. He remembered refusing to take the medication and trying to get out the door, marking the rock and his father dragging him back inside, but that was all. He was absolutely certain that this had to be about sex in some way, it had to be with the way his mother said he was just getting older and more mature. He wanted to ask them more but he wasn't sure her really wanted to know. Sometimes, being a dragon was just too much trouble with all the instincts and drives that went along with it. Something odd was always happening to him, the stress of having to keep his father happy, to keep hidden, and to stay in control. His parents probably even worried about his dragon parents showing up and taking him away or some other dragon finding him.

He jerked his head up, startled at the thought. Another dragon. There had been another dragon here last night.

A female dragon.

His father looked over at him questioningly and Ryan swallowed hard, looking down. He had to ask; he had to know. "Father, was there another dragon here last night?"

His father sat down his cup of coffee and looked down at his plate, and Ryan was certain he was going to get yelled at, but his father only said, "Why do you ask?"

"I- I heard you talking to someone last night, telling them to get out, to get away from me. I..." Ryan trailed off. "Father, I swear there was another dragon! She-- she touched me, she petted me. I tried to open my eyes all the but I was so very tired and I could not all the way, but I saw her! I swear that I saw her! She had wings..." He trailed off again, looking uncertain.

His father was quiet a moment. "Ryan, I know that you're lonely sometimes. I know that you want to see other dragons and that with... what you're going through you're being driven to find other dragons. The medication that you have to take also makes you drowsy and makes you see things.

"You need to take all that into consideration. You have to consider that because you want those things so very much that your mind will play tricks on you, like seeing another dragon or imaging having a conversation with one."

He leaned forward and looked at Ryan earnestly. "I'm sure all you saw was your mother there in her bathrobe. She was quite worried about you and stood there for a long time, just watching over you and petting you. As for what you heard it was probably just a dream Ryan, just a dream."

Ryan looked at him and then over at his mother. She kept her eyes locked on her plate and refused to look at him. He looked back to his father who smiled at him and Ryan swore that there was something behind his gaze. "Father I..."

"Ryan, please, I know how lonely you must get sometimes, how badly you want to see other dragons but--"

"You do not know!" Ryan burst out. "You have no idea what it is like at all, father!"

His father jerked back in surprise and Ryan drew himself up. His father shook his head and sighed. "Ryan... you're right I probably don't fully understand. I do have empathy and I have been lonely before, Ryan. Please understand that we love you, no matter what."

Ryan sat back and curled his tail around his legs. "I know, father."

They were quiet a short time. "So you know what it was all just a dream?" his father asked, "you're okay now?"

Ryan shook his head, a human gesture really, he thought, "No father, I do not know. There was another dragon here; I swear there was!"

"Ryan, there are no other dragons."

"What about my parents?" Ryan said, head snapping up. "You said you knew them. There are other dragons, there must be!"

"Well, yes there are your parents," Allen said, glaring at Beth. "But we don't know where they are and we don't know that there are any other dragons other than them."

Ryan lashed his tail. "There has to be. That man at the restaurant was probably a dragon and there was that female here last night. There are other dragons and you do not wish me to know about them!"

"Ryan we'll discuss this later," his father said firmly.

Anger swelled up in Ryan's heart, blowing off like a geyser of hot steam, erupting from some place that he didn't even knew existed, as if the dragon inside him and burst loose. "No! We will discuss it now!"

Ryan's father stepped back in surprise. "Ryan you had best stop that this instant. That is quite enough!"

"It is not enough!" Ryan practically roared, rattling the window of the cabin, his whole body going rigid in anger. "You wish for me to be ignorant of other dragons, to be kept from them! You told the female that there were other dragons and my parents said to keep me away!"

"I did not say that! You dreamt it!"

"You are lying!" Ryan roared in near full voice, causing them to put their hands over their ears. "You lied to me! You lied to me about my parents, you lied about other dragons and you're lying to me about the female that was here last night! Who knows what else you have lied to me about!" Ryan lashed his tail and started to pace, growling. "I wish to know the truth," he said in a low voice. "Why did my parents abandon me?"

"Keep your voice down!"

"No! I wish to know the truth!"

Allen took a step towards Ryan, hand raised, and Ryan reared back on his hind legs, clawing at the air in front of him, snarling angrily. He dropped down to all fours and let loose a threatening hiss. His father froze for a moment and then staggered back onto the bed, eyes wide with fear. His mother stood and fell back on the bed, reaching over to her husband, eyes locked on Ryan. The angry dragon took a step forward and hissed again, scenting the air, and his mother cried out in fear, clutching his father.

The scent of their fear crashed into like an icy cold wave. They were terrified.

Terrified of him.

Ryan folded his wings and dropped to his belly, trilling in distress. He started to keen quietly, shaking his head, trembling all over. His thoughts whirled around in his head, an emotional hurricane, a blizzard of confusion. He had hissed! He had hissed at his own parents! He was never to hiss at anyone; it was one of the big rules. He had only hissed at his parents once when he was younger and got into such severe trouble that he had never forgotten the incident. He knew better than to hiss; he knew much better.

His father closed his eyes, shaking off the dragon freeze. The only sounds were of birds chirping outside, the susurration of the air through the trees, and the soft keening of a terrified young dragon.

"Ryan?" his father said, his voice raspy.

"F-father!" Ryan said, getting to his feet. "Forgive me, please! I did not meant to hiss, I did not! Please I--"

"It's okay Ryan," his father said softly. "You're not in trouble."

"But I hissed..." Ryan said, looking confused.

"I know Ryan. You were angry. I understand," his father said, his voice still shaky. He very carefully sat up to avoid further upsetting his son and opened his arms to him. "Come here Ryan. You're not in trouble. Come here son."

Ryan took a hesitant step forward, his tongue flickering out in nervousness. He took a few more tentative steps, tasting the air the whole way. His father shifted slightly and Ryan jerked, taking few steps back, whimpering, trilling in distress, his head held low, tail curled behind him, his whole posture and body language shouting fear and uncertainty. His father just smiled and held his arms out again, making no moves that would further startle the dragon.

They had learned long ago that it was best to let Ryan decide how fast and when to approach when he became "spooked" as his mother called it. Any attempt to grab him or hurry him would only result in his flight or fight instinct coming to the fore or in him submitting. It was hard to see him when he was like this, the way he would keep his head down and approach quietly, trembling, as if in fear of being struck. Any movement would cause the little dragon to flinch back.

His father continued to hold his arms top to him. He glanced over at Beth and she had tears sliding down her checks, the desire to pick Ryan up and hold him clearly written on her face. Ryan hesitated and took several steps forward and then made the leap across to the other bed, then stopped, looking at his father side long.

"You're fine, Ryan, just fine," he said softly. "Come along, dragon."

There was something about that phrase, those words, that seemed make Ryan start to follow before he knew what has happening. Ryan crept forward, just out of reach, and flicked his tongue out. He lowered his head, trembling, to be pet. His father carefully reached out and stroked the little dragon's head, trying to flinch back himself as Ryan cried out. Ryan sat back, holding his arms out and Allen pulled him to his chest, petting him, murmuring reassuringly. Ryan trilled in relief as both of his parents began to pet him, soothing him, reassuring him.

He resolved to say nothing more about the dragons or other dragons. His father was right; he had just been seeing things.

Or that's what he told himself.

If church the previous day went to slowly the morning and afternoon before he went to see Tanner moved like a snail crawling through molasses. In winter. He was impatient as he could be and it showed as he and his parents went on a guided tour of the flora and fauna of the area. "Ryan, would you be still? You're bouncing around like a nervous jackrabbit!" his mother said, finally exasperated at his fidgeting.

"I am so very sorry mother," he said, still wishing they would hurry up. He didn't care much about the habits of the orange and yellow thrice banded king sapsucker or whatever it was the guide was going on about in an all too enthusiastic manner.

"Just calm down; you'd think you had some place to be! And watch your language," she said the last under her breath with a stern look. Ryan nearly started but quickly schooled his features into a more contrite expression.

The tour finally came to an end and they went back to their cabin to eat lunch. "Ryan! Stop wolfing down your food!" his mother exclaimed.

"Sorry," he mumbled around mouthful of sandwich.

She shook her head. "It's not like your food is going anywhere. Sheesh!"

"I know that, mother," he said, carefully swallowing.

She looked at him carefully. "Are you feeling the need to wolf down your food?"

He shook his head. "Like an instinct? No mother. And besides, it would be dragoning down my food, not wolfing."

She laughed at him and patted him on the head and he smiled, relieved that he had broken the tension. He glanced over at his father but he was reading the paper and acting, at least, as if he had not noticed.

The time finally rolled around to when he was supposed to go meet Tanner. "Mother? May I go outside again?"

She looked at his father who looked up at him and frowned. Please, please don't let him ruin this! Ryan thought.

"Why do you want to go out? You were out yesterday."

"But it was so very nice father! The hills and flowers were so very pretty. I did so enjoy being out. Please may I go again? I will be back in time for church I promise!" he said, begging.

His father just stared at him. "You aren't taking dragon form are you?"

"No father, I would not do that! It is too dangerous."

"Hmm," he said looking at him and Ryan bravely held his gaze. "Fine," he finally said, "stay close and don't talk to strangers."

"Yes father!" Ryan said and gave him and his mother a kiss and ran out the door before they changed their minds.

"That was very well done, Allen," Beth said after he left.

"As you say, he has to get used to being out on his own. I just worry for him, Beth," he said as he sat his paper down.

She came over and kissed him. "He's a smart young boy and we've raised him well I think. Don't worry so."

He smiled and kissed her in return. "As you say," he murmured into her lips.

Tanner sat on the log, waiting. He looked at his watch and sighed. Be patient, he told himself. Children, be they dragon or human, were not noted for being terribly punctual. He stretched out and thought back to his encounter with Ryan the previous day. He was sure that he and heard the sound of dragon wings as he was walking, which was what drew him towards Ryan in the first place. Then after finding him in his human form the way Ryan watched him nervously, the way he held himself, just screamed out dragon to any who knew about them. He would have to caution the boy about it after he came to know him better.

Then the way he spoke and covered up that footprint. Tanner laughed quietly. He had wondered if Ryan was going to reveal himself to him; he had left quite a few hints, but of course Ryan would not have known about any of that, not having been raised with dragons. He hoped he hadn't scared him too badly; Ryan seemed so timid. That was not a draconic trait at all. Some breeds were more cautious than others but none could really be called timid. Tanner assumed that it had to do with the way Ryan was raised and his situation, being raised by humans that evidently knew little or nothing about dragons.

He wondered about that once again, how it came to be, as it made no sense to him what so ever. He would have to make some careful inquires about it when he got back home, whenever that was. He admitted to himself that he wasn't in that big a hurry to get back being far more curious about Ryan. He didn't want to leave the young dragon too soon, not until he knew more about what breed he was and came to know him better and hopefully sort out what had happened to put him in a foster family.

He stood up and looked around for Ryan again. What if the boy's parents had decided not to allow him out again? From what little Ryan had said, it seemed like something they might do. That was a little troubling in and of itself. He didn't know Ryan's last name and wasn't how sure how he would find him again. He supposed he could go door to door until he ran across him.

He paused for a moment, wondering why he was so worried about this one dragon amongst all the others he had known and befriended in his life. The sound of dragon feet padding through the forest behind him caught his attention and he turned to see a blue a grey muzzle poke its way out a little ways from the brush, tasting the air, followed shortly by the rest of Ryan. He chirped happily when he saw Tanner and padded over to him. Tanner smiled at him.

"Taking a bit of a risk being in dragon form like that aren't you?"

Ryan shook his head. "I was so very careful. I made certain that there was no one around, going into my small form and listening carefully, scenting the air before I shifted to full form. Then I saw you standing out there and knew there was no one else so I came out."

"Good lad," he said approvingly.

Ryan chirped again and cocked his head. "I like the color of that shirt."

Tanner grinned at him. The shirt was a blue and gray color, close to Ryan's own colors which accounted for a great deal of why the dragon liked it and why he had chosen to wear it in the first place. "I'm glad you like it! So what did you want to discuss today?"

"How did you come to know about dragons?"

"Hmm," Tanner sat down. "Well, for that we have to go back to my grandfather who was in WW II..."

Tanner explained that his grandfather was a British RAF officer during the war and was shot down over Germany after the successful completion of a bombing run. He had been separated from the rest of his men and tried to make his way towards the Allied lines and hopefully back to England in one piece.

While making his way through the country side he came across the sounds of German voices and the sound of some large animal. He carefully scouted forward and found two german soldiers in a small clearing, gesturing at something with their submachine guns. What they were gesturing at nearly made his heart stop.

Backed up against the forest fence was a dragon, a real, live dragon. It was holding one of it's wings at an awkward angle and was clearly wounded. One of the soldiers gestured towards it and fired a small burst at it's feet. The dragon snarled and drew back as best it could and the two laughed. The second do soldier raised his gun to fire at the beasts head and his grandfather quickly drew his service pistol and killed both soldiers before they could react.

The dragon instantly zeroed in on him as he slowly walked into the open, putting his gun back in it's holster, holding his hands open trying to show the dragon he meant no harm. The dragon growled at him, eyes locked on his, and he wondered if he had just saved an animal that was going to kill him for the favor. The two stared at each other for a long while and finally the dragon said, "Thank you for saving my life." To say that Tanner's grandfather was stunned would be like saying the atlantic ocean is a body of water. True, but rather misses the scope.

The two talked and his grandfather learned that the dragon's name was Norian and he had been hurt while flying over the German lines and that he was from England. He helped to nurse the dragon back to health and then Norian flew them both across the channel. Tanner's grandfather was given a heroes welcome, though he never felt that he had done anything heroic other than save the life of a dragon and he could scarcely mention that.

"That was three generations ago and my family has been involved with Norian's and other dragons ever since," Tanner mused.

"Wow!" Ryan said, tail twitching in excitement.

"It's a good story," Tanner admitted. "My grandfather and father used to love to tell it to us, and Norian would rock me to sleep in his arms telling me the tale when I was younger. So as you can see I grew up with dragons."

"And here I am a dragon raised by humans. Kind of backwards isn't it?"

"You could certainly look at it that way," Tanner said with a smile.

Ryan cocked his head. "Can dragons breath fire?"

"Some can, yes," Tanner admitted.

"I wonder if I will be able to?" Ryan asked wistfully.

"Well, I can't promise you anything, but if you open your mouth I can see if you have the equipment to breath, so to speak."

"Oh that would be wonderful!" Ryan said, opening his mouth wide. Tanner laughed and peered inside for a moment.

"Well, it looks like you have the nodules and such to be a fire breather, though I can't say that I'm a huge expert on draconic anatomy."

"I may be able to breath fire?" Ryan asked, ears perked.

Tanner laughed. "Yes, maybe."

"That is so very wonderful!" Ryan said, his chest puffed out with pride, trilling happily. "When would I know?"

"Most breeds don't gain the ability until after puberty, or the draconic equivalent of, so far as I know."

Ryan looked down at the ground, ears drooping. "Tanner during..." he stopped in embarrassment, his ears heating up.

"Thunderstorms?" Tanner asked gently.

Ryan looked up at him stunned and Tanner laughed. "Sorry Ryan. It happens to all male dragons, females too from what I understand though not quite to the same degree. You'll get used to it."

Ryan thought his ears would melt they were so hot. He would be blushing if a dragon could blush. "Why thunderstorms?"

Tanner shrugged. "I have no idea; I'm not sure that anyone does."

"It...is about sex?" Ryan asked then ducked his head.

"Mating yes. Dragons see the two as different."

"How?"

Tanner found himself blushing. "Well, I mean mating is by instinct whereas sex is voluntary."

"Ah," Ryan said, ducking again.

Tanner laughed. "Let's change the subject shall we?"

Ryan looked relived. "Do dragons have their own language?"

"Oh yes. There are several dialects of it but there is a common language that all dragons speak."

"Do you know it?"

"I know the bastardized version that humans speak, yes. Human vocal cords are not as flexible as dragons."

"Could you teach it to me?" Ryan asked, looking hopeful.

"Of course! I only hope that someday you can learn the real thing rather than the human version."

"Oh I do hope so!"

Tanner smiled and stroked his nose. "Well, lets get started then."

Ryan was so engrossed with learning draconic that he didn't notice the passage of time until he noticed the sun shining down on his fore claws. "Oh no! I will be so very late!" he said in dismay.

"Oh blast! I'm sorry Ryan, I should have been paying attention to the time."

Ryan shook his head and shifted to his human form. "It is not your fault."

"Hurry home before you're missed, Ryan," Tanner said, smiling at the boy. "I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow."

"Ok Tanner," Ryan said and started to walk away. He had only gone about 10 feet when he stopped and turned to look at Tanner for a long moment.

"Ryan?" Tanner asked, confused.

Ryan suddenly ran back over to Tanner and threw his arms around him, giving him a big hug. "Thank you so very much for being here and being my friend, Tanner," he said, his voice muffled by Tanner's shirt.

Tanner patted him on the back. "You're welcome Ryan! Now run along home before you get in trouble."

Ryan nodded and ran off, pausing to wave at Tanner before he disappeared into he forest, Tanner looking on with a look of wonder and surprise on his face.

Later, back at Tanner's hotel room, he found himself wondering over Ryan, wondering at the effect the little dragon had over in the scant few days that he had known him. He had been a dragon friend his whole life and certainly loved dragons and their company, even counting some dragons as close friends, but never had one affected him quite like Ryan. What was it about the little dragon that wrought such strong emotions? He shook his head and looked out the small back patio of his suite, drinking a rum and coke.

He glanced down at the telephone. Susan, his fiancee, would be expecting him to call here shortly and he realized with a start that he didn't really want to talk to her. What he really wanted to do was sort out his thoughts about Ryan, his alleged adoption, and what reason his human parents weren't allow him to see or learn about other dragons. He shook his head; it made no sense at all. No dragon in it's right mind would ever give up it's hatchling to a human, certainly not like this. There were times dragons would foster their offspring with a human family, a well trusted dragon friend, so the dragon would gain better insight in the human relations and ways. His father had taken in several fosterlings and Tanner had always enjoyed those times.

And of course he himself had spent every summer since he could remember at Norian's estate, playing with Norian's grandchildren, learning more about dragons, and talking to and enjoying Norian and his mate, Charis, company. But the idea that a dragon would give it's hatchling over to a human family that didn't understand dragons? Unthinkable.

He sat back on his couch wondering at it all when an unpleasant thought occurred to him. What if Ryan had been kidnapped? If that was the case, he wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Clearly Ryan would deserve to be with dragons, back with his family, but setting off a bunch of dragons because one of their own had been captured was not something that Tanner relished the idea of doing. There had been thankfully few incidents over the centuries and usually he dragon in question had been rescued quickly with minimal damage. There had been one incident where the dragons had quite nearly gone to war over it, a horrifying thought.

He knew several people, human fortunately, that could discretely look into this sort of thing back home in the UK. One of his friends in Scotland specialized in finding out "information that perhaps others didn't precisely want found out" he said in his own words. Tanner was never exactly sure who he worked for and never pressed the issue and besides why would he ever need such services? He supposed he could ask him to look into Ryan's adoption as a favor but worried that if something was seriously amiss that it could tip off the wrong people and possibly put the boy in danger.

He sighed deeply and swilled down the rest of his drink. He had best call Susan before she became even more upset with him than she already was at his taking this sabbatical.

Ryan ran back home as fast as he legs could carry him, briefly thinking about flying part of the way but knowing that it was far too dangerous. He paused for a moment to collect some shiny stones that lay next to a creek bed to use as an excuse to be out late. His parents knew he had a fascination with shiny things at times might accept that he lost track of time looking for more. He hoped they would buy it anyway.

His parents were waiting on the porch of the cabin, looking worried, even thought they did straighten out their expressions when they saw him coming. He skipped up to them, not really feeling so carefree, and grinned. "Mother! Father! Look at the stones I found in the creek! I am so very sorry that I am late but I kept finding more pretty ones and I didn't know which ones I wanted to take and I lost track of the time."

His mother glanced at his father and then smiled. "They're very pretty. Ryan."

"Very nice," his father said, nodding. "Ryan, you haven't been taking your dragon form have you?"

"No father!" he said, heart pounding.

His father stared at him for a long moment. "Alright then, lets get ready for church." They went inside and readied themselves, Ryan breathing a huge sigh of relief and not being in trouble.

Tanner slammed down the phone harder than he intended. Why did she have to be this way? She didn't have a problem with dragons when they first met, they had even met a dragon gathering for that matter, her family had been dragon friends for many generations. Why would she have started a relationship with someone who loved something she was seemingly starting to hate? He knew things were not right when he told her about this sabbatical. He figured that she would be happy for him getting a chance to expand his knowledge and a little upset that he would be gone to a foreign country for several months.

Well, he certainly got the upset part right.

She threw a fit, accusing him not loving her, not caring for her feelings, caring more about dragons than he did for her, finally agreeing only if he agreed to stay away from dragons. He agreed with her, wondering what had gotten into her. At the time he didn't figure it would make much of a difference as he really didn't know many dragons on that side of the atlantic anyway, though he would have enjoyed the chance to meet a few. It was very confusing.

His experience with relationships was rather slim. He'd only a few girlfriends while in school and in higher education and most of those were along the lines of friends who had decided to "go out together" in a not terribly serious manner, rather a joke and they all knew it. He still spoke with one of them regularly, which he was sure bothered Susan as well, she worked as an electronics engineer for the government.

Ironically enough she was also a dragon healer as he found out later when he ran into her at a dragon gathering. He laughed a little in retrospect, remembering the surprised look on her face when she saw him walking along with Norian, hand on his flank as he talked to him at one of the gatherings. They both had a good laugh over it and he found that her family had been dragon friends for many generations and healers for most of those. Most of her family practiced in the medical field, she was just the odd one out with her interest in electronics as well.

He sighed. It was rather a pity that Siobhan had been married at the time, as he could have easily seen himself pursuing her. She was utterly brilliant, far more intelligent than he, he had to admit, and he had always found her to be quite attractive. Back in school he had always considered her out of his league, so to speak, and so he never tired seriously to catch her attention beyond that of friend an tutor. She was directly responsible for him passing several of his courses!

Her husband had passed away years ago in a training accident with the RAF. He missed James as well. Her husband had been a good man and a wonderful father to their daughter Cassandra. He had never considered intruding on her grief after the funeral, though he truly did like her.

He walked into the kitchen and picked up the bottle of rum and then stopped. No, he didn't need a drink; he'd far too many tonight as it sat. He would not turn to alcohol to self medicate. It never ended well he knew all too well.

He walked back to the porch and looked out over the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Where had things gone amiss in his relationship with Susan? When they fist met it seemed like she liked dragons well enough, going to dragon gatherings with him. They had hit it off well and started dating not too long after they had met. Within a year he had proposed to her, happier than he had been in his life. After that she started to change.

She became rather jealous, it seemed to him, of any time he would spend with dragons or dragon friends, and very jealous of any dragon who was directly friendly towards him. She started to complain when he wanted to spend time at dragon gatherings, something that he dearly loved to do. He attended as many has he could during the year, purposely arranging his schedule so he could got to as many as possible. It had long been his practice to spend a good portion of summer with Norian on his estate. Now she seemed to take offense at it.

She would complain that she only had certain days off and that he was always gone to those gatherings during those days off. She really didn't want to travel with him, she said, because she was tired and it was hard to get his attention if there were dragons about. He could understand that and tried to accommodate her but it only helped for a short amount of time before she became even more demanding.

He didn't dare tell her about Ryan. He didn't want to hear her complain. She was irritable and overbearing enough on the phone and he had just plain become tired of talking to her. The conversation had ended poorly and he promised to call her again tomorrow at around the same time but found himself not all that serious about that promise.

What he really wanted to do, he reflected, is find out more about Ryan, to find out what was really going on with the little dragon and his family. He already admitted to himself that he was extending his stay to be closer to the little dragon rather than moving on to the next state on his trip. He had to figure out more about Ryan. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his address book and looked up the number to his friend in Scotland, wondering if he should call.

After a long moments hesitation he dialed the operator. "Yes, give me the country code to Scotland please. Yes. 011 then 44, thank you." He dialed the number. "Sinclair? Tanner Wilberforce. Yes I'm fine. I do have something I would like you to look into if you have the time. Yes, he's an american boy named Ryan and I want to know about his adoption..."

Ryan and his parents walked under the moonlight, heading back to their cabin. His mother turned to him. "Ryan, would you like to go for some ice cream?"

Ryan blinked in surprise. "Sure!"

"Good! Get in the car, dear."

The parlor was decorated like an old 1950's soda shop complete with checkerboard floor tiles, big fancy paddles on the soda taps, and 50's music piped in through a big neon jukebox with bubbles floating up the sides. Ryan looked around wide eyed and the tuck and roll seats, chrome sides, and the waitresses in their poodle skirts.

They sat down in one of the booths and his mother put a hand on his arm. "Let me guess, a chocolate malt?"

He squirmed away and batted at her hand. "I can have something other than a malt!"

"Really? Are you feeling well?"

He glared at her and defiantly ordered the "Extra Jumbo Very Large Mega Banana Split". As they waited Ryan looked around the shop curiously. His parents had often said that cats had nothing on Ryan for curiosity. The guessed, correctly, that curiosity was a common trait amongst dragon kind.

The waitress came over with their orders. She was an older woman, possibly in her late 30's or early 40's, but she seemed to have the energy of a younger woman. Black hair was tucked under a paper hat, laugh lines shown around her eyes which were bright with merriment. She seemed happy with the world at large.

"Let's see, pralines and cream for the lady, german chocolate for the sir, and a rather large banana split for the young man," she said as she sat down their desserts. Ryan eyed the bowl. It was, as advertised, quite jumbo, very extra, terrifically large, and exorbitantly mega. He steeled himself and was quite determined to eat the whole thing. No one would tell him that his eyes were bigger than his stomach! Besides, it would only be one or two bites in his full form he thought, snickering to himself.

"Are you sure you can eat all of that young sir? It's an awful lot of ice cream!" the waitress said with a grin.

Ryan blinked at her. "I will most assuredly eat all of it!"

"Hmm," she said, winking at his parents. "Well I heard something about a malt earlier. Tell you what, if you can eat the whole banana split, I'll get you a malt to go on the house."

Ryan looked at his parents and both of them nodded with a smile. "I will!" he said boldly. She laughed and Ryan's mother nudged him to thank her. "Thank you so very much!"

She smiled down at him. "You are so very welcome!"

Ryan took a bite and grinned. "One bite down, many to go!"

Half a banana split later Ryan was feeling just a tad on the full side though he wasn't about to admit it. He looked around to see if anyone was watching and carefully shoved another bite into his mouth.

The waitress walked past the table. "Making some progress I see!"

"I told you!"

She laughed. "So you did! I am still not so very certain you can eat all of that."

Ryan's mother started at her but Ryan didn't notice. "I am so very certain that I will!"

She smiled at Ryan's mother. "So very determined is he not? Mine were at that age as well."

"Yes, he gets that way," she said looking over at Allen in fear.

"Yes he's a very determined boy," Allen said, his voice taking on a tone that Ryan recognized instantly. He looked up at his father in alarm.

The waitress just laughed. "I am so very certain that he drives you to distraction. Such is the nature of younglings! But I assure you that it is so very worth it in the end."

Ryan nearly froze as he recognized her manner of speech. He looked at her, trying to keep the surprise and fear from his face and his mother put her hand over his and smiled at the waitress. "Thank you so much for the encouragement," she said.

"You are most welcome," she said warmly. She looked at Ryan, grinning. "Are you going to finish that?"

He glanced over at his father. "I think that I will."

She grinned at his parents and then bent down to him. "I am not so very sure. Such a lot of ice cream for such a small dragon," she whispered, winking at him.

Ryan flinched, he couldn't help it. He looked over at his parents in panic. His mother shook her head and mouthed "Just go with it". His father had his eyes closed, a rigid expression on his face. "I am not so very small!" he said in a voice that only trembled a little.

"Of course you are not!" She laughed and patted him on the shoulder. She looked back at his parents. "Such a charming little one. You should be very proud." She sighed, shaking her head. "They grow so fast! But I assure you they always know where home is, especially when they get hungry. No matter how far they have to fly, they know where home is. Well, off with me, I should attend to my other customers." She gave a cheery wave and walked off to see to other tables.

Ryan looked at his parents, uncertain of what to do next. His father opened his eyes. "Are you going to finish that?" he asked quietly.

Ryan's appetite had totally gone. "No father."

He nodded. "Lets go then."

They walked out of the parlor, leaving the unfinished ice cream behind them.

Ryan rode in silence. What should he say? Should he say anything at all? She was a dragon, there was no doubt about that at all. She knew he was a dragon, there was no doubt of that either. He thought for a moment that his father was going to storm out of the parlor but he didn't, which surprised Ryan. He had been near another dragon and he hadn't been sleeping. Another dragon. He still couldn't quite believe it. All of these years without another dragon around that he knew of and it seemed like now they were popping up all over the place.

He looked at his mother and she felt his eyes on her and turned to him. "That was very well done Ryan."

"Thank you mother," he said quietly. She continued to watch him and he lifted his chin bravely. "She was a dragon, mother."

She closed her eyes. "I'm sure she was."

Ryan looked over his shoulder, back at the way the parlor was. "Another dragon, mother."

"I know, Ryan."

"I wish-"

"No," his father said.

Ryan looked startled. "But I did not say anything!"

"You want to talk about her. You want to talk about dragons. The answer is no. Just let it drop Ryan," he said tersely.

He took a breath, getting ready to say something, but his mother shook her head and mouthed "Don't" He sighed and settled back in his seat, disgruntled. He wondered what she looked like in her dragon form. Was she like him? What color was she? She had to be bigger than he was, he was very young and she was much older, she had even called him a young one.

They arrived at the cabin and his mother lit the oil lamps, providing a soft warm glow and the very faint scent of oil burning. Ryan sat down on his bed, unsure of what to say or what to do next. He could feel the tension in the air, see that his father was very upset by the encounter and the last thing he wanted to do was upset him further. Best to stay quite, curb his instincts as best he could, and stay in human form, hoping for the best.

He sighed again inside. Another dragon and his parents were again going to say nothing about them. He didn't understand why! Was it because she was female? Did they think he would up and want to mate with her or something crazy like that? That other dragoness came and she said she found his scent marks- He abruptly decided not to think about it any more, telling himself that he wasn't in any way shape or form interested in the topic.

He picked up one of his books and lay back on his bed to read it, keeping focused on it, hoping that the rest of the night would pass smoothly and that he would be able to talk to Tanner about it tomorrow.

Ryan walked along the path, going to see Tanner, feeling a little dejected and a lot confused. Why did this all have to be so troublesome? All he wanted was to know more about dragons, to know more about himself. Why did his parents have to act that way? He wanted to ask questions but so feared his father's reaction and his mother's fear of him that he didn't dare. He couldn't stand the thought of his mother being frightened of him. He never considered himself a frightening creature; how scary could he be? He was a small, soft, grey and blue colored hatchling and despite being a dragon he could hardly be called intimidating in his eyes.

It worried him sometimes that his parents may think that he was terrifying. Oh there were people he wouldn't mind scaring mind you, but his parents? Certainly not. The idea scared him rather. He had nightmares about his parents becoming terrified of him as he grew older and stronger, trying to escape from him.

He pushed his way through the foliage, slapping at the occasional insect. At least mosquitos didn't bother him in his dragon form. He didn't know if his blood was unpalatable or if his hide were simply too tough to get through but either way they didn't bite him. He broke into the clearing and looked around for Tanner and smiled when he saw him sitting on the log, wearing gray shorts and a blue shirt. He liked it when Tanner wore colors that were close to his own.

As he approached he noticed that Tanner was frowning. Ryan walked a bit more slowly, uncertain of what was wrong. In the scant few days he had known him, he was already under the impression that Tanner was very seldom unhappy. A frown was out of place on Tanner's face like a computer in an Amish house.

Tanner looked up as he approached and smiled, "Well hello Ryan! How is it with you?"

"I am well, but you were frowning," Ryan said slowly.

"It's nothing for you to worry over Ryan, just brooding on a few things," Tanner said with a sigh.

"Okay," Ryan said uncertainly and Tanner smiled reassuringly at him.

"Seriously Ryan, it's nothing for you to worry over."

"As you wish, Tanner."

Tanner slapped his hands down on his legs. "So, what did you want to talk about today?"

"I met another dragon last night, Tanner," Ryan said quietly.

Tanner blinked. "I thought your parents wouldn't allow you to see other dragons?" He paused. "Ryan, you didn't sneak out last night did you? There was no thunderstorm but sometimes it happens at other times as well."

Ryan look startled and then blushed. "No, nothing like that! We went to ice cream and the waitresses was a dragon."

"Dragoness," Tanner mused. "How did you know?"

"The way she was speaking. I was talking like a dragon and she started to do the same," Ryan said and paused. "Why do we talk that way?"

Tanner shrugged. "I'm not sure. All english speaking dragons do from what I gather. We're you parents angry?"

Ryan shrugged. "Maybe a little. They would not talk to me about it. Mother agreed that she probably was a dragoness but my father did not wish to discuss it and got angry when I tried to."

Tanner sighed. "That's his prerogative, Ryan."

"I know. But at least you tell me things."

"I try, Ryan," he said, patting him on the back. Tanner smiled at him but wondered if he should air his concerns to the boy. He wasn't sure it was fair to worry him, he already had enough stress and troubles in his life.

Ryan looked up at him and sighed heavily. "You are worried and you will not tell me what the problem is."

Tanner smiled ruefully. "I should know how perceptive dragons are to emotion by now; I've been around them long enough."

"So what is worrying you, Tanner?"

"How...did you parents find you, Ryan?"

Ryan shook his head. "They will not tell me. They only recently told me that the knew my parents at all."

Tanner nodded. "Ryan..." he stopped. "I just wonder that they don't want you near other dragons."

"They do not wish for me to be found out and hurt or taken," Ryan said confusedly.

"But why would a dragon wish to hurt you or take you from your parents? I told you that a dragon would never do such a thing, that it would be evil."

Ryan looked troubled. "Are you saying that my parents stole me?"

Tanner cursed himself for bringing it up. "No! It's just...well I do wonder, Ryan."

"I do not think that my parents would ever do such a thing. They are good people," Ryan said looking even more troubled.

"I'm sure they are, Ryan," Tanner said reassuringly and wrapped his arms around Ryan, hugging him tightly. He felt Ryan lean against him and felt a sudden surge of protectiveness that surprised him. Ryan drew away and smiled at him.

"Thank you, Tanner."

"Your most welcome, Ryan. Shall we go over more of your draconic?"

Ryan nodded and they both sat down to work on the language.

Ryan walked with his mother to his classroom, mulling over what Tanner had told him. Did Tanner really believe that his parents had kidnapped him? The fought was more disturbing than he could express. His parents, despite the fact that they did not always understand him well, or understand how to deal with him or treat him as a dragon, had always loved him and were kind and gentle people as far as he knew.

His mother turned and smiled at him and briefly he wondered if he were looking into the face of his mother or his captor.

"You'll be fine, Ryan," she said reassuringly and huge shim.

"Yes, mother," he said hugging her back.

He looked into the classroom. "Mother, do you think that any of them could be like me?"

She looked in with him. "It's possible, Ryan."

He looked startled. "You really think one of them could be a dragon?"

She sighed. "It's possible, Ryan, but I want you to give me your word that you won't try and find out."

Ryan looked down. "Yes mother. But what if they started to talk like me? Could I hint at them?"

"Ryan..."

He took a step back. "It was a stupid question; I am so very sorry mother."

She smiled at him gently and patted his head. "Not stupid, Ryan, just ill timed."

He nodded, relieved that he was not in trouble. She kissed him on the forehead in a familiar gesture of affection and started back towards her class. She had only gone a few steps when he hesitantly said. "Mother?"

She turned. "Yes, Ryan?"

"Mother I- I mean did--" he stopped and she came over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Did what, Ryan?"

"You... I mean my parents gave me to you right?" he asked, trembling slightly.

"Ryan, just go to class, please?" she said gently.

He nodded. "Yes mother," he said and walked in, turning once to look at her. She watched him go, wondering how much he really knew about the situation.

Ryan looked at the calendar in dismay. It had only seemed like yesterday they had arrived at camp and now they would be leaving tomorrow. How had time flown past so quickly?

The vacation had turned out so much better than he could ever have expected. Finding Tanner and been more than a dream come true to him. Finding someone who knew about dragons and their ways was a miracle in Ryan's eyes and he wasn't sure what to do about leaving Tanner behind. He would never be able to talk to him again. His parents would never allow it.

He sighed and started to pack his things. His mother came over to him and put her arms around him, pulling him close to her chest. "Never long enough is it?"

He shook his head. "No mother. I wish we could stay another week."

"And then it would be one more week and then another, and another. We would never leave."

"I am not so very certain that is a bad thing. School is hard," Ryan muttered.

"And taking care of a rambunctious hatchling and a husband isn't?"

"I am not a hatchling and I can take care of myself!"

His father looked up. "Does this mean I don't have to make my coffee in the morning anymore?"

"Fat chance!" Beth laughed and gave Ryan a kiss on the forehead. "Go on and finish packing."

He sighed and looked at the clock. Tanner would be waiting for him about now. "Mother, can I go outside one last time? I will pack everything else tonight, I promise."

"With no fussing?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No mother."

She looked over to Allen who shrugged. "That's fine."

"Thank you, mother, father," he said and went out the door.

He walked into the clearing where he had met Tanner for the first time all those days ago. He would miss this clearing, he thought. He walked over to the log where Tanner was sitting. He would miss that log, those trees, all of it. Most of all he would miss Tanner. He felt tears starting to well up in his eyes as he approached.

Tanner smiled at him and then suddenly looked alarmed. "What's wrong?"

Ryan trembled. "We are leaving tomorrow, Tanner."

Tanner sighed. "Well, we knew it wouldn't last forever."

"But it is so very soon!"

"Oh Ryan, it's not that soon," Tanner said, "it's been a week and you've learned a lot."

Ryan sniffed and looked down. "I know, and I thank you so very much. I just wish we could talk more. You are the only one who really understands me."

Tanner felt a lump suddenly welling up in his throat at the thought of this poor young dragon being isolated from his own kind, isolated from any knowledge of who and what he was. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket before he knew what he was doing and gave one of his business cards to Ryan. "Here, Ryan. This has my email address and my phone number on it, as well as my post address. Just don't make any phone calls unless it's an emergency as I doubt your parents would be happy to find a transatlantic phone call on their bill."

Ryan took it from him gratefully. "Thank you so very much, Tanner!" He hesitated. "They will not allow me to write you. They do not even know about you."

Tanner sighed, figuring as much. "I can't really advocate you going behind your parents backs, Ryan, but I'm guessing if you tell them it's an overseas pen pal they may let you write." Ryan smiled up at him, looking so grateful that Tanner found it near heartbreaking. Again, he wondered at this impact that Ryan had on him. "Well, lets not worry about what we cannot control, shall we? Lets work on your draconic."

"Okay, Tanner."

And o they worked on Ryan's draconic, Ryan asking him questions here and there about dragons and their ways. Time passed and Ryan grew more and more agitated. Tanner sighed and stood up. "You need to go, Ryan."

"Yes Tanner," Ryan said, looking down, trembling.

Tanner looked at him for a long moment and then sighed again, sitting down on the log. Ryan looked at him and Tanner patted his leg, as if he wanted Ryan to put his head there or climb up in his lap. Ryan hesitated. It was one thing to be pet, quite another to be held.

"It is okay if you do not wish to, Ryan," Tanner said gently.

Ryan tasted the air nervously, then shifted to his small form and crawled into Tanner's lap. Tanner put his arms around him, being careful of his wings, and hugged the trembling young dragon to him, trying to comfort him as best he could. He finally pulled him away and kissed him on the forehead in a near universal gesture of affection towards younger dragons. "Go on, before you're missed."

Ryan nodded and shifted to his human form. "I will come by in the morning if I can."

Tanner smiled, trying to keep his own anxiety from his face. "That would be fine, Ryan."

Ryan hesitated, and then ran off before he broke into tears. Tanner watched him go, tears rolling down his own cheeks. He shook himself and cursed himself for a fool as he headed back to his room with a heavy heart.

Ryan peered into the classroom, this time with delight. "Look mother!" he said, grinning up at her.

They had set up a huge set of balance beams and Beth smiled. "Well that does look like fun!"

"It will be! I do so love gymnastics!" Ryan said enthusiastically.

"Well enjoy yourself then!" Beth said, giving him a kiss on the forehead. She laughed as he bounded across the floor and ran up one of the beams without a pause.

Ryan jumped around on the beams, running around them with an agility that far out shown the other kids. He ignored their glares; he had every much a right to be on these beams as they did. He admitted to himself that he did like showing off, doing dips, leaping from beam to beam, using his superior balance even in his human form.

He ran down one of the beams and it suddenly shifted. He tried to correct and it shifted back the other direction violently and he felt himself falling. He caught a glimpse of some of the other kids grinning at him viciously as he fell, then there was a sudden flash of light and everything went black.

Ryan's mother looked at him worriedly as his father laid him out on his bed back at the cabin. She put her hand on his forehead. "He isn't running a fever that I can tell."

"That's something at least."

"Why won't he wake up?" she asked, her voice pleading.

"I don't know!" Allen said tensely.

They watched the still form of their son, his breathing regular and even, but nothing they had tired would wake him. "He has to get better," Beth said.

"I hope so."

"What?" she asked, startled.

"If he doesn't we're going to have to take him to a doctor."

"Allen no! They'll find out what he is and take him!" Beth said, horrified.

"What would you rather have, him with us and dead or with someone else and alive?" Allen asked quietly.

Beth sobbed and sat down on the bed hard, unable to speak for several minutes. She looked up at Allen, face blotchy form crying so hard. "If we found other dragons... what about that dragon at the ice cream parlor?"

"He's not supposed to be near them!"

"But they could heal him!"

"What if they wanted to kill him? Perhaps that's the reason his parents told us to keep him away."

"Oh Lord..."

Ryan awoke feeling as if he head were going to burst. "Mother?"

"I'm here, Ryan," she said and put a hand on his forehead. "How are you feeling?

"Hurts," he mumbled.

"Sorry, little dragon."

Ryan opened his eyes and winced at the glare, his second eyelids sliding over his eyes. He shook his head and groaned in pain.

"Easy, Ryan."

He sat there, ears back, waiting of the pain to subside and slowly opened his eyes. His father was looking at him with a mixture of relief and anger and he drew his head back, startled, then yelped in pain at the sudden movement.

"Easy, lad, you had a nasty bump on your head," Tanner said.

Ryan looked over in shock at where Tanner was sitting at the table, smiling at him. "Hello, Ryan."

"Tanner," Ryan said in a small voice.

Tanner smiled. "You took a bit of a fall from what I understand, but you'll be fine. Dragons heal rapidly."

Ryan nodded and glanced at his parents and winced at his father looking at Tanner with a look of cold dislike. Tanner sighed. "When you didn't show up I decided to go looking for you. I went from cabin to cabin, just asking for you, until I found your cabin. I asked how you were doing and your parents admitted that you were sick, so I told them I had some medical skill and they allowed me in.

"When I saw that you had been knocked unconscious I gave you something from my first aid to shift you back to your dragon from. I'm glad I decided to pick it up when you didn't show, I usually carry it with me when I'm out as you never know when you may need such things. Dragons heal more rapidly in their natural form you see, though I'm afraid I gave your parents a rather bad shock. I do apologize."

"We're just grateful that you were here. We could have lost him," Beth said, voice thickening.

"I'm sure he'd have recovered, ma'am. Dragons are sturdy creatures."

"Fine," Allen said abruptly and Tanner looked at him and sighed.

Ryan looked startled. "Father--"

"He has to go, Ryan."

"But he is the only person who knows anything about dragons!"

"And he had no business telling you anything!" Allen snapped. "You lied to us, Ryan!"

Ryan lowered his ears. "I asked him! You were not going to tell me!"

"Don't you even take that tone of voice or lower your ears at me!"

"I wish for him to stay," Ryan nearly growled.

"Ryan, I can't," Tanner said in a soothing voice, standing up with his hands out. "Your father wants me to go and so I need to go. I really need to head back to England anyway, my sabbatical is about over and I have a few things I need to catch up on at home."

"Tanner!" Ryan cried out in dispair.

"Enough Ryan!" Allen snapped again. "Tanner, get out!"

Tanner sighed looked over at Ryan. "Sorry, Ryan." He reached out to pet the dragon, but withdrew his hand at the look on Allen's face and sighed again. Ryan reached for him, whimpering and Tanner winced at the sound. He turned towards the door.

"Take me with you!" Ryan burst out.

It was as if the whole world went silent. Ryan's parents stared at him in shock and Ryan drew back, looking ashamed at his outburst. Tanner sighed. "Ryan, that is not right and you know it. They are your parents and you need to be with them, not with me. I don't have the space or time to care for a young dragon but that's not the point Ryan. Your mother and father have done a good job raising you and you saying that is like a slap in the face. You need to apologize, Ryan."

"I am so very sorry," Ryan said in a small voice.

"There's a good dragon," Tanner said softly.

Allen glared at him. "Fine, now get the hell out of here and forget you ever saw him!"

Tanner opened his mouth to say something and then shook his head, "As you wish."

Ryan looked at his mother in panic, then at his father, then suddenly let loose a sharp trill followed by a low, rumbling growl from deep in his throat. Allen looked over at him, startled, and Ryan snarled. "I do not wish for him to go!"

"Ryan, you had best back down!" Allen said, taking a step back.

Ryan opened his jaws slightly, drawing in a breath and suddenly Tanner was there, putting his hand over his eyes. Ryan drew back, startled, but Tanner kept his hand there, stroking his head with the other hand. "Easy, easy now Ryan. Just calm down, no one is going to hurt you, no one is angry, just let the anger go. There's a good dragon, come now, you're safe," he said in a soothing litany.

Ryan whimpered and held his arms out to Tanner and Tanner hugged him close. "Are you okay now, Ryan?"

The little dragon shuddered. "Yes, Tanner."

"I need to go and you're not going to break mine or your parents hearts by throwing a fit now are you?

"No, Tanner," Ryan said miserably.

"There's a good dragon," Tanner said again, softly, stroking his head.

Allen glared at Tanner. "Thank you," he said reluctantly

"It's no problem. I'm sorry for jumping in like that but he was starting to work himself to a frenzy and that would have been very hard on everyone, especially him after he calmed down and realized what happened. It happens with young males from time to time; I can show you the signs and how to prevent it, if you like, though I doubt you'd need them often. Ryan is a kind, loving dragon from all I have seen."

"Go," Allen said flatly.

Tanner gave Ryan one last look and shook his head. "Sorry, Ryan," he said as he walked out the door.