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((for a point of reference, Syla and her hatchling are with Maderik and Rin, who have been charged with keeping an eye on the two until the clan calls for them))

Maderik rose with a snort, shaking hismelf and yawning. He meandered over towards the two humans.

"We're to go to the Circle," Maderik said, "Rin, I assume you would rather not go?"

"I hate the clan meetings..." she muttered in response, "Yes, I'll stay here."

"Then Syla, bring the hatchling and climb on."

He stopped and waited for the human to climb on his back.

Maderik snarled and lunged for Syla, snatching at her with both hands, attempting to grab her off the ground.

"We have no time for this!" he snapped.

"Rin, go find the hatchling and keep it out of trouble," Maderik said. And he leapt into the air, keeping a firm grip on Syla, and flapped his wings to gain altitude over the trees. Rin watched him go for a moment before hearing the sound of a hatchling's cry.

"Oh," she said, walking towards the hill, "There you are."


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Ley Suan Circle was a stretch of bare earth in the forest where the trees and ground had been scorched by dragon-fire a long time ago and the constant tramp of dragon feet had prevented anything from ever regoing. There was a circle dug into the ground, a furrow that encompased the clearing. Five adult dragons were already gathered there and an open space was left for Maderik's landing. He made for it and folded his wings.

"Shhh, it's okay," Rin said, crouching in front of the hatchling, "C'mon, you got to know some spoken language at least."

She licked her lips and furrowed her brow in concentration. This had to work. Else she'd have to listen to this until Maderik got back. She silently cursed him in her head.

Mean dragon take care of your human, she tried to project mentally into the hatchling's head, Be back soon. Me keep you safe.

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Maderik landed hard, dropping Syla in the middle of the circle.

"This what you wanted?" he asked, tilting his head to look at the biggest of the adult dragons there.

Rin sat back on her heels and beamed at the hatchling. Well, this made her suffering somewhat worth it. She didn't get to interact with hatchlings very often, much less watch them learn how to speak.

"You will get family back," she said, "This is only for a short time. Both of you are safe."

She glanced around the ruins. There were some things she needed to do before it got too late...

"Want to come hunting with me?" she asked, "Find food?"

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Maderik only chuckled at Syla's shouting and slunk off to the edge of the circle. The largest of the dragons stepped forwards so that he was standing in front of Syla.

"I am Kiemar," he said, "The leader of this clan. I have been informed of what has brought you into our territory and your relationship with this lost hatchling of our people. Know that I have nothing against you or your kind - after listening I believe you care deeply for the hatchling and she will be safe in your care. However, I do not believe you will be safe from others, or even able to raise a hatchling on your own. We cannot let you leave."

He paused a moment to let this sink in.

"Ah... well then." Rin sat down near the dragon. "I'm afraid I can't leave you alone. Maderik told me I can't. You're picking up on language fairly quickly. Must be from being around dragons again. Can you use magic yet?"

She looked a bit nervous when she asked the question.

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Kiemar bowed his head for a moment, noting with admiration her gestures of respect.

"To the north-west of us are the borderlands within Lady Yvette's sphere of influence," he said, "Have you heard of her? You will have to pass through her lands if you wish to travel to your intended destination." He drew with one claw on the dirt before her, tracing a path between their current location and to where the supposed 'high priest' was said to live. "She funds dragon hunters and will surely kill both you and your dragon, if not worse. We would not see this happen. If you travel directly west, back into human lands... it is again only a matter of time before you encounter someone with hostile intentions against the dragon kind. To the east, north, and south is more dragons and not all clans are as receptive as mine is to a human caring for a youngling."

He paused and sat back on his haunches, gazing down at Syla serenely.

"You may have been able to protect the dragon for this long but I fear that the risk of you remaining its sole protector is too great for us to allow. You can remain here, with clan Ley Suan if you wish, or we can help locate the clan that this younging comes from and take you there. Either way, I'm afraid you are going to have to leave behind the human civilization you knew. I simply do not trust it. It is... difficult for young dragons to survive outside our territory. Those that have are kept by either very clever humans or very powerful ones in terms of social status. Or they avoid the borderlands entirely. Do you understand now?"

Rin leapt to her feet and skittered back. A shiver ran down her spine as she stared at the circle.

"That's unnatural," she finally said, "Dragons don't use sigils. Humans do. Who taught you that?"

She hoped Maderik would get back soon and deal with this so she wouldn't have to.

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"We're solitary creatures, for the most part," he replied smoothly, "and there are several adult dragons in the clan who would allow you to remain near them. There are Dragon-Bound as well and they will be glad to aid you in any way. You simply need to choose where you would like to live until the youngling matures enough."

He turned and started to walk away.

"Our territory is marked by standing stones," he said, "You'll see them if you go too far. Do not cross the borders but feel free to wander where you will within our land. There are two adult dragons who are hostile to humans in general but they will not dare to touch you. We will destory them utterly if they do. So I have said, so it shall be."

And behind her, Maderik grinned and chuckled, for he knew quite well that if anyone violated their leader's decree, that he would be among those chosen to hunt down and kill the dragon responsible.

"Well," he said pleasantly to Syla, "You have your freedom - somewhat - now. Get on my back, I'll take you to your companion, and then you can leave both me and my Dragon-Bound in blessed peace and quiet."

Rin moved closer and looked over the youngling at the book.

"Can you show it to me?" she asked. It was better than having the youngling use more magic.

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Maderik flew low with Syla on his back, so that she could see clearly the land below them that belonged to the Ley Suan clan.

You have any idea of where you want to stay? he asked mentally as his voice would be hard to hear over the rush of wind, For that matter, do you have any skill on surviving outside human civilization?