Posted by Childe on August 09, 2000 at 18:46:31:
Yes and I am in it....
No, I am not. More than one would-be enemy has found itself against my blades for chancing that. Some would say its because I'm a ranger. Others would fault my origins blaming me for the misdeeds of my Elders. Both are true and yet untrue. Methinks its how I look perhaps. Or possibly it is that they see the evil in themselves.
The winds are unnatural I feel. That also is something to be wondered at. It is as I remembered when I first ventured here.
I know things that most do not and that is attributable to my origins I'm sure - or to my age perhaps. After all I'm only nine. Well I am nine to my Elders and that is sufficient. In Human terms I'm closer to 666 man-years old. But to my Elders I have been barely birthed. Even physically, I am young. But since I have attained an 'age', I explore. That we do even if we do not agree with the Elders. And since I am different from the others of my kind, I was sent to the Plane of Earth.
I was warned about the Earthly Plane. It is colder but there are warm places that I find now and again. But I can take the chill of the air and when the winds blow snow and ice hither and thither, I am warm within. That is our Nature. That is one reason I am a Ranger - and some would have it that I am also a Druid. This may be true as well since I love the forests and glens, mountains and valleys, river bottoms and wastelands. I feel the Earth Plane is my real home. And that will please the Elders for they know that if this is so, I shall never return to the Plane of Fire.
The air smells of burning. I think someone is near. My friend will 'tell' me I'm sure.
My friend? Yes I have a friend that I was led to maybe two months ago. It was warmer than now but the heat was not oppressive. Perhaps to Humans and Elves and surely to Dwarven kind but not to me. Though clad in green, my skin color betrays me. I am of demon-kind. But my clan lives in the Plane of Fire. My father protects the Lands of Fire. There he is a fire ranger. My mother heals the demons that live there. We have our own beliefs and understandings. Rarely do we war between ourselves and rarer still between the Planes of Earth, Water, and Air. None of the demons of Earth or Water or Air seek to fight. We exist to administer the Planes from whence we were birthed. But this place of Earth - of mountains and rivers and air and fire is not any of those Planes. It is a separate place for Humans, Elves, and other creatures. Here there are wars, death, and destruction. But there is wonder and beauty as well.
Ah, yes. My friend. It was in the Mountains of Fire that we met. I was within seeking a path for a party of Elves when a great Red Dragon appeared. From the skies frightening all that dwelt therein with winged glory he flew. But I did not fear him. Why should I? Magics of fire and flame do not harm me - though there are magics that do. He landed, that great red wyrm of might. He could have flamed me raw but he didn't. Yes, he could have harmed me but not unto death. This I knew and I believe he did also. But it was not himself that was the source of his seeking. I was the one. That was when I discovered the magic of 'mind-send' as the red male, Malcor told me. I was unaware that the ability was within. It is rare among even our kind. But that was why I was called to mount his great back and fly to the eerie - his beloved's "weyr" as he called it. For I saw her as well. Desperately, he had sought for one versed in Fire to heal her. I do not know what or who had wounded her so but it was nigh to the death and she was dying fast. I tried as I might for I know much of the Fire Magic of our kind. But there was little I could do. In her agony she called to Malcor and to another who was nearby. It was the reason for her injury unto death. She was protecting her young one from the Dragon Hunters from the castle near the Fire Mountains. They were the ones who had caused this. Malcor was highly angered and with cause. But even a small demon-child like myself knows that to fight alone against a mob of knights would not avail him revenge. His only solace would be death - and that quickly.
And that was when I met him for the first time. A dragonling he was. Able to fly but not quite to Flame. But his Flaming time would soon be upon him and then he would encounter danger. His dying mother changed me with his upbringing and protection. Even though well grown, he was still too young to be alone without a mother or father. For Malcor was her Uncle and not her mate. That was the first I discovered that dragons had families. I have learned more since.
As we met, he said his name was Falor. Then he asked about his mother, Mallessa. In sadness I told him of her death and her wishes. And we have been friends ever since.
It is a wonder who takes care of who now. Falor brings me meat sometimes and we have fought side by side as the need arises. And I have been his conscience ever since. We are both children I suppose. Perhaps that is why he is Falor, which means Small One in Dragon-Speak. And I am known as....
Childe.