By: Greg Vilicic (a.k.a. Rodent)

It was shortly into nightfall and Mark Stanson found himself still awake and wandering the camp site; the day's long, exhaustive travel over harsh terrain was not enough to settle his mind nor dampen his awe and wonderment of this new world. His restless pacing brought him to the side of the sleeping Princess Shilear. The energy she spent to open the gateway, as well as the long journey, had taken its toll, affording her this opportunity for a deep, sound sleep.

Silently, he admired the elfish features she had acquired upon returning to her home world. The soft, perfect curves of her face, deeply tanned, as would be found on someone who spent their entire life living outdoors. Her long, shapely, pointed ears protruded through the waves of black hair. Her body, light and feminine, yet maintaining an aura of strength and dignity. Even in sleep she held a regal presence that inspired confidence and security. History always taught of leaders with such charisma that their followers would blindly follow, careless of the consequences. Mark would scoff at such concepts. Princess Shilear entered his life and in an instant, history had repeated itself.

His thoughts drifted to when this strange and beautiful woman had arrived at his office in need of help. Neither he nor his partner, Shawn, were prepared for the tale she would tell. Shawn walked away laughing at the preposterous story she recounted, but not Mark. Even now, he remained unsure as to why he had believed her or how he thought he could help; but he found her plea too sincere for him to ignore.

Understanding her need for discretion when walking among humans, had she presented herself as she is now, rather than in the guise of a human, he suspected that Shawn would have believed her and come along also. He considered his partnership with Shawn.

Six short years as paranormal investigators, yet he was amazed at all he had seen and done. The mysteries they unraveled and the lives they helped. None of which could have prepared him for what he now faced. Though he had few doubts about his own abilities, he knew the task set before him was better suited for Shawn to handle. While he closely matched his partner in scientific knowledge, Shawn had a flare for deductive analysis; a passion for solving the unknown. Mark admitted this to Princess Shilear, but she only smiled and assured him that he would do just fine. He consented and the journey began. It was now up to him to set things right, and this thought kept him awake and restless.

Satisfied with Princess Shilear's well being, Mark stood and walked to the edge of the camp. Following the moonlit trail he had previously explored before sunset, he came again to the edge of a steep, rocky cliff. Inhaling deeply, he took in the crisp, evening air along with the expansive view, overlooking a now black and silver valley. He sat; an air of frustration embracing him as he viewed the path of their next day's journey.

Princess Shilear had explained that a friend of hers, a dragon, was to transport them to where they were needed. Upon arrival, however, the dragon was nowhere to be found. Too weak to use her magic, and time running out, she decided that they would begin the journey on foot and hopefully find her friend along the way. Mark was disappointed. He was looking forward to meeting a real dragon. That, and the fact that his somewhat sedentary life style had added a few extra pounds around his middle, made the long, physical hike a greater task than what he had expected. He was embarrassed by the fact that this world's potential savior was so out of shape. It was not the first impression of humans he preferred to offer.

With frustration and exhaustion tugging at his mind and body, he lay back and gazed upon the stars above; the same stars and constellations visible as back home in Chicago. Even the moon projected the same, familiar face. It was an oddity he would have to explore further, after this world had been saved. It was unsettling how all he had seen here reminded him of Earth; save for the purity. No structures marred the landscape. No polluting stenches fouled the air. No engines shrilled over the calm silence. Yet, in every other way, it was Earth.

His thoughts again returned to his current situation. Was he ready, or even able, to handle the task set before him? He told himself yes, but in truth, he was afraid of the enormity of this mission he had given himself. In a vain attempt to forestall what was yet to come, he closed his eyes and listened to the rustling of the trees in the cool, evening breeze. As his mind began to wander amidst its many disjointed thoughts, a welcomed sleep began its pervasive intrusion. At the edge of consciousness, an unfamiliar sound rushed in, along with the wind. The sound of something moving with the breeze.

Before his thoughts could focus on whether or not to investigate, his world erupted. The ground beneath him pulsed with a concussive wave, even as his legs shattered beneath the crushing impact of the enormous creature landing atop him. Shock and pain granted the emission of a single, pure, horrifying scream, quickly engulfed within the descending jaws of the enormous, reptilian creature. Fanged teeth shattered bones as they pierced the soft flesh.

When the creature came into view, it was already too late. With a casual eagerness, the creature was shredding off the remnants of its victim's clothing with long, taloned claws; before tearing off the head and left arm with its enormous teeth. Princess Shilear could hear bones splinter and tendons shred as the powerful jaws pulled upward, even over the sound of her own futile scream, directed at the creature. "Kotif Ra! No!"

Gulping down the chunk of meat within its mouth, the creature looked over upon hearing the familiar voice. "Princess!?" it spoke excitedly, allowing remnants of flesh to fall to the ground. The creature's initial joy at the sight of the Princess turned to confusion by the frightened expression on her face. Fearing the thoughts now entering its own mind, the creature looked down to examine its prey. Realizing what it had done, it closed its eyes and lowered its head in shame and regret. "My apologies for your companion Princess, but our situation has worsened since you left and a meal for myself has become few and far between."

A long silence ensued as Princess Shilear cursed herself for allowing this to happen. This was not the encounter between human and dragon she had hoped for. "Hold no regrets, Ra," she softly responded as she approached and stroked the creature's emerald head. "How could you have known I had returned? I should have better warned the human to not wander about alone at night."

"He appeared weak and fragile," Kotif Ra stated as he opened his eyes to address the Princess. "Did he have knowledge of what ailed the Guardian?"

"No, but he had knowledge of science and technology," Princess Shilear said as she reached up past the bloodied lips, and freed a piece of torn flesh from between two of the dragon's teeth. Immediately, a thick, fleshy tongue reached forth from the creature and curled about her hand, extracting the morsel back into its mouth. The act was an unconscious reflex for both of them. Having sat with Kotif Ra so often during his meals, Princess Shilear made it an almost ritualistic habit to remove any unsightly flesh from between her friend's teeth; which the dragon accepted without question or complaint. "I had hoped," she continued, "that he could help us discover a way to eliminate the need for a Guardian altogether."

Kotif Ra remained silent for a long moment, pondering the consequences of his actions. "Was he our last hope?"

"No, there was one other I had met, yet he appeared somewhat reluctant to believe our plight, or even our existence. I do not know if he will help us."

"Take me with you," Kotif Ra said while lifting himself up to expose his full stature. "He should have a difficult time disbelieving his own eyes." After a short pause he added, "I promise not to eat him." He lowered his head toward her, giving an expression that could only be called a smile.

Princess Shilear smiled back. "Unless he refuses to help?"

A low growl reverberated deep within Kotif Ra's throat. "Yes. Or at least until his help is finished."

Princess Shilear then patted the creature on its snout before gesturing to Mark's remains. "Finish your meal. We will figure out our next actions in the morning." She turned and proceeded back toward her encampment.

Kotif Ra watched her disappear along the path before settling down to the last of his meal. He could not help but feel that he may have destroyed their last and only chance. Despite the Princess's assurances that all hope was not lost, he could easily read the fear in her eyes. Anger swelled within him as he recalled that fateful day. Was it really less then two weeks ago . . .

Near him lay a fallen tree, the upper most portion submerged within the pond. With his tail he jostled the exposed trunk to release submerged gases carrying the aroma of decaying vegetation. Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes, allowing the moist, earthen scents to permeate his senses. The odor excited his taste buds, though he was not hungry. Unique among his race, this affinity toward decay so greatly amused the other dragons, they delighted in taunting him about not being a true predator. Truthfully, he enjoyed the hunt and the kill as much as anyone, but for some quirky reason, the smell and taste of decay made his mouth water just a little bit more.

His quiet reverie ended dramatically when a stream of fire engulfed his head, scorching the surrounding ground. Turning quickly toward the rocky mounds behind him, his alarm was as swiftly replaced by joy. Landier Shard, his friend and fellow dragon, stood atop one of the larger boulders. He was laughing as only a dragon could.

"Oh, Scav," he laughed. "You should have seen your face. It was priceless."

Scav was the nickname his friends often called him. It was short for scavenger, for obvious dietary reasons. He didn't mind, though. He had lived with it for so many years now, if they hadn't used it, he would assume they were upset with him about something.

More surprising than the blast of fire, however, was the glistening shine to Landier Shard's golden scales. "Good morning Shard," Kotif Ra said. "You are looking rather striking today. Paying a visit to the House of Molenje?"

"If only I were so lucky," Landier Shard answered.

Molenje Val was the youngest dragoness of the House of Molenje. Landier Shard had worked for months to get his father to arrange a union between the House of Landier and the House of Molenje so that he might take her as his mate. It was rare for a dragon to court the younger dragoness of a House, but Landier Shard loved her, even more than Kotif Ra did the stench of decay. It was likewise fortunate that Molenje Val felt the same for him. The ceremony was planned and everything was set, save for the final approval of Molenje Val's father, Molenje Kral. Thus far, he was skeptical of Landier Shard as his daughter's suitor, and until he decided otherwise, casual visits between the two were kept to a minimum.

"Have you not heard?" Landier Shard asked. "The Great Council is meeting with the entire elven High Council today. They are not saying what it is about."

Kotif Ra's spirit picked up with this news. "No, I had not heard. When is the meeting taking place?"

"This afternoon." "Good, that gives me plenty of time to get myself ready. Thank you, Shard. I will meet you at the citadel later," Kotif Ra replied before heading back up to his cave.

Landier Shard smiled toward his departing friend. "I figured you would want to know," he softly spoke, knowing full well that Kotif Ra was no longer in ear shot.

He knew that Kotif Ra's excitement was not about the important meeting, but rather the fact that Princess Shilear would be coming also. Her father, being a member of the elves' High Council, would often allow Princess Shilear to attend him on his journeys. They knew that one day she would be on the High Council, and she was one to always prepare for the future.

Once, many years ago, she was caught unprepared by a tribe of goblins. She was saved from certain death by the timely arrival of Kotif Ra, who had heard her screaming pleas. Since that time, they had become close friends, and it was through her urgings that her father convinced the High Council to make an alliance with the dragons. It was an alliance that had lasted for over thirty years, and in all that time Princess Shilear had never again been caught unprepared.

From the golden spires to the scarlet walls and emerald walkways, every stone was meticulously protected with a coating of a special paint mixture the gnomes had fabricated from the discarded scales of the dragons.

The dwellings used by the visiting elves were located directly at the base of the citadel. Moving further out were more dwellings, those used by the dwarven and gnome servants. It was from beyond these that the elven High Council arrived just past noon. After their lodgings had been arranged and all other preliminary amenities had concluded, Princess Shilear quickly departed in search of Kotif Ra. She knew she would not be missed; a meeting of this magnitude entailed many long hours behind closed doors. She would have plenty of time to kill.

Kotif Ra and Landier Shard sat on one of the higher platforms, looking down upon the chaos below. The gnome servants hustled about, catering to the needs of the elven entourage, as the dragon emissaries welcomed them to the citadel. With them on the platform was a younger silver dragon; a silent sentinel who watched over and guarded the citadel from any threat.

"How are things going with Val's father," Kotif Ra asked Landier Shard.

"Still no change. He wants me to prove that I will be a suitable mate, but I have no idea how to go about it."

"I would not worry," Kotif Ra said, "he is only making things difficult to ensure that you have the resolve to see it through."

"I hope that is all it is," Landier Shard said, "because I do not know what my life would be without her."

Kotif Ra quietly looked back out into the valley. Immediately Landier Shard understood his friend's solemn gaze. "Do not lose all hope, Ra. Time will unite you with a mate of your own."

"Time, is not the enemy I face in acquiring a proper mate."

Landier Shard looked at his friend for a moment, but said nothing. The thirty year alliance was barely enough to allow this day's important meeting to even happen, let alone sanction the type of relationship Kotif Ra secretly desired. A desire he shared with Landier Shard alone; not even the Princess knew the depths to which his emotional longings had gone.

The sound of a familiar voice broke their silence a few minutes later. "I am sorry ladies, they look a little preoccupied. I guess you will just have to spend the day with me."

Both Kotif Ra and Landier Shard quickly looked toward the ramp leading up to their platform. Approaching was their friend Argoness Tahn; a large, crimson dragon. The oldest and wisest of their group of friends, it was through his wisdom and teachings that Kotif Ra had saved the life of Princess Shilear. Where most dragons would have slain the elf along with the goblins, Argoness Tahn had always taught the need for peace between dragons and elves. No one understood, and often mocked, his feelings toward the elves, but they made an impact on Kotif Ra. An impact that had forever changed his life.

Walking beside him was Molenje Val. Landier Shard stood quickly, taking a regal pose which allowed the midday sun to glisten off his polished, golden scales. "Hello, Val," he said, his gaze transfixed by her own radiant, turquoise platings.

Molenje Val smiled back before turning to Argoness Tahn. "Thank you, Tahn," she softly spoke before walking toward Landier Shard.

Kotif Ra also stood at their arrival, but was far less formal. Seated atop Argoness Tahn was Princess Shilear, sparing her the long walk up. "Tahn, you look good this way," Kotif Ra joked at his friend's role as mount for the elf. "You should consider hiring yourself out."

"Watch it Scav," Argoness Tahn replied, "or I will fly her off to keep for my own." He then bowed down to allow Princess Shilear to climb from his back.

"Thank you, Tahn," Princess Shilear said. "But you had better be careful. I just may take you up on that one day."

"It would be an honor, Princess. On that you have my word," Argoness Tahn offered before turning to Kotif Ra. "I will see you tonight Scav, and remind Shard to take it slow. Mating before the union ceremony is extremely taboo to the Molenje family."

"Do not worry," Kotif Ra replied. "With everything he has gone through to pull this off, you could not bribe Shard to do anything that might mess it up now."

With that, Argoness Tahn stepped upon the wall of the platform and leapt off. His huge wings unfurled to catch the air, sending him into a glide over the city. As Kotif Ra and Princess Shilear turned away, they saw Landier Shard and Molenje Val walking off, looking for a little privacy of their own.

It was during one of these silent moments, as the sun set beneath a deep crimson sky, that the nightmare began. It started slowly, with the approach of one of the citadel guards. The sleek, muscular, silver dragon appeared hesitant, if not reluctant, to disturb them. It was well known among the dragons at the citadel that Princess Shilear was responsible for the alliance between the elves and the dragons, though the Great Council would never admit it.

"Your pardon, Princess," he interrupted, "but I must insist that you vacate the citadel and return to the city below. Your council will be joining you there shortly."

Surprised, Princess Shilear glanced at Kotif Ra. The silver dragons were specially bred by the Great Council to guard the citadel. It was discovered that each of them had the innate ability, by use of a large crystal located in the Great Hall, to psychically receive orders directly from the council members. If the order had been given to escort the elves off the citadel, it did not bode well for the conference outcome.

"Very well," Princess Shilear replied to the guard before turning to Kotif Ra. "If all is well, I will see you and the others at the old mill the day after tomorrow?"

"Yes. Meanwhile, see if you can find out what happened from your father. I will see if I can find out anything around here." Kotif Ra saw the fear in her eyes and returned a reassuring smile. "Until then, Princess."

Princess Shilear smiled back, though it was merely a mask to her true concerns. "Good night, Ra," she said before turning and starting the long walk down to the city.

Kotif Ra watched her descend for a few moments before turning and heading off to find Landier Shard and Molenje Val. If their fears proved valid, disaster loomed on the horizon, and they might need to act quickly to prevent a war with the elves.

Princess Shilear emerged from within the old mill, once used by the dwarves, before their relocation to build the dragons' citadel. The large fields surrounding the mill were scorched and marred from constant usage by the dragons for training and sport.

"Hello, my friends," Princess Shilear greeted. "How are things at the citadel?"

"As well as can be, considering the circumstances," Kotif Ra replied. "The Great Council has remained silent, so we do not even know what happened. What about you?"

"Well, it took some doing, but I was able to get my father to tell me some of what happened." The dragons moved in closer to hear what she had to say. "It is not good news. Supposedly, the Great Council had received a warning from the Firebird. It stated that the Guardian is dying."

"What?" Quarnek Hewn asked. "How can that be?"

"They do not know," Princess Shilear continued. "That is why they called the meeting, but things did not go well. It started out as a search for a solution, but quickly deteriorated into an argument over who was to blame. The Great Council accused us elven sorcerers of weakening the Guardian of energy with all of our spell casting. In return, the elven High Council accused you dragons of weakening the Guardian by constantly burning the forests, and devouring its inhabitants, disrupting the life-balances established by the Guardian.

"Needless to say, the alliance between the elves and dragons quickly eroded. I am afraid that if something is not done soon, war may erupt at any moment."

A long silence followed and Princess Shilear remained still, allowing the dragons time to absorb what they had just learned. Argoness Tahn broke the long silence.

"Okay," he said. "Just because the Great Council does not have any answers does not mean there are none. So, what are we going to do about it?"

"Get information," Argoness Meth answered his cousin's question. "We need more information first. Like what exactly ails the Guardian, and how much time do we have left?"

"And for that matter," Quarnek Hewn continued, "does anyone even know where the Guardian lives?"

Silence ensued, and after puzzled glances passed from dragon to dragon, all eyes eventually fell upon Princess Shilear. She shook her head. "Even the High Council has never seen him. The only contact they ever have is with its messenger, the Firebird. "

"And what about the Firebird?" Kotif Ra asked. "Is it able to help us in any way?"

"Probably not," Princess Shilear answered. "My father believes that the Firebird may simply be a manifestation of the Guardian's. A creature of energy that allows it to communicate with us. If that is the case, then it will die along with the Guardian ."

"Then, without the Firebird, and the Councils not having any answers," Landier Shard solemnly said, "there really is no solution."

"No," Princess Shilear proclaimed. "There is a possible solution. I just do not know if it is the answer."

"And what would that be?" Argoness Tahn asked.

Princess Shilear hesitated, unsure as to whether her plan should even be mentioned. "I know of a way to bring a human over from Earth."

"What?" Argoness Meth quickly interjected. "Are you crazy. The whole existence of the Guardian is to protect our world from outsiders such as the humans. Bringing one here is the last thing we should be thinking about."

"I must support Meth's assessment," Argoness Tahn added, "though not his reasonings. I do not believe it wise to reintroduce dragons and elves to humans just yet. We need peace among ourselves first. This is our problem, and requires our own solution. "

Princess Shilear remained silent, yet defiant to Argoness Tahn's reply. She needed their support if her plan was to work, but to argue the point would ally them against her. For long moments even her trusted friend, Kotif Ra seemed to reject the idea. It was Quarnek Hewn who broke the silence.

"I do not know," he said. "It could be interesting to actually meet a human. How much harm can a single human do? Bringing one here would definitely not make our situation any worse."

"Are you serious?" Argoness Meth asked.

"Yes, he is," proclaimed Kotif Ra. "Let us at least hear the plan before passing judgement. Princess?"

"Thank you, Ra," Princess Shilear said, relieved at her friend's trust in her. "I have discovered that the Guardian is somehow connected to the humans. I recently had access to the ancient elven scriptures. They made mention of a time before the Guardian. A time when all three of our races, including the humans, lived together on one world; on Earth.

"From what I could gather, a great conflict erupted. The result was that the elves and dragons agreed to leave the Earth for this world. If the scriptures are true, some of the humans offered us the Guardian so that our new world would be able to support us. I have scrutinized every passage I could translate, and nowhere does it state that it was the humans the Guardian was protecting us from."

"And you believe these scriptures to be accurate?" Argoness Meth asked.

"More importantly," Landier Shard interrupted. "After all this time, would a human even be willing to help us, or would he welcome our demise?"

"I do not think we have a choice," Kotif Ra affirmed, turning his gaze toward Argoness Tahn. "I am sorry, Tahn, but I believe that we must at least try. Unless you have a better option."

"Think of it this way, Tahn," Quarnek Hewn interjected. "It is only one human, and if he can help us, great. If he cannot, we will be the only living dragons to once again know what a human tastes like. Besides, with the way you preach about our coming return to Earth, would it not be wise to see how a human will react to us?"

Argoness Tahn exhaled a long sigh, contemplating their options. After a long moment he turned to Princess Shilear. "Very well. But remember this; you must bring over only one, no more. And make sure that no one else on Earth learns of our plight. Hewn is correct. We are coming to a crossroad and one day soon, the humans will play their part."

Princess Shilear nodded an agreement, though she was unsure of Argoness Tahn's concerns for such caution.

"So what would we have to do?" Quarnek Hewn asked eagerly.

"First," Princess Shilear began, "I am going to need Ra to fly me to the western shore."

"But that is at least a five day flight," Landier Shard said, a note of concern on his voice.

"I know," Princess Shilear continued, "but the energy needed to open a gateway to Earth will not go unnoticed by the High Council. If they try to investigate, I must be far enough away to give me time to succeed. The rough terrain to the west should discourage them from even trying."

"And the rest of us?" Argoness Meth asked.

Princess Shilear looked at each of the dragons in turn, except for Kotif Ra. "I need you to do the impossible. I do not know how, nor do I care, but you must find the location of the Guardian. Assuming the human can help us, direct contact with the Guardian may be essential. I realize it is a lot that I ask of you, but I do not think we have an alternative."

The four dragons looked at each other in stunned silence. In all of three thousand years, they knew of no dragon or elf ever coming across any sign of the Guardian. How were they to find him in a few days, especially if he were dying, or dead.

Princess Shilear offered the only clue she had. "Over the last twenty five or so years, the Firebird had visited your Great Council before coming to my father and the High Council. Assuming it did this because of ease of travel, the Guardian should be in a direction that puts it closer to your citadel than it does my city."

"We will have to split up and each search different regions," offered Quarnek Hewn.

"I will talk to Val's father," Landier Shard added. "He might let me know if the Great Council has been keeping anything a secret from us."

"Very well, Shard," Princess Shilear said. "Just make sure not to mention our plan. Especially, do not mention me. With tensions as high as they are right now, I do not want you risking your union with Val."

"How will we keep in touch with each other?" Argoness Meth asked.

"We can use Val," Landier Shard offered. "Periodically, we can return back to the citadel and let her know what we have found. Since you are all my closest friends, it will not appear strange that you are periodically checking on her well being for me. "

"Excellent idea, Shard," praised Kotif Ra, "but time is running against us. I think the Princess and I should be on our way."

A look of concern grew on Argoness Tahn's face. "Be careful, Scav. Always remember, there is a reason as to why we left Earth. Also, if things are this bad around here, there is no telling what you will find out by the western shore. And if you do not succeed, what we do here will not matter."

Kotif Ra knew that Argoness Tahn was referring to the elven cities located further from the citadel. If war erupted, even his scaled hide would not survive for long, alone against a massed attack of elven magic. He knew his travels would require stealth and caution, but he would not be traveling alone, and this allowed him to return a reassuring retort. "Do not worry about me, Tahn. I am the only one of us with an elven sorceress of his own. I need you guys to keep up the hope around here and try to forestall the situation from getting any worse. We will be back with help before you know it . . ."

Princess Shilear's voice broke the morning quiet. "Stop it, Ra!" she said in an angry tone that addressed the sullen expression on his face. "We are nowhere near the site of the gateway, and in the darkness, there was no way for you to know that he was a human. It was as much my fault for not keeping a better eye on him."

"I know Princess," Kotif Ra replied. "I just feel that we may already be too late. For the past three days I have been searching hundreds of miles of terrain. In all that time, he was the only living creature I had seen. I had encountered no members of the local dragon clans, and even a nearby elven village was left abandoned.

"Besides, it was not so dark that I could not easily spot him upon the cliff. I should have recognized right away that he was an unfamiliar creature, but I did not. Instead, I lost control. Hunger and desperation took over and I fear if it should happen again."

Princess Shilear hesitated before responding. "I am sorry, Ra. I had no idea things had gotten that bad. I am the one who has been unthinking. I have allowed the mysteries and wonderment of Earth and the humans to cloud my mind from everything that is going on."

"But is there still time?" he asked tentatively.

"Until our dying breaths, there is still time. And hope," she replied. "Now, I must go prepare for opening the gateway."

"Should I accompany you?" he asked as she turned back toward the camp.

"No. There won't be any need. This human; Shawn was his name. I will open the gateway directly in his presence and force him through. We do not have time for idle requests."

With that, she continued back to the camp. Kotif Ra stood, stretched, and followed.

"Princess," Kotif Ra called out and quickly approached to help.

"I am fine, Ra," she said as she regained her balance. "I am just still a little exhausted from yesterday." "Maybe we should wait a while longer. Let you rest some more."

She took a few deep breaths to steady herself. "No. We need to do this as quickly as possible." Then, without another word, she stepped into the vortex. Kotif Ra watched her disappear.

As the long seconds past, Kotif Ra began to fear that something had gone wrong. Not understanding the nature of Princess Shilear's sorcery, he could do nothing but wait. When the vortex began to shrink, he panicked.

"Princess!" he yelled out before plunging his head and neck into the vortex. Flashes of colored light surrounded him, disorienting him within the constant, swirling motion. The pressure of the collapsing vortex soon gripped around his neck. A distorted figure moved before him and with no time to spare, he grabbed the figure between his jaws and pulled himself back out of the vortex, hoping for the best. Once free, his vision cleared and upon releasing the figure, he discovered that it was not Princess Shilear. It was a human.

His eyes wide with fear, Kotif Ra looked again at the vortex, able to do nothing but watch as it vanished from existence. "Princess!" he yelled out, stopping when he realized it was too late. Saddened, he looked toward the terrified human slowly backing away.

"You have nothing to fear from me human," he said in a soft tone before adding, "Unless you refuse to help."

"What . . .? What do you want me to do?" the human asked, his heart pounding to his fear of the enormous reptile standing just a few feet away.

"For now, nothing," Kotif Ra answered. "We will wait here for the Princess to return. Now, what is your name?"

"Shawn," he replied, and upon saying his own name, some of his fear eased away. "My name is Shawn."

"Good," the dragon said. "You are the one she was seeking. I am Kotif Ra. You may call me Ra. The elf we are waiting for is Princess Shilear."

A look of surprise crossed Shawn's face. "The same Princess I met the other day?" he asked. "But, she was human then."

"She traveled in disguise so that she would not be noticed. This time, she did not have the time nor energy to don the illusion."

"Then, she was telling the truth," Shawn said, "about a world of elves and dragons. It seemed too unbelievable." For a moment, he remained silent, trying to fully grasp the situation. If all of this was real, then perhaps it explained the disappearance of his partner, two days ago. "The Princess had also met with a friend of mine. Do you know if he was brought here? His name was Mark."

"Yes. We . . . met," Kotif Ra slowly answered, turning his gaze away from the human. "There was an accident," he said, and after a long hesitation, he looked back at Shawn. "Your friend is dead. I am sorry."

Shawn became very uncomfortable and it was then that he first noticed the dried blood around the dragon's mouth. Fearing the suspicions that entered his mind, he turned away toward the vanished vortex. Raising his hand to scratch an itch, he found his shirt moist with the dragon's saliva from where it had grabbed him, as well as a few large holes caused by Kotif Ra's teeth. Beneath the holes were bleeding cuts and scratches. They did not appear too serious.

"It might be a while," he finally said. "She had collapsed upon arriving. She appeared to be okay, just very weak. I was trying to help her when you grabbed me."

"Trust me," Kotif Ra said. "It was not you I was trying to grab."

Having no reply, Shawn slowly stepped away from the dragon and meandered around the camp until finding some water and a clean cloth to tend his wounds. It must have been because Kotif Ra could speak, but as Shawn sat there, his fear of the situation slowly faded. He was quickly becoming fascinated by the creature before him. The idea of the existence of dragons was unbelievable, especially when he tried to rationalize how a creature like Kotif Ra could even speak, let alone speak English.

Watching the dragon move was even more amazing. The emerald scales shifted with the rippling of the muscles underneath as the chest expanded and contracted with each breath. Mesmerized by the sheer size and form of the creature before him, he was soon examining the dragon's head and face. Though the basic structure was reptilian in nature, there was definitely some mammalian features. The three foot long, spiked horns curving up from the skull were obviously traits that designated maturity. More obvious, though, was the diversity of facial expressions it could make. This dragon could feel and show true emotions.

"Excuse me, Ra," Shawn said, allowing his curiosity to overcome his fear. "Princess Shilear never had the chance to tell me everything she had told Mark. Since we have little else to do while we wait, why don't you tell me exactly why I'm here."

Kotif Ra looked at Shawn. The human was correct. It might be a while and with or without the Princess, he still needed him. He was glad to see that the human appeared willing to cooperate, though recalling Tahn's warnings, he remained cautious as to why.

In any event, the long tale of dragons, elves and the Guardian began anew. Kotif Ra tried to remember as many details as possible, and as the day grew on, Shawn began asking questions of his own. Some Kotif Ra had answers for, others he did not. As day turned into early evening, Kotif Ra became comfortable with Shawn. So much so, that as the tale neared its conclusion, he told Shawn how Mark had died.

Shawn gave no response and this surprised Kotif Ra. Had Shawn already suspected this? Did he understand the circumstances? Would he forgive Kotif Ra, or try to enact revenge? Kotif Ra debated telling Shawn the truth, but concluded that if Shawn was going to help, he needed to know how desperate the situation had become.

"I regret my actions upon your friend," Kotif Ra said, "but you can remain secure in the knowledge that I have promised Princess Shilear that it will not happen again. I do not break my promises."

Still, Shawn remained unresponsive. Finding the human's reaction somewhat unsettling, Kotif Ra quickly concluded the tale with Shawn's arrival. Princess Shilear had not yet returned.

From Shawn's perspective, he was being neither rude nor angry. As with any line of work, Mark knew the risks and dangers. He could not hold Kotif Ra responsible if Mark had been careless. But until he was sure of the facts of the incident, he likewise could not forgive him. His silence was further enhanced by the rest of Kotif Ra's tale. His investigations on Earth had led him to many fascinating revelations, but none could compare to this. This was just the thing he and Mark had sought for so many years. Could the existence of this world be responsible for any of the other paranormal occurrences he tried to solve? He needed to learn all he could about this world.

"I understand your concerns for the Princess, Ra," Shawn finally said, "but I think tomorrow we should continue with her plan. I don't think we have the time to waste. Besides, if all you say about her is true, upon waking, she should be able to open a gateway directly back to her home."

"I agree," Kotif Ra sighed after a long, contemplative pause. "Tomorrow we will go to find my friends and save my world."

Shawn said nothing, but the expression on his face revealed the doubts he had. Like Mark, he loved the challenge of a tough case, but their paranormal research never included off-world travel, or dragons. He did not know if there was anything he could do to help. He would do everything possible, but his main goal right now was to get as much information as he could and hopefully be able to at least return to Earth before the end. Maybe even taking some of this world's inhabitants with him. He wished he hadn't brushed off Princess Shilear's story so quickly the other day; the lost time could be crucial in missing any key information. But with all the lunatics they had been forced to listen to over the years, her story fit way at the top.

This was not a simple paranormal investigation, however. He knew all about psychic powers and spirits, but this didn't fit into any known category. It was going to be a long, hard learning process to solve this one. Kotif Ra estimated a four day trip back to his citadel. Shawn hoped that would be enough time to gather information. Actually, based on what Kotif Ra had told him, he was unsure if they even had four days left.

"No," Kotif Ra answered. "I suggest you search through the camp for anything you might need. To save time and energy, we must travel as light as possible. I know the Princess had brought along food supplies, but as far as what your friend had brought, I have no idea."

"It's not a problem," Shawn replied. "Just give me a couple of minutes and I'll be ready to go." The previous night, Shawn had found the backpack Mark had brought along. Inside was some clothing, from which he selected a new shirt, as well as an array of specialized equipment they used in their investigations. Most of it, Shawn figured to be useless in this situation. He held onto the flashlight, but discarded the electrostatic and magnetic field detectors. They were useful in measuring the minute field distortions which manifested in the presence of ghosts and psychic energies, but he believed they would basically be useless here.

The most important items he found was a pen and notepad. He spent a full two hours the previous evening writing down everything Kotif Ra told him that he felt might prove useful. He also knew that an ongoing diary would be the only way he could document the events for when he returned to Earth. Mark had begun such a diary, though it focused on his personal view of the situation, and contained little that Shawn felt was useful in finding a solution. Into the now mostly empty backpack, he placed the water-skins and pouches of nuts and berries that Princess Shilear had stocked.

Next, it took Shawn a full ten minutes to figure out how to tie down the special harness Princess Shilear had designed for riding a dragon. Before she met Kotif Ra and the alliance was formed, a harness was not necessary. Though it was uncommon, any elves foolish enough to get that close to a dragon usually found themselves riding in the creature's stomach, not on its back.

The harness was designed so an elf could sit at the base of a dragon's neck, just above the shoulders. Shawn would have preferred it to be located further back, where the creature's body was more stable, as compared to the side-to-side swinging of its neck. The wings, however, prohibited that option; as they would fold back across its body when not in flight. Any obstruction to this posture would be very uncomfortable to the dragon.

All the while, Kotif Ra remained patient. He knew the importance of making sure Shawn did not fall off. When Shawn was finished, they proceeded along the path to the cliff. Kotif Ra emerged from the trees first, and as he did, he saw the shredded, blood-soaked clothing he had torn from Mark's body and discarded. He positioned his body to try and shield the debris from Shawn, but to no avail.

At first, not realizing what the debris was, Shawn stopped and approached. Upon spying a shoe, he knew exactly what he was looking at. Before him lay the final remnants of his friend and partner. He felt nothing. All thoughts and emotions succumbed to an engulfing numbness. It had been easy to accept Mark's death when told by word of mouth, but to know how he had died, and then see these gruesome remains; it was beyond his ability to comprehend.

Kotif Ra, having proceeded to the cliff edge, silently watched. When Shawn turned and looked, he averted his gaze out into the valley. Shawn witnessed this action, but did not react. Instead, he simply approached and silently stood beside the large emerald creature.

Kotif Ra remained silent, refusing to look at Shawn. He had already openly and honestly told him of what had happened, and expressed his regrets. There was nothing more he could say that would change what had happened. Shawn likewise understood this, and maybe the dragon's silence was for the best. Any spoken words ran the risk of sparking anger, and hatred. So, in silence, Shawn climbed onto Kotif Ra, who waited for him to secure himself in the harness before proceeding to the ledge.

He stopped at the cliff's edge. "I suggest you hold on tight."

Hearing Kotif Ra's voice returned Shawn's thoughts to the task at hand. Peering over the edge, his heart began to beat faster as a nauseating dizziness engulfed him. The sheer drop before them was easily three hundred feet. When Kotif Ra moved forward, Shawn closed his eyes, swallowed, and held the harness as tight as he could. Kotif Ra's head lowered in preparation to launch himself off the cliff. Shawn gasped as he struggled to catch himself from slipping forward, out of the harness. Then suddenly, they dropped. The air rushed past, and Shawn envisioned his grisly demise upon the rocks at the bottom. In less than five seconds, Kotif Ra spread his wings, leveling their descent into a gentle glide. To Shawn, the change from freefall to horizontal glide seemed much longer. Eventually, he mustered the courage to open his eyes.

The view from atop the dragon was spectacular and once Shawn became confident that the harness would hold, he tried to enjoy the ride. By midday, his legs were cramping and his rump was sore. It was eight more hours before Kotif Ra landed to rest for the night.

Upon dismounting, Shawn fell to the ground moaning. He tried to massage some feeling back into his legs.

"I am sorry," Kotif Ra apologized, looking down at the agonized human. "Given the urgency of our mission, I did not think it wise to waste time stopping to rest in daylight, when we have all night."

"No, you're right," Shawn agreed. "I just hope I get used to this before I have to do any walking."

After a while, Shawn opened the backpack and removed the pad and pen. Reviewing his notes, he made some new entries.

The long, silent flight had left Kotif Ra concerned. He needed Shawn's trust if the human was to help him, but likewise knew that to mention Mark's name might distance them even further. Watching Shawn write, he decided to use that to renew a dialogue. "The words you write," he asked. "Do they solve the problem my world faces?"

"Not yet, they don't," Shawn answered in a casual tone, suggesting that he also sought to put aside that morning's tensions. "But I'm beginning to discover some very interesting questions."

"Such as?"

"Well, for starters, why are there only five races of creatures on this entire world? Why are there no smaller animals, or even insects, for that matter? The same with the plant life. I have only seen maybe a dozen different plant species all together. Everything seems to have a specific purpose. There is no diversity.

"The goblins are the dragons' main food supply, though I imagine you've eaten your share of dwarves, gnomes and elves. Other than the goblins, each of the races has a fairly high intelligence level. The dwarves are builders, utilizing certain plants and rocks for tools and shelters. The gnomes are weavers and servants. They use other plants to make clothing, but not just for themselves. They also make the clothing worn by the other races.

"The dragons and the elves are the mystery. They seem to be the central elements. All the other races produce something. The dragons and elves only seem to consume, though dragons produce fire and the elves control magic."

"I am sorry I asked," Kotif Ra replied, a look of dismay in his eyes.

"That's alright," Shawn replied. "As far as I'm concerned, these are the easy questions. When a solution is found, the answers here will be obvious. The tough questions involve the Guardian and his role in the scheme of things."

As Shawn settled back into the pages of his notepad, Kotif Ra turned away to settle down for the night. A soft rumble churned within his stomach. In the last five days, the human, Mark, was the only meal he had. He could not reach the citadel, carrying Shawn on his back, without at least one more meal. If the time came, and Shawn had not yet found a solution, would he doom his world by once again succumbing to his primal needs.

The previous evening, he found another cliff upon which to land, knowing full well the need to preserve his strength. Launching off a cliff was much easier than building lift by flapping his wings. Shawn fared better at his second drop off a cliff. He still held the harness with a vice-like grip, but now he kept his eyes open. The sudden surge of vertigo raced his heart faster, only this time it was more from excitement, than fear.

The twelve hour flight began taking its toll on Shawn. Unlike a dragon, he did not have a specialized eyelid to combat the constant rush of air against his face. Nor did he have the stamina to maintain the firm grasp of the harness. To compensate, he wrapped his arms securely in the straps and laid forward, face down. This helped, though not by much. The uncomfortable position also afforded him no opportunity to continue his quest for answers; that would have to wait until they had landed.

If the long day was wearisome to Shawn, he could not imagine its effects on Kotif Ra. Unfortunately, the answer to this thought would not be denied him. As the day ended, Kotif Ra made a faltered landing upon still another cliff, whereupon he collapsed to the ground. Attempting to dismount too quickly, Shawn caught his foot in the harness and twisted his already stiff leg with a sharp pull. Instinctively reaching for the pulled muscle, he left himself unprotected against the hard fall to the ground, and the impact upon his shoulder that followed.

Grabbing his shoulder, he sat on the ground in pain until his gaze fell upon the dragon, shifting his immediate concern back toward his newfound friend. "Ra," Shawn said as he struggled to move himself around to the front of the dragon.

Kotif Ra sluggishly turned to look at Shawn, kneeling and in pain just a few feet away. Forty eight hours of unbathed, human body odor assaulted his nostrils. The sight and smell of the injured human drew forth his predatory instincts. His mouth watered as a deep hunger growled from within. Shawn's look of concern transformed to one of fear as he heard the scraping of scales with the tensing of the muscles beneath. As Kotif Ra prepared to lunge and engulf the fleshy meal, Shawn saw the primal desire in the dragon's eyes, but he did not turn away. Escape was impossible. He had but one option.

"The Princess, Ra," Shawn said, his fear making every word a struggle. "Think of the Princess. Think of your world. Do you really want to do this?"

Kotif Ra remained primed for the lunge for a long moment. Then, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, allowing his muscles to relax upon the long exhale. "Thank you, Shawn," Kotif Ra responded as he again opened his eyes. "I am well now. I just need rest to regain my strength."

"You need a lot more than that, my friend," Shawn argued, knowing full well how closely he came to meeting his end. "What about nuts and berries. They might sustain you at least a little while."

"No," Kotif Ra said. "They might fill my stomach, but they would offer no energy, and could quite possible make the situation worse."

Shawn sat down before Kotif Ra; the dragon's calm voice dispelling any fears he had a minute before. His heart rate, however, continued at its elevated rate. He cursed himself for allowing his personal concerns and awe of the situation to drop his guard to potential threats. Mark had already made that mistake and he had no intentions of repeating it. He looked again at the features of the dragon before him, and any remaining fears washed away. Though black and hollow, the eyes portrayed a gentle innocence. Shawn knew he had to do whatever he could to find a solution.

He then tried to imagine how he would feel once he saved this world and its inhabitants. He smiled at the thought of being a hero to a world of dragons and elves. The envy his peers would feel when he returned to Earth. Soon, his thoughts returned to the task at hand. Retrieving his notepad, he continued to make some new entries, periodically going back and reviewing those he had made previously.

As dusk set in, Kotif Ra appeared to be in much better shape. He was able to get up and walk around, and he seemed eager to talk. Shawn enjoyed their conversations, as they usually pertained to the situation at hand, helping him focus his thoughts and develop a theory.

During a lull in the conversation, Shawn dug into a pouch of nuts. "What I wouldn't give for a nice steak right now," he said aloud, though talking to himself.

"What is a steak?" Kotif Ra asked.

Shawn looked up in surprise, not realizing that Kotif Ra had heard his comment. "It's a cut of meat from an animal on Earth called a cow," he answered. "I like it best when cooked just enough so that the inside is still a little pink."

Kotif Ra lifted his head in puzzlement. "Humans eat meat?" he asked.

"Sure," Shawn answered, surprised at the question. "Don't the elves or dwarves eat meat?"

"No," Kotif Ra plainly replied, as if stating the obvious. "Only dragons eat meat."

Shawn saw the longing in Kotif Ra's eyes as he said this, and not wanting to chance a repeat of what occurred earlier, he casually returned the food to his backpack. It was then he realized how attached he was becoming to Kotif Ra. Not so much as close friends, but neither like the attachment between a man and his dog. This was different; almost natural. A bond between two intelligent species. Shawn decided that some conversation might help clarify this relationship, as well as distract them from further thoughts of food.

"What is it like living here?" Shawn asked.

"I do not understand," Kotif Ra said. "It is like it is."

"No. I mean, what do you do? How do you spend your day?"

"I spend my day as any dragon. Some days I hunt. Others, we hold competitions. Since the alliance with the elves, we have not had to worry about war."

"But what about dreams, and desires? Don't you want something more out of life? Some type of challenge, or excitement?"

"Like what is occurring now?" Kotif Ra asked. "If a challenge means the death of my world, I would rather have complacency."

Shawn stopped and considered this. Perhaps he was going about this the wrong way. He needed to explore the dragon's relationships with others.

"What about the Princess?" he asked. "Do you often work with the elves? From what you've said, I didn't think dragons and elves got along too well."

Kotif Ra laughed. "No, you are correct. We usually do not get along. What I share with the Princess is a little different. It is something you will not readily find among the other dragons and elves. Now, if you will excuse me, I am tired. I shall see you in the morning."

"Good night, Ra," Shawn said, realizing that their relationship would have to develop on its own, though it appeared that Kotif Ra was not the typical dragon.

Kotif Ra stared blankly out over the valley. In a voice barely audible he replied. "Until our dying breaths, there is still time. And hope."

Then in a start, he turned to face Shawn. "Climb aboard my friend. Today we go to save a world."

Shawn was surprised by the response, but the confidence in Kotif Ra's voice sparked a new confidence in himself. "Lead the way," he said as he climbed into the harness.

Onward during the day, they sailed the skies, Kotif Ra often catching a warm thermal that lifted them to tremendous altitudes. This allowed the dragon to glide for great distances between flaps of his wings. It also enabled them to attain speeds unimaginable under ordinary circumstances.

As the sun reached late afternoon, Kotif Ra pulled up, hovering momentarily in mid air. "Hold on tight," he yelled, before proceeding into a nose-dive toward the treetops. A long bout of flame expelled from his open mouth, igniting the forest below. Shawn quickly hugged his body against Kotif Ra's neck, shielding his face from the backlash of heat racing over the dragon's head. Regaining his view a moment later, he saw what Kotif Ra was after.

From within the trees, two figures emerged into a small clearing, escaping the fiery blaze ignited behind them. One of the figures was carrying a third, a juvenile.

As Kotif Ra dove past the last tree, Shawn realized what was about to happen. Quickly, he looped his arms and legs securely into the harness. An instant later he surged forward, as Kotif Ra came to a crashing halt upon his prey. Shawn's muscles pulled in agony at the abrupt stop, nearly hurling him from the harness. He screamed out in agony at the sudden jerk upon his previously injured shoulder and leg, though his cry was nothing as compared to those of the creatures below.

Looking down, he watched in terrified fascination as the dragon's head descended first upon the lone figure; a disfigured humanoid, of slight build and standing almost five feet tall. The great jaws that had pulled Shawn into this world now enveloped the hapless victim. Lifted skyward, the creature's life expired instantly with a single, sharp thrash of Kotif Ra's head, and the snapping of its spine. In a single, horrifying instant, Shawn witnessed how Mark must have died. The ferocity of the attack left him numb. The fairy tale was over. He was no longer of the superior species, and his fragile life was but a mote to the power before him.

Shawn then heard the snapping of bones, as one of Kotif Ra's claws crushed the legs of the other figure. The screaming figure sprawled to the ground, sending the juvenile into a tumble across the grassy field.

So as to not let his prey escape, Kotif Ra dropped the lifeless form from his mouth and quickly lunged to snatch up the juvenile. The small, squealing figure quickly vanished into the dragon with a single gulp. Turning away from the grisly scene, Shawn's eyes fell upon the mauled figure Kotif Ra had dropped. He watched in stunned amazement as the grey, hairless creature vanished before his eyes. A sudden revelation entered his mind.

"Ra, stop!" Shawn yelled out as the dragon was preparing to descend upon the remaining creature.

For an instant, Kotif Ra considered ignoring the human's plea. Instead, he simply held the shrieking creature under a clawed foot. "Why have you stopped me?" Kotif Ra asked impatiently.

"If you kill it," Shawn yelled over the bestial cry of the goblin. "It will simply vanish before you can get any nourishment from it."

Kotif Ra looked around and saw that the other goblin had vanished, and pondered this for a moment. "There was a void in my stomach that is now partly filled. How can one goblin vanish, yet another remain to be consumed?" he asked.

"I don't know," Shawn replied. "It might have to do with the fact that you swallowed the one while it was still alive. As its life was extinguished, something in your body prevented the energy from dissipating."

"So, in order for me to eat," Kotif Ra asked, "my prey must still be alive?"

"I believe so," Shawn answered. "I could be wrong."

Without another word, Kotif Ra lifted the screaming goblin between his teeth. Using his right claw, he carefully stuffed the struggling creature further into his mouth, until his throat muscles could grab hold. The larger prey did not swallow as easily as the juvenile, but Kotif Ra lifted his head, and forced it down. Shawn felt a mild swelling beneath him as the goblin slid past. Sickened by the concept of what the goblin felt as it was swallowed alive, his thoughts returned to the previous night, and he considered how close he came to experiencing it first hand. He quickly expelled this thought with those of relief at the silencing of the goblin's screams.

Kotif Ra took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Thank you, Shawn," he said satisfactorily. "It appears you are correct. Now, I must wait for my meal to digest."

Shawn dismounted and nearly collapsed to the ground, the injury to his leg again aggravated. Looking back toward the burning forest, he was amazed to see the fire already burning itself out. Hurriedly, he took out his notepad and began writing, not unnoticed by Kotif Ra, who waited for him to finish.

"You have found an answer?" Kotif Ra asked.

"A theory," Shawn corrected as he thumbed through the notepad. "You always start with a theory. Then you try to prove the theory wrong. If you can't, chances are good that the theory is correct and you have an answer."

"Then what is your theory?" Kotif Ra asked.

Shawn continued to scan his notes before replying. "So far, it's not much. It appears that this entire world is like some giant experiment. Everything here save for the dragons and elves have a singular, well defined purpose. But that's not all. It's as if pure energy was being converted directly into solid matter, and then back again. The Guardian is most likely responsible for how this energy is used to create new matter, but with his dying, the energy has no controller. Matter simply reverts back to energy, with nothing to replace it. But, given the amount of matter that is vanishing, the energy released should be tremendous. Unless that energy is being immediately redirected by some other force.

"The elves have the ability to manipulate energy with their sorcery. But what if the only energy they can utilize is that caused by the transferal of matter into energy? With the Guardian dying, no new matter is being created, so the elves are using up what matter is left. Nothing is replenishing it."

Kotif Ra stared blankly at Shawn. "So then the Great Council was correct. The elves are the cause of our problems."

"No," Shawn replied slowly, realizing that everything he just said was well beyond anything any dragon had ever heard before. "The elves are probably the only thing keeping this world together right now." Shawn thought for a moment, trying to find the correct wording.

"Think of it this way," he continued. "After you eat a goblin, your stomach slowly digests it, turning it into energy that your body can use so you can walk, or fly, or whatever. Without the Guardian, it's as if the world is trying to redigest all of the goblins. But rather then doing it slowly, like your stomach does, these goblins are turned into energy in an instant. But doing so would normally cause a large explosion."

Shawn looked around the clearing. "Here," he continued. "Can you breathe a long blast of fire at that tree. Keep it going as long as you can and watch what happens."

Kotif Ra turned and moved closer to the tree. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled a tight stream of fire directly into the tree's trunk. For the first few moments, nothing surprising happened. Then after a few more seconds, there was a loud crack and the tree toppled over. Kotif Ra stopped expelling the flame and they both approached.

"You see here?" Shawn asked while pointing to where the tree had splintered. "What happened was the heat of your flame had heated the water inside the tree. When the water boiled and turned into steam, energy was released and it exploded outward, shattering the tree."

Suddenly, taking them both by surprise, the fallen tree and its burning trunk vanished before their eyes. Kotif Ra jumped back, but Shawn only looked on in amazement.

"Did you see that?" Shawn asked excitedly.

"Yes," Kotif Ra replied, backing further away. "I do not like this."

"What I mean is what just happened," Shawn continued as he turned back towards Kotif Ra. "The water in the tree trunk made up only a tiny bit of all the solid material that made up the tree. Turning the water into steam only released a small portion of its potential energy and yet it was enough to shatter it. Now we see the entire tree convert into pure energy, releasing every bit of energy that it possibly could, and nothing happened.

"So, what I think is happening, is that the elves are somehow taking that energy and turning it into their magic. If they weren't, explosions a thousand times more powerful than what you did to the tree would be occurring around us all the time. Every living creature would be dead in under a day."

"Then, if the elves' magics are using this energy, why did not Princess Shilear reopen a gateway back to us?" Kotif Ra asked.

Shawn was surprised by the question. Both by its thoughtfulness, and because he had not realized how much Kotif Ra had been thinking about the Princess. "I'm not sure," he said after a few moments of thought. "It seems to me that anything alive, stays solid. It only changes into energy upon dying, like the tree or the goblin. Since so few things are still alive, very little is dying, and so there is not enough energy left for her to use."

"What if we destroy many things?" Kotif Ra asked. "We can burn down forests. That should release the needed energy." "It should," Shawn replied, "but it's too risky. Since the energy is used by the elves' magic as soon as something dies, if the Princess is not actively trying to open a gateway, the energy will be wasted somewhere else. Besides, like I said the other day, she may have already returned and is waiting for us."

"Perhaps," Kotif Ra said, "though I have my doubts."

Kotif Ra turned away and laid down to rest. Shawn watch him silently, wishing for some way to comfort him. He then returned to his notes. If his new theory was correct, it was a major breakthrough. All he had to do now was figure out how the Guardian converted energy into matter, in the hopes of restoring life back to this world.

As the day wore on, Kotif Ra began to recognize the landscape. Their non-stop daylight traveling had taken an entire day off their expected time of arrival. "We are nearly there, Shawn," he said. "We should make it by nightfall."

"Excellent, Ra," Shawn replied.

Remembering what Landier Shard had said about meeting at the House of Molenje, it was there that Kotif Ra traveled, rather than the citadel. Landing a safe distance away, Shawn dismounted and remained hidden from sight as Kotif Ra entered the cave.

Inside, Kotif Ra found Molenje Val and Argoness Meth talking. "From the long faces," he interrupted, "I take it things have not improved."

"Ra, you are back!" Argoness Meth blurted as he stood to greet his friend. "Where is the Princess? Did her plan work?"

"Slow down, Meth," Kotif Ra advised. "Everything will be explained. First I need you to find the others and have them meet me at the old mill tomorrow morning. You should come too, Val."

"I will," Molenje Val replied. "I am glad you are okay."

"Speaking of which," Kotif Ra stated, "is there anything left to eat around here?"

"Ra?" Shawn questioned. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Kotif Ra answered softly. "Only some painful reminders of things lost."

Believing that the pond held a special connection with the missing Princess, Shawn did not press the issue. It was obvious his feelings toward her were more than friendship. Shortly, they proceeded up to the cave.

"You will be safe here for tonight," Kotif Ra said. "I have to go to the citadel. Val said they had corralled the surviving gnomes and dwarves together for food. Those two goblins will not sustain me much longer."

"Go," Shawn encouraged. "There's still a lot ahead of us yet to do. And Ra?" Kotif Ra stopped at the cave entrance and looked back. "Welcome home."

Kotif Ra smiled at Shawn as he realized that he had actually made it back. With all that had happened over the last two weeks, he really was back home.

Shawn remained safely hidden inside the old mill. His presence outside would only raise too many questions with the arrival of each dragon. It was better to wait for all of them to arrive before making his entrance.

The wait was not long. With the depleted food supplies, no one was going far from the citadel anymore. Upon their arrival, and after all the heartfelt greetings had been made, Kotif Ra began.

"Shawn?" he called back to the old mill. To begin his tale, it was necessary to first introduce the human.

Shawn stepped from the mill and approached. A hushed silence fell upon the dragons. "Hello, everybody," Shawn said.

"Is that . . . a human?" Argoness Meth asked, breaking the silence.

"My friends," Kotif Ra proudly began, "I would like you to meet Shawn, a human. Shawn, this is Hewn, Val, Shard, Tahn and Meth." He introduced each of his friends in order, around the semicircle they formed.

Quarnek Hewn, standing closest to Shawn as he approached, lowered his head and sniffed the strange creature. "So this is a human," he said, before casually adding. "I wonder, do you taste more like goblin or dwarf?"

"You'll have to wait to find out," Shawn quickly retorted. "If you want your world to survive."

Quarnek Hewn frowned and backed off. "True, for now, you do have a service to perform," he confirmed, but a tempted desire lingered in his eyes.

Unsure as to whether or not Quarnek Hewn was joking, Shawn was relieved to hear another dragon's voice.

"Where is Princess Shilear?" Landier Shard asked eagerly.

A sadness fell across Kotif Ra's face, and after a long pause, he began the tale of the past two weeks. It took more than a full hour for Kotif Ra and Shawn to tell the story, all the while answering questions and reexplaining theories.

When Kotif Ra told of the vanishing goblin, Argoness Tahn broke into laughter. "Oh man, Scav, you must have really freaked out when that happened."

"Yeah," Landier Shard added. "Can you imagine him actually having to catch and eat life prey?"

Shawn looked around in confusion at the other dragons' comments. His ponderings caught the attention of Molenje Val.

"You see, Shawn," she said. "Ra has an interesting quirk among dragons. He prefers the smell and taste of decaying food over fresh meat. Of course his friends will not let him live it down."

"Of course," Quarnek Hewn continued. "That is why Princess Shilear selected him to help bring you here. She knew you would be safe from any palatable temptations with him around."

"Enough of that, Hewn," Kotif Ra interrupted. "We have more important things to concern us right now."

Quarnek Hewn eased up, but it left Shawn a little shaken. That was the second reference Quarnek Hewn made of him being on today's menu. And, if what Quarnek Hewn had said about the rest of them was true, at any time he could end up in the stomach of any one of Kotif Ra's friends. Though the dragons were intelligent, they were also carnivores, and surrounded by six of the enormous creatures during an approaching famine, while they talked about eating their prey alive, it was more than a little unsettling. Taking a few deep breaths to calm his sudden anxiety, Shawn knew he had to change the subject.

"Ra?" Shawn asked. "When was the last time you had eaten a dead carcass? Was it before or after the news of the Guardian?" Okay, so maybe his choice of questions was not what he was looking for, but it did divert attention back to the situation at hand.

Kotif Ra was likewise relieved at the change of focus back to the Guardian. "It was definitely before. I had found a dwarf caught in a rock slide the day before the Councils had their big meeting. Then, once this quest began, I have not found anything. Even the wind no longer carried a trace of decay. I have not seen, smelled, nor tasted dead meat, until Mark."

"True," Shawn explained, "but Mark was human, and not a creature of this world. Since the Guardian didn't create him, his matter was not recycled back into the system. At least not until converted by your digestive system."

"So what are you getting at?" Asked Argoness Meth.

"Just more verification on a theory," Shawn continued. "Have any dragons died since the message about the Guardian?"

"Yes," Argoness Tahn sadly answered. "We found a clan from the House of Tristane far to the north the other day. They had all died of starvation."

"You see?" Shawn continued. "Humans are not from this world and they do not vanish upon dying. Dragons do not vanish upon dying, so they are probably not from this world either. For some reason, the dragons and possibly the elves were brought to this world, and the Guardian was designed to supply you with everything needed so that you could survive."

"So what does that mean for us?" Landier Shard asked.

"Trust me, Shard," Kotif Ra quickly interjected. "You don't want to ask him that."

Shawn shot Kotif Ra a quick glare, but then realized he was correct. The time for explaining his theories had passed. Now was the time for solutions.

"Without more knowledge on the Guardian," Shawn plainly stated, "it doesn't mean much of anything." With that, there was only one question left to ask.

"Now you tell me," Kotif Ra demanded. "What news have you on the Guardian?"

A long silence ensued as one by one Kotif Ra turned to his friends, only to watch their heads drop in shamed defeat. Only Landier Shard directly answered the question.

"I am sorry, Ra," he said. "The search was a failure. No one knows anything, and no one could find anything. Even the Great Council has no clue as to the nature or whereabouts of the Guardian."

Kotif Ra frowned and looked down at Shawn. Shawn shrugged his shoulders. Without more information on the Guardian, they were at an impasse. Scratching his head, Shawn paced about, trying to decide their next course of action. His meanderings brought him again to the feet of Quarnek Hewn.

Looking up, Shawn could see a hungry desire in the dragon's eyes, as if anticipating his failure, so that Shawn would be of no further use, except as an afternoon snack. It was a look he had seen once before, in the eyes of Kotif Ra, a mere three nights ago. Here, however, he had no way out. No words to use against Quarnek Hewn; who displayed no primal, agonizing hunger. Only a burning desire to sample his flesh.

He stepped away, trying to escape the staring desire in Quarnek Hewn's eyes, though the limp in his injured leg only enticed the dragon further. The lack of an escape sparked an idea in his head.

"Ra? I know it's not the solution you want, but what about opening a gateway and returning to Earth?"

Argoness Tahn's head jerked up in a panic. Kotif Ra saw this, and not wanting to step from a bad situation into a possibly worse one, he attempted to diffuse the idea. "It is an option I think better left as a last resort. Besides, without the Princess, we have no way of opening a gateway."

"That's just it," Shawn said. "I think we do. I do not think Princess Shilear is the only elf with that ability. You told me that the dragons and elves left the Earth three thousand years ago. But human legends mention sightings of dragons within the last few hundred years. I believe the procedure has been going on since you first arrived here. Possibly as a way of keeping track of what was happening on Earth."

"No. That is not possible," Argoness Tahn said. "The Councils have forbidden such actions."

"You may be correct, Tahn, and I do not wish to conflict with your laws and ethics; but if Princess Shilear can access the Earth, chances are other elves can also. It's just an option I believe we must keep in mind."

Kotif Ra thought about this for a moment, but before he could say anything, one of the other dragons called out. "Look."

All eyes turned skyward to witness the approach of another dragon. It was one of the silver guards. Against his better judgement, Shawn quickly ducked behind Quarnek Hewn, as he was the closest large object around. The guard landed on the ground before them.

"I have been asked by Molenje Kral to find his daughter and return her safely home," the guard said.

"I am sorry guys," Molenje Val offered. "With the growing tensions with the elves, my father has become a little paranoid. Let me know later what you decide to do."

Landier Shard approached. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, I will be okay. Your place is here right now."

Kotif Ra turned to the guard while the farewells were being said. "So, tell me. What have the Great Council to say as of late?"

"Nothing," the guard sadly replied. "I have only seen four members in the last three days, and it has been five days since they last used the crystal."

"Then how do you receive your orders?" Kotif Ra asked.

"What orders?" the guard replied. "Since the crystal stopped working, our only job has been to protect the citadel and search for food."

"What is this crystal you're talking about?" Shawn asked as he emerged from behind Quarnek Hewn.

"What . . .?" the guard started, before being overcome by a silent fascination.

Quarnek Hewn stepped forward, placing himself between Shawn and the guard. "It is a human," he proclaimed. "And do not get any ideas, I am claiming him for myself when this is all over."

"What are you talking about?" the guard asked. "When what is all over?"

Shawn once again stepped from behind Quarnek Hewn. He gave a nervous glance up into the eyes of his green scaled nemesis. The gaze returned showed no malice, just a matter-of-fact perspective to the way things were.

What amazed and frightened Shawn the most was that no other dragon, not even Kotif Ra, defended him. They seemed to accept that if and when this world was saved, his life was of no further value to them. Even the goal of success did not guarantee his survival.

"With my help," Shawn answered the guard, "we are trying to save this world. Now, I am asking you again, what crystal are you talking about?"

The guard was stunned by the forcefulness of the question. For that matter, all of the dragons appeared surprised, even Quarnek Hewn, who took a step back, away from Shawn. In truth, the dragons were afraid of him. According to Princess Shilear, the elves' scriptures told that the humans had created the Guardian, a feat far beyond anything even the sorcerous elves were capable of doing.

Kotif Ra, however, knew the human's strength to be not in magic, but rather in intellect. He was surprised by Shawn's actions, but not frightened. He was actually amused at the fear the other dragons expressed. He decided to play off those fears.

"My apologies, Shawn," Kotif Ra replied nervously. "No offense was meant. It is just that meeting a human is akin to meeting the Guardian himself."

Shawn looked into Kotif Ra's eyes and immediately understood the reason for the formal response. He was getting even for the abuse he often took from his friends about his scavenging tendencies. Shawn saw no harm in playing along, especially if it meant keeping Quarnek Hewn an extra step away.

"Accepted," he said firmly. "Now, about the crystal."

Kotif Ra continued in a direct, monotone voice, avoiding the casualness he normally addressed Shawn with. "It was a gift from the elves to celebrate the alliance. With it, the Great Council discovered they could directly speak into the minds of the silver dragons. Because of this, they made the silvers the guards to the citadel. If anything happened, they could mobilize every silver in an instant."

"But, since the passing of the Guardian," the guard nervously added, "the Great Council's ability to use the crystal had weakened, until it stopped working altogether a few days ago."

Silence held the group as Shawn contemplated this new information. A new line of questions entered his thoughts. "When was the citadel built?" he asked. His demeanor more relaxed as his mind raced.

"Nearly a century ago." Kotif Ra replied.

After another moments thought, Shawn looked at Kotif Ra. "You mentioned that the elves and dragons had an alliance."

"Yes," Kotif Ra answered. "It had been in effect for almost thirty years."

"Before the alliance, did dragons ever hunt elves?"

"Well, yes. Why else would we need an alliance?"

"And since then, no elves have been killed?"

"No, not by dragons."

"Where are you going with this?" Argoness Tahn asked impatiently.

"Please bear with me for another minute, Tahn," Shawn requested. "Do you know where the elves had gotten the crystal from?"

"No," Kotif Ra replied. Scanning the faces of the other dragons, he saw that they did not know either.

Shawn began pacing again, trying to put all the pieces together. Using this break in the conversation, the guard turned toward Molenje Val. "I think I should be getting you home now, Val," he stated.

"No!" Shawn quickly said as he turned around to face the silver dragon. "You have a new mission. I need to examine the crystal, so you're going to get it and bring it back here."

"No," the guard replied. "I will not steal the crystal from the Great Council."

"Let me put it this way," Shawn argued. "The crystal is the Guardian. And if you don't allow me to examine it, this world won't survive the week."

A stunned awe pervaded the gathering as they considered Shawn's statement. Then Kotif Ra calmly turned toward Argoness Meth. "Meth, you and Hewn will go with this silver to the citadel and acquire the crystal."

Meth nodded to Kotif Ra before turning to Quarnek Hewn, who also nodded before adding, "we should wait until the cover of nightfall, first." All three then turned to face the guard.

The guard met the determined gaze of each one. Though he could hold his own against two, or possibly three of them, he could not take on all six, and having no way of contacting the Great Council, he lowered his head in defeat. "Alright," he said. Then, one by one, the dragons all turned toward Shawn. He realized he just dropped a major bombshell and hoped he could explain things clearly enough.

"Okay," Shawn started. "I'm going to make this as simple as possible. The best I can figure it is that for some reason, the dragons and elves were either given or sent to this world. Most likely by the humans, who probably didn't enjoy the notion of being the main course on your dinner plate. I won't even try to guess as to how this was accomplished.

"This world was most likely a barren rock, so the Guardian was created to supply both it and you with just enough natural resources so that you could survive. Whether by choice or by force, the elves were put in charge of the crystal, using their magics to maintain it and keep it safe. Somewhere along the way, the younger generations probably saw that the crystal was working fine without their intervention, and they paid it less and less attention. Eventually, they no longer even knew what it was for and gave it away to you dragons when the alliance formed.

"With the alliance, more and more dragons and elves are surviving into adulthood, placing a greater burden on the Guardian. It is now faced with a larger population to support, as well as less energy with which to work. I believe that the Guardian could not handle the greater demand for energy, and basically, it broke down."

"Can it be fixed?" Kotif Ra asked.

"I hope so," Shawn answered. "Of course, the first thing we need to do is get the elves to stop using magic. At least until the Guardian is repaired."

"But," Kotif Ra asked, "if they stop using their magic, what will happen to the energy created when something dies?"

"I'm hoping it will instead recharge the crystal," Shawn answered. "If I'm right, the Guardian would use that energy to create things like more goblins to feed you with."

"Then I think we need to pay the elves a visit," Kotif Ra said.

"Wait, Ra," Argoness Tahn called out. "With the alliance gone, the elves will attack any dragon that comes near their city."

"I'll go in," Shawn said to the questioning looks around him. "Who better to convince them of the Guardian than a human?"

Everyone agreed this was their only option. They then settled down to await nightfall and the stealing of the crystal. Shawn used this time to talk with the other dragons, as he had so often done with Kotif Ra. The more he observed their varied personalities, the more fascinated he became.

He was particularly fascinated by Argoness Tahn.

"From the way Ra has spoken of you, Tahn, I would have expected you to have more to say," Shawn said. The large, red dragon regarded the human, but said nothing. Then, he turned his gaze toward the open field and his friends. "You are wrong about the Guardian's illness," he said. "The survival and propagation of the dragons and elves is a goal of the Guardian, not a constraint."

Shawn was surprised by this statement. He had not been contradicted by any of the dragons until now, and he was unsure of how to react. If he was wrong, would the dragons consider him as useless and simply kill him? But, if he was right, how would they handle the disagreement? How do they deal with someone telling them they are wrong? Shawn knew he had to tread delicately over the situation. "You might be right," he said. "That is why I need to examine the crystal. But, anything you could tell me would be greatly appreciated."

Argoness Tahn looked at the human, his face expressing a great sadness. Not of loss, but rather of longing. "Tell me about Earth. What is it like?"

Shawn did not appreciate the change in subject, but found himself unable to resist the sincerity of the question. He thought for a long moment before replying. "It's difficult for me to describe. Until now, I never really thought about it. I've always just taken it for granted." He stopped, considering where to begin. "I guess you could say, it's the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Not so much it's appearance; your world has all of the rolling hills and flowing streams and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It's more a beauty of wonderment.

"Everywhere you look, there are mysteries and questions that will probably never be answered. All of them revolving around the sheer diversity of life. It's overwhelming to think about. Creatures of every imaginable shape and size. Creatures that walk, or fly, or swim. Even those that crawl, or slither along the ground. I can't even begin to impress upon you just how enormous the variety really is."

He paused; his mind reflecting back. His voice softened. "And the sounds. Children laughing in a playground; a playful puppy welcoming it's master home; the simple chirp of a bird on a summer morning." Argoness Tahn sat quietly, his mind adrift in wonderment as he tried to imagine the world that Shawn described. "I have a dream, that one day dragons would once again sail the skies of Earth. That my children would share laughter with the children of humans. Tell me, Shawn. Is it just a wishful dream?"

"No," Shawn said. "There are many humans who would openly welcome the return of dragons back onto Earth. Unfortunately, there are also those who would never accept the threat you would pose to their dominance. Humans have a way of destroying anything that they consider a threat to their egos; their superiority. I come from a race that, at times, can be very ugly and cruel."

"And there lies the problem," Argoness Tahn said. "If we cannot even get along with the elves, how can we ever expect to be accepted by humans? But I still have hope. Kotif Ra, and his relationship with the Princess, is the key. If the alliance fails, then everything else we do will not matter."

Shawn watched Argoness Tahn; the longing desire to experience everything he had described; but there was more to it than that. "What do you know about the Guardian?" he asked.

Argoness Tahn remained silent, though Shawn could see a peacefulness come over him. After a moment, he spoke; his gaze focused into the past. "When I was young, before I ever met Ra, or the others, I used to visit the Ancient. At least that is what we called him. Our best estimates placed him at well over a thousand years of age; nearly double that of any other dragon. It was believed that his age had affected his mind. His thoughts would drift off on strange tangents, or he would speak in unknown languages in the middle of a sentence.

"I was fascinated by him. I would spend weeks at a time living with him, listening to the stories he would recount. Those that he spoke in the language I understood had captivated me." Argoness Tahn paused, closing his eyes to the reminiscent sound of the Ancient's voice; his firm, kindly words.

"I was the only one with him at his death bed," he continued. "The others were afraid of the strange words he spoke. He gave me a parchment that was to explain everything. Why we were here, with the elves. How we would return to Earth."

"Did it?" Shawn asked.

"I do not know. It was written in one of the strange languages he had often spoken. He died before I could find out what it said. But I do know that our survival is dependent on a unity between dragon and elf. His stories had given me that much."

"Where is the parchment? Do you still have it?"

"Yes. I keep it at home. It is all I have left to remember him by."

"If we get the chance, I would like to see it, if I may?"

"If we get the chance," Argoness Tahn replied, adding a tone of sarcasm to the statement.

"What? You don't think the Guardian can be repaired?" Shawn asked.

Argoness Tahn looked at him, but said nothing. Shawn immediately understood the dragon's thoughts. "You don't think that I intend to save the Guardian, do you?" he asked. "Why? Because I'm a human? Just what is it you have against humans, Tahn?"

"You have hunted my kind, and driven us from our home. How would you react to such an oppressor?"

"Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but humans have been doing that to themselves for a lot longer than three thousand years." Shawn stopped, realizing that his words and tone were only making things worse. "I'm sorry, Tahn. Look, I can't change what I am, but I do know who I am. I want to help you. Princess Shilear sensed this. Why else would she have selected me?

"Humans have gone through a hundred generations since you left Earth. No one even knows you exist. We are not the same people that drove you away. Besides, even back then, it was humans that made your escape and survival possible. If all humans wished you harm, we would not be having this conversation now."

Argoness Tahn remained silent, his expression betraying his feelings that maybe, in this instance, he was wrong.

"Thank you for this audience," Shawn offered.

"The pleasure and thanks are ours, human," the elf centered in front of him responded. "How did you come to know of our plight?"

"An elf, much like yourselves, had the desire and strength to contact me on Earth," Shawn answered, careful not to reveal exactly which elf had contacted him, and how it was done. He had no idea of the punishments put upon rogue sorcerers. "It was through this elf's fortitude that I have come. I have also brought with me a new Guardian to save your world."

"Where is this Guardian?" asked another elf, seated off to his left. "Why is he not here with you?"

"He is not here," Shawn said as he turned to face the elf, "because the Guardian is for the eyes of the High Council only. It will be the responsibility of the High Council alone, to protect and maintain the new Guardian."

"Maintain?" asked the elf adjacent to the last. "You mean the Guardian is not a living creature?"

"The Guardian was never a living creature," Shawn explained. "It was, and shall always be, a device that controls energy, much like you control magic. But enough for now. You must come with me in order to acquire it."

"Go with you where?" one of the elves seated behind him asked.

"The Guardian is safely hidden a short distance outside of your city," Shawn answered as he annoyingly turned around to face the questioning elf. "I will take you there, then I will finish explaining what must be done. I will remind you of this only once. I do not have to be here, nor do I have to give you a new Guardian. Your world is dying. Accept my offer or perish."

With that, Shawn exited the chamber, leaving the High Council to ponder his words. Upon departing, he turned to one of the elves stationed at the door. "When they are ready, I shall be waiting at the northern gate. I will not wait long." He then continued on, walking proudly past the awed gazes of the gathered onlookers.

Watching the eastern sky lighten with the dawn, Shawn waited by the gate, hoping his plan would work. The High Council consisted of some of the elves' most powerful sorcerers. He needed to convince them that the crystal was the Guardian, as he had convinced the dragons. Skeptical that the elves would not believe him, he had to remove the safety of the city walls and its hundreds of inhabitants. If needed, he would force them to listen. If the elves' magic did not stop and allow the crystal to recharge, this world was lost.

After what seemed like a long, tense wait, the nine High Council members approached the gate. The one in front spoke first.

"You have given us cause for hope, human," he said. "For that we will see exactly what it is you have to offer."

"Thank you," Shawn replied. "If you would follow me?"

The elves followed Shawn down a path into the forest. "How far do we travel?" one of them asked.

"It is a fifteen minute walk," Shawn replied, maintaining an aura of dominance. "As I said, the Guardian is for the eyes of the High Council only. I had to leave it well removed from prying eyes. Now, no more questions until we are there." True to Shawn's word, the walk through the forest took just about fifteen minutes, before opening into a large field. At the center of the field was a six foot high object, cloaked by the protection of a large cloth tarp. Shawn approached the object and motioned the High Council to stop when they were about ten feet away. The dawn's light now easily illuminated the field.

"Gentlemen," Shawn proclaimed. "I give you, your Guardian."

With that he withdrew the tarp to reveal the large, lustrous, blue crystal. Standing upon a specialized pedestal, six metallic arms reached up to hold the crystal in place. On each of these arms were thousands of hieroglyphics, drawn so small, they were imperceptible beyond a few paces distance. Among the hieroglyphics were larger pictographs, representing the various life forms on this world, including the Firebird and humans. Shawn had examined these features for only a short time the previous night, before his flashlight ran out.

Of the three foot high crystal itself, each facade was perfectly cut to equal dimensions. It had weathered the ages without so much as a single nick or scratch. The elves were awestruck by its magnificence. Then, as Shawn expected, one of the elder members recognized the object.

"Wait," he called out. "This is the crystal we gave to the dragons to honor the alliance."

A hushed silence fell upon the other elves as their awe turned to confusion. Straining their memories, their confusion turned to anger as they recalled their gift to the dragons. Shawn knew he had to act quickly, before their thoughts turned to violence.

"You are correct," Shawn readily agreed. "But this is also the Guardian, and it is not dead. It has merely been drained of its energy. If you will allow me, I will explain how to regenerate it."

"Do you think us fools, human?" the same elf asked. "We possessed that crystal through many generations. Do you think we would not have known it to be the Guardian or not?"

"You did know, once," Shawn explained, maintaining a calm demeanor. "Check your scriptures. Ask yourselves why this crystal has been valued and protected for all this time. I suspect that little by little, your ancestors lost sight of what it was. Because the Guardian was so perfectly designed, it did not need your help, and you forgot all about it. Something went wrong, and now it needs you once again."

"And what would you have us do?" the elf asked, hesitant to believe Shawn's words.

"For starters," Shawn continued. "You must cease using your magic until the crystal has had time to recover."

"You are mad," the elf said. "We are on the verge of war with the dragons, and you would have us drop our defenses?"

A calm voice broke the air to the north as Kotif Ra emerged from the trees. "It is not madness, Lord Phendria. Nor is there yet a war," he said.

Shawn cursed to himself. The dragons were supposed to wait until he was finished before revealing themselves. By the time he reacted, it was too late.

"Dragons!" one of the elves yelled out. "It is an ambush."

With that, a streak of energy lashed out from an elf's hands toward Kotif Ra. In a red blur, Argoness Tahn emerged in front of Kotif Ra and took the blast in the side, knocking him backwards. Roars of anger were released from all directions, followed by the blazing streaks of dragon fire. Shawn quickly yelled for everyone to stop, but it was too late. The battle was launched.

With the first volley of flame and energy, Shawn dove for protection on the ground by the crystal as the elves attempted to retreat into the forest, but were cut off by Argoness Meth.

The battle was an even match. Seven armor plated, fire breathing dragons against nine of the most powerful, magic-wielding, sorcerer elves. Shawn caught sight of the silver guard as it emerged from the forest and positioned itself near the Guardian. The bright streak of an elf's energy blast flashed by, and the silver easily evaded its path by contorting its body with a speed and fluidity that belied its great mass. It froze, every muscle tensing. Its eyes narrowed. The jaws bulged in anger and hatred. Lying on the ground, a mere ten feet away, Shawn was at once, both terrified and awed by its presence.

A deep, resonating growl rattled Shawn, as the silver calculated its next move. Another instant, and it was again in motion, twisting to avoid another blast. Its tail sliced the air just above Shawn's head, as it counterbalanced its body, leaving itself set to emit a long streak of fire at its adversaries.

Shawn realized that watching the silver was nothing like watching Kotif Ra. This creature lived and moved for the singular purpose of combat. Its tactics became a dance; duck, dodge, twist, retaliate. Unerringly, it executed the maneuvers over and over, each movement becoming easier as the battle raged on. Was this fierce creature before him, and not Kotif Ra, the true representative of the dragons' race? Was this what humans had driven from Earth all those years ago? Shawn suddenly found himself wondering if he was doing the right thing by helping to safe this world.

The silver stopped. Every muscle relaxed and it stood motionless, defiantly offering himself as a target. An elf complied with an energy blast directly into the silver's chest. Nothing happened. Having depleted the Guardian to the point where their magic was no longer being amplified by the crystal's energy, the elves had lost. The silver had somehow sensed this, and by his posture, gloated over his adversaries. Its next action completely surprised Shawn. It looked at him. It said nothing, and its expression remained indifferent. Shawn wondered, had it known he was watching and admiring it during the combat, or was it simply taking a quick assessment of his and the Guardian's well being. Any answer was denied when the silver quickly turned back toward the elves and charged an attack.

Watching it race forward, Shawn turned away when it fell upon the screaming elves. He then heard the roar and charge of the other dragons, as they quickly joined the fray. The massacre lasted under fifteen seconds and for the second time in his life, this world had made Shawn thankful for the death of another, for no other reason but to silence its screams.

Shawn distracted himself from the ensuing consumption by focusing his mind back on the crystal and the pedestal. His research into the paranormal had given him access to hieroglyphics on more than one occasion, though he was by no means an expert. He did, however, understand the concept behind their writings, and a definite pattern did seem to lay itself out; especially in the area of the larger pictographs. It was then that he understood the true function of the Guardian, though he was still clueless as to how. Turning to inform the others, he stopped at the sight of the dragons standing near Argoness Tahn, lying on the ground. The initial blast meant for Kotif Ra had struck him beneath his armor platings, slicing open a six foot gash. That, along with the ensuing battle, was too much. He was dying.

As the dragons gathered around to comfort their friend, Shawn noticed the crystal begin to glow. Slightly at first, it was soon nearly ablaze with energy. He shielded his eyes and as he backed away, a new horror graced his face for a brief moment as he realized what was happening. It was a look only witnessed by Quarnek Hewn.

Meanwhile, Kotif Ra comforted his friend, watching helplessly as Argoness Tahn's blood oozed from his side; the severity of the wound masked by the matching color of his red hide. "Tahn," he said.

"Scav?" Argoness Tahn struggled to reply; his breathing heavy and erratic. "I guess we . . . won."

"More than that, my friend. Take a look." Kotif Ra helped Argoness Tahn move his head so he could see the crystal; glowing brightly in the morning sun.

"I guess . . . it was worth it. My life . . . for our race."

"No, Tahn. No sacrifice is worth the life of a friend."

"You must . . . see that . . . the alliance . . . survives."

"I will, Tahn. With the Guardian working, Princess Shilear should be returning soon. Together, we will maintain the alliance."

"Remember, . . . the alliance . . . is the key."

"I do not understand. The key to what?" Kotif Ra asked in confusion.

"Scav . . .? I do not . . . want to die," Argoness Tahn said fearfully, his voice getting weaker.

"I know, Tahn. I am here. I will not leave you," Kotif Ra replied, supporting Argoness Tahn's head on his arms and flapping a wing across his body. "Just rest easy and let us look upon the Guardian, together."

For the next few minutes, they lay there, gazing upon the glowing blue crystal. Silently, they watched; oblivious to the presence of the others. Then, with a short convulsion and two quick gasps for air, Argoness Tahn died.

Time froze as each of them waited for one more breath. When it did not come, Kotif Ra lifted his head toward the sky and bellowed forth a long, mournful cry. Quarnek Hewn approached and offered Kotif Ra a gentle embrace. Landier Shard and Molenje Val offered Argoness Meth consolations of their own. Shawn and the silver dragon remained a few steps away, allowing these friends their moment of grief. Then, Shawn turned away and approached the Guardian.

A few minutes later and Kotif Ra was by his side.

"Thank you, Shawn. Though I have lost one of my dearest friends today, you have saved my world."

Shawn stared into the glowing blue light, looking for something to say. He could not find the words. His silence was interrupted by the sound of approaching elves from the city.

"We must leave," Shawn quickly told Kotif Ra. "With the crystal active, their magics will be at full strength."

"Climb on," Kotif Ra replied before turning to the others. "We are leaving, now."

With Shawn on his back, Kotif Ra grabbed the Guardian and launched into the air. The others followed, with Argoness Meth and Landier Shard carrying Argoness Tahn's body beneath them. "Head for the citadel," Kotif Ra called back.

Shawn maintained his silence, observing the faces of each of the dragons. The bond that held them in friendship was no less than that which humans would form. Could this be what humans hated and feared the most. Not the threat a dragon posed to life and limb, but rather the unity and brotherhood they portrayed. A brotherhood that transcended age and skin color.

Their flight to the citadel was sidetracked with a stop at the House of Argoness. Kotif Ra thought it best to bring Argoness Tahn's body home, before confronting the Great Council with their news on the Guardian.

As they landed, they were met by Argoness Tahn's kin; his mate and three children among them. The full impact of Argoness Tahn's death hit Shawn upon seeing the children. The eldest of the three was a male, his wings barely developed enough for him to fly. The horns that would one day protrude sharply from his head, mere stumps. The youngest, a thin, frail female, no larger than Shawn. Barely able to even walk, her juvenile wings had not yet separated from her body. The middle child, another male, carried the sleek silver appearance of his mother, rather than the red platings of Argoness Tahn. This one seemed strong and energetic, a perfect candidate as a citadel guard; though now, he stood numbly still before the body of his father.

Argoness Meth and Kotif Ra remained by the body, while the others stepped away out of respect. Shawn had dismounted and was standing alongside Kotif Ra, next to the glowing crystal. It was a few moments before any of Argoness Tahn's kin had realized he was there. Upon seeing the human, they stepped back in surprise and fear.

"Wait," Shawn said softly as he stepped forward. "Please. If I may." The gathered dragons looked on, but said nothing to stop him. "I am unfamiliar with your customs so I will be brief. I cannot mourn Tahn's passing as that of a friend, but I shall mourn for him nonetheless. I had not known him for very long, but I know the risk and self sacrifice he made so that this world might survive. You will hear from his friends of what he had done, and how each of them are lessened by his passing, but I would like to add an outsider's perspective.

"In the three thousand years since a human last stood before a dragon, my culture had shaped and molded the legends of dragons into a wide variety of forms. But one facet had remained ever constant; that whether small or large, good or evil, monster or friend, the dragon forced humans to be humbled by his presence and actions. I was humbled by what I witnessed today. Argoness Tahn was the embodiment of what it meant to be a dragon. His words and his actions were selfless and determined in his quest to save this world and his race. His eternal goal was to look toward the future, to find a better place for his family. It is this quality that makes his death the worst of all. I am honored to have known him."

His eulogy finished, Shawn remained silent.

"Thank you, Shawn," Argoness Meth said after a long pause.

Shawn nodded, then slowly backed away so that Argoness Tahn's family could be alone in their grief. In his slow retreat, he brushed against the Guardian, and upon doing so was briefly overcome by a soft, plaintive voice calling out "Why?" Startled, he looked around, but no one appeared to have said it. When his gaze again fell upon Tahn's children, he immediately knew the source of the unspoken question to be from the young silver, though he did not know how. Hesitantly, he reached up and placed his hand upon the crystal in an attempt to confirm a suspicion.

Immediately, his mind was flooded with the pained, emotional grief of a son loosing his father. Overwhelmed, Shawn staggered, nearly knocking the Guardian over, before he caught himself and regained his balance and composure. Quickly, he looked around, relieved that his actions appeared to go unnoticed. Then, taking a deep breath and bracing himself against the emotional onslaught, he again touched the crystal.

Prepared for the sudden flood of emotions, he found them less forceful, making this contact much easier, almost gentle. Focusing on the emotional embrace, he again heard the plaintive question. Looking at the young silver, Shawn reached out with his thoughts. "I am sorry," he said.

Immediately, the dragon's head lifted and looked around, stopping upon the human. "How?" it thought, surprised by the voice responding in its head.

"Through the Guardian," Shawn replied. "I do not know how." Then, after letting the initial surprise of the situation wane, he continued. "My name is Shawn. What is yours?"

"Argoness Bahr," the dragon replied. Then, after a long silence, asked, "Why did my father die?"

Shawn averted his eyes from Argoness Bahr as he replayed what had happened, in his mind. How easy it would be to blame Kotif Ra for emerging too soon, exposing himself into the open when tensions were at their peak. But that was not the whole truth, and he could not place his blame upon his friend. "It is my fault, Bahr," he said, looking again at the dragon. "Your father died saving the life of Kotif Ra, but I am the one who set the stage. If I had done things differently, he might still be alive. I am sorry."

Argoness Bahr stared at Shawn, but did not respond. For a few moments, he waited for a reply, though one never came. Realizing that their conversation was at its end, Shawn removed his hand from the crystal, but maintained a remorseful gaze with the dragon. His only satisfaction, that Argoness Bahr now had a focus for his burgeoning anger. One day, he might understand the circumstances surrounding his father's death, but for now, the agonizing question of 'Why?' would not distract him from his future growth and development.

Shawn stood outside the main hall at the summit of the structure, well above the festivities. ". . . With each passing hour, my feelings toward Princess Shilear grow, affirming my desire to remain here upon completion of this task. From what she has told me, I am really excited about meeting her dragon friend, though if he does not arrive soon, I'm afraid this hiking is going to kill me.", he read Mark's final passage from the notepad. Closing the pages, his thoughts dwelled upon his partner. He accepted the harsh reality of how Mark had died and held no animosities, save toward himself. Why had he so adamantly refused to believe Princess Shilear's story? Six years. That's how long they quested for something truly fascinating to come along. And when it did, he laughed and turned away. Now, Mark was dead and nothing could change that.

Landier Shard and Molenje Val landed behind him. "Shawn," Landier Shard greeted. "I have something for you. It is something Ra suggested."

He delicately handed him a plate, sculpted from the discarded scale of a dragon. On top of the plate was a large, steaming chunk of flame-cooked meat. "It is not what you call a steak, but he figured you might enjoy it."

Shawn accepted the plate from him. "Thank you, Shard," he replied, visually examining the burnt flesh before him. Not wanting to appear ungrateful, he sampled the meat, tearing off a small piece with his teeth. He was surprised at finding the meat quite delicious. Maybe not so surprised when he thought of how disgusted he was of nuts and berries. He tore off another bite.

"We also wanted to thank you for all you have done," Molenje Val added.

"Thank you," Shawn replied, "but it always seems like too little, too late. And what about you? Was you father upset by the way you ignored his orders?"

"Of course he was," Molenje Val answered with a smile. "But he is so proud of Shard and the others that he has agreed to our union. The ceremony will be held tomorrow."

"Then congratulations are in order," Shawn said cheerfully. "May your union be long and fruitful." "Thank you," Molenje Val replied.

"I am sorry, Shawn," Landier Shard said, "but we really have a lot of things to do to prepare. I hope you liked the meat."

"It's excellent, Shard," Shawn replied. "Thank you, and congratulations again."

In another instant, both dragons were off.

Taking his time to finish the last of the meat, Shawn then went in search of Kotif Ra.

"Princess," Shawn called out. "When did you get back?"

"Hello, Shawn," Princess Shilear smiled back, though her eyes revealed her sorrow. "When the Guardian was restored, I felt my magic return. I was able to open a gateway and return home soon afterward. When no one could fully tell me what had happened, I came here. I guess I should thank you, and apologize for dragging you into this."

"Are you kidding?" Shawn retorted. "I just wish I had listened to Mark and believed you in the first place. What I have experienced here is something I shall always cherish. I only wish you had been there. I'm afraid a lot of bloodshed might have been avoided."

Princess Shilear suddenly felt very ashamed, standing in the presence of this human. For him to maintain such strength and forgiveness toward everything he was put through was embarrassing to her.

"Thank you, Shawn," she softly spoke. "It is often in our own grief, that we forget the losses and sacrifices of others."

"I don't understand," Shawn questioned.

"Her name is Princess Shilear Phendria," Kotif Ra calmly stated.

Immediately Shawn understood. "Then Lord Phendria," he started.

"Was her father," Kotif Ra continued.

"I'm sorry, Princess," Shawn said.

"Thank you," She answered. "I guess I should just be relieved that it is all over." With that, she stepped away to join those at Argoness Tahn's burial mound.

Shawn was surprised by her sudden departure, without a single word between her and Kotif Ra. Considering the length of time they were apart, and everything that had occurred, he was at first perplexed by their actions, until he realized why. "She doesn't know, does she?" he asked of his friend.

Kotif Ra watched silently as Princess Shilear walked away. "She is upset with the way in which her father died," he replied. "You had the situation under control. If she knew how I had rushed in . . ." He paused, pushing the thought from his mind.

"I mean, she doesn't know about your true feelings toward her. You never told her, did you?"

Kotif Ra gave a look of surprise; were his feelings toward her that obvious? "I wanted to, many times; but I always stopped, afraid of what her reaction would be. Too many lives depend on the alliance, and if she should suddenly turn against us because of my advances . . . Now, between my killing of your friend and my actions at the field, I would not be surprised if she never wanted to see me again."

"Do you really believe that?" Shawn asked.

"I do not know," Kotif Ra answered. "It just seems that everything I do makes matters worse. Right now, I almost wish I had never saved her from the goblins. Then, there would never have been an alliance and this whole thing never would have happened."

Shawn looked at Kotif Ra, but said nothing. Then, he recalled his conversation with Argoness Tahn. Having had the time to evaluate everything that had happened, he now understood why Argoness Tahn held Kotif Ra's relationship with Princess Shilear as so important. He knew the importance of the alliance, and that it had to be maintained. "Then answer me this, Ra," Shawn finally said. "Ignoring any recent events, do you believe your world is a better place now, than it was before the alliance? Has your race profited by the alliance, or are you living in squalor and disarray, always afraid of encountering any elves when your alone and vulnerable? Most importantly, what about you?

"You and Princess Shilear share a special bond, Ra. Do not throw that away because of a fearful assumption. The Princess is wrong. It is not over. The dragons and the elves need to be united, not at war. Tahn knew this, and I think you do also. Follow your instincts, not the prejudices of others. Follow your heart."

Kotif Ra pondered these words for long, silent moments before rising. "Once again, your logic rings of truth," he said. "Thank you, Shawn. For everything."

Shawn watched as Kotif Ra stood and walked off to join the Princess. "While you're at it," he called out. "Ask her when she can send me back to Earth, I have a story my world will never believe."

Kotif Ra stopped. It had never occurred to him that Shawn did not comprehend his own situation. "She cannot send you home," he stated as he turned to face the human.

"What?" Shawn asked, more than a little shaken by the statement. "Is it the Guardian?"

"No. She has the ability, but she cannot," Kotif Ra replied, followed by a long pause. "Quarnek Hewn has claimed your life and as such, only he can allow you to leave."

"No," Shawn said as he stared in shock at Kotif Ra. "The only thing he'll allow of me to leave is the flesh from my bones."

"I am sorry," Kotif Ra said.

"How can this be?" Shawn asked. "How can he claim my life when it was you and the Princess that brought me here?"

"I did have claim over you," Kotif Ra remorsefully explained. "But when Hewn stated his claim on you to the silver at the old mill, I did not contest it. He used my distraction to the crisis of the Guardian to his own advantage."

"And this is allowed?" Shawn argued. "Well, can't you contest it now?"

"I did," Kotif Ra replied. "He refused, stating that because of my consuming Mark, he did not believe I had the right to claim the only other human around. Now, only through Hewn's death could I reclaim you."

"And with only a mere human as the prize," Shawn proclaimed, "the life of a dragon is not worth it."

Kotif Ra bowed his head and turned away in silent disgrace.

"And what of my efforts, Ra?" Shawn asked. "Does saving your world count for nothing? You vowed that you do not break your promises."

"My promise was that I would not kill you. I cannot guarantee your safety from other sources."

"That's your answer? You know, Ra, it's no wonder the humans had banished you from Earth three thousand years ago."

Kotif Ra did not turn back. Nothing he could say would alter the situation. Shawn was the savior of his world, but he was also only a human. The death of Argoness Tahn and his killing of Lord Phendria had reminded him of how important his friends were to him. He would not sacrifice that friendship ever again, for anyone.

Shawn watched Kotif Ra for a few silent moments. He could see that he had no friends here. No one who would act in his defense. This left him with no options. He turned and walked back to the black dragon that had carried him here. "I need you to take me to Quarnek Hewn," he stated.

Handing a live goblin to another dragon, he said something and then flew up to land next to Shawn. Shawn waited patiently.

"I am surprised you came here," Quarnek Hewn said.

"Thanks to you, I have nowhere else to go," Shawn said. "Where once I had friends and companions, I am greeted with grief and empty words."

"So then why did you come here?" Quarnek Hewn asked. "Do you think I will treat you any differently?"

"I don't know what to think anymore, but I feel we still have some business left unfinished."

"Oh, much more than you might think. First, however, I want to thank you for your words at the House of Argoness. It meant a lot to Ra, they were very close. I find it ironic, though, that Tahn was the only one of us who was truly afraid of what might happen if we brought a human here and it was he that perished. But something else is bothering me. When the Guardian began recharging, you showed true fear. What are you not telling us?"

Shawn looked up into Quarnek Hewn's eyes and for the first time, saw a great resemblance to Kotif Ra. Not just in his emerald green coloring, but in a deep concern he held for his world. Quarnek Hewn's eyes no longer portrayed the hungry longing for a taste of his flesh, as he had become accustomed to. Instead, they embraced a fearful anticipation. He was truly afraid that what Shawn was hiding was the imminent death of this world.

"I had hoped nobody had seen, but the horror was for me alone," Shawn slowly explained, turning his gaze out over the canyon. "It is my own guilt and shame that I am hiding. As hard as I tried during this entire ordeal, I kept making mistakes. I convinced myself that it was because I was pressed for time, and couldn't correctly evaluate the situation. I kept looking toward the end, where I was the hero, rather than the task at hand. But in the end, I made the biggest mistake of all."

"I do not understand," Quarnek Hewn asked. "What mistake?"

"The Guardian," Shawn replied. "There was always enough energy. If you filled the world with magic wielding elves and forest burning dragons, it would still have enough energy. You see, when I suggested that the Great Council mount the crystal onto the roof of the citadel, 'so its brilliant glow would forever remind both dragons and elves of its life giving energy', I had an ulterior motive.

"The truth is, the energy source of the Guardian is not from the death of any creatures. It's from the sun. The crystal is a giant solar collector. The entire crisis, all the needless deaths, could have been avoided by simply moving the crystal from the Great Hall, out into the sunlight. Had I but waited to examine the crystal in the light of day, the entire meeting in the field would never have occurred. Argoness Bahr would still have a father."

Quarnek Hewn remained silent as he looked down upon the human; no longer the creature of legend, but just a creature. Frail and weak, like any other he had ever met.

"So now you tell me, Hewn," Shawn continued, looking up once again into the large reptilian face.

"Where do I stand in your scheme of things? Does the temptation of human flesh still salivate across your tongue? Do you crave the taste of guilt and shame as Kotif Ra does a rotting corpse?"

"More than you could know, Shawn," Quarnek Hewn answered, his eyes once again portraying their hungered desire. "But I do not need you. With Princess Shilear possessing the ability to open a gateway to Earth, obtaining human flesh would be as easy as catching the goblins below. But you, however, offer me a whole lot more. I now know of your pain and guilt. You have saved my home, and for that I am eternally grateful. But by your own admission, you have failed. Good elves and dragons have needlessly died because of that failure. A thirty year alliance has been destroyed, with fears and hatreds running greater than they had ever been. These acts cannot go unpunished.

"I shall retain my claim over your life for only one reason. To allow you to live in the misery you helped create. I shall forever remind you of the grief you have caused. When it appears that your torments have abated and you hold no more regrets, then shall I savor the flesh of my first human."

Quarnek Hewn stood before Shawn for a long moment, giving his words time to sink in. Shawn used this time to consider everything he had just heard.

"You know? Since the moment we met," Shawn said as he looked at Quarnek Hewn, "you have openly and honestly expressed your feelings and desires toward me. I had hoped they were false, that you merely wished to antagonize this stranger to your world. But they weren't false. I realize now that none of your friends, not even Kotif Ra, cared about me. They only cared about how they could use me. You, however, never hid that fact from me. In a way, I wish it had been you to pull me through the gateway into your world. At least then, I would have known my final fate from the start."

Quarnek Hewn stared down at Shawn. "Your perceptions are accurate, but you are only partially correct. While it is true that my reasons for agreeing to bring a human here were completely selfish, Ra does care. If he did not, you would have perished in the field along with the elven High Council as soon as the Guardian became active again. Why do you think I had to wait for his thoughts to be distracted for me to make my claim of your life. Given the choice, he would never have allowed it. Now, unfortunately, he must live with that guilt, as well as his guilt over the death of Tahn."

"And you take pleasure in this? In the grief of those you call friends?" Shawn asked.

"No, I do not. I share in the grief and anguish that Ra feels, and when he is ready, I will be there for him, as I have always been." Quarnek Hewn turned and looked down at the festivities within the canyon. "Ours is a limited existence, Shawn. Devoid of change. What you have witnessed here has never happened before. The offered opportunities had to be embraced quickly, or perhaps lost for all time. I do not praise my actions. I only admit to my needs."

"Needs that require me to sacrifice my life?"

"You need not go willingly, but yes, my needs and your life have become fatefully intertwined," Quarnek Hewn said as he stepped back and again turned to face Shawn. "But you have done much to save my world, and for that, before you are gone, I shall have the dwarves build a statue in your honor. You should think about what color you wish it to be."

Shawn watched Quarnek Hewn again turn and approach the canyon's edge. During the crisis with the Guardian, he never took the time to really see or understand the life the dragons led. He called out before Quarnek Hewn could leave. "I don't want your statue, Hewn, but I do have something you might want."

Quarnek Hewn stopped and turned back toward the human. He waited.

"You do not have to live like this," Shawn offered. "There is a way to control the Guardian so that the world would be modified to your liking."

"And in return?" Quarnek Hewn asked.

Shawn hesitated before replying. At first, he considered requesting his freedom, but Quarnek Hewn was correct, his actions resulting in Argoness Tahn's death should not go unpunished. No, he had another desire which superseded this. "I only ask for one thing. Promise me, that if you should choose to forage the Earth in quest of prey, human or otherwise, you will also seek out an isolated haven that your kind might visit. And when you find such a place, that you will take Tahn's children there, so they might see the world their father strived so hard to once again make available to them."

Surprised by this request, Quarnek Hewn was unsure of how to reply. "I do not understand. Why would you concern yourself with them?"

"Promise me this, and I will abide by your ancient codes and recognize your claim to my life."

Quarnek Hewn remained puzzled, but also desired the human's knowledge. "Tell me what you know and I will consider your request."

Shawn thought about this long and hard. Should he risk revealing what he knew without first getting a guarantee? What he said before was true, Quarnek Hewn was the only dragon he felt was totally honest with him all along. Even Princess Shilear had initially deceived them by appearing before Mark and him in the guise of a human. And like it or not, Quarnek Hewn still held his life in his hand, offering him nothing to truly lose.

"Very well," Shawn said. "I'll tell you what I know, but only because I believe I can trust you to make an honest judgement."

Quarnek Hewn stood silently, a look of calm anticipation aimed at Shawn. Shawn had hoped for any encouraging sign of agreement, but received none. "I've noted that even though your spoken language parallels that of humans on Earth, your written words retain their original form. I suspect that when Princess Shilear read their ancient manuscripts, she used her magic to translate what they said."

"Yes," Quarnek Hewn said. "She made mention of passages she was able to translate."

"But I doubt she ever tried the same technique on the pedestal that supports the crystal. You see, the writing on the pedestal is the controlling device that tells the crystal what to make out of its energy. It probably also describes how to construct a new pedestal with a new set of instructions. By simply changing the wording, you can transform this world into anything you want. That is why the elves were given the Guardian. They knew how to read and write, so if any new needs arose, a new pedestal could be constructed."

"Then why has this never been done? Why have the elves kept us prisoners to this stagnant life style?" "Well," Shawn continued, "once your language evolved to the point that they could no longer read the words, the process became lost to them. But knowing that the elves can still translate the writing, you have been granted the powers of creation. I imagine the dragons were never supposed to learn of this. It was the humans and elves' little secret."

"Why would it be kept a secret?" Quarnek Hewn asked. "And if so, then why are you telling me this now? Why not simply tell Princess Shilear?"

"I have a few reasons," Shawn replied. "First of all, Princess Shilear will be busy enough just forming a new High Council, not to mention her distress at loosing her father do to the actions of a dragon that loves her. Also, my life is now under your claim, and as such, is it not my obligation to share this information with you? Besides, if your decree is that I remain here, I do not wish to spend the rest of my life on a world with a life style designed three thousand years ago. More importantly; it is for Tahn." Shawn removed his backpack and opened it, taking out an ancient, rolled parchment. "I got this from Tahn's mate. I doubt that you or even Ra know what it is, or its significance."

"No. What is it?"

"It is the compiled wisdom of a dragon Tahn called the Ancient. It was given to Tahn when he was young and guarded throughout his years." Shawn unrolled it. "Tahn could not read it. No dragon alive today could. It was written in a language humans call German. I know what this parchment says."

"What?" Quarnek Hewn asked.

Shawn rolled the parchment and placed it into his backpack. He then looked up at Quarnek Hewn. "It tells of the life of this world. From its creation, to its ultimate demise. It tells of the near extinction of the dragons and elves at the hands of the humans, and how a select group of humans, fascinated by the elves' magic, helped the few of you that remained to escape to this world. It tells of how the dragons hated the elves for their similarity to humans, but they needed the aid of each other if they ever wish to inhabit Earth again.

"That is why the Guardian had been kept a secret. The humans and elves feared that the dragons would find a way to use it to destroy the elves, then the humans."

"If the Guardian is that powerful, I still do not understand why you are telling this to me," Quarnek Hewn said.

"Again. It is in honor of Tahn. Of all I have seen and heard of dragons, he alone strived for harmony between dragons and elves. A harmony needed if you are to survive a return to Earth. Tahn understood the dangers that Earth poses. And despite your obsessive desire to consume me, I believe you have the potential to fulfill his goals."

"Fulfill his goals?" Quarnek Hewn said. "I am sorry Shawn, but I do not agree with Tahn's goals. And from what you have been telling me about the Guardian, I now have even more reason to despise the elves."

"I know that's not true. I have seen it in your words and actions. You seek something better than this. Ra told me that it was your voice that helped sway the others into allowing the Princess to bring me here. If you knew the Princess could open a gateway to Earth, why waste the time bringing a human here, when you could have simply staged an invasion?"

"You should not always listen to everything Ra says. He has a tendency to speak from his heart, more than his head. As I have already stated, my reasons for wanting a human brought here were completely selfish."

Shawn looked up at the dragon, but said nothing. He knew that beyond his denials, Quarnek Hewn was the one to take Tahn's place. Uncomfortable with the disagreeing stare from Shawn, Quarnek Hewn opted to change the subject. "You have yet to tell me how the story ends."

Shawn smiled at the request. That simple desire confirmed the fear and concern Quarnek Hewn had for his world. "Eventually, your world will die," he said. "One of the main functions of the Guardian is to reunite the three races back into one world. You see, believe it or not, the humans that helped you escape Earth three thousand years ago, actually liked dragons. They were few in number, but they believed in your survival. So, they designed the Guardian to wait until the time was right, whereupon it would open the gateway between here and Earth for you, allowing the races to reunite. Opening the gateway will destroy the Guardian. You have already seen the results to that occurrence."

"Fascinating," Quarnek Hewn said.

"Do not get too anxious, Hewn," Shawn explained. "Though you may wish it, mankind is not yet ready to accept you back into his world. We have developed technologies and weapons that threaten our own self-annihilation. Humans would not hesitate to use them on you. That is why you need the elves. You will need someone similar to humans to convince us that you are not a threat."

This warning troubled Quarnek Hewn. He knew that despite his frail stature, Shawn did save his world. His understanding of the Guardian and his knowledge of the ancient languages also suggested that Shawn and his fellow humans were probably capable of developing other devices as powerful as the Guardian, if not more so. "Tell me, Shawn. If you had one of those weapons right now, would you use it?" Quarnek Hewn asked.

Until this moment, Shawn had never considered the question. He was a scientist; an explorer. The thought of actually killing one of the dragons, even Quarnek Hewn, had never crossed his mind. "To say yes, in order to frighten you against raiding Earth and killing humans would be a lie. Were you some mindless creature, whose only goal was to kill and eat, I probably would. But you're not. You're a thinking, feeling, rationalizing creature. I do not believe I could willingly kill you."

"Even at the sake of saving your own life?"

Again, Shawn considered the question. Looking at Quarnek Hewn, he thought back to his arrival into this world and his fascination with Kotif Ra. The conversations they had. The friendship he developed. The moment Kotif Ra almost lost control. Could he willingly kill one of these creatures, even to save himself. The face of the young Argoness Bahr crossed his mind. "Your race was born on the Earth, as was my own. I could not deny you your right to live there. I would like to think that there are alternatives other than us killing each other."

"You could not do it, could you?"

"No. I couldn't."

"And how many other humans feel the way that you do?"

"Too few," Shawn said. "Oh, there are a number of us around, but we do not hold positions of power. That is why I recommend you visit Earth for yourself, before you commit to any actions. Tahn understood this. That is also why he preached unity between the dragons and the elves.

"He sacrificed himself so that Kotif Ra could survive and maintain the alliance through Princess Shilear; an alliance you will need if you intend to use their magic to secretly visit Earth. But he also knew that an alliance alone would not be enough to counter your fears and hatreds of humans. That is why he did not yet want a human to learn of your existence. He feared that a human would influence the elves against an alliance and not toward it. To avoid this, he strived to bring dragons and elves together in their feelings and goals."

"And do you believe that such a union is possible? Knowing what you now know of dragons and elves."

Ready to offer an unqualified 'yes,' Shawn hesitated before answering; his mind replaying the events he had witnessed since his arrival. "I see a dragon, deeply in love with an elf. I see a group of dragons, each with their own fears and aspirations, working together with an elf to save their world. But I also see the look in a dragon's eye when the blood lust sets in. I hear an elf's hatred spewed forth at a calm voice of reason. I see the tattered remains of a victim who only sought to help. Yes, the potential to accomplish the union is there, but it will not be as easy as shaking hands."

"And therein lies our problem," Quarnek Hewn said. "The Guardian has taken away our need to strive to be more. We did not listen to Tahn, not because we disagreed with him, but because we were too lazy to care. With the Guardian again working, complacency will quickly return."

"That is even more the reason to take charge of the situation. Make a new pedestal. Create a world that forces the dragons and elves to work together. Carry on Tahn's legacy. More than anything else, he wanted to see his children enjoying the beauty of Earth. Beyond Ra's objections, to him it was worth it; his life for his race; for his children. Would you deny him that? He sacrificed himself to save Ra and preserve what little was left of the alliance. Build off of that sacrifice. Don't stop now, when you're so close."

Again, Quarnek Hewn stared off, considering Shawn's words. "You have given me much to think about, Shawn," he said. "This will remain our secret, and ours alone. I must consider what you have told me. You have done well, human. For now, I shall let you live, though you shall remain here, under my claim. Soon, I will offer my judgement."

Then, in silence, Quarnek Hewn turned and dove into the canyon to rejoin the festivities, leaving Shawn alone to ponder his fate, and the fate of two worlds. Where once his only desire was to return to Earth, now, he was no longer sure. The union of dragons and elves was inevitable, and if a war with humans was to be avoided, someone had to teach them of human customs, and fears. They needed to know what to expect once the gateway was opened. Most importantly, he needed the forgiveness of a young silver dragon. That would be his test; for if he could not gain the trust and friendship of this single, innocent soul, then what chance was there for those whose hatreds ran deep; whose angers were eternal. Of course, his main concern now was that he could convince Quarnek Hewn to construct a pedestal that had a greater food selection than nuts and berries.