fandomania | The Story continues...

In amazement, we watched our little stone hatchling digging through the rubble that blocked the path. It squealed as it dug. It sounded very angry. I have never seen a stone dragon so animated.

I soon realized that it was communicating with someone. In the back of my mind, I felt a prickling. It was another sentient being that the stone was yelling at. Concentrating, I felt the mind of a very ancient being. Soon, I could tell that it was an earth dragon and a wild one, at that. I began to panic because dealing with wild dragons can be difficult. Earth dragons weren't as volitile as red or black dragons, but they could have their angry moments. Our presence obviously had angered the dragon. Most wild dragons dislike humans intensely. The earthquake and the landslide hadn't been an accident.

Soon, the earth began to shake again. Our little hatchling began to keen louder and more stridently. From the side of the mountain, the dragon burst. He looked around, with hostile intent and caught a glimpse of the stone hatchling charging at him. With almost amusement, he gave loud roar, "STOP LITTLE ONE!"

"No! You almost killed Her with your landslide! How dare you do that!"

"WHAT, LIITLE ONE? HER?"

The ancient dragon turned his glaze from the hatchling and stared in our direction. Slowly, the dragon came forward until he was within a few feet of us.

The other hatchlings formed a protective line in front of us. Hissing and squealing and generally warning him to keep away from us.

Our hatchlings: