fandomania | The Adventure continues... (Reply)

It took several days before all the hatchlings were healthy enough to move. We kept up a constant watch and guard in case any Haveners found our encampment. Fortunately, as far as we could tell, we remained undiscovered.

It was a wrench to see all the hatchlings go, but it was necessary for them. Although we were free from the Georgists, we were still in jeopardy from the other humans who lived in this valley. It wasn't a safe place to set up roots. We had to move on and find our way to Rawn-Devu. Hopefully, there we would find safety.

Dawn broke the next day and after breakfast, the only beings in camp were myself, my children, my hatchlings and eggs, Donal and Orlando. It surprised me that Orlando was still around. I would have thought that he would have returned to his safe, warm cave. I asked him about this.

"MY LADY, IT SEEMS THAT YOU NEED SOME HELP. YOU HAVE DONE REMARKABLY WELL GETTING THIS FAR, BUT, UNLESS I AM BEING TOO EGOTISTICAL [AND WHAT DRAGON ISN'T AN EGOTIST], I THINK THAT YOU CAN USE MY HELP AND COMPANY ON THIS JOURNEY OF YOURS. I HAVE HEARD AND READ A LOT ABOUT RAWN-DEVU. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PLACE FOR MYSELF. I HOPE THAT YOU DON'T MIND MY COMPANY?"

"Oh, Orlando! I would love your help and company. I just didn't want to impose on your good nature."

"IT IS NO IMPOSITION, MY LADY. I ENJOY YOUR COMPANY AND I THINK WE WILL WORK WELL TOGETHER."

With that, I gathered up my children, my hatchlings, and Donal. Orlando resumed his human form and set out towards the next pass, out of this valley.

Our hatchlings:

Our eggs:

We skirted around Haven. As we passed by, we would see the utter destruction of the town. The walls had collapsed in many places. Houses and buildings were either burning or rubble. From the distance, we could see that there were still people alive there, but we kept out of sight as much as possible and left them to their fate. I could not hear any dragon voices coming from there, so I was comforted that all the hatchlings were rescued.

We tried to put as much distance as we could away from Haven. We didn't walk on the open roads, but found paths through the forest. That slowed our journey, but helped hide us from any who might want to harm us.

That night we camped by the side of a large pond. We caught some fish for our dinner. We divided up the night between Donal, Orlando and I so that someone would always be awake and could warn the rest in case of intruders.

I awoke early in the morning, hearing voices and the sounds of people moving through bushes.