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I decided to have a look around outside the cave because Grandmother had curled up and fallen immediately asleep. I left her gently snoring to go out and explore.



Just outside the opening of this cave was a scraggily little tree clinging to a crack in the rock ledge. I wondered how it had ever managed to grow in such a small place.



The mountains made a nearly perfect circle around a crystal clear lake. It was the lake that drew my attention, or was it the strange sound coming from somewhere down near the lake?



I turned to look back at Grandmother. She would be sleeping for some time I was sure. The flight had certainly worn her out. I had never actually seen her fly in my whole life.



I spread my wings and glided slowly down to land beside the lake. The strange sound was much louder here. Whoever it was must be nearby. I sniffed the air, but there were entirely too many new smells for me to tell if anything were out of place. Too bad Grandmother was sleeping. She would know.



I moved cautiously toward the sound. There were several large bushes near the lake, and some very large boulders. I glanced into the shimmering water. The surface seemed to sparkle and dance in the sunlight. There were small odd looking creatures under the water.



"Eeeeeeeeek!" a scream split the air.



I looked up to see ... some kind of big bug.



"W... what k kind of creature are y you?" the frightened bug stammered.



I drew myself up to my full height and looked it squarely in its little bug eyes. "I am a dragon. What kind of creature are you, little bug?"



"A....a dragon? A real live dragon!?!" it exclaimed and began to buzz around me at an alarming speed. "Oh, a dragon! A real live dragon! I can hardly believe it!"



The bug was making me dizzy with all its flittering around. I began to get just a little bit annoyed.



"Come here and tell me what manner of bug you are this instant, or I'm just going to eat you and be done with you." I announced in the direction of all the chattering.



"Oh, no, please don't eat me, Sir. I'm just so excited because I've been searching for you all my life, but I never really thought I'd actually see a real live dragon! Oh my stars, I'm so Happy I could just burst!"



I opened my mouth to take a breath and almost inhaled the pesky, noisy little bug in the process.



"Eeeeeek! No, don't eat me! I'm not a bug. I'm in disguise. Wait I'll show you." it screamed and started spinning even faster in a tight circle until...POP.



A beautiful little fairie fluttered her gossamer

wings before me. She had long bright red hair and huge green eyes. Her dress was as fragile as a spiders web and lavender like a lilac.



"Please allow me to introduce myself, Sir Dragon. I am Lilithabelle. My friends call me Lilly. I have spent my whole life in search of a dragon because I am a Dragon Fairie.

I wanted to soar higher and faster and farther than any dragon had ever soared before! But I kept pace with my Grandmother. She flew grandly along noticing every rock, tree, and flower.



"Ahh," she sighed, "it feels so good to stretch my wings again."



She had decided to take me back to my hatching ground . She thought that would be the best place to begin my Qwest.



"Dragons weren't meant to be cave dwellers." I observed.



"No they were not." she agreed. "They were meant to rule the sky. We have been cowering in our caves for far too long."



"Why did we just give up, Grandmother?" I asked the question that had been burning inside me.



She looked at me for a long moment before replying.



"Not all of us just gave up. But we decided that the only way for us to survive was to hide away from our enemies."



I felt the saddness she held deep in her eyes.



"Were they so much stronger than all those fierce dragons?" I asked.



She flew along in silence for so long, that I wasn't sure she had heard my question. All of the dragon stories I'd been told sang of huge battles, fierce fighting, and enormous rewards. The dragons always won. How could a pack of Dwarves have sent my whole clan to spend the rest of their days cowering underground?



"Ah, here we are." she grinned a toothy grin. "Let's see if my cave is still intact."



I saw a deep wide valley filled with huge old trees. Right through the middle a wide lazy river cut it's slow path through the trees.



She flew on across this vast plain to a ring of mountains on the other side. We circled sheer rock peaks. There high above the tree line was a row of caves with a wide and solid rock ledge before them. Skillfully, Grandmother glided down to rest before one large cave. I landed a little less gracefully, but at least I didn't land on any stupid bear cub.



Grandmother inhaled deeply and stepped into the cave. It was completely dark inside. Slowly a glow began to form as she breathed dragonfire onto the glow wall.

Finally the day to begin my flying lessons dawned clear and bright. All the story telling was behind me at last.



I tried to remain calm and remember all the instructions I'd been given. I didn't want Credagon to know just how nervous and excited I really was.



"Now, I think it will be best if you spread your wings and practice flapping a few times." he prompted. He led me through many drills and trial runs until, at last: "Ok, follow me."



He soared out over the cliffs. I followed after just a moments hesitation. The wind wooshed past my ears. I felt complete exhileration. I never wanted to plod along the ground waddeling through caves ever again!



"Ok, we don't want to overdo it on your first day. Let's go back now." Credagon suggested.



NO! It was too soon. I wanted to fly on forever. I was not some old decrepid dragon who could not fly anymore. I was young and strong and ready to fly forever.



"Come on. I know you're excited, but we can go out again tomorrow." he called.



Something in his tone made me decide to comply. I followed reluctantly back to our dismal cave. He banked and slipped effortlessly into the mouth of the cave.



I banked and moved to follow, but something was wrong. I tried to correct my angle, but it was too late.



C R A S H ! ! !



"Help! Don't eat me! MAMA!!"



My head was spinning. I looked dizzily to where a furry creature scurried up the slope to his mother's side.



"Leave my son alone you great Brute." she screamed and punched me right on the snout.



"OW! What did you do that for? I didn't mean to land on your cub." I explained.



"See to it that it doesn't happen again." she declared and ran off in a huff.

" Sir, what is this Qwest all about?" I asked trying hard to keep the impatience from my voice.



He chuckled once again, "Patience young one."



He turned to all the assembled dragons and spoke: "We must each recall our own Qwests. Our impatience to be off was unbearable. With your permission, I would like to instruct this one on the fine art of the Qwest. But I am getting too old to teach him to fly. He must learn that before he can even dream of persuing his own Qwest. Who among us is up to the challenge?"



I looked hopefully at each member of the clan. I had often dreamed of flying. I had heard so many wonderful tales of adventure soaring impossibly high in the sky.



"I will teach him."Credagon stepped forward. "But he will have to wait for the weather to change. It is still the Cold Time. It's not a good time to learn."



"How long before the Cold Time ends?" I asked.



"It will be perhaps two cycles before the weather clears enough to attempt to teach you." he replied.



That seemed like forever to me.



"All right," Piedormont began again. "It is settled then that Credagon will teach the flying to our young one. I suggest we all share our stories about our Qwests with him until then."



I felt a little hopeless, more stories, great. All I wanted was a real explaination.



As if she read my mind, Grandmother spoke up again at last.



"Stories are all well and good, but he needs specifics. Tell him where to look, what to watch out for, and any secrets you can remember."



"It's simple really." Iragon said. "All you really do is fly around the whole world until you find your treasure."



"Oh sure," Piedormont said. "Take away all the adventures, and great battles and, well all the fun, and that's what it boils down to."



"I fought Pirates on my Qwest." Regimont recalled."They were very tasty too."

I waited patiently back in the warmth. Grandmother had called a meeting of the clan. Most of the dragons moved slowly in the cold months. I knew that there was nothing else to do but wait.



Finally, when all the shuffling for position ceased, my grandmother spoke at last.



"My friends, it is time. My grandson grows weary of our confinement. He is well past the age of his Qwest. Who will come forward and speak to him now?"



Silence stretched out for long moments. How long would I have to wait for this answer?



"I remember your hatching day, boy." Blaze spoke at last. "We thought that we were finished after those Dwarves descimated our Clan. It was a joyful day indeed."



"He's heard that story a thousand times, Old One." Killsergon stated."He wants to be on his way."



"He can't even fly. How can he begin his Qwest?" Irgano proclaimed.



"Someone will have to teach him." they began to speak all at once. "Who will teach him?" "Where can he go?" "It's not safe."



"SILENCE!"



All eyes turned toward my Grandmother as the echoes of her roar slowly faded.



"Who will teach my Grandson to fly?"



"It's much too cold." Almador stated quietly.



"It's too dangerous for him to fly his Qwest now." Calitron added.



"The Qwest for our treasure is what got us into the desolate situation in the first place." Regimot pointed out.



"Is there noone brave enough to teach me how to be a REAL dragon?" I blurted.



Complete and profound silence followed my outburst.



"So, the youngster has a voice of his own after all." Peidermont chuckled. "I wondered how long it would take for you to speak up for yourself."



He slowly approached me. "Have you got the kind of stregnth and courage you will need for your Qwest? I wonder. I wonder."

Now these many years I had lived with my Grandmother in a new place in the mountains. Once there had been hundreds of dragons ruling the mountains and the plains. Now there were only a dozen or so who hid away in the farthest reaches of those desolate mountains.



By day, we slept in the depths of our caverns huddled deep within the bowels of the mountain. By night, the best hunters searched for rams, or sheep, or stray farm animals to bring home to feed the clan.



It was snowing, cold and dreary on the mountain. I had wandered nearly to the opening of our cave and was watching the snow swirl just inside the mouth of the cave.



"Come back, young one." Grandmother spoke softly from behind me.



"I came here to think. Please go back to the warmth. I will be back soon." I reassured her.



"What is it that you ponder?" she asked.



I watched the snow swirl and dance in the air outside for a moment before answering.



"What is the world outside really like? What does it feel like to soar to the heights and plunge through the sky? My wings ache to explore the outside and feel the wind rush past me." I finally said.



"Ah, I knew this day would come." she shook her head sadly. "I've only thought about keeping you safe. Not once did I think about the longing you would feel inside. It's long past time for you to begin your Quest."



"What Quest is that?" I asked.



"Come back to the warmth and I will explain." she turned to leave.



I gazed once more at the swirling snow, but it had stopped it dance.