"DragonFire Part 3" by Renee LeCompte

In the outskirts of the village, Valida shifted back to her natural form. "It really is wearisome to shift. I'm out of practice."

Yidraik looked at her. "Can anyone shape shift?"

"Only intelligent beings, such as Dragons, Gryphons, Faeries_."

"And Man?"

"Yes, and Man," Valida admitted with disgust. "Though, men have lost the knowledge of shifting along with all their other sorceries and magycks."

Yidraik looked at her. "Teach me, Valida, I want to know how."

Valida gave him a good hard look. He was willing, certainly, but was he patient? "Maybe, later." She glanced at the leather straps once again in the road. "Let us fit this awkward saddle on my back, now. I'm eager to begin this journey."

"Are you sure the others are this way?" Valida grumbled.

"Not only sure. I am certain."

"All right." As she winged over the ocean, she noticed something. Land! "Land ho!" she cried.

"Where? I'm aching all over from this flying?"

"To the east. Off my right wingtip." As an after thought, she added, "You are tired of flying, snippet?"

"It is more tiring than riding a horse."

"I see." Valida veered toward the small island, and within minutes, she landed lightly on the earth. "I hope there is meat in this island," she growled, swinging her head from side to side. Suddenly, she spotted a herd of wild goat, clambering over the rocky beach. "If you will excuse me.." Heaving her great bulk into the air, she promptly starting slaughtering the animals.

Yidraik searched the small island while Valida ate her meal. She was definitely a more delicate eater than that other Dragon he saw_ Yidraik shivered. He remembered that beast, horrid and misshapen. He wasn't even certain that the thing he saw was a Dragon. But, he had an idea.

Valida returned, licking the last of the meat from her talons. "This is a nice little cove you picked out, Yidraik."

"Thank you." He paused.

"What is it?" She stared at him as quizzically as a Dragon could.

"Remember when I asked you about shape-shifting? Teach me, I want to know."

Valida was once again between a rock and a hard place. She grudgingly admitted that yes, Yidraik was her friend, but the secret of shifting was not one let up lightly. He was an honest fellow with a good heart. She'd do it. "All right, I'll teach, but there are a few rules to shape-shifting_"

Weeks later, Valida had taught Yidraik everything she knew, and learned a few things herself. He was a fast learner, already able to become a Dragon, and a mouse. Valida had learned how to make her mass smaller also.

Finally, Yidraik was ready. "Let's go!" he announced as he launched himself in the air. Flying came naturally to him, and he made large, easy strokes. Soon, even Valida might fall behind him.

"Don't even think about it," she growled behind him, sensing his thoughts. Yidraik grinned a Dragonly grin, and flew a little faster. "Not good enough, snippet. Who's had decades of practice, while you've only had weeks?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Yidraik saw Valida coming up strong. Crimson scales flashed in the morning light, as did her golden talons and teeth. He put a little speed in his stroke, but Valida was much to fast for him.

"Don't overexert yourself," he heard her saying. "I don't want to drag your lump of flesh around anymore." He flicked his tail at her. "Hey, watch that thing! Don't you know you could poke someone's eye out with it?"

The strange little isles shimmered under Yidraik's belly, too plentiful to count. He could swear they were disappearing and reappearing, but maybe it was the thin air getting to him. "Can you see the isles?" he asked. "Have you tried counting them?"

"No, dunderhead. The isles are magic. No one can count them."

"How did you know that?"

"Being magic myself, I can sense other magical things around me." She shuddered. There was a great magic up ahead, and not all of it was good. "Are we almost there?"

"Up ahead, there's a large land-mass. That's where the Dragons are."

"Ah." Valida was silent for a time, wondering what she would do when she met her long lost companions.

Suddenly, the land swelled up beneath her wings. They'd finally made it! Yidraik motioned that he wanted to land, and dived down. Valida followed. When she reached the thick forested floor, she saw Yidraik was already in his human guise, rubbing his soar chest muscles.

"I told you not to exert yourself," she said with a smug smile. Yidraik just groaned. "Would you like to try hunting, or just let me do it for you?"

"Do it for me." As he said that, his Dragon self reappeared.

"All right," she replied as she launched herself again. The Dragon quickly became a tiny blue speck in a sea of green.