Palaemon

Palaemon had felt drawn to an area along the Tsunami Flats and had set up a makeshift camp there. "A beach. Hunh. Why would I want a beach?" he wondered. "Some search this has turned out to be." Disconsolately, he set off on what had become a pattern of checking on "his" territory. "Not even a pretty dragon has come by to see what's going on" he grumbled to himself.

The next day (he had spent the previous day hunting in the deeper waters and generally goofing off), Palaemon was flying back to his camp when he noticed another guardian on the beach near his spot. "Big if it's a girl" he thought and hoped if it was a girl that she wouldn't laugh at him. "Ah no, it's a guy and I'm bigger", he realized with relief. "Bet I can take him. I'd better see what he's doing there".

Landing several feet away, so as to approach on foot, Palaemon walked over to the new dragon. The stranger was watching his approach but did not get up. "Hello, are you lost?" asked Palaemon. With a sigh, the stranger quietly shook his head. "Nope, not lost, unless you count my entire life" he growled. Not sure how to respond, Palaemon just stared. With another sigh, the other guardian moved his wing back slightly to reveal what at first glance looked like a fish to Palaemon's confusion. "Oh, it's a fae" he exclaimed after a few seconds of squinting. He had decided not to get too close to the other guardian in case the fellow was unstable.

Realization suddenly dawned. "Oh, ah, so it's your ah...I see...' he trailed off. The other guardian was staring fixedly at the sand. "My name is Palaemon by the way" he said with forced cheerfulness. "This is my area, but you are welcome to stay for a visit. You and your, uh, friend." "Swifttalon" growled the other guardian and this one here is Taw. We're not here to visit, she wants to set up a colony on those cliffs." "Oh, yes, well..a fae colony will be acceptable, of course" stammered Palaemon. "Perhaps all you need to do is get her started and then you can be on your way?" A morose shake of the head told him all he needed to know. "Well, you see, the thing is, um, well...this is my territory, so er, well, you'll need to find your own. Right?"

The little fae woke up, stretched and regarded the new guardian with unblinking eyes. "I will build here and you two big ones may stay if you wish." The two guardians looked at her, one in resignation and the other in growing disbelief. "Now wait a moment!" cried Palaemon heatedly, "this is my territory! You can't just come in here and order me around!" Swifttalon had sat up now and Palaemon couldn't help but notice what appeared to be bulging muscles all over the smaller dragon. The little fae seemed exasperated although it was hard to tell with fae. "You two must not fight. No good comes of it" she said firmly. "Now, I will go and get something to eat and I suggest you two do the same." With that, she flew off in search
of insects and left the two guardians staring awkwardly on the beach.

"There is good fishing in the deeper waters around here" offered Palaemon sulkily. "Thanks" came the short reply. Swifttalon was watching the little fae swooping along the shore gathering up insects. "What do you want to do about this" Palaemon almost wailed. Swifttalon shrugged. "Build a better camp, I guess. Yours looks like it could fall over at any time." "But, but...I'm not really sure this is a good idea. Why don't you and Taw just go somewhere else? Somewhere with trees? You know? Like a forest...." Palaemon sputtered to a stop under the somewhat amused and sympathetic gaze of Swifttalon. "Oh no, I don't need sympathy from someone who's charge is a fae!" he snapped before he could stop himself. The next thing he knew, he was on his back staring into the calm eyes of the smaller guardian who somehow seemed to weigh as much as the Tidelord. "We're going to stay, for now. I have no idea what is going to happen next. We'll stay out of your way as much as possible, alright?" "Ffffine" he stuttered with as much dignity as he could muster. "But only for a little while and then you have to go. Because this is MY TERRITORY!"

Six years later, Swifttalon and Palaemon were on the same stretch of beach watching some hatchlings splash in the tidepools. "Guess we'll be here a little longer" said Swifttalon. "Yah, you've already overstayed you're welcome, what's another year or two now?" grumbled Palaemon with a grin.