Fafhrd

She remembered life in the sun, parents and siblings smiling as she played. She remembered the acceptance of family, the love and security. She remembered cool green shadows dappling her scales as she hid from her sister.

Then she remembered a flash of pain and searing light.

Time stilled when she confronted the light, and the pain quickly faded as she watched light play over her body. With curiosity, she looked down and saw her back and shoulders were twisted, broken in many places, and there were red coating her scales.

"It was an accident," spoke a calm voice. The sound of that voice filled the air around her, filled her ears, filled her mind. "You were never meant to leave so soon after arriving. But it was an accident," the voice sounded troubled as it insisted she was supposed to have lived a long life, that there had been plans for her life.

A second voice overtook the first, an older voice. "If she's so important, then put her back," it snipped at the first.

"But, the body is irretrievable," was the instant response. She wasn't sure, but there was a touch of impatience to the disembodied words surrounding her. "Look at her!"

She was confused - there was no one there with her to look at her! Just that bright light. Yet, she felt...something...scrutinizing her, searching her. She felt a whisper of wind move over her wings.

Soft murmuring filled the room, no longer distinct words, and then she heard a last word thunder through the space she occupied: "Done!" She felt gently kissed on her forehead, "Look away, child." Trusting the words, she closed her eyes just in time to miss how her body knit itself whole.

When her body stopped moving under her skin and scales, she felt the warmth of the sun again. It caressed her face where the being had kissed a blessing, and with happy excitement the dragonling opened her eyes to search for her family, to tell them what had happened to her that day. But, there were no familiar dragons around her. No familiar trees or meadows, either. In fact, she didn't know where she was, had never seen such a place before. Where were the sheltering roots of the Behemoth? Where were the dragons weaving through the protecting branches above? Why was there so much mud?

Movement at the edge of her vision brought her focus to a floating gold-colored wisp that was hovering eye-level with her. It looked worried, until their eyes met. Then, she felt joy emanating from the wispy Spectre, and she smiled back. It beckoned her to follow and, with unconditional trust, she followed the floating mist away from the muddy bank of the swamp and to higher, more solid ground. When she felt grass beneath her feet, her guide dissipated, leaving her alone in a shadowed clearing. With nothing to do but wait, she waited.

Mere minutes passed before she heard a high-pitched voice across the clearing. "Excuse me," piped a small Fae. "Are you lost?"

She was confused. She knew what Fae dragons were, she knew she was twice their size. But this dragon was tiny compared to her! The Fae fluttered up to her face and hovered there, a lantern glowing feebly on her tail to combat the murky shadows, and studied her with compassionate eyes. She tried to speak, tried to tell the Fae she was lost and she was looking for her parents and family, but no words came from her mouth. Startled, she tried again, and still she could not speak.

Tears formed in her eyes, and the Fae wrapped their arms around her nose in a comforting hug, then she insisted, "Follow me. I'll get you to the clan and let them help you."

The wisp followed her, just at the edge of her vision, to the new lands. Whenever fear and confusion overwhelmed the hatchling, the wisp drifted to her and brushed against her scales to calm her. The Fae, who introduced herself as Squishy, led the now-fully-grown hatchling to the center of the clan-lands where the Bogsneaks lived. Before they could cross the clearing, the clear voice of Reesa rang across the distance and called out, "Bring her here, Squishy."

Squishy gave a squeak of surprise, then changed her course to lead the newcomer to the local oracle. When they arrived before the blind Bogsneak, Squishy dropped to the ground and scuttled to hide behind the hatchling's wing. She realized this dragon was powerful and commanded respect, and she also realized this dragon was large, yet she was nearly the same size! As this thought crossed her mind, the Bogsneak spoke to her, "Yes, child, you have been gone for quite a while. Long enough to be nearly fully-grown," the oracle chuckled to the child she couldn't see. "You are also far from home, I'm sad to tell you. And you can't return," the blind dragon said with deep compassion. "The gods have returned you so you could complete your task, and in doing so they could only heal your body. Your voice," she sighed sadly, "could not be recovered. And it is not needed for your future." Then, rolling sightless eyes to the right, Reesa beamed, "Right on time!"

She looked over her wing and saw another dragon approaching, one that towered over her. "Gala, this is your new charge," Reesa commanded the smiling Guardian. With a low bow, the giant nodded to the oracle without question, then she turned to the newcomer and gave a kind smile.

"Welcome to your new home," Gala greeted her as she led her new charge away. "You have much to learn before you'll be ready, so let's get you settled in before we begin your studies. Your familiar will be safe with us, as well," she was assured when the Guardian teacher saw the worried look cross her face.

Fafhrd started her studies that day, and by that night she was more comfortable with her large body. Her lack of voice didn't limit her as she learned to harness the magic that flowed through her.