Keshav

Death wasn't nearly as frightening as Deke thought it would be. In fact, he was rather comforted by the glowing being at the end of the tunnel!

"You are here before your time, my child," the glowing dragon's voice whispered in his mind. "There is still much you need to accomplish."

Looking around, Deke bemusedly thought, "But, I think I like it here."

With a shake of its mighty head, the draconic deity intoned, "No, my child. I need you back where you were."

Deke shrugged and sighed, then nodded and agreed to return to the world he came from. When he opened his eyes under the nighttime stars, he was surprised to find his muscles were stiff and sore. As if he had been sleeping in one position too long.

When Deke stood and looked around, he didn't recognize the crystalline waterfall before him. "Welcome to ya's new home," a shrill voice greeted him. A second look around showed the towering Snapper a small, silver shadow at his feet.

"Well, hello there," he chuckled. "Home, you say? That's...nice. I guess," he sighed.

Chuckling, Havoc the poodle nodded. "I thinks you'll find home is much more exciting than yous used to." Then she motioned for him to look into the bright waters of the moon-lit pool nearby. When Deke espied himself, he didn't recognize the dragon looking up to him.

"Why am I blue?" he asked the grinning dog. Then, his eyes crinkled as he smiled hugely and added, "You know what? Never mind. Home it is!" As he admired his new blue skin, he leaned down and whispered into Havoc's ear, "I think I'll change my name. Make my inner self more match my outer self."

"Dat's a very good idea," Havoc giggled as she led him west past the crystalline pool and into the lands of the nameless clan.