Chapter 8A

Des

It was several years later. Del and I still lived in our cave and Del had not changed one beautiful inch, but I had. I was now 18 and had my full height, or at least I hope so, and was the same as my father and the strength to match, though I took on more of my mother's looks. It had been over two years from the last trouble we had with the bully from Del's childhood by the name of Ilnirastvalysh. He had shown up hunting for Del and I, but found only me while I was hunting in the woods for early wild greens. The year after that my father had found a good birthday gift; a long sword that was a good hand longer than his and just a little weightier.

That year was the first that Del and I chose to go with my father to do trading at Dorset. It was a village about ten days from my family's and very much the same. There were a few tense moments at first but after Del saved one of the kids from falling out of a very large tree because the branch he was on started to break and telling some funny story about a Wyrm catching some boys trying to sneak up on some girls who were skinny dipping in the near by lake. Both boys and Wyrm went running scared, of course. One of the men announced that one of the boys from the story had been his grandfather. With laughter all around, everything else went fine.

But now it was late summer, nearing fall again and I was starting to harvest some of the things from my garden when I caught a strange scent on the air. I wasn't even sure I had smelled it until I caught a second sniff. The smell was definitely Wyrm. I looked around but could not see anything. Then I felt like I was being watch, and for some time I just let it as I tried to guess where it was. Finally, I couldn't take it and called to Del who was hunting. "Del, would you come back and fly over the cave and field area. I think there's a Wyrm here but who ever it is, it's hiding very well and I can't see them, though I can smell them."

"Of course, I'll be there soon."

He broke the contact with me as he flew home. I continued to work as I waited for Del. During the wait I could tell the Wyrm was getting closer and I thought I could hear some noise come from the west side woods near the end of the corral. Then Del spoke to me. "Darling, I am coming in from the west and have caught the scent I believe you have smelled. Ah, I see movement in the trees not far from the corral but they are strange movements. What do you want me to do?"

"I'll move to this side of the corral and call the Wyrm out. When it does, land a Wyrm length behind it, just in case."

"Good, Wait for a ten count for me to be in position, then make your move."

"Very well."

I counted to ten then walked to the side of the corral. My great sword stood near at hand. "Alright, come on out, who ever you are. Don't play stupid, I know you're there and don't make me come in there and get you!"

A moment passed and I was just about ready to turn and take my sword in hand when the smallest Wyrm I had ever seen stepped slowly out from the trees, then along the wall of the corral, to stop at the corner. This was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen next to Del but there was something not right, as it looked at me. Del landed softly behind it, looking like I felt. The poor thing turned, looked at Del then came running right to me. It was scare, so scare that it couldn't seem to do anything but shiver. I leaned down to look at it closer. I put an arm around it to try to comfort it. "It's alright, it's alright, you don't have to be scared, it's just my mate Del. it's alright."

"Del why is this youngling here and not at home with its parents? Did you see any others on the way back?"

"No but there is something not right with this one, she's too small and I smell something strange about her."

Del walked slowly over to use. "It's alright little one. I didn't mean to scare you. Why are you here? And where are your parents?"

"Please, don't let them find me. Don't send me back to them, please." She said in a rush, looking back and forth between us.

"Little one, what's wrong?" I asked

"Please don't let them take me!" she whaled.

"Tell us why, then we'll see." Del asked.

The little one continued to look at Del then at me. "They don't want me. They don't care about me. All they want is for me to clean up after their other hatchlings."

I went to stroke her neck and she flinched. But by doing so, I caught sight of something. "Little one, lift you left wing." She didn't move, so I made to stroke her neck again, this time she let me. "Little one, is there something wrong under your wing? If there is, I need to see it. If I don't then I can't make it better." I was trying to make my voice as soothing as I could.

She looked at me for a moment then looked at Del then slowly and painfully by the look of it, raised her wing. There along her side was a talon strike. Del was so shocked that he threw himself back and sat down hard. I was near to joining him for the rage we were filled with. I looked back at the little one.

"How did you get such a horrid wound? Who did this to you?" I asked firmly.

The poor thing dropped to the ground and hid her head under the other wing. "Del, who would do such a thing to a child. And why?" the rage in me was the only thing that kept the tears away.

"I don't know but when I find whoever it is, I'll break their legs for it!" he growled.

I turned back to the little one, "Little one, it's all right, we're not upset with you; we need to know who did this. I also need to get a closer look at the wound. Would you lift your wing again, for me please?"

She brought her head out from under her wing to look at me again. I smiled at her and knelt to give her a hug then looked close at the wound. The little one was hot to the touch, hotter I thought then she should have been. The strike was not deep but it had gone untreated and was looking infected and, as I touched along the top of it, which was even hotter, I was able to see liquid ooze out of it. "Del this is infected. I don't think it went down to the muscles though. Child how did you get here?"

"I flew some of the way but I'm not a strong flier. The ones that raised me didn't really help me learn to fly." She sounded ashamed. It almost broke my heart.

"Oh child, please tell me who hurt you and who are your parents?" Del asked, coming back to sit right next to her, extending his own wing over her, protectively. The size difference was drastic.

"I don't know there full names but mother's is Selen and father's Malach. He was mad because I asked if one day, I could come and meet the two of you. He got madder and took a swipe at me so I ran away and came here."

"Malach, Malach, I knew a Malach. He's 50 years or so older than I am but we shared a class or two. He took a mate about 50 years ago I think. But you're not that old; how can he be your father?"

"He and his mate found me in some caves they wanted for their own. They warmed my egg and with in a year I hatched. They were kind to me then. Talked to me, taught me and even sang to me. Then they had there own clutch and forgot about me until something needed to be cleaned up. I was ten when their clutch hatched and I am 48 years old now."

"Del how could this happen? Were you this size, at this age?" I asked.

"No, I was at least twice her size. She should be half way between where she is now and where I am now if not a little bigger. Little one why did you want to meet us?" he asked.

"I'm little like you are. Malach would talk about you and your human mate sometimes. He would say bad things about the two of you; I don't think he likes you much. Mother I'm hungry." She looked straight at me. How was I to deny those pleading eyes?

"Let me get you a rabbit." I replied.

I got up and retrieved one that Rolly had gotten earlier and gave it to her. It was gone before I could say a word, unfortunately it didn't want to stay down and the little one got up and ran to the trees to be sick, something I didn't know a Wyrm could do.

"Del what are we to do?" turned and looked at him. "That child is very sick."

"Let me tend to the wound then we'll see how she is." He turned his head in the direction that the little one had gone, "Little one, are you able to come back to us now? I want to help you feel better."

She slowly came walking back but then collapsed, shivering. Del and I ran to her, Del called up his healing energy and sent it to her. After a few moments, I lifted the child's wing to look at the wound. Slowly it started to dry up and looked better but was not there yet. I closed my eyes and sent Del some of my energy for him to use. Time seemed to pass very slowly.

Del finally dropped his hands and opened his eyes, as did I. "Des the infection has gotten into the blood, I'm not good enough to work with it. But her body is trying to burn it off. That's why she's so warm."

An idea came to me. "Del what if we do what your mother did when you were sick? It would help her body burn off the infection by getting even hotter. Wouldn't it?"

"That's what I was thinking. I wish my mother was here or Tanni."

"Del let's build the fire, put her in it, then you go and get them." "And get Frost, Willow or one of the other council elders, this is something that they need to know about."

"They should have been told when those idiots found this one's egg."

I turned my attention back to the child. "Little one, Del is going to build a fire, don't worry, fire can't hurt you, in fact it can help you. Your body needs help to burn the infection off and by putting you in a fire; it will warm you up and help you. Little one, what's your name?"

"It's Vasingemrock."

"I don't think you look like a Vas, so what would you say if I called you Gem?"

"I would like it a lot. I don't like Vas either." She looked up with a week smile then but her head down again.

"Del, get that fire going, I'm going to see if she'll keep down some water and maybe put in some herbs to help sour tummies."

I got up and went to get a bucket of water with herbs in it, while Del made up a large woodpile. I returned and helped Gem to drink some water. Rolly had come out and was sitting next to Gem but she felt so bad I guess that she didn't even notice. Del lit the wood then came over and nuzzled Gem, and then me for a moment while the fire took hold of the wood. Then Del stood up, took up Gem in one hand and move to the fire. When he reached the fire, he shifted Gem and with both hands placed her in the center. I moved a little closer but the fire was too hot to get close to at least until it burned down. Right away, I could see Gem looked better but knew it would take some time.

Del backed away and looked to me. "Des, I go. She should be in the flames for some time. If she gets out before the fire is gone, try to get her back in. Otherwise get her to drink as much as she can handle, don't let her eat to quickly, though she may only want to sleep. Call me if anything else happens." Del jumped into the air and with a wave of love to me was off and away.

Delinsilversworth

Anger and fear gave me strength and speed to reach my parents cave sooner than I had anticipated. Mother thankfully was there. "Mother! I need your help!"

"Delin, what has you so agitated?"

"A youngling came to the cave, earlier. She's in a bad way. She's small, half the size I was at her age of 48 and wounded by her guardian." I let my anger show as well as the fear.

"WHAT? How?" Her agitation growing.

"A talon strike, down the length of her side just under her left wing, mother it's badly infected and she's sick with it and couldn't even keep down any meat. I started healing the wound and drained some of the infection away, but it's in her blood. Des gave her some water with herbs in it that she knew to help upset stomachs. The only thing I could think of was to build a fire and put her in it. Des is watching her now and the fire should be all but done. Where's father, I need him to look at her?" I finished and looked around.

"You did the right thing with the little one. Your father went to talk to Forestsardonyx, at the council hall. Who are her parents?" she asked.

"Malach and Selen have been her guardians; they found her in the caves they reside in. Mother would you fly to Des, she's scared because she doesn't know enough about our young." I was worried because I didn't know enough.

"Of course, go get your father and Forestsardonyx. I'll expect you to be right behind me soon."

"As fast as the winds will carry me." We touched heads together for a moment then I ran out the opening. My mother wasn't far behind me.

It didn't take me long to reach the council hall, nor to find my father. I told him and Forestsardonyx, both males were livid and took to the air not long after I finished telling them what I had all ready done to help Gem. It had been just a little before sundown when I made my parents home and it would still be full dark when we made it back to the cave, I just hoped that Des could handle everything and let my feelings reach out to her.

Des

I had to guess that from the relief I felt that Del's mother was on her way. I couldn't have been happier; I was scared for the little one while she sat curled into a tiny ball in the middle of the fire. Once or twice, I did toss extra wood on the fire to make it last just that much longer. By the time the fire had died down to just embers, the sun had gone down. I wandered whether I should but more wood on and bring the fire back up both because Gem had not yet moved and because it gave off a lot of light. I decided to wait for a little and see if mother Cyndar would get here before midnight

There had been few changes to the outside of the cave except for the addition of a second corral and a table with benches for sitting. That's where I was sitting and dosing off when Gem woke and walked out of the fire pit. She was looking around; I think to see where Del and I had gone. "Over here Gem." I said then waited for her to walk over to me. "How are you feeling? Any better?"

"I don't feel so bad any more. And I'm really hungry mother. Could I have another rabbit?" that was the second time she called me that and for some reason it felt very good, so I didn't stop her.

"Let's start with some water then a few meat strips. We don't want it to come back up if you eat to fast now do we?"

I led her to the pool in the back of the cave and let her drink her fill. When she had all she could take, we sat down in the middle of the cave and waited to see if it stayed.

"Mother where's father?" Gem asked as she looked around.

"He went to get his parents. Ralyss is a strong healer and Cyndar knows how to take care of little ones like you."

"But I don't want to go to someone else; I want to stay with you. Please mother; don't let them take me from you."

Poor Gem was so scared that she crawled onto my lap as best she could. I held and rocked her as she trembled and tried to tell her that if it were all right with the council then she would be staying with Del and me.

It must have been just after midnight when I heard the distant greeting call from Cyndar. Gem jumped out of her sleep and ran into Del's and mine's sleeping space. I got up finding myself very stiff and went outside and called my greeting back to her. Cyndar landed and walked to the cave opening where I was standing. "Des, where is the little one? I expected her to still be sitting in the fire."

"She woke some time ago. She's had water and some meat strips. I didn't want to give her too much just in case. Right now, she's hiding in my sleeping room. She's a bit on the jumpy side. I'll go get her." I walked into the cave, "Gem, you can come out, mother Cyndar is here. Come on sweetheart you don't need to be scared of her. She won't let anything happen to you, just like I won't."