“Because there are so few of us. We’ve traveled far and wide to bring any of our remaining people here. We leave notes in the abandoned towns, instructing them to come here. We’ve combed our entire land, but it took many years. It’s all we can do to hunt enough food to keep everyone alive.”
Tears came to my eyes as I stared in horror at what was left of a prosperous, proud civilization. How could I possibly help these poor creatures? Newly discovered genes or not, I was still just Riley Effler, coffee shop manager. I didn’t even know about this world a few weeks before. What could I do? Hopelessness overtook my thoughts, ripped away my confidence, and left me small inside.
“Take me to meet your people. I must get back as soon as possible, and I want you to travel with me and meet my family.” I started down the hill, utterly wretched.
“You wantmeto go with you?” He seemed a nervous sort.
“Yes. Is that okay with you?”
“Sure! But I’m one of the younger members of our elder group. I’m not really an elder in the traditional sense. Our elders used to be over three hundred years old. At half that, I'm still considered a bit of a youth. They may insist on one of the older members going.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Well,Iinsist on you. I met you first, you’ve been kind to me, and I like you. You’re going.”
“As you say, Riley. As you say.”
We entered the village via a well-beaten dirt path. The buildings around the outskirts of the village were homey. Windows were adorned with curtains of varying colors and little baubles. Forgotten, hand-carved toys laid in front of doors alongside the occasional discarded tool.
Axoular led me to a large, two-storied building. “This is where we hold meetings and village-wide dinners.”
He stopped and indicated I should sit in a wooden chair by the front door. I sat gingerly, conscious of the feel of my scaly skin against the rough chair. When I sat on the rugs in the cave it wasn’t as noticeable. Axoular walked over to a small bell and pulled the cord. I jumped, surprised the instrument put out such a loud noise.
Lights flickered on behind curtains in the various homes. Dragons in a rainbow of colors poured out of their homes, panicked.
“Axoular! What’s wrong? Why did you ring the warning bell?” demanded a female Sárkány with deep blue scales.
“My friends, she has come!” He turned to me and whispered, “Stand up, Riley Effler.”
I stood beside him, gazing out at the growing crowd. I couldn’t wait to see the beautiful people in daylight. Their skin would be mesmerizing. I spotted one lady in the back of the crowd with hot pink scales.
“Hello.” I gave a small wave.
The Sárkány with pink scales pushed forward and in a deep voice demanded to know exactly who I was. Whoops. That wasn’t a lady dragon!
“She’s our savior. She came through the portal not an hour ago. She’s told me some of her story, and she’s the one we have waited for! She’s here to save us!”
“Now wait, Axoular,” I whispered in his ear. “I told you, I don’t know if I can save anyone. I’ll do what I can, but I’m no savior.”
He shrugged me off. “Can the elders please come forward? We have much to discuss.” He walked into the building, leaving me standing alone, staring out at a sea of rich color.
I raised my voice, “People of Galdiart! I'm no savior. I come from the land of Earth, and I came here to seek help fromyou,not the other way around.” The crowd mumbled among themselves, upset.
“Wait! Please, don’t be upset. I see your struggles. I see your plight. I will do anything in my power to help, but you'll need to be patient. I don’t know yet how I can help, but I won’t leave you here to starve and die. We’ll all work together and figure out a solution. Don’t lose heart yet.” I guessed I’d have to find a way to be their savior. I couldn’t leave them like that.
A young child with scales of brown and green, like mine, came out of the crowd. I crouched down. “Hello, little one. What’s your name?”
“I'm Kohbi, Savior.” My heart melted at the tiny voice coming from such a beautiful little creature.
“It is nice to meet you, Kohbi. I need to go in and talk to the elders. I hope to see you again soon and meet your family. Would you like that?” I touched the soft scales of her face and wondered how my children would appear in this world.
“Yes, Savior. I would like that.” She pulled a rag doll from behind her back and held it out to me. “Savior, this is Rinta, my baby. Will you keep her safe for me?”
I drew Kohbi into a hug and pressed a kiss against her cheek. “I will keep her as safe as I would my own child, Kohbi. Go to your mommy now.”
“My mommy and daddy are dead,” she said. “They died a long way from here. Some grown-ups found me and brought me here. I live with other kids like me that don’t have a mommy or daddy anymore.”
Oh, dear me, she lives in a dragon orphanage. I can’t handle this.
“I will be back, Kohbi. I’ll be back, and I’ll find you and your friends. I promise you, sweet girl.” Her face was delighted as she ran into the crowd.
