[Statistics] [...and Kymber] [...and Ryvas'Fiks ]

Rynkal is looking for you. said Vinradi.

"Rynkal? Who's that?" asked Saraji.

Kymber's rider. I have told them you are here. They come.

Saraji shrugged, and went back to working on the next day's lessons.

"Saraji?" Rynkal called, stepping into the office.

"Yes?" Saraji looked up to see a young man standing before him.

"I'm Rynkal, Kymber's rider. I've been asked to help you train the fledglings." Rynkal smiled proudly as he said that. 27 Trine old and he was a Dracosensi.

"Ah... good to meet you Rynkal," Saraji stood up to shake hands with his new helper.

"If you don't mind me saying, you're one hell of a person to find," Rynkal joked.

Saraji eyed the young man. "Aren't you a little too young to be a Sensi?" he asked bluntly.

"Well, I suppose some would think that way, but you can rest assured; I am qualified. Otherwise they wouldn't have sent me to help you." answered Rynkal good-naturedly.

Saraji gave the man a half smile, and then said, "Well, you're a little younger than I had hoped. We'll see how you do. Ever had any experience with Wenslid? It's okay if you haven't, the majority of people on Penna and Titan consider them stories told to children to scare them into being good." said Saraji, eyeing the man. Wenslid was a threat mostly in barren areas of the world but occasionally the air-borne parasite encroached on settled areas and had to be fought with draco-flame.

"I've heard the stories, but not had any hands-on experience, truth be told. I've had the training." Rynkal hoped he was making a good impression. It was always hard to convince others that he was really good at what he did.>

Saraji took a deep breath. He'd have to do. Dracosensi didn't fall from trees around here. "Would you like to meet the fledglings, then, Rynkal?"

"I suppose. I think Kymber's already shown what he can do to them." Rynkal thought he saw Saraji frown slightly. "If you don't mind me saying, I know I look too young to do this but everyone I've worked with in my past 7 Trine agree that I'm very good. I don't want to have to go through my fledgling years again just to prove myself to you, but you have to understand that you can trust me.

The older man seemed to consider this for a moment. Then, "You do know that we have a new breed of draco and on top of those, there are two fledgling groups already, a Summer and a Winter. Not to mention the little groups provided by the emeralds, ambers, rubies and onyxes. It's hard work so I suggest you get ready to be up to your neck in fledgling paperwork. Vinradi, can you gather the fledglings together please?" The opal draco roared loudly and a few moments later, all the fledglings were gathered near to the two men.

"This is Rynkal, Opal Kymber's rider," Saraji said clearly. Rynkal looked over the groups, taking a longer time on the Autumn draco. An attractive bunch, if nothing else, he thought to himself.

We will train them well, Kymber remarked casually.

I'm sure we will. I only hope Saraji thinks that I'm able.

You will prove your worth. The other Dracosensies liked us too. Saraji is no different.

"He will be training you winter draco. And he will help out sometimes on the other clutches as well. Dismissed!" The fledglings departed, leaving Saraji and Rynkal alone. "I'll bring you your papers on the clutches later?" Saraji said, walking away.

There are a lot of fledglings. We will be a big help, whether he thinks so or not.

"I sure hope so, Kym" Rynkal sighed. He could only do as well as he could.

"Ready?" Rynkal asked his draco. Kymber locked his blue-purple eyes on his rider.

"I'm always ready. Vinradi and Saraji are waiting for us. I think the fledglings will like us very much," the draco replied in his deep, liquid voice.

"I think so too." Rynkal mounted the opal draco confidently.

"To Titan, my friend," he said. Kymber took off swiftly.

Do you know where Saraji is? Rynkal asked as they flew over the area.

With the new fledglings. The Autumn draco. I would like to work with those draco. A new breed. They grow quickly from what I've heard. There had always been the Summer draco and the Winter draco, on the world of Penna. This breeding season, something strange had happened. Maybe it was some weird astrology, maybe something in the water - nobody really knew. All they did know, is there was all of a sudden three distinct strains of draco. Not that they were a separate breed, as such. It was similar to the difference between pale- and dark-skinned humanoids. The Autumn draco were beautiful. Unlike the set of solid colours common to Summer and Winter draco, the Autumns were swirled with copper and gold and silver. Some were greenish, others with hues of blue and purple. They were all beautiful.

We'll get our chance. Poor Saraji. So many fledglings to work with. Good thing we're needed.

We have always been needed, one way or another.

Kymber turned to a shallow flight, wings sweeping the ground. Those are the Autumn draco, he said. Rynkal saw a group of almost 20 draco gathered around. Flying. Already flying. And they were good at it too.

They won't beat us! With that, Kymber executed a deft flip in front of the fledglings, drawing oohs and aahs.

Show off. We're supposed to be looking for Saraji and Vinradi, not impressing the little ones.

It will do them good to see what their Dracosensi can do. It gives them heart.

Rynkal laughed. Yes but keep this up and my heart will be lodged in my throat. You're flips are too tight. You could almost bite your own tail!

Now why would I do that? Kymber landed, daintily for his bulk.

"Even in landing you're a show-off," Rynkal snorted as he dismounted, "Can one of you tell me where I can find Saraji?" Rynkal asked the group.

"I'll get him," one of the boys said, running off.

>Now, please explain these Autumn colours to me one more time.

Tigereye is the queen. I believe Haruka and Urani are that. Urani was born first. Carnelian is the highest male. Jasper, female, turquoise, male and jade, female. Those jades are small.

A little. Now, let's go find Saraji. I don't think that boy is coming back anytime soon and I don't like waiting.

Nor I. I have contacted Vinradi. He's waiting for us.

"Excuse us!" Rynkal said clearly, pushing his way through the group. He was nervous about all this. Autumn dracos? Who would have thought!

They'll never beat us. We are the best pair in all Penna.

Rynkal smiled.

Rynkal awoke to the sound of Kymber’s panicked voice inside his head. Sitting up straight, he tried to make sense of the Opal’s babbling.

Kym! Slow down! What is it? What’s wrong?

Saraji! he said simply, not forgetting that his rider could not see through his eyes. The draco fell silent for a moment, seeming to calm himself into saying something coherent. Taking a deep breath that Rynkal heard even over the distance, he said slowly, Saraji and Vinradi have been attacked by Wenslid, he managed to get out. Rynkal froze.

Is he... He couldn’t finish the question for the knot that constricted his throat. In the past months he had spent with the older Opal rider, they had become quite close. They had a lot in common - most importantly, the passion and desire to train and assist fledglings.

No, they are both alive, but both only just hanging on. His thoughts were clipped and objective, although the emotion he felt was flooding through to his rider.

Struggling to keep his own emotions checked, Rynkal rose and dressed hurriedly. As he raced out of the door of his home, a flurry of wings stirred the dust at his feet, and when it cleared, Kymber perched restlessly before him.

“Well, hurry up! Get on!” he thundered. Rynkal decided to do just that.

It didn’t take long to find the injured pair at the base of Volcania, and when they did the sight that met their eyes made them wish they never had.

The once beautiful Opal dragon was smeared with crimson, strips of pale hide flapping in the wind. A bloody snout lay encrusted in dirt, one foreleg was bent in an impossible angle, and the opposite hindleg was so mutilated it was not recognisable. Both Vinradi’s wings were torn, the seemingly fragile frame snapped.

Saraji was, if possible, worse. Both legs were bent at an angle, one of them, the thigh bone was protruding unnaturally. One of his arms was twisted around his back, and the other was so badly mauled, it could have been a dead triek for all it resembled one. His head was badly bashed and he too was covered in caked blood.

In his shock and sudden worry for his teacher and friend, Rynkal had not realised the possible threat to himself or his dragon, and only as his feet hit the ground and he ran to the aid of the injured, did he suddenly think of what had happened to them. What would attack something so viciously and then leave it’s prey to die? Most beasts he knew of wouldn’t waste meat like that. Unless Saraji had attacked it, then lost, but he couldn’t see his friend doing that.

“Oh no.” The sudden image that flittered into his mind scared Rynkal witless. Could it be Wenslid? They certainly are vicious enough. And right on Volcania, I wouldn’t be surprised, Rynkal thought to himself. What if they’re still around?

“Kym! We have to get Vinradi and Saraji out of here, NOW!” Rynkal commanded, now worried for their own safety.

The Opal needed no encouragement, though before they had a chance to manoeuvre the pair onto Kymber's back, Saraji awoke.

"Rynkal," he croaked, wincing at the slight movement.

"Don't talk, old friend. We're going to get you to the Medic."

"No, it's too late for that." Saraji spoke quietly and quickly. He knew his time left in this life was finite. He continued before Rynkal could stop him. "It was Wenslid. Worse than we've ever seen. We won't win, my friend. We cannot. There's too much." He paused, his face a mask of pain. "Get out. There's a portal on the other side of Volcania. Go."

Rynkal, eyes brimming, shook his head slightly in disbelief. "No... No, I can't go if there's... I have to help..."

"Please. You cannot help. Go."

Kymber keened as Saraji slipped from life, a moment before the unconscious Vinradi.

For a long moment, the Opal rider knelt next to his friend, eyes closed, trying to hold in the sobs. Trying to be strong. At last he let out a long, primal keen. And then he stood, bid the Dracosensi farewell, and turned.

We go to the Portal, the rider thought, not trusting his voice.

We have to warn everyone, Ryn. We can't just go!

Yes. We can. They will fight without us just as well. There has not been a draco clutch for months. Maybe they know.

The Opal seemed undecided for a long moment, but finally gave in. Maybe there would be more draco for them to train on another world. Maybe they could still help.