Page 13 of The Arrival of the Dragons

Iolaire hooted. Caden would learn, but for now, it was better that Iolaire was in control of this Dragon business.

I wish we could talk to Tilly, though it seems she knows what’s up! Here they come,Caden laughed.

Tilly and Tobey linked their arms through Macauley’s and practically dragged her to him and Iolaire.

“Iolaire!” Tilly called breathlessly as they skidded to a halt about ten feet away.

Good job at not calling me Caden, Tills!Caden thought happily.

Iolaire let out a soft hoot and, immediately, lowered its head so that the teens wouldn’t feel loomed over. And they might get scratches as well. Tilly had absolutely no fear, of course, but she seemed a little awed as she carefully walked towards them.

C’mon, Tilly, it’s just us!Caden thought.

Tilly slowly lifted up a hand to touch Iolaire’s snout. She lightly placed it between Iolaire’s two nostrils. Iolaire let out a heavy frosty breath that had her laughing.

“Iolaire seems to know you, Tilly,” Tobey said as he pushed his glasses up. They constantly slid down his nose.

Macauley--who had both hands up, covering her face, peered out between her fingers--and asked in a shaky voice, “I-i-is i-i-i-t a n-n-nice, D-D-Dragon?”

“The nicest!” Tilly assured them then quickly realizing that this confirmed that she had some kind of special relationship with the White Dragon, she added, “I mean, I think so! You all saw it on TV last night.”

Tobey took a few steps forward. Iolaire settled down in its “round-cat” pose as Caden thought of it, and curled its tail around its body and front claws hidden beneath its body so that it looked more approachable.

“Wow!” Tobey murmured as he carefully stroked Iolaire’s left upper arm. “It’s so warm! I thought it would be cold, but it isn’t.”

Macauley darted forward, touched or more like patted Iolaire once, and ran away again. At least, she had taken her hands from her face.

I wonder if she would be so afraid if she knew it was me,Caden wondered.

“This is so cool!” Tobey remarked as he circled Iolaire and looked at every part of the dragon. “Why do you suppose it landed here though? There’s only the three of us.”

“Because it wanted to meet people, but not be overwhelmed,” Tilly said, though her gaze went out to the wide expanse of lawn. “Though I’m betting it won’t be just us for very long.”

Macauley had approached the tip of Iolaire’s tail. Immediately, the White Dragon started to tease her with it. Macauley watched with an open mouth as the tail behaved like its own creature and tried to tickle her. She squeaked and jumped up and down. She then slowly reached out to pat the tail’s “head” or rather, its tip. It darted up and touched her cheek as if to give her a kiss. She giggled.

Tobey, having finished his inspection, stood with hands on hips and said with evident satisfaction, “This is the best thing ever!”

Tilly laughed and nodded in agreement. She was leaning against Iolaire’s shoulder. Iolaire sent a few puffs of frost into the air so that snowflakes floated down onto her hair and shoulders. She looked like a little fairy princess.

“Can you imagine Valerius coming down and hanging out with us in the park like this?” Tobey asked as he clambered on top of Iolaire’s left forearm and sat on it. Iolaire moved it up and down so it was like a ride. Tobey let out shouts of glee.

“No way!” Tilly shook her head.

Macauley, who now was happily being held up by the tail, looked alarmed again, “Oh, it would be soscaryif the Black Dragon came down to us!”

“I think it would be awesome,” Tobey contradicted her.

I wonder if I could convince him to land where people can actually see and touch him,Caden murmured.

Iolaire thought that this was a brilliant idea. He and Raziel could ferry kids on their backs across the lake. They could make fire and ice shows that people would ooh and ahh at. Caden wasn’t so sure that Valerius would be up for that, even if Raziel could be convinced to do so. He didn’t think that even Iolaire’s charms could convince Raziel to do it.

“You just say that now because the Black Dragon isn’t here!” Macauley gulped. “But you’d be scared too if the Black Dragon came down!”

“Well, yeah, a little bit, but it’s not like he couldn’t just as easily kill me from the sky as from the ground,” Tobey pointed out.

That didn’t soothe Macauley predictably. “Kill you? Why would he want to kill you? What have you done?”

“Nothing! I was just kidding!” Tobey rolled his eyes.

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