Page 23 of The Dragon Shifters' Enemy
“I think so,” Caden said, with a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.
You guessed Mei’s love of gifts?Valerius asked.
I don’t think many people genuinely give or do much for Mei,Caden stated.I think they all want something from her and Xipil.That’s the kind of people she surrounds herself with.
That is not you and Iolaire though.Valerius put a hand on Caden’s right shoulder.
No, and I’m hoping that it makes Mei and Xipil realize that not everyone is like she believes… or fears,Caden admitted.
Xipil reached down and lifted the glittering rock and studied it.The Red Dragon Spirit looked up at Iolaire then back down at the sculpture.Confusion was writ large there for a moment.Finally, Xipil inclined its head and flapped its wings in greeting to the newest Dragon Spirit.Iolaire tipped its head back and emitted a flurry of snowflakes.Xipil sent out sparks.Red and white danced in the air currents in the cavern.
“Are presents being given out? Eldoron is beside itself after revealing all of the details of the battle with the Behemoth!”Tez cried as he strode over to Caden and Valerius, one hand outstretched.
“That was all Iolaire, Tez.I don’t have anything you want.”Caden reached his hands into his pockets and pulled out a mint.“Unless you want a linty mint.You can have it.”
Tez plucked it from Caden’s hand.“Well… well… that’s… something, I suppose.We share what wecan.And you do that, Caden.”
“You are not really going to keep that, are you?”Valerius frowned as Tez dusted it off and stuck it in his pocket.
“Why not?A gift is a gift!”Tez remarked.
Eldoron appeared in the mirror.It immediately struck a pose, or so it seemed in Valerius’ gaze.Raziel rolled its eyes as the Golden Dragon Spirit slowly spread its glorious wings.Glittering golden light filled the cavern.The other Dragon Spirits all looked over at it.Xipil immediately glanced away as it continued to study the gift Iolaire had made.Scylla shook itself and sighed.Lana was still in the snow and called out for Eldoron to join it.
“Lana wants Eldoron to stop preening and play!”Kaila stomped a foot in front of Tez.
Tez’s lips twitched but he said with all seriousness, “Eldoron must allow everyone to see its beauty.When was the last time all of the Dragons were together?”
“Well, except for Anwar, just this afternoon,” Kaila pointed out with a shake of her head.
Lana formed a snowball and threw it at Eldoron.It hit the Golden Dragon Spirit on the cheek.Outraged eyes turned to Lana from Eldoron as the snowball slowly slid down Eldoron’s magnificent cheek. Caden let out a bark of laughter, which after Tez’s glare, turned into a coughing fit.Valerius patted his back.
Eldoron tried to preen again, butanothersnowball made its way towards the Golden Dragon Spirit, hitting it on the chest.Iolaire let out a soft hoot as its blue eyes narrowed with laughter.
“Iolaire!”Caden cried.
Eldoron immediately leaped over to the snow pile and opened its jaws before blowing a mighty breath on the snow which covered Lana and Iolaire in piles of the fluffy stuff.There was a scuffle among the three of them.But it was playful though it shook the cavern as the titanic Eldoron was gotten on his back by Lana and Iolaire working together.
“Two against one!”Tez cried in a feigned affront.
Raziel and Scylla looked down at the scuffling Dragon Spirits with a distinct appearance of being well above such activities.Of course, that was when snowballs were thrown at them as well.Raziel let out a huff of heat that melted most of the snow.Iolaire, Eldoron and Lana looked bereft.That was when Scylla blew out a stream of water towards Iolaire, which the White Dragon Spirit immediately turned into ice statues of beautiful shapes.
“So Idoget a present,” Tez murmured as Eldoron lifted one of the delicate, already melting sculptures.
It was clear from Xipil’s look that it believed its stone one--which was permanent--wasfar superior.
“How long has it been since we’ve all been seen together like this?”Jahara asked as she glided in like the queen she was with a faint smile on her face.
“Too long, I think,” Esme stated.
“You still believe my plan for us all to be in one territory is unworkable, Valerius?”Jahara asked as she stepped to his side.
“For a short while, we all get along, but yes, I still think that as a long term solution it is not a workable one,” he told her.“I rule nothing out, but that would feel like a retreat, not a victory.”
Zephyra appeared in the mirror.Its iridescent purple scales were luminous in the low light.A wind swept from it and stirred all of the other Dragon Spirit’s wings.They all lifted their heads as if eager to take flight.Zephyra smiled as enigmatically as its human did.
“If the Behemoth is here, dear, we cannot retreat, we must go forward!”Esme cried with a gesture of her arms.
Scylla flapped its wings.
