Page 1 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

CHANGE

As Captain Simi placed the two Faith members, Cary and Jennifer, into separate vehicles, Valerius stared beyond the phalanx of police and Claw to the city beyond.People were flowing out of the Gash.He could almost feel their anxiety, grief and confusion.What had been a wonderful, beautiful moment had been turned into a bloodbath.Literally.

It cannot be allowed to remain that way, Valerius thought grimly.

What would you have us do? We can crush and smash as many of these puny beings as we like, but there will always be more,Raziel responded.Or so those two seemed to believe.

Valerius felt a wave of despair flow through him.People’s beliefs were as insubstantial as ghosts and yet they had so much power.

We will talk to the others,Valerius said.Once all the Dragons are here, they may have other ideas.

Raziel snorted.Good ideas?

Hopefully,Valerius answered.

But what do we do now?Raziel sounded almost lost and his Spirit was never lost.

Valerius’ gaze went back to the Gash. Not all that long ago the Below was the scene of another tragedy.Both this one and that could have been so much worse.He watched as the bomb squad placed both bomb vests into heavy containers.Simply destroying them would be safest, but they needed to be studied first.Perhaps something about their design or their parts would lead back to other members of this murderous crew.

“We have to go,” Valerius said to Caden.

Iolaire’s eyes widened and Caden’s voice came over their link,Where?

Iolaire was kneading the ground into mush.Both it and Caden were so anxious about the possibility of more bombers inside the city that they didn’t know where to look or where to go.

“To the Below.”Valerius turned towards Lana and said to it, “I want you to escort the vehicles containing the prisoners back to Reach.See that nothing happens to them.”

Lana nodded its head and took off.Its wings flapped and caused dirt and grass to lift off of the ground and spin violently.Valerius shielded his face with one forearm.Iolaire slid one of its wings between him and Lana, blocking the debris from striking him.Valerius looked up at Iolaire’s beautiful face.

“Thank you,” he said.

Iolaire leaned down and nuzzled the front of his chest.He laughed as its cold breath tickled his bare skin.He kissed the snout as a reward.

Why do you want to go back?Caden asked.I want to see my mom, Rose and Marban, but--

It’s not to see them.But for everyone else to see us, Caden,Valerius said.We must show them that other people’s intentions cannot stop us all.Like Cary and Jennifer said about there being more humans than Shifters, there are more people like us who do not want this violence than there are that do. We must remind everyone of that.

Iolaire lifted its head proudly as Caden said,You’re right.Let’s go back now.We must be with them.Show them there’s no reason to be afraid. Not if we stick together.

There were reasons to be afraid.But being brave was more important right now.The Faith were acting out of fear and a belief that things would always lead to ruin unless something drastic was done. In this case, his something drastic wasn’t burning the world down to ashy nubs, but instead standing strong in front of those with their own fire.

Valerius took two running steps forward before shifting into his Dragon form. Raziel and Iolaire lifted off the earth practically at the same moment.

Remember when you couldn’t shift and couldn’t fly?Valerius asked.

They were wingtip to wingtip now and easily flying beside one another.

Oh, this is all Iolaire!Caden told him.

On the contrary, the two of you are working in sync,Valerius disagreed.

I… I guess you’re right.It feels so natural,Caden admitted.

Because you were always supposed to be with Iolaire and vice versa,Valerius said. He felt Caden melt a little at his words.Let’s go once around the city.Let all the people see us together.Let them take heart that we are one in this.

Yes!

He could almost feel Caden grinning with the joy of flying together.The wind and sun caressed both their scaly bodies.Valerius could smell the arctic scent of ice that hung around Iolaire like a mist.His own fiery scent like exotic spice joined it.The two Dragons gazed at one another as they flew fast around Reach’s towers.

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