Chapter 1

No. This couldn’t be happening to him. Things like this just didn’t happen to people like him. One doesn’t just randomly find themselves in the corner of a cave locked in a cage.  It wasn’t as if he had been doing anything wrong.  He had simply been out hunting, ran after a deer, gotten hit on the head with something, and woken up here.

He heard voices coming from behind him.  He turned suddenly, his clear blue eyes searching the room.  His pure blonde hair whipping wildly as he turned.

            He gasped.  There were dragons. Four of them, they were all sitting at a table playing what look like poker. No it wasn’t poker it was… Go Fish.  His gasp had caught the attention of the dragon nearest to him.  As it turned he braced himself to be burned or eaten or something.

“Oh ‘ello there mate, we didn’t know ye was awake,” the dragon said, “I’ll go tend to ‘im,” he told the others.

‘Oh no, nosya won’t, we knows ya’ve been cheatin’, if wes letcha up you’ll find a way to cheat more Kul,” the light blue dragon next to him said, “I say Al goes, he’s losing anyway.:

“I protest! I am not losing, I am merely holding back my better cards until the end,” the  dark purple dragon name Al protested, “I propose Drael goes, he is the one who is really losing.”

“Wait, no, wait this … this is… is impossible,” the boy said thoroughly confused, “Dragons don’t exist, they don’t talk, and they especially don’t play Go Fish.” He stood up but instantly regretted it.  His head throbbed and his concussion was making it worse.  He blacked out.

*  *  *  *  *

            “Little one, wake up little one.”  He heard the voice but did not recognize it.  He opened his eyes only to realize it was the dark green dragon they had called Drael.

            “No I, no it… it was only a dream, this isn’t real!” he exclaimed as he squeezed his eyes shut.

            “Little one, you are not dreaming, now come on you must open your eyes so I can check your health,” said Drael. Reluctantly the boy opened his eyes. “There you go, my name is Draelif. I think you might have a concussion so we should just be on the safe side and keep you awake.” The boy just stared with his mouth wide open. “Well now is usually the time when you would introduce yourself.”

            “Oh, umm s-sorry my n-name is T-Talkar,” he finally stuttered.

            “O…K Talkar,” Drael said slowly, “How old are you? We guessed you were around 20.”

            “Twenty!?!?” Talkar exclaimed, “Why I am but fifteen years, I won’t even be a man until next summer. Thank you, I take it as a compliment, but what made you think I was twenty?”

            “Well, for one thing, you are so tall, for a human at least.”

            “Tall? I am not that tall, I am only 5’6!”

            “Humans are just getting so big lately.  I remember when the biggest human was four-feet tall!”

            “Four-feet? Exactly how old are you?” questioned Talkar, giving the dragon an odd look.

            “Well, hmm… let’s see,” said Draelif, deep in thought, “at least 850 years however, I haven’t really been keeping track.”

            “Whoa!” Talkar exclaimed, his eyes growing large,” you’re ancient!”

            “Well I suppose I am to you, but for a dragon I am quite young,” Draelif explained patiently, “Now, I am almost positive you are alright but you will need a lot of rest for at least a week, oh, and we will need to make a sling for that arm.” Talkar looked down at his arm; he hadn’t even noticed it was broken, now that he thought about it he realized he wasn’t feeling any pain that should accompany his injuries.

            “Why am I not feeling any pain?” questioned Talkar, remembering his previous questions, “Why am I here? Where is here? What Happened?”

            “Slow down little one, do you really want to feel the pain?” Talkar shook his head slowly.  “More of your questions will be answered tomorrow.  Just rest for now, Talkar, just rest.” Draelif said soothingly. Talkar closed his eyes his mind racing with unanswered questions, and fell asleep.