“Are those for me?” I said smiling.

The dragon tamer knelt down on one knee.”will you marry me?”

“Yes….wow! Thank you for the beautiful flowers!” I said with tears in my eyes.

“I picked them out of the garden at the training center. They’re snap dragons of many colors mixed with daisies and roses.” He said happily as he stood.

We walked to a nearby bench in the park. Then we sat down to watch the dragons flying over the mountains. I couldn’t stop smiling as I looked for a Kleenex to wipe my tears.

He put his arm around me and we embraced. Happiness beyond compare exuded from our hearts.

Dragon migration, what a sight to behold—unless said dragons decide to take a dump, covering the town, the trees and of course, the people in a gruesome, repugnant stench.

Every year, the town’s folk celebrate in the streets. Volunteers hung up banners and flags created by the local school children, erecting marquees of every colour and food stalls from every continent. People from all walks of life come together to watch and say goodbye to the dragon’s, wishing them well in the hopes that they would come back next year, maybe with two or three babies in tow.

Usually, I’d spend the celebration with Nyx. Still, as the newest member of The Draeam, she’d spent the last week preparing for the migration, and right now, she’d most likely be soaring about in the sky with the other riders, making sure the wild dragons find their way safely. I look up, expecting to see her, the body of her dragon, Pia, glistening, a golden smudge against the clear blue, but all I see is the pink underbellies of the Hockhorn dragons—the first of the ten species to leave.

“Watch out! Incoming!” A shout rings out, and I jump, grabbing my umbrella. The sun shines through the canvas, tinting my skin a plush, plum purple, and I clutch the handle, waiting for the revolting rain to fall. “I’m just kidding; it's me.” A face appears, upside down, her black curls dangling, dripping like liquid midnight. A blush kisses her pale cheeks, and a scattering of freckles brush her nose and under her eyes like stars. My foot swings out, and I kick her shin, satisfied when she gives a little yelp and relieved at the giggles that follow. Nyx grins, and my heart flutters, stoking the small, eternal fire within. Retracting the umbrella, I try to steady my hands, my voice. “You little shi—” “Language.” Nyx teases. She bows, flourishing her hand out, twisting it like a waving royal. “Here.” I gasp. “You found them?” In her left hand—her only hand—Nyx holds a bouquet of bright, beautiful Bire. Electric blue fills my eyes, their petals round, wide like the flame of a candle. “What— Why?” “You said you needed them…for your experiments.” “Yes,” I say, dragging out the word. Stars, they are so pretty, so elusive and ridiculous to find and have lots of hidden qualities—potential healing properties, but... I frown and take the flowers, curling my fingers around the course, lilac stems. “but you must have missed the start of your first migration to get these.” “I sure did,” she says, then her eyes widen, and she slaps her hand over her mouth. “No, that came out wrong. I meant I was happy to get them...the flowers...for you. I have next year's migration to enjoy.”

A cheer swells from the surrounding crowd, and a nearby child squeals, clapping her hands, a bright, delighted smile on her face as the Suntooth Dragons fly over, their golden bellies and wings of fire blazing the sky. Nyx watches their passing, chewing on the tip of her thumb. I touch her arm and squeeze. “I’m sorry,” “For what?” she says, a little too quickly, “What is one migration to the possible cure for Dragon Pox?” A heat bursts under my skin. “I don't know about that.” “Oh, you doubt yourself too much. You're great.” “As are you.” I press the flowers against my chest. “If I—”

The little girl screams, her finger pointing towards the sky. A Suntooth dragon plummets towards the watching crowd, twisting a twirling, fire spitting from its body, bursting into clouds of black smoke. People gasp and swear, pulling their children and loved ones close. “Where are—” Nyx begins, but a roar cuts her off. A dragon passes over the crowd, and I recognise the green beast—Bea and her rider Jasmine. The crowd applauds as the pair rise towards the rogue dragon. I nudge Nyx. “You should go. Go help.” “No, they’ll be fine.”

Fire explodes from the Suntooth’s mouth, and Bea dives, her and Jasmine tumbling behind a tree. “Thank you for the flowers.” I say quickly and shove Nyx’s shoulder. She stumbles forward a few steps. “Now go!” Nyx grins, kisses my cheek, then runs off, disappearing behind a red marquee. A few seconds later, Pia soars into the sky, her golden body and blazing wings a true sight to behold.

Seraphina had never seen dragons before. Her fiancé brought her here to the reserve where he worked and she couldn’t believe her eyes. She heard chirping from down by her feet and smiled when a little blue dragon and a little red one are rolling around together by her feet. She picks up the blue one and giggles when it runs up her arm to her shoulder and sits. The little red one huffs, steam coming out of its ears. “You found Igor, I see.” She grins and turns around, eyebrows rising when she sees the bouquet of dragon flowers in his hand. “Is Igor the red one or the blue one?” She asks casually, causing Aens to chuckle. “Igor is the fire dragon with steam coming out of his ears. Regina is the little water dragon who has perched on your shoulder and seems content to stay there...however, I need you for a moment and we don’t usually allow dragons inside, no matter how small they are.” She frowns, staring up at the sky. “Can’t we just talk here?” Sera asks, looking between Aens and the sky above her that was full of dragons circling. She couldn’t take her eyes off them. He laughs. “Fine. Plug your ears.” She does so and a loud whistle reverberates around her. Regina and Igor whimper a bit and Sera bends down, scooping up the little red dragon to comfort him. He nuzzled cutely against her chest and she smiles. As she looks back at the sky, two dragons begin to descend, one brown and the other green. The closer they come, the more she realizes that they’re covered in what appears to be bark and moss. She looks to Aens and tilts her head. “What’s this about?” He grins. “As we are a mated pair, so are these two. Stronger together than they are apart...it’s tradition that the ancestral dragon trainers are given dragons when they find their mates. These are ours, given to me by my father for us to care for in our lives together...” Her eyes go wide and she passes him the little dragons before going to kneel before the large ones. The mossy one lifted her head and leaned it against Sera’s, which causes her heart to jump. “Oh...hello sweet girl...hi...” The dragon lifts her head again and huffs, the hot air from her nostrils washing over her face. “Aens, do they have names?” She asks, and though she doesn’t see it, he nods. “Hikaeli and Azor. My father kept them for me...until I found you...they’re ours now...we can even ride them.” When she hears that, she slowly stands, running her hand down Hikaeli’s side gently before moving to climb onto her back. Seeing this, Aens joins her, climbing onto Azor with ease. He passes her the dragon flowers and smiles. “For you, my love.” She chuckles, startled when Hikaeli moves closer to Azor so the two humans can kiss, which they do. “Thank you, Aens. So much...” She says with a smile. “How do we fly?” She asks, and he grins. “Azor! Hikaeli! To the skies!” He shouts and she grins, holding onto the wooden horns on her back. As the dragons taken flight, so does her heart. She was made for this...to be his wife...to protect the dragons...to fly.

“They have come so far, have they not?”

Elka turned, startled, “Yes. They have grown to twice their size since I last saw them.”

The Tamer smirked, “Thrice, in fact. Almost full grown.” Elka smiled and looked back at the creatures swirling around each other in the distance. Stepping back from the cliff edge, she fiddled with the ring on her finger.

“It has been some time,” She looked down, unsure how to continue, “I thought you would return,” she spoke in an accusatory tone, masking the hurt beneath, “you never did.”

The Tamer held out the bouquet of wildflowers in a jokingly courteous manner, “I’m here now, am I not?”

Elka was unimpressed but smiled nevertheless. She turned back to the cliff edge, watching the creatures circling in the afternoon sun. The largest, Embros, flew a little further from the others, his large neck craning to scan the ground below. His dark scales shone golden in the sunlight, highlighting his muscled body, tense, ready for attack.

There were three in total, though there had been four once. The youngest had died shortly before they left the kingdom. Dragons were notably sickly creatures, once the strongest and most powerful animals, their magic had begun to fade over time, and they had become increasingly harder to feed. And so they had left.

It was a cold, midwinter morning the last time she had seen them. Elka was told at dawn that they were leaving, having little time to say goodbye. She had waited as two more winters past, but she began to give up hope of their return.

“I couldn’t wait for you.” Elka stated bluntly.

“I wouldn’t expect you to.”

“I tried,” they shared a stubborn yet kind look, “Seasons passed, I heard nothing.” The Tamer said nothing but looked away. Elka was unable to read their face. She sighed, annoyed.

“What would I have said-“

“I thought you had died!” Elka caught herself, swallowing her anger, “I thought you- all of you- were dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

They were silent for a moment, tension hung in the air as they both struggled for words.

“I heard you married” Elka snorted at the blunt remark, “are you happy?”

“It was arranged, if that is your question. I wished to marry for love, but my love left me alone. The kingdom could not wait forever for your return.” In a rare show of shame, the Tamer bowed their head, unable to meet her gaze. “I would have though.”

Their eyes met once again. Elka stared vulnerably into the eyes she once loved, still loved. The eyes of the person she had spent her life with, the person she had longed for with all her heart, the person that left her alone.

She knew they had to leave. The dragons could not have survived here, the frosts had limited their food supplies to barely sustain the townsfolk, let alone three growing dragons. But that bitterness was still there. It would always be there. And now it didn’t matter. She had married another, her Fathers wish of course, but an eligible suitor nonetheless.

She broke the gaze, composing herself. “Stay as long as you like. We can offer you sustenance through the summer but we will not have enough once winter comes. You must move on by then.”

The Tamer was clearly taken aback but bowed politely and nodded, “Thank you, My Lady.” And with that, she returned to her duties, not unaware of the longing eyes burning into her as she walked away.

Mesmerized, I look up to the sky to see the flock of dragons fly above me. They fly so high, it looks like they are far from the tall buildings.

“Hello, I’m the dragon master and here is this lovely bouquet. Will you join me and my dragons to learn of a world far beyond the one you live in?”

Shocked, I only shake my head in a yes.

Never had I seen dragons! I recount the ones I spotted. A beautiful teal one, a fiery red one, a green silvered one and I think a golden one. They looked majestic in the sky but I had never seen one up close.

“Will I see the dragons, if I accept the flowers and your lead?”

“Yes!” said the dragon master.

“Okay. Well let’s start this adventure!”

Then the master calls upon one of his dragons. A mellow green silvered dragon appears. My eyes widened terrified but the master assures me to not worry. This dragon is called Meados and he is a traveling dragon. He is used to transport people because his earthiness makes him a placid creature.

“I ask you, why have you chosen me to join you?”

“Well young lady, your portrait looks like a princess I’ve seen before. Her castle lost account of her but I know I have found you. You’re the princess who these dragons guard. I collected them because it was my given mission. I am seeking to put your kingdom in order. It was my last promise given to my Lord, the King your father.”

“My... father? You say, my father is a King?!”

“Yes.”

“No wonder! To be honest I knew I was special in this world. I love adventure and always felt castaway. I grew up an orphan and currently am 15 years old and they have released me. They said I was an adult and oddly enough you appear.”

“It is certain, life plays itself in tune and in the right tempo. A concert must be arranged in a concise and direct manner in order for it to sound lovely. Much like life young lady. Today, all your past events have brought you here. To a new phase to experience and live. I have arrived on cue.”

The young girl laughed. This man is kind of silly she thought, but on the other end, she was intrigued by what he had told her. She was set on it, she was going on a journey.”

That day, the journey to reach her home began. She picked up her few belongings and rode alongside the master on the dragon. His name Meados.

The dragons covered vast ground in flight. As they left her village, she looks down at the houses that look tiny. She’s amazed at the altitude she’s reached and is jumping in joy for this new journey. Who knew? She a princess. She then starts daydreaming about her castle. Then, she looks around at the dragons and it dawns her, they are hers.

They spend hours in the exciting sky. When they reach a dark evergreen mountain. The rock of the mountain is charcoal and the trees have twisted trunks. She would guess, there must be volcanoes.

“Why have we stopped, dragon master?”

“To rest, my young lady. We have been flying for hours, and this pit stop we need, to recharge. This mountain is a volcanic one. Legend says, under the depths of the molten lava lives a dragon. The age is unknown but maybe I could possibly capture him. He would be another guardian to your castle. My gift to you, for I am loyal to you and my skills command me to find this last dragon.”

When he finished stating his goal, then comes in a black dragon spitting fire towards us. We stand in shock, when the master calls for the fiery dragon of his own. The red dragon spits fire back and tries to bite the black dragon. The black one moves fast to avoid our dragon. Flames begin to rain down. There’s fear and tension in the air.

The master and the girl get off the red dragon and go into a cave nearby. There it is! An egg from the black dragon. The master runs to egg quickly and puts it in his arms. He puts in a sack to preserve it from harm. Outside the dragons are fighting in full force. When the black dragon let’s out a large screech, then comes a loud, thud!

The Red dragon takes the victory. The dragon’s eyes are mad and stern. He picks up both the master and the princess, then proceeds to fly away from this volcanic top. They gather the other dragons and head to the castle.

After flying for days, the master wakes up the princess one morning.

“Young lady we have arrived.”

“Huh?”

The princess half awake then sees a castle before her eyes. She tells herself, “this is home now!”

A smile lights up her face and she feels accomplished. She was glad to have met the dragon master and his collection of dragons. Destiny summoned her when she least expected. Fate had her role as princess and from this, she only grew forward without fear.

The End

Watching as a flock of dragons flies above the city, you feel a tap on your shoulder. You turn around to see your beloved dragon tamer with a bouquet in their hands. It’s Picchu. His arm extends as he offers you the bouquet. You notice that in his other arm, he holds his dragontooth helmet. You realise that this is his way of saying that he cares about you on one hand but he also cares about his job as dragon tamer. You have on a few occasions confronted him on his loyalty. He has reassured you that you are his number one priority. The future of the dragonkind and those who master them is important but if there was no one to carry the knowledge to the next generation, was there any point.

You know that at this moment, there is a mighty siege happening to a castle that had been erected too close the your kingdom. If it were to be left alone, your dragons would be a threat as anyone who discovered them would want to use them or have them as trophies. You know that Picchu is demonstrating true love being here as you know he has never missed a battle. By being here, he is saying he can control his instincts.

You don’t want him to stay any longer. You take the bouquet and smell them. They are wonderful as the aroma dances into your awaiting and eager senses. You smile and you see his smile. You see him look back at his trusted dragon. That slick black dragon that you have got to know. And you bid him leave. He moves in and kiss your lips, tender and sweet. You say: “Dragonspeed, my sweet Picchu.”.

The gaze sent chilling shivers down Mara’s spine as she smiled shyly, tucking a tendril of short brown hair behind her ear. She gently took the bouquet of fresh red roses and while lilies and tucked it in the crook of her arm, accepting the soft kiss her charmer initiated.

Even though they had been through thick and thin, the delicate touch of the man still made her swoon. Mara pulled away bashfully, a light pink shade dusting her cheeks, “What are you doing here?”

He cheekily grinned and replied, “I wanted to surprise you. But, seeing as you’re not busy.. Why don’t we take a ride,” he stepped back and pressed his point and thumb to his lip, letting out a sharp whistle.

Mara’s eyes widened as she saw a large, snow-white dragon glide down from the clouds, slowly flapping it’s spiny wings during it’s decent. The dragon dropped to the ground, right in front of her. It’s gaze was sharp, but one look from it’s tamer transformed it into a playful puppy.

She turned to the man, and quizzically narrowed her eyes, she withheld a grin, “What are you planning, Fryar..”

“Never mind that! I have much to do this evening, let’s get a move on!” Fryar leapt onto his dragon, not giving Mara enough time before he plucked her from the ground and settled her in front of him. He grinned and whispered, “We’re off to adventure.”

“Okay, remember, 4 o’clock tomorrow,” I told him slowly. Really I meant 5 but I knew he was going to be late like always. “And please try and act normal around my mum. No big surprises.”

He nodded slowly. “What time?” He asked. “4.” “And what to bring.” “Big surprises.” We both paused confused. “Oh wait, I meant to say you should bring NO surprises,” I corrected. “So I shouldn’t bring no big surprises.” “Umm I guess yeah-what?” “I’m confused.” “Me too.” His dragon behind him rolled its eyes at us. “Okay let’s start again,” I smiled at him in the darkness. “No big surprises,” I stated clearly and firmly. “I got it!” He exclaimed a bit too loudly. “Shhhh! You’ll wake my neighbours up,” I giggled. We parted ways at the corner of my road. He flew off on his dragon and I skipped back home, both of us teeming with excitement (and nerves) to finally meet each other’s parents.

I woke up at 6 o’clock sharp, briefed my parent and shattered their dreams of me dating ‘Audrey’s boy from down the road’ and told them it would be fine.

“Why couldn’t you just date Audrey’s boy, you know from down the road?” My mother asked, crumpling her brow. “Mum, I like someone else,” I sighed. “You used to play with Audrey’s boy all the time when you were younger, you even used to take baths together,” she said poking my nose. “Mum, I’m not three anymore.” “Oh you took baths together until you were six,” she laughed casually. “Okkkaaaayyyyyy....Well moving on from that, my boyfriend is called Linfork and he’ll be having dinner with us and his family tonight.” “Linfork, well that is a funny name. Is he foreign?” My mother asked, gazing intently into my eyes. “Um yes, he’s from a quite distant galaxy of Zydork, only a few thousand light years away from grumpy Barbara, you remember?” “Yes, yes, horrible Barbara, I’m glad she moved away,” my mother mumbled.

4oclock ticked round and I slung on a casual dress and headed to the restaurant. I spotted him almost immediately sat alone at a table wearing a huge tribal headdress. “Hey I thought you were bringing your parents,” I whispered in his ear as I passed by to sit down. “And how are you early?”

Suddenly, he stood up so his chair made a horrible scraping sound across the floor and his headdress fell off and crashed to the floor. Then he flopped in half and extended my mother his hand. “Oh! He is a funny one,” my mother giggled, taking his hand. “Linfork, please act normal,” I whispered as I hugged him.

We all sat down and ordered drink until suddenly, out of the ladies toilets, came a great procession of all of Linforks possible relatives, cousins, half cousins, great grandparents, the whole majazz, all wearing the clashiest colours in the whole of cosmic colour possibilities. “It was supposed to just be parents,” I sighed hopelessly but slightly touched. “I told my mum but then she told everyone else and...yeah...” he said helplessly. “Okay, is this it?” “Yes, my entire family.” “No I meant no more-“ “We are gathered here today to celebrate the unity of my son Linfork and Jasmine,” announced Linforks father to the entire restaurant. Everyone paused, even the steady music stopped. His father started clapping but deafeningly. In fact so loudly the building shuddered and the crockery started to leap of the table and glasses smashed. “Well, clap everyone, this is a happy occasion,” he grinned, gesturing his hands for everyone to clap. Suddenly an enourmous flock of dragons crashed through the roof from every direction and tiles cascaded down onto dinner plates. Some dropped half wilted roses and others arrows which impaled a few unlucky people. “Arrows and roses, signs of a beautiful love blossoming,” announced Linforks father. “Now, Linfork, over to you.” Timidly, he pulled a bouquet of flowers from around his back and handed them to me. “Will you marry me?” he whispered. Around us people screamed, dragons clawed the roof, tiles and dust cascaded into our faces, blood flowed from bodies, sirens wailed tirelessly, my mother stood in shock horror. And Linfork looked delighted. His face gleaming in anticipation of my answer. I laughed slightly. Only Linfork would do this. “Of course! But next time no more surprises!” “No more surprises!” He laughed.

As over-the-top engagements go, Mattias’ plan beat anything I could have dreamt up. I knew he wanted to make a big show for me because Mattias ALWAYS wants to make a big show, but that is kind of the nature of anyone who takes on the job of dragon tamer. Most of the tamers are flashy, over confident, and certainly have a big dollop of narcissism thrown in.

We had been dating for almost a year and it was no secret that we were crazy about each other. I met him when my father, King Jonath decided I was ready to begin my dragon rider training. All of us royal progeny were expected to know how to handle the dragon fleet, and so with fear and trepidation I had made my way to the Royal Dragon Academy and was immediately introduced to Mattias who would be my mentor. Oh my. He was GORGEOUS, and as we worked on my dragon skills, he worked on my 20-year-old heart. I fell hard, and he did to.

Today when he asked me to meet him at the roof of the Academy I didn’t think much of it because we had gotten into the ha it of eating our lunch together up there. It was about the only quiet place i. The whole building what with the dragons roaring and the trainers yelling and the trainees screaming. Most of the time it was bedlam and made one’s ears hurt.

I made my way up the narrow, steep staircase to the roof and he had already been there. He had laid out a blanket and there was a flask of wine, some cheese and warm bread. Pretty fancy, I thought, taking off my heavy leather handler’s gloves and plopping down on the blanket. I lay back and put my arms behind my head and looked up and saw an amazing sight come into my peripheral vision. I jumped up and started screeching.

There were hundreds of dragons in formation flying toward the city. I was scared for a moment then realized they were all wearing our Royal Insignia. It was an astonishing sight, and I began jumping and waving and laughing. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, and whirled around. Mattias was grinning, holding a bouquet of bright red roses.

“Milady? Is it time?”

I threw my arms around his neck. “Yes! YES! YES!”

I kissed him deeply and passionately as the dragons still whirled around us and all the riders cheered and hooted. Certainly a proposal to remember!

The flowers were a bit sudden...I didn’t expect flowers. Wild ones..my favourite. Wide innocent daisies, buttercups the yellow of sunshine, small forget me nots hidden among the wild grasses, bright splashes of colour in the cheeriness of pansies, lavender stalks with their heady scent wafting upwards. I didn’t expect flowers. Wonderful crunchy flowers. Yum!

“Ok Idris, you know you’re my favourite dragon, time to fly with the rest now.. hold on... there’s a dandelion between your teeth... ok got it, you can fly now.”

My wings creaked open and I flew.