Home fires. 29

Nightmares and dreams of disaster filled both Jandar and Rage's sleep. Thoughts of Shayn and Ono hurt on a mountainside kept them both awake. They were so glad Cutter was with them. They knew he and Aramis would protect them with there lives. But still, they worried. Tossing and turning Rage found himself with Jandar on the road that led down from the Dragon Memorial. They looked up at the Dragon monument. The flame still burning as they left it. Jandar turned to Rage and saw the tear in his eye.
" You miss them." He said as he took his hand.
" Yes, I always will." He said with a smile. " But I have you and the others."
" Yes you do, love." They hugged.
" Rage, are we dreaming?"
" Yes, we are." He said. " But it's not a normal dream. I dream of you all the time, but a dragon knows how to dream. We can sleep long periods of time and can direct our dreams. But you can't. I know this is the real you, not the dream you. Someone else is directing this dream."
" What do we do?" Jandar asked.
" Follow the dream."
" And if its a magic attack?" He asked. " Its been done before."
" I don't think so." Rage told him. " Come on. Let's move and see."
Together they walked down the road. Rage remembers the last time he walked here. He remembered the campsite where he found the gold. They stopped and he showed Jandar the site. The gold was still there. He remembered something else. The gypsy Valen and his prophesy and how it had all come true. Rage wondered where he was now.
" Here."
Came from behind him. Jandar and Rage quickly turned and saw him standing there with a load of wood in his arms. He dropped it and formed a fire pit. He looked exactly as Rage remembered him. It must be him directing this dream.
" It is," Valen said.
Rage and Jandar walked out from the mound and to the pit. They wanted answers. What was going on?
"Sit, both of you." He had a serious look in his eyes.
" Who is this?" Jandar asked.
" I think he's someone on our side." Rage sat down and pulled his mate with him.
" Since life began on this planet, I have watched over all its inhabitants to keep them safe. That as you know that is the task given to a select group of Dragon. I am Valen of the First Clan. I am the first dragon."
Jandar and Rage were completely shocked by his confession. Jandar had heard legends, but he had never thought the first could still be alive. Rage knew dragons were protectors, but he didn't know the extent of there task. Jandar and Rage looked at each other and decided it was time to listen, action would have to come later.
" When we met, I knew there was more to you then a wandering gypsy." Rage told him. " But you were right. Everything happened as you said it would. How can we help you now?"
The wind picked up and caused all the foliage in the area to blow. Jandar didn't think it was magic, but it was a bit strange. Valen stuped down and blew on the tinder he had just built in the fire circle. Flames erupted in the circle and blazed up. Valen sat down with them with a weird look. They could tell something was wrong.
" I'm here to help with your problem." He said. " All our futures depend on what may happen."
" We don't really know much about her." Rage told him. "Just that she's the most powerful vampire alive."
"It's more than that." Valen found a stick and added it to the pile." What were fighting is an ancient evil. Older than me even. And so powerful."
" But what is it?" Rage asked. " Some kind of demon?"
" No," Valen said. " Its been in hell, but that's not where it came from."
" You make it sound like its almost beyond our power to beat."
Jandar stood and walked around the fire. He had fought against overwhelming odds before. And with Rage at his side, he knew he'd do it again. But this one really scared him. Valen stood and stopped Jandar's pacing.
"Nothing is beyond your power. You have allies that you don't know of." He said. " Don't worry, it's not evils time to reign. We'll win the day."
" Have you seen that in our future?" Rage asked.
" No, The futures dark right now."
Both Jandar and Rage had a horrid look. Valen knew what they were thinking.
" Calm yourself." He said. " A dark future doesn't mean we lose. It just means I can't see it."
" Then I think we should all get back to New Keanna." Rage told him. " Everybody should hear this."
" We can't do that. We have people scattered all over the world on missions. Important missions, missions that can't be interrupted." Jandar said. " Valkar and the Shadows are about to rendezvous with Athene, Ariel, and Toric. Aramis has Shayn and Ono, there camping now with no destination. We are spread thin."
" My brothers from the cave and a few others are still at home."
" Rage, Jandar, I do need your help," Valen told them. "But I don't think we need an army at the moment. I will be at your gates when you wake. Until then, You rest easy, there's not much we can do."