Callan began to feel the rush of air against his face and hair. It was quiet and almost calming at first but then quickly accelerated into a terrifying rush of wind. His eyes watered as he stared towards the ground that was quickly approaching him.

He didn’t see Garred anymore and did not see what direction he went.

That seems about right, the guy who grows up with everything handed to him gets to walk away from this... Callan thought to himself.

Callan’s arms went out to either side and he could feel the resistance, This must be what it feels like to fly like a dragon...

Callan began to relax, accepting his fate and closing his eyes. He imagined he was on dragon back, diving down towards the ground for a landing, just like he’d seen his father do many a time before on his dragon, Seri.

His thoughts were interrupted by a quiet but persistent humming, that was getting louder, maybe closer? He bent his head down and looked up away from the ground to see a large dark mass moving toward his direction quickly.

“Ahh?!” Callan shrieked as he felt his body become completely enwrapped.

“Hgggh...” Callan began to feel all the blood suddenly rush to the front of his head. His eyes began to blur but he could at least make out that instead of moving towards the ground, he was moving parallel to it. That was the last image Callan saw before passing out.

* * *

Callan felt a certain warmth engulf his entire body and he felt... safe. He felt like he was being embraced by his mother after a long day away from home or a hot bath after an evening of chores. Callan then realized he was... moving... wait, he’d been falling, hadn’t he?

Callan opened his eyes and saw everything.

He could see all of Baust and its large forests and rivers. He could see the mountains in the distance and the shores along the coasts that surrounded Rederia. He could see the bodies of water to the north and south of Rederia and everything in between.

How is this... possible...?

Callan looked up as much as he could maneuver and saw what was holding him; a medium-sized, red scaled dragon with amber eyes.

Callan felt a wave of relief.

Someone’s dragon saved me! I can’t believe how lucky I am... Callan thought to himself.

Someone’s dragon?! Are you kidding me? Said another voice into Callan’s head.

Callan’s face went white as he heard it. Something spoke to him. But Callan knew he didn’t hear it through his ears. It came to him in his head.

What... just spoke...?

Callan made eye contact with the dragon that seemed to look down at him and into eyes as well.

Umm... I did?

Callan stared in disbelief as he again heard it. The same voice. But it couldn’t possibly be coming from a dragon! Dragon’s can’t communicate, can they? No one’s ever mentioned they could hear their dragon’s voice inside their head.

Well to be fair, I’ve never asked... Callan thought to himself.

Never asked what? The dragon replied.

“Aghh!! Stop that! It sounds so weird!” Callan shouted wriggling free his arms and covering his ears though that would prove to do no good, “Put us on the ground, now!”

* * *

Upon reaching the ground, Callan wrenched himself free and took a few steps back from the dragon, examining it closer. It was indeed a fairly average-sized dragon, red scaling, white horns and claws, slender, with long wings and golden eyes. But it could talk...

“It” has a name... I am Pyrio.

Fair enough... Callan sighed and looked around. Pyrio’s owner is no where to be found... Callan thought.

Well that’s not... ugh... The dragon began but then it started to look dizzy and started to sink on to the ground, wincing.

I’m exhausted... The dragon thought as it began to steam and then suddenly, the dragon burst into flame!

“Whoa! What the-” Callan jumped backwards at the sight but soon the flames dissipated and what was left behind was dark ashes and laying inside the ashes was a small, familiar red dragon, fast asleep inside its warm makeshift bed of coals.

“No way...” Callan looked closer as he realized there was no mistaking it. The dragon that saved him, the dragon that was talking to him in his mind; that was his dragon.

Pyrio.

* * *

The small red dragon began to come to and realized it was being held by Callan, who had leaned himself against a nearby tree. Pyrio yawned and blinked a couple of times before speaking.

Good morning... um... Mister...

“Callan,” Callan chuckled a bit hearing a dragon try to sound polite, “Is this how it goes for every summoning? Rider and Dragon introducing themselves?

I don’t know... Its my first time being summoned. I wasn’t really told what to expect.

“Hmm... well, I have a few questions, if that’s okay?”

Sure! But I’m starving... Can we get some food while we talk?

Callan’s stomach also began to rumble as he realized he’d skipped breakfast before attending the Dragon Ceremony. “Good point. Lets go home.”

Alright! Where’s home?

Callan sighed and pointed towards where he’d seen Baust while they had been in the sky earlier, just before they landed. “This way, let’s go.”

As the two began to head out, Pyrio started to flap his now much smaller wings and floated next to Callan as they moved. Callan watched as it seemed this smaller form had a much easier time staying in the air than a full-sized dragon. “So what with the whole... transformation business?”

Transformation?

“You know, how did you change your size?”

Oh! Well I uhhh... I dunno, I just wanted to help you and I felt myself get faster and stronger!

“You don’t know what happened?!”

No! I just did it... And when I got tired, I guess I changed back into this...

Pyrio seemed to sulk at the thought of being back to small. He had felt very powerful in his new form and even managed to save his new friend on his first day but now he felt useless again. Callan reached out scratched his head a bit, “Well I’m very glad you did it. Whatever it was, you saved my life!”

Pyrio perked up at the sound of his Rider’s praises and chirped what seemed to be happy noises.

“But...” Callan looked upwards as the sun began to set, “It would be nice if we could just fly back to Baust.”

Pyrio looked up as well and around at the surrounding forest. It was getting dark and the young dragon began to get nervous.

Its uh... getting kinda dark out?

“Hmm... You’re right,” Callan sighed, “We should probably just camp out for the night. I underestimated how far we’d flown.”

Pyrio’s eyes widened as he realized Callan was suggesting they sleep outside in the dark.

Oh... Okay well... um...

“I’ll see what I can find us to eat, think you can get a fire going? You did sort of, burst into flame earlier?”

Yeah, of course! I’ll just-

Callan began to wander off and Pyrio looked around again. He was all by himself, in the darkness of the forest. Pyrio’s breathing began to hasten and his body began to feel tight. Pyrio landed on the ground and began to crouch over, holding his arms above his head and trying to make his whole body as small as possible.

Pyrio stayed quiet for a while but eventually heard a twig snap. As he looked up, he scanned the perimeter of their makeshift camp. Suddenly, a pair of eyes began to glow in the bushes nearby and Pyrio yelped.

The bushes split as a small creature burst out and began to attack Pyrio who jumped backwards and fired a small burst of flame. The creature, a small boar, was cooked immediately and fell to the ground. The sticks nearby had also caught flame and began to burn and crackle.

Hearing the commotion, Callan came running back only to find a fire going and a cooked meal waiting for him, “Pyrio! You made a fire and dinner! Alright!”

Pyrio glanced around and put together what had happened. He smiled and stood there, impressed with himself, Of course! Um, dinner is served!

* * *

After eating, Callan began to yawn and started to push some leaves and branches together, making some sort of bedding. Callan looked over at his dragon, and smiled, “Welp... I think it’s time to sleep.”

Pyrio looked at Callan and began to speak but stopped once Callan rolled over, away from him and the fire. Pyrio sighed and curled up into a ball on the forest floor and tried falling asleep.

After a while, once the coals had burned out, Pyrio looked over and saw Callan begin to shiver a bit. Without really thinking, Pyrio floated over and laid in front of Callan’s stomach, providing heat from his fire-dragon body. Pyrio started to nod off again but this time was interrupted by Callan grabbing him and cuddling him close to his body. Pyrio popped his head out to breath and then fell asleep comfortably with his Rider, safe and sound. 

* * *

Map of Rederia