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Grabbing the keys that Kiya tossed me I turned reluctantly toward one of the other cages, the one holding the beatiful Phoenix - Firedawn. It was almost funny, my feet wanted to go where the gold was and my mind was forcing me to set the other creatures free as soon as I could.

Drat Womble for tempting me like this... Well, he'd just have to share! I glanced in his direction and he must have felt my gaze because he looked up from what he was doing at the same time. My look said You're going to share, right? He started shaking his head vehemently and I started nodding mine. He heaved a dispirited sigh and nodded once. I smiled and unlocked Firedawn's cage; watching the spell gleam disappear from around the cage as soon as I heard the lock click open.

I looked at Firedawn and really saw her for the first time and was totally ashamed of myself, I had left this beautiful creature entrapped while having a battle of wills with Womble over gold. I gently reached into the cage presenting her with the back of hand so she could see I wasn't grabbing her or preparing to slap her. She trembled violently but slowly tiptoed across the cage and climbed to the back of my wrist, meeting my eyes continuously - ready to leap if I moved to suddenly. One of her wings had been broken in two places, she was missing great clumps from her breast feathers, and there appeared to be little pieces cut out of her skin. My heart broke as I realized if I didn't do something she might never fly and if she couldn't fly she would never be reborn. Tears slipped from my eyes as I gently hugged her to my chest and started chanting the healing spell, this time was easier - I had met my dragon healer before so she was no longer a shock to me. She (my dragon healer) acknowledged my presence as an observer with a smile and then ignored me to begin her job of healing.

Time passed ... seconds? minutes? It could have been hours for all I knew, except I was pretty sure someone would have broken my trance if that were so. I opened my eyes and she was beautiful again, Firedawn flew up in the air [Linked Image] brightening the whole room with her light. She trilled a joyous song, and one long iridescent tail feather floated down to my hands. Somehow I knew that she had just made a pact with me to come if I ever called.

Kiya opened the door that Womble and Jurak had entered earlier and Firedawn soared free, trilling her farewell.

Ascolan looked at me and I'm afraid I must have looked a little pale, because he smiled and said "I know you will heal me if you can. Kiya, was right, my strength doesn't lie in my claws, but in my heart and soul. I will fight by your side against Aganeth and against his master Rabaer when the time is right."

Leaning weakly against the cage, I held up the keys for someone else to free the other creatures. I needed to recover my strength quickly and that meant rest.
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~DragonQueen~