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Gotcha! (Page Three) ©2003, Kelly "J'Karrah" Dugery |
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Laughing at the child's antics Rankith reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Don't get too excited, young one," Rankith cautioned. "You are still in trouble and are going to have to accept whatever punishment your parents may impose. It could very well be quite sometime before you are allowed to leave the confines of the lair's immediate surroundings, even in my company." This news did cause the hatchling's exuberance to diminish, but not to any great extent. And Rankith was pleased to note that Rolth made no attempts to get the Guard leader to intercede on his behalf with his parents once they returned home. He had done wrong and was willing to accept the consequences. Rankith then stood and began walking to the more open end of the valley and Rolth immediately followed. "You go first, little one," Rankith said as he nodded skyward. Once the child was safely aloft Rankith leapt into the air himself with seemingly little effort, his rear talons ripping up clumps of dirt and vegetation as his powerful hind legs kicked against the ground. He then positioned himself under the hatchling and caught the child on his broad back. Gliding smoothly, Rankith gave Rolth a few moments to get settled into position and then began pumping his wings to gain altitude for the journey home. As they left the little valley behind, Rankith remembered his earlier thoughts about speaking to the Clan Elders about this child. He smiled to himself as they flew and thought "Yes, this one would make a fine addition to the Guard and the Dragonlands would be much safer for it. And who knows... maybe one day this little one will take my place." But for now Rankith simply sent a relayed message back to the child's parents: Their little one was coming home.
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