New

                The sun was bright as Riona walked out of her house towards the barn. Her mother had wanted her to get Fhust ready and then she would be out.

                ‘I’m going to grab some breakfast.’ Feoras thoughts flowed into Riona and she was glad that despite having to be apart so much, at least they would share their thoughts; she never truly felt alone anymore.

                ‘Just don’t go too far.’ She shouldered the leather straps and walked towards Fhust in his stall. The horse stood still as she tightened her saddle and placed the bit in his mouth, she stood and just brushed him for several minutes. Finally thinking her mother should be done getting ready she headed outside with Fhust behind her.

                Riona stopped moving when she saw her mother, well, who she thought was her mother. Instead of her mothers usual cloth clothes she was wearing all black leather complete with over the knee boots and a sword buckled on her hip. The leather had green undertones in the bright sunlight and her mother had plaited her usually free flowing hair down her back.

                She smiled at Riona and strode over to her and Fhust. Her mothers usual gait had been replaced by long distance swallowing strides and a carriage that told Riona she knew how to use the sword on her hip. Her mothers blue eyes were smiling at Riona when she reached her.

                “Are you going to shut your mouth and call your dragon? Or are you going to stand around staring at me all day?” her mothers tone caught Riona off guard even as her mind reached out towards Feoras. She felt his surprise and he swallowed the deer he had caught whole as he flew towards them.

                “What?....How…?” Riona had lost the ability to communicate as she stared at her newly changed mother.

                “Oh come now, don’t be silly. I knew something was going on. It just took me a little while to figure it out. But I knew when you started asking about the Ryders and never properly washing your left hand.” Her mother grabbed her arm and scrubbed at her left hand, and there below the dirt was the same tear shaped scar that had appeared the night Feoras had hatched. Her mother let go of her hand and smiled at Riona. “I knew it. I-“

                The rest of her sentence was lost as Feoras appeared out of the sky in a torrent of wind above them. A small tremor ran through the earth under their feet as he set down on the ground. Riona was proud to notice that he had grown even more in the past week, and knew from their connection that he was feeding regularly and well.

                Riona watched as her mother twisted her hand from her brow to her heart and spoke in the weird language that both the man in the tavern and the man in the cave had spoken. She could sense approval and surprise from Feoras when her mother had stood upright and dropped her hand again.

                “And what is your name?” Her voice was clear, and they knew that she was asking a question, but it still was tinged with respect and something else that Riona thought was sadness.

                ‘My name is Feoras.’ He projected his thoughts to touch that of her mother, and in her mind his voice sounded louder than normal, like he was trying to speak over a few people.

                “A very fitting name.” She started walking around Feoras, but stopped. “May I?” She gestured for her to keep walking.

                ‘You may.’ He kept very still, especially when her mother walked back by his tail, all the time her face was a mask, Riona could glean nothing from her expression. Feoras was now the size of the barn and his head was roughly the size of Fhust, who being used to the dragons presence stood calmly next to Riona. Feoras fixed a curious eye on Riona, but said nothing and kept his thoughts to himself.

                Finally her mother reached where she had started her inspection and came to stand next to Riona. Staring at Feoras for a moment longer she nodded her head, and took the reins from Riona.

                “I will meet you both at Virend Rock.” She mounted Fhust and when she noticed Riona still staring promptly told her, “Well, what are waiting for? Ride your dragon! Fhust is the fastest horse here and I still think you both will be beat me there.” She smiled and with a flick of the reins and a cluck sent Fhust galloping towards the mountain.  

                Riona turned to Feoras as he crouched down for her to climb on. Her insides crawled up towards her throat as she thought about flying.

                ‘Come on, Little One. I’m not going to drop you.’ His one eye slid shut in what Riona assumed was a wink as she walked towards him.