Idea Background: Shawn suggested we write something here. I'm guessing it includes her character Shawn, and my dragon, Chayn (both of which are rather close in the role-playing area). We haven't gotten much further than that.

Basic Idea: Uh, we're still working on that, I think.

Story Idea(s): Shawn, here's a sentence. Tell me if you like/dislike (and don't be afraid to say to dislike )

"Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them."

Sooo, what d'you think?

I likes.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

I is glad you likes. I'm glad you thought of the idea for writing. ^^

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

* grins *

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!"

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Shawn's eyes lit up as Jay tried to pick his jaw up off the floor for the third time in the last 10 minutes. She smiled. "Hello, Tynx."

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Shawn's eyes lit up as Jay tried to pick his jaw up off the floor for the third time in the last 10 minutes. She smiled. "Hello, Tynx."

"Hello!" Tynx replied cheerfully. He looked at Jay. "Sorry about the hair. I didn't know if you were friendly or not." Chayn rolled her eyes, then looked at Shawn. "What happened? Why are we here?"

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Shawn's eyes lit up as Jay tried to pick his jaw up off the floor for the third time in the last 10 minutes. She smiled. "Hello, Tynx."

"Hello!" Tynx replied cheerfully. He looked at Jay. "Sorry about the hair. I didn't know if you were friendly or not." Chayn rolled her eyes, then looked at Shawn. "What happened? Why are we here?"

Shawn cocked her head at Tynx. "Friendly..."

"Hilarious."

She smiled and turned to Chayn, the dragon's bearing sobering her. "I don't know. You flew in out of the sky. I don't think anyone else saw you two."

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Shawn's eyes lit up as Jay tried to pick his jaw up off the floor for the third time in the last 10 minutes. She smiled. "Hello, Tynx."

"Hello!" Tynx replied cheerfully. He looked at Jay. "Sorry about the hair. I didn't know if you were friendly or not." Chayn rolled her eyes, then looked at Shawn. "What happened? Why are we here?"

Shawn cocked her head at Tynx. "Friendly..."

"Hilarious."

She smiled and turned to Chayn, the dragon's bearing sobering her. "I don't know. You flew in out of the sky. I don't think anyone else saw you two."

Chayn nodded slowly. She began to stand sraighter, unfurling her wings.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" Tynx asked in alarm. "You can't just leave! We have no idea where we are, or what happened, or how we can get back-"

"I'm stretching, shitfer," Chayn interrupted. She brought her head down to eye-level with Shawn and Jay. "Can you help us? I know it's a lot to ask, since we've only just met."

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Shawn's eyes lit up as Jay tried to pick his jaw up off the floor for the third time in the last 10 minutes. She smiled. "Hello, Tynx."

"Hello!" Tynx replied cheerfully. He looked at Jay. "Sorry about the hair. I didn't know if you were friendly or not." Chayn rolled her eyes, then looked at Shawn. "What happened? Why are we here?"

Shawn cocked her head at Tynx. "Friendly..."

"Hilarious."

She smiled and turned to Chayn, the dragon's bearing sobering her. "I don't know. You flew in out of the sky. I don't think anyone else saw you two."

Chayn nodded slowly. She began to stand straighter, unfurling her wings.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" Tynx asked in alarm. "You can't just leave! We have no idea where we are, or what happened, or how we can get back-"

"I'm stretching, shifter," Chayn interrupted. She brought her head down to eye-level with Shawn and Jay. "Can you help us? I know it's a lot to ask, since we've only just met."

Jay looked at the dragon and fox as warily as he dared. "Um..."

"We can trust them, Jay."

"How do you know that?" Jay's manner bore several years of working in an environment where trusting the majority of people only as necessary was safer for all.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Shawn's eyes lit up as Jay tried to pick his jaw up off the floor for the third time in the last 10 minutes. She smiled. "Hello, Tynx."

"Hello!" Tynx replied cheerfully. He looked at Jay. "Sorry about the hair. I didn't know if you were friendly or not." Chayn rolled her eyes, then looked at Shawn. "What happened? Why are we here?"

Shawn cocked her head at Tynx. "Friendly..."

"Hilarious."

She smiled and turned to Chayn, the dragon's bearing sobering her. "I don't know. You flew in out of the sky. I don't think anyone else saw you two."

Chayn nodded slowly. She began to stand straighter, unfurling her wings.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" Tynx asked in alarm. "You can't just leave! We have no idea where we are, or what happened, or how we can get back-"

"I'm stretching, shifter," Chayn interrupted. She brought her head down to eye-level with Shawn and Jay. "Can you help us? I know it's a lot to ask, since we've only just met."

Jay looked at the dragon and fox as warily as he dared. "Um..."

"We can trust them, Jay."

"How do you know that?" Jay's manner bore several years of working in an environment where trusting the majority of people only as necessary was safer for all.

"I..." Shawn looked at Chayn, then at Tynx, and finally back at Jay. The look in her eyes told Jay that trying to argue would be nigh impossible. "I just have the feeling we can." Jay bit his lower lip. Shawn looked at him pleadingly.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Shawn's eyes lit up as Jay tried to pick his jaw up off the floor for the third time in the last 10 minutes. She smiled. "Hello, Tynx."

"Hello!" Tynx replied cheerfully. He looked at Jay. "Sorry about the hair. I didn't know if you were friendly or not." Chayn rolled her eyes, then looked at Shawn. "What happened? Why are we here?"

Shawn cocked her head at Tynx. "Friendly..."

"Hilarious."

She smiled and turned to Chayn, the dragon's bearing sobering her. "I don't know. You flew in out of the sky. I don't think anyone else saw you two."

Chayn nodded slowly. She began to stand straighter, unfurling her wings.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" Tynx asked in alarm. "You can't just leave! We have no idea where we are, or what happened, or how we can get back-"

"I'm stretching, shifter," Chayn interrupted. She brought her head down to eye-level with Shawn and Jay. "Can you help us? I know it's a lot to ask, since we've only just met."

Jay looked at the dragon and fox as warily as he dared. "Um..."

"We can trust them, Jay."

"How do you know that?" Jay's manner bore several years of working in an environment where trusting the majority of people only as necessary was safer for all.

"I..." Shawn looked at Chayn, then at Tynx, and finally back at Jay. The look in her eyes told Jay that trying to argue would be nigh impossible. "I just have the feeling we can." Jay bit his lower lip. Shawn looked at him pleadingly.

He melted. "What can we do?" Shawn smiled up at him.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Shawn's eyes lit up as Jay tried to pick his jaw up off the floor for the third time in the last 10 minutes. She smiled. "Hello, Tynx."

"Hello!" Tynx replied cheerfully. He looked at Jay. "Sorry about the hair. I didn't know if you were friendly or not." Chayn rolled her eyes, then looked at Shawn. "What happened? Why are we here?"

Shawn cocked her head at Tynx. "Friendly..."

"Hilarious."

She smiled and turned to Chayn, the dragon's bearing sobering her. "I don't know. You flew in out of the sky. I don't think anyone else saw you two."

Chayn nodded slowly. She began to stand straighter, unfurling her wings.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" Tynx asked in alarm. "You can't just leave! We have no idea where we are, or what happened, or how we can get back-"

"I'm stretching, shifter," Chayn interrupted. She brought her head down to eye-level with Shawn and Jay. "Can you help us? I know it's a lot to ask, since we've only just met."

Jay looked at the dragon and fox as warily as he dared. "Um..."

"We can trust them, Jay."

"How do you know that?" Jay's manner bore several years of working in an environment where trusting the majority of people only as necessary was safer for all.

"I..." Shawn looked at Chayn, then at Tynx, and finally back at Jay. The look in her eyes told Jay that trying to argue would be nigh impossible. "I just have the feeling we can." Jay bit his lower lip. Shawn looked at him pleadingly.

He melted. "What can we do?" Shawn smiled up at him.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

Earth usually didn't see portals, and it certainly never saw anything coming out of them.

Oh, sure, there were stories about them. They were filed in the library next to "Here there be dragons" and other such books.

They were checked out often by avid readers, dreaming about the possibilities, planning what they would do if they found such a portal described in the books. But not all the planning and dreaming in the world could have prepared a person for what happened that day.

For a moment in time there was a hole in the sky over Stone Mountain.

It hovered there, a swirling mass of what technical people might call an impossibility, and others, magic. But then, something flew out of it, something that seemed to glint light blue in the sunlight.

That something blended smoothly into the blue sky. Only one cloud watcher noticed. Her liquid brown eyes echoed the light blue glint with curiosity.

The foreign mass flew in a frenzied circle, trying to stay out of sight but also panicked. It pumped its wings, then dove, uttering an alarmed roar as it dove. Not loud enough for the whole area to hear, but still loud enough for the sole viewer to hear as she watched it land near the mountain base.

The watcher leaned against the rail, her light blond hair falling over her shoulders. "I can't believe-" The unthinkable cut her off.

She watched, mouth open slightly, as dozens of alarmed birds fled. She managed to collect her thoughts before taking off in that direction. She motioned to a young man standing nearby. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The look in her eyes unsettled him.

"That!" The girl replied, exasperated, waving toward the mountain. "Didn't you see it? It landed right there!" The young man raised an eyebrow. "Come on!" He sighed and followed her as she moved quietly through the woods.

The two friends traversed the woods carefully and quietly. The girl's friend had no idea what had possessed her to come out this far, and he was about to question it when the girl inhaled sharply.

"What's the matter?" He hissed, and frowned when he was ignored and watched her advance forward into thick bushes, her body shivered with nervous excitement.

Exasperated, he looked over the bushes, shoving branches aside. "Shhhh!" The blue creature lifted its head and glared fiercly just as he caught a glimpse.

The creature stared at them, nostrils flaring, as it crouched with large, blue wings partially spread. The two friends knew full well what stood before them, watching them half with fear and half with desperate anger.

The girl felt a shiver in her core as a faint hint of a smile pulled at one corner of her open mouth. The young man opened his green eyes wide as he tried to think how to defend himself.

The dragon looked at the girl, slowly furling her wings, and blinked, then extended her neck toward the girl. The young man, with hardly a second thought sprang forward, yelling "Get back!" A raven, black all through, save for rather unusual amber eyes, cawed and dove.

The dragon jerked, fear and anger returning into her eyes as she looked at the young man.

The girl panicked. "Jay! No! Please..." She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes, tried to break through to the unusual creature.

"Alright, alright," Jay backed off, holding his hands up. He yelped as the raven dove at him. "Tell it to call off its mad bird, while you're at it." The dragon lifted a lip in a slight snarl, but made no sound. She looked at the girl, right into her eyes. She emitted a small rumble, not threatening, but almost... afraid. The raven, however, had begun fluttering in Jay's face, cawing.

A quiver ran through the girl's body as the dragon stared at her. Jay grimaced and waved at the bird. "What do you want?"

The dragon blinked, then extended her neck further until she was about a foot and a half away from the girl. She sniffed, then looked at her.

"To know where I am." The dragon's mouth didn't move, but everyone heard the words clearly.

Jay froze at the voice, the raven 'accidentally' smacking him. The girl's eyes grew wider. "You're... here. This is earth."

The dragon sniffed the air, then blinked. She looked at the girl. "Earth?" The raven cawed, but the caw sounded almost fake. The dragon emitted a half snarl at it, and the bird seemed to huff in annoyance and perched on Jay's head, examining his hair.

"The earth. It's a plan-" Jay broke off as the raven snagged his hair. "Ouch! Hey!" He tried to wave the bird off.

The dragon emitted a rumbling sound in her chest, something like laughter. "Remove yourself from the boy, shifter." The raven cawed, then struggled out of Jay's hair before perching on a tree. The dragon turned. "Who are you?"

The girl brushed a long blond strand of hair back. "I'm... Shawn." A shiver ran through her as she dared to ask, "Who are you?"

"Chayn" The dragon responded carefully. "And, this is-" The raven cawed, almost annoyed. Jay stiffened and watched it glide down to the ground. "That is Tynx. A shape-shifter." As if on cue, the raven transformed in a bright light into a small red and white fox with amber colored eyes.

Shawn's eyes lit up as Jay tried to pick his jaw up off the floor for the third time in the last 10 minutes. She smiled. "Hello, Tynx."

"Hello!" Tynx replied cheerfully. He looked at Jay. "Sorry about the hair. I didn't know if you were friendly or not." Chayn rolled her eyes, then looked at Shawn. "What happened? Why are we here?"

Shawn cocked her head at Tynx. "Friendly..."

"Hilarious."

She smiled and turned to Chayn, the dragon's bearing sobering her. "I don't know. You flew in out of the sky. I don't think anyone else saw you two."

Chayn nodded slowly. She began to stand straighter, unfurling her wings.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" Tynx asked in alarm. "You can't just leave! We have no idea where we are, or what happened, or how we can get back-"

"I'm stretching, shifter," Chayn interrupted. She brought her head down to eye-level with Shawn and Jay. "Can you help us? I know it's a lot to ask, since we've only just met."

Jay looked at the dragon and fox as warily as he dared. "Um..."

"We can trust them, Jay."

"How do you know that?" Jay's manner bore several years of working in an environment where trusting the majority of people only as necessary was safer for all.

"I..." Shawn looked at Chayn, then at Tynx, and finally back at Jay. The look in her eyes told Jay that trying to argue would be nigh impossible. "I just have the feeling we can." Jay bit his lower lip. Shawn looked at him pleadingly.

He melted. "What can we do?" Shawn smiled up at him.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

The chapter thread is here, helping to break up what would be an enormously long post into readability.

Oh, and there's a bit that 'carried over'... I ended Chapter One at what seemed to me like a pretty good place. Feel free to dissent, Aris.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

I have no dissent. Good idea, SHawn. ^^

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!" Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!" Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifedt into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!" Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifedt into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!" Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifedt into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

* tries something new *

*Will try something new with Shawnee*