"Teacher, do you believe everything you read in the archives about the world before dragons? It sounds much like the Darkwing's world."

"Yes, a very apt parallel young Senset, very apt indeed. I am surprised that you have been reading these musty old tomes, I wouldn't think they would have appealed to a young one such as yourself, but your have shown much promise and intelligence. Many say that the world troubles started during the time of George Bush the younger, but I have spent many centuries researching and I believe it started much earlier than that.

When the America was a young nation it's people were willing to fight and die for what they needed. They were proud of their accomplishments, of their lands and grateful for their families and for the right to live free. Many suffered serious hardships to earn the land they wished to call their own. They had to travel great distances on horseback and in wagons to explore uncharted lands. They fought the elements, and whatever else stood between them and the thing they needed. I suspect the lands they claimed represented to them that they belonged. It is a great thing to belong somewhere, to own land and live upon it. For those who fought great hardships it had untold value. It was theirs and no one was going to take it away. A proud breed these Pioneers.

Then others moved to join them, villages became towns, towns became cities. These people in cities needed ways to travel to other cities so railroads were built to move product and more people. Unhappy with the speed of horses, automobiles were invented. Entire mechanized industries grew, and the opportunities attracted more and more people. Roads were built connecting city to city so more could travel. The intelligence of man began to lean towards Science and the uses it could be put to to enhance daily lives. Can you imagine a world without television or radios? Both helped to make news available from coast to coast in an instant many felt. Life was good and getting better.

Somehow the more man had the more he wanted and the less he wanted to pay for it. Somehow the Pioneer stock became diluted, and man became lazy. They no longer wanted to fight for a living from the land, they no longer wanted to work in factories unless they were paid large wages. They invented machines to do their work and then couldn't understand what happened to their jobs. They invented more machinery to make their jobs easier yet they asked for more and more wages. This drove the price of product higher, so of course in order to afford it, they needed more wages. A vicious cycle created by man that no one knew how to stop. So, they began to demand that government step in and help. Make them pay me more, but control the prices. Do something, do anything was the cry. So the government did, and it grew bigger and stronger and needed more and more of mans wages to support the programs that man demanded.

Then one day man woke up to the calamity of Big Government and then began to cry. Government is too big and too meddlesome they said. So they started voting for men who promised to reduce the size of government, yet they had no clear idea of what could be done. Nor did they wish to sit down and see if they could come up with a viable solution. They began to vote for candidates who lied, who had no clear ideas of what to do on their own, or who were so inept that they followed the advice of advisors with their own hidden agendas. The agendas of big corporations that raped the land and destroyed the environment. Even the so called robber barons of the mechanized age could not in their greed come close to the evil of the late 20th and early 21st century.

Man could never face the fact that his own greed brought that evil down upon him. So he continued his whining and pleading with the government for more and more relief. Relief from taxes, from the high cost of medications necessary to live longer, relief from the poverty he believed himself to suffer. he lost sight of the fact that poverty is a state of mind. It is a condition that exists when men allow no light into their soul. That is the true poverty. When man loses his love of beauty, his desire to be better, not richer, better. That is the absolute depth of poverty. Man did not understand that. At least not all men. Not all sold their soul to the devil for riches. Some truly understood and worked to make lives better for all.



Now, even with the Darkwings wreaking havoc with our lives, we have everything we need. They treat the humans as slaves while we treat them as partners. Together we have built a world that is mostly peaceful and everyone has what they need. Unfortunately we must defend our world against the Darkwings. They make raids on our cities to kidnap the people because they need more slaves. They steal our food because they are too lazy to cultivate crops. So far we have managed to prevent them from doing too much damage. Now that you have caused me to think about all this Senset, I believe that if we do nothing more than what we've done, time will take care of the Darkwings with no help from us. Sooner or later their numbers will decrease and then they will be coming to us for help to survive.

That was how this all came about. Once man saw what Dragons could do, they turned to us for help in fixing what they had managed to damage. A partnership was formed and you and I partake of the fruits of this venture.
Yes, Senset, we all have our roles in this daily life. Oh, the time, the time! I have a class I will be teaching shortly, I must be on my way. Make sure you turn out the lights when you leave" Teacher said as he hurried from the room leaving Senset behind with his thoughts.

Senset began to put the books away, touching each one with reverence, careful never to tear a page. Once all were restored to their places he stood and looked out the window at the world before him. It was a cooler day than usual, and many were out and about enjoying themselves in the park. Many of the dragon children were playing with children of the humans under the watchful eye of both mothers. The sheer difference in size should have led to many a mishap, yet it never did. Senset did not remember ever thinking to himself that he had to be careful with his playmates because they were smaller than he was. Somehow that just seemed to happen normally and naturally, as if it were meant to be. Maybe it always was meant to be. He caught sight of Teacher at the door of the schoolhouse, and he thought to himself that he would do well to learn half as much as Teacher knew. Maybe he would be a teacher some day too. He remembered to shut out the light as he left the library and went out into the day. Just another day in the life of a dragon, but what a day it was.

Muldat stopped and examined the row of vegetables he'd just been hoeing. Weeds were springing up at a faster rate than he remembered, or he was beginning to feel his age. He was the oldest of the community, what a time to be raising a youngling. Still, he was glad that he and Sarcassa had taken the young one in. With the new additions to the community Muldat needed all the help in the garden that he could get. Who would have thought that there were Darkwings that didn't hate the Others? Much information has been given to them, and much needs to be examined before a path is decided upon. . Should they go to the Darkwing city to see if there is a way they can help restore order to the chaos? Time would be taken before that decision was made. Time for Langar and his little brother to grow and prosper. In the meantime Senset the youngling and Langar the bastard son of Darrabar must go to visit their Mother Dremia. He was going with them, he had news to impart to Dremia from Centhra, wife of Darrabar. Hopefully his news would bring Dremia to the community when they returned. He did not know Dremia, but it greatly troubled him that she was living in the old castle by herself. Should she be found by any of the Darkwings, it would bode ill for her. He would do his best to convince her that she should return with her sons.

"Senset, what time was Langar going to meet us at the square?" he asked. "We ageed on 2 of the clock Great One, and it is almost that time." Muldat chuckled, "To what do I owe the noble title of Great One? Have you done something that I don't want to know about youngling?" Senset jumped on to a boulder to bring himself closer to Muldat"s shoulder. He was gaining in size, and strength but could not quite make the shoulders of Muldat where he needed to be for the flight to the square. "Oh, no Muldat, Teacher says you are the Great One, for you are wise in the way of the people. He says that you know instinctively what they need and are much suited to the task of assisting them." Muldat bent slightly to allow Senset an easy access to his shoulder. "Remember youngling, to hold tight around the neck. Your adopted mother Sarcassa would have my hide should something happen to you." Muldat barely felt the weight of the youngling on his back, he knew he was there and in proper position so they began the flight to the square to meet Langar. Once in the air Muldat spoke again "Teacher forgets, Senset, that the people also assist us. It is like anything else in the community. One works for the benefit of all, not just oneself."

The square on a beautiful day like today is usually teeming with dragons. During the morning hours when it is cooler, the people are also out among their dragon friends. The temperature had warmed considerably in the last couple of hours and he was surprised to see Elgarth with Layla still in the square. He did admit that she seemed to be hiding in the shade provided by Elgarth's girth, but usually at this time of day she was in the caves tending to the eggs with her Mother Selina. When they landed Layla asked for a moment to speak with Muldat in private.
They moved away from the rest and she said. "Muldat, since the community has grown larger and there are more eggs to oversee, Mother was wondering if you could speak with Langars Mother Dremia and ask if she would be interested in assisting us. Mother is concerned about Dremia's safety the same way Darrabar is. He also knows that she will not come here to be a burden on the community, so if it was presented to her that she is needed to help with the eggs, maybe she might listen. Mother and Darrabar have hatched this betwen them. I could sure use the help as I have been cloned and will be birthing in a few months." "Yes" Muldat thought "a solution to the pressing problem of what to do with Dremia. He was not at all sure that Centhra's news would convince her to come, but with this welcome addition, it might make her see that she would be no burden." He promised Layla to relay the request for assistance to Dremia. Senset decided to ride to his Mothers on his brother Langars back, Muldat agreed, it was a ways for an old dragon to fly with additional weight. He welcomed the offer and so they set out.



When they arrived Dremia made them welcome as always but Muldat felt that something was wrong. It appeared that her eyes were scanning the woods surrounding her lair. He took Langar aside and shared his concerns. Langar knew his mother well, and he too sensed that something was wrong, so he suggested that he would leave Senset there with them and scout around to see what the problem might be. If he found anything, he would return immediately and report. Normally Muldat would have sent Senset to play while he spoke with Dremia but his feelings of unease made him tell Senset to stay with them. "Dremia, I have two pieces of news for you, one from Centhra, wife of Darrabar and one from Selina the Egg Mistress. Both concern the possibility of your joining us at our community, and I think you should consider both carefully. Centhra is much older than Darrabar, she was aware of the problems inherent in that type of relationship when she married him. He has been good to her and has not ever given her any cause to doubt that he loves her, but , she also knows that he loves you. It bothers her that Darrabar fears for your safety and she wishes for you to join our community as the cherished one of Darrabar. There is no shame in the relationship between Darrabar and you, nor between Darrabar and Centhra. She fully accepts the role of older wife and accepts that there is a cherished one in his life. Selina asks that you consider joining the community as a caretaker of the dragons eggs. Layla is expecting and not able to fulfill all of her duties and help would be greatly appreciated." As he comes to a close, both Darrabar and Langar arrive. He has come with news of a band of marauding Darkwings enroute to this place and it is necessary for all to leave immediately. The decision of Dremia is made by circumstances and it really is the right one for the community, and for her. A dragon, while capable of caring for themselves alone, belongs in a community where others may share in their lives.

It has been noticed that Dralgo and his family are missing. No one cares. His household goods have been plundered, his possessions have been destroyed or stolen by other dragons. His home is now being used by Lelbot and his women as a brothel. Chargot, who should be controlling the Dragons and Daniella his human counterpart have been among the missing for days now. No one is safe, hunger is motivating the dragons to turn on the humans and they have taken to hiding where they are not as easily captured. One by one the younger weaker dragons are being slaughtered. It has fallen to Langar and his friend Septil to try to restore order, but neither have the knowledge nor do they have the strength of numbers needed to complete the task. Langar knows in his heart that their way of life must change. He has learned the lesson that the Others were born knowing, that to survive all must work hand in hand towards the greater good of all, not for the good of a chosen few. He suspects that Lelbot has had a hand in the disappearance of his father and Daniella, and is certain that they are dead. His mother Dremia is working for food in Lelbot's brothel. She hates it, Lelbots customers are the lowest of the low and they treat the women with disdain. She who was Chargot's concubine, the mother of his children, bears the brunt of their hate.

When Dremia returns the next morning, she is quiet. Langar notices a wound on her face and sets about getting a poultice made from the healing berries they use. She does not flinch when he applies it so lost in thought that she doesn't feel the pain either of the wound or of the poultice. "Mother, tell me the problem." he asks.



" Lelbot is dead, and most of the women that worked for him are dead as well. He tried to cheat a customer by saying he hadn't paid when he had. I spoke and reminded him that he had taken the eggs from him at the door and he struck me. At that point Medlik attacked Lelbot and a great fight ensued. I don't know why, but the other customers also began fighting among themselves. Some of the women were caught in the melee and were burned to death, I escaped out the back and waited until it was safe to come home. Medlik did not get what he came for and I have the eggs that were paid to Lelbot, if Medlik figures that out he may come here after me. I didn't bring the eggs home, I hid them. We are not safe here, even if I tell Medlik where the eggs are, he may kill me for taking them to start out with. I don't know what to do. I wish Chargot was still here. Damn that Daniella for stealing him away and leaving us alone and unprotected. She is the devils spawn without the sense of purpose that her father Daniel had. None of this would be happening if he had cloned more than Daniella from his DNA. All of us were cloned from his DNA and that of the Progenitors. Unlike David, his partner, he didn't believe in allowing us to breed outside of our own blood. All of the older dragons here are cloned from the DNA mix, it is only your generation that has hatched from our eggs.

Daniella allowed the hatching of the eggs because she thought more of us would survive to adulthood that way. She was the one that ordered the enslavement of the males and females captured from raids on the Others. They were breeding stock designed to combat the hereditary problems that had begun to surface due to inbreeding. We have been inbred for far too long. Dralgo and his wife Faiella were products of the slaves. Some of the slave women were all ready carrying the eggs that hatched Dralgo and his wife. They are not true Darkwings, just raised by us to be Darkwings and I believe they have gone to the Others. You are not true Darkwing either. You are half Other and half Darkwing, so is Septil, and his wife. Your father is Darrabar of the Hunt Family. We have been lovers these many decades. He is aware that you are his son and I must send you to him because you are not safe here. I sent your brother with him when he was born so that he could be raised as one who is peaceful and has purpose. Darrabar told me that Muldat and his wife are raising him and he is doing fine. I cannot go, he has a wife and I will not be a party to her shame should all this become known. Darrabar has a safe place for me and I shall be fine, but you must convince Septil and his wife to go with you. It is the only way for you to continue to live and you must leave as soon as it is safe. I will go with you part of the way. When I stopped to hide the eggs I sent a messge to Darrabar to meet with us if you are willing. You must decide."



Langar is not sure what he thinks about his mothers revelation. It is something that makes sense to him and at the same time he feels cheated. Chargot was not his father. There is a sense of relief in that. Chargot was not someone that Langar aspired to be. He is bookish and interested in acquiring knowledge. He has never been interested in war and killing the way his supposed father is, or maybe was. There is a peace that descends over him one that makes him decide that he will leave this place at his mothers request. Joy, yes, that's a good word for what he is feeling. Joy in his heart that he is not all Darkwing, that he does not belong here in this community of hate and violence. That there is a future for im elsewhere that may fulfill his desire to live peaceably with others of his own kind. He will go, and Septil and wife will go with him, of that he is certain. He and Septil have wanted to go for decades. Thus begins the new life of Dremia, Langar, Septil and his wife Mayim. They will join with Dralgo and the Others and forge ahead in a brand new world.

Each year there are fewer and fewer Darkwings born, or at least it appears so to Chargot. He is responsible for coordinating the raids against the others. Those puling excuses for Dragons that pander to the descendants of David. "Why are they thriving when we are not? They control the numbers of births each year where we breed and lay eggs in sufficient numbers, yet we are hard pressed to find enough able Dragons to launch a raid against their community....and they always win." Chargot turns from the window and looks at Dralgo his Sargeant who has had better sense than to answer that question. Chargot is...Chargot and sometimes it is best to leave him wondering aloud and avoid the trouble that answering can bring. Dralgo has better sense, even though he believes he knows the answer, he will keep his mouth shut and his thoughts to himself. One tends to live longer that way. Still, the desire to tell him that the "Others" thrive because they are disciplined is extremely strong. The "Others" are community oriented, the Darkwings are out for themselves, none willing to obey unless the giver of the order is stronger, faster, more deadly than they are. Where the "Others" grow crops, raise fowl and share the bounty with each other, the Darkwings scavenge for meager sustenance, sometimes killing and eating their own young because they are too lazy to hunt for a meal. Yes, Dralgo knows when to keep his mouth shut and his head on his shoulders, and Dralgo knows that the Darkwings will never succeed in their mission.

"Why do I ask of you that which I can't answer myself?" Chargot asks. The knock at the door and the entrance of Dremia, the latest mistress of Chargot relieves Dralgo of the necessity of trying to find a suitable answer. He is grateful when he sees the look in Chargot's eyes, it means that he will be dismissed and will be able to return to his own wife Faiela. Dalgo is a Dragon of habit, not for him the intrigue of chasing the always willing female dragons that have too much time on their hands. They spend it going from dragon to dragon without leaving themselves time to care for their eggs or for their young. In their defense he supposes it would do no good for them to care, they would be mistreated and abused for trying to protect their offspring from any of the hungry males. Their Mistress, Daniella offspring of Daniel Layton whose blood they all carry is no better. She spends her time in debauchery with whatever males are available to her, and woe betide any who should refuse, Dragon or human. He has managed to avoid her eye, and has lived far longer than any but Chargot. Things are progressing nicely between Chargot and Dremia, he can now ask to be dismissed and will incur no wrath for his forwardness.
"Yes, yes Dralgo, leave us why don't you? I have matters of importance to attend to here with Dremia. Don't I dear one?" Chargot laughs at Dralgo as he quickly moves to the door. "What's the matter Dralgo, afraid to see a real Dragon in action?" Dralgo swallows the taunt as he closes the door."Soon....very soon you will not have Dralgo to kick around." he thinks

Dralgo, his wife Faiela and son Grentha have been making surreptitious plans to leave their home. They no longer can live in peace with the rest of the Darkwings. There was the time when Grentha was nearly murdered while outside playing with his friends. It was only the knowledge that he was the son of the second in command to Chargot that stopped Lelbot from making off with his son. Faiela is not safe from the advances of other Darkwings either. He is getting older and there will come someone stronger that he must protect against. That is the way of life in their community, dragon eat dragon with only the strongest surviving. They are not entirely ready but it will be soon and they will be gone from this hellhole and heading for what they hope will be a better life. Arriving at home he finds Faiela tending to another wound inflicted on his son.



"Now what?" he asks. Grentha tells of going to pick berries at the request of his mother when he is set upon by another hungry dragon. He managed to escape again because he was recognised as son of Dralgo. He is burned on face and arm, but not badly. This news angers Dralgo, it is time to leave and the excuse for leaving the compound has been provided. He must escort his wife and son on their forraging expedition. They will be away before they are missed. He tells his wife this and she is in agreement because she is frightened for her son. They secrete about their person what gold and silver they have managed to put by and leave their abode. They encounter Langar, the son of Chargot and tell him that they will be gone much of the day to hunt for herbs to heal their sons wounds with. This will give them a head start in case Chargot should decide to hunt them. Once out of sight they can take flight and be far away before anyone is the wiser. Everything has been left at home to look as if they will return any time. It will be hard convincing the "Others" that he is too tired of living in the Darkwing community to continue, but he hopes that bringing his wife and son with him will make the difference. He wants a better life and possibly he can barter for a place in the community with his knowledge of the Darkwing community that is lacking. He hopes so, although he is a descendant of Daniel, he has heart and it has been badly wounded by life with Darkwings and their wicked ways.

The council was waiting when Muldat finally arrived accompanied by the wizened old dragon known as Teacher. Rarely did anyone ever see Teacher outside of his study except during school hours. As soon as they saw him they sat straighter and prepared to pay attention. Something of Importance was about to be revealed. Muldat was pleased to see that his community seemed to understand that something momentous was to be shared. He was not privy to the news, Teacher was the only dragon that paid little mind to Muldats status. To him he was still the student in the classroom. More than once had Muldat fetched down upon himself Teachers wrath. His forbidding countenance softened briefly with the memory of the Younger Teacher and the unDawned Muldat. Mentally he drew himself back to the present and with a clearing of his throat and a cough of smoke he announced that Teacher had something to share. Allowing Teacher the center chair at the table he moved back and sat against the wall where he could see clearly all faces at the council table.

"I am Teacher, hear my words carefully, they are of utmost importance to all of us. I have been reading the History in hopes of finding a solution that will bring about Peace. These raids that the Darkwings launch against us are troubling my mind. I wish to understand what mutant gene accounts for their desire to make war on us at every available opportunity rather than live in Peace and Harmony with us. We know and uphold the correct path to Harmony, since we all were created with the same knowledge, why do the Darkwings exist? Nothing appeared in my readings that answered any of my questions until I found a small journal tucked behind some old books in the library. It is written by Professor Daniel Layton and holds the truth of the Darkwings in it's pages. None of us knew of Professor Laytons existence before this. It appears, if his journal is accurate, that the Darkwings are not created the same as we, they were created by Professor Layton. Some time ago, Centhra, First Mother of the Hunt asked me if we were pure Dragon blood, or did Dr. David Fenton, our creator, mingle his blood with that of the Progenitors that he found in the ice cap. If the journal is accurate, yes he did, we carry in us the combined DNA of Dragon and David Fenton. Darkwings, however, carry the DNA stolen from the Progenitors and combined with his own. He was an avaricious man, looking only for his own advancement at whatever cost to others. His anger, his hate, has been bred into a group of Dragons whose only purpose is designed to rid the world of all members carrying the blood of Dr. David Fenton. The Darkwings are driven by that hate and anger to rule the world.



If this is the Darkwing purpose, then they do not control the number of offspring they produce, they need to amass greater numbers than we have in order to destroy our way of life. We are ill equipped to make an offensive stand against them, we only defend ourselves when attacked. We bravely face adversity without complaint, we fight valiantly when called upon, but we, who are Created by David, are a peace loving species that were designed to care for the world and all it's inhabitants. We are the caretakers, not the destroyers. It is to us that the burden of upholding Peace and Harmony has fallen. We must continue to do so, and we will not be able to if the Darkwings are successful in wiping us out.

I Teacher have brought this matter before the council so it may be discussed and a plan of action be devised. One that will fit within our Knowledge of the world and what is necessary to preserve it. One that will NOT be used to destroy the very existence of the Darkwings, but allow us to infuse their offspring with the our DNA. Should we succeed in this matter then we will gradually change their genetic makeup to one that is similar to ours and that will stop the Darkwings from having the numbers necessary to annihilate us and our way of life. Make no mistake, that is the true purpose of the Darkwings and they must be thwarted without damage to our peaceful way of life. I am Teacher, I have spoken, the Council must decide."

As Teacher seated himself, Darrabar, Father of the Hunt Family rose and addressed the assembled members. "I have had the most contact with the Darkwings over the span of years I have been responsible for the defense of the families here. Much of what Teacher has said makes sense and fits with what I know of Darkwing life. It explains much of what we have seen in our forays against them. It is also what Muldat himself must know as his wife Sarcassa is descended from a Darkwing. They are smaller Dragons, much like my Elgarth in size, and not as valiant as he is, and he is blind. They tend to run when the tide goes against them, I mean no disrespect to Sarcassa, but they are cowards. If we adopt their abandoned offspring and mingle our blood with theirs then the offspring of those unions will be of both blood. It has shown in Sarcassa that the blood of David the Creator is stronger.There are many at his council who are eligible to breed, would, for the good of all they be willing to adopt Darkwing offspring this time rather than produce eggs? If so, my son's and I can provide, I know where a clutch of eggs is being kept and we can remove a few rather than take all. I can return here withing hours if the council approves this plan. I Darrabar, Father of the Hunt family await the decision."

After much discussion it was decided to implement this plan. Darrabar and his family set out to gather eggs and in one case they found a hatchling that had fallen from the nest. It had survived the fall, but without care would not survive the night. When they returned from their raid, without mishap, Muldat and Sarcassa decided to adopt the little foundling even though he may need much care. It is the heart of this community that will not be broken regardless of what adversity it faces. Time will tell if this is the right decision, but it is the only decision that could be made. This is a land of Peace and Harmony among Human, Dragon and the Environment.