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.