Maugon said to stay away from the clearing until the red moon, but Maugon also said to protect each other. The second piece of advice trumped the first. He took Lynnor and Phyrustix with him every so often to inspect the clearing and the surrounding area. While Maugon had taught them many things, he had left many questions unanswered.
“Bakuin.”
The tension in Lynnor’s voice caused Bakuin and Phyrustix to stop what they were doing and join her. Lynnor sniffed at a footprint, one not belonging to the three of them.
“Do you think they’re from another wing?” Phyrustix asked.
Bakuin stared at him.
“I meant a wing from our age.”
Bakuin huffed and turned to Lynnor. “Well?”
“How should I know? The only other dragon we’ve met is Maugon.”
Bakuin joined her, sniffing the print. “The print is bigger than ours.”
“But smaller than Maugon’s, which could mean the dragon is older than us and younger than Maugon, unless—”
“Unless there is a bigger dragon from our age.”
Phyrustix plopped down next to them. “So we don’t know anything.”
Lynnor rolled her eyes. “We know another dragon walked through this clearing since we were last here.”
“Did they find our tracks?” Phyrustix jumped to his feet, inspecting the clearing for enemies.
“It’s best to assume so. We need to be careful at the clearing.”
Bakuin glanced around. “We should get back to the lair. Senses up, other dragons are about.”
Changes to the Nest
The trio returned to the nest as fast as they could, and Rahendranax came out to meet them.
“What’s wrong?”
“Tracks at the clearing,” Bakuin said, “Everything good here?”
“I’ve noticed nothing out of the ordinary since you left.”
“I’d still like to see for myself.” Bakuin turned to his companions. “Keep watch.”
Lynnor and Phyrustix flew up the cliffs as he and Rahendranax returned to the lair. A disaster had replaced the clean and organized nest Bakuin had left early in the heat cycle. Rahendranax led him through a series of half-walls and around piles of sticks and stones to where Chila and Ramelba discussed light and proper airflow.
“Bakuin, you’re back early.” Chila glanced over him to the mouth of their nest.
“You say that every time, but it’s true this time. Don’t worry, Lynnor is with Phyrustix keeping watch.”
“Fine, but why are you back early?”
“We found an unknown footprint in the clearing.”
“Ah, well, we’ve had no visitors since you three left.”
“So Rahendranax said. Still, I feel better if some of us keep watch for now. How is it going here?”
Chila glanced around and sighed. “It would be better if I had Lynnor’s help. She knows the earth best.”
“I’ll send her down. Phyrustix and I can keep watch.”
Chila brightened. “Will you?!”
“If only to have the nest put together when I want to sleep.” Bakuin smiled, shaking his head as the members of his wing rattled on. He launched into the air to sweep the surrounding area. No threats detected. He landed unnoticed behind Phyrustix.
Another Fight
“Come on, Lynnor,” Phyrustix said, “you can’t blame me for not enjoying watch duty. Why won’t they let me help change the lair?”
Lynnor rolled her eyes. “Don’t you remember what happened the last time you helped?”
“I didn’t mean to set the nest on fire! Ramelba scared me!”
“She asked you a question. If you had any sense of your surroundings, you would’ve known she was there.”
“Okay, but I’ve been training!”
“And the time before that?”
“It’s so boring when they talk about plans.”
“So you filled the entire room with smoke?”
“It’s called training.”
“And I think you’ve earned the pleasure of being the prey the next time we train,” Bakuin said.
Phyrustix spun around shooting flames, which Bakuin quelled with a glance.
“When did you get here?” Phyrustix snapped.
“A while ago.”
Phyrustix glared. Bakuin could feel another fight brewing, and he didn’t want Lynnor to see them fighting yet again. She would know, as would the others, but they didn’t have to witness it. “Lynnor, Chila needs your help in the lair.”
Phyrustix’s anger bubbled over as Lynnor slipped over the cliff’s edge. “Why’s it always someone else!”
Bakuin didn’t respond as he waited for Phyrustix’s first move. He spun, tail spikes aimed at Bakuin’s eyes. Bakuin’s own tail blocked the attack. Phyrustix’s attacks came in rapid succession on all sides. Chest, face, right side, wings. Bakuin blocked them all. Phyrustix took flight aiming to use magic offense, but Bakuin didn’t let him get away; he took the fight to the air. They danced through the air as they fought until Bakuin landed a hit on Phyrustix’s wing. Phyrustix plummeted to the ground, landing in a puff of dirt. Bakuin sighed. Maybe these injuries would teach Phyrustix a lesson.
All Members Have a Place
For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12 NASB)
Bakuin drifted back to earth, making sure unwelcome spectators hadn’t noticed their fight. Phyrustix had curled in on himself, wings tight against his sides, as he healed the injuries from his fall. Bakuin sat at attention as he kept watch over his injured wing member. Far below, Bakuin felt the earth tremble as Chila changed the lair to her satisfaction. She’d put Lynnor’s talent in earth molding to good use.
Phyrustix winced as he stretched out. Bakuin waited in silence as Phyrustix paced around, loosening the muscles after the healing. He knew Phyrustix had questions for him, but Bakuin would wait for him to ask.
“Why am I here, Bakuin?”
Bakuin blinked, not having expected that question. “Because you are our brother.”
Phyrustix shook his head. “Just because I hatched here doesn’t mean you have to keep all of us. Maugon said other hatchlings kick out the weakest or unnecessary member, so why am I here?”
Bakuin considered everything Maugon had taught them, the stories he’d heard from Maugon before the others hatched in particular. “I don’t think that happened in any of the clutches Maugon protected. Otherwise he would have abandoned either Chila or I. He always impressed upon us the blessing of life. He never wanted us to end another’s life so easily.”
He paused as he considered how best to answer Phyrustix’s question.
“As for why we keep you . . . Maugon taught Chila and I to look for the different ways each member of our wing helps to strengthen us. Lynnor is our extra pair of eyes. She sees the things we miss and isn’t afraid to point them out to us. Rahendranax is a steady support in all areas.”
“And he’s the best at navigation.”
Bakuin nodded. “True. Ramelba reminds us how important all life is, not just creatures like us. She reminds us that while we can be fierce when we need to, we can also be gentle.”
“And me?”
Bakuin nearly missed the soft question. “As much trouble as you cause, Phyrustix, we value your fiery passion. You fight with determination and laugh with the same passion. You bring a lightness to our activities that the others can’t.”
“Which is why you’re so hard on me.”
“There’s a time and place for all things, something you have yet to learn. But I believe once you channel your passion, you will be one of our strongest fighters.”
“Bakuin! Phyrustix” The two of them turned at Chila’s call. “We’ve finished!”
“Thanks,” Phyrustix dropped to the lair.
Bakuin took one last glance around the area, then flew down to join his wing.
A Challenge of Growing Up
Chila removed the nesting shelf, and Bakuin didn’t know how to feel. He’d spent many nights up with Maugon keeping watch over the nests Chila had built, but he knew they had outgrown the space. In its place, they had built a shadowy tunnel.
Chila bounded up to him. “Well? What do you think?”
Bakuin tried his best to hide his feelings, but he couldn’t fool the sister of his heart. “I’ll need to see the rest first.”
Chila shot him a knowing grin. “Great! I figured you’d stay by the entrance to keep watch, but if you wanted to put in defense measures instead, then our room is first.”
Bakuin nodded, appreciating the fact that he had time to consider the problem. Across the tunnel and a little further down, they placed Lynnor’s room. Then came Phyrustix’s room right behind Chila’s. After Lynnor’s room came Rahendranax’s, and last but not least came Ramelba’s room behind Phyrustix’s.
“Lynnor suggested the order of the rooms,” Chila said. “I wanted to come ask you, but she said you were talking with Phyrustix.”
“We communicated.”
“Do I need to check on him?”
“It couldn’t hurt. He landed pretty hard, and he healed himself.” Chila stared at him, which he ignored. She preferred talking, but Bakuin believed a good fight often said the same thing. “Anyway, Lynnor picked the order well.”
“I thought so. But this is what I’m excited to show you.”
The tunnel dropped into a cavern so deep Bakuin had to fly to the bottom.
“Is this what you’ve been working on?”
Chila nodded. “Yes, Lynnor helped with where to move the earth for proper support. Ramelba sensed proper airflow, and Rahendranax found us a clean water source.”
“We don’t have a food source.”
“Yes, I thought you and Phyrustix might have a few ideas.”
“We wouldn’t have to leave, even for training.”
Chila gave a faint smile. “Less exposure since Maugon cautioned us against the other wings.”
Bakuin grinned. “This is great.”
“You approve?”
“You’ve turned our lair into a home to fit our needs once again, Chila. I’m impressed.”