9/29/06
FlagnMac And The Tale Twister
By P. A. Hickman
(All rights reserved/this is copy righted material)(You rip this with out my permission and you are in big TROUBLE - Just ask, most times I will say yes.)
***
FlagnMac was not huge for a dragon, but he was not really small either. He was, as dragons go, an average Joe with nothing to make him stand out in the crowd. He had average abilities in all the draconic skills and was fair at Fire Breathing, Ice Shots, Burning the odd village or two, killing elves with his claw shots and scratches (that he like to call his "bling" effect), etc. He truly did not have anything that would make him stand out against the sea of his brethren except for one thing ... His beautiful singing voice.
(Installment 1 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
9/30/06
He had a voice that could make a mother cry, a lover swoon and angels weep. When he sang, the whole world would hold its breath, so in awe of his gift that it would have been a sin of monumental proportions to do otherwise. All of this talent and the accolades it brought would make the average dragon quite vain and pompous, but not FlagnMac. He was a dragon of simple pleasures that had a heart of gold and a soul of grace. He would no more think to believe that he was better than his fellow beings than wish he were a fairy. In fact, he found those who did such silly things as put on aires because of their abilities to be quite amusing and quite dumb. So needless to say, when he met the little fairy with the huge attitude, he found her quite amusing and somewhat dumb (even for a fairy) and was quite unprepared for the BIG trouble that her tiny ego could really cause.
(Installment 2 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
The day was cool and not very comfortable for a creature, like FlagnMac, who loved the steaming heat of a truly sunny and hot day. He was a bit lethargic from the cool temperatures and slow on the uptake, so it was no wonder that the little fairy was able to slip by his guard and take him unawares. Sleeping, if a bit fitfully, FlagnMac nearly squashed the tiny being when he rolled over in an attempt to find a bit more comfortable position. If she had not hollered loudly, “DRAGON! I’m here!” and poked him with what he later learned was one of his own claw shedding, he would have surely crushed the little Imp.
(Installment 3 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
Startled as much by the tiny voice, so demanding in its tone for attention, as he was by the sharp prick of his own claw shavings, FlagnMac jumped up from his sleeping rock. A mixture of draconic skills and abilities (teleportation, flight, and a quick avoidance spell) was how he was able to keep from squishing the tiny creature, who was no more than three inches tall, to death. Flabbergasted by her audacity and surprised by her presence in his private sleeping chambers, FlagnMac reigned in his instincts and did not blast the little flit with a sneeze of fire breath (as he was ott to do when vermin bugged him) and managed to get a civil toned sentence out as he asked, "And who might you be?
Installment 4 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
Glaring up at the giant creature, the little female fairy responded haughtily, "I am Serianna." her tone implying that FlagnMac should already know this information. "And you need to watch what you are doing. You nearly squashed me!"
Installment 5 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
Looking down his long snout at her, FlagnMac once more found himself quite flabbergasted by her audacity. Tilting his head, he contemplated her, he analyzed her; he even tasted her scent in an attempt to get a bead on this most pushy of fairy creatures. Finally, he decided that there was no getting any true sense of her without gathering further information. That decided, he spoke, going to the source for the information he desired. “ And what, may I ask, has brought you to my home? What has caused you to invade my most private chambers and has caused you to lose all sense of propriety in doing so?” FlagnMac’s tone was not quite sarcastic, but it was very close. Through sheer will alone did he keep from letting his voice drip with the acid that the situation cried out for.
Installment 6 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
Glaring right back at him, Serianna stomped her foot and shouted, "I was trying to get some sleep. But now that is totally impossible because you won't let me." Twirling on her heels, she flaunted off down the length of FlagnMac's bed, her intent obvious. Serianna was leaving. However, it also gave FlagnMac a view of her back and answered the question that had popped in his head when she started to walk away instead of fly... One of her upper wings were damaged and must be agonizingly painful.
"Whoa!" FlagnMac said sternly, his intent to keep the little hoyden from disappearing until he could find out how and why she had been hurt and to keep her so he could minister to her wounds. "You still have not answered my questions." He insisted as he brought down his claws to form a cage around her slight form, carefully pinning her in place in his makeshift jail. "Now," he stated calmly, "You can start by giving me your full name and a reasonable explanation as to why you invaded my private chambers."
Installment 7 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
Still glaring at her captor, Serianna tried to squeeze between the gaps of FlagnMac’s claws to no avail and with obvious pain to her injury. Finally, after several thwarted attempts, she gave up. Plopping down where she stood, the little fairy crossed her arms and her legs and sighed heavily. “I am Serianna O’Shenn.” She said softly, her young voice quivering slightly as she realized that she was going nowhere until she confessed to her captor. “I am running away from home. My father insists that I must become a dragon rider.”
Chuckling softly, FlagnMac replied, “And that is such a bad fate?” his question somewhat bemused as he realized that little Serianna thought this fate was horrible. “I have known many a fairy who found becoming a dragon rider to be an honor beyond measure. Are you not one of them?”
Shaking her head, Serianna replied mournfully, “Of course it would be an honor if I were not destined for another path. But, my father will hear of nothing except the ruminations of his own thoughts and desires. It is he who wants to be a dragon rider, not I. My path leads a different way.”
Installment 8 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
Quirking a skeptical brow at his little guest, FlagnMac queried, “And how is it that he cannot hear your side of this contest of wills? Is it because you shout at him rather than talk to him respectfully?” Seeing that he had hit close to home with this statement by the way little Serianna’s back stiffened, FlagnMac continued. “I would get my hackles up, too, if my child screamed at me incoherently. I would immediately want to do the opposite of what he or she wanted because I would think that their actions were childish, not to mention, churlish, as well.”
Scowling at him momentarily, Serianna turned abruptly away, her intent to ignore the truth of the big dragon’s words in a huff, but a sharp, piercing pain shot up and over her shoulder that caused her to gasp out in agony. Collapsing where she sat, Serianna cried out, “My wing! Oh! My wing!”
Installment 9 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
Immediately, FlagnMac was deeply concerned. "Serianna?" He quireid, "Are you alright? Let me have a look at your wing." Gently urging her to roll to her stomach so he could see her wings, FlagnMac tried to be gentle. "I promise to be very, very careful, little one." He murmured in his most gentle, melodic voice.
Installment 10 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
Gasping in little short pants, in an effort to ease some of the pain, Serianna did as instructed and rolled to her stomach so that FlagnMac had better access to her injured wing. “It hurts so bad.” She whispered hoarsely, “I think I may have torn something.”
Silently agreeing with her assessment of her injury, FlagnMac, none-the-less, conducted a complete examination of little Serianna’s wings and the injuries he found there before he uttered a word of opinion. When he was satisfied that he had assessed the injuries as best he could, the big dragon finally spoke, “It would appear that you have injured the cartilage in the support musculature where your left wing attaches to your back. I can’t be totally sure, not without a complete L3 to L15 scan of your spinal cord, as to the extent of the damage there. Also, you appear to have several contusions and scrapes along the Therapish Vertibratetor of your lower right wing and some membranal tearing of the Thrombose Astolator of your upper left wing.” FlagnMac spoke once more without thinking as he asked in astonishment, “What in the eight kingdoms were you doing? Break dancing with a giant Cyclops? I’ve never seen such damage to a wing before.” Wagging his forclaw at her in a shame on you motion, he admonished, “Good great balls of fire… leave off surfing the moonbeams if you don’t know how to do it without hurting yourself.”
Installment 11 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog)
***
Looking up at the big dragon over her shoulder, Serianna let the tears flow as she defended herself from his accusations, “ I wasn’t surfing moonbeams. This was caused from one of the bullies my father employs to keep me in line. He is an ogre and he is not always as careful as he should be. He caught my wing by the tip when I flew out of the great hall after the audience with my father went south. I kept flying and that is when it ripped. Before then I think it was just strained. But I had to get away and I made it as far as your window.” Sobbing now, Serianna added mournfully, “I truly did not think that you would mind. I only laid down beside you for warmth. I am very tiny and feel the cold something awful.”
Installment 12 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog
***
Finally understanding that little Serianna meant no harm when she had entered his private chambers and had only entered there as an action of last resorts, FlagnMac took pity on the tiny fairy. He was, in fact, quite peeved at Serianna’s sire for having taken such a stern hand in handling his child’s refusal to toe the line. It was one thing to be firm, stand your ground and show your child who was in charge, however, it was quite different if the parent’s stance was so stiff that it allowed for the child to be hurt. Mentally or physically, it didn’t matter. Hurting your child was wrong.
Tilting the little fairy’s head up by placing the tip of his littlest claw under her chin, FlagnMac held her gaze as he spoke, “I want you to rest, little one, while I call the healer. She will bring the proper equipment to immobilize your wing so that it can heal properly. Before I go, I am going to move you to a more comfortable place than the hard, stone of my bed. You need a bit more padding than stone can offer.” As he spoke, FlagnMac very carefully lifted Serianna onto the palm of his hand and carried her to a small box lined with cotton wool covered with a bit of soft cloth. “See,” he said softly, “I have a bed already made up for you.”
At Serianna’s perplexed expression, FlagnMac chuckled. “Actually, I was nursing a Micro-Sparrownelli last week for a cold it had caught while delivering a message to the Winter King’s Palace. I haven’t had time to put it away. I hope it suites?”
Nodding her acceptance of the offering, Serianna spoke softly, her heart full of awe at the kindness the dragon was extending to her. “It suites me just fine, Dragon. I truly do appreciate you kindness… Especially since I so rudely interrupted your nap and invade your private chambers.”
Nodding in return, FlagnMac eased Serianna onto the soft bed of cotton wool covered in velvet with a murmured caution and some very specific instructions. “Easy, little one. Keep to your stomach and try not to flex your wings. Movement at this juncture will only cause more damage that might last a bit longer.” Seeing that she was comfortablely settled, FlagnMac informed his little guest, “Well, I’m off, my little hoyden. Be back in a jiffy with the healer. Stay in bed. Try not to move. Oh, yes… The healer will be returning alone as I have a quick errand that I must run before I return here.” Shrugging his shoulders, he added, a bit absently, “Sorry! It can’t be helped.”
Amused by his confused, slightly absent-minded actions, Serianna chuckled softly, the first laugh she had allowed herself all day. “Off with you now,” she chided good naturedly, “or I will never be seen by the healer.” Her tone was light and teasing, as she didn’t want to hurt her new friend’s feelings by ordering him coldly about. “I will take a nap while you are gone.” She added with a mock imperious lilt in an effort to bring a smile to her regal dragon’s somber face.
Easing a cover of yet another small section of lightweight velvet over his new little friend like a blanket, FlagnMac returned the teasing with some light banter of his own. “Oh?” he queried with mock ire. “Now I would say that is unnecessarily rubbing salt into the wound. Who was it that disturbed my nap?” Chuckling as he spoke, FlagnMac caressed Serianna’s little cheek to let her know he was only teasing her. “Since you insist that I must get the healer, I will be off…I know… I’m already off…” He added as he eased himself up onto the launching ledge that marked the main entrance to his quarters. “Stay put, little one. The healer will be with you sooooon…” he repeated as he flicked his wings open with a sharp crack and then a whoosh as he leapt into flight.
***
Installment 13 of "FlagnMac and The Tale Twister- More to come on the next blog
