FeyMoon

   The young had been kept from the impending battle, the few who had slipped in to see the cause for excitement now raced to join those sheltered in the only stone building. The men of the town remained silent looking at one another, fearing to respond. The elders had stood near the front of the group, but each looked to his fellows to answer the deadly summons. Only Arogikur stepped forward. Pale faced and visibly sweating, he walked from among his fellows to stand alone before the enraged dragon.
   "I will pay that debt, for it was by my hand that the wound was made. I make no excuse for my actions, though they were in my own defense. I foolishly sought to drive the pixie from the glade and landed a regrettably well-placed blow. I wish to make amends for my actions," said the shaking hunter. Alalantiel was shocked. Not by the young man's bravery as much as by the identity of the attacker. Knowing him as she had come to during her brief stay and with her ability to detect false statements, she knew he spoke only the heartfelt truth. Without a word, Alalantiel snatched him somewhat gently from the ground with a foreclaw and walked toward the Tree of Life. The gathered mass of truefolk made a large path through their center to allow the dragon to approach the Tree. Without a word, FeyMoon sliced a deep wound into the man's side and allowed his blood to run freely into a knot on the giant tree. Muttering words of power, she sent the life force running from Arogikur through the Tree and into the leader of the Angelli. An almost inaudible whimper was Arogikur only response, but soon FeyMoon heard the sobs of several women from behind her.
   FeyMoon did as she had intended from the moment she began the ritual, she closed the wound in the hunter's flesh. As soon as the dragon could feel the growing strength in the Angelli leader, her muttered words of power changed tempo and tone to stop sending Arogikur's life into the pixie he had wounded and instead drained a tiny portion of her own strength to heal the hunter. The gathered throng of sprites and the many fey who had joined them gave a rousing cheer at the sight of Dawnlyr, leader of the Angelli tribe. This startled the truefolk from their hushed observance of the never before seen ritual, they gave their own cheer at the healing of the hunter.
   Dawnlyr flew over the glade once, followed by his entire tribe, then alit in front of the still shaky hunter as FeyMoon set him upon the ground. Arogikur's legs wouldn't hold him, so FeyMoon slowly lowered him to a sitting position on the cool grass. The man and the pixie were at equal height, looking eye to eye. Dawnlyr gave a low bow and spoke to the young hunter. He spoke his own language, a fast paced tongue in a high lilting voice. Neither the hunter nor any of the townsfolk understood the language of the pixies, so FeyMoon translated.
   "He says thank you for your honesty and bravery. His spirit wandered the world while his body lay dying. He spent that time watching you and your people to understand the new menace to the wood. He says he realized you are not the threat he had imagined and intend only to live in peace. Dawnlyr apologizes for attacking you and is impressed by your valiance and honor. He hopes your two peoples can become friends and live in the Elderwood together as neighbors," said the dragon as Dawnlyr finished speaking and looked to her to repeat it in the truefolk tongue. Arogikur managed a weak smile, he could feel the strength of the dragon and the Tree slowly returning him to normal. A large fresh scar is all that remained of the wound that would have taken his life.

   With more strength than he felt, the hunter replied.
   "I also regret our first meeting. Though I do not speak for my entire people, as I am not their leader, I too hope for a beneficial relationship and to become allies. Your tribe is called friend by this dragon, who has saved both our lives, I hope you will count me among your friends and allow us to share your beautiful glade," answered the hunter, looking to the dragon to translate. The large smile that slowly spread across the pixie lord's face told him that the pixies had forgiven the regretable incident and all was forgotten.
   The collected sprites put away their weapons and produced numerous small bottles of clear glass that held liquid which changed colors in the sunlight. They drank copious amounts of the strange liquid and were soon offering the drink to many of the townsfolk who had also put away their weapons though they still nervously glanced at the now quiet dragon. She stood directly over the weakened hunter and watched as the color slowly returned to his cheeks.
   Raucous laughter filled the glen as the sprites and their odd drinks loosened the tongues and nerves of the truefolk. Sarisin arrived in the glen having learned from returning men that her husband had been wounded but was quickly recovering. No clear accounting of the previous events had reached her, only bits and pieces were gleaned from passing villagers now drunk from the pixie wine and cavorting with their new friends. She had only learned enough to be worried and had raced to find her husband to assure herself he was alright. When she first saw him huddled beneath the form of the dragon, sitting alone, she had broken into a run to reach him, caring little about her own safety.
   At his side, seeing he was well, Sarisin turned to face the dragon. Her eyes shown with anger and no fear. The glare was replaced with total shock as the huge form of the dragoness shrank into the lady who had stayed with her as a guest for a short time. Seeing the look upon his wife's face, Arogikur turned to see what had caused the change of expression. The strength he had regained leaked from his legs at the sight of the woman he had searched for the previous day standing in the place only a moment before occupied by the gigantic dragon. The looks of disbelief was replaced with understanding as the two truefolk realized the purpose of the ruse. Teel smiled at them, a small apologetic smile for having tricked two of the kindest people she had met. She seemed uncomfortable suddenly and felt like changing forms again and returning to her lair, when Sarisin stepped forward and gave her a welcoming hug. The two women held each other for a moment then turned and helped Arogikur to his feet and the three slowly returned to the hunter's simple cottage. Many of the townsfolk and sprites greeted them as they passed, many calling to Arogikur to join them or lifting their glasses in a toast to his bravery. He declined all invitations seeking only the peace of his home and to speak in private with the dragoness.
   Back at the small home, over several cups of sweet fresh tea, Teel answered all the questions she had avoided on her previous visit. She also asked all the questions of their origins she had avoided and learned a great deal about the race of truefolk. She told them of her lair and the many friends and creatures who nearly always kept her company. She also gave the young hunter directions to her home should he ever be near the glade. Though she enjoyed their company and the conversation they were having, Alalantiel decided to return to her home that night. Promising to return soon and often, FeyMoon shifted to the form of a nightingale and flew to her glade to rest from the difficult ritual and emotional evening.