//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: The founding of Dragon's Rest // Story: Dragon's Rest // by Megaskullmon //------------------------------// January 20h, 2016 It’s been a tasking time a year has gone by. But a year hasn’t gone by for us who have changed. No more, for now, have shown back up. I thank heaven for that so many times. I just have no idea what to think. I asked the others to come with me outside even if it was snowing. We just stood right by the door of the store. “I think it’s time to open our doors to others. Do you all think we are ready to welcome whoever comes and say Dragon’s rest is founded?” Savannah shifts in the gathering snow. She looks up to the sky. “I think we are ready for more souls. I doubt thought we will be able to handle too many. Winter is not going to be easy for us. We are lucky we got food at least. Just listen to me and listen to me closely Malla. If I say we don’t have enough for a big group then we need to try harder to make sure.” George quickly nods. “This old dog agrees. If we can’t handle too many souls then we need to do what we can for them. Then send them on their way. But we can’t just allow them to die in the cold. We need to try.” Wanda sighs shifting on her hooves. “I have been learning to fly myself. I am hoping that what I have learned is true. I can control the weather. So maybe I can make winter less harsh. I was able to mess with a low cloud and made a small storm rain on Malla.” I turn my head staring at Wanda. “So that was you?” Wanda laughs. “Sorry, Malla I didn’t mean to just I had to test it. I feel it might be easier though if I could learn to fly.” I quickly nod. I look back into the store seeing Ted and our new griffin friend talking to each other. It took them a while for them to come outside. Ted stood beside me looking up at me. All I could think of was to ask him. “Before you ask Malla. I still haven’t found how certain human meds affect us. Randell has offered himself as a tester.” I glance at our new friend Randell. “You do realize Randell that this could end badly for you. You also know that testing you might make whatever he makes affect each of us differently. So he might have to test us all.” Randell snickers. “It’s better than me worrying too much about my family. Just I also feel that opening the doors of Dragon’s rest is a wise idea. You will find many more like me who have nothing to live for.” Ted sighs. “He is correct Malla. We will meet those that have nothing to live for. They will try so hard to not listen and maybe spend the entire time crying or ending up in areas that might end their lives. So again it’s not going to be easy for either of us. Not all of us are mentally there ourselves.” I sigh deeply he is correct. I am sadly one of those. I am not mentally there. The fact my body and mind are still getting used to being female. As well as being a dragon from a male human to a female dragon. Mental integrity of it never is going to be easy for me. I am sure sooner or later I will get there just it will be hard. “I am one of those sadly. I am sure it will take a long time to get used to being a female and a dragon. Rage is the mental ability to always fly off the handle. I always feel angry ready to just suddenly burn anything.” Savannah looks towards the heavy snow-covered road. “I think it’s time to do a recording of all of us telling all those out there. You’re not alone and then tell them we are open. Just we will have to work harder to get our food grown and make sure that we do a better job at it. So I feel the best way to do that is to find some Hydro-gardens. I know home depot and Ace harder ware sells them.” I know where to find one there is one in this town. “I feel first we need to do the recording. Then we go do what we can to gather more ways to grow food. Hydroponics gardens would work great.” All of us went in. The only one that didn’t want to come out was Jenny all of us went up and she stares at us.  “What do you all want? Are you here to force me to go outside?!” I laugh. “No no Jenny we want to fully open Dragon’s rest so we would like to do a recording.” Jenny relaxed and she allowed us to use the mic to record. We spent maybe the better an hour for all of us to say what we wanted to say. Ted, Wanda, and George went off to find some pharmacies to bring back whatever they could find for testing and then to make brews. Randell went with Savannah and me to look for some gardens. I turned on the radio and the recording we did comes up after the first voice is Jenney. “Greetings to the lost souls out there. Who returns from the event? I am Jenny Strong I am known as DJ Nightingale and I am the radio voice of Dragon’s rest. I want to welcome you to our home. To those that are lost and need a home. We are opening our doors for all hopefully someday we can work together.” Next to come up as I drive. I look in the rearview mirror I swear we are being followed by a strange car. I look back quickly to see nothing but what I saw was a pure black car with black-coated windows. I remember George telling me stories of him and Wanda being followed by something like this. “Greetings I am Wanda and this is George.” “Hello there.” “We are both lost souls like yourselves former paramedics that worked for Battlecreek. We wish to welcome you to Dragon’s rest we will do all we can for you. I can’t promise much, but we wish to be your beacon in the dark.” “I just wish we can work together Wanda and I are willing to help anyone who needs it.” I focus on the road seeing this car now and again. It’s making my nerves a bit tense since I don’t know who or what is following us. I just have never seen such a car before. It’s like no human is even driving it. “Some is bothering you Malla.” I glance at Savaannh and when I looked away from the rearview mirror again the car vanished. I am worried but I won’t say anything yet.  “It’s nothing just I am not used to driving in this weather.” Ted was next to talk. “Hello, there I am doctor Ted. I ain’t good at this really but welcome. I am just a simple man. I don’t need to express much about myself. So I will only say these words. If you’re sick I will do my best to help you.” I laugh weakly. I knew Ted wouldn’t say much and there will be Savannah then meet. Since Randell felt he didn’t have a right yet to say anything. “Well, I am Savannah I am the hard-headed soldier of the group. I do things by the book. I even keep our beloved leader in line. To make sure she doesn’t do anything too stupid and dumb. I make sure everyone gets their fair share. So when you come to expect a hard strict mare to tell you what is what.” I glance at Savannah and the final words are mine. “Hello, I am Malla. I know full well what it’s like to be lost. I wish I could help you more. It’s not going to be easy the first few days back. But you will be as strong as you need to be. I wish I could tell you what I went through. But I doubt Jenny wants to allow me to do so. There is always a tomorrow just remember don’t allow your dread and fear to win. Dragon’s rest is open to all and we will always welcome everyone with open hooves, claws, and so on. So please welcome to Dragon’s rest and we are here to be your friend.” I sigh and park at Home Depot Savannah and Randell go in without me. I lean back in the chair to rest my eyes. I wonder what things will be like in later years. I will never know I am just a simple dragon after all. I am not wise I doubt I ever will be wise. Closing my eyes all I can think of is the sleep I will get as I drift hoping for a better future.