Beyond the Mist Cover by Sonny Dae

“She huddled in her bed, listening intently for sounds of approaching footsteps.”

Aunt Menrir chuckled darkly as she circled the group of young dragons. The single candle illuminating her large form did little to assuage Sirea’s fears. His aunt’s dark grey scales blended too well with the shadows in the dim light. Her serpentine face was a mask of sadistic delight as if she had cornered her prey. Her thick tail undulated behind her like a large worm. The slow click of her claws on the floor sent shivers through his body. He huddled closer to Felick, not because he was scared, but to make his brother feel better.

That was his story and he would stick to it to the grave.

“Then she heard it,” Aunt Menrir continued. “The slow thump of someone coming up the stairs.” She stomped slowly as she circled the group, the tense silence growing heavier with each step. “Careena stared at the door, praying to All-Mother that it didn’t open. That Yarwena didn’t find her.

“It became silent. But Careena was no fool. She knew the spirit stood at the top of the stairs, waiting for her to make a sound, to give away her position. She held her breath and tucked her limbs closer, forcing herself into a smaller ball. Then she heard it, the gravelly voice of the spirit, ‘I smell my child,’ she said,”

A small gasp shuddered through the group at the raspy croak impersonating the wandering spirit. Sirea slid closer to his brother, never taking his eyes off the large Stormborne circling them. Whether it was a trick of the light or purposefully done, Menrir now teetered at the edge of the light. Only the subtle shifting of her scales and a pair of yellow eyes were noticeable.

“Careena wanted to close her eyes and wish the nightmare away, but she couldn’t look away from the door,” Aunt Menrir said, softly. “It was the only way in or out of her room. But it didn’t take long before she heard it, the slow creak of the door opening.” She stopped and made a creaking sound that made Sirea shudder. He wanted to look around, see if his brothers and sisters were just as frightened as he was. To reassure himself with their bravery. But like Careena, he couldn’t look away, his gaze was fixed on the pair of eyes watching from the shadows.

From the darkness, Aunt Menrir’s voice carried as easily as if she stood next to him. “Even in the dark room, there was no mistaking the door slowly opening. At first, there was nothing. Then she saw it; the shadowy shapeless form filling her doorway and sliding into the room. A small gasp of fear escaped her. It was no dragon that had come in, but a featureless void that swallowed everything around it. Yarwena paused for just a moment, long enough to say, ‘I hear my child.’ ”

Sirea tucked in on himself, no longer caring if anyone saw him displaying his trepidation. This was the only time during the year when he hated his unique blue scales that made him stand out even in the semi-darkness. The others could blend in, but he was always easy to pick out like a lamp in the dead of night.

He saw it, the featureless void as described. It encircled them and blocked out everything around them; the door, the windows, even their storyteller. He couldn’t see Aubrey or Aunt Sandra. Aunt Helen and Belkamy had been swallowed by the darkness as well. Only the candle’s light kept the darkness at bay, protecting him and his siblings from what was to come.

“Careena couldn’t move,” Aunt Menrir continued. “Only watch as the void grew around her, circling her the way a mother circles her hatchling.”

Sirea could swear he felt something touching him, curling around his body. But he didn’t look or move to confirm it.

“The void had her completely surrounded, blocking all hope of escape. Then she heard Yarwena whisper into her ear,”

Suddenly a ghastly, cold voice whispered behind him, right into his ear just like Careena. “ ‘Now I see my child,’ ”

At that, the candle went out, plunging them into darkness. The room filled with frightened squeals. Sirea proudly joined them, only the confusion of where the exits were keeping him rooted to his spot.

The lights came on, forcing him to briefly close his eyes and adjust to the sudden shift in lighting. All 29 of his siblings surrounded him safe and sound. Aunt Menrir lay on the far side of the room, chuckling at the frightened faces staring at her.

“I swear, that story gets creepier every time you tell it,” Aunt Sandra said as she stepped away from the light switch. Her pajamas did little to hide the two dragons cowering behind her legs, not that they could hide well behind a human anyway. “I knew it was fake and you still got me.”

“Well, I totally wasn’t scared,” Sirea declared proudly. “I mean, Aunt Menrir tells that story every year. I knew how it was gonna end.”

“Well, since you’re not scared, can you take your nails out of my side?” Felick asked.

Sirea hadn’t realized that he had all but crawled on top of the young Ravager. He snatched his paws back and tucked him under his body, staring at the floor in shame. His siblings chuckled, likely at his embarrassment. “I still wasn’t scared,” he mumbled.

“I was!” Valesen cried from underneath Aubrey’s wing. When he moved to their mother’s side was anyone’s guess. Despite being a Ravager like herself, his scales hadn’t fully darkened yet, making him stand out.

Aubrey smiled and nuzzled the young drake. “And there is nothing wrong with admitting your fears. It is a natural emotion and response meant to keep us alive.”

“Did they tell that story when you were young?” Asha asked. Sirea thanked his sister for the change in subject.

Aubrey answered first. “It is not quite the same. For me, the story was about disobedient whelps who wandered the woods alone.”

“Or decided to help themselves to cookies without asking,” Aunt Helen added, throwing a warning glare over the group. Many of the young dragons shifted uncomfortably. “Speaking of, are you sure we should be telling them these kinds of stories? They always wind up with nightmares.”

“I recall telling you a similar story when you were a little girl,” Aubrey said.

“And I also remember running to my parent’s room in the middle of the night because my closet door was open.”

Felick groaned loudly. “We’re not babies, Aunt Helen. We can take on a few ghosts.”

“Besides, putting a little fear in them young is better for them,” Aunt Menrir said. “I’ve seen a lot of dragons find out too late we’re not invincible.” She turned to Aunt Sandra and added, “And it’s Ouroboros. Stop being such a killjoy.”

“You didn’t have six scared little dragons trying to sleep in your bed,” Aunt Helen shot back. “You might’ve forgotten that skin isn’t as tear-resistant as scales.”

Before Aunt Menrir could retort, Phu spoke up. “Um, if it’s Ouroborous, then why do we have to be afraid of Yarwena? Shouldn’t she pass on?”

“While it is this time of year that lost spirit can freely pass on to the other side, Yarwena is a special case,” Aubrey said. “She refuses to pass on until she is reunited with the three hatchlings she lost so long ago.”

“But wouldn’t they be grown now?” Asha asked. “And what if they passed on already? How will she know?”

“The short reply is, she wouldn’t,” Aubrey said. “Sadly the tale of Yarwena is meant to be taken as a lesson. One about the dangers of clinging too tightly to the past, no matter how painful or tragic it may be. And as a warning to young dragons so that they never suffer the same fate as her children did.”

“But what did happen to her hatchlings?” Sirea asked.

“No one knows. That’s what makes it so tragic,” Aunt Helen replied.

“Do you think our parents wound up the same way?” Phu asked.

Everyone fell silent. No one looked at each other. Sirea hated admitting to himself that the thought hadn’t crossed his mind. The Story of Yarwena was just a fun tale told around the time of Ouroboros when the veil between the living and spirit worlds was at its thinnest. It was always fun to gather around and Aunt Menrir’s stories. The idea that the spirits of their birth parents could be wandering the woods, looking for the eggs they lost, put a damper on things.

It was Felick who finally broke the silence. “Way to kill the mood.”

“Hey, hey! None of that!” Aunt Sandra said. She stepped into the group and patted Phu’s head. “That is a good question, Phu, and I’ll be honest with you. I can’t say for sure, but I like to believe that your parents have already passed on knowing that you’re in good hands. I may not have given birth to you, but I love each and every one of you as if you were my own.”

“But doesn’t that mean if we get lost in the woods, you’ll wind up like Yarwena?” Valesen asked, fearfully.

Aubrey gently shushed and nuzzled him. “None of us here will end up like Yarwena. I’m sure you will guide our spirits into the afterlife if that should happen.”

“But maybe we make a point of making sure it doesn’t by not wandering places you shouldn’t,” Aunt Sandra said. “Now it’s time for bed. C’mon my little scaly babies.”

Everyone groaned at the nickname despite the smiles on their faces. There was no more discussion about tonight’s story. Sirea tried to stop thinking about what Phu said, but it lingered like a dull ache that never fully healed. Sitting in the dark and silence didn’t help matters. Sometimes there was some soft chatter, but they knew that bedtime meant going to sleep instead of talking or playing around. And it seemed this was one of the times that his roommates were more interested in sleeping than discussing tonight’s events.

Sleep couldn’t come fast enough but it didn’t last long. Sirea snatched his eyes open thanks to a nightmare about Yarwena sneaking into the house and kidnapping them all. Groaning softly, he slid out of bed. He wouldn’t be able to sleep until he confirmed that the nightmare had been a dream.

The dream about Yarwena was a welcome distraction from his usual nightmares. Sometimes he dreamt about a large shadow standing over him. The winds howled around them, whipping shards of ice and snow into an impenetrable wall to cut off the outside. The only discernible feature about it was the large red eyes staring at him. The thought made him shudder.

He went about the usual routine of walking the halls to shake off the nerves before heading back to bed. The late-night strolls were actually the most peaceful time he had all day. Things easily became chaotic in the house and with so many brothers and sisters, it was hard to get any alone time. But now, it was just him, his claws on the floor softly breaking the silence and only his thoughts to keep him company.

A strange glow out the window he passed caught his eye. He stopped and stared through the portal. The light came from a lantern and illuminated Felick sneaking across the yard.

“What are you doing?” Sirea asked out loud before chasing after his brother.

Felick was moving faster than expected. By the time Sirea got outside, the lantern’s light was already disappearing into the surrounding trees. He cursed his inability to fly and broke into a run. His siblings had already begun their flying lessons, but the doctor said his muscles hadn’t developed far enough for that yet. It was humiliating.

It took much longer to catch up than expected. The further they went, the darker it became and the more the trees seemed to press in. He considered calling out to him, but that meant potentially attracting unwanted attention. Even if Yarwena was a myth that didn’t mean other dangerous creatures weren’t roaming the woods at night. They were lectured constantly on the dangers of the world. Just because they were dragons didn’t make them untouchable.

Felick eventually stopped and raised the lantern hanging on the end of his tail. “I think this is far enough.”

“Far enough for what?” Sirea asked, nettled and slightly out of breath.

Felick screamed and nearly dropped the lantern. His shock quickly turned to anger at seeing Sirea. “Dude! Don’t do that!”

“Me? You’re the one walking through the woods at night! You know we’re not allowed!”

Felick dropped his head. “I know…I just…Phu’s question made me think. What if our parents’ spirits are wandering out here, looking for us?”

“I don’t think they are. It’s like Mom said, they saw we’re being taken care of and moved on.”

“You don’t know that,” Felick replied softly.

“You don’t know either,” Sirea shot back. “And so what if they are lost? It’s their fault for abandoning us!”

Felick snatched his head up, but Sirea wasn’t done. Any fear of potential predators nearby was drowned out by the frustration filling him. He had been bouncing between guilt and rage all night, and it seemed he finally settled on one.

“What did they think would happen leaving a bunch of eggs in the woods?! Wake up! They ditched us! There’s no one looking for us because they don’t care! But that doesn’t matter now because we have a new family and a new mother who loves us!” He turned to the trees as if they were bystanders. No one stood there, but he envisioned the ghostly spirits of dragons watching from the darkness. “You hear that? We don’t need you! We have a new family! Aunt Sandra loves us! And Aunt Menrir, and Aunt Helen, and Uncle Sammy, and, and Aunt Belkamy! I’m glad you left us!”

He stood there, daring for someone to speak back, to contradict him. But not even an echo answered. He growled and lashed the ground with his tail so hard it hurt. An eerie silence fell over them. Normally at this time, the forest was abuzz with noises from wildlife.

Finally, Felick broke the silence. “Um, Sirea?”

“What?” he asked more forcibly than intended.

“I wasn’t trying to upset you—”

“You didn’t upset me. I just”—he sighed and sank to the ground—“Phu’s question got to me, too. And I don’t wanna think about my old parents okay? They didn’t care enough to want us so why should we care about them?”

“Yeah…you’re right. C’mon, let’s get back.”

“Where are you going? The way back was this way.”

Felick tilted his head. “No, I remember we came from this way because of the way the branches are pointing.”

The branches in question resembled bony fingers pointing in the opposite direction. Sirea shuddered looking at them.

“If you say so. Lead the way.”

They walked in silence, even their footfalls barely cutting through the veil of quiet. With the anger from earlier draining, he became more aware of how creepy the surrounding area was. The lack of wildlife was concerning and a fog had begun to roll in, making it harder to get their bearings. He was grateful for the lantern Felick had brought. They could see without it, but its warm glow made him feel safer.

During Ouroboros, it was believed that spirits feared dragonfire so it became customary to carry a lantern or hang one outside the house to keep them at bay. According to Aunt Menrir, hardly anyone followed the practice anymore and there have been no spirit sightings. But Aunt Helen argued that it was because the cities were full of dragons so they stayed away.

But being a dragon didn’t make him feel any better. What if the spirits only feared adult dragons? What if they had to breathe fire to keep them at bay? They were expressly forbidden from breathing fire in the house or the woods, and he couldn’t anyway. He breathed ice but the rule still applied.

Felick spoke again, drawing Sirea out of his thoughts. “How are we not there yet? I didn’t walk this far in.”

Sirea stopped. “Are you telling me we’ve been going the wrong way this whole time?”

“No! We just made a wrong turn somewhere.”

“But we didn’t make any turns.”

Felick rounded on him, “Look, I know where I’m going, and I’m telling you the branches were pointing…”

He trailed off, his eyes wide as he focused on something behind them.

Sirea dreaded turning around to see what his brother was looking at. All kinds of images of massive horrific creatures formed in his mind as he spun around. No slavering predator greeted them, however, just a large rock.

“This is where we started,” Felick said. “I remember this rock because it looks like a toe.”

“But we’ve been going straight this whole time, we couldn’t have gone in a circle.”

“Look, I’m telling you, this is where we started.”

“Just like you told me that you knew the right way to go? Yeah, I’m going home.” He walked off in the direction he pointed out before. They had to get back before sunrise and it was found out they were wandering outside at night.

The fog became thicker, obscuring anything more than a few feet away. It didn’t help that branches and roots seemed to sprout out of nowhere to lash at their faces or impede their steps. Sirea began marking the trees they passed so they wouldn’t get lost again. He lost count of how many times he stubbed his toes.

“Sirea, something’s not right,” Felick said. “We’ve been walking way too long.”

“Well, maybe if someone could just fly up and see where the house is, we wouldn’t be lost.” The remark was aimed at himself rather than his brother, a mistake he realized too late.

“I can’t fly that high yet. And the trees are too thick. I can barely spread my wings.”

“Fine. I’ll climb up and tell you what I see.”

“Wait, don’t leave me down here!”

It proved to be a fruitless endeavor. Climbing the trees was easy, unfortunately, they were too heavy to reach the topmost branches. The fog proved too thick to make anything out from their vantage, no matter how many times they flapped their wings to blow it away.

Eventually, they gave up and stayed grounded. Sirea flicked his tongue rapidly, trying to catch any hint of their scents. It was embarrassing to admit that they hadn’t thought of this strategy sooner. But he couldn’t catch wind of their scents or any scent. He snatched his head up and looked around in a panic. The forest should be full of strange smells even if he couldn’t pick theirs out.

“What’s wrong?” Felick asked.

“I can’t smell anything.”

“You’re just being weird.” He lifted his snout and sampled the air, wearing a knowing on his face. The smile quickly faded.

“Just being weird?” Sirea asked.

“Shut up! It’s just allergies.”

“Since when?”

“You can’t smell, either!”

Before he could retort, a branch snapping silenced him. They immediately huddled together under the cover of a nearby tree and watched in the direction the sound came from. Sirea silently cursed the stupid fog. He couldn’t see the closest branch let alone a potential threat sneaking up on them.

After several tense moments of staring into the mist, nothing happened. Not a sound broke the silence weighing on them and no creature emerged. Sirea nudged his brother and motioned for him to follow. They crouched low and moved slowly around the tree, taking care to avoid as many of the fallen branches as possible.

Sirea didn’t know where they were going and he didn’t care. Anything that led them away from that sound was preferable. Even knowing the fog blocked his view, he couldn’t stop looking back to make sure they weren’t being followed.

Suddenly, Felick grabbed him and hissed into his ear. Sirea managed to shake him off, but he quickly learned what startled his brother. They managed to find their way back to the rock again.

Felick curled into a ball and tucked his head under his wing. “No, no, no, no! We’re lost! Everyone’s going to go looking for us, and get lost in the woods, and never find us, and they’re gonna turn into spirits and wind up just like Yarwena!”

Sirea slapped him with his tail. Felick gave a pained cry and slowly emerged from his “sanctuary”.

“We’re not lost,” Sirea said firmly. “We just panicked because of that noise and wound up going back.”

“But then doesn’t that mean whatever made the noise is blocking the way?”

“Come on. You really think after all this time, it’s just standing there?” He nudged and pushed him to stand. “Let’s go. We gotta get back before--”

“I smell my child.”

Sirea’s tail wrapped around his body. He stared, wide-eyed, into the void. His body wouldn’t move, not even to avert his gaze.

“C-C-C’mon, that’s not funny,” Felick said.

He couldn’t answer. He didn’t have the heart to tell him that he didn’t do that.

“Sirea? That was you, right? Tell me that was you?”

He finally managed to break the paralysis holding him and shook his head. Felick whined and shrank into a ball again.

“It’s her!” he whispered. “She’s come to take us away!”

“No, she’s not. Listen, we have to start a fire. Remember Aunt Helen’s lessons? The fire should chase the fog away and the light will scare Yarwena off at the same time.”

“But…But…we’re not supposed to. Mom will kill us.”

“I’d rather her than Yarwena. Besides, I can breathe ice, remember? I’ll just put it out.”

That seemed to bolster Felick’s resolve. But his body trembled fiercely, and he couldn’t expel a single spark let alone a flame. Sirea started hopping in place. Fire was their only hope and they realized too late the lantern had gone missing. They had set it down when they tried to climb the trees.

“Look, Felick, if there was ever a time to lock in, it’s now!”

“I’m trying!” Felick wailed.

“I hear my child.”

Sirea and Felick snapped to attention. The voice sounded as if it spoke right into their ears.

Sirea reacted first. “RUN!”

The fog seemed to have gotten thicker. Trees appeared seemingly from nowhere. Branches grabbed at their bodies and roots twisted around their legs. They tripped and stumbled constantly, but continued without slowing. Sirea didn’t dare look back. He heard the pounding of Felick’s footsteps but no one else’s. He fought to keep the images of them being dragged away out of his mind.

“Sirea, Felick, come to me!” Yarwena cried.

Sirea urged more speed out of his legs. She knew their names! The stories never mentioned that! How long had she been watching them?

They ran until they couldn’t go any further. Sirea fell against a nearby tree. His legs and lungs burned as he gulped down the cold night air.

“Do…you think…we…lost…her?” Felick asked between gasps.

Sirea could only shrug, too out of breath to form any sentence. He also didn’t want to think about how far they were from the house now or even which direction to go. At this pace, they were better off finding a place to hide until morning. He would gladly welcome any punishment if it meant seeing his family again.

Something grabbed his tail and pulled. He lost his balance and fell. Despite the exhaustion of running, he screamed and clawed at the ground, desperate to grab hold of something.

“SIREA!” Felick cried.

Sirea rolled onto his back and kicked at the dark shape of a dragon holding him. Yarwena grunted in pain and released him. He wasted no time scrambling to his feet and they took off again.

They didn’t get far before Yarwena descended on Sirea and pinned him to the ground. He cried and struggled but couldn’t break free. She kept him face down so he couldn’t use his ice to break free. He dug furrows into the dirt, trying to tunnel his way to freedom.

“Let go of him!” Felick cried.

He couldn’t see what happened, but that he remained pinned told him his brother had failed. He whined and went limp. His limbs hurt and the strength evaporated from his body. They were going to be lost forever and it was all his fault.

“Are you two done?” Aubrey asked.

The pressure was released and he could turn around. Even in the dark, there was no mistaking the red scales of their adoptive mother.

“Mom!” they cried and rushed her. They clung to her side like magnets. Her scent, her body, it was all there. It wasn’t a dream.

“We’re so glad you found us!” Felick cried.

“Yarwena was about to take us away!” Sirea added.

“That wasn’t Yarwena, that was me,” Aubrey said calmly. “I followed the two of you into the woods and decided to teach you a lesson. But you could run much faster than I gave you credit for.”

Sirea hung his head in shame.

“But we lost our scents, and the fog—” Felick began.

“Is a regular weather occurrence,” Aubrey finished. “If you recall, the fog gets especially thick this time of year. As for the scents, fear can do wonders for one’s mind and senses, if only our minds could process it at the time. You overloaded yourselves, otherwise, you would have heard me following you the entire time.”

“But it was so quiet,” Sirea added.

“Many creatures hibernate in the winter,” Aubrey explained. “And thanks to me, this area is known dragon territory. Very few animals would dare venture too close. That is why we warn you not to go into the forest alone. Any creature bold enough to come close to the estate is desperate for food and won’t think twice about attacking you.”

Sirea tucked his head again and absently kicked at a stick on the ground. They knew that and it was still quickly forgotten. “Oh. So, do you know the way back?”

“Of course. I’ve lived in this area for nearly a century now. Follow me.”

His legs were sore from all the running, but he was glad to finally be heading back towards the house.

“Um, Mom, how’d you know we were out here?” Felick asked.

“Sirea tends to wake up in the middle of the night. I’ve become more attuned to when one of you is out of bed because of it. When I tried to find him, I noticed the back door had been left open.” She shot an admonishing glare at Sirea who lowered his head. “It didn’t take long to pick up on your scents and track you down. Now what possessed the two of you to go wandering the forest at this time of night?”

Sirea bit his tongue. He only came out here because of Felick but he couldn’t bring himself to push his brother off the cliff like that.

“It was my fault,” Felick said to Sirea’s surprise. “I was worried our parents’ spirits were wandering the woods and looking for us.”

“So you wanted to appease them and send them to the afterlife,” Aubrey finished. Her voice sounded heavy, exhausted, and also sad. “Felick, if that was all, you could have simply said so. I would have gladly helped you.”

Felick stared at the ground. “I was embarrassed. I pretended Phu’s question didn’t bother me, but it did. That’s why I talked Sirea into coming with me.”

“No, you didn’t, I came on my own!”

“And I applaud your loyalty, but next time I want you to find an adult,” Aubrey said. “What you two did was reckless and dangerous. If anything happened to you, we wouldn’t have known until morning.”

Sirea dropped his head. “Yes, Mom. Sorry.”

Neither of them spoke during the walk home. The sun had peeked over the horizon and the fog had thinned when the mansion came into view. Sirea was shocked they had been out that long, but thinking about it, he had no idea what time they left in the first place.

What he did know was that he couldn’t wait to get to bed.

Judging from the quiet when they entered, no one else was awake. It brought little relief knowing that they would be grilled on why they were being punished even if they kept quiet.

“I want the two of you to go to bed and get some sleep,” Aubrey said firmly. “We will discuss your punishment later.”

They nodded and headed upstairs without protest. Sirea didn’t realize how exhausted he was until he was back in his room. The moment he lay on the bed his eyes closed and he drifted off.

He was gently shaken awake by Aunt Helen. The reddish glow of the sunset lit up the room. For a moment, he panicked thinking it was Yarwena coming to collect him. But Yarwena didn’t have hair or human skin.

Thankfully, Aunt Helen quickly stepped out of reach before he could accidentally scratch her. It did little to assuage his guilt. Aunt Helen had some fresh scars from dealing with young dragons, but ever since learning that the most severe ones were due to a horrific attack, he never felt right knowing he had potentially added to it.

“You slept for quite a while,” she said, smiling. “Come. I saved you and Felick breakfast and lunch although both are cold now. You can grab a quick bite to eat before we leave.”

Sirea sat up and shook off the remnants of sleep and regret. “We’re leaving?”

“Yes, Lady Aubrey said we were going to go out this evening for a family activity. I already grabbed your cloak. Come. We can’t keep the others waiting.”

He had no idea what she was talking about or where they were going, but if it meant postponing the punishment, he was all for it. Felick was already awake and waiting by the door, wearing a long blue cloak.

“Do you know what’s happening?” Felick whispered.

Sirea shrugged. He only knew that he slept well without any nightmares.

The rest of their siblings along with Aubrey, Aunt Sandra, Aunt Menrir, and Aunt Belkamy were dressed and waiting outside. Everyone wore long cloaks concealing their bodies.

“Took you two long enough!” Temos said when they stepped outside. “We almost left you!”

“Nobody was getting left behind,” Aunt Sandra said. “Felick, Sirea, how are you feeling? You two slept pretty long.”

Sirea immediately became interested in a grasshopper jumping past. “Um, I didn’t really sleep a lot last night.”

“Oh no. Did you have another nightmare?”

He was thankfully saved from any more embarrassing questions by Aunt Helen. “Lady Aubrey, that’s everyone. We’re ready to go.”

“Good. You all know how this works. Follow me, and no wandering off.”

To avoid any awkward questions, Sirea hung in the back with Aunt Belkamy who he noticed was pulling a cart filled with lanterns. When he asked why they needed so many, her only response was “You’ll see.”

It was all he could get out of her until they reached the town square. Then Aubrey addressed the group again. “Now, I would like you all to split into groups of six, one for each adult,” she said. “There will be one small group, but that is fine. Once you have settled into your groups, we will discuss what comes next. Sirea, Felick, you two are with me.”

Sirea dropped his head and tried to ignore the wave of “Oooo” that followed his walk of shame. Felick joined him, also with his head down. Temu rushed to sit beside them, his tail wagging furiously.

“You are so telling me what happened,” Temu said excitedly.

“If you would like to share in their punishment, I would be more than happy to oblige,” Aubrey said.

Temu immediately dropped his enthusiasm and shrank away.

There were no more interruptions as they split into groups. Aubrey wound up with the smallest group, consisting of Sirea, Felick, Temu, Asha, and Valesen.

“Now Helen and Sandra are going to start passing around lanterns. You are to carry it on the end of your tails.”

Everyone sat patiently and quietly received their lantern. Sirea turned to Felick who shrugged in confusion. Even the people passing by stared and whispered which the adults ignored.

Once the town square was glowing with the light of over 30 lanterns, Aubrey said, “Now we will undergo an ancient tradition that hasn’t been officially practiced in centuries. Carry your lanterns and follow your group leader. We will meet back here to go once we finish our routes.”

Sirea’s group followed Aubrey down the street. He noticed that the other groups were going off in different directions. He jogged up alongside Aubrey. “Um, Mom? What are we doing?” he asked.

“I thought it was obvious by now,” she replied. “We are acknowledging Ouroboros by doing what our ancestors did. In the past, it was customary for dragons and kobolds blessed by a Dracaena to carry lanterns through the street to ward off any lingering spirits. We’ve discussed this before.”

“I…don’t remember,” he said sheepishly.

Surprisingly, she chuckled. “Yes, I suspect there are many topics you find boring at your age. Admittedly, I also was not very attentive when I was young. I would be scolded fiercely for not taking my duties seriously.”

“You did this when you were young?”

“I did. Where I was raised, Ouroboros is taken very seriously. Sadly, I discovered that elsewhere it is not held in such high regard.”

“But why?”

She was silent for a moment before answering. “I would suspect that is simply the nature of change. There are many things that are no longer practiced and for good reason. Our knowledge and understanding of the world changes and so do our beliefs.” Just as he was about to ask why again, she interrupted with, “And before you ask, the reason we are still celebrating Ouroboros is because you and Felick reminded me that it is more than simply a fun time to share scary stories. It is about remembrance, honoring those we’ve lost, and turning the page to a new future.”

He had no more questions and so just followed along with the group. Most of the streets they walked were empty, not that Sirea blamed them. It was just the turning of spring, so the weather hadn’t fully caught up yet. The days were nice occasionally, and the nights were always cold. What did surprise him was a man approaching them and asking what they were doing. There was no anger or judgment in his voice, but Sirea felt as if they had broken some unknown law all the same.

“I’m teaching the little ones about how Ouroboros was celebrated in the days of old,” Aubrey explained in an equally neutral tone. “And also putting some ghosts to rest. It is the perfect time to teach them about accepting loss and moving on.”

“I see,” the man said, his gaze distant as if lost in some deep thought. “In that case, would you mind if I join you? My daughter…she loved this holiday. Maybe this will be a good time to put her memory to rest.”

“By all means, however, I don’t have any spare lanterns.”

“That’s fine, I have one in the house if you’ll wait just a moment.”

That was how it went for several blocks, random humans and even a few dragons approaching them and asking about the ever-growing crowd carrying lanterns in the street. And every time the group became just a little bit bigger. A few people seemed content to simply light candles and watch from their windows. The area around them became lit up as if it were midday despite the sun having long dipped behind the buildings. No one spoke, but Sirea felt the calm and sorrow surrounding them.

It was oddly comforting and also eerie. At the edge of their collective lights, he could swear he saw ghostly figures watching in the distance. It made him shudder and press closer to Aubrey.

Soon, Aubrey began to sing. She started low at first, but her voice quickly picked up in the silence and carried easily through the crowd. Sirea tried to follow along but he couldn’t understand the lyrics, but it sounded like some kind of poem. Whatever it was, it made him feel sad. He thought of his younger years when the world was just a blur of sights, sounds, and smells. When he would curl up with his siblings by the fire and listen to stories read to them without any understanding of their meaning. Of being safe, warm, and cozy inside while outside, the snow and wind raged. But just as easily, he saw himself standing outside, alone and looking for shelter. His strength slowly failed him until he simply lay down to sleep. The snow continued to fall, heedless of his plight until he was swallowed under a blanket of white.

When Aubrey finished, Asha was the first to speak, “That was beautiful. What was that?”

“That was an old prayer used to send the lost spirits on their way,” Aubrey explained. “I will teach you the lyrics and their meaning at a later time if you’d like. It is a very long explanation and if I tried now, I would be all night. The short version is it speaks of the necessity of the cycle of life and death. How we must not shy from it or seek to conquer it, but embrace it and accept it whenever it may come.”

“Seems like a heavy lesson for young ones to learn,” a man in the crowd said.

Aubrey didn’t hesitate to respond, her voice and posture relaxed. “It is, but one these young dragons are already too familiar with.” She turned to the five young dragons encircling her. “You have already lost so much before you were even aware you possessed it. For that I am sorry. I cannot undo the confusion, the anger, and the pain you feel despite my best to shower you with love. I cannot provide you with answers. Whether your parents are still out there or their spirits now linger, I cannot say. The only thing I can do is give you a chance to confront it. To say your goodbyes.”

Temu tilted his head. “Our goodbyes?”

“Yes. We are helping the spirits of those you lost move on. If there is anything you wish to say to them, now is the time. You need not say it out loud. They will hear your thoughts just as easily, and it is for them alone.”

Sirea said nothing. He had nothing to say. What could he say to someone he never met? That he didn’t know?

“Is that what they did in the past?” Valesen asked.

“Sometimes,” Aubrey replied. “People would write down their final messages and take them to the Dracaena’s temple to burn them so that their loved ones could receive them.”

“Can we do that?” Asha asked.

“If you wish. Once we return to the town square.”

Finally, they made it back to the central square and Aubrey announced that it was the end of their trip. “Anyone who wishes to continue is free to do so,” she had said, but the humans who joined them seemed to have had their fill of walking. Sirea couldn’t blame them. His legs were tired and he didn’t look forward to the walk home. The latecomers expressed their thanks, said their goodbyes, and expressed an interest in repeating it next year to which Aubrey agreed.

But there was still one last thing to take care of.

Apparently, one of the humans had overheard their conversation and worked with some of the others to gather as much ink and paper as they could manage since the shops were now closed.

The other groups returned as they tore the paper into strips to write their messages and hand them out. They, too, had picked up some extra stragglers who had taken an interest in the activity.

“We definitely got some attention,” Sandra said as they collected and extinguished the lanterns. “A city watch warden said he wants to petition for a designated route for us to use. Guess we should also get a permit to light a fire in the town square.”

“It won’t cause any issues now, I hope?”

“Nah. He said so long as someone is there to supervise it won’t be a problem.”

“Then let us move quickly. It is getting late and we have a long walk home ahead of us I don’t want to lose any of the little ones in the dark.”

"We're not babies," Felick cut in. "We wouldn't get lost.”

“Oh, is that so?” Aubrey said with a knowing smile. Felick quickly fell silent.

Setting up a fire didn’t take long at all. There were multiple lines of people to toss their message into the flames. Sirea struggled a little to write a message with the tip of his claw instead of a pen designed to be used by dragon paws, but he managed.

I’ll be fine

“That’s it?” Temu asked, looking over Sirea shoulder.

“Leave him alone,” Asha warned, “Unless you want everyone to know what you wrote.”

There were no more discussions.

At this point, the night had fully fallen along with the temperature. People quickly deposited their messages and hurried to the warm comfort of their homes. He noticed several people were crying after dropping off their message. When his turn came, he didn’t have as strong of a reaction, but it did feel as if a weight had been lifted. Nothing happened. No dramatic flash of fire or eerie display of spirits. Just the soft crackling of flames.

The walk home was very eventful. Everyone talked about their experiences. The others were jealous to learn that there was singing. Sirea kept to himself. He had a lot to think about, first and foremost whether or not his parents had seen his message and if it was enough. Perhaps that no longer mattered. What else was there? He wasn’t sure if the others felt the same way, but he also didn’t want to ask anyone. They seemed content and he didn’t want to spoil the mood.

When they finally arrived home, the only thing he had on his mind was going to bed. The others had the same idea as chatter had all but ceased completely. Even the adults looked ready to collapse.

“Everyone, I know you’re tired but do not just drop your cloaks on the floor,” Aunt Helen said. “Everything has a place and we do not shirk our responsibilities because we don’t feel like it.”

There were some grumbles and whines, but no one seemed ready to challenge her.

“Felick, Sirea, could you two assist me, please?” Aubrey asked.

Sirea tried to hide his fear and shame, but the side glances from his siblings showed they weren’t buying it.

She led them to the empty kitchen, away from prying eyes and inquisitive ears, before facing them. “First, I want to thank you for reminding me of something I had forgotten,” she said. “Ouroboros has been an important part of our culture and history, but it has been declining. Thanks to you, it may be seeing a revival.”

Sirea said nothing, unsure of what to make of it. That wasn’t their plan at all but bringing that up seemed like a bad idea.

To his surprise, Felick stepped forward. “Um, do you think our parents moved on?”

“I would like to think so,” Aubrey said with a small smile. “If nothing else, I’m sure they are proud of you.” With a tired sigh, she sat down. “Now, is there anything you wish to discuss? I’m afraid I didn’t know your parents, but I will answer any questions you have as best I can.”

“I don’t have any questions,” Sirea said. He meant it. He had a family who loved and cared for him. There was no reason to think about the one he never knew. Tonight had taught him that. Much like the past, it was time to move on.

“Me neither,” Felick added.

“Very well. If you ever change your mind, I will always be available. Now, I know you both slept late, but I’m sure you’re tired from today’s events.”

Sirea and Felick nodded slowly before stepping cautiously away. They shot each other worried glances. Aubrey wasn’t one to forget promises and very little got by her.

“Oh, one more thing,” Aubrey called behind them. “The two of you will be handling the chores this week by yourselves and you will not be getting dessert either. Good night.”