So that was it. A few years until... This was insane! I couldn't help thinking that over and over again. Insane, insane! Why should I be the one to have to do this? Why me? I was to lose everything and ascend into the sky forever?

Kidara patted me on the back, trying to comfort me. Please don't worry about it, young one. You should go back to sleep. I'll talk with the other Elders in the morning to figure out what to do, alright?

She strode off, fire in-hand, into the deeper chambers of the cave. I was left alone. What was I going to do? A few years, that's it, then I leave the world behind? Where was it going to happen, and how?

My mind was flushed with thoughts and anxiety. How would I tell my friends? How would I tell the closest thing I had to family that I was going to ... die hundreds of years before I even hit old age? Dragons were the very symbol of longevity. We could live up to two-hundred, even three-hundred years old. Maturity was at age twenty to thirty. Was I going to die before I even walked upright?! I needed time to think, to take in what I had just learned. I walked out of the cave, following along the walls, and flew back to the other side of the narrow valley. I stopped in the center of the village and looked up to the stars I was someday to join.

Oh, Stars, what is going to happen to me?!

************

Nine years later...

*********

The Aurora Borealis

The Sun was huge in the sky. It beamed us with intense heat as it loomed ever-closer. It was nearly spent, and the time was nearly here. It had gone from yellow to orange, and now finally, a reddish orange. It had grown twice its size in the sky, and the earth was beginning to feel its effects. There was drought throughout most of the land. I knew that soon, were the ritual not complete, it would use up the last of its life, grow ever larger, burning the surface of the planet. Then, it would collapse into a tiny white mass, leaving the planet lifeless. A horrible sequence of burning and then freezing. It was my duty to stop it. This is why I was preparing to leave for my first, and final, journey to the Arctic. It was there that the ritual would take place, and I would give myself to that great ball of fire. I knew I was marching to my own end, but in doing so I was saving all life on the planet. If I didn't, I, along with every other living thing would perish. I didn't have much of a choice, now did I?

I packed what little belongings I had in a pouch made of woven wool-threads. Food, and a few trinkets I had collected over the years, some were given to me by my father. I tied it into a knot and hung it over my back. I was nearly an adult. Twenty-one years of age. I guess I was a late-bloomer. I had only began to get used to walking upright. I still preferred walking on all fours. I headed towards the entrance of my cliff-side home, and stretched my wings.

I peered over the edge and saw the Four Elders waiting for me; Hylari, a reddish gold red, Vendayo, a gold female, Quitraxo, a green male, and of course, Kidara, a steely black, and the one who had looked after me and offered support throughout these years. The closest thing I had to a parent.

Waiting there with them were all the dragons of the tribe. I spotted the familiar red and blue (or green, so she claims) forms of my two friends, Haku and Ivonna. Even Marevius was there waiting with them. I laughed an empty laugh. This was the farewell party. I knew I would never see any of them again. I took a last look around my home. The beautiful cliff-side caves etched by eons of Star Guardians, the sparsely forested mountaintops capped with snow. The vast plains that stretched as far as you could see across the valley. I flapped my wings and headed down into the clearing.

Haku stood upright, as did the Four Elders, and many of the dragons in the crowd. Ivonna and I stood on all fours, still kids at heart. A kid... a kid shouldn't have to go through this, I thought.

Ready, Deefas? Quitraxo said solemnly.

I nodded. I gave a last sad look to Haku and Ivonna, stifling the feelings I had to just run away, flee, forget about my duty to the world and just live for a few moments longer with my friends. But no, that was a ridiculous notion. I would die if I did this and I would die if I didn't. The only difference was the rest of life on the planet. The choice was obvious. With a heavy heart, I took off with the Elders, Kidara leading the way. We had only a few days to fly North and perform the Sun Rejuvenation ritual. I glanced down at the crowd. Some were cheering. Some cried. Some were indifferent. Some bowed their heads. I waved them a fond farewell, knowing I would not walk amongst them again.

*************

It had been a good three days by the time we reached the Arctic Circle. It was unbelievably cold, even with the sun in its current state. I shivered in the frigid air. Kidara notioned to the others, and the Elders and I followed her as she descended. We landed.

This is the place. She said. I stared at the landscape around me. It seemed even more foreboding now. Icy glaciers carpeted the land, covered with fresh snowfall. It wasn't snowing then, but I knew that beneath my feet was years and years worth of snowfall. We were higher north that any other animal dared to go. A frozen wasteland. I shivered.

We'll rest here until nightfall. Then it will be time. Hylari said.

Great. It was bad enough flying, but actually standing on the ground was even more unbearable. I couldn't help but wonder why a ritual for the rebirth of the Sun would take place in such a cold, hostile environment. I decided not to ask. After all, what good would it do to know?

Without really thinking about it, I was fast asleep in the snow, still shivering.

**************

What seemed like only a moment later, I felt a cold hand jostle me awake. I woke up to the black face of Kidara, giving me a hard stare. She spoke with a tinge of regret in her voice, It's time.

I got up. The other Elders were already waiting for us. They were centered around some sort of shrine. Oddly enough, it glittered in many hues of blue, green, and violet. It was shaped like a wide, short, circular column, with an emblem of the Sun in its center. Lining the pedestal was a ribbon of color similar to those on the platform. It flowed around it, seemingly intangible.

It was then that I noticed the sky. Truly amazing.

Streaming across the sky was column upon column of light. Beautiful shades of transparent greens, blues, pinks, blending together in dancing laces of color.

The Aurora. Kidara explained. One of the least know of the Sun's effects.

That's caused by the Sun? I asked.

She nodded. I stared back at the sky, mesmerized. Much like the time all those years ago when I first learned my identity.

Kidara motioned to me to move onto the pedestal. I step onto it. The last words I heard came from Kidara.

Good-bye, my son.

Before I could even respond, it was over.

I didn't feel anything. Nothing at all. It all happened so quickly... I hardly had time to take it all in. I guess the first thing that happened was the Aurora's dancing around in the sky and eventually streaming down to join me. They wrapped around me and I guess I went with them as they ascended into the sky once more. The pedestal shrank beneath me, and I could feel... nothing at all. I saw the land shrinking beneath me as I went up and up, and my field of vision stretching farther and farther until I could see everything beyond the horizon. I also saw the pedestal, and what remained on it. Bones. My bones. Everything but my bones had evaporated into the sky with me. What came next, I can't really put into words. It was like being everywhere at once. From a bird-eye view I saw all the world, and not just the part lit up by the Sun. I saw night, day, all the planet, as well as everywhere else my energy spread. I could see my people, my Guardians, and indeed, all the animals of the world, rejoicing at the ritual's completion. I saw the polar regions, and my fantastic Auroras painting the skies. I could see anyone, and anything. What I could no longer do, though, was touch anything. I was floating high above where no one could touch me.

What a lonely world this is.

**************

Return

Almost ten years later, I felt it. I could feel the energy. The Sun, me, was reaching it's peak. Dark spots appeared around it, spreading waves of energy in huge quantities. I could see the huge amounts of energy bombarding the earth. Being deflected to the poles, causing even more spectacular Auroras. I knew I could do it. Return. I focused on one of the exploding masses, and shot towards my home at the speed of light. This was my chance.

************

I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I needed to get out! My limbs were stiff, immovable. I struggled, pushing with all my strength.

CRACK!

I heard a sickening crack as I broke my way free of the ice. I pulled myself onto the surface. Air, fresh air! But no, I realized, I still couldn't breathe. I didn't need to. I looked down at my body. What... what am I? My bones were free from the ice, but my muscle, organs, gone! I couldn't feel anything, couldn't touch anything... I was made of the same shifting laces of ice that painted the skies above. I had pulled myself from the glacier. Inside I could see my bones, left by the original Ritual that had sent me into the sky. I was back? I had attached myself to my own bones? I stretched my wings. Nothing there but bones... The only thing tangible about me was my bones. I tested my voice. Odd, I could still talk. And on my face, I still wore that mask. The white mask that had marked my fate all those years ago.

So, I was back. I had to think again. I couldn't remember anything from after the ritual. How long had it been? I remember being pulled up into the sky, and then... then... then what? It was all a blur.

To my surprise, I saw Kidara waiting for me.

I was expecting you, son. She said.

Son.... that's right! Right before I left, that's what she told me.

Son? I murmured. My voice was scratchy and unfamiliar.

She nodded.

But... why? Why did you never tell me?

Elders are not supposed to have chicks. And besides, how would you have felt knowing your own mother was leading you to your death? She said, her voice cracking. Even so, I couldn't see you leave without you knowing. You had to...

I stared, dumbfounded. But something else was perking my interest. How am I here? And how did you know?

I didn't. I merely guessed. I knew you would have a chance to return once every ten years, and I was hoping you would take advantage of it. She smiled half-heartedly.

So, does that mean... it's ten years after?

Yes. The year is 1490. My mother told me.

She continued. I'm sorry I didn't bring your friends Haku and Ivonna with me. I just wasn't sure you would come, and I wouldn't want to get their hopes up. But, ten years from now, I will return. I promise. She told me.

I couldn't help but be overjoyed. I nearly cried. Not that I could, anyways, could I? I smiled with my new icy lips and said. Thank you. Then a thought occurred to me. How long will this last?

I'm afraid you've only a few days until you leave again.

Is that enough time to fly back to the valley?! I asked, excited.

I'm afraid not. And you would dissapate before you got there. My mother said regretfully.

I spent the next few days with her. Alone, in a frozen landscape. Soon, I once again disappeared into the sky.

***********

I woke up. Once again I broke myself free from the glacier. It took me a while to regain my memory. Yes, yes! She would be waiting for me! My mother, Haku, Ivonna, and who knows who else? Maybe the entire tribe would be here to greet me!

My optimism was soon met with panic. No one was there. I tried to fly, but my wings proved quite useless. I walked around my frozen home, searching for anything, any sign that they'd been here.

No one. Empty.

But then I saw them. Two figures, walking on two legs. They weren't dragons. They had no tails, and they were barely six feet tall. They wore furs around their bodies, clearly not grown by the creatures themselves. I called to them. They turned their heads and called back. They understood me, strange though it may seem. I walked up to them. They seemed unafraid. They gaped in awe at my physique, and I can't say I blamed them.

What are you? And what year is it? I asked.

T-the year is 1501, and what? We're h-humans.

Humans? Yes I had heard of them. There were small settlements of them around back in the valley. But those humans in the valley had dark tan skin, and smooth black hair. These new humans were pale, much paler. I had never seen the likes of them before.

I said thank you and continued searching for any sign of my comrades. It was futile, though. All I managed to find was a small herd of caribou, and a lone seal diving beneath the ice. Then I found a creature most intriguing. Not one of my own, but dragon-like in appearance.

His body was pure white, and serpentine in structure. His tail ended in little wisps that seemed to dissipate into the air. He had two swept-back ears, almost like horns. Finally, he had two colorful butterfly wings. They reminded me of the Auroras.

Hello, little dragon! Excuse me! I called to get his attention. He turned towards me.

Er... hi. He said simply.

I described to him my home, the valley, and asked if he had heard of it.

Heard of it? Yes, I've been there actually. Quite a place, very elaborate. I'm a traveler, you see. 'name's Fawn

Fawn

He spoke with an accent. A shame, really. It must have been amazing when there were dragons there.

Do you mean to say that... they're gone? I asked, hoping he was mistaken.

Yessir. Never seen eye or tail of these dragons you're talking about. I haven't the slightest clue where they might have gone, but there's people folk living there now. He told me.

What? The valley was empty? Where did they all go? Why weren't they here? Had something terrible happened to them? No, no, no. Where were they?

I spend the rest of my time making friends with Fawn. Telling him my story. He seemed intrigued. The young traveler promised he would return every decade to see me. Being a dragon, he to lived for centuries. He said he only wished I could stay longer.

*************

Epilogue

So that's it. I'm only be able to come to earth every ten years. For a few days at a time. Eight days is the most I've counted. Time moves so quickly for me, young traveler. Deefas tells you. Fawn chimes in.

Yup yup, it's true. He says quite childishly.

You tell the ghostly dragon thank you, and go on your way. All this time you kept a journal on this story. His legend will live on. You pack up your things and prepare to leave the icy land. But before you do, you promise you'll return to see the Sun Spirit, every ten years, when the Auroras reach their peak.

End of Book 1