Acorn's Adventure Continues...

​On his way to the caves Acorn, for not the last time, wondered what was causing the feeling he had.  What could be pulling at him that was making him feel so itchy?  “Why did it just start?” he asked out loud, but since no one else was around, he did not get an answer.

​Following the trail to the end of the woods he started to leave the protection of the trees.  He had made this trip several times, but he always was a little hesitant to enter the open area outside of the village.  

​As he skirted around the town to reach the caves, he saw Gardner working in his garden and Ember, the Apprentice, heading towards some errand that Granny Flare had probably given her.  Normally he would have stopped to talk, but not today.  The ‘itch’ was driving him crazy and as he grew nearer the caves, it felt stronger, but why?

​I think I will look in the caves first and if I don’t find something, then I will go talk with the fish.  He was trying not to have to talk to them anyhow since fish usually are boring conversationalist.  

"They always want to talk about worms, algae, and school.  Never seen anybody who loves school as much as the fish do,” thought Acorn.

​​As he entered the caves, he was still thinking about the fish and how he didn’t really want to visit with them  if he did not find anything here.  Thus distracted, he did not notice the movement from inside of the cave, but a sound did reach his ears.  It was a scrapping type of noise, like claws scratching on stone.  As he approached the spot where he thought he heard the noise someone stepped out of the darkness behind him and cleared their throat.

​“Ahem…  and what can I do for you?”

Acorn, quickly recovering from discovering that someone was able to sneak up on him (that was his special skill he thought) flew up into the air several feet and turned to see who spoke.  “And you are?” he asked.

​“I am the Baroness Dragonia, and you are…?” she said, placing a pause at the end of her question as if she was waiting for him to finish it.

Regaining his impish demeanor, Acorn replied, “a Fae with questions”.  There, that should confuse her.  “And, why would a baroness be in a dark cave on such a beautiful day?  What is here that would take you away from your mansion?”

The Baroness looked at Acorn for a minute without saying anything.  Finally, after apparently making some decision, she spoke asking again to Acorn, “Why are you here?”

“I came because Tad said the fish were talking about something strange happening at the caves and I need to find out why I am being pulled here,” replied Acorn.

The Baroness raised an eyebrow and smiled.  “You are here to help me I am thinking.  There is something magical happening within these caves and I will need your assistance.”

​Walking deeper into the cave, they finally came to a small opening leading into another chamber.  A light inside would brighten and then dim, brighten and dim, a steady repetition.  Dragonia stopped outside of the opening and looked at Acorn one more time before stepping inside of the smaller cave.  “Acorn, I need your help as this is more than I can handle on my own.  I discovered it by accident and now it seems to be coming alive.”

​​As Acorn entered the opening he could see deeper into the chamber and saw nestled in a pile of stones a Dragon’s egg!  And it was hatching!

Acorn had nothing to say.  His tongue was frozen in place and his heart nearly stopped.  “It is a… a… dragon ‘s egg” he finally was able to stammer.  The ‘itch’ was burning furiously between his wings – he had found the reason and was now not sure if he had made a mistake in finding it.