Burnt Out...!!

Hewy needed to check on Hungry, the little Dragon, especially after being "asked" by the Troll King to find him. As he followed the trail to Cornelia's cottage, (since that is where Hungry was staying) his thoughts were concentrated on what had just happened at the Troll King's court.  "Why does the King really want to meet Hungry?" he pondered.  He knew that Druzzy was up to no good, but he just could not see what he wanted from the young Wish Dragon.  "I need to talk to the others," he mumbled deciding that was his best course and wondering what was causing this smoke in the air?  The smoke seemed to be coming from the direction of Cornelia's cottage!  He quickened his pace and after realizing that it WAS coming from the cottage he started running towards the smoke.

​Smoke was rolling out of the windows and the door. Fearing for his friends he was just about to run into the cottage when he saw Cornelia, Efem, The CAT, and Hungry all standing near the bee hives.  As usual, The CAT was just looking at everything and smiling, Efem and Cornelia were both coughing and wiping their watering eyes, and Hungry, if a Dragon can look apologetic and embarrassed, was wringing his front paws together saying that he was really, realllllly sorry.

"Is everyone okay?  Where's the water buckets and I will start trying to put the fire out!" asked Hewy as he started towards the well.

"Hewy, It's fine.  The fire is out," Efem was finally able to tell him after she had stopped coughing.  Cornelia grumbled, since Efem was coughing again, "We have found out that when Hungry gets excited, he spits a little fire and a lot, and I do mean a lot, of smoke."

It took Hewy a minute before he realized what was happening, then since everyone was okay, he started laughing.   This is when The CAT joined in as he also thought it was funny.  Knowing that he was Hungry's Spite, The CAT was enjoying both being fed by Cornelia and Efem as well as the entertainment of these Wish Dragon's lessons.  Hewy, soon realizing that both of the Dryads were not as amused as him, quickly stopped laughing but still could not take the smile from his lips.

"And to what do we owe this visit from you today?" growled Efem as she wiped the tears from her eyes.  "You are not scheduled to be Hungry's teacher for another couple of weeks."

Having almost forgotten his reason for the visit, Hewy quickly told them of his meeting with the King of the Trolls and his concerns.  "I agree Hewy, he is up to no good," answered Efem.  "The question is, what do we do?"

"I have been thinking about that and the best I can come up with is to send Hungry somewhere for a while so Druzzy won't be able to find him until we find out what he is wanting," answered Hewy.  "The problem is that I can't think of anyplace safe and where he won't be seen."

It was The CAT that came up with the answer.  "Well, since your places aren't fireproof," smiled The CAT, "Why not send him to Dewin's for his lessons a little early?  With the shabby way your homes are built, at least the cave won't burn down..."  With the withering stares he received from both Efem and Cornelia, for once The CAT did not finish his sentence.  Standing up and slinking away, Hewy could hear The CAT muttering something like, "sure, blame the cat..."

Now Dewin, being a wizard, had given the others each a crystal to communicate with him over long distances so they could keep in touch.  They decided that would be the best for Hungry and after the smoke cleared, went back inside of the cottage  where they told Dewin about their concerns and request.  Shortly Sprigg'n, the Spite that had attached herself to the wizard upon his arrival to the Realm, arrived and they (Hungry, The CAT, and Sprigg'n) were off to the safety of Dewin's cave.

As they left and Hewy watched them crest the first hill and disappear from sight, Hewy finally felt that Hungry would soon be safe... ahhh, but will he?  There seems to be others who also wish to see the Wish Dragon and not all of them from just curiosity.  "Now," wondered Hewy, "in the meantime where I am going to disappear until this blows over?"