Young Aralt...

Aralt wasn't in a rush to travel to the Realms in spite of all the hullabaloo.  He decided travelling by Golden Slipper Coach would get him there just as fast and in style for he did love making an entrance.  So as he was comfortably, seated he started to doze as he made up for that noisy chiming alarm that had happened earlier in the morning intruding into his sleep.  

As he dozed his mind wandered to his first Dragon encounter a long time in the past.  It was on a walk through woods like he was traveling through now when it happened and that walk changed everything for him.

Nothing young Aralt liked better than to go exploring out in the trees behind the village where he lived.  Aralt grew up in a small elven community that bordered along a river where huge ancient trees surrounded it.  It was with those trees that Aralt learned many things.

For the trees were his tutors and their grove was his school ground as well as where he played.  One day he came across this little creature.  He looked snake-like but it also had a large head and legs.  His curiosity was stronger than being safe for he bent down and picked up the strange creature and started to stroke it. 

The snake-like creature began to hum and purr for it liked the touch of the elven boy stroking its head.  The music from the Dragon touched something in the elven boy's heart and the pair soon became inseparable even though deep down the elf knew he needed to keep his new friend secret for some reason.

The spring soon gave way to summer and as fall approached with it's every changing colors, Aralt spent what few free hours he had with the Dragon as his studies with the trees continued.  He was now up to the study of the language of Runes.  As the trees taught him about them they would tell him where to go to see the Runes for each had a purpose for where it was placed.

One day as Aralt was walking by a stream that emptied out into a large river he discovered a Rune he hadn't seen before.  It was not one of the many that the trees had taught him about, but from what he did understand, it was a signpost of sorts for something to find their way.  

​He decided to follow the dirt path it was near to see what he would discover and maybe learn more about it's meaning.  As he continued down the path, another Rune appeared and then another.  What Aralt did not know at that time was that he had discovered the pathway for Dragonet's to find their way home after being born.  Dragons were like salmon, for after being born each needed to return home to become the Dragon it was meant to be.  Home to a Dragon was returning to a Dragon community, for only there would they learn their part in the magic or they would be destined to become a mere dragon again as before they were changed by the Nyte Shade.

When Aralt realized that the strange creature he had discovered earlier in the year, now his closest friend, was actually a Dragonet and that it wouldn't evolve or change unless it was able to follow this river back to its home he knew what he needed to do.

So it was with a sad heart that the next day he placed his little Dragonet into the stream by the path so it could continue its journey home that had been interrupted when the elven boy discovered and befriended it.  But it wasn't long into the stream when the Dragonet remembered the love the boy had given it which was stronger than the call to return home.  It decided to stay the way it was and remain with the boy, forsaking the calling.  It turned back to the elven boy and they agreed they would stay together.

Little did they know that this one simple act sent a ripple through the Dragon's world.  For no Dragonet had ever not returned since receiving the magic from the Nyte Shade.  This was unacceptable!

One day as Aralt and his friend where playing outside, two golden and very tall Dragons carrying spears in their hands appeared.  They came upon the Dragonet playing with Aralt, picked it up and simply walked away towards the path with the rune never to be seen again by the surprised young elf.

That was the first time Aralt heard a Dragon speak in his mind.  "You will not have him," one of the golden Dragons said as they left with his friend.  It would be many years later before he would meet his friend, the Dragonet, again and things would not be the same.