QUEST FOR SATURIA EPISODE 4

[sidhe_faerie]

 Episode 4 (prompts from 6/23/12)

They walked for a while and came up on an old woman washing clothes in a stream. The old woman looked around confused. "I have no clothes! Every time I do my laundry I end up with less clothes!"

 

“Hello? Maybe they are just down the stream.” Endora said.

 

The old woman looked up started then smiled at the two Fae. “Oh you may be right. I’m sure that’s where they are.”

 

Endora bent down to help the old woman put the clothes that were there in her basket.

 

“I’ll go check.” Paddrick volunteered. He walked a ways down the stream then stopped. “Endora you need to come here. Now!”

 

“What is it?” Endora turned to Paddrick.

 

Paddrick was staring ahead with a frightened look on his face. “I think we found the dragon.”

 

“Oh.” Endora said simply. She walked up to where Paddrick was standing and saw the blue dragon lying with one of its wings outstretched. She started to walk toward it.

 

Paddrick grabbed her arm. “Don’t get near it.”

 

“Paddrick, I’m going to see if I can heal it. Then we can look for the sheep and the missing men.” Endora said.

 

"I like how you constantly ignore my wishes." Paddrick said. “It may be dangerous.”

 

"Have you ever considered group therapy?" Endora looked at him. “You have some serious fear issues. Let go of me.”

 

Paddrick let go of Endora’s arm and watched as she walked up to the blue dragon.

 

The beast whimpered when Endora approached. It had a deep gash on its wing that looked infected.

 

“There, there sweetie. I can fix you up.” Endora patted the beasts head and said a healing spell over the infected gash. Her hands glowed gold as the wound healed. “There isn’t that better?”

 

“Yes.” The dragon said. “Thank you very much.”

 

“You are welcome. What is your name?” Endora asked.

 

“I’m Saturia.” The dragon raised its head to reveal another deep scratch on its chest. “Do you mind little Fae?”

 

“No. I don’t. I’m Endora.” Endora’s hands glowed again and the scratched healed. “Is that better?”

 

“Much.” Saturia gave her a toothy smile. “You’re nice. I like you.”

 

“I like you too.” Endora stroked the dragon’s head. “Saturia we need your help.”

 

“You helped me I will help you.” The dragon purred.

 

“We are looking for some sheep and two men. Have you seen them?” Endora asked.

 

“Oh the fluffy ground clouds are in the valley beyond that ridge. I put them there. I like to collect pretty things.” Saturia said.

 

Paddrick finally gained enough courage to approach the dragon. “What of the two men?”

 

“They are there with the sheep. There is no easy way out of that valley. One of them did the hurts to me. I had to knock him out. The other fell off his horse. He hurt his leg.”

 

“They aren’t hurt too badly, are they?” Endora asked.

 

Saturia looked ashamed. “No but they are in the cage.”

 

“What cage?” Endora asked.

 

“The cage I was locked in until I managed to escape. A sorcerer locked me in. He tricked me.” Saturia looked sad remembering what he had been through. His bottom lip quivered.

 

“Everything is all right now. We need to take the sheep and the two men back to where they belong.” Endora said.

 

Saturia nodded. “I will put them back. I promise.”

 

“Thank you.” Endora said as she stroked the dragon’s head.

 

Paddrick looked at Endora patting the dragon and he was angry. “Endora, can I speak to you a minute?”

 

“Sure.” Endora looked at the dragon. ”I’ll be right back.”

 

Paddrick pulled her back to where the old woman was still standing. “You healed him! Aren’t we going to kill that thing?”

 

“No! You heard him he thought the sheep were clouds and the men are still alive. They were there to hurt him. He was defending himself.” Endora was angry now. “Everything I've done I've done for our cause."

 

“Our cause was to kill the beast not coddle it.” Paddrick said. “We should kill it so it isn’t a nuisance anymore.”

 

“Dragons are sacred. You just can’t kill them without a reason.” Endora explained.  “He promised to put the sheep back.”

 

“He may have already eaten them.” Paddrick said.

 

“He’s an elemental. They are vegetarians.”

 

“This is not Ogham-Duir. He may not be like those dragons. Besides who ever heard of a veggie eating dragon?”

 

“Most dragons are not like the stories told to frighten children.” Endora looked back to see Saturia munching on some water cress. “See he eats veggies!”

 

Paddrick shook his head. “Fine but we have to make sure those men are all right.”

 

Endora walked up to the dragon. “Saturia, can you take us to the men?”

 

“Yes. Follow me.” The dragon rose into the air and took flight.

 

Endora dropped her cloak and shook out her wings and followed him.

 

Paddrick followed them even though he wasn’t happy about it.

 

They flew over the ridge and saw the sheep and a large iron cage. They all landed in front of the cage.

 

Saturia pulled the heavy door open and the two men stood there staring at the two Fae.

 

“Are you both well?” Paddrick asked.

 

“My leg is hurt.” One of the men said as the other helped him out of the cage.

 

“We are looking for Darren and David. Is that your names?” Endora asked.

 

“Yes. The beast locked us in there. I’m Darren and this is David.”

 

“You hurt me!” Saturia said. “That wasn’t nice.”

 

“Let’s just get them back to their families. Can you carry them both?” Endora asked.

 

“Yes if they will say they are sorry.”

 

Endora looked at the two men. “Well?”

 

“I’m sorry.” David said. He was the one with the hurt leg.

 

“I’m sorry too.” Darren said.

 

Saturia lowered himself so the men could get on his back. “Hold on please.”

 

“There now let’s get going.” Endora said. “When we get them back I want you to put the sheep back.” Endora lifted off.

 

She and Paddrick flew to the house of the old man and dropped off David. Before they left Endora healed his leg with an ancient spell.

 

They took Darren back to Gwynne who was so happy to see him she started to cry.

 

One by one the sheep were returned. It took most of the afternoon and it was late when Saturia finished.

 

Endora went back to the creek to get her cloak and bag. Paddrick and Saturia joined her there.

 

“I should be going now.” Endora said. “You are welcome to come with me Saturia. There are several dragons where I come from.”

 

“May I please? I don’t want to stay here after I caused so much trouble.” Saturia looked ashamed.

 

“I’ll take you to Aster Cliffs. The Matrons will find you a companion to live with.” Endora said.

 

“A companion?” Saturia asked curiously.

 

“A magickal being that will serve as your protector and friend.  You may even get to stay at the hatchery and help with the little ones if you want.”

 

Saturia grinned. “I’d like that.”

 

“Good. Stay here and I need to say goodbye to Paddrick.” Endora walked over where Paddrick was standing looking at his feet.

 

“Thank you Endora.” Paddrick said as he looked up. “I’m glad you came to help.”

 

“Anytime. I’d love to come back. Call for me anytime.” Endora smiled. "Just once I'd like for you to call me when there isn't a global emergency."

 

“I’ll try to remember that.” Paddrick said.

 

Endora gave Paddrick a hug then went back to Saturia.

 

Paddrick blushed as she walked away.

 

“Ready?” Endora held out her faerie crystal and created a portal to Aster Cliffs. She turned to Saturia. “Don’t be afraid of the portal. All you have to do is walk through.”  

 

The dragon nodded.

 

Endora turned and waved to Paddrick then walked through the portal. Saturia followed her.

 

Paddrick sighed. He would miss her more than she knew.