Neko didn't remember having a dragon child. Shosha looked just as surprised, shocked, and confused. He would have thought one of them would remember.
Reginald knew something. He didn't even wait for someone to ask.
"Toward the end of my bondage with Maude, she became obsessed with dragons, and especially unhatched eggs. Her obsession was the only reason I could escape. I made her think I had died in the cold mountains, and as I expected, she wasted little time on a search. I tried to warn the dragons, but I feared she would sense me."
"I would not have thought it possible," Colin said. He shook his head and then seemed to note the others watching him. "In the truly ancient days, there were tales of high elves who could merge the essence of other creatures with dragons. The hope, as I understood it, was to make a better connection and avoid some problems in the future."
"And?" Neko asked at the abrupt end.
Colin sighed and continued. "High elves and dragons almost entirely disappeared from most realms. Some say the attempt went wrong and destroyed them. Others say it went right, and they left together because the real problem was the growing population of humans."
"That wouldn't surprise me," Merlin added. Since he was a human, no one took it as an insult, just another of those inconvenient truths.
"How did you get here?" Neko asked.
"Honored father," he said. None of their conversation seemed to have affected him. "I was not what she expected. Maude trapped me in a small book, on a forgotten page until --"
"The pixies!" Luna exclaimed. "They found another of Maude's books!"
They had started back toward the bookstore, the ghostly shapes of the old buildings of the neighborhood coming into view. Fae had arrived in some numbers. Neko felt better for it. This was not going quite right.
He wasn't surprised.
The dragon contracted as they neared the door until he was small enough to go inside with the others. Once there, though, he carefully turned to face all of them. Neko thought he shivered.
"Please, honored parents, do not send me back to the book. Everything is so small and empty there, and I could barely hear whispers sometimes --"
"We do not intend to send you back," Shosha told him, her voice unusually soft. "But I would hope you will behave and help us. We should help each other against our common enemy. What is your name?"
"I have none," he admitted. "Parents and elders choose names when a dragon hatches."
Shosha moved closer to Neko. She whispered a few words, and he nodded in agreement.
"Honored son," she said. His head came up with a look of shock. "If it is permitted, Neko and I would like to name you Silver Cloud."
Silver Cloud glowed with delight. He wasn't the only one who appeared pleased. Neko only now realized they should have consulted the others. It had seemed right. A family matter, though Neko felt little like a father. Maybe they could be brothers -- or at least he could treat the relationship that way. Brother to a dragon sounded like fun.
Cats were not big on responsibility. Shosha could handle that part. He had read that female cats were usually good parents.
Having worked that out, he turned his attention back to the others, aware that they had been introducing themselves to the dragon. Silver Cloud looked more impressive with each conversation, and it had nothing to do with size. He glowed with confidence, and the color of his scales changed to a bluish silver.
"It is like suddenly having a family," Shosha said.
That was not something Neko had ever looked for in life. He didn't know how to feel. Neko spent the night mimicking their moods until they felt natural. He hadn't expected it. Having family was nice, and one as odd as this group suited him.
So, it angered him even more when someone arrived at dawn, howling, growling, and pounding at the door.
"The humans will notice!" Shosha protested.
"I sealed off a four-square block area around us," Dorian said. "We don't need the locals to see this. "
"What is it?" Shosha asked, her voice trembling.
The pounding grew louder and then stopped. The silence felt more dangerous.
Colin opened the door. Rock trolls stood packed together as far as Neko could see. Shosha made a sound of distress and moved closer to Neko. That made him feel better as long as the trolls didn't actually attack.
"We sensed the return of power! You brought her back! How can we trust --"
Silver Cloud glided down the stairs and grew larger with each step. Three rock trolls had stepped inside. Two knocked a third down and walked over him to get out.
Words whispered outside. Neko had never realized rock trolls could be so quiet.
"I believe I am the power you sensed."
"Yes, dragon. Dragon Lord. Lord Dragon."
He looked inclined to say as many variations in whatever language came to mind.
"I am Silver Cloud."
"Lord Dragon Silver Cloud. Or would you prefer --"
"That one will do." They went through the door, Silver Cloud contracting and expanding on the outside. Neko followed at a respectful -- somewhat safe -- distance. "And you are?"
"Death at your Glorious Command. Unworthy Ant at your Feet. Unfit Pebble --"
"How about First Rock Troll Dragon Friend?" Silver Cloud asked. "Then I can call you Friend."
Neko admired how well Silver handled the situation. He would have relaxed if Reginald hadn't arrived in a rush, and in the shape of a wolf.
"Luna says there is trouble," Reggie growled.
That wasn't helpful.
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