Excerpt from Kelise's Beginning (Part 3) by Kelsey

“You’re the first person who’s been able to answer that question correctly. Most of the humans that we’ve asked that question guessed that they were our dinner; one person thought the humans were cannibals.” He said. 

“You’re never going to let me forget that are you? For goodness sakes, I was nine!” the woman in blue blurted.

“You pointed yourself out, I wasn’t going to say whom thought that, Gracell.” “You thought Silver was a cannibal!” The woman in red laughed.

“Shut up.” Gracell said. 

Hornagal turned back to me. “Indeed, we are the Circle of Dragons and Rider. Our job is to rule and police the Dragon Kingdom. Now, can you guess why you are here?” 

“Well, I’m noticing that you’re the only dragon without a person in front of them. That doesn’t mean that the person isn’t absent, but…oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” 

“Yes?” 

“This will probably be really embarrassing if I’m wrong, but…am I here because you want me to be your rider?” 

“Another correct answer.” Hornagal said. He glanced over at the nasty looking woman. “I don’t know how you could possibly have thought this girl was stupid; I recall that even you didn’t answer those questions correctly.” 

The black dragon laughed, and the nasty-looking rider made an exasperated gesture. Hornagal turned back to me. 

“What do you think? Would you like to become a dragon rider?” 

“I’ve always dreamed of becoming a dragon rider, but…I’m not sure. I don’t know anything about you guys. I don’t want to leave my family. I didn’t even know this place existed until twenty minutes ago!” 

“These are good things to consider. I can tell you that you do not have to leave your family. It might be difficult for me to explain about us with words. I think I know how to help you though.” 

His forehead touched my forehead, and a rush of images rushed through my mind. I was in a cave, for some reason, sitting in an eggshell. An excited, black dragon was peering closely at me; a gold dragon that looked a lot like Hornagal, only bigger, and possibly older, was looking down at me with pride. 

The images changed to the two young dragons that I could now clearly tell were Hornagal and the black dragon with the nasty rider. 

“Race you to the cave!” The black dragon called. He leapt into the air. 

The young version of Hornagal called, chasing after him (desperately flapping his wings): “Hey, that’s not fair, Venom, I can’t fly yet!” 

The image changed again: I was surrounded by the dragons that were with me in reality. The only difference was that they were much younger; the green dragon looked like barely more than a baby (Was that what baby dragons looked like?). The young dragons and I seemed to be playing a game of questions. 

Many images flashed through my mind: I was arguing with the black dragon called Venom; I was in some kind of ceremony; I was flying; I was watching the riders that were here appear before the group in turn–

I snapped back to reality. I stumbled away from Hornagal and tripped over my own feet. I fell to the ground. I looked around, feeling slightly disoriented. 

“What the dragon fire did you do to her, Hornagal?!” The aqua dragon said, sounding slightly startled.

“I gave her some of my memories.” Hornagal said. 

The red haired woman looked alarmed. “Hornagal, you’re thirty-six hundred years old, at least; she’s fifteen! She couldn’t handle very many of your memories!” 

“I’m not stupid, Charlie. I didn’t give her any more than she could handle.” The rider named Charlie gave him a look. “Are you all right, Kelise?” Hornagal asked. 

“I–I’m fine, just a bit shaken. That was weird.” 

“But you are all right?” 

“Yes, I’m fine.” 

“I’m just trying to help her, Charlie.” 

“Fine, fine, if she’s all right.” 

I sorted through the new images in my mind. There were many more than what I just described, but it would take hours to describe them all. To make my decision, I muttered a prayer to God asking what I should do. 

I knew what my decision had to be. 

“Have you decided?” Hornagal asked. 

“Yes, I’ll become your rider.” 

“Excellent! Does everyone else agree?” 

All the others murmured in consent.

Hornagal turned to the group of men in the raised benches. “Does the council have any objections?” he asked.

Some of the councilmen (I guess that was what they were) shook there heads or muttered things I couldn’t hear. A couple of the men looked like they had fallen asleep.

“No objections? Very, well.”

Hornagal leaned closer to me and said quietly: “Are you 100% certain about this? It can’t be undone.” 

“More along the range of ninety percent, but I’m positive that I’m supposed to do this.” I replied. 

“All right then.” 

Hornagal puffed a cloud of golden smoke from his nostril, but it didn’t smell like smoke or dragon’s breath. His breath smelled like clementines and vanilla ice cream (what was the deal with that?). 

I suddenly felt very lightheaded. I lost consciousness. Again.