Kara sank slowly to herknees. The cutting words of the strange creature still rung throughout her mind like a thousand bells, but the noise was harsh and painful. Kara put her head in her hands, trying to rid herself of the nagging sensation that she should follow Miwohada. The thought was foolish, but persistant.

The more Kara thought about the lost dragon, however, the more she began to doubt his existance. Miwohada had sinply been a figment of her imagination, nothing more than a product of her terror. He was an illusion.

But...then, why was Kara still alive?

Frowning, Kara shook her head, sending the troubling thoughts away. What mattered was that, somehow, Kara had been given a second chance at life. She knew that one thing was nessecary - she had to get back inside the dome.

Getting up and absent-mindedly adjusting the emerald necklace she still wore, Kara rushed over to the wall. She ran her hands over the surface, looking for any sign of a crack or seam that might designate a door. There were none.

There has to be some way in, Kara thought in frustration, searching even closer, her nose touching the surface as she looked. Then, suddenly, a thought came to Kara.

Why?

A billion questions followed that simple thought. Why am I trying to get back in? Why am I out here in the first place? Why do I have my emerald necklace on? Why am I still alive? Why...why?

The first question was one that Kara could not answer. There was Ben, of course, but he had been the only good thing in her life. Why return to the torture of her mother? Why return to waking up every morning and knowing that the next day was going to be as pointless as the day before?

The second question was easily answered, but Kara did not wish to dwell on it.

The third stumped Kara. Perhaps she had put it on before she was arrested, when she had had the sensation of being controlled? She had blacked out, but apparently done things, which lead to questions that Kara did not want to ask.

The fourth question returned to Kara's mind something that had almost completely slipped away.

Miwohada.

It was the only possible explaination for Kara's not having suffocated and died. After all, what other than magic could have saved Kara from the harmful gasses that were thick in the air?

"Miwohada," Kara whispered to herself. "He's the only one that can save me."

With that in mind, Kara swallowed hard, and began to run as fast as she possibly could in the direction Miwohada had gone.



The girl, Kara, had long since gone from Miwohada's mind. There were more important things to think about than an aggrivating wyrm.

Where to go next? Miwohada thought aloud, looking all around himself. May as well explore the rest of the planet. I don't have anything to lose.

Suddenly, a frantic voice pierced through the silence around Miwohada, shattering it and making the bishen cringe.

"Oh, Miwohada, please!" Kara shouted as she gasped for breath that she could not draw. "Please!"

Miwohada turned, and noticed immediately that Kara's face was a rather unnatural shade of blue. Sighing, he focused his energy on her again, and forced her blood to purify and flow.

Alright, little one, Miwohada sighed. I appreciate your coming, but please, no more running.

"No kidding," Kara replied, wiping her forhead. "Listen, um, about what I said before --"

You are small, Miwohada replied. I should know better than to lose my temper with wyrms.

"I should be apologizing," Kara said firmly. "What you said was true. I was foolish."

Miwohada looked pleasantly surprised. You are different, he mused, sitting down. What did you come running after me for, little one?

Kara paused. "I...I don't have anywhere else to go," she said finally, hanging her head.

Miwohada nodded, his face an impenetrable mask. Come with me, then, he said. We'll find somewhere for you.

"Thank you!" Kara said, reaching out to hug the dragon.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Miwohada said sharply, making Kara pull back in shock. It's just...the spines. They're poisonous, he said quickly. The last thing we need is for me to have to purify your blood again. It is tricky business.

"How do you do that, anyway?" Kara asked curiously.

This, Miwohada said, nodding toward the jewel hung around his neck. The bloodstone. It allows me to manipulate the flow of blood, as well as purify it. It's a wonderful gift, and a deadly weapon.

Kara nodded slowly. "No kidding," she murmured.

Miwohada smiled in amusement. I'm glad to see that my powers interest you. I will say that you are one of many.

Kara didn't even want to know what that meant. Instead, another question came to mind. "Where do you come from?" she asked, genuinely curious.

Miwohada paused, then smiled sadly. Do you want the short version or the long version? he asked in a melancholy sort of way.

"The long version," Kara said immediately. Something about the dragon fascinated her, and made her want to learn more.

You are different, Miwohada said again, before beginning his story.