Starre woke with a yawn and a stretch. She glanced with sleepy green eyes out her bedroom window, but she immediately perked up. She breathed in the joy of yet another day when the Kin were free.
Of course, Kin were still opressed, but that was to be expected. Starre knew that the day would come when Kin walked alongside men as equals.
But this wasn't that day. However, today was special in another way. It was Starre's 14th birthday.
"Staaarre!" Nina called from far away downstairs. Wiggling her fingers and toes, Starre leaped out of bed and changed into a familiar pair of jeans and a red halter top, giving her wings breathing room. Laughing, Starre slid down the stair rail on her butt, landing with a thump beside Nina and Raistlin.
"Good morning!" Starre said perkily, brushing bits of stray hair out of her face. "What's for breakfast?"
"Lunch, more like it," Nina teased, strolling over to the kitchen. "It's summer, but you can't sleep that late during school!"
"Duh!" Starre laughed, turning to hug her bishel dragon. "And how are you, sweetness?"
Just dandy! Rai replied, laughing as well. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to youuuu....
Enough, enough, Ionkori snapped, sauntering in grumpily, the way he always seemed to be in the mornings. Can't we have a little peace and quiet here and there?
Not today, Io! Gana said as he strolled into the dining room, followed by Kivo. It's Starre's birthday, remember?
Io would rather not admit that he remembered anyone's birthday, so he put on a show of surprise. Really? Oh, well, then, happy birthday, I suppose, Starre! Listen, I'm hungry. Any --
Oh, come off it, you great oaf, Kivo scolded. Oh, wow, is that pancakes I smell, Nina?
"My favorite!" Starre said happily, inhaling the smell blissfully. "Wonderful, wonderful stuff."
Nina winked. "Should I tell John to make extra?" she asked slyly, to the great amusement of everyone else in the room.
John couldn't cook if it saved his life, Rai snorted, voicing everyone's thoughts.
"Wanna bet?" John himself asked, stomping down the stairs with Stevan.
"Sure," Stevan replied. "One million on him not being able to read the ingredients."
John pretended to be angry, which made Starre laugh quite a bit. After some more mindless chatter, everyone sat down at the table, including the Dragons, who felt that they should be included as well.
"Here you are," Nina said as she put pancakes on Starre's plate. "And here you are, and you, and you, you, you, you, and you. Enjoy!" Then, she herself sat down, and everyone ate, readily voicing their approval.
Nina glanced at the clock. "One minute!" she said to Starre, and the atmosphere grew supercharged with excitement.
"Get the mail while we wait, would you, Steve?" Nina asked. Stevan jumped up, and hung his torso out the door to get the mail out of the mailbox. He came slowly back in, leafing through the bills and ads.
"Junk...junk...junk...junk...junk...junk...oh, here's something for Starre!" he said. "It's from the Bishen Realm! Here you go."
Wait," Nina said quickly. "Five...four...three...two...one...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STARRE!" she cried, joined in by everyone else. Grinning, Starre hugged Rai.
"Now that I am fourteen," Starre began in mock-seriousness, "I solemnly swear that I will wreak as much havoc in this dwelling as Stevan did when he was fourte--"
Starre was cut off by a playful shove from Stevan. Giggling, Starre shoved him back, and soon they were wrestling into the living room. When Stevan came stumbling back, Starre was up on his back, and he was resignedly carting her around.
"Do you want your mail, Starre?" Nina asked.
"Sure!" Starre said eagerly, wondering what sort of thing the Bishen Realm would send her. "Let's go, Steve."
Grumbling to himself, Stevan took Starre over to Nina, and Starre grabbed the ivory-colored envelope. The address was in carefully-formed script, directing the letter to Starre Liyana Copper and Raistlin. Opening the envelope, Starre began to read aloud.
Dear Ms. Copper and Raistlin,
You are cordially invited to attend the Shantel of the Tenth Clutch, taking place at the Bishen Realm the upcoming Saturday. You may bring along any guests you wish; use your best judgement.
As you should already know, the Shantel is where a shrape receives his or her magical object, therefore becoming a full-fledged bishen. This is an incredibly important event in your Bishel's life, and it should be treated with the greatest of respect and worth. Also, after the Shantel has ended, your bishel is welcome to seek out a mate, if he or she so chooses. You are welcome to spend some time exploring the Bishen Realm and meeting other dragons before and after the Shantel takes place.
For those people that are unable to access the Bishen Realm any other way, you may request that someone assist you in teleporting there. We are eager to see you.
Indyana Gratis Owner and Head-Coordinator
of the Bishen Realm
Starre leaped down from her brother's back, grabbed Rai, and twirled the Bishel around and around in her arms. "You're gonna be a Bishen, you're gonna be a Bishen!" she chanted, spinning in happy circles.
I wonder what powers I'll have! Rai said eagerly, squirming with delight and excitement. Maybe I can...wow, I don't know!
"We will soon enough," Starre said happily, putting her bishel down. "But, first, we have to figure out how to get there...."
"I think I can help you with that!" said a friendly voice at the door, followed by a knock. Blinking, Starre walked over to the door, and opened it to reveal a beaming Amaryllis.
"Hi!" Starre said happily, waving. "You said you can help us?" she added eagerly, showing Amaryllis inside.
"Well, sure!" Amaryllis said. "I wouldn't dream of missing the Shantel, and I might as well take you eight with me."
Awesome! Rai squeed. When do we get to go now?
Amaryllis shrugged. "Why not now?" she asked. "It is Friday, after all."
Starre's jaw dropped. "I'd forgotten about that," she said. "Ooh, it's sooner than we thought!"
Our little baby's growing up! Kivo said in a show of drama, hugging a rather embarrassed Rai with her wings.
"How do we get there?" Nina asked nervously.
Amaryllis shrugged. "A portal would be safest, but it's a rather rattling trip, if you catch my drift. So, we can teleport."
"Er..." Stevan began, but John was first to express the group's concern.
"You said that a portal would be safest," he said, "so are you implying that teleporting is dangerous?"
"Not when handled by a professional," Amaryllis said serenely, snapping her fingers.
The next instant, the group found themselves in the middle of a meadow, a breeze blowing gently against their faces. Starre squeaked with startled fright, and clutched Rai in terror. Amaryllis giggled, and ruffled Starre's hair.
"We're here!" she said, wandering off with an air of pride. "I think the main gathering is this way."
The eight travelers followed Ams over a hill, and gasped. The clearing before them was swarming with bishel dragons, wyrms, shrapes, and bishen alike. A few near the edge glanced up at the nine mismatched travelers, before completely ignoring them and going back to their business.
Hello? a voice asked, and the group turned to see a beautiful fanged mountain haze femme approaching them.
Hi, Rai replied perkily. I'm Raistlin, daughter of Faia and Striking Echo, and this is Starre and Amaryllis and...the rest of them. We're here for the shantel; I guess we're a little early, eh?
The mountain haze smiled. I'm Mjollnir, she replied, shaking Rai's taloned wing with her own clawed paw. You are a tad early; come back to that general area over there tomorrow at sunset. Gesturing to her left, Mjollnir smiled at everyone one last time, then scampered off, calling, Jarod, Athena, where did you get off to? Pierre?
Shrugging, Rai turned back to the group. Where to now? she asked Amaryllis.
"Why don't you come to Dracogrex?" she suggested. "That's where all my adopted creatures live. You can take a tour if you'd like!"