Page 55 of Escaping my Dragon

“Exactly.” Alistair smiled, but I wasn’t in the mood.

“Can someone explain what the hell is going on?”

Alistair’s brows drew together. “It’s rather complicated.”

“Give me the abbreviated version.”

“Someone intentionally woke that elder dragon.”

At hearing the word someone, I blurted, “Dr. Malone?”

“Yes. How do you know of him?”

“He was at McMurdo station under an assumed name. Why would he want to wake that?” I waved my hand at the big dragon, who’d chosen to drop to the ground and slither rather than walk.

“Because he couldn’t catch us!” squealed the orange.

“Malone is the reason we hatched,” stated the big ebony. “He has a process for activating volcanoes, even dormant cones. He’s been exploding those he thought might have eggs to hatch. Looks like this time, he went for a bigger prize.”

“I can’t believe that’s a dragon.” One that was millions of years old, and alien to boot. “That must make you like his kids, grandkids, great grandkids--” I threw out options, but the pearl dragon interrupted.

“While we are descended from him, we are also far removed. Think Cro-Magnon versus humans today.”

“Meaning it’s stupid?” I said it, even as I knew it to be false.

Alistair shook his head. “Far from it. Our kind have unique learning abilities. While he might come across as simple-minded, he will quickly adapt to this era.”

“It already speaks English,” I informed him. “Despite the fact it’s been sleeping for thousands of years. Says it learned by listening to the wind, whatever that means.”

Alistair appeared thoughtful as he mumbled, “It must have been intercepting radio waves and frequencies. There’s enough of them flitting around.”

“And by invading our dreams,” I blurted before I could stop myself.

Rather than be ridiculed, the little orange exclaimed. “Ours too!”

“I think how he learned to speak is the least important thing right now. What are we going to do about it? I mean, it’s going to have to eat. And soon. In case you hadn’t noticed, ain’t too many meal options in the area,” Noah swung his arm back and forth.

Before anyone could reply, Joslyn, with her camera pointed, chirped, “We’re back. What did we miss?” Vernon stumbled in her wake with the microphone I’d used on our trip to the falls.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t allow you to record,” Alistair stated.

“If you’re worried about people learning about dragons, I’d say the behemoth over there is ruining your plan to stay hidden,” I pointed out.

The giant beast had reached the volcanoes, the fog in the area not thick enough to hide its massive bulk. It stood for a moment before flopping atop Erebus, stifling the smoke.

“While we won’t be able to deny the existence of The Destroyer, there’s no reason for anyone to know of the hatchlings,” Alistair argued. “It wouldn’t be safe for them.”

“The Destroyer?” Noah repeated. “Is that its name?”

“It’s the only one I’ve heard thus far. I didn’t learn of its existence until recently. It’s possible it had another title noted in historic texts.”

I shook my head. “It claimed its name is something that can’t be pronounced by humans.”

“It seems you’ve spoken to it at length,” Alistair noted. “What else did it mention?”

“Before I start spilling my secrets, I think you should start. Like, who are you, really? And how is it you’ve got four dragons?”

“Shamash doesn’t own me!” huffed the ebony beast.