Dragon Memories, Dreams & Reflections

By Theresa Snyder

Dragon Memories, Dreams & Reflections is book #6 of The Farloft Chronicles.

This volume is Farloft’s recollections of his early life with the Healer, Theresa. A life filled with magic, adventure, intrigue, deception, and murder ... All woven together by the love of a boy, a girl and a dragon.

Come sit with us and read Farloft’s tale of how he met and came to love a tiny, chestnut haired child who grew to be the finest Healer in the land.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Theresa Snyder
• Release date: Nov 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310232626

Theresa Snyder

Theresa Snyder is a multi-genre writer with an internationally read blog. Theresa grew up on a diet of B&W Scifi films like Forbidden Planet and The Day the Earth Stood Still. She is a voracious reader and her character driven writing is influenced by the early works of Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffery and L. Ron Hubbard. She loves to travel, but makes her home in Oregon where her elder father and she share a home and the maintenance of the resident cat, wild birds, squirrels, garden and an occasional dragon house guest.

Book preview

BOOKS BY THERESA SNYDER

The Farloft Chronicles

(Fantasy)

James & the Dragon - Vol. 1

Kingdom of the Last Dragons - Vol. 2

Dragon Deception - Vol. 3

Too Many Dragons - Vol. 4

Three & a Half Dragons - Vol. 5

Dragon Memories, Dreams & Reflections - Vol. 6

The Star Traveler Series

(Science Fiction)

The Helavite War - Vol. 1

The Heirs of Henu - Vol. 2

Old Friends/New Enemies - Vol. 3

The Malefactors - Vol. 4

Cataclysm - Vol. 5

A Mear Sleight of Hand - Vol. 6

Twin Cities Series

(Paranormal)

Shifting in The Realms

Learn more at: www.TheresaSnyderAuthor.com

1 REVELATION

Farloft glided effortlessly toward his lair. It was a beautiful fall day, crisp and clear. It couldn't be a more perfect day. The foothills of the mountain before him were speckled with fall colors of yellow to crimson red. He took a deep breath in as he gently pumped his wings to gain height on his approach to his home. There was no smell of snow yet. It would come, but not for a few more weeks.

Farloft was returning from a visit with Theresa, the Healer. Not because he was ailing. Dragons very rarely were ill. He had been visiting with his old friend. The conversation they had left him feeling warm and satisfied like a good meal. He always enjoyed talking to Theresa. She was his oldest living friend. They shared a history that few others knew or cared about.

Farloft could see Clearair, his mate, out in front of their lair. She was the most dazzling blue beauty he had ever set eyes on. Every time he looked at her he thanked the powers that she chose him as her mate. She was so much younger than him. Even though choosing him would mean an earlier death for her because of their shared 'heart bond' she still chose him. Farloft knew he shouldn't have let her talk him into the mate, but he could not resist her charms. She was perfection.

Clearair and James, Farloft's adopted son, were teaching Anna, his and Clearair's daughter, how to fly. James was lifting her up above the rock shelf in front of the cave and letting her glide down to Clearair below. On his approach he saw them repeat this maneuver several times. James gripped his much smaller sister in his front paws. He dropped off the edge of the cliff then thrust hard to gain altitude in order to release her to glide to Clearair on the cliff below.

Anna was a most unusual child. She was conceived and carried by Clearair while his mate was under the influence of a spell. A spell which made her shift from her base form of dragon at night to a human form during the day. The spell was removed by Sarah, the local sorceress, almost two years ago. But the spell lingered in a misshapen way in Anna. Anna could shift at will from dragon to human. It took her a lot of study in order to control it, but with patience she was now able to hold her form in either dragon or human for as long as needed. Her duel name, Anna Airheart served her well in both her guises.

Anna's differences went even further. Though she was only two years old, in her human form she looked the age of an older child of perhaps twelve springs. As a dragon Clearair and Farloft had no idea what stage she was in. She should have been a hatchling and often acted like one. However, her appearance was deceptive. She was unlike any dragon either of them had ever seen before. She walked upright on her hind legs and though her tail was half again as long as her body, her body was no taller than she was as a human child. Her wings and her mother's basic coloring were the only things that made her look like she belonged to either Clearair or Farloft.

Clearair just put Anna down from a successful glide when Farloft alighted on his favorite perching spot on the ledge above their lair.

Did you see, Daddy? Anna asked excitedly, her green eyes glowing. He sometimes thought he saw the golden flecks in her eyes dance. I flew!

You certainly did, Farloft said with admiration in his voice. Her wings were still not strong enough to carry her aloft, but they would in time. They were huge compared to the rest of her small body.

James came down behind his sister. Another time?

Not right now, Clearair said. Take Anna down in the meadow and have her work on strengthening her wing muscles.

Come on, Short Stuff, James teased.

Anna grabbed her long tunic from the rock beside the cave entrance. She shifted quickly into her human form, donned the tunic and climbed on James' back. It would be easier for him to carry her on his back than in his paws for the longer drop to the meadow below.

Have fun, Farloft called.

James backed to the edge of the cliff and fell over it in a downward spiral. Farloft could hear Anna's scream of delight at the unexpected drop.

Clearair turned toward her mate and inhaled deeply. Where have you been?

Just flying. It was a beautiful day. You should have come with me. Farloft invited Clearair to join him when they awoke this morning, but she refused.

Someone has to stay with the younglings, she snapped back at him.

James is old enough he has his own lair and Anna would have been fine until he arrived to keep her company. Farloft jumped down from the rocky perch above to land by his mate's side. What's the matter? He started to nuzzle her neck. She turned away and in the process bumped him hard in the side with her flank. Ow!

Males, she huffed under her breath in a disgusted tone and started for the cave entrance.

Love? Farloft asked in bewilderment. What have I done?

Clearair turned and spat over her shoulder, it's more like what haven't you done. She advanced on him and with each statement she pushed him further and further toward the edge of the cliff. You should have been here helping teach Anna to fly. It is not James' responsibility. It is yours. You...Are...Her...Father!

It looked like you were all having fun when I flew up, Farloft mumbled. Maybe he should have been here. It was the parent's duty to teach a hatchling to fly and even though Anna was not hatched, she was still his offspring.

We were trying to make it fun for Anna, Clearair said in less than disguised anger. Did you hear how she craves your attention? Your approval? Clearair pushed Farloft one last time with her big barreled chest. As he tripped over the edge of the cliff he instinctively spread his wings, but was hit in the muzzle by Clearair's tail as she turned from him.

Hey! Ow! He clutched his nose with a paw and treaded air as he watched his mate recede through tear watered eyes. What did I do to deserve that?

Clearair stomped into the cave without a backward glance.

Farloft returned to the landing outside the entrance. He sat on his haunches for a minute rubbing his nose with his paw. She hadn't hit him as hard as she could have, but it hadn't been one of her usual love taps either. She was angry. He rose and advanced slowly into the cave. He crept down the entrance until it spilled into the main room. Clearair was beyond the lava cones, past the thermal pool, curled up against the far wall with her back to him. He could hear her softly crying.

Farloft approached her slowly. Clearair? Love? When he got within touching distance he reached out a paw and stroked her flank. She curled up tighter as though she thought she could get away from his touch. This isn't like you Love. Tell me what's wrong. He sat down on his haunches close, but not too close. She obviously didn't want him near her. I'm sorry. I am old and set in my ways, he tried to explain. It was just a lovely fall day and I have been enjoying lovely fall days for years by flying a bit. He waited for her to respond. When she didn't he went on. I am sorry if you think I have been neglecting Anna. Sometimes I am just an old fool and forget that I have responsibilities at home now. I was a lone dragon for a very, very long time.

Clearair mumbled something under her breath, but with her back to him and her muzzle covered by her paws he couldn't make it out even with his excellent dragon hearing.

What did you say Love?

I said...You...Smell...Like...Her...Again! Clearair almost shouted as her head came up from under her paws and her neck bent round to fix him with an accusing stare. That is the third time since the season changed.

Farloft raised his front paw and smelled his leg. He smelled like apple pie, herbs and the spiced tea Theresa drank when he visited this afternoon on the way home. Like Theresa? He asked innocently.

Yes! Like! Theresa! Clearair turned around and faced him with a steely glare, but she couldn't keep the tear from sliding down her right cheek.

Farloft's head retracted on his long neck as he stared at his mate in surprise, but also with total understanding now. You're jealous. He couldn't believe it.

Clearair pushed past him and went straight for the pool. I don't want to talk about this anymore. Please, just leave me alone. She padded into the water's edge deep enough to lay down with her lower body submerged, but her wings still above the water line.

Farloft followed her in and lay down on his belly beside her. We need to talk about this, my Dragoness, Farloft rumbled in his deep baritone. There is no reason for you to be jealous of Theresa.

Clearair turned her head and spied him with one deep, blue/green eye. "Do you know your heart rate increases when you say her name? Do you know how lost she was when you were not here? I know you must