The dragon looked down on the village from the ledge of his cave.  In the town square children flung snowballs at each other, as their parents decorated for the Winterfest.  Airdsgainne sighed, tiny flames melting the snow around him.  There would be plenty of snow fights and tasty pastries, but he would not be permitted to participate.

     Snow dusted the large courtyard tree as villagers hung ornaments on its lower branches.  Ages ago, the dragons had helped the villagers by lifting them up to reach the highest branches, and by flaming the treetop candle--the signal that Winterfest had begun.  This tradition of cooperation between humans and dragons had begun with the Founder's Treaty--an agreement between humans and dragons.  The dragons would protect the humans from the barbarians and wild life; the humans would provide for the dragons' needs that the dragons had trouble providing--food in the winter and oil for their dry skins during molting season.  This treaty was honored and renewed each year with the celebration of Winterfest.

     But the dragons hadn't participated in Winterfest activities in these humans' lifetimes, and Airdsgainne protected the villagers from this ledge, hidden from their fears.  As humans and dragons had civilized this wild land, the dangers had faded into the surrounding forests and mountains.  For decades the villagers hadn't truly needed the dragons' protection, and soon they grew to resent the harvest that they had tithed to the dragons.  The tithes had grown sparser and sparser, forcing most of the dragons to leave.  The other dragons had laughed at him for wanting to stay and honor the age-old tradition of protecting the villagers.  Someone had to protect the secluded village, thought Airdsgainne.  Steam rose from the channel that he had flamed through the snowy drift.

     Airdsgainne gathered his wings about him to insulate his body from the icy breeze that gusted through the valley.  He sat up on his haunches and peered in the direction of the coming gust.  He could see the snowstorm sweeping through the valley.  It would overcome the villagers soon.  Perhaps he should risk their seeing him and warn them, but he could see that the villagers were already taking shelter.

     He didn't like the cold either, so he crawled deeper into his cavern, safe from that icy, howling wind.  He heated a few rocks with his hot breath and huddled against their warmth, the softened howling wind providing a background music that lulled him to sleep.

     The icy rocks stirred him from his dreams of children and hatchlings playing together.  Unlike his dreams, his cavern echoed with silence.  Too much silence!

     He lunged to his cavern ledge and saw only a blanket of white dotted with chimneys and a tree top.  Last night's storm had buried the village in a giant snowdrift.

     Airdsgainne leapt from the ledge and glided down to the tree top.  From his perch atop the courtyard tree, he flamed and melted the giant snowdrift.  The runoff washed through the village, cleaning out the debris that the blizzard had dumped on the village.

    The villagers slowly peeked out of their cottage doors, staring at the dragon.  An old man hobbled out into the courtyard, and slowly everyone else left their frozen prisons. 

     "I'm Bealantin, the Village Chief," said the old man as he hobbled closer to Airdsgainne, still perched atop the tree.  "You rescued us--even though we haven't been friendly to you?"  Bealantin hung his head.  "We're ashamed of ourselves."

     Airdsgainne glided down next to Bealantin.  He sat very straight, and bowed his head towards the Chief.  "It is my duty.  I honor the Founder's Treaty."

     The Chief jerked his eyes up towards Airdsgainne.  "But that was so long ago.  We thought the treaty dissolved.  At least, we seemed to have forgotten our part of it."  Bealantin shook his head, and held out his hand.  "It's time you remind us of our duties."

     Airdsgainne carefully clasped Bealantin's hand with his talons.  With that new agreement, Airdsgainne lit the treetop candle, and the villagers began the Winterfest celebration.

Founder's Charge © The Dragon Lord, 2001-2003

©  Dragon's Breath (aka The Dragon Lord), 2001, 2002, 2003. This background set was created exclusively 
     for Dragons' Breath  and  belongs to The Dragon Lord.  Do Not take any of the graphics.  I make no 
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