A plague swept through this world a few years ago and killed the majority of Drakarian women. Many of those who survived were left barren. Now that Lilly is pregnant with Varus’s child, the remaining Drakarian men are desperate to court a human, hoping to entice us to bond with them.
Holly smiles. “I’m going to work now. I’ll see you when I get back tonight. Say hi to Lilly for me, all right?”
Holly was a teacher on the ships. She’s been working hard to learn everything she can about Drakarian teaching methods, hoping to get a permanent position at one of the schools here.
My friend, Lilly, is a botanist and she’s been collaborating with her Drakarian counterparts to incorporate some of our Earth seeds into next season’s crops.
Each of us is trying to find our way in this new world. I was one of the ship’s doctors—the only one who made it onto our escape pod. I’ve been working with Healer Ranas to learn how they practice medicine here.
The Drakarians are searching both in space and across their planet for any other escape pods and survivors, but so far, we’ve found none.
“All right,” I give her my best grin, feigning a carefree attitude. “I’ll see you later.”
As soon as she leaves, I gather my things and head out the door. I’m supposed to meet Lilly for breakfast this morning; I hope she won’t try to set me up again.
Apparently one of the Fire Clan guards likes me. He’s nice and all, but I’m not interested in a boyfriend just yet. I’m still getting settled. Besides, he didn’t display a glowing mark on his chest to tell him that I’m his linaya, and even if he did, I’m not ready to date him. Not after what happened with Edward.
As I make my way to the castle, I consider how much I’ve learned about medicine in my short time here. Frustratingly, most Drakarian Healers come from the Earth Clan and possess the ability to breathe healing fire. All they have to do is blow blue-green flame on a wound and the tissue heals before your eyes. It’s amazing, but I’ll never be able to match their skill.
Still, there are other ways I can be useful. Their healing fire cannot replace blood loss, cleanse someone of toxins, or eradicate pathogens from the body. For those things, simple medicine, instead of healing fire, are called for. And that’s something I can definitely use my skills to do.
As I walk up the path toward the castle, a Drakarian man smiles brightly at me. “Would you like me to fly you to your destination?”
I return the smile at his nice offer. Until we can add human-friendly modifications to the city, the Drakarians are always eager to fly us where we need to go. Since they have wings, their city isn’t easily navigable for us wingless humans. But several of their engineers are working on bridges and lifts even now.
It’s nice here, I just wish there was more vegetation. The forested mountains and jungles of old Earth were always my favorite places to explore in the virtual reality rooms on the ships. I’m not going to complain though because the Fire Clan people have been good to us since they’ve taken us in.
The city itself is surrounded by a desert. Our apartments are located at the top of a mesa, close to the castle. Each building is colored in shades of red like the sand, clay, and rock they are built from, including the palace. I marvel again at the gold-capped domes of the four corner towers of the castle, shining like beautiful jewels beneath the red-orange sun.
The ice-blue sky is clear except for a few thin wisps of gray clouds, but the air is cool and bone dry, without even the tiniest hint of moisture.
More city districts are carved into the mesa walls, only accessible by flying. A sparkling river winds around the base and feeds water into the crop fields. The verdant green vegetation stands in sharp contrast to the fire-red rocks and sand that surround the farms.
Across the way lies a plateau with more housing dotting the cliff wall. Beyond that stretches an expanse of crimson sand, punctuated by towering rock formations.
“Thank you,” I tell the friendly Drakarian. “I think I’ll take you up on that.”
His smile widens. Despite their alien appearance, I can’t deny most Drakarian men are handsome. Each Clan has a unique color variation on their bodies. The Fire Clan dragons have red-and-orange scales.
I shudder inwardly as I think of the Wind Clan. I haven’t met them yet, but John has. He was with my friend Skye when she was taken by a Wind dragon. From the description John gave—light-gray scales, white horns, and a long scar down the left side of his face—Varus says it was Prince Raidyn who took her. He swears up and down that no Drakarian, regardless of Clan, would ever harm a female. But if that’s the case, why did that prince abduct her?
That’s what unsettles me. I’d like to think these guys would never force us to bond with them, but the fact that my friend Skye is still missing gives me pause.
The Fire Clan Drakarian’s orange-rimmed, reptilian pupils contract and expand as he eyes me appraisingly. Proud black horns spiral up from his head, only adding to his impressive height. He smiles, baring a row of sharp fangs, but I don’t find them terrifying anymore. The sharp, lethal black claws that tip his fingers don’t intimidate me either.
The one thing that does make me a bit uncomfortable is the nudity. Their people think nothing of walking around without a single stitch of clothing. Some wear robes, but most wear nothing
