Take to the skies

In Dun, a family was preparing for the third birthday of their daughter. In a cave in the mountain, Alia and Cook, Aeral's parents were skinning and mountain goat. They're not cavemen in fact the houses on the mountain looked rather beautiful on the inside. Crystals of different kind were found deep in each cave and each crystal had a function. A blue crystal provided running water for bathing. Hot water can be gotten from a blue and red crystal. A red crystal is used to provide heat for cooking. Pink crystals light up the cave during the night. Purple crystals keep the cave cool when its hot. The mountains contain several minerals and ores so those living in the  mountains make use of iron and silver wares. Their clothes are specially made from animal hides that are refined using a white crystal. Gold are also used on their clothings for designs.

"Aeral birthday is tomorrow. Anything special happening? Alia asked.

"Nothing I know of. We'll just invite a few friends for a little feast and we'll think of a gift." Cook said as he grilled some meat and sprinkled some crystal dust and herbs. The crystal dust adds a special flavor to the food.

"You know how Aeral says she wants a pet vwern. Why don't we get her a baby vwern as a present." Alia stopped what she was doing and looked into Cooks eyes giving him the goglie eyes.

"I think you're beginning to spoil Aeral a bit too much. Its dangerous if she has a baby vwern and its only boys from age fifteen that are allowed to ride on one. We cannot get her a Vwern and you're doing her no good if you blindly heed to her every demand." Cook said as he flipped the meat. The meat sizzled and the aroma wift passed their noses. "Where is she by the way?" He asked.

"Well. She said she wants to see the baby Vwerns so I let her." Alia said nonchalantly. 

"You what. That's very dangerous and she's just three. Are you brainwashed or what? You could have asked Lilo to go with her." Cook stood up angrily. He tapped the crystal he used for grilling and it stopped glowing.

"We need to make sure she's safe. He said as he walked outside the cave. Alia paled at his words. She seemed to have remembered the danger of letting her out on her own. She couldn't say no when Aeral asked her because she could sense that her daughter is special and different from other kids. As a mother she couldn't refuse her and she doesn't know why. She left shortly after.

Since they lived on the mountain, their rock climbing skills was way beyond average. It was like they were one with the mountains. The baby vwerns were at the highest cave in the highest mountain and Cook couldn't help but wonder how his daughter would climb that mountain since it wasn't theirs. He thinks Alia acts like she's charmed or something. How could a three years old girl climb.  What worried him the most was the vwerns. The baby vwerns were with their mothers and the mother vwerns are only familiar with those that tamed them so anyone else is a threat to their babies. At an age of fifteen, both male and female are taken to tame all the adult and baby vwerns so they could be used. 

Cook was very worried as he thought that his daughter would be attacked by the mother vwerns that is if she is still on the mountain. He does not want to have that thought that his child has fallen off the mountain so he still went ahead to the vwerns cave. He only hoped that maybe someone would have seen her and taken her along.

 Alia also played her part and asked people around if they had seen Aeral. She wasn't like Cook and she was already scared that her daughter had fallen off the mountain.

"How could I have let that happen?" She continued to question herself. She decided do go down the mountain after everyone she asked claimed that they didn't see her. She only hoped for a miracle to save her child.

Cook got to the cave and he looked inside. He couldn't find the caretakers and he was worried. He looked at the sun and saw that it was probably their break so he went to the top of the mountain where they have a shed. What he saw made him loose his balance and he began to fall from the mountain. A huge rock was ahead and he feared for his life. He lost all hope and all he could do was close his eyes until he heard a voice.

"Dad." Aeral said. He opened his eyes and saw his daughter on an adult vwern. The vwern caught him before he could crash on the rock.

"Huh?" That was all he could say. His daughter could actually ride and adult vwern. Only vwerns who have been trained since they were a baby could be rode. Alia who was at the foot of the mountain saw a vwern flying above her until the vwern came and landed on the ground. He saw his daughter in the front and Cook who seemed to be paralyzed with a surprised expression. She too was shocked as only trained vwern riders could actually use a vwern. Even her husband can't ride one so how? She had to get on the vwern to get answers and the vwern took them back to their cave.

"Hey." She shook Cook who was still shocked even after he got down from the vwern. Cook pointed his fingers at Aeral. Who was rubbing the head of the vwern. Soon all the other vwerns came to her to be pet. They began fighting to get close to Aeral when she raised her hands. All the vwerns stopped fighting and bowed towards her with a look of respect in their eyes.

"What are they doing?" Alia whispered to her husband. She still wondered how she is sane after seeing what is happening.

"They're acknowledging her as their.. King?" Cook said with a questioned look.

"What do you mean by king?" The only king the vwern acknowledges is the dragons and dragons have disappeared for a long time. Alia said with a doubting look. They both looked at Aeral who was playing with the vwerns and the vwerns seemed to be careful as if they're taking care of a priceless treasure.