Born of Fire: The Dawn of Legend (18 page)

“But why? Why do we have them and nobody else? I mean…what makes us so special?”

The shop door suddenly opened, grabbing both their attention. In the doorway stood the silhouette of a tall, broad-shouldered figure. Holding up their hands to shield their eyes from the mid-day sun pouring in, they watched as the figure stepped through the doorway and approached the counter. DiNiya suddenly gave a look of surprise, recognizing who it was, and quickly rounded the counter.

The figure, now in the dimmer light of the shop, revealed himself to be the tallest man Rex had ever seen. His appearance was one of magnificence, with long black fur that fell down to his waist, a thin face with high cheekbones, and long, flowing sideburns that ran down to his collar bone. A strong brow cast a shadow over his eyes, which emitted the soft glow of a golden fire burning within.

Turning back to look at Rex, DiNiya smiled broadly and motioned him over. Rex, seeing no reason not to, came around the counter and stood next to her, craning his head to look the stranger in the eye.

“Rex, I’d like you to meet KyGahl of the SaiTor tribe of the Western Continent. One of the world’s premier paleontologists and a good friend to the KaNar.”

The tall man and Rex exchanged what seemed like eternally long stares, each one studying the other. As impressive a sight as KyGahl was, he seemed equally fascinated by the smaller silver-furred boy gazing back up at him. There was a flicker of light in his eyes as his lips curled up into a smile. “It would seem that our mutual friend here has robbed me of any opportunity for a formal introduction,” KyGahl said, glancing over at DiNiya and giving her a wink. DiNiya felt herself blushing and averted her gaze to the floor. Turning back to Rex, he tilted his head down and fixed him with an intense gaze.

Rex could not help but somehow feel unnerved, for there was something almost off-putting by the way this larger-than-life man was eyeing him. He could not understand just what it was but sensed a power so great within him that he felt, in a way, small in his presence. Still, there was something that he respected about that, for he was never the type to be impressed easily, especially when it came to other people.

“Well, it would seem you know who I am now, but who, pray tell, might you be?” KyGahl asked.

“I’m Rex,” he said, holding up his arm. “Nice to meet you.”

The big man brought his arm down to meet Rex’s, and the two immediately felt a surge of energy pass through them and vanish just as quickly.

“Your flame,” KyGahl commented. “Such power for one so young. How old are you?”

“Fifteen,” Rex answered.

“I see,” he said, stroking one of the elegant tufts of fur that ran down from his broad jaw. “Same as DiNiya here. Any relation?” Rex shook his head.

“Rex came to us after having suffered a terrible accident,” DiNiya said, not lying so much as streamlining the truth. “He unfortunately has suffered some minor memory loss but has otherwise made a remarkable recovery and has since joined our tribe.”

“Is that so?”

There was another sound at the door as ShinGaru walked in.

“ShinGaru,” DiNiya said with surprise. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

The young man walked up and raised his arm to hers before doing the same to Rex. He then turned his attention to the towering figure whose shadow they all found themselves consumed in. Regarding KyGahl with what could have almost passed as apprehension, he raised his arm where it was met in turn by KyGahl’s.

“ShinGaru,” he said, relaxing his arms behind his back. “It has been some time.”

“That it has,” ShinGaru replied with a nod of his head.

“Still researching the ruins of the Blooming Isles?”

ShinGaru shook his head. “I finished that study just prior to the summer. My current research has me studying the Rainbow Caves.”

“The Rainbow Caves? Those are off the western coast, are they not?”

“That they are.”

“Aside from the interest geologists have had with it over the years, I was unaware of any significance it held to archeology. What is your interest with them if you do not mind my asking?”

“Not at all, but I’m afraid the answer would probably disappoint you.”

“Oh?”

“For the longest time, historians have been unable to recreate an accurate working theory as to how the DraGons managed to gain such a prominent foothold in EeNara after they were cut off from their world.”

“Correct me if I am wrong, but was it not as a result of their technology? Most of which we have since retrofitted to our own way of life.”

“Not quite,” ShinGaru stated matter-of-factly. “While, yes, they did indeed possess superior technology when compared to our own, which at the time was nonexistent, they would have still needed to transport material from their world to ours to continue their production here in order to keep pushing further in without giving us a chance to stand our ground and launch a coordinated counterattack.”

“Indeed, but what do the Rainbow Caves have to do with any of this?”

“Possibly nothing. However, over the centuries they have become famous for the strange electromagnetic fields they emit.”

“That’s why compasses spin out of control in their vicinity?” DiNiya asked.

“That’s right,” ShinGaru replied. “You can also feel it in your body, like a light surge continuously coursing through you; it makes your fur stand on end. Anyway, those caves are one of seven such cave systems in EeNara that emit this peculiar electromagnetic field. All of which seem to be coming from deep below the surface and all of them in areas in which access to those lower levels is restricted to a few dozen meters.”

“Hardly deep enough to get the source of whatever might be causing it,” KyGahl commented.

“Exactly,” ShinGaru replied. “Still, I’m convinced that there must be a way down.”

“Hmm,” the tall man said, pushing his fur off his shoulder. “An interesting theory to be sure, but your evidence to support it, I’m afraid, is sketchy at best.”

“No, it isn’t,” Rex said, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room and courting a curious look from KyGahl.

“Is that so?” asked KyGahl.

“Well, yeah. I mean, think about it. ShinGaru thinks they might have something to with the DraGons, right?”

KyGahl nodded.

“Well, it must mean that there was once a way down.”

“Fair enough, but such a thing has never been found in all the years of exploration into those caverns. Surely someone, somewhere, would have discovered such an entrance by now if one indeed existed.”

“Not if whoever was using the caves didn’t want anyone to find them after they had gone.”

ShinGaru smiled and DiNiya nodded thoughtfully. KyGahl, however, kept a neutral face as he looked at the boy, his gaze unwavering. At last he smiled, stepping forward, and placed a hand on Rex’s shoulder. “Well, then. I see KaNar’s newest flame is far more clever than he seems to enjoy letting on.”

“I don’t know about all that,” Rex said. “It just seems to be what makes the most sense. Logically, I mean.”

“Do not downplay the importance of logic, young man, nor its application to the task of problem solving. Some who have a keen eye for detail are the ones who spot the flaws in what is believed by the majority to be truth. A most respectable trait, one you seem to share with our mutual friend, ShinGaru,” he said, turning back to the other boy and nodding in his direction.

“Hey, what about me?” DiNiya said, putting her hands on her hips and giving him a cross look.

“Clever would be an understatement for you, my dear,” he said with a look of sincerity. “We would all be lost without you.”

“And don’t you forget it,” she said, wagging a finger at him before grinning.

“In any case, I should be off; please tell your father I said hello and that I’m sure I will bump into him at the tavern later tonight.”

“Wait,” she said. “There wasn’t anything you needed from the shop? I would hate to think that we discouraged you from doing business.”

KyGahl laughed. “Nonsense, child. You could never discourage me from trading here. Trust me. In truth, I mainly just wanted to stop by and say hello, see how things have been. My work has been keeping me rather busy as of late, so I hardy get the opportunity to visit KaNar anymore.”

“What are you working on these days?” she asked enthusiastically.

“The TyRanx.”

The room suddenly went quiet. Rex looked from DiNiya to ShinGaru, who both looked mildly shocked, or rather that they had been made to feel highly uncomfortable. Still, his curiosity not easily squelched by any mood hanging in the air, he decided to ask the only question obvious to him.

“What’s a TyRanx?”

“The deadliest thing to ever breathe EeNara’s air,” ShinGaru said at last.

“Nature’s merciless wrath,” DiNiya added.

“Poetic labels aside,” KyGahl said, “they were the largest species of carnivorous DyVorian to ever live and are known for being the only form of animal life to ever be of the red flame. That is, of course, until DiNiya here graced us all by coming into this world,” he said, giving her a kind smile that did little to alleviate the uneasy feeling growing in her gut. “And now, of course, you,” he concluded, turning back to Rex and fixing his golden eyes on him.

Rex could feel the tension in the room. So palatable was it that he thought he could almost taste its bitterness. His fascination with what he had known as “dinosaurs” all his life had not waned in the least, and the idea of learning about those whom he could now enjoy with his own eyes here in this world only spurred his curiosity on. “I’d like to learn more about your paleontological work,” he said in earnest. “Maybe you could show me some of your findings?”

“Ah, a young mind with an interest in the world’s biological history,” KyGahl said. “I would be more than happy to indulge such a curiosity. Unfortunately, I will not be able to do so this visit.”

“You’re not staying?” DiNiya asked.

“Afraid not. I have to be at a dig site some thirty kilometers west of here. KaNar was on the way, so I thought I’d stop by and say hello. I’ll be a leaving with the caravan in the morning.”

“Well, then we wish you a safe journey and good luck on your dig.”

“Much appreciated. Well, then, I suppose I’ll take my leave. Rex, it was a pleasure meeting you. I look forward to speaking with you again soon. ShinGaru, a joy as always. Good luck to you out there and please do be safe. One never knows what they’ll find lurking in unseen places.”

“Thank you, KyGahl,” ShinGaru replied. “I will.”

With that, KyGahl turned and left. “Always on the go after some grand find that one is,” ShinGaru commented.

“Jealous?” DiNiya playfully teased.

“Very much so. He’s a legend in his field and is fortunate enough to have the freedom to be backed by most of the scientific community. I wish I had half of the resources he has at his disposal.”

“You will in time,” she said, leaning on her elbows on the counter. “You have to remember he’s much older than you, so he has had more time to build his reputation. Keep working hard and you’ll get there. You’re well on your way already.”

“Perhaps,” he replied thoughtfully.

“Anyway,” she said, pushing off the counter and clasping her hands together in front of her. “What can I do for you today?”

“I need to cross-reference the map you traded me yesterday with a geological survey of the caves in that area ranging from the most current to the oldest you have.”

“We don’t have any of the Rainbow Caves, remember?”

“Not maps of those caves, but of all the other cave systems in the section of the western coast stretching ten kilometers north and south of the Rainbow Caves.”

“That we do have. There should be at least four going back about fifty years. You said you wanted all of them?”

“If I could, that would be great,” he replied with a gracious look.

“Sure, just wait here and I’ll be right back with them.”

DiNiya walked into the back to retrieve the items in question, leaving Rex and ShinGaru alone for the first time.

“How are you adjusting?” ShinGaru asked.

“Well enough, I suppose,” Rex replied. “It gets a little easier every day.”

“Stands to reason. Has any of what you lost come back to you yet?”

“You mean my memories?”

“Yes.”

Rex shook his head. “Not yet, but I’m okay with that for now. I figure if it was really something important, it’ll come back to me in time.”

ShinGaru nodded thoughtfully. “Well, as long as it’s not giving you any undue stress. I must admit, I was rather shocked when I heard how VayRonx found you.”

“Technically, it was TyRoas who found me,” Rex corrected.

“Well, yes, that’s true. By the way, how is he doing?”

“I heard his nose got all fixed up,” Rex said with a grin.

ShinGaru laughed. “I suppose he finally bit off more than he could chew when he made the mistake of coming after you. Still, one cannot truly blame him. His concerns, as well as those of all of his people, are valid. Losing offspring so young like that…it’s a terrible thing.”

“I heard about that. DiNiya told me someone has been going after a lot of the young in the area.”

“Well, that’s just it,” ShinGaru said, adjusting his ponytail. “It wasn’t happening this far east until shortly before you arrived. The first OroGon cub was killed about two and a half weeks ago. Since then, more have gone missing.”

“How do you know it was even a predator? They could have disappeared for some other reason. Hell, maybe they just ran away? Or does that sort of thing not happen here?”

“Here?” ShinGaru asked curiously.

Realizing his mistake, Rex quickly tried to turn his reference of being from another world as to referring to something else.

“The north. I mean the Northern Continent. Sorry, I was just being sarcastic. Anyway, you were saying how they knew it wasn’t just an accident.”

ShinGaru regarded him for a moment longer before his face took on a more somber expression. “After the first three cubs disappeared in the night, NyRo and VayRonx organized a massive search party. A day later, we found one of the three, six kilometers west of here. He was five years old, and so much larger and stronger than the other two who were under a year. He had apparently managed to put up enough of a fight to get away or simply be released by his captor. In any case, he had part of his throat torn out and bled to death while trying to get back home.”