Jonathan’s first thought was that he must have been hit by dragon fire. That would explain why he was so warm and the world had gone dark. His second thought was if he was hit by dragon fire, why was he still alive? At least he thought he was still alive. The massive headache that was pounding in his head was telling him he was. He soon realized that he must be lying down on the ground, except the ground was soft and didn’t feel like it was rock. He continued to just lie there for a moment, and then he realized he could hear birds singing. Birds, in a cave, what a ridiculous thought, he told himself. He must have hit his head harder than he realized. He tried to sit up and found that every muscle in his body angrily screamed at him not to move. So he lay there listening to the birds as the warm air around him grew hotter until he soon lost consciousness.

Shai had always been inquisitive. It was, in fact, a trait that had gotten her in trouble numerous times, and it looked like today was to be no different. She knew that everyone who was innately sensitive to these things should have felt the raw blast of power that accompanied the sound of an explosion she heard that morning. She also knew Aldara would most likely not be happy to discover that Shai took off alone to investigate. The amount of energy that was felt demanded that one take appropriate precautions when investigating the cause. But Shai understood that such precautions often took time, and she was curious. Being curious meant that she did not want to wait to discover the cause of the strange occurrence. She knew she could handle any displeasure Aldara might show towards her. She would not be happy, but there were no rules that forbade Shai from investigating on her own. Aldara would soon forgive her.

It was not hard for Shai to determine which way to go. The power released resonated so strongly that it became a flashing beacon in the sky, much the same as a lighthouse, only this was displaying a light made up of magic, announcing it was there. The thing about a lighthouse is that it could be a welcoming sign to help a sailor home, or it could be a warning to nearby ships to avoid the dangerous rocks in the water. It never once entered Shai’s mind that this could be a warning and that she was going straight to the warning light like a moth to the flame.

The flame in this case, led Shai straight into the forest. She was making great speed, zipping in and out of the trees, taking care not to touch any of the thorn bushes. Shai was always gifted when it came to racing. She could outmaneuver even the most adept in any obstacle course without slowing down. She slowed down as she came near to where the power was coming from. She noticed it looked like there was a small glade in the middle of the forest. Shai had lived here for all of her life and knew this forest better than anyone, but she did not recall an opening in the trees at this place in the forest before.

She approached the tree line slowly and peeked out into the newfound glade. Where there had always stood oaks and maple trees, there was now a grassy meadow. Even the ferns that grew amongst the tree roots were gone. Shai could see how an explosion large enough to destroy all the trees in the area would be loud enough to be heard all the way back home, but she did not see any signs of an explosion. Where was all the debris? She expected to find the shattered trunks and tree limbs scattered about, but instead it looked as if the meadow had always been there. There were now wildflowers around the edge and what appeared to be a field of sunflowers in the middle of the glade. If Shai had any doubt before that magic was in use, that doubt was gone now. The only explanation for what she found was the use of magic. And she knew it needed to be a very powerful magic.

Shai moved closer to the ground to try and hide her approach as she slowly entered the glade. She felt completely exposed as the warm summer sun shone down once she moved from out under the protection of the trees. She made it to halfway between the sunflowers and the tree line before she stopped moving and waited. She could not detect anything else there with her other than the birds. The birds were a good sign, they would not be singing if there was trouble about. The birds of this forest were particularly sensitive to the Darkness as they were loyal to the Light. Shai trusted what her feathered friends were telling her and moved up to the edge of the sunflower field.

For the first time in her life, Shai did not know what to say or think. She found them lying in the field unresponsive. She did not know who or what they were. She had never seen anyone who looked like them before. She knew she ought to be frightened by the strangers, after all, they were strangers, but Shai was curious. She had never met strangers before, they were simply not allowed. She moved around studying each of them. She was able to determine that one of them was female and the other two were male. She could also tell they were not a danger to her, after all, they were not even awake. More to the point, she could see the goodness about them. They were no friends to the Darkness of that she was certain. Shai hoped they would wake up soon. She longed to talk to them before the others arrived. While Aldara was sure to advise caution, she would most certainly still send a party out to investigate as well. Shai was confident that Aldara would likely send Adir. That would be the most logical choice as no one else was as strong and fierce of a warrior then Adir. She did not have to wait long before the taller male was the first to move, which caused Shai to jump straight up in surprise.

Jonathan slowly began to wake up. He felt as if he had taken a nap in the afternoon and overslept until it was nighttime, not sure if it was morning or evening. It was no wonder he overslept, he thought as he felt the warmth of the sun all over him and the soft ground from the bed of flowers he was lying down on. Then he remembered the cave. He opened his eyes and found himself looking at what looked like a pixie flying away from him. “Pix?” he cried out quickly as he sat up. He took note that he was outside, surrounded by sunflowers. How did he get here, and more to the point, where was here? He thought to himself. He found Janney and George still asleep nearby. Jonathan started to make his way towards them when the flying pixie came closer.

“Pix is that you? Where are we?” Jonathan asked.

“We are in the Southland forest.” came a young female voice. “My name is Shai.” the pixie said as she came to rest atop a nearby sunflower.

“The Southland forest? Where is that?” Jonathan asked.

“It is here. Surely you know of it, how else could you have come here if you did not know this?” Shai asked him.

“I don’t know how we got here. One moment we were in the cave, and George was fighting that creature. I remember that man, the terrifying man. He was yelling something about how he was the Darkness. Then, the next moment, I find myself here.” Jonathan told her.

Shai’s eyes went wide, and her face made a look of disgust as he mentioned the man in the cave. “What is that, a man?” she asked him.

“You know a man, like me.” Jonathan pointed to himself. “You’re a pixie, right? Like Pix is. The man is like me. Only nothing like me inside, just on the outside.” he explained.

“Why do you say this?” Shai questioned him with a defensive tone in her voice. “That is the second time you used that name. Why do you use the name of our most sacred guardian?”

“You mean Pix? Well, you are a pixie, right? How else could I know this unless I have met one before? Pix is the only other pixie I have seen until now.” Jonathan told her.

“You have seen Pix?” Shai asked cautiously as if she did not believe him.

“Well, yes. I have only known him for a few days, but my cousins are good friends with him. They live next door to him.” Jonathan told her.

“You’re from outside!” Shai said breathlessly.

“Who are you talking to, Jon?” Janney said groggily as she began to sit up. Janney rubbed her eyes and did a double-take when she saw Shai. The small pixie had the look of being in complete shock. Janney thought she also saw a bit of fear run across her.

“Janney.” Jonathan said with relief that she was awake. “Janney, this is Shai. Shai, this is my cousin Janney. Oh yeah, and my name is Jonathan.

“Hello.” Janney said to Shai.

“Hello Janney. Hello Jonathan.” Shai replied to each in turn. “How did you get here?”

“Well, I am not sure. I don’t know where here is?” Janney answered Shai.

“We are in the Southland forest.” Jonathan informed Janney. “Apparently, Shai thinks we are from outside.”

“Outside where?” Janney asked.

“Jonathan said you know Pix, is that correct?” Shai asked.

“Yes, he is a dear friend, do you know him too?” Janney asked.

“How old do you think I am? He left before I was born.” Shai said emphatically.

“Then how do you know of him?” George said as he sat up. He had been listening to the conversation between his sister and the pixie as he woke up.

“Who doesn’t know of him? This man, who Jonathan said lives with Pix next door to you. I suppose you are going to tell me that Virago lives next to you, too?” Shai said sarcastically.

“Mr. Virago?” Janney asked Shai.

“He is our grandfather.” George said.

The pixie broke out laughing uncontrollably at George’s statement. “Oh yeah right. Who put you up to this nonsense?” Shai asked.

“It is true.” Jonathan tried to explain to Shai.

“Maybe you hurt your heads, that would explain it. No that can’t be right, how could you all have the same delusion then?” Shai wondered out loud.

George stood up as a large shadow moved across them. He looked up to see what kind of bird was so large that it could cause a shadow over the entire field and saw a large golden dragon circling above them. The dragon was not a shadow like the one from the cave. It was a real live dragon. His first instinct was to run, but then he remembered that he was a descendant of a dragon and he could defend himself if he needed to.

Janney gasped in awe as she saw the dragon and took hold of George’s shoulder. “Look George! Isn’t he beautiful?” Janney said with wonder.

The dragon circled a few more times before it landed next to them. The dragon’s legs were longer than George was from toes to the top of his head. Standing next to him made George feel small and vulnerable. The sun was reflecting off the golden dragon's scales, making him appear to glow. The creature moved closer and stood up on its back legs so it could tower over the three strangers.

“What are you doing here, Shai?” came the deep voice of the dragon.

“Oh, get off it, Adir.” Shai said. “These three are obviously damaged. They claim to know Pix.”

 “Is that so?” Adir asked.

“Wait it gets better. This one said that Virago is their grandfather!” Shai said mockingly. “Like they would even know him, let alone that it could be true.”

“But it is true.” George told them.

As Adir moved his head closer to examine, he looked intently at George. He sniffed a few times, and then his eyes went wide in shock. Adir quickly turned back to look at Shae. “Be quiet, little one.” he roared with such authority that Shai froze.

“My apologies, guardians.” Adir said, addressing the children. “Please forgive the ignorance of youth. She does not understand proper manners when the circumstances call for it.”

“That’s all right.” Janney said. “There was no harm done.”

“You are most gracious guardian.” Adir replied.

“What! Guardian! Who them?” Shai stammered. “Did you not hear what I told you they said? How can they say that and be a guardian?”

“I heard you little one. I know a guardian when I see one. He spoke the truth. I see only the Light in them, all of them.” Adir told Shai.

“But how could it possibly be true?” the pixie asked.

“I don’t claim to understand that yet. But it is true. Go home, little one. Leave this business to guardians.” said Adir.

“Adir is it?” Jonathan asked.

The golden dragon nodded his head, confirming that Jonathan was correct.

“I am Jonathan, and these are my cousins, George and Janney. We are not sure how we came to be here. We are not even sure where here is. We would welcome any help at all you could give us. In return, we will gladly tell you what we know. Who knows, maybe you can help us to understand our present circumstance better.”

“Well met Jonathan. I am Adir. Third prime to the D`uhmora. I, too am a guardian.” Adit told them. “You are in the protected land within the Eye to the Light.”

“The D`uhmora?” Jonathan asked.

“You mean you don’t know of the exile?” Shai was visibly frustrated and confused. She was about to say more, but she managed to regain her composure once she noticed the stern look on Adir’s face that was directed at her.

“We are inside the Eye?” asked George.

“Yes, you are the first to travel across the barrier since Virago raised it.” Adir answered.

“But how is this possible?” George asked.

“I do not have an answer for this yet, I am afraid George. But we should go speak with the second prime. She may be of more help with this. Follow me and I will take you to her.” Adir said as he flew up into the air.

All three children stood looking up at him, not moving. All of them had the same questions and fears running about in their minds. How did they get there? How will they get home? Can they ever get home? Adir circled a moment, motioning for them to follow him.

“Shai, can you tell him we can’t fly?” Janney asked the pixie who had not left them yet.

“Really? You mean you just walk?” The pixie looked surprised by this revelation. Still, in the end, she did go and tell Adair that they would have to follow him on foot.

Adair landed near them once more and crouched down low. “My apologies again, guardians. You are small enough that I can take all three of you. Climb on my back, I promise to fly smoothly for you, but still, you’d better hold on tight.” Adair said with a smile.

George climbed on Adir’s back first, followed by Janney and then Jonathan. They found handholds on his golden scales. Adir promised that it would not hurt him if they gripped on tight. With one mighty swoop of his wings, the ground fell beneath their feet as they took flight. The rush of the warm summer air rushing over them, mixed with the excitement of flying and on the back of a dragon no less, made all three of them feel more alive than ever before. They had a clear view of the glade the Eye had brought them to once they were in the air. It did indeed look as if the magic cleared a hole in the forest for them. The glade was a perfect circle of soft grass with a sunflower field in the middle that reminded Janney of Mr. Virago’s garden back home.

Adir took them over and out of the forest, and soon they were flying over a large meadow full of wildflowers. “It is not much longer. The second Prime lives atop the ridgeline across the river.” The golden dragon said to them with his head turned as he checked to make sure his riders were alright.

Jonathan looked over where Adir mentioned and saw that there was a slow-moving river running along the length of the meadow. Across from the river was a wide ridgeline that appeared to be the beginnings of the foothills of a distant mountain range. He wondered just how big the area inside the Eye truly was. He understood that they were transported magically inside the crystal, but Jonathan was having a hard time comprehending how it was at all possible now that he was looking at the world from the point of view inside the Eye.

Janney could not bring herself to look down at the ground without finding herself getting dizzy and beginning to panic. So she looked out to the horizon around them instead. Janney could see other dragons of various colors and sizes circling in the sky as they drew nearer to the river. They soared on the wind currents effortlessly without even flapping their wings, much the same as birds do on a windy day. She began counting the colors and trying to remember what Mr. Virago had taught her about each kind. She remembered that green was the most common kind of dragon. This was also evident by the fact that there were a number of them flying around. They are the smallest of the dragons, but they have an innate ability that allows them to heal others. She could make out what she thought was a blue dragon over by the river. She supposed this made perfect sense because they were able to breathe underwater. Mr. Virago had told her their ability was not because of magic, but rather because blue dragons have a set of gills like a fish in their neck underneath their jaw. Janney thought she could make out a brown dragon flying with a small red dragon over by the ridge they were flying towards.

George was having the time of his life. He was actually flying on a dragon. His excitement was completely uncontrollable as they flew through the air in the new magical land. He had always been the daredevil in the family. This time proved to be no exception. At times, he threw his hands up in the air and just screamed in delight as if he were on a rollercoaster. Adir was flying very smoothly, just as he promised, so George wasn’t afraid of falling off. He also had Jonathan in front of him and Janney behind him, so there was nowhere for him to go. He saw wonder and fantastically things everywhere he looked.

Adir shifted his body slightly and began to turn in a spiral pattern as he made his descent. Aidir would have normally simply dove toward the ground and pulled up at the last moment to make a landing. However, seeing that he carried passengers on his back, he decided on a slower landing. As the ground became closer. Several figures were moving about on the ground as the compound for the second prime came into view. “It seems you have drawn quite the crowd.” Adir told them. “My, even Keris is here. She does not normally venture outside of her home.”

“Which one is she?” Jonathan asked Adir.

“Keris is the next to the Second, off to the right.” Adir told him.

Jonathan could see two figures standing away from the others. One was a white dragon, and the other a pale horse. Surely it was not the horse, he thought to himself.

“Why that is a unicorn!” cried George.

“Of course, I just told you.” Adir sounded confused at George’s surprise. “That is Keris. She is not normally very curious. She can’t afford to be as she is the last of her kind.”

“I suppose it is not every day you have visitors.” Jonathan said.

“You are correct, guardian.” Adir replied.

“I’m not a…” Jonathan began to say, but his words trailed off as the gold dragon finished his descent with what appeared to be an effortless landing.

Adir lowered his body as close to the ground as he could to help the children as they climbed off of his back. A loud murmur could be heard making its way through the crowd of before speaking quietly. “Fear not, most here have not seen a human in a long time. They don’t trust humans, and they fear them. But you are guardians, which means they cannot cast you out either.”

“What do you mean?” Janney asked.

Adir responded by walking towards the white dragon and unicorn Keris and indicating that they were to follow him. They walked across a grassy courtyard, and Adir stopped before the white dragon. He nodded his head as a sign of respect to Keris and then bowed deeply before the white dragon.

“I told you it was true.” came the voice of Shai from the front of the gathering crowd.

“Humans?” came the concerned voices around them in whispers. “How can it be? How is this possible?” The questions rumbling between the crowd could be heard. The sound of fear and concern over them so openly being spoken about. The children began to feel afraid as they stood there with the eyes of all the dragons, pixies, a unicorn, and others all staring at them.