The Masroop Tribe had their village on the plains deep in the valley of Grey Hawk. On the horizon was the Mountain of Mists. The clan of silver dragons protected the human village below. In the year of the Great War the regions of the north were kept safe. The kingdoms south and west were devastated. The generation that befell was a racial mix of gypsies and indigenous tribes.<br/><br/>The harvest had already begun, and the Festival of The Sun was beginning. The new generation would be coming of age and the initiates would be males and females between 15 and 19 years old. The would have full rights to counsel and ownership of property. The society allowed men and woman equal shares in land, animals, and marriage.<br/><br/><br/>It was a cloudy morning over the plains when the village met the dawn. Mayleen was excited her time had come. She was seventeen and her mother wanted Mayleen to have a few years maturity before she would allow her daughter to participate. She rose early from her hide, cone-shaped shelter.<br/><br/>Drums announced the gathering of clan members to the middle of the compound for the occasion.  Silver dragons approached the central compound. One of the females was ready to lay her third egg in 1000 years. The dragon The dragon would wait to see Mayleen was initiated before she flew away to a special place, designate years ago, to lay her rare egg.<br/><br/><br/>When the festival was about to begin the chief announced, "Welcome all to the Festival of the Sun. Today is a special day for our next generation. They are ready to take their place in Masroop society. This is also a sad day. The Great War is upon us and soldiers encroaching on sacred land to the east. A darkness in the sky, bird migration patterns changed, the flood animals are gathered in greater numbers into the plains and hunting grounds. These signs mean the village is no longer safe. We need to head for the mountains. The Silver dragons will give us shelter. The dragons are sacred and bonds lasted thousands of years. All initiates have been called together and their strength, courage, and honor are at stake. The Masroop initiates have accepted to attend special schools depending on their talents and abilities."<br/><br/>Mayleen stood with her peers and awaited her calling. She was athletic, an excellent bower and bonded with animals. She was ceremoniously given beads in her hair of her family's colors, topaz blues, jade greens, ruby reds, and quartz in many hues. Was given wampum bead necklaces of the west, coral bracelets of the east, rare tourqiuse of the north, and earrings of gold and silver of the mines of the south.<br/><br/>After the ceremony, Mayleen was made ready by family and friend. They provided the teen with a chestnut mare fit for long distance travel.  The horse and a sure-footed pack mule were burdened with furs, leathers, sacks of trade goods, personal items and food for two weeks. Mayleen tearfully said her thank yous and goodbyes.<br/><br/>She knew the village would pull up stakes and seek refuge in the mountains. There they would be safe in the deep caverns of the Silver Dragons lairs. The dragons emulated the humans and provided comfortable homes. The had living areas, studies, hot spring, bathing areas, privy's, libraries, and feasting halls. The Silvers loved banquet and communal feasting with their bonded humans.<br/><br/>The journey had been pleasant for Mayleen. She lived off the food that was provided and she ate well off the blackberries, wild strawberries, succulent apples of friendly folk that accepted her trade goods. She played her wooden flute for children.<br/>Two weeks passed quickly as she arrived at her destination a day early.<br/><br/>Mayleen turned toward the inn entrance and took a deep breath. She held herself tall and opened the door. *This is new life. You’re here. Make the village and family proud.* She had never been inside an inn. She entered, the place was warm and inviting.  Behind a polished wood, counter was a slender man handing a key to a neighboring teen tribesman. She stepped forward, smoothed her braids, then brushed the front of her deerskin dress, and spoke in the native tongue, "Pardonce, Frie? "BonHey. Namie Mayleen. Se beun ug namie? Es bebigne The Dragon School almaso?"