#93: So that's it? You were just about to get rid of me without an explanation, and you're going to let her go just like that?
Southern Huntsman (SH): #93, I do see your point, you'll just have to trust me at this situation.
#93: So you're playing favorites now?
SH: 93, you will not talk to me in that tone. Return to your room until you can get your head cleared.
#93: Okay, fine, I will Master.
Southern Huntsgirl (HG): #93, stop! Please don't be mad.
#93: Don't be mad? You're a two-faced liar. You could have spoken up at anytime!
HG: No I couldn't have. Don't you understand? The only reason I'm not dead right now, is because everyone knows that I'm completely loyal! You know it and so do I.
#93: That wasn't why you didn't speak up.
HG: I was scared! Yes, me. Huntsgirl of the Southern Tribe – scared.
SH: 93 – room – now.
Narrator (N): #93 turns and walks away. Everyone was still in shock.
SH: Huntsgirl, he does have a very good point. You are still a magical creature. Even the dragon that was tamed all of those years ago was still kept in a cage.
HG: You don't trust me?
Teacher (T): (Alex's dad) Sweetheart, it's not that they don't trust you, it's –
HG: Stay out of this dad. You're not a part of this.
T: Young lady, I do believe that I am.
SH: Sir, I need to talk with Alex alone. (To Alex) Follow me. (He leads her to his office) So what do you suppose we do Huntsgirl?
HG: I think that I should get myself trained, register into the dragon council, and destroy the dragons from the inside out.
SH: Hmmm, I like your idea, but maybe you don't have to train yourself. If we keep you in the dungeons, the dragon council should pick up a dragon reading – like we did. They'll come, save you, you read them some sob story how you've always been a prisoner since you were a baby, and then they take you to the dragon head quarters. If they get you a good trainer then we're home free! Good bye to all magical creatures!
HG: (Sighs) Okay, I like it, but do I really have to stay in the dungeons with all of the other icky magical things that want my head delivered to them on a silver platter?
SH: Just don't show them that you're you, show them the other side of you, the you they'd want to see, not the side they don't.
HG: Um, so you're saying I should be a dragon at all times?
SH: Yes, wasn't I speaking English?
HG: Um, I'm not really sure.
SH: Are you ready?
HG: I think so.
SH: All right, I've got clothing that you can wear in case you do have to at any time go back into human form and it won't be completely obvious whom you are. I also want you to change your hair. Lighter brown, and a foot shorter.
HG: My hair?!
SH: (Sternly) Huntsgirl…
HG: Of course Master.
N: After a couple of hours, she had a new hair style, and new clothing. It was just a plain pair of jeans and a white sweatshirt with a silver dragon painted on the back.
SH: (Walking to dungeons) Remember, this should look real – so I got some of the other Huntsmen. You will have a metal collar on that has five poles coming out of it. I need you in dragon form. Do whatever you have to, to become a stressed out dragon in need escaping.
HG: I can do that!
SH: Good. (Pauses) Are you ready?
HG: (Nods) Yes.
SH: Okay, let's go.
N: Alex transformed into a dragon and the Southern Huntsman gathered the others. One of them placed the large metal collar over her neck and then grabbed the poles. The Southern Huntsman ran his finger down the strong protective spikes down her back.
SH: Let's move.
N: He had not held a pole, but did stand in front with his hand grasping her neck, preventing her from moving any other direction than he wanted.
HG: (Acting) (Shouting) Huntsman! Let – go – of – me!
SH: (Entering dungeons) Shut it dragon!
HG: (Trying to break free) Ahh!
SH: Settle down!
HG: Not until you release me!
SH: Never. I'm saving you as a special treat.
HG: And what do you mean by that?
SH: After the Huntsclan competition, if my Huntsgirl kicks butt – which she will – she's going to get a special prize. From me to her.
HG: And if she sucks – which she will?
SH: (Getting close to face) Then she's going to have a lot of anger – isn't she? (Pauses) Now get in there!
That NightN: That very night, the Dragon Leaders snuck into the dungeons and immediately found Alex's cage.
HG: (Scared) Who's there?
Dragon Leaders (DL): Shhh, it's okay. We're here to save you.
HG: Who are you?
DL: We're the Dragon Council Leaders. Quiet. They'll hear you.
N: They melted the lock off of the door.
DL: Come on. (Running outside) Can you fly?
HG: I don't know, I was never given the opportunity to try.
DL: Okay, just spread out your wings and flap – hard. Come on – we need to hurry.
N: They flew all the way to the Dragon Council Headquarters.
DL: Honey, do you have a name?
HG: Um, I'm not sure. In my family, the dragon gene travels through each and every generation. When I was born, the nurse realized who – or – what we were, she turned us straight into the Huntsclan. They then separated everyone and sent us back and forth between the North and the South. I never knew my parents. If I'm correct, the Huntsman slain both of them a few years ago. He just called me girl, or kid, or dragon.
DL: Do you know any names that you'd like to be called by?
HG: I've never really heard any modern names. Just numbers and Huntsmaster.
DL: Well then, does the name Kelly work for you?
HG: That's pretty, I like it.
DL: Well, there's two spellings. K-E-L-L-Y the common way or K-E-L-L-I the unique way.
HG: I like it the more unique way.
DL: Okay, Kelli it is. Sweetheart, does the Huntsman know your true human identity?
HG: Of course. I've just recently learned that I was a dragon – or maybe it was that I learned how to form into one?
DL: If he knows your face, then why were you in dragon form when we found you?
HG: (Pausing) The truth it, I'm scared to death of them. Especially the Southern Huntsman. I figured out that I was safer in dragon form than human.
DL: Smart move. Why were you so completely freaked out when we found you? We thought that you would do anything to escape?
HG: (Sigh with mouth shut) The Huntsman claimed he was going to give me to the Huntsgirl after the Huntsclan Competition. He said I would be a gift if she won, and "anger management" if she lost. I really thought that I was going to die soon!
DL: Last question. Obviously you really haven't flown, but any other training? Fighting? Intelligence in battle? Fire breathing?
HG: Sorry. I was too afraid to try.
DL: We understand. Well, the big Dragon Summit Event is tomorrow. You'll get plenty of tips and training there.
HG: Oh terrific!
SH: (Through earpiece) That's our girl! Keep it up, and I will have a dragon for you when you get back.
Southern Huntsclan AcademySH: (Calling on phone) Hey, Northern Huntsman? It's me.
Northern Huntsman (NH): What do you want? I'm busy.
SH: Is it possible to delay the competition for a few weeks? My Huntsgirl is off getting the low down on the Dragon Summit.
NH: Yes, I heard about that. (Pauses) I suppose we could delay it. Rose has come down with a nasty cold, and must be better for the Competition.
SH: See what happens when you put a young girl half naked into the water in January in the middle of the night?
NH: It almost worked.
Dragon SummitN: They had all traveled to the Summit to pick out rooms and get settled in before the rush. Alex felt lonely, so she visited Rose in her dream.
Rose's Dream RealmHG: Rose! Rose are you in here?
Rose (R): Alex? What are you doing in here?
HG: What are you doing here? Aren't you sick? You should be sleeping soundly right now.
R: (Tearing up) I can't.
HG: Oh my gosh. What happened?
R: The Huntsman went out for some errands the other day, so I took a walk down to the river. I saw him there.
HG: Who? The Huntsman?
R: No, Jake. He was making out with a witch.
HG: How could you tell that she was a witch?
R: Because she had a wand in her hand, and this weird pointy hat. It was so obvious.
HG: Have you talked to him?
R: NO, how can I?
HG: Do you want me to rough him up for you? I can do it in his dreams or at the Dragon Summit.
R: Yea, what's up with that?
HG: I'll explain later. Answer my question.
R: No, maybe I never should have told you – about us.
HG: Rose, you had to tell someone. Yes, I absolutely hate dragons, and disagree with what you're doing 100, but as long as your in the Northern Tribe and I'm in the South, it's none of my business.
R: Thank you.
HG: Yes, I dated one of the guys at the Southern Academy once. Then I caught him flirting and kissing all of the Northern girls at the Huntsclan Competition last year.
R: Oh, that was your boyfriend? (Pauses) Just kidding.
HG: Yea, you better be.
R: Okay, enough about me. Tell me more about you being a dragon?
HG: Ugh, well, it's a long story, and I don't want to bore you.
R: Oh please! It's better than sitting here moping.
HG: All right. To make it quick, somehow, it happened that every generation of my family are dragons – gross. So the Southern Huntsman picked up my DNA on the scanners, and put the entire Academy into shut down. He was about to accuse someone else, so I stepped in and admitted to everything. We thought that it would be cooler to go undercover that to kill me. So they threw me in the dungeon, the Dragon Council saved me, and gave me the name Kelli – with an I.
R: Why?
HG: I told them that I never knew my real name. Oh! And if they ever ask you if at one point you knew my dragon side, create a mean story. I also sort of told them that I was switched back and forth between the North and South, so just incase Jake asks you, get ready.
R: Okay, that makes sense – I think. So you and #93 are officially going out now right?
HG: No! What makes you think such a crazy thought?!