| Prologue | Going Forward |
| The Truth About Nate | His Revelations |
| Young Celtic | All About Trust |
| Celtic and Nate | Heartbreak |
| Flying With Dragons | Trust Issues |
| A Reunion | Remembered Memories |
| A Dinner Guest | Epilogue |
| Sacrifices |
Nate grew up on the Island of Air and Earth, but knew that he had been adopted from the Island of Fire and Cold. He had been raised by a loving couple but always wondered about his biological family.
“Who were they?” He would often ask his parents when he was a young teen.
“They were really dear friends of ours who asked us to take you. They feared for your life.” His father would reply.
“I do not know if they had any more children. They had to break communication a few years ago to keep you safe.” His mother added one day, on Nate’s fourteenth birthday. “We did hear from your grandmother from time to time so we knew they were okay.”
“Can I look for them? Can I have a name? Anything?” Nate asked.
“I’m sorry, Son.” His father hated keeping the information from him but for his safety that was the way it had to be. “I wish we could tell you everything you want to know, I really do, but for their safety and yours, we cannot.”
“Why?” It frustrated Nate to know that his parents had all this information about his biological family but they would not tell him anything. He wanted an explanation.
“Nate, you are special; you will do great things for this kingdom. There are people out there who do not want you to succeed. They will stop at nothing to prevent good from happening. That includes killing you and your family, along with anyone else they see as a threat.” His mother answered. They decided to tell Nate what he could know since they could not tell him what he wanted to know.
“No one can know who you are.” His father added. They kept stressing that all of this was a secret. “You are from the Air Clan, that is all anyone can know at this time.”
“So maybe one day I can look for my biological parents?” Nate asked, hopeful. He understood now of the dangers and the importance the secrecy.
“Maybe one day you can.” His mother smiled. They would love for their son to know his biological family. The two couples had been friends for a long time and there was no hesitation in taking Nate. They had known he wouldn’t have been given up had there been a choice.
Just after Nate’s fourteenth birthday, a man called “The Dragon Master” came to speak with him. It was explained that Nate had been chosen for an important task. He was to help train dragons for battle. Nate said good-bye to his parents and traveled to the Main Island with the Dragon Master. Neither he nor his parents protested what the Dragon Master had told them. “We have to stop by the Island of Fire and Cold first. There is one more person we need to pick up.” The Dragon Master watched Nate’s expression at the mention of that Island. “You shouldn’t look for them yet.”
“How did you know?” Nate looked at the man suspiciously.
“I know a lot of things, Nate. I know the truth about you and your family. It isn’t safe to look for them yet. In time, Nate, in time.” The teenager nodded at the man’s words. He remembered what his parents had told him about the importance of keeping everything a secret.
“Okay.” Nate wanted desperately to find his biological family, but heeded the warnings. Somehow he knew he had a sibling, he just wasn’t sure if it was a brother or a sister.
“After spending a couple of days on the Island of Fire and Cold, the Dragon Master and Nate left with a young pre-teen named Bane. It had taken a little time to convince Bane to leave the island. He said that there was someone on the island that he needed to check on. She was a young girl, about eight, who lived on the outskirts of the two clans.
“Is she your sister or something?” Nate asked, not understanding Bane’s reasons for wanting to check in on her.
“No, but she’s special. There has always been this need in me to protect her. She’s always been bullied for being different. She lives with her parents, grandmother, and twin brothers.” Bane replied.
“Her brothers?” Nate asked; something nagging at him.
“Not technically. Their parents were killed in a violent attack a couple months ago. The two clans are always fighting. Hatred runs deep with some.” Bane began to explain. “Some believed that the twins’ mother had had an affair with someone from the Cold Clan and that their father knowingly went along with it.”
“What do you mean?” Nate questioned.
“One twin had red hair and red eyes, while the other has pale blue hair and pale blue eyes.” Bane answered. “People didn’t believe the truth, they only believed what they wanted to. Both parents were from the Fire Clan, it’s just that the mother had ancestors from the Cold Clan.”
“Back when things were peaceful, many married into other clans. They still do, but the one union that is ‘forbidden’ is that between the opposite clans.” The Dragon Master added.
“Which is why this family lives on the outskirts. The wife is from the Cold Clan and the husband is from the Fire Clan. In the beginning people were okay with the union but over the years things changed.” Bane watched the girl playing with the twins in the yard. It was hard but he knew he had to leave. As Nate stood there next to Bane, watching this family, the nagging feeling from earlier intensified. He wondered if he had found his biological family. “We should get going.” The Dragon Master said, sensing something from Nate.
After everyone was on the Main Island, Nate and Bane were introduced to the others. There was Dt, she was 21 and Nate knew her from the Air Clan – she happened to be the niece of his adoptive parents. The second oldest, at 16, was Liber. He had dark green hair and green eyes, marking him as from the Plant Clan. He seemed nice and had a warm, teasing smile on his face. Nate, at 14, was the third oldest and the second from the Air Clan. Bane was introduced forth followed by another 12 year old, Justin, from the Lightning Clan. Justin was probably the most intense out of the group and seemed to want the center of attention. He was also very impatient.
“I will leave you all to get to know each other and rest. There will be much to discuss tomorrow.” The Dragon Master left the room.
“This is weird.” Liber spoke after a few minutes of silence.
“You can say that again.” Dt replied. They chatted about their respective islands and speculations as to why they were there. After a couple of hours, they decided It was time to call it a night.
The next morning, after breakfast, then Dragon Master explained, in further detail, why they had been selected. A war was coming and they have been chosen to lead the army into battle. About two years after they had arrived on the Main Island, Nate was talking with Dt and Liber one day. Bane had been called in to speak with the Dragon Master. After about an hour, Bane approached him and said that the Dragon Master had a mission for the two of them. He noticed the tone and expression on Bane’s face so he didn’t question it at that time.
“What’s going on?” Nate asked after they had taken off on their dragons. The Dragon Master had given them each a dragon. Bane had a Seasonal dragon and Nate had a Platinum dragon. “Do you remember the girl that lived on the outskirts of the Fire and Cold clans?” Nate could hear the turmoil in Bane’s voice.
“Yeah, she had the twin boys living with her after their parents were killed.” Nate wondered what had happened.
“Her parents were killed. I don’t know how long ago it happened. The children are okay though. Someone tried to attack the girl, Celtic, but her parents protected her.” Bane sighed. Nate didn’t understand the sudden sense of loss that came over him.
“Why are we going?” He asked. He thought it odd that the Dragon Master would send them to the Island in the middle of training.
“The grandmother, Abigail, requested our presence as soon as possible.” Bane answered. It hadn’t escaped him that Nate was mentioned by name in the letter even though he was from the Air Clan and hadn’t spent much time of the Island of Fire and Cold.
“Why me?” Nate was confused. Then he remembered something his parents had said: “We hear from your grandmother from time to time so that we know they’re alright. There was never any mention of a sibling, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have any.”
“I don’t really know. The Dragon Master said that it’s because we work well together, but Abigail asked for you by name.” Bane replied. He really didn’t know anything else. “Did they always live on the outskirts?” Nate was curious.
“No, I don’t think so. My mother mentioned something about them moving in with Abigail around the time Celtic was born. Some said that they had been pregnant before but never saw a baby. There’s no evidence of Celtic having any siblings.” Bane thought. “Celtic was homeschooled because she would always get picked on when she would come to the villages with her parents.”
“Interesting.” Nate allowed this information to sink in. They rode the rest of the way in silence. They landed on the edge of the island, close to where Celtic lived. Before they got very far, they heard someone behind them.
“Stupid dragon!” Justin stumbled off his Gold dragon.
“Justin, go back!” Bane ordered.
“No, you can’t tell me what to do.” Justin spat back. Nate watched Bane clinch his hands into fists. Most of the time Bane didn’t let Justin get to him, but this time was different.
“Justin, go back… if the Dragon Master wanted you on this mission, he would have sent you.” Nate tried.
“I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere.” Justin refused to go back.
“If you cause any problems or get in my way, you will be sorry.” Bane got in Justin’s face. Nate had never seen Bane threaten anyone before.
“Whatever.” Justin shrugged it off and started to walk away. He stopped mid-stride. “Who died?” Bane and Nate followed his line of sight and noticed the funeral procession.
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