FanStory.com - Joshua Returnsby Roxanna Andrews

Eric and Drake stood gaping at their nephew. He had changed much in the two years since they had last seen him. He was now a man and no longer the youth who had left on a quest.

The uncles soon regained their wits and grabbed Joshua in a back slapping embrace. They laughed with tears in their eyes, thinking they would never see their beloved nephew again and were overjoyed.

Nyla pushed her way through those gathered around her son and embraced him. "I was fearful of never seeing you again, but God has saved you and brought you back to us."

He smiled at his mother as Augdon came up to shake his hand. "I am heartily glad to see you, son."

Lyse stood quietly beside Joshua. He drew her forward. "This is Lyse." he said, introducing her to his uncles. "She will be my wife one day soon." He said this looking Augdon in the eye. Augdon gave a slight nod.

Augdon embraced his daughter, then it was Nyla's turn. "I cannot find words to thank you for caring for my son. He looks completely well."

"That has naught to do with me, but our learned healer. He saved Joshua from the ravages of a fever. I am most grateful to him," said Lyse, looking into Joshua's eyes.

"As am I," said Nyla. "I must thank him on my return to the fortress."

Dak, Drake's son and Joshua's cousin ran to him, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Is it really you, cousin?" He asked as he looked into Joshua's face.

"It is good to see you Dak. You have grown some since we last met." Joshua laughed as the two were eye to eye.

"I have kept your horse for you. He is well." Dak gave a whistle and Fader came running. The huge black Fresian pranced when he saw Joshua, who patted his neck and whispered in his ear. The stallion nuzzled Joshua, remembering his master.

Dak looked beyond Joshua to Dyster. The huge blue dragon stayed where he had landed, flexing his wings occasionally.

"I would never think I would see one of these up close," said Dak, with awe.

Joshua motioned for Dyster to come forward. The crowd took a step back as the dragon came to stand beside him.

He put his massive head down waiting for a pat and Lyse patted the huge forehead. "Would anyone like a ride? He is very friendly. I promise, you have nothing to fear."

All stood quietly staring at the monstrous beast. One small child stepped forward. "I would like a ride," she said. The children had run to see Dyster when they saw him land. Now they all rushed forward, vying each other to be first.

Lyse had placed a rope ladder hooked to Dyster's saddle to make it easier to climb up the beast's side. The children clamored up, excited to be going on an adventure. Lyse took three at a time, carefully strapping them down so there was no chance of them falling off.

The parents looked on apprehensively, but knowing there would be no getting their children down, resigned themselves. Joshua reassured them that the children would be perfectly safe and Lyse was a dragon master.

After seeing the children ride the dragon, the men were shamed into doing so. Afterward, many of the men found they enjoyed it and inquired about being a rider. Several were taken back to the fortress where they could be trained.

Goran, Joshua's grandfather came out to greet him, embracing him in a bear hug with tears in his eyes.

"It is good to see you. I thought I might never lay eyes on you again."

Goran also made peace with Nyla, the daughter he had not seen in eighteen years.

"I should never have let them take you from us. Your mother never forgave me for it." He hung his head as he spoke to Nyla, unable to meet her eyes.

Nyla felt her heart go out to him and any resentment she'd harbored, faded away. She put her hand on his arm. "It was the way of things then. You really had no choice. My brothers took good care of me and I did well. Look at the grandson I gave you." She gestured towards Joshua.

"Yes, he is a fine boy. He is a man now. But I should have been a man and come to visit you with your brothers. I was a coward."

"I know that is not true. Now let us talk no more of what should have been. We have much to catch up on and new memories to make."

Goran marveled that she could forgive so easily. He saw in her much of her mother and his heart ached for the loss he had inflicted on them all.

A council meeting was called shortly after Joshua's arrival so they could get an account from him of his time away from the clan.
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Hamish sat hunched on his horse, rethinking the wisdom of leaving the clan. He wasn't even sure what he was going to do. He once again had let his blind rage cause him to make a foolish decision.

He had been traveling for fourteen days and his food was running out. He was not a hunter, so was beginning to panic. He saw himself starving to death in this frozen wasteland, his clansmen coming across his bones years later. It was more likely the wolves would drag his body off, never to be seen again. The only other living thing he had seen were the wolves that trailed him. He saw them now and then watching him. At night he kept his fire high and was forced to keep watch and had slept very little. When he could, he slept in a cave or with his back against a cliff wall to better defend himself.

He was cursing himself for his stupidity when he saw a large shadow move over him. Hamish looked up in time to see a huge black dragon descending on him. It grabbed him in its clawed feet, and ascended again. Screaming and kicking he tried to free himself, but the powerful grip of the black demon was unbreakable and he soon ceased his struggling.