She started up through the surrounding woods, on the most direct path she could make out. There was no actual path, but the volcano loomed so large overhead, there was no real difficulty in deciding which way to go.
She climbed for what seemed like hours, but it was still twilight. The trees around her stretched their pale trunks up to the sky, leaved rustling conversationally. There seemed to be a path now, with white mosses running along either side. She made her way along it, watching around her, but not afraid. The woods seemed to be friendly, expectant. As if they had been waiting. Suddenly she stopped, and knelt down to pick up an object on the path. It was a clear quartz crystal, as long as her hand, and perfectly formed. She glanced around, wondering where on earth it had come from. Such perfectly formed crystals did not just happen to be lying on wooded paths. She realised she must be getting close now, and started running, the crystal clutched tight in her hand. The stars glittered overhead, though she couldn't see far enough through the trees, and the volcano was out of sight. She heard a river. She slowed to a walk as she came to it, and just like in her dream, there was a bridge across it. It arched delicately, effortlessly, across the river. She stared. An elf sat on one railing, his white hair cascading down his back. He regarded her seriously.
She gradually stopped, and waited, unknowing what to do.
"You have come. This is good." She was silent. "You are confused are you not? You have been guided here, I believe you are aware of that," She nodded. "Good. You are here for a purpose. There is a wild clutch at the new Midsummer Enchanted Caverns.. They need bondmates. You have been chosen. It is a task that is not to be taken lightly, and will last the rest of your life. It is full of rewards however, if you choose to bond. If you are willing to do this, then I shall see you up there." He gestured over the bridge, and up a small ridge to a cave in the hillside. Then he disappeared.
She gaped about her for a moment, at the still and very empty woods around her. She was soo confused. She looked up towards the cave, but couldn't see anything. She had come this far, so she had better keep going. She squared her shoulders and walked up to the bridge. It looked like it would break if she stepped on it. She touched it lightly, then tapped it, then gave it a gentle nudge. When it didnt move, she gingerly stepped on and tip toed across. She let out her breath in relief when she reached the other side, then turned and made her way up to the cave. The path was lined with fine quartz sand, pure white, and it sparkled in the starlight. Bordering the path were lines of crystals, like the one she was holding. The path led her to the cave. She stopped outside it, wondering where to go now. Then she noticed the elf sitting on a rock. Beside him was a torch, with white fire flickering warmly, shedding light on them.
"Welcome. I am very glad you are here.. It means you are meant to be here. No one could come if it were not the Will."
"Please explain why I'm here! and what is the Will? and whats this about dragons?" She wanted to know what was going on enough to interrupt the elf. He smiled. Suddenly out of the cave mouth came a small dragon. She had seen ones that were similar at the Gathering, though only a few people had them. They were like cousins to the big dragons, and whereas the big dragons tended to be thought of only as legend or myth, the little ones were kept as companions.

"This is Snow. For an original name. He is a Chesmu, and is here as a companion for the dragon. I will tell you about that now. There are dragons that live on this planet, you know this?." She nodded. There were dragons, they were just very uncommon, and very rarely seen, if at all, in a lifetime. He continued. "When a clutch is about to hatch, bondmates are called. They bond with the dragon when it is born, and are companions to it for the rest of their lives. Its a mental bond, well really more than that, emotional, you feel it with all your heart and soul. It is important that good bondmates are found that will not abandon their dragons...You still with me?" She was frowning in concentration, this was a lot of information to try and process in one go. She thought she had it though. "Yes I do. When am I going to get to meet the dragon? and what is her name? and who are yoU??" She was excited now, and a little apprehensive... she had never seen a big dragon before, had heard only stories.
"I am Lenthmissan. I am here as guardian of the White Volcano. Would you like to come in?" He gestured behind him at the cave entrance.
"Would I... Of course." She waited as he lit a torch from the one flaming at the entrance, then followed him into the Cave.

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Shireen paused at the entrance of the cave, she noticed two small pools of water, one on either side of the entrance. The water sat, still and smooth, in hollows carved out of the crystal walls themselves. The moonlight reflected off them, silverwhite. Lenthmissan noticed her glance. "They're magic pools...Kind of for protection, they can be used to focus magic. Come." He gestured for Shireen to follow as he made his way into the cave.

The torch flickered off the walls, the crystal refracting the light in shimmering waves, making it look like they were underwater. Shireen found herself holding her breath unnecessarily, and she deliberately took a deep breath. Then let it out in amazement. They stood at the edge of the inner volcanic chamber. The volcano had obviously been dormant for a long time, there was no lava, only a pool of peaceful water that covered most of the chamber floor. She couldn't see the bottom, she could barely see a few feet under as the reflection of the starlight on the surface of the water made vision deceptive. The top of the chamber opened out into the wide sky, and the stars carpeted the view overhead.
Lethmissan waited a moment for her to take it all in. "This is the place we call Rive'ala. Among the elves, it is believed to be a power source of the water element." Shireen opened her mouth to protest that surely a volcano would represent fire, but Lethmissan continued. "Yes, I know what you're thinking. But the volcano has been dormant for many thousands of years, even in our lenghty history eruption here is only known in stories. But the power of earth is still represented here, in a different form." He motioned to the crater lake. "That lake is deeper than you could dive. It is unknown if it has a bottom. White magic flows strongly here, and the water helps channel and focus it. It is the fitting place for a dragon, don't you think?" The walls, instead of being dark andesite that would be expected of a steep sided volcano, the inside was lined with pale crystalline rock, which glowed in the moonlight, which by now was overhead. The walls rose high, but were climbable. There were some caves along the walls near the floor of the chamber.
Lethmissan spoke again. "There are caves along there, fit for making a weyr for the dragon, and a cozy home for you. There are also chambers below the water, with air and without. I can stay, or send someone to get you settled. You have claim over this whole chamber, and some of the surrounding forest, with land for farming and beasts that I'm sure your dragon will find preferable when its grown. But that is getting ahead of myself. The pool, is for both swimming and bathing, it is pure, from both a spring below the earth, and from rainwater. There is a smaller pool for drinking off to the side. The pool has tunnels, both above and underwater that lead out of the volcano, and just to the south of here, the river leads to a large peaceful lake. Other humans rarely come here, so you will not be disturbed." The elf stopped then, and glanced at Shireen. "It may seem lonely, but there are inhabitants of the forest to keep you company. And there's Snow!" He grinned at the small chesmu. "Any questions?"

"Yea..." Shireen gathered her thoughts. "When will I get this dragon?" Straight to the point. Lethmissan smiled. "Soon. I will let the caverns that the dragon will come from know that you are a candidate. If you are successful, the egg will arrive within a week or two.. I will let you know when the time comes so you can be here. You will bond when it hatches, and then you will look after it until it grows." He was thoughtful then. "You may think this is a random event, but the elder elves sense change coming to the world. They cannot tell whether it is good or evil, but they did conclude that having a dragon on their side that is able to control magic would be a positive thing. But I digress. You can travel home now, put your things in order, and gather any supplies you would like for your new home, I shall let you know when the time comes." With a last smile, and a pat on Shireen's shoulder, Lethmissan disappeared.
"Hey.. Uh.." She spun in a circle, skin prickling. There was an energy here that flowed over and through her like water. Alone she noticed it more. She made her way slowly around the outer wall, exploring the caves, until she found one that she decided would be her home. She sat against the wall and closed her eyes, tired out from the excitement, and with the energy humming softly in her ear, and Snow curled up in her lap, she fell asleep.

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Chesmu was adopted from KelticRose Isle