18831 and there are dragons at last

It wasn’t much longer before Yuma found them and they started up the mountain, walking in silence, just taking in the surroundings for a bit, enjoying the bids and the trees, the clean air. It was a pleasant walk, if a bit of a challenging climb. Rounding a bind they came found a dear on the trail in front of them. It looked at that them for a bit then ran into the trees. Yuma smiled a bit, and looked at Mike. So far he wasn’t to bad, but still it would be best to slow down a bit, he was going to be feeling it soon. “That is a good sign, if they are coming onto the trail there are dragons around. Otherwise you just seem them at the edge of the trees some. I don’t know why they come out in the open, as I would think it would be better to have cover. Seems to me it would be better to stay in the trees, but the deer don’t, elk and antelope do, but not the deer.”

Just as they neared the lookout a blast of music sounded making them all jump and look around a bit scared. None were to sure they wanted to know what was producing the racket. Mike was the first to speak “What? Oh crude. That’s my phone. I forgot that I even had the thing.” He fumbled in his pocket and found it just as it stopped ringing. He shook his head a bit. “I had best hang onto it as it was my niece. She will call back soon, and yell at me for not answering then get to whatever it is that she just has to have the answer to. They are a bit worried about making the impression when they get here, and keep asking me all sorts of odd things. Most of which I have no answer for. I don’t think I was that stressed, but likely was, just didn’t have anyone to ask.” He shook his head and Yuma laughed. “I am surprised that it gets reception out here, I wouldn’t expect it to.”

Joe said. “I am just glad it was your phone and not Yuma’s or we would be hunting in the push to find out where it landed.”

Yuma said. “I’m not that bad, but it likely would have caused me to scream. However I think the ringer is shut off. Anyways I hope I did it right this time. The last time I tried to set it to vibrate I turned it up full blast. Luckily Mr. Crable, my calculus teacher, has just about as much trouble with the phones as I do. So just laughed and let Jill help me get the ringer shut off.” Joe just shook his head. “I am doing better, but the thing still gets me. There are very few dead zones anymore. It is considered a matter of public safety and so each state was mandated to see that the communication improved. Likely why the workingmen are finally swarming over downtown and seeing just why there are so many issues with the broadcast signals and landlines. It should have been seen to a year ago, but at least they are working on it now. Part of the reason they are more worried is because they are here to represent the Nation. Politics has ways of complicating everything. They have to worry about not looking to backwards or to wild, for that could kill any trade deals. Or at least give more power to those that are looking for problems, seeking to block the talks. It can be silly how much some people can put off on one string of diamonds, or at least the fuse my sister will make over it.”

Mike shook his head. “I am so glad that I am not involved I that then. I don’t see why it has to be such a big deal whiter my luggage is leather or canvas, but I had to find out which was sold in high end stores here. As they were just sure they were using the wrong bags.” His phone rang again.

Yuma  said. “I don’t either, but Tulip would, and so would a number of others. I find the trends silly and a waste of time, but I don’t care if they think I am barbaric. Ambassadors have to worry about how they are perceived, more so when it is a new relationship. Or so I have been informed.”

Mike shook his head and answered his phone. “Hello.” He smiled a bit. “Yes, I know, but see I’m on a hiking trail and it took me a bit to realize that it was my phone not some bizarre attack. By the time I found the phone it had stopped ringing.” The others laughed and moved away, not wanting to eavesdrop, but it wasn’t long until Mike moved a bit closer. “Dear, I know nothing about dress are lace, nor do I know where to look. Yuma by chance can you tell me if lace is rolled or flat, and what is the length for a party dress?”

Yuma shook her head. “Formals are all to be to your ankles and the lace on the hems is rolled, but trim is flat and belt flat. Party dresses it depends on the party and the age of the person, but I have no idea just how to know which needs what. I just wait for my sister to tell me what to wear and then find something of the right length that I can stand.” Mike and Joe laughed, though Joe had to nod as well, for he had heard some of the complaints. “I therefore am not any help, but I can get some email and chat directions to your uncle for you on Monday. I know a few that will be delighted to help, and want the talks to succeed, so no worry there.” She still didn’t know why Mrs. Edity didn’t just tell her husband that the ladies needed a away to talk over this stuff, but at least maybe I won’t have to hear about how it is unfair that they can’t. That the ladies must be worried about being turned out right, yet there was no way to help.

There was a scirill from the phone. “Can you? Really? That would be great! That is just what we need. I asked dad to see if there were any that would, but he felt it wouldn’t be right. That it would be to much to ask. Yet Uncle Mike could tell us that yes you wear pants and no not all sit and sew, but not what type of pants or what not to say to be labeled a brain. There are things that men just do not understand. You really think some will be willing to? You are sure they can? Even though we are over here? I mean there is so much against your laws that I am just sure dad thought it would be illegal.”

Yuma tried to hide her laughter, but bet the girl could hear it in her voice. “No we are free to exchanges messages. Web sites are filtered, mean some content or sites are blocked, but not all. Truly it isn’t a problem but I can see why you would think it would be. Just know that we likely have just as many misconceptions about you as you do about us. I do hope you won’t be offend about them. I fear there are a few that are convinced you all can’t tie your shoes without magic. Most aren’t that bad, but those few are going to be loud when you arrive.”

She laughed. “Using magic for that would be silly, it would take twice as much effort. Whops that’s the wrong answer isn’t it? How about magic users make up less the half the population, truly it isn’t that common? Would that work?””

Joe said. “The first one would be to alarming. It isn’t illegal as it wasn’t dealing with how it is done, but it is still is more about magic then any should know. The second is good, in fact it wouldn’t hurt to bring up anytime it fits. It is commonly held that mages are as common to see as flowers are. The more it can be said that isn’t so might ease a bit of the fear.” However just why is it that? It shouldn’t be lower over there. I guess that most of you must chose not to learn how to use it, even though it is possible to. I mean it is one out of seven here that doesn’t have the ability to touch the streams, it just isn’t acceptable. Not all would, but I thought it would be higher than that.

She said. “I will try to remember it. I don’t want to scare anyone. We are taught a bit about it, that is the basics of what it can and can’t be used for, in our first years of school. I will have to remember you are not. So why are you hiking? That is odd. I thought you would be grading papers or reading about nanomite things again. I still don’t see why mites would be interesting, no madder what kind they are.”

Mike shook his head. “It wasn’t bugs but a very interesting medical tec that might be a non-magical answer to the Rage fever, but you don’t care about that.”

Yuma said. “Rage fever? You have a fever over there that produce anger? Or is just an odd name?” She flushed and was going to apologize.

However Mike said. “Though I can see I will need to get Yuma a copy of the paper on it. Yes it hits every spring, affects only preteens, mostly females. I do wonder why you don’t see it here. I will give you the handout after class. I don’t work all the time as you know Ann, after all I even talked you into going hiking some weekends. I want to get a look at the dragons here. They do not come near the town, but can be seen on the hike trails, and Yuma offered to show me the best spot to see them. We had just.” A large red dragon rose in front of them. “Wow! That is. The only others I have seen that size are fire breathers, but that one must not be? Sorry Ann A large Red dragon just took flight, close to us. It is amazing.” He turned on the video and started recording.  “It is as big as the purples get, but it truly shows no sign of being a fire breather. There is an even larger black one a ways further off, and I think that green might be another one.”

Yuma said. “The green is a fire breather, and the largest of them. It is bigger then the red, just further away, thankfully. That is a small red, likely a four year old. The black I am less sure of, they are not generally seen and it is going to cause trouble. It is one of the four types that are attracted to magic, so any time they leave there normal path it causes rumors to swell.”

Ann said. “I will let you go, but I bet that father is going to want to see the dragons as well as those griffins that are supposed to be there. By Uncle Mike, have fun. Call me when you get off the trail.”

Yuma said. “The migration generally peeks around the first of December, so there might still be some here when you get here, but I grantee it. However you will get to see the griffins, that is just a madder of getting to the valley on a sunny day.”

Mike said. “I am taking pictures and will get them sent when I get home. Talk to you latter. Have fun, but do go getting to many wild ideas.” He shook his head a bit as the call ended, but he kept his phone out, and the camera on, glad that he had a long life battery. “I fear just what she is going to want to know now. She is going to have a lot of questions about you and how I came to be hiking. Thank you, now are you sure it won’t cause you any problems?”

Yuma shrugged. “Mrs. Edity has been saying rather often that she wished she knew how to get in touch with the ambassador’s wife. I am not sure why she doesn’t just ask Mr. Edity to set it up, but it will be a relief to be able to tell her I can help. I thought the talk of window treatments was bad, but this is worse.” He was looking at her oddly. “One night a week I get dragged to the sewing club, that has nothing to do with sewing as far as I can tell. Just a part of being from the Hill, I might be more of a rebel but I am still a Lady and need to socialize with the others or there will be talk. It is a small price to pay, it is a part of the barging I struck to work at the clinic. Children from Hill families do not work, they do volunteer at Charities but the clinic is not considered a Charity, so I had to do something to offset the damage. It is silly, but it made Mother and Tulip slightly happier about it.” She walked over to the edge, and smiled a bit. Then yelled. “Ribbon!” Mike jumped and then both of them paled as the red dragon’s head turned and it started racing at them. Yuma took no notice as she was watching the dragon, she love to see them turn like that, and this one she had seen make its first flight. The dragon hovered as close as it could get to the look out and hummed. Yuma laughed. “Good girl.” She took her bag off and took out one of the candy bars, unwrapped and tossed it to the dragon. “Now go let them know I’m come to see them, and see my new friend here wants to meet you and get some pictures. It would be nice if you can have Blaze come by if he would.” The dragon nodded, and hummed again before taking off.