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Oci had become quite expert with handling his many-headed charges, a fact which was not lost on other Dragon Masters. Some in fact tried to pawn off their multi-headed mutant Desert dragons on him, but when he tried touching their minds the way he could with his hydragons... he shuddered - there was nothing there but a crude animal. Not like the elegant echoes of the mind of a truly intelligent being.

So Oci turned them down, and continued to press his amazing hydra into battle. His contract with his old Master was paid off with a spectacular battle over the city's power plant, the aliens had discovered the plant and were heading down in force. Oci's hydra and a dozen others engaged them, tearing the alien ships away from their target and into the desert beyond. The city itself paid for his debt, along with at least two other Bayaran who commanded their massive Sky dragons to the fight.

Ocithuandhe paid for his room and board now, but knew there would be more fights and more rewards. He waited it out, another year of saving and paying for his lodgings and then bought the land that he could afford: just outside that power plant, a perfect place for dragons to remain vigilant. It was while he was settling in there, having his own home and dragonry set up (how proud he was of himself, this was going to be the best place!) that the other riders of those off-world dragons approached him again.

"Obviously you're doing well," said Aya, with her own two bonded dragons. "I think you should know, there are others who still need you. Hydra, like them," she nodded toward his pair.

"Well that'd be okay, I've got the room now. It would give the workers time to finish up."

So, Aya indicated for her duowing indigo to fly her and lead Mecenth and Oci out... To another world, where there was a very unusual kind of hydra around.

"It's... kind of ratty, isn't it?" Oci muttered, but Aya chuckled.

"That happens when you're undead."

Oci wasn't really certain what she meant. But the hydra that came toward him was cool to the touch, grey as ashes, and had six heads. He would be big, it was pretty clear. Also clear was that he was related in some way to those Hydragons he'd already bonded. And while they were getting ready to leave, it was Mecenth's idea to take another very short detour back to her home.

She hadn't realized it, that the last time she'd seen her home was several years before. Thus, she arrived... just moments after she'd left with Oci and her clutch-brother!

Oops, she thought, but didn't really mean it. This would be of far more use than she thought... when another of her brothers came toward Oci.

I had a feeling you'd be back, the violet and blue colored male said, he had two heads and the familiar echo of mental energy came to Oci once more.

***

They raised the hydragons with the idea that they would be the top predator anywhere they went. Of course, it was true. Even other Zekiran dragons were quite cowed by them, though it was only after Gurth had grown to his full size - easily able to compete with Gwymauth for height as well as power - that this was really true. Between the two of them they tore through any challenge that came their way. Since they could teleport they were shown around the world by some of the other teleporters, and slowly but surely Oci's range of influence grew.

They liked the desert, and on one trip to make sure that there were no stray aliens hanging out in unpopulated places, Oci decided that he'd put down stakes here too. There wasn't much around, it was all scrub desert with very dry soil. So little farming could be done here, and the mines rich with whatever crystals and metals needed were far to the north nearer the mountains. It was ideal for dragons, really - there were animals they could easily hunt, and some that were less easy.

Energetically, Oci's hydragons chased after each other in the skies, waiting for the next attacks.

NEXT

***

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