That name sent a shock through her. She knew that name as soon as she heard it, like as if she had always known it. It seemed so unreal that she was about to see a dragon and at first she didn’t know what to say, especially to a talking horse with wings, “Yes.”

The horse tilted his head the other way, “You don’t remember me.” The horse moved closer, “Stone was my great grandfather.”

The girl’s eyes went wide with excitement. She quickly gave the horse a hug causing him to chuckle. When she let go of the horse she saw Morida standing there watching her with a great big smile. Next to her was a tall solemn looking man who could not hide the amusement in his eyes.

“I am Bonchalla,” he said as he bowed to the white haired girl.

Morida did a quick tilt of her head toward the tall man, “He’s my dad.”

“He’s waiting to see you,” he held out his hand for the young girl. He then looked her over, “Those shoes have metal in them. We can take metal through the tree.” She took them off.

Morida took her other hand, “Close your eyes.”

Lori did so and they stepped forward into the tree. For a moment she felt like she was moving through something like thick water, but she could also feel it going through her body. Then her bare feet stepped onto a cold solid floor. She opened her eyes. They were now in a cavern. She looked behind her and saw a thick root against the wall.

“It’s a very old tree and the dryads have nurtured it for many years. That is why its roots are all the way down here,” Bonchalla told the girl then smiled as he point the way.

Lori was fascinated with the cavern. She had always loved caves, “How far down are we?”

Morida giggle as Bonchalla answered, “You really should ask how far away we are.”

“Far away?”

“Yes, there is an ocean between here and the park you were playing in.” Lori looked up at him in disbelief. They stopped before a set of large double doors set into the wall. A woman in a long red dress seemed to step out of nowhere and opened the door for them. Lori looked up at her knowing she was a Red Lady like in the memories that were coming back to her. The lady smiled at the young girl as she entered the room.

This was an even larger chamber with several ledges. This room was not natural; it had been carved out of solid rock. Across the chamber lay a large sleeping black and red dragon. She could tell he was very old. As she approached, she heard something above. She looked up and saw a much younger dragon looking down at her from a few ledges up. She could now tell that this room was made so that several dragons could be in this room looking down at the floor.

“I smell a little girl,” the sleeping dragon said as he opened his eyes and looked at her. “Have you come to dance for me?”

The young girl became excited, bowed and said, “Yes, my lord.” She then took a starting pose and took a moment to imagine the music she needed for the dance. She didn’t need to. A flute and a harp began to play a soft yet energetic tune. She turned and saw Morida playing flute and Bonchalla with a harp. The white haired girl let this tune guide her as she danced around on the polished floor. The dragon raised his head enjoying her. She reminded him of two young girls from long ago who danced in this very room for his father.

The dragon up high also watched with interest. The younger dragon had heard all the stories of the dragon dancer from long ago.