Chapter 13

“Of the many tales of Absalom to shifters none are more precious than those of the dragons, the first shifters.” said Alieto, looking over at a small pile of dried leaves where a small body covered in emerald green scales and a pair of large green eyes stared at him intently from above deep green paws with a lighter green coloring the talons.
“Dragons were the first shifters in Absalom, but they were different from today’s shifters. Like today’s shifters dragons are born in their true form; their dragon form while human shifters are born in their human form. Dragons can shift into any form unlike human shifters who have only one other form.
“Dragons can shift into anything almost immediately after they hatch but human shifters have to wait two or three years before they can change form.
“Many dragons have played an important role in Absalom’s hist—HEY!” Alieto said, looking over at the leaf pile to see the small dragon fast asleep.
Alieto sighed. “First he begs me to tell him about the dragons. ‘Alieto! Alieto! Please tell me about the dragons!’, and then he falls asleep in the middle of the story!” Alieto shook his head. “I’ll never understand Charlin…”

Alieto stood and stretched and walked over to his bag where he pulled out a handful of papers. He walked back over to where Charlin slept, sat down and began to work.