Epilogue

Deep inland of Darjeet Isle, a named which was finally christened just a couple months ago by the planet government, Kisely was happily picking flowers from the hill side of blooming bushes. She carried a wicker basket filled with flowers of various shapes, sizes, and colors. All native to the planet; she made sure of that, although very few species here were invasive.

Behind her, Mink was squawking away. He was supposed to be helping her for this day, but he couldn't stop talking on what he just discovered on the unisphere, the two galaxies term for the internet across planets and space.

"And it says he once deterred some gaint monster that came out of nowhere and threaten his Human companion. He saved his life and he was only just a pup then. Now he likes some short of legend. I thought his tales was just something the others created, but Mishwi is actually real!" Mink said, referring the information streaming over his peripheral vision.

He was the first of his species, well beside Mishwi of course, who actually gotten a cerebral implant. A chip, which was implanted to his brain, allowed him access to the modern commodities of the Two Legs worlds. It taken over a year to get the Aquarium to agree to it, but he jumped for joy when they told him the date for the surgery. That was about a month ago. When he first got the chip, its features had to take time to come into full effect, like software being installed into a computer. Nano bots within the chip the when first implanted, start making the necessary connections through the brain and head region. Nano bots within the chip when first implanted, start making the necessary connections through the brain and head region.

The process involves the nano bots manufacturing the links from the chip, and implanting the receivers at specific nervous systems points.

Mink though the process was a bit . . . scary to say at the least, but the chip design had thousand of years to be worked on, and was completely safe. The intire process takes a couple weeks to complete, and once all the connections are made the chip is then activated inside of the head and the user then has full control of the chip by just mere brain power. Mink's chip had just recently finished installing itself from inside his head, and since then he couldn't stop blabbing about everything he has been learning from it. Man, technology is cool.

"I'm sure he was, but pleased stayed focus. We're doing this other than for a chance to talk gossip." Kisely replied back. Today was a very special day for their little brother, and they wanted to help him out by giving him the best and most colorful flowers available from the spring bloom.

"There, I think we have more than enough." She said minutes later and then turned when they heard some twigs breaking under foot behind them.

Someone else had came up to where they were at.

"Hi Kisely, and Mink; didn't think I would see you guys up here." Tomas said. He was another Darjeet from Oscar's clan. He was a well built and strong Dragon Seal, and to Kisely eyes, good looking too.

"Oh hi . . . um Tomas, we're just picking flowers." She said dreamy eye. Tom didn't seem to notice. He never did, despite her attempts to gain his attention, although he dose pops up over to her at random and strange times.

"What’s with the flowers?" He asked.

"It's for Gentoe." Kisely replied. Today is the day, don't you remember?"

Tomas eyes widen. He had completely forgotten about it.

"It's today? Oh stupid me. I'm sorry." He apologizes face palming.

"I guess I forgot because of Kelift again." He said, mouth twitching like he just had a bad taste in his mouth. "I was supposed to have today off from his lessons today, but I was told other wised. He wanted all his students in for today's magic lessons on time. Would hate to make him angry again like the last time some of us were late." He frown, he really hated it that he had forgotten, but nothing could be done about it now.

"I got to go. Good luck with the ceremony." Tomas said; despite giving one last apologist looked towards them both, and then wandered back downwards.

"You should really tell him how you feel you know. Don't denied you been thinking about him." Mink said after Tomas went out of ear shot.

"I don't know if I'm ready to have a mate yet." She said frowning. "We all have been just so busy with work. You teaching all the pups at school, and I'm doing my own lessons in as well. I just don't want to be distracted by a mate right now."

"And you're not now?" Mink replied one eye raised.

"No, not really. I like him, but I can control myself. Come, we got to get these flowers back down to the beach before they start." Shinda said, as she picked up the basket with her mouth. Moko followed her back down. They still talked, but by Long Talk now. If Kisely had a chip too, they could of talk more directly via technology. Oh well, magic do well for just casual talks.

"What do you think it will be?" Mink asked.

"Your guess is as good as mind, it could go either way."

"Well we will know soon enough."

________________

When the two reached the beach at the cove, a small crown had gather. There were 10 other Darjeets here, talking to each other as they waited for the event to happen. Gentoe and Link was there too, talking amongst to a few of them. Oh how they had grown.

Every one of Moko's pack were now a fully grown adult. He, Link and Mink had their Dorsal fins grown in when they hit puberty, the little barbs connecting by fins along from their shoulder's and down part way along the back. Females don't get them though, and Kisely was completely bareback, but she doesn't mind it. Not having them dose have some conveniences to them, especially when on their backs. It was then when they spotted the two biologists. The female red hair Human, Shinda Gone along side her co worker Kaimana, the Gerinsi Water Dragon came for the special event as well.

Their boat, the Sea Guardian was bobbing up and down from the approaching waves. The sun was bright and hot, and thick rolling clouds dotted the sky. They were talking to one of the oldest Darjeets of the pack here. In fact, they were talking to the leader amongst them.

"And so you know what happen next? I made it run right into the reef it was so scared. I swear I haven't laughed that good since the day you set us free." Oscar said, finishing his strange story.

"I'm just happy you weren't hurt Oscar. You got to be more careful out there next time." Shinda said.

"Or you will get eaten. It hasn't happened yet to one of ya'll yet but it will if you keep taking needless risks." Kaimana added pointing at the elder.

"You know I am always careful. I got years of experience being careful." Oscar replied smiling, and saw that Kisely and Mink was standing there.

"Ah yes good." He said, examining the basket of flowers after they came over.

"I still don't get why you guys do this. Most of the plants only bloom for one season. You can't possibility do this every time." Shinda said eyeing the plants.

"We know that, but flowers are much more colorful, and we wanted to make this one special for our little brother." That was when Gentoe and Link saw that they were back, breaking away from conversations they were having.

"Flowers? We just used leaves and grass before." Gentoe said surprised.

"Maybe perhaps they already know what it's going to be." Link smiled sarcastically.

"We been keeping it a few degrees hotter, I doubt it, but that doesn't guarantee anything correct?" Gentoe said asking to Shinda.

"For Dragons, no. You just increase the chance of the gender changing over while in development."

"I remember my mother desperately tried to make me female, didn't happen and I'm glad too. Would hate to have to dress up and look pretty for my entire life." Kaimana said casually as like if he was saying how his day had been, although he gotten some angry looks from both his boss and Kisely.

"Well, it's true" He said defending his statement after seeing them all staring at him. Didn't seemed to help much, and downturn his eyes looking at his shoes instead as he turn his foot back and forth, moving the sand apart.

"Well anyhow they are coming soon, so let's get the bed made."

The bed was a shallow hole in the beach they dug out earlier. Grass and leaves already cover the cold earth underneath the baking sun. Having a few others from Oscar clan, they help them laid the pedals all over the ground. Now the nest was filled with the bunched of colors ranging from yellows to reds, to blues and purples. Satisfied after fiddling the nest around to make it neater, they examined their work.

"I hope she will like this." Gentoe said after nodding in approval.

"Oh I'm sure she will. We female love colors and pretty things that fish brained males tend not to enjoy in life. Beside you of coarse my younger brother." Kasily said, staring back at the Water Dragon. He seemed startle by her attempt of making fun of him. She smiled seeing him offended slightly.

Kaimana straighten his shirt, taking it in stride. He tends to make jokes when he and Shinda come to make their visits to the Darjeets. That helps with easing the tensions between them and the few Dragon Seals, including Kelift who had some concern against them still. Slowly, they been making up for the years of captivity they all had endured back at their old homes. They needed to, if they were to rebound their friendship between them and the Two Legs again as it once had been in the past.

"Hey, they are coming, places people." Kisely said, and all 10 Darjeets scrambled around the nest, but leaving a path to it from inland. Kisely, Link, and Mink were on the inside, as with Oscar. Gentoe sat inside the group next to the nest, as they waited patiently. Soon, five more Darjeets came out of the jungle. It was his parents, Mieka and Moko who were at the sides of the group, and the one walking out in front was Seaka, his beautiful mate. Her own blood parents were with them too.

About a year ago, five months had passed since he and his family had escaped the Aquarium that fateful night. During though months, the Aquarium gotten to work, teaching the two packs reminding there the lessons on survival that they were promised. After though months had come and gone, all 30 members of Oscar pack, alongside with five more newly hatched pups, boarded the Sea Guardian and transported over to the island to be finally set free alongside their kin. It was an even grander reunion as Oscar was reunited with long lost family members, and their pups.

The other unknown pack, Shinda had said later they didn't want to join them, rather wanting to be left alone. All they know about them is that they decided to say around Zashara northern part of the island, where a natural park is located. If when, and when they will ever meet this pack had remain in discussion, but for now they decided to stay away from contact. The reunion with the old mentor went well. The old Darjeet was proud of

Gentoe parents and himself for everything that they done to help them and their species, but that day was also special for him, more so then family getting to see Oscar's pack. Seaka was there too, and she came straight over to sit on her hunches next to him right when they reached the island.

She barely left his side since that day. Even though they were just pups then, his and her parents, Termdom her father, and Yasee, her mother, had made sure to keep them together. It was clear enough that they liked each other, and the union would grow deeper than just casual friendship.

They went to their school lessons together; they went out into the wild together. They even had eaten together too. After a year had gone by, and Gentoe dorsal fin had fully grown in, she asked him to be her lifelong mate.

As the five of them stroll down from the jungle, they were all partaking in using the tendril spell in spirit form. Hovering above them as they walk along a beaten down path, a large dark gray egg was embraced with the power, keeping warm by the heated spell. It was just no normal egg, it was a Darjeet egg. It was his and Seaka's egg, and just as beautiful as was his mate.

They waited as they came strolling down, and through the path they opened up for them. Then after reaching the nest, they carefully laid it down on the bed, but Seaka seemed surprised as they disspelled.

"Flowers?" She asked questionably.

"It was my idea. I though you two would like something special to mark today with." Kisely answered.

"Oh I think they are lovely. I wasn't disapproving it at all." Seaka quickly replied defending her friend's idea. They two, along with Mieka and Yasee had gotten along very well. The four became a tight group of friends in recent months. They been very supporting of each other of their ideas and values.

"Personally I would have just kept with the grass. That would have been a lot less work and not over babying our pups." Link replied smirking back.

"Oh will you never understand Link.” Mieka said sighing as the taken places around the egg. Link and Mink both still haven't decided to find mates yet, as they both play importance parts with running the systems of their sociality. Link was also a teacher, but he teaches hunting and self defense which he and Moko runs, while Mink teached academics, as like how the Two Legs dose it, grade system and all.

"When you do finally have a mate, she will make you understand, right Mieka?" Moko responded.

"If they care to even to listen to us. Luckily your one of them." Mieka smiled back. Moko smiled too, but then frowned as Mieka tried to suppressed a cough, only partially succeeding. Mieka was sick again, somewhat having a miserable time at the island since their release.

"You're still sick Mieka?" Shinda asked worrying. She looked like she wanted to make her go to bed, or at least take her back to the clinic to be examined thoroughly for what was causing her illness.

"As I say it again, my body can handle it." She said firmly. It was the same thing she told them a month ago when they last visited.

"I don't know. I would really like to have a checkup on you. There has been an outbreak back home with dozen of cases along the Water Dragons. There been a few deaths too, so that's why I'm worried.” Shinda pointed out.

"I know, Moko and Mink been worried over it too. We all know about the outbreak since Mink's E-Chip started working." Mieka replied calmly. Mink and Kaimana meanwhile were busily conversing with each other through their E-Chips. Suddenly they both laugh as if one of them just told a joke.

Then Mink frown again, looking back to his mother.

"If you don't want to go back for a day, then let me bring a vaccine shot over here. I can be there and back in a few hours."

"I said I can deal with it myself. If I need the shot, I will yet you know." She said politely, but with a tone of irritation. Shinda didn't believe she would though, but she nodded and let the subject go. Kaimana didn't though.

"If our boss was having it his way he would have bring the whole lot of ya'll back for the shots. He even tried believe me. We had to stand up to his demands, and I thought he was going to take me and Shinda Gone by the scuff of our necks and dunk our heads in one of the tanks." He finished, and then laughed out loud.

"I just notice something.” Yasee said then." Shinda has a last name, do you have one too Kaimana?" She asked.

"Oh. I really don't like using it, but if you all must know my full name is Kaimana Surkiky Kent Warty the 3rd ." He said, with a few of the Darjeets around them softly laughing by the name.

"Yea, I see why you don't use it." Termdom said afterward. "Warty." He said jokefully, laughing again.

"You think that's bad, you want to know the nickname we gave Mr. Wilson a while back." Shinda gave him a warning stare. Kaimana stopped, as he didn't wanted to displease her boss further then he already had. He might be given some work later just for saying what he thought of females, and that might inclined he would be cleaning the penguin cages later more than likely. There were far worse things though she can make him do, far worse and smelly jobs to boot.

"No no go ahead, I never knew he had a nick name." Oscar said, anxious to know it. After all he thought he knew the Human well enough before, but he never knew that he had a nick name.

"Oh, well if you insist, we used to call him the. . .” He stopped before finishing, as the egg shuddered in the nest.

"It's time!" Seaka said happily. She and Gentoe came closer to the egg, as all the others kept the circle formed around the par. In customs for the hatching event, the parents of Dragons, or others as their friends if available would watched the egg hatching. If the baby can't break out of the egg in a few hours, they would intervene and help carefully crack the shell for them. Dragon eggs are much harder then eggs of birds and other reptiles.

After large cracks appeared along the side, they breathed more easily knowing their first pup would be able to break free by itself. The group watched, as the egg turn sideways from a shoved inside, and with one final pushed, the shell broke open, and out slid a baby Darjeet. Darjeet pups when first hatched, are well formed before hatching, and would be able to walk within hours, despite seldom few do before first sleeping away the day. Hatching out was extremely hard work for a newborn.

Moko and Termdom produces some white cloths for Seaka and Gentoe, as they carefully wipe away the rest of the membrane fluids off the pup. This was one advance culture item they do like to use for such an event, as licking them clean was something they didn't want to do if they can help it.

All the rubbing made the pup started to bark out crying. All it can do till it learned how to speck.

It was also when they could tell the gender. Seaka looked, and smiled.

"It's a girl." She said, as she let her back down on the bed on flowers.

"Oh well, we tried. I will still love her just as much." Gentoe said, but then notice that Seaka looked worried over something.

She noticed something odd about the pup. She seemed horrified towards Gentoe as she pointed too where she was looking at, and Genote couldn't understand what had happen in her development. The pup rear feet's, where it was supposed to be white, was instead the color black. She had two black rear feet, an oddity indeed where all the feet were supposed to be white. The pup also had very tiny black freckles along the face, which doesn't stand out unless you look closely enough, and not just from a casual glance.

"Shinda!" Gentoe cried out right away, and she and Kaimana came inside to kneel alongside them. When they saw it, they both look at each other, but they didn't look worried. In fact more surprised than fear.

"Dragons DNA?" Shinda asked, and Kaimana nodded.

"As I'm also a Dragon, I will tell you a condition we have. Like all species of life, the animal will adapt around their environment to help it survive in its present conditions. This however takes hundreds of thousands of years for evolution to take place. Dragons on the other hand evolve much faster. Oh say in only a thousand years in cases. The changes will happen as abruptly as it just had today."

"In our first generation since we Gerinsi were created, only the Mountain Dragon existed. Suddenly, about 500 years later one family living around deserts had produce the first Earth Dragon offspring. Afterwards more types came. Winter and Life came shortly after, and we Water Dragons came last, as our home world planet doesn't have many water sources. That's why you find most of us had moved over to this planet long ago."

The Darjeets stared at the biologist, confused by all this sudden information.

"What I'm getting at, is that Dragons will evolve straight from one generation to the next, but small changes happen first before the big ones. Your pup had taken on new characteristics, but however they are small. This was because you guys had abruptly changed your environment. Before, we controlled your DNA. Now, it's free to do whatever it wants, so it started changing.

"I see what you mean Kaimana, but why are her feet black?" Mieka asked, but Shinda was the one to answer the question.

"It's because of your environment. More adoptions will happen to ya'll as the years go by. Nothing bad is going to happen, only changes in how you will all look." She said to reinsure them, and then continued.

"If for say we take a pack of you and let ya'll live in a forest for a thousand of years or more, then they will adapt rather quickly. They will lose the gills, have stronger lungs, more strength in the legs, thicker teeth, and will even grow fur with a color change to finish it all. All changes will happen suddenly within a couple generations. You guys don't have to worry about changes like that. Water is your environment, and the only thing that's happening here is small adaptations. It's all perfectly natural. You might even call personality." She finished.

"Still more reasons to love her even more." Gentoe finally said, and that produced warmer smiles from everyone around them.

"All of us only have one single name. I think it's time we also adopt a new culture. Pups from now should be given last names too, and I think it's pretty simple what hers should be." Seaka looked at him questionably. They haven't even told it her first name yet.

It was then they notice the pup. While they talked, it was feeling around her surroundings. Its eyes were still closed, as she was wondering on what she felled onto from her warm imprisonment. Thinking it could be food underneath her, she started eating one of the pedals.

"No no that's ain’t food!" Seaka gaped, and quickly tried to pull it away. It ripped off, but the pup still shallow what was left in her mouth.

"Don't worry; all the flowers I brought aren't poisonous." Kisely added hurriedly. Others of the group started laughing again.

"Ain't. . . Fo. . .da?” The pup first words were. Seaka gaped again by that sudden response. Many others did as well.

"Oh I'm not surprised the least!" Shinda left hand on the side of her head, with her right cross over the other.

"Some Darjeets were able to speak right out of the egg. Mishwi for example could form entire sentences by the end of the day."

Mink as well others were surprised to hear that name. Just adds more to the legend of the Darjeet Knight.

"Can someone get some cut up pieces of fish please." Gentoe asked.

"Right away." A lean Darjeet said, and hurried off back to the jungle.

"Not cooked either, it has to be raw!" He yelled. He hoped he heard him. Most of the Dragon Seals don't know much about parenting yet. All they learned so far was from the biologists.

"So then my son, what is her name going to be, were all anxious to know." Moko asked. They all waited long enough. Gentoe looked at his mate, as she nodded back. Gentoe had come up with both names for whatever gender it was going to be. Before they answer, it was then that the little pup opened her eyes for the first time. Bright sunlight filtered though her vision, as it cleared up and focus. The very first thing she saw was her parent's huge faces, both looking at her from above like gaints.

Carefully, Seaka picked her up from the nest, and held her softly against her body. The warmth of it felt wonderful, just like how the egg felt.

She could even fell her mother's heart beat inside, rhythmic pulses of her life flowing though her body. She was completely unaware of anyone else.

All she wanted to do was to sleep now. Breaking out had taken all her strength. She already started closing her eyes again; despite she wanted to see more of what world she came into. much like how Gentoe and the others wanted to know about theirs, from what seems a life time ago now. Before she fallen under, Seaka whispered to her pup,

"Welcome to the world Nicpea Blackfoot. . . "