Elle Arrives at Camp

 Eleanor sat on the horse in front of her dad, Gage, as they rushed through the forest. She looked behind her in worry. It didn't appear they were being chased, but after the last job went bad they needed to escape in a hurry. She was only 9 years old, but she had been trained well by her dad in the ways of the thief.

"Papa, I think we are safe. There's no one behind us."

"I know your eyes are better than mine, so I trust you. Do you smell anyone?"

She shook her head. He had always asked questions like that. Her senses were always better than his had ever been. 

"No one is behind us."

"Still… Elle, those were the wrong people to steal from. I need to take you somewhere safe."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to camp."

"Camp?"

 Gage didn't answer his daughter. It was deep into the Medieval Era, and Gage had just gotten his daughter into big trouble. She had started to develop special abilities as she got older, but that was bound to happen given who her mother was. Vedyss had told him that she would end up needing special training, but he never wanted to be away from her. Now it was necessary. So they left for camp. He didn't want to leave her there, but it wasn't a camp for normal humans. He didn't have a place there.

 Gage took a deep breath before explaining a bit more to Elle.

"I'm taking you somewhere where you will be able to meet your mother."

"Mum? I thought you said I couldn't see her."

"This was true while you were living with me. It's safer for her where I'm taking you. Listen to me, Elle. You aren't a normal human. Your gifts, they come from your mum."

"Who is she?"

"Her name is Vedyss. The people at the camp will ask you about your Mum's name. Tell them her name is Vedyss. She will arrive to introduce herself."

"Papa, why do you sound like you're not coming with me."

Gage got quiet. His silence worried Elle.

"Papa?"

"I'm sorry, Elle. This camp won't let me in. I'll bring you to Arne, the leader of this camp, but after that I need to leave."

"No Papa, I won't leave without you."

Gage tried to push away the tears.

"I'm allowed to visit. So I'll come see you when I can. For now you need to stay safe. You mum knows how to find me. She'll let me know how you are, okay? Elle, you trust me, right?"

She sniffled. "Yes, Papa, I trust you."

"Good girl."

 The next hour was silent as they rode. Gage was still worried about pursuers. Elle kept her senses up. She only spoke when she finally smelled something.

"Papa, I think there's a village up ahead. I smell a lot of scents."

"We're almost there."

 The area they discovered looked different than most villages they had seen. 

"Papa, I smell something different. I think I smell a dragon."

Gage ignored the comment and walked forward. A pair of people approached them.

"This area is off limits. State your business."

"I'm here to drop off my daughter, Eleanor. She goes by Elle."

"Prove that she belongs here."

Gage pulled his daughter in front of him and lifted her sleeve. On her left shoulder sat a birthmark of a dark swirl. The two calmed down.

"Then you should know the rules. We will take her under our care."

Gage knelt down and turned his daughter towards him.

"Do you remember what I told you?"

"Yes, Papa. I don't want you to go."

He pulled her in for a long hug. "I love you, Elle. I'll be back to visit. I promise."

Elle didn't want to let her Papa go, but she also trusted him. She knew that they needed to separate for her safety. She just wanted to be there to help him if he needed it.

 Elle walked away with the guards as a tearful Gage waved goodbye to his daughter. He hoped he could keep his promise, but he didn't know what the future held right now. All he knew was that Vedyss and her friends would protect her now. Next time he saw his daughter she would be stronger. He turned and headed towards somewhere safe.

 Elle followed the guards to a building that definitely looked well fortified. Her dad would usually avoid places like this, because even using her skills he couldn't get into somewhere this guarded. She was led inside to where a man sat waiting. He looked up from his book and saw her.

"Ah, a new recruit has arrived. What is your name?"

"Eleanor, but I go by Elle."

"Well, Elle. My name is Arne. Who brought you here?"

"My Papa, Gage."

"And what is your mother's name?"

"Vedyss. That's what Papa said."

Arne smiled. "Your birthmark?"

She lifted her sleeve to show the black swirl on her arm.

"How did you know I had a birthmark?"

Arne lifted his sleeve to show a flame on his left shoulder.

"We all have birthmarks on our left shoulder. Everyone in this camp is like you. What else did your father tell you about your mum?"

"Nothing. Just that I wouldn't be able to see her. Then he told me today I might see her here."

"Well, as it turns out, your mother is scheduled to visit today."

"What? I'll see her today? What is she like?"

"Strict, but I think she will be different towards you. Our non-human parent usually is."

"Non-human. Sir, my Papa said I'm not fully human. Who are we?"

Arne smiled and opened his mouth to speak before he was interrupted by a knock at the door. 

"Sir, Vedyss is here and requests an audience."

Arne held out his hand. "I'll show you."

Elle seemed wary. A new scent appeared in the area. 

 Elle held onto Arne's hand. She wasn't sure why, but she trusted him. She could always sense whether or not someone was trustworthy. It was the new scent in the area that confused her. It was familiar and yet new to her. 

 The guards at the door opened it for them, and it took a moment for Elle to register what she saw. There in front of the building, calmly waiting for Arne, was a large black dragon. 

"Ah, Arne, it is a pleasure to see you again. I…" Vedyss interrupted herself as she noticed the smaller figure hiding behind Arne. 

"Elle?!"

Elle's eyes filled with tears. That voice that was filled with surprise comforted her. The sadness she felt watching her Papa leave was diminished now that her mother sat in front of her.

"Mum?"

Elle couldn't hold herself back. She ran forward and hugged the giant front leg of the dragon. A creature that she had been raised to fear was now nuzzling her with her nose.

"Oh, my precious daughter. When did you get here?"

"Papa brought me a few minutes ago. He said I'd be safe here."

"Did he leave already?"

"We stole from some bad people. We had to escape. He told me I'd be safer here, but he couldn't stay."

Vedyss sighed. "He's right. You are safe here. You'll also be trained on how to fight."

"Fight?"

Vedyss looked down at her daughter, looking into the eyes of the little girl that she had longed to see for years. 

"I'm sure you realize by now the gifts you have. The special abilities you possess. That is because you aren't just human. You are part dragon. Here you will learn what that means. Arne will help you with that, as well as your trainer from your cabin. Arne, who is the Shadow trainer now?"

"Ah, that would be Tristan."

"Oh yes, I remember him. He will train you well. For now you should get used to this place. This is your home now."

 Elle's attention was pulled away by a kid her age laughing as he carried another kid away on his shoulders. Arne sighed.

"Rowan! Put Abrecan down!"

"Sorry, sir!" He replied as he followed orders. Then the two of them ran off somewhere.

Vedyss laughed. "I think you will fit in quite well. Your father has let me know quite a bit about you."

"You've talked to him about me?"

"Usually when you are asleep. It's easier for me to travel at night. It is also safer that way. I've always checked in on you. Now I can speak to you myself. We will have time for that later. Right now I have to attend to the reason for my visit. I will speak with you later today."

 Arne waved over one of the other members of camp.

"Show our new member, Elle, to the Shadow cabin. Introduce her to Tristan."

"Yes, sir."

Vedyss nuzzled her daughter one more time before she was led off towards her cabin. 

 The shadow cabin looked like a normal wooden cabin on the outside. It was two stories tall, and didn't seem that unusual compared to some of the buildings that Elle passed on her way here. On the outside of the cabin sat a sign that looked identical to her birthmark. She saw it and her eyes widened. The man walking with her smiled.

"Yes, your birthmark indicates what element dragon your parent is. You are a Shadow dragon."

 Elle was dumbfounded by everything that happened to her today. She didn't even notice the man knock on the cabin door which had opened to reveal a dark haired man.

"Tristan, meet Elle. She's the daughter of Vedyss."

Tristan smiled. "Hello Elle, and welcome to Camp Sirius."