Their skin had a greenish tone, there were grey and red feathers on their heads, arms and back around their spatulas, and on their wide tails.

Instead of lips, they had short beaks with tiny feathers covering the edge between the skin and rostrum.

Yaphara bowed and spoke:

'Good to see you again in good health. I have brought two friends with me.'

One of the dragons who was standing in the middle, wearing a necklace of polished stones and a headband with beads and colourful parrot feathers, with an aura of leadership, blinked his two-lid eyes and moved his hands. Instantly Ottaine remembered Yaphara telling her randomly, back in his mansion, that he was taking sign language lessons.

'That's right, I didn't tell them,' Yaphara started replying. 'They come from a different kingdom. They are...' the dragon again interrupted with a few signs.

'Yes, you're right, as usual,' Yaphara bowed his head again.

The dragon looked at two friends and then turned away, showing them to follow. Now the eight... beings walked towards the village where someone set a fire. The darkness has taken over the day, the sky stayed lit on the west and on the east the stars were already seen with the bright cross over the moon crescent, and the Milky Way crossed the firmament, the same today as it was millions of years ago.

Dragons led the people towards the fire in the middle of their settlement and invited them to sit with the rest in a circle. Then the chief opened his beak-like mouth and spoke. It was a peculiar sound, low and full of different tones and with bird-like singing to it.

'General Yaphara,' Ottaine addressed the man. 'I know people discovered them ten years ago but did they know about us before?’

Before Yaphara could answer, one of the dragons moved towards the humans and signed something. Then Yaphara spoke:

'She says they had known about the world outside the Forest for many generations but only recently the contact from our side was made, ten years ago as you mentioned. And... yes, they understand our speech. Theirs and our larynx and mouth are built differently and none of us can learn each other's language. However, they learnt to understand us. And yes, we worked together on sign language to communicate. It's based on human sign language for deaf people, with some necessary alterations.' Just as he said that another dragon held out a palm with three long fingers.

Now the visitors from the different world were served simple food and drinks ('eat and drink without hesitation, they know what we can and can't digest, and the truth is it's not much different from their diet') and more dragons came to look at the newcomers. Very quickly they started to distinguish between males and females. They had different feathers distribution with males having thicker layers, females wore less jewellery but more clothes-like fabrics. Verlar noticed that the two of them carried something that looked like fluffy round bags strapped to their chests. After a few moments, he realised the round things inside them were eggs.

Yaphara told his companions that the name people call the tribe's chief is Primus ('because he's the First One in this community’) and that they can refer to him with this name. Verlar turned to Primus and said:

'You said you have known about us for generations. May I ask how it happened? You saw the other side of the fence or... did you meet people, I mean our kind, here, in the forest?'

The dragon replied through Yaphara's translation:

'I know what the word 'people' means. You call us ‘dragons’ or the ‘tribe’, or ‘trudy’ (Verlar didn't know about the last one, it must have been a word scientists like Yaphara used as a collective name for this species). And we call you the Elder Ones. First, our grandparents of grandparents found skeletons of your kind. We knew right away you and we are alike. Then our grandparents of grandparents climbed the wall and looked behind. But we didn’t want to go there. You wanted to know about the dead ones, I see. No, we haven't spoken. They are gone. I understand when you met with us you expected to see those missing Elder Ones' children?'

'Yes!' Verlar replied. 'But how did you know we did?'

'It's the only explanation left, you must have discussed it just before you arrived. Tell me, have you changed your mind about who you stand with?'

'What... exactly do you mean?' they asked.

Verlar and Ottaine questioned the general about what he told the Tribe about the politics and his plans but Yaphara told them he has never said anything about wanting to bring other people with him, never said anything about the island of Solummger or about meeting with Ottaine. And then he said looking at the dragon:

'But I'm sure what you want to ask is if they decided to back me and my cause.'

The two friends were trying to comprehend what all that means. Until now the whole conversation was obscure. Why Yaphara sais he has never talked to the dragons about politics when the dragon clearly knows what is going on outside the fence? Meantime Primus replied to the Skey-Er general:

'That would be difficult for them, they have loyalties they must comply with.’ He looked at the humans and added:

'You are welcome to sit by our fire and share the time with us. Tell me about your 'island'. What is 'island'?'

So they told him about the sea and land, their country and its cities, they didn't say much and yet they felt all the truth was floating with their few words and gestures, more than they were telling.

'How many of your kind live here? You must be one of many tribes.' Verlar wanted to know.

'There are about a hundred thousand of us, mine is the tribe that wanted to get closer. Don't be angry that I don't tell you where the others are.'

They understood the precaution.

'Is there anything you want from us?' Verlar asked him.

Primus pondered on the answer, not in the way he didn't know what to answer but rather how much to say. After a few moments, he picked a stick and wrote on the sand one word: 'Exchange.'

'You know our alphabet! You know our writing!'

'They do.' Yaphara answered in the dragons' name. 'They have their own writing system too, but to communicate with humans they learnt our way. For our phonetics and language.'

'What do you want to exchange?' Verlar asked.

This time the dragon used sign language again. It was a much faster way of communication. Yaphara translated:

'Knowledge and experience. We are curious. I hope you are curious too.’

The day was gone behind the horizon when high-pitch bird voices surrounded them.

'Sometimes they are unbearable, little devils!' Yaphara sighed theatrically when a group of four children started running around the fire. They kept staring at Verlar and Ottaine with curiosity and what was coming off their throats was undoubtedly laughter.

One child was brave enough to come close to Ottaine and watch her carefully. The dragon signed and Yaphara translated:

'In the last years, all of your kind who came to visit our tribe were males. You are a female and children see that you are a very different Elder One.'

Ottaine smiled and held her hand towards the child. Somehow she knew it was a girl, something in the colour of her feathers was telling her sex. The dragonette touched Ottaine's hand and then her face and her hair, blinking two lids and with beak open. The teeth were wide with sharp saw-like structures. Her fingers were soft, the skin didn't differ in touch from the human skin. Ottaine, after her first reaction close to the panic attack, was now enchanted by these creatures, intelligent beings that came to this world by an ancient accident. The girl’s eyes with vertical pupils looked at her with pure happiness, understanding, and eagerness to connect. Why did Landhapis decide they can not see them the same way? Why were they frightened when the Skey-Er was smitten?

The dragonette was now sitting on her lap, playing with Ottaine's buttons. Verlar showed her a simple trick with a vanishing coin and the girl looked in astonishment. Verlar did the trick again and this time the little dragon reached for the coin hidden in the man's other hand.

'Your eyes are very quick' he complimented her perceptiveness.

'It's not that, Mr Vorgeghom. It's not their eyes,' Yaphara said in a low voice.

The dragonette now started touching Ottaine's fingers and comparing her three-fingered palm hand to the human's. Verlar took a piece of burnt wood and used it like a pencil on a flat stone that was part of a circle around the fireplace. He wrote number 5 and drew a human hand and then number 3 and drew a dragon's hand. He looked questioningly at Yaphara who said that the numbers have never been used in the written correspondence with the tribe, mathematics has never been discussed. The dragonette held two fingers and Verlar drew the number, then showed one and drew the number. Then the girl took the charcoal and said something to one of the adults. A dragon disappeared in one of the nest-like huts and shortly came back with what looked like a rolled parchment made of tree bark. The girl took it and drew crooked numbers from 1 to 5 top to bottom and tapped the space underneath. Verlar finished the digits 6 to 9 and held both hands, showing ten fingers, then drew 10. The girl and another small dragon, who had joined the show, laughed cheerfully. Verlar showed all his ten fingers and pointed at Ottaine's thumb, drawing 11. He wanted to show them the next number but the dragons were already on it, filling the parchment with numbers in columns, never missing and never stopping, from 12 through 20 to 99. Then they stopped, hesitated, exchanged a few singing words and drew 100 looking at Verlar and Ottaine until they nodded.

Ottaine asked Yaphara how old the dragons' kids were.

The general signed with the adult dragons and then said that their age is three which would be no more than four for a human child.

Ottaine remembered her little brother Dezin and her niece when they were four and five and she couldn't recall them being able to grasp the idea of numbers higher than 20.

Yaphara was drinking a herbal drink without saying a word, watching his Solummgerian friends and signing with the dragons. If Ottaine or Verlar focused on him they would notice tension in his face with a trace of sadness.

The kids now tried to cram something at the top, in a narrow space above the number 1. When Ottaine and Verlar had a chance to look they saw it was a circle.

The little dragons were showing people their tightly clasped fists, the girl drew numbers 3, 2 and 1 on a stone from top to bottom, then erased them with her palm. Verlar and Ottaine stared and the circle on top of the parchment. It took them a few moments to realise that it was not a circle at all. It was a zero. And the most important message the kids have just given them, unknowingly.

The dragon kids figured it out from the way Verlar drew ten... How did they know it was a number? Their parents taught them, but how did the parents know? It was not obvious for humanity. Although the genesis of the number zero was forgotten it was believed many advanced ancient civilisations didn't develop the concept of nothingness as a mathematical tool. Here, in the deep forest where nothing but primitive huts and a fireplace could be seen the tribe knew something so advanced for a cognitive skill.

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Verlar was the first to put the elements together. Yaphara's enigmatic hints, the tribal chief's smart answers that preceded explanations, Landhapis panic. He looked at his friend and whispered:

'They are all geniuses, Ota. Sapiens. Sapiens as fuck.' And Verlar was a man who hardly ever swore.

The dragons didn't walk them back to the woods where their wingfingers had been waiting patiently. This way they could discuss the most important things before flying back to the other side of the fence.

'What else should we know about them, general? How far are they ahead of us? What technical development do they have?' Ottaine asked when they were alone.

'Their average intelligence is supranormal. They don't seem to have developed much in the manner of technology, that's why they're fascinated with us. They want to know and learn from people. When they do - my country and Landhapis have different answers to what happens next. I need to know your answer.

'Our answer will not be our country's.'

'Are you sure about that? Would you not do anything you believe is right? Even get to your king and beg him if needed? Whatever your answer is?'

They didn't reply but they knew he's right.

'Dragons... so many species, one abandoned kind became rational beings and what do we do? Kill them,' Verlar's judgement of humanity was harsh.

'Are we sure there are no more surprising dragons in Nogo?' Ottaine wanted to know.

'They told us there are very few other species alive, all of them are just animals, not smarter than apes. And by the way, technically the word 'dragons' is incorrect, it should be 'dinosaurs'. Dragons were beasts from legends and fairy tales. No, there are no more surprises as far as I know.'

'Landhapis wants to erase them? Enter the forest and search it from edge to edge?'

'Our espionage tells us so. Rampage through the forest at any cost.'

'They don't have money or an army for that!'

'They would not take the professional army and as for money - once they beat Skey-Er they will have enough to proceed with this evil plan.'

'What can we do? How do we stop them?'

'Are you with me then?'

'I am,' was Ottaine's answer.

'Do you realise we would become traitors?' Verlar reminded them.

'Don't you think this is greater than any loyalty? Any politics? I'm done doing my duty and abandoning those in need.'

'I just wanted to make sure you know what it means when we declare ourselves,' he said.

'And what is your answer?'

'I'm afraid I am a turncoat too.'

In the silence, they mounted the flying dragons and took off. The night was beautiful and the breeze was soothing yet none of them seemed to be calm and happy.

When they landed only the stars were illuminating the Earth, the moon had set behind the horizon.

Yaphara did not rest neither him nor his dragon and flew away to a hiding place known only to him.

Ottaine was very quiet. She had to tell her woman who was also her commander about what she just looked right in the eye and the truth it was holding. She met Yrzlaruki outside their tent and they disappeared inside.

Verlar strolled for a long time at the edge of the camp looking at the fence separating the Nogo Forest from the... from what? The kingdom of men? He was digesting the knowledge he had just obtained and all its heavy implications. He was a soldier of the Solummgerian Army, a subject of his king, a subordinate of his leaders. His army had built an alliance with Landhapis and was fighting a war against Skey-Er. Kyeta died fighting with Skey-Er. And now... everything was upside down, his consciousness was telling him to do everything to stop Landhapis, to help the enemy. To fight for those who were going to sleep deep in the forest under the stars. The same billions of suns that watched the dead civilisation resurrecting the dragons and way before that they watched the dragon's ancestors ruling the Earth before their demise.

He slowly moved to his quarters, lit the lamp and sat down. Soon he heard a voice:

'Verlar? Are you there? May I come in?' the voice brought him back from the dark corridors of his thoughts.

'Come in, Magalla.' She entered and saw he was not the same man he was in the evening. With dread she thought something bad had happened, last time she saw his face changed so much was shortly after the Firewheel Field battle.

'Magalla, I'm sorry I didn't come to you. Ottaine is with Yrzlaruki now, I had been walking around. I forgot to come to you,' he tried to find an excuse and he knew he was failing.

'I can see something happened. What secret did he show you? What have you seen?'

'You were wrong, Magalla. There are no people there in the forest,' he said, accenting the word 'people'. Magalla took a folding chair and sat beside him. 'They. Are not people.'

'They? What do you mean? The people who made that smoke?'

'They are not people,' he repeated. 'There are dragons there. They had been there for... how long? Two million years? That was enough for mother nature to work her way. They evolved, Gally, they evolved. And... they outsmarted us,' he finished with a feeling of happiness that surprised him. He told her everything they saw and heard.

'Right now Ottaine must be talking to Yr and I don't envy her. Yrzlaruki is her leader, answering to the marshall... Now her partner is telling her we might want to swap the side! We are soldiers! This is treason!'

'But you saw them and you want to fight for them.' Magalla said softly.

'I must. Just like Yaphara does, just like the whole Skey-Er does. I think I've made my mind the moment I saw them. Landhapis must be stopped. That's why Yaphara wanted Ota to see it, he surely was pleased to see another essudus with us.'

'He wants them to use their powers to convince whoever they may?'

'Yes, that's what I think he wants from them. He mighnt not know that essudi can’t really make peoplse change their minds but this is a common misconception… never mind. That’s what he wants from Ottaine. And from me. To convince others.'

'And me. I know, I'm not a soldier, I shouldn't even be here. But I am. I could... maybe find a proof somewhere among the ancient books, or...'

'There's no time. Landhapis wants to strike again soon, this suspension has been angering them. They want to break the fence, with or without Solummger's support, and burn them alive.'

'But why?!'

'Fear. The ugliest, stupidest reason for any action. This is unknown, this is bigger than anything the human race has ever known, so they are trembling and shitting their pants in fear. The dragons from the forest are far more intelligent than humans. If they get our knowledge and technology that would be the end of humanity, we would easily be turned into slaves. That's what they fear.'

'And you believe that will not happen?'

'They are too smart to do it. They are not only intelligent but also wise. Moreover, they are not flawed like humans with outstanding minds. Those dragons don't have a problem with things other than pure logic. They still feel the emotions, raise their children, do art and music. They don't want to harm and take without asking. It would simply be unwise. In their eyes being kind is the only option. They know a lot about people and they call us the Elder Onces. Because we were here before them and because they also know how they did appear in this world. At the moment we have higher technology and we can be a threat to them. Landhapis is enjoying this fact and... I am going to stand against them. So is Ottaine.'

'If that is what it is - we will act. I'm sure Yr will take our side too. I can't reach the people you can reach but I will do whatever I can to help. I have my powers too.'

She stretched her hand and Verlar took it.

'It's good to have you on my side.'

They talked more about dragons. Magalla had many questions and Verlar was happy to answer them. Finally, the heavy air left the quarters and Verlar started believing they can do it together. They talked over possible scenarios and actions that could be taken, everything had to be alright. Then they started showing each other how much they cared, without saying much. They made love with so much affection that the time seemed to stop for this one night.

Yrzlaruki and Ottaine looked tired and concerned, especially Yr. Verlar wondered how difficult it must be for her. He wouldn't want to stand in her shoes right now, knowing her loyalties might be challenged. She was not talking to anybody, hid in her quarters to do all the paperwork, and met with couriers from other battalions that were approaching. Magalla offered she would wait every afternoon and evening in the same spot in case Yaphara reappears.

He did the same day.

'Hello, Ms Snevlih. Primus, the tribe's chief, suggested some of you might be waiting for me every day,' he said when the sun set down. Magalla told him to call her by her name.

'How are things? That gorgeous woman, the commander. What was her reaction?'

'She hasn't spoken to us all day. Ottaine says she is very disturbed.'

'I understand. Oh, how I understand. When I figured I needed to collaborate with Solummger it wasn't a happy thought. I need to see her, Magalla. Please, can you ask her to come? I will take her, I will take both of you to the dragons. I'll be waiting here for an hour and if you don't come back I'll be here tomorrow, and the day after.'

Yr, to Magalla's surprise, agreed right away.

'Let me see. There's no way of avoiding it,' she commented while walking across the field. Yaphara had his wingfingers hidden in the bushes again. Magalla, who didn't know how to fly them, mounted with Yr and they followed Skey-Er general.

In the forest, their arrival had been anticipated. The women were as astonished as Verlar and Ottaine the previous day. Yrzlaruki was straight away offered a seat next to Primus, they recognised someone important in her. Magalla couldn't stop asking question after question, Yr was listening and observing, she was observed too. In the end, Primus wrote on a parchment 'better doesn't mean dangerous, different can mean equal' and handed it to her. Yr's eyes got big in the fire's gloom.

'Do they read minds?' she asked when the visit was over and they landed on the other side of the electrified fence.

'No, they read us from how we move and talk, they deduce like the best investigators.

'What he wrote meant so much to me, it was as if he knew what had been in my head for... years?'

'That's what they are. When we, I mean the scientists, first met them we went through the same shock. Now you understand why people got into war over the Forest.'

'I tried to influence them. I know Ottaine didn't, so I tried today. I have never experienced anything like this. I couldn't get into them...'

'Oh, that's why you asked Primus and that female with an egg to tell us they will take the tribe to the east!' Magalla interrupted her. Yaphara smiled, he had guessed what Yr was up to.

'Yes, that's why. I couldn't. It wasn't like with people, with essudi, a shield around them. Nor like with animals (yes, I believe most essudi tried it once or twice on a dog or horse) where there's emptiness. It was like they pushed me away actively but subconsciously. It was only a feeling from my side. There was power in their defence and strength.'

'Yrzlaruki, I have to ask you a question. Where do you stand now?' Yaphara got straight to the point.

'What do you expect of me, general?' she answered firmly.

'Don't act against me. Don't stop your friends if they want to act against your leaders. I will do everything I can to put you out of situations where you would need to make a difficult decision. Use your power to back us from behind.'

Yr looked very sad when she replied:

'I will fight for the Tribe.'

'Thank you. I know how much it costs you. The Deinos Project was supposed to be peaceful but... Landhapis called for you and everything changed.'

'Deinos. Does it have anything to do with the word Verlar says you used for dragons?' Magalla asked.

'Oh yes, didn't I mention that? It's a world from a dead language that means terrifying and wondrous. It was used by our ancestors when they first were looking for the name for the creatures we call dragons.'

'Do you know, general, that Landhapis wants to gather all the troops and bring the armies to the final battle?' Yr said gloomily.

'I do. I haven't been in touch with my compatriots for a while and I don't know what my country is planning if they plan anything. So I wouldn't be able either to warn you or to betray my country.'

'I don't have access to Landhapis decision-makers, I could speak to Solummgerians. But not if we are preparing for the battle.'

'Maybe I could?' Magalla suggested.

'And how would you do that?' Yr reproached her. 'Go to Fuerumig as an anonymous civilian with no good reason to enter the palace and meantime we fight the battle? All of us? Including dragon masters? How about either helping to stock on food or learn how to stop bleeding?'

That was a good point.