Valeria and Yvy walked side by side. Yvy was impatient at the slow pace they were moving at. Val already told her no to riding her because that is how the treaty was violated and would be sore subject for some. 

All the dragons were most likely making their way to the meeting room by flying, so the halls were empty. It is for the best because if the dragons saw her before the meeting they might try and kill her.

That thought didn't worry her as much as it should. 

Barely on time, Yvy and Valeria entered through a back entrance so they were hidden from sight. Larius and Cygun went out to inform the dragons what was going to happen.

King Larius said, "Today a human was found inside our borders-"

He was interrupted by a dragon yelling, "Did you kill it?"

 King Larius ignored him and continued "-a small eight years old girl," The dragon who had wanted to kill her was uncomfortable at the idea of killing an innocent "She had been running from the people of her village who abused her."

Once again, the King was interrupted but this time someone yelled, "Kill the village for doing that to a child!"

That was the reaction that the King wanted his dragons to have.

Larius announced, "Queen Cygun, Princess Yvy and I do not wish to send her back into a world where the men will take advantage of her as she is an orphan. I would not give her our hospitality without asking my people first. Before making your decision, Valeria, the human girl, wishes to sing a song for you all."

No dragons made a noise, appearing to be deep in thought about Valeria. Valeria herself came out and walked out. She stopped and got ready to sing her heart out :

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear my crown of thorns
On my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stain of time
The feeling disappears
You are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

Valeria had closed her eyes while she sang. When she opened them, the dragons around her had been moved to tears by her song.

One of them commented in the mind-link, "No child no matter the race should be able to feel such pain."

Another added, "I accept Valeria on our territory. Those humans did not know what a treasure they had."

King Larius and Queen Cygun smiled as more agreements and acceptances came in. The most shocking thing was that no one, not a single dragon did not want her here. They all wanted to keep her.

After everyone settled down, a blue dragon asked, "How can a human be able to speak to us through the mind-link? No human has ever spoken or in this case sung in her minds as well as with their mouths."

King Larius knew that question would come up and answered, "We have several working theories, but nothing sure as of yet. One is that her abuse permitted her psychic energy to grow, the death of her protector added to that also."

Valeria grimaced at the thought of Grandma Ellie, or protector as they put it, was dead. It was true, but hurt nonetheless.

Princess Yvy offered up her own theory, "It could be the fact that she grew up all her life near us and our power rubbed off. I have been watching Valeria for a while and she often came near our borders without realizing it."

Valeria said, "It could be a combination of several theories anyway."

Queen Cygun voiced a concern, "How is Valeria to travel around as she is so small?"

Valeria smiled, "I won't impose on you so much. I will find a way, most likely running everywhere."

The dragons were impressed that Valeria had the mind not to just assume they will let her ride them. For a little eight year old, she was quite bright. 

Suddenly, there was a disturbance in the crowd. Kysy was coming near them again. 

Things between King Larius and Kysy had only improved a little in the past hundred years. He hated her and she still disrespected him. It was their routine, but now Kysy would come talk to them about her visions instead of being forcibly dragged out of her hole.

Kysy smiled at Valeria who smiled back at this beautiful stormy grey dragon. 

Kysy turned to the King and told him, "You made the right decision. Valeria will be important someday."

Without a further comment, Kysy took off and headed back to her home. She was laughing to herself, imagining King Larius' face as he tried to figure out the exact meanings of her words. 

Valeria was slightly confused with Kysy, but that did not stop her excitement at being able to stay with the dragons instead of the humans.

Soon a purple dragon came towards her. \

In their private mind-link, Yvy told Val, "Watch out, bitch alert! That's Sonya and she thinks my brother is in love with her. She might be bitchy to you, but don't take offense."

Valeria nodded. There were girls like that back at her village who were under the impression that they were going to marry the next village chief and ruled over everyone.

Sonya actually surprised them all by saying, "Valeria, nice to meet you. I am Sonya. If you need anything or if anyone bothers you, talk to me. I don't wish what you had to go through on my worst enemy." 

Without waiting for an answer, she went to join her friends.

Valeria hesitantly told Yvy, "She seemed really nice."

Yvy was in a daze, "Uh, yeah, she was. Maybe your pain brought the point home. It is kind of funny when you think about. There are a lot of dragons, over a thousand and they all seem to be over protective of you."

Valeria chuckled, "This is new. I never had anyone but Grandma Ellie ever feel protective over me."

Valeria yawned. Larius and Cygun shared a knowing look. Despite her ability to carry conversation and being smarter than others her age, Valeria is just an eight year old girl who just had been through a lot. 

She needed to rest, God knows she earned it.

Yvy showed her to a nearby cave where Valeria promptly collapsed. A couple young dragons came in and went to sleep next to Val, lending her their heat.

King Larius and Queen Cygun smiled at this. Valeria didn't deserve anything that has happened to her and they were going to do their best to make sure the rest of her life is better.