“Shade you made it. You've been gone so long,” comes a young male voice from up ahead.

I look down and see a teenage male running our way. His movements look calculated and deliberate. The movements of a man with years of practice and knowledge under his belt, not a teenager.

He looks to be in his upper teens with short dark hair. His eyes show a light blue in the sun. He is tanned like someone who stays out in the sun all day. His frame is thin and sleek, but well toned. His muscles seem to be larger then his frame should have. A glow just barely perceptible surrounds him.

He runs up to shade and shakes his hand, which throws me off since Shade of Night is not corporeal. “Nice to see you again Rock Hard. I've been busy.”

“I wanted to come and visit, but mom says I couldn't. Something about preparing for something. I don't remember what. I didn't listen.” Rock Hard says.

“Now Rock you really need to quit that, she is trying to get you ready for life.” Shade says like a father reprimanding a child.

Rock waves his hand, “Yeah, Yeah, whatever.” Rock then looks at me and Oaky.

“Awesome, he made it.” Rock runs to me and grabs my hand and shakes.

I had to control a wince because he grabs my hand with a excessively strong grip. His skin was soft as flesh, but felt more like steel.

“You gotta come talk,” Rock says then looks at Shade of Night, “Mom is waiting. Be careful though she is a bit emo today.”

“Thanks Rock. I'm sure you will keep my guests entertained?” Shade asks as calmly as ever.

“Sure,” Rock says and looks at Oaky, “A free tree spirit. You gotta tell me what it is like. The tree spirits around here are snobbish.” he says.

Oaky giggles, “Not snobbish just reserved.”

“Whatever, all the same. You're cuter than they are.” He says then turns and heads up into the mountains, “Come let's find a good place to sit.”

Oaky blushes and follows dreamily.

“Oh life,” I say. I roll my eyes and follow. Oaky turns and glares at me, then turns back and goes dreamy again watching Rock Hard.

We walk a short way to a circle of stones. Five flat stones make a small circle and are just large enough to be used as seats.

Oaky stops just shy of entering the circle, “But it's a magic circle.” she says worried.

“Nah not any more. It was my practice circle. I made another higher up. I use this to talk now.” Rock says and sits down. He reaches over and pats the closest stone to him and looks at Oaky.

“Oh great you have smitten him already.” I say and take a seat opposite Rock.

“Shut up.” Oaky glares then all but floats over to the rock he was patting.

Rock stares at Oaky as she sits then says, ”We will talk at length later when mom talks to Jode, Okay?”

Oaky blushes brighter than she ever did to me and says, “Okay,” then acts shy.

“And I thought I was the youngest here.” I say sarcastically. Oaky gives me a sideways glare. I try to keep from laughing.

“Probably,” Rock says looking at me. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-three,” I say.

“Twenty-three years, well yeah you are. How old do humans live now?” he asks genuinely curious.

“I think the oldest was 100 but generally not older than seventy or eighty.”

“That's short, how do you get anything done?” he asks stunned.

“Very quickly.” I say.

Rock laughs, “You are funny. I like you. I don't know why dad doesn't like you.”

“Because he is a dad and I am a young spoiled brat to him.” I say.

Rock laughs and slaps his knee, “That’s what he told me. All humans are spoiled.”

“Well we are, with short lives we have to compensate somehow.” I say. Rock starts laughing so hard he almost falls off his rock.

“Rock Hard what is going on?” I hear a deep gruff voice come from behind me. I turn to see a middle aged man with a glow you can’t miss.

Rock calms down slightly, “Oh dad you are such a party poop.”

“Rock,” he says sternly.

The man looks at me inquisitively. After a few seconds he says, “So this is Jode. He doesn't look very imposing.”

I waited a couple of seconds to make sure he was done talking, “Hello sir. I am just your average human, sir.”

“We shall see. At least you know courtesy. That is rare in humans.” he says without a change in his expression.

Again I wait for a couple of seconds before saying, “I agree sir.”

He grunts and walks up toward the mountains. “Dad needs to pull the brush out of his ass. He's too uptight.” Rock says quietly

A squelched laugh escapes before I can stop it. “He is your father.” I say.

“Oh come on.” Rock says exasperated. “Shade already gave you the talk.” Rock says then makes air quotes. “Let it go. I may be a dragon, but I want to live while I can. In another couple hundred I will have to enter into my profession. Then I have to start being an adult. Let me be a mess till then. I'm not stupid.”

“Sorry, didn't know.” I say.

Rock waves his hand. “Forget it. Just relax I don't bite.” he says and chuckles to a joke unspoken, “I want to be able to do what I want till I am stuck. I'm a kid still, let me be one.”

“A hundred year old kid. Wouldn't my parents have a can about that one.” I say, trying to imagine their expression.

Rock laughs, “I guess for a human that would be something.”

“You're telling me. Mom I may be in high school, but I am hundred give me a break.” I say sarcastically.