After days spent processing Elder Stone's teachings, Remi found herself drawn to the edge of their territory. The forest had transformed with autumn's touch, painting the mountainside in russet and gold. She perched high in an ancient pine, her bare feet easily finding purchase on the rough bark, observing the movement below with a hunter's patience.

Three figures moved cautiously through the underbrush—humans, wearing what looked like some kind of official uniform in forest green. The style reminded Remi of park rangers or forestry officials from her original world, though the details were noticeably different. Their methodical progression suggested a careful survey rather than casual exploration. The lead figure, a woman with a practical braid and weathered features, paused frequently to examine the familiar signs—partial footprints, disturbed vegetation, and occasional signs of dragon passage.

Brother's mental presence brushed against her consciousness from his hiding spot—a depression beneath exposed tree roots that perfectly concealed his earth-toned scales. His awareness had grown sharper over recent weeks, his protective instincts increasingly focused when it came to potential threats. Unlike her other siblings who might have reacted with noise or movement, Brother remained perfectly still, only his bright eyes tracking the intruders.

From her perch in the tree, Remi observed the patrol's movements. The lead ranger—clearly the most experienced—moved with deliberate care, stopping occasionally to take readings with a device that emitted a soft blue glow. The two younger rangers followed her lead, documenting their findings with small crystal-like objects and carefully labeled sample vials.

Remi studied the leader intently, comparing her against impressions Mother had shared during their mental exchanges about the territory boundaries. Mother had conveyed sensory impressions of certain humans who patrolled these forests—one in particular had a different scent than most humans, one who left offerings rather than taking from the land. Elder Stone's teaching images had included humans from ancient times before the great retreat—when dragons had still engaged with the lesser races before withdrawing completely. From Mother's impressions, this ranger seemed different from those ancient enemies. If any human could be approached, she seemed the most likely candidate.

For days, Remi had watched these patrols crisscross the lower reaches of their territory. Their careful movements and obvious efforts to minimize their impact on the environment intrigued her. These rangers documented and observed, their purpose unclear but their methods respectful of the land.

From her elevated position, Remi watched as the lead ranger examined yet another of her footprints with obvious fascination. The woman knelt beside the impression, carefully measuring and documenting it just as she had done with previous tracks they'd found. The rangers had been following these same footprints for days now, their interest in the unusual tracks growing with each new discovery.

"Still the same pattern," the ranger murmured to her companions, her voice carrying clearly to Remi's enhanced hearing. The words were unmistakably English, but the cadence and pronunciation sounded strange to Remi's ears—not like any accent she'd ever heard. "Continuing to move alongside the hatchling tracks. Whatever this bipedal being is, it's traveling with the dragons."

One of the younger rangers—a woman with short, practical hair—moved closer. "Do you think it could be some form of guardian species we haven't documented? Perhaps something evolved specifically to protect Earth Dragon clutches?"

"Possible, but unlikely," the lead ranger replied, her tone thoughtful. "Dragons haven't had companion species in any historical record. This is something entirely new." She carefully measured the partial print, her movements precise and respectful.

The third ranger—a young man with a watchful demeanor—maintained a vigilant perimeter, his gaze constantly scanning the forest. "Headquarters is getting impatient for more concrete information. These footprints aren't enough to upgrade the protection status of this zone."

The lead ranger straightened, her braid swinging with the movement. "We continue as planned. We need more detailed documentation about the size and health of the Earth Dragon population before requesting additional resources." Her eyes narrowed as she studied the surrounding area. "Besides, I have a feeling we're being watched."

Remi felt a small thrill at the ranger's intuition. The rangers continued their careful documentation, recording tracks and mapping the apparent movement patterns. The lead ranger occasionally paused, her head tilted as if listening to something beyond normal human hearing. Each time, her gaze would sweep closer to Remi's position without quite finding her.

As the afternoon light began to slant through the trees, Remi made her decision. Elder Stone's teaching images had shown the retreat of dragonkind from the world of humans—a necessary withdrawal after what seemed like centuries of hunting and persecution. Remi had no clear sense of when this had happened; dragons didn't measure time the way humans did, and Elder Stone's memories didn't translate neatly into years. But she understood it had been long enough that no dragon had willingly revealed itself to humans since then. Yet the immediate threat to her family might require breaking this ancient silence.

She waited until the patrol began preparing to make camp for the night, the two younger rangers setting up small, efficient shelters while the lead ranger organized their collected data. The experienced ranger had chosen their campsite with professional skill—open enough for visibility but protected from the wind, with clear escape routes in multiple directions.

Brother's mental touch carried concern as he sensed her intent through their bond. His protective instinct warred with trust in her judgment, resulting in a complex emotional projection that transcended his typical pre-verbal expressions. The dragon hatchling adjusted his hidden position, ready to intervene if necessary.

Remi descended the tree with fluid grace, her movements nearly silent as she approached the camp's perimeter. The moment the lead ranger sensed her presence, the woman's hand moved instinctively toward her belt before stopping with deliberate control. Their eyes met across twenty feet of forest floor—Remi's slightly elongated pupils with their reptilian cast meeting the ranger's steady, professional gaze.

For a moment, no one moved. The younger rangers had frozen at their leader's sudden alertness, their hands hovering near their equipment. The tableau held for three heartbeats before Remi broke the silence.

"You've been tracking me," she said, her voice clear and steady. Though she often spoke with Mother and her siblings through their mental connection, the sensation of forming human words felt strange after so long without human conversation. "For several days now."

The lead ranger's controlled surprise was evident only in the slight widening of her eyes. With careful precision, she moved her hands away from her belt, keeping them visible at her sides. "We meant no intrusion," she replied, her tone measured and calm, that strange accent even more noticeable up close. "We're conducting an ecological survey."

Remi took a step closer, sensing Brother's heightened alertness through their bond. "You've been following my footprints. Documenting movements."

The younger rangers exchanged glances, but their leader maintained her professional composure. "Yes," she acknowledged after a moment's consideration. "We've been tracking unusual patterns in this region." Her gaze sharpened as she studied Remi more carefully. "May I ask who you are, and why you're here among the dragon signs?"

"My name is Remi," she answered. "And I live here, with my family." She gestured vaguely toward the higher reaches of the mountain.

The lead ranger processed this with remarkable adaptability. "There are no registered human settlements in this preservation zone," she noted, though her tone remained conversational rather than confrontational.

"I didn't say my family was human," Remi replied simply.

The statement hung in the air, its implications expanding in the silence that followed. With her enhanced hearing, Remi caught the female ranger's sharp intake of breath, while she noticed the male ranger's posture shift subtly to something more alert. Only the lead ranger's expression remained professionally neutral, though Remi could hear the woman's heartbeat accelerate.

"I see," the ranger said finally. "That would explain the pattern of tracks we've been following." Her gaze shifted briefly to Remi's feet, noting the talon-like nails that matched the unusual tracks they'd been documenting. "You've been living alongside the Earth Dragons?"

Instead of answering directly, Remi asked her own question. "What are your intentions toward my family?"

The ranger considered this carefully before responding. "Documentation. Protection. Dragons are critically endangered—our primary directive would be conservation and non-interference."

When her bare foot touched the ground, Remi extended her senses through her connection with the earth, feeling for any deception. Brother's mental presence remained alert but increasingly curious, his assessment of the rangers aligning with her own impressions.

"Dragons retreated from humans long ago," Remi said, recalling Elder Stone's teaching images. "They were hunted during many great wars."

Understanding dawned in the ranger's eyes. "You know our history," she said quietly. "Yes, humans caused tremendous harm to dragonkind in the past during what we call the Crusades. The Forestry Service was established to maintain the boundaries between human settlements and magical territories."

"Why should my family trust you now?" Remi asked, her gaze steady.

The ranger seemed to make a decision. With deliberate movements, she unclipped her service belt—containing what Remi assumed were her tools and devices—and placed it carefully on the ground. "My life's work has been protecting endangered magical species," she said, straightening to meet Remi's gaze directly. "I would give my life to prevent any harm coming to a viable dragon population."

The sincerity in her voice resonated through the earth beneath Remi's feet. Brother's assessment, flowing through their bond, matched her own—this human spoke truth, or at least believed she did.

Something in the ranger's expression softened slightly. "How did you come to live with them?" she asked, her tone shifting from professional inquiry to genuine interest.

"I have been with them since I hatched," Remi answered, the literal truth of her extraordinary rebirth easier than attempting to explain her full history.

This revelation clearly surprised even the seasoned ranger. "You... hatched?" she repeated carefully, as if ensuring she'd heard correctly.

Remi nodded, allowing her posture to relax slightly.

"I imagine there is a story there," the ranger stated, a hint of wonder breaking through her professional demeanor. "Would you be willing to share it with us? It could be vital for understanding how to protect your family."

The request seemed genuine, but Remi felt Brother's caution through their bond. Revealing too much too quickly could endanger the entire clutch. "Not yet," she decided. "First, I need to know more about you. About your intentions."

The ranger nodded, accepting this boundary. "Fair enough. What would you like to know?" She then straightened slightly, adding, "I'm Leopa Riverlight, by the way. Senior Ranger with the Eastern Appalachian Conservation Corps."

"This is Jenna," she continued, gesturing to the female ranger, "and Hamil," indicating the male ranger. Both nodded respectfully, though Remi noticed their continued wariness.

For the next hour, as the forest darkened around them, Remi carefully questioned the rangers about their work, their knowledge of dragons, and their conservation efforts. Leopa answered with remarkable candor, occasionally consulting with Jenna or Hamil on specific details. They explained the structure of the Forestry Service, the magical and mundane methods used to protect endangered species, and the laws governing interaction with magical creatures. Throughout the conversation, their strange accent remained a constant reminder to Remi that this world, despite its similarities to her original one, was fundamentally different.

As they talked, Brother remained hidden but present, his mental touch maintaining a constant connection with Remi. Through their bond, she sensed his gradual shift from wariness to cautious interest. The young dragon's assessment, still pre-verbal but increasingly sophisticated, suggested these humans might indeed be different from those in Elder Stone's teaching images.

"There's someone I'd like you to meet," Leopa said finally, as their conversation reached a natural pause. "A specialist at the Jansper School who has particular expertise in magical communication. With your permission, of course."

Remi considered this carefully, weighing Brother's input against her own judgment. "Who?"

"Magistor Enrique Fortranous," Leopa replied. "He specializes in magical theory, including communication between different magical species."

The name meant nothing to Remi, but the concept intrigued her. Mother had shared impressions of the rare possibility that some humans might be different from the hunters of the past.

"I would need to discuss this with my mother first," she said after a moment's consideration.

Leopa's expression registered brief surprise before returning to professional interest. "Of course. When might that be possible?"

Remi glanced toward the darkening forest. "Tomorrow, perhaps. She'll want to assess you herself."

"Your mother would come here?" Hamil asked, speaking up for the first time in the conversation, his tone betraying a mixture of scientific excitement and primal apprehension.

"If she chooses to," Remi replied simply. The thought of Mother revealing herself to humans after so long in careful concealment seemed almost impossible, yet this unusual situation might necessitate new approaches.

"We would consider that an extraordinary honor," Leopa said, genuine respect evident in her voice. "And a historic opportunity for conservation efforts."

As they finalized plans to meet again the following morning, Remi felt Brother's mental presence shift as he prepared to withdraw deeper into the forest. His assessment of the rangers had evolved throughout the conversation—still cautious, but now colored with curiosity rather than alarm.

"Until tomorrow, then," Remi said, already backing toward the tree line. "Don't try to follow me."

"We won't," Leopa promised, her tone sincere. "Thank you for trusting us enough to make contact."

As Remi slipped into the forest darkness, Brother's mental presence joined with hers, their bond carrying a complex mixture of emotions that transcended his typical pre-verbal communication. Together they made their way silently through the night forest, heading back toward the sanctuary where Mother waited.

The decision to reveal themselves carried profound risks, but the circumstances left few alternatives. If these rangers truly represented a different kind of human—one that sought to protect rather than harm—perhaps they could help ensure the clutch's safety in this changing world.

Brother moved alongside her, his six-legged form finding easy purchase on the mountainside. His mental presence carried simple but profound reassurance: whatever came next, they would face it together.

Above them, the first stars appeared through gaps in the canopy, eternal witnesses to this moment of potential understanding after a long period of division.

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