When Officer Clay Hyde came to America, he wasn't sure why everyone looked at him funny. Was it the hair? Done in the long dredlocks of his mother's culture? Or was it the odd deeply folded skin of his Australian Aborigine father? It doesn't much matter. This 31 year old paramedic has much to offer the station and has been here in the States for 10 years - at the station for 6. He is versed in burns, acid and other skin ailments, so when the EMTs are dispatched to a fire with the pump crew he is always there.

Without a girlfriend on American soil, Clay often enjoys nights out with the other single bucks at the Station, and his charming accent (he was raised in Australia) usually gets him a few free drinks. He enjoys a good game of darts, and can usually drink anyone else under the table. Contrary to the presumption that with a Jamacan mother he must be a stoner, Clay is usually the first on the crew to talk with teens on their trips through the Station about drug abuse and its dangers. He says he'd rather spend a week in the hospital from a snake bite than one day detoxing from heroin - and he's right.

Clay is not a tall man, at around 5'6", and is built with the typical burly body of his father's people. His skin is leathery tan and has a ruddy cast to it, his hair is a mix of black, grey and brown dredlocks kept almost to his mid-back (which no, he will not cut, and no, he has not been required to), his deep set eyes are a strong green color. None of his extended family members live in the States with him, but he calls them frequently and is often asked by station employees that when he takes a vacation home to Australia - take them all with him!

When eggs were passed around from Falas Weyr, Clay got one which hatched into an emerald beauty he named Mana - she is always full of energy and life, and he takes that as his cue.

Clay was sent to a place they told him was called Jiyuu Dragonstake, apparently on the same world where one of the other guys had bonded. The wait was short, though Clay didn't know how long to expect any wait to be! How could he expect anything?

This was nothing like anyone knew how to anticipate. He was giddy for it, but he also kept his head on straight. He watched where he was, who was in charge, and what everyone did for the duration of the day.

Hyde was more or less normal for these sands, human or humanoid people from other worlds attended this one as well, he'd learn later that everyone else was also surprised to some degree at who - or what - might attend hatchings!

He soothed Mana when the call went out abruptly that the eggs were ready. Everyone was excited, so of course Mana was over-eager and chirping constantly. "Shhh," Hyde said, rubbing his finger down her neck, "Let's just watch now, okay?"

She responded, purring and rubbing her head around on his stubby finger. Then, the first of the small number of eggs cracked open! Clay watched as a brown and pink colored gangly hatchling tumbled out and went up to a girl who had flinched when the sharp crack of the egg sounded.

Entranced, though still observing other eggs, Clay saw another hatch. This one carried a brilliantly shaded red and gold hatchling into the world. Though he was noble looking, and fairly large for a hatchling, he still had a piece of his shell stuck on the end of his tail. Bringing a smile to Clay's face, he thought to himself, he is the color of fire.

And as though the hatchling had heard him - which he did - the long, two tailed dragon (a distinct feature of these sands - Clay hadn't seen any others with two tails like this!) turned to face him.

I am Kin'iro. I will be your dragon, the red and gold stated clearly. Suddenly and with a broad smile across his face, Clay nodded. Mana danced around on his shoulder, weaving in and out of his dredlocked hair!

***

The dragons grew up so fast. Every day was hard work, learning new drills and the endless chores of feeding, cleaning, and cleaning up after the dragons. Every night, Clay Hyde slept soundly.

He dreamed oddly though - almost every night, he would dream of Earth. To places he'd never been or that did not exist... Or that existed all right, but not really the way he knew them. The Dreamtime lands he visited were elusive, never the same twice. Except for Ayers Rock, of course - which attracted dreamers like a flame attracted -- firefighters.

He awoke with a bit of a start. Mana was cheeping like a clock alarm, where she'd learned to do that he wasn't sure. He hoped that she wouldn't pick up the song of car alarms when they got home.

"That's right," he muttered to himself, stretching and getting out of his bed. "Today we're going to head back to the Healing Den and set up shop for you there."

Kin'iro nodded and said, "yes, and I have been awake waiting for you."

"Well sorry," Clay laughed. "It's not every day we do this, but you want me all rested up don't you?"

The dragon and the human both could sense Mana's excitement, though, and both laughed when she nearly brained herself flying around the room. She could hardly contain herself. Clay methodically packed, and then officially signed out from Jiyuu.

"It has been an honor," he announced to the leaders, "and if you need us, all you need to do is send a message to the Station. I'm sure that we'll find time to come."

They bid the place farewell. Over the last year, the pair of dragon and man had learned to fly, how to teleport, breathe firey weapons - though Kin'iro seemed able to manipulate flame better than merely breathing it. Maybe it was his blood, his color, or his namesake, but he was quite good at putting fires out too.

That would come in handy, when they got back to work.

I am excited for us, Kin'iro stated. Let us meet your coworkers!

"I'm sure they're going to be happy to meet you too!" Clay said in his ringing lilt. When they did get back, of course, they had to get busy re-learning things that might have gone to the wayside while they took their dragon riding courses. Some had lost more than others, it looked like, but most of them were going to be able to jump right back into their duties - Clay included.

Steele looked so extremely proud - and deservedly so - when he showed up upon his black Glenn type. Everyone agreed that the majestic male fit him perfectly. Clay was happy to see that everyone also liked Kin'iro's coloration and attitude. Bravery in a dragon, plus fire manipulation? Can't get better than that!