Freddie may have been distracted by Protectors doing flight drills out the window that day. But really, wasn't that the teacher's fault? They should cover the windows to hide those sorts of things from them.
His beast spoke up.Or, you could just pay attention.
Not wanting yet another person to try and scold him, he didn't reply to his dragon, but instead to the teacher. Freddie had an idea of how to get him to talk. "I tried and learned some. But Miss Lawson isn't mated to a human like you are, Mr. MacLeod. So you must know a lot more and have some tips for us."
He had no clue if Mr. MacLeod saw through his distraction or not, but the teacher nodded. "I am mated to Miss Melanie, andit does give me some more insight into it all. But the question is—are you going to pay attention? Because if you can't promise to do so, then maybe you should stay in the classroom when the others go to meet the humans."
Freddie half rose from his chair. "You can't do that! I mean, um, please don't do that, sir. I can pay attention. I promise."
Mr. MacLeod stared at him a moment before he grunted. "Right, then pay attention everyone. Humans aren't that different from us, but let me tell you a few things to avoid at first."
As the teacher gave his tips, Freddie leaned forward and hung on every word. For once, he would pay attention. He wanted to meet the human children more than anything. For the rest of the day, at least, he wouldn't mess up anything.
He only hoped the humans came soon, though. Freddie's attention sometimes wandered no matter what he tried, and he didn't want to stay in the classroom while everyone else went out. He'd never hear the end of it from his mum, or his older brother.
And so he did his best to focus on Mr. MacLeod. Well, until someone came into the classroom to tell them the humans had arrived, anyway.
Chapter Two
Daisy Chadwick had spent the entire bus ride to Stonefire bouncing in her seat. Unlike some of her classmates, who were afraid of the dragons and told horrible stories about them, she was excited. She'd actually seen a few of them flying in the air last summer, during her family's holiday to the Lake District. The purple and black and gold dragons had been diving, twirling, and doing all kinds of tricks.
She'd even waved at them with both arms. One had noticed her—the purple dragon—and had flown even closer. But the dragon never came down to get her, or eat her, or tear her apart, like some of her classmates kept saying. Daisy was sure the dragon who'd hovered close had nodded—right at her—as if to say hello.
Too bad the purple dragon had flown away a few seconds later, along with his or her friends.
Still, she dreamed about those dragons all the time. So when there had been a contest for all primary students, one where they wrote why they thought getting to know the dragons was important, she'd entered.
And best of all, Daisy had won. The prize was her class got to visit Clan Stonefire for a day.
Most of her classmates had thanked her for it. But a few hadn't. Their parents had kept them home.
But she didn't care. Daisy was going to meet some dragons. It was the best day ever.
The bus stopped in front of a huge metal gate. The words above read,Stonefire.
They had arrived!
She wanted to jump up and race to the door, but Daisy stayed in her seat. One of the rules was to not get up until the teacher said so.
And so she sat, tapping her feet against the ground.
The bus went inside the gates and stopped near a big brick building. There were a lot of tall people around. Well, not people really, but dragons. Dragon-shifters in England were almost always tall.
And strong. But even if the guy's arms just outside her window were massive, Daisy knew he wouldn't snap her in two. No one did that, unless it was a story. And that was only because it made things more interesting.
After what seemed like an hour, the teacher climbed back onto the bus and clapped her hands. "Right then, we'll set off here in a minute. However, let's do a quick review of the rules."
Daisy resisted groaning. They had written the rules a hundred times the day before, and then had gone over them many, many times on the way to Stonefire.
But she didn't complain. She couldn't risk being held back and missing the dragons.
The teacher held up her first finger, and the children all said, "Stay with one other student at all times."
At her second finger, they continued, "No wandering off."
And the third finger. "No bothering the dragons. Be respectful at all times."
Miss Fletcher smiled. "Good. Miss Nikki, one of the dragon Protectors, is waiting just outside. Form a group near her."