I strode with Alex, Ly and Celine in the woods, a little bit after we had our second travel break. The early afternoon sky was brimming above the canopy, least I think it was the afternoon. I can hardly tell now since I think I lost track.

I was strolling behind all of them, watching them, especially the dragons, barely listening to the sounds of Ly humming for her own amusement and the birds tweeting. This morning was a decent one, no arguments or anything serious, although I did grow another itch on my body when I woke up and basically had to wash it for about the THIRD time. I was totally praying we'd find a village with fresh clothes at this point. But the good part about it was Ly was pretty happy that I didn't show any signs of me dying or hurt anymore, when she noticed I didn't have any leaves on me. She did seem to truly care about that, like the day before and the night prior to that. Although I was very cautious of the short, bubbly dragon cause I was afraid she'd jump on me again like yesterday morning. Just because I'm deprived of injuries now, didn't mean I wanted to earn more.

Makes me think Alex was right about one thing about her...She does act like a dang dog on a good day.

Course Celine was glad too, but she didn't act too happy about it, probably cause she already knows I'm going to get better anyway. Other than that, after she made her first hunt and brought something back for Ly while me and Alex had a few apples again, she wanted us to get a move on, since she felt ready to leave the meadow. Just ordering us around. I certainly think she was in a rush about something, but what it was I couldn't tell. I wasn't sure if she was planning something sinister...Or if she was tired of us already and wanted to get rid of us sooner rather than later so she can be alone again, judging by her words from before.

Or maybe both.

It was hard to tell...And I couldn't help but wonder.

I thought back to my conversation with Alex last night as I continued to pace behind the others with my head down. It was still hard to accept what she has been telling me. I took all her words to heart, but I don't think my distrust for dragons would wash away very easily. It still hasn't. I sure have slept fine last night, compared to the other night when I was in pain, but I think it still had me rolling about, which was why I probably developed another itchy sensation again, and cracking open an eye cause I thought I heard a strange noise a few times last night. Like my suspicions were all comfirmed, like Celine had left in the middle of the night to do something bad, or if there were other dragons besides her and Ly wandering around out here, spying on their scaly allies and the only two humans they have, none the wiser. But nothing happened anyway. She was still sleeping in her corner, and I didn't see anything else besides us.

I partly thought I was being paranoid now, the kind of crazy worriness Alex was referring, but I still couldn't help feeling that something terrible will happen down the road. Thing about it is just I have no idea when. Whether it could happen while me and her are all alone with the dragons, or when we find a village and lots more people will be in danger because of us.

But despite that, I guess I still wanted to give them a chance, like I promised. SORTA. I wasn't totally agreeing with the idea that the dragons that are with me now are not as evil as I thought. I wouldn't mind keeping an eye on Celine and Ly, I was going to anyways, but it was also with the thought of knowing all the things they did that totally told me differently in front of my eyes so far. I wanted to see what else they could do...And perhaps prove me wrong.

We'll just have to see. I'm not holding my breath on it too much.

A small bout of wind came over the forested area, and blew at me, sending me a shiver. I called out, "Hey, Ly. Can I ask you something?"

The little yellow dragon stopped humming and twisted her head to look over her shoulder. She said, smiling, "Sure! Ask me anything. I LOVE questions."

Celine sighed, as she was swishing her tail behind her, "Oh crap...I was already enjoying the quiet."

Ly snapped playfully at her, "Hey! If you want us quiet, you're gonna have to put some muzzles on us!"

Celine remarked like she liked the idea, "That'll be the day."

"Oh, go put some beeswax in your ears if you want peace and quiet!" Celine shot her a look of offense but didn't fight about it. She only snorted. I knew that Ly was both being playful and serious, I think, but Celine wasn't having it it looked like. Then Ly pressed, "Anyways, what was your question, Dart?"

I started, "Call this a long shot, dumb question, but..."

She insisted with a shake of her head, "I don't care what kind of questions you have. Go ahead."

"Alright then." Like I kinda care anyways. I know you're kinda crazy. But I couldn't help to finally ask anyways, "Did you have any new visions telling us we'll reach a village soon? Or find any sort of help from other people?"

Alex looked confused as all hell as Ly hummed in thought, "....No? I don't think so."

I pressed impatiently, "Nothing? There's nothing at all?"

Celine rolled her eyes, "Oh, Dart, give it a rest already."

I formed a glare and gave it to her, "Didn't she tell you to mind your own beeswax?"

"I didn't say I would." She looked behind her towards me, "Besides, we know her...Visions won't do us much good. Might as well drop it."

Ly protested, "You don't know that! My visions can be VERY helpful! You haven't gave my powers a chance." Then she lowered her head in shame, "I do wish they were MORE helpful though. They just do whatever they want." Then she apologized to me, "I'm sorry, Dart. I haven't seen anything like that...I think. Wish I could be more helpful. I want to see more good humans too." I frowned. Probably cuz you haven't seen a village before, or even talked to other humans, that's why. You can't imagine what everything looks like.

Alex finally spoke, "I'm sorry...What are you guys talking about?" Then asked Celine directly, "Why are they talking about visions? That's the second time I heard someone speaking about visions. What'd I miss?"

The big blue dragon replied, turning her snout to her, "Obviously you're lucky you haven't heard the little one spouting nonsense in front of your face mulitple times and driving you bonkers...Not yet. I'm surprised she was too distracted to mention anything about it yesterday." I smirked a bit. It's true. Ly hasn't brought up a single vision yesterday. I'm surprised as she is.

The silver haired woman replied, "Ok, but that doesn't really answer my question."

"I can answer it!" I rolled my eyes. Here she goes again. Ly proudly declared, "I forgot to mention it the other day, which I should have because I ABSOLUTELY love this power I have and love sharing it with ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODDY! I can see visions!"

Alex wrinkled her brow as Ly grinned a toothy grin at my fellow human, "...You...Can see images of the future?" She looked at me for confirmation, and I just smirked. That's the same reaction I had when I heard of this too. Don't blame you.

Ly nodded quickly, "Sure I can! I've been seeing them since I was little. In fact I think I had one about you one time, petting me and hugging me and doing cuddles with me and being a nice friend in general. Oh, and you told me how cute I was. Isn't that incredible?"

Alex really didn't know what to say to that, "Umm...Well-"

Celine flat out said, "Coicidence. You just met her and you imagined it."

Ly yapped with a pouty expression, "I have not imagined it! It flashed before my eyes! And besides that Alex said I was cute yesterday so that was real like you and everybody here!"

She stated, "Hey, just because I imagine stuff doesn't mean I'm seeing a vision."

Ly said, "That's because you can't see them! You're a PLAIN dragon with no powers! I can, SO THERE!"

"I don't really need a vision to know I'm only stating a fact." Then Celine explained to Alex, "She's been claiming that she can see visions ever since we met...Apparently she can't get enough of it...And won't shut up about them." I nodded to myself in agreement. Yep, got that right.

Alex frowned, "Oh really now?"

The hatchling claimed proudly like she was showing off her supposed gift, "It's true. I really do see things, Alex! I swear, I thought I saw Dart die that night when nothing makes him feel better. Lying stiff around like a dead fox with all of us standing over him crying." Then she went on with her wings making a shiver, "Pretty scary seeing a friend die...Don't like that at all." Then she added with a huge smile on her snout, "But obviously that ain't happening cause I am so glad Celine is such a genius with grossly giving blood to him and that he is all right and will be VERY, VERY OK!" Alex giggled a bit in amusement to her attitude.

Gosh, if she really did see me die in her head, which I doubt, that'd be a really scary thing to see. I hope I never have visions and watch myself die. I pointed out with a small smile, "Yeah...With so much luck."

Celine denied modestly, "I wouldn't call myself a genius."

Ly praised, "But you are. That was honestly a great idea. I wish my visions came up with it first before you did." She shook her head to herself with a concentrated, frustrated look, "Why didn't they? Were they just sleeping that night? That's dumb. If I was up during that time they oughta be too! That'd probably be more helpful if it DID come that night!" Then she smiled happily again, "Oh well, it's over now, and I shouldn't complain about it. I still think my visions can be helpful, just whenever they show up." Then she told me pitifully, "Again, sorry I don't see a village in my head, Dart."

I sighed, waving her off, "Forget about it."

Then she turned her gaze to Alex with, "So what do you think, Alex? Do you think me seeing visions is amazing? Dart and Celine think it's amazing." I scrunched up my face. I think it's amazing? Not really, more like annoyed. Ly assured, "I promise they can be pretty helpful. Oh yes I have seen weird stuff too sometimes that I cannot explain, like one time I thought I saw in my head that I would have FOUR claws on each paw for no apparent reason at all, but obviously I have seen helpful ones!" I wrinkled up my brow. That is pretty weird. She continued "Anyways, they have helped me out at times. Just ask Celine sometime. I did tell her about it. Anyways, what do you think of my visions since you now know of them? Impressed? Weirded out? Thinking I'm crazy when I'm not? What?"

Alex apparently tried to come up with some polite words, "Uh...Yeah, I...I think it is cool, seeing stuff in the future, and...I'm sure they can be."

Ly went on, "They absolutely can, you'd be surprised. Just wish I had more control over them sometimes. But hey, what else can I do other than get a headache? Sometimes I get myself a headache trying to see one. It's like they don't want anyone to see them. Strange thought huh, like my weird visions. Heh heh." Both Ly and Alex giggled a bit, the silver haired woman giggling more awkwardly if I'm being honest, before the hatchling focused more on the path ahead. She's kinda giving me a headache with this vision nonsense, and I can't believe I asked if she had one about us coming across a village. What was the point in that?

Oh heck, I still can't believe the one she claimed to see that I'd be flying on Celine's back. Not CARRIED by her, but RIDING on her.

GOOD GRIEF ALMIGHTY!

Oh well, I guess it is a bit better than this MAGIC nonsense that Celine spouted before. I sure as heck know that MAGIC isn't real at all.

Alex glanced at me for a moment, her face trying to ask for my opinion about it. I twirled my finger beside my head, mouthing silently 'Ly is talking nonsense'. I was sure just whispering about it Ly would hear me. Alex just smiled a bit, shrugged, then focused on walking still. I can tell she's not believing it either, but I also can guess she didn't want to make Ly feel bad by telling her the truth about her so called visions either. I can't blame her. I don't really wanna hurt Ly's feelings either.

Then Ly piped up suddenly a few moments later, putting a stop in her tracks, "Oh! Oh! Wait! I think I see something!"

Me and everyone else froze too. Celine was on high alert as she turned to face the little dragon. She pressed urgently, "What is it? Where?"

Ly made a cute, apologetic face when she responded, "Oops, sorry! I was only seeing a vision! Nothing to worry about!"

I frowned, annoyed by this, "What? Are you kidding now?"

"LY." Celine was clearly agitated and annoyed too. After glaring at Ly a second, she said after letting out a breath, "Well, I SUPPOSE you saw a vision that we DID come across a village? Or your home? Either of the two?"

The yellow hatchling shook her head, speaking excitably, "No, nothing like that, but I did see-"

Celine interjected with a roll of her eyes, "Ugh, my god, I really wish my ears were clogged with beeswax."

I brought up irritantingly, "You're wishing something? I honestly wish that your blood has fixed up my tunic as well as it did with my chest. It's still half torn you know. I keep feeling a draft without the freakin leaves!"

Celine groaned, bringing her eyes to me, "Oh, give it a rest. It only works on living things apparently."

I suggested sarcastically, "Well, you could be a tailor and fix it up for me...If you want."

Ly asked curiously, "Uh...What's a tailor?"

Celine raised a set of talons off the ground. She said as she flexed them, "With these claws, you're asking the wrong dragon. But if you'd like, I can rip it to shreds. That's my technique on tailoring."

I waved her off when she planted her paw back to the ground, "No way. Keep them to yourself." I've let a dragon pick me up off the ground, and let another tackle me the other day, I ain't letting one of them make me go naked because of the way they'd TAILOR people's clothes! I said, "However can you by chance make your blood make me impervious to itching? I think you already know I was scratching again this morning and it's driving me crazy every time it happens."

Celine rolled up her eyes annoyingly, "Blood is not sentient, it can't be told what to do. It is only a part of me as much as my horns, my wings, and my tail."

I gestured at her, glaring, "You made your point correctly. You're a dragon with that kind of blood and I don't see you scratching up a storm."

Shortly, after a moment, Celine spat, "Take a wild guess on why that is, smart aleck."

I stared at her for a moment before nodding, "Actually...Never mind...I think I know." It's her freakin scales, they have to be.

"Good." She went on, "Then you can stop whining about it. You're not dying, it's clear enough you won't now. And if you're not happy with the situation you are in, get over it. I can't fix everything."

But then I demanded with so much impatience, "Well then how about you fly up to the sky and see where we are? I'm tired of walking through trees feeling lost and want to find a damn village. That's why I asked Ly about villages in the first place."

Celine narrowed her eyes, "Wish I could do that too, so I can leave all your asses behind, but do I have to bring up the risks of doing that again? I hate repeating myself."

I argued, "At this point, I don't care if any dragon can see us. I just want to find help...And a fresh tunic!"

Ly tried to interject with a look of worry, "Guys, can you not fight right now? I don't like fighting."

Celine rolled her irritated eyes again, "Ancestors...Why did I bother coming back for you?"

I demanded with heat in my voice, "You got something you want to say?"

She remarked shortly, "Maybe. Maybe I DO got something to say."

I spat, "Well I'VE got something to say to YOU."

She dared, "Well spit it out! I've been used to hearing stupid shit out of your mouth already. Besides, you're not too far away for me to not hear you, I'm not deaf, just say what you want to say RIGHT AT MY FACE, you little, whiny bastard!"

I growled through my teeth, "I'm not a whiny bastard!"

Ly tried to stop this, "Guys-"

Celine claimed, "Well you sure do whine a lot as much as you claim you don't!"

I retorted, "Well you're not the boss of me, considering you like bossing us around!"

"You're the one that asked me to fly up through the trees, what the hell does that make you?"

"Are you kidding me?! I haven't seen another fucking dragon flying around ever since you warned us and you're too afraid to check it out!"

"Don't make a bold claim that I'm afraid. Just because we haven't seen any doesn't mean they won't and aren't flying."

"You know, instead of arguing about it, maybe you should do what I'm suggesting and take a quick look. Maybe we might have a better chance of coming across a group of dragons on foot! They're probably tired of flying around already!"

"That's a risk I'm willing to take! It's a much slimmer chance than the last! And if they were on foot, I ain't also risking them spotting me in the air!"

"Screw chances, I want to know where I am! You say you can't fix everything, well try fixing your attitude so you can listen more!"

"Is that what you actually wanna say? You're the one that isn't listening! How bout listen to yourself and fix yours, you pretentious prick!"

Before I could respond to that, Alex finally interferred, standing between us with her hands out ot her sides, "Alright, alright, let's simmer down, guys. Look, maybe we should take another break. We'll sit around for a few minutes and then we'll keep going. Ok?" Ly, who had stood at the sidelines watching this unforld, held a hopeful look on her face as she smiled. Celine and I didn't withdrew our daggered eyes as we continued to stare at each other, like they were two fires that have quickly lined up and connected.

I know that I'm supposed to tone down my issues with dragons...But that is easier said than done. What makes things less easier to do so...Is HER. I know we don't like each other, and I'm certain me and her are gonna butt heads. We sorta did before. I imagine more times than I wanna admit.

It feels like she is acting like she is superior than me, and I hate that. Her attitude feels like the same as any other dragon.

As if I need another one picking on me. Well, I ain't standing around and taking it again. Not anymore.

Celine slowly softened up her gaze, sighing. She looked away from me, then muttered, "...Right."

I took a deep breath, trying to simmer it down. Then, I was trampling towards a tree that appeared climbable, "Well I'm going up and take a look. Be right back."

Alex said, "Dart."

Celine pressed with caution in her eyes, "You sure that's a good idea?"

I snapped at her, "I know how to climb a tree, dragon, I think I can handle it. I don't see you doing it."

She formed another glare with warning in it as she swished her tail behind her, "I really don't think-"

"Can't hear ya." I figured she would say something about other dragons in the air, perhaps warning me that may see me while I'm high up in a tree, but I didn't care. I wanted to figure out where we are real quick, and see if there is a village close by. Besides, I'll duck down quickly if I have to. I'll make sure no one sees me.

I hopped up for a branch, circling all my limbs around it. I swung myself, standing on the wooden limb. Then I kept climbing upward as carefully as I could. I was thinking back to the times that I climbed on trees back at home, till I reached to the top and looked around above the horizon of the tree tops. I remember always looking towards the outskirts of my forest home, seeing the edge, seeing that landscape with less trees, knowing there are places beyond my home besides the stories dad tells me.

I finally reached the tallest tree limb, circling my gaze around the area for a second, and found to my surprise that there is an edge to these woods. It wasn't too far off, just a bit further to the right. But there was no village, only a large, lenghty landscape with hardly any cover.

Almost looks like something I saw away from home a few times.

Finally...Less trees!

Ly asked from below, "You see something up there?"

Celine hollered also, "Any stupid, bad dragons that want to kill us?"

I replied, "No. But it looks like we are getting somewhere...Kinda." Just to make absolutely sure I didn't see anything big flying about, I checked the skies ahead, and also backward, and didn't find any dragons, which is probably a good thing. I know there wasn't any cover out there, I get where Celine was coming from, about dragons being airborne and might see us easily without something shrouding our presence. But it wasn't like we can find another village that is like mine, hidden so deep in the woods. There had to be one out there...Perhaps. If there was another village out there, perhaps not too far off, then we'll have to go out there and find it.

Besides, I was already tired of trees. I've been tired of living in trees for all my life anyway.

I hope we don't run into trouble out there. It'd be dangerous if there were a bunch of dragons flying together and confronting us.

And I hope there isn't a village out there in rubble either. I don't want to see that.

*****

As the sun begun to set, with the crickets beginning to make their noises, the mighty scaled assassin had come across another meadow. His nose gave another sniff, the familiars scents he'd been following all day long seemed to have led him there. He padded on, soon finding a firepit that has appeared to have been recently made, now a bunch of smoldering ashes. He looked sideways at it. Must have built a fire here. Well, for a human, it's useful they have a dragon to do it for them. That's better than doing it themselves.

He really wondered how two dragons and two humans can work together so well. That seems a bit unlikely in his eyes.

Well, the evidence is here, the scents don't lie, so it's definitely possible.

The scaly assassin let out a sigh filled with a tiny sense of longing. Darn it...Thinking about humans is making him think about that prisoner again. He wishes he can fly back and see that person in their dungeon just for a second. But he better not, not too soon, or else otherwise Messina will know he hasn't done his job. Then again, maybe she thought he'd be back tonight. That broad did have a ton of faith in him that he is quicker that way. He looked off towards the direction the scent went off away from the camp. Speaking of jobs...Dang...How far have they walked? They sure get around.

Guess they really didn't want to be captured again. If he was one of them, he wouldn't blame them. Would he have gotten so far that nobody would catch him? The lone drake smirked to himself. Probably. He'd be pretty good that way. After all he is a sneaky dragon, unlike most, like Stoney, the arrogant prick.

Well, even if the prisoners tried to run so far, he would still catch them. And if he did, they probably wouldn't stand a CHANCE against him. Human or dragon, one individual or group, it did not matter to him. Even with groups, especially if they are separated, he can wipe them out, one scale at a time.

Course he hadn't killed that many dragons in his life compared to anything else, but still, it's not like he didn't know how.

He glanced around, spotting a stream from afar. Well, they sure picked a nice spot to spend a night. His four legs carried him over to there, his wings curling in as his tail was swishing. He could use a drink. Then after that, he can rest here. He has walked on his fours almost the entire day tracking the prisoners, without doing any hunting at all, with only a kill since yesterday, except popping a bunch of apples from a tree he came across so he wouldn't go through the trouble of hunting a deer or any creature. His legs felt like they were about to fall asleep. He definitely needs a much bigger break than the one earlier at that apple tree. He could spend the night here like the others before him, then he'll keep on tracking them by dawn.

When he arrived at the bank a little bit later, he spotted something peculiar on the dirt. There were a couple of big leaves near some kind of material. He snaked down his snout, till his nostrils touched it, sucking in that smell that emitted off it.

He can pick up...Blood. What else came with it smelled like one of the prisoners he was after. It must've been theirs. Someone must've gotten injured and used those leaves as a bandage for their injury. Kinda clever if you ask him. Then a thought crossed his mind with his wings fluttering. Maybe it had something to do with those dead human bodies he found at this clearing earlier today. Whoever they are got into a SEVERE fight with the escapees. Didn't end so well for them. And luckily for the prisoners, nobody seems to have perished.

That is until somebody else finds them, and are lucky enough to kill them all...

Wonder how that injured prisoner is doing? Must have been pretty bad to have to patch themselves up so urgently.

The drake then also picked up another scent, that was evident besides that leftover bandage, making his face frown. That scent...He's sure he's smelling it. He picked it up as he followed the trail, back at the other meadow.

But it is so...Familiar too.

...Can it be...?

He rose his head above ground, shaking their head in denial and letting out a snort. No...It can't be. They couldn't have escaped that prison...

...Did they, and he hadn't checked to see before he left?

He looked off to the direction they possibly wandered off to with the other prisoners, his ears perked up as the thought rang throughout his skull. Could it possibly be true?

*****

I asked right after Celine dropped my supper in front of me, "There any raw bits in it? I expect great service this time around."

Her eyes gave me daggers, "Just take the damn leg." Then she turned tail, grumbling to herself, flopped down on to a spot a few feet across from me, Ly and Alex, and began chewing on a carcass. I eyed at the disembodied leg of a cow, of all things she found tonight, laying in front of my lap, then glanced at Ly and Alex eating their portions off separate legs.

Ly, after chewing and choking down a piece, looked to me and reported with a smile, "It's ok, Dart. It tastes good. She burns things pretty well compared to me." I heard Celine grunt in acknowledgement.

I gazed right at my own cow leg, letting out a cautious breath. Alright, screw it. I reached and grabbed for it, and had my teeth tearing off some meat.

I began chewing, tasting the first bit of my portion. Hmm...It doesn't taste bad so far...That's a good thing.

The sunsetting night began descending on the plains we've walked on for several hours now. The rest of this afternoon wasn't so bad. I was so happy to be away from trees for a little while. For some of that time, besides being sort of in awe that I was wandering on a different landscape, I was partially worried about any bad dragons we'd come across since we were out in the open landscape this time around. But luckily for everyone, especially me, we haven't seen any all day. They were probably flying off somewhere else. Or maybe just darn tired of searching for us in the air. And maybe thinking to themselves why bother searching around for all of us.

I wonder if all this luck will last for a long time. It's not like there are any hiding spots for us out here. I'm kinda surprised Celine didn't seem too bothered by the lack of cover, after that sharp conversation we had hours ago. Maybe she knew something that I didn't. With that, I was wondering what, but I didn't dare question her about it...Maybe not yet.

Hey, if she really was on my side, then I guess she feels like she can take on a few dragons all by herself. If she is that great of a fighter unlike me...Cause I won't be much help.

Unluckily for us though, we haven't seen a village still standing yet. We did come across a road of sorts, with hoof prints and wheel tracks on it, which did give me some form of hope that maybe we are in a step in the right direction of finding any form of human help. But saying that about being in the right direction, we had to vote on which way we should follow the road. Funny enough, Ly chose left, while me, Alex and, surprisingly, Celine picked right. After watching her stamping out her paw in whines and defeat, we trekked on towards our preferred way.

But that didn't mean we came across any villages though. I even began to wonder if we were going in the right direction after all. I haven't seen a sign nor a landmark that says we were heading somewhere. I hoped it wasn't for nothing.

As much as I wanted to keep going, thanks to that road tugging me along after it, but Celine said that we oughta make camp at this spot tonight. We were near the road, but we also found a big pond close by. Probably mostly for the sake of me and my itchiness besides drinking from it. When it came time for supper, Ly stopped Alex and I from eating more apples and kindly offered us humans some meat that Celine was going to get. Which at the end was a big cow with huge horns on its head.

Now THAT was enough for all four of us. This was the first time we were sharing meat from a hunt with two dragons. Perhaps Ly was making up to things between us, considering Alex and I gave her a few apples prior.

I guess I do appreciate it...We can only eat apples so much. Plus it was good enough of an idea to save how many apples we have left, seeing there weren't any apple trees as far as I can see. And at least the darn leg did not smell bad, or looked bad, or even tasted horrendous. It was well cooked by Celine. Apart from her fast healing blood, I can give her credit...Even though I still am wary of her, particulariy when she wandered off to find us something to eat alone again. She had been gone for a long time, but considering we haven't seen some wildlife out here for a while, maybe it legitimately took her some time to find something...And probably wasn't meeting up and talking to another dragon working for Messina behind my back.

Glad she did anyway...I was getting hungry.

I looked at the dirt road, trying to imagine how far a village it was. I am close to finding some help for those poor people at the stone fortress. I can feel it in my gut. But perhaps that was wishful thinking, if there was anybody, an army of sorts, that was willing to help me stand up against Messina. But even with that idea, I wonder about Ly. I still had this obligation to try to bring her home, but that was easier said than done. I wonder if I should bring her home first, and then help with the army of people I gathered up last. Or do latter first before former.

I had thought about finding my father as well, but who knew when I'll find my home, or if he is even alive. I don't know which way it is at, or how far it is. I don't know how far a single dragon flew me away from home to take me to Messina. It's impossible to figure out, unless I asked somebody that knows where it is.

So many options...For who knows how much time all these people have.

I seriously hoped this day and night would be the last I'd be wasting a whole bunch of time. And hoped It'd be the last feeling itchy. It was getting tiring, other than trying to find help, and also putting up with being around two dragons that have their own issues.

We ate for about several minutes, until Ly started glancing around nervously, one of her wings twitching involuntarily. Alex asked in concern, "You feeling ok, Ly?"

Ly replied, "I wish we have a fire."

Alex said, her chest letting out a pleasant but wanting sigh, "I know. Being around fire makes things pretty warm. I love how cozy it gets."

"No, not THAT. I'm not cold." She went on further, leaning in to nuzzle against Alex's arm, "It's just...Around here during the night feels so SPOOOOKY."

I remarked with a chuckle, "Spooky? You're spooked by the night? I thought you were supposed to be a dragon."

The yellow hatchling said, staring around my friend at me, "What does that mean? Does that mean dragons don't ever get scared? But I am...I'm kinda scared of the dark all the time...Whenever I'm outside at night I mean." Then she rambled on, waving me off with a paw, "Don't get the wrong idea, I don't like staying inside a dimly, dark dungeon alone most of the time, but being outside in the dark REALLY creeps me out. So is it a bad thing that I'm scared, because I'm a dragon? I mean, I did feel scared because I was lost too, remember, so is that also a bad thing? It's silly, it really is, but I can't help myself, you know? I-"

Celine insisted after swallowing down a bit, "Don't worry, little one. Every dragon gets scared...Even they can be afraid of the dark." She gave me a short term glare. I frowned. What're you looking at me like that for? I'm still angry at you for that argument we made earlier, so I ain't in the mood for your crap.

Ly stared quizzically at Celine, cocking her head, "Really? Even Messina and Garo and all the other gruff dragons like Lazzo? I mean, I get they're supposed to look scary, they're supposed to be the OPPOSITE of scared when they're in front of little ones like me and humans. Just look at Garo, he ALWAYS looks scary...And ugly too." I snickered with Celine already softening up her face. Yike...I guess we do both think the same thing about him. Then Ly rambled on, "But they don't act the least bit scared of ANYTHING. They don't act like they're afraid of the dark."

Celine said, "Trust me. None may be small anymore, but even adults get scared. They just don't show it most of the time. I'm sure each are afraid of one thing."

"Like you?" Ly asked, "Don't you get scared?"

Celine giggled deeply, her wings fluttering, "Would I be worrying about Messina capturing us again if I wasn't?"

Ly said thoughtfully, with a slow shrug, "I...Guess that makes sense."

Alex brought up with a shiver, "Well, I admit...Sometimes when I lay around in the dark all by myself, it does get to me sometimes. And I'm an adult."

I shrugged myself, "I don't get scared of it. Unless you count the dark scales of a dragon."

Celine snickered, rolling her eyes, "You get SCARED at the sight of black scales on a dragon? Give me a break. Where did your attitude towards dragons go? Was that all a made up lie just to hide your fears?"

I gave her a glare, "Oh, shut up. You're the one that was scared of flying up through trees today." Celine snorted at me in retaliation.

Ly admitted shortly after we fell silent, "I don't think it's the dark itself that bothers me..." She gazed away from the group with a worried look shone in her eyes, "I think it's because I think there is SOMETHING HIDING IN IT that makes me not want to go in there. Like something that is always covered in darkness, with red eyes, that I swear they glow..." She looked down, moving a few claws on her paw, "And have sharp, scary looking claws..." Then she pointed her claw at her mouth, "And they have very big teeth."

Celine said in disbelief, "And of course something like that exists."

Alex laughed a bit, shaking her head while brushing some silver hair off her shoulders, "I never heard of anything like that."

Ly looked towards her, "You say that cuz it must be something that nobody has never seen before. Not even my parents know about it when I asked them. But I could've swore I saw something like that before. It looked pretty real...It was STARING right at me."

I laughed a little bit too, "Give everyone a break. I haven't heard of something like that either."

Ly yapped, "You say that too, but it's the truth!"

"Oh, come on."

"Fine, then let me ask Celine." Ly looked back at Celine again, speaking in a hastily, nervous way, "Hey Celine...Do you think there are scary monsters hiding around in the dark while everyone's asleep waiting to attack one of us that wanders off and to pick off every flesh off our bones?"

Celine replied after a blink, "Depends on where you are at, I guess."

She formed a frustrated glare, "I didn't ask where they live, you simpleton! I don't care where they are! They're always everywhere so what's the difference?! I was asking did you think-"

Celine outright said adamantly, "No."

The yellow little dragon immediately wiped that look off her face that is now wide. She exclaimed, "Really?! You don't believe they exist either?!"

"Nope." Her jaws tore off another piece of the body.

Ly whined, drooping her head while Celine was busy chewing. Alex patted her shoulder comfortingly with a grin, "Aw, don't worry, Ly. We're all together. Nothing's going to hurt you."

Ly said, rolling her eyes to see the silver haired lady again, "Easy for you to say. You haven't heard anything at night while you're sleeping. You get to sleep PEACEFULLY like a birdy in a nest while I struggle to keep my eyes closed. That is worse than feeling lost! That is worse than being taken away from home!"

I smirked a bit. So I'm not the only one that's a bit paranoid about things when I'm trying to sleep. I kinda feel for her...Even though it's probably not a real thing to be alarmed for. I asked, "How can it be worse than being lost or locked away in a dungeon by a crazy dragon?"

She remarked loudly, "Because you can't see anything that is frightening you! It's terrifying!"

"Ah, yeah, good point." I pressed, "Well, has your...Dare I say, 'visions' ever warn you that something is stalking you in the dark?"

Celine swallowed down another piece of her portion she already chewed up and rolled up her eyes, "I'm going to LOVE hearing this."

The hatchling responded, "No. They're probably scared as I am and they don't show me anything. They're always blank...Like the pitch blackness of the very scary darkness that wants to eat anyone alive. Even the most curious of hatchlings that can see things in their mind!" I think she was turning pale at her own thought, "Oh gosh...THE HORROR!"

Celine let out a breath and tried to calm her, "Alright, relax, Ly. There's nothing out here with us."

Ly cried out towards her, "Only because the sky is still orange! It isn't dark yet, and it will be soon!"

The larger dragon narrowed her eyes and said in a serious tone, "There are no MONSTERS in the dark, little one. They are just your imagination, that's all. The REAL monsters that are out there, are the ones we have recently escaped from. Keep it in mind."

Alex said in agreement, "She's right. There are much worse things than the...Nightmare monsters."

But Ly started something else, "But, guys, maybe if we have a fire, maybe it'll-"

"Ly, listen." Celine huffed, seemingly getting tired of this conversation, "We can't start a fire now cause there isn't any firewood around here. All we have right now is a source of water. And we've gotten lucky last night with a fire, but it's probably best not to have one right now. Our enemies will easily spot us WAY out in the open like this. Besides, we slept outside without a fire before, so I think you can handle it. You're safe, and there will be nothing out here with us tonight while we are sleeping. Got it? Just relax, stop whining about things hiding in the dark...And eat your leg."

Shortly, after gaping at her, Ly said reluctantly, nodding in acceptance, "...Okay..." Then she went back to eat her portion of the hunt. I glanced to my right. I hope there are no...MONSTERS, scaly ones, out there. But then again...How would Messina's dragons that have been secretly following us on foot, if they are, be hiding anywhere out here?

I glanced around back and forth uneasily, noticing the sun has almost disappeared below the horizon. Well, Celine is right...Other than not letting any dragon see us easily in the dark, it'll also help us keep out of sight of the Bloodthorn pirates. They're probably out there searching for us too as we speak. I concentrated on the ground we stepped on away from this camp spot. Did we leave any footprints? Maybe not, we were walking on grass. Maybe they aren't following us. I was frowning up in thought as I stared out at the somewhat lit landscape. I haven't seen more pirates since that night. The one that escaped probably found the rest of them by now and have probably have made it back to where their comrades have perished. But they do not know where to start looking for us. Which direction to go.

I can relate to that...Maybe that'll help keep us out of trouble. Hopefully.

Celine does not know what she started...

Then that same dragon gazed right at me and said, "Oh, and by the way, Dart." I gazed directly back toward her in attention as she continued, "Dragons are not so different when it comes to showing fear. We can show other emotions other than anger and malice if you can't tell."

I was frowning, "Hey, if it's because I was surprised Ly's afraid of the dark, cut me some slack. I just think it's a little silly for a dragon to be afraid of it."

She said, "I know...But knowing you, I thought I'd point it out."

I said in a irritable tone, "Why thank you. You are so helpful."

She didn't say anything after that. All she did was stare at me for a moment with those serious eyes of hers, and then went to dig her teeth back into the cow carcass. I stared at her frustratingly. Why bother bringing that up? I know what you're trying to tell me. I already saw plenty of emotions on Ly. I saw them besides the ones you brought up. I saw kindness from one dragon instead of malice.

But that still doesn't make me totally trust you guys you know! Emotions can be fake! Dragons can still be liars! They can still lie about what they actually aren't!

I glanced at Ly, who was tearing away at the cow leg still. Well...Maybe her emotions aren't fake. And maybe either Celine's. I hope.

Though I still don't like your attitude, Celine. Wish you'd get off my back about everything.

After our conversation, a little bit of time went by before all four of us were done eating and we all had a drink from that pond. The sun had already disappeared below the horizon, casting the overwhelming darkness over the plains. Then not long after that all of us decided to pitch in without incident, with the crickets ringing all across the barren landscape.

I was laying on my side with Ly and Alex close by, trying to get some shut eye again on the hard ground. Figuring I might start itching again, which I did after scratching twice, I yearned to lay on a cozy bed back at home, or on a blanket. That wasn't the first time. But what did surprise me was for the first time, I actually wanted to sleep on a dragon's wing. As stupid as that sounded, I kinda didn't care. I could lay against some scales right about now. Or grow some...Whichever I'd prefer.

After some time has passed, I'd imagine maybe a bit over an hour, I thought I heard somebody walking around. I cracked an eye open.

I saw Ly, sneaking quietly past me, only to no avail. She appeared pretty nervous, like she was worried something was out to get her. Or maybe worried she might wake somebody she did not want to wake. When she swung her sights around towards me, I quickly had my eyelid shut. I didn't want her to blame herself for waking me up...Although I felt like I wanted to interrogate her and find out what she was up to.

When I heard she went further away from me, I started watching her again, shifting around a bit on the ground quietly to follow her every move. She was heading towards Celine who was a bit of a short distance from us, since she wanted to sleep alone. As I can tell, she was still asleep like the rest of us...Almost. I frowned in both suspicion and curiosity, lifting my head off the grass a bit so I can hear a possible conversation. What is she up to? Are they trying to talk to each other about their...Secret plans about me and Alex?

When the hatchling reached the adult dragon, she seemed hesitant about something at first. But then I watched her poking her wing at Celine's scales. She did this multiple times till the big dragon stirred. I can see Celine opening her eyes while her head still lied on the ground. As you can imagine, they appeared annoyed when they caught Ly. I kinda can hear Celine from right here, her voice sounding incensed, "What?"

I heard Ly say, "Hey, uh...Celine...I'm sorry to wake you, um..."

Celine rose her head off the ground finally to make a statement, "Listen, little one, I can't talk now. I'm tired, I had a long day. If you want to have another conversation with me about anything, save it for morning. Plus, I told you not to bother me while I'm trying to sleep, did I?"

Ly sat on her butt, twiddling around with her claws, "I know, I'm sorry. But umm...."

She urged with her snout, "What? What is it?"

Ly shyly spoke on, "I...I, uh...." Then she finally had the courage to say this, "Can I sleep by you?"

Celine blinked at her a few times before saying, "What?"

"You heard me." She giggled cutely, "I wanna sleep by you. Under your wing...Close to you."

The big blue dragon declined with a shake of her head immediately, "No. Absolutely not."

Ly tried to beg, "But please, Celine, I can't sleep. I tried but I keep hearing something. It's scaring me. It's been getting worse each night. I feel like something's watching us."

Celine let out a long drawn out sigh, "Ly, there is nothing out here, I told you, it is all your imagination. You're only hearing the crickets." She tried using her paw to nudge Ly back to where she came from, "Just...Just ignore it and go back to sleep."

But Ly didn't budge. She insisted, "But I can't. I want to sleep by you."

Celine whined tiredly, "I don't do that stuff, little one. I like sleeping alone. Can't you sleep by Alex or Dart?"

The hatchling explained, "I want to, but I think it's because they're small. I want to be close to someone that is big and strong...And protective. Like you. It's not the same. There's no one else like that here. I always do that with my mommy whenever I feel scared to sleep at night."

Celine started to reject, "But I'm not your mommy, I'm a stranger. You'll just have to-"

Ly pled, laying a paw on her foreleg, "Please, Celine? I promise I won't wake you up again. I'll stay perfectly still. You won't know I'm here. Ok? Pretty please?"

Celine stared at her for a long time. Then she rolled her eyes with a huff, "...Fine." She raised her left wing for the little dragon, "Get in there." Ly beamed happily, wandering underneath the darn thing and pushing herself against Celine's scales. The wing drifted down over the little dragon's body, shielding her from the outside world, as Celine lowered her head to try to get some sleep again.

I had some pity form in my eyes. So she wasn't sneaking about, trying to talk to Celine about devious plans...It was because of...This.

I admit...Something about this made me feel bad for Ly again. It showed me another example of her...Of what might she truly is. There was no way she was lying to anyone about her fears, there was no way THIS could be fake. In all honesty, this whole scene reminded me of when I was scared from a nightmare, about that nightmarish dragon...I remember going to my mom and dad, while they were in bed, and I wake them up and asked them if I could sleep by them. Course I haven't done that in years, but...That really reminded me of that.

I know an animal, like a wolf, can have a family, and I also know even pups can sleep by their mommies, maybe daddies too. But this was different. Dragons were smarter than regular animals.

It made me wonder now...Were dragon families not so different from mine? I never thought about it like that. My dad had never told me about it. He probably never seen anything like it.

Is there actually more to dragons than what we know? Was Alex right?

I lay my head back down, closing my eyes, not getting the image of Celine and Ly out of my head.