As there were several other people sitting around on the sand and swimming in the water nearby, ten year old Emily Harper, while wearing a cute pink bikini, giggled as she was enjoying a piggy back ride on her father, her arms wrapped around his neck as she held on and her legs were tucked at his sides. Rick, while wearing blue swimming trunks, was huffing below, apparently worn from carrying his daughter, but he still held himself upward as he still walked across the beach, feet stomping and kicking the sand below them. Despite that he was worn, Emily can hear he's chuckling and having fun. Why wouldn't he? That's what she always asked herself. Today was her and her family's day on the beach and it was a good day for a piggy back ride.

As one arm still curled around his neck, Emily pointed in a different direction, "Go this way!"

Rick laughed as he shifted her body up a bit on his back with a grunt, "Whatever you say, princess!" With that he trotted off to his left.

Emily giggled and pressed her ear against his back and closed her eyes, relishing the ride. Princess. That's what she was always like with him. A princess. A princess carried around by the king. She loved that. Perhaps other little girls wouldn't like that nickname, but she loves it. Emily does act like a princess, most of the time.

Her eyes slowly opened and she almost shut her eyelids back up when the glare of the sun that came from the ocean almost blinded her. They didn't, however, they slowly adjusted to the bright rays and now she sees about one adult and two children running at full speed into that water and their bodies disappeared below it, before they popped back up before a second would end. One child actually sucked in a lot of water and spitted it out of his mouth like a hose at the other child. Emily wrinkled her face, finding it disgusting. She remembered tasting water from the ocean before and it did not taste good! That kid must be pretty brave in doing so. The ten year old blonde haired girl stuck her tongue out in disgust. As for Emily....Nope, not tasting the water again. She'll stick to water from faucets and bottles.

When she feels her father slowing down, she lifted her head off his back, wondering why're they stopping. Rick said with a huff out of his lungs, "Well, that's it for the ride on the daddy locomotive. Everybody off."

Emily whined, "Aw, but you just got started."

Rick said over his shoulder, "Em, it had started about ten minutes ago, and I've given you a FOURTH piggy back ride in one day. This locomotive is worn out here!"

She actually had lost track that it wasn't the first ride she's gotten from her parent, and with her mind on all the playfulness she lost track how long that ride went on. Hearing him say that made her remember. Her brows went straight up, "Oops. Sorry, daddy."

Rick giggled and shook his head as he looked over his shoulder to meet her gaze, "It's alright. I'm just tired, sweetie." His body lowered to one knee toward the sand. Evidence that he really needed a break. He groaned, "Em, please, get off my back or I'm gonna fall over and eat sand."

Other than actually tasting salt water, one time, she ACCIDENTALY tasted sand when her foot tripped over something as she ran and toppled forward. Sand was more disgusting than salt water! She wasn't about to let her dad suffer the same fate she had! It also wouldn't do her any good if she cannot get another piggy back ride when her daddy is so tired. Her mind hoped she'll get another one after their break's over. Emily giggled and nodded as she unhooked her arms off his neck and stepped forth on the soft sand, "Alright."

Rick moaned in a relaxing tone as he slumped down on his butt in front of her. When Emily strode around his form, her hands were held to her mouth as she snickered, her eyes not leaving his chest. As she can see, her dad's chest is a little sunburnt. Rick after he gazed at the blue, cloudless sky for a moment, looked at her with a smirk, "What?"

She pointed at his chest, "Your chest went red."

Rick looked at himself and groaned with a glare, "Darn it...Be feeling a bit of stings there for a while." He let out a sigh as he leaned his head back with closed eyes, "Guess the sunscreen got washed off by the water."

Emily planted her hands to her hips and playfully remarked, "Or maybe you didn't do a good job putting it on."

He gazed at her with a giggle, "Hey, I do a good job putting it on. I think it got washed off." He tried to peek over his shoulder to see his back, but he was having a hard time doing so, "Emily, how's my back? It'd better not be sunburned there, too."

Emily giggled, "Dad, I've been riding on your back the whole time. I think I blocked the sun for ya."

Rick replied with eyes drawn back on her, "NOT the whole time."

He did make a point there. Emily peeked around him and saw that not one part on his back is burning red. When she did, she reported, "No burns back there."

He let out a whoosh of air, "Phew...Thanks." He formed a smile and patted a spot for her beside him, "Want to have a break with me?"

Her brow rose quizzically, "You gonna give me another ride on your back?"

"If it'll help block my back from the sun....I'll think about it."

Emily did feel like she was worn out. Even though she didn't do anything much. Without a word, she sat on the sand and scooched closer to her parent and he wrapped his arm around her small frame. Both of them were watching the waves of the ocean washing upon the shore over and over again, and hearing the sounds of children shrieking from afar along the seagulls in the air above them.

As the silence between them sank in, her mind went on about her mother. Where is she? Emily and her dad were having fun and shouldn't they all be sitting around together? Didn't her mom say she was going to get some ice cream? Wonder what's taking her so long?

Then she remembered that her parents...Weren't acting like they usually are when they're together lately. She even thought she heard them fighting two nights ago, but she's not too sure about that part. Emily feels close to both of them and she doesn't like what's been happening. It scared her. She was having a feeling that something bad was about to happen.

She needs to ask him this question that bothered her a while. Emily, while she looked hesitant, took a deep breath and let it out, "Dad?"

Rick turned his head to see her, "Yeah?" Then his eyes showed concern when he can tell something's bothering her, "Em...You alright?"

The ten year old nodded shyly, "Yeah, I'm fine." Bringing her eyes to meet his, she stated, "I want to ask you something....Dad...Are you and mom ok?"

He stared at her for a moment and then he nodded, "Yeah, we're ok." He tilted his head confusingly, "Why? You think something's wrong?"

Emily let out a worried sigh and glanced at the sky, seeing the seagulls flying above them in circles, "Well...Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"....It's just that you and mom have been acting...Different. Like really different."

"How different?"

She looked down at her lap, trying to put it into words, "Like...Um...." She gazed at him, her eyes showed worry, "Daddy, I'm just worried about you guys. You both seem a bit moody lately. REALLY moody. You don't look moody to me, but...I see you guys looking at each other for just a second and that's when you look it. And...I don't like it." Then she looked around with her mother back on her mind, "I mean, where's mom? Shouldn't she be back by now? I'm...Getting a bad feeling about this."

Rick just shook his head, "Oh, there's nothing to worry about." Then he grinned, "Maybe she just needed a break for herself. OR perhaps she's afraid you'll wore her out with so many piggy back rides."

Emily lightened up her mood a bit with a giggle, "She doesn't give me them, dad."

He smugly closed his eyes, "You're right. I always give you them." When he shot them open, he said this with comforting eyes and in sincerity, "Listen, there's nothing wrong. I mean it, there isn't. She's probably on her way back now with our ice cream."

Her brow wrinkled up, "Then why are you guys acting like you're mad or something? Was it because of me?"

"No, Em, it wasn't you. You didn't do anything wrong. You're always the princess to us." Her dad took his eyes off her and had them toward the ground, like he was coming up with something, "It was because..." He gazed at her face, "Because our jobs are making us stressful. We're just tired of dealing with all the stress. Remember, grownup stuff is a lot more harder than school stuff."

Emily smirked after she registered his words, "You don't look tired."

He smirked right back, "I promise you we're fine. We both just...Need to work out some things at work."

After staring at him for a second, she leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling her body starting to relax, "Good. I...I just didn't like seeing you guys acting that way. It was pretty strange."

She feels Rick's hand rubbing smoothly on top of her head, "I know, honey. It's not fun seeing your parents looking angry. But we'll be fine. We all will. And I promise when things work out at both our jobs, things will be normal. Ok?"

Emily took those words at heart, "Alright...I love you, daddy."

She feels his lips pressed against her head and Rick said after giving her the kiss, "I love you too, Em."

Then they both went back into silence, not saying another word. Not very long, they both felt like they were being watched and they turned their heads and saw Hilary, Emily's mother, who was wearing a black swimsuit, coming back with three ice cream cones. Her teeth was shown with a grin as she got near them, "Sorry it took me so long." Then she held out one cone for her husband, "But I got em." Rick giggled and grabbed it out of her hand. Emily was smiling, feeling more better seeing the parents both acting like their usual selves, other than seeing her mother come back of course. If it was their jobs stressing them out, then a day at the beach probably helped them. Hilary handed Emily her ice cream, which it was Emily's favorite flavor. Strawberry. She likes strawberry.

When Emily held her cone and was licking at the strawberry flavored ice cream, Hilary came and sat down with her. Now she was sitting in between both the mother and father she loves. As all three of them were quiet and busy eating their ice cream, they all stared out at the ocean, seeing a few seagulls flying high above the surface. Inside her, Emily did feel relief, knowing that things are fine within her family. But a tiny part in her feels that something didn't feel right. It felt like whatever her dad said was a lie. But she pushed that part away, until relief took that part over. Her dad wouldn't lie to her. It was silly. What would he be lying about?

Emily held a breath and let it out in a relaxing way as she still sat in the company of her parents. Her mom and dad are going to be fine.

Things will be normal, just like always.

She trusts everything her dad says.

They're gonna be ok.

Emily twitched in her sleep before she groggily opened up her eyes while laying on her side on the bed. As her vision adjusted to the darkness, she sees that she's woken up in one of the cabin rooms on the luxury yacht. The young seventeen year old human girl wanted to sleep some more, but she couldn't now. So with that realization, she wanted to get up and go somewhere. She rose her form off the mattress and stretched up her arms. As she was wiping the grogginess out of her eyes, she glanced beside her and sees Scott still asleep on his stomach. She grinned at her cute boyfriend, glad that she hadn't woke him up. When she took the cover off her body, revealing she was wearing a bra and panty, and shifted about on the bed, only sat at the edge of it with her feet planting on the floor, her mind was on the dream she just had. About her life from seven years ago. Before her father left her mother.

A fond smile etched on her lips. What a life she once had. It was a cute one. She does remember going to the beach every now and then with her parents. Although they had a pool back at their house they had went to the beach. Just to get further out of the house. Just to have more fun. Just to see the ocean flowing over shore. Just to watch the seagulls flying in the sky. Her mind mentally giggled. Plus, there was LOTS of room for her dad to give her piggy back rides.

Then what else she remembered...Is not very long, give it about a month after being on the beach that day, her father left her and Hilary. Now her mind was full of glum and she was showing it on her face. Her dad had lied to her. They weren't fine all along. Turned out, her parents were starting to hate each other and not get along. It was no wonder she thought she heard them fighting one night, cause they were. Things were starting to change. Then anger welled up in her mind when she thought about Rick. CERTAINLY he has changed. He really had become an asshole these days.

With her eyes on the door to this room, Emily's chest puffed out before she quietly let out air out of her lungs to calm herself down. She better start moving around. She'll probably feel sleepy again if she moves around. Maybe she'll head outside.

With the plan in mind, Emily stood off the bed and tiptoed her way to the bag on the floor that had all her clothes. Lying on top of it, there was already a pair of clothes that she already picked out for tomorrow. She'll go ahead and put those on. Very quietly, she put on her shirt, pants and socks along with her shoes that were near the bag. Once that was done, she turned and tiptoed again out of the cabin room and out in the hallway.

Emily looked over her shoulder and sees her boyfriend's still sleeping. The girl nodded to herself and started to make paces away from that room. As she trotted on the floor, she caught sight of this CERTAIN cabin room that had the long dead family in it. She shook her mind off that horrible image, turning her eyes ahead and seeing the staircase that leads up to the main deck and pushed herself towards it. She was being brave about sleeping downstairs in the yacht, knowing it was pointless in being afraid of something that isn't there anymore. The family has their own burial now and it's under the dirt outside. She didn't want to sleep on the couch for the night, she wanted to sleep on a bed with Scott. But gosh, she still can't get that scary image out of her head.

Well, she and the others are gonna leave the ship and move on with their journey tomorrow, so maybe the image won't bother her when they leave this place. It'd better.

Emily headed upstairs till she stood on the main deck, hearing crickets outside through the walls. They were just loud enough for anyone to hear from the inside of the ship. Emily trotted around on the deck and shot her eyes towards the lounge room about several feet away. From what she knows, Cora and Rick are sleeping in there. With her sight, from a distance she can see the short red dragoness curled around on the floor. She doesn't see her dad, though.

When Emily thought about her dad again, there was a lot of rage building up in her chest. How she wanted to hit him for hating Scott. How she wanted to hit him for his attitude. Especially because of that one night that went out of control. For now pretending to be a friend to everyone when she believes he ain't.

Then a different feeling fought with the rage in her chest. It was her love towards her father. That gave her a guilty look. Today...She slapped him. She never did that before.

Emily was shaking her head to herself, confusion overwhelming both those feelings now. Confusion made her whirl around and head out through the doorway to go outside, the cool air of the night greeting her. As she smoothly shut the door behind her, and as she strode along the swimming platform to the edge of the ship, her eyes searched for Damon since he's the only one sleeping around out here. But she doesn't see that green drake anywhere. That kinda worried her at first, but then she figured he went away to get a drink. She smirked to herself. Well, it appeared Emily isn't the only one up and moving. She'll be having company tonight.

The blonde haired human sighed when she looked over the edge of the ship at the grass. She'll have a seat there. Emily lowered herself to the floor and sat down with her legs over the platform and her feet touching the ground. At the moment she sat down, her mind went to Rick again. Emily raised a hand close to her face, examining the palm of it, remembering she slapped him and how good it felt. Nobody, not even Scott, never knew that it was a shock to her that she did that. Despite it felt good, it shocked her. Honestly, she didn't want to show it towards anybody. She didn't want her dad to know. She wanted him to feel terrible.

The confusion about how she feels about him now was swirling around in her skull, both anger and love fighting who'll win and take her over. More than once, she hated her dad for everything lately, but then she still loves him because he's her father. Emily shook her head again, trying to figure out how to deal with this. She knows that her father was the jerk, but wondered if she was the one being the jerk now. Her father seems to not be lying about what he feels now. He HAS been nice to Scott, he HAS gave Cora a lot of blessing to travel with them. More than once, when she snaps at him in anger, she wants to apologize to him after that.

But then she also doesn't give into guilt and stands by on what she believes. She still thinks her dad has NOT changed and he was playing along with everyone...Perhaps until she, him and Scott all got back home. Emily shut her eyes, feeling tears of confusion and frustration welling up behind her eyelids and threatening to sneak past them. She doesn't know what to do. She's so confused.

If only Emily can talk to her mother about it.

When her hand brushed against her the area where her pocket's at, her eyes opened up and a couple tears fell down her cheeks. She just remembered she put her cell phone in her pants she was planning to wear tomorrow and just felt it. Now the idea of calling her mother again welled up in her mind. It was pointless. No phone call comes through. There was no signal in this world.

But now she wanted to try again. She REALLY wants to talk to Hilary. She needs help.

After wiping away the tears on her face, Emily's hand dug through her pocket and pulled out the phone. As she flipped it open and dialed her mother's number, she held it to her ear and sniffed her nose. And like before, no reception. She muttered in frustration, "Damn it." She sighed in sadness and put her phone back in the pocket. Then she looked up at the stars in the black sky and mumbled one word, "Mom."

After she spoke that word, all she did was sit on the platform and stare up at the starry night for several long minutes. Before another minute could go by, the girl heard a familiar voice, "Emily? That you?" She snapped her eyes off the sky to gaze at Damon who just came back. He was padding towards her with curled up wings, tail swishing behind him, and his yellow eyes locked right on her.

Emily smiled up at the tall green drake as his form stood real close to her, "Who else would it be? Did you just happen to rescue another human girl from a monster tonight?"

Damon chuckled at her joke and settled down on his haunches, "Eh, guess that'd be my nightly duty. Rescuing human females from scary monsters." One of his wings stretched and pointed behind him, "Actually, I went off to get a drink. Couldn't sleep when I'm feeling thirsty."

Emily nodded, "I figured you did." She let out a pleasant sigh, "I'm just sitting out here...I can't sleep."

When his wing folded up on his back, he tilted his head with eyes of concern, "You ok? Did you...Have another dream that scared you?"

She shook her head and replied, "No. I had a better dream. A cute dream. I just can't sleep."

Damon formed a smile across his muzzle, "Then we'll sit and chat until we're both tired. I think you love my company."

"Sure, I do. And you're probably feeling lonely sleeping out here by yourself." She was tilting her head in fondness for him, "Makes me think that I should sleep by you."

"Em, I've travelled alone and I've slept alone for so many days." A giggle was deep in his throat, "I'm fine."

Now she was thinking about his reason for travelling alone before he met her and the others. Looking for his best friend. She only just nodded at him, her voice barely came as a whisper, "I know." She hopes he'll find his friend.

Then Damon made a crack, "And I don't want your mate getting the wrong idea that I'm stealing you away from him."

Her face slightly flushed, "Um, we're not mates, big guy."

Damon giggled and shrugged his shoulders, "Whatever."

Her face returned to its normal color when she smiled in a comforting way, "Besides, Scott would understand that I'm only keeping our friend some company. He would do the same thing."

The green dragon nodded in agreement, "True." Then he glanced at the ship Emily's sitting on, "Hmm..."

Emily formed a serious look and asked, "Still surprised about finding this thing?"

He looked back at her, "Never expected it at all." He giggled again and shot up his head, "Since I was making a joke that it'd be my nightly duty to save human females from monsters in the night, I wonder if we would meet another female of your species. I hope she doesn't have an attitude like you do."

Emily did find the last part of the statement funny, but she didn't laugh. Other than the fact that she's wondering if there are more ships in this world, she was wondering about something else. A question formed in her thoughts. She said when she looked up at the sky, "Probably not."

Damon cocked his head, "Something wrong?"

She rose her chest before she let out her breath, "....Why us?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Why us?" She looked at him and put a hand to her chest, "Why me?" She motioned it behind her next, towards the entrance to the main deck, "Why also the other two humans with me, including Scott? There were so many other people with us. Like a lot. Not to mention there could've been a lot more people that ended up in Avarilan, too. Out of everybody, it's just us. I mean it, Damon....Why us? Why only us?"

Damon, from Emily can tell, was mulling it over for a moment before he finally replied, "I don't know why, Emily....I said before that you guys were lucky to be alive. Maybe it was luck."

Emily found herself giggling, "Well we've certainly had a lot of luck."

Damon then held up his snout smugly, ears perking up and his tail flicked on the ground, "Not a WHOLE lot of luck. I saved your lives from a wolfir, remember?"

She playfully rolled her eyes, "Don't remind me, you scaly drake." They shared a giggle and Emily only looked down at her lap. Her mind still wondering about her father.

Damon saw her looking down and asked when his wings fluttered on his back, "Still curious why only you guys survived?" He shrugged with a forepaw, "I wouldn't wonder why. I'd be happy that I did."

Emily shook her head without looking at him, "It's not that, Damon. I'm...Thinking about..." She trailed off.

Damon lowered his snout a bit to her, "What's wrong?"

She sighed and finally looked at his gaze, "I'm...I'm wondering about...RICK."

His golden eyes widened up and he jerked back his snout back high above her, "Your dad?" He shook his muzzle in pity, "Emily, you shouldn't call him by his name. He's your father."

She wrinkled her brow, "I see you're defending him."

He placed a paw to his scaled chest, "I'm defending him, because he's my friend."

"He wasn't being your friend before."

Damon formed a confident, toothy grin, "But he is now. I like this new Rick." Her anger erupted in her chest and she turned her gaze away from him. Damon had eyes full of pity as he lowered his forepaw back on the ground, "You still don't believe it?"

Emily shot off the swimming platform with a huff and turned her whole back to him. She feels that his eyes are still on her and he's waiting for an answer from her. After she took a deep breath, she responded, "I don't know what to believe. I mean...I hate him for what he did before still, but....Then I also love him." She sighed and spun around to face him, "Throughout the whole day, I've wondered if I should hate him or love him. And...My instinct tells me that I should hate him. Because he could be lying about right now. Lying that he's yours and everyone else's friend."

Damon shook his snout in disbelief, "He's not lying, Emily."

Her hand shot towards the ship, "But how can I trust him? I've given him too many chances to change, and now all of a sudden he does. Doesn't that seem suspicious?"

"No. It's not. He's being truthful."

"Damon, what he did to me and my mate-" She groaned and furiously shook her skull, "I mean, my boyfriend was so unforgivable. He made me cry. Do you think I can just forget about it? No. Because it was so horrible that even I...Wondered if he was my REAL dad. He just holds on to a lot of anger towards Scott, it infuriates me."

Damon shot back, "But you're holding on a lot of anger towards him. You even slapped him. Does that seem familiar?"

Now Emily's eyes were showing guilt for the first time in front of him and she dropped her gaze to the grass, "It is. I'm...Acting like him." She rose it back up, defiance shown in them, "But I have a good reason to act like him. I just...Wanted to hurt him, because he's hurt me so many times. What he did a few nights ago was the most hurtful thing he did to me."

Damon's eyes were full of pity, "I know...After you ran off, I've found you in the woods...Crying into your mate. Believe me, I know."

That had her wrinkle her brow. She never knew that. She didn't know Damon found her crying into Scott after she ran away in them. She thought he saw her tears coming down her face AFTER she came back to the group with her boyfriend, "...You did?"

He nodded in reply, "Because after Rick came back without you, I was worried. I followed after Scott when he went to look for you. And...I found you both embracing tightly. You were...Sobbing really loudly. It broke my heart."

Emily sucked in some air and looked away, "Scott's heart was broken too. And....I don't think Rick's was." She looked at him once more as she feels confliction in her chest, "Damon...I did feel guilty for slapping him. I've never done that before. I do want to apologize, but I also think I shouldn't. I just...Don't want another chance given to him be ruined. I've had it. Would you stop giving chances to somebody like that?"

"Course I would. But...You should give him another chance."

"Why? Because he's changed? I don't believe that, dragon. I think he's still playing everyone for a fool."

He was taking a deep breath, "....Emily...I need to tell you something." Her face frowned as she stared at him. He seemed to have a haunting look in his eyes, "Let me tell you a story about somebody who has dwelled around in pain for so long and drove her away.....The story of my best friend." Emily softened her look and the green drake turned his snout to the sky, "Em...Do you remember that I've said things had changed for her after the first time she left Wingspan and she's been through a lot?"

"Yes? ....What happened to her?" She really is curious about his best friend. He still hasn't talked a lot about her.

Damon looked back down at her, his tail making another thump on the ground, "She became Dark Storm...That's what happened after she left the first time." Emily appeared quizzical as he went on, "It happened twelve years ago, we were both teenagers. Her name was Lunasin. Or Luna for short. She had scales that were so black as the dark sky and her eyes were silver like the stars. See...She was REALLY curious about seeing the world outside our home. She didn't want to wait until she was about my age right now. After...After she left home that night without anyone else knowing, she accidently flew very far away from it, enjoying the sights, feeling very happy that she escaped to see it. But...It was also the beginning of a different life for her."

He puffed out his chest before he continued, "While Luna was trying to fly back home, she was attacked in the air by Dark Dragons, and gotten kidnapped by them."

Emily's jaw opened agape, "She was...Kidnapped?"

"Yes. Just like that. They didn't kill her. They...Only kidnapped her, and brought her back to their master." He gestured his paw toward her, "I think you know what master I'm talking about. They took her to Abyss. He wanted her. He wanted her because she seemed powerful enough to...Command his army. Not very long after she was taken there, he used his powers to put a lot of his influence on her...And have her join him at his side." She let out a quiet gasp upon hearing that, "With that magic, she wasn't a teenager anymore. She grew up at about my size right now at a fast rate. That was the birth of Dark Storm. And why she was given the title of Dark Storm...Was all the things she's done."

Emily asked as she was getting the idea, "You mean...Abyss controlled her and made her....Attack anything that's not on his side?"

Damon nodded, "That's right. She attacked anything that's good within her sights. She didn't show mercy. No remorse. No other emotions except hatred. She killed a lot of dragons, and a lot of other innocent creatures. She was unstoppable." He dipped his head, "And I saw her in that state. It was...Terrifying."

Emily muttered in shock, "My....God."

He let out a breath, "That dark path she was on went on for...I think a couple months. Until it was one day, she attacked the dragon city with her army and she changed back to normal. See, The Great One, Illuminus, stopped her. He was more stronger, more powerful than she was. He...He used his magic that she never had and used it to bring her back from Abyss's influence. And at that moment, she was small and normal again."

The human girl smiled, but Damon wasn't smiling with her as he continued with a sigh, "Things have been great with her back. I was happy to see her back to her normal self. I've missed her since she was gone for a long time. I didn't like seeing her that way. I liked seeing the old Lunasin and I'm glad Illuminus was the one who brought her back. But...Not everyone was forgiving as me and Illuminus were." The smile went away on Emily's face as Damon made an angry growl in his throat, "Everyone didn't trust her. Not even after she was back to normal. Every dragon in the city, including my whole family, thought she was evil and she was BORN evil. That it was the reason why she disappeared that night and came back as big, tall, and destructive. I didn't believe that. I know Lunasin. She would NEVER join Abyss under her free will. When she told me what happened to her after she became normal, I believed her. They've got it wrong. She was never evil, she was FORCED to be evil."

Damon held a saddened look as he lowered his snout, "Illuminus tried to tell everyone that they were wrong, but nobody believed him. They all thought HE was wrong. You know he's made prophecies from back then...Especially about his son, and those prophecies were wrong. I think you can understand why they didn't trust his words about her, other than the hatred and distrust they all have towards her for all the evil deeds she's done. From what Luna told me, and I've seen it more than once with her...Everywhere she went in Wingspan, every time she walks near a dragon, it gives her a glare. I wasn't kidding that no one trusted her. And giving her a glare...Wasn't the only thing." His green scaled form quivered as he held in a trembling breath, "Dragons...That were about the same age as we were....Attack her in retaliation for her crimes. And they weren't her fault. And...She cannot even fight back. They're just innocent dragons."

Emily said in total pity, imagining what his friend was going through, "Awww...."

Damon sadly sighed, "Seeing her covered in cuts and gashes...Not one dragon stood up for her and helped. I've felt so terrible seeing her. When she gets attacked, she runs to Illuminus or me and...Cries. I can remember her sobbing on me, and I remember wrapping my limbs and wings around her just to comfort her through that torture." His muzzle motioned toward her, "When you and Scott were hugging and you were crying into him....That reminded me of us. When you cry, Emily, you remind me of her. When you cry...I feel sad for you."

Emily said to the drake with a soft voice, "Damon..."

The drake went on with the story, "Luna wanted to move on from what she did, even though it wasn't her fault, but she couldn't because of how everyone treated her. Not to mention she remembers some of the stuff she did and those images she sees...Are horrible to her eyes. Everything that'd happened to her made her feel guilty. She was trapped in her pain and then one night...She left Wingspan the second time and I've never saw her again."

Emily spat it out, "So that's why she left your home."

He nodded, "About eleven years have passed since she was gone from my life. And for some reason...I can feel she's still alive, all grown up, like me. For a long time, I've looked for her. Place to place. I wanted to bring her back home." He turned his head and closed his eyes in sadness, "I've...Missed my best friend. Luna's...Really kind. And she didn't deserve it. I've missed her so much."

Emily didn't know what else to say. She cannot imagine what person could go through that kind of thing as Luna did. The human walked up to the drake and raised her hand to rub his chest comfortingly, "I'm sorry." Then she leaned in and kissed his chest scales, "I am, big guy."

Damon looked down at her and shook his head, "It's alright. And you know what....I'm starting to worry for you right now."

She withdrew her hand off his chest, confused, "Huh?"

"You're dwelling around in pain like she is. Because of how you feel towards your father." He formed a look of worry, "Emily...When you ran off that night, all alone, I was worried you wouldn't return. I was glad Scott brought you back. But...I'm afraid if you keep dwelling in that pain and don't let go of your anger towards your dad...You may run away again and only this time you'll be gone...Forever." He was shaking his head, "I don't want to lose you."

Emily denied it, "I'm not going anywhere."

But he argued, "Do you really believe that? How would you know? Luna dwelled around in it for a long time and she flew off. What makes you think that you won't?"

Emily just lowered her head and pondered for a minute. A couple times after that night...She actually did feel that she wanted to run off in the woods again, because she didn't want to see her father's face. Run VERY far away, even without...Scott. Maybe...Damon's concerns were right. When she heard Damon sigh, she looked up and backed up a few feet from him as he waved a paw, "Emily...Please don't do this to yourself. For Luna, it was a lot to deal with, but for you, it isn't a lot. It's just the pain you have, inflicted by your father, and how you feel towards him now." He lowered his head towards her level, about inches in front of hers, "Em...I know he's changed and why I think that...Is because I've talked to him about his attitude. On another night after he has hurt you and Scott so much."

Emily didn't know that either, "Y-You did?"

"Yes I did. When I found you crying that night, I made a vow to confront your dad about it and have him change it. It wasn't fair for what he did. I've confronted him...Mostly for you. He...Argued with me a bit, but then...He made a change after I brought up so many things, mostly about you. I've seen it in his eyes. He said, straight to my face, that he has felt guilty for hurting you. I didn't believe it at first, but when he showed that change in his gaze....I believed him. And he has shown that change today. He changed for you, for Scott, for everybody in the group."

Damon leaned in a bit more and nuzzled her forehead tenderly with his nose and she stood and took it all in. Damon spoke as he nuzzled, "Emily...He doesn't want to lose you and he's afraid that he has. He loves you, and he loves Scott now, and he is sorry for everything. He's changing all that. He wants to make it all up for you. He was telling us the truth. And...You need to stop doing this to him." Then he went to rubbing his snout against her cheek, "I can understand why you'd be angry at him, but you need to let that go and the pain go. You love him still, don't you? I know you do. Despite everything you said to him today...You still do."

Emily was taking in all his words as he drew back his snout. When his eyes stared back at hers, he went on, "Em...I can't make you, but...Try giving him one more chance and talk to him. Talk to him about everything when you feel ready. I know you thought it's a risk giving him another one, but there isn't any. I promise you it'll be worth it. Ok? Can you do this...For me?"

She looked at him for a long time, pondering on about what he's asking her. She does trust Damon. No doubt about it. She can see the drake confronting her father about before. His confrontation with her father had changed him for the better. And Emily didn't trust her dad for it. She remembered her dad giving her hurt and guilt from his eyes earlier and she thought that was a lie. Rick was being sincere about his feelings and that look in his eyes wasn't a lie after all. Maybe...She should try to give him a chance. One more chance. After several long moments, Emily finally spoke to the dragon, "I'll...I'll try."

Damon finally formed a smile on his muzzle, "Thanks. I'm glad you'll give it a try. I...I really was worried for you."

Emily formed a smile on her end, "You pretty much care about me. Do I really remind you of Luna?"

"In a way...Yes."

Emily fondly said as she took his chin in her hands, "That's very sweet of you to care so much." She gave his nose a kiss, "You showed that to Luna. I can't even believe that didn't stop her from leaving you."

As his green tail swished along the grass, Damon replied with his eyes only on her chest, "Well...It wasn't enough to stop her."

One of Emily's hands traced off his chin up to his cheek. It was rubbing around in circles as his eyes trailed up to her face, "But if I was gonna run off after dwelling around in pain for a long time...I wouldn't. Cuz, I'm stopped by you. Damon...Thanks for talking to me about this. I...I was just confused about dad. And...Thanks for telling me about your best friend. I was curious about her."

"Ah...I was gonna tell you about her soon, anyway."

She giggled, "I figured." Then her eyes locked on to one of his ears that flicked a bit. An idea formed in her brain and her hand went off his cheek towards one of his ears. When her hand reached it, her fingers immediately went behind his ear and begun to scratch it. When Damon was feeling those fingers, he moaned deeply, closed his eyes, and pressed his head against her touch. Emily was giggling at this, finding it cute.

But what she didn't expect to hear....Was rumbles in the air. Her brow looked curious as she can hear them. They sound like they're right in front of her.

It turns out, to her conclusion...The dragon she's petting...Was purring! To her surprise, a dragon can purr!

With her hand jerked off his ear after a couple minutes of scratching, she backed up a bit and asked, "You purr?"

Damon opened up his yellow eyes and chuckled, "Yep." The ear she petted twitched, "When you pet in the right spot, a dragon purrs." He playfully crooned, "And I didn't want you to stop. That felt good."

Emily let out a small laugh, "Wow...I never thought a dragon can purr. Gosh...Other than finding out that dragons have soft scales and feel warm, can breathe elements other than fire, and have their own city, now I find out dragons purr. What else are you not telling me?"

Damon giggled and rose his head above her level, "You really are surprised." Then he cocked it, "And can I ask you something? ....Obviously you've heard of dragons before you came to Avarilan. I have figured that, and I don't think my kind lives in your world. So...How did you hear about my kind?"

She giggled and shyly brushed her blonde hair off her shoulder, knowing what most stories about dragons are usually like, "Well...Let's just say my kind has made up a lot of stories about your kind." She waved him off as his eyes showed total curiosity, "But I don't want to talk about them now." Then she raised her arms and yawned, "I'm...Feeling tired."

As Emily dropped her arms back down, the green drake nodded as he got off his haunches with his wings settling on his back, and strode his way to a spot to sleep, "Me too. I...Guess we'll talk about this later." When he stopped about a few feet away from the back of the ship, he turned and looked at Emily as he dropped down onto his stomach, "I think Cora will want to know about those stories as well. Knowing her."

The human nodded at him, "I know. And...One day me, Scott and...DAD will tell you guys about them."

Damon smiled when he heard her call Rick 'dad', "Good. And remember what I said about your father."

"I know. And again, thanks for talking to me about him. I did need help with this."

"You're welcome." His talon was raised off the grass and pointed at the ship near her, "Now go head off to bed. We're leaving in the morning."

Emily spun around and stepped on to the swimming platform, "I am, I am." Before she could make a step, she spun back around to see her friend at a distance, "Goodnight....Dawson." She snickered. She couldn't resist calling him that.

His eyes rolled and his snout playfully replied back, "Goodnight, Emily."

With that, she whirled around and began to trot to the door to the main deck, her thoughts on continuing the journey tomorrow and talking to her dad. After Emily entered the ship, she was making her way to the staircase down to the lower deck. She'll give him one more chance. She was apprehensive about doing it, but she'll give her father one more chance.

Thanks to Damon...She will.

*****

As crickets rang throughout the area, I was sitting cross legged in front of the popping, orange flames, staring at Luna across from them, who moved her tail along the grass a bit behind her. She was laying on her stomach, one forepaw over the other, wings drooped down to her sides as her gaze was only at the fire in front of her. I let out a breath, relaxing after a few hours of travelling after we left Bajara at Perdrue's village. We were both tired. When the sunset came, we stopped, gathered some firewood, and the black dragoness spitted out a thin stream of flame out of her snout at the wood, lighting it up. Since then after she started the fire, we were sitting around and being quiet.

I glanced away from her black scaled form, staring at the darkened up woods, thinking about Bajara still. My heart dropped a bit. Oh Bajara...Are you missing me? Cuz, I still am.

Well, it's understandable that I am still. It's been a few hours already and the feeling of it still feels fresh. But hey, I'll get over it. Maybe tomorrow...I guess.

A voice cut through my thoughts, "Mike?" At first, I thought it was Bajara who flew off from home to be with us, but then I realized it was ridiculous. She wouldn't do that. I looked to Luna and saw she withdrawn her silver eyes away from the fire and looked at me with a tilted head, "You ok, little guy?" She lowered her head a bit, concentrating her eyes as she tried to put in into words, "You look a little...."

I finished for her with a smirk, "Glum?" I shrugged my shoulders, "I'm fine. It's just I'm...Thinking about Bajara...A little bit."

Luna reared up her head and nodded it a bit, "I am, too." She turned her snout to look off towards the distance, "I really am gonna miss her. Bajara was practically my best friend."

I rose a teasing brow, "I thought I was your best friend."

Lunasin looked back real quick with a chuckle, "You're my first favorite best friend, Bajara's the second, and lastly is Damon."

When I rose my wrist to my lips, I snickered, "Jesus, woman, I never thought I'd be your first favorite. And you just placed Damon in third place. Damon's the first best friend you had, why's he your third favorite?"

"Because he's a dork."

I giggled, "Well, when you're mentioning out loud that he's not your MOST favorite and calling him a dork, I don't think Damon would like that if he heard you." I shot glances back and forth, playfully making sure this drake of a best friend of hers wasn't watching us. Once I saw that the coast is clear, I pretended to let out a whoosh of air when I wiped my brow with a swipe of my hand, "Phew...Glad he's not here."

Luna laughed and shook her head playfully at me, "Oh, Mike." She cleared her throat and shrugged as her long black tail moved up to her side, "I love Damon, even though he is such a dork. And he wouldn't stay mad at me if he did."

I shot my head to my right and responded in agreement, "Yea."

Luna looked at the fire again as its glare was on her black scales. She seemed to look glum on her end, "Honestly, this feels like I've left Damon again. Only this time the Damon I'm talking about is female, has red scales, and it's Bajara. I remember what that kind of feeling was like." She let out a snort, the air of it blew the fire back a bit before she rose her eyes and grinned, "But I'll be fine. This wouldn't be the first time. I...Guess I'm used to it."

I nodded at the statement, "That's true. And this wouldn't be the first time that I've left somebody who seems precious to me. We'll both get over it. And....Let's look on the brighter side of things. At least she's with Perdrue again. We've accomplished getting her back to him."

Luna chuckled, "I know. And a lot of things that I've learned when we got there weren't exactly I'd expected." She wrinkled her face, "I kinda thought the reason why all the cheetahs treated her as a friend these days was because-"

I was having the feeling she was having the same thought as I did before and said before she finished, "Perdrue practically told everyone about his secret romance with a dragon?"

Her silvery eyes went wide and she exclaimed, "Exactly! I thought that was why!"

I laughed a bit, "Well, apparently him revealing the WHOLE truth to EVERYBODY at home was off the tree. We've thought wrong."

"Guess so." Luna playfully growled deeply, "Speaking of Perdrue and Bajara..." She turned her head away from the camp, seeing her eyes that were being curious, "I wonder what those two are doing now?"

Oh, I know exactly what they're doing. It's nighttime, so...

My eyebrows both went up, "I think they're both having the time of their lives together. If you're asking me, they're sleeping close outside on the grass." I waved my hand to her, "Like we do."

She rolled her eyes in disbelief before bringing them back to me, "Yeah, sleeping close together after having their orgasms. Perdrue probably already mated her while on her back and came for all we know. They both didn't keep their paws off each other after all." I rolled up my eyes in sarcasm. Oh gosh, you dirty woman. She clenched her snout tight, snickering when she asked me, "You just don't want to think about it and turn red again, do you?"

I waved her off dismissively, "Nope, and they can do whatever the heck they want without me around. Hell, that's what they both wanted was each other....Not with the two of us around."

Luna sighed happily and nodded, "Yeah..."

I shrugged my shoulders, "And we both should celebrate the reunification of the...Only known cross-species mates in Avarilan. We did a very good job and we deserve to celebrate."

Luna tilted her head and asked in a playful tone as I was getting up on my feet, "Hmm...And how do we celebrate, little dude?"

I paced towards my bag nearby, kneeled over and dug around through it, looking for makrub berries, "With a couple of makrub berries, of course."

I heard her gasp when my fingers grabbed a couple of them, making me chuckle on the inside. That's right, I knew you'd want one. As I stood straight up with them in my hand, I turned to her and saw that her jaws were watering with anticipation. Luna urged me while her wings twitched at her sides, "Throw me one, Mike. Throw me one!"

I laughed and only held a berry in each hand. I rose my hand high, aiming to throw one at her, "Alright...Ready to catch it with your mouth?"

"You betcha! Now throw it at your teacher, student!"

Hah! It'd be like shooting a spit ball at a teacher. At the moment, I imagined literally throwing food at the most asshole teacher back in my school. If only I did so, back then. With her eyes locking on at my hand, I teased her by pushing my hand forward like I was gonna throw it and then pull it back. I repeated the motion about three more times before I tossed it overhand to my best friend. The dragon was pretty swift when she snapped her jaws at the makrub berry in mid air with a loud smack. After catching it, she was chewing on the juicy berry and she trilled in its delightful taste. I watched her in amusement. Talk about a good catch. Then I tossed up the berry I still had in my other hand and when I opened my mouth wide, I actually caught it. I deeply giggled as I started to chew on it.

It didn't take long for Luna to eat hers and when she ate it down, she asked me with her mouth still watering, "May I have another one?"

I giggled and shook my head when I swallowed down mine, "Nah, you'll get another one later." I looked at the dark sky as the sound of crickets went on, "Right now, I think our celebration is over."

She giggled at me in amusement, "Well that didn't last long." Then she drew back her head and let out a tongue curling yawn. She spoke after it, "Ancestors....I think I know why. I'm sleepy already."

I paced to where she was and now I stood near her, "Me too. We had a long day. We walked with Bajara all day to find her village, fought in a battle, kinda worried we'd get attacked by cheetahs with bows and arrows but luckily we weren't, I got insulted by Perdrue's cub, I watched Bajara and Perdrue making out, and we walked a few more hours after we left the darn village. I think we deserve some sleep now."

Luna smiled at me, "Sounds good to me. Who knows what we'll find tomorrow?" Then she was teasingly growling at me, "Maybe we'll come across another pair of cross-species mates? Probably won't be another cheetah and dragon, I bet."

I rolled my eyes at that, "Well, I hope they're not rutting each other if we did." She let out a laugh, and after a second, I laughed along with her, only embarrassingly since I was blushing. God...I'd feel so embarrassed seeing that. I won't get it out of my head for days! After we shared our laugh, I lowered myself to the ground, getting myself in a crawling position. Luna on her end started to shift around on her stomach, putting herself some distance away from the fire pit. After she lift an inviting wing for me, I crawled more closer to the side of her body. When I pressed my body against her warm black scales, her wing was on me right away, making me feel more warmer by her wing membrane.

A sigh of comfort escaped my lips and I rolled around underneath her wing, now lying on my back with my hands on my stomach. My eyes looked up and saw Luna had twisted her neck to watch me. A smile formed on me, "Night, big girl."

Luna fondly said back, "Goodnight, little one." The black dragoness lowered her snout down to the earth floor and immediately closed her eyes, her nose drawing in some air and let out as I heard her tail thump to the ground. Then I was shutting my own, letting the warmth of her wing lull me to sleep.