As the afternoon sun was still in the sky, I was pacing right behind Luna and Bajara as we strolled through the woods on a very wide dirt trail. Several hours have passed since we've gotten up this morning, ate and left the cave so Bajara would lead us the way to Perdrue's village....Well, sorta lead us to this 'spot' that she remembers. The spot that'll mean we're not far away from that village. Before we left, she did say she thinks the village is far and it might take us most of the day to get there. But I didn't care, and Luna I can tell sure didn't.

Me and Luna had to get Bajara back to Perdrue.

I looked at the soon to be ex host of her cave. Honestly this morning, I didn't see any trepidation from Bajara at the thought of returning to the village she was exiled from. Either she was just brave, or she was just holding down that fear. Well, if she was nervous, then I hope she doesn't back down after we're REAL close to the place she used to live in. Perdrue's probably missing her and he wants her back. I can feel it. And Bajara wants him back too.

She needs to go home and tell everyone the truth. Tell everyone that what Chira said was a giant lie. She needs to stand up for her love. Stand up to Chira. Because that bitch shouldn't get away with this.

I put on a hopeful look on my face. You can do this, Bajara. I know you can. I can see you and your mate embracing after ten years of being separated from each other. You can do this.

My eyes glanced up at the canopy as I still strode in silence behind the dragons when I was getting a worried feeling in my chest. Hmm....It has been hours enough that we should have found that spot Bajara knows of or that village. I'm kinda getting a feeling that we're lost. I hope we're not.

I wonder where we are at?

Luna while she padded alongside Bajara cut the silence by asking her this, "So how far do you think that spot is? Didn't we already walk past it?"

Bajara's tail swished behind her as she answered my best friend, "No, dear. We haven't."

I lowered my gaze back on them and joined their conversation with a bit of a frown, "You sure? Do we need to backtrack?"

Bajara chuckled and as she still padded she looked over her shoulder at me, "I may be older than the two of ya young ones, but I'm not forgetful. What, has me telling you the full story about my very first mating with Perdrue didn't prove you otherwise?"

I laughed at her statement, "Well, I see your point."

One of the red dragoness's wings pointed at Luna's form, "I didn't forget about HER from back then, either."

Luna giggled deeply, "Well, how can you forget me?"

As Bajara turned her gaze to look ahead, I gestured to the black dragon as her tail still swung back and forth, "I wouldn't forget you."

Luna held up her head and put on a smug smile on her muzzle, "Exactly. He wouldn't forget my gorgeous black scales and beautiful silver eyes." I playfully rolled my eyes at that. Oh, Luna.

Then Bajara said when her wings fluttered on her back as she took another step, voicing out another example, "AND I didn't forget your guy's names, also."

Me and Luna were laughing, and then I replied to her remark, "Alright, we get it." My gaze looked around the area as we continued to stroll, "But are you sure? What if we're lost?"

Bajara replied, "I am sure. I remember what that spot looks like and it should be off at this direction. Remember, once we find that spot that'll mean the village is not far. I'm sure we'll find it soon. It's probably around here."

I shifted both my quiver and bag around on my shoulder, giggling to myself, "Kinda wished that we were flying right now."

Luna playfully gasped and twisted her neck to lock her silver eyes right at me, "Mike, are you eager to be in flight now? Has your fear of it FINALLY went away?"

I timidly shook my head, "No, Luna, it hasn't. I still feel it."

She laughed and stretched out her wings to show them off, "You still don't know what you're missing." She winked.

Bajara was snickering as she glanced back at me while Luna curled back those wings, "Yeah, I don't really understand why you are afraid of flying." Her wings were spreading out over her back and she gave them a test flap, "Perdrue was really happy when I gave him a good flight."

I sighed at the thought of flying. Since my fear of it came strongly in my chest, "Point is if we're gonna be trotting around the forest all lost, then I'll have to put up with flying so we could find your former home."

Bajara had just folded her wings against her body and held sympathy in her eyes before she looked at where she was going and replied, "You won't have to worry about it. I promise, we'll find that spot."

Luna's jaw dropped and she narrowed her eyes at the dragoness beside her, "Damn it, Bajara. He's supposed to get out more and you're kinda ruining it."

I formed a glare, "I'm not in the mood to get scared today, big girl." I pointed at Bajara as I still held that look to her, "I'm in the mood to help her get back together with her mate. Both of us should focus on that."

The black dragoness made a smirk and deviously growled, flicking her tail at me, "I'll just hope that we'll get lost so I can pick you up and make you LOVE flying."

I shot back, "You know what? I'll just let Bajara carry me. I kinda don't trust you." Then I formed a teasing grin, "Why? Cuz, you'll drop me."

Luna rolled up her eyes with a giggle out of her snout, "You know I won't. And if you're doing that just to get me to....You know what. Forget it. It won't work."

I shrugged my shoulders and modestly said, "Whatever. I'll stick with Bajara, then."

Luna turned her snout ahead and held it to the sky, "Hmph....FINE." I playfully chuckled behind her.

After that, all three of us fell back into silence. There was nothing but the sound of our footsteps and the birds in the area filling the air, as me and Luna are still letting Bajara lead us the way. My eyes fell on Luna and now....I was wrinkling my face to myself, as what Bajara said to me last night came to me. About me and Luna. With all her words swirling around in my head....I still don't believe it.

I lowered my gaze, still wrapping my head around it. I know that I'd be a bit hesitant to leave Luna to go home, that is IF there is a way home at all, and I'm sure that I would miss the big girl too if I did. Luna really is a good friend. Then I remember this question Bajara asked me.

Why do I care about her so much?

I put some thought into that question. Would I miss her so much because I....Loved her? Is that really why I like being with her?

I shook the thought out of my head. Bajara was a bit descriptive about things. About me and her. I mean, me and Luna have developed a connection, but....The connection that Bajara's talking about is....Impossible.

Me? Falling for Luna? ....No way. She's a dragon! Not only that, she's my best friend.

Then I held my hand to my chest. But why did I feel different when I looked at Luna two nights ago? Was Bajara really...?

I shut my eyes, lowering my hand to my side and shook another ridiculous thought out of my skull. Mike, stop it. The feeling's just nothing. Maybe you felt that sort of feeling because you've felt comfortable with her. What Bajara said is what Bajara believes. She believes that me and Luna are liking each other in that way because we remind her of herself and Perdrue. But she's wrong. We're not.

I opened my eyes and stared at Luna. With her eyes held straight ahead, she still didn't notice that I was having a lot of thoughts going through my head. We are best friends. Nothing like Bajara thinks would happen.

Then another question that Bajara asked came to me....What if Luna loves me?

I shook my head again at that. I'm sure Luna doesn't love me in that way. She cares for me, but not like that. That I'm sure.

Arrgghh, Mike, quit worrying about it. I glanced to Bajara, thoughts of the plan for today came forth. I have a couple to reunite! Not bother myself with what Bajara says. Just focus on that.

Speaking of Bajara, she stopped right in her tracks and hung her head. Since I was behind her, I stopped where I was, and so has Luna when she noticed it in time after she walked about a few inches ahead of the red dragon. I trotted up alongside Bajara's form and I can see in her eyes when I got close to her front that she was....Nervous. I formed a concerned look on my face, shooting it at Luna and she held it as well as we locked eyes for a moment. Oh....Bajara.

I turned my gaze back to Bajara and strolled up to her red form to plant a comforting hand on her scales on her side, "Hey....You ok?"

Bajara replied with a sigh, lifting her snout a bit, "....I'm nervous."

Luna nodded and took a step forward towards her, sympathy shone in her silver eyes as she settled her wings on her back, "We know. We can understand why you would be. But...." She shook her head, "You can't just give up on this. You've already came this far with us. It is time to finish what we...YOU started to do."

I nodded in agreement and gave Bajara's scales a pat, "Yeah, and remember we'll back you up. You're not alone on this."

Bajara sucked in some air as she finally raised her head high to gaze at Luna, "That's not the only thing I'm nervous about." She turned her neck to glance at me, "I'm also nervous for you two. You said that you'll back me up, but if the cheetahs attack us-"

I shook my head, "We won't get attacked."

"But Mike, everyone in that village, except Perdrue and Chira, think that I'm some evil dragon plotting to attack their home. And since everyone knows about Luna, try to imagine what they would think that the dragoness they thought was a traitor of some sorts has actually allied with the black dragoness who was Dark Storm. And since you're just a new creature in the world-"

Luna flared out her wings and snorted with narrowed eyes, "Bajara, enough."

Bajara turned to her, the nervous look still didn't go away upon hearing her stern voice.

Luna softened up her look and said in a bit of a calmer tone, "Me and Mike don't care. We're helping you out anyways. And you're an innocent dragon. You have a voice. All three of us do. If they even think about attacking us, then we'll tell them that we're innocent and not show any aggression. It's like you said to me before." Luna looked fondly at me as her wings folded against her back, "My actions with Mike showed that I'm not evil anymore." Then she locked eyes with Bajara again, "It'll be the same thing with you along with us. Our actions most of all will show them that we're not the ones who want to fight. Me and Mike will take our chances with this."

I smiled and nodded at all the words she said, "Luna's right. I may look like a creature from another world, but I'm good at showing myself that I'm not bad."

Bajara, by the look in her eyes, still looked apprehensive as she dipped her head again and also tucked her long tail to the side, "I'm....I'm still afraid."

I strolled up to stand in front of her, looking up right at her fearful eyes, "Me and Luna aren't. But this is up to you. If you want to turn back and go back to your cave, then we'll go back to your cave and you can stay there, and...Me and Luna will go on with our journey. But you'll just be tortured over your loss of Perdrue for the rest of your life and then Chira will win at this again." I formed pity in my eyes as I remembered the tears Bajara shed last night, "Bajara....Me and Luna don't want to leave you alone when you're sad. I told you this before last night. Until you and Perdrue are reunited, or until I know he's gone from the world, I...." I shook my head and corrected when I looked to Luna, "No, WE will not give up."

Luna had pity in her silver eyes too as she nodded in agreement, her black tail swished behind her, "That's true. I won't give this up, either. I don't want to go back to Wingspan knowing that you're sad and alone. I....I don't want you to live in that sort of life, like me. To be ridiculed and blamed for something that you are not. I want you to set the record straight with everyone, like I have to on my end. Please....Bajara. Don't give this up. Come back to your mate, and show everyone the truth about yourself."

I lifted my hand and placed it right on Bajara's chest scales, giving her a smile that shows that I believe in her, "Yeah, Bajara....C'mon. You can do this."

Bajara was shooting glances at me and Luna back and forth for several moments, like she was thinking it over. Finally a smile slowly etched on her snout and she said with a soft voice, "Ok."

Luna gasped happily and I backed away from the red dragoness with a proud look in my eyes, "Good." Then I thumbed behind me, past Luna, "Take us to that spot and let's find that village." Bajara gave me and Luna a nod and I moved out of her path so she could walk past me and lead the way again. I can see the confidence came back to her and she held it in her chest as she took a deep breath. Her red tail was swinging behind her again as me and Luna walked side by side following her. Me and Luna looked at each other for a second and shared a smile together. Then we both looked at the confident dragoness ahead of us and I let out a breath of relief.

I'm glad that Bajara didn't quit since we're close to having that reunion happen. I do understand her points, though. But me and Luna aren't afraid, and Bajara shouldn't also. If the cheetahs from Perdrue's village start to get hostile, then we won't fight back and we'll try to explain why we're near the village to begin with. Heck, since we were talking about showing our actions, I'm sorta hoping that we'll fight some enemies just to prove that we're not evil. Just better hope that Luna doesn't get seriously wounded again!

AND I better hope that I don't fall on my ass once again. Or else I'll get another lecture of not practicing my fighting from Luna!

Then another idea came. Or maybe we won't have to fight any enemies. If the cheetahs do get a tad bit hostile when they spot me and the female dragons, and if Perdrue's alive and well....When he sees what's going on and spots Bajara, then he'll try to calm his fellow villagers down. Yeah. He knows Bajara, he knows that Bajara's not evil.

Well....Yesterday, Bajara has told me that she's met Luna back then, but she didn't mention anything about Perdrue meeting the black dragoness, too. Well if that cheetah has met Luna before, I don't think he would be happy when he sees her. But Bajara will tell him otherwise about her. I know he'll listen to her. I'm sure he's not all gruff like Meadow.

As for me. He'll be surprised, like others like him, when he meets me. ANNNND I'm sure he'll call me a furless cheetah.

Perdrue....

I hope you're alive. Me and Luna are bringing your mate back to you. I hope that the war in this world hadn't killed you. Please be there. For Bajara. She'll be so sad if she finds out you aren't there. I hope we find you after we find the village.

Only about ten more minutes have passed since Bajara went back to leading us the way when we all heard a scream of pain that rang over the woods, "NAAAARRRGGGHHH!!!"

We all froze, both dragons ears perked up, and all three of us can see the birds flying off the trees and flapping in the air. My heart skipped a beat hearing it. That didn't sound good.

Bajara growled deeply and formed a glare, "Somebody's in trouble."

I jogged up till I stood beside her. I whispered as I pulled the bow off my shoulder, "It didn't sound like it was far." I pointed ahead with my free hand, "It came from that way."

Luna came up and I was standing in between the two dragons. My best friend just had her silvery gaze ahead when she flicked her tail, "Let's go." I immediately got my weapon at ready when I pulled one arrow out of the quiver and held it together with my bow. Me and the dragons jogged at the same pace, trying to find the source of the scream.

Not very long, we found about thirty Lost Souls gathered near a small stream. While I got my bag off my shoulder and lowered it to the ground beside me with only my quiver still on my back, I rose a brow at the enemy. Huh. Thirty Lost Souls against me and two dragons. That doesn't seem too hard. I don't see any Dark Dragons around, so I'm sure that'll help us. We better hope we don't have to run into any of them.

The evil black cheetahs didn't have their glowing red eyes on me and the dragons. They were actually gazing at the source of the scream. Sitting on the ground pressed against a tree was a normal living male cheetah. A green furred one with spots at that. Apparently he had fear in his eyes as he appeared to be cornered by the monsters. I can see why he wasn't running away. The normal cheetah was clutching his leg like he was injured. The evil cheetahs had their eyes glowing in a fierce red as they all advanced towards the soon to be victim. One evil one in particular was closer to the cornered green cheetah as he grew long sword like claws on his fingers and rose his hand high in the air, ready to strike that guy down. The green cheetah looked away, shutting his eyes tight, ready for the monster to finish him.

I gasped. That monster's gonna kill him!

I raised the bow, pulled the arrow back on the string and aimed quick. Then I turned loose of the flying projectile, sending it in a high velocity, and the arrow struck right through the raised hand of the evil cheetah. The other Lost Souls were gasping in surprise as their companion howled in pain. The Lost Soul who was screaming lowered his hand to scream again at the sight of my arrow still stuck in his hand. The innocent cheetah heard the monster in agonizing pain and opened his eyes and perked his ears up at the scene before him. Hope seemed to have filled up his gaze as he watched this.

I got another arrow at ready as Luna and Bajara both announced ourselves with earth shaking roars. I fired another one and that time it went through the side of that Lost Soul's neck since he didn't stop screaming. He gurgled as the blood came out of his mouth and dropped onto his back. The other twenty-nine Lost Souls heard the roars and all had their red eyes trained on us.

Luna and Bajara charged at our enemies and I joined soon afterward behind them. The dragons had spread out, wanting some space to take on some individuals of their own. Luna hissed as she flared her wings and immediately went on to use her forepaw to strike a few of them away. Then it wasn't very long before she was spitting green mist out of her mouth.  The few Lost Souls that were still standing to fight her all had fear in their red eyes and ran out of the path that mist floated to. Only the ones Luna knocked away weren't lucky. While they were grunting in pain, they all breathed in that poisonous mist and that had them coughing and gurgling. Seconds later, they didn't move anymore.

While I was firing another arrow, I saw what happened and looked surprised. Well, that was the first time I saw her killing someone with poison. And she wasn't kidding before! It would kill you in a matter of seconds! A cry of defiance rang over the snarls of my dragon friends and I turned my eyes and saw a Lost Soul charging at me. I sucked in a breath cause he was close to killing me. The Lost Soul swung his long claws upward and I jumped backwards to dodge them. One sharp end of the claw almost grazed the tip of my nose. I cried out when the monster in front of me actually recovered that failing swing and was close to doing that to me again with his other clawed hand. But before he could do that, a tail swung and struck that guy in the side. Sending the evil monster crashing into a tree, killing him.

I turned my gaze and saw that it was Bajara who came to help me in time. I saw her giving me a wink before she grew a very fierce glare and bared her teeth at a couple more enemies running towards her. I decided to return the favor when I grabbed another arrow in a quick motion and fired it at one of them. That arrow hit one of them in the heart, and he flopped face down dead. The other one wasn't too much of a problem for Bajara as she shot a lighting bolt out of her maw and it stuck that monster hard in the chest, sending him about a foot away from her. Bajara roared in pride as she swung her body around to face several more of them, spewing fire out of her snout.

I heard cries of burning pain caused by the red dragoness while my heart pounded in my chest as I ran to a different spot to fire my arrows. When I did, I cried out as my eyes caught sight of one Lost Soul actually sneaking close to Luna while she was distracted fighting his pals. My fear for her safety came to me in full force and I found myself grasping out an arrow in time to pull it back on the bow and fire again. The arrow went through the sneaky bastard's side, right through the ribs, and he groaned and clutched his body in pain.

Luna, after she took out another enemy, had her ears perked when she heard that guy moaning as he suffered by the arrow in the ribs and she snapped her silver eyes at the black furred cheetah. Luna then used her tail to take out that bastard's legs out from under him. When the Lost Soul landed on his back, Luna turned her body and used her paw to stomp that guy hard, killing him in an instant. Another Lost Soul was charging at her and I took that one out from a distance, the arrow went through his forehead and he fell over to the side.

After I killed another one, I heard another roar and I know it wasn't either Luna and Bajara, it came from the sky. Me and Luna looked up, and without another moment that spared, a Dark Dragon landed near Luna to join the battle. The black scaled monster roared at Luna as it advanced on her in an instant. It used the back of the forepaw across her face and she cried out in pain as the force of it knocked her away about a few inches, and she landed on the earth floor with a loud crash.

I gasped loudly as the memory of what happened to her before came back in my skull, and I knew I had to help her and fast. I pulled another arrow out the quiver and aimed at the monster. Then before the evil dragon can grab her neck with its sharp jaws, I shot the projectile and the arrow actually hit squarely in its ass. The Dark Dragon roared in pain upon its impact and it didn't waste time to whirl around to snap its attention on me. While I brought another arrow to the bow, I smiled smugly to myself. Glad you took an arrow to the ass, you bully! I immediately pulled the arrow back by the string and while the Dark Dragon's snout was billowing smoke, I fired once again when I aimed at its head. Before the arrow could reach that scaly monster however, it blew fire out of its maw and it engulfed the flying arrow, turning that tiny thing into ash in a flash. The flames came right at me too, so I cried out and rolled away to my left, "CRAP!" Those orange flames only struck at the space where I was at and I recovered after rolling onto my hands and knees.

After I shot up to my feet, I reached into my quiver, and found that my arrows didn't fall out of it like it had the last time I had rolled like that. While my hand found another arrow and grabbed it, I saw that the Dark Dragon had actually saw me escaped its flames and it was getting ready to shoot more burning flames at me. I groaned out as I pulled back the arrow by the bow, but it was too late. When it blew out the flames again, I resisted firing at it again, knowing for a fact that the new arrow will only get turned to ash like the last one, and just held both the bow and arrow by one hand and only ran away to dodge them. Like last time, they missed.

I ran and stopped near the stream and I saw that before that Dark Dragon can close its mouth and spot me, Bajara, after she apparently took care of the Lost Souls attacking her, rammed her horns right in it and knocked it away onto its side with a crash. When it was about to recover fast after rolling onto its stomach, Bajara's red form got on top of it and bit down into its shoulder, eliciting a snarl of pain from the scaly enemy below her. I even saw Luna finally got up off the grass, her silver eyes held fire in them, and joined in to help Bajara kill it, digging her claws into its hide.

I sighed in relief and just stood there. But before a second would end, Bajara turned loose of her teeth off the monster's shoulder and cried out to me like she spotted something while attacking the squirming Dark Dragon underneath her, "MIKE, LOOK OUT!"

I followed her gaze and gasped when a lone surviving Lost Soul actually snuck up and was close to killing me with those claws thrusted at me. I sidestepped away and they barely hit me. Before I could throw a punch, the Lost Soul used the back of his hand and knocked away the bow and arrow out of my hand. I cried in pain when I lost my weapon and retaliated with a punch to his cheek, he shut his glowing red eyes when he moaned out after my fist struck him. Then I threw another punch, hitting him squarely across the furred face again. Then another punch, and then another punch. Finally after throwing many fists at him, I finished him off with a spin kick to the chest and that sent him falling and splashing in the stream near us.

I was huffing as I was out of breath, but I still turned and ran to get my bow and arrow off the ground so I could kill him. When I bent down to get my weapon, I rose it and aimed the arrow as soon as the Lost Soul stood over the water, a furious look shone in his glowing eyes. I was about to turn loose of that arrow when he suddenly had ice blown at him and he became a frozen statue in a fast rate, the water he stood on became frozen as well. My brows went up as I lowered my weapon to my side and I turned my eyes to see that it was Luna, while standing with Bajara after they both apparently took care of the Dark Dragon, had blown ice out of her maw.

I smiled at the dragons and Luna turned her muzzle and smiled right back. She hollered, shooting her horned head at the frozen Lost Soul, "Well, what're you waiting for? Fire the arrow at him!"

I gave her a nod and rose my bow once again, pulled back the arrow and fired at it. When the arrow flew straight into the frozen statue, it shattered into a million pieces. I held my breath and let it out as I saw that it was now over. There were no more enemies to fight. I locked my eyes back on Luna and Bajara who both had their wings curled against their backs and I jogged up to them.

I said as I stood right in front of them, "You guys okay?" Then I fully concentrated right on Luna, "What about you? Are you-"

Luna shot up her head with a prideful smirk, "Oh I'm fine." She turned her head and stared at the dead Dark Dragon, "Can't say the same for him." Luna then looked at me and lowered her head down to my level with concern in her eyes, "Are you ok?"

I nodded and swung the bow back on my shoulder, "Yeah, I'm alright." Then I widely grinned at Bajara, "And I see YOU'RE doing alright." I motioned my hand at the aftermath of the battle around us, "You got some skills. Look what you did to some of them!"

Bajara let out a laugh as the black scaled dragon rose her head to look at the older dragoness beside her, "I haven't fought any Lost Souls and Dark Dragons in a long time!" Then she held up her head in smug, "I think I still got it."

Luna playfully shot at me, "She certainly has them....Better than you do."

My jaw dropped as I made a mocked expression, "What?" Then I folded my arms across my chest, "Woman, I've saved you from being wounded again by a sneaky Lost Soul! You didn't do a good job at seeing it."

I think she knew what I was talking about as she narrowed her silver eyes and snorted, "Only because I was fighting a bunch of them in front of me."

That's when I added, "And while you were focusing on stomping the one I saved you from to death, I saved you twice when another one charged at you!"

Luna softened her look and that time rolled her eyes as she muttered, "Oh, give me a break."

I smirked, "I'll give you a break, when you give ME a break."

Bajara playfully sighed, shaking her snout a bit at our playful bickering, "Oh, you two."

Then we all heard a groan in the distance and saw that it was the green furred cheetah who was still reclined against the tree. He's still alive from the whole battle. I exclaimed, "Guys, he's still alive."

Bajara started to pad to the lone normal cheetah, tail swinging behind her, "C'mon, we have to help." Me and Luna both nodded and paced along with her, till we all stood in front of the cheetah.

The green furred cheetah looked at us, especially at Bajara, and spoke in a deep voice, "Bajara? Is that you?"

Bajara seemed to have recognized him as she quietly gasped, "Hentu?"

Luna glanced at Bajara and asked, "You know him?"

The red dragoness nodded, "He's from Perdrue's village."

Hentu groaned as he shifted around on the ground, "OHHH...." The cheetah formed a smile on his furred face, "Bajara....It's been a long time....Ten years, I think."

Bajara tilted her head, forming a frown, "You don't seem angry to see me...."

He chuckled, "I can't be angry since you saved me." Then he eyed at Luna beside her, "Are....You Dark Storm?"

Luna shook her head, "WAS Dark Storm. As of right now, I'm just Lunasin." Then she cocked it, having a bit of guilt shown in her eyes, "And I take it that you've met me before?"

Bajara answered her question, "He was there on the hunt with me, Perdrue and a few other of his pals. He was another survivor." I turned my head and frowned at her. What's she talking about? Something that she shared with Luna alone? So Perdrue HAS met Luna back then.

Then I shrugged my shoulders to myself, turning my face back to Hentu. Well, I should've known that was the case.

Hentu replied with a giggle, as he seemed to have relaxed upon seeing Luna, "I never thought I'd see you again. I thought that day would be the last of it." He wrinkled his furred face, "You don't seem to be acting like that dragon. I saw you fighting your own allies. You....Saved my life, too."

Luna smiled in appreciation and giggled deeply, gesturing the dead enemies with a swing of her tail behind her, "Well, it's not like they can get along with me now....Since we're now you know...Enemies."

Hentu said as he nodded, "I can see that. And I'm starting to like you already."

Luna said with a thankful nod, "Thank you."

Then his eyes locked on me and he frowned, "And what kind of creature are you? You have the skills of an archer." He put on an amused look, "You're quite good."

I kneeled down and said with a amused grin, "My name's Mike, and I'm a human." I shrugged my shoulders, "A creature from another world to be exact. It's kinda of a long story of how I got here. And thanks for the compliment about my skills." Then I turned to Luna and said to her just to show off, "You hear that, Luna? He says my skills are impressive!"

Luna rolled her eyes at the statement, "Oh, shut up, you little shit."

Hentu laughed, "No way Dark Storm could act that way. Yep....You aren't evil now."

Luna responded to that, having pity in her eyes for the green cheetah, "I was never evil at all. And it's a long story why I'd say that. But I am sorry for what I did to you before."

Hentu hummed, "Mmmm.....I think I believe your words, Lunasin." Then he groaned and clutched his leg in pain when he shifted around again.

Luna and Bajara held eyes filled with concern as I asked him, "You ok?"

The green cheetah moaned again as he lifted his leg off the grass, I can see a hole in his brown pants, "I'm breathing. But I think they wounded my leg." I peered through the hole and saw that one of the Lost Souls made a cut into his fur that was close to his knee and it's bleeding. Hentu said through another groan as his ears flattered against his skull, "Gah....Bastards."

Bajara said to him in a bit of a motherly tone, "Ancestors, Hentu."

I had a serious look on my face, "We need to get you out of here. Is your village far?"

He replied when he tried to stand up, "It's....About twenty minutes away." He slumped back down when his efforts were in vain.

I planted a hand on his shoulder, "Better not put weight on that. Look, let me gather my stuff first, and then I'll help you out. Just tell us which way we need to take you."

"Grr....Past this tree behind me."

Bajara had a nervous look on her face a bit when I stood straight up, "But wait...What's gonna happen when I get there? Wha-"

Hentu was waving that concern off with his hand that was stained with crimson, "It's alright, Bajara." He had fondness in his eyes as he looked at hers, "I know you were never plotting something sinister against the village and my kind. I knew it before you came back."

My eyes widened up at his words. What did he say?

Bajara reared back her head in surprise and so had Luna, "What? What are-"

He explained a bit, "Everyone in the village knows that you aren't some kind of evil dragon. We...We all know you aren't."

Bajara cocked her head, "But...How? How did-"

"Look....Just take me home, and....The chief will tell you about it." Then he looked at me and Luna, "As for the two of you, you're welcomed in the village as well for your heroics. I'll tell everyone not to hurt you...Especially you, Lunasin. Now please...Take me home."

I nodded at him, still a bit surprised to hear that everyone in the village, including him, don't think that Bajara's bad anymore, "Ok....Give me a minute."

*****

As her red tail was swishing behind her, Cora brought her nose real close to a bush full of purple flowers and was sniffing them. I heard her growling deep in satisfaction and she was giggling in a cute way. I just smiled at her from the rock I'm sitting on in amusement, thinking the whole thing was just too cute. Nawww....Cora. I glanced to my girlfriend sitting beside me and Emily was watching the cute scene beholding near us. She held a hand to her mouth and giggled. I tossed my gaze across from us, seeing Damon who was laying on his stomach with his yellow colored eyes concentrated up at the afternoon blue sky, while Rick was reclining against the drake's side watching the scene Cora's showing us with a look of amusement on him as well.

I mentally chuckled at Emily's father. His daughter likes this, and even HE finds the whole thing cute. It's really funny watching him with that expression.

Damon, you green scaled fairy, you've really changed him.

It's been hours since this morning that I've noticed the change in Rick's behavior, and even I'm still happy that he is. Feels good not to have tension all the damn time with Emily's father. I wanted to be his friend since the very beginning. Heck, the thought of that was in vain when Mike got in that fight on the ship. But now....He's willing to give me another chance, not call me a punk and a liar and a bad boyfriend anymore, and he even finally gave Cora the blessing to travel with us. He's really becoming a very likable guy. Not all serious and grumpy. He should show that towards the enemy. Not towards everyone in the group.

For all those hours, Rick has been talking to me, Cora and Damon more than usual, showing that he's loosened up a lot. The three of us like this Rick.

As for Emily....She's still mad at him. Rick has been trying to talk to her too, but every time he does either she just stares angrily at him or she turns her gaze away. She has chatted with me and the others, all except HIM. When he tries to join in on her conversation, she immediately goes quiet. And when he backs off, she speaks up again.

Gosh, now I feel a lot of tension from her, even when I'm sitting right beside her! And it ain't towards me, it's towards her dad! And now we're having a break in this spot in the woods and she still doesn't talk to him.

While I still had my eyes trained on Cora smelling the flowers still, I hung my head a bit as I was thinking about my girlfriend and her attitude. Emily....

I heard the short red dragoness giggling again and that had me snap my eyes back on her. She was done sniffing the purple flowers and bounded her way back to us with her wings settling on her back and her tail swung behind her. She just had a smirk on her muzzle as she sat straight down on her haunches close to me.

Damon lowered his gaze off the sky and towards the dragon shorter than him. He saw her smirking and asked with one on his own snout, "What're you smiling about?"

Cora gestured her head back to that bush with the flowers, while she was puffing out her chest and pleasantly let it out, "Just relishing the sweet smell of those flowers up my nose."

Damon lightly chuckled, "That good, huh?"

She tossed up her head, "Well, yeah!" Then she wrinkled her scaly face, "Can you not smell them from where you're at?"

Damon snorted, "Of course I can! Just because I SUPPOSEDLY have a bad nose, doesn't mean I can't smell them from right here!" He pointed a claw at that bush, "I mean, they're RIGHT over there!"

Cora rolled her eyes, "Ok, ok, Daryl, your nose is not THAT bad." I snickered when she called him that.

Damon tossed her a glare, "Quit calling me Daryl, Coraline." Rick let out a laugh close to his green scales and Cora just hissed at the grownup figure in the group.

I snickered again and Cora angrily shot at me, "Scotto, you be quiet!"

Me and Emily laughed at that one, and I said to her with a playful frown, "Scotto?"

She softened her eyes up a bit and shrugged, "Well, I'm not good at coming up with names! That was the only thing I can come up with!" Then she leaned forward and eyed at Emily close to me, "I can't even come up with a different name for her. It's kinda hard."

Rick chimed in with a giggle, "Oh, you don't have to, Corajan."

She let out a sigh of relief at hearing her own name, "THANK YOU, Rick."

He grinned, "You're welcome, young lady." Then he shrugged his shoulders, "As for coming up with a different name for my daughter, I'm sure I'll come up with something." He chuckled and looked straight at Emily, "Right, Emily?"

I know he was just being playful, but Emily just narrowed her eyes at him for a second and then glanced away towards the trees. I'm feeling that tension again.

Rick tilted his head, "Em?"

She didn't say a word, I only heard her breathing deeply in anger.

Rick tried again as he put on a huge smile and got up off the ground, "Aw, come on, you're not still mad at me for what happened before, are you?"

Emily turned her gaze back on him at the question, not changing her expression one tiny bit.

Her father trotted up alongside Damon's side till he was up close to his front. Then Rick shrugged with his hands, having a glum look, "What? You still are?"

I was trying to stop Rick from talking to her some more, "Um, Rick, I think you better be quiet."

But Emily shot at him in anger with her arms crossing under her breasts, "Yes, RICK, I think you better be quiet."

My girlfriend's father made a wide look at the rude comment, "Uhhh...." Then he formed a toothy grin, "Haven't gotten enough sleep to wake up happy, like papa here?"

That got Emily going as she stood up off the rock and firmly planted her hands against her waist, "You know what, RICK, enough with the fucking act."

Rick wrinkled his brow, "Excuse me?"

She groaned and waved her hand towards everybody in the group, "You have put on this 'good guy' act that you've gotten everyone, including my boyfriend, to believe that you have..." My girlfriend rolled up her eyes in a bit of a sarcastic way, "Changed."

Rick argued when he put both hands to his chest and insisted, "But I HAVE changed."

That's when she shouted at him, "Bullshit!" Her shout had our jaws drop as she continued, "You're just acting. You're acting like you care now, but the truth is....You hate Scott still, and you still want Cora to go home." Emily shot her hand at Damon, "And you're probably thinking that he's bad still, despite he saved our lives and fought against a few enemies in front of you. Are you thinking that still? I bet you are."

Rick tried to protest, "Emily, c'mon-"

She came up till she stood right in front of him, jabbing a finger into his chest, "You may have everyone fooled, but I know what you are doing and it won't work on me!"

Rick had a hurt look upon his face. Hurt hearing that from his child.

But Emily apparently didn't bought it, "Even that look is a lie. The looks and the laughter you have given all of us is nothing but a lie. You're lying to me, RICK."

Rick narrowed his eyes a bit, "Emily, when are you going to stop calling me Rick? I'm your father."

"Maybe NEVER. After all the crap you've said to Scott for days, should I be nicer to you? NO. After all the crap you've said about my mom and Marco, should I be nicer to you? NO. I said I hated you the other night. And why I've said I hated you that night was because it was the final straw."

Rick held a pity look on his face, "Em....I know that I've said a lot of things, but-"

Emily poked a finger hard in his chest again, making him stumble back by the force of it, "NO BUTS! You did say them and you've meant them!" She lowered her tone, "And guess what? I meant it when I've said it. I HATE YOU. And looking at you before today and looking at you now with this so called 'acting nice' attitude makes me feel like I want to hit you." She raised her arm and pointed at me behind her, "You DID hit Scott over there, so I think it'll be fair that I've hit you back in honor for him."

"Emily-"

I saw her clenching one of her fists close to her side, "Shut up, or I WILL hit you."

"Emily, look....You said on that night that you've just wanted your father back. Well, I'm here now!"

"I DON'T WANT YOU ANYMORE!!!" Me, Damon and Cora gasped upon hearing that.

That had Rick back up a bit from her, "Emily, please believe me, I am sorry for what I've done!"

His daughter took a threatening step towards him, "Liar!"

He held up his hands and defended, lowering his voice, "Em, I'm not lying."

Emily still didn't believe him and she huffed, "You think you can just pretend that nothing terrible happened and just act like you're nice and you care? That's not how it works! You don't pretend that it didn't happen. And you don't act like you're sorry, you mean it!"

Rick shook his head and sighed, "Emily, I'm not pretending that nothing happened. And I'm not ACTING that I'm sorry. I've meant everything I did today."

She rolled her eyes in disbelief, "Still being a liar. You hate Scott still, admit it! You still don't want me to go out with him." Then she asked him a question, "Let me ask you something, RICK. Did you try the whole 'acting' thing with mom before you ACTUALLY left her? I can bet you did. And let me ask you another question since you've hit Scott, who's practically a fucking kid, did you hit mom too? Is that why she hates you so much, other than just your attitude?!"

Rick adamantly denied it, "No, I didn't hit her!"

"Well, you called her a slut, so why not hit her like one?!"

"Emily, I loved your mother! I would never do that to her."

"Loved her?" She laughed in disbelief for a second before she glared at him again, "You have a 'funny' way of showing it."

Rick gave her a pleading look, "Emily....Please forgive me. I'm sorry. I mean it, I'm sorry." By the look in his eyes, they are showing guilt as well. I do believe him and I think Cora and Damon believes him too.

Only Emily wasn't buying it again and she demanded angrily, "How bout this? From now on don't try to talk to me throughout the journey to Damon's home. Cuz, I won't talk to you again. In fact, don't even look at me."

Rick tried to reach out to her, "Emil-" But that was cut short when Emily actually slapped him across the face, earning her a grunt from him. Me and the dragon's eyes had gone wide. Holy crap. She...Slapped him!

Emily's dad was rubbing the pain on his cheek away when Emily took a deep breath and let it out like some of that anger left her, "....That felt a bit good." Then she narrowed her gaze once more, "I wished that I'd done MORE, you bastard. Now leave me alone." Then she looked up at Damon and said, "Damon, are we ready to fucking leave yet? I want to walk now."

Damon shook his snout as his wings fluttered on his back, "No. And Emily, about your father-"

Emily closed her eyes and sighed, "Damon, I'm not in the mood for talking now. I just want to walk." She opened her eyes and started to stroll away from us. She was heading off on a trail nearby. Emily stopped in her tracks as she looked over her shoulder, "I'm gonna go for a walk and be back, and if any of you, except Rick, want to come, you can."

Cora took up the offer and immediately got off her haunches and padded up to her, "I'll go with you. I was feeling a bit restless still, anyway." Emily nodded with a breath let out, and both my girlfriend and the teenaged dragoness started to walk off alone. Cora hollered over her shoulder, "We'll be back later!" About seconds later, they both disappeared from our sight.

Now with me, Damon and Rick alone, I got off the rock and went up to Rick who hadn't taken his eyes off the trail the girls went off on. I asked him in concern, "You ok?"

He rose his hand and rubbed his cheek again, "....No. Em....Emily hit me." He had a very hurt look in his eyes, but they were mixed with guilt as he sighed in pity for his daughter, "But I can't blame her. This is my fault. I became very overprotective and it cost me her."

Damon lowered his snout to gently nudge Rick's back in comfort while his tail tapped on the grass. Then Rick groaned when he whirled around to gaze right into those yellow eyes Damon has behind him, "You heard what she said. She said she hates me and she's showing it. She doesn't want me anymore, and she said that she won't call me dad never again." He hung his head, "She doesn't believe that I am sorry and I've changed, and I don't blame her."

I formed pity in my eyes. I don't blame her either. Emily has a very good reason to not trust her father and actually hate him. And I know what she's thinking too, even when she won't say it towards me. She has given her dad every chance for him to change, and he threw one chance she gives him away every time. She's afraid that he was lying about what he feels now and throw it away again, resulting in her feeling disappointed once more. And that's why she doesn't believe him.

And goodness, she was sorta acting like her dad. Rick had showed that same behavior towards me for days. He was always making it hard on me for not accepting what I was telling him about myself, and he had a stupid reason for doing so. Now Emily's acting like him, and it was Rick's fault for that. I don't blame her for not trusting him and believing him because of his behavior from before. Her reason is more different than her father's, and it's not stupid. Rick made it hard on me to not trust me before, NOW Emily's making it hard on him for not trusting her own dad.

Only Emily right now is wrong about him, just like Rick was wrong about everything he has accused and thought of about me. She is. I can understand her feelings, but she needs to give him ONE more chance. Her father has changed. She wanted her father back, and he has come back. Rick had put aside that kind of behavior and now Emily has to put aside hers. She has to listen and at least TRY to believe him.

I looked right at Emily's father and sighed. Emily has to forgive him....Somehow. I don't want her to hold this grudge against him forever.

I rose a comforting hand and placed it on Rick's shoulder. That had him gazing at me. I said to him, "I'm sorry this happened to you." I shrugged my shoulders and glanced away to that path near us, "And I don't blame her either."

Damon rose his head and looked to that path as well, "So am I." He formed pity in his eyes, "Emily's dwelling in that sort of pain and I feel terrible for her. I guess...I should've known she would do that...." I looked up and saw that he had a very haunting look in his eyes now. I tilted my head at that. I wonder what he's thinking about right now?

Then I saw his ears perk up when all three of us heard something, "Guys!" I shot my gaze at the path and so had Rick as he whirled around to see what was going on. The voice sounded like Emily. What's going on?

Then a moment later, Emily and Cora both came running back and skidded to a stop in front of us. They both had widened up looks on them, like they were surprised about something.

As Damon started to get up off his stomach to stand on his fours, Rick asked in concern, "What's going on? Are there enemies coming?"

Cora was shaking her snout in a fast pace, "No! It's....Something else!"

I pressed the girls, "What? What is it?"

Emily beckoned us to follow her, "You guys need to see this."

Cora reared back her head, "Yeah!" Her yellow eyes looked up at Damon, "You need to most of all! I...I don't even know what it is!"

Damon cocked his head, "What?" He looked right at Emily, "Emily, do you know? Did you guys come across another temple?"

Emily slowly shook her head, "Nope....Something WAY different than that." She spun around, along with Cora with her wings settled on her back, to lead us the way, "Just follow us. Trust me, you need to see what we've came across."

Now I was pretty curious of what they saw. Cora's never seen a temple before but Emily has. Only she said it wasn't another temple. It was something different.

What could it be?