Neal just left Cody and Joanna alone to search for Amanda. The crickets making noises and the full moon is the only light in the woods.  

She said she wanted to have some alone time before she left. Now I think it's the best time to finally tell her how I feel about her.

He grunted to himself while he was walking. I hope I know what I'm doing. Because if I'm not careful with this, Amanda might not speak to me again.

I'm just going to start off easy and then take it slow. Yep that's it, TAKE IT SLOW.

Neal walked for a long time and he finally found her sitting on a rock alone. He smiled and walked slowly behind her. He was just standing behind her when Amanda noticed the shadow from the full moon and she turned around to look at him.

Amanda smiled up at him, "Hey big red dude, what are you doing here?"

Neal shrugged and waved a paw, "I don't know. I guess I just wanted to find you. You have been gone for awhile."

Amanda shrugged as well and turned her body around on the rock, "Well I have been hanging with everyone all day today. So I guess I wanted more alone time than I thought. "

Neal nodded, "I know how that gets."

Amanda asked, "So did Sierra come back yet with Wayne?"

Neal shook his head, "No, not yet. Why are you worried about her?"

Amanda sighed and said, "Well Sierra has been acting weird when we were done swimming today. I'm...Kinda worried about her. I mean the way she screamed last night, it still bothers me."

 Neal nodded, "I was too. But she said that nothing's bothering her, so I guess it's nothing...I think." He walked until he was beside her and asked, "Would you mind if I kept you company?"

Amanda looked at him again and shrugged, "I guess. The night is kinda giving me the creeps. I mean right now I thought I heard howling. That gave me the shivers."

Neal grinned at her, "Aw, now who's afraid of the dark? Apparently you I suppose."

Amanda shot a glare at him, "Big guy, you are going to get it for sure!"

Neal groaned, "No wait don't tell me. You're going to kick me in the stones, aren't you?"

Amanda's glare melted away and she gave him a devious grin, "MAYBE. Or MAYBE NOT."

Neal giggled, "I'll take that as a no." Then he lowered his head to her level and asked again, "Can I?"

Amanda nodded and motioned her hand for a spot for him, "Sure, why not?"

Neal sat down on his haunches next to her. His wings folding behind him. They just sat there for a long time in silence. Until finally Neal broke it by saying, "So in all honesty, how am I doing so far?"

Amanda giggled a bit and looked up at him, "So far you're not ruining my alone time. Hell at least you would scare off the creature that started howling awhile ago."

Neal shot up his head, "Wouldn't bother me that much, if I did fight a wolf or something out here."

Amanda said, "Well lets hope you burned that creature alive then!"

Neal smiled, "No problem."

Then they just sat there again in silence. Amanda sighed and Neal looked down at her. Neal cocked his head, "Something bothering you?"

Amanda looked at him and then she looked ahead, "I was...Thinking about my mother."

Neal asked, "Who Sierra? Or your real mother?"

Amanda said, "My real mother."

Neal took a deep breath and let it out, "Yeah I know how that feels. I miss my parents too."

Amanda shrugged, "I don't miss BOTH my parents. It's just my mom, that's who I miss."

Neal asked, "Your mother was real special to you, wasn't she?"

Amanda didn't say anything and she looked up at him and asked, "What about your parents? Do you think about them?"

Neal nodded, "Yeah. I...Miss them everyday. They died when I was just an adolescent."

Amanda had a pity look on her face and said, "I'm sorry."

Neal shook his head and waved her off with his paw, "Its alright. You...Weren't there when it happened. It was a long time ago."

Amanda reached out to touch him and said, "I know how that feels. I still think about my mom, right now actually. She really was special."

Neal nodded and said, "I know you hate your father. I would be too."

Amanda pulled her hand away and looked down at her lap. She sighed, "Yeah."

Neal lowered his head to her level and he said, "Amanda...Can I ask you something?"

Amanda looked at him, "What is it?"

Neal hesitated to ask and then he said, "Look you don't have to tell me, but...What was your father like? I mean, I've heard it from Wayne. But I want to hear it from you."

Amanda closed her eyes and said, "My father never cared about anyone, but himself. He hated me and my mother."

Neal had a sad look on his face, "I don't think it's fair for him to hate you and your mother."

Amanda let out a big sigh, "Yeah well...You didn't have a father that hits you and calls you trash. Calls you a whore. Threatens you. Threatens your mother. She..." She trailed off.

Neal shook his head, "You don't have to say anymore."

Amanda let out an angry growl, "He always hated her. Even before I was born, he always hated her. But she never even left him, she thought she could change him. But he didn't. Even AFTER I was born, he still never changed. He was just a manipulative, narcissistic asshole, who only cared about himself."

Amanda then got up from the rock, took a few steps away from Neal and stopped where she was at. She had an angry look on her face and said, "I mean...He never supported me. One time I wanted to be a nurse, after I graduate from school. But as usual he never gave a shit!"

Neal got up on all fours and went to Amanda. Her back turned to him. He sat down on his haunches behind her. Neal lowered his head to her level and he nudged her back with his nose. Amanda sighed.

Amanda without turning around said, "He...Always said that I wouldn't amount to anything. He said that I was worthless. Said that I wouldn't have a healthy relationship with a guy. That they're all just a bunch of dirty bastards. And..." Amanda shuddered and went on, "The way my father looked at me. That...Lust. I think that's why he said that I wouldn't have a healthy relationship, is because he wanted ME. I mean he was sick. REALLY sick."

Neal still felt sorry for her. And finally Amanda whirled around to face him. Her eyes were wet with tears and she went on, "My father was an sick, alcoholic bastard! All he cared about was himself and pleasure! He never loved me! Only himself! I mean, I can't believe my mother was with him and thought that he could change! He didn't! And now she's dead because of him! I feel alone now because of him!"

Neal really felt sorry for her. I wish there was something I could do for her. I wish I could have been with her back then. Just to protect her from her father. 

Amanda finally broke down and she fell to her knees sobbing. She held her hands to her face and with her voice muffled she said, "My mother's dead and I didn't try very hard to save her. That's why she died. I got home late from school and I've just found her on the ground. All battered and bruised. All dad did was just sit in his chair. He...He wanted her to die, just to have me for himself. He's sick!"

Neal really felt pity for her and he lowered his head lower to where she is and he nuzzled her. Amanda removed her hands from her face and said, "Neal?"

Neal held up a paw to her mouth and said, "Shush."

Neal sighed, removed the paw away from her mouth by putting it back to the ground and he said, "I'm very sorry. For everything."

Amanda only stared at him while he was still nuzzling her and he went on, "It's just...I know what its like to feel alone as well. You see...After my parents died, Sierra was the only dragon who was there for me. But years later, I found a dragoness for my mate."

Amanda asked, "What was her name?"

Neal shook his head, "You wouldn't understand it." He sighed, "She really was beautiful. Her yellow scales. Her beautiful eyes. Her voice. She was perfect. Until...She got killed by a dragon slayer years ago. Me and her we were still young back then. Soon after her death, I really felt alone."

Neal pulled his head away from her and looked at her face, "Sierra was next to be with me. But it didn't last long. She wanted to be with Eric and I wanted her to be happy. So I let her be with him. I didn't mind it. Sierra's happiness was important to me."

Amanda asked, "Did you...Still love her up to this day?"

Neal nodded, "Yeah, I still did. But she wanted to be with Wayne and I didn't stop her. Wayne's my friend and Sierra would always will be my best friend. Nothing more."

Amanda had a pity look on her face and said, "I'm sorry you went through all that. I mean, I've spent a lot of time with you and I didn't know that. I'm sorry."

Neal closed his eyes, "It's not something you would really...Tell someone." He opened his eyes, "Especially you."

Amanda reached out to touch his nose. She rubbed it up and down and said, "I'm sorry Neal. I really am. But...Are you happy now?"

Neal giggled and nodded, "When Sierra came back after all these years of isolation away from the city. I became happy again. And when it came to Wayne he reminded me of Eric, and he made me happy as well. So have you as well." Then Neal licked her hand.

Amanda giggled and pulled her hand away. She said, "Do I...Really make you happy?"

Neal nodded again, "You do. In fact that's the only reason why I wanted you to stay at my house back at the city. So you would keep me company."

Amanda smiled, "Well I think I did a good job."

Neal said, "I thought I wouldn't meet another human after Eric. One that would be nice like him, but there is. And it's you and Wayne."

Amanda said, "Well I'm glad that I've met you and the others. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me in a long time. I really feel alive here. I feel like I have a home now. I feel like I have a mother now and what's more I feel like I have friends now. I didn't grow up with a lot of friends back then."

Neal nuzzled her face again, "I know." Then he pulled away and said, "There's something I want to tell you."

Amanda had a quizzical look on her face, "What big guy?"

"The other day when me and you were at the memorial wall together back at the city. I was thinking about her."

Amanda asked, "Your mate?"

Neal nodded, "Yes. I couldn't get her out of my head that day. But when you came to my house, I really felt better."

Amanda nodded, "That's good."

Neal said, "And about your father. I'm sorry for what he did to you and your mother. It wasn't fair for both of you."

Amanda looked at the ground and said, "Yeah well, that's what I get for having a father who says you're not worth it."

Neal shook his head, "No, you are worth it."

Amanda looked at him and he went on, "You are worth it, Amanda. You do amount to something, you're not worthless. You're worth something. And I think you really can have a healthy relationship with anybody. Your father is the one who's worthless. Not you, HIM. He was always the one who never amounted anything. He wasn't worth it, YOU are."

Amanda gave him the biggest smile she could muster and she wrapped her arms around his head for a hug. Neal gave her a lick to the face. Amanda pulled away and said, "Thank you, Neal. That was...Really sweet."

Neal smiled at her and said, "You're welcome." Then he had a glum look on his face and he turned his gaze away from her.

Amanda frowned at him, "What's wrong? Listen if it's about your mate, I know it's hard to let her go. It's really hard to let someone important to you go. I know it from experience."

Neal without looking at her nodded, "I know. But...That's not what I'm thinking about."

She asked, "What is it?"

Neal finally turned his gaze on her and said, "Look...There's something else I have to tell you. I've...Felt if for awhile."

Amanda said, "What?"

Neal tried to form words but he didn't. He just opened his mouth agape and then he closed it. He closed his eyes.

Amanda gave him a comforting smile and she reached out to touch his nose and said, "It's alright, Neal. You can tell me. At least tell me what's on your mind." She pulled her hand away from him.

Neal sighed and opened his eyes, "Look Amanda. You promise me that no matter what I say to you, you won't judge me and you will still be my friend?"

Amanda had a curious look on her face and asked, "Neal what's wrong? You're...Acting odd."

Neal looked into her eyes for a few moments, trying to build the guts to tell her his feelings. He finally said, "Amanda...I know that we're both different. But the truth is...We're not THAT different. I mean we have so many thing in common. We both feel alone, we both lost someone important to us and what's more...WE both have attitude."

Amanda giggled and she still had that curious look and she said, "Neal...What are you getting at? What's this about?"

Neal took a deep breath and finally said, "I'm trying to tell you that I..." He trailed off.

Amanda pressed him, "Neal tell me. What's on your mind?"

Neal looked into her eyes and said, "You are."

Amanda's face went wide and she asked, "What...What are you saying?"

Without hesitation he said, "I love you, Amanda."

Amanda's face went even more wider and she finally got up off her knees and took a step back, "What?"

Neal repeated, "I love you. I...I really love you."

Amanda just stared at him and before she could open her mouth, Neal raised a paw to silence her, "Look Amanda...I know what we are, but I don't care. The truth of the matter is like I said before we're not that different. We're very much alike. I now that we bicker sometimes. And...You have called me a big red scaly pervert. But I really feel in love with you. For all the time that I've been with you, I started to have feelings for you."

Neal took a deep breath and went on, "I thought I was suppose to be with Sierra. I have tried to court another female to be with. But I never did. I wanted to be with Sierra. But...Now I realize, after all these years I now know the reason why Sierra came back to the city for the first time in years with Wayne. It's...Because I was suppose to be with someone else. And it was you. If it wasn't for them, I would have never met you. Fate really brought you here to me. Fate wanted us together."

Amanda looked down at the ground. Just registering everything he said.

Neal had a fearful look on his face and said, "Please say something."

Amanda finally looked at Neal and said, "You know Neal...I thought there was something up with you. Every time you smile at me, every time you look at me. I think I get it now."

Neal's face went wide and she went on, "It's just...I know I've called you a big red scaly pervert, but the truth is I like being with you. And...To tell you the truth...I think I've ignored my feelings about you."

Neal cocked his head, "What are you saying?"

Amanda took a step toward him, "What I'm saying is, I really feel happy with you. I mean for years I've felt like I was an outcast. But you don't treat me like one. Neither do the others. You treat me like I'm a person."

She reached up and brushed her hair off her face, "And I thought I was going crazy myself. I mean, I thought it would be just Wayne and Sierra that would be together. I mean I know they're different, but I never did mind. But now..."

Neal asked, "What?"

Amanda finally had a smile on her face, "At first...I would've thought no. But for several days when I've gotten to know what dragons are like, I realize that they are just like my kind. They have feelings, they have a society like my kind does. You do everyday things like my kind do. I think in a way...You're humans living inside dragons. That I'm talking to one right now."

Amanda took another step toward him and said, "Neal...I'm not afraid of you." She gestured her hand back and forth to her and Neal, "I'm not of afraid of this. I think...I like you as well."

Neal beamed and he said this with hope, "Really?"

Amanda nodded, "Yes."

Then Neal asked, "Even when I'm a big red scaly pervert?"

Amanda laughed, "Yes, even that. You're MY big red scaly pervert."

Neal looked down shyly at his paws and said, "To be honest...When I've said to you more than once about your curves being so good looking. I didn't just say it, I meant it."

Amanda smiled at him, "Thank you."

Neal frowned at her, "You're not going to kick me in the stones now, are you?"

Amanda laughed even harder that time, holding her ribs. Finally she stopped laughing and said, "Well just don't push me and be a good boy and I won't." She grinned deviously at him.

Neal rolled his eyes and said, "You know what, I doubt you'll follow through with that threat. You wouldn't hurt me, I'm lovable!"

Amanda crossed her arms and grinned at him, "Yeah right!"

Neal giggled, "What you don't believe me? What kind of a girlfriend are you?"

Amanda gave him a mock expression, "Who said that we're together?"

Neal hummed to himself and he said, "I did apparently!" Then they both laughed.

Amanda finally got close to his face and said, "Neal...Do you really care about me?"

Neal nodded, "I know now why my mate died years ago. The reason why...Is for me to be with YOU."

Amanda smiled and then she put her hands to both sides of his face. She kissed his nose and pulled her head away and said, "And I guess the reason why I'm alone as well. Is to be with you."

Neal said, "Amanda I-"

She cut him off with a finger to his mouth, "Save the words for another minute."

Amanda and Neal were staring into each others eyes and slowly Amanda brought her mouth close to his and kissed him directly in the mouth. Her hands caressing his face. Neal's face went wide and then he kissed her back. Adjusting his mouth to hers.

Finally they pulled away from each other and they both giggled. Amanda frowned and muttered, "Well that was odd."

Neal frowned, "What was odd about it?"

She said, "Your mouth tasted like charcoal. Like you were breathing fire."

Neal glared at her, "I do breath fire, you stubborn little broad."

Amanda playfully smacked him on the nose and she giggled, "I'm not a broad, you big red scaly pervert."

They both laughed at that and finally they just stared at each other.

Amanda lovingly said, "I love you, Neal." She kissed him on the nose and pulled back, waiting for his response.

Neal smiled at her and said, "I love you too, Amanda."

Then they kissed each other on the lips again again. Under the moonlight.

*****

We were flying for about maybe almost an hour, I think. I was still riding on Sierra's back. I looked around the scenery, none of this area looked familiar.

I'm still wondering where we're going? I mean, where is this place?

Finally Sierra started to glide down to the ground, getting ready for a landing. I held on to her tight. Tucking my legs in.

When Sierra got close to the ground she landed on her hind feet first and then she landed on her front feet. She trotted to a stop.

I moved my leg over her back and I slid off of her. I brushed the dust off of me and I walked in front of her. I looked up at her and said, "So where are we? What is this place?"

Sierra started to walk away from me and muttered, "Follow me."

I shrugged and I started to follow her. Apparently she's deep in thought. We were both walking on a hill until finally we were at the top. When we reached the top of the hill, all I could see was more open ground.

There was nothing there.

Sierra sucked in a breath and she had a glum look on her face. I looked up at her and asked, "Sierra...There's nothing there."

Sierra sighed and looked down at me, "I know. But there was something there before. Years ago, before you were born."

I frowned, "What was?"

She answered, "There was a house and a barn over there. Years ago this was where Eric used to live, before he died."

My face went wide and I stared at the open ground. Eric used to live around here? I guess the house and barn are not there anymore. Those places are probably too old to stand by now. I'm sure anyways. They were built over a thousand years ago!

Perhaps some people were out here and took them down. And now there's just open ground. Nature has taking this part of its home back.

Sierra walked to the spot where the house was at and she pointed at the ground, "Right here in this spot. That's where the house stood." Then she pointed to a spot nearby, "And over there is where the barn was."

I stood with her. Just picturing what the house looked like. Him and Sierra living out here alone together.

They must have been very happy.

Sierra without looking at me said, "Eric found me in the woods nearby. And he took me to the barn so I can recover from my wounds. He always took care of me. Feeding me. Treating me with bandages. All that stuff."

I looked up at her and said, "Sierra...Why did you bring me here?"

Sierra didn't answer and she walked off again, "Come, there's something else I need to show you."

I sighed and I ran after her, until I was walking beside her. It didn't take us long to find this other place she's taking me and we both stopped in front of a big tree.

She sat down on her haunches and I just stood beside her. I looked at her and asked, "So...What's with the tree?"

Sierra lip quivered and said, "This is where I buried Eric, after he died. I buried him under this tree. I...Can't believe it's still there."

My face went wide and I stared at the tree. Oh...Man.

Sierra closed her eyes tight. A single tear fell down her face. I looked at her and reached out to her and touched her body. I rubbed it comfortingly.

Sierra opened her eyes and said, "Wayne...Did I ever tell how he died?"

I looked at her and said, "You told me he died in some kind of fire."

Sierra nodded and said, "Eric died in his home. His house was on fire."

My eyes went wide and she went on, "I was out hunting that day, it felt just like any normal day. I thought things would always be the same with me and Eric. But...I was wrong."

She took a deep breath and let it out, "I saw smoke in the distance. I...I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't believe it. I flew back to Eric's house and saw that it was on fire. The fire was so intense I couldn't look in there for him right away. I...I waited for the fire to stop and the whole house was just a smoldering black mess."

She said, "After the fire finally died down, I went into the ruins of the house and then I've found him...Lying on the floor. He was already dead when I found him."

I put a hand to my mouth. Oh my god.

Sierra trembled and said, "He was already dead, I thought it was some kind of dream. But it wasn't. After I carried his body outside, I began to realize that someone set the house on fire, with him in it."

I stepped back away from her and asked, "Why? Why would someone kill him?"

Sierra had a angry look on her face, "Eric used to work for someone. For a king. You see Eric was a knight, before he met me. But the king he worked for was just a ruthless asshole. Didn't care about anyone and anything but himself. He...Ruined Eric's life. Making him do so many terrible things for the king. Making Eric murder someone, making him hurt innocent people...It...Was horrible for him."

Sierra sighed and said, "Eric used to have a mate. A human mate and she died because of that bastard. He sent his knights to rape and murder her in cold blood. Just to get at Eric. To make him suffer. To make him submit to his duties."

I put a hand to the side of my face, "Jesus."

Sierra nodded, "That's why Eric lived out here alone. He wanted to start over from his tragic life. He wanted to live. And before he met me, he really was strong. He didn't let the past get to him. He was the strongest human I've known."

I asked, "And that's when you met him?"

Sierra nodded, "He had lived out here for a while and then he met me in the woods, I was in a crumpled bloody heap. I was...Lucky he found me."

I had a sad look on my face and said, "I'm...Very sorry."

Sierra just closed her eyes.

I said, "Sierra...I know we've been through all this but...It's not your fault. You know it wasn't your fault that he died."

Sierra opened her eyes and sighed, "It was my fault. And...On that day...I've completely changed."

I frowned at her, "What are you talking about?"

Sierra said, "When I was outside with Eric's body, I saw a shield that has been left outside the burned down house. The one with the king's insignia on it. It belonged to the king Eric used to work for."

I asked, "So what happened after that?"

Sierra said, "I found this tree and I buried Eric under it. Soon after that...I wanted vengeance. I wanted to avenge Eric. I wanted all of them to pay."

That's when I remembered that she told me that she has killed the people who murdered Eric and that her guilt didn't go away.

Sierra went on, "I flew for hours to the king's castle. To where Eric used to live. To the village. Night came for me and I didn't back down from my thirst for vengeance. I wanted them all to die."

She sighed, "I made it to the castle. The knights knew of my presence. There were a lot of them, but I didn't back down. I wanted them all to die by my flame. I fought against every last one of them. Until it was just me and the king."

I imagined the blood and the fire. Poor Sierra.

Sierra said, "I've caught the bastard king from running away from me. I cornered him against the wall of his stupid castle. I told him why I was after him and he remembered Eric. I screamed at him for ruining Eric's life. For treating everyone with malice and disrespect. He was begging for mercy. He even told me that he was rectifying his actions. But I didn't believe him." Sierra closed her eyes and sighed.

I said, "So you killed him."

Sierra nodded, "Yes. I blew fire at him. Until his screams died down. He didn't get up from that." Sierra started to sob.

I touched her scales again and said, "It's okay girl. It's been over for years. It's all in the past."

Sierra shook her head, her eyes still closed, "No it isn't."

I beamed at her, "Sure it is! Me and you are happy together. And everything's going to be fine."

She shook her head again and she opened her eyes and she looked down at me, "No Wayne...It won't."

I looked into her eyes and it was that look again. The look she head when she was dreaming. That feared and guilty look.

My smile melted away and I said, "Sierra, why are we out here?"

Sierra looked away from my gaze.

My eyes went wide. Why do I get the feeling that this is...Goodbye?

Sierra then had something in her paw and she showed it to me, "Here...I want you to have this."

I looked in her paw and I've seen that object before. I've seen it at Sierra's cave days ago.

It was the crystal pendant. She had it in her paw.

I didn't know she had it with her.

I looked up at her and asked, "What is this?"

She answered, "This was Eric's. He gave it to me years ago. On the day when we both professed our love for one another. I...I want to give it to you."

I shook my head and took a step back away from her paw, "No, I can't take that. I-"

She cut me off, "Please Wayne. It...It would mean a lot to me."

I just stared at the pendant. Until finally I sighed and I grabbed it out of her paw. She pulled her paw away from me and closed her eyes again.

I held the pendant in my hand  and then I lowered my arm and asked, "I don't understand about any of this, what's wrong?"

Sierra sighed without opening her eyes and said, "Wayne...I want you to go home."

I let out a small gasp and said, "What? Why?"

She muttered, "Because you don't belong with me."

My eyes went wide and I said, "Yes we do. We do belong together."

She opened her eyes and glared at me, "No we don't Wayne! WE don't!"

I shook my head, "Yes we do! I love you!"

Sierra turned her gaze away from me, "Go home."

I had a concerned look on my face, "Sierra-"

Then she turned her gaze at me and she shouted, "I SAID GO HOME!!!"

I cried out and stumbled back. My eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

She still had that look on her face. That same exact look.

I narrowed my eyes at her and said, "What's happened to you? Why do you want me to leave? I thought you loved me?"

Sierra stared at me for another moment and she sighed, "I do love you. But...I don't want to hurt you."

That statement gave me a shock to my heart and I asked, "What do you mean? Why would you hurt me?"

Sierra lowered her gaze to the ground. I pressed her, "C'mon Sierra! Why?"

Sierra hesitated at first and then she said, "Remember that I've said that on that day, I've completely changed?"

I nodded and she went on, "I never told you how much I've changed."

I shrugged, "What are you talking about now?"

Sierra said, "When I've killed all those knights and that king. I realized what I've done. I...Wasn't myself. That I was a different dragon. I realized after I've killed them all I began to realize that I became a monster."

My eyes went wide with that word. And I shook my head and I gave her a smile, "You're not a monster Sierra. I know you."

She narrowed her eyes at me, "Do you really? Do you really know me? You don't know me at all."

I narrowed my eyes back at her, "Yes I do, I do know you!"

She shouted, "No you don't! For a long time I became a monster and I realize maybe I still am and I don't want to hurt you!"

I shouted back, "But you would never hurt me!" 

Sierra rolled her eyes, "Damn it, you don't understand!"

"Then make me understand!"

She lowered her head to my level, with a fierce gaze, "Fine! I'll make you understand! That's the reason why I've left the dragon city years ago. Because I was trying to protect everyone from ME. That's why I've lived in the cave all alone for YEARS! That's why I can't let go of the past and that's why I can't let go of the guilt! Because I know that Eric hates me for what I become!"

I shook my head and shouted, "That doesn't make you a monster! You killed those knights and that king for a good reason!"

She got her head to close to me, "Did I really!? Did I?! What if all those knights were innocent just like Eric? What if they were forced to fight me just like Eric? What if the king wanted to change his past? What if he changed?"

I raised my hands and let them flop back down and said, "They killed Eric, Sierra! How can you think that?! How can you feel guilty for killing them!?"

"Because it wasn't me that was fighting them! It was someone else!"

I just stared at her with a frown and she went on, "Yes it was me, but it didn't feel like me. I was a monster!"

She raised her head and looked down at me, "For years Wayne, I've thought of myself as a monster. And then for years of isolation, I've started to act like one! I became a bully and a monster to the humans who came close to MY forest! I despised humanity for not treating me like I'm their friend. They always viewed me as a monster, well guess what? They got one!"

I just stared at her and she said, "You don't feel the blood like I do, you never did! You never felt the guilt for years, because of what I became! A monster with no friends, no family, no lover, not anybody. Because who would want to be with a monster?!"

I shook my head and muttered softly, "You're not a monster."

She shouted, "You're a fool! You're such a naïve fool! You think you know me, but you don't! You never felt the hatred for years against the humans! You never bullied against humanity for years! You never dreamed of killing everyone and everything in sight!"

I shook my head, "Oh my god."

"You never heard Eric's screams when you're dreaming. You never hear Eric calling out to you for help and he still dies! You never imagine that I would kill you in my dreams, because that's what I did to you! I killed you in my dreams!"

I held out my hands and shouted, "Stop! Stop!" I closed my eyes and sighed, "I heard enough."

She shook her head at me, "You just don't get it do you? I almost killed you at my woods days ago, before I kidnapped you to take you to the dragon city. I almost blew fire at you!"

I shouted, "That's because you didn't trust me! It was my fault! I...I didn't tell you I was leaving!"

Sierra with tears in her eyes she shouted, "No! I wanted to kill you! I had the urge to blow fire at you! A part of me thought of it as pleasure. That you deserved it. How I was treating you before we became friends! It's because I'm still a monster Wayne!" Then she closed her eyes tight. More tears streaming down her face.

I was just in shock by what she said to me. Sierra...

Sierra sobbed when she spoke, "But before I did, I saw the king in your place. And that was a wake up call to me. That I was becoming a monster again." She opened her eyes and looked at me, "I don't want to be a monster Wayne."

She went on, "You became my friend and my love. But now I'm thinking that the monster inside me is still in there. That was what I was dreaming about, I was dreaming that I was killing you. It's...Horrible."

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I...I want you to go home, Wayne. I don't want to hurt you. I love you and I don't want to lose you. I can't bear to lose you. I love you!" She closed her eyes and shouted, "Now go home! Don't ever come back to me!"

I just stared at her. God...Sierra.

You're not a monster. You never were. I know you.

I love you. You're really special.

While Sierra was sobbing I walked to her and said, "No."

Sierra looked down at me with a shocked look, "What?"

I said it again more sternly, "I said no. I won't do it."

She pleaded, "Wayne, don't you get it!? I'll hurt you!"

I shook my head, "No you won't. You won't hurt me." Then I gave her a fierce look, "And I also know that you're not a monster. You never were."

Sierra with tears stains she cocked her head at me, "What's the matter with you? Don't you care about your LIFE?"

I nodded, "Yes, but I also care about yours. I love you Sierra and you're not a monster."

She said, "But...But-"

I cut her off with my voice, "So what that you did bad things? You've learned from your mistakes. And you're not a monster."

"What makes you think that?"

I said, "Because if you were a monster, then you wouldn't have feelings. But you do have feelings and I know that you're not a monster. You're just a sweet innocent girl who has lost her love years ago."

I smiled at her, "But now you have a second chance at love and you have a second chance at your life. To rebuild it. To finally let go of the past."

I walked to her chest and put on my hand on it, "Sierra...The king that you've killed, I don't think he even changed. I think he only said that he changed because he was scared. You were killing him because he killed Eric. You've loved him. It's like you said, he was a bastard! He didn't care about anyone but himself! He deserved it!"

Sierra closed her eyes while my hand is still on her chest, "And I don't think Eric hated you as well. He would still love you for who you are now. He wouldn't like you for beating yourself up for YEARS. I could see it now. He still cares for you."

I pressed my body close to her chest and hugged her tightly, "You're not a monster. You're a girl with feelings. And you love me." Then I kissed her chest and looked up at her, "I don't want to leave you Sierra. I feel happy with you. In fact I also wanted to stay with you...Forever."

Sierra finally had a smile since this whole conversation started and she lowered her head to my level and I backed away from her chest. She looked lovingly in my eyes and said, "You know Wayne. I don't know how fate comes up with those tings. How fate really knew we would be together. But I'm glad it did. You never gave up on me." She licked my nose and muttered, "And that's one of the things why I love you."

I smiled at her, "I never did. When you're sad, I never left you alone. When you were depressed, I would sing a human song to you. When you wanted me, I would come to you. I would always be with you Sierra. No matter what you are. But you are not a monster. You never will be. Because I believe in you."

Sierra still had that smile and she said, "Hey Wayne, there's something else I want to tell you."

I asked, "What is it?"

She said, "The reason why Eric named me Sierra. That was his human mate's name. Her name was Sierra as well. He named me after her because I remind him of her."

I grinned at her, "I could see why. I see you as a human."

She said,  "And I see you as a dragon."

And with that I kissed her nose and pulled myself away from her. The crystal pendant still in my hand and I held it up to her face, "Do you want this back? I'm not going anywhere."

She shook her head, "No Wayne. You keep it. So that way you would always know that when you're alone, you would look at it. And remember me."

I looked at the pendant in my hand and I nodded. Then I tried it on my neck and now it's dangling off my neck. After all these years, the pendant has a new human owner.

I giggled at myself and said, "Thank you very much Eric."

Sierra giggled as well and she said, "It fits you well. Eric would be happy."

I looked at her and asked, "Are you going to be okay from now on?"

Sierra nodded, "I will be, because I'm with you. I will never do this to you again. I will never make you leave me."

I smiled at her and put my hands to both sides to her face, and I kissed her on the mouth. She kissed me back.

We both pulled away from each other and we both stared at each other.

Sierra said, "I love you Wayne."

I said to her back, "I love you too." Then we both kissed each other again.

I will never leave you Sierra.

You're not a monster and you never were and never will be. You have feelings. Feelings that don't make you a monster.

You have me now and nothing will change that.

I love you.