Rick quirked a brow, disbelief in his voice, "Wait...Are you serious?"

Damon curled his neck into a shape of a s as he looked down at me, "You're not making that up?"

I slowly nodded at the dragon and my girlfriend's father, "Nope. I'm serious. Cora wants to come with us." I shrugged my arms, "As surprising as it sounds, this isn't a joke. She really wants to go with us."

Emily asked with a small hint of a smile, "Wow...Really?"

I let out a laugh and was nodding at her too, "Yes really!"

My girlfriend chuckled a bit, twirling her strand of hair in her finger, "Heh, sorry."

It wasn't very long after Cora and Rocko wanted to take a nap for the day and I brought Damon, Emily and Rick outside in private with me. One objective. To tell them what Cora told me awhile ago today. That she wants to leave her cave and her family friend to go with us on the journey. The long journey to Wingspan.

I know I'm still wrapping my head around this a bit like those three are. But I think she deserves to go. How she wanted so desperately to go with us. How she desperately wanted to get out and explore to new places, like any dragon would do, I suppose. How she never had any friends, only Rocko, but wants more. How she wanted both those things and found her chance to have them.

Well I know that I'm not going to be in Avarilan forever sometime after we get to Wingspan and see Illuminus. But I'll still be her friend along the way. And I bet everyone else can.

Question is...Can they let her go with us?

I hope they consider it.

While I'm talking to them, I just hope that Cora, who went with her family friend for a nap, has talked to him alone about her desire to leave. I wonder if she's nervous? Maybe, but she just can't leave him without saying goodbye. What if Rocko finds out that she disappeared and never came back, and suspects in a panic that we all kidnapped her but we haven't? I don't want to be accused of that. Hell, after what happened to Damon with Rick, all those accusations he made against the green drake, I don't think Damon could take anymore serious accusations! Well...It's a little less worse than being accused of being an evil dragon. But still very accusing.

Cora, I do hope for your sake, mostly ours, that you'll talk to him. Maybe he'll understand.

I glanced directly at Rick. Well I know that Rocko's a bit stern, but not as much as this asshole here. I don't think I'm wrong that Rocko will understand it. Perhaps he'll consider it too.

If he doesn't and just forces her to stay at home, then it's gonna drive Cora crazy, make her sad. Sad that she'll lose her chance and it won't happen again. She doesn't want to wait anymore. She feels ready and she feels she can do this.

Rock just needs to let her go. Let her grow up out in the world.

After all, she's not a hatchling anymore.

Then I remember what happened to the red dragoness yesterday out at the clearing with the monsters who almost killed her. How Rocko was angry and worried that she almost got killed...Almost losing her. Boy, Rocko, I hope you can at least give this a chance.

Don't be too overprotective like Rick here.

Rick was waving his hand, putting the pieces together, "So let me get this straight....You're telling us that Cora...Wants to go with us?"

I nodded at him and Damon asked too, "The little dragon who almost got killed yesterday? The one who is short and small? Are we not talking about any other Coras around here?"

I frowned at the last one, "Um, no. Where would I meet another Cora? There can only be one little dragon with red scales who somewhat acts like Emily."

Emily planted her hands to her hips, "Acts like me? What are you getting at?"

I casted a teasing grin at her, "That she's defiant towards her elders."

Rick crossed his arms, glaring at me, "Which I DO NOT like to be defied by my own daughter. I don't think her mother taught her to respect her elders."

Emily shot her glare at her dad, "Oh, don't go blaming mom on that. She has taught me and I do respect them. I just don't respect you when you're treating Scott here like crap. Practically throughout the whole trip." Then she looked at me, her angry look melting away, "Scott, I'm only defiant towards my dad."

I laughed at her statement, "I know."

She raised her finger, declaring loudly, "And just to make sure that everyone gets this I am not an out of control child!"

Damon giggled, wings furled on his back, "We get it." He turned his gaze on me, asking me just to make sure he heard right, "So...Cora wants to come with us?"

I replied, shrugging my shoulders, "Couldn't make it anymore clearer." I smiled and asked them, "So would you guys consider letting her come with us? I have."

They only stared at me, and then Rick shook his head with a stern look in his eyes, "No."

My eyes went wide, "What? Why?" I looked up at Damon, "Damon, why?"

He answered with a sigh, "Because the journey's dangerous."

I made a retort, "Yeah, so what? Me, Emily and Rick here are walking with you on this journey, so what difference does this make?"

"Because you three don't have a home in this world. She does."

Rick pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers and sighed, "Damn it, Scott. You can't get somebody involved like that." He brought his hand off his face and thrusted it towards me, "Did you forget that she almost got killed yesterday? Getting her involved in this journey after knowing she went through that is ridiculous."

I argued, "Hey, I didn't get her involved into anything! I didn't ask her to come along, she asked me personally to come with us."

Emily wrinkled her brow, "Why?"

I responded, "Because I was right that she hasn't gotten out and explore much. She really hasn't. She just...Wants to go with us because of that. She has been stuck here for a long time and hasn't really lived to see the world. She wants to see it."

Damon hung his head, and I think by the look in his eyes they showed like something crossed his mind.

Emily actually smiled and chimed in, "Well...I don't see anything wrong with that."

Rick began to argue with her, "Emily-"

She was waving off his started off sentence, "No, why not? I mean, I know what happened to her yesterday, but I think-"

Rick cut her off with his voice, "No."

Damon shook his head from whatever thought he had and sighed, joining in on the argument, "Look, if she wasn't young and small, I would've let her go with us. But it's very dangerous for a dragoness as small as her. She probably can't fight well and that could be a problem. I will not put an inexperienced, little, innocent dragon in danger."

I said when I groaned in frustration, "But she won't be in danger when she's with us."

He shot up his head, a loud thump to the ground with his tail, "Sure, she'll be with us." He waved a paw, "But there won't be a guarantee that she'll make it all the way to Wingspan unhurt. Trust me, I'm not lying when there are other dangers out there. She won't be able to handle it."

I shot back, sincerity in my tone, "I believe she can."

Rick added, "Scott, Rocko probably won't let her go. Did you even think of that?"

I nodded, "Yes I have. Cora says she'll talk to him."

Rick let out a sigh, "I really doubt that he'll let her go. After what happened. And look, I know I don't know that girl that well. Practically not all of us do. But there's already one little girl involved in this trip, so don't want to worry about another one in the group."

Emily rose a brow when she turned to him, "You talking about me?"

Rick made a small smile when he answered, "Don't see any other little girls here."

She narrowed her eyes, "I'm not a little girl."

"Oh, yes you are." He went on when he took a step toward her, not taking his eyes off of her, "You don't know how to fight very well, just like Cora. So that means-"

Emily huffed, "For the last time, I have learned self defense classes and I have a pocket knife! I can fight! Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I don't know how to fight."

"Emily, I'm not putting that girl in this."

Damon said with a bit of a worried look, swishing his tail across the grass, "Cora could get hurt again."

I said, "Guys, she can fight." They all turned their eyes on me, and I repeated what I said, "She can fight. I know she can. Well actually she told me."

Damon cocked his head, "That's what she said the other day. And you believe that?"

"Yes."

Rick said as well, having a look of suspicion, "She was probably lying to you to get her to come with us."

I shook my head, sticking to what I believe, "I don't think she is."

"How would you know that?"

I nodded a bit and explained in a low voice, "Because I saw in her eyes that she's not lying. I see it."

Rick just formed a quizzical look, while Damon and Emily were giving me blank looks as they were just listening. My eyes formed a pleading look as I went on with a breath let out, "Listen, guys...I know what almost happened to her yesterday was horrible enough. She didn't look like she would make it. She was lucky she did because of us. But...Despite that we came to save her, despite that she's little, maybe she can fight. Because she certainly didn't back down from them, I can imagine it. She probably thought about it, but she didn't. She wanted to kill every last of them, cause she thinks she's ready. And I think she was. Well she would've won the battle better if she was big, but she's not weak and she said she wasn't a weak girl the other day. Look, I know she called out for help, but it was only because she was trapped. I know what that looked like at first sight, but...I believe she can handle it. She's little, but I think she's tough."

The three of them just looked at me as I put a hand to my chest, "Guys...She really wants to leave with us. She never had any chance to live and have friends. Yeah, she doesn't have anyone else to talk to except Rocko, but she wants REAL friends. Not just live alone in a cave and talk to a parent figure. I know that there's probably a reason why those two are living out here, but Cora wants to leave this place." I motioned my hand back at the cave entrance, "She sees the four of us as her chance to experience life. She wants to be friends with us, despite she doesn't know us that well. She doesn't want us to go away, she actually wanted us to stay. But we all know we can't and she felt saddened about that. Quite frankly, so do I."

Emily muttered for the dragoness I'm speaking of, "Aw." Damon dipped his head in pity and Rick...He just stood there emotionless.

I continued with a furrowed brow, "She wasn't lying that she hardly ever sees any strangers come through here." I motioned my hand at them, "She may have been afraid of strangers, but despite that fear she does want to talk to anyone she sees. It's only too bad she doesn't seem to find company here much anyways and it's also too bad that her family friend just orders her to not talk to them. Sure it's understandable why he would do it, but what about what she really wants? She doesn't want to stay in the cave for god knows how long. She trusts us and she is begging for us to take her." I softened my eyes and put a hand to my chest, "Guys...Lets do this for her. I know she can handle herself and at what happens ahead. We'll all be together. There's nothing wrong with that. She won't be alone like before, we'll be with her. So she won't get her back being crushed again and then...You know, murdered and raped."

I took a deep breath and let it out, holding a pleading look and begged mostly to Damon and Rick, "Rick...Damon...Please. I don't want to leave her here so she can feel miserable. And I'm hoping Rocko will let her go. As for you two....C'mon, give her a chance."

Emily nodded, trotted till she stood right beside me and smiled at them, "Yeah, lets give her a chance. I can fight and I'm not lying. If she says she can fight then she's not lying either!"

Damon rose his snout and looked right at us. And he spoke when his eyes looked like he was remembering something, "Cora...Like most young dragons that were about her age, is curious about the world. Wanting to see what was out here." He glanced at the mouth of the cave and sighed, "...I do sympathize her for that. And what else I can sympathize for her...Is I didn't have a lot of friends myself growing up." I tilted my head in a bit of pity for him. Oh...He didn't have a lot of friends either. I didn't think it'd happened to him also. He looked back at us, wings fluttered on his back and his tail made a thump on the grass, "I knew somebody who is just like her. That somebody I knew...Left my home one night and was pretty brave about it. And...Something very terrible happened to her."

Emily took a step toward him, "Her?"

He replied, "You know who I'm talking about. The one...I'm searching for." I was frowning at his answer. What are they talking about? Is he...Searching for someone? Damon puffed out his chest as he'd taken a deep breath and let it out, "Lets just say...After her first time of flying far away from home...Things changed for her. And months, maybe a year after her first time, despite what'd happened, she left Wingspan the second time. And I never saw her again after that. She was...Like Cora's size when she was gone."

Emily said with her face full of pity, "...Damon."

The green drake softly shook his head, "At first, I didn't want nothing bad happen to Cora, cause she's small. But after what I learned about what she really wants, I do feel for the little girl. And also...She has that kind of bravery like that dragoness I knew." He put his paw on his scaly chest, "I knew that dragoness was tough and courageous. Even I can believe that she'd survived out here for a long time, even when she was little. And she's probably still alive right now. And I can feel it now that Cora has those qualities. I think you're right, Scott." He formed a smile and nodded, "I think you're right. Maybe she CAN handle a bit what's out there and what's more...She won't be alone. You're so right about that."

I asked, "What about what you said about...No guarantee of making it to your home unharmed?"

"I doubted her abilities. I may not have seen it, ancestors, I didn't believe a word from her snout the other day that she wasn't weak and can fight. But...If you believe it, Scott, if you see it in her eyes." He locked his eyes on Emily, "And if you believe it as well...Then I can believe that too. I'll let her take her chances walking with us on the journey."

Emily laid her hand on my shoulder, having me looking at her, "Yes, and we can be friends with her along the way. I wouldn't mind it."

I grinned, wrapping my arm around her waist and holding her close to me, "Cora would like that."

Damon giggled deep in his throat, "I wouldn't mind being her friend either. She has attitude like Emily, but she's nice."

Emily shot a narrowed look at him, "Damon, what did I tell you already?!"

His snout showed a bit of a snicker, then he rolled up his eyes and shook his head, "Whatever."

Then all three of us looked at Rick, who hasn't said a word at all. He looked at each of us and rose his eyebrow in question. I asked in an impatient tone, "Well?"

"Well what?"

Damon lowered his head to Rick's level, "Are you letting Cora come with us?" He shrugged with a paw, "Cause if you say no to that, sorry but it's the three of us against you."

Rick's voice came out as sarcasm, as he looked into the drake's yellow eyes, "Why am I not surprised?"

Damon said with a giggle, "I know I judged her a bit, but now I think she should come. I trust she can do this."

Rick asked, "And what about what's out there?"

"That is a risk we're all taking, just like she's wanting to take it."

Emily nodded at this, "Yes, dad, lets have her come with us. We'll be having TWO dragons to protect us. Cora's small, yeah, but she's probably vicious like Damon. Having two dragons with us is better than one." She had a big smirk on her face now, "They'll be protecting your own daughter."

Rick sighed, "Alright, damn it, she can come." Despite that, he still had a stern look in his eyes, "I seriously hope she knows what she's doing. Cause with that Dark Dragon pressing down on her-"

Damon let out a snort, the air from his nose smacking right into Rick's face, cutting off his sentence. He groaned as Damon laughed and rose his head above his level, "Like I said, that's a chance we're all taking. Including her. Us with her, we'll all head to the birthplace of dragons."

Rick actually nodded, "Right and me, my daughter and Scott will get to see The Great One."

Damon shot up his head, strolling away from us in a few limps, his long tail swinging back and forth, "Got that right." He hissed when his body felt some pain, "Oh, well, I'm going to take another nap, so see you around."

Emily made a mock expression, "What?! You haven't been up long and you're gonna take another nap?!"

He hollered over his shoulder before entering through the mouth of the cave, "Sorry, lazy drake walking away now!" His tail was the last to enter the cave when his form disappeared past the entrance.

Emily rolled her eyes, "Kinda knew he would try something like this."

I yawned a bit, "Well I think all of us are gonna take a nap anyways." I gestured head to the cave, "C'mon, lets go after him."

Emily nodded in agreement, after she caught my yawn, "Sounds good." She glanced to her dad, "And perhaps your nap will make you less mean?"

Rick smiled at her joke and started walking after Damon, "Whatever, Em." After he went past us, we followed behind him as he led us through the cave. The bit of darkness greeted us.

Now I formed another frown as a thought crossed my mind. So...Damon's searching for someone. I looked at Emily who had her eyes up ahead. I know Damon has told her about it, so I'll have to ask her about that later.

But right now...I need a nap.

*****

I sat down on the floor, my eyes drawn to my lap and my back pressed against the wall. I'm hearing the distant noise of the waterfall at the entrance of this cave. I breathed in deep and let it out very slowly. Sitting here I actually wanted to take a nap, but I couldn't. My mind was still amok with whirling thoughts. I lifted my gaze. From across the cave, I can see the reason my mind's spinning around in circles.

Luna....

The black dragoness was still laying on her stomach, some of her wounds still covered up with those big leaves I'd found to help her, and my chest was filled with worry mixed with sadness and guilt as I stared at her form.

My knees were pulled to my chest, my mind recalled what happened awhile ago. Honestly, I didn't know how long the time passed after I tried to help her. My mind did lose track of it. I'm sure it's because I was crying a little bit and I was still worried about her after I tried to wake her up in vain. She just closed her eyes on me and I told her to stay awake. I see that the light is shining through the entrance of the cave that tells me it's still day outside, so perhaps not a lot of time has passed by. I know I want to try and take a nap, but I don't think it'll help.

God, I can't sleep because I am so worried about her.

My eyes were locked onto her form still. Particularly at both sides of her body. I can see it moving a bit, which I think she's still breathing. When Luna closed her eyes and wasn't responding earlier, I'd thought for certain she was gone. That was before, after a few minutes of crying had passed by, that I saw on her sides she was breathing. So that's when I thought she must've passed out.

For awhile, I've been waiting around, pacing back and forth, waiting for her to open her eyes but she isn't waking up still.

My mind showed a mental image of all the blood she'd lost and my whole frame shuddered from it. Ohh...That blood.

Well she's breathing still, so that's a good sign, right? That means she'll be okay, right?

I would have this hope cling to my heart fully, but with the uncertain amount of time had passed by and seeing her unconscious form on the floor still, I was also afraid she wouldn't breathe anymore. Wouldn't wake up and show me her sense of humor and smile. That I wouldn't see those silver colored eyes looking right back me. Those beautiful eyes. That with all my efforts of trying to save her have failed. I mean, what with all the blood she lost and she's now in this state, what if the herbal medicine I applied to her wounds and those leaves I tied to them wouldn't be enough to save her? What if my efforts were in vain? What if I did all this for nothing?

For a very big reason, my mind flashed Gabby's face again and the guilt I was having was more fierce than before. This is happening again. Another person...Another girl has begged for my help and I feel like I didn't do it hard enough. Like I haven't done well in saving Gabby, I feel like I haven't done well in saving Luna. That everything I did was not good enough at all.

I held my knees tightly, burying my face into them. The feeling of more tears was coming to me. This is all my fault.

Sure, Luna said that I wasn't the one who hurt her, but it was still my fault. Like I was responsible for Gabby's life, I was responsible for Luna's. I lifted my head off my knees to look at Luna again. For a second, I even pictured Gabby in Luna's place.

I remember that I was worried for her safety when we both met on that day and I was worried for her safety again last night. My thoughts were telling me to get away from her. That she would've gotten killed because of me. Like Gabby. I had a gut feeling twice that something like this would happen to her and I didn't listen to it. I did this to her and this is all my fault. Fuck, she's probably gonna die and it'll be nothing I can do about it.

I slowly got up from the cold ground, taking a deep, shaking breath. My eyes never left her at all. What the fuck was I thinking? I should've listened to my concern for her. I should've just left her when I had the chance. Me trying to find a way home was my problem, not hers and I'd gotten her involved.

And I'm paying that price again. Only this time...I'm paying Luna's life.

I clenched my fists real tightly. I'm such a fool for staying with her. What kind of man am I? The answer is I really am a poor excuse of a man. I didn't protect her.

I feel like I can't protect anybody!

Luna saved my life twice before today, and the third time today has cost her life! I put her in this position!

She was right all along...I am a bad fighter! I keep falling to the ground and she kept saving me. But what have I done in return? Nothing! God damn it! I should've tried harder to help her in that battle, instead of letting her deal with most of it! I didn't! And after that battle, I should've treated her wounds sooner! I wanted to help her right away, but I didn't because of my worries for more enemies to come! Luna didn't argue with me that I suggested we both leave the area where the battle happened. She didn't argue one bit. She just went along with it cause she was worried too. But I should've done something sooner, despite our worry! I'm an idiot! Maybe nothing else would've came and attacked us again, but of course I don't freakin know that now! I'm a fucking idiot! She was leaving a trail of blood and seeing that should've made me stop her walking earlier and help her outside. But I didn't do anything! I made ourselves push on. Get as far away from where the battle happened until we came here!

She saved me three times, but I haven't done a good job at saving her!

I swung my foot very hard at a rock on the ground, kicking it away, "Fuck!" The rock flew a bit off the ground and struck at a wall on the far end of the cave. The impact made a small echo throughout here. I was huffing, feeling frustration towards myself other than all the other emotions within me. But the frustration had went away a moment later and now I was seeing Luna still breathing lightly on the floor across from me. My other emotions overwhelmed my frustration like a blanket. A VERY COLD blanket.

Luna...

I said to her form from where I'm at out loud, my lip starting to quiver, "Luna....I'm sorry." I walked slowly up to her, until I planted my hand on her shoulder. I can see on her body that she was still breathing...Only a bit. For some reason when I touched her, it felt like she was drifting away from me. Please...Don't die. I turned my eyes onto her head on the floor, unmoving.

I didn't have any idea if she could hear my words, but I spoke anyways, "I'm sorry for what happened. This...Is all my fault." I wiped my nose with a forearm, giving her scales a pat, "Luna...Are you gonna leave me? I...I don't want you to go. Because...Heh, you're funny....Kind....Even beautiful too for a dragon. I liked being with you too, girl." I gave her scales a kiss and went on with a sigh, "You...You have no idea what I went through before I met you...How I'd felt...After Gabby died. I never told you about her, but I guess it doesn't matter now." I lowered my gaze to the floor and shook my head softly, "If you go and leave me, then how am I supposed to get to Wingspan on my own? Fuck....I don't know where I am. I know you said it's up north in direction, but I don't know which direction is north. I'm not you. If you leave me, then I'm on my own. I don't want that. I'm...I'm scared." I moved my head and pressed my forehead against her scales, "Please...Please don't leave me."

I groaned and shot my eyes up at the ceiling, like I was looking up to the sky, "Mom....Are you ashamed of your son? Did I not save Scott? Was my efforts to save him in vain too? Are you ashamed I didn't save your other son? Were you ashamed that I didn't save one girl named Gabby? Not to mention ashamed I didn't do a good job at saving Luna here? Are you ashamed that your son is incapable of saving one soul right in front of him? Are you mom?!" I remember more than once in my life, I had tried to talk to mom who's up there out loud, but as usual...There was no answer from her. And I can understand why she won't answer. She probably is ashamed. Like she was ashamed of my past.

I know that Luna told me to not give up the hope Scott's alive. But....With what's happening right now, that hope feels like it's gone. If he's dead, then he is probably standing up there with her and Gabby. Maybe Emily and Rick are up there too. Watching me at another failed attempt to save another kind soul. I don't know, if like mom, if any of them are ashamed at me too, but I wouldn't blame them if they are.

Now I made a glare, "Are you happy now, god? Are you happy that I'm suffering? Can't I ever be happy for once? First you took my mother away, making me suffer and lash out at the world around me, then I was trying to get my life back in order and now I'm suffering far worse than before! First Scott, Emily and her father are probably dead, then Gabby and...Luna will too! Is that right?! Is Luna gonna die?! Haven't I suffered enough?!"

I just stared at the ceiling of the cave and shook my head as no answer came to me, "You won't answer, will you? Because I'm just some menace in the world. Because of all the terrible, stupid things that I did. I don't deserve happiness." Then the guilt from all the things I've done in the past hit me too and I replaced the anger with more sadness, fresh tears were forming in my eyes, "Well you know what? ...Maybe I deserve it. Despite that I've changed, maybe I did deserve it for the crimes I made. Maybe I don't deserve to be happy. That's why I'm suffering right now. And you know something else? ....I think you made a good punishment."

I made another sob, hanging my head, tears fell to the floor. I muttered to Luna with a sniff, "Luna...If you're going to die, then....At least let me die with you. I won't survive without you, I can feel it. I don't want to be alone when you do. Cause...I've felt it when...Gabby..." I was trying not to choke on a sob as more tears were coming out of my eyes, "....Oh god, Luna."

I pressed my forehead against her scales, my body shook as I was crying still, "Luna....I don't know how you came up with it, but....You're the second person I have cared for....Who has ever called me Mikey. Since....Since...Since my mother!" I fell to my knees and broken down in sobs close to her, not moving my head from her scales at all. As I cried hard into her, I muttered to her in both guilt and sadness, "I'm sorry, Luna. I'm sorry you...Met me. This is all my fault."

I was letting out ragged breaths as I said her name once more, "Luna..." I still didn't know why I was feeling it. But for a strange reason, I can feel her fading further and further away. Like she only had several minutes of life left.

What a strange feeling. I didn't want to believe it, but I can feel it in my chest. Like we were connected or something. Now I wasn't too sure if she would live now more than ever. Course it could be my worried feelings playing with my mind. But I still didn't want her to go.

I continued to sob quietly into my friend.

Don't leave me.

*****

Luna wandered around in an unknown place, darkness was everywhere around her. Her eyes were trailing around the bizarre place as she was taking step, after step. Her wings were settling on her back and her body looked tense. She feel a weird feeling deep in her black scales. Like her body felt like it was going somewhere. The dragon was trying to remember how she'd got here, but can't quite place how. The only thing she can remember was Mike patching up her wounds and then...Everything has gone black in her vision. Then the next thing she knows, she's here. And she has been wandering around for...Ancestors knows how long.

A part inside of her was thinking that she was sleeping and dreaming of being in this place. Cause she can remember how dizzy and tired she was before everything went black. But another part of her thinks that she has died. Why? Cause she also remembers Mike screaming for her to stay awake. She did remember feeling like she was dying as well and figured a bit that perhaps that was why she was pretty tired.

Luna shook her head, still trying to figure it out. Also figure out where she's at. The place was making her feel scared.

She decided to call out for her little friend, "Mike? Are you here?" She whirled her body around, trying again, "Mike? Where are you?"

A lot of panicked feelings rushed through her and she let out a trembling sigh, "Mike..."

Then her ear twitched when she heard a voice that sounded warm and distant, "Lunasin."

Luna gasped and spun fast around. To see a dragon hidden in the shadows with only glowing white eyes that are visible. The mysterious dragon padded through the darkness, coming towards the young nervous black dragoness. Luna can tell the voice was female. Luna backed up a bit, glaring at the figure hidden in the shadows. She lowered her body a bit, like she was getting ready to attack. She hissed at the supposedly enemy, "Who are you?"

Luna still couldn't tell who it was in the darkness, not even the color of the scales. Those white eyes never left Luna's nervous form as it stopped only one two feet across from her. The dragoness in the shadows said in a voice that calmed her down, "It's alright."

Luna actually found her tone of voice believable and she started to relax herself. She cocked her head, asking in a quizzical tone, "Ok...What do you want?"

The dragoness responded, the long tail was swishing behind her, "Not yet, Lunasin."

"Huh? What are you-"

"Not yet. You can't leave this world yet. You were drifting away. But you know you're stronger than you believe. Even your former teacher knows that you are. You have done well with Mike so far. Don't let it end now. Don't let his attempts to save you be in vain. He still needs you. He needs your help. You must protect him. And you have to help him. Help him, Lunasin. Help him find me."

Luna was surprised to find out that it was no wonder her body felt like it was going somewhere. She understands what was happening to her now. Now after having that thought, her head was filled with questions, especially about the dragon in the shadows. Luna found herself frowning at her, "You know Mike? I'm supposed to help him find you? Who are you? Do you know Illuminus?"

The glowing white eyed dragoness simply stated, "You'd been searching for your destiny for a long time. And your destiny has found you."

Luna reared back her head, looking wide eyed, "What? What do you mean?"

Then she can hear another voice that rang out in the darkness. A familiar one, "Luna...." Her ears perked up and she turned her snout up in the air. She heard Mike.

She hears the dragoness talking to her while in attention to the darkness in the sky, "Go back to him, Lunasin." Luna slowly turned her eyes back to the dragoness, as those white eyes just disappeared in the dark. Then all of a sudden in the darkness, Luna can hear someone crying and her body didn't feel like it was going somewhere now.

Luna's head shifted a bit on the ground, as her ears were twitching at the sound of someone sobbing and was stirring awake. She groggily opened her eyes and blinked them. As it turned out, what she just saw was...Some kind of weird dream. And her body, including the underside of her head, was lying on the...Cave floor. Other than the sobs, she can hear the waterfall at the entrance of the cave. Luna was wrinkling her face at the thought of the dream. It didn't feel like a dream. It felt real to her.

That dragoness was telling her to come back to Mike. And now...She's woken up. Even her head doesn't feel tired and dizzy anymore. She didn't even feel like she was dying all that much. Not like before.

Luna moaned with a closed snout and slightly began to lift her head off the ground, until it was straight up. She turned it slowly to see Mike on his knees crying near her body. He hasn't seen her awake yet. The black dragoness held a pity look for him. She doesn't want to see him cry.

Like he felt he was being watched, Mike lifted his gaze and saw Luna's silver eyes gazing back into his. Luna smiled warmly to him, struggling to talk, "M-...Mike."

Mike with his tear stained face was beaming. He got up off the ground and stuttered as the sobs appeared to have grabbed his throat, "Luna....You're..."

She cocked her head, "Why are you crying? Were you worried about me again?"

Mike chuckled as his tears still came down his face and found strength in his voice, "You have no idea." He ran around to her front and threw himself into her chest, hugging her tightly around her neck. Luna let out a shocked 'oof' after he slammed himself into her, but she didn't cry out and object. She was letting him hug her. He cried out in her chest scales, "Oh, Luna, I thought I would never see you again!"

Luna giggled warmly, finding the whole thing very touching, "Aw, you really did think I was gone. Heh heh, I told you, little man. I hardly ever die."

Mike shouted this out, "Then stay that way! Don't ever do this to me again! Don't....Don't ever leave me!" He coughed and mumbled, "I really thought you were going away. I...I literally felt your life drifting away."

That made Luna have a wide look of surprise. That seemed strange for her to hear that, "What?"

He replied with his head still buried in her, "Never mind. Just...Don't leave me."

She brushed that thought off immediately when she brought her smile back onto her snout, the only thing on her mind now was Mike. And started rubbing her forepaw that wasn't bandaged by a big leaf soothingly on Mike's back, "Shh, I'm not going anywhere." Then the dragoness wrapped her neck around him as she continued to caress him, "Everything's ok."

Their embrace held on for maybe five minutes, until Mike was trying to take slow deep breaths, bringing his sobs to a bit of a stop. He sniffed loudly and pulled himself away from her chest, her paw removing off his back and he found her gaze right in front of his. It appeared that he was really relieved to see Luna's silver eyes staring back at him. And as he held his gaze onto her, Luna then felt that feeling in her chest. And it wasn't the small chest wounds on there. It was the same warm, tingly feeling that she didn't understand what it was. Her mind held confusion, but Luna didn't show on her face that something bothered her. Instead she was smiling. The dragon said to him, "You saved me, Mike." Luna gave his nose an small affectionate lick with her tongue, "Thank you." Her mind thought that the dream somewhat brought her back, telling her to wake up and come back. But she pretty much believes that it was all Mike. That the little guy in front of her tried his best to help her with her wounds. 

And with a lot of luck in the end, she's woken up. He saved her life.

Mike stuttered a bit, and his eyes showed a bit of disbelief, "I...I did. I actually did."

She nuzzled her muzzle into his body, echoing his words, "You did." Mike then hugged her snout against his chest, rubbing the underside of her head in smooth strokes. And when she basked in his embrace, that feeling in her chest was still buzzing around in her. Like before, it confused her, but it also brought her happiness. And she didn't mind it one bit.

Luna's throat made a rumble of approval, not wanting this to end, "Thanks, little guy."