On the brown leather made couch inside the luxury yacht, Emily slept on it on her side, lying in a fetal position. I was just sitting with my head down beside her, thinking about what I saw earlier and how I was still a bit shocked by it. I'd expected EVERY person on the ship to be taken away by a bunch of monsters. I didn't expect to find three people already dead for a long time inside a cabin room. I moved my sight toward Emily, who's still asleep. Poor Emily looked frightened when she saw them first, and I sorta wished that I'd went down there before her. That way I would've told her not to go down there and see. But too late for that idea now. She must be worn from the shock of it and that's why she's been sleeping. I don't blame her that she doesn't want to sleep downstairs. It's probably good for her that we've found a lounge room inside the ship.

When images of the skeletal family swirled inside my head, my body shuddered and I was shaking my head furiously, trying to get them out of my skull. God...That room was like a burial to them. They didn't have a REAL burial for years and now they do. Rick volunteered to take them outside, one at a time by a bedsheet, and he buried them all about several feet in front of the ship. Now while the two of us are in the lounge room, he's back at the bridge trying to find out who actually owned the Lady Carina.

Cora's downstairs somewhere, I think. Just looking around the whole place since she's curious about what else she'll find. And as for Damon, he's sitting around on his big butt, keeping guard in case any enemy was coming. Then a funny image came about and it pushed the scary image of the dead family away. It was Damon grumbling to himself about Cora venturing inside a ship and he can't. I snickered to myself, trying not to laugh really hard so Emily wouldn't wake up. He's probably grumbling right now and wishing he was a teenager again. Poor, poor Damon. He wanted to look inside the cruise ship and he couldn't, and now there's another ship he's found and he cannot get inside this one. If only you were shorter, pal.

I hear someone making footsteps and they had me looking over my shoulder to see Rick coming. He had some documents in his hand and flopped them down on a small round table before he sat down on another section of the couch across from me and my girlfriend. Rick looked at his daughter and asked, "So....How's she doing?"

I followed his gaze and looked at her myself before replying, "Still sleeping. But I think she's okay. I don't think she wants to sleep downstairs after...." I stumbled through words before glancing to him, "You know, what we saw."

Rick sighed and leaned back on the furniture, "As if she wasn't scared enough already in this world." Then he giggled a bit, "And she didn't want to say it to my face."

I replied to that, "Yep." I stared at the documents on the table and wrinkled my face, "What are they?"

Rick giggled again, "I found those in the bridge. I think I know who owns the ship. Actually, I think I know who the family was. I...I think I've heard of those people."

I shot my gaze at him, "Who was it? Who were they?"

He leaned forward and without taking his eyes off me, only tapped a finger on top of them, "Have you heard of Marty Bartel?"

"No."

"That's the guy who owns the ship. See, he's some rich fellow who was well known for his philanthropy. And get this, six years ago he disappeared over the ocean while he was vacationing on his yacht with his wife and son. Nobody never found him and his family, along with the crew onboard. It was no wonder something clicked when I saw the name on the ship, because I remember seeing that on the news." He smiled, "I can tell you don't watch the news much."

"Why would I? I didn't think the news was fascinating back then. I only just watched-"

Rick waved me off just to stop me, "Scott, point is we've solved the mystery behind the disappearance of the Bartel family. It makes sense why they were never found. They were here the whole time and no one never knew about it." He looked down at the floor, like he was looking at the very haunting cabin room, "Until we did. And that family died here. I bet they weren't in this world for very long."

So....It was the Bartel family we found. And I guess it explains why the ship looked rusted now. Six years....Six years since it arrived here.

Rick leaned back on the couch once more, looking surprised about this, "Holy shit. The media would've been all over this, and we'd probably get fifteen minutes of fame."

I playfully smirked, "Yeah, if we ever get home and tell everyone about it." Then I raised a finger, "AND, I'm sure nobody from home would believe that we've found the Bartel family in another world. That sounds a bit hard to believe."

"More like WAY hard to believe."

My smirk went away as I looked at the documents once more, now having curious thoughts if there are other ships in this world. It's a possibility that there are. But I wonder how many have disappeared and came here? This really is bizarre.

Rick saw my expression and asked in concern, "You ok?"

I brought my eyes back on him, "Rick....Aren't you seeing the possibility that there could be more ships that had ended up here other than this one and ours?"

Rick was slowly nodding, "Kinda am." He turned his face to stare out of the window on the wall, a grim look in his eyes, "I've always thought that ours was the only one in Avarilan, but now we came across this....I'm starting to believe it. A lot of people, other than us, were attacked by monsters, and now we believe that a lot MORE people were attacked by monsters. This is nuts. Why is this happening to our kind?"

I shook my gaze as he brought his eyes off the window in front of me, "I don't know." Then I heard a creak coming from the floor behind me and I peeked over my shoulder. It was Cora who came back from the lower deck and arrived in the lounge room. Her red tail swung a bit and lightly smacked at a wall close behind her and her wings were still curled on her back. At the very edge of the couch near me, she planted her haunches on the floor and curled her tail around herself.

She opened her snout with a cheery look on her face, "Hiya."

I giggled in amusement at her expression and asked, "What took you so long? Find anything good down there?"

Cora chuckled deeply, "I'll tell you this, a lot of interesting stuff you humans have here." She shook her snout, "And I don't even know what a lot of that stuff is."

Rick giggled, gesturing to her, "No wonder you look happy."

Cora wiped that look off her muzzle and lowered it in a glum tone, "Well...That wasn't the only reason why it took me so long. For only a while, I was just sitting on the floor and stared at....Where that family was at. I was just in that room, staring at the bed." She held a breath before letting it out, "Those poor humans. It must be sad seeing your own kind looking like that."

Rick let out a sigh, "Well we don't know them, but....Yeah....Least they have a good burial now. Where they should belong."

Cora nodded at that, "...Right." Then the cheery face on her came right back, "But enough about that." She turned her eyes directly at me, "What's going on here?"

I said while I rose my hand and patted her red scales, "Nothing really. We're just talking and Emily here's just sleeping."

I see Cora looked past me and saw my girlfriend sleeping still, "She looks comfortable on that...Couch. Is that what you call it? I kinda forgot." I nodded at her question and she cocked her head, "Hmm, seeing you guys sitting on this thing, made me realize what couches and chairs are used for. They're made for sitting by humans."

Rick snickered, "Figured that out already?"

Cora giggled and nodded twice, "Oh yea."

I said to her while I was just rubbing her shoulder now, "Well, since you're a bit large for the couch, I don't think you could sit well on it with us." I shot my head to my right, "You can try, but I'm not gonna promise anything."

The red dragon replied, "Eh, no thanks." Her eyes peeked at her haunches still on the floor, "I think I'm good right where I'm at." Then she stared at Emily again, "Then again, if I'm tired, I think I want to be right where she is. The couch would probably make a good sleeping spot for myself than the floor."

I smiled at the thought of it when I pulled my hand off her and laid it on my lap, "Still, not gonna promise anything. You might as well be as small as a cat or a dog to get on here."

Now she was showing me she was curious, "Dog? Cat? What are they?"

"Just creatures from my world, but I'll tell you about them later." Then I shrugged my shoulders, whispering at the thought of Emily with us, "Since we were speaking about Emily, frankly, I think we should have a conversation somewhere else."

Emily murmured beside me on her side with her eyes closed, "You're doing fine."

Rick frowned with eyes drawn straight on her, "How long have you been awake?"

She replied in a irritated tone, "Not talking to you."

I let out a sigh. I knew she'd snap at him again. I guess it's my turn to ask. I looked at her, "Okay, I'll ask. How long have you been awake?"

Emily rose her frame slowly off the leather couch and only sat on it, blinking her eyes a bit groggily before answering with a giggle toward me, "Long enough to hear you guys talking about the owner of this ship, the possibility of more ships in Avarilan, and couches."

Cora excitedly gasped and had her eyes widen up in the same matter, "You think there're more ships in my world?! Eeeee, that'll be awesome!"

Rick laughed and held out a hand to wave it down, "Calm down, young lady. You're acting like you saw another one already."

She shifted around on the floor, having a hard time containing herself, "Oooh, but I want to see another one. Actually, I want to see yours! You guys said it was big as a mountain, right? I want to see THAT!"

Rick said as he softly shook his head, "Hate to say it, but you can't. It's far off in another direction. Sorry."

Cora lowered her eyes and whined, softly slapping her forepaw on the floor in defeat, "Awww.....Damn it." Then she formed another exciting smile after she brought them back up and her shoulders made a shrug, "Oh well. I'll probably just see another ship that'll probably be big."

Emily, while using her fingers on both hands to straighten out her strands of blonde hair, giggled, "Who knows?" Then she was frowning to herself as she dropped her hands on her lap, "More ships in Avarilan....That's a scary thought."

I nodded in agreement, "I agree with ya there." More ships arriving in a new world, means more people were already in trouble. That's the scary thought about it.

Emily sighed before she shot up off the couch, "I'm gonna go outside. I can't sleep and sit anymore." Then she glared at her dad, "And I'm also not in the mood to stare at his freakin face right now. If I was staring at it a bit more, I might knock him out." With that heated remark, she strode in fast strides past me and Cora, and went straight out through the opening of this room, leaving us alone now.

Rick hung his chin and sighed in sadness to himself, "Wow....More hate words from my child. Now I feel like I want to go behind the bar and get drunk."

Cora after she twisted her neck to watch my girlfriend leave us, looked at Rick and tilted her head, "Drunk? What's drunk?"

I would've answered another of her curious questions, but I had to talk to Rick about his mindset right now, "No, Rick, you're not doing that. I'd rather have you here all sobered up."

Rick groaned as he pressed his hands against his face. While he spoke, his voice was muffled by them, "When you have a daughter who doesn't have the desire to forgive you but has desire to make you feel miserable like how I've made you that way for days, you might as well drink."

Cora pressed us as she got her haunches off the floor with an impatient, narrowed look, "Seriously, what the fuck is drunk?"

I finally gave her the answer as I turned to her, "Let's just say it has something to do with those bottles back in the bar. When you drink a lot of alcohol, you'll become drunk."

Cora softened up that look of hers and said, "You were kinda making it sound like it was a bad thing. What's so bad about being drunk?"

I was smiling at her naivety, "It makes you act stupid."

Rick added with a raised finger, "But that liquid tastes freaking good."

I shot a narrowed look at him, "Riiick."

Cora hummed in curiosity, "Hmm....Maybe I want to drink some of that. I am kinda thirsty. He said it tastes good, so-"

I gave her stern eyes, "Cora, don't even think about it." I groaned when I got up off the couch, "Look, if you're thirsty, go outside and find a river or something."

Cora nodded at the idea, "Oh, alright." She was grinning at Rick, "Hey, Rick, maybe I outa try some of that stuff with you sometime?" I rolled my eyes.

Rick giggled, "Perhaps later." He motioned his hand towards the exit of the room, "Now go get a drink outside. I'll be here until you get back."

Cora whirled around, her tail brushing against the couch, and bounded fast out of there, strolling past the indoor bar after walking out through the opening of the lounge room. I sternly said to him before I walked away from the couch, "You better not drink, dude. I'm not in the mood for this crap."

Rick replied with a sigh, "Neither am I, kiddo."

With that, I got out of there. When I went through the opening, I caught Cora across the deck in time to see she already slipped out through the doorframe to head outside. I casually walked till I went through the door after her, the sun in the sky greeting me after I came out of the main deck. Near the back of the boat, I saw Cora with stretched out wings already standing with Damon in front of her and Emily near them. I made several paces across the swimming platform and stepped off it, planting my feet on the grass. As I walked to meet up with them, Damon said to Cora with a snort out of his nose and green tail wagged behind him, "So, little one, saw something interesting in there? Other than the three humans we had to bury?"

I remarked as I gotten near them, standing right beside my girlfriend, "Actually, dude, you didn't do anything. You were just standing around watching Rick bury them like a lazy drake."

Emily teasingly added after me, "Which knowing what you are, I can see why."

Damon rolled his yellow eyes, "Whatever. You guys weren't doing anything, either."

I shrugged my hands, "Probably because I was still a bit freaked out about what I have found." I thumbed at Emily beside me, "She was too, even though she won't say it to her dad."

Emily replied to that, like she didn't have a care in the world, "It's true. I didn't say a word to him."

Damon shot at us, "So what? You still could've helped him! Rick had to do all the hard work."

Emily said this in anger, "Get Scott or Cora to help him with his crap. I don't want to help that asshole."

Damon just wrinkled his face at her, "Still upset about him?"

"Why else would I not want to help him?" Then her form quivered in fright and disgust, "Eck. I also don't want to touch anything that's so dirty."

Damon let out a sigh, "Never mind, I guess." He locked eyes with Cora, "So, what did you find in there, show off? I'm sure it was....Fascinating."

Cora was giddying around on her paws, her tail swinging behind her as well, "Oh! There's a lot of cool human stuff in there! There's-"

Damon tossed back his head and groaned, "Naaaarrrggh!" Cora actually stopped herself and snickered at his response.

Emily playfully giggled, "Awww...You poor thing."

Cora, after folding her wings on her back, started strutting around the drake with a held up snout. Flicking her tail back and forth behind her as she taunted him, "I got to look in the ship and you didn't! I'm the first dragon to see the inside of one! Na, na, na, na, naaa!"

I was laughing at that after she already walked around him and strutted behind me and Emily, her tail had actually only hit my back once. Damon was giving the short red dragoness narrowed eyes, "Oh shut up! I wanted to go in there, too!"

"Ha! Too bad, uh...." She stopped where she was, frowning to herself before she gazed at me and Emily, "Hey, guys, have any name ideas that I could call this drake here?"

Damon growled deeply as he was locking his eyes at us now, "Oh, no, don't even think about helping that little bitch."

I ignored that guy with a mischievous giggle and said to the short scaly friend near me, "I think...Dawson would do."

Cora perked up her head in delight, "EEEE! Okay!" She looked up at Damon with a big teasing grin on her muzzle, "Ha! Too bad, Dawson!"

Damon snorted, "Shut up, err...." His voice just faltered before he gazed at me and Emily a moment and softened up his look, "Hey, you two, can you be a friend and help me out with this one?"

Emily rose a finger, "I've got one name for her." She chuckled when she spat it out, "Cara."

Cora gasped at her betrayal, "Emily!"

Damon laughed a little before he looked down at Corajan, "Shut up, Cara." Cora glared at him for a few seconds, before turning her whole body and whine. Damon giggled in victory, "I think we're even on the whole name calling thing...For now."

Cora twisted her neck and grinned as her wings fluttered, "What we'll NEVER be even on is going INSIDE a ship." Me and Emily just held back our laughter with snickers as the tall dragon formed a glare and hissed. Cora started to stroll away to the woods as she still locked her gaze on him, "And PERHAPS, I'll tell you what I've found in there when we're walking off to get a drink. Cuz, right now, I'm thirsty. You wanna come?"

Damon didn't exactly argue as he was opening and clamping his maw a couple times, showing that he was thirsty on his end, "Sure." He rolled up his irritated eyes, "Grumbling outside the ship the whole time was making me thirsty anyways." She giggled at him in amusement and he started to follow after her, both their tails moving behind them with each step they were making. Damon hollered over his shoulder as me and Emily watched them about to enter the forest, "We'll be right back!" Then their forms disappeared through the trees, leaving me and Emily standing alone near the yacht.

I puffed out my chest and let it out as I turned to Emily with a grin, "Heh. Cara and Dawson....Now we're acting like your dad."

Emily wasn't exactly laughing when she turned to face me with a glare in her eyes, "I wouldn't go around saying we're acting like him. Cuz, we're not. I don't punch you for going out with me, and you don't treat me like a punk for me going out with you."

I frowned, "Uhhhh-"

"You get the picture. We're not like him."

I made a pity look for her, "Yeah....Are you okay?"

The anger on Emily's face was replaced with a smile, "Yeah. I'm good." Her head shot towards the yacht, "I just don't want to be near him, and I'm happy I ain't now."

I kinda wanted to tell her right at her face that she was wrong about her father and he has changed, but I held my tongue from doing that. I really don't think she'll listen to me. It probably won't help any if I try convincing her. If she didn't believe a word her father told her, then I'm sure when I tell her otherwise, she'll say 'Scott, he's lying to you' or something like that. So I might as well keep my mouth shut. Besides...She's mad at him enough already and I don't think she wants to dwell on it now. I nodded at her timidly, "I guess."

My girlfriend giggled and rose her arms to wrap them around my neck, "Hey. Just be happy that I don't have any resentment toward you....Sammy."

My eyebrows went up in confusion, "Sammy? What was-" Then I realized what she did, and I was smirking back at her, "Good one...Emma."

One of her hands was stroking the back of my head as she gazed lovingly at me, "Thank you...Scott." The second she said my name, Emily leaned toward my face and kissed me. As usual, my heart was feeling warm because of her. In a way, this feels like our first kiss we shared that one night. When I dropped her off at her house after another one of our dates. Talk about a huge spark that came when we shared it at her front door. I softly closed my eyes as I kissed her back, and my hands were slowly placed at her waists. I rubbed one of them in a circle as we stood and held our kiss a bit more. Finally after maybe a bit over a minute, I broke it off, letting my hands drift off her body.

When I opened up my eyes, I let out a breath. I formed a smile as she blinked those beautiful blue eyes at me, blushed a bit still by our kiss, "So...Wanna go back in the ship now?"

She shook her head when her arms were pulled off my neck, "No." She grabbed ahold of my hand and said while pulling me to the swimming platform on the ship, "We'll just sit out here until our dragon friends come back with their thirsts quenched."

I muttered as she led me, "Not a bad idea." She turned loose of my hand when we both sat down on the edge of the platform, sighing in content at the quietness of the wilderness around us. When I looked at the land ahead, I saw that it seemed like a nice spot to sit on and it had a somewhat nice view. I'll take sitting here on an abandoned ship alone with my good looking girlfriend any day. Emily leaned her head on my shoulder and in return I wrapped my arm around hers, pulling her close to me. She hummed in comfort of me holding her and I was smiling at that.

Then I was thinking about her and her father again. Emily....Please don't hate him forever.

*****

Perdrue was chewing his food and asked with his mouth full as he sat with Bajara on her stomach beside him, "So that's what happened to you and where you came from? That's something I had never heard of. Not throughout my whole life. Other than that, I'm still surprised that there were more of you."

As me and Luna were sitting together across the fire from them, I replied with a small giggle as Perdrue swallowed down his meat, "I know. And I've heard of four legged cheetahs from my world. But for you guys, yeah, not something I've heard of throughout my whole life, also." I think he tilted his head at the mention of four legged cheetahs, but I didn't say a word as I took another bite from my food and chewed away.

About over an hour or two has passed since our arrival in this village, and for Bajara's reunion with Perdrue that had happened. After Perdrue's cubs met up with Bajara, also me and Luna, and went back home, now all four of us are eating behind Perdrue's house after he made food for us. It felt like we needed it. I think all of us were getting hungry.

Other than the fact that I'm glad Bajara is now back home and with the one she'd loved for so long, not to mention reuniting with his cubs who she treats as her hatchlings, I'm still a little shocked when I've found out that Perdrue's the chief of the village now! I really didn't see that coming, honestly. I'm curious as to how that happened and also how did everyone in the village know that Bajara's not an evil dragon anymore. And also, I'm a bit curious about what happened to Chira. The only thing I know about her is Perdrue told his sons to go back to her. Maybe they're not living together now.

Perdrue had said that while we were eating, he would explain everything that happened before. But while Perdrue was cooking, he was purely focused on finding out more about me, since I was just a new creature to him. I didn't blame him, his curiosity was bothering him like a fly. So, I was a bit more patient with him and started telling him about myself when we began to eat. I knew that his explanation about everything on his end would wait a little longer.

While my teeth grinded against the meat I'm eating, I was staring at Bajara looking down at her mate with a very fond look as her tail made a soft thump on the dirt. For the past couple days since I met her, I'd never seen her look this happy before. I mean, I know that she was happy when she had mine and Luna's company, but not that much. Perdrue really does bring her a lot of joy. Now as I was staring at both the red dragon and the blue cheetah, I was thinking Bajara's excited to have a late night go with this furry dude here. I think she's feeling a bit horny thinking about it, but that's just my thoughts talking. After all from her words, for a little guy he can really give her pleasure.

Then, with those two close together, my eyes imagined them as....Me and Luna. I was staring at myself along with Luna, who had her silver eyes fondly drawn on me. I remember that when Bajara looked at me and my best friend sitting together, she said that we reminded her and her mate. With their size differences, I can understand why I pictured them as us.

But when I finally swallowed down my food, feeling stuffed, I watched Luna lowering her head down to the other me and when the other me looked right at her face, placing a tender hand on her cheek...They slowly leaned in and kissed!

My body twitched at what I saw. What? But before I could watch them for another second, the forms went back to Bajara and Perdrue immediately as the dragoness's voice broke through my thoughts, "He's an interesting little fellow, isn't he, Perdrue?" I was shaking my head a bit, wrinkling my brow as my heart thudded in my chest from total shock. Wow...I think Bajara's words from last night were making my imagination run a bit wild. That was a bit much! There's no way THAT would happen. Better get a grip on reality, Mike.

Perdrue giggled at Bajara's question and nodded up to her, "He is. I still can't believe you've met a creature like him." He looked directly at Luna close to me, "Him, along with her of all dragons. A part of me can't believe that she isn't....Evil now." Then he shrugged his shoulders, "I mean, I remember how vicious she was. That hatred in her eyes...I could never forget them."

Bajara replied as her wings fluttered on her back, "I know. I didn't expect to find her again years later, all friendly and stuff. But it was her friendship with the human that convinced me she's not evil now."

The blue cheetah remarked with a small chuckle, "Well, other than you telling me that she's alright, it was her not attacking you, me, and the village that basically convinced me about her." He gave Luna a proud nod, "I'm so glad you aren't, Lunasin."

Luna smiled as her black tail moved across the grass behind her, "Only to tell you the truth, I was never evil at all. I wasn't proud of the things I've done. Back then, I was just an innocent, young dragon who was kidnapped and forced to be like Abyss. I was under his influence and...When The Great One defeated me, I think you know the full story what happened to me after that."

Perdrue stared at her with squinted eyes, "Hmm....Yes. You became little and didn't attack anybody again. Now what you said explains everything."

She waved her forepaw at him and shook her snout a bit, "And listen, you don't need to apologize about how you've felt about me. I can understand your feelings. I don't blame anybody who hates me about before. And let me tell you something. I'm trying to rectify what I've done back then."

I joined in, "It's true. And you should ask your pal, Hentu that. Luna did save his life today and he's back in the village, safe and sound."

Luna turned her head and smirked at me, "I wasn't the only one who saved him."

I smugly placed my hand to my chest and closed my eyes, "That's true, as well. Yours truly, and Bajara, saved your pal's life."

When I opened up my eyes, I saw Perdrue formed a smile on his muzzle, "Thank you all for that."

Bajara smiled brightly, "Aw, you're welcome, Perdrue."

This time he only said to Luna and me as he made a gesture to Bajara, "And I want to thank you guys again for bringing her back home. I....Me and everyone else never knew where to find her."

Bajara tilted her head, "Wait...You were....Trying to look for me?"

Perdrue looked up at her with a saddened face, "Of course, I did. So had everyone else. We tried our very best to get as far from the village we could to try to find you, but we didn't know where to look. The lands are very vast in all directions...Not to mention dangerous."

When the tall red dragon lowered her head to him, her eyes showed she was stunned about it, "I never knew everyone was looking for me. I...I thought that-"

He reached up to rub her nose, "I know, and I understand why you would never come back. But....It's over now."

Luna beside me cocked her head, "I still don't understand it. I know Bajara was exiled because everyone thought she was a traitor and it was because of a lie, but why does everyone not think that now?"

Bajara withdrew her nose from her lover's hand and rose it high above him with a confused look, "Yeah, you didn't tell us about what happened yet."

I gestured towards the chief of the village, "Look, I've told you what I am, where I'm from, and how I got here. Now it's your turn for stories. It's probably a long one, but we'll listen. Tell us..." I was only shrugging my hands, "What happened here?"

Perdrue was chuckling under his breath, "Alright. I'm the chief and I owe you three...Especially you, Bajara, the truth." He puffed his chest for a moment with his nose and started to tell the tale, "Well...About three years have passed." He motioned his hand toward the red scaled dragon beside him, "After she was exiled. And you were right, it was all because of a lie that she was. My...My mate, Chira was the one who made that lie to the late chief of the village, and I didn't know. She did that behind my back."

Bajara interrupted the tale with a question, "Wait. Chief Horonto died? That's why you're the chief now?"

Me and Luna gave her narrowed looks, "Bajara."

The dragoness's yellow eyes went wide as she just knew in a second what she's done, "Oops" Then she gestured her muzzle to the cheetah, "Go on, Perdrue."

Perdrue didn't look angry after her interruption, and went on with the tale with his hands on his lap, "As I was saying, it was Chira's lie that drove my friend here away, and I knew why she did it. Chira....Was just jealous that me and Bajara were friends and we talked to each other a lot. I was with her more than my mate. It was because....Me and Chira didn't get along with each other well, but we still had cubs to raise. So...Basically we tolerated each other. Bajara was always there for me when I could talk to her. We were just close companions and Chira wanted her out of my life. She wanted me all to herself."

Luna playfully smirked, "Is that the REAL reason why she lied to the chief about her?"

Perdrue's eyes looked a bit nervous when he replied, "Wh-What do you mean?"

I knew at the moment why he wasn't telling us the REAL reason why Bajara was exiled. Me and Luna know the real reason, but he doesn't know that. And also I knew why he kept calling Bajara his friend. Because he thinks we don't know their secret, but me and Luna do. Bajara next to him is going along with it....For now.

Luna looked at him for another moment before a giggle was welled up in her throat, "Nothing. Go ahead."

The blue furred cheetah sighed and nodded, "Okay well....The chief already heard the lie from her and he exiled Bajara soon after that. I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to my...Best friend. When Bajara flew off in exile, I did want to tell him, but...I was afraid that he would think I was allying with Bajara. I couldn't say anything. For three years, while I was being a good father to my cubs since they were younger back then...I still thought about her. While I was thinking about Bajara, I haven't spoken a lot to Chira, let alone mate with her, since I hated her for what she did. I've missed Bajara so much...It made me wish that I was doing something about it. I was feeling guilty for not telling the chief the truth, and I knew I had to do it. Everyone was wrong about her. What Chira had said to the chief was a lie."

He took a breath and held it for a second, while Luna held food in her forepaws and was eating and listening to him beside me, "One night, I wandered to the chief's house and found him outside of it. It was my perfect chance to tell him everything. When I did...He was speechless. He couldn't believe his ears. But...He actually believed me. He did know that he took my mate's words seriously, but even he himself didn't want to believe that Bajara was bad. He thought he was doing the right thing, but it wasn't. The next day, chief Horonto announced to the village that we, especially himself, was wrong about Bajara, and that was when the truth came about throughout my home."

After hearing that, I decided to pick up a tiny piece of meat that caught my eye with two fingers and ate it, knowing that there was enough room in my stomach for that tiny thing. So it was all because of Perdrue that everyone now knows what Chira said was a lie. He went to the chief three years after Bajara left home. Heh...And here I'd thought Chira had a guilty conscience. What was I thinking? She's a bitch! She wouldn't feel guilty for what she did.

God...I can imagine how saddened Perdrue was when he kept thinking about Bajara for three years, also before the decade ended of course. I can also understand why he would feel guilty as well. He loved her, and he wasn't doing a good job at helping her. Well, Perdrue, you helped her out...Big time. You built the guts to tell the chief everything.

I was frowning when I was thinking about what Perdrue probably said to the chief years ago, while Luna was cleaning her claws with her tongue after eating her share. I know Perdrue's not telling us EVERYTHING, especially about him and Bajara as mates. But I wonder if Perdrue had actually told the chief from back then THAT, or he only just mentioned Chira was being jealous and a liar. Well, either way, Horonto believed his villager. He apparently didn't argue.

As Luna was now done cleaning her paw and lowered it back to the ground, Bajara curled her neck in a shape of an s, humming after hearing what her mate said, "When I've heard that everyone didn't hate me anymore, I had a feeling that you had talked to him. But...Here's the thing that's making me wonder now....How did you became the chief?"

Perdrue turned to her, "Horonto was reaching into an age that he had to choose somebody to take his place. He was old and sick around that time and he was feeling for sure that he'll die." He made a grin and pointed a finger at himself, "And I was the one he handpicked to take his place. It turned out, I was good at this. Well...It was a bit nerve wracking at first, but you can imagine that I've pulled through. I became the chief and no one didn't argue the former chief's decision. Everyone believed I had what it takes. I've been chief for six years now."

Bajara smiled, "I'm still proud that you are. Unexpected, but proud." Then she tilted her head, looking quizzical, "Now, I have another question. What happened to Chira? Apparently I don't see you around her. Are you living separately?"

"We are. See, since I became the new chief and after Horonto died, I started living in his house." He pointed at the back of his house for only a second before putting it back down, "I just live in it alone. Nitac and Kamu are living with their mother, and they're in good hands with her. I do miss living with them, honestly. But as you know, I still see them." He giggled deeply, "It's not like I'm living in a far away place where they can't find me. How can they not?"

I let out some air off my chest, "Eh, must be worth it since you and Chira didn't get along so well."

Perdrue replied to me, "We do now, actually. And just remember when I tell you this. If you ever meet a female like her, don't live with her. That kind of female can be a real bitch."

Me and Luna both had our brows raised and nodded a bit at him. Luna was the only one who said, "So we've heard."

Perdrue let out a laugh, "So Bajara has told you a lot about Chira, hasn't she?"

Luna snickered as she shifted a bit on her haunches, "She has."

I said after her, "Actually....When we've kept her company, she's told us a lot about you and her. How you two met, how you two were just best friends, how you like flying on her back-"

Perdrue locked eyes with Bajara as they looked at each other, "I can tell you certainly missed me. No wonder you talked a lot about us."

Bajara shook her snout, tail curling up to her side, "That was all I could think about most of the time...You, other than your cubs. I...I even dreamed about you."

I was turning red when I had a feeling what sort of dream Bajara had about the cheetah. Luna had pulled a wing off her back and held it to her snout, trying not to laugh as she was just giggling, "And I can imagine what you were dreaming about, Bajara." Then she used the same wing to point it down at me, "And this guy knows it, too."

I murmured as I imagined that cheetah fucking Bajara while she was on her back, "Errr....Yeah." Luna clenched her snout tight, her laughter almost bursting out of her muzzle. I rolled my eyes. Oh hush, you try being a human and not feel embarrassed thinking about it still.

Perdrue looked at Luna, ears perking up, "What are you guys talking about? And why are you giggling?"

Well, I knew we were gonna tell him that we knew he and her were mates years ago, anyway. I tried to spit it out as Luna curled that wing of hers on her back, "Well, you see-"

Bajara cut me off in mid sentence, "I'll tell him, Mike." Perdrue looked up at her, as Bajara's red cheeks were turning pink a bit, "Um...Perdrue, don't freak out when I tell you this, but....They know."

He tilted his head, "They know what?"

She was slowly motioning her forepaw to him and then back to her, still blushing a bit, "About us. As....You know..."

Luna decided to help out, not holding back, "She told us that you two mated many times back then." Perdrue's face immediately went wide and he snapped his attention on her. Luna giggled at his expression, "We know you two are-"

Before she could say that word, Perdrue held a finger to his muzzle, "Shhh!" His eyes scanned his surroundings back and forth in a fast way. Like he was making sure no one wasn't around to hear that. When we knew what he was doing, Luna and I looked around ourselves, worrying if she made a mistake. But she hasn't. We were in the clear.

When I tossed my gaze back on him, Perdrue closed his eyes and sucked in a lot of air in relief for a moment, "Ancestors, I'm glad no one else heard that." After he opened them, the cheetah looked at us in worry, "Y-...You two know?" Me and my black scaled friend didn't hesitate when we nodded in answer. The second after he saw us nod, he looked to Bajara as she turned her head away like she was in shame of herself, trying to ask her in a worried tone, "Bajara....Did you really-"

Bajara replied without looking him in the eye, her tail making a thump, "Sorry....It's just..." She looked at him finally after another moment, "It sorta slipped out." She lowered her gaze to the ground, "Well...Honestly....I felt like I wanted to tell the truth to someone. Just to get it off my chest. I guess...I thought it would make me feel better....Because I've missed you so much." She rose her eyes to see him, sighing, "I'm sorry, Perdrue. I know that wasn't what you wanted, but...." Then she smiled in a comforting way, "I had other guests before I met Mike and Luna, but I never told them THAT. Only those two. And...Don't worry about them."

I nodded, smiling as well, "That's right. You don't have to worry about us."

Luna waved Perdrue's concern off with a paw, "We won't tell anyone. Not even a Lost Soul. We swear."

Bajara's eyes had guilt, "Are you mad at me?"

Perdrue's chest expanded before he answered her with a shake of his head, "...No." Then he chuckled, "I was just surprised." He looked at me and Luna now with a curious look, seeming to be calm from the revelation now, "You don't seem to be angry or anything about it...Are you?"

I replied, "No...We were surprised when she told us, but we don't mind it." I glanced at Luna, "Right?"

Luna shot up her head in agreement, "Yeah. We don't care." I looked back at Perdrue and gave him a sincere smile.

After staring at us for less than a second, the blue cheetah smiled too, "Good. And as for what you both know from her...You both seem sincere of not saying about that to anyone. I...I think I can trust you not telling anybody. Bajara trusts you for that, I see. So, I guess I'm with her."

Luna held a look of apology, curling her tail around herself, "Look, for what I did a minute ago, I'm sorry that I've scared you."

Perdrue shook her apology off with him shaking his head, "It's alright. I'm fine now." He giggled when he went on, "Heh...First Chira, then chief Horonto, now you two know the truth about us. Never thought for years that two more creatures would find this out. I thought only Chira and Horonto would know."

Me and Luna frowned and let it out at the same time, "You told the chief?"

He nodded, "Actually...I did." He was rubbing the back of his neck nervously, "Heheh....Truthfully, other than telling him what Chira said to him about Bajara was a lie, I DID tell him everything. I couldn't just tell him that Chira was lying, I had to tell him WHY she was lying to him. I remember thinking about it that night that I was nervous....But I had to. When I did....He was-"

I finished for him, "Speechless?"

Perdrue said, "Yeah, he was. He didn't expect his villagers to do that with the only dragon living with us cheetahs. But...He didn't mind it. He was kind enough to accept that a cheetah and a dragon can become mates. Other than that, he understood why I didn't say tell him the truth sooner. And...You get what happened afterward. He believed my words and told everyone that Bajara wasn't evil. But only thing he's left out was what I've told him. He swore he wouldn't tell anybody else and keep it a secret. And he died along with that secret."

Bajara's jaw dropped a bit, "Yikes....You told the chief everything..." I snickered at her expression. Now she's the one being speechless.

Perdrue giggled and waved his hand at me and Luna, "I'm sure Bajara told you the REAL reason why Chira lied to the chief, right? Because I wasn't, and I apologize."

Luna nodded as she said, "It's okay, and we do know why Chira lied. It was because she found out that you're mates with Bajara. And she felt so betrayed because of that, not to mention angry and jealous." Luna pointed her talon at the other dragon with us, "And she took it out on her."

Perdrue lowered his eyes onto his lap, "Sounds about it. She just thought Bajara was getting in the way of us. With all the jealousy she had, it was no wonder she loved me still, despite our fights. But...She didn't understand that I did not love her anymore."

I said this to him when I wrinkled my brow, "I suppose she does now?"

"She thought I would let her go." He glanced at Bajara with a grin on his muzzle, "But I have not. I wouldn't."

Bajara smiled, "You're sweet." Then she wrapped her forelimb around his little body and pulled him against her scales. Perdrue didn't fight it and just embraced the limb around him, giving it a sweet kiss as well and Bajara growled delightfully from feeling that.

Perdrue looked at me while still hugging her leg, answering my question earlier, "She does understand I don't anymore. And honestly....She did admit to me that she felt guilty after she knew I went to the chief and told him the truth. That's when she knew that I really love Bajara. Not her."

Chira HAD felt guilty?! That's....A surprise. I asked out loud, "No kiddin?"

"She had. I can tell. And after she admitted it, she also admitted that she had let me go. She's said that when Bajara ever returned, she would leave us alone."

Bajara had a relieved look on her face, but asked just to make sure, "Really?"

Perdrue looked at her as her limb was removed from his embrace, "If you were worried that she would get angry at you again upon seeing you here, don't worry she won't." He flashed her a grin, "And here's another thing, a little bit before I moved to the house of the chief, she was meeting up with another male cheetah in the village. I think he's living with her now and I'm sure Chira never told him about us, either." My face went wide upon that statement. Wow....So that was another thing that changed in the village. I didn't expect that.

The red dragoness slyly giggled, "REALLY? Let me guess....Is it Hentu?"

Perdrue responded by laughing a bit, "Oh no. Different cheetah."

She shrugged her shoulders, "Figures." She was forming a playful smile on her snout, "I don't think Chira would put up with his urgency to drink CLEANER water everyday. She would think that's the most ridiculous thing ever."

The blue furred cheetah, along with me and Luna, laughed at that. When Perdrue held himself together, he nodded at her, "You're probably right."

I smiled proudly, "That's great to hear. I didn't like Chira ruining your love." I gestured toward Bajara, "Ruining her reputation and driving her out of the village. I'm happy that a lot more things have changed."

Bajara smirked at me, "Me too." Then a lustful growl welled up in her throat when she looked down at the cheetah still held within her limb, "And I'll be having this handsome bundle of fur ALL to myself." She snaked her head to him and her tongue came out of her mouth to lick his furred cheek. Perdrue giggled from her affection, placed both hands to her cheeks, looked her deeply in her eyes, and he actually pressed his furred muzzle to her snout, kissing her. Bajara tilted her head and I think her tongue entered his mouth, her wings were fluttering on her back too.

Watching two creatures of different species getting a LITTLE intimate made my face flush. I had imagined them kissing when Bajara told that story, and now I just watched them doing that right in front of me. Kinda like I'd imagined...A little bit. Course Luna was just grinning at them and it didn't seem to have bothered her a lot. I seriously don't mind that Bajara and Perdrue love each other, but gods watching them do that....It still wasn't normal, even from a human standpoint. But I'm sure those two wouldn't care about that.

I swear if they start getting to a higher level, I'll tell Bajara to take Perdrue back to her cave and fuck there!

I said to the couple while they were kissing, "Hey, guys. If you were going to kiss some more, I was gonna say get a cave."

Luna saw me blushing and giggled teasingly, as Perdrue and Bajara finally stopped making out, "What's the matter, Mikey? You look flustered." She gestured behind her with a shot of her head, "Instead of sitting around and watching this, like you were sitting around and listening to our host's MATING story, then get your butt out of here." She playfully growled, "Or are you curious again? Well has watching them filled your-"

I've given her a glare, "No, you dirty woman, I'm feeling awkward right now." I shot my hand at the dragon and cheetah across from us, "I just didn't think they were gonna....Do that now in front of me."

Bajara raised her head above Perdrue's level, chuckling, "What did you expect? I've forever waited to share a kiss with him. And since you two knew what we both are in secret, we were going to do it anyways."

The blush on my cheeks was more redder than before, "Ahhhh.....Even mate in front of us?"

Perdrue let out an embarrassing giggle, "Wow....I'd never considered that."

Luna tried to hold down her laughter, but she hanged her snout as it escaped from it, "Hahahaha!" She looked at Bajara and Perdrue, after she kept her laughter in check, "Oh ancestors, if you were doing that, Mike's head would be red as an apple!"

Bajara laughed after that, "Or red as my scales." She let out a calmed sigh and raised a claw, looking right at me, "Funny and tempting as it sounds, Mike, we're not doing that. In my opinion, I think mating is more passionate without someone watching you." She winked. Luna dipped her head and whined in defeat. My blush finally went away and a huge grin of victory was held on my face. Oh, thank god.

That was when I had a thought and I was gazing curiously at Perdrue, "That sorta reminds me. Perdrue, you never really told anyone else this?"

Perdrue answered when he shook his head, "Nope."

I raised a brow, "Well why not? You are the chief, right? I mean who cares what everyone else would think? If anyone had a problem with that, send them off to another darn village."

He modestly giggled, "I see what you're getting at, but....I still want to keep it a secret. It just seems better that way." Then he was showing uncertainty in his eyes, "Maybe one day....I'll tell my cubs about us. But I still don't know."

I was shrugging my shoulders, "Whatever, man, you do what you want to do."

Perdrue said with a tiny nod, "Yeah." He started pushing Bajara's forelimb off his body, and got up off the ground, "Well, I need to find Hentu at the healer's house and see if he's ok." As he stood, he dusted the dirt and grass off his pants. When he finished, he turned to Bajara and placed his hand upon her shoulder, rubbing it gently, "I'll be back, alright?"

Bajara smirked, "Not gonna leave me for another decade, are you?"

Perdrue playfully shot back with a toothy smile, "I won't, but I hope you're not when I'm gone. You just got home."

She held up her head and shook it, "NEVER." She looked at him once more, "I'll wait right here. Just make sure another female cheetah in the village doesn't steal you away."

"I'll make sure that won't happen." His furred mouth pressed against her chest scales, giving them a kiss, and then he started to back away, "Be right back. Keep the guests company for me, will ya." He swirled around with a flap of his red cape behind him and with that he trotted off, rounding the corner of his house.

Bajara pleasantly sighed as she still stared at the spot he disappeared at, "Ahh, Perdrue....A decade didn't change his attitude. Even being chief didn't change him much." The older dragoness brought her eyes on me and my best friend. When she spoke to us, we looked at her, "I'll never forget this, young ones. Thank you for helping me. I...I never would've returned home on my own."

I giggled and shrugged my hands, "And you didn't have to stand up to Chira after all. Her and Perdure are getting along better and they're friends than anything now."

Bajara nodded at the thought of it, "I think me and her will get along quite well."

I shot my head to my left, adding when a thought came, "Heck, whoever's with that woman doesn't seem to have a problem with her."

"I guess not. Good for her." She took a deep breath and let it out, "So...What are you going to do now? I'm back home, but what about you two? Want to stick around here a bit longer?"

Me and Luna glanced to the sky, seeing that it was still blue, meaning that the sun's not about to go down. When me and my friend locked onto each other with our gazes, I see she was thinking the same thing as I am. When I had my eyes back to Bajara, I got up off the ground and said, "Nah, no thanks. I think our work is done now. And since we're done eating, we'd better get going."

Luna moved her black tail behind her and softly thumped it on the grass, "We think we should leave now before things get dark. I think we have a few more hours left before it does."

Bajara had a sad look in her eyes, "Aww....You're leaving already?"

I made a pity look for her, also feeling some sadness forming in my chest. Oh man....This is gonna feel like Merana. But I know we have to do it. I trotted around the fire that's still burning in the wood in front of us and went up close to my second mother figure. I looked up at her, "Yeah...We are." I shrugged with one hand, "Hey, we knew this was coming."

She snaked her snout down to my level, the same sadness in her yellow eyes stared right into mine, "I know you have to leave, but...It feels like it's too soon, you know what I mean?"

I nodded and reached up to stroke her cheek fondly, "I know. But me and Luna have a journey to go on. Wingspan's still a long ways away and we need to get moving as much as possible."

I think I saw a small trickle of a tear slowly went down her cheek and she lowered her head a bit more to nuzzle me gently in the chest with it, "I'm gonna miss you. You're a very sweet boy. I'll always thank you for convincing me to go home." She pulled it away and twisted her neck to cast a glance at Luna, who was having a pity look in her silver eyes as well, "I'll miss you too, Lunasin. You're a very nice young dragon. I certainly love this you better than the other you before. And I'll miss watching you pick on this little guy here."

Luna actually smirked hearing that statement, "And I'll miss you for teaming up with me to pick on him." She chuckled deviously, "But I'm sure it won't stop after we leave here. I'll always tease him."

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever, woman." Then I raised my hand and patted Bajara's neck, "We'll miss you as well, Bajara."

When she felt my hand upon her neck, a couple more tears came out of her eyes and streamed down her snout, before she wiped them away with a limb.

After me and Luna said we were leaving her village now, all three of us decided to put the fire in the pit out. Then I gathered up my bag, quiver, and bow that was laid near me, and we went to look for Perdrue when I was ready. I know Bajara will see us off and I know she'll want him with us as we're doing so. After we paced around through the village and went to the healer's house, thanks to Bajara taking the lead, we found him as he just left the house with Hentu. He had a leaf tied around his leg where his wound was at and he was using a walking stick so he wouldn't put weight on his leg.

Hentu was happy to see us again, most of all happy for Bajara since he knows she and Pedrue are reunited now. He probably heard the news from Perdrue since he went to see him. But then looked sad at the minute me and Luna told him and his blue furred friend that we're gonna go ahead and leave the village. But when he wiped that look off his face, I think he was understanding that we had to go somewhere. At least he didn't make it hard on us. As a last gift for him, me and Luna decided to walk with the green cheetah to make sure he gets home without toppling over. The second he did, we said goodbye to him and he went into his house, before telling us to make sure we drink CLEANER water when we're travelling. That left us with Bajara and Perdrue now.

Very soon after we said our goodbyes to Hentu, all four of us went to the huge gates at the edge of the village. Perdrue ordered the guard to open them up, and as he did we went through them to walk out on the meadow outside of it. When all four of us strode about several feet away from the huge wooden wall, we stopped.

Me and Luna whirled around and faced Bajara and Perdrue who stood side by side. I held a breath and said to the both of them, "Well this is it, guys."

Perdrue asked as Bajara just dipped her head in sadness, her wings drooped on her back also, "Yes it is. But where are you going exactly? I didn't even hear you guys saying where yet."

I replied, "Before we met Bajara, me and Luna were travelling to Wingspan so we would find The Great One. Well, basically I'm just following her since I don't know which way that place is. Point is, Luna thinks that he might know how to get me back home."

Perdrue nodded as he was getting the idea, "I get it now. Your friend may be right." Then he let out a sigh, "But honestly, I wish you had stuck around a bit more longer. I was starting to like you both. I'd thought about giving you both a welcoming ceremony tonight. And to also congratulate you in front of the whole village for bringing my mate back home."

Luna hummed delightfully at the idea while her black tail swished around behind her, "Sounds like a great honor." She shot a glance at me for a second, before returning it back on the couple, "But we really need to get going."

Perdrue nodded slowly in understanding, "Then I understand." He stared directly at me, "I think you deserve to be where you belong. I hope you get home after all that'd happened to you." He held out a hand for me to shake, "Good luck, warrior." I didn't hesitate firmly grasping his hand and shake it.

I said when I let go of his hand, "Thanks. And it was finally nice meeting you, pal."

He looked up at Luna, "And good luck to you, Lunasin. May all your good deeds change the tide of the war. Us innocent creatures could use that tide."

Luna bowed her head, "Thank you. And I'll try my best for everyone."

I grinned as I pointed, slowly moving my finger from Perdrue to Bajara, "Thought I'd give you some advice. If Chira becomes a bitch to you guys again, just stand up to her."

The blue cheetah chuckled deeply with a closed muzzle, "I'll exile her from home if she does. But I doubt she'll give us any trouble now."

Bajara had rose her snout and said after she sniffed her nose, "Mike, Lunasin, since Wingspan's still very far away, please be careful."

Me and Luna nodded and said in unison, "We will."

Then Luna smirked at Bajara, "And YOU look after your mate. Since you're back with him."

Bajara formed a smile on her snout, "Oh, I will, sweetie. You look after your little guy too. Don't let him get hurt. He...He is precious. Just like Perdrue would be."

Luna shot up her head, curling up her wings on her back, "No problem. Someone has to since he's just a-"

I immediately glared when turning my head to her, "Luna, don't you say it."

She still just smirked, "Oh, I'll be quiet...Until later." I let out a sigh. Fucking figures.

Bajara looked at me next, red tail flicked behind her, "And you look after her as well. She needs you just as much as you need her. You know that well. If she's hurt, you help her. And if she's dying again, you save her, no matter what it takes."

I gave her a promising nod, raising my arm to shoot my thumb towards the bow on my shoulder, "You know I will. She's my best friend and I care about her."

"I know...You BOTH care for each other." Her smile melted off her muzzle and she was giving me that odd look in her eyes, "And Mike....Remember what I said and think about it."

I knew what she was talking about. That conversation we had the other night, after I convinced her to go back home. I nodded again, "I...I will." Luna held confusion in her eyes, but she didn't say anything.

Her smile came back, only it looked more hopeful, "Good." Bajara strode up a few steps, lowering her head to me and nuzzled my cheek with hers. When she was rubbing her cheek against me like I was her kid, I thought I was gonna cry at that very moment. But I prevented myself from doing so and returned her affection by hugging her snout for a bit, taking in a deep breath. When I released her, she rose her head and stepped to Luna to nuzzle her cheek softly, too. The black dragoness returned it by nuzzling back, while her tail moved behind her. After she nuzzled us goodbye, she voiced it out as she backed herself away to stand beside Perdrue, her lower jaw trembled like she was gonna cry, "Y-....You were the best guests that had ever came to my cave. G-Goodbye, darlings."

I nodded a bit to her, feeling the sadness still moving around in my chest that it ached, "Thanks for letting us stay with you for the past couple days. It was nice meeting you. And...Goodbye, Bajara."

Luna smiled fondly at the older dragon, "Me and Mike will always remember our host. And if we ever met another host, he or she will not be like you. You're a special one." Across from my best friend, Bajara giggled from the compliment, her wings fluttering a bit. Luna nodded to her after that, "Goodbye as well...Bajara." With that, she looked down at me as she folded back her wings, "Alright....Let's go, little guy."

I started to turn around along with her, "Right." When we fully turned our backs on Bajara and Perdrue, we both began to walk on the meadow. As we were about a few feet away, I peeked a bit over my shoulder while still pacing and raised my hand high, waving them in farewell.

As I lowered my hand back down, Luna asked me quizzically, "Hey, Mike?" I looked at her and saw she had wrinkled her face in confusion, "What Bajara said to you...What was she talking about?"

I honestly didn't want to tell her. Knowing it was a very awkward thing Bajara was talking about. I just waved her off, shaking my head, "Nothing. It's nothing." I shot my head towards ahead with a grin, "C'mon, girl. Let's head to your city." Luna still had confusion in her eyes, but she made it go away with a grin on her snout. Then we both stared ahead, not looking back at the village, and mostly Bajara. Moving on with our journey.

Then like I had a tear fall down my face when I'd left Merana, now a tear fell down my cheek when I was leaving Bajara this time. I immediately wiped it off with my wrist.

Boy...This really feels like Merana. I was leaving another mother figure behind at her home.

I know I'm gonna miss her, but I know I'll also get over it later.

And Luna was right....There wouldn't be another host quite like her. Bajara's pretty special.

Other than Merana....I'll never forget her.

Goodbye...Bajara.

*****

Bajara watched the guests that had stayed with her finally walk away for their own journey, a tear rolling down her red scaled cheek. Her wing tip wiped it away as she was taking a quivering breath and letting it out. She's gonna miss them. Her mind was making a silent prayer to the ones living in the clouds. Telling them to look after the human and the dragoness that was formerly Dark Storm. The red dragoness doesn't doubt they'll be defeated easily by any kind of enemy, she's only doing that just in case.

Hope, other than sadness, was filled in her beating heart, making her smile a bit. They'll make it to Wingspan. She can believe that.

Then her thoughts went on to all the things she told each of them separately. She's done her job trying to open their eyes, and now they're left alone in their journey again. She does know they don't believe a word that came out of her muzzle. They didn't believe they had a connection that was deeper than friendship. But now Bajara was hoping as time passes by, they'll actually see what they both feel for each other the whole time and won't deny it. Especially Mike, who might go home and never see Lunasin again. Up ahead, he has a choice to make.

The hope was brighter in her chest, pushing away that sadness. She believes he'll make the right choice. He'll stay with her. Bajara can feel that Mike does care enough for Luna that he won't leave her forever. And in her head, she can see those two, telling each other about their love and sharing a kiss for the very first time. The image looked beautiful.

Hopefully it'll happen for real. She can only hope.

One of Bajara's ears flicked when she heard a familiar voice cutting through her thoughts, "You ok?" She turned her snout and found that Perdrue was still right beside her. Turned out, while she was having Mike and Luna in her thoughts, she actually had forgotten the love of her life's still with her. She smiled brightly at him, her heart pounding faster and harder in her chest from looking at the handsome, strong blue cheetah. She'll miss those two, but she knows she ain't alone anymore.

Ten years of being in that lonely cave, Bajara literally thought more than once that it wouldn't happen. Coming to accept that she would be nothing but a lone dragoness living in a cave without a mate until she died from age. But thanks to Mike and Luna, she's now back with Perdrue. And she'll never repay them for it.

An amused thought crossed her mind. Well, Mike was right...She didn't have to repay them at all.

Bajara finally answered his question with a nod, "I'll be fine." She gestured her horned head towards where Mike and Luna padded off to, "I'll miss them. But what's important..." Her snout snaked down to Perdrue's level, until her eyes were inches from his, "Is me and you."

Perdrue formed a smile on his muzzle and kissed her nose. She wanted to press her snout against his muzzle right now and kiss him out in the meadow, but she's certain that there are cheetahs watching on the wall behind them. She'll wait for that to happen later.

The blue cheetah pulled his face back and giggled, "Ancestors....Seeing you running up to me today when I was coming out of my house...I thought I was dreaming still. I did take a nap before you came here."

She rose her head high above him, "I can understand why. I kinda thought I was dreaming of all this." She laughed and shook her head, "But I know I wasn't. You, right here close to me, and everything, including coming to the village and seeing Hentu and your cubs, is real." She shifted a bit on her paws, sucking in air full of relief, "I...I'm so happy you aren't dead now."

Perdrue placed his hand on her scales, rubbing them consolingly, playfully frowning up at her, "You really think I'd die before you came home? You know me well, Bajara. I'm a strong warrior."

Bajara's snout made a giggle as her wings curled on her back and her tail swished, "Not a warrior anymore. You're a chief now."

"That doesn't mean I can't fight."

The dragon rolled her eyes playfully, "Oh, I know you can." She looked down at him with a bit of concern, "I was just...A bit worried you were...That's all."

Perdrue continued to rub her red scales up and down, "You don't need to worry now. I'm here. And we'll never be apart again." That's when he was forming a lustful grin as he dropped his hand back down to his side, "And since we're together again...I think tonight, me and you shall go to this cave you came from and share our 'after a decade' mating together there." Bajara sees his eyes gesturing to her hind end, "I think your 'cave' back there would like the idea."

Bajara giggled deep in her throat, flicking her tail behind her, "That's a good idea and all...But can we go to that beautiful hill tonight? Just like old times? Please, Perdrue? The cave is kinda far."

He didn't argue with that when he shrugged his shoulders and chuckled, "I don't see why not. I didn't care which place, I just want to mount you already."

"Then that's the plan, little fellow!" Bajara tossed back her head and laughed really loud. When she stopped, she turned her eyes and saw that Mike and Luna are still in sight. Almost disappearing from a very long distance.

Perdrue followed her gaze and said with a sigh, "The human's brave for travelling with a dragon in a strange world. I hope they'll make it to the city of dragons."

Bajara smiled, "They will. They've travelled for days. They've made it this far. I'm sure they will." Then with a puff of her chest and as Perdrue stood beside her, she tossed up her head, flared her wings on her back, and roared to the skies, loud enough for Mike and Luna to hear from far away.

And what that roar was....Goodbye.