Damon moaned sleepily when he feels the sun hitting him. He blinked his eyes groggily and rose his snout off the ground, letting out a tongue curled yawn. When he was done yawning, he looked around and saw much to his surprise that he's not in the room in Cora's cave sleeping with Scott, Emily and Rick. He's not sleeping under that big crack in the ceiling when he thought that's where the sun was shining through. He's actually sleeping outside in lands that seem bare. No trees, no caves, no rocks, nothing but the mass of green grass that goes on for miles. He was the only one laying out here.

The green drake cocked his head in confusion. That seemed odd. He could've sworn he was sleeping with his allies. Sleeping away till the day they all leave the cave with Cora came. He doesn't remember sleeping outside, let alone not sleeping in a forest where there's nothing around him but the grass on the ground. Damon cannot place his thoughts on how he'd got out here.

Damon got up off the grass and started to make a long stretch with his limbs and tail. And after he was done stretching and curling his wings on his back, he took a few steps forward, swinging his head back and forth to see if he could see the humans, or Cora, or even Rocko. But there really isn't anyone out here with him. He's alone.

Before he could walk any further, before he could call out to anybody, he hears a female voice saying his name, "Damon."

He perked up his head and ears and swung himself around to see a short black dragoness standing not far from him. A familiar little dragoness that he knows. Damon's face went wide with glee when he recognized the smile from the little one near him, "Luna." He chuckled to himself when he started to trot to her, snaking his head to her level and nuzzling her cheek lovingly with his, repeating her name in relief that he finally gets to see her again, "Luna."

Luna nuzzled back, making a lot of rumbles in her throat when she did, "Damon." He looked into her eyes, looking right in those silver eyes of hers. How glad he gets to see them again. Luna smiled right at her best friend and said in a low voice that came out sounding like an echo, "Damon.....Damon...."

Damon can hear a female voice repeating his name over and over again in his ear, while he was sleeping and also can feel something rubbing his scales on his side to get him to wake up, "Damon....Damon, wake up." His snout only let out a grumble when he can still feel something trying to shake him awake. Then he heard a shout that rang in his ear, "WAKE UP!"

He screamed when he shot up his head off the floor, eyes going wide in surprise. When the drake trailed his gaze around the area, he saw that he wasn't walking around in the bare lands and seeing Luna in her teenage form. He looked up through the crack in the ceiling of the room, seeing that he's still in Cora's cave right where he slept. It turned out to his disappointment that it was all a dream. Damon hated having dreams like that. Hated having dreams about Luna that feel so real to him. He thought he did feel her when he nuzzled her cheek, but it never happened.

He really missed her.

One of Damon's ears heard a girl voice and felt somebody poke his side playfully, "Damon."

He shot his snout beside him and sees that Scott and Emily are standing close together. Damon figured that the female voice that said his name over and over again in his ear was Emily. He actually thought that it was Luna, who kept saying his name in his dream. He was confused in the dream of why she was doing that, but now he knew why. Also seeing Luna like that in her teenage form would never be possible now.

Seeing Luna at that age was the last thing he saw before she was gone from his life. He knows that she wouldn't be at that age right now in that dream of his. He should've known it. Lunasin would've been fully grown like he is. All tall and big, like when he saw her as the dragoness who was influenced by Abyss back then. That's what she outa look like to him up to this day.

Emily's giggle brought him back from his thoughts of that dream and he stared right at her with a wrinkled face and snort, "What are you laughing at?"

Scott chided while Emily was snickering, her wrist held to her mouth, "The way you just shot your head off the floor when she screamed into your ear."

The human girl added, her wrist muffling her voice a bit, "It was pretty funny. Your face..." She was trying not to laugh.

Damon replied with a bit of an annoyed groan, "Did you really have to do that? You scared me."

Emily answered when she lowered her hand to her side, "Sure. You were being a lazy drake again. So..."

Damon's jaw dropped agape, "So, you thought screaming in my ear was a good idea?"

Scott held up a hand, "Well she wasn't SCREAMING in your ear, she said your name over and over again to wake you up. She screamed once." He giggled and so did she.

He shot up his head and whined, "Arrg, c'mon! I was having a good nap!" They were laughing at his whining and he rolled his eyes in irritancy, his tail moved around and thudded against the cave wall.

Scott shrugged his shoulders after he was done laughing, "Hey, you were going to get up anyways."

"But I didn't want to now!"

Emily reached up with her right hand to pat his shoulder, a big grin on her face, "Aw, did we rudely wake up the big scaly baby from his nap?" She held up her left forearm to her mouth when she stifled her laugh.

Damon shot daggers at her, "Shut up, girl."

Emily shot her daggers back at him and gave his shoulder a very hard pat, "Don't call me girl, lazy drake." She pointed up through the crack, up at the sun, "Besides, it's already morning and Rocko's making food right now. We're all going to eat together since you didn't yesterday morning."

Damon drew back his snout and let out a yawn, fluttering his wings on his back, "Well, Scott did have a point. I was going to get up soon anyways." Then he could feel his stomach grumbling and he moaned as hunger got to him, "And my stomach is eager for Rocko's meat."

He was about to get up, but Scott and Emily stopped him from doing so. Emily instructed, "Hey, wait."

Damon sighed impatiently, laying back down on his belly, "Well make up your mind. You woke me up to get me to eat with you and now you're telling me to wait. What, you change your minds and now you want to bring the food to me this time?"

Scott chuckled at his remark and replied, gesturing to one of the bandages on him, "No. Me and Emily are going to take off the bandages right now before we go and eat. I don't think you'll be needing them anymore."

Damon's face went wide at the statement, "Oh." Then he let out a whoosh of air as he felt the need to scratch them off his scales, "Well, alright, please do." He was feeling relieved that he doesn't have to wear them anymore. Those things really felt itchy to him. He was starting to feel better anyways. He even didn't feel sore as much as before either, which that was also good thing. His thoughts went back to when he felt freakin sore! He winced when he pictured his own green scaly self hissing in pain when his forepaw makes a step to the ground and shoots pain up his shoulder. Oh, he was glad that was over.

Scott started taking the white bandages off of Damon's body, while Emily went to take off the bandages off his shoulder, chest and neck. While taking off one bandage, she giggled and asked when she noticed his expression, "What are you wincing for? Still in pain?"

Damon shook his head, "No. I was just...Remembering how terribly sore I was that day."

Emily took the bandage off of him right away, before tossing it away, "Oh, I just thought you were remembering me cleaning up your wounds with that cloth." She rose her eyebrows and teased, "You didn't like that cloth at all."

Damon grinned a bit at her, remembering that after he and his friends rescued Cora, Emily was cleaning his wounds with that cloth that's damped with what she calls a spirit, so they wouldn't get infected as she'd said to him. He said, "Well you were dangerous with it."

Emily planted her hands to her hips while Scott was still busy ripping those bandages off his green body, "Oh, I was not."

Damon twisted his neck to look at Scott as he heard the human male say it, "He did tell you to 'watch the cloth'."

Damon chuckled and turned his eyes back on Emily, "Yeah, that's right! I did tell you that and you didn't watch it!" Scott laughed near him and Damon used a talon to poke the human girl's chest twice, "You really are dangerous for a little one."

Emily smirked, "I probably AM dangerous, big guy. And you're lucky I was helping you at all."

Damon playfully shot back, "Still did hurt."

"Now you're being a baby again." Then she pointed her finger at Scott, "I'd think Scott here wouldn't do a good job cleaning up your wounds. Maybe he'd be more dangerous with the cloth than me."

Scott laughed at her tease, "I'm not exactly the doctor in the group. So you could be right."

Emily said to him, "Well if you're preferring that I should just play doctor throughout the whole journey instead of fighting along with you as well, I'm still going to do it."

Damon giggled making her look up at the dragon's face, "Sheesh, you want to be REALLY dangerous."

She giggled and shrugged her arms, having a tough look in her eyes, "Hey, I'm dangerous with the spirit filled cloth, so I can be even more dangerous when fighting."

Damon was smiling at her, "I believe it."

She asked, "Oh really? You don't doubt that I can fight too, because I'm a little girl like Cora?"

The dragon was chuckling, "Hey, I thought she wouldn't fight well because I'd thought she wouldn't know how. Also yeah because she's small. But you know I don't anymore." He shrugged his shoulders, "Heh, it's not like EVERY female cannot fight."

Emily began to take the bandage off his shoulder, "Better think that." After she ripped it off, she tossed it away and went to the bandage on his neck next.

While Emily was busy taking it off, Damon looked right at the little girl in front of him, not taking his eyes of her. He started tilting his head as he just thought of what happened to him in his sleep several moments ago. When Emily was whispering in his ear and he thought he heard Luna talking back to him in the dream at first. And knowing that it wasn't Luna afterward.

Emily's sweet voice....Sounded a bit like Luna's. He just realized it.

He did know that Emily sorta reminded him of Luna, but gosh, the way Emily sounded shocked him. Although he has talked to her before, but when he listened VERY closely not long ago, he can plainly hear that tone of voice. How sweet it was.

Damon felt some sadness grow inside his heart, as his thoughts went onto seeing Luna in the dream. He really missed her. He really missed that voice coming out of her muzzle. Damon started smiling at Emily when the sadness was being replaced by happiness in his heart as he stared at her. Even his heart pounded a bit in his chest. Emily took her eyes off his neck and looked. Noticing he was just staring. Emily tilted her head and frowned, "You ok?"

Damon shut his eyes and shook his head, shaking himself out of his trance. He gave her a look of apology, "Sorry bout that."

Emily tossed away the last bandage and asked him, "What's on your mind?" She formed a teasing grin, "Afraid I'll get another cloth and use it to sting your wounds again?" She backed away a bit from him, pointed at his neck as she shook her head and giggled, "Don't need to clean them again, big guy. They seemed to be healed up a bit."

Damon replied when he lowered his head to her level, "I wasn't thinking about that. It's just...."

Emily wrinkled her brow as she stared right back into his yellow eyes, "What?"

He took a deep breath and said, "When you were whispering in my ear, I thought that somebody I know was talking to me in my dream."

Emily smiled and said, "No wonder you didn't wake up for me at first. You really were having a nice nap."

He shrugged his shoulders, giggling to himself, "I really did."

Scott came and stood beside Emily when he was done taking all of the bandages off Damon's body, "There, all done. You can get up now."

Damon groaned when his limbs felt a bit stiff, "Thanks." He felt the need to stretch them out and did when he stretched out like a cat. His front talons tapping on the hard stone floor and his tail went up real high. Damon twisted his neck to let it pop and he sighed in satisfaction. When his eyes went down to Emily and Scott, they both stood side by side watching him. He frowned, wondering why they're staring at him like that, "What?"

Scott just grinned, "Actually, since I couldn't help but overhear you and Emily talking-"

Emily added to him with a shrug, "You were very close by anyways."

Scott went on after her interruption, when he gestured to the dragon, "I was kinda curious what that dream of yours was."

Then Emily nodded with a smile, "Yeah. What was that dream about? I think you were so into it to not even wake up."

Damon formed a smile on his muzzle and said as his wings furled on his back, "I was." His stomach rumbled again and he shifted a bit on his paws impatiently, "But I'm not in the mood to talk about dreams. I'm in the mood to talk about food!"

Both Scott and Emily laughed, and Emily waved him over as she and him started turning their backs on the green drake, "Then c'mon. Rocko's probably done making food and my dad's probably eating right now with him."

Scott giggled as Damon started following up behind them, exiting the room they were sleeping in, "Since the day has come, I wouldn't be surprised that Cora would be trotting around impatiently to leave her home with us."

Damon remarked, his eyes still on the two humans, "Ah, well, she'll have to be patient until our stomachs are filled."

Emily peered over her shoulder at him, saying in agreement, "That is right."

The three of them walked out of the tunnel and into the cavern full of glowing crystals heading on their way to meet up with Rocko outside the cave. On their way there, Damon's eyes were solely focused on Emily. Can't even get that voice of hers out of his horned head. He smiled when he'd thought of it. She had such a sweet voice. Just like his best friend.

*****

As I held my shirt in my hands in the falling water from the falls at the entrance of the cave, I was still trying to wash all that dried up blood off of it. So far, it was tough, but I can see that it's coming off. I looked over my shoulder to see if Luna wasn't awake watching me this. She was still asleep, good. Don't want her to see me right now.

The only reason why is...I'm butt naked while cleaning up my shirt.

I took a deep breath and let it out, as the almost over morning sun shined on me while acting like a washing machine towards my dirty shirt. Just trying to be patient with myself while doing this. She's not gonna wake up. Just get the whole thing over with before she sees you!

It's been a couple hours since I'd woken up this morning with Luna's wing still over me. She was sleeping peacefully as I did. Honestly, I didn't want to get out from under her wing, but I couldn't sleep anymore. So disappointing to myself, I snuck out of the very warm wing and never woke her up. Actually, I didn't want to wake her up then, cause I think she needed more sleep and she's still been asleep right now.

Then the other reason why I didn't bother her much this morning came to mind. How much blood she'd lost yesterday. The tied up leaves on her wounds. They're probably healed up by now. I did see the ones that weren't deep and weren't patched up, only having herbal medicine applied to them, seemed to have healed up completely. So I'm sure that the wounds patched up already are. That's a good thing. I'm glad the herbs helped her. Still with the blood loss and all, I think she needs to rest some more. She probably won't like the idea, knowing how much she was bored yesterday. AND how much she tried to tell me to take off all my clothes for her 'entertainment'. Heh, well at least my face turning red was entertainment enough for her.

Dirty woman.

Truthfully, yesterday, I remembered she was giving me a look a few times that showed me that she planned on getting up and walk out of the cave to continue on with our journey tomorrow, which was today. I never argued cause she didn't bring it up, but I still think that's what went through her mind.

Luna, I know you're one tough girl, but I think we need to stay here for a little while. I won't let you get hurt again when you probably still feel weak. I mean, what if we run into trouble and you can't fight very well?

You call me a bad fighter, well we'll see who'd be the bad fighter when trouble arrives. That ain't gonna be funny when you're hurt once again.

So throughout the morning, I kept myself busy. I walked a bit outside along the riverbank away from the cave and the waterfall. Found some black berries and picked them all off a bush. They look tasty so thought I'd bring them with us for the journey. If Luna likes apples, then she probably tasted berries before. Came back from walking and just sat around in the cave with Luna's sleeping form, eating a few berries after finding them. Tastes pretty good actually. Although, I don't naturally eat berries a whole lot, but these taste good.

Luna, you'd missed eating breakfast with me.

After I ate, I paced back and forth quietly in the cave, trying to kill off some more time. While I did that, an idea to kill more time came to me. I remembered using my shirt to clean the blood off Luna's wounds and it's dirty with dried blood. Since there's water falling from a cliff and a river flowing because of it, I'd thought why not clean up my shirt. Another thing I thought of was why not take a bath while at it. Also I didn't want to get my new clothes soaking wet while cleaning the shirt.

So that's why I'm naked standing at the entrance of the darn cave, washing my shirt away with the blood on it. Almost done with it. When I'm done, that's when I'll be having my shower below the falls.

Better get this done quick while this certain black dragoness is still asleep. I won't turn red again!

All the blood finally came off and I spread the shirt out, holding it by both hands and admired my work. There, all clean! I'm not really a washing machine, but it's good enough for me. I trotted away from the falls and ringed my shirt of all the excess water soaked into it. I honestly, didn't know where to put it to dry up, so I left it on the floor near my bag and went back to start my shower.

The waterfall rushed down on me and god it was cold! But I can't exactly make the water turn hot. So I was gonna make the best of it. With my head held up with my eyes shut tight and the rushing water falling down my face, I was running my hands through my hair, cleaning it.

While I was doing that, I spun around to face the cave. When I opened up one eye halfway, I saw a big, tall, scaly form that was standing behind me. I shot both eyes wide open and cried out in surprise that echoed, "Ah!" I immediately covered up my privates with both hands when I saw her.

Luna!

Luna was tilting her head when she looked down at my naked form, saying in a taunting, booming voice, "Well what do we have here?" She playfully growled at me, "I see a naked creature from another world within my sight. Oh....MY....ANCESTORS!" She was tossing back her head let out a howl of laughter.

I was blushing hard at her staring at me, "Luna!"

She laughed for a moment as I just stood there covering myself, looking really embarrassed from this. Well this didn't go well as I'd planned. I've been caught with no clothes on!

Damn it, I should've known this was gonna happen!

The dragoness looked down grinning at me, giggling a bit, "I didn't expect THIS to happen. I thought I was still dreaming for a second." She was making another rumble deep in her throat, "But I know I'm not! You're naked without hiding underneath the water!"

Despite my face and whole body turning red, I shot a glare at her, "Luna, how long have you been standing here?"

Luna laughed again before she answered, "Not very long. Just a second ago." She lowered her head to me and I yelped when she brought her snout to me, "I had to say, when your back was turned, for another creature....You kinda have a nice butt."

I shouted in her face again in embarrassment, "Luna!" With only one hand covering up my balls, I pointed behind her, "You turn around, close your eyes and wait while I get myself dressed!"

Luna rose her head fast over my level and defiantly shook her head, "Nuh uh." She planted her haunches on the ground, not moving a muscle from me and curling her tail around herself along with the wings curling against her back.

I loudly exclaimed, "Come on!"

"I'm not gonna move a muscle. You'll have to get pass me to get your clothes back on." She looked down to her right side and then to her left, "Not exactly much room to get past me. So...You'll probably going to have to push me out the way to get to them." She gave me a toothy grin, "And to do THAT, you need to uncover your anatomy!"

"Fuck that! Move out of my damn way, now!"

Luna held up her head in pride, "Nope."

"C'mon, move!"

"No."

"Move damn it!"

"No."

I formed a small smile, giving her a plea, "Pleeeeaaasse."

She was laughing at my pleading attempt, "Ohhhh, no. You're not going to persuade me to move with THAT." She shook her head, "You always say no when I tell you to show me your balls, so I won't move out of the way for YOU. No matter many times you tell me!" I groaned, realizing that I'm just trapped. She had a devious grin forming on her snout, "Now that's a bit of a turnaround, little guy. How about this? You show them, JUST THIS ONCE, and then I'll move my black ass away. Got it, little guy?"

The waterfall still fell behind me while I still had my hands hiding my anatomy, as Luna was still waiting patiently for me to show her my body. I took a deep breath and tried to plead to her again, "Luna....Please..."

Luna slowly snaked her snout in front of my face, peering deeply in my eyes and said in a soft tone, "Mike, there is no shame in showing your body. I told you. It's not really hard to do it. I mean, look around. There's no one here. We've been alone together for the past few days and nobody will know." Now she was giving me a pleading look of her own, "Mike...I know you're proud of being a jerk and all, but....I'm trying to help you get out more. You know it. You told me you had NEVER shown your body towards anybody before. Well let me be the first. Look...I won't tell anybody, unless you want to yourself. Ok? At least just...Help me fill my own curiosity. I know your balls are external, you said so, but I just want to see them only once. Heck, afterward, you can show them to me anytime you want. You know me. I'm a dragon. I wouldn't care. I promise, I won't tell another creature, unless YOU will. Please, Mike. Only this one time." She rose her brows at me, "You know I won't move until you show me, mister."

I let all her words sink in. Well I know she was trying to make me feel less nervous and all her words really did make sense. But I still didn't want to show her, knowing what I am and all. I would've protested again and again till she moved her big ass out of the way, but I can see her determination in her eyes. I know she won't move at all.

Luna, I know you're full of curiosity, I get that. But I just can't do it. This is making me VERY uncomfortable.

Then another thought showed up out of nowhere and argued. Mike, what's there to worry about? What's the reason to get so uncomfortable? She's right, you two are all alone and she's giving you her word that she only wants you to do this just this once...Unless you want to again and again. You can show her your nuts whenever you want to her after this. I mean, it's not like showing yourself to her now is gonna kill you.

That's when the word 'kill' struck me. Kill....

That was when I remembered how she has lost a lot of blood and almost died, but she was lucky she didn't. Only now...When I think about it....What if she doesn't get a chance to see my anatomy only once? What if I don't show her...Before she dies from...Whatever reason in her life. I mean, she's alright now, but if she gets attacked and...Doesn't survive again....Or she dies from something else....Dies from being old....I have denied her to show them more than once. Also other than thinking of all that, her pleading eyes had made me feel bad for her as well.

So what's the problem really? She's right, there's no one else here. And you trust Luna, right? You trust her and she's your friend. Mike, just show her your anatomy before she dies from whatever. And also before somehow someone else shows up and sees your ass! Besides, she promised she won't tell anyone, unless you will.

Her words echoed through my mind. You need to get out more.

I took a deep breath and let it out, slowly I was starting to feel less nervous. Well....Alright. I'll do this only once and we'll see if I want to show her them again later on.

So with my encouraging thoughts, I made a nod to her and slowly uncovered my anatomy, letting my hands dangle at my sides. Showing her the first time my balls. Luna hummed when she smiled and lowered her head even more to get a good look at them. I giggled at this as I let her take all the time she needed. To let her vision of seeing them sink into her brain. Luna finally spoke with a growl in her throat, "Thought they'd be bigger."

My jaw dropped at her words, "Well what did you expect?! I'm small!"

Her nose was close to my anatomy, specifically to my dick. I feel that her eyes are right on it, "I also thought that your....'Thing' be bigger too. It looks kinda...Soft and little."

That fat annoying lizard! I clenched my teeth tight in anger, saying through them, "Little?!"

Luna laughed at my reaction and rose her head up till we were eye to eye, "Oh, calm down, little guy. I'm just stating an opinion."

I glared furiously at her, "If you must know, the reason my...'Thing' is little now is because I am not aroused. It gets longer and stiffer when it does."

Luna giggled and nodded, "Got it." Then she showed me a look of apology and then she nuzzled my chest with her cheek, "I'm sorry, Mike."

Despite my anger to what she said before, her soft scales nuzzling against my bare chest was making me feel less mad at her. Then I remembered those certain words from the dreams I had. What Damon said to her, and what Luna said to him. I held her snout in my hands and hugged her against me, "Oh...How could I hate you, big girl?"

She chuckled when I held her, "Exactly. How could you hate me?" I chuckled along with the big girl. I had to admit....I wasn't feeling uncomfortable showing myself to her. It wasn't as bad as I had thought it was. And hell, she's the first one I ever did show to. Well at least she wasn't giving me too much crap about how small my anatomy is right now. She is sensitive about my feelings.

Luna moved her snout out of my grasp and raised it for us to stare each other in the eyes. Her muzzle made a smile and so have I. Then I saw one of her ears flick and she moved her eyes to look behind me through the waterfall. Curiosity and suspicion shone in her eyes. I asked with worry, "What's wrong?" I looked over my shoulder and I can barely see through the falling current of the waterfall that...There's several figures standing at the riverbank away from here. Something's out there.

Luna whispered to me, her paw wrapped around my back as she ushered me back in the cave while backing up in there herself, "Get back in here." I let her lead me back in the cool cave, until we were deeper in it away from sight through the entrance. I was getting a feeling of what it was outside. Whatever those things were...Were standing on two legs. I looked up at Luna and seen that she'd closed her eyes. Using the sight I believe. I nodded to myself and shut them tight too.

With my vision black, I was searching with my thoughts, until images came and I'm seeing something's viewpoint. It showed that it was on the riverbank, not far from the waterfall. Apparently whatever it was didn't notice that a cave is hiding behind it. Then it looked down at the grass. Seeing....The dried up trail of blood left by Luna on the ground. A second later, it was looking at it's friend....It was staring at a Lost Soul! As I was looking through the thing's viewpoint, I can feel evil and darkness, so I must be looking through the eyes of another Lost Soul.

I gasped and shot my eyes open. Whispering to Luna who also opened them up too, "Lost Souls."

Luna flared her wings and flicked her tail behind her, getting herself into a fighting stance, "They must've followed my blood trail. Damn it." I nodded to myself in agreement. I knew something like this was gonna happen. Shit!

My naked form ran to my bag and picked up the bow and one arrow from the quiver, readying them both as I aimed at the entrance. Luna whispered when she watched me, "They must've not seen the cave yet." Without further word, she shut her eyes again, wanting to know what those things are gonna do. My chest expanded when I took a calm breath and lowered my weapon. Maybe I better take a look too. So I did, when I closed my eyes to use the sight again.

Not very long, images came back and I was seeing through one of the viewpoints. Judging by the way it's eyes looked back and forth at each of his companions, there were about twenty of them. Jesus, was Luna ready to fight all of them? I hope we don't.

Please god....Please don't let them find the cave.

I don't want to take this chance. Neither does Luna.

But if they do....We have no choice.

That was when I heard a voice through the viewpoint, "The blood trail ends here at the water. Question is...Where's the body? Could it be the one who killed our comrades?"

Another Lost Soul in front of the viewpoint replied with a growl as his red eyes glowed furiously, "If it is, I want to kill it. It won't get away with this."

The Lost Soul next to that one giggled and raised a hand showing off those very long claws already grown on those fingers, "Yeah, I want to shove those up it's ass!"

That's when another evil cheetah exclaimed, making all of them turning to it, "Hey!"

While watching through his eyes, I heard him talk when he turned his eyes to his pal, "What?"

His ally pointed towards the woods, "I heard something. Over there!"

One Lost Soul was already running through the bushes, thinking whatever they're looking for is escaping them through the woods, "After it!" They all let out a war cry and all of them, including the viewpoint I'm looking through, all ran through the trees and bushes.

I shot my eyes open and calmly let out a breath. I see Luna was doing the same thing after she saw it too. Her wings sagged on both sides of her body as she relaxed herself. Whew....Too close.

Luna turned her head to look down beside her, "You ok?"

I nodded, "Yeah." Then I see that she was starting to giggle deeply and I wrinkled my brow, "What?"

She responded when one of her wings pointed at me, "You're still naked." I looked over myself and saw that she was right. Well damn, I was worried about protecting Luna, I didn't even put my clothes back on! She chuckled and I looked up at her, "If they even came in here, that would've been the last thing they see before you shoot arrows at them."

I actually giggled and nodded adamantly at that, "Yep." We were sharing a laugh together and when we stopped, I put my bow and arrow down on the floor, picking up my underwear and putting it back on. I was a bit dry anyways so it was time to put all my clothes on. I went to my pants and after putting through one leg at a time into them, I pulled them up.

Luna had a nervous look shone in her eyes while watching me put my clothes back on, "Mike?"

I already put my socks on, "Yeah?" I started putting my shoes back on my feet after that.

"I think we need to leave this place."

I just picked up my brown vest, about to put it back on when I frowned, "What?"

Luna shot a glance towards the entrance of the cave and said, "I know that it was a close call, but I was afraid that one of them would somehow see this cave like you did and come in here. I saw through one of their viewpoints that one of them was close to seeing it. We were just lucky." She turned her whole body to face me, tail swished behind her, "We better leave as soon as we can. Move on in the journey. They might come back and this time we'll be in trouble."

I slowly shook my head after putting the vest on me, "Luna, are you sure? You might still be weak."

She replied with a shake of her head, "I feel fine. Your herbs really helped. I don't feel sore anymore."

"But you really lost a lot of blood and that's why you still could be weak."

"I walked fine to where you were. Course I did feel a bit wobbly, but I'm doing alright." She narrowed her eyes and snaked her head to my level, "Mike, we need to go now."

I tried to argue, "But, Luna-"

She reassured, "I'll be okay. I promise. Please...We need to leave this place before they decide to come back."

I looked right in her eyes, seeing that she really thinks we should leave. I kinda still think that this is a bad idea, but she's probably right. The Lost Souls might come back here. I let out a sigh and nodded a bit when I turned my head slowly at the entrance, "We'll wait for thirty minutes....Then we'll leave."

*****

Cora's sitting in front of one glowing red colored crystal and as she was close to it, the glow of it shined on her red scales. She was taking a deep breath and letting it out, while her mind was riddled with nervous mixed with exciting thoughts. Today was the day she leaves her home and her family friend. To leave with the three humans and the tall green drake traveling with them. To see Avarilan. To go to Wingspan for the first time in her whole life. Right now after eating a little bit ago, she was taking her time to wander around her home while everyone else was not ready. Knowing that this might be the last time she's gonna live in this place.

She really was excited to leave. This morning, she was pretty giddy when she ate with Rocko and everyone else. She even flapped her snout over and over again telling everyone that she's excited to leave home. But she also admitted that she was also nervous. She had never done this before, so that was probably a factor why she was. But the excitement was mostly winning over the nervousness in her body. She knows she can do this and not turn back. She can fight. She can survive. She can make it to the city of dragons.

Cora dipped her snout, having a sad look on her face. She's gonna leave Rocko behind.

Although he was strick of not leaving this place and kept her here for years, she still loved him. Loved him like a dad than a family friend. She understands real well why they'd both lived here for a long time. She loves him, but even she knows she wants to live a normal life. She wants to do this. And without a doubt, she'll miss him too.

Cora lifted her head to see her reflection in the crystal, her eyes staring back at her. The dragoness started to form a smile on her muzzle. She can do this.

Corajan hears her family friend standing behind her and spoke in a very low voice, "Corajan." She twisted her neck to look behind her, seeing the old grey drake's form towered over hers. He gestured his horned head to the tunnel that'll lead them outside, "Damon and the others are waiting for you."

She shifted around on her haunches to face him, "I was thinking they'd be waiting now. I've...Been in here for a long time after eating." Her eyes traced to the other glowing crystals that's around them, "I'm...Gonna miss this place. A lot of memories were made here."

Rocko giggled deeply, settling his wings on his back, looking around the cavern too, "Yes....I remember most of all about when you were just a hatchling, I would chase you in this very cavern to chase you playfully. That you were pretty fast when moving around those glowing crystals. That-"

Cora giggled and was waving her paw at him, "Rocko...Don't make this hard on me."

Rocko looked down at her and nodded timidly, "Sorry. I was just-"

Cora nodded once, "I know. I...Remember those times too. I just...." Her throat felt like it was about to tighten up when she tried to speak what's out of her mouth, "I just don't want the memories to stop me from leaving. I want to keep myself focused."

Rocko said, "True. Don't want to...Let the memories and mwah here try to stop you." He added with a shrug of his wings and shoulders, "Heh, even though I want to."

Cora playfully rose a brow, while those eyes held suspicion, "ROCKO, we talked about this." She held up her head in pride, "I do not want to live in a cave forever like you, remember?"

The drake rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, I get it."

The short red dragoness got up off her haunches and took a deep, trembling breath like she was about to break down and cry, but she held herself together, "I'm...I'm gonna miss you too. You know I love you, right?" He nodded in response. She softly shook her head, giving the drake a smile, "I won't forget about you. I'll always remember you taking care of me. And when I see my family, I'll tell him that you did a very nice job."

Rocko stared admiringly down at her, "And I really did. You're almost grown up and you're already leaving me."

Cora walked up and nuzzled his forelimb affectionately, "I'll come back home someday."

He lowered his head to her level and rubbed his cheek against her softly, "Yeah, don't forget to visit your parent figure. I may not be your father, but I still am your parent."

Cora sighed in sadness, as he nuzzled her. Then she started to nuzzle back, "I know.....I love you."

"I love you too, Corajan."

They both nuzzled each other for a bit, until her thoughts on the others waiting for her outside showed up in her mind. Making her pull from the tender moment they shared. She took a deep breath, her eyes kinda felt like they were going to burst with tears, "Alright....Lets go." She trotted away with her family friend in tow, leaving the cavern when they both went in the tunnel. Oh, she was doing her best not to cry now, but she's getting a feeling that they're gonna come out sooner or later. When the short and tall dragons went outside, Damon and the three humans are all standing around waiting for Cora to come. Scott, Emily and Rick had their stuff carried over their shoulders, evident that they really are ready. They all smiled when they emerged out of the cave.

Cora strode up to her soon traveling companions and smiled in a apologetic way, "Sorry it took so long. I-"

Damon was waving her off with a paw, showing her a sincere smile on his snout, "Oh, no need. I understand this feeling well. When I was about to leave Wingspan." He motioned his snout to her, "You needed time before you could leave your home."

Scott said when he took a step forward and reached out to caress the side of her face, "We know it's hard. So...Are you sure you want to-"

Cora nodded sincerely and spoke without hesitation, "Yes, I am." Her eyes rolled to Emily, Rick and Damon after Scott, "I really want to do this. I'm not turning back."

Rick took a breath before he let out a sigh, "If that's what you want, I guess. You can still stay here. You really have a choice."

She shook her head, moving her tail behind her, not going to change her mind, "I'm going with you."

Scott was stroking under her chin now, smiling at the choice she made, "Well...Ok then."

Emily walked up, having Scott move out of the way, and she was petting Cora's nose, "Hey, you'll love being in this group. So it won't be all boring."

Cora giggled, giving Emily's palm a lick with her tongue, making her yelp and yank her hand away, "I can see that." She gazed up at Damon and proudly proclaimed, "I'm ready."

Damon bowed his head to her a bit, "Ok." He shot his head towards the direction they're heading off, "We'll head that way. Just stay close to us." He started to turn his body, ready to set off with everyone.

Cora whirled around to see Rocko watching the scene. Ready to watch the hatchling he raised go off on a journey. Cora can see tears were about to be filled in his eyes. Cora sighed and nodded, "I'll come home one day, Rocko. You'll see."

He held a hopeful look and asked in a bit of a pleading tone, "Promise?"

She made a nod and promised, "Promise."

Rocko was puffing out his chest to try not to cry in front of everyone here. He locked his eyes on Scott and the others behind her, "Take good care of her, you hear me? You take care of her."

Scott nodded at that, speaking in a reassuring tone, "We will."

Emily held a hand to her chest, after wiping off Cora's saliva off of it, "We promise."

Cora spun back around to face them and nodded without any thought to try to stop her, "Alright, guys...Lets go." Damon began to lead the way, wings folded against his back and his long green tail swung a bit back and forth, the three humans and Cora walking behind as he led the way. Cora was walking a bit slower than the others, thinking about Rocko and figured that it was stopping her from leaving a little bit. Cora stopped and looked back, seeing Rocko at a distance, settling down on his haunches. Cora's tears finally came out of her eyes and she muttered to her family friend, "Rocko."

She spun and sprinted back to the old drake, until she skidded to a stop before she ran into his chest. Rocko had a look of surprise that she ran and came back. Cora didn't say a word, only nuzzling onto his chest with her cheek, wanting to give him one last nuzzle goodbye. Her family friend figured out what she was doing and lifted a paw to pet her scales. She said as a few tears fell down her face, "I love you."

Rocko said this the last time as well, tears streaming down his scaled cheeks too, "I'll always love you too, Cora."

And after nuzzling into him for another moment, Cora let out a sob and began to back slowly away from him. As she looked up at his eyes, she gave him one last smile and so did he. Without further ado, after doing what she'd wanted to do with him, she turn and ran back to her companions, a few more tears fell down her face. They were all waiting for her, noticed that Cora ran back and left them alone. When the young dragoness caught up to all of them, Emily had pity in her eyes and asked in a soft tone, "You gonna be ok?"

Cora let out a trembling breath, wiping her tears away with her forepaw, "Yeah...I'll be fine." The tears actually stopped falling, since they were just a brief moment of sadness to her. She looked up at Damonen, "Lead the way, big guy." Damon nodded and started padding away with Cora and them following behind. Ready to try this again. Cora knows she's done now and this time she's not running back. The red dragoness strode alongside Emily, who had wrapped a comforting arm around Cora's red neck. After Emily did so, Cora was smiling at the cute gesture. She really is gonna like Emily. She turned her eyes to Scott, who was watching Emily doing that to Cora with a grin on his face. Then she looked to Damon and Rick. She really is going to like them all.

Then when they both walked further away from her home, she can hear a loud roar of goodbye ringing out over the landscape, making Cora's heart crack with sadness as she knew it was Rocko who let out that roar. She was feeling sad still, but she didn't show it. She took one last glance behind her, seeing that Rocko and the cave are out of sight. Two words came to her mind. And they were...Goodbye, dad.