I stirred around on the ground, as the sunlight went right through the treetops and hit my face. The morning has arrived. I sighed when blinking my eyes open, still feeling a bit tired. I laid on the side on the soft grass with my head laid against my arm, hearing the birds of the forest chirping. I began to sit up, looking up at the shining sun. I stretched up my arms, moaning deeply in my throat. I shook my head over and over again to shake the sleepiness out of it. Well morning's here.

I turned to the spot Luna's laying down at and saw to my surprise that she's not there. Like she wasn't there at all. I shot up off the ground immediately, panic shooting throughout my body, "Luna?"

I heard her voice, "I'm over here." I turned around and there she was sitting on her haunches at a different spot, arching her neck to look behind her. She had a small grin on her snout. Relief came to me the second I saw her. Gosh, I didn't even look over there! And...She was quiet too! Quiet as a ghost! She didn't make any noise one tiny bit.

I giggled in embarrassment, "Heh, I didn't see you there."

Luna was giggling herself and resettled her wings on her back, "Were you worried about me again? I haven't gone far this time." She got to standing up on all fours now, turning her whole body around and padding up to me, lowering her head, "Didn't mean to make you worry me. I couldn't sleep anymore, so I was just standing guard."

I smiled at her, "I just didn't see you over there that's all." I yawned after that, saying this through it, "So...How long have you been awake?"

"Maybe a few hours ago. When the sky turned purple. When dawn arrived." She chuckled, "You really slept for a long time."

My face turned red as I realized I've slept longer than her. I turned my eyes away from her a bit, "Uh...Sorry about that. I guess I was keeping you waiting."

Luna bopped her snout against my chest with another chuckle deep in her throat, "Don't worry about it. I'm a patient girl. More rest, means you have more strength for travel." She shook her head, "I didn't mind watching over and waiting for you. Don't want you to kill over and fall asleep while walking with me."

I mentally giggled at that. She really is like a guard dog. Watching over me while I'm sleeping.

I'm guessing ever since what happened to me in the village, she's probably a bit worked up about it. Even though she won't admit it. But I did appreciate her watching over me.

She really is handy when she's with you.

I commented at that, "Thanks for considering that."

Luna replied when she rose her head with her tail thumping on the ground, "Well it is rude to wake someone from their sleep."

I rose a teasing eyebrow, "Would you be angry if I woke you up?"

She laughed and shook her head, "No." But then she shot her head to the right, "Well maybe I'd be a LITTLE cranky."

"What would've happened if I HAD to wake you up to run away or fight the enemy?"

Luna had a playful narrowed look and snorted, "Then I'll take it out on them for ruining a good nap!"

I was laughing at that, "I couldn't agree more." I yawned again, shaking my head when the drowsiness came back again, "Speaking of naps. I'm...Still feeling sorta sleepy though."

She tilted her head to the side and asked, "Do you want to sleep some more? I can wait if you want."

I shook my head and insisted, "No, it's fine. It just happens when you wake up. I'll be fine."

Luna made a crack, "Well good. Cause if you fell down tired and all, I'd have to carry you."

I gave her a suspicious look, "Which kind of carrying me? The flying kind of carry, or just the carry me while on the ground kind of carrying?"

She was tossing her head, laughing it off, "The second one. I'm not that devious."

I asked with suspicion in my voice, "You sure of that?"

The black dragoness rolled her eyes, "Well that's perfect. You didn't trust me because of what I was before, now you don't trust me saying that I'm not devious." She shrugged her shoulders and just slumped her wings to the sides, "What am I gonna do with you?"

I giggled, "I don't know, what are you gonna do with me?"

She was forming a devious smirk, "Mmm....I'll think of something."

I sighed and rolled up my eyes, walking to my bag on the ground, "Great, now I REALLY need to keep an eye on you." She laughed behind me, while I was digging around in my bag for one of the apples Merana gave me. I pulled one out and started to chew on it.

Luna mentioned when I turned around to face her, "I hope you don't mind that I was eating a few of them in your sleep."

My eyes went wide. Wow, the bag wasn't even that far away! She really was quiet. I laughed a bit with my mouth full, trying to not accidentally let the food fall out of my mouth, or at least choke on it, "You are one quiet girl. I didn't hear you get up from sleep and I didn't hear you rummaging through my bag."

Luna was showing me a big grin, meant to show off herself, "Oh, I'm very good at that. I can sneak up on you sleeping and you wouldn't even notice."

I held up my chin, "Yeah, like last night. I didn't hear you making any noises while looking at the sunset." I took another bite of the apple.

Luna remarked, when I bent down and slumped all of my stuff over my shoulder, "Perhaps you need to pay attention to your surroundings a bit more. Like also, maybe you should practice fighting more."

"Oh shut up, you freakin ghost." She was laughing at that, and I was joining her. I asked her after having another bite, "So are you ready to go? I am."

She turned her snout toward another direction, up north, "Yeah, I am. I was gonna ask you."

I made several strides until I was standing beside her. Her gaze brought back down to me. I said, "Yeah, I'm ready. Gotta get to your city as soon as possible."

She brought up with a hopeful look, "Or find your brother, whichever comes first."

I shot my head to my left, "Yup, whichever comes first."

Luna started to strode off to the north, tail wagging behind her, "Alright, come on." She looked back at me and remarked with a tease, "And remember! Always pay attention to your surroundings."

I rolled my eyes sarcastically, "Sure, whatever you say!"

She did a playful growl, as we're walking together on a dirt trail, to the hill that we were standing on last night, "You better do what I say. Or else if you get lost in these lands, don't come crying to me."

I shook my head, playfully shot back, "Don't worry, I won't." She laughed and I did along with her, shortly there after having another bite of the apple. Looking ahead as another day of our journey began.

*****

Damon made a rumble deep in his throat, the sunlight hitting him square in the face. He was hesitant to open his eyes since he didn't feel like he wanted to get up. But as usual, he'd put up with it. The morning has come. He opened his eyes and blinked them repeatedly. Trying to get his vision to come into focus. The sun already rose above the sky and it's rays pierced through the clouds. The birds in the area were chirping away. Not minding that it's morning time.

Except for Damon, he wasn't the birds. He didn't want to get up, but couldn't exactly go back to sleep. He sighed with his head laid on his forelimbs and slowly rose the underside of it off them and looked up at the cloud filled blue sky. The puffy white clouds were moving a bit slowly across the sky, and judging by the way the sky looks, morning seems to be about over. The drake arched his neck, opening his maw to let out a tongue curled yawn, his body shook a bit by it. He began to shake the grogginess out of his brain and looked to his side, seeing the three creatures from another world still asleep themselves. Scott slept closely to Emily, both laying on their sides, while Rick was laying around on his back.

He smiled at them, actually finding all three of them cute sleeping around. Especially seeing Scott and Emily sleeping close together. At first, when he'd met them, he always saw them so close together. He began to wonder if those two were actually mates. He was picturing it. He may not know them well, but he did picture it. Then a thought came to him. He did remember Scott saying on this cruise ship that they've called it, that he and Emily like each other and has looked at her body, so he believes it is a big possibility they are. 

Damon, since knowing that it's late morning now, knows that he has to get them all up. They had to continue on with their journey. Yesterday morning, they woke up before he did. Now he's up first and has to wake them up. The dragon chuckled to himself, slowly getting off of his stomach. Hoping to himself that they won't get mad at him for waking them up. They had to get moving.

Damonen rose off the grassy floor and started to let out a big long stretch, his tail curling over behind him, his talons clawed at the dirt. He moaned in his throat, feeling good by the stretch. He stretched his wings out next, popping one of them, and then resettling them upon his back. His eyes drew to the humans and he worked his way up to them, walking quietly as possible. He didn't want to scare them with his steps.

Damon got close to Scott and Emily, the male human rolled around with his back pressed against Emily's, his big green form blocking the sunlight and the shadow has washed on them like a cloud. He giggled at them. They did look cute together. He twisted his neck to look back at Rick laying nearby. The green drake thinks that human seems a bit too stern about things. Unlike Scott and Emily. He thought they were just like him a little bit. Damon was hardly ever stern about things.

He looked back down at the human female, his shadow still over her and Scott. He grinned at them again, especially at Emily.

Then all of a sudden he remembered her crying a few nights ago, after he rescued them all from a wolfir. How her cries of fear has drew his attention as he flew over that area and that was how he'd found them and the monster attacking them in that hollow tree. And after he rescued them, she had pleaded to him to help them get back home.

Now Damon was showing a pity look on his face. The way she cried...That tear stained face....That reminded him of someone. Someone he once knew years ago. Someone he does care deeply. That someone he knew, was the reason why he wasn't living in Wingspan right now.

Damon can still remember that friend...He hasn't forgotten his friend for years.

And Emily...Reminds him of his friend. Other than asking for his help, other than his curiosity towards her kind, that comparison made him stay with them...Made him stay with her. He was feeling so sorry for the little girl. Like he'd felt sorry for his friend.

He can never forget that tearful face.

Damon let out a breath. Well it was enough of staring at them sleeping, he had to get them up. With the thought the green dragon was lowering his nose to Emily and nudging her a bit, trying to rouse her awake. She didn't stir and he tried whispering in her ear now, "Emily....Emily, wake up." His pink tongue stuck out of his snout and licked at her forehead. That made her wake up.

With a moan, Emily opened her eyes and looked into Damon's eyes. Suddenly, she screamed in fright, "Aaahhh!!!"

Damon backed away in shock, wings flapped a bit and screamed too, "Aaaahhh!!!" Emily shot up from the ground, fear in her eyes as she looked at him. Damon realized that maybe it wasn't such a great idea. Maybe he should've just let them sleep a little more.

Scott shot his body off the ground too, as Emily's fear in her gaze went away, seeing that it was Damon that she'd screamed at. Scott frantically looked back and forth, asking her, "What? What is it?"

That's when Rick, unbeknownst to Damon, was already off the ground and ran to stand beside the drake. He held something in two hands, fierce look in his eyes, "What's the matter, Emily? What happened?"

Emily was laughing in embarrassment and she was waving them off, "Sorry about that. I just...I just...." She trailed off, speechless at what happened.

Scott now frowned at Damon who sat down on his haunches, his green cheeks turned red a bit from embarrassment as well, "Damon, what are you doing?"

Damon chuckled in confession, scratching the back of his neck with a wing tip, "Uh...Sorry about that. I was trying to wake one of you up, but I think I scared one of you."

Emily's laugh went down to giggling, "No, I'm the one who's sorry. I thought you were...Something else." She waved the drake off, "Sorry if I scared you too."

Damon smiled down at her, "It's quite alright. I...Didn't mean for what happened. It was already morning, and-"

Scott laughed, stretching up his arms, "You should've said 'hey everyone, time to get up'. That would've caused less trouble."

The dragon turned his snout away from embarrassment, "I didn't think of that. I was thinking we shouldn't sleep for a long time and kept moving."

Emily and Scott started to get up from the grass, Emily stretching up her limbs with a groan and a yawn, she dropped them back down and giggled, "Oh you're fine. Don't look so embarrassed." Damon turned his gaze back to her, noticing more than once that even her smile reminds him of his friend from back then. That same looking smile. Damon returned the facial gesture back, only showing a bit of teeth.

Emily only turned her eyes, to shoot a narrowed glance at her father Rick, "Dad, put the gun away, I'm fine."

Damon looked down to his side to see Rick calming himself down, that foreign weapon still in his hands. Damon cocked his head. He heard Rick say something about picking up a...Gun? But he doesn't have any idea what it does. Rick sighed, holding up that weird looking weapon, "Well you outa be lucky I have this. I thought you were in trouble."

Emily crossed her arms, "I'm FINE, dad."

Damon lowered his head to Rick's level, pretty curious about the weapon in the human's hands and Rick backed away from his eyes and nose in annoyance, "What? You just woke up my daughter, so sorry for getting worked up."

The green scaled drake shook his head, "I'm not mad that you're protecting you daughter. But...I'm curious as to what that thing is...A gun? Is that what you call it? What is a gun exactly? You still haven't told me about it."

Rick rolled his eyes, "Crap, more questions from the lizard."

Emily shot him a look, "Dad." She giggled and looked at Damon's form, his eyes turning to her now, "I'm sorry. A gun is...Like a..."

Scott tried to help her out, "Lets just say it's a...Weapon that shoots...Projectiles." He walked up to Rick and held out his hand, "Can I borrow the gun?"

Rick had a narrowed look, "You gonna give it back?"

He groaned, "Yes."

Damonen was having a curious frown, wondering what's gotten into those two. Why does it look like they hate each other? He's more curious about them than before. Rick handed this so called gun to Scott and then the human boy walked up to the dragon's face, showing him the gun. Damon was sniffing the foreign thing as Scott explained what it does, "This thing here is called a barrel. And that's where the projectiles come from. See, they come out of there with a high velocity, you can't see it. And...They're called bullets. And trust me when I say it, you do not want Rick to shoot at you with one of them. Especially at your head, you'd die instantly."

Damon muttered quietly, "Ah...Shoot. You mean like arrows? I've heard of something like that."

Rick asked in confusion, "Since when does a dragon know what an arrow is?"

Damon rose his head, "I do know some things in this world."

Rick went on, "But I didn't think that there would be...Arrows. What haven't you been telling us?"

Scott asked as well, "Yeah, are there creatures in Avarilan who shoot...Arrows?"

Damon replied with a nod, "Yes. The cheetahs."

Scott wrinkled his brow, "What the Lost Souls? They know how to shoot arrows?"

The dragon laughed, "Oh no, no. I haven't told you guys this yet, but lets just say that there are 'normal' cheetahs. Ones that aren't really black furred and glowing red eyed like Lost Souls are. See, there are a lot of them in the world. They know how to shoot arrows...According to what I heard anyways."

Scott and Rick had wide faces, shocked to know this now. Damon giggled and shook his head, "I REALLY need to tell you guys about them. About Lost Souls and Dark Dragons, I mean. I'll tell you about them tonight."

Rick let out an annoyed huff, taking the gun out of Scott's hands, "You better. I'm tired of being kept in suspense."

Emily while rummaging through her bag shot heated words at him, "Dad, quit chastising the dragon."

Rick grumbled while turning his back on the dragon, "I'm not chastising him."

Emily pulled a couple of things out of her bag, and strode up to Scott, handing him something. Damon knew what they were holding, he'd seen them eating those things. According to what Scott and Emily told him, they were chocolate bars and they're native in their world. The dragon's still curious and excited to know what other foods are native in their world that they'd like the share. He hasn't tried one of them yet, since it haven't came to mind, but perhaps one day he'll have the chance. The human female muttered to herself, after her father made that grumble, "Whatever." She looked up at the drake, as she was unwrapping the small thing in her hand and Scott was too, "I'm sorry about that."

Damon shook his head, shaking off her apology, "It's alright. He's probably isn't over his shock from what happened just now."

Emily shrugged her shoulders, "I guess so." Then she offered the chocolate bar to him, "Do you want something to eat?"

"I'm not even hungry yet. Maybe later."

Emily nodded, turning around to walk back to her bag on the ground, "Ok then." Scott was strolling up behind her, both of them picking up their bags off the ground.

Rick already had his bag off the ground and walked back up to the dragon, asking with a yawn, "Well since you scared us awake, which way do we go now?"

Damon gotten off his haunches, turning his head off to the direction to Wingspan. Putting on a serious look, pointing with his wing, "Well, we're going that way." He looked down at the humans, "All of you ready to go?"

Rick shrugged his shoulder, as Emily and Scott stood with him, all eyes on the drake, "I suppose we are." He waved at that direction, "Lead the way."

Damon nodded and started to pad off with the three of them behind him. Keeping close to the dragon's pace. Walking back on the trail they've used all day the other day, and continued on with it.

*****

I watched Rick trying to start up the campfire by using a lighter he'd found on the cruise ship and flipping it on repeatedly close to the wood. But problem was, the small lighter won't even turn on. This is our first campfire that we're gonna have since we left the luxurious ship. We haven't made one since we left, but this time we're starting one. Well Rick's trying anyways. I frowned at his attempts, seeing the lighter flickering over and over again in vain. Rick, we have a dragon by our side, why can't you let him start a fire? My eyes looked around for Damon. He's with Emily, keeping any eye on her since she wanted to get some more firewood. Good thing that a big, strong, green dragon will act as a bodyguard for her. I would've gone with her, but Rick told ME to stay with him. I knew what he was thinking, as usual. Not trusting me to be with her pretty much. God, Rick.

I lifted my chin, looking up at the sun almost going out. The place is about to get more darker by the minute. If Rick doesn't start the fire like he said repeatedly, I'm going to get Damon to do it!

I sat down on the grass, pulling my legs up to my chest. Another long day of travelling, and he can't start a damn fire. Well he did start a fire before we met Damon, but he was rubbing two sticks together. I think the reason why he's not rubbing two sticks again is because using a lighter was more easier than doing the other way.

Looks like you've been proven wrong, pal.

I sighed in annoyance when he was trying to flip the lighter on over and over again, "Rick, we have Damon remember? So why can't you let him start a fire when he gets back?"

Rick answered without looking at me, eyes still drawn on the wood, "Cause he's done enough for us."

I rolled up my eyes, "Heh, you look like you're doing enough. You can't even start a fire with a lighter."

Rick turned his head to glare, holding up the lighter, "I thought it had lighter fluid in it!"

I crossed my arms, "Rick, are you always this stubborn? Just let the dragon breathe some flames at it, and then we're good."

Rick tossed the lighter to the side and groaned, "I just said that he's done enough. I mean, he's fought against a monster, carried us to the ship by flight, and now he's trying to lead us to Wingspan." He held up a finger, "Which I still don't like that idea by the way."

I shook my head with a small smile, "I'm sure Damon won't mind it."

But Rick made a retort, picking up two sticks so he can rub them together, "I do."

I furrowed my brow. What does that mean? I think I know where this was going. I asked, "What's your problem now?"

He stopped doing his efforts and made a loud sigh, looking ahead at the trees, "I just...Don't like the idea of him breathing fire. Cause of...Before."

My eyes went wide, and then I narrowed them, "Are you saying you don't trust him now?" I waved off at the direction Damon and Emily walked off to, "Damon just saved our lives that night and now you're saying you don't trust him?"

Rick stood up on the ground and looked down at me, "Certainly figured it out."

I sighed, "Seriously? ....You don't trust the dragon who saved our lives from a damn werewolf monster, including your daughter? You are un-fucking believable."

That's when he shot his usual glare of anger at me, "Are you not seeing the big picture right now?"

"What damn picture?"

"The picture is that....I really don't like the look of this...'Trip' he's got us on. I mean, walking for several days, maybe weeks, to the place he belongs to so we can find a way home? I smell something suspicious about this plan. I mean, I'm thinking he does know how to get us home and doesn't want to tell us. Maybe he's-"

I rolled my eyes, "God, you really are un-fucking believable."

He gestured to me, "Well you'd believe it. You're gullible."

I was shooting a glare back at him, "Well I'm..." I made an air quote with one hand, "'Gullible', because I don't believe he's some bad dragon working with these...Dark ones. Rick, you really need to stop having distrust towards everyone and everything. Stop being so stubborn." Then I made a teasing grin, "Now the thought came to me, are you jealous that he's trying to get us home and you're not? Is it because this isn't your idea?"

Rick made an argument, "I don't have any reason to be jealous. I'm thinking with my brain. Besides, comparing to you, I'm actually protecting my daughter from dragons like him."

"Emily is out there alone with the dragon. If she was attacked, she would've screamed by now."

"Still thinking he's up to something, and he's not sharing it with us."

I had the glare return on my face, "Well you're wrong about him. Just like you're wrong about me."

Rick rolled his eyes and chuckled weakly, "Well how I feel about you is VERY justifiable."

I groaned in frustration just as usual, "Rick, I'm really fucking tired of this. You are so stubborn, I don't know what else to say." I got up and stomped towards him with a furious gaze, and a pat to my chest, "I don't care what you say about me. I'm not some bad kid who gets into trouble. I am nothing like my brother, I never did one stupid thing in my life, comparing to him. And speaking of my brother, since you're still worked up about what he did before, well in case you've forgotten, HE RISKED HIS LIFE TO SAVE OURS." I shoved a finger at him about three times, "Including Emily's. And I don't even think he even started that fight at all on the ship. I think he was forced."

Rick made a growl through his teeth, "You know what, you can make another lie all you want. Yes, I'm glad he saved our lives, but that doesn't excuse him from starting a fight and getting us all into trouble. Not to mention ruin the trip that my ex wife paid for us. I knew he was a troublemaker, and I can be certain you are too."

I shot back, "See, this accusation again. Well believe all you want, I still love your daughter and she's not a little girl anymore."

He retorted, "I'm her father." And he pointed a threatening finger at me, "And I know what's best for her."

Before we could argue anymore, we heard a brassy voice near us, "Hey, we're back!" Me and Rick turned and saw Damon padding out of the bushes, with Emily carrying three logs in her arms. She dropped them in the woodpile and sighed.

Emily grinned at me, "I see you haven't started the fire yet."

I gestured to Rick standing beside me still, "Well HE hasn't started the fire yet, I was just watching."

Rick sighed, looking up in the sky and murmuring in defense, "I thought there was lighter fluid in it."

Emily giggled and suggested, "Did you forget we had a dragon with us? He can do it."

Damon shot up his head settling on his haunches, "Yeah, I can do it." He formed a toothy grin on his snout, "What, am I not a dragon who can't breathe fire? Is that what you think, Rick?"

Rick looked at the green dragon, nodding slightly, "Look, Daycomo."

Emily shot a narrowed glance at her father, "Damon, dad!"

Damon hardened his look and snorted, "Yeah, just call me Damon for short. Not Damonen. I'm sure it's not THAT hard."

Rick replied with a shrug of his shoulders, "I guess I like to be formal about things." He crouched down to rub those sticks again, trying to make the fire again.

Damon offered with a waved paw, "I CAN make a fire. I really can."

Rick argued gritting his teeth in his efforts, "You've done enough, green dude."

Emily said with stern, "Dad." Rick froze and looked at his daughter. She was giving him the look telling her father to let Damon do this.

He let out a hard disgruntled sigh and stood up straight, throwing the sticks he had in the pile and thrusting his hands to it, saying to Damon with a bit of sarcasm in his voice, "Alright, go ahead then."

Damon coughed in his paw, "Alright." He took a deep breath, puffing out his scaled chest, "Here I go." I made a quiet gasp and started to back away from the wood. Rick did the same thing. I saw smoke coming out of Damon's muzzle and he let out a small thin line of fire at the wood, finally lighting it up. I giggled a bit, not what I was expecting. I was expecting him to blow a big, hard, burst of flame at the firewood, but it was small and short. Damon sighed in content at his work, "All done."

Emily patted his side, "Thank you, Damon."

Damon watched Emily striding up to me with a smirk, "You're welcome." I got close to the fire and sat down, Emily joining me.

Rick muttered quietly to the dragon, "Yeah...Thank you."

Damon cocked his head to the side, "What's the matter with you? You don't look happy."

Rick waved him off, sitting down on the ground too with a somewhat defeated sigh, "Nothing, leave me alone."

Damon held some concern in his eyes and asked me, "Something that we'd missed?"

Emily sighed and turned her head to me, "What's going on with dad?"

I shook my head at both of them, "You don't want to know."

The green dragon stared at me, looking like he doesn't believe it, but he nodded anyway, "Well...Alright." He lowered his stomach on the grass, settling himself down, his eyes on the fire he made, "At least, we'll have a warm fire now. We haven't made one since I took you guys away from the ship."

Rick muttered again, hanging his head, "...Yeah."

I glanced at my girlfriend's father. Rick...Get over it.

*****

I took one last bite from another milky way bar, chewing on it quietly as all of us are enjoying the warm fire in the cool night. The wood popping by the orange flames. I threw the chocolate bar wrapper away, done finishing it. Emily was sitting beside me, with Rick sitting on the other side of her. While Damon held an apple in his paw from another apple tree he and Emily came across while searching for the wood to gather for tonight, and dropped it in his gaping maw, snapping his jaws on it. He made a loud swallow and made a small satisfied croon in his throat, licking his snout in satisfaction. I was giggling at the display. Not really everyday you watch a dragon eat an apple like that. I'm somewhat still surprised that dragons exists, let alone not only eat meat, but also eat apples. ALSO, let alone that dragons live in a city called Wingspan.

Rick did have a point back on the ship...It feels like we're in some sort of dream. But only this isn't a dream. Never was at all.

Heck, we practically rode on him and touched his scales. They feel warm and soft, which they never felt rough and hard like a fish, which meant that he's warm blooded. I mean, nobody could never imagine dragons being like that. I never did.

I wonder what Mike would think of this? Think after touching the dragon's scales?

My heart was sinking at the thought of Mike again. That is...If he's still alive somewhere and would get the chance to experience these things. I looked off to the distance away from the fire out at the darkened woods. Mike...You'd probably like the dragon.

Heh, I do remember that you're afraid of heights, so I don't think you'd want to ride on his back like we did. I do remember why you have that particular fear, up to this day. I couldn't blame you, not after what happened to you.

I can remember how mom was so worried about you up to that day, while I wasn't there when it happened. But...I do know why though, after mom told me.

Mike...

Damon's voice cut through my mind, "Scott?" I shook my head out of those thoughts and moved my gaze to the green dragon, his green scales being shined by the glare of the flames, "Are you alright?"

I grinned and nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine."

He cocked his head, "Really? I thought something was on your little mind."

I giggled and made a crack, "Little? Does that mean that I have a 'little' brain?"

Damon and Emily just laughed at that and the dragon shook his head, "Nope, just your little head. I'm sure your brain's big."

Rick rolled up his eyes, "Heh, if you call it big."

Emily shot a glare at him and nudged him hard in the rib, "Dad."

That was when Rick just laughed a little bit, "You know something, Em? I thought I was supposed to be the parent, but more than once you said 'dad' in a stern tone like a parent would. I mean, aren't I supposed to be the dad here?"

Emily made a teasing grin across her lips, "Well the way you act, makes you sound like you're a child. How you grumble and grumble in anger. You really do sound like a baby." I snickered at her statement and Damon was too, trying to not laugh through his snout.

Rick slightly groaned, then he shifted around on the ground to face her, thumbing to himself, "I'm not a baby. I'm a grownup."

She crossed her arms with that grin still plastered on her face, "Then quit acting like a brat then."

He actually smiled at her comment and replied back, "Fine, I will."

Damon remarked, gesturing his snout toward me and Emily, "I got to say, I hardly ever see you smile like those two here. You really are the sternest one in the group."

Rick made a serious frown turning to the drake, "Ought to be, since I'm the grownup." That was when curiosity was shone in his eyes, "Speaking of which, how old are you?"

Damon hummed in thought, "Well I'm twenty-seven."

Emily stared in awe, "No kidding? You're twenty-seven?"

He nodded, "Yep." He looked up at the dark skies, "If you're wondering how long dragons live, dragons get to live to be a hundred and fifty years. Two hundred, depending on the dragon's health and life."

I chuckled in disbelief, "Gosh, man. Dragons live that long? That's twice as long as humans." I waved to me and then to Emily and her father beside me, "Us humans live to be a hundred, and usually that doesn't happen a lot. Health and all."

Emily added with her finger raised, "Well I did remember this person who lived to be about a hundred and five." She peered at her father, "Do you remember him?"

Rick giggled and nodded, "Yeah, his name was Earl. Earl Crocker. That guy was very old. Older than your grandfather."

Emily had a wide look, "Can you even imagine if grandfather lived that long?" He and her just shared a giggle together.

Damon curled his neck into a shape of an s, "Earl? Seriously, your kind has really foreign names."

I laughed and shot playfully at him, "Look whose talking! Your name's pretty foreign to us!"

Emily joined in with me, pointing her finger right at the dragon's smug face, "Yeah, don't deny that."

Damon slightly snickered with a paw to his jaws, "Well you got me there. I'm sure that you don't come across humans with the name 'Damonen' on them." He pointed a claw at Rick, "Rick here can't even say my name!"

Rick just rolled his eyes in sarcasm, "Whatever."

Emily nudged him, "Acting like a brat again."

But Rick waved his hand off at her, "Still whatever."

Damon went on with his eyes trailing to one of us at a time, "Ancestors, I know for a fact that I wouldn't meet dragons that go with the names 'Scott, Emily, and Rick'."

Emily grinned at him, pulling her legs to her chest and scooting closer to the flames, "Pretty unique to you, eh?"

He shot up his head, wings folding on his back, "Oh definitely."

Emily remarked, "Well your name's pretty unique too."

I think I saw his green scales turn darker by a shade of red. That made me giggle seeing that. Ok, other than seeing a dragon eating a apple, now I'm seeing a dragon blushing. That's pretty funny. Damon hung his head with a slight smile on his muzzle, shifting his weight around shyly on his paws and saying in modesty, "Thank you."

Rick asked with a narrowed look, "What's up with you?"

Damon's blush had gone away and he rose his gaze to my girlfriend's father, "Nothing."

We were both now sitting around in silence for several long minutes. No noise, except the fire popping the wood and the crickets in the woods. After several moments of silence, Rick decided to cut through it, staring at Damon, "Hey uh...Dromino."

Emily huffed, "Again, dad, Damon."

Rick sighed, "DAMON."

Damon formed a smirk on his snout, "Yes, Rick?"

He asked the dragon, "You said you were planning to tell us about Lost Souls and Dark Dragons. What can you tell us about them? What are we dealing with really?"

I rose a brow in question, "Yeah, I do know that Lost Souls aren't like 'normal' cheetahs. So why is that? And why are there dragons attacking everything? Why are they....Evil?"

Damon puffed his chest out and let it all out in a whoosh of air, "Well the time has come for me to tell this tale, I suppose." He nodded, laying one forepaw over the other, his tail moved close to his side, "Ok, well....They weren't born like all of us are. They were actually created by dark magic from their master. The one who started a war that has went on for years. A dragon named Abyss."

Rick asked, "Abyss? Master?" My mind popped at the name. Wow...Sounds kinda menacing...And scary too.

Damon went on, "He's a dragon that holds a lot of power. More power than you could imagine. More than The Great One. Most of it as dark magic. He's...Not exactly like any other dragon. He's real different than everyone else. Than me, to be exact." He made a growl just thinking about it, "Abyss alone has made this war happen and it happened a long time ago."

Emily said with a look of curiosity, "So the Lost Souls and Dark Dragons weren't the ones who started the war? It was a dragon?"

Rick waved a hand at him, "A dragon born, not created by any kind of magic?"

Damon nodded softly, "Exactly. He was born from a egg, like all dragons were. Used to even live in Wingspan a long time ago."

My eyes went wide in shock, "Gosh, really?"

"But the thing is, with his magic from way back then, after leaving the city, he created Dark Dragons to follow his commands under his iron will. And since he created them, the war began."

Rick shook his head, "Jesus."

Damon let out a big drawn out sigh, "As the war went on, Abyss had more devious plans. To add something else under his command. Lost Souls." He raised a claw, "The thing about that, is that the cheetahs that you encountered and escaped from, they used to be normal, but not anymore. Basically, they used to be normal, LIVING cheetahs."

I said, "I don't get it."

"The cheetahs never wanted to be in the war, compared to dragons, but we still held allegiance to them. Dragons and cheetahs are friends, but we don't socialize with them anymore. Cheetahs are just a peaceful race. But problem was, despite that they don't want to be in the war, they're still in it. With Dark Dragons attacking them within every minute, a lot of them have died throughout the years. And after they die....Their bodies get taken back to their master."

I was seeing where this was going and I asked this question, "And Abyss...Brings them back from the dead?"

Damon thought about it a second and went on with a small thump of his tail on the grass, "Well, I think they're only just vessels with no souls. Their bodies are brought back from the dead, but...They really have no souls, that I know. Their bodies are only fueled up with dark magic brought upon by Abyss himself. You see their glowing red eyes, right?" All three of us nodded at the question, "That's the magic emitting inside them. And as for their fur color, that's another distinctive trait about them. Cheetahs when they're born, never have black fur. When their bodies are now empty vessels and are the way they are, their fur color abnormally changes. And that's why they're referred as-"

I blurted it out, "Lost Souls."

Damon replied with a snort, "Yep. That's what else he'd created in his dark army. Abyss uses everything in his power to get what he wishes. They're only created to only follow their master's orders. And his creations will do what he says and fail at no cost at all. No matter what he tells them to do. None of them have a care, and none of them have emotions. They wouldn't show remorse when killing an innocent creature. Dark Dragons and Lost Souls aren't normal...Just like their master. And he's the worst one."

Gosh....So those monsters we'd encountered, they all follow the orders of a dragon born like any other dragon, not born by magic, and his name's Abyss. He's the one who did all this. A thought came to me. So then wait, if Abyss orders his creations around....Why did he want his army to capture several humans, including me, and take them to some place that has a ...Crystal? Why is that? Why pick us humans? Now I'm curious, does Damon know about that? That big, blue, shining crystal I mean. Has he heard about something like that?

Rick sighed and remarking this, "Well, that sounds like a scary campfire story."

Emily added with a small shrug, "More like a true campfire story."

Her father went on, "And now it turns out we're involved in that dragon's war. Which, I guess it's no wonder things looked pretty scary."

I stated when I hung my head, "Yeah, and a lot of humans gotten involved and died...Because of this war."

Damon held a pity look for us, "Listen...You're lucky to be alive, all of you." He was showing us a smirk, "I know that you're new to this world and never knew of all of this, but you're real lucky. You have been through so much before we met and stayed alive until I met you that night. You're more lucky than you think."

Rick said, "Well we were lucky, surprisingly enough. Now I'm wondering if that luck will last."

The dragon said melting his smile away, "I know that all of this sounds scary, but remember as long as you stay with me, everything will be ok. I will get you home. I promise."

Rick shot a glare at him, "How can you promise that?" I was narrowing my eyes at him. I knew what he's thinking, sensing he doesn't trust Damon. Wondering what his motives really are. He's thinking that Damon won't get us home, and is playing us. Like he's wondering why is he taking us to Wingspan really. I don't believe that Damon's up to something bad, Rick really needs to get that through his thick stubborn skull.

Damon sighed and only shook his head slightly, "I don't know. I just feel it." His eyes flashed with determination, "I'm not giving up on you guys. I will get you there. That's a promise from this drake."

Emily showed hope in her eyes and beamed, "Thank you, Damon."

He showed a grin, "Just doing what I was born to do." Now he held up his snout and yawned, "Well...I'm feeling spent. I think it's time we rest up."

Rick still had his suspicious look in his eyes, before he nodded twice at the idea, "Good idea." He turned to me and Emily, "Guys, we better go to sleep now."

I backed away from the fire, ready to lay down, "Um, yeah."

Emily giggled at Damon, who was about to lay his head on top of his paws, "Well I hope tomorrow morning will be better than this one."

Damon was laughing a bit, head laid down on them, "Trust me, I won't scare you guys like that again."

I laid down my back, staring up at the stars. Emily did the same thing, cuddling close to me. She carried her voice to Damon, while both of us looked up at the night sky, "Goodnight, Damon."

We heard him said it back, "Goodnight, guys." We heard him let out a sigh, probably relaxing and closing his eyes to sleep now. I did hear Rick shifting around on the grass, laying close to the fire himself.

Both me and Emily stared at the sky some more, her arm laid on top of my chest and my arm wrapped around her shoulder. We were hearing the crackling of the flames still. Until we both grew tired and first she closed her eyes, and then I did moments later. Ready to move onto tomorrow.

*****

The full moon was shining up in the sky, as it's rays shined on over the lands. I was sitting around near a fire Luna made, feeling satisfyingly full from eating about two apples. Gosh, I think I'm going fast through them. I'm about maybe ten apples left! I giggled to myself, throwing the eaten apple into the fire, listening to that fire burn with crackling sounds. I pulled my legs up to my chest, sighing to myself. Well, things are off to a good start.

Since yesterday after leaving the village, things have been calm and quiet. No Lost Souls, no Dark Dragons, no...Other dangers that I'd meet in this journey. All day today, things have been just pleasant. Me and Luna have wandered in another meadow and in the woods most of the day. Heh, maybe at this rate we'll be in Wingspan without trouble. Can only hope though, not guaranteeing that. Still haven't exactly found Scott yet, but I'm not gonna assume he's dead now. It's like Luna says, don't give up that hope. Only believe he's dead, until you hear it, or see it. He is alive.

I smiled at her words. Thanks, Luna. Thanks for that.

Then I got myself thinking about Luna now. Hmm, where is Luna? She said she was gonna take a short walk a bit and come back. So where did she go?

Now dread was coming to me, as my worry for her came to me. I hope she's not in trouble. I better go look for her.

I made a groan, as I got myself off the ground, dusting myself from the dirt that's caught in my pants. I advanced away from the warm fire, and into the cool air away from that spot. Now searching for Luna in the direction she walked off to.

My steps crashed softly on the grass, the crickets were making their noises away in the dark trees around me. Not long after I started to search for her, she wasn't far away from where I was at. Luna was sitting on her haunches, looking up at the skies, probably right at the full moon above us all. I can tell, since her eyes were solely focused on the beautiful lunar planet. I can see that the rays shining on her black scales made her look beautiful. I was smiling at the image ahead of me.

I think as my shoes were brushing against the grass, I saw her ears flicker at my direction. She must've heard me. The black dragon curled her neck and body to look behind her. She saw me and gave me a small grin, "Hey."

I acknowledged her with a small wave and a grin of my own, "Hey yourself." I asked when I got close to her, "What are you doing right here? I thought you were taking a walk."

Luna shook her head softly and muttered, "No. I was thinking about it, but then I changed my mind and just sat down here." She gave me a sheepish smile, "I was gonna come back, you were worried about me?" She rose her brow and teasingly said, "You do know I'm a dragon, right? I'm bigger and can take care of myself. It's YOU that can't."

That again? Come on! I rolled my eyes, "Speak for yourself! I can fight like you!"

She shot back, "You say that, but that doesn't change what happened to you the last two times in battle."

I waved her off, "Oh, shut up."

"Have you been practicing your fighting techniques? Have you been practicing shooting your bow?"

I playfully narrowed her, "Well I haven't when I'm walking with you all damn day."

"Lame excuse. You can always stop and practice fighting."

"Haven't thought about it."

"That's another lame excuse!" I let out a loud whined, and she tossed her head and laughed, her tail flicking repeatedly on the ground. I did too, despite my face turning red from this. She stopped herself and added, "Don't worry, you have time to work on it. Just quit making excuses."

I clasped my hands together, like I was in a prayer, and then I bent forward to bow at her, "Yes, sensei."

Luna wrinkled her face, "Uh, what?"

I laughed at her expression before answering, "Sensei means teacher. It's a teacher that teaches humans martial arts."

I knew she wouldn't have any worldly idea what I'm talking about, cause she cocked her head at me, "Martial arts?"

I only chuckled at that one, "I'll tell you about that later." I sighed, "Whew, well now that's settled and over with, can I stand and join you?" I made a gesture to her, "You know, since I got up already feeling worried for you."

Luna shrugged her shoulders, flickered the wings on her back before resettling them, "Go ahead. I don't want to head back to camp now. I'm comfortable right here." I just stood myself more closer to her, both of us looking up at the moon together. I had to say, the moon was bright even for my eyes. I don't remember the last time seeing the moon shining like that.

After standing around with her in silence, I broke it, "So uh...Why are you looking at the moon? Something special about it?" I shrugged my shoulders, not taking my eyes off of the bright moon, "It looks like an ordinary moon to me."

Luna answered, curling her tail around her body, "Oh, nothing special about it. I always like staring at the moon in a night like this. When it shines like that in the night, I just stare at it."

I turned my head to her, "But why?"

She still didn't look down at me, "I don't know. I just feel kinda....Connected to it. Actually...Sometimes I think the moon has a personality of it's own."

My eyes went wide at her words. Well that was a bit...Odd. I mumbled, holding my hands behind my back, "Okaaay, whatever you say."

Luna actually chuckled and looked down beside me, "Forget about it. I...Don't think you can understand it."

I swung my arms back and forth, looking up at her eyes, "I'm trying to. Don't get me wrong." Then that's when I sorta had an idea and asked, "I just had an idea though, want to hear it?"

She waved her paw to me, almost hitting my chest with it, "Sure. I'm curious as to what your thoughts on it are."

I held a pity look for her, "That...For eleven years since you left Wingspan....You never had a friend...You were all alone out here, day and night, dodging Lost Soul and Dark Dragon that you come across. And....You never talked to anyone for years, but...Only the moon. Is that right? Is that why you think it has a personality?"

She was holding a sad look now and looking up at the shining moon, "Sometimes...I do talk to it. Like it's the only friend out here to me. One who doesn't turn it's back on me. One who doesn't treat me like I'm...Dark Storm. " She giggled after that, "I think it keeps me sane also. As strange as it sounds, it does. No wonder I haven't went crazy for years."

I stated, "Yeah, but then others would think you were crazy when they'd see you talking to the moon. I can understand their point of view well."

Luna turned her snout down to me, "What about you?"

I shook my head at her, smiling a bit, "I wouldn't think you're crazy. I'd understand why you'd do that. It's perfectly understandable."

She smiled at me, "Thank you, Mike." Then her smile has gone away in an instant and she started dipping her snout, turning it away from me towards ahead with her eyes shut closed.

I knew what she was thinking. She was thinking about...Her past. I slowly walked up to her dipped snout, standing beside it, "I know what you're thinking, girl."

She let out a sorrowed breath, opening up one eye to a slit to gaze at me, her voice coming out soft and low, "I said to you before it haunts me. And it always has. Even in my dreams." She closed it again, not letting me see it.

I said, "I don't blame you. It's...Not the kind of thing to forget. How can you forget something like that? And...I wish nothing like that happened to you." I then asked in a smooth tone, saying this close to her ear, "Do you want to talk about it?" She sighed, giving me the answer she has twice, now this is the third time. I nodded at her and said with my head hung, "Look...Luna....I get it. I know that you don't want to talk about it. You never want to get into these things. Plus, you thought that by telling someone this, that person wouldn't listen and believe you." I trained my eyes onto her and put a hand to my chest, "I'm nothing like them, and you know it. I'd listen, never judge. Well I had before, but I'm willing to listen now. And...Here's another thing I want to share with you too."

I raised my hand and planted it right on her cheek, rubbing it consolably, "I know you think that not talking about it will make it go away, but we both know it won't. And...You never told anybody this." My eyes were giving her more pity and sympathy than before, "I know it's hard, Luna. But...I still want to know what happened to you. I want to know the truth. Cause nobody doesn't know about it. I will, if you'd let me hear it." I sighed, "If you...Don't want to tell me, that'll be fine too. I promise you, I won't ask about it again. But I just think it'll make you feel a little better to just tell me, instead of keeping it inside you. It isn't healthy. But I will drop the question, if you don't want to tell me. Ok?" Luna leaned into my hand, wanting more of my touch. I began to move in front of her face, cupping her chin with my hands, planting a small comforting kiss on her nose, "So...Do you want to share it?"

She finally opened her eyes, showing me pain and guilt, "It...Really is hard."

I shook my gaze, "I didn't say it'd be easy. But remember...I'll be with you." I gave her a wink, "I promise."

Luna stared into my gaze for a long time, I think I heard her swallowing a lump with a gulp. I rubbed the underside of her head, in smooth strokes. Not leaving my gaze off hers. Until Luna finally rose her head off my hands and just stared down at my form in front of her. She looked away from my eyes. I held a look of concern and asked, "Luna? ....Luna?"

She finally muttered, "For all my life...I never knew that it would happen to me. Out of all dragons, it'd happened to me."

I knew she was starting her tale, so I just stood there and listened, "Before it happened....I was a teenager, not all big and tall like right now. A pretty curious one at that. I was curious about the outside world. Curious to see what's outside the city of Wingspan. I mean, I do know that the city sometimes gets attacked by the dark forces of Abyss, but...I was still curious. One night, I snuck out of the city, exploring what was out there. I thought it looked beautiful, the lands and all. Me, a young dragoness, exploring outside the city. It felt foreign, but exciting to me. But...I accidentally flew far away from my home and that's when it began to happen." She looked up at the stars, "Several Dark Dragons came out of nowhere in the air and began to chase me. I tried to fly as fast as I could, but they were much faster. I screamed for help, but there was nobody around. They...Knocked me out of the sky, and I was falling. I felt weak, I couldn't fly anymore. Then...They just caught me in mid air, carrying me off. I couldn't move or anything, I was too hurt to move."

I titled my head and she went on, "They...Took me to a land far away from home. To...Abyss's temple. The temple near the volcano." She sighed, "I did have some strength coming back to me, but...I wouldn't have broken the grasp that Dark Dragon had ahold of me. I was trapped. I couldn't escape. I was taken all the way there. When we arrived, A Lost Soul wrapped a chain around my neck and started to drag me by it. I couldn't use my fire, that chain must've been made with magic. I was really trapped. They dragged me all the way into the temple, to the throne room and that's when I saw him. Abyss."

She shut her eyes and shuddered, "He...Looked so scary and horrible. He was like a shadow, but with a lot of scars on his body. And those eyes....They pierced my heart and soul. They've frightened me to the core. Even his voice sounded scary. So gravelly. He didn't sound normal like everyone else. He...Was a monster. A horrifying, scary monster." She kneaded at the ground with his claws, trying to build the courage to say more, "The...Monster circled around me, observing me, actually he'd admired me. Saying to me in that voice that I was chosen to be...In his army."

"Gosh...."

Luna nodded, "That's what he'd wanted from me, not killing me at all. He wanted me to be in his army, to command it. He saw that I had power in me that's strong like his. But...I didn't want it. I wanted to go home. I begged him." She let out a trembling breath, "He....Didn't let me go. He said that I was his. And then...Something happened, when his eyes began to glow....I was feeling different. A warm, tingling sensation all over my limbs, body and wings. I was shaking all over, and then....I was starting to change. I didn't feel like I was myself, I was becoming...Different."

I watched her form tremble again, but she still had that courage, "I grew in size, at a fast rate. I wasn't small anymore. Around that time...I became what you see now. Tall and big, but...My emotions weren't my own. I felt like I was in a trance. I didn't move or anything. I felt...Controlled."

I muttered sadly, "Luna." So...She was controlled. That's what happened to her. I knew it. Abyss used his power to make her big and dangerous, and he was using his power to control her. That's what happened to her. That's what she'd meant when she was forced.

"I only watched from within. Within the eyes of the monster I became. It's a little hard to explain. But...Lets just say now I was on his side." She shook her head slowly, I thought I saw a tear fall down her cheek, "I called him...Master. That I can remember well. But...I don't remember much else after that. It's like my memories were scrambled, after The Great One rescued me. He...Knew what was happening to me, he knew what was going on. He...Used his power to fight me and break that influence off of me. I became little again, began to feel like myself again also. I had full control over my body again."

Luna turned her snout down at me, seeing pain and guilt in her eyes flash more brighter than ever, "My memories were messed up after being released, but I still remember....Several bits and pieces of the past while I was...Evil. I can remember the fear in several creatures eyes....The blood...The screams....The commands I was giving to the army I was leading....I can remember several things." She took a deep, shuddering breath and letted it out, "I became my normal self, but my life was never the same afterward. Everyone in the city, gave me these looks of anger every time I walk past them. The accusing stares that I get with each passing glance. No one didn't believe that I was like them, they viewed me as the Dark Storm before, and I was just small. They didn't believe a word I said to them that I am one of them. They viewed me as the monster. They hated me."

"Luna...."

I saw her eyes began to mist, one tear fell down her face when she blinked, "I know that Abyss used his power to have me by his side, I know that I was forced by him, but...It still felt like it was all my fault. Everyone had every right to hate me. I didn't stop myself...I couldn't stop. I...I couldn't control myself. I didn't stop myself from doing all these horrible things. All the blood was drenched onto my claws. I'm the murderer, I'm no better than the Dark Dragons. I was no better than Abyss."

She lowered her head to my level, looking at me sadly, "I left the city, because I couldn't take the guilt and past anymore. But...I also wanted to redeem myself for everything. It felt like my destiny didn't belong staying in Wingspan, but it was out here somewhere for me to find. That was another reason why I'd left. But it was mostly because of my guilt and pain. I mean, what destiny lies for me out here? I haven't found my destiny for years." She closed her eyes tightly, by the sound of her voice, it was tightening now, "I'm a bad dragon, because I didn't try hard enough to stop myself. I was weak. Every dragon and creature did make a strong argument....Everything was on me. EVERYTHING WAS MY FAULT." She sobbed quietly in front of me, finally have broken down softly.

I watched her cry for a bit, until I decided to walk up and hug her head, pulling her close to my chest. Her form quivered a bit by her sobbing. I softly petted her scales, soothing her guilt and pain away. God...Luna. I'm sorry.

I'm so, so sorry.

But....It wasn't your fault. It never was.

I said it out loud to her, while my cheek was pressed against her forehead, "It's not your fault."

She murmured with a sniff, running out of sobs, "Yes it is."

"No...No it isn't." She sniffed again and pulled her snout back from my embrace, her eyes still wet when she peered into my eyes. I shook my head again, showing determination and honesty, "It wasn't. It was never your fault. It was Abyss's. He did this to you." I made a glare, angry at the monster who did this to her, "You never meant to do all those things. You were right, you were forced. Forced to do all those things by HIM. He forced you, and everyone just didn't understand it. Not even understand you. They didn't give you a chance. They thought it was your doing, but it wasn't, it was Abyss's. You didn't deserve to be treated unfairly over something you didn't have control over. And...Even I could never blame you." I was giving her a smile, "I know it's not your fault, and I could never blame you. No matter what happened."

Luna sniffed her nose once again, "Mike...I need to ask you something, and I want you to be truly honest with me, understand?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Do....Do you hate me?"

I shook my head.

She asked again, "Do you fear me?"

I shook my head again as before, "You know better than that. I'm not afraid, and I don't hate you. I had before, but I'm not." I hung my head, rubbing my neck, "And I...I got a confession too. See...The reason why I understand your feelings, the reason why I came to see you that night in the village....Is because I was in that kind of position as you were."

She cocked her head, "What are you talking about?"

I sighed, "Lets just say....My situation was way different than yours. But I did some....Bad things myself." Her eyes widened at that, "I have changed though. I'm not that kind of human anymore. But...Nobody doesn't think that I've changed...Not even my family." I peered back at her gaze, "So if you think you're the only one with that kind of problem, think again."

Luna hesitantly asked, "What...Did you do?"

I softly shook my head at her, "I...I don't want to get into that. That'll be the conversation for another night." I reached out to stroke her cheek, "What matters right now is you. You're not alone anymore. Because I'm with you."

Luna began to slowly smile at me, "Mike...Thank you for not hating or fearing me. It does mean so much that you care."

I smiled back at her, "You deserved that kindness." I reached up some more to her ear, and I started to scratch behind it. Her ear twitched at my fingers, until it stopped. I saw Luna's eyes rolling in the back of her skull, letting out a small moan and she was leaning into my fingers, appeared to wanting more of it. I didn't stop scratching at her ear, I didn't stop for a second. I was giggling at this. She's getting her first scratching session from me.

Then I could hear something in the air. It sounded like a rumble at first. But then...It sounded odd. While Luna was leaning deeper into my hand, closing her eyes in content and enjoying it so much, I think I can hear something coming from her, deep in her throat.

It sounded like a....Purr. Like a cat.

I jerked my hand away, backing up a bit from her, "Luna?"

The purring stopped, when she opened her eyes, "Why'd you stop? I was enjoying it."

I tilted my head in confusion, "What was that? Were you...Purring?"

Luna replied, "Well yeah."

I blinked twice and then chuckled in surprise, "Wow...I didn't think that dragons can do that."

"Oh they can, when they're enjoying something so much. Like having someone scratch their ears." She giggled, "You got nice fingers."

I lifted my hand to look at it, twiddling my five fingers and laughed at this, "Thank you." Then I went to giggling now, "And uh....Do you want to be my friend?"

Now she had confusion in her eyes, "I thought we were friends."

I shrugged my shoulders, "Well I just thought we'd make things very official. How about I start?" I said in a high brassy voice, planting both hands to my waist, "Good afternoon, lady. I'm Mike Sumner."

Luna laughed at that, "Well in that case..." She bowed her head slightly, "Pleased to meet you, Mike. I'm Lunasin. Or Luna, for short."

I giggled again and rubbed her nose tenderly, "I know we were friends before, but now we're OFFICIALLY friends."

She giggled in her throat, "Thanks." She let out a pleasant sigh, gazing directly to me, "To be honest, Mike...You're the third creature in the world who has ever became my friend."

I asked, "You talking about Merana and Meadow?"

Surprisingly, Luna shook her head, "No...Before I met them, before I met you. See...I did have friends, but only two of them. They...Do live in Wingspan. It's...Been a real long time since I've last seen them."

I said with a frown, "Who are they?"

The dragoness said with a giggle, "I'll tell you about them later." She rose her head high above me, making me drop my hand to the side. She looked up at the moon again, taking a deep breath, "I just want to relax now."

I shrugged my hands, walked up to stand beside her, "Won't argue with that." She giggled and when I joined her gaze, we just watched the moon in silence. Now thoughts were running through my mind. So...Luna had friends back then? Who? Well I suppose she'll tell me about them later, like I'll tell her about what I've done back then. What a story I'd be telling her.

I took my eyes off the moon for a second and onto her. Didn't notice me doing that one bit. I smirked at her beautiful, moonlit form. You're not alone, Luna. You've suffered and been alone for years. Without anyone to talk to.

Well I'm here, big girl. I'll be your friend.

And nothing will make me change otherwise.