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As the sun was lowering itself down below the horizon and the sky was turning orange, little Corajan sat outside in front of the mouth of the cave with her tail curled around her body. Her eyes were filled with wonder as she held her snout up at the sky. A smile slowly formed across her muzzle when her heart just pounded a bit as the thought of leaving this place permanently for the first time in her life has crossed her mind.

The young red dragoness took a deep breath and let it out as excitement was filling her chest. Her thought went back to how she came up with the idea to go with Scott and his friends on their journey. That she'll get to experience and maybe even have friends herself. She does like Scott, Emily and Damon pretty much. Rick too, but only a little bit. After how Scott described him, he's pretty stern about most things. Actually overprotective of his daughter. That she can relate to with Emily. She even knows that Scott and Rick don't like each other for some reason and Scott mentioned to her that it was...VERY personal.

Wonder why really? That's what's going through her mind. Cora shrugged her shoulders, letting out a breath. Well Scott, the human girl and the green drake seem to put up with his attitude. And if they can do it, she figured she can too. It wasn't like she's dealt with someone who was stern. Only by Scott's words...Rick's more stern than Rockojaren.

Now her brain was filled with thoughts of wonder as her imagination went wild. With all the places her family friend told her throughout the years, she's wondering if she'll get to see any of them. The swamps, the mountains, the desert, any place she heard of. The dragoness shifted her weight on the ground in excitement too. She's actually hoping that she'll get to see cheetahs and gryphons along the way too! She heard that gryphons are big and tall like dragons and cheetahs are probably the same size as the humans are. Boy, was she excited for these things to happen. A hopeful thought came to her as she remembered that Scott said that he'll talk to his friends about her proposal to go with them. Cora's hoping that they'll let her come.

Cora knows she can fight, despite her small stature. She knows she's not weak. She knows she's not afraid of anything. She remembered she called out for help yesterday and that made her look weak, even though she wasn't. But that won't happen again. She'll make sure it won't. That she promises!

Now Rocko's face came to her and she found herself dipping her snout to the ground, letting out a depressed sigh. Scott probably told his friends about what she wants to do with them, but she still hasn't told her grey scaled family friend anything. Not a word about it. And she hates herself for it. She knows she can tell him, only...She tells herself that she's not afraid of anything, but admittedly, right now she's afraid of one thing. What Rocko would think of this. That's what she's afraid of. She's just afraid he won't let her go.

Sure there's a very big reason why they both live out here in this part of the world, why they both lived in that cave for years, but he has to understand that Cora's growing up. She hopes that she can build up the guts to tell him and hopes he'll let her go with them. Judging by how protective he can be, by all the years she's lived with him, she's a bit doubtful.

But Cora....Has to try. She has to push that tiny fear aside and tell him. She has to tell him she's ready. She has to tell him that she wants to see the world of Avarilan...To see Wingspan most of all. Where someone important to her is living there.

She had a confident smile and nodded slowly to herself, looking up at the sunset sky once again. Yes...She'll do it.

And as she was thinking about Rocko, the older drake's voice appeared behind her, "Well there you are!" Her body twitched a bit at the tone of voice and shot up to her fours, spinning around to see Rocko padding slowly up towards her. His yellow eyes locked on her, and a sigh of relief came out of his snout, "I thought you ran off alone to hunt again."

With her red tail moved behind her, Cora made a smirk on her muzzle as his tall form towered a bit over her, "You think I'd run off without telling you again? You really think I'm out of control, are you?"

He remarked, forming a grin, "Yep. You're an out of control hatchling."

That wrinkled her face and also had her let out a snort, "Not a hatchling anymore. Do I look THAT short to you?"

Rocko snaked his head to her and affectionately licked her cheek, "You always do look like a hatchling to me."

She playfully tried to swap his nose with a paw, but missed him by an inch and made a protest, "Hey, I'm a teenager!"

He raised his head and shot it up with a bit of a chuckle, "Then you're not an out of control hatchling, you're an out of control teenager!"

Cora rolled her eyes, "Not out of control, Rocko."

Rocko giggled deeply in his throat, folding the wings on his back and wagged his tail a bit behind him, "I remember what those days were like. Now I feel old thinking about it!"

She shot back, "That's because you are."

Rocko narrowed his eyes down at her, "Well thanks for saying so."

"What? It's the truth. You are old."

Rocko paused for a second and then he shrugged his shoulders, "Well I guess I can admit that I am. Knowing that my limbs feel a bit sore lately. Including my wings. Talk about a lot of years going by."

Cora turned her back on him, sitting firmly on her haunches, "Yes, they have."

Rock cocked his head behind her, "So what are you doing right here? You basically woke up while I was napping and took off on me. Why did you think that I'd thought you were off hunting again?" He waved a paw after that, a serious tone in his voice, "Now Cora, we talked about it. Whether I'm awake or not, and whether you're outside or not, you tell me if you want to go hunting. You know how dangerous the world can be. Especially if there are any strangers out here."

She twisted her neck to look at him, her tail moving a bit along the grass, beginning to curl it around herself, "Even the strangers I've brought here?"

He giggled, "Oh, they aren't bad. Even Damonen seems funny. But lazy too at the same time!" The old drake shot his head to the right and shrugging his shoulders, "Well I can be lazy too, knowing myself."

Cora grinned at the statement, "I should've just said so today. Maybe even let Emily call you an lazy old drake."

He flat out admitted, like it didn't bother him at all, "I AM a lazy old drake!"

"Yeah, and you don't whine that you're forced to get up from your nap by a little female human. I do like her style."

Rocko giggled when he stood right beside her, "That reminds me of my mate, always telling me to get up from napping."

Cora pointed her talon at him, "That's right. And you told me you were just about the age of Damonen, I think. You weren't even a lazy old drake back then! You shouldn't be lazy around that age." She held up her snout in a smug way, "I know I'm not."

Rocko rose a brow and widened up his smirk, "Don't give me that. You were lazy when you were very little. No matter how hard I tried to nudge you awake, you wouldn't wake up."

"Only because I was probably dreaming...Of Wingspan." She formed a smile filled with wonder on her snout, "Dreaming of flying over the stone buildings you told me about." Then her smirk went away and she hung her head, as somebody else came to her thoughts, "And...Well..."

Rocko formed a look that seemed to fill with sorrow, as he knew what she was talking about, "I know, young one." Then he decided to change the subject when he returned the smile on his face, "So back to my question. What are you doing out here?"

Her smile came back and she turned her eyes to the sky, "Just sitting out here, looking at the sky."

Rocko hummed as he followed her gaze, "Looks beautiful." He looked down at her and offered, "Can I sit with you?"

Cora looked to him and nodded, "Sure." He did so when he settled on his haunches beside her, curling his long tail around himself like the little dragoness with him. They both looked up at the orange sky and just sat there in silence. Sitting right there with him reminded Cora of the almost turned night when Rocko told her about this certain story. She giggled with a closed mouth and said, "Hey Rocko?" He looked down at her, "Do you remember the day you told me about...The Great One? Illuminus? You know, about what he was like when you met him? How he taught you? Did you remember that night you told me everything about him?"

Rocko smiled at the memory and then brought up, "I always told you that story."

She turned her eyes on him, "I'm talking about the first time you had told me that story."

His ears went up and his eyes went a bit wide at that, "Huh? You were pretty little around that time."

Cora giggled at her memory, "I know. It surprises me that I remember it." She looked at the sky again, sighing as the pleasant memory flowed through her mind and scales, "I still do."

Then she felt his wing wrapped around her and she brought her gaze back to him. Rocko said, "You really looked like a cute hatchling. And now...Talk about how you changed a bit from that time. You...Look just like your mother."

That comment brought a look of sorrow on her face and she hung her head and sighed, "Yeah, a mother I never met."

Rocko nodded a bit with a serious frown, "I know. And we have talked about it. We both know why we live out-"

"I know, Rocko. But...." She trailed off at that.

Rocko cocked his head, his voice sounding concern, "What's wrong, Corajan?"

She sighed, thinking of telling him about what she wants to do with Scott and the others, but she wanted to ask him this first, "Rocko....Have you ever thought about...Going back to Wingspan?"

He shook his head, "With everything that happened. With the war and all, no." He narrowed his eyes, "We have talked about this too."

Cora shut her eyes, hissed through her teeth and immediately got on her feet, walking out of his wing in a bit of frustration, "I know we have!" She snapped her eyes up at him, "But don't you get tired of just staying in this one place for too long? Don't you even want to get away from here and explore? Don't you-"

Rocko cut her off, "Corajan, you don't just want to get away from your home in a world that's filled with war and torn by it. You can't just go sightseeing and hope that you won't get hurt." He tilted his head, "Why are you asking me these questions? I think I know why."

Cora kept her stern glance, wagging her tail behind her, "Yes, Rocko...I'm thinking that."

Rocko shook his head again, "Now, you know we can't do that. We're safer here in this part of the world." He flicked his tail, gesturing the cave entrance behind him, "I mean, don't you even love our home?"

"I do love our home. But...I just want to leave it."

He narrowed his gaze at her, "Corajan, you know that I will not let you get hurt. I'm responsible for your safety."

She only shook her head adamantly, "But I'm tired of doing the same thing we always do. Day after day and year after year. I feel like I can't take it anymore." She motioned her head towards the forest, "In fact, why do you think that I just went off hunting all alone without telling you? I know how to hunt anyways, so how bad would it be to do it alone?"

His jaw dropped at her confession, "That's why?" Then he snorted, "Damn it, young lady, you almost got killed! If it wasn't for our guests, you'd-"

That was when Cora snapped at him, "You don't understand!" That made him be quiet as she went on without waiting for him to ask any question, "I knew how to fight, because you taught me how. I would've ran away, but I didn't. Cause I...I guess I wanted to prove myself that I can do it, well I can! I killed some Lost Souls for the first time in my life!"

"Right, only until you almost got killed!"

"I know that! But I know that I can at least handle it!"

"No, you cannot! If you can handle killing a Dark Dragon, then that would've meant that you could handle it. And did you say that there were too many of these monsters? Well if you couldn't handle fighting so many of them, then what makes you think you can handle it?"

Cora took a breath and answered, "Because I'm not a weak girl. I wouldn't have gone down so easily. Yes there were too many of them, but I still tried to fight back when I was down. I had fire within that's stronger than they think. You might find it hard to believe, but I don't give up so easily."

Rocko softened his eyes and sighed in worry, "Corajan...With you talking about this...Ambition you have there. It makes me think-"

She blabbed it out, "I AM ready."

Rocko's face went real wide and he narrowed his eyes and snorted, "Cora, you're not ready."

She yapped, "I am! I feel like I am! I can't take staying here anymore!"

"Cora-"

"What are you gonna do, Rockojaren? Ground me for wanting this?"

"If it means protecting you, yes. I was entrusted to look after you. I will not let you get killed."

Cora flared her wings and accusingly yelled, "Not even let me leave when I'm old enough like you?!"

He got up on all fours on his end and thrashed his tail, hitting it hard on the ground, "If the war's still going on, then yes. I'll keep you here until the day I die."

"You say that, then how the hell would we even know if the war is over?! Nobody even comes here! So how would we know if it would finally be over?"

Rocko groaned, "Because you know damn well that the war has went on for hundreds of years! It never ends!"

Cora gave him a defiant look and waved a dismissive paw, "But what if it would end? If so, then how would we know it?" She was shaking her head, "Rocko, I'm tired of sitting around here. I'm tired of waiting to find out if it'll be over or not. I want to find out myself. Maybe other than just leaving, I want to fight too. I feel like I'm worth something to everything and I want to help end that war...Somehow. I want to fight alongside with all the good in Avarilan. Maybe I want to do that. I'm not afraid."

Rocko softened his look and sighed, lowering his head to her level, "Corajan....You're like a daughter I never had. And...I don't want you getting hurt, or worse than that. I am responsible, young lady."

Cora softened her eyes too, "I know. But I'm growing up. I'm smart enough to fight and survive. And you can't keep me here forever. I'm ready."

Rocko stared at her, slowly sitting back down on his haunches, curling the wings on his back, "You say you're ready to leave and see what's out there. Where do you plan on going?"

"Anywhere that I come across, but there's one place in mind that I really want to go. Wingspan."

"And you think you can go there all on your own? That's completely insane." He shook his head, "You say you're ready to leave this place, but you can't ask me to take you there. I don't ever want to go back to my former home. Out here IS my home. I don't want to get involved in the war."

Cora took a step toward him, "And I know that. You won't have to."

"Cora, I really don't like this idea you're having. Wingspan's far away from here and you want to go there alone."

She smiled and shook her head, "But I won't go there alone."

Rocko wrinkled his face, "What are you talking about now?"

Cora used a claw to point at the cave behind him, "Cause I'll be going with them."

He reared back his head, knowing who she's talking about, "The guests? You'll be going with them?"

Cora nodded at his questions, "Yeah. I trust them. They saved my life, they seem capable of handling anything. And plus...Look, the humans who're with Damon say they don't belong in this world and they're trying to find a way to get home. They believe that the Great One will help them do that. They're heading to Wingspan and well I want to help them get there too. You think I'll go there alone, well I won't."

He looked like he was about to protest, even though he was kinda speechless about it, "But...But-"

"Rocko...I know it's dangerous. But I promise I won't get hurt OR killed. I am tougher than you think and I won't be alone. More than once, I had thought about travelling alone, but I won't. I'll be seeing Avarilan with them and they'll help me get to Wingspan, like I'm helping the humans get there." She hung her head, like she was ashamed of thinking of this certain thing and sighed, "Rocko....Despite that you're with me all the time, I'm tired of it. I feel like...I want to talk to someone else. Make friends, you know? I want to talk to somebody other than you." She looked up at him, "It might sound strange, but...I kinda feel lonely here. I know you're with me, but I feel that way. You always give me orders not to talk to strangers, but I feel like I want to talk to any stranger anyways. And when Damon and everyone else came here...I know that I don't know them all that well, but I actually want to be friends with them. They'd be the first friends I ever made. And I didn't want them to go. I wanted them to stay here, but we both know that they won't."

Rocko had eyes that looked to be in pity and she went on, "That's another why I want to leave. Cause other than feeling ready, I want to make friends. Maybe even make more friends in Wingspan. After all, a lot of dragons do live there. I want to feel like I'm a normal, young dragoness." She took a deep breath and let it out, "And...There's something else too. I want to go to the city of dragons because I want to find 'him'."

Rocko tilted his head at that, "'Him'?"

Cora narrowed her eyes, "C'mon, you old drake, you know who I'm talking about. Other than talking about The Great One for years, you'd always talked about 'him'. You know who. You're the friend of the family after all."

His eyes grew more pity for her, "Oh...I know I had talked about him a lot. But..."

Cora nodded in agreement, "I know what you're trying to say. It's been years since you seen him. You don't know if he's still alive. But...I want to try and see him." She gave him a confident smile, "You told me what he looks like. You told me what the color of his scales are. You even told me his name. You even told me exactly where he lives in Wingspan."

Rocko had an apprehensive look on his face and looked away from her. Cora held some pity for the old drake, but she knows that she's right about everything. Even she can tell that Rocko knows she's right. Cora padded up to him and rubbed her cheek lovingly against his chest, coaxing him to look down at her. The little dragoness said while she continued to nuzzle him, "I know you care for me, but...I'm not a hatching anymore. You have to understand that." She looked up at him with a pleading look, "Rocko, compared to you, I want to socialize, I want to leave this place, I want to get involved in the war, and I want to see my family. You cared for me for years, I appreciate that. You've done your job, now let me live my life. I want all this. If you truly care for me, then let me go. Please...."

Rocko just looked at her, as she was still giving him that look, running out of more words to say. He was puffing out his chest and letting out his breath. Then he used his paw to caress her side softly. He finally spoke to her in a low tone, "....Cora....Are you sure?"

She said without hesitation, "Yes."

Then Rocko's paw was rubbing her back in smooth strokes all the way up to her tail, "Then...You can go." Her face lit up at his words and he went on, "You did make several points. I shouldn't keep you here forever when you'll be way older than a teenager, that isn't really right. I know I held responsibility for your life for such a long time, but...You're right. You should live your life. I know you're little now, but if you feel like you're ready, then you can go. You seemed to be a good fighter, since I taught you how and you seemed to be a good hunter as well...For a little one. And...I can also understand why you don't want to stay here and not talk to anybody. You...Don't want to be like me. An old dragon with no friends and family who lives in a cave."

Cora made a nod, "Sounds about right." Then she laid her little forepaw over his, "Hey, despite how I've felt and wanted, I still love you, Rocko."

Rocko smiled, and she could his eyes were starting to mist, "I know you do." Then he snaked his head to her and nuzzled her cheek with his, "I love you too." Cora's heart was filled with happiness as she loved how this whole thing turned out and she nuzzled him back, a pleased croon in her throat. She was happy he understood everything she'd wanted. Now she can't wait to tell Scott about this.

She knows she'll miss him, but she had to leave this place.

She's free now.

*****

Rocko's face went wide at what he heard from Damon, "A wolfir?!"

Damon laughed at the expression, and frankly so have I while I was sitting beside his form as he laid on his stomach, my arm barely touched his green scales. Rick meanwhile was just eating the meat away with both hands, not appearing to be in the mood for laughing since his mouth was full. Cora, whom was laying on her stomach too beside Rocko, was having the same expression as well and when I saw it, I was just laughing hard, clutching my ribs. Everyone, except for Emily, sat around the fire the old grey dragon made for us in the night, the flames popping in the wood.

It appeared to be several hours later since me, Rick, Emily and Damon all decided to take a nap like Cora and Rocko here, after the four of us have agreed to have Cora come with us. When the sound of crickets were heard through the crack in the ceiling of the room we were staying in, we did notice that night came and we slowly woken up from our naps. Before any of us could leave the room that was when Cora and Rocko showed up, telling all of us that they'd made food for us outside. Course just like the lazy green drake would whine and say 'oh, can you please take the food to me', they knew that he would get lazy again and pretty much made him get up. He kinda didn't complain when he was trying to get himself up, never made a wince or a groan. Guess more rest probably gotten to make him feel more better, so I'm sure me and Emily will get those bandages off him to see how he's healing. The wounds would still be evident, but they probably won't be bleeding anymore. Judging by how much time has passed since our battle to save Cora's life.

Speaking of Cora, I wasn't exactly too sure if she even told Rocko about her wanting to come with us quite yet, and me along with the others never mentioned a word about it. We all just sat down out here under the night and ate our food. Rocko like last night and this morning was being a good host and this is the third time he's fed us all. Emily said she didn't want to eat anymore and got up, went back in the cave and left us. With Rick sitting here with us, he was still giving me a dirty look. Like he still had this idea that I'm...Probably going to do something disgusting to Cora. I mean really? I'm not that kind of person.

First, he accuses me of being a bad boyfriend to Emily and now he accuses me of....Being a weirdo. C'mon! That's bullshit!

Cora's nice and beautiful for a dragoness, but I'm not into her!

ANYWAYS, not long after Emily left us, Damon started telling Rocko and Cora here how he found met me, my girlfriend and Rick and they were just shocked. We can see their faces and they're priceless!

Damon caught his breath after laughing his head off and said to them, the glare from the fire shined on him, "Yep that's right. We met an actual wolfir. I never even met one once myself and I thought I wouldn't since I heard they were rare."

I turned my face to Damon, "Really? Wolfirs are rare?" Heh, no wonder none of us haven't met another one for a long time.

The drake beside me rose a claw, "THEN AGAIN, we may NEVER know. Heck, there could be a lot more of them in a group and we don't know about it."

Rick pulled a chunk of half burnt meat with his mouth and smashed his teeth repeatedly on it. He grumbled with his mouth full, "Fucking perfect."

Rocko was chuckling, "A damn wolfir. I'm shocked."

I giggled and waved my hand to him and the little red dragoness laying beside him, "We see that. You never met one?"

Cora laughed and shook her head, "Actually no." She gestured her horned head toward Rocko, "If I did, it'd be answering to Rocko here."

Damon teasingly asked, "What about me? I would tear that thing's throat out if it tried to hurt you."

I thumbed at Damon, "He's right. I seen him do it."

Cora held up her head in pride, "Well I would do it too."

Damon tilted his head, "Really? You think you could do it?"

She showed a toothy grin, "From what Rocko told me about them, they'd be taller than me right now. But hey I told you before that I'm not a weak girl."

Damon slowly formed a smile, "Perhaps so. Just watch for the fangs."

"Plan to." Cora winked.

Rick said after having a big swallow of meat down his throat, "Well she just needs to not come across a ragtag group of wolfirs that're out for revenge for her killing one of their own."

Damon casted a big smile for him, tail swishing on the ground, "Aw c'mon, Ricko. Gotta have faith in her."

Rick mumbled, "I'll try." I rolled my eyes. I'm guessing he kinda doesn't believe that Cora has what it really takes that she can handle the journey with us. But you know what, she's coming with us anyways. So take that, Rick! I looked over my shoulder to the entrance of the cave. I wonder what Emily's up too? Probably went back to sleep.

Rocko chuckled and said while looking at me and Rick, "Well with how this story went, I'm glad that you creatures were saved by a passing dragon." He frowned at Damon, "Even though I still never had any idea why you're not in Wingspan in the first place."

I looked to Damon, remembering what he and Emily sorta talked about. That he was searching for someone. Someone that he knew, I suppose.

I still haven't talked to Emily alone about that yet. Well I guess I could ask Damon right here. But I don't think he's in the mood for that. I'll just talk to Em.

Damon shrugged his shoulders, "It's a long story."

Rocko then asked, "Well ok. And just to get this right, you guys are heading to Wingspan, right?"

Damon made a nod, "Right."

That's when Rocko had a sad look upon his face, "Look um....Cora here told me that she asked one of you if she could come with you guys on your journey."

Me and Damon's faces widened up as we heard those words, "She did?" Well I had a feeling she'd tell him sooner or later. I wonder how her conversation with him went?

Rocko sighed and nodded, "Yes, she did. She has told me that she wants to leave with you guys on....When are you leaving again?"

Damon shifted around on his stomach, trying to feel his limbs, including his wings as they were being stretched out, "Ah, well, I don't feel as bad as before, so I'm certain that we'll be leaving tomorrow."

The old drake asked, "And do all of you want her to go?"

I grinned, "Actually, yes we do." Cora gasped beside her family friend and I frowned, "Um, why? Do you-"

Rocko answered before I even asked, "Well...I was apprehensive about it. What parent wouldn't?"

Cora giggled and leaned her head onto his grey scales, "Not a REAL parent."

Rocko formed a smirk when he only rolled his eyes down at her, "Still am your parent, little one."

She said with a pleasant sigh, nuzzled him a bit, "I know."

Rocko went on with his explanation to us, "Like I said, I was apprehensive about it. But then...I decided that she should go with you."

Damon's face lit up, "You are? That's great."

Cora rumbled in excitement, "Oh, I'm just really excited to go with you guys."

That was when Rick sorta ruined the moment by letting it out in a low voice, "Thought Rocko here wouldn't let you go, but I guess I was wrong."

I nodded a bit in agreement, "I was thinking that too."

Cora took a deep breath and sighed, "Well there were some argument here and there, but in the end he decided to let me go." She looked up at Rocko, "And I thank him for that."

Rocko hung his head a bit and had a worried look in his eyes, "I'm only doing this to make you happy and you deserve it. You wanted so many things, telling me how you really feel and...I think it was time for you to go." He flicked his tail behind him, chuckling a little, "Even when you were still a teenager."

I smiled at the old drake laying across from the fire, "You did the right thing. And we'd look after her."

Rocko rose his gaze and smiled back, "I believe you all can."

Damon nodded at that, folding his wings on his back, "We will."

Rick grumbled as he finished up eating all his food, "Course I really think this is a bad idea." He flashed a look at Rocko, "I'd REALLY thought you wouldn't let her go."

I groaned loudly, "Rick, give it a fucking rest."

Rocko narrowed his eyes at Rick near us, "What's up with your friend?"

That was when Cora whispered, "He and Scott don't get along well." I snickered at that. Well that's true. But that's not what he's getting at, girl.

Rick shot at her, "I heard that and no that's not what the problem is at all."

Rocko asked with that look still on his face, "So what's the deal with you?"

I answered before my girlfriend's father could, "Oh, he just somewhat thinks that's a bad idea to let her come. Since...He probably thinks of her as a little girl." I locked eyes on Rick and gestured to Rocko across the fire, "He decided to let her go, Rick. So just give it a rest."

Rick sighed in a bit of frustration, "Fine."

I slowly got up off the ground, "Thank you."

Cora watched me and cocked her head, "You leaving too?"

I replied when I turned around and started walking off, "Yeah, I'm gonna head off to bed, so see you in the morning."

Cora called out before I went in the cave, excitement apparent in her voice, "I'm going with you guys! Woo!" I giggled and waved at them goodnight and then went in the tunnel.

My shoes made loud scruffs on the stone ground as I padded back to the cavern with the glowing crystals few minutes later. And not far from my view, I see Emily wasn't sleeping for tonight quite yet. She's standing close to the emerald glowing crystal, staring right at it with her arms crossed underneath her breasts. I smiled at the sight of her. I had to admit, that glow she's standing within made her look beautiful. I trotted my way to her, my voice was being carried by the cavern walls when I said, "Hey."

Emily turned her gaze off the crystal to my form almost to her, showing a smile, "Hey, handsome. Done eating?"

I stood with her and replied, "Yeah." I giggled deeply, "What are you doing here? I thought you were sleeping."

She returned her gaze on that crystal, shaking her head in reply, "I can't sleep. So I just walked around, stood right here until I do feel a bit tired."

I said when I wrapped an arm around her body, holding her close to me, "Well I guess I'll join you. I'm not that tired yet anyways."

She leaned her head on my shoulder, "Sure, it's a nice romantic spot right here. We haven't had one since the ship."

My thoughts were on to the night me and her were standing close to the edge of the cruise ship before the attack happened, "Yep." I leaned my head onto hers, our reflections barely seen on the crystal. My realization came when I knew she was right, this is one nice romantic spot we have. But too bad that we're going to leave this place tomorrow.

I see Emily giggling at her own reflection, "Emerald colored....This reminds me of Damon. All those emerald scales he has. Would it have been nice if his scales could glow like that?"

The image brought amusement to my face, "I'd think he'd be amazing when he was glowing." I looked over my shoulder, seeing the ruby colored crystal nearby, showing off it's glow, "Come to think of it, it would also be awesome to see Cora's scales glowing like that crystal too."

She muttered at the idea, "Glowing dragons, what a radiant thought."

As I turned my face back to the crystal in front of me, it made me think of Damon too and I asked her, "Emily...I want to ask you something...About Damon."

She knew what I was gonna say, "Is it about what he said earlier?"

I nodded, holding her tighter, "Yeah. So...Its obvious that he's looking for someone. Guess that really explains why he wasn't living in Wingspan at all when we met. Has he really told you about that?"

Emily held a pity look on her face, "He has. Back at the temple actually. I was gonna tell you guys that later, but I'd think Damon would've."

"So who's he looking for? That's what I'm wondering."

She replied, "Well he hasn't told me much about 'her'. All I know is that he's been searching this best friend of his for a long time and found us while doing so."

I put my thoughts into it, "Friend, huh? Hmm....He said that his friend was about the same size as Cora when she left his home and never came back."

Emily mentioned, "Yeah, and Damon said that she's been gone for years. So I'm thinking he was young like Cora too." She had a bit of a confused look on her face, "And what gets me about his friend is that it was after her first time she left the city, she leaves again and never came back. Damon says that her life changed after her first time. That something terrible had happened to her." She held her breath and let it out, "I don't know what she went through, but according to Damon before we came here, he said she's been through a lot. I wonder what really happened to her?"

I shook my head, turning my head to her still in my grasp, "I don't know. But he's pretty convinced she's still alive out here."

She said, shrugging her shoulders a bit, "He said that he feels her, but doesn't know why. Perhaps it's just hope."

I said, "Well I hope we weren't intruding on his search. Cause she sounds important to him." My eyes wandered up at the ceiling of the cavern, "Question is...Where is she? Is she really alive? Or is she dead?"

Emily showed a small smile, "I hope he gets to see his friend again. I actually want to meet her."

I nodded as curiosity was getting to me about his friend, "Yeah well, maybe he might talk about her soon. We'll just have to wait and see." Then I kissed her on the cheek, grinning now, "Oh and speaking of dragons, Cora's coming with us."

That was when her expression widened up and she turned her whole body to face me, "Really? She is?"

I giggled, "Yep. She talked to her family friend and Rocko agreed to let her go."

Emily smiled, "Good. That means I'll be having a girl traveling with me."

I rolled up my eyes as I was thinking about Rick now, "Yeah and it'll be one more person to bug your dad."

Then she frowned, "Yeah and speaking of which, what the hell did he say to you this time today? Rocko said earlier he didn't look happy."

I giggled and guided her away from the crystal, walking in a trail between several other glowing crystals, since I was feeling tired, "You don't want to know, trust me. Lets just say...It has something to do with another girl." No way I was gonna tell her about what his thoughts were on me and Cora. That's sick.

Emily groaned, "God, he better get his act straight, or I will kick his ass." Then she yawned, signaling that she's tired too.

I said before we headed into the tunnel that leads to our room for slumber, "I cannot wait." We both giggled together and we both entered the tunnel, heading off to bed.

*****

When the small breeze of the night blew at me, I stood on the bank watching the river coming from the waterfall flow by. I probably stood out here for about twenty or twenty-five minutes. I took a slow relaxed breath as the horrible day almost came to an end. Boy, what a day and it was the worst one in Avarilan so far. My thoughts went back to Luna when....She almost....

I let the air out of my lungs slowly, trying not to let what happened hours ago get to me. I turned my head to see the waterfall still crashing in the small lake. Specifically staring through the falls into the cave hidden behind them. Luna...I'm glad you're alright.

After when I thought all hope for her to pull through those injuries was lost, she actually woke up for me. It was a miracle she came back for me. And my heart was beating happily when she did. It was pretty unexpected. I thought I'd failed her, like I'd failed Gabby.

I actually saved her. I saved an innocent girl in front of me. All my attempts to save her weren't futile after all.

I saved her.

I formed a smile and looked up at the cloud filled night, the wind blew against me again. I don't think you are ashamed of me now, mom. I could see your face. Another thought came. ....I know that I was yelling at god up there, but now I think about it, perhaps he helped Luna give a second chance at life. She didn't deserve to die. It wasn't her time to go yet. I was helping her, and I think god was helping her out as well.

I guess I really deserved to be happy after all. I'm not suffering again. I don't feel horrible anymore. I'm not going to be alone in this world again. Heh, my mind's not spinning too quickly and I feel like I could sleep again. Course it was still my fault that I didn't help Luna sooner with her injuries, but I'm glad she was alive anyways.

Thank you, god.

And mom, if you had a part in this too, thank you as well.

I gazed down at the grass, seeing the trail of dried up blood on the ground left by Luna. Now I felt some worry in my chest. Well this can't be good. With a trail like that, the enemies could use it to try to track me and Luna down. I shot back at the cave behind the waterfall. Well our hiding spot isn't far from right here, and the trail ends at the water, so I'm a bit afraid that anything could see past those falls and take a peek in there finding us. Then Luna and I are in big trouble again.

With the herbal medicine I applied on her wounds, soon those wounds would heal up fast like it healed up my wound a few days ago, but with all the blood she'd lost she probably be feeling weak still. At least I think so anyways. She hardly moved much since she regained consciousness so it's probably a big possibility. I hope we won't run into any trouble soon. If there is, then I'll protect her. This time I'll try harder to protect her.

Next time, I won't let it happen to her again. I'm responsible for her, and I won't let her get wounded like that again.

I promise, Luna.

I let out a sigh, after staring at the crimson trail on the grass that's when I decided to head back to the cave where my friend's waiting. I did tell Luna that I would just stand out here for a bit and then come back. Now it's time to head in there. So I jogged back to the waterfall, my feet splashed over the not so deep part of the lake and went through the falling water to enter the slightly cool cave, getting myself a little wet in the process. With the sound of the falls behind me, I trotted up to see Luna on her stomach with a small campfire already been made near her and the small flames were popping quietly in the wood. Heh, at least I found some firewood for her and she made it to keep the place warm in here for tonight.

Thank you, Luna, for coming up with the idea. It was kinda cool in here. At least I won't get cold when I'm sleeping in here. I know I would've been kept warm by her warm scales and wings, but I told her that I didn't want to sleep close to her tonight. I actually wanted to be thoroughly prepared with my bow and arrows and just sleep nearby. If I heard something, I want to attack anything that comes in here first before they do. Attack before something hurts Luna to be exact. Heck, I did want to try harder to protect her anyways.

I took a few steps towards the black dragon and she heard me coming when she was staring at the flames. Luna took her eyes off the fire and smiled at me, "Geez, Mike, you were out there for a long time."

I wrinkled my brow, "What? I wasn't gone THAT long. I was out there for almost thirty minutes."

Luna tilted her head a bit, "Really? I thought it was longer." She chuckled to herself and shrugged her shoulders, "Guess it's because of me sitting here that feels longer."

I shrugged too, "Eh, probably. I did tell you that I was going to be gone a bit." I made a gesture to her when I took another step toward the crackling flames, "So how're you feeling, big girl? Do you need something to drink? Another apple to eat?"

She shifted around on her stomach, making several rumbles in her throat, "No, thank you. And as for your first question. I'm still a bit sore, but I'll be fine. I think those herbs are really helping me out."

I looked at my bag that still has some herbs left in it, "Well it was damn great that I had them with us the whole time. Those cheetahs were pretty considerate about giving me those."

That's when she giggled, her wings moved a bit before settling down, "Probably worried about you the most, since you're not a dragon." She put on a big smug grin and placed her paw to her chest, barely touching those almost healed claw wounds on there, "Like mwah here." I only responded when I rolled my eyes. Then she placed her paw back on the floor, made a bit of a impatient growl in her throat and said, "Only right now, I'm just a dragon whose not feeling entertained since I've been stuck in here doing nothing."

I playfully shot at her, "Hey, I try to entertain you."

She was having a devious smirk on her snout, "Perhaps the way you'll be entertaining me would be seeing you flustered when I talk about your anatomy."

I blushed a little at that, "Luna, don't even think about bringing that up." I waved her off, "Besides, you haven't even seen it yet and I doubt you will."

Luna whined, "Oh, but I want to see it!"

I sternly said, "No."

She narrowed her eyes and let out a irritated snort, "Will you stop being private about yourself and just show me?"

"No."

Now she was giving me those pleading eyes, "Not even to entertain me tonight?"

My face turned bright red at her question, "NO!"

Luna was giggling at my face, "Oh, never mind! You're entertaining me now! Look at your face!" She was laughing hard that time, dipping her snout.

I pointed at her, finding myself giggling at this, "At least you're entertained."

Then it looked like an idea popped forth in her mind, "Actually, I just thought of it." Luan made a grin, "When your privates are somehow injured, cause you're a bad fighter and all, you probably need those herbs to heal them. That means you'll have to take off those clothes in front of me to do so!"

I know that her calling me a bad fighter right now sorta got to me, cause I thought that I was today. But I knew she was joking as well. So like before I went along with it, "Oh, shut up."

She shot up her head, "Why? I know in the future that's what'll happen." She let out a playful growl, "You'll have to take them off when they're injured."

I crossed my arms, smirking, "You are one dirty woman."

She chuckled, "And this dirty woman will be seeing your anatomy someday. I know I will!"

My jaw dropped at her proclaim, "Oh boy." She snickered, trying to hold back her laugh and then I raised a finger, "I won't get hurt, I'll make sure of that."

Luna shook her head, "I think you will. You really are one bad fighter. Speaking of which-"

"No, I have not practiced fighting!"

Luna playfully shot back, "Well you should! I saved your life again and you need to practice, my student!"

I made a playful frown, "Look at yourself! You haven't fought well today and I had to save your ass myself!"

"That doesn't change what you are. I still saved you three times and you only saved me once. I don't fall on the ground a lot like you." She winked. "So that still makes you the bad fighter."

"You know what? I'll prove to you that I'm the better fighter than you!" I strode around the fire and gave her side a few slugs with both fists, but that didn't appear to have hurt her at all. As she twisted her head to watch me, I gave her a triumphant look, "There, how was that?"

Luna grinned smugly and rolled up her eyes, "Didn't hurt me one bit." She went on with a mocking tone, her tail thumping on the floor near me, "I'm still better than you." She stuck her pink tongue out at me. I shot a glare and flipped her off. She reared back her head and asked when she cocked it, "Um...Why did you stick up your middle finger alone like that?"

Now I was giving her a mischievous grin, "Not gonna tell you...Yet."

Luna wrinkled her face, "Why?"

I pretty much came up with small explanation, "Lets just say it was...Offensive."

She narrowed her eyes, "What do you mean 'offensive'? Little guy, you better tell me why it was now, or else I will give you a flight and drop you to the ground!"

I held up my chin, "Nope. Gonna keep you waiting." I stuck my tongue out at her, "You figure it out."

Luna shook her head at me, growling at me a bit, "Oooo, you'll get your flight soon."

I laughed and patted her black scales affectionately, "You won't drop me."

Luna snaked her head to me, peering deep with her narrowed eyes into mine, "We'll see, Mike." Then she grinned and licked my cheek with her tongue, giggling at her own playful threat.

I giggled with her and planted a kiss on her nose. Then I started to reach up to her ear and begun to scratch it. She was closing her eyes and leaning into my hand, purring at my touch. I snickered and remarked, "If you drop me, you'll miss my fingers."

She moaned, her forepaw lifted a bit and twitched, "Yes....I will." She continued to purr some more, loud rumbles coming from her throat. I smiled at her expression. You look cute, Luna. And you know something...If you died, I'd miss scratching behind your ear too. Then a thought crossed my mind. I guess I really would miss this if I ever go back home without finding a way to come back and see you.

Honestly...I didn't feel like I wanted to go home for a second. I actually wanted to stay with her in this world. Maybe even see Merana again as well. But I know that's a foolish idea. I don't belong in Avarilan. I have to get home.

I'll cherish these moments with Luna before that happens.

After several minutes of listening to her purr, I let loose of her ear and dropped my hand to the side, "There, that's it for tonight."

Luna sighed, opening her eyes to stare back at mine, judging by the sound of her voice she didn't want it to end, "That was...Nice."

I was smiling at her and gave her nose another kiss, "You're welcome." I took a deep breath and admitted it, "Hey Luna....If you were dead, I would miss scratching behind your ear. I guess I find your purring entertaining."

Luna giggled and pulled her head away from me, "Glad we both found something to entertain ourselves." She still looked down at me when she smiled, "I still thank you for saving my life, Mike. That was...Very nice of you."

I hung my head a little bit, feeling a twinge of guilt in me, "I do feel sorry still about what happened. For the situation you were in. I-"

She brought back her snout to me and nuzzled my chest with it, letting my guilt wash away in an instant, "Mike, I told you before it wasn't your fault. And I'm fine now. You saved me. I'm gonna be ok. And remember...It wasn't your fault."

I was smiling at her comfort and caressed her cheek, "Yeah...I guess. We'll just have to get back at them for putting us in this position huh?"

Luna giggled and nuzzled my neck with her nose, "We'll do that later." Then she opened her maw nd yawned on me, giggling to herself as she started to rise her head away from me, "But I believe I'm sleepy again. So it's time for bed."

I was giggling, then I nodded and walked up to her front, "Alright." I pointed at a spot close to the fire and near her, "I'll just lay down right there, ok?"

Before I could go and pick up my bow and arrows and then lay in that spot, she stopped me with her forepaw to my chest, "Mike." I looked up at her and she asked when having a bit of a pleading look on her face, "I know you said you want to sleep alone, but....Could you sleep by me again? Please?"

I really wanted to just be prepared to fight anything that comes in here by sleeping near her, but since she asked and seeing that she wants me to really sleep close to her....I couldn't say no. Also after a big traumatic event that happened today, I wanted to sleep close to her as well. I was really worried about her. Worried that I wouldn't sleep close to those scales again. So that pretty much win over the need to sleep alone without her and gave me another reason to say yes. I was replying with a nod, "Sure."

Luna smiled at me, "Thank you." She started to move a bit on her stomach, to curl herself around on the floor, lifting an inviting wing for me to sleep under. I walked up to her side, laying down on the ground close to her scales as I yawned too and her warm wing slowly went down to cover me, basking me in her warmth. Ooo, it really felt warmer than a blanket.

I sighed in comfort and rolled around into my side to see Luna already laying her head down on the ground too. I said to her, "Guess I didn't want to sleep alone near the fire tonight. Your wing's better than flames."

She giggled, speaking this, "I knew you'd do this. And thanks again. I...Kinda didn't want to sleep alone without you close to me."

I nodded a bit on the ground, "It's alright." I wasn't too sure if she was worried that I would get hurt and she wanted me to just sleep close so she'll keep an eye on me, or she just wanted me to sleep by her. I didn't care which. I said to the warm dragoness's smiling face, my fingers trailing on her wing membrane as I shifted a bit to get comfortable, "Goodnight, Luna."

Luna giggled deeply when my fingers tickled her wing a little bit and said back, "Night, Mike." She shut her eyes a moment later and let out a breath, letting slumber take ahold of her. I pulled her wing a bit onto myself and tried closing my eyes as well. Pushing those worried thoughts for her out of my head. She's going to be fine, Mike. Nothing is gonna come in here and hurt her. She'll be fine.

With these thoughts out of my brain, my body began to relax and Luna's warmth helped drift me to sleep.