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Luna laughed as the two of us walking along the riverbank, "Oh, ancestors, if they saw your nakedness at that moment their jaws would drop!"

Well gee, there she goes again. I playfully rolled my eyes and giggled, "I wouldn't blame them. I'd be too if I were in their feet."

She shot up her head, folding her wings on her back, "I know I would!" I was snickering at her outburst and looked up at her beside me, while she continued to speak with a big smirk and widened eyes, "I mean, look at your balls! My mouth would drop agape at the sight of those."

I replied, raising a teasing brow, "When you put at it that way, you're making it sound like my balls are huge. And they amaze you."

Luna shot a teasing look at me, "Oh, don't flatter yourself, Mike. They're small." She winked.

That made my face red with embarrassment, and I was letting out a sigh, "This is bullshit." I know I'm a small creature, but come on, they're not THAT small!

It's been about two or three hours ago after we both left the cave hidden behind the waterfall. So far there wasn't any trouble that came and attacked us. And of course so far, Luna seems to be walking fine as well. Not looking weak and all. Well she was a bit wobbly, but she didn't collapse on the ground. I didn't want to see that happening to her again. When we both emerged out of the cave, there weren't any signs of Lost Souls outside of it, after we stayed in there for thirty minutes to give it a little time. When they were still gone that was our chance to leave that place.

Me and Luna are now walking along the river away from that waterfall, heading off in the direction up north to Wingspan. Continuing our journey. Since Luna figured out which way we had to go, that's why we were doing that. Well hey, at least we're walking alongside a source of water in case we get thirsty.

While we were both doing so, she has been giggling and blathering about what happened before we left. One thing she kept going on about, and much to my comfort, was she saw my anatomy today! And another thing, we thought we were gonna get attacked again in the cave and while readying my weapon, I was STILL naked and that would've been the last thing our enemies would see. That's what she has been yapping about since we both left our hideout. Well mostly the second thing. I had to say, she can't get enough of it!

She's been repeating the subject in every different way and now this is probably about....The twentieth time now! Luna, I know you found it funny and all, and you're also happy and glad that your curiosity has been filled, but boy, you're kinda annoying me.

Basically, I didn't want to tell her that, cause her outbursts and jokes about it were amusing to me as usual....Even when she said that I shouldn't flatter myself that my balls are big and they're not. And even I'll admit it....I'm surprised myself. I showed her my body for once. Out of everything we did so far, I showed her my anatomy. And what surprises me, she had thought that my 'balls' would be a lot bigger! Girl, give me a break. How would you know how big balls are? What, did you really expect that they'd be big like dragon males? You said that dragon's nuts are 'internal', not 'external', so how would even know? She wouldn't know if they're INSIDE a drake!

I giggled to myself. Well I wouldn't blame her for imagining it. Too bad her imagination was a bit wrong.

Heh, now I'm thinking about it, I'm imagining how my mother would think of this. Perhaps be shocked that her son is showing a dragon his balls. But only find it understandable as well. Just showing a curious dragoness myself for once before she was dead from whatever happens in her life. At least I owe her that much. She'd almost died and I never showed myself to her once. I feel good that I did. She's gotten what she had wanted and I feel better about it now. And what's more, I wasn't feeling very uncomfortable about it.

I wonder if it would happen again? ....Well perhaps so. We're traveling together and knowing her playful tactics, something's bound to happen.

Speaking of travelling...If Scott's alive, I wonder if he would believe it? Probably not. But it would be a funny story if I did tell him.

Well....Lets keep on hoping that he's still around, and me and Luna will find him.

And I hope that this dragon beside me doesn't get any FUNNY ideas about my little bro when she meets him! He probably wouldn't like it when she's trying to persuade him to take off his clothes. I was rolling my own eyes at the image. Oh, brother.

That was when Luna started snickering and I turned my face and wrinkled it, "What are you laughing about now?" I'm getting a feeling I know what it is.

Luna answered with a big grin on her snout, as the both of us continued to walk together, "I was just thinking about what the Lost Souls would say when they saw you naked. Their expressions, and words, and all." I rolled my eyes up playfully. Knew it! This is the twenty-first time! She went on, "I think before you shoot them with arrows, they would say..." She tried to deepen her voice to sound like one of them, "'What in the world are we looking at'? Or, 'oh my gosh! It's a creature from another world and it's naked'! Or, 'lookie how small that is'! Or, 'wow, I didn't expect to see THAT'! Or, 'hold on, a creature like him has external anatomy'? Or-"

I was actually laughing internally at the images of what those monsters would say when they lock their eyes on my naked self before I kill off several of them. But then I thought, okay, I'm getting tired of this now. I let out a low groan, giggling a bit too, "Would you give it a rest already?"

She let out a laugh and shook her head, "I can't help it!" She was snaking her head down to me with that playful, teasing grin plastered on her face still, "It's not my fault you were still naked when you were getting ready to attack. I just found the whole thing funny." Then she was trying to hold back her laughter and her voice broke as she was speaking, "I...Can tell you this, a cheetah would always dress up BEFORE they start attacking any enemy. They don't show off their anatomy with their drawn out swords and showing off their archery skills. They would...ALWAYS get dressed, little guy."

I let out a sigh, giving her a smile on my end, "Give me a break."

"Hey, if you actually want to show your external anatomy to every creature, including monster, in the world of Avarilan, you can if you want. Dragons don't wear clothes anyways, so what's the point?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, "I know I'd just shown you that today, but I'm still a private person!" She giggled in response. I waved at her, my hand barely hitting her snout, "I was just...A bit worried that I wouldn't get dressed in time before they came in. I guess that's why I was still naked. Also, I was worried for your safety."

Luna replied, "Oh, please, I think you'd still have time. And even if they did get in there real fast like, there was enough distance for me to blow fire at them. So that meant, you still had time." She raised her head away from my level and went on with a snort, "And yep, when I'm blowing fire at them when they enter, that means you don't have to worry for my safety. I'm taking care of the problem for ya!" She was giving me a prideful wink, "They'd see your body, and that would be the last thing they would see before I blast them. Now THAT would be the best way to end their lives. Better than shooting arrows at them after they see your balls."

I had to admit, that was another amusing thought. Blow fire after seeing how naked I am. That seems more epic than firing arrows at their asses! I nodded a bit at that, "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Give them enough revenge from your end."

Luna just still padded beside me, as she played out her fantasy in her head with words, "They run in there, see you, their eyes go wide, they say whatever out of their furry mouths, and then....Whoosh. Flames incinerating their bodies. I really love the idea." She shot her head to me, having a proud smirk, "Thank you for giving me it, little guy!"

I chuckled a bit, frowning at her as I did not knowing what to say to that, "Uh....You're welcome?" I shook my head at myself, while swinging my bag off my shoulder and digging around in it for some berries to eat. I just can't believe that me and my good looking body gave her that idea. No way, I couldn't come with that. She really does have an imagination. Now I'm just picturing the whole scene. Imagining everything she'd said before they were set on fire. For being momentarily distracted by me, Luna goes in for the kill.

I honestly now wish it did happen. That would be enough payback for Luna's life, in my opinion.

I found some berries in the bag and pulled three of them out of there, swinging the bag back onto my shoulder. I planted one in my mouth and my teeth began to chew on it. Spurting the juice of the berry all over my tongue, sending the sensational taste throughout my mouth. Mmm.

Luna spoke while I was chewing on that berry, tail swishing behind her, "I'll tell you this much, I wonder what Damon would say when he sees human anatomy?"

I was rolling my eyes at her question. This again? Now I'm believing she'll keep talking about my anatomy until we get to her former home! I swallowed my food and responded with a shrug of my shoulders, "I don't know. Probably say it's small like you." And when she was about to open her mouth to speak again, I was waving her off before she let out another word, "Seriously, give this a rest. You've been talking about what you saw and what could've happened nonstop for THREE hours!"

Luna furrowed her brow, "What?" She let out a snort, "No, I didn't."

"You say that cause you weren't keeping track. Trust me, you've brought it up in so many different ways and this is....The twenty-second time now!" Then I took a breath and plainly asked in a polite way, "Can we talk about something else now?" I popped another berry in my mouth and was chewing away.

Luna looked down and saw that I was eating, "Sure. What are you eating, Mike?"

I giggled at her with my mouth a bit full. That's a nice subject change. I answered, "I'm eating a berry." I held up the last berry in my hand, "I found a bush of these berries this morning before you caught me without my clothes on."

Luna lowered her face to my hand and as her nose was close, gave it a big sniff, "Hmm, makrub berries."

I quizzically looked at her, "Makrub berries? They're called makrub berries?"

Luna trained her eyes to mine, "Yep. I can't believe you just found them today. I haven't had one of those in a long time."

I lowered my hand away from her gaze and said with a frown upon my face, "I didn't think any creature here would name their berries 'makrub'. What a name, if you ask me. I thought they were just called...Black berries."

The black dragon asked with a curious look in her eyes, "So apparently your kind knew about apples, did your kind knew about berries as well?"

I nodded and smiled, "Course. There are different types of berries back in my world. Even some with different colors. Raspberry, blueberry, boysenberry, strawberry-"

She made a wide look and giggled deeply, "Well goodness, talk about a lot of names for berries. Are there really just more than one kind of berry? I never knew that sort of thing was possible."

I tilted my head, "Huh? Why is that?"

"Cause my kind only know of makrub berries. There's no other type of berry that we know of."

I replied as my voice caught a bit in my throat in surprise, "W-wow. I never figured." I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders, "Well Avarilan's kinda missing out on other tasty berries." I held up a finger, "Now just to tell you something, I don't eat berries all that much, so I wouldn't tell you how good other berries really are."

Luna shook her head when she responded, "I wouldn't care. I'd give other berries a try." She gestured her snout to me, mentioning, "And you really thought that those berries are just plain called...Black berries? I think your kind should've named your so called black berries, instead of just black."

I giggled, "Why? You don't want something else other than you being referred to as black? There's nothing much we can do about that. Or what, you don't like it that berries are blacker than you?"

She shot her daggers at me, "For the record, little guy, I'm more blacker than that little thing is."

I replied, voice full of sarcasm, "Sure you are." I nodded a bit afterward and asked her, "Alright, well, what name could you have come up with? Cause I don't think it should be called makrub in my world, I think it should be called a different name." I gestured my hand to her side, "Ok, smart ass, what is it?"

Luna reared back her head, us stopping for a second so she would plant a paw to her chest, "Me? I'm not the smart ass here. YOU ARE."

I deeply chuckled, "Alright, you got me there." I shrugged my arms, "I don't know what to come up with."

She tilted her head in a teasing way, "Really? So you're not a SMART ass? Does that make you a-"

I was about to make a growl at her like a dragon when I was shooting a threatening glare at her, "You better not say dumbass."

She actually looked surprised, "No, I was gonna say...Idiot." She snickered, "Well since you thought so and I thought the other way, which is it? Dumbass, or idiot?"

I crossed my arms, "How about neither?"

"Aw, why not?"

"Because dumbass has the same meaning as idiot. They're the same freakin thing!"

Luna was pausing before she made a nod, "Ok, I'll call you an idiot then." I put a hand to my forehead and groaned as she tossed her head back and laughed.

I shot my hand off my face and asked in a playful tone, "Fine, then how would you come up the name for my world's black berries? Huh? What?"

Luna tried to put some thought into coming up with the same. And after a few moments have passed, she sighed and we began to pad along the river again, "I got nothing."

I was finding myself smiling at her failure, "That's what I thought."

She let out a huff and a snort, "You're still the bigger idiot, Mike."

I waved her off, giggling a bit at her retort, "Whatever."

I was about to eat the last berry I had in my hand before Luna asked, "Hey, can I have that?"

I stopped with my hand close to my gaping mouth, before I lowered it away from it, shooting a tease at her, "And why should I give it to someone who called me an idiot?"

She moaned, showing me pleading eyes, "Aw, come on! That's not fair." Then she asked, "Well if you won't share it, are there more in the bag?"

I lied, "Nope."

Luna let out a sigh and begged, "Mike, please. I really love makrub berries. Just share that one with me."

I raised my eyebrows and demanded, "I want an apology."

"For what?"

"For calling me an idiot, that's what. Now say it, or I'm gonna eat it now." I held the berry close to my mouth before I started to open wide, "Here I go."

Luna had a freaked out look and shouted, "Wait! Alright!"

I giggled and we both stopped again close by the water. I teasingly asked, also mixing the question with seriousness, "What do you say?"

Luna was dipping her snout close to me and replied in a defeated tone, "I'm sorry for calling you an idiot."

I gave her a proud nod, "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"

She playfully shot back with a smirk, "It was, thank you for asking." The black scaled dragoness only rolled her eyes to glance at my hand holding the berry, "Now, about that berry."

I nodded, seeing what she's getting at, "There you go." I held it up to her snout in two fingers and she nibbled the berry out of them. Having it in her mouth, chewing it a bit, raising her head above my level and swallowed it.

She looked down at me in appreciation, "Thank you, Mike."

I trotted up and rubbed my hand across her chest scales affectionately, "You're welcome, girl." I gave her a smile, "And for the record...I did have more berries in the bag."

Luna changed her expression to a narrowed one, "Well I guess you weren't much of an idiot after all."

I held up my chin in smug, "Tricked ya." I pressed my forehead against her chest and laughed. Then a second later, the only thing Luna shared with me was her giggle.

She lowered her head to wrap it around me, muttering to me like she was proud that I'd done it, "You did."

I felt her head and neck pressed on my back, hugging me with it. And I didn't move as she did so. I just stood there feeling content with the big girl. Then she sighed and I feel her raising her head away from me. I looked up and asked in concern, "You ok?"

Luna nodded, brushing off my concern, "Yeah. I just feel like I need to go into the woods and...Take care of my business."

I knew what she was trying to tell me. She needed to use the bathroom somewhere. I nodded back, backing away from her chest, "Ok. I'll just wait here." I pointed at her, "Don't go far, alright? And if you see anything-"

Luna laughed and rolled her eyes before she started to turn her body facing the trees away from the river, "I'm a dragon, remember? I'll be fine." Then one of her wings pointed right at me, "YOU stay out of trouble."

I shrugged both my shoulders and arms, "I'll stay right where I'm at." I playfully waved her away, "Now get going." She chuckled as she did so, her large form brushing through several bushes and low tree limbs, looking for a place for her to be alone and do her thing. And I was left standing right in this spot alone. I heard less limbs cracking, meaning that she'd went further in there. I had worried eyes being shone, "Luna...Don't go far." I let out a huff and looked down at the river beside me. The current of it flowed by smoothly with nothing stopping it.

I realized that my lips were feeling dry and I was thirsty. Well I'll just have a drink from it while Luna's gone for a minute. I strode a few steps on the bank, dropping my stuff on the ground beside me and dropped on my knees very close to the water. Cupping my hands together and had them gone through the surface of the river, gathering some of it. When I had a cupful of water in my hands, I raised them to my lips and began sipping from them. The cool water of the river went down my throat, soothing it, even getting my dried up lips wet too.

I was about to get up off the ground after I was done having my drink, when a big shadow was over my body. I noticed it and began to see that it was big as a dragon. I giggled to myself, "Gee, Luna. Back already?" I stood straight up on two feet and slowly started to turn around to face her, "That didn't take you lo-holy shit!" I jumped back in fright and shock, seeing that it wasn't Luna, but another tall dragon. I accidentally fell backward into the water, getting my vest and pants wet. The water in that spot of the river wasn't exactly deep, so I wasn't totally submerged, but I was still wet. My heart hammered in my chest at the dragon before me.

I was staring at it, it appeared the thing's eyes were filled with confusion. It tilted it's head and said in a woman's voice, "What in the ancestors are you?"

It turned out to be a female dragon and I actually saw that she wasn't gonna hurt me. That this isn't some Dark Dragon coming to kill me while standing alone. She may be a stranger, but I can tell she wasn't trying to hurt me. It was mostly in fact curious of me. For the dragoness's appearance, she has bright ruby scales, a tan underbelly, two black horns sticking out at the top of her skull along with some frills near her ears, and another characteristic is that on both sides of her body on those red scales, there are about four black lines on each side of her body that go up and over her back, like a tiger stripe.

Her yellow eyes were gazing to me as she lowered her head to me lying in the water still. Asking me in a voice that sounded middle aged, that shows me that she's not young like Luna, "Hey. Are you alright, little one?" Her snout formed a smile that's comforting to me, "Don't be scared....Whatever you are. I'm friendly." She snaked her snout closer to me, tilting her head again, "Can you speak? I heard you, so I know you can."

I realized that I was just speechless and I shook my head out of the shocked trance, nodding to her, "Yeah, sorry about that."

She was shaking that apology away with her head, "Oh, it's alright." She chuckled, "Honestly, I thought you couldn't speak anymore after scaring you."

I was grinning at her. Well at least she doesn't think I'm an idiot who doesn't know how to speak. I remarked, "Yeah, you pretty much did. I thought you...Were-"

"A Dark Dragon?" She shook her head again and giggled, "I assure you, I'm not one of them." Then she asked when her eyes were drawn on my body still drenched in the river, "Um, do you need some help there?" She brought her head closer to me, "Grab my horns. I'll pull you up."

I nodded without hesitation and grabbed her black horns with my hands, and she used her neck to pull me up out of the water, helping me stand up and I'm now a dripping mess. I let out a low groan as I stood there all wet, shaking the water off me a bit. Damn it. That's twice that my clothes are wet! I trotted out of the river and sighed to myself, still shaking my body a bit. The water still dripping off my clothes. The dragoness rose her head above my level and apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

I looked up at her and gave her a smile, showing her there's no need to apologize, "Oh, I'm fine. You just....Came out of nowhere."

The dragon giggled, "I know, I was pretty quiet. I was just..." She frowned right at me, "Curious about you and I was being cautious." She cocked her head, "What are you? I never saw a creature like you before. Are you a....Furless cheetah?"

My eyes went wide. Well I shouldn't be surprised that she would call me that. I am on two legs, like the cheetahs in this world. I laughed and replied when shaking my head, "Nope. Not a cheetah. I'm a human. A creature with..." I tugged some of my hair that's still wet from the river with two fingers, "Fur only on top of my head. That's the only fur I have here."

She curled her neck into an s shape, "A human? Well alright...I guess. Now, let me ask you a few things. Where did you come from? What are you doing here? And who are you?"

Then we hear Luna's voice, "Mike!" Me and the dragoness turned our heads and see Luna strolling through the wooded area. Apparently coming back in a bit of rushed worry since she probably heard me scream. She came out through the bushes to us, a look full of curiousness on her face, "Mike....What's going on here?"

The red dragoness turned her chest to face the black dragoness coming out of the woods, a smile crept on her face, "Another dragon, eh?" She shot her head to me and remarked, "This little guy thought I was you, I believe."

Luna shot her gaze at me and I was waving at her a little bit, showing myself that I'm wet and chuckling too, "Yeah, she showed up while you walked off and look what happened."

Luna was giggling at how wet I am, "Geez, what did I just miss? I left you alone for only two minutes and here you are dripping wet. Let me guess....She scared you and you fell on your ass again, right? Seriously, Mike, when are you going to stop falling when I'm not around?"

I was narrowing my gaze at her, "Shut up."

Then Luna gestured her head towards the red dragon who sat down on her haunches nearby, curling her wings on her back, "And are you talking to strangers behind my back too? Didn't your momma tell you not to talk to them?" She was giving me a teasing smile, swishing her tail behind her, "I don't think she did. Talking to strangers is bad, Mikey."

I ignored the fact she had called me by that nickname again and playfully shot back, "I can take care of myself."

"Pretty much doubt it and you know it." She winked. And I rolled my eyes with a small groan.

The red dragoness rose her forepaw and waved it to get our attention, while her tail moved along the grass, "Hello, this stranger is still here." She was chuckling at us as we turned to her with our wide looks.

Me and Luna just giggled and Luna took a step towards her, "Sorry that we were ignoring you a bit..." Luna frowned curiously at the red stranger, "Uh....Who are you again?"

She let out a laugh, giving us both a smile filled with apology and sincerity, "I'm sorry myself. I must've forgotten my manners a little bit. I hardly ever meet company in these parts and it's been awhile. Allow me to introduce myself." She put her paw to her chest, introducing herself, "My name's Bajara." Then she gestured it to us, "And you don't have to say what your names are since you already blabbered them out." She pointed her claw at me, "You are Mike...." She moved it towards Luna, "...And you are Luna, correct?"

Me and Luna nodded, and I only replied, "Yep, that's right."

Luna teasingly asked Bajara, "So just wondering, did my little friend here give you any trouble while I was gone? Cause he didn't look like he did. Knowing that he's...Clumsy." I rolled my eyes at her comment. I'll get you for that, big girl.

Bajara laughed and shook her head in response, "Nope. Actually, I just scared him more than anything. He kinda was a bit clumsy there." That remark coming from her too made me angry. I'm not clumsy! I didn't expect anyone, OTHER than Luna, show up behind me! Bajara looked at my dripping self, eyes showing pity, "I'm still sorry. I can see that you don't like getting wet like a cheetah. I'm sure they don't like getting wet all that much."

I looked myself over, clothes still soaking wet, and I waved her off, "Nah, it wasn't your fault. I...Guess it's my fault for jumping in the air like a scared cheetah."

Bajara snickered, "Well I know that you're not a furless cheetah. But if you were, it's no wonder that you jump in fright so easily. Cheetahs hardly do."

Yeah, sure, like they would always get dressed before attacking the enemy...Unlike me earlier. Yeah, I get it, big girl. Then Bajara added, "Or I guess, in furless cheetah case, they get scared so easily compared to their counterparts."

My jaw dropped at that, as Luna was shooting up her horned head and laughing hard beside me, her wings fluttering on her back. Also the red dragoness was laughing a bit across from us. I lowered my gaze, turning red and murmuring to myself, "Arrr.....Damn it."

Bajara shook her head in pity at me, "Oops. I think I should've kept my snout shut."

Luna remarked, "Oh, don't worry about him. That was funny." She was smiling at the tall red girl, "I know we just met and all, but I'm starting to like you already."

I shot my playfully narrowed eyes at Bajara now, "I don't." Then Luna smacked her forepaw at the back of my head, making me yowl out, "Ow!" I shot Luna a glare, rubbing the pain away at my head with my hand, and she hissed in response.

Bajara said as she giggled at us, "Well I see the two of you getting along fine." We turned our eyes onto Bajara and she said when cocking her head, "Only now I'm wondering what you two are doing out here? And more importantly, for you...Human, where did you come from? What...Place in Avarilan did you come from? I don't think you're from around here, are you?"

I shook my head when I answered, "No, not exactly. I'm actually from...Another world."

She reared back her head in surprise, eyes wide, "Another world?" Then she relaxed her face and hummed, "Hmm...Interesting. I didn't know that there are other worlds."

I muttered, "Yeah, well, neither have I." I waved my hand at her, "And I take it you're not really travelling to Wingspan, right?"

Bajara shook her head as well, "Nope. Not planning on it. I live in this part of the world." Then she asked, holding a wrinkled face, "And I'd take that you two are traveling there?"

Luna nodded her question, "Something like that."

Bajara then offered, "I figured you did. Well since you two are just travelling, maybe you need to rest up somewhere." She looked right at me, "I can think YOU want to stop somewhere, since you're all wet. How about rest up at my home?"

I asked in a bit of concern, "Really? You...Wouldn't mind if we stay there a bit?"

Bajara waved me off with a paw, "No, I wouldn't. I think you guys need a place to rest up tonight anyways. Wingspan is very far away from here." She got off her haunches and started to turn her body to face the water, still eyes on us, "Come with me. I'll take you to my cave. It's not far from here. Maybe about....Eleven minutes away." She gestured her head past the river, "It's just past over the river here. You two can follow me, if you want. Or go on your way. Do whichever you want."

Me and Luna glanced at each other, then after we paused while looking into our gazes, we both nodded at the offer. We looked back at the dragoness who made the offer and Luna said, "We'll go."

Bajara smiled and her forelimbs went in the river, starting to walk over it to get to the other side, "Alright, follow me travelers." Her red form, with folded wings on her back, didn't take long before she was walking deeper in the middle of the river. The deep water went up to her belly and up a bit to her sides, and her tail went below the surface behind her. She gracefully went through it like it was nothing. Her paws soon started walking on the not so deep part of the water and made it to the other end of the river. Standing on land, water dripping off her scales and her tail swung around behind her, the tip of it dripped with water too. She whirled around and just stood there, waiting for the two of for our turn to cross.

I let out a sigh, picking up my stuff off the ground and said, "Well I figured we had to get across the river." I shot a glance at the water. I know that the middle of the river is not too deep for dragons, but it'll be too deep for me. I'm really not in the mood to swim across it, not with my clothes that are already wet. I looked up at Luna, "Can you...Uh...?"

Luna snaked her snout behind me and replied with a deep chuckle, "Sure, I'll carry you." Then without further word, she clamped her teeth onto my vest and picked me up off the ground, having me let out a yelp of surprise while at it. As I was dangling below her teeth, Luna padded herself over the river, her four feet going through the current of the flowing water and soon, she trudged across the deep part of the river, her body submerged in it a bit. My eyes locked on Bajara casually waiting for us for a moment, her eyes showed amusement at the sight of me being carried by a dragon. I looked down at the water as Luna still carried me, praying that she doesn't drop me in it, remembering that she tossed me in the pond the other day. I don't need to cool down again, Luna. I'm already wet anyways!

About a minute passed and Luna, while still standing in the water, slowly lowered me and dropped me down on my feet at the bank at the other side of the river. I was sighing in relief. Thank you. I moved my head and saw Luna was strolling out of the water to stand beside me, water dripping off her scales of course, looking down at me. I gave her a grateful smile and she replied with a grin, "You're welcome." I nodded at that. Then not long after, my eyes caught sight of Bajara already trotting in the woods, seeing that we made it to where she was and went to leading the way for us to follow. I poked Luna's scales and pointed the moving dragoness leaving us. Luna got the message and we both ran after Bajara together, while I was carrying my stuff onto my shoulder, can't exactly wait to see her take us there.

*****

A few hours after all of us left Rocko's cave to move on in the journey to Wingspan, I strode in between Emily and Cora, while Rick and Damon were just padding a couple feet ahead of us. All five of us walking on a trail in the forest. I turned my head to see Cora was just observing the area around her. I know for a fact that she hasn't travelled this far away from home and this is her first time doing so. In her eyes....They have shone excitement. I giggled at her expression. Cora....You've gotten what you had wanted for a long time.

You've left your home, wanting to travel and start a new life of your own. Wanting to travel with all of us, cause you wanted us to be your friends. You bravely told your family friend that you wanted all that, and as a result, he decided to let you go. You accomplished that, Cora. Now this is the first day of your journey with us.

I was just smiling away at the short red dragoness beside me. I remember how deeply saddened you looked when you knew for a fact that me and the others here wouldn't stay at your home forever and I was worried about how you'd feel when we leave. Quite frankly, if Rocko hadn't let you go, after you told him that you wanted to come with us, if I really had my way I would've just took you with us anyways without his permission. Cause if Rocko was that kind of dragon who's overprotective and won't let the hatchling he raised grow up, then he was no better than Rick.

My thoughts went onto Rocko. The old grey drake that we left behind. I had to admit, I'm gonna miss that guy. I mean, the old dude was real nice, humble, and funny, and now...He's just going to be living alone in his cave without Cora. Nor without anybody. Well...He seems to be the kind of drake who's used to living without anybody. Course, I'm sure that he'll miss Cora dearly. I can see it in his eyes when he and the little dragoness both came out of the cave before we all left him. I think I saw him get teary eyed too. Perhaps, he won't get used to living without her at first, but later in time...He will.

I actually do hope that somebody else comes to his cave and meets him one day. Give the old guy company. Maybe even live with him. That way, if he was feeling depressed about Cora leaving him so many days later, will help take that loneliness away.

Heh, now as the thought came, I wonder what would've been like if Rocko came on the journey with us? He'd be a hoot to hang around with. That way he would be with Cora too, like they weren't separated at all. But then...Maybe he wouldn't leave. Cause he used to live in Wingspan and there's a reason why he left and lived out here...With Cora. I looked at Cora again, a quizzical look held in my eyes. Why were you two living out here for years? To get away from the war? Or something else? Actually Cora....You said that Rocko's your family friend, but where are your parents? What happened to them? I am curious. Actually, more curious about why you're out here to begin with.

As I stared at her, I remember that she gave her family friend one last nuzzle to his chest and she cried a bit doing so. Seeing her cry a bit like that...It did make me feel bad for her. But she says she'd be fine and nothing else will stop her....Not even her feelings for Rocko. I know she's one tough little girl and all, but like Rocko, I'm sure she'll always miss him. She loves him.

Then I watched Rick who was still strolling beside the tall green drake ahead of us. I know that this morning, and when the time for all of us to leave came, he still looked apprehensive about having Cora coming with us. He didn't say a word about it, but I can see it. Well things are going fine for Cora so far, so I shouldn't be too worried for her. A curious thought formed in my mind. The thing with Cora and Rocko, made me think about him and Emily. Hell, Rick probably wouldn't let Emily go on this journey, if they were in Rocko and Cora's place. He'd keep her in that cave until....Forever. Just to protect her from...Nothing.

Rick....I can feel that it'd be hard to let Emily live out her life. But just like Cora, Emily's growing up. You probably know, but basically too stubborn about it, that you need to let her go.

Let her live out her life, Mr. Harper. Let her live out her life.

I removed my gaze off him and onto Cora again. I wonder how she's doing really? You know, cause of leaving behind her home and Rocko. Maybe I'll just ask. I reached to touch her neck, and when she felt my hand and fingers she turned her snout with a smile and I asked with a smile of my own, "How are you doing?"

With her wings being stretched out for a moment before curling them on her back, Cora replied, "Doing great, actually." She puffed out her chest as she was taking in a big gulp of air, looking up at the canopy of the forest, seeing some of the blue sky up through there, "I was excited to do this, this morning. And now...Here I am. On my first journey. With...My soon to be friends."

Damon twisted his neck to look over his shoulder at us, giggling at what she said, his long green tail swinging back and forth behind him, "I thought we were already friends."

Cora laughed and shrugged her shoulders and wings, "Oh, I guess you are. I guess...I was afraid that since you weren't staying at home for long and you leave me behind, this friendship wouldn't have lasted long."

Emily grinned when she looked past me and asked, "You think it will now?"

Cora chuckled and was nodding three times when gazing to my girlfriend, "Oh sure! And I really thank all of you for taking me with you to make it last."

Damon remarked and shook his head before he looked ahead, "There really was no trouble." He added when he eyed ahead, "Well truthfully, like you had some arguments with your family friend about your decision, me and everyone here were arguing a bit too. But in the end, we all came with the same decision."

Rick sighed, making the drake look down beside him, "ALMOST all of us."

Emily rolled her eyes, "Father, cut it out."

Cora giggled and said to Rick in a bit of a teasing tone, "Gee, Rick, do you have to act like Rocko right now?" She held up her head in a prideful matter, "He's already accepted this and let me go."

Rick looked over his shoulder, giving her a stern voice and look, "If I was a good parent, I wouldn't let my hatchling go off on a dangerous journey. I would keep my child at home, despite that she wanted to go."

Emily sighed, saying this in a stern tone too, "Dad." He drew his eyes on her and she went on, "Cora's not a hatchling. She's bigger than she was, now you really need to just drop it. Besides, it's already been done and we're far away from her home now. Not like we can turn back now."

Damon chided in, "Em's right, Rick. If we turned back now, we'll lose all the time of travelling to Wingspan today. We need to keep going now and not go back."

That's when Rick waved his hand behind him, an apparent idea came to him, "Well Cora has wings, so make her fly back home."

Cora narrowed her gaze and growled deeply in a bit of frustration, "I'm not going home."

I defended her on my end, "Yeah, Rick, she's not going home. And didn't I tell you last night to give it a fucking rest?"

Rick chuckled and held up a finger when he looked over his shoulder at me, "I remember that. I took the advice, and then I just ignored it."

Emily rolled up her eyes, "Typical. You're just stubborn."

Then Cora added, "I believe you're more stubborn than Rocko."

He waved his daughter and the short female dragon off, "I don't care what you say. I still think that-"

Emily made a loud protest, "DAD!" I laughed at her outburst. Oh, boy. Her father gave her the biggest stern look he could muster and she argued after getting his attention, "Enough with this bullshit. She has said to Scott and Rocko that she's ready and willing to do this. This is her choice and she's following through it. Now shut up and leave it be. Besides, you can't force her to leave." She made a smug grin, wrapping her arm around me and I grinned too, "Like you can't force to keep me away from some things."

Rick stared at her for a moment and then responded, "We'll see about that." He looked ahead, apparently pissed as usual.

Cora giggled and looked to me and Emily, "Wow, Emily. You really talked back to your father. That really is cool."

Rick hollered without looking back, "Yeah, you think it is, you uncontrollable hatchling!"

Cora hissed, curled her wings and made her tail flick behind her, "I'm not out control."

I whispered to her, "Uh, Cora, I think you better be quiet now."

She replied as she took a deep breath, taking my advice, "Alright."

Emily winked at the red donkey sized dragon, whispering as well, "I think it was cool too." Cora heard her with her good hearing and snickered at the shared opinion. I giggled at this. Boy, I see now they have a thing in common. They both won't take crap from Rick.

Rick looked up as he still strode beside Damon and asked, pretty much changing the subject, "Well, which way do we go, dragon?"

Damon answered, gesturing his snout ahead, "Just this way."

Rick took a deep breath and let it out, muttering one word out of his mouth, "...Ok." That was when all of us just went back to being silent. Travelling on this trail with a new companion in the group.

*****

Me and Luna are walking behind Bajara leading us to her home, her red tail swinging around behind her with each slow step she took. I was still a bit apprehensive about us intruding her personal space, but she was just being a kind dragon who's offering travelers to stay at her home. Like me and Luna. Well it wasn't like we were staying at somebody's home for the first time. We both stayed at the cheetah village for a bit, so what would make this any different? It was like Bajara said before, she hardly had company around here, so I guess why wouldn't she have company like us for a little bit.

I didn't feel worried too much about it now, when I took a deep breath of relief and letting it out, still trotting beside Luna's form. I think we've been doing this about....Ten minutes, so I don't think we're far off from her home. Just need to keep padding up behind the red dragoness. And so we have, and not too long we started seeing Bajara's cave that has a low ceilinged entrance. I sorta thought that it was small and that only me and Luna would be the ones to sleep in there and not Bajara. She would probably sleep outside in the dark alone. But it turned out I was wrong. After the three of us went through the mouth of the cave, Bajara and Luna ducking their heads below the small entrance in the process, I can see the inside of the place. The cave wasn't very deep, only goes for about seventeen feet. The inside of this place was very big and round, which it has a lot of room for a dragon to lay in. Actually, for about a few dragons to sleep around in. Man, Bajara would have plenty of room for a couple more travelers to stay in here with her.

Only right now, it's just me and Luna.

Heh, I'm imagining that if Scott, Emily and Rick have stuck with me back in the fortress and escaped with me with that magical white stone, they would've made me and Luna more than just two travelers staying in here. Only Bajara would have a few more humans staying in here. She would be surprised! Like she was surprised about seeing me for the first time. A human...From another world.

What a story I'll be telling her.

Bajara spun around, her tail swished behind her and her wings settled against her back, "Welcome to my cave, Mike and Luna."

Luna settled down on her haunches, curled her black tail around her and gave her a smile of appreciation, "Thank you, Bajara." Her eyes were gazing around it, "Nice cave you have here." I internally giggled at her compliment. Well in my opinion, I have been in Luna's cave, the cave behind the waterfall, and now this is the third cave to be in. I think all caves look the same to me, so what's so nice about it? I never complained about it however. What was there to complain anyways?

Bajara giggled, "Thank you. There isn't much here, but I wouldn't care. I claimed this place as my home for years and I love living here. In a nice wooded area with a beautiful river nearby. I can never want to leave here."

Luna held a curious look on her face, "Not even look for company to socialize with?"

Bajara changed her expression to a blank one, "But where would I go looking for company, honey?"

I asked, pretending to think with my brain, "How about....Wingspan? I think that's where I'd look." Luna chuckled beside me, seeing my point.

Bajara giggled, "You have a point there, little one. But you can imagine that it's pretty far from this beautiful looking area." She shook her head, "No way, I'm flying far away from home to do that."

I shrugged in agreement, "Yeah, that's true. I can imagine." I looked back behind through the entrance, "The area does look beautiful to live in. Pretty much a nice area to build a cabin and live in."

Bajara tilted her head in confusion and so had Luna, both of them asking with one word, "Cabin?"

I giggled deeply to myself. That's right. Dragons don't live in cabins. That I'm sure of. I was waving them off with my hand, stating, "It's something that humans build when several of them are living in wooded areas such as out here. Cabins are pretty much made of wood, such as logs."

Luna nodded slowly and said, "Like cheetahs would build their own villages. They're mostly made of wood, that I know of."

I stuttered a bit, trying to explain it a bit to her, "Ah...Well...There isn't really a village of cabins that we humans built. That I know of, anyway. But there are villages in my world that are kind of made just like the cheetah village. Mostly in Africa, I think."

Luna cocked her head at that, "Africa?"

I laughed a bit at her naïve attitude, "It's a place in my world."

Luna shot up her head, "Oh, I see." Then she narrowed her eyes a bit at me, "I still know little about your world, little guy. I hope you'll get to telling me more about it."

I nodded, "Yeah I know, I'm sorry. It's just....Things like that just sorta pop up in my head."

Bajara snickered near us, "I may not know you well, but you really are such an interesting fellow. I hope that I get to know you more, and....What humans really are and what they do. I'm still curious about you and your kind. Actually now, I'm curious about where you came from and how you got in Avarilan. You said you're from another world, so how did you get here?"

I let out a tired sigh, "Cut me some slack, ladies." I turned my eyes on Bajara, "For where I came from and how I had got in Avarilan, it's a long damn story. But lets just say it was bad." I shrugged my shoulders, "Well good at first, but then it had gotten bad. Lets just say it has something do to with...Lost Souls and Dark Dragons."

Bajara held a pity look for me, "Oh....No wonder you kinda jumped in fright earlier. You were probably just a defenseless human who's scared of being in a strange world."

Luna giggled and remarked, "Kinda was when I met him."

I laughed and shook my head, gesturing to the bow on my shoulder, "I'm not defenseless anymore. I have a bow and quiver of arrows on me."

Bajara shot up her head and let out a laugh, "Oh boy, then I'm glad you didn't use those arrows on me. Believe me, I know what archery is from cheetahs and I know how dangerous arrows are. I'm glad you didn't shoot me instead of jumping and falling in the river." She held up a talon, apologizing again, "Which I'm still sorry for that."

Luna was giggling beside me and I was shaking my head, "I know I'm a bit wet still, but I'll be fine." Then I gave her a sincere, trustworthy smile, "And you haven't tried to hurt me, so I wouldn't have a reason to hurt you."

Bajara slowly nodded her head in agreement, "I'm as friendly as they come."

Luna smiled at the red dragoness, "We see that."

That's when Bajara smiled, "And you see why I took you guys here with me." Then she waved with a forepaw, "I know that I wouldn't fly to Wingspan far away from home to socialize. So....I guess I would rather have company find me. And sometimes company does find me." She waved her paw around the cave, "And since you're the company that found me, you can stay in here. As long as you need to."

My small bout of apprehension was still in my mind and I asked just to make sure, "You sure you wouldn't mind us staying here?"

Bajara shook her head and answered, "Yes. I love sharing my cave. Love to share the cave with any creature I come across with. Even...With something that doesn't belong in this world. You can use some rest too."

I took a deep breath and let it out, "Well...Alright. Thanks."

Bajara replied with that smile still upon her snout, "Oh, you're welcome, Mike." Then she was chuckling to herself, "Mike....That name sounds foreign."

I waved to her, "Well nobody in my world could come up with the name 'Bajara'."

She giggled and started to pad a few steps up to us, "Oh, I'm pretty sure that my name's foreign to your tongue."

I added after she said that, "But it is beautiful. I'll give you that."

I think on her red scaled cheeks, there was some pink shown on them when she dipped her snout shyly, "Oh....Thank you, little one."

I laughed a bit at her shy attitude, "What are you getting bashful for? I was just saying I liked your name."

She giggled in response, when her gaze returned to me, her blush went away, "Sorry. I just....Didn't expect to hear that out of a mouth like yours. Even for someone who's new in this world. And...You said that, even to someone that you don't know fully."

"I maybe new, but I do like some things in this world. Including you, so far, despite that we don't know each other."

Bajara just grinned at me, her yellow eyes showing fondness in them, "Well we'll have to fix the last part later then." Then she strode past me, her eyes still locked on me and Luna as she did so, "Listen, I'll be back later. I was walking around earlier to look for something to eat, then I found you two and that interrupted the whole thing."

Luna giggled, shifting around on her haunches to face her, "Sorry to had ruined your hunt."

Bajara shook her head, adamantly stating, "You're fine, Luna. I'm going to get back to it. You guys can stay here and wait." She looked down at me, a curious brow raised, "And as for you....Human. When I get back, I'll be needing an explanation from you."

I let out a breath and nodded a bit, as I dropped my stuff off of my shoulder and on the cave floor, "Can't wait." After I did, I gave her a wave when her red form began to pad away from me and Luna, disappearing out of the cave entrance after she ducked below it. Luna started to lay down on her stomach after we just watched the entrance for a few moments. I broke the silence, "Well she seems nice." I turned to face Luna and saw that she was shooting her narrowed gaze at me. I frowned at her look, a confused tone in my voice, "What?"

"You said that her name was beautiful. You didn't say that about mine."

I made a mock expression when I dropped my jaw, "Whoa, Luna....Are you jealous?"

She shot up her head, saying in sarcasm, "I'm not jealous. I shouldn't be jealous about somebody who has a beautiful name than me."

I gestured to her, defending myself, "I told you before that you were beautiful."

"Yeah, beautiful like the night, but you didn't say that MY NAME was beautiful."

Wow, she is jealous. I never expected that from her. I rolled my eyes, "Oh, give me a break. We just met her and you're jealous!" She snorted and I walked up to her and planted a comforting hand on her scales, rubbing them up and down, "There's no need to get jealous, big girl. You're beautiful as the night, and as for your name, I think your name's beautiful too."

Luna twisted her head to look down beside her at me, giving me a hopeful look and asked in a calm tone, "Really?"

I nodded, as my hand still ran through her soft, warm scales, "Sure, big girl. I wouldn't be your best friend if I didn't think both your scales and name are beautiful." I thumbed back at the entrance with my other hand, referring about Bajara, "Besides that, she was being courteous to us and I was being courteous to her in return. Why shouldn't I, right?"

She actually snaked her snout and nuzzled my side with it, a nuzzle of apology, "I'm sorry, Mike. I couldn't help it." Then she stopped a bit, confusion in her eyes, giggling deeply in disbelief, "Actually, I don't know what came over me. It's a shock." Then her eyes now showed the same kind of apology she's giving me, "Again, I'm sorry."

I chuckled and reached up with my left hand to slowly caress her cheek, "I was surprised too that you showed me that attitude. And don't worry, you're forgiven. Just...Chill."

Luna giggled at that and peered into my eyes, "Deal." She rose her snout away from me and looked out to the entrance, complimenting about Bajara too, "I'll admit it. She's nice as well."

I was staring at her, "Guess you weren't kidding around before that other dragons live outside Wingspan." I shrugged my shoulder and patted her black scales, "Besides you."

Luna's eyes moved down at me when she replied, "That's right. I wasn't the only one. Although, you know me well, that I never came across any dragon outside home, knowing how guilty I've felt of what happened and how I kept moving from place to place."

I nodded at her response, "Gotcha there."

"And now since eleven years ago, she's the first dragon I'd met outside Wingspan."

I muttered when I hung my head a bit, as a thought crossed my mind, "Yep." Hmm...Now that I'm thinking about it....Why is Bajara living out here? I looked up and asked this out loud, a frown appeared on my face, "I wonder why Bajara's living out here? I mean, I know that she wouldn't travel all the way to Wingspan since it's far from here. But why would she live out here to begin with?"

Luna answered when she hummed, her tail curled to her side, "Well usually dragons leave Wingspan to search for a new home for themselves, or to get away from feeling crowded, or just to get away from the war, since the city does come into contact with it." Now she wrinkled her face, "But why really....I don't know. And another thing that got to me was....She didn't mention anything about my past when she saw me. She didn't mention that I was the one and only Dark Storm who terrorized the lands. She...Never gave me a glare or a look of fear when she saw me. Have you noticed that?"

I frowned when she brought it up, "Actually, yeah. She never did mention anything at all about it." I shrugged with one arm, "Maybe she never heard of you? Or she had, and never saw you in person before? Doesn't know what you look like?"

She let out a chuckle, "How could anyone not heard of me? I did tell her my name's Luna. So it wouldn't be hard for her to figure out that it's short for Lunasin. There aren't any other Lunas and Lunasins that I know of. So how can anyone not hear of what I've done?"

I put a hand to my chest, "Well, I never heard of you being Dark Storm before."

Luna rolled her eyes playfully to herself, "Well duh, of course you haven't." I giggled deeply in my throat and she took a deep breath, a curious look in her eyes still, "I don't know, maybe she does know who I am and didn't bring it up." Then her eyes showed relief, "But I'm glad she wasn't treating me badly of what I had done before."

I made a nod in agreement, "Me too. I hate it when someone gives you crap for what you didn't have control over. We know it's not fair."

She shrugged her shoulders and waved a paw, "Maybe we'll know if she does know about me later. Since we're staying here with her. Maybe she'll tell us about that, like also why she's living out here alone."

I nodded slowly, "Yeah, like I'll be telling her how I've ended up in Avarilan. She'll be surprised."

Luna formed a grin on her muzzle, "Speaking of talking about something, I think now is the good time for you to tell me about this...Africa." Her wings moved on her back, then settled down, "Me and you are alone now, so I think now is the best time."

Well....I guess I don't see why not do it now. I made a nod and said, "Yeah, alright. I'll tell you about Africa." I walked up to her front and sat down in front of her, crossing my legs, "You'll find that place interesting."

She waved her forepaw towards me, "Alright, go ahead, Mike." Then before I could start, she cut me off with her voice, "Oh and uh....Do I get a makrub berry after I had listened to you tell me about Africa?"

I made a teasing grin, "We'll see."

She just made a deep growl of satisfaction, "I'll take that as a yes."

I took a deep breath and began to tell her the story of Africa, everything that I could think of about it, "Ok, well....Africa is something that's far away from where I really live in my world. Far away, indeed...."