Adonis (Part 5)

"I won't let you take her!" I shouted as I transformed and raced after the dragon who had just snatched Nairi up in its claws. My Uncle.  Why is he doing this? The dragons had maintained neutrality throughout the war? What could have changed?
"Adonis!" Nairi called out to me. The wind rushing over me was deafening.  I had never flown this fast in my life. But with all my speed, I still couldn’t catch my uncle before he thrust the cage door shut, imprisoning Nairi. I rammed my uncle with such force I nearly lost consciousness, and we went tumbling out of the sky towards the hard ground.
The impact of the earth against my back forced me back into human form. I leapt up onto my feet intending to fly up and destroy the cage. I couldn’t let them take her again. A calm, cold voice from behind me paralyzed me mid leap "We meet again after all these years, Boy." His cold voice echoed in my mind, awakening all the anger, all the hatred, all the pain I had ever felt because of this one man.  It seemed to flow through my body straight to my fist and I lobbed a huge ball of fire straight at him.
 He dodged just in time and laughed, "Foolish boy, you think you can beat me do you? You think that just because you are older you have the power to defeat me? You, the child of a human, a disgrace to the dragons."
"Shut up!" I yelled, anger pulsing within me. "You have no right to talk to me. You, who lied to me all these years. You, who killed my parents for power. You, who cast me out and disowned me. And you have just made one of the biggest mistakes of your life."
"Oh, and what would that be, little nephew?"
"That Uncle, is you have just taken the one thing I care about, the one thing I cherish, the one thing I love in this world anymore and thrown her in a cage to be taken away for whatever reason, and I will not let you off for that!" As soon as I said the words I knew they were true. Nairi really was that important to me, and the thought of having her hurt anymore made me furious.
My Uncle laughed, "You have feelings for the little Ceridwen girl? That is so...weak." He looked at me with such cold eyes that it was hard to believe he was actually my father’s brother, that he was related to me in anyway.
"Uncle Malum, I will not let you take anything important to me ever again." As the last word escaped my lips we were suddenly dragons once again charging each other. It seemed like we fought for hours I would knock him to the ground and he would do the same to me. Claws ripped through scales, teeth broke pierced flesh, and fire raged through the forest that we had landed in. With a stroke of luck I swung my claw and slashed a line from his brow to his cheek. Blood filled his left eye. In his moment of blindness I reared up and cut a deep gash in his underbelly with my other hand. He roared in pain and knocked me to the earth. The combination of my fatigue and the impact of my body slamming into the ground forced me back to human form.
"This," my Uncle rumbled, holding his injured eye shut. "Is where you will die, Nephew." He raised his claw to finish me, but there was a loud trumpeting roar from over where the battle between the rebels and the dragons was raging.
My Uncle looked at me, "You have lucked out today, boy. Next time I promise, you will not be so lucky." And with that he soared off. I watched him fly over to where the sorceress hovered. And there, next to her the floated that hideous cage. All I could think of in that moment, laying there out of breath, was that I had failed. I had failed at saving her. But also in that moment was the burning desire to get her back. No matter what I faced I would save her. I would save Nairi.

Adonis (Part 4)

I rushed out of the barrier and ran as fast as I could through the forest. Being a dragon I could run incredibly fast in human form, but flying as a dragon is much faster. As soon as I made it to a clearing large enough, I changed. The 3 day journey it took us would now probably take me only a day, the perks of being a dragon.
I traveled forever only thinking of getting the medicine, and wondering if she was okay. She didn't deserve this. Her brother and her father were both dead, and now she was on the verge of death as well. I really wanted to rip the heads off those two dragons. I was going to make a special effort from now on. No one will ever hurt Nairi again.
I kept flying. Though I knew I was going really fast, it seemed I was taking way too long. I willed myself to speed up.
After what seemed like an eternity, I saw the gates of the camp. I landed and changed back into a human. I raced toward the infirmary. I burst through the door making Kaymele, Anakis, Natia, and Nithron jump three feet in the air. "A-Adonis your back." Anakis muttered.
"Yes, I am. And I brought the herbs. Here,” I threw the bag to her. “Make the medicine." She stumbled to catch it but immediately set to work making the remedy. "How has she been?" I asked, sitting down next to her.
"As good as someone who has that bad of an infection can be," Kaymele said. "She has been sleeping on and off, she hasn't talked, and she won't drink. I don't know why though."
I frowned. "That’s strange.” I looked at her. She was sweating terribly. I picked up a wet rag and was about to wipe her face with it when she rocketed away. "What-"
"See, she doesn't even want it to touch her." Kaymele said frowning.
I looked at Nairi. She looked about the same but then I saw it. "Hey, Nairi, can you tell me the name of your brother?" She looked at me like she didn't know what I was talking about. Heat started to rise in my chest. "Kaymele, has anything happened - anything at all - after we left?"
"Well, just one thing. Some guys came and tried to kidnap Nairi but they failed."
I got up and hit the wall. "Dang it! This isn't Nairi. She won't drink water, won't even let it touch her. She is a Ceridwen. Water would help her not hurt her. Those kidnappers, whoever they are, succeeded."
"Adonis," Kaymele sounded worried, "Nairi is right there. How could they have succeeded?"
"Ask her to talk," I snapped. "It won't sound like Nairi. She probably can't answer any questions about her past either. Try to force her to drink some water. I bet it will do something." I turned and glared at Nairi's imposter.
Kaymele got up and poured some water, careful not to let it touch her. "Nairi, can you drink just a little of this." She shook her head fiercely. "If it really is you, forgive me." She forced the water down her throat and Nairi screamed. But it was high pitched and almost inaudible. I covered my ears as the Nairi imposter evaporated.
"Well, has my point been proven?"
Everyone looked at me with stunned eyes. "So where have they taken Nairi then?" Nithron said thoughtfully.
"Most likely the castle," Kaymele said sharply.
I nodded. "And if she's hurt they’re all dead." I was mad. Really mad. I wanted to hit something desperately but knowing I would break something, I held back.
"And if she isn't treated soon sh-she could die," Anakis mumbled.
"Okay, I'm going to go get her." I started for the door but felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Adonis, we are all worried, but don't be rash. It would be suicide to take on that army alone without a plan."
"Your point?" I said sarcastically.
He sighed, "My point, Adonis, is-" He was cut off by the sound of wolves…No not wolves...death hounds. I ran outside the gates and saw a pack of death hounds surrounding two figures. One was a man who had obviously made some archers very angry, and there, laying on the ground beside him was...NAIRI.

Adonis (Part 3)

"Well, that was an adventure." I said as Bly led the way to the elfin city.
Xander laughed, "Yes an adventure. Did you even see anything curled up in your little ball?"
I glared at him but didn't say anything else. We walked in silence for some time. Xander and Bly would talk to each other but I decided to hang back.
I came on this trip to get Nairi medicine. I reminded myself. I wonder how she is doing. I scolded myself in the beginning for her getting hurt. Even though it was my fault, I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself. Why do I care so much? I ask myself this question frequently. I never have cared much for anyone or anything. I was beginning to get mad at the world for not telling me why I felt this way.
"Adonis, are you okay." Xander said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah I'm fine. Why? "
"You had this look on your face like you might catch on fire."
"I might." I mumbled.
"What was that?" He said leaning closer.
"Oh nothing." I said smiling "How far are we, Bly?"
"Um, it is still a ways ahead, but we should reach there before nightfall...I hope."
“You hope?”
"Well, um we are a little ways off maybe as fast as a dragon flies we could reach there by nightfall."
I frowned "Did you have to use a dragon as the example of how far off we are?"
She looked at me "Well, sorry I figured since you are half dragon that would be the best way to describe it in a way you would understand!" She looked kind of mad. I hadn't known her all my life or anything but she wasn't one to get mad that easy. Xander must have noticed to because he suddenly had a worried expression on his face.
"Bly, are you okay?"
She put her hand to her head "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired is all."
"Maybe, we should rest a while." Xander said still looking concerned.
"But we won’t make it before night if we rest now." She said persistently.
Xander pushed on "And we won’t make it before nightfall if you pass out halfway there."
She glared at him "I'm fine really."
"No you’re not." He said.
I had had enough. "Will you both just shut up already?! Will it settle both your nerves if I agree to turn into a dragon and carry you guys there."
They both looked at me with shocked looks on their faces. "That would give us time to rest." Bly said "But are you sure you will be able to tra-?"
I cut her off "I said I would do it okay so just sit and rest and we will go when you wake up or whatever." I didn't really want to change into a dragon. It was always annoying. But it was really the only way I saw to shut them up and keep them from wasting time that could spend getting to the elf city. This also meant more time Nairi sat in a bed dyeing.
I walked off away from them, leaned against a tree, and closed my eyes to clear my head. Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.
"Mommy, look what I made." I said running up to a woman in a long dress, who was sewing in a rocking chair.
"Let me see." The woman said setting down her sewing to pick up the little two year old me.
"See, Mommy." I held up a drawing to my mother’s face. I pointed to a tall figure on the piece of paper. "See, that’s, Daddy." I pointed to a slightly smaller figure on the paper. "And there you are, Mommy." And last I pointed to a small figure in between the other two. "And there's me." I smiled up at her.
"It is beautiful" She said kissing me on the forehead causing a strand of her black hair to fall in my face and make me sneeze. She laughed. You could tell she was a very happy person by how full her laugh was.
I hopped down out of her lap and ran to the other side of the room. "Mommy, look at how fast I can run."
She smiled "I see, now come here, Adonis, and wash your hands dinner is ready and your dad will be home soon."
"Yes Ma'am." I ran outside and pulled some water out of the well and brought it inside, sloshing it everywhere with every step. "Here, Mommy. I brought the water."
Though the bucket was half way full by the time I got it to her, but she still smiled and said "Good job." I washed my hands in the water and just as I finished the door swung open.
My, Moms, green eyes shot to the door as my dad stepped in. "DADDY!" I yelled and ran to the gold eyed man.
He hefted me up onto his shoulders. "Hey, Adonis, did you take care of your mom while I was gone?" I nodded my head. "Good," He walked over to my mom and started to hand me to her but I grabbed onto his red hair with my hand.
"No, I want daddy to hold me."
He laughed. "I guess a little longer won’t hurt." He put me back on his shoulder just as there was a bang on the door.
The expression on my mom’s face went from happy to terrified. "Mommy, what’s wrong?" I said running to her as my dad put me down.
"Nothing, Adonis." She said picking me up quickly. But I knew something was wrong. I could feel her heart beating fast. "Magnus, who is it." My mom whispered shakily. He looked threw a small hole in the door and his eyes went wide.
He walked over to us. "Cura, I need you to take, Adonis, and run. Now."
My mom nodded and headed for a door around back but before she opened it she peeked out and ran back. "I can't."
He looked back. "Why?"
"There are people there."
"No, how could he know?"
“Mommy what's going on" I asked scared.
"Don't worry, sweetie, it will all be okay." She hugged me tightly and kissed my head.
"What are we going to do?" She looked at my dad frightened.
"Hide Adonis in the closet. I’ll open the door and you run. Run as fast as you can."
"But-"
"No buts.” he cut her off and took me out of her arms and kissed her on the cheek." I love you, always remember that, no matter what happens. Now go." She nodded her eyes full of tears and ran out the back as my dad set me down in a closet "Now, Adonis, I need you to be as quiet as possible okay?" I nodded and he shut the door.
"Brother, what business do you have here?"
"You know my business ,brother." He sneered.
"What are you talking abo-"
"I know you had a son by a human woman. Where is he!" The man’s voice was full of rage.
"I don't understand. Who told you this?"
"Well, it was a hunch until my men caught this."
I heard the sound of my mom being dragged in
"No!" My father yelled, "Please don't hurt her"
I couldn't contain my fear I had to do something. I jumped out of the closet and ran to my mother who was tied up on the floor. "Mommy." I ran over to her crying.
"Adonis no!" My father shouted. Someone grabbed me and held me tight.
"So this is my half breed nephew." A man who looked like my father said with disgust. "I bet he has no dragon in him...I tell you what, I will spare the boy if he proves he can do something." The smiled evilly.
"He's only two! How can he show power at that age?!"
"Maybe motivation." The man said with a terrible smile. He nodded his head towards my mother, and a man drew a knife to her throat.
"No!" My father screamed.
"Her fate is in your hands boy. Can you save your mother?" The man whispered in my ear.
"I'm trying!" I screamed. And I was. I tried with all my might, but I didn't know what to do.
“Well too bad boy." He nodded his head again and the man holding my mother plunged a dagger into her heart.
"NOOO!" My father screamed and ran to her. "What have you done?!" He yelled rage filling him. But all I saw was my mother, dead on the floor, a pool of blood surrounding her. "Mommy." I mumbled, when the situation finally sank into my brain. I screamed and fire erupted in every direction. The man holding me gasped. "How!"
The fire raged for as long as my scream held. But when I finally stopped so did the fire.
My father looked at me stunned tears in his eyes. "There you have it brother. You gave your word you would spare him if he showed any power. So, how's that for power...you can do what you want with me. But a dragon always keeps his word."
I suddenly bolted upright in a cold sweat. I looked around and realized it was a dream, no not a dream...a memory. I suddenly felt a strong hate towards my uncle, the man I had been trying to please my whole life, had taken my mothers. Not only that, he lied to me. He told me she got away that she was alive somewhere.
Heat filled my body, and I was filled with such rage that I stood up in one swift movement and hit the tree I had been leaning against with all my might, picturing my uncle’s face in its place. This of course got the attention of my companions who came running over.
Xander ran up sword drawn ready to fend off whatever was attacking. "What's going on, what happened?
I allowed the anger to mostly leave me before I talked.
I shrugged, "I got mad and hit the tree."
Bly looked behind me at the tree with wide eyes. "How mad were you? You punched the tree in half."
I looked at the tree that lay splintered on the ground in front of me. "Huh, guess I did. So now that we are all up, let’s get this over with and get to the land of pointy-eared people."
Bly glared at me "We are called Elves. Please don't call us ‘pointy-eared people.’ It is very insulting."
I saw Xander out of the corner of my eye, holding in a laugh. "So, are you going to show us your grand display of turning into a dragon?"
I could tell by the look in his eyes he really wanted to see me do it. I sighed "Alright," I closed my eyes and concentrated. My body started to feel hot and I suddenly felt heavier. I felt my bone structure changing and my skin turning into scales. It isn't the most pleasant experience one can have.
My body finally stopped shifting and I opened my eyes and looked at my companions, they looked shocked. "What," I whispered into their minds seeing as they wouldn't understand the grunts and roars I would make if I tried talking normally "Never seen a dragon transform from human form to dragon form?"
Xander looked at me and said, "Well of course not, but also, I thought you were a red dragon."
Bly nodded in agreement.
I sighed “Oh, that...well you see I’m part human and I guess as a side effect of that I kind of change color with emotion." I hated telling people that, cause then they can pretty much read me like an open book.
"Oh, really?" Xander said mischievously.
"Interesting." Bly said, looking like she was deep in thought.
"Okay, enough wasting time, get on and tell me the way."
"Right." Bly said coming out of her thoughtful look and climbing onto my back.
"So," Xander said as he followed, Bly, onto my back "I'm guessing red is mad cause of the situations we have been in when you were a dragon. So," He flashed a smile "What is pink." He laughed
"Oh, shut up, Xander, if you must know it’s embarrassed. I don't like turning into a dragon at will, because you can see what I'm feeling so therefore I get embarrassed, especially since the color is pink, I mean why couldn't it be grey or something."
Xander laughed at my discomfort.
"Okay, that's it." I took off spiraling straight up into the sky causing, Xander, to nearly fall off “So, which way, Bly?"
"Straight." She pointed straight ahead of us. I flew straight for a minute or two till Bly said "Alright, now left." I turned left and flew on. A few more minutes flying till she said "Okay, now turn right and fly about one hundred meters, then land "
I did what she said and, as soon as they were off my back I transformed back into a human.
I looked at Bly just as the last bit of sunshine faded, "We're here."

Adonis (part 2)

After the whole ordeal with Bly nearly killing Xander, I was surprised when everyone decided we should go back to sleep. I didn’t feel tired after all that noise especially because of the dream I had been having. I sat there leaning against a tree, thinking about how I was dragged into this mess anyway, and without realizing it slowly drifted off to sleep.

I woke with a start, realizing I had fallen asleep.  I looked around at my companions. Bly was sleeping peacefully with a smile on her face, like she was dreaming of something happy. Then her face contorted into a pained look as if the dream took a wrong turn. Xander was laying flat on his back his hand touching the hilt of his sword, he seemed passive about what was happening in whatever he was dreaming about, but his whole body was tense.  I turned to look at where Nairi had been sleeping. She wasn’t there anymore. I looked around to see if she was nearby, but I couldn’t see her anywhere.
I arose to go look for her. We were out in the open out here and there could be king’s guard anywhere, plus the forest was equally as dangerous.
She shouldn’t be alone out here, and she knows it.  So where in Incantevole did she go?
Then I heard the sound of running water, and I walked toward it
Then, I saw her leaning against a tree next to a river.
I didn’t even know there was a river here. I thought
I walked up to her. “Hey.” I said before getting near her. I didn’t feel like scaring her.
She jumped a little, but didn’t try to kill me. I guess that’s a good sign.
“Hey.” She didn’t look to see who I was but turned her head the opposite direction and wiped her eyes.
I backed up a little, Please tell me she isn’t crying. I don’t know how to deal with girls crying.
“Um, uh, are you ok?”
She looked at me, her eyes red. Oh no, she really was crying.
“Hey Adonis, what’s wrong? Did you need something?”
“Um, no. It’s just I woke up and everyone was asleep…but you weren’t there so I just thought you might be bored, so I came to find you.” I smiled. That was the worst excuse ever.
Nairi smiled. “Thanks.” She moved over making room for me to sit. I wasn’t sure if I should, but not taking the offer would probably make her sad again, and she looked like she needed company, so I sat.
There was this awkward silence for a long while then Nairi spoke.
 “You know,” She paused like she was contemplating whether she should tell me or not, then she spoke again. “You know…My brother…he was killed by the king.” I was shocked. I really hadn’t expected her to tell me this. I could tell something terrible must have happened to her to make her want the king dead so badly. But I really didn’t think I would be the person she told.
“We were out in the fields playing around…I was having a really bad day…and...And Nuvole always seemed to find a way to cheer me up.” She paused and I looked at her. She looked so sad-her face full of pain. “That same day we had found out our dad had died.” She laughed,  a strained laugh, like it was just put there to fill silence. “Nuvole took me out to the fields to play…I loved it out there. Nuvole was the best in our class at using ice.” She smiled. It must have been a fond memory. “I would sit there and he would make ice sculptures, but not just normal ones, He would make them look so stupid.” She laughed, a very pretty laugh, full of life. “But then…” Her smile died and her eyes took on a pained look. “But then King Felix came. I knew something must be wrong because everyone was going into their houses. But I didn’t know what. I was only eight, how was I supposed to know.” She started crying again.
Oh no what do I do? I really don’t know what I’m supposed to do when girls cry! I was about to say something when she continued.
“Nuvole, h-he told me we needed to go, but, but it was too late the king was already coming. I didn’t know what was going on, but I think Nuvole tried to protect me. He stepped in front of me so the king didn’t see me.” She stopped for a second then continued. “The next thing I knew Nuvole is being dragged off by the king.  I never saw him again. I learned later that he went to talk to the king about leaving our people alone.” Her crying turned into sobbing. “Then just a few years later a note came that they had killed Nuvole. They killed him! Just for asking! All he did was ask!” She put her head down and cried into her hands.
I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know if I should console her or make a joke. I don’t know why but I hugged her. It seemed like my best bet. “I’m sorry.” I told her.
She actually stopped crying. I let her go and the look on her face was a mix between happy and surprised.
“Now dry those tears.” I said poking her in the forehead. “It isn’t cute when girls cry, Shor-…Nairi.”
I got up and started to walk away.
 “Hey!” She got up and chased after me. “Did you just, back there.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about, Shorty.”
“I knew it! I must have been hearing things.” We walked for a while, but right before we got to camp Nairi grabbed my sleeve. I looked down at her. She looked like a small child “Thank you,” It was all she said, but I could tell she really meant it.
I was about to say something but I was interrupted by Xander. “Where were you two? We need to go.” He looked around. “We have lost some time.”
“Sorry.” Nairi looked at him, a smile back on her face. “We needed to talk.”
Xander sighed. “I guess it’s all right as long as you’re here now.” He looked at the forest. “We may have to cross the forest a ways.”
Bly looked terrified. “B-but we-we can’t…I-it is too dangerous.”
“It might be safer if we ride the horses.” Xander looked thoughtful.
“Um, Horses don’t really like me.” I said rubbing the back of my head. I don’t know why they don’t; maybe it is because of my dragon blood?
“Well they may let you ride them. They are, as you know,” he smiled, “different.”
I shrugged. “I guess I will try.” I walked up to them. “Which one should I ride?”
Xander pointed to the one on the right. “That’s Ciar. If you don’t mind ride her.”
“All right, but I’m telling you it probably won’t work.” I climbed onto her back. She shifted under my weight, but she didn’t throw me off. “Whoa.” I patted her on the neck. “No way. She didn’t throw me off.” I was really shocked. Every time I had ever tried to ride a horse they would throw me off immediately.
“All right then. Bly, if you don’t mind could you ride with me. Nairi, you can ride with Adonis.”
I looked over to Nairi and she looked petrified. “No. No, no, no, no, no absolutely not.” She crossed her arms in an X shape. “There is no way in all Incantevole I am getting on that horse, especially with him driving.” She glared at me.
“Now come on, Shorty, that’s just mean.” I smiled at her.
“I don’t care…I’m not riding a horse.” She looked away from me. Was she blushing?
“Ah, I see now. You have never ridden a horse have you?” I smiled. This was hilarious. To me anyway.
“Nairi, I’m sorry but you really have to ride him.” Xander looked like he truly felt sorry for her.
I sighed. “Come on, Shorty.” I looked at her. “It isn’t that bad.”
“Yes, it is! Trusting your life in the hands of an animal that can run super fast and crush you like a bug if it wanted too.”
“Oh come on. I’ll be with you.”
“That makes it worse.” She made this face like she just ate something bad.
“What, come on, I won’t let you fall.” I smiled at her. And at the thought of falling she turned a sickly pale.
I saw Xander walking up behind her and placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry Nairi.” He really did look sorry. “I hope you can forgive me.” With that he hefted her up and placed her behind me. As soon as she realized what happened she shuddered, and grabbed onto my waist so tight it knocked the air out of me.
“Nairi,” I gasped. “You don’t have to hold on so tight.”
“Yes I do! I’m not letting up any till I’m off this thing.” I could hear her voice trembling, her body too.
Why is she so scared?  I wondered.
Xander hopped onto Rudy and helped Bly onto the back of him in one fluid movement. “Ok, let’s be off then.” He took off galloping near the edge of the forest.
“All right, Shorty. Here we go.” I galloped after him and heard Nairi take in a sharp breath.
“I’m going to die. I’m going to die.” She kept repeating that over and over again. And she was still choking the life out of me. “Please get me off this thing.”
“Hey don’t worry.” I tried reassuring her. Maybe she would stop hugging my stomach so hard. “I won’t let you fall off. Ok?” She didn’t stop gripping me but she stopped repeating she was going to die.
We caught up to Xander and Bly. They had stopped at an opening in the trees. It seemed perfectly safe, everything still, and quite. But we all knew that wasn’t the case. This forest is probably going to eat us alive.
“We have to go in here. I think it would be our best bet.” Xander looked like he really didn’t want to go into the forest. I understand why. I heard Nairi draw in a sharp breath.
“The trees, they are moving, and the winds not even blowing.”
“I know.” I would have looked at her but it is complicated when someone is sitting behind you. “So,” I said smiling. “Shall we face the impending doom?”
“I guess we shall.” Xander rode into the forest.
We got about a quarter through the forest before we started noticing that the trees seemed to be changing. “Adonis,” Nairi whispered behind me. “This place gives me the creeps.”  I could feel her shift behind me.
“Ya, me to.”
She might have said more, but before she had a chance I interrupted her.
“Stop,” Xander stopped and looked at me.
“What is it?” He said.
I sniffed the air just to be sure. And I was. “I smell another dragon.”
“W-what?” Bly looked frightened behind Xander.
“How do you know?” Xander looked at me, trying to get as much information as possible.
“I just told you, I smell it… It might be better to walk.”
“Thank goodness.” Nairi let out a huge sigh.
“But then it would be equally as dangerous.” Xander looked me dead in the eyes.
“It seems we are at a standstill.” I shrugged. “I have an idea. We could leave the horses here and scout ahead a ways. If we see nothing, come back, and continue onward.”
Xander sighed. “I guess we should. If there really is a dragon up there somewhere we really would want to know before getting toasted.”
Xander headed off deeper into the forest. “Hey wait up.” I ran to catch up. By the crunching of leaves behind me, I knew the girls were following.
We walked carefully threw the trees, trying not to make too much noise, then I heard something. “Wait.” I said urgently, they all stopped in their tracks. I listened very carefully, then I heard it a voice.     'They are slow, we could have been there by now if we would have just left them behind,'
I looked up at my traveling companions. “Someone is coming.”
We hid in the underbrush so they hopefully wouldn’t see us. We weren’t going to suddenly attack them or anything, just make sure they didn’t pose a threat. Suddenly two girls in black, a boy, and a huge dragon, came out of the trees. Apparently the underbrush we were hiding in wasn’t a very effective hiding spot. We could tell they saw us because almost as soon as they came out of the trees the girl screamed, and the dragon snarled.
We stepped out of our hiding spot and stood back to back. The dragon looked me dead in the eyes. I smiled, ‘Why hello there, I have a request. Please don’t hurt us. We have no intention of hurting you.’ I whispered into the dragons mind. The dragon looked at me. I hoped it worked. Full blooded dragons can communicate telepathically. But I’m not a full blooded dragon.
 Suddenly another girl and a boy came running out of the bushes.
I heard Nairi whisper behind me. “Ya Adonis great idea, now we have a massive dragon and five people that could be working for the king surrounding us. Thanks for that.”
“No problem.” I said sarcastically. Though it was true, I just hope these people are friendly.