I woke up the next morning to the sun beaming down on me. Squinting and shielding my face with my arm, I tried to recall what happened. Yeah, that's right. It was all too clear.

I remembered a village raid just last week. I charged with my fellow soldiers and fended off villagers, believing they were ignoring "the proper path". But as the fight raged, I saw the truth. They were just civilians. Fighting just for the sake of their families. I saw women screaming in fear and sorrow as their husbands were struck down by my teammates, and children wailing as soldiers grabbed them and took them in for "what they were born to be", more soldiers for all I know. One day they would attack the very village they were born in without realizing or a care for their families.

That was when everyone was rounded up. Our fearless leader himself bragged about them being cowards and that this was what they deserved. And what followed… wasn't a slaughter or a massacre. At least to them. They would call it a "prescribed chastisement". Everyone unleashed their weapons on them. Swords slicing through bone, arrows puncturing flesh and axes splitting open heads.

I couldn't do it. I just couldn't do it.

I never fired a single shot. I was later disappointed by other men about my hesitation. That's when I had to do something. I snuck down to the ship's supply room with a lit lantern, and smashed it over some highly-explosive stuff I didn't recognize. Then I ran… and jumped. That's when I washed up here. So now what do I do?

After "borrowing" some of the hut's owner's spare clothes, I headed outside and find the docks. Relieved, I looked around… and saw there was no boat in sight! Not even a raft! "No, no, no!" I yelled. I was trapped. Trapped like a rat. They would come for me soon, and finish me off. They had no purpose for traitors like me.

With my hopes completely burned, I slowly walked toward the main building, one that looked a bit larger than the huts, and started climbing up a ladder that led to it. As soon as I reached the top, I heard a small grunting noise to my left. I turned… to see myself staring directly at a blue Deadly Nadder! "Aah!" I yelled, scrambling for anything useful. I had seen one of these things before, but not up close! The Nadder squawked in alarm, spread its wings and roared. Oh gods, what do I do, what do I- "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy girl, easy!" a female voice rang out. I slowly opened my eyes, panting heavily to see a girl dismounting from a saddle on the dragon's back. "It's alright, Stormfly. He scared you good, huh?" Stormfly?! That thing had a name?! Before I could react any further, the blonde girl ran over to me. "I am so sorry! She startles easily! Are you okay?" I was still breathing heavily while clutching my heart. "So sorry. Anyway, let's get you inside." She said, helping me to my feet.

After escorting me inside the building (clubhouse, did she call it?), the girl laid me down as I was still recovering from my experience with the dragon. I never had any experience with dragons at all before. "A friend of mine should be here soon. I'll tell him you're here when he comes. And don't worry. Our dragons are friendly. They won't hurt you." "Y-your dragons?" I stuttered. "As in ownership?" "First off, they're not property. They're our allies. And second, they trust us, and we trust them." She pauses. "Who are you, anyway?"

I couldn't risk giving my name to her. I didn't know her yet and thus, I didn't trust her. My eyes darted around the large room, searching for an alias, an excuse or something. "I'm…uh…" Come on, come on! Think! "Um…I…uh…" I spotted some rope in the corner. That reminded me of tight knots, which reminded me of… "A prisoner! I'm a prisoner!" I blurted out. She cocked an eyebrow. "A prisoner? Of who?" I gulped. "Of…um…" "On second thought, don't answer that. I… think I already know. How did you get away?" "I, uh, blew up the ship I was on." She smiled. "Wow, that sounds like a risk even I would take. Desperately." A thumping sound came from outside, making her turn. "My friend's here. Stay here, would you?" "Uh, hold up." I said curiously. "You never told me your name." She smiled. "Astrid. My name's Astrid." As she walked outside, my blood suddenly turned to ice. From what I had heard about her, Astrid was off-the-chart level dangerous. Drago had put a price on her head in hopes of getting rid of her for good. The crime? Slaughtering hundreds, if not thousands, of his men. And if she found out who I really was… I needed to escape.