Chapter 2 – A Broken Promise

The next morning, and the dragons were about to have breakfast when Lily went to check on Jakkin.

"Good morning, Jakkin!" she said cheerfully. "What would you like for…?"

It seemed as if Lily's words had failed her, but she was speechless when she found the tent empty. Jakkin was nowhere in sight.

The other dragons gathered around. "Where, where did he go?" asked Draco.

"He… he's gone," said Percival. "But why would he?"

"Maybe he's decided to leave us like he said he was going to last night," replied Torden.

"I certainly hope not," said Draco.

Cynder just shook her head in disappointment. "We're going to have to see where he went so we can try talking to him," she said. "I mean there's something really funny going on that's making him have that attitude."

Lily clenched her fist in anger. "How dare he do this…?" she began slowly. "He made a promise that he was not going to walk out on us… a pinkie promise… and he just broke it… well, he is going to pay for that!"

"Whoa, calm down Lily," said Cynder. "We mustn't jump to conclusions."

"HE IS GOING TO BE SORRY THAT HE CROSSED LILY!" Lily screamed with rage as her pink face went very red. "I AM GOING TO SET HIM STRAIGHT IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!"

Draco, Percival, and Darky stood quivering. He had never imagined that a dragon girl, who was so high-spirited, so optimistic, and so overly cheerful, could become that angry, so much to the point that could hurt someone.

"OUT OF MY WAY!" she yelled as she hurried off into the forest.

"Lily! Wait up!" exclaimed Torden as he followed her.

"We got to catch up with them before things get ugly," said Cynder. "Come on, guys!"

Cynder quickly dashed off. Percival followed her, while Draco waited nervously before joining in. Darky tried to run, but his legs were too short.

"Big bro!" he called but to no avail. "Wait for me!"

Not far away, Jakkin was slowly making his way down the forest. He is feeling rather guilty of having to abandon his friends like that, but he couldn't risk being kicked out if they found out he wasn't a Charizard at all. It seemed as if he could finally lay the burden off his back, then suddenly…

"JAKKIN!" hollered a voice.

Jakkin gulped, and he knew who that voice belonged to. He turned around and saw a very angry Lily running towards.

"Uh-oh," he said quietly and started to run as fast as his feet could carry him.

"Where do you think you're going?!" shrieked Lily. "You've broken a promise! COME BACK HERE!"

"Lily!" called Torden as he caught up to her with the three other dragons close behind. "Control yourself and wait for us!"

But it was no good. Furiously, Lily raced across the forest in the hopes of catching Jakkin, but already he was running faster.

"Hurry up, Draco!" urged Cynder.

"I'm trying, Cynder!" Draco was panting and far behind, but he tried his hardest to catch up with the group.

"I'd say we split up so we can catch Jakkin easily!" Torden shouted to the others.

"Good thinking," puffed Cynder. "Everyone spread out!"

So all the dragons split up, but didn't notice a tired out Darky catching up from behind.

Jakkin kept on running, but shortly he turned around and saw nobody on his tail.

"Looks like I have lost them," he said to himself, or so he thought.

In a minute, Jakkin saw clearing. He was getting close to coming out of the forest, but just as he did, he got tackled from the side by Torden.

"Caught you!" he declared with triumph.

Jakkin groaned and tried to pull himself up, but Torden held on to him tightly. Everything seemed to be happening at once as all the dragons finally caught up.

"Now then," said Torden as he glared at Jakkin. "What is going on?"

"I told you, didn't I?" Jakkin groaned indignantly. He crawled out of Torden's grasp, got up, and dusted himself off. "I'm not going to go along with this so-called 'mission!'"

"Jakkin, we have already discussed this last night!" fumed Lily. "You made a promise that you won't ditch us, and you broke it! That is so, so… uncalled for!"

"I had my reasons," grunted Jakkin. "I only did that promise so you can stop bugging me about it!"

Percival stepped in. "Now look here, Jakkin," he said crossly. "I don't know what you're going at, but this is not the answer! We know something is going on with you, and you're too scared to tell us what, so please stop acting so selfish and tell the truth now."

"I ain't tellin' ya!" hissed Jakkin. "You can't make me!"

"Then you're nothing but a coward!"

Jakkin went red with fury. "Don't… you… call me… a coward!" he snapped. "You self-righteous fantasy believer!"

"It's called acolyte, you pig-headed farm dragon!"

"Golden idol worshipper!" retorted Jakkin.

"Two-faced bumpkin!" shouted Percival.

Jakkin's anger could not contain any further. "THAT IS IT!" he thundered. "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS CRAP!"

The five dragons stood silent, realising that they have tried him far enough.

"Now listen!" Jakkin went on. "First off, I don't believe this whole mission we're doing, if it really is one, will lead us anywhere, second, you're all being a bunch of suckers for eatin' up this nonsense, and finally, you probably didn't even bother checking out a letter I left in my tent for you to read! I am on my own now, and there's no way you can make me change my mind!"

"Jakkin…" pleaded Draco. "I thought you have reconsidered since you're a Charizard yourself."

"SHUT UP!" snapped Jakkin. "I take no preachy talk from anyone, ya hear? Not even from an annoying, pathetic, pansy of a Charizard like you!"

"But, but Jakkin…"

It was no good, Jakkin stormed off without turning his back, leaving everyone shocked and bewildered. After he left, Draco fell to his knees, emotionally hurt from what Jakkin said about him. Lily was speechless and couldn't fathom how anyone would make a promise without meaning it. Percival felt terrible, feeling responsible for causing Jakkin to snap out like that. The gold dragon came to Draco's side and noticed tears running down from his eyes. "Draco, I'm so sorry…" he said. "I never thought it would lead up to this."

"Don't beat yourself, Percival," said Cynder. "It wasn't your fault."

"I felt that even I have my share of the blame for chasing after him like that…" said Lily. "What was I thinking?"

"You didn't mean to, Lily," said Torden. "He broke the promise he made with you and you didn't take it lightly."

Presently, Darky arrived, as he was very weary from catching up with the dragons. "I made it, guys," he panted. "Have I missed anything?"

"Darky!" exclaimed Cynder. "Sorry that we left you behind when we took off after Jakkin."

"He has gone off, Darky," said Draco. "Probably won't be coming back."

"Now, there's no need to be so negative, Draco," assured Cynder. "I'm sure he'll reconsider later on, and I think there's something going on with him that he doesn't want us to know about."

"What are you talking about?" asked Percival.

"Well, I've seemed to notice that Jakkin is more than just what meets the eye," said Cynder. "I know this because from what I have observed is that he possesses a strength that far exceeds any other Charizard, so the two possible conclusions is that either he's been through intensive training throughout his life, or he might be a different kind of dragon."

"Do you really think so?"

"I have no idea," replied Cynder. "But the only way to find out is to track him down, but this time, let's not chase after him."

"I am not so sure about this," said Draco.

"We won't know unless we find him, Draco," said Cynder. "Come on, let's get going."

Author's Note: Oh dear, it looks as if Jakkin has decided to go AWOL. But even so, he sure is acting rather funny. What could he be hiding that he doesn't want the others to know? Find out on the next chapter!