The number of emotions that filled my body in such a small amount of time was astonishing. I felt confused and bewildered at Sheldon, I just couldn't believe that I was saved by a satyr! An actual real-life satyr. I also felt angry and enraged at Sorrel. She just up and ditched me. I understand that this mission is important to her, but damn what she did was just cold. Speaking of cold: I was freezing. I don't know why I thought the tank top was a good idea. "Here." With no warning, Sheldon's dry blue polo was thrown literally at my face. I could smell his cologne through the fabric, it reminded me of my dad almost instantly. I wanted to do nothing more than to hold the shirt and take in a deep breath. "Well, put it on before you get pneumonia!" Sheldon snapped at me after a few seconds, making me realize that I was holding his shirt to my face like a creeper.

"Oh, sorry." Unfolding the shirt I pulled it over my head and felt a little more relief from the harsh cold. My eyes then looked up at Sheldon and I realized now that he was pretty much-naked say for the soaked tank top clinging to his chest. I then quickly looked up at the sky for fear of seeing something I shouldn't.

"Oh, don't be like that! It's not like there's anything for you to see." Sheldon waved me off as he then sat down on the ground and crossed his giant goat legs. My eyes went to his gray beanie that managed to stay on his head. "So, what are you doing here? And why were you picking the ghost orchids?"

"It… doesn't matter." I sighed deeply before looking down at my nails. I could see several bits of skin hanging loosely around my thumb. Out of habit, I started to pick and pull at the skin. Suddenly, Sheldon's hand came on top of mine stopping me.

"Be honest with me, Tammy."

"Heh, no. It doesn't matter-" I was starting to come to terms with the fact that I had just been betrayed by Sorrel. I felt anger run through my veins and I knew that I just wanted to go home now. I knew I wasn't wanted by Sorrel, but now she made it super clear by abandoning me like that. I got the message. "-I just want to go home…" I whined to Sheldon as my vision started to blur with tears. Did I really want to go home? No. But I knew when to take a hint. I sniffled loudly and brought my hand up to sloppily wipe my tears away. Sheldon gave me a frown in response.

"Not until you tell me why you're all the way in Florida."

"... I wanted to help someone."

"Bullshit. Most people don't drop everything to help someone."

"You must not have a high opinion on humans." I gave a weak chuckle at him before looking down at the muddy ground. "...I-"

"Tammy!"

Turning around I saw Firedrake and Sorrel coming towards me, they were cutting through the swamp and making fast speed. "Holy…" Sheldon breathed out as he slowly stood up in amazement. Firedrake suddenly skidded to a halt right in front of Sheldon and me, I felt like I was suddenly hit with a damn brick as the heavy mud hit me square in the face and knocked me off of my feet.

"Seriously?!" I yelled out in annoyance as I wiped the mud off of my face.

"Tammy! You're okay!" Firedrake yelled at me before turning his intense gaze to Sheldon. "You! What happened!-"

"-He saved me! The same can't be said for that furry friend on your back!" I yelled at Firedrake in anger before pointing at Sorrel. "I was grabbed by a damn Alligator-" I paused and looked at Sheldon "-Right?" Sheldon nodded and I continued. "An Alligator! I almost died because she ditched me, Firedrake!" Normally I sit in silence and brood when I'm angry, but dammit I had enough.

"Tammy, I understand that you're upset-"

"I am passed upset! I'm furious!"

"And I understand! I know what Sorrel did was wrong, and so does Sorrel, but Tammy you have to understand-"

"Understand what?!"

"She got me to come and get you! She knew you had to be in some sort of danger and she couldn't risk getting caught herself! Tammy, Sorrel really didn't mean any harm by it."

I stood there breathing heavily before mentally slapping myself across the face. I could see Sorrel's ears were now back in an irritated manner as she looked down at me from Firedrake's back. "Son of a bitch! Now I'm a jerk!" Was all I could verbally bring myself to say. "I… I'm sorry, I just… I didn't know. I thought-"

"Yeah, yeah, you thought I left you to die! You humans, I swear." I heard Sorrel scoff from Firedrake's back as she crossed her arms over her chest. It felt like someone had just kicked me right in the chest as I only slumped my shoulders in sadness.

"Okay… now I understand why you would drop everything to help these two… but I have to ask as a worker for this sanctuary, why did you pluck those Ghost Orchids? What are you planning to do with those, Brownie?" Sheldon demanded as he stood and stared boldly at Sorrel.

"I don't have to answer to a Saytr!" Sorrel waved Sheldon off as she turned her head away from him.

"Sorrel, don't forget. He saved Tammy… Okay, Saytr-" Firedrake lowered his head to look down at Sheldon.

"-Sheldon."

"Sheldon, We need the Ghost Orchids to make a potion for a human friend of ours-"

"Firedrake!-" Sorrel hissed as she angrily tapped the top of Firedrake's head with her paw. "-He doesn't need to know all of that!"

"Excuse me, Brownie! Need I remind you that what you two did is stealing! Not just any type of stealing either! You- all three of you!- Stole from a nature sanctuary! We're trying to protect nature and you just think you can take all you want without giving me some sort of explanation?" Sheldon demanded as he put his hand on his chest. It was at that moment that I realized that his shirt was see through. Needless to say, I wasn't paying attention to the fight anymore. Sorrel gave a loud scoff.

"-Look-"

"-No, brownie!-

"-The guy's dying. Sheldon." I suddenly spoke up, much to Sorrel's obvious annoyance, "That's all I know. We needed the flowers to make a potion to cure him of his illness." I don't know why I spoke up like I did, but I did, I just spilled their big secret out like it was nothing.

"See? That's all I needed. It doesn't excuse your actions, not one bit, but that's all I wanted."

"So, you'll leave us be?" Firedrake asked Sheldon.

"Ah, no. You see someone needs to be held accountable for this."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I asked Sheldon as I shook my head from side to side. "You're going to call the cops over a couple flowers being picked?"

"Rare flowers, Tammy. Also not just that but you guys broke in early in the morning and made a mess of the sanctuary-"

This time I scoffed before rolling my eyes. "We did not-"

"Humans are not allowed off the trail! And one human not only did that but also got herself snatched by an Alligator. The same Alligator I had to kick in the face-"

"-You are aware that all it takes is one swipe of Firedrake's paw and you'll be found dead," Sorrel responded coolly to Sheldon. I looked over at Firedrake, expecting to see a pissed off face or something of the sort, but I was surprised to see that Firedrake looked… curiously at Sheldon. He then looked at me and his look went from curious, to knowing, then to smug, all in a matter of seconds.

"Now… Hang on a second, Sorrel. Let's not be hasty here. Tell me, Sheldon. Is there something you want?" Firedrake offered. Sheldon crossed his arms before looking at Sorrel, then to me. I just kept my eyes to the sky causing him to shake his head in return.

"I… I want to… Oh, I've always wanted to go to Greece." He finally admitted to us. That honestly caused me to snap my head at him. I knew I must have been giving him a weird look because he narrowed his eyes at me. "What?"

"Don't Satyrs come from Greek mythology?" I dumbly asked him.

"Didn't white people come from Europe?" He countered in a sassy matter. I watched him place his hand on him before looking down at me. "Don't suppose you've ever been out of the states, have you?" I felt myself pout at his smart-ass mouth before just rolling my eyes at him and shaking my head. "My point is: I've never been, and would like to see my roots." He explained to Firedrake briefly.

I heard Sorrel suck in a deep breath before tsking out bitterly. "I'm not even going to say it, because I know you'll just invite him along anyways!" She snapped before throwing her furry hands up in defeat.

"Sheldon, seeing how you did save Tammy's life, and that Greece is actually one of our stops, I don't see any reason not to invite you along, however, I should warn you before we go to Greece we are making a stop in Pakistan to see my ill rider. So, we are not going to Greece right away." Firedrake informed Sheldon. I looked at Sheldon, who gave a shrug in response to Firedrake.

"I'm a patient Saytr."

"Then, Welcome aboard."


After having to leave the sanctuary as it was 'Field trip' day and we couldn't risk getting caught by some curious first-to-fifth graders, Sorrel used the last of the moon-dew on Firedrake to find us all a safer spot to sleep for the day. I wasn't too impressed by it either. "You know, that moon-dew might have been helpful when we were still looking for the Greenhouse." I cooly commented to the brownie as I placed jumped off of Firedrake's back.

"Nah, I already knew where the greenhouse was! It would have just been a waste!" Sorrel dismissively waved me off. 'There's that lovely attitude!' I thought bitterly as all that left my mouth was just a passive aggressive:

"Yeah. Okay, Sorrel."

I could feel Sheldon staring at the two of us with some interest. "Is that tension?" I heard him ask Firedrake.

"They've been like this for the past couple of days," Firedrake responded.

'Well, maybe if you'd put her in her place then maybe things wouldn't be like this.' My thoughts snapped at the dragon. I, of course, didn't dare say that. Instead what left my mouth was: "It's nothing! Honestly!" I think I tried to sound more chipper, but I'm pretty sure I just came off as more bitter than I intended. 'I'm still mad about earlier…' The thought occurred to me right then. I needed to clear my head "Look… I'm going for a small walk!" I decided hastily and grabbed my backpack off of the ground.

"Tammy, I think we should stay together," Firedrake told me rather firmly. "We don't have long until the sunsets and we can't afford to waste another day if something happens to you."

"Oh. Alright then. I will… stay here then." I sat to the ground very quickly and crossed my legs. "Please, get some rest." Honestly, it wasn't until I got to sit down and rest my legs did my own fatigue suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. I watched as Firedrake and Sorrel curled together and doze off so easily it made my eyebrows furrow as I just watched them breathe so easily and not toss and turn endlessly. I honestly felt a little jealous. I have insomnia and often have to take melatonin to help me sleep at night so I wasn't up tossing and turning.

"So-" Sheldon came casually walking (trotting?) up to me. I looked up at him and just lazily blinked at him in response. "-Are you just… gonna keep my shirt?" He questioned. I looked down and realized that was still in his blue polo. The polo shirt was now covered in mud and looked a lot less professional.

"Oh… Sorry." I responded softly before pushing myself off of the ground. I then, without thinking, proceeded to take his shirt off and hand it back to him. Sheldon gave a sigh in response before taking his polo back. He then reached over and pulled at the hem of my tank top, pulling it down to where it's supposed to be as it had ridden up.

"So, Tammy. Do you still want to go home?"

"What?"

"You were crying earlier about how you wanted to go home, do you still want to?"

"... I don't know… I was only crying because I thought I had been abandoned."

"You want my thoughts?"

"Sure."

"Go home. This doesn't sound like a quest a human should be on, and if you ask me. You seem to be a little too soft to take on something like this."

'Rude!' I didn't even know how to respond to something like that. "I'm sure I'll be fine." My voice spoke on autopilot then I proceeded to sit down on the ground like nothing happened.

"Hm… Maybe you should still go home, I mean you did make national headlines…" Sheldon tried to 'casually' say. I knew better than to fall for his trap, but my own curiosity was just too much and I could only perk my head up at him.

"I mean… What? So I went missing? Lots of people do-"

"But… not exactly like you."

I started to bite and gnaw at my lower lip before I scratched my neck uneasily. "What do you mean?"

Sheldon let out a loud groan as he plopped down beside me. His hoofs now touching my feet. Honestly, a weird part of me wanted to pet his furry goat legs. 'Do not…' My mind hissed as I quickly focused my eyes on the grass, quickly I started to pick and pull at the grass. 'Do not touch the goat legs! Touching goat legs bad!'

"Tammy, nobody knows what happened to you. You vanished off camera after a fight with your sister. All that was found was your cell phone and that wasn't found until the early morning by your boss. Rumor has it that a couple of your friends are even pointing their fingers at your sister-"

"What?!" I gasped loudly as my hand flew to my mouth.

"Just a rumor, no worries, but still… I'd go home before they decide to act-"

"I… tch.." I sucked on my teeth before rolling my eyes and crossing my arms in a bit of a pouty nature. 'You're really are selfish, you know that?' Julia's voice echoed around my head and was honestly starting to give me a headache. Finally, I shook my head "No. You know what! No! Fuck no! You don't half the shit I went through with her! Time and time again she got away with abusing and manipulating me… and you know what? She's-" I just gave a breathy laugh before shaking my head. "They have nothing on her! Aside from a couple of mean text messages, she sent me, and maybe Candace pointing a finger at her… what's true evidence is there?"

"I'd normally give you my own answer, but I don't really have one right now… I will ask though, are you sure you're okay with just throwing your sister under a bus?"

I shrugged "You have no idea how many time's she's thrown me under a bus."

"Two wrongs don't make a right." I could feel Sheldon's judgment and honestly, I should have maybe spoken up about my emotional abuse or the manipulations I faced over the last three years, but what really came out of my mouth was just… stupid.

"She shouldn't have started it then."


I have to say, I've been getting better with my fear of heights over the last couple of days. Don't get me wrong, I was still terrified and shaking something awful, but at least I didn't think I was going to die a horrible awful death, now it was just a horrible death.

"Hey, Tam! Why did you choose a tank top?" Sheldon yelled to me from behind Sorrel. I didn't really understand why he would yell that.

"What?" I responded back making sure I heard him right.

"Why did you choose to wear a tank top?! I mean clearly, you're cold!" He yelled over the high winds.

'H-He thinks I'm cold?... Imma just let him think that…' I was too prideful to tell him the truth, that I ran away to fly on the back of a dragon and that I'm afraid of heights. I didn't even answer him, instead, I just buried my face into Firedrake's spine and kept my eyes shut tight. I didn't know which way we were going, hell I didn't know if we were even in the states anymore, but I did know that the air was starting to have a familiar salty scent to it. Once I could smell the salty ocean I cautiously peeked one of my eyes open and dared to look down at the ground below.

Through it was night time, I could see the silvery moon reflecting brightly against the clear sea as we moved swiftly just inches above the water. I watched the water for only a few moments, watching as dolphin fins came poking up in the water before dipping back down into the watery depths, that's all I saw before my anxiety took over and I shut my eyes once again. I could only hope and pray that we get to Pakistan before too long. I could feel my hair whip behind me no doubt get tangled up amongst the winds. "Blah!" Sorrel gave a scoff behind me as she suddenly started to sputter. I didn't bother to ask her what was wrong, I kind of knew what had happened when she yelled: "You need to do something with your hair!"

"Whattya want me to do with it?" I dumbly shouted back at her.

"I don't know, but I don't want to keep pulling it out of my mouth!"

"What? Your kind don't get furballs?" I heard her growl in anger towards me I had to stifle my giggles, yeah, I was still mad at her for earlier and I knew she meant well in her own 'Sorrel' way and I didn't want to be petty, so, maybe out of reflex, I responded with a soft "I'm sorry, I was only joking."

"Well, it's not funny!" She huffed at me. Her ears went back with mild annoyance as I could feel her glaring at the back of my head. I did my best to ignore it and looked back at the water. There were no more dolphin fins poking up from just our own reflection. I felt a frown tug at my lips at the realization that I was now officially leaving everything behind. I was no longer going to be in America and nobody from here on will recognize me, there was also the realization that I only spoke English and would probably have to use dramatic gestures to get my points across and be that American tourist. I've never left America before and something tells me I should probably watch my steps from here on out as one wrong move and I could be questioned or worse arrested. It felt exciting and anxiety-inducing all at once!

Still, as I looked down at my own mud covered, filthy, dirty reflection in the clear water I felt….

'Dad, My grandparents, All of my step-siblings, my stepmom... Candace... Leon. I just left them all behind. They must all be worried sick about me! I'm… why am I such a horrible fuck-up!?'

'No… don't… hold them back!' I thought as I teared up. I brought my hand up and used the knuckle of my index finger to wipe my oncoming tears away. I couldn't cry, not now. If they saw how much of a crybaby I was… why I'd never lived it down, or worse! Firedrake would take me home! No… I sucked in several deep breaths before shakily running my fingers through my hair.

'It'll be fine, it'll all be perfectly fine… right?'


"A cat!"

"Tammy!" I heard Sorrel lightly scoff as I quickly jumped off of Firedrake's back, landing on the sandy bank below our feet, just so I could pet the calico cat that was laying in the sunlight on said beach. I didn't care if we were in Pakistan, all that mattered to me was that cat.

"Here Kitty, kitty!" I cooed to the calico. The cat perked it's ears up at me before jumping to its feet and actually trotting over towards me. The cat then rubbed itself against my leg lovingly leaning down I started to scratch the cat under the chin, then behind the ears, before eventually picking up and cradling it in my arms up against my chest.

"Wow, I'm surprised she's not all over you like that, Sorrel." I heard Sheldon chuckle.

"Please! Sorrel isn't as cuddling as this loving, cutesy, wootsey wittle baby!" I cooed once again as I rubbed my face up to the cats head.

"... did someone just… flip a switch on her or something?" Firedrake was the one to ask the obvious question everyone was thinking. Of course, they would think that one moment I was snapping at Sorrel and being (kinda) mean and dismissive towards everyone, then literally the next moment I was scooping up a cat in my arms and giving it my best baby talk as I cuddled and doted on it.

"Humans are weird, Firedrake. As someone who worked with them for years, I can confirm." Sheldon patted Firedrake's scales then grabbed his crutches and started to walk on them towards me. Sheldon was suddenly super close to me at first I didn't understand why until he reached over and scratched the cat behind the ears. "Though I will agree with Tammy, this is a cute cat-"

"Firedrake!"

"Jesus!" Hearing the loud British female voice behind me come out of nowhere made me drop the poor cat, who went running away from us. I spun around quickly to see who had spoken. I was met with a woman, probably about ten years my senior. She had long brown hair worn up in a tight bun up top her head, pale skin, and was wearing garb I would see a hiker or spelunker to wear. Khaki Shorts, white tank, and brown boots, and she definitely wasn't Pakistani.

"W-Who are these two!?" The woman demanded loudly to Firedrake. It became very clear just who she was talking about.

"Guinevere, please remain calm. We got the Ghostflowers, see!" Firedrake spoke to her as Sorrel rushed past me to hand her the bunches of flowers she had picked.

"Yes, flowers, but Firedrake it seemed you also picked up two people while you were at it!" Guinevere gave a bitter snort in response as she grabbed the flowers from Sorrel. "I mean, Firedrake you were gone for way longer than you promised! To come back with two new riders…" Guinevere just sighed before suddenly storming away in a huff.

"Wow… I've never seen her like that…" Sorrel muttered as she rubbed her mouth with her paw. 'Huh, so that's just not a human thing…'I thought as I watched Sorrel then move her paw to behind her neck. "She's really mad at us."

Sheldon and I looked at each other before we turned to Firedrake and Sorrel. "... You know, why don't you guys talk to her? I'm sure Tammy and I will just stay here on the beach and… I dunno… eat?"

"I could eat…" I shrugged. I wasn't necessarily hungry, but, as I mentioned before, I knew when I wasn't welcomed. Firedrake leaned his head down to face the two of us.

"You won't stay outcasted for long, I promise, I'll clear the air with Guinevere." He promised me and Sheldon before walking away with Sorrel in tow.

This left just me and Sheldon. So, I sat at the edge of the ocean's tide and pulled my bag off of my back. Sheldon sat next to me, not before setting his crutches aside first. "Now, I don't exactly have anything salad wise… I hope you like Chef Boyardee." I told him as I tossed him a can of the ravioli. I saw Sheldon give the can a weird look before he popped the top off of it. "Fork?" I handed him a plastic fork that I had bought.

"Uh, no," Sheldon put the can down next to me. "I don't eat any meat products." He told me a matter of factly before deciding to lean back on his hands to look at the sunrise. I gave a shrug in response trying to seem indifferent, but inside I knew I had fucked up. Still, I opened my can and proceeded to eat my cold ravioli. After a few minutes of silence, I felt eyes on me and turned my head to Sheldon.

"Sup?" I asked him quietly.

Sheldon pursed his lips together before looking back at the baby pink sky. "I can't figure you out…" he mused in a soft voice. I stabbed another ravioli and sloppily shoved it into my mouth.

"What's there to figure out?" I responded with my mouthful.

"Well, you certainly aren't the girliest of girls…" He then sighed before tucking his arm into his shirt and suddenly brought his sleeve up to my mouth. That actually caused me to flinch suddenly clearly catching him off guard.

"... you were… abused?"

"Fuck no!" I didn't mean to yell at him, but I did and it was too late now, I could tell he didn't believe me. "No! Sheldon, I wasn't! Believe me! It's funny actually! My dad would joke around and pretend to hit me causing… me to flinch…" I awkwardly rubbed my nose in between my index finger and thumb. Out loud it didn't… sound as funny. "He'd only slug me in the arm on occasion… or never… oh, god. Sheldon, please believe me…" I felt my face flush as my mind started to race. Tiredly I placed the ravioli can down so I could rest my head on my knees.

"Tammy… I guess I can see why you would leav-"

"I didn't leave because of my dad, dipshit!" I snarled facing him. My eyes quickly went wide as I placed my hands to my mouth. "... I'm sorry… drop it…" I turned my head away before picking at the fake leather peeling off of my work loafers. I don't know why out of everything I chose to keep these ugly shoes on my feet…

"... you have pasta sauce on your chin…" Sheldon sighed deeply. I reached up and wiped the sauce off of my face before looking out towards the ocean. I heard Sheldon suddenly get up, probably to get away from me, I'd want to get away from me too. I would have been happy just letting him leave me be, but before he could even get a step away from me I turned towards him and quickly managed to sputter out:

"W-What about you? Why were you working at the sanctuary? I figured most mythical creatures just… hide from humans."

"... I did hide, Tam. I hid in plain sight…" Sheldon gave out a light groan, I could just feel his eyes rolling before he sat back down beside me. "I wanted to help. That's all, Tam. Believe it or not, but we mythical creatures like to take care of the earth as well."

"Yeah… only makes sense… Sheldon? I'm sorry about earlier-"

"You should stop apologizing so much, Tam. Soon that word will lose all meaning to you and everyone around you." Sheldon chuckled as he leaned back on his hands once again, but it didn't last too long as the soft sound of scuffling feet caused me to turn my head to see who was coming towards us. It was another woman with darker skin the Guinevere, this woman's long hair was about as silver as Firedrake's own scales. She had a ring on every one of her fingers and she seemed to be dressed in a more traditional Pakistani way.

"Ah, you must be the two causing an uproar around this village. It's a pleasure to meet you, I am Zubedia," I quickly scrambled to my feet and brought my hand out for a handshake.

"Tammy Shereb." I smiled at her. Only, she didn't take my handshake, she kept her hands to sides firmly. I eventually dropped my handshake once I realized that she wasn't going to take my handshake at all.

"Sheldon Halla." Sheldon greeted beside me he did not offer a handshake.

"You actually have the last name?"

"I have to have one to get a job, Tammy."

"Oh, learn something new every day."

Zubedia looked at me then to Sheldon before smiling at him. "There is no need to be shy, all creatures are welcomed here," Zubedia told him softly. It felt a little freaky, to be honest, either Firedrake had told her what Sheldon truly was, or she managed to look right through us just like that. I felt a little scared as Zubedia turned her heel and started to walk back towards the village with her head held high in the air, she then turned back around to face us. "Come along. I'm sure you'd like to see Benjamin, correct?"

Truthfully, I was pretty interested in seeing Ben. At the same time, I was a little nervous, I don't know why either. It was just my anxiety, I'm sure. I turned to Sheldon, who had already ditched his crutches and seemed to be ready to take off his pants. "I'll meet you in the village," I responded simply as I turned to followed Zubedia. I don't know why, but I felt it was about damn time I finally met Ben.