A/N: Yay! More postage! Sorry if this is not a very good story, just saying in advance

Chapter 9

Flying high in the sky, Flame looked down at the ground. Everything looked smaller from up here. He looked ahead and saw a little bit of blue on the horizon. This was to be the ocean that would hold the White Isle. Sighing softly, he sped up, hoping to reach the ocean before night fall.

Within an hour, Flame landed upon the soft sand, listening to the soft sound of the waves coming onto the beach. He looked around a bit before heading over to a stand of trees. Laying in the shade of the trees, he panted and regretted not bringing anything with him.I should have brought some gems. By now, the sun was setting over the water as Flame let his head come to a rest upon his paws.

He was in a corridor that had no light and was hidden in deep shadows. Yet he could see fine: the floor was layered with dust, the ceiling cracked and dripping, and the walls with the carved images and runes upon them. He slowly walked forward, with the sense that he had been here, walked this corridor before in a past life. As he walked further down the corridor, it grew steadily darker, with a square of the blackest shadow at the end.

The dragon walked through the square to a room, pitch black but for the glow of a pool of water, swirling eerily green. He shivered as he looked at it before a slight movement caught his eye. The dragon gasped as he saw what looked like a dragon made of shadows. The shadow dragon turned his gaze upon him, as if he had heard him. The red eyes narrowed before the sound of running could be heard. The shadow dragon turned his attention to the sound as an ape came into view.

"What do you want?" hissed the shadow dragon.

"Master, the subject is ready."

"Excellent. Torture him before bringing him to me. I want him as broken as possible."

The ape nodded before running off again, going to relay his master's orders. The dragon shivered and slowly crept back the way he came. The shadow dragon gazed around the chamber, looking at him a second longer than the other areas. He turned and ran before the shadow dragon could do anything.

Flame gasped as he woke up, shivering uncontrollably. What was that? He shook his head, rolling over before getting up. It was obvious that he had thrashed about in his sleep, what with the imprint of a beast such as himself pounded into the grass.

Flame shivered once more before looking at the sky. It was only a few hours since he lay down to sleep. Sighing, Flame spread his wings and took off, knowing he wouldn't sleep again and deciding to continue onwards.

The cool ocean breeze played against Flame's scales and nostrils. The water smelt salty, while it cooled down his body. Grinning lazily, Flame drifted along at a leisurely. The silence was broken however, by a something behind Flame, who had jumped at the noise. He looked back and saw many dragon-like creatures, though its body was keeping it afloat as it had no wings, tail, or legs.

Flame sped up, hoping to avoid a fight if at all possible. He kept glancing back, and kept sawing them gaining on him. Sighing, he looped in the air and started back toward the creatures. Opening his mouth, his built up magical energy was released in the shape of red flames, burning a few of the creatures.

The dragon-like creatures split apart before circling around Flame. Flame was hovering as he looked at the enemy monsters. He was puzzled as why they were not attacking before his eyes grew wide. They were waiting for reinforcements! As quickly as he could, he built up the energy once more and going counter to their circle, released it in a stream of fire. Many of the burned fell, but a few remained.

The monsters now saw Flame as a threat and attacked him. Flame yelped as he felt teeth digging into his leg, back, tail and wing. The extra weight applied, along with one of his wings hampered, caused Flame to be pulled towards the ocean. He struggled as blood poured down his body, before finding purchase on the creature on his leg. He clawed at it wildly, before killing it. Its jaw now slack, it fell into the ocean. Flame had little time to register this as he now built up his energy again and aimed it at the monster on his tail.

The flames shot out of Flame's mouth and hit his tail and the creature. He winced slightly as he was burned, but being a fire dragon, it did him much less damage than to another creature. It let go before it was completely burned alive. Flame ended his flames and tried to get the creature on his wing. He knew that would not get it as they were too close to the ocean now. Closing his eyes, he braced himself for impact.

Flame's eyes opened as he heard what sounded like thunder and a crackle heading for him before he heard a scream from the monster holding his wing. Flame snapped his wings open as he felt the last creature pulled off his back and hear the crackling again. He looked up to see his rescuer. Flame nearly forgot he was flying as he saw none other than Ember dropping the last monster into the water. She just grinned at Flame and beckoned him to come over.

Once he was close enough, Flame exclaimed, "Ember! What are you doing here?"

"Following you of course", she chuckled and winked.

"B-but why?"

"Oh come on, Flame. You need to hide your letters better."

Flame felt his face burn with embarrassment. He had forgotten to hide the letter. Now he was glad his scales were red, hiding most of the blush from view. Sighing softly, he grinned.

"Thanks Ember, you saved me."

"Don't mention it, but weren't we going somewhere?"

Flame looked askance at Ember, who rolled her eyes. "The White Isle perhaps?"

Nodding, Flame turned away and started out once more for the Chronicler's home with Ember by his side.