Chapter 11

Bonding time.

"Well look who decided to join us." James said sarcastically as Amber entered the kitchen. "Here to tell us how we're all lazy and pig headed again are you?"

"Oh shut it James. I swear you're as loud mouthed as that dragon of yours." She retorted. "Hey loud mouth! Why do you think he asked all of us to come here?"

"How should I know? You arrived before I did remember." He scoffed and went back to his food.

In the next room Alfred and Harry were wrestling with one another while Bobby cheered them on.

"Get'im Al. I mean go Harry!" Bobby cheered for both his brothers as they rumbled around the room.

Amber walked in and sat on a couch behind Bobby. She watched the brothers fumble over one another before rolling her eyes and muttering "boys…" to herself.

"He knuckle-heads! Do either of you have a clue as to why we were called here?" She interrupted her sparing with her aggravated tone.

"Hmph." Harry scoffed at her. "Do you even know how to be polite? No wonder guys seem to do nothing but annoy you. You're always acting like such a bitch I doubt anyone can stand to be around you. OWCH!" he was cut off by a smack to the head from Alfred.

"Not in front of Bobby. I told you we shouldn't encourage that kind of talk." He said calmly but sternly. Bobby chuckled at his brother's punishment.

"But Al you know I'm right. Remember how she was back at the training ground? We hadn't even done so much as look at her before she started her little tantrum." Harry was fed up with Amber's attitude at this point and it was his turn to give her an earful.

"Even Teo! He's been more than patient and hospitable of all of us, but she carried on about him too." He shook free of his brother's hold and stood in the middle of the room glaring at her.

"Look, I don't know what happened to you in the past, but because of your constant whining I don't care anymore. Grow up and start treating people with the respect that you want them to show you!" He shouted.

"Harry that's enough. You've made your point." Alfred put a hand on his shoulder. "You and Bobby should go wash up for the night. Make sure he really washes up this time."

With that Harry stormed out of the room and headed upstairs, with Bobby close behind.

"Hey I do clean myself. I just don't like to use soap." Bobby said to his brothers as he ran up behind Harry.

Amber was on the verge of tears at this point. Normally she would have fought back or even tried to explain why she disliked boys so much. But this time she may have pushed them too far. Everyone in town respected Teo for his strength and wisdom. Anyone could come to him with any problem, and he always knew what to do. If he didn't he would help as much as he could. Sometimes he would just listen, sometimes that was all someone really needed. Thanks to him, every dragon in town was healthy, every home was sturdy, and everyone was happy.

"I'm sorry for my brothers behavior. He can be cruel with his words some times." Alfred sat across the room from her.

"He was right…" She sobbed looking at her feet, fighting back her tears. "It's not that I hate all men, it's just the things they do that bother me so much. And besides, aren't I allowed to have an opinion? Why should I care if someone else doesn't agree with me? It's my honest opinion and if they don't like it, that's their problem… so why do I feel like such a bitch?" She went from sad to upset to confused about herself.

"Just because you feel a certain way about something, doesn't mean you have to let everyone know it. As you saw, you're not exactly perfect either. But no one said anything until you started ranting." Alfred said calmly but directly. Amber was looking at him confused but feeling worst than before.

"So this is all my fault?" She shouted, now she was angry again.

"What I am saying is, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No one can take that from you. But at the same time, no one should be forced to hear your opinion about them either. Just like how you felt bad back at the training ground, or even now. Everyone was only giving you their honest opinion of your behavior. We were doing the same thing you did." His tone was direct and serious. He was stating a fact at this point and Amber hated to admit that it was all true.

"Now I ask you, has any good come from stating your opinion the way that you do?" He asked her sincerely. All Amber could do was shake her head no. Whenever she complained, it didn't make her feel any better. In fact, it made people hate being around her until all she had left was Charla. Though she had other friends, her dragon was her only real close friend, and the only one who tolerated her for so long.

"It's not my place to tell you what to do." Alfred said standing to his feet. "But you might want to think about how your own behavior affects the people around you." He finished walking out of the room into the kitchen with James who had been sitting at the table, drinking a glass of orange juice and reading a sports magazine.

"Well spoken Al." James said while continuing to read. Alfred fixed him self a drink and sat across the table.

"Yea, well it had to be said. So why do you think we were all asked to come anyway? Alfred was now also curious about the purpose behind this little gathering.

"I really don't know. I've been trying to put everything together, but I don't see what six riders, a team of blue dragons, and that crazy storm have to do with each other." He stopped to take another drink.

"You think this has something to do with the storm? Alfred asked wide-eyed.

"Yep. I just can't figure out how exactly it's all connected. Its actually been bouncing around in my head for a while. Oh well I think I'll sleep on it. See you lot in the morning." James stood from the table and started down the hall to one of the spare rooms.

"Oh and forgive Sonar if he wakes you up in the middle of the night. He likes to shout off into the desert on clear nights. Sonic-class dragons do that to make sure their nests are secure at night." With that, he was gone; in his room and out like a light.

Alfred went upstairs to check his brothers when he heard the door open and close and then the sound of people talking downstairs. He figured it was Teo and the others and decided to get some answers.

"All right everyone, get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow." Teo said waving the others into their rooms. He turned to the stairs to see Alfred looking to him with concern in his eyes. The two walked back outside to discuss the problem in private.