Chapter 26

Elita flew them all the way back to High Moon ranch so they could pick up the eggs , chainmail was added to her harness so she could transport the eggs safely , they didn't have time to stay long and they pushed on following the Trout River only stopping to drink and relieve themselves. They'd stopped again to rest and take a quick drink, Elita was gulping down mouthfuls of water and her wings drooped low to the ground. He'd taken the eggs out and placed them safely away from the river and the chainmail as well.

"Take a good rest my dear you've flown long enough.'' He said patting her leg and took off his boots and put his feet into the cool water. Elita hummed and waded deeper into the river and collapsed into the shallows and purred happily. "This feels good.'' She murmured making bubbles with her nostrils.

They stayed at the river bank for a long while; Elita was out of the water taking in the last rays of sun of the afternoon. Vin was napping in the crook of her arm when he spotted something odd sticking out of the ground close to the forest edge, he slid down Elita's arm and walked over to it and pulled it out. It was and egg and rather large egg of some sort, it was smooth and a light brown color. It was relatively warm and the egg was dug pretty deep in the ground.

He walked over to Elita and showed her the egg, she looked at it with sleepy eyes and snorted " What of it , it's just an egg and who knows what might come out of it.'' she said and rumbled back to sleep. " Why aren't we grumpy.'' He kidded his beast and patted her leg.

For some strange reason Vin didn't put the egg back instead he wrapped it in a cloth and filled a sack full of warmest sand he could find and buried the egg carefully inside, he then packed it snuggly in his saddle bag. Elita was up now and was shaking of sand from her hide, "I'm ready to fly now.'' She announced and took a quick drink from the river.

Quickly getting her saddled he leaped onto her back and the pair took off again heading straight for Logan Shire.

They flew deep into the night not even stopping at Little Creek Mill, they had to continue, and they were already a day late. Elita flew as fast as she could none stop, the fall breeze was picking up as she flew winter would be here soon. Elita pulled higher up to get out of the strongest breezes , " I can't wait to settle down in my pavilion again how I missed it so.'' She rumbled and he patted her side he missed Logan Shire to but he missed Oliver more and hoped that he didn't come to any harm while they were gone.

It was early morning when they spotted the watch towers of Logan Shire up ahead, the sight gave Elita the extra need to push onward and she roared a greeting to the watch dragon on guard who quickly replied and her rider waved at them as they passed by.

Elita landed in the courtyard no one was about except a few servants and a rider or two. Vin slid down Elita's back and told her to wait here until he returned. The first thing he did was go to the breeder's lodge that was where the breeders worked sorting out dragon bloodlines and egg counts as well as pedigrees. Vin peered inside an spotted a man working intently on one of the three desks; he didn't spot Vin until he coughed to get the man's attention. The man jumped and gave him a scolding look, "What's the big idea? Can't you see I'm working.'' He shouted and Vin bowed in apology. "My apologies sir but I've just returned from High Moon ranch and I've got some pedigrees here for you as well as two eggs.''

The man quickly stood up and took the pedigrees putting them on the desk and then had Vin lead him to the courtyard, Elita was there huddled over the eggs protectively. The man called Lief had ordered men already to come take the eggs to the baths immediately the eggs thankfully took no chill during the flight thanks to the warm bags of water and towels around them. Once the eggs were safely taken away Lief then took his leave and thanked Vin and hurried away muttering to himself about more pedigrees that needed organizing.

Elita took them back to their pavilion to their surprise the place was completely empty every pavilion was vacant. Elita sniffed around "Where have they all gone?'' she asked as she stepped into their pavilion as Vin took off the saddle and harness, "I don't know my dear but let's worry about it later I'm to sleepy.'' He said and she rumbled in agreement. Vin careful put the saddle on its stand and put the harness on the rack and quickly check on the little egg he found, it was still warm to the touch and was turning a darker brown. Vin shrugged and closed the sack and carefully put the sack carefully on a hook nearby.

He then settled in the crook of Elita's arm and fell into a deep sleep with his beauty snoring soundly beside him.

Vin woke up or was rather woken up by a happy Carson and Ryan both boys were happy to see him and hugged him until he couldn't breathe. Elita was getting the same treatment as well from Dusty and Izzy who were nagging her to death about their trip.

"You guys were gone for a long time we figured you guys could've gotten lost.'' Carson said finally letting go of him. "No we had gotten a little side tracked but were here know and we finished our mission for Leader Akins.'' He added and Ryan chuckled and patted his friend on the back. "We all heard about how you saved that village from that station rider Alberd you just missed him he flew out last night.'' He added and quickly pulled at some hay stuck to his sleeve.

Vin turned stretched out and felt some of his bones crack, Elita finally finished her story and rumbled that she was hungry and wished to be fed. "Alright come on let's get you to the hunting grounds.'' He asked his friends if they wanted to join and they quickly accepted and jumped onto their own beast as Vin leaped onto her open talon, and she placed him carefully on bare neck and he grabbed onto her neck ridge.

A few light weight dragons were on the grounds when they arrived, they quickly made room for Elita when she dropped off her rider on the sloping hill overlooking the grounds and attacked the already frantic herd she pulled out a steer and flew into the grass to feed, she pulled out a huge chunk of flesh and swallowed it greedily and then further dug into her meal.

Vin watched her and turned to Ryan, "Where is everyone all the pavilions are empty?'' he asked and Carson chuckled to himself and Ryan did the same. " Oh, yeah I forgot to tell you everyone moved out of the pavilions and into their own caves about two days ago.'' He smiled and patted his back "We graduated and are ready to join our own wings.'' He added with pride.

Vin was a bit taken back a lot of had happened since he was away, then he asked "Where is Oliver?'' he asked Carson not wanting to upset Ryan. " Oh. He's fine he's out patrolling with the other wings.'' And he called for Dusty who was hovering over the grounds trying to decide if he wanted to eat or not.

"He's eaten already and if I don't watch him he'll over eat.'' He shouted again for Dusty to land and the little Monoe landed near his rider and made an unhappy rumble. Which Carson ignored since it was only his dragon trying to soften him up, it was nice to see Carson take a firm hand with his dragon before he could barely get the Monoe to sit still let alone get into his harness.

Izzy was also more behaved reaching his full growth he barely stood over Elita's shoulder. He chirped happily as he watched Elita take out a third sheep she ate it midair and then landed to lick her talons and her chops. "I'm full.'' She purred happily as he scratched her blood chin. "Yes but now you'll need to bathe my dear.'' He added and slapped her hide ordering her to go see to it while he went to bathe and eat himself.

"Alright then.'' She took flight and headed to the lake to bathe followed by Izzy and Dusty leaving their riders alone to walk all the way to the Hold.

Vin welcomed the warm water as he slipped inside, Ryan and Carson had run off to tell Leader Akins that he'd returned. He was happy to be back home he felt dirty and sticky from their travels and it felt good to be able to scrub himself clean and his hair as well.

Vin had just finished drying himself when a maid had returned with fresh clothes for him whom she brought from his room in the hold since he hadn't moved out yet to his own cave. He wonder when Oliver would get back he couldn't wait to see him.

When he was putting on his boots, Ryan came in and told him Leader Akins wanted to see him as soon as he was finished. And he hurried back out to see to his other duties.

When Vin arrived at Leader Akins office the man was quiet pleased to see him and shook his hand. "Well done my lad well done. I've heard the report from Captain Alberd and I'm so proud you've done this Hold well lad.'' He said and quickly pulled something out from under his desk. Vin felt himself blush he didn't think he'd done something that important.

Leader Akins showed Vin the object in his hand it was a blue dragon pendent a symbol of his rank as captain of the Aerial Guard. "Oh sir do you mean it?'' he asked looking at the pendant with wanting eyes. " Yes lad you've earned it and I'm sure you'll do us proud.'' He said and penned the pendent to his tunic and gave him a salute which Vin returned with his own.

" Your surely tired so take the day off since your class has graduated and are doing task around the hold until I can match them with suitable wings.'' He said and he released Vin who quickly stopped, " Sir since everyone else has moved out of the pavilions is it alright if I do the same?'' he asked, the Leader chuckled and smiled " Yes of course pick which every cave you like there are plenty of empty caves.'' He said with a hint of sadness in his tone.

Vin bowed and went out in a rush full of glee.