"I hate airplanes," Kendra groaned as she shifted her legs around for the hundredth time in the past five minutes. Gavin chuckled next to her, and the seat to her right was empty. Sarah had no problem taking the free upgrade to first class when the opportunity had presented itself. "How do we still have seven more hours?"

Again he laughed at her pain, "I've never heard you voice a disgust for flying."

She shrugged, "Usually I'm anxious to get off the plane. Right now, I feel like I'm wasting a ton of time."

He smirked, "I spoiled you with my magical transporter, didn't I?"

She wacked at his shoulder, "Shut up."

He shifted himself, "Why don't you try and rest? You haven't slept the entire trip yet. It'll make the time go by faster."

She huffed, "I cannot, for the life of me, get comfortable."

Kendra watched as a spark of uncertainty went through his eyes as he said, "You can lay on me if you want."

She paused, not knowing what to say at first. Her mind briefly flashed to his memory of them together in the red rock cave, but she pushed it out of her mind. It hadn't meant anything. After all, he was a dragon, and he had explained that they felt emotions differently than humans, and they did not all mean the same things. So though she had felt an intense love for Bracken in her memories, it did not mean Gavin had felt love for her. At least that's what she kept telling herself.

She nodded, if hesitantly, "It can't hurt to try."

She gently rested her head upon his shoulder. She had to admit it was more comfortable than the stiff,plastic airplane seat she had been glued to for the past 8 hours.

After a moment Gavin's shoulder twitched as he reached his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. Her head moved from his shoulder more to his chest. "Sorry," he said with a lush. "My arm was going numb. Is this okay?"

"Yes," she mumbled, already letting the sleep take over her. She knew this was probably a bad idea, but she was so tired and uncomfortable that it didn't matter anymore.

She became distantly aware of a hand gently running through her hair and twirling it. Itt soothed her and lullied her deeper into oblivion. Something twisted inside of her chest, but she soon forgot it as she finally relaxed and embraced whatever dreams that were coming to take her away.

Stepping out of the airport, Kendra was relieved to finally feel the cool Californian air brushing across her cheeks. Sitting in a plane for fifteen hours wasn't something she wanted to do again anytime in the near future. As they were getting off the plane, she had to concentrate very hard on her legs. She didn't want them to collapse underneath her. After sitting for fifteen hours they felt like pure jelly.

The rest of the flight had gone smoothly. Gavin had been right. Her nap had taken up four of the remaining hours of the flight and she had only suffered three more conscious hours in the air.

They had met up with Sarah at the gate and she had had a great big grin plastered across her face. Throughout their journey to exit the airport she had excitedly recounted the luxuries of first class. Kendra rolled her eyes but smiled at the excitable girl. She was glad that even worlds away from Owen, Sarah could still find something to smile about. And she was glad the universe had been kind enough to offer her friend something so small yet enjoyable.

"Hopefully we can find a place to stay for the night," Gavin yawned as he tried to hail a taxi.

"What?" Kendra questioned, "We aren't just going to head straight for Dangerous Springs?"

"We need to rest. It's four in the morning and we should not go into Dangerous Springs until we get some sleep."

Something like panic arose in Kendra's chest. They were wasting too much time! She needed to get into Dangerous Springs as soon as possible. As the days went on, it became more and more plausible that Bracken became less and less okay. They had to act now! Soaring Cliffs had wasted so much time, even if they had retrieved a gem.

Gavin grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him, "Listen, I understand you are anxious, but you aren't going to do Bracken any good if you get yourself killed because you are off your game."

She sighed, "I guess you're right."

He offered her a small grin, "I know."

She scoffed and pulled her arm back.

They hopped in a cab and gave the drivers directions to a hotel a few miles away from the airport. They all figured it was as good of a chance as any if they had rooms available. As Kendra started to struggle to keep her eyes open in the car, she couldn't help but become annoyed with Gavin for being correct. She was tired even after hours of restless sleep while they were in the air.

The hotel did end up having rooms and Gavin paid with whatever money he still had access to after living and dying over and over again throughout the years. As they entered the room, Sarah immediately walked over to the bed and fell on top of it. She fell asleep instantly.

"Get some rest, Kendra. We will figure everything out tomorrow."

She didn't respond. She followed Sarah to their bed and passed out.

"What if we just start banging on the door of the caretaker's house," Sarah sighed. They had been sitting in the living room of their hotel suite for well over thirty minutes now trying to figure out how they were going to get through the register of Dangerous Springs. Kendra was getting frustrated. It was ten o'clock in the morning. Yet, she knew if they couldn't get into the preserve then there wasn't really a point in wasting their time going. Not until they had a decent hypothesis.

"It doesn't work like that," Kendra responded. "You don't even have access to the house if you aren't on the register."

Gavin sighed and put his face in his hands. "We could lure whoever it is out. Try to kill them."

Kendra should've been appalled by the suggestion, but she wasn't. They had so few options she would consider anything at this point. "If Bracken is being held there, what makes us think we can go up against whoever is holding him, especially if it's Ronodin. Or even worse, Ronodin and someone else."

Gavin paused and glanced at both of the girls with a look so grim Kendra had never seen overcome him before.

"I genuinely do not see any other options. Throughout my lives, I've always had people on the inside, corrupting the preserves to get me. We are completely in the dark here. I think it's what we have to do."

None of the three spoke for a long while. Kendra had killed evil creatures in the past. Hell, she had slayed the demon king not long ago. But would she be able to kill a human if it came to that?

If she had to, she would. For Bracken she would do anything.

Even if she did something so evil that he wouldn't love her anymore. At least he would be okay.

A bit horsley she spoke, "If that's what has to happen. I'm willing to do it."

Gavin nodded, and she saw the nervous bob of his Adams apple as he turned to Sarah. She looked uncomfortable. "This is your world. I'm just living in it."

That seemed to be the only answer he needed. They were past the constant reminders that she could back out at any time. Sarah had been adamant that she was coming. The beginning to the end was near.

They packed all of their stuff and left the hotel. The goal was to get Bracken and get back to Wyrmroost as fast as they could with little to no trouble. It was beyond unlikely that was going to happen, but it was just better to be prepared.

It was unclear if Gavin had ever slept, but when they woke up that morning, there had been a car in the parking lot waiting for them. Kendra had been too exhausted to ask where he had gotten it, but knowing Gavin and the situation they weren't going to be returning it.

The car ride was silent. Kendra couldn't think. All she wanted was Bracken back. She was tired of waiting.

After an hour of driving through the city and suburbs and through rural farmlands, Gavin pulled off into an unmarked trail through large redwood trees. For miles all she could see was green. She didn't know how Gavin knew where they were going. She didn't ask. She didn't really care. She just wanted Bracken back.

She lost track of time as Gavin pulled the car in between a couple of the monstrous trees and turned the car off. There was a beat before any of them moved.

She heard the sound of his seat belt click as he took it off. He turned to look at her. "Ready?" He asked.

"Yes."