The gray sky brightened to the hidden sun that rose. Signalling the day which they act on their plan. High above the sky, dragons and wyverns patrolled the island. The cloaking spell, Opn, who was nicknamed Bellandona, took effect. The foul stench of the swamp hiding their scent. Once they cleared the way, Aura and H'earring poked their heads out.

"Anything?" H'earring asked.

No. Aura said. Time to sail.

In a matter of minutes, everyone, with the exception of Maxxor, Chaor and Khybon, began to set the boats ready. Intress and Frafdo stood guard in front of the boat in case the enemy returned. H'earring, Blazejay and Wamma helped unfurl the sails. Once some of the supplies were organized, with the help of Odu, Mudeenu and Sprees gathering whatever herbs and fruit they could find, the group began to push on the boat. "I call dibs on the steering wheel!" Bondu yelled. In a matter of minutes, she stood at the ready.

Prince Iflar looked concerned. "Can she navigate the waters? Let alone the ocean?"

Sansi leaned next to him. "She can read the wind directions. You're safe for a while." She fiddled with her hands. "The only thing to worry about is the Leviathan."

Once the coast was clear and more supplies were collected, Odu, Mudeenu and King Theb-saar pushed the boat. They quickly climbed up the ladder just as it began to move further away from shore. The boat rocked and creaked under the weight but remained steady. The air began to smell of salt. The waters become less murky. The wind whipped at the sails.

Takinom flew close to the boat, circling like a vulture. Her red hair whipped in the wind. Her yellow skin threatened to make her stick out against the gloomy sky. Her red eyes scanned the area. Her ears strained to hear the sound of bubbles. A shadow. She looked down at Opn, who was started to look a bit dizzy. "How much longer until the Leviathan shows up?"

Opn looked at her with brown eyes. Her body wobbled. Her green exoskeleton looking pale. "Just a little longer. Usually, it's when the water starts churning further up is when we should panic." She felt a light touch. She looked to see Wamma at her side, concern in his green eyes.

"Are you ok?" Wamma asked. "You look like you're gonna pass out."

"I-I'm fine. J-just had to stay awake for the past couple of days that's all."

Monna crossed her arms. "A couple of days! You barely sleep at all. The moment you close your eyes, you start screaming."

"I'm sorry…" Her hands began to wobble. "Every time I close my eyes-" She fell. In a matter of minutes, Wamma caught her. Her eyes were closed. Her head resting against Wamma's shoulder.

Sprees looked on in dismay. Then shook her head. "I was afraid that was going to happen." She turned to Aura. "You sense anything, Aura?"

Aura scanned the waters. Her mind trying to pick up the creature that was filled with an instinct to kill. However, she only heard everyone's anxiety and frustration. Opn's anxiety spoke the loudest. The Instecte's fears of going back to being Shadowdancer's toy or target practice by Bonewing. Aura knew that feeling all too well. She still suffers from it but not as bad as before. I'll have to tell her once this is over. Suddenly, she felt a dark wave coming over her mind. Her fins arched. It's here! She said, stretching out her thoughts to everyone. He is here! The Leviathan is coming to us beneath the boat!

Everyone immediately scattered on deck. Each side lined with warriors from each tribe ready to attack. Wamma used his secondary arms to hold up Opn as he watched the water carefully. H'earring nearly jumped when he heard Chaor's frustrated growl.

"What's going on up there?!" The leader of the Underworld roared.

"The Leviathan is heading our way! Get ready for some unsteady sailing!" H'earring stiffened as he heard a sound of water moving.

Without warning, a spire of water exploded out of nowhere. The boat immediately pushed forward. Everyone sprawled onto the floor. Aura leaned over the bow. She shook her head. Then saw the large head of the Leviathan. A scarred head. Eyes the size of cannon balls. Dark green skin. Frills spread out in his head. Large serrated teeth the could've crushed the boat if the group didn't sail fast enough. The dark thought's leaked into Aura's brain. Orders to kill. Orders to destroy those that defied Queen Tikali. Then, a little sliver of a memory. Sad and mournful. A name etched into it: Arge.

Aura looked to the others. She didn't know why but she had to help this creature. The sensation in this mind felt all too familiar. Her wings and fins changed to a sense of a calm tingled with purple and lime green. I'll see if I can lure him away, She said. See if there's something bumpy or a split second of magic. Aura dove into the water before anyone could stop her. She focused on what form she had to take. I only know two, but I know the one I need to keep up with this Leviathan.

Instantly, her body contracted. Her tail turned into hind legs. She grew large enough to cope with the Leviathan's speed and power. Horns sprouted out of her head. She soon took on the same dragon form used to defeat Bonewing. With every ounce of muscle she swam forward toward the Leviathan before it could charge at the boat again. She let out a shriek that verbarated through the water.

The Leviathan turned to face her. It roared and sped after her. Despite the massive bulk of the mosasaur-like creature, he was close to her face in a matter of minutes. He chased her. Jaws snapping. A frenzied look on his face. Dark eyes filled with a haunted memory. Thoughts suddenly exploding left and right.

Aura soon felt mental screams. Everyone is disoriented and confused. I knew it! She flared out her wings. Each stroke propelled her out of the water and high into the air. The water coming off of her in massive sprays. She instinctively pulled out her mind shield as invisible rope began to tie around her. Her tail thrashed. She growled. Roared. Then, she sang her water song. The water coiled around the monster. Ice crackling as formations made. However, it kept breaking under the creature's strength.

Sprees was the first to get up from her stupor. She looked around to see everyone unconscious. Suddenly, she heard some flapping and saw Cot fly out. The Chime Gale wobbled in her flight. Sprees caught her before she could land. She tried to speak, but the words failed to pop out of her mouth. Cot turned her head. Then, Sprees noticed the bird frantically pointed at the bow. Sprees followed that direction and saw what Cot was pointing at. In a ring of ice was a collar. One similar to the one Aokua wore back in Mount Pillar, but larger and pricklier. The ice encasing seems to be slowing it down.

The creatures roared. Rage spilling out like an angry tsunami. It thrashed. However, each movement began to become slow and sluggish. The ice coming back. Harder. More pristine like polished crystal. It started to pant heavily. Eyes half closed with exhaustion.

Aura flew higher. Her nose upward to the sky. Her wings ached with each stroke. Lungs burned. Her vision flickered. Cot had once told her that it was called flyer's vertigo. It was a small condition that most would suffer from when they are starting to fly higher than normal. At the moment, Aura didn't care. She turned to face the creature. Then, like an arrow, she tucked her wings and allowed herself to plummet back to earth. Wind whistled in her ears. Her jaw opened. She reached out to Sprees once she felt stable. Sprees! Get your spear ready!

Spress shook herself. Then, she jumped backward as a loud explosion similar to glass. A cloud of white dust slowly faded to reveal a red light. It was bright and deadly on the glistening collar. Realizing that Aura created an opening, Sprees grabbed a metal spear that had a large hornet carved into it. She threw it with all her might. The spear flew across the ocean with four mighty wings. It gave a satisfying tink.

A light exploded. Everyone who finally recovered from the mindwave immediately covered their eyes. A screech rang through the air. Then, all went silent. They blinked for a moment. All eyes scanned the sky and ocean for Aura and the Leviathan. It took a painful hour until they heard shaky wingbeats right above them. A splash followed, making everyone wet.

Sorry... Aura said. Now back to her normal size, she poked her head over the bow. She clawed up while straining herself. She flopped onto the deck. Her head throbbed from overuse of her mind. Other thoughts from some nearby enemies didn't make it better. She grunted as she mentally pulled out an unconscious M'arrillian out of the water. He hovered over the group, dripping with seawater. He looked similar like the Leviathan that attacked them. She looked into the shocked gazes of her friends. Um...I know this is surprising to you, but can you help me carry him below? He's really heavy. Also… The body flopped onto the floor, landing on top of H'earring. We may need to hurry before anyone else finds us.

Chapter 28: Oceanward Home

To say that Aura was happy would be an understatement. Happiness washed over everyone. Once the boat went further in the open ocean, thanks to Bondu's wind reading skill, Aura took a dip into the water to find fresh fish. Despite her first time hunting, Aura took her hunting naturally. Her body diving in and out of the waves as she tossed fish over the side. H'erring and Cot cheered her on. Even Khybon began to stir from his unconscious state upon feeling waves of laughter wash over him.

"Ugh…" The Underworld Taskmaster groaned. "What happened?" His thoughts were still foggy as back was a bit numb from the herbs.

"Glad to you back with the living Khybon," Chaor said. He was propped upright. Maxxor next to him. The two leaders looked a little ill, but it was mostly due to the bumpy ride.

Khybon blinked. He rubbed his eyes. He then got up. Suddenly, he noticed that the straps on his body were gone. Then he remembered the events from yesterday. Aura crying. Her waves of sorrow raining down on his mind. "Aura-Gh!" He gasped as he tried to get upright. Pain riddled his back. "Is she ok?"

"She's fine." Maxxor answered. "She actually helped us get away from the castle and managed to convince some rebels to get us home." He turned as someone cleared their throat.

Khybon turned to see Monna and Aru walking down the stairs. They looked a little malnourished on the account of their thin bodies. He tried to move. Pain erupted again. His groan matched the creaking in the ship. His hand could only tap against the soft fabric.

Monna walked over to him. "Good to see you finally awake." She looked at his back. Her hands lightly touching the skin. "Do you feel any pain? Any nausea?"

"Pain, yes and only when I move. Nausea, no."

Aru hopped onto the bed to have a look at his face. She tilted her head. Pale green eyes focused. Her nostrils twitched as she sniffed him. "No signs of fever. His skin is pretty good despite the large gashes on his back." She looked at the empty jars on the nearby shelf. "I hope Aura's back with that moon seaweed soon."

"Moon Seaweed?" Queen Azsil asked.

Monna was quick to answer. "It's a special seaweed that grows around these parts. According to the books anyway. They are a special ointment for wounds and treat infections." She rustled through a box. When nothing came up, she flipped the box over to reveal the content. Nothing. Monna frowned deeply. "It...can also be used for bandages."

"Well." Khybon said. "At least I know that she's ok." He soon shivered with delight as he felt another wave of happiness coming from Aura. "Gah! I wish I could see her!"

Outside on the deck, everyone was taking in the ocean breeze. Takinom was having a conversation with Intress. Wamma helped Belladonna on her feet to get below deck. H'earring simply laid on the floor with Frafdo and Iflar stared down at him. The Underworld scout rubbing his stomach as hunger gnawed at him. As for the dragon hatchlings, they simply jumped and ran around the deck with Bondu yelling at them to stop before they hurt themselves.

In a matter of seconds, Aura jumped out of the water. In her hands was the Moon Seaweed that Monna mentioned. A mint green sea plant with silver bulbs. She shook herself. Water droplets getting all over Cot. Aura looked over the side of the boat. Her hand waved frantically. She slithered out of the way just as some fish suddenly flopped onboard.

A large blue fish knocked Cot over. She fluttered for a moment, looking annoyed. Once she was up, the Chime Gale huffed. "A little warning next time!"

Aura's fins and wings turned into a guilty color. Sorry. I'm just so excited to be in the ocean for the first time. Aura turned to it. She laughed as a few dolphin-like creatures popped their heads out. I wonder why the rest of the tribe never thought to retreat there. It's safer and has plenty of space. She flinched as she thought of her mind briefly invaded by Milla'iin. The young M'arrillian shook herself. She picked up a fish and handed it to H'earring.

The Underwolder Scout took in gratefully. He began to bite into it. Not caring if it was raw. To everyone's shock, he devoured it in a matter of minutes. His burp echoed across the ship and the ocean. He was met with groans and exclamations of disgust.

Aura went down the steps and encountered Monna. Here's the Moon Seaweed you've asked for, She said. She handed out the plant to the young Meerakeet.

"Thanks." Monna took the seaweed. "You're just in time. Khybon is up but he can't move around right now."

Really?! He's awake! Aura lurched forward. Unaware that her skin was still wet from the water. Before she could stop herself, Aura and Monna slid down the steps and crashed into Maxxor. Monna glared at her. Sorry… Her ears flicked as she heard a weak laugh. She got up to see Khybon trying to turn his head to see her. Khybon!

"Hi Aura." Khybon said. "Glad to see you're having a good time." He turned his head. His red eyes focused on the unconcious M'arrillian that was propped against the foot of the bed. "Now, can you tell me who HE is."

Aura closed her eyes. She lowered her walls and let the memories of what happened flow into Khybon. This M'arrillian was guarding these waters when we left. She said. That's why no one was able to come to Perim until now. A large sea monster flashed in her mind. I felt his mind and all he could think about is his beloved. I managed to use an ice attack to use the water against him with the help of the Song of Water and Sprees, you'll meet her later. I'm sure he'll tell us more when he comes to.

Khybon's eyes softened. "Well. I'm just glad you're ok." He flinched as he felt something cool and slimy on his back. He saw Aru moving her claws with ease over his back. Careful not to further irritate the wounds. A sigh came to him as the pain was starting to subside. His red eyes fell on Maxxor as Monna treated his wounds as well. His cheeks turned red as his stomach grumbled.

Aura laughed. Bells ringing in their minds. I'll go get some more food. With that, she was off.

-(That night)-

The stars blanketed the night sky. Twinkling the way back to Perim. The ocean was a velvet blue. A soft splashing against the wooden hull of the boat. Frafdo took over as everyone else went below deck to enjoy a good meal of fish. Smells of fire wafted in the air. Some of the occupants, Prince Mudeenu in particular, tired to scoot around to make room for Wildflower and Rue.

Chaor was being careful not to burn anything to a crisp. He and Wamma were in charge of cooking the food Aura caught with the help of her new found dolphin friends. His hands glowed with heat. A faint sizzle heard in a metal bowl. In a matter of minutes, another round of roasted fish was done. He didn't complain much. As long as there was something in his stomach after tossing, turning and trying not to throw up after the fight with the Leviathan, who was still unconscious. Chaor to another chunk of fish in his mouth as he watched Aura perform her latest trick.

Aura focused. Her blue eyes narrowed at the blob of water floating in mid air. Her hands hovering over it. The water twitched. Then, to everyone's delight, it took the form of Aokua flying after the dolphin that she swam with earlier. Claps rang in the air. Aura's fins turned yellow and pink with delight. Thank you. She bowed. Thank you.

"You've gotten so much better." Cot said. She beamed. It was the kind of distraction she needed since she was still having trouble processing the fact that nearly all her grey feathers were gone. They lined her wings, tail and back. Multiple colors now ruled her body. Reds and blues clashed with browns and yellows. Hints of green and white hidden in the mix. "It felt like yesterday that you could barely hold a sentence with anyone without freaking out."

Aura turned pinkish red at that. Shucks! I wouldn't have gone far if it weren't for all of you. She looked at Belladonna who was starting to look better. Then, blue started to appear on her. I do wish that we could've brought more of the other slaves and taken them away from Tikali.

Intress put a sympathetic hand on Aura's shoulder. "You did all that you could."

"Yeah!" H'earring chimed in. "Without your help, I think Tikali would've made us mince meat by now."

Everyone cringed at that. The mere image of the red dragon looming over them. Her fangs ready to snatch and kill them. Fire burning everywhere. Even if it was just luck alone, it was better than nothing. Suddenly, a groan was heard. All eyes turned to the M'arrillian once turned Leviathan.

His blue-gray skin dries under the blanket. His eyes opened, revealing a deep shade of sapphire blue. "A-Arge…" He lethargically turned his head as he glanced around the room. He practically jumped as he saw Chaor's burning hands. His head fin raised. "Don't hurt me!" He pleaded, his voice raspy from dehydration. "M-my child. I need to go-" His words were cut short as he covered his mouth. Audible gurgling heard by everyone.

"Gah!" Queen Aszil screamed. She tried scooting away, accidentally squashing Odu in the process.

"Save the fish!" H'earring shouted.

"Get him out of here!" King Theb-Saar ordered.

Aura immediately concentrated on lifting the M'arrillian in the air. Everyone ducked to allow as much room as possible and avoid the vomit coming straight for them. To her shock, she soon felt emotions leaking into her brain. Images of the ocean. An angry M'arrillian who went by the name Aa'une. Faces of dragons that were in a state of shock and disgust. Then, just as she reached the rail of the boat and set him down, Aura froze at a haunting vision. A silver dragon covering her egg. The egg was silver with a slight rainbow halo surrounding it. The silver tried to fight back a horde of dragons only to followed by a desperate scream. "Argeeeeeee!"

Aura gasped. Her fins and wings paled in color. Her hands shook as she watched the M'arrillian vomited over the side. His heaves even caused Frafdo to fly over out of concern. She clutched herself tightly until the shaking finally stopped. She put her mental walls up slightly in case another wave of memories come at her.

The M'arrillian looked up from his episode. His eyes on Aura. He soon realized what Aura had just seen. "My goodness! I'm so sorry! It's been a while since I've had proper control of myself in awhile." He rubbed his hand against the scarred area around his neck. At this, he began to cry. "They're gone! They're both gone!"

Aura's fins went blue immediately. She hugged him as he continued to sob. It's ok...I know it's hard. Her memories went back to Perim. The sudden freedom that she never thought would be possible in her lifetime. The colors that surrounded her. Tears trickled down her face. Suddenly, Aura saw Frafdo leaning over the edge.

"Aura!" The Overworld warrior cried. "We made it!"

Aura looked into the blue horizon. A landmass that looked a little familiar. She closed her eyes. Her mind reached over to the over side. She could sense fear, anger and anxiety. Many of them were from the four tribes of Perim. Her fins turned into yellows and pinks. She immediately reached the thoughts below deck. Everyone! We're home! There's a coastline and I can feel the tribes. A sudden boom reached her. She turned to see lights flickering in the distance. Be careful! There's a fight going on! She turned her gaze at the M'arrillian. My name's Aura. Yours?

There was a slight pause. The M'arrillian tightened his mouth before he could answer. "Quin'lins."