Moonrise

The two teens and two kids and two animal companions stared at the egg which Caroline held in her hands. Caroline observed Raylan's pale face. "If the egg is alive…" he breathed. "Then that means…" he raised his purple eyes to meet Caroline's emerald irises.

"It means everything I was telling you before is true. Our dad didn't kill the king of dragons and the egg wasn't destroyed," Raylan pointed his blades at her all of a sudden. "Seriously? This again?" She had never known how stubborn elves could be.

"It doesn't prove anything,"

"Yes, it does!" Willow defied. "Our father is innocent,"

"No. It means he did kill the king of dragons but stole the egg,"

"If our dad did steal the egg…." Ezran stepped up. "Why would it be here in a hidden room rather than the royal vault?" Raylan wasn't swayed. He glanced at all these creatures. He knew exactly who had done this. "It wasn't our dad who did this. It was his high mage Viren,"

"That doesn't make sense," said Willow. "Viren wouldn't disobey dad,"

Caroline could see very clearly. Then she remembered that awful confrontation she had with the arrogant man in the library. "Why else would he keep it hidden in here?" Somewhere where dad doesn't know. When I asked him so myself, he said he didn't. And he would never lie," she glanced desperately at Raylan. "Please elf…"

"The name's Raylan," Raylan snapped.

"Excuse me. Raylan…the fact that this egg is alive changes everything. I'm offering it to you as a sign of peace," she held it out. "This could be a chance to end this war once and for all. Nobody either human, elf or dragon ever has to get hurt again,"

Raylan sensed the generosity in her eyes. He saw the same level of innocence that he saw back in the forest, the purity within in humans which his mother always believed there was.

"What she's telling you is true," Ezran implored. "Why else would she and the rest of us show it to you rather than take it for ourselves?"

Raylan watched the future king and Willow stand closer to Caroline holding her arms. When he looked into their eyes, he saw the same level of generosity that was in their sisters. He closed his eyes, lowered his blades, and sheathed them behind his jacket. "It seems like I owe you all an apology. Come," he turned his back.

"Where?" asked Willow.

"To show it to my party. They'll be here by now. This may be our chance to save your father,"

"No way are we coming with you,"

"Guys, if you wanna save your father you have to come with me,"

Ezran, Willow and the animal companions glanced up at Caroline with facial expressions. She felt stuck. They were relying on her. She looked at them and then at Raylan who no longer showed rage and vengeance but compassion and honesty. "We'll go with you," she said. "But I'm carrying the egg,"

Viren strolled through the corridors. Claudia came rushing up to him. "Dad, thank goodness I've been looking all over for you," Her relief turned to a questioning look when she saw how bitter he was. "What's wrong?"

"The king fired me," he growled.

"What? Why?"

Instead of answering her questions, Viren desperately clasped her shoulders. "I need you to go down to the dungeons to get something that the elves can't find,"

"What? Why?"

"Please Claudia," he pushed desperately. "If they find it out, it means everything I've done for humanity will be for nothing. Now go,"

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect that stubborn ungrateful king,"

"But he said…"

"I don't care what he said. Just go. Go!"

Though full of questions, Claudia turned her back and dashed through the hallways whilst Viren sneaked off towards the king's tower.

Ezran led the way since he knew more about the dungeon corridors. Bait lit up lighting the way. Raylan kept a distance but a firm eye on the egg in Carol's arms. He observed Felix eying him viciously. He growled with his dark eyes and he glared back, remembering how he had bitten him back in the forest.

Willow walked beside her sister. "You sure this is a good idea?' she whispered but Raylan's pointy ears eavesdropped on their conversation.

"This is our only chance to save dad," said Carol.

"But can we trust him?" Raylan's head twitched in response to Willow's distrustful question which didn't receive an answer.

Suddenly they heard the echo of footsteps. Raylan pulled out his blades. Ezran became scared but Raylan stood in front of them, in a fighting stance. Was he protecting them? Appearing into view was Claudia. She gasped seeing her friends with the elf. She pulled out a jar of specimens for her dark magic. "Everyone! Get behind me!"

"Claudia wait!" implored Caroline. "There's nothing to worry about,"

"Carol! That elf is here to kill you!"

"But he's not. He's trying to help us! Look what we found," she showed Claudia the egg but Raylan blocked her view.

Claudia instantly realised this was what her dad wanted her to get. "We need to get that to my dad. He can keep it safe from them. Just like he's always done before,"

The children stared at her. "Did you know this all along?" Caroline asked, feeling betrayed.

"No. I promise you I didn't," promised Claudia. "But guys, please back away from that elf,"

Caroline handed Ezran the egg and walked forward. "Claudia, why would your dad keep the egg hidden?"

"I'm sure my dad just took it to protect us Carol, so the elves and dragons couldn't use it,"

Raylan fumed. "What are you talking about? How can we use it?"

"Don't play dumb!" Claudia retorted loudly. "You know it's a powerful weapon,"

"It's not a weapon. It's an egg! And it's going back to its mother,"

Carol looked from him to Claudia. What could she do? She licked her lips and spoke her choice, "Claudia, he's right. This egg doesn't belong here. Your dad killed the king of the dragons and provoked this attack. Returning the egg is the only way to resolve this,"

But Claudia didn't listen. "Just bring that thing here!" she ordered forebodingly to Ezran.

Carol pulled out her primal stone. "I'm sorry Clauds. Stratum Caligo!" she drew the ruin and immediately the room was covered in fog. Claudia was blinded by the fog. Quick as they could, the group fled through the hallways. Claudia called out their names but they didn't come back. She huffed. She reached into her bag and pulled out a shadow life candle. She lit with her fingertips and then pulled out a container containing the ash of wolves from the shelf below. Sprinkling the ashes into the flame, her eyes turned purple and so did the flame. Holding the candle in front of her, she summoned a pack of smoky creatures and pointed forward. They bounded after the group.

Ezran led the way. Raylan turned his head backwards and saw the smoke creatures after them. "Keep running everyone!" he pulled out his blades.

Willow turned her back and her heart jumped. "What are those things?"

"Dark magic creatures," he answered bitterly. "I'll take care of them. Just keep running,"

He fell behind and fought the creatures whilst the children and their companions with the egg picked up the pace but Caroline looked worriedly back at Raylan. She stopped running. Her siblings noticed. "Carol. What are you doing?" Ez asked.

"I can't leave him back there. Just take the egg and we'll meet you outside,"

Before her siblings and Felix could stop her, she quickly gave Ezran the egg and pulled out her primal stone again dashing back the way they came.

Raylan sliced at the smoke beasts but they shift in and out. When he slashed a fifth time, it turned him into a cloud of smoke, making him cough. One of them bit his arm causing him to cry in pain. He saw a sizzling bite mark on his forearm which didn't have an assassin's binding. He tried to fight again but they began to overpower him.

"Aspiro!" It was Caroline. Turning his head, Raylan saw her blow a powerful gust of wind and the smoky creature evaporated into thin air. He stood up and rushed to her.

"I told you to keep running,"

"Would you rather I'd have those creatures bite you to death?" she said.

He sighed, realising he was acting a little ungrateful. "Thank you. Let's go," they sprinted forward again and when they turned a corner, Ezran and Willow waited for them.

"I told you guys to keep running," criticised Caroline.

"We weren't gonna leave you behind again," he said stubbornly.

"How are you doing all these spells?" asked Willow in wonder. "Where did you even get that magic ball?"

"Primal stone," Raylan corrected.

"I wasn't talking to you," she retorted back causing him to roll his eyes.

"Mum left it for me. Caldor gave it to me earlier today," Carol explained.

"When was the first time you cast a spell?" asked Ezran eagerly.

"Her first time was probably when she used the wind to blow me and my party back to escape," said Raylan amusedly. "Now come on. We've gotta hurry," Ezran led them up the stairs and out of the castle. When they arrived, Raylan stared up and saw the full moon veiled by the grey clouds. His eyes widened. Quickly he turned to them. "Listen, I need you to give me the egg. I have to get it to the roof, right away,"

Ezran pulled the egg out of his reach. "What Why?"

Raylan extended his hand. "Just trust me," he implored.

"Uh uh…" Caroline stood between him and her brother. "Just because we're going along with you, doesn't mean we trust you. I already told you back there we're not letting you hold the egg,"

"Then did you save me back there?"

"I couldn't just let you do this by yourself. Also, you're only the one aside from the egg that can convince your leader to back off. We're doing this together,"

The siblings and animals bobbed their heads.

Furiously, Raylan retorted, "You might not realize it, but I'm trying to help you,"

"And a while ago, you were pointing blades at our sister and trying to kill us," reminded Willow. "We don't trust you,"

"We'll take you to the roof," said Ezran decisively. He walked ahead and his sisters followed him.

Annoyed but accepting their decision, Raylan followed behind. He followed the royal family to the castle walls; there were no guards except those who patrolled the courtyard below. He twisted his head and eyed his new allies desperately. "Hide here until it's safe to come out," Caroline ushered her family to hide behind some crates. He scanned the area for his guardian. "Runaan. If you can hear me, please come out. We need to talk," Nothing. He stared around but saw nothing. He turned his head back.

"You defied me," an angry voice uttered.

Raylan turned around to see a furious Runaan marching up to him. "Runaan, you need to call off the mission,"

"You've lost your mind," he growled.

"Please, listen to me. I've found something. The egg of the Dragon Prince,"

Runaan ridiculed. "That's impossible. It was destroyed,"

"No. It was stolen. But not by the king of Katolis. It was the high mage. He was going to use it for dark magic. And the king's children, they found it and they're here too…"

Runaan shook his head in disbelief. "No. Humans are liars. This is a trick and a trap. You're a fool, Raylan,"

"He's not a fool," defined a voice from behind the crates. Caroline stepped into view, eying the elf who had threatened her. "What he's telling you is true,"

Runaan drew his bow and aimed at her. "You've made a terrible mistake," He prepared to fire but Raylan stood between Carol and his surrogate father.

Carol called to her siblings. "Show him guys,"

Ezran and Willow came out of hiding and showed the beautiful dragon egg to Runaan who lowered his bow in shock. "It's beautiful. He stammered,"

"This shows that everything Caroline told us before was the truth. It wasn't the king who killed the king of the dragons. It was his high mage who went behind his back. How can we take vengeance like this? You have to call it off,"

"Raylan, you know it doesn't work that way. We bounded ourselves," Runaan showed him his bindings and pointed at his own. "There's only one way to release,"

"Runaan please," begged Raylan. "There has to be another way. This is a miracle, a chance for peace!"

But Runaan was not convinced. "The humans struck down the King of the Dragons. Justice will not be denied,"

Caroline stepped forward. "Please Runaan, don't let your vengeance cloud your judgement. The same thing happened to the high mage and he made a terrible mistake. Don't make the same mistakes he did. Like I said before we can handle this peacefully. Don't you want this cycle of futile revenge to end?"

"You don't give me orders human," Runaan suddenly shot the arrow. Ezran and Willow cried out Carol's name but with a swipe of his blades, Raylan sliced the arrow in half saving Carol who recovered from the shock.

"You have lost your mind," retorted Runaan bitterly.

"Guys go," Raylan ordered the humans.

"But…" Caroline tried to speak.

"Just keep it safe,"

With no other choice, Caroline quickly took the egg from Ezran and led her siblings, Felix and Bait along the castle walls. As the clouds uncovered the full moon, Runaan stared menacingly at Raylan as their standoff was about to start.

"Don't do this," Runaan warned, a hint of betrayal edged in his voice.

"You're making me do this," answered Raylan back with a tint of regret. "You're threatening innocent humans who've never wronged us,"

"I will kill you if I have to," Runaan transformed into his Moonshadow form.

"You leave me no choice," Raylan closed his eyes as his Moonshadow form took over his body. Runaan dashed at him and performed a jumping strike on Raylan who blocked.

Caroline led her family down the stairs of the castle tower. She saw a hay cart but from a far distance, she heard something. Her heart jumped. The other assassins. "Quickly. Hide here everyone," she urged them into hiding in the hay.

"Why do we have to hide here?" complained Willow.

"I have to get to dad before they do,"

"You think you can talk to them with the egg?' challenged Ezran. "Raylan already tried it with that arrow guy and he nearly shot you,"

"I'm not taking the egg. I'm gonna use my magic to save dad. Now hide quickly!" she helped him climb in.

"Just promise us you'll come back," he begged, hugging her.

"I will," She dashed off into the castle, Felix bounding behind her. She fled into the hallways and up towards the king's tower. She had just reached the doors when Viren came out of nowhere and blocked her path, Soren beside him.

"Hold it right there step-princess," Soren mocked. "The king's pretty busy right now. Trying not to, you know, die and stuff,"

Adamantly, Carol spoke back. "None of you are stopping me,"

She tried to dodge past but Viren marched on her. "You shouldn't be here," he spoke menacingly.

Back outside on the rooftops of the castle, with the guards patrolling the bottom grounds, Runaan and Raylan slashed at each other, Runaan's more furious and Raylan's more defensive. They found themselves in a deadly deadlock. "Runaan please," Raylan implored, begging him to stop the fighting. "You're better than this. What would Ethari say if he was here? What would my parents say?"

"Your parents are gone!" Runaan shouted back. "And you have dishonoured them," He shoved him back and tried to slash at him but he did a spinning forward flip over him.

"They would all be ashamed of how you're so filled with anger and hatred,"

Runaan still wouldn't listen and continued to attack him He kicked him off the ledge with his leg. Raylan slammed into a wall, grunting in pain. He grabbed onto the ledge with his blades and then swung himself back onto a steady level. Runaan placed his blades together into a bow and shot multiple arrows at him. Like before when he saved Caroline, Raylan sliced them in half. Desperate not to waste arrows, his guardian split his bow back into two blades and jumped off the ledge to charge at Raylan. But as their blades met again, the younger elf parried him off the side gaining the upper hand.

Despite his stone-hearted stubbornness, Raylan refused to give up. "You saw the egg Runaan. And those humans came with me to talk to you even though we came here to kill them. Not all humans are evil!" But Runaan wouldn't listen at all. They fought and fought and for a moment, Runaan managed to kick his bow out of his hands and hold him at neck point. He panted but couldn't make a move. He tilted his head a little slightly towards the king's tower. With that distraction,

Runaan swiped him off his feet but before he could attack again and he backwards-rolled out of the way. "You're just trying to stall me. I promise me your justice will come later,"

In his face, Raylan saw hurt and betrayal. He never wanted it to be like this. He watched as his guardian took off towards the king's castle. "No! Runaan stop! This isn't the answer!" but it was too late. Runaan had climbed up towards King Harrow's chamber about to kill an innocent man.

Caroline glared at Viren. "I know what you did. You stole the egg of the Dragon Prince. We found it, and we're keeping it safe from you,"

Viren was unfazed. "We?"

"My siblings. We know the elves came here to kill dad. To kill us! Because of you! You're the one who has to pay for your crimes! Not him! And not Ezran and Willow!"

"What difference would it have made? Harrow would have perhaps helped me slay that godly beast if it hadn't been for you and your manipulative antics Caroline," he seethed.

"I didn't manipulate him Viren. I didn't sway him into doing what I thought was right which is what all you've ever done. When he learns you kept the dragon prince here, he will have you thrown in jail,"

Viren scoffed. "He already knows what I did. And he had me banished. You ruined everything!"

"You brought this on yourself," she spoke back.

"Grab her," Viren ordered Soren.

Soren suddenly became concerned much to her confusion. "But she's the princess. And the king said that you're…"

"I don't care. Do it!" he ordered.

Soren aggressively grabbed Caroline.

"Hey! Let me go!" she struggled to fight against his grip. She tried to break one hand free to reach for her satchel containing her primal stone but it was no use. Felix tried to bite at Soren but Viren suddenly whacked him to the side with his staff and he fell on the floor, whining in pain.

"Felix!" cried Caroline in shock.

Viren grabbed her chin. "Tell me. Where is the egg?"

Caroline spat in his face. "I'll never tell you,"

"Then you are of no use to me," Viren pulled out the mummified paw of a Xadian Singing-Weasel and crushed it in his palm turning it to dust. His eyes turned purple and he uttered loudly Eciov eht laets!". Caroline suddenly felt herself choking when a trail of green mist travelled to her mouth and absorbed a yellow light. She tried to speak but only air came out of her mouth. She wheezed as she tried calling for him.

Raylan dashed over the rooftops trying to search for Carol and her family before it was too late. He looked down and saw guards streaming far below heading into the castle. He leapt down into the courtyard and when he landed he saw a bright blue glue glow emitting from a hay cart. He walked forward carefully. As he did, he transformed back into his usual form and when he pulled back some strands, he saw a grumpy Bait. "This one's not so good at hiding," Bait croaked.

Ezran and Willow poked their heads out. "That's what we told him," Ez said.

Raylan helped them out but noticed that one person and one animal were missing. "Where's Caroline?"

"He went up into the tower to see our dad," Willow explained.

Raylan's eyes enlarged. "Oh no. She can't be there! I have to get to her! You guys get out now!" he pulled out his blades.

"Where are you going?" Ezran asked.

"To save your sister and your father! Now go. Go!" he commanded.

Sharing worried looks, the royal siblings with Bait and the egg dashed towards the castle entrance, hoping that they didn't make the mistake of trusting this elf to save their sister.

"You impudent little mongrel," insulted Viren to the speechless Caroline. "You were spoiled and given everything... and that has left you weak and helpless. I don't know why King Harrow chose to love an embarrassing girl like you. Tonight, your world is changing. I am going to make sure you never see your family again,"

Carol tried to speak but no words came out.

"But dad…" Soren tried to speak. "The king will just come looking for her like before,"

"Not this time," Viren swore. He snatched Caroline's primal stone. "And I'll be taking this,"

Caroline could do nothing but snarl at him. Suddenly a sharp gust of wind howled from outside the windows. They blew open and the torches blew out one by one, turning the room dark. The princess became scared. She slammed Soren's foot and he screamed in pain then she knocked Viren to the ground grabbed her primal stone and a wounded Felix off the floor and sprinted up the stairs to the king's tower.

Viren growled and pursued her with Soren. When Caroline reached the darkened hallway that led to the king's room, she saw the crown guard soldiers outside his door readying their weapons. They were not happy to see her.

"You shouldn't be here step-princess," one insulted.

Caroline couldn't speak with her voice taken away so she tried to barge threw but they pushed her to the floor. Felix though wounded by Viren injuring him barked back.

Before the soldiers could do anything else, they heard banging coming from along the corridors. Then all of a sudden, an arrow came out of nowhere and pierced one of the soldier's breast blades. "Defend the doors!" one commanded.

"What about the step-princess?" one asked.

"Let her die," one said coldly. The king put his own life in danger going to find her,"

"But she warned him about the threat," another argued.

From out of the shadows from the stairwell appeared Skor who knocked out two guards and kneed another in the head knocking them out. Caroline watched in horror as the other assassins in their Moonshadow forms appeared out of nowhere. The guards and assassins fought. Caroline tried to conjure a spell but it was hard to keep her concentration having to carry Felix and with everyone fighting everywhere. To make matters worse, she needed to say the incantation as well as draw the ruin.

Viren and Soren arrived. When an elf saw them, Soren was knocked back by an attempted attack and Viren dropped the light that came out of Caroline's mouth. It flew back into her throat and her voice returned. Suddenly she saw Calisto about to barge through her dad's doors. "Aspiro!" she conjured the insignia for the spell and flew him back. She banged on the doors. "Dad! Dad!"

Soon all the crown guards were beginning to get overpowered by the assassins. Three of the assassins stood before Caroline and the door she guarded. "If you wanna kill him, you'll have to go through me!"

The three assassins: Andromeda, Skor and Ram held out their blades and she stood firm, outnumbered but determined to protect the only dad she ever had. Andromeda made an attack but then Raylan came out of nowhere and disarmed her.

"Guys stop!" he shouted.

"You traitor!" Skor seethed.

"No guys! The king didn't kill the king of the dragons. We found his egg,"

"You liar," scoffed Ram. "You're a traitor to your kind and you will pay for it," he tried to attack Caroline but Raylan forced him back. Then when Skor tried to attack him, Caroline blew him and the other two away with Aspiro. The soldiers managed to stand back up again and fight them but Raylan since he was an elf was attacked too.

"Stop!" cried Caroline. "He's trying to help us!"

But the soldiers wouldn't listen. Viren and Soren saw them and the dark mage glared at her. He raised his staff at Caroline. "Dad, what are you doing?" Soren asked. "Why are you aiming at her and not the elves?"

Raylan saw what Viren was about to do and he threw one of his blades, disarming him.

"Dad!" Soren cried. "You'll pay for that elf," he pulled out his sword and attacked Raylan but Raylan fought back valiantly.

Caroline tried to aid again but the fight in a narrow corridor made it harder to help. Runaan appeared from the window and he drew an arrow. He released it right towards Carol.

Raylan saw. "Carol look out!"

Just as Carol turned to see the poison-tipped projectile about to pierce her heart, a sword came out of nowhere and deflected it. Harrow with his metal bracers. Quickly he pulled Caroline inside to safe, slamming the door shut and then jamming it with a large table with his daughter's help. He hugged her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine,"

Outside Raylan managed to knock down Soren. But he saw Runaan and his former allies still battling the soldiers. Runaan saw him. "Stop him," he ordered Skor. Skor chased Raylan outside a window. Raylan swung up onto the roof and Skor followed him. They fought and Skor pressed his blades against Raylan.

"You and your parents are a disgrace. I don't know what Runaan saw in you but you have broken his heart with your betrayal,"

Raylan felt his heart shatter hearing these words. True he was fighting against his own people to protect innocent humans, but it didn't excuse the fact that he had just betrayed the man who loved him as his own son. "Maybe. But this is nothing compared to your acts of attacking innocent humans," he kicked Skor off him and then leg-swiped him off his feet and he rolled off the roof and landed on the castle wall below. Luckily he survived.

"What are you doing here?" Harrow berated Caroline. "You were supposed to leave!"

"I came here to save you," she said.

Just after she spoke Raylan barged through the window and closed it again. Harrow drew out his sword standing in front of her.

"Dad wait!" Carol stopped him. "He's a friend,"

"What?" Harrow breathed.

"Your majesty," Raylan bowed. "I humbly apologise for accusing you of murdering the dragon king. But your daughter is right. I'm a friend. I'm here to help you,"

"Where are Ezran and Willow?' Harrow asked Carol.

"They are safe," promised Raylan. "I've sent them out of the castle for safety,"

"Are you sure it's wise to trust him Carol?" asked Harrow.

"He spared my life in the forest. He could have killed me but he didn't. And he turned against his kind to save us," she answered positively. "Dad, we found the dragon egg. Viren kept it hidden so he could use it. But if we can get it back to Xadia…"

"it could end the war," he said in understanding. "This is your moment Caroline. This is the chance you and your siblings need to make a difference," Loud banging made them turn their heads. "You both must go," he urged.

"No! Come with us!" she begged in tears.

"It's not you they want. It's me. If I can keep them at bay, you guys can get out of here and you'll all be safe,"

"No! Dad! Please!" Caroline begged. "I can't lose you two!"

"You all have to go. Take the egg to Xadia. Restore peace. And no matter what happens to me, don't choose revenge,"

"Don't say that" she was close to tears. "Please,"

Harrow tried to speak again but the banging grew louder. "You must go. Now,"

Raylan looked out the window and saw dozens of soldiers arriving. "He'll be fine Caroline. None of the assassins will take his life with all those soldiers down there,"

"Listen to your elf friend. Go now whilst you still can,"

Knowing there was no changing his mind, Caroline hugged him tightly. "I love you, dad,"

"I love you too," he looked eerily but wisely at Raylan. "Take care of my children,"

"You have my word," vowed Raylan. "Come on Carol,"

Caroline picked up Felix and packed her primal stone. Raylan helped her climb through the window. "Woah," they were so high up. Raylan fished out his lasso hook from his knapsack and pierced it into the wall.

"Hang on," he suddenly pulled her close to him. "Don't let go,"

Caroline awkwardly wrapped one of her arms around his waist whilst keeping Felix in the other. She took one last glance through the window at her dad who nodded with hopeful tears; he believed in her. Shel smiled back. She tried to speak but Raylan leapt off the ledge and her grip on him tightened. They flew through the air and down the tower. Raylan had to steady Caroline gracefully as they landed in the courtyard far below. The hook fell back into his hands and he tucked it into his knapsack. "We have to go," he tried to pull her but she wouldn't move. She looked worriedly back up at the tower. He grasped her shoulders. "He'll be fine Carol. But we won't if we don't go,"

She took one last look at the tower which was now being flooded with more soldiers. She took in a deep breath and nodded. They sprinted through the courtyard and out the castle gates. They fled into the forest.

Ezran and Willow held Bait and the egg with worry.

"I hope they're okay," Willow prayed.

"They're going to be," said Ezran. "They have to be," his voice dropped when he said that. Right after he said they heard panting through the bushes and trees. Raylan and Caroline and Felix in her arms appeared into view.

"Thank goodness," Ezran rushed over to hug her. "Where's dad?"

Carol sighed. "He's in the tower,"

"And you left him there?!"

"Guys…" Raylan spoke up. "Your father chose to stay behind so that the assassins can't catch us with the egg. Your sister didn't leave him behind on purpose. And there are loads of guards in the hallway. None of the assassins will be able to get inside his room.

Caroline looked at the egg still being held in Willow's hands. Her worry turned to determination. "Dad told us to bring the egg back to where it belongs. And that's what we're going to do," Willow and Ezran nodded in agreement. "We can make a difference together," she looked at Raylan who nodded in agreement.

"I promised the king I would protect you all and that's what I intend to do," he swore. "Now let's go," he led the way through the forest and the three royals with the egg and animals followed behind him.

"I'm sorry I accused you of abandoning dad," Ezran apologised.

"It's okay. I didn't want to leave him but I had to trust him," she said.

"He's going to be fine," Willow was positive. "There's no way those assassins can get past so many guards,"

They followed Raylan deep into the forests towards the border of the kingdom. They came to the river bank where Caroline felt a cantin of water. Felix began to stir. She hugged him tightly. "You poor thing,"

"What happened to him?" asked Willow.

"When I tried to get to dad, Viren and Soren blocked him. And he hit Felix and then stole my voice for a brief moment,"

"That monster," seethed Ezran. "Once we get back home, we'll tell dad everything and he'll lock him up for this,"

As Raylan stood by on guard, he suddenly noticed the binding around his forearm had turned red. His heart sank; the king had been slain. Just then, he looked up and saw a red arrow, Runaan's shadowhawk flying high in the sky. "Oh no," he breathed in shock. He looked at the children and pursed his lips. He felt a great weight of guilt press hard on his shoulders. He shouldn't have taken them away. He should have stayed behind to protect the king. He looked high up at the sky watching the shadowhawk disappear into the distance.

Caroline turned her head and noticed his quivering posture. "What's going on? Something's wrong?"

Raylan cleared his throat and pretended to look dazed. "No…it's ah…we…we should hurry to find somewhere to sleep. It's a long journey to Xadia,"

They continued their journey but walking ahead of them, Raylan hid his guilty face. How was he going to tell them? When should he tell them? He couldn't worry about that now. But all he could think about was that he had betrayed one of his surrogate fathers; he couldn't begin to imagine how he could go home and tell everyone of what had happened. He just prayed that somehow Runaan was still alive. No matter how angry and hurt he was for being so consumed by rage for not listening to him and for killing an innocent king, he could never forget him. He had to make it right with him.

That's another episode done. I hope you all enjoyed it. What did you think of all the additions I made to it? I hope you all enjoyed the interactions between Raylan and Caroline. And Harrow quickly met Raylan. Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. And I'm open to more ideas. See you all soon