"My name is Bowen," the dragon slayer said suddenly.
Rose snorted.
"I have trouble with names. Can I just call you filthy murdering…"
"Rose," Draco cut her off gently. "Calm yourself. Why don't you go get some firewood? It will be getting dark soon."
Rose eyed Bowen suspiciously, but Draco was right. It was getting a little colder too, and if Jake had found a way to her, the fire would attract his attention. Though if Kane were still around, he'd see her for sure. Surely with Draco there she'd be safe. Still, she wasn't too keen on the idea of leaving Bowen unguarded around Draco.
"Look lady, I won't touch your dragon," Bowen said.
Rose toed his shield bordered with dragon teeth with her boot, and arched an eyebrow at him.
"How many times have you used that line?" she asked scathingly.
"I'll go get the firewood," Bowen growled, "if that will shut you up."
He retrieved his sword and replaced it in its sheath. He shot a burning glare at Rose and stormed off. Once he was gone, Rose chuckled to herself and sat on the grass beside Draco contentedly.
"Am I good or what?" she asked with a smirk.
Draco had meant to reprimand her behavior, but instead he grinned and chuckled softly.
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Fu was down to his last potion book. His eyes hurt from staring at endless pages from a seemingly endless pile of books. He was getting a massive tension head ache and rubbed his temple, trying to sooth the throbbing pain. He used a sleep-inducing potion from one of his other books on Jake, slipping it into his drink. Now he lay sleeping in his apartment, with Trixie and Spud monitoring him. He was sure they had dozed off as well. The old dog was dimly aware that Lao Shi was moving about the store somewhere.
Suddenly, the answer to the question leapt at him. His drooping head snapped to attention and his headache ceased to matter. He snatched up the book and ran to find the old man.
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Jake's apartment was dark except the light coming from the moonlight streaming through the windows. Trixie and Spud were sleeping on the couches in the living room, and Jake was asleep in his room. All was still and silent. Then the phone rang, breaking the silence.
Trixie groggily opened her eyes and snapped wide-awake when she realized what had caused her to stir. She scrambled to the phone and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" she said uncertainly.
"Trixie, get Spud and Jake and high tail it over to the shop," Fu said excitedly. "I've found a way to find Rose!"
Trixie's heart leapt and she forced the cry of joy back down her throat.
"Really? Oh man! Jake's gonna flip!" She paused and nodded, "Sure thing, Fu. We'll be there in two shakes of a dragon's tail."
She replaced the phone on its receiver and ran back to the living room. She flipped the light switch and shook Spud awake.
"Whassamatter?" Spud slurred groggily.
"Rose!" Trixie cried excitedly. "Fu's got a way to find her!"
Spud was wide-awake. He jumped up and they ran to Jake's room to tell him the news. The first thing he did was spring out of bed and try to dash out of the apartment.
"Come on guys," he said. "We're taking the Dragon Express,"
"Hold it, Jakey," Trixie said, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. "Fu wants us to bring Rose's crystal necklace. You know, the one that she uses to find stuff on a map with?"
Jake dashed to Rose's room and seconds later, came back with a purple crystal hanging from a silver chain. He grabbed Trixie and Spud by their wrists and ran, dragging them along with him. In the ally adjacent to the apartment building, he powered into his dragon self. Trixie and Spud climbed on his back and he took off.
About six years ago, this would've been a difficult task. Now, he was much stronger and his wings could lift three times their combined weights. In a flash, they arrived at Canal Street Electronics and the trio rushed inside. Fu was mixing ingredients together in the backroom. He finished what he was doing and turned to face them.
"You got the crystal?" he asked briefly.
Jake revealed it, nestled in the palm of his clawed hand. Fu motioned for Jake to bring it to him. Jake curiously handed the crystal over watching as Fu dipped it into the potion he just made. The dragon noticed the mixture didn't even ripple. It was clear like water, but it didn't reflect anything. The crystal changed from purple to clear. Fu lifted the crystal from the potion and explained what he just did.
"This is a skrining crystal," he began, dangling it from its chain where everyone could see it. "Rose used it to locate people she was looking for. She'd just hold it over a map, tell the crystal to find someone, and if they were on the map, the crystal would point to their location. Instead of just pointing us in the right direction, this little crystal will take us to when and where Rose is."
"What's the catch?" Trixie asked suspiciously.
"Well the difficulty of this search and rescue depends on where she is," Fu explained. "She could be back in the times of the dinosaurs or a couple of years ago. "
Lao Shi stepped up and said, "Also, there is the matter of the stranger with her. We don't know who he is, but he looked like Hunts Clan to me. Apparently, not all of them are locked away on the Isle of Draco."
"In other words, be ready for a fight," Fu summed up. "Now we're not going in this unarmed. Trixie, Spud, I've whipped up some special stuff for you guys."
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A fire was blazing bright in the otherwise dark night. Rose had caught fish for supper and the remains of their dinner were burning in the fire. Draco and Bowen had drifted off to sleep ages ago. Rose simply couldn't sleep and it wasn't for lack of trying. Her nerves were frayed and she was on edge. She figured Jake would've found a way to her by now. What was really keeping her up was worry about Kane. He was out there somewhere, waiting for the right moment to attack again. Every little noise caused her to freeze and scan the dark forest nervously. For the hundredth time, she wished Jake were with her.
She knew she shouldn't be skittish. Draco was there and he could easily fend off anything threatening, but she didn't feel too reassured by his sleeping self. He had size, power and plenty of years of wisdom in battle judging by the worn look his horns and body had. She should have felt completely safe and went right to sleep like Draco and Bowen had. Out of the three, she was the only one who truly knew what Kane was capable of. He'd been a much more effective apprentice to the Hunts Man than she ever could have been. He was a better fighter, and definitely a better dragon slayer (he'd actually killed a few). Draco had fought and survived his share of dragon slayers, but these primitive hunters were nothing compared to Kane. He would take a human life just as easily as he would a dragon's. That's why she could not and would not sleep.
New hope came with a new day. Rose cheered up when the sun arose and chased away the threatening shadows of night. Eventually Bowen and Draco awoke.
"Rose, you look like you haven't slept," Draco said.
Rose ran a hand through her hair and yawned groggily.
"Is it that obvious?" she asked.
"It's because of me isn't it?" Bowen asked accusingly.
"Oh don't flatter yourself, Bowen," Rose muttered, too tired to be grouchy. "I spent the whole night obsessing over a bigger threat. Kane is out there somewhere, and I know night is the perfect time to strike. You guys were asleep and we would've been completely vulnerable to an attack if I would have slept."
She wanted to sleep so badly, to just close her eyes and drift off. It was so hard to fight it. She was worn out, not only from lack of sleep and constant worry, but the escapade at Penderas Towers had drained her as well.
"Rose," Draco said gently. "Get some rest. Bowen and I will keep watch."
"But," Rose protested weakly.
"You watched over us all night, so we'll return the favor," Draco said soothingly. "It's alright now."
Rose relented and lied down on the cool, soft grass. Almost instantly she fell asleep.
"I can't believe she did that for us," Bowen commented awestruck. "She barely knows us, yet she'd guard us while we slept."
Both dragon and man gazed at Rose who was getting her well-deserved rest. She was a woman like neither of them had ever seen. She was strong, independent, and yet feminine and frail at the same time. She was a fighter and a lover. Bad and good, sweet and sour, gentle and firm all rolled up in one. Each, in his own thoughts, secretly congratulated Jake for finding such a girl.
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Rose awoke hours later feeling refreshed and well rested. The first thing she noticed was she was alone. She became completely alert and awake in a matter of seconds. Frantically she looked around for any sign of Draco or Bowen. Suddenly a roar that was unmistakably dragon echoed through the forest. Rose's heart plummeted and she grabbed her staff. She plunged through the underbrush, blindly racing to Draco's aid.
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Finally an update! Sorry about the delays! I've just been so dang busy lately.