The moon shone down upon a lone figure, leading a black stallion to the town gates. Behind it, another creature followed, it's golden scales glittering in the starlight. Tai looked at the letter in her hand. Erek had given it to her a few hours ago. He had said he wanted to speak with her before she left. Tai didn't know why, and she really did not want to say farewell. She didn't think she could leave then.

She stopped at the specified location, just a short ways from town, in the woods, on of their child hood haunts. Her horse snorted and she patted it reassuringly. He was a large beast, strong too, and would make a good steed. She didn't know how Erek had gotten so much g old, but she was thankful for his help. She was thankful for a lot of things he had done for her.

Amlute jumped onto the horses saddle and curled up. She ignored him and looked around for any sign of her friend. Soon another figure emerged through the thick fog that had formed around her, black-cloaked. He looked menacing, but she was not frightened. As Erek drew closer he pushed back his hood, revealing his face, and brushed back his hair. "Follow me." Was all he said, grabbing her wrist and leading her forward. The horse followed his new mistress, and Amlute glared. 'Can't I sleep?' he asked in annoyance. 'Later.' She replied simply.

They traveled through the woods for what seemed like hours, serenaded by the chirping of insects and rustling of leaves in the wind. The fog seemed to grow thicker as they went. Then, they stopped. Erik put a finger to his lips and made a motion for her to stay there, then disappeared into the fog.

Tai hadn't felt frightened before, but with him gone, the dark of the forest seemed more menacing. She found herself wrapping her cloak tighter to her body and shivering. It seemed like hours before Erek returned. "Alright, there is no one around. Let's go…"

"Where?"

"To the elves of course…" He looked at Tai's dumbfounded expression. "You didn't seriously think I would let you leave on the greatest adventure possible without me did you?" He grinned. "Tai, you never cease to amaze me. Think about it! It'll be just like when we were kids…only better. And we don't have anyone to tell us what to do or how to do it." He was smiling broadly, and she gave into a grin. "You have no idea how happy I am Erek…but why did you bring us here?"

"Ah, I forgot…I found something here when I was younger and I never told you. I thought it might be a good time for you to see. Especially since you are going to become a dragon rider." Erek grabbed her hand and pulled her after him. Tai followed reluctantly, grimacing as she noticed the ground beneath her turning to mud. This area she knew was marshy. Amlute walked behind, and Tai sensed that he did not like the filth any more than she. 'Where are we going?' the little dragon asked irritably. 'I don't know. Erek wants us to see something.' She replied. Amlute sighed. 'I hope this does not take to long. There is something in these woods, and I do not know what, but I do not like it.'

Tai concentrated on her surrounding and suddenly felt it too. It was strange really, she had never been able to 'feel' that kind of thing before, but whatever Amlute felt, she agreed. It felt evil. Tai felt herself wrapping her cloak tighter and moving closer to the tiny dragon. Erek however seemed completely at ease. He might have been sitting about reading for all the worry on his face.

When the ground beneath them became a bog Erek stopped them. He put a finger to his lips and motioned for her to stay there, then, much like before, he vanished. Tai wished she knew how he did it. 'I'm hungry.' Amlute told her. Tai turned and glared at him. 'The food is with the horses.'

'You should have brought some for me.' He replied. Tai sighed. Just her luck to end up with a dragon hatchling that thought he could control her. 'I hope you grow out of this.' She told him. The dragon flashed a mental image to her that made her think of a proud smile. 'Unfortunate for you.'

'Indeed. We shall have to do something about your attitude then if it continues to worsen.' Tai warned him. The dragon blinked at her, but said nothing else.

A wolf howled in the distance and Tai whirled around before realizing it was not close by. One of it's pack mate's answered, and another. The sounds sent a shiver down Tai's spine. Hours seemed to pass, though she knew that it had only been a few minutes. She hoped Erek would appear soon. "Amlute?" she asked, not realizing she had spoken aloud. 'Yes?'

'Nothing…I just wanted to make sure you were still here…'

'Getting scared?' For once there was no arrogance in that voice, only concern for her. 'No. I don't get scared.'

'Then why did you ask?'

Tai sighed. "Alright, I'm scared…" she admitted. It was dark, and she could still sense that presence around them. "You shouldn't be scared." A voice answered softly before someone touched her shoulder. Tai shrieked and spun around to find Erek, his face shadowed by the cloaks hood. "I found it, come on."

"You came back." She sighed with relief. He smiled, slightly confused. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know…I just…something here feels wrong." There, she said it. Erek smiled comfortingly. "Tai, it's nothing. Just your imagination." He would protect her, he had to. And that meant keeping her from being afraid. Taking her arm he lead her on, keeping close to her. She didn't seem to mind. Amlute followed behind, trying to keep from sinking in the mud. For a dragon who was only the size of a cat, he was having difficulty with it. Erek tried not to laugh.

Soon Tai found herself in a shallow cave on a small island in the mud, looking around in wonder as Erek lit a torch. Immediately a warm glow surrounded them. "We should stay here for the night…" she muttered. Erek shrugged. "I can get the horses if you would like…" he replied, placing the torch in it's holder on the wall. Tai looked around, trying to find what Erek wanted to show her.

"You are wondering why I brought you here." He said. She nodded. The man smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Come here." He led her to a corner and sat down. Amlute walked over, and sat down in front of Erek. Tai also sat, and looked at her friend. Erek's green eyes glowed.

'What is going on.' Amlute asked annoyed. Tai shrugged. 'Erek is showing me something.' She replied.

"Tai, can you move your dragon please?" Tai picked up a squirming dragon and placed him in her lap. Amlute snorted and slunk off, glaring at both humans. Erek began digging with his hands, then brushed the dirt away. "Here it is…" he said softly. Tai looked into the shallow hole and blinked. "What is it?"

Erek sighed and pulled the bundle out. Unwrapping the rags surrounding it, he revealed a leather scabbard. Tai's eyes widened as he unsheathed one of the most beautiful swords she had seen. Not that she had ever really seen a sword. It had obviously been made for a lord, she thought, it's silver blade glowing in the torchlight. An emerald glittered from where it was inset in the swords pommel. "It is amazing…Erek, why didn't you show me before? Why did you wait?"

"I did not want it to fall into your hands until you were old enough. Tai, I was going to give you this for your birthday, but I think now is as good a time as any. Take it." Tai accepted the blade unknowingly, still dumbfounded that he had hid it here. "Erek…how did you come across this?" Her friend gulped then closed his eyes. "I'll tell you another time." He said softly. When he looked at her again she nodded. "If you insist." She knew he was keeping something important from her. She always could tell when.

"I will go get the horses. You just stay here and get some sleep." He stood and brushed the dirt from his hands onto his coat. He walked out and was stopped by a cold hand on his arm. "You are not going alone."

"If you insist, milady." He gave a mock bow and smiled when he saw she was wearing the sword. "What shall you call your blade?" he asked as they walked through the fog. Tai shrugged. "Why name it?"

"Why? You know as well as I do- the heroes in stories always name their blades!" Tai put a thoughtful look on her face. "I don't know. Something will come to me though." Erek smiled. "Just tell me so I can write it down. I want the world to know you and Amlute's story."

"It isn't just Amlute and I's…it is Our story. All three of us."

AN: Whooot, thanks for reading and sorry about the delays…I'm in marching band and the season is starting to get stressful…as in no free time…but I'm trying to get chapters up!

Review Replies (from chapter 3):

Dragonrider2000- Hi! Back and thanks for the review…glad you liked the chapter

Teenchick2004- Heheh, thanks, I'm glad you like it…I do too. And as far as feeding Amlute…well…Tai fed him…I just forgot to add that, lol. And Erek's advice involved jumping off cliffs or running into a hungry carnivorous animal, lol…