So… What's up guys, it's Fiygon. a year later.

Anyway! It's unfortunate it has been so long. I'm not even sure anyone is waiting for this story anymore... Regardless, this whole year, I've been unable to shake this story from my mind. I'm still super excited for what it could be, so while I WILL NOT PROMISE that updates will be regular, or on a schedule. I can say that I am very interested in continuing this now.

If you're wondering why it took so long, I'll simply say... 2020 SUCKS haha. No but that's not all of it, I turned 19 this year and the responsibility skyrocketed as you can imagine. And while I value my stories, I wanted to just not screw up everything I needed to do. But as it's almost reaching the holidays again, things are a lot easier. Anyway, nobody cares about all that. Every writer just chocks their absence up to lul life xd, but it's a hobby.

Anyway, I've got lots of ideas for this story, (and my other one!) and wanted to go back to releasing them. For some reason when I left, I said I wanted to redo the first chapter, but rereading it a year later... I actually really like it? I don't know, the first chapter is irrelevant for the rest of the story anyway. (or is it? probably...)

I've rambled... Please, if you are a returning reader or a new one I absolutely love comments! Follows and favorites are amazing too, but something I can reply to always makes me ecstatic. And I'm going to start replying to reviews if they have something they'd like to ask. Even if you don't like my story, tell me why it's trash! maybe I can improve, haha.

Enjoy!

Chapter 5

"Song/Stranger"

Cynder stared worriedly at her mate, as he paced back and forth in the clearing. They had swiftly rushed over upon mention that the body of the hatchling had disappeared, yet the scene only left them with more questions. There was no trace of him, he hadn't gotten up and walked away, he had disappeared. Again, Cynder's idea of what had happened differed from Spyro, and Cynder wasn't sure how Spyro would take it. She resolved to try and speak with him before he convinced himself. "Spyro…" She started, "Can we talk?"

He looked over, yet his eyes were a lot more wild than she was used to. His lack of sleep caused him to look as if he was going crazy, he nodded and approached her eagerly. Cynder turned away thinking of how to say this, but as she began speaking, "Spyro I think that-"

Her quiet composure was met by an eager Spyro, starting as if she hadn't begun talking, "Cynder, this is great news right? If he disappeared then that means he's alive!"

She paused with her mouth opened, then sighed, "Spyro listen this is getting a bit-"

"Oh this is absolutely great! We just have to begin the search anew, maybe the surrounding towns first." He said, putting a paw to his muzzle.

Cynder set her paw down rather forcefully, "Spyro, stop. This is ridiculous it's-"

"And Kaali! We can finally introduce her. I'm sure they'd be great friends with each other I-"

This time Cynder interrupted him by growling, and shouting loud enough that the surrounding scouts looked over in mild fear. "Listen to me!" Spyro's head jerked up in complete surprise, as if these were the first words she had said, "Spyro please. I know that you want to help him, and that you want him to be alive. But we have absolutely nothing to go off of!"

He stuttered confused, "But his body it's-"

She placed a paw to his shoulder, and continued with a flat, "Not everything has a happy ending Spyro. You have no clue what his body disappearing means. It could mean he was… taken back to his old world. It could mean his body was more fake than real, so it disappeared along with his spirit. Spyro for all we know some bird of prey took it while nobody was looking!"

Spyro shook his head, "But it could also mean he's alive."

Cynder got up in his face, "Spyro you are completely stressed and sleep deprived right now. Do you think, rationally, that he is still alive?"

Spyro glared back, showing more emotion than enthusiasm, "Why are you so desperate to convince that this hatchling is dead Cynder? Is this all just a chore for you, did you even care in the first place?" He said harshly.

Cynder began tearing up as Spyro realized the mistake in his words, he reached a paw out, "Cynder I didn't-"

"I care more about you!" She yelled in anger, "Yes I care, I always cared about saving him. But I care more about you… I care more about our daughter, Kaali! But right now you're making it hard to help you, if you don't think rationally and help yourself…"

Spyro hung his head in shame, and tears seeped into his eyes, "I'm.. sorry. But I still think he's alive, Cynder."

She turned her back, "Then you can search on your own." She trailed off back down the path, as Spyro held his breath. Spyro took a look around as the scouts nervously turned away to continue their jobs.

He sighed and looked down at the ground, a puddle of water reflecting a view of a crazed looking dragon, "What am I doing…"

I yawned as I stretched my body like a cat. It was more instinctual than intentional, but I welcomed the relief. I briefly scanned my surroundings as I smelled the strong aroma of food. I wasn't extremely hungry, but my mouth nearly watered anyway. I hopped up on to the back of the couch to see Rena in the kitchen cooking elegantly, it was quite mesmerizing to watch. I noticed she ditched her large coat from earlier, and was now wearing a simple purple long sleeved shirt with some odd fuzzy pants. Yet both seemed to be made from pelts.

I took another sniff before exclaiming, "Wow!"

Rena nearly tripped as she turned around in surprise to me. I think she nearly had a heart attack as she came over quickly, "What are you doing! You're going to hurt yourself…"

I shrugged as she lifted me off the couch and gently set me on the ground, I whined, "But I can't see anything down here…"

She raised her brow, "Then it means you can't fall, good."

She smiled, "I'm making stew, It's a recipe my mother taught me." She said as she returned to cook.

"It definitely smells like a mother's recipe." I said nonchalantly as I explored the floor.

My eyes widened as I could see a rather sizable knife collection sitting in a case. I ran up to it and placed my paws against the glass eagerly, "How many do you have?"

She widened her eyes at me and shook her head, "Get away from that." She said sternly.

I sulked away, I wasn't trying to annoy her but this was my first time in this world where I wasn't in immediate danger. I sat down and sighed, "I'm sorry…"

She just chuckled, "It's not your fault my house isn't hatchling-proofed."

After a while of silence I sighed, "Do you really think I can do it?"

She looked down at me as I continued, "That I can get to the Guardians? I mean… they're so far away, and I'm so small. It'll take ages."

She just smiled, "No rush at all. You can get there eventually, but why not worry about yourself by the day instead?" I couldn't explain to her all my worries. Such as why I'm even here, or what caused me to teleport, other than y'know.. dying.

I shrugged the thought off and tried to follow her advice. I looked around, and upon seeing the bookcase I rushed over, scanning the books I realized something extremely obvious. 'Hey I can actually read this…' That was a huge relief, but was also something I was worried about previously. I didn't want to have to learn how to read again, that would be horrible.

Rena walked up behind me and set some books that were on the table onto the ground for me. "I thought you might want to read these, but if you see something else interesting just tell me."

I nodded thankfully as I flipped open a rather large one labeled "Dragon History". I read a lot of interesting stuff that made the weight of being in a new world sink in a lot more. I read about the 4 basic dragon elements, and the other 4 that only a few possessed. It pumped me up to eventually learn them, until I read dragons usually only learn them by the age of around nine. That made me realize just how young I was.

I read a lot more about what the Guardians are, the designated "representative" of each respective element. They were basically just elders, with strong ties with all the other leaders of the Realms. I had no idea how they were going to help me but hey, they were the ones being dragons for hundreds of years, not me. That also lead me to the discovery, dragons live for hundreds of years! Regular dragons could live up to three hundred if they were healthy, and the more powerful could live into their four hundreds or so.

Since the book was only about dragon history, a lot of things went over my head, like the mention of "moles". Which from what I gathered were the dragons designated architects, that we essentially lived around for the most part. They needed protection, and we needed structures, so we made a treaty long ago.

Then I read a legend about some sort of "purple dragon". It mentioned there was usually only ever one, that was born to protect the realms from some threat. And that led into the story of a dragon called Spyro, who was born to deal with the other purple dragon Malefor who had been corrupted. The only time two purple dragons had ever been alive at the same time. The tale, which read like it was right out of some fantasy book, told of how Spyro and his corruption saved companion Cynder had managed to save the realms with Malefor's defeat. And the realms had been "reborn", whatever that meant.

I wondered, then, what was my role? If I was taken from my world, well, I did make a contract. But she never did tell me why she was doing this. I doubted it really had anything to do with a prophecy, I'm not exactly the save the world kind of guy. I bet it was just some sort of dragon oracle, experimenting with her most potent magic. This world was infinitely more interesting than my old one, yet I couldn't help but feel lost. And I did miss what little family I left behind, I had no clue if they thought I was dead, or if they had forgot about me, which one would hurt more?

I began to read about the different dragon races, there was an overview and I began excitedly, "Dragons, Northern subspecies, Eastern subspecies, Drakes, Wyverns-"

Just as I began reading it however, Rena called to me, "Hey little bookworm, are you hungry?"

I blushed, but ignored it as I excitedly jumped up from my reading, "Yes please!"

After dinner, which tasted great, it oddly left me feeling full but not fulfilled. I shrugged it off as fatigue and sickness was. Rena showed me some of her favorite board games, and card games. She also had a strikingly similar object to dominoes, they were made of wood, and carved with different animal paw prints. I messed with them a bit but my new paws made doing so a bit of a chore. I got frustrated on multiple accounts at the lack of finesse I wielded, and Rena laughed every time. After an hour or two of it I was very drowsy, Rena looked over at me as I half laid down on the table and giggled, "Someone's looks ready for bed."

My eyes opened a bit more as I yawned, "I'm not… nevermind I'm… super sleepy." I started to protest as I realized just how tired I was.

She shook her head as she made her way over, then gently picked me up. "I have to change your bandages." She laid me back down on the couch, "Don't fall asleep just yet, I'll be right back."

I groaned out a response as I tried desperately to hold on to my consciousness. I wasn't usually this tired, but after so many restless nights, dying, and being saved from a snowstorm, I'm at my limit. She returned with her bandages, and after coaxing me to stay still, I begrudgingly allowed her to change them. It wasn't super painful taking them off, but the cleaning still hurt a lot. Rena tried to soothe my nerves with a sort of lullaby, which I had to admit was working.

It was more of a hum she was doing, but after re-wrapping me I was essentially out of it again as she pulled the blankets up over me. She sat there for a few minutes gently rubbing my back as she finished her song, and just like that I was completely out.

The next day played quite boringly similar. I woke up and messed around the house, while Rena cooked breakfast. I tripped over myself a few times due to my already lacking walking skills, and my back leg being in a cast. Every time I tripped Rena would worriedly check me over, which annoyed me every time. I wasn't sure why but my energy levels were super high, like I needed to run a marathon. Which, to Rena's dismay, I tried to do.

I wasn't sure if it was linked to my age, or if I was always this obnoxiously energetic… I chalked it up to living through death. I ran laps around the couch, testing my new body more than anything. "Well, aren't you energetic this morning?" Rena said from a few feet away.

I stopped briefly, "If I can't walk with a cast, how else am I going to get to Warfang?" I asked with a tilted head.

She sighed for a moment, "You know," she paused as if she wasn't sure what to say, "You don't have to… leave so soon. You could always wait."

I fully stopped now as I sat down, "But, I don't belong here right?"

She smiled at me, "You belong wherever your heart says you do."

I put a paw to my chin and thought, she wasn't wrong. But I was still interested in unlocking my powers… "But if I don't get myself fixed, how will I do anything?" I asked.

She shook her head and laughed, "You'll get them back, I promise. I was just suggesting you think of… what you want to do after that."

Not long after that we sat down for breakfast. She had bacon and eggs, so not all animals were different from earth. I mostly just ate the bacon though, my taste buds were a lot more… dragony… than before… Though Rena did have to assure me that dragons wouldn't get sick from eggs. Apparently some dragons like salads, and fruits and such as well. I didn't complain though, ditching everything non-meat related would be a tragedy. "I've been meaning to ask," Rena interrupted my focused devouring.

I stopped to look up at her with a tilted head, man that's a useful gesture, she fiddled with her paws, "Where are… your parents? Where are you from, do you remember?"

I stared blankly for a minute, "Did the doctor not tell you?"

She shook her head, "He didn't... If it makes you uncomfortable please ignore me…"

"They're dead." I said flatly as I continued eating.

"Oh, I'm sorry Gale." She said quietly as she avoided eye contact.

I just shrugged, "Accidents happen, I died and woke up on the mountain after being teleported. I really don't know where I'm from."

She stared at me with a raised eyebrow, "Died?"

Oh, did I let that slip out? Uhm… recovery mode activate… "I meant to say I thought I died, whoops." She seemed to accept it as she went back to quietly contemplating my situation.

My day from that point forward passed at a snail's pace. I played some games with Rena, but eventually went back to reading. After hours of history reading, the only thing I was certain of was that this was nowhere close to earth. It might even be a completely new reality or universe. I scanned for traces of humans being mentioned, or even teleporting aliens but nothing was found. Frustratingly I released a growl as I fell to my side, Rena looked over from the couch as she read her own book, which was an actual fantasy novel. I wonder if humans are a fantasy novel?

"Is everything alright Gale?" She said slightly worryingly.

I turned to shove my face into the rug, and mumbled out an answer, "Just… nothing makes sense. Why and how did I get here… My soul being locked."

She sighed, and to my disagreement got up to place me in her lap. I looked up at her questioningly and she smiled, "You're so stressed, you just need to take it easy."

I groaned and let my head fall unceremoniously against her, "Don't you have other things to do? Like a job, or people to be with?"

She put a paw to her chin, "Nothing that would require me to leave a hatchling to his own devices, no. Are you trying to get rid of me?" She said as she poked my nose.

I giggled a bit, "N-No, I just... I don't want to be a problem."

"There you go, stressing yourself out again. " She started methodically petting the backside of my head with her paw. I finally understood what she meant and tried to relax, I just let myself melt into her lap for a little while, and I appreciated the small reprieve.

Before I knew it the day had passed and was ending, the sun now gone and the fireplace roaring. The floor a mess from countless games we played, I once again begrudgingly protested against Rena's advances, "I have to change the bandages, please?"

I held my ground from underneath a table she couldn't fit under, "No! Those bandages are made of razors!" I yelled.

I could almost audibly hear the confusion as she sat in silence for a moment, "But you won't get any better. Please, for me?"

I poked my head out, gaining a small amount of hope from her, "I might never get better!" I began to tear up as I pulled my head back under. I didn't want her to know how I was feeling, but I had nowhere to go.

She got closer to the ground and closer to the entrance, "What do you mean little one? Let me help."

I growled at the lack of options I had, "For all I know I could teleport into a volcano like, in a few seconds. I'm never going to get better." Saying it out loud made the idea seem foolish, but I had no clue whether the reviving or teleportation were linked and… what was happening at all…

I felt her paw touch my back and rub gently, "Nothing like that will happen to you silly, you can trust me." She said from outside.

I backed away from the paw, "You can't make that promise…"

"I can't, but… I can promise to do whatever I can, to make it true for you."

After a minute or so, she began humming the same song from yesterday. I had to admit it was very calming, and before I knew it, I was out of hiding and she brought me into her arms. She rocked back and forth while petting my mane, and even though it was not something I was used to, I didn't protest. She kissed the top of my head and looked at me comfortingly, "I can promise that."

She began singing a beautiful song, and I couldn't help but tear up in her arms, and become much more drowsy.

~Fear not this night. You will not go astray.

Though shadows still fall, the stars find their way.

Awaken from a quiet sleep. Hear the whispering of the wind.

Awaken as the silence grows in the solitude of the night.

Darkness spreads through all the land and your weary eyes open silently.

Sunsets have forsaken all and must open their eyes now.

Nightmares come when shadows grow... Ice glows and heartbeats slow.

Fear not this night. You will not go astray.

Though Shadows fall still the stars find their way.

And you can always be strong.

Lift your voice with the first light of dawn.

Dawn is just a heartbeat away. Hope is just a sunrise away.

Distant song of melody scoring through the night to your heart.

Auroras make circumstance in the solitude of our life.

Pleading silent arias gently grieving in captive misery.

Darkness sings a violent song yet our hope can still rise up.

Nightmares come where shadows grow.

Lift your voice lift your heart.

Fear not this night. You will not go astray.

Though shadows fall still the stars find a way.

And though the night skies fill with blackness.

Fear not risen, hold out and take my hand.

Fear not this night. You will not go astray.

Though shadows fall still the stars find a way.

Fear not this night! You will not go astray.

Though shadows fall still, the stars find a way!

And you can always be strong.

Lift your voice with the first light of dawn~

Dawn is just a heartbeat away…~

Home is just a sunrise away…~

After the song she gave me a look of mild embarrassment and blushed, though seeing my tears, she wiped them away, and hugged me once again.

I allowed her to change my bandages and put me to bed afterwards. She was right, it hadn't hurt as much as before, and the wounds looked much healthier. After tucking me into my covers she was about to walk away, I called for her, "Rena…"

She turned, "Yes Gale?"

"Where is that song from, the one you sang." I asked groggily.

She sat back down and placed a paw on my cheek, "My mother would do it all the time when I was younger. Whenever I was sad, scared, or just annoying her, she'd use it to calm me down." She smiled, "And I can see why."

I paused myself, "What about… your family? Where are they?"

She sighed sadly, "They live very far away. My mother grew ill when I was a bit younger, and my father had to transport her across the continent to see our best doctors."

I looked down sadly, "Oh."

She laughed, "I still write to her all the time, and she writes back. I even wrote to her about you last night," she said giving my nose another bump.

I giggled, "Really?"

She nodded, "She hasn't replied yet, messages take up to a few months if the weather is bad, but I know my mother would like you."

I blushed, than yawned, "Thank you Rena…" I laid my head back down in preparation for sleep.

She lifted her paw and whispered, "No, thank you, Gale." I didn't put much thought into her words as sleep overtook me.

Spyro huffed and kicked himself mentally as he absentmindedly paced, and half heartedly questioned the young recruits, to see if they had noticed anything about the sudden disappearance of the hatchling's corpse. Leading to nothing but head shakes and shrugs, Spyro couldn't help the despair that slowly entered his mind.

After much decision, he rented a room nearby at an Inn. Finally allowing himself some rest. He gained a few nightmares, hours of sleep, and bouts of unrest. Finally thinking back to his family, and how he'd have to mend his relationship with Cynder, and break the news to his daughter that he couldn't show her the "alien".

His mind raced, but at the heart of it all he couldn't help his sense of uselessness. That he hadn't succeeded at something as simple as protecting a hatchling. How did he expect to protect his daughter then? She was always at risk with her parents being the most famous in the Realms. Was Spyro good enough to be a father? Let alone a husband…

The void of sleep still pulled too heavily for any negative thoughts to keep him awake. And a particular nightmare that stuck with him much harder. He had awoken in a dreamscape, unable to yet process he was dreaming yet he proceeded down multiple hallways of space time and nonsense. At once the mild beauty of it all summed into a dark void, with a dark echoey laugh in the far reaches of his mind. A nightmare usually wouldn't phase the purple dragon, but this one confused him more than anything else. He hadn't become any subject of torment or unease at all, in fact, the void opened a door for him.

Begrudgingly entering this door that somehow seemed even darker than the void around him, he saw a small hatchling, the same one that was dead, hours earlier. Scoffing at even his nightmares' own originality he began to turn away from the hatchling. But his mind flipped after a small, hurt voice spoke, "Leave me alone… please…"

He slowly turned back, and the hatchling was the subject of torment, dream creatures were laughing at him, scaring him, calling him names. He was completely baffled, a nightmare that targeted something outside of himself? Was it a representation of how he felt the hatchling might've felt? "I'm scared , go away! Where is Rena?" The youngling voiced.

Spyro's heart dropped. This was too real to be just a nightmare, the poor thing, he was even calling out for someone. At once, the purple dragon found himself standing protectively over the young hatchling. Growling angrily at any nightmarish things approaching. The hatchling looked around in confusion, "They're going away?" He said.

Spyro tried to smile, and placed a paw on the youngling, yet he passed right through him. Shocked he stared more as the hatchling got up, running into a green field, where it was snowing. To meet up with a young snow leopard who gave him a wide smile. The dark void now turning into a playful evening sunlight.

The scene faded slowly and he was brought to his own dreams he wouldn't remember, eventually he woke up. He didn't wake up with a jolt, or a feeling of sorrow, for him this had been a sign. "Keep looking!" Some invisible force had yelled to him. And with a furrowed eyebrow he rose from his bed, he had to look.

After a short breakfast, Spyro set off back into the streets, the lack of his crazed look and lack of sleep, making the townsfolk seemingly much less worried. Returning to the gate they had departed yesterday, he pushed further into the forest until he came upon the clearing once again. The stench was still strong, but less so, it didn't seem to bother him, nor did the young scouts gazing questioningly at him.

He found the spot at which he had disappeared, and entered a focused state. He analysed more with his mind, than his bodies' natural vision. And noticed something strange, there had never been… a hatchling here at all? His spiritual mind told him. He scanned the terrain for element usage, to see if maybe a decoy was used. And what came to his mind shocked him to his core, and a wide smile spread across his muzzle. "I-Is that… time magic I feel?"

As I slept I had a weary feeling. I couldn't tell if it was just nightmares, or if I had just been feeling unhappy in some way. The entire night I had eyes on the back of my head, through every dream, every odd convoluted nightmare and otherwise. It felt like something was analyzing me, not from the inside but… the outside. Like that odd feeling that somebody may be staring at you through your window at home, but every time you'd turn to meet it, it would disappear for a little bit. Instinctually, I feared it, but more than anything I was curious about the feeling. Regardless of intentions I wanted answers, I needed answers.

In my dream I had been trying to fend off these horrible creatures, yet randomly they grew scared of me, or maybe not me? A being in the shape of a dragon, made of pure light had been standing over me. I had no idea why, but he made me feel safe, so I trusted him. And I had a feeling he was what scared the creatures away.

I woke up with a dry mouth and a feeling… or lack of feeling, to get up. I was feeling rather apathetic, and weaker for some reason as I shifted under my blankets to stare at the ceiling. The sun was well past it's way into the small cabin, and I heard Rena go about her early morning routines. I wasn't sure what to do honestly, I was growing tired of this cabin, regardless of how accommodating a stay it was. For a moment, the promise of excitement from a respawn to somewhere else flashed through my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. This wasn't a game, I can't get bored and give up.

It wasn't long before Rena noticed, "Is the ceiling alive? What's his name?"

I turned in mild surprise to see her standing over me, she smirked and I failed at hiding my own smile, "Let's see, he's boring and dry. We should call him Rena!"

She held a laugh and looked at me with a thoughtful smirk, "He's also rather broken and patched up, we could call him Gale."

We laughed together, and for a moment I forgot about the worst thing. Then I remembered what she said and looked at her in horror, "Re-Bandaging time, Gale." Rena said with an amused but pitying face.

After a few minutes of admittedly childlike anger, she managed to rebandage my body. She turned me around to inspect her job, and laughed at my face which was a rather unhappy one. "Gale, it's gotten much better. Maybe double what we've done and you might not even need bandages " she said to try and cheer me up.

I just grumbled, "Double this?" I groaned. She shook her head and helped me to the floor. After which she started breakfast.

Whilst eating breakfast Rena noticed my less than ravenous appetite. "Gale? Is it not good?" She asked curiously.

I shook my head, "It's good…"

"Then what's bothering you?"

I sighed, "Can we leave the cabin today? I want to see your village."

She looked at me for a minute, with a puzzled face. She turned away worriedly, "Gale, it's rather dangerous outside for someone like... you…"

I looked at her defensively, "What's that mean?"

She raised a brow, "No fur, bandaged leg, young enough for a bird of prey to have a good snack."

A chill ran down my spine, but I didn't back down. "Easy solutions, carry me!"

She looked at me, exasperated, "I know you're restless Gale… but I don't think me carrying you would help."

"You can't keep me locked in here…" I whined, "I'm a growing dragon!"

"No means no, little one." She said sternly. Making me shrink in my seat annoyed.

"Yes Ma'am-" I hadn't finished speaking before she cut me off.

She interrupted, "But… I'll guess I could try and help you leave the cabin."

I nearly jumped out of my seat, but she leered at me, "Only because I know you'd try and sneak out. And this will be a very short excursion."

I groaned but was still excited regardless. We finished breakfast and she helped me gear up as best as she could. She wrapped all of my legs in some kind of leather material, and pinned them together. As well as a piece of pelt she strung around my back, and fur wrapped around my tail. She set a mirror in front of me and I giggled heavily, I looked like a little dragon Viking. "There we go!" She said, finally putting a large scarf on my head, that almost worked as a hood as well.

I jumped up, "Yes let's go!" As I ran for the door.

"Careful, please." She scolded my running.

I nodded absentmindedly, but she stopped at the door and looked down sternly, "Gale, don't leave my sight, actually, don't stray even a foot from me."

I looked up with the puppy dog eyes, but she crossed her arms. So I sighed and nodded. We left the cabin for the first time in days, well, my first time. My eyes took a minute to adjust, but the sun was bright, and the skies were beautifully clear. The cabin wasn't in the village, but on the outskirts. But from here I could tell that everyone was outside today. I laughed and began to pick up speed as best I could. I didn't get far before Rena cleared her throat, so I slowed down and waited.

Once we got to town I got a much better look at all the different people. Most of them were all snow leopard like, but between mixes of greys, cream colored, and a couple of browner fur colors. Their clothing all looked rather basic, such as animal pelts, and leather. Most of the buildings and houses were made of wood logs, and what I assumed was some sort of clay, for the chimneys.

Rena looked down at me in amusement, "You think our little village is interesting, I'd love to see you in a city like Warfang." She laughed.

I looked up at her, "Is that where I need to go?"

She nodded, "And you'd surely get lost in the city by yourself, it's massive for even the oldest dragon.

"I'd just use my charm to get where I wanted." I said with a sarcastic smirk, causing her to raise her eyebrow.

"Yeah, If some creepy old dragon's basement is where you wanted to go…" she replied.

After a laugh from me I looked up to her and tilted my head, "Any plans?"

She nodded, "I need to do a bit of shopping for stock, if you'd like."

I shrugged, and we continued through the snowy paths, eventually reaching a more main road, where there was significantly less snow. We passed many stalls of food and other small things, a couple of meat stalls that I tried not to drool at. Before we came upon a small shopping stall, with a pink cover umbrella. Nobody was at it but us, it seemed to be a vegetable stall of some sort. "Elaina!" Rena exclaimed above me, as the grey colored snow leopard turned to us with a smile.

They shared pleasantries, and eventually she caught notice of me, "Oh and who is this? Far away from home I see." She smiled, and I waved to her shyly.

Rena nodded, "I'm babysitting for his parents, they said they'd be gone for a week or two."

She raised her eyebrow, "Quite a place to send a regular dragon to for a babysitter, you must just be really good at it!"

"So who are his parents? How'd you meet someone like that."

I inwardly groaned at the explanation Rena was giving, just tell her the truth… And now she was flustered and stammering out a story with full intrigue from this poor girl. I rolled my eyes and looked around, it was around midday, but the city was still darker, probably. because of the clouds that seemed to permanently hover over this place. There were stringed lights everywhere, across the Main Street, above house doors, I inwardly noted that meant they had mild forms of electricity here. That or magic.

I heard a crashing sound around the corner from the stall, down the street. I couldn't see, so I walked to the corner, and with a glance back at Rena, who was still making things up, I proceeded forth. I rounded the corner and saw a blur of black color zip down off the top of one of the stalls. I didn't get much of a good look at him, but he was being chased by an extremely exhausted dark brown snow leopard.

Before I had time to think he had made a turn towards the street I was on, racing down it while shouting backwards at the leopard. He didn't see me in the slightest and I froze up as he collided with me, less hard than I expected. In fact, it somehow felt like I was cushioned from the impact. I opened my eyes and got an actual look at what had hit me.

Piercingly dark blue eyes met mine, they were just like a cat's eyes. It was definitely not a snow leopard, he seemed quite confused based on his expression. He eventually nodded and released me from his grasp, and I realized he had grabbed hold of me during the impact, and managed to envelop me with his body to lower the hit for me. I stared in awe, it was a dragon like me, but he was three times my size, (which wasn't very big, since I was small.) he had dark black fur across his whole body, grey horns, dark blue eyes, and a dark blue mane. He looked like the night sky, just with a lot of fur. He curiously had no wings at all, I noted.

I realized my stare and stammered an apology, "I'm so sorry I was in your way, thank you for cushioning it for me." I bowed.

He tilted his head, then nudged me with his snout. "Protect kin," he did a few sniffs of my mane and stood back, "What's a warm dragon like you doing up here? This is not where you belong, at such an age too." His voice was surprisingly deep, and commanding, for someone also young.

I tilted my head at his actions, and sighed. "Yeah, this isn't where I wanted to be, but it kinda just happened."

The brown leopard had finally caught his breath and gotten much closer, "Hey, Stop kid!" He yelled out.

The older drake growled, "Stay safe Kunmai," he said into my ear as he jumped away.

I shook my head, "That's not my name," I said in confusion. He just smiled.

The brown leopard caught up, and gave me an exasperated look. Then began taking off after him once again. Perfectly timed as well, since Rena rounded the corner calling my name, giving me a smile, "Oh good, you didn't go far." She sighed.

Her shopping was done, and Rena insisted we return home before I got too cold. I agreed with hesitation, at least one interesting thing had happened. We walked back towards her home, but I was noticeably lagging behind, and Rena looked at me worried. "What's wrong?" I lifted my head and smiled.

"Just tired, it's exhausting going through this snow." At least, that's what I hoped it was. Oddly enough, I had felt this exact same way around the end of my first "life" as you would call it. I was brushing it off as fatigue both times, but I felt physically weaker now, just the same, even when I would just be laying down.

Later that night, I had just been reading for hours on end. I read more on Northern Dragons like the one from earlier, apparently they didn't naturally have wings, though some did. They had a magical form of transport, only them and their tribe knew how to use. They had scales only on their major vitals, so the front of all their legs had scales, and they had front chest plates, and plates running down the top of their tails. Other than that it was all fur. My race of dragons was the generic one, you'd see in a fantasy book or something. We had no fur and scales all over. Except females whose lower stomachs, up to their tail on their underside, were all skin. I wondered why that was, and shrugged, I didn't get a lot about this place. But we did have the advantage of natural wings at least.

When called for dinner it felt like my body was excited, until it found out what it was and I instantly felt sicker. It was weird, and even though I wanted to eat, I told her I felt like I had an upset stomach. She worriedly understood, but insisted I at least eat a piece of bread. And after doing so it was time for the bandaging routine. I inwardly groaned at the idea.

Whilst bandaging me, Rena must have noticed the fact I wasn't completely there mentally. I was barely able to keep myself on my feet. "Wear yourself down to much today?"

I looked at her questioningly, responding later than usual with a bit of a slur to my words. Causing her face to turn more worried, than the previous smile she had. "I haven't had… any energy… all day…" I said.

She nodded, "Well… Let's get you to bed before you lose too much more hmm? I'll let you sleep in tonight too."

I nodded and hopped off the bench to walk towards the couch, but collapsed halfway through. My limbs literally gave out on me. "Gale!" I could hear Rena shout. My consciousness was already slipping, and by the time she had picked me up my body was done for.

I only managed to say one thing before passing out, "It… hurts."

After that it was lights out.

Thanks for reading. If you're wondering what the song Rena sang, it's; Fear Not This Night, by Asja Kadric. It plays at the end of Guild Wars 2, and it's possibly my favorite lullaby-ish song I know of.

Peace out, -Fiygon