Zoe had been thinking over what Zeb had said back on that sea stack for the past three months, and she hated to admit it, but she suspected that he would be right. Amy had grown incredibly close with Remi, and Remi with her, even Zoe thought that they were a perfect match. She was sitting on a small boulder next to a river, staring into its depths, her reflection rippling across its surface. She heard Axel land behind her, Amy sitting down next to her shortly after.

"Where were you?" she asked the younger rider.

"I was..."

"Visiting Remi?" Zoe finished for her.

"Yes," Amy responded with a mixture of embarrassment and shame.

"I told you we were visiting them next week, we really need to crack down on these hunters so we can end them," Zoe sighed.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I just figured that since I was in the area, I'd drop in," Amy defended.

"But you missed a shipment by taking that small detour," Zoe said, trying to keep her voice even.

"But I thought I freed the dragons on all three ships?"

"You did, but there was a fourth that was half a day behind the others that was carrying 17 dragons; razorwhips, nadders, nightmares, two changewings, a singetail and a titan stormcutter. You need to be more thorough."

"You were following me?"

"Yes."

"You don't trust me?"

"I did trust you but I was keeping an eye on you to make sure you were ok since it was your first solo mission that involved more than one target," Zoe said, a slight edge creeping into her voice.

"You just said that you did trust me, does that mean that you don't anymore?" Amy challenged.

"I don't know. How can I know that you won't go off and visit Remi instead of doing what you're meant to?"

"It was a one off, ok!" Amy said with a raised voice.

"But it wasn't. Don't think that I don't know. I know you go and visit Remi at night when you think I'm asleep or on your way back to our meeting point after you've dealt with some hunters or destroyed traps," she remarked, glad that she had control over her tone again.

"Well maybe I visit Remi so often since he's much nicer to be around than you! All you want to do is follow your stupid plan to bring down the hunters, which won't work by the way. All it did was get Hayden killed so sorry if I don't want to be the next one to get skewered! And yes, Remi told me about Hayden since you wouldn't. Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, I want no part in it? Maybe I just want to have a normal life where I can have a family and be with the person I care about without all this hunter crap getting in the way!" Amy yelled, standing up and throwing her arms in the air.

Zoe was trying so hard to keep herself composed and not rise to the bait, but the comment about why Hayden was killed set her off. She stood up so that Amy wouldn't be looking down at her, but rather Zoe being slightly taller, would be looking down on her. "You don't think that I didn't want the same as you? To not have to deal with the hunters? To be able to marry and enjoy my life with Hayden? Well, I did. And I want to finish off these hunters because its what Hayden and I had planned on doing and he told me that he believed that I could do it! Wouldn't you want to finish something you had started with Remi that he couldn't see through?" She finished, her voice shaking.

"Of course I would," Amy snapped. "But I wouldn't drag other people into it, especially if its what got Remi killed."

"I'm hardly dragging people into it! Its your fucking job to protect the dragons and stop the hunters! Or did you not catch that part when you became the fury rider? Well news flash; its not all fun and games that comes with an extra gift on the side!"

"Maybe I don't want to do it anymore! I never asked to be the fury rider or to get pulled into your elaborate plans!"

"Then don't. If you really feel that way, leave," Zoe said in a low voice, she was beyond irritated. "Go back to your knight in shining armour and live the life you've always wanted. Go on romantic flights with your boyfriend, get married, have a family and enjoy a nice long life full of love and happiness."

"You know what? Maybe I will. I can't deal with you anymore! I guess you just don't understand what love is," she added coldly, storming off, leaping into the saddle and urging Axel into the sky who refused to move, staring at Zoe.

"What's that supposed to mean: 'I don't know love'?"

"You never visit your family in the world Above, you don't have a significant other and the only friends you do have are because of Hayden," Amy listed, counting on her fingers from Axel's back.

"In order: I don't visit my family in the world of Grey because they're all dead. Clearly Remi didn't tell you this, but Hayden and I were together for nearly five years before he died, so not only did I lose a work partner, so to say, I also lost my boyfriend, my life partner! And I don't even know why I'm explaining this, but have you met Mathew? Thomas? Anna, Kiara, Maddy or Grace? They're all friends of mine that I made without Hayden. And what about Remi, huh? He's my brother, not by blood, but in every other way that matters."

"Sure," Amy rolled her eyes. "Come on Axel," she tried again, the dragon still refusing to move.

"Its ok, buddy. I'm not mad at you," Zoe said to Axel in her head. The white fury nodded to her before flapping his wings and taking his rider into the sky.

Once they had gone, Zoe slumped to the ground, her back and head resting against the boulder she was previously sitting on. Her head fell into her hands as she tried to massage out the pounding headache that had taken hold during their argument. Had she been wrong to get angry with Amy? She didn't know. Zoe had tried so hard to contain her frustration that turned to rage when Hayden was brought into the mix. And what was all that about her not understanding love? She had no idea, but it looked like she would be on her own from now on; just her Sharpshot and Uri.

"I'm ok, thanks girl," she said to Uri who had come over to her and was nuzzling her side. "What do you say we check in on Viggo before taking out Drago's camp in the south?"

Thomas was down helping at the docks with Phoenix, Remi deciding to join him and helping the fishermen get their vessel ready to leave again. Even though there was a large age gap between the two males, Thomas being 24, nearly 25, and Remi who had just turned 19, they were very close friends. They spent most of the evening at the docks, both of them tired and sweaty as they walked back up to the village. They were just reaching the outskirts of the village when a fuming Amy landed on Axel in front of them.

"Amy? What are you doing here? Is everything ok?" Remi asked her as she removed her helmet and dismounted Axel. Thomas noted that Axel didn't look too pleased with his rider.

"Everything is just perfect," Amy huffed. "I cannot deal with your stupid so-called sister anymore and her ridiculous plans."

"Ok...I'm thinking you two have had a fight?" Remi said, cautious of his raging girlfriend who snorted at his question.

"That's an understatement."

"What did she say?" Remi asked, Thomas remaining silent, not wanting to become Amy's next target.

"She said she didn't know if she could trust me since I visited you today."

"Did you do your job though?" Remi asked, recognising that Amy mustn't be telling them everything since Zoe rarely got angry.

"Ok, I missed one hunter ship that was half a day behind the others," she huffed.

"And she told you that you needed to be more thorough?"

"Yes."

"She kinda has a point. It is your job as fury rider to look after the dragons and stop the hunters," Remi said cautiously.

"Not anymore."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I quit-"

"You what? You can't just quit!"

"Well I did. Zoe said that if I didn't want to be the fury rider anymore than I should leave, so I did."

"You just left her?"

"She told me I could. She said to live the life I want if I wasn't going to be fury rider."

"And that's when you chose to listen to her?"

"Who's side are you on?" Amy said in a raised voice.

"I'm not taking sides, I just think that in this case, you said some pretty dumb things and are probably in the wrong."

"Great, so what do I do?"

"I suggest you calm down and then go back and apologise," Remi said.

"Fine," she huffed. "I'll be in the forest and I'll let you know when I leave," she said, leaping onto Axel's back who took off towards the forest.

"What are you thinking?" Thomas asked Remi who had remained silent after his raging girlfriend had left.

"She didn't tell us everything. Zoe never gets angry unless someone brings up her family or Hayden," Remi explained.

"I understand Hayden, but why her family?" he asked, confused.

"Hasn't she told you?"

"Told me what?"

Remi sighed before answering; "You're from the world Above, right?"

"Yes."

"And the same country thing?"

"Same state, city, metropolitan area, whatever you want to call it."

"So you know about the fire that was seven or eight years ago?"

"Of course, I could see the smoke and orange glow from my house."

"She was in that fire, one of the few survivors too," Remi said softly.

"She what? She was in the fire?"

"Yes. Lost her entire family and all of her friends from primary school including her best friend."

"Gods..." he breathed. Was there anything that poor girl hadn't been through? She'd lost her home, family and friends in one go, had been tortured, declared an enemy by those who were supposed to be her greatest ally, she'd lost her partner and now the girl that Zoe had put so much effort into training and looking after the past eight months had gone and thrown it all in her face.

Zoe had packed up and saddled Uri within the hour of Amy leaving, Zoe, Uri and Sharpshot disappearing through a portal and emerging in the far east where Viggo had said he'd be for a week. It didn't take them long to find him and Bolt, Zoe's lightning leading her towards the skrill.

"Zoe! I wasn't expecting you so soon, how are you? And where's your companion?" Viggo asked as Uri landed.

"Amy won't be joining us," she responded, swinging her leg over the saddle and landing on the ground, pulling off her helmet and revealing a scowl.

"What happened?" Viggo asked, sounding a bit cautious.

"Its just me from now on, Axel has become a common village dragon."

"She gave up her role?"

"Yep," she sighed.

"Does she not know that furies can't stay sedentary for long? They're roaming dragons, they need to stay on the move," Viggo asked, concerned for the dragon.

"She'll find out soon enough. But lets just hope she'll put her head back on straight before then. Anyway, how are things going?"

"Not bad, except Grimmel knows about Hayden now," Viggo said quietly.

"Took longer than I thought," Zoe nodded. "Does he know its another white fury?"

"I believe so. He'll make his move to wipe you out while he still thinks you're training Amy, but since that's not happening, it'll hopefully draw him into the open."

"When that happens, are you able to follow him? Find his headquarters?"

"I can try," Viggo nodded.

"Do they know about you yet?"

"No."

"Good, we'll try and keep it that way."

"Did you tell Amy?"

"No, she also thinks that you're dead."

"You lied to her?"

"She already knew you were 'dead' and she never asked me if that was true or not," Zoe shrugged.

"What's your plan now?" Viggo asked as they moved to sit around the fire that Viggo had going.

"Same as it was with Amy, just fast tracked now. I'll go and take care of Drago's second last camp and then deal with Drago himself."

"Would you like a hand?" Viggo asked, handing Zoe a piece of bread.

"If you want to join me, then I won't say no to the extra help," she smiled, taking the bread. She was incredibly grateful that things with Viggo turned out the way they had. He was nearing his forties but he thought the same way as her. He didn't pity her for what happened with Hayden, but had found other ways to help and make her feel better, like helping with hers and Hayden's plans. She didn't trust him fully, but she was confident that he wouldn't go back on his word and betray her; that's what the hunters had done to him after all.

-o0O0o-

They were releasing the last of the dragons that were kept in the camp they were destroying when Zoe heard Viggo yell out in pain. Whipping around she saw Viggo standing between her and a hunter, his arms trembling as he tried to block the hunter's axe. "Get out of here!" he grunted. "There's more coming."

"No way, I'm not leaving you! Uri, lead the dragons out, Bolt, block the hunters coming from the right," she directed the dragons as she blasted the axe out of the hunter's grip with her ice before knocking him out with the side of her dagger.

"Thanks," Viggo puffed.

"I should be the one thanking you, I didn't even hear them," she said, sliding the dagger back into its place on her forearm.

"He was already here, look, changewing skin," Viggo said as he picked up a large piece of dragon skin. "But we need to get out of here."

"Agreed. Take one of the caged dragons, I'll finish this off with Bolt."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"I'll meet you at the small island slightly north?" he asked as he called a rumblehorn over and leapt onto its back.

"Sounds good," Zoe nodded. "And we really need to get you some lightning proof armour so you can fight from the sky with Bolt," she smiled. It was nice having another person with her for these sorts of things, even if it wasn't Hayden or Amy.

Thomas and Remi were sitting in the clearing where they trained in the forest, Thomas leaning against Phoenix and Remi pacing. "Relax, Remi."

"But do you think Amy realises that she's in the wrong and needs to apologise?"

"I hope so, otherwise you should question your relationship with her. If she can't recognise when she's at fault, it will make for a very tense home environment," Thomas shrugged. At that moment, Axel appeared in the sky above them through his portal, Amy jumping off as soon as he'd landed.

"She's not there! I don't know where she would have gone either," Amy panicked, throwing her helmet to the ground that Zoe had had made for her along with her armour.

"Hey, calm down," Remi said, grabbing her arms and holding her still. "She's probably just out sinking hunter ships and looking for more of Grimmel's camps. We can find a terror to send her a letter and in the meantime we'll just keep an ear out for her, ok?"

"Ok," she sighed.

-o0O0o-

The terror that Amy sent a letter to Zoe with returned two days after it had left, Amy's letter still attached to its small horns. Axel had told a disheartened Amy that it was because the terror hadn't been able to find Zoe, not because she didn't want anything to do with her anymore. It was three weeks before Zoe came and saw them, two weeks later than she had promised. But that was before the falling out with Amy.

Thomas was dropping off a basket of fish for Rocco when he saw Uri in Zeb and Alice's backyard. He knocked on their front door before heading inside when he heard Zeb call him in.

"Zoe, you're back?" he asked when he saw her sitting at the kitchen table with Alice and Zeb.

"Hey, Tom," she smiled. She looked exhausted. "How are you?"

"Yeah, good. You?"

"Fine."

"Would you like to join us?" Alice asked him, gesturing to the empty spot opposite her.

"Do you mind?" he asked Zoe.

"Not at all. I haven't seen you for a while, sorry I'm two weeks later too."

"So what have you been doing?" he asked as he sat down.

"I was just telling Zeb and Alice how all of Drago's camps have been destroyed except his main base where he is now. I've located a number of Grimmel's camps too, but there's no way I've found all of them with the size of his operations," she explained as she played with one of her throwing knives.

"And you've been doing all of this on top of your normal tasks by yourself?" Zeb asked, worried.

"I've had help," Zoe mumbled, not meeting anyone's eyes. No one questioned her, not wanting to push her away.

After a few minutes of silence, Thomas spoke up. "I think you need to speak with Amy."

"I know," Zoe sighed, Thomas taken aback by her agreement. He thought she would dismiss the idea. "I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I think she should stay here with Remi, settle down and enjoy her life," Zoe said in a neutral voice.

"What? Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked.

"I've thought about it, and if I was given that opportunity with Hayden, I would take it. So I can hardly expect her to turn down her opportunity."

"So you're just going to do a job that's meant for two by yourself?"

"I'm not by myself, I have help."

"Uri doesn't count-"

"I'm not talking about Uri, and she does count. I couldn't do any of what I do without her," she snapped.

"I think we should go and see Remi and Amy," Alice cut in before things could escalate.

"I agree," Zeb said, standing up.

-o0O0o-

Remi and Amy were working in the front yard when the group of four approached the house, Uri and Sharpshot trailing behind. Axel bounded straight over to Zoe and Uri as soon as he saw them, demanding attention from Zoe before nuzzling Uri. "Zoe!" Remi yelled joyfully as he put his shovel down and came over to them, pulling Zoe into a hug.

"How are you?"

"Really good," he smiled.

"Hi Zoe," Amy said rather coyly as she came over to the group.

"Amy," Zoe nodded.

"I'm really sorry for what I said. I said a lot of stupid things without thinking and I'm sorry for hurting you," Amy suddenly said.

"Its ok, I understand where it all came from," Zoe said, her features softening. "I would like to speak with you though."

"Of course, here or in private?"

"I don't mind, its up to you."

"Is it something the others will find out about?"

"Yes."

"Then we can just talk now?"

"How about we go inside and have something to eat first?" Remi suggested.

"Good idea," Zoe nodded, the group heading into the house, Uri, Sharpshot and Axel deciding to stay out in the sun.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Amy asked once they'd all settled down. "Because I know I messed up and I went to find you the next day to apologise but you weren't there. But now you're here, I'm ready to leave with you."

"About that...you can stay with Remi if you like."

"What? You're not serious are you? I know I was a complete bitch before, but I'm not leaving you again," Amy protested.

"I'm serious and there's no hard feelings either. I thought a lot about what you said and understood everything- well most of what you said. You're right, its not fair that fury riders get no say in being chosen or pretty much their entire life once they are chosen. Your lifespan is cut ridiculously short and there's no opportunity to just stop and enjoy life, settle down with a family. So I want you to take the rare opportunity and have the calmer, family life," Zoe said seriously.

"But what about you?"

"I'll be fine, I'll just keep chipping away at the hunters. I might ask Axel for help every now and then or get you to keep an eye on the area around the island, but that's it," she shrugged.

"But that's not fair on you. Why should I get to abandon my role when you can't?"

"I don't want to abandon my role. I would have wanted to hand off the job to the new riders without dying first once I was older, settle down with Hayden, but obviously that can't happen. So I'll live the rest of my life as fury rider and finish what Hayden and I started, and all the riders before us."

"Are you sure?" Amy asked softly.

"I'm sure. I'll come to you when I need extra help," she smiled. "Also, you need to visit your mother, she'll want to know that you've toned your life down," she laughed.

"Thank you," Amy nodded gratefully. "And I will."

"When do you leave?" Amy asked Zoe after a few minutes of silence.

"Tomorrow morning."

"I'll come with you," Thomas blurted out. He had no idea what made him say it, but he couldn't bare to see Zoe fly off alone.

"Why?" Zoe asked him.

"So you're not alone. Its not like I have anything better to do," he shrugged. "Or will I slow you down?"

"No, the company will be nice," she smiled.

"Great! I'll go pack."