"Supplies… for… desert… travel…" John whispered to himself as he searched for the basic supplies, he'd done this again and again for the past few days, but he needed to remind himself - just in case. Reading through the various articles, he could see that he had almost everything he needed, hat, equipment, and almost everything else, same as before. All he needed was some firestarters, jerky, a water filter, and a few modifications to his truck, and his summer uniform would be great for the desert. Making sure to pack most of his supplies into plastic crates, loading them into his truck and strapping them down.

And suddenly, his phone's alarm went off, notifying him to wrap gifts. Right, it's the 24th… I'll just ask Tommy to give them to my friends. He sighed and turned off all his alarms, he wouldn't be needing the alarms any time soon. Taking his keys, he passed through the innards of the car that had been scattered, and got into his truck and drove off to the nearest hunting store.

Da Deer, been a while, parking his car in front of the store, he took a cart and walked inside, generic music playing over the speakers, an empty wonderland in front of him.

"Hey, John! Haven't seen you here in a while!" A woman greeted, walking with him as he meandered through the isles.

"Hey Isabelle, good to see you," John said, hugging her. "Surprised to see this place was open - especially given the time of year."

"Yea - it's my last day for the year! Gonna take two weeks off after… So… How are ya? Everything with David?" She asked

John sighed, stopping to pick up the lighter and flint - along with tinder and logs. "He's actually why I'm here, I think I have some idea-" he stopped mid-sentence, muttering a few, seemingly random words before continuing. "- to where he may be, someplace that's very harsh, hot and dry. Although, probably better than this weather, eh?"

"Couldn't be more right! Snow is just the bane of me. But John, are you sure you're A-OK? Losing your best friend like this… Don't make you see straight."

"Isabelle, I've thought this all through. Everyone at the station knows for a fact I ain't crazy. Point is -wait hold on," he said, stopping and taking a couple of water filters. "Point is, I know he's somewhere in the place I'm heading to. I got a solid lead, and I'm not giving up till he makes me that turkey… That... That was the last thing I said to him…"

Isabelle had a look on her face, one of sympathy. "Hey, pal, listen. Everything's 80% off, alright?" She said, writing a sloppy 80% off coupon for him.

"T-thanks. I… I don't know what to say! Aside from that, you're going to get a massive tip and a five-star review," he said, hugging her a second time. "You're a Good friend, ya know that?"

"Thanks, it's the least I can do… That's a lot of jerky," she said, eyeing John as he took stacks of jerky. "Ya' know? I got a better, long-lasting and high energy food for ya, Pemmican!" She grabbed a brick of beef pemmican. "That jerky only has so much energy and nutrition, this stuff? Healthier, tastier, and lasts longer," she put the brick into the cart.

"Thanks, you've been a real help. I'll be taking this and heading out," he said, taking more of the pemmican. They walked silently to the cash register and began checking out the items.

"Hey John, don't let your emotions get ya'? Remember what happened last time?" She said, checking out the last item.

"I try not to. I'll probably be gone for a few weeks, here's the tip with a tip - don't worry about me. I'll be fine," he said, handing her a handsome amount of cash. They exchanged goodbyes, John leaving for the station.

Seeing the station this empty was something else, only a few people were working during the holidays. Ok, just need to get the off-road tires, my uniform and make sure the dragon's still alive. Parking in the back of the station, he got out and walked to the front desk. "Hey, just letting ya know I'm checking in. Forget my notes."

"Hey Johnny, that's fine. I'll log you in, go get your stuff," he said. John thanked him and walked through the precinct small station, greeting people as he walked to the armoury. Taking the uniform from the locker, he walked out before spotting the weapon rack. He stared at the rack, looking both ways than taking a gun from the rack. Walking at a brisk pace, he got to the back garages and took the wheels, loading the supplies into his truck. With a huff, he strapped down everything he needed, except for one thing. He needed the dragon.

Closing the doors with a huff, he walked back through the station and into the interrogation room. There the dragon was watching a WW2 movie depicting the Normandy landings, thoroughly immersed in the experience. Marching to the dragon, he began to remove the restraints from the dragon, taking its attention away from the screen.

"What you doing?" It asked, stretching his freed limbs.

"You're coming with me. I'll be needing your help for an adventure, in a hot, sandy place."

The dragon instantly perked up, understanding what he meant. "I go home? Sand Kingdom?" His tail seemed to wag slightly too, then wings and tails seemed to droop. "Will… Will I keep moving picture? And console?"

"We'll see," he started. "You can keep all those things, and even more at home! Only if you help me get David back, eh?" The dragon nodded. "Good, good. Now," he put a finger and made a shushing noise. "Be quiet, heads down, and follow me, alright? Good, now come on," he said, opening the doors.


I'm going home, I can't believe it! He thought, watching the Human check outside the doors. As much as he wanted to stay and watch the movie about saving a soldier, but, getting back sounded more appealing, especially when he's the only dragon to learn their language!

"Come on, let's get outta here."

Wait! I need to keep this book! He swiped John's stolen notepad and followed him. Doing as he said, following John with his head down.

"Hey, John! What drar you doing with that dragon?" John seemed to freeze in place, almost as if time was frozen while he was walking.

Standing in a more presentable fashion, he turned and faced the officer, and started to speak. "I'm taking the dragon out for a disht. In fact, I think you need to as well."

"Durk you John, go take your dragon out," he said, walking through the door next to them. Not wasting any time, the two walked out of the station and into the frigid cold.

"Get in the back," John said, opening the door and making a motion to Peyote.

"Why? You take me dungeon?" He asked, the memory of him getting dragged to a truck when he first got to the new world.

John grabbed Peyote and shoved him into the backseat of the truck. "Get the durk in you durkg dragon, and put your belt on," he said, pulling a cloth belt over his chest. The door shut and Peyote looked around the truck. This is much more comfortable, he thought, watching John get in the front seat and turned on the engine, leaving the station. The slow rumbling and passing lights eventually rocked him to sleep.

The human looked into the mirror and saw the dragon sleeping, chest slowly rising and falling. Smiling for a second, he quickly wiped the look off his face and looked at the road. Thinking of the fangs, talons and still very lethal stinger… And other things. Some time had passed, and his phone started to vibrate, answering the call, he started to talk, eventually waking up the dragon.

"Yeah about that…" John let out an exaggerated sigh, "it flew off. I've been following it and looks like it's following the dreat the dub is on, could you send someone to go ahead of me?"

John paused and waited, seemingly waiting for someone to finish talking. Peyote tried to speak, but John held his maw together with an iron grip. "Alright… Yeah… What? Oh. Try draaming someone on 14 rdeadb bluewverd, seems like it's going to land there, shoot me a text when they've been dispatched… yeah, ok… Bye," John said, touching a red thing on the foreign device then taking his hands off Peyote's maw.

"Who you talk to?" Peyote asked.

"Remember the guy we saw on our way out? That's him. Anyways, it doesn't matter, we're nearly there," Peyote looked out the window, the line trees were thick and snow was deep. "When we get through the tunnel, I expect you to listen to me, understood?"

"I understood!"

The vehicle entered the tunnel, slowing down considerably and sound echoing around them. "Great, I've got a feeling we won't be welcome with open arms."

A/N: Wasn't too proud of this chapter, so I'd love some feedback