The morning came earlier than anyone really wanted. The six ate breakfast in silence; five were still half asleep and Abigail was making a mental list of things she needed to pack for the kids. The plan was to gather everything today and spend the rest of the day with Nate and Bane. Tomorrow they would say goodbye to Nate and Bane near the entrance to the forest where the Blue Fire and Frostfire dragons would be waiting in the shadows. After saying goodbye, the dragons would lead Celtic and the twins into the forest at the same time Bane and Nate took off. That way anyone who would happen to see them would think that all five went to the Main Island.

"Let's go pack." Celtic helped Frost and Heat pack a small bag before packing her own. They didn't know how long they would be in hiding or how often Abigail would be able to check in on them, but they also knew they could only pack what they needed. They came out of the bedrooms and flopped on the couch with their bags.

"All packed?" Abigail popped her head into the living room when she heard the movement.

"I think so." Frost replied. Bane and Nate finished gathering the supplies that they needed and joined them in the living room. "Now what?"

"We can go for a walk through the forest or we can chill out here and play a game or something." Celtic said. She wanted to do something that would take their minds off of what was going to happen tomorrow. They decided to go for a walk in the forest and then have a picnic lunch near the lake at its center.

"This forest is so strange." Nate said as they were eating lunch. He looked around at the various trees. Some were covered in snow and ice while others looked like they were dead – burnt to a crisp.

"The trees look dead, but they're not. Sometimes, when the sun hits them just right, they look like they're on fire. It is a very unique forest. Each Opposite Island has a forest like this but for the respective elements." Bane spoke up. He hadn't been to every island, but he had done a lot of research because of the treat farms and seasons. "It feels like home here."

"That's because you're from this Island." Abigail said. She looked at Nate. "Does it feel like home to you?"

"Yes and no." Nate looked at his grandmother and then around the forest again. "I think it has something to do with being from this island, but not growing up on this island. I feel a connection to this island because of who my birth parents are, but the Island of Air and Earth is home." Nate caught Celtic's facial expression out of the corner of his eye.

"We should head home before it gets too dark." Abigail stood up and stretched. They gathered everything up and began to head back to the cottage.

"Celtic?" Nate walked beside his sister. Abigail and the twins were a little ways from them with Bane walking a few steps behind them.

"Yes?" She looked up at her brother's profile.

"What I said back there…"

"You don't have to worry about it. I understand. You didn't grow up here, I don't expect you to feel like this island is your home. You're still my brother, nothing changes that." She smiled at him.

"She's right, Nate. Nothing will ever change the bond between you two." Bane spoke up and walked on Celtic's other side. They joked and laughed all the way back to the cottage. The six cleaned up from lunch and then everyone decided it would be a good idea to take a nap. The evening was pretty uneventful, they hung around the cottage until supper. After supper they all decided to sit outside and watch the sunset and stars. Heat and Frost ran around for a while playing chase with Celtic. They knew it would be a while before they were able to play in the open like that. They settled onto the grass between Nate and Bane for a few hours before deciding it was time to get cleaned up for bed. Abigail read the twins a bedtime story before tucking them in. She took her time, knowing that after tomorrow it would be a while before she would have that opportunity again.

"Nate, will we remember any of this?" Celtic asked. She had a strange feeling that one day they would all forget this time and the relationship they had.

"I sure hope so." Nate didn't think there was any reason why they shouldn't remember any of this, but he also knew that if Abigail and the Dragon Master thought it was for the best – and safer – they would make sure that they would all forget about this time. "Even if we do forget for whatever reason, I hope one day we'll remember."

"Me too." Celtic looked between Nate and Bane. "The two of you will always be friends though, right?"

"Always." Bane smiled. That much they were sure of. They may forget exactly why their bond is so strong, but Bane knew that he and Nate would always be friends. "Almost like brothers." Nate nodded.

"Alright, time to try and get some sleep." Nate settled into the oversized chair with Celtic right beside him. He would miss this. It made him miss home and the easy, peaceful life he once knew.

Again the morning came too quickly. Breakfast was eaten in silence. There would be a lot of good-byes today. After clearing the table and washing the dishes, they all gathered their belongings and headed towards the forest entrance.

"Take care of yourselves." Abigail hugged Nate and Bane before also hugging Celtic, Heat, and Frost.

"Same to you." Nate hugged his grandmother one last time; he didn't know if he would ever see her again. He then turned to Celtic. "I wish we had more time, Sis."

"When this is all over, we'll have all the time in the world, Brother." Celtic hugged her brother tight, while Bane hugged the twins.

"Until we meet again, Celtic." Bane said before hugging her.

"Be safe and look after each other." Celtic buried her head in his shoulder. There was an unshakeable connection between the two that was different than her connection to Nate. Maybe one day she would understand it.

"You two be brave and listen to our sister." Nate rustled Frost and Heat's hair before hugging them.

"All of you be safe. We will see each other again." Abigail watched Celtic, Heat, and Frost head into the forest where the Frostfire and Blue Fire dragons waited for them. Celtic turned back and looked at the three one last time before disappearing into the forest. As soon as they were out of sight, Bane and Nate took off. Abigail waited until the boys were out of view before heading back to the now empty cottage.

Months passed by and Celtic, Heat, and Frost remained safely and secretly in the forest. Abigail checked in on them every couple of days in the beginning, but after a while she felt as though someone was watching her so she stopped visiting so much. Bane and Nate didn't talk about the days they had spent of the Island of Fire and Cold, not even with each other. They figured it was the best course of action. The last time they had talked about it was the day they had returned to the Main Island when the Dragon Master called them into his study.

As the months wore on, more and more villagers joined the army on the Main Island. Dt's parents were among the first wave of villagers to arrive. Soon others' parents joined, including Bane's mother. Many villagers had children they decided to leave with grandparents or in hiding so they could join the war. The Dragon Master was not thrilled with their decision, but understood that it was their choice – he also understood why they were making it.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" Bane approached his mother one evening.

"To fight. The same reason as you." She replied.

"I wish you wouldn't." He sighed. He'd already lost one parent, he didn't want to lose another.

"Bane, my son, it is my destiny to be here. Just as it is yours. If your father were alive, he'd be here too." She looked at her son and smiled. "We all have something worth fighting for and protecting."

"Some have already died though…" His thoughts went to not only his father but also Heat and Frost's parents along with Celtic's parents.

"And many more will die before this war is over. It is a sacrifice we all know and accept. Your father made it. Celtic's parents made it. The twins' parents made it. Many parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents have made the greatest sacrifice so that your generation can have a chance at a better life." She hugged her son. "Your father died so that you could live, and I will not hesitate to do the same." She looked at him. "Live. That is all I can ask of you."

"Okay." Bane knew what was going to happen. They all did. After one last hug, they went their separate ways. Bane joined the others on the balcony. They stood there in silence looking out over the camp that seemed to be growing by the day.

"Our parents are down there with no idea how difficult this war is going to be." Dt said after a while.

"They know exactly how difficult this war is going to be. They know what they're doing and are ready and willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice." Bane replied. He glanced at Nate and then looked back over the camp.

"Bane's right. Some parents have already made that sacrifice. They made it so that their children can live." The Dragon Master interrupted. "You have to separate yourselves from those emotions. They understand the greater good and so should you. Many people will die because of this war, but even more will die if you lose focus."

"He's right." Nate said. He knew full well the sacrifices made. His thoughts drifted to Celtic and the twins. "We have to focus on the bigger picture and not on our emotions for just our families."

"Easy for you to say. You were adopted!" Dt spat.

"Yes, but they are my parents. They raised me, blood relation or not, they are my parents." Nate glared at her, grateful that she wasn't a blood cousin.

"Nate's birth parents made two sacrifices. The first one was to give him up to protect him. The second one was their lives to protect him." The Dragon Master purposely left out the bit about his sister. No one needed to know about her and, unfortunately, at some point in the near future he would have to block those memories from both Nate and Bane. Celtic would have to grow up not knowing about her brother as well. That was the safest thing for everyone. One day they would know the truth again.

More months passed as small battles were fought. They won some and lost some; they also lost people. The dead were sent back to their respective islands for a proper burial. The cemeteries grew as more and more were killed in battle. Nate's parents along with Dt's parents were among those killed early on. Liber's father, Bane's mother, and Justin's parents had survived so far.

"I'm sorry, Nate." Bane laid a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"It's not too often you lose two sets of parents." Nate turned to look at his friend. "At least she's still safe." His thoughts went to his sister and he smiled. He still had a personal reason to keep going. Bane nodded. Dt, Liber, and Justin eventually joined the two on the balcony. They knew the big battle was coming. Many more would die, but they had to win this one to save so many more lives.

"We should rest while we can." Liber said. They all stood on the balcony a little longer before heading inside to sleep.