Previously

In her dreams, the shrine felt like it was pulsing. As she got closer to it, she could feel something pulling her in. As she opened the door to the shrine, she saw something red and golden begin to shine. Before she could open the door all the way to see what it was, she had woken up from her dream.

Sitting up in the bed, she saw Zeno sprawled out on the floor barely in his bedroll anymore.

She smiled warmly then leaned down to hug her knees. 'I have to visit the shrine. If anything, maybe I can find a way to help Zeno.' She thought to herself as she saw the sun begin peeking over the horizon allowing dawn to bleed through the window.

-x-

Present

Dawn had always been Yona's favorite time of day. Whenever dawn began to rise, she would wake up and feel warmth spread out through her heart. After her and Hak fell off that cliff, she always saw dawn as a welcomed friend. It reminded her that it was another day where they were alive. The interlacing colors of the sky reminded Yona of the murals that littered Hiryuu castle. There were days where she would sit down and just stare at the art that adorned the walls and ceilings. When she was little, her mother would sit down with her and tell her the stories behind every mural in the palace.

She smiled at the memory. 'One day, I will get to see them again. Perhaps I can have one made of the current dragon warriors.'

Standing, staring out the window she heard Zeno yawn behind her. She felt him stand slightly behind her appreciating the morning alongside her. Without looking at him, she spoke, "Zeno, can you wake up the others and tell them that we need to leave? I want to talk about something with them, but I think we should be in a more secure area than an inn. This is something that I don't want to be overheard."

"Zeno will wake up his brother's! Zeno loves mornings!"

She heard him scamper quickly out of the room and it made her smile. Her happy, golden dragon was always so enthusiastic, and it warmed her heat every-time.

She pushed herself away from the window and began packing up their belongings, so they could leave.

-x-

After everyone got up and they had restocked their supplies, they made their way back into the nearby woods. Yona was at the lead of the group with her hood up to cover her hair and her gaze lowered. Everyone walked behind her waiting for her to talk to them about the previous day's events.

She walked and wove in and out of the trees until she found a clearing filled with flowers that had just bloomed signaling the arrival of Spring. She walked into the middle and sat down without looking at anyone. She pulled her hood down releasing her blazing red hair and threw her head back at the sky soaking in the sun.

The rest of the group looked at each other nervously. They knew that she wanted to talk about going to Hiryuu's shine at the castle, and they knew this was going to be a long conversation.

Zeno and Hak sat on either side of her while everyone else sat down in a circle. All of them looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to speak.

She sighed and looked at Shin-ah, "Is there anyone around?"

The blue dragon lifted his mask and scoped out the surrounding area. He shook his head and wordlessly placed his mask back on his face.

Yona nodded and allowed a few more moments of silence before she began speaking, "Everyone, I know that you are all against this idea, but…..." She bit her lip, "I need to go to Hiryuu's shrine. I don't know why, but something is screaming at me to go."

She felt Hak stiffen next to her. She gave him a sideways glance. "I do remember everything about being Hiryuu, but I am still working through all of the memories and trying to make sense of them. Right now, the memories are just a mess of flashing images. Through those memories, I feel as though there is something in that shrine that I need to find."

"What do you think you need to find Princess?" Kija's concerned eyes almost made Yona back off the idea, but she was standing her ground.

"I don't know exactly." She hugged her knees to her chest, "Last night, I dreamt of opening the door to the shrine. It felt as though something in there was pulsing. Almost like it was a part of my own heartbeat" She furrowed her brow, "I saw a light as I started opening the door, but I woke up before I could see what it was."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hak balling his hands into fists. She turned to him and placed a reassuring hand on his arm, "Please Hak. I know this is dangerous, but this is something that I need to do."

He looked up at her with pleading eyes searching hers for something. "Princess, if we go back, they may kill you. I don't know if we are going to be able to protect you for very long."

She placed her hand back on her lap. "I think I know a way to get in. In my mind, it's the safest route."

Yun, who had remained silent throughout shot her a curious look, "Well then what do you suggest?"

Yona smiled warmly at him and sighed. "Instead of sneaking through tunnels that may no longer be there, we just walk through the front door."

Everyone looked up at her with looks of insanity. Jae-ha was the first to find his words, "Yona dear, you want to announce your presence to those who wanted you dead not too long ago?"

Yun nodded in agreement, "Jae-ha's right Yona, they're not just going to let us in."

She nodded, "When you think about it, after everything that happened in Xing, a large amount of the kingdom knows that I am alive. If we get enough people to support us, Soo-Won wouldn't dare touch me out of fear of a civil war. We just need to show him that we are only there for comfort to my own heart."

Yun placed a finger on his chin in thought, "It makes sense. It may be crazy enough that it might just work. If we turn it into a royal procession, they won't be able to deny you."

She nodded and looked at her warriors, "We are only going to do this if you guys are comfortable with the idea of announcing yourselves. If we do this, the dragon warriors will be revealed to everyone. If you wish to remain hidden, then I will accept sneaking into the castle, but I do think this will be the safest way. It's risky for us, but it's risky for them as well."

The warriors were silent. Kija snapped up his head with a look of determination, "I have never had a problem with being a dragon warrior. If this is the safest way for you, then I am willing."

Yona smiled and nodded. "Zeno wants to protect the miss, so Zeno will let the miss announce this one's existence."

"Well, I wouldn't mind letting all of the beautiful women of the world to know that I am available." Jae-ha smirked at the excited expression on the girl's face.

She turned her attention to Shin-ah. He was staring down at his hands that were stroking his sword in his lap.

Yona tilted her head to try and get a better look at him, "Shin-ah?"

He looked up at her, "I… don't want….. to curse anyone."

Yona gave him a warming smile knowing that even though his eyes were lowered he would still be able to see it. "You won't have to. You can wear your mask if you need to. In order for this to work, I need you all there with me. I'm sorry that I am asking you to show yourself in front of people. I will never ask this of you ever again."

Shin-ah looked up and tilted his head. Ao came out from her hiding place in his fur and jumped on Yona's shoulder chewing on a acorn. "I'll…. do it….. if it's for….. you Yona."

She reached across and hugged him tightly, "Thank you."

She pulled back and looked at everyone else, "Thank all of you."