"Once we cross the Spine, we should stop at Narda," Corin told Collin and Matthew as we all were packing to leave in the morning
"No, it's too risky we'll be seen."
"We can leave the dragons in the Spine and go into the village."
"No, Corin," Matt said firmly.
"We need more food, I can get some at my house. The Vallois has always been loyal to the crown, we can trust my family," Corin tired to convince them.
"It's just... too big a risk."
"A real shower would be nice," Ashley moaned.
"A real bed," Serena stretched.
"It hasn't even been 2 weeks!," Matthew rolled his eyes.
"It's a quiet whaling town," Corin was determined.
"Oh don't try that," Matthew scoffed. "Narda's had the biggest jump in population than any other city in Alagaesia. How many people live there now? Well over 100,000?"
Corin sighed," I'm just saying it's the safest way to be unnoticed. I mean, I live there, it wouldn't be strange if I was at my own home."
"But with five strangers? That woudn't be suspicious?," Ashley asked.
"Our house is practically in the Spine, on the upper part of the city, you don't even walk through town to get there."
"Don't you have slaves?," I asked.
He turned to me, his eyes were tired and there were bags under them. "Yes, but they won't question me."
"I don't like it," I shook my head.
"Me neither," Matt agreed.
"We do need more supplies" Collin tried to level it out.
"Right now we just need to get over the Spine. I don't really want to spend the night there," Matt huffed.
"Me neither," Ashley shivered.
"Saddle up," I said sending images of the chest into the baby's head. She send me the feeling of sadness and pictures of the dark. "Wow, Luna, she's trying to guilt trip me."
"Is it working?," Luna asked.
"A little...," I set her in careful and closed the lid, making sure to not look her in the her big puppy dog eyes.
"Well, I just sent her our feeling of love for her."
"Awe I felt that. Love you too Luna," I hugged Luna's neck. "I can't wait for her to start saying words."
"Yes, it could be any day now."
"I wonder what her first word will be..."
"What was mine?"
I smiled," Happy."
We took off down the river, Matt pushed up higher and higher, we were literally above the clouds which was nice since it felt like it was going to rain. Luna was keeping up with the big dragons, but this being her third day in a row of nonstop flying I could tell it was draining her, her muscles were tense and I could feel they were sore from being overworked. After flying for a while, I opened the chest and the baby peaked her head out over the top, I showed her she couldn't go over the edge and she listened, just sticking her head out and feeling the breeze from time to time or watching the clouds with me.
Matthew guided us below the clouds and once we were clear all I could see was mountains, I almost gasped. When we started the day it was just flat earth and a river, but now all I could see was the mountains covered in evergreen trees.
"This means we passed Yazuac and Daret," Luna told me, a slight strain on the edge of her voice.
"So this must be the Spine?"
"I would assume so."
Baby dragon peaked her small head out and looked down.
"Trees," I told her. "Mountains." She then seemed uninterested and went back into the crate. "I wonder how much farther until the coast."
"Hopefully not far..."
"Then tomorrow we'll be at Vroengard..."
And we'll find another egg.
We kept flying, but all there was was trees and mountains, not matter how hard I squinted, there was no coastline in sight. It was getting cold too, windy and the clouds were building. I could almost taste the sea on the wind, or maybe it was the storm, either one it was I didn't like it. I could feel Luna getting weaker, her exhaustion was pouring into me.
"Hey maybe we should stop and rest," I reached out to Matthew who had blocked me out.
"We should reach Narda in a another hour of two," Beloiuhn responded.
"I can make that," Luna grunted.
"No you can't," I said privately. "I need to pee," I told Beloiuhn.
"Yeah, and I'm ready to eat... I'm starving," Serena added into the group.
"Can't you wait?"
"No," I told him.
A few minutes passed and Matthew started to lead us down and we landed, everyone was kind of spread out due to the thick woods.
"Do you really have to pee?," Luna asked.
"No," I grinned and jumped off. "You need to take a few minutes okay? COLLIN!?," I called out.
"Alyson!," he responded.
"Wait here," I told her and headed towards the voice while the wind ripped through me, I wrapped my arms around myself. I saw Razor just down the slope. "Hey, do you think Razor can take me the rest of the way?"
"What?," Collin asked over the screeching winds.
"Luna's exhausted and I don't think she'll make it to Narda tonight if I ride on her."
"I don't think any of us will make it. This storm is coming like right now."
"I can carry you," Razor told me.
"Thank you!"
"Are you guys done?," Matt called in the link. "We need to keep moving."
"Matt, be real. We can't outrun this storm. We need somewhere to stay."
"There is nowhere. We're in the Spine!"
"Well if we stay in the sky, someone is going to get hit with lightening. I saw it flash a few leagues back but kept my mouth shut, I know you saw it too."
"What do you propose then? There's nothing here!"
A huge roar of thunder filled the sky and lightening flashed.
"Are we staying?," Corin called from an upper ledge.
"Look for shelter!," Collin called back, then turned to me. "Last thing we need is everyone to get sick."
I thought I saw another flash of lightening, but it was white. I looked up and in the sky was a low flying white dragon.
"Luna," I called out. That's not Luna... she's not that massive. "Who is that?"
"No one I know. Get down," he pushed me under a fir tree to hide.
"What are we going to do?," panic was ensuing . "I need to get to Luna and the baby," I scrambled away from Collin and back up the hill.
"We are fine," Luna was looking up to the sky. "Did you see it?"
"The dragon? yeah," I caught my breath and looked in to see the baby was trying to dig into the blankets. I saw the rain falling around me, then I could feel it hitting my head and arm, I closed the lid of the chest
"It was white," Luna wasn't really talking to me. "Another white dragon?"
"Yeah... shit," the rain was falling harder.
"We should find the others," Luna said but didn't really want to.
"Alyson! Alyson!," I heard Collin call.
"Come on," I guided her through the thick rain fall, we both half slide down the muddy slope to where Collin was standing under a tree with Razor by his side.
"Ashley found something further down the mountain."
"But the white dragon went that way," I pointed the opposite direction.
"Exactly," he nodded.
"A white dragon... could it be what Saphira spoke of...," Luna looked behind us.
"The one who might be your dad? I mean it could be? He was really white." I could feel Luna's longing to go after him, "We can't," I told her gently.
"I know," she was so sad. "But this may be only chance to ever find him, my only chance to meet him..."
"Maybe on the way back?," I gave her some hope as we continued to push our way through the trees and down the slope. I was freezing and my fingers were numb and slipping as I tried to steady myself on the trunks of the trees. "Shit..."
"I can lead you all to safety," a deep voice floated into my head, slithering almost like a snake.
"Who is that?," Collin called out.
"Did you hear that?!," Matt called out, I could barely hear him over the wind whipping my face. "Get ready!"
Collin drew his sword from Razor's saddle and spun around, looking for the source of the voice.
"I will not attack, but I can give you shelter during the storm," it slipped into my head again.
"It's him. It's the white dragon," Luna told me.
I felt a flash of fear from the baby and turned to Collin," What do we do?"
"Who are you," Collin calls out.
"My name is Cernec," the voice told us.
"Why do you wish to help us?" Diamond asked.
"Are we not to aid those in need?," he asked. "Fellow dragons who need to escape the hazards of the land."
"We gotta get out of this rain!," Serena screamed.
She was right, it was starting to freeze forming sleet and hail.
"Let's go," Collin decided and jumped onto Razor's back.
"Can you make it," I asked Luna.
"I must," she nodded.
"Alyson!," Collin extended a hand to me and I tired to climb onto Razor but my feet were slipping on his slick scales. I finally was in the seat, it felt so different, he was huge compared to Luna. Razor jumped into the sky and I reached for the saddle, my numb hands barely finding it in time.
"Follow me," Cernec told us, guiding us through the tops of the trees. "Stay low."
"Are we really just going to follow him," Verona asked.
"He is a dragon, he can be trusted," Razor replied.
"Someone did betray the Queen in case you forget," Ashley belittled him.
"Yes, but I've never heard of this dragon," Matt told us. "He does not come to Ilirea often, if ever."
"Then how do we now he is loyal to the Queen?"
"Here," Cernec dipped and spun into an opening on the side of the mountain. Razor followed, snagging some trees as he did. It was dark, I could barely see anything, but I could hear the sounds of dragons landing beside us.
"Don't be scared," Collin whispered to me.
"Luna?," I reached out.
"I'm here. We're both safe."
I reached out and felt them both, I took a breath of relief.
"You are Cernec, where's you Rider?," Matt asked.
"It's Frammu, right?," Collin slide of Razor, leaving me alone.
"Frammu is my Rider, yes" Cernec confirmed.
"What are you guys doing out here?,"Ashley asked.
My eyes adjusted to the cramped cave, not as big as the one in Marna, but we all fit at least.
"Cernec? Frammu? Those were the name Saphira told us...," Luna stepped towards the large white dragon.
"Luna be careful," I called out frantically, my voice bounced off the stone walls.
"Saphira? What do she speak about?," Beloiuhn cocked his head.
"Saphira told Luna of a white dragon named Cernec, his Rider Frammu and how they lived in the Spine... hidden away and never seen," Collin kept his eyes on Cernec.
He was massive, the biggest dragon in the room for sure taking up about 50% of the space.
"Frammu... he has moved into the void," Cernec's head dropped.
"Oh..." Collin stepped back. "I'm sorry."
He... died?
"But you stayed?," Verona was confused.
"I stayed," he told us.
"But... why?," Diamond asked.
"I was not ready to join him... I still am not..."
"So, you stay out here? All alone?," Luna questioned him.
"Solitude brings me peace," he lifted his head and he looked at Luna. "You..."
"I am Luna," she introduced herself.
"You look..."
"She looks exactly like you," I slide off Razor's back.
Cernec's blue eyes searched Luna," Yes, we are near identical..."
"So that must mean we truly are part of the old stories," Luna sounded so hopeful.
"Old stories?," Corin asked.
"Where dragons of the same shade are part of the same bloodline," Matt pieced it together.
"So... you must be my father," Luna told him.
"But that cannot be," Cernec was in disbelief.
"It must be."
"But it would be impossible, I have never had a mate before. Never had an egg."
Oh no... I could feel Luna's confusion and her frustration. How can they not be related?
"Well, in that case, forgive me," Luna stepped back and came to my side. "How foolish I must look," she shook her head.
"Don't think about it," I wrapped my arm around her. "We're all safe." The image of meat popped into my head and I looked over to the baby in he chest. "And hungry."
"We thank you Cernec, you have helped us in a time of great need," Beloiuhn nodded his head.
"We can sleep outside if we must, but if you could let our Riders stay sheltered from the rain, it would be such a gesture we could not repay," Diamond thanked him.
"I am pleased to have been able to offer what I can to my fellow companions. You all should stay, the rain here can be harsh."
The storm raged outside, the wind whipped so hard I thought it could uproot a tree. I fed the baby and tried to comfort Luna, she was so embarrassed by what had happened.
"A hatchling?," Cernec was intrigued by he baby as she ate. "So small...," he remarked. "Might I offer congratulations to whichever of you have become a new Rider."
"Thanks," I smiled as she rubbed my leg then scurried over to Luna.
"Alyson," Corin guided me from Cernec. "Perhaps we should keep some things secret," he spoke in a low voice.
"I wasn't going to say anything. I know better," I pulled away from him.
"Men," Serena rolled her eyes and laid down for bed.
I curled up for sleep too, the baby crawling over me to get comfortable, she had grown so much in these three days.
"Soon she will be too large for the crate."
"But she's way too small to fly and keep up with you guys."
"Yes," Luna was torn on what to do then sighed. "That will be a problem for tomorrow, for now I must sleep."
"I'm tired too...," I looked around at the others, trying to get comfortable in the small space. I lastly looked to Cernec, his massive white body curled farthest from the entrance like he was trying to be smaller for us. If he had turned his face away, I would have believed he was Luna, if she had grown 4 sizes in a day. It can't be a coincidence they look exactly alike, can it? My wandering mind kept me up for a while, but next thing I knew I was waking up to a rush of excitement.
"Alyson! Alyson," Luna was buzzing waking me from my sleep.
"Uhhh," I groaned," What?"
"She spoke! They baby has spoke!"
I sat up," What? Really?," we both turned to the baby standing in front of me. "What did she say?!"
"Luna!," a small squeaky voice bounced around in my head.
My mouth opened," Oh my gosh!"
"Luna!," she repeated and jumped onto Luna's claw.
"Her first word... oh my gosh!"
"You're up?," Corin cocked his head. "Early for you I would think."
My smiled dropped," It's going to be a long day, I wanted to be prepared," I lied, hiding the surprise of what had really happened.
"Good, Matt's not gonna let us go at this pace anymore. He wants to get to Vroengard today."
"Today? How far is that?"
Corin shrugged," We're still a ways from Narda and then after that a few more hours I suppose."
My attention was draw back to the baby, she jumped and flew up to land on Luna's back, she scrambled down Luna's spine and slide off her tail. I turned back to Corin and caught him with a smile.
"Are you.. smiling?," I was bewildered.
He didn't hide it at all," It's strange to think all of our dragons once started so small," and then he walked away.
"God, he gives me the creeps" I told Luna. "He's hiding something, I can feel it. Why does he always do that? Just say something so weird and then walk away? It's just weird!"
"Maybe he did have a role to play in Quinten and Serena's attack."
"Wouldn't put it past him... he's evil. Especially if he could do something like that to Quinten and Erea... they were both so good. They didn't deserve that."
"Yes, Erea was always kind. When we head back that way, perhaps we can try to see where he passed into the void."
I shook my head," No.. I don't want that."
"No," the baby sounded sad. "No, no, no!"
"She doesn't like to see you so sad, Alyson. Neither do I. I did not mean to mention him to you, I know his death still effects you, I just thought perhaps Erea went into her Eldunari. I would hate to see it get into the wrong hands."
"Oh... I guess I hadn't thought about it."
"There is also the chance she survived, just as Cernec lives without his Rider."
"I don't think so," I bowed my head, the baby crawled into my lap and hummed.
"No," she told me, her dark eyes looking up at me.
"I don't know if Erea could ever live without Quinten, they were just too... too made for one another."
"Yes, they were an unstoppable pair."
"Ready to go?," Serena asked. "We're heading out."
"Yeah, yeah," I stood up. "Gosh, you've gotten heavy," I lifted the baby into her chest.
"No, no, no!," she shouted unhappily.
"We must teach her more words," Luna grimaced.
"Luna!," she shouted.
"I think she just needs to learn how to use her inside voice."
We all thanked Cernec again for helping us, who know if we could have weathered that storm, he stopped Luna and I before he left.
"I am sorry to have disappointed you," he looked to Luna.
"It was my mistake," she looked up to him. "Some of the old stories must just be that- stories."
"Well, I hope we meet again soon," then he turned to me. "That goes for you as well, young Rider."
I smiled," Thanks again Cernec."
"Take care of the small one, both of you," he kept his eyes locked on me. "Never before have seen such a thing... a Rider with two dragons."
"Wait... um, what. No, it's not like that," I tired to explain.
"Fear not," he told me gently. "I wish you all the best. Take care and may our paths meet again."
"I hope so," Luna nodded and then we turned and flew off with the others.
It was still drizzling out, but Matt cast a spell so we wouldn't get wet. Today was hard because the baby kept screaming into our link, she kept yelling 'Luna' and "No', then we she got hungry she would shout 'food'. She was also getting antsy, trying to crawl out of her box, but I caught her in time. After flying for awhile, I could finally see it, the edge of the mountains and past that the ocean.
"We're almost there," I was excited.
Matthew signaled us to land, and we did, landing just inside the dense treeline. I let the baby out and she flew up into the trees, bouncing off the bark and branches like she was some parkour master.
"I thought we were flying straight to Vroengard?," I questioned.
"Yes, that was my plan, but we need to know what's going on in Surda."
"We can leave the dragons here, my house is just north."
"No, Corin. We all stay together," Matthew shut him down.
"Matt, we need information... and we can't exactly all waltz in with our dragons," Collin interjected.
"What if Conandus has pushed further into Alagaesia," Ashley added.
"But we can't make ourselves known," Matt rubbed his head.
"That's why Corin'll come. He lives here."
"It won't be suspicious," Corin reassured him.
"Who's all going?," Ashley asked.
"I want to go," I offered.
"Absolutely not," Matt shook his head. "Out of the question, we need you safe most of all."
I moaned," That's so stupid and hella sexist."
"I want to go too!," Serena offered. "I want to a chance to stretch my legs."
"We can't all go," Collin crossed his arms.
"We can rock-paper-scissor for it," I challenged.
"I don't want to go. I'll wait here with the dragons," Matt recused himself. "Only three should go, any more would be suspicious."
"Well I have to go," Corin grinned cockily.
"Okay, rock-paper-scissor it is," Ashley went up to Serena. Serena went Rock, Ashley had scissor. "Shit," Ashley kicked the ground.
Collin held his arm out to me, I through rock and so did he. We went again, this time I kept rock and he threw scissors.
"YES!," I jumped triumphantly.
"Such a strange game," Corin shook his head.
"Girls trip!," Serena high-fived me," ... and Corin," she grumbled.
"Serena, if you go with her, you must accept the burden of keeping her safe," Matt was serious.
Serena scoffed," We're just going to Narda, it's not a big deal. No one will recognize us."
"I'm not some puppy, Matt. I don't need to be kept safe, I'll be fine," I was feeling hostile.
"Just please be safe," he rubbed his eyes like he was too exhausted to fight me.
"We promise," Serena crossed her heart.
"No one will suspect a thing," Corin assured him. "Bringing two gorgeous girls to my house happens more often than you think," Corin winked at us.
"Ew," Serena faked a gag.
"Please do be safe," Luna reached out to me.
"I will. And you take of our little baby," I scratched her tiny gray scales and she hummed
"Sssssss...sssssafe."
"You stay safe too," I smiled and then followed Corin, Serena, and Valor out of the wilderness.