The rain started again, we couldn't see anything so we were forced to land.

"What do we do? I don't know any spells?!," I hid under Luna's wing from the rain.

"We must hope that they defeat Serena."

"Home. Safe," the baby jumped out of her box and splashed into the mud.

"Stay close,"I told her and turned to Luna. "If they don't, she might come after us."

"She does not plan to kill," Luna reminded me.

"Oh yeah, just enslave me to some king!," I folded my arms together. "Maybe we should go back, at least we can try to help."

"No, we must keep the baby safe. She might try to use her as leverage since she is the smallest."

"Fuck! FUCK!," I screamed. "We need a plan."

"Our plan is to go to Vronegard, but yes I do see we need something else."

"Luna safe! Alyson safe!," the baby jumped into a puddle.

"Okay, first we need out of the rain."

"I will be fine, so will the baby. We can stay in the ran and keep our health. It is you who needs protection. I can cover you with my wing and you should be alright."

"What if we're stuck here all night, you can't sleep like that."

Thunder ripped through the sky as my mind raced for ideas.

"For now this will work. The baby needs to eat and we must prepare for if Serena comes for us."

"I don't have any weapons," I told her tossing the baby a chunk of meat. Even though it landed in the mud, she pounced on it, gnawing hungrily.

"Use the art of persuasion. We may need to lie to her and make her feel like we are not a threat until we can escape."

I nodded and wrapped my arms around my drenched clothes, trying to warm myself from the whipping wind.

"I can do that."

"See we have a plan. Next?"

"Next we pray that the others come find us!," my teeth chattered.

Like God could hear my prayers, a flash of lighting in the sky exposed the large bodies of dragons. I stepped out from under Luna's wing, their shadows were recognizable, it's them! They're alright!

"Alyson! Are you alright?," Matthew asked into my head.

I reached out for them all," I'm fine! We're okay!"

One dragon came lower, landing close by while the others circled above.

"Why aren't they coming down!?," I stepped back under Luna's wing out of the rain.

"I do not know," Luna responded.

A figure came through the trees until they was close enough to see. "Quinten!," I reached out for him, pulling him into a tight hug.

Quinten wrapped his arms around me, his arms were strong and sturdy.

"I'm so glad you're alright," he told me and pulled away looking me dead in the eyes. "We can't stay here. We have to get to Vronegard."

"Wait, now?!"

"Yes!"

The baby came up and shook her body, flinging mud everywhere. I decided not to fight this and picked her up, catching her as she slid through my hands and put her in the chest. I climbed aboard Luna and Quinten ran back into the trees, but Luna did not wait, she jumped up and into the sky lining up with rest of the group.

"Let's go!," Matt commanded and lead us west, away from the Spine.

I wanted to reach out to everyone, make sure they were all okay, but we were all focused. Lighting danced through the sky, the threat f being hit was imminent, but Matthew plunged us past the ocean and towards the egg. The waves crashed below us as the sea squirmed with turmoil, the dark waves jumping into the sky.

"Wet!," the baby cheered, happy for the rain.

"How are you doing Luna?," I asked.

"Fine. I feel like I can keep up."

I looked at the rest of the dragon, Matt and Beliouhn were ahead, cutting through the ran easily while Diamond and Ashley were to my left, flying slightly lower. To my right was Collin and Razor, flying at my same level. I worried about Quinten until I checked behind me, he was there and Erea was having no struggles keeping the pace and just next to Quinten was Corin. We're all okay, I wanted to relax but my adrenaline was far from keeping me calm. Serena is the spy and she could be after us right now, chasing us, trying to kill us! We flew further, the storm around us was no deterant from the mission we were on as we plundered across the fierce and angry ocean.

My adrenaline had worn off and I could feel Luna getting tired, the baby was already asleep confined in the tight walls of her crate. I shivered from the cold, my clothes were still soaked and every time a dragon flapped it's wings the wind cut through me. We'd been flying for what felt like forever, I had to keep checking to make sure Serena wasn't creeping up on us, but I it struck me that they might have killed her.

"We are approaching Vronegard," Razor relayed.

"Thank god," I told Luna privately. "You're ready to fall out of the sky."

"I will make it," she grunted.

I squinted into the distance against the rain in my eyes, I thought I could see a dark outline of an island.

"We're so close," I whispered to Luna over the thunder.

She dipped slightly, but then pulled herself up again. I had no way to help her, I should have rode with Quinten, I scolded myself. We made it though, Luna glided down to the ground and I immediately jumped off her back and took the crate. I almost dropped the baby, she was getting too big and the crate itself was heavy too.

"Come," Quinten guided me away from the shore.

"Where's the vault place?"

"Sköliro,"[1] Collin pointed his hand into the sky. The rain stopped hitting us, like we were in our own bubble now and protected from it.

"We aren't going there," Matt told me as he started a fire in the center. "Brisingr."[2]

"I thought that was the whole point of coming here," I set the chest down and the baby sprung from inside. She started darting around our new campground, smelling the ground and jumping.

"No, We came here to find the egg. It would not be in the Vault of Souls."

"Besides, no one can know we came here, so we can't let the guards see us," Collin crouched by the flames.

"But aren't they loyal to the Queen?"

"We thought Serena was loyal too," Ashley scoffed then bent over to play with the baby.

She screeched at Ashley and darted away to the fire. Corin was off on the edge, unhooking Valor from the wagon.

"What happened back there?," I turned to Quinten.

"She escaped," he told me reluctantly.

"Dark magic," Matt added. "She must have learned it from whatever magician she's been meeting in Aroughs."

"What if she followed us? What is she comes here," the idea put me on edge.

"I doubt it," Quinten tried to comfort me. "She'll most likely return to Aroughs, admitting her defeat and get a new assignment."

"She knows were the eggs are!," I panicked.

"Yes, she does," Matt bowed his head. "But she doesn't know the exact locations."

"She could still find them," Ashley mumbled.

"You shouldn't worry about that," Quinten guided me to the fire. "You need to warm yourself and get some rest."

"But is she goes and breaks-..."

"Quinten is right," Matt stopped me. "Tomorrow we will find the third egg. You need to sleep."

"But I-..."

"Hey," Quinten put a hand on my shoulder. "Nothing will happen tonight."

"We'll keep you guys safe," Collin smiled.

Ashley walked past the fire in a huff, I could tell she was annoyed by everything; lucky for her, Collin got the message and went after her. I looked over my shoulder to Luna, she had already fallen asleep, the exhaustion of the flight was too much for her.

I then looked to Quinten, he had moved from standing behind me to sitting beside me, his attention had been drawn to the baby curled beside the flames. I looked to her too, it made me feel better knowing both of my dragons were safe.

"Alyson, may I extend congratulations to you," Erea's voice drifted to me.

I glanced over my shoulder to where she was laying, but her head was lifted and she was looking at me.

"Thanks, Erea," I replied with a small smile. "I'm just happy to see you're both alive."

"It warms my heart to know you thought of us both."

"Of course... it was heart breaking when Corin told us."

My eyes darted to the maroon dragon to my left, both him and Corin were already sleeping too.

"The world has yet to get rid of us," Erea chuckled. "I bid you goodnight," she said before laying her head down.

I looked back to Quinten," Hey," I called to him and he turned his attention from the baby to me. "I'm glad you didn't die."

His lips lifted into a half smile," I'm glad I didn't die either."

My body had been warmed and I was also ready to go to bed, I stood up and went over to where Luna was snoring lightly. The baby saw me and followed, snuggling up beside Luna as well before falling asleep.

Th next day I woke up to a soft gray light shining on the wooded area, I lifted my head to see everyone was still sleeping. I guess no one stayed up for their watch, I thought as I stretched. Luna was still sleeping and I wasn't going to wake her up, I didn't know how much flying we'd be doing today. I did wake up the baby so she could start running around and using her energy.

I went to the wagon to grab a scrap of food, I was moving the blankets and crates when I saw a movement in the corner. I held my breath, but it didn't move again, I kept searching and I saw something in the corner of the wagon again. Shit shit... if it's a snake, I'll scream. I lifted the tarp quickly and backed away. It wasn't a snake, it was a boy... not just any boy. It was Tholus.

"Tholus!," I clutched my chest.

"Ms. Alyson," he stayed huddled in the corner. "I... I..."

"What are you doing in there," I reached in and helped him stand up. "Have you been in there all night. Oh my god, you must be freezing! Did Corin make you do this?"

He shook his head," No miss. I-... I had b-been stocking the cart went Valor leapt away, so I fell inside on accident. Then I heard all this fighting so I hid... after that it was just really wet."

"Oh my god," I picked him up and pulled him out of the wagon, setting him on the ground. The baby nipped at his feet.

"Alyson! Alyson!," she called. "Food! I'm Hungry!"

"Hold on," I told Tholus and found the meat, throwing her a chunk.

"Is that a dragon," Tholus asked, cocking his head.

"Yes," I told him smiling at the little gray best, ripping into her breakfast.

"Someone else is also up," Erea lifted her head. "Good morning, Final Rider."

"Hey," I waved to her the turned to Tholus. "Uh, Erea?"

"Yes?"

"Could you start a fire for me?," I asked. "I want to cook some breakfast for everyone."

"Certainly," she bowed her head and then shot some sparks onto the pit from last night.

I squatted in front of Tholus," You go and sit by the fire, warm a little and I'll make some food, okay?"

He gave me a wide toothy grin, " Yes, Ms. Alyson."

"Ah ah ah," I fake scolded him. "What did we agree on? It's just Alyson."

He nodded," I'm sorry" and then ran over to the fire.

"A Child?," Erea turned to me. "Is that the young boy enslaved to Corin?"

"Yes," I dug out some food. "He accidentally got dragged here."

"Oh, poor thing. He must be quite scared."

I looked to Tholus, the baby had now toddled over to him, bouncing around and playing with him.

"Actually, he's a tough kid. Do you think we could take him home? It's not like it's that far?"

"I'm not sure. Matthew seems to have a strict schedule and with the mess we made in Narda, I'm not sure it's possible."

"Is someone cooking?," Collin raised his head lazily.

"Yes," I told him, carrying my supplies to the fire.

"Good," he sat up and stretched. Ashley was beside him and she moaned at his movement, cuddling closer to him to stop him. "Huh? Is that..."

"Yes, Tholus, can you say hello to Collin?"

Tholus was holding onto a stick, watching the food cook," Hello Rider Collin."

Collin jumped up," How did he get here?!," he came over to me.

"He was hidden on the wagon, I only found him this morning."

"Shit," Collin coughed. "Corin!" He went over and shook him awake. "Corin!"

"I'm awake," he said grumpily.

"Good because you have some explaining to do," he pointed to Tholus who was running and giggling with the baby.

"What the... BOY!," Corin barked and Tholus stopped and his smile fell.

"Yes master."

Corin stood up," Why are you here?"

"It was an accident," Tholus cowered. "I didn't mean to come."

"I should lash you for the disobedience you show."

"Absolutely not," I stepped up to Corin. "You will not lay on hand on him."

Corin raised an eyebrow, it was like he was impressed with my defiance to him.

"He is mine to do with as I see fit," Corin hissed.

"You won't touch him!"

Our heated argument had started to awaken the others, I saw Matt get up and Ashley too.

"I will not have you tell me what I am allowed to do. Your new title gives you no power over me, Final Rider."

"I don't give a shit what you think," I leaned in closer. "If I see you hurt Tholus in any way, you will regret it," I ended with a killing glare and then turned back to the food.

"How did this happen?," Collin accused Corin.

"Quite a bold move," Quinten came over and pulled me aside. "Seems you're still fighting the evil inside him?"

"He's an asshole who beats people and thinks he's better than everyone else. He deserves to be knocked down a few pegs."

"Agreed," Quinten chuckled.

"We can't travel with him," Matt entered Collin's conversation.

"Tholus," I called him over and handed him his meal.

"Thank you Ms. Alyson," he bowed and started to eat, it almost mirrored how I saw the baby eat, it was savage and animalistic.

Finally Luna woke up, she was sore and I could tell flying would be hard for her to do with her body aching.

"Matt?," I left Quinten in charge of the food. "Is there anyway we can just walk to this egg?"

"Walk?," he scoffed. "Walking wastes time."

"Luna is exhausted," I leveled with him. "She needs a break and from what the map said, the egg can't be too far away. We're on a fucking island, for god's sake."

"Alyson, I have other issues to deal with. For instance, the kid that showed up."

"We can't take him home."

"Yes, we know that," Collin sighed.

"And we aren't abandoning him," I crossed my arms.

"No one was suggesting that either," Matt defended.

"So the only choice we have is to bring him with us, just until we can get him somewhere safe."

"Absolutely not," Matt shook his head.

"Matt, there really are no other options," Collin agreed with me.

"We can't have a kid with us, this is dangerous. We have no idea what we might come across."

"Good thing we have 6 dragons," I bested him.

"I don't like this at all."

"Hey guys, breakfast is ready," Quinten told us, he had politely taken over for me.

"Thank god, I'm starving," Ashley stretched and went to the fire.

"As soon a we can leave him somewhere safe, we will," Matt stared me down.

"Of course," I agreed. "And we walk today."

Matt clenched his fists," We really don't have time and now we have Serena to compete with. Just last night you were worried about the other eggs."

"I am, but I'm also worried about my dragons. I can't overwork her for my convenience and sure as hell not yours."

"How far away is this next egg?," Corin asked.

Matt grumbled under his breath as he went over and pulled the map from his dragon's saddle.

"We're here," he pointed to one of the small tentacle like appendages of the island. "The egg is here," he pointed to the that was placed on the far west side of the island. "It would take less than a day to fly there, but it'd be nearly a 3 day hike."

"That is a big difference," Collin sided with Matt.

"I want to give Luna the day to rest, especially since the next egg is way over there," I pointed to the trees back in the homeland

"Whatever your about to suggest, no."

"I think," I continued anyway. "I'll go with two other riders and their dragons, get the egg and come back."

"No."

"That's a terrible plan."

"Look what happened last time we split up."

All three of them piled on.

"Well I want Luna to stay here and I want someone to stay with her."

"Acorn, I can fly. I feel much better," Luna told me.

"We aren't splitting up, this isn't Scooby Doo," Matt grumbled.

"Scooby what?," Corin's brow furrowed.

"It doesn't matter," Collin whispered to him.

"I need to talk to Luna," I turned and went over to wear Luna was eating.

"We need to fly and find the next egg," she told me.

"I know, but I'm not gonna wear you out like this. This pace is crazy."

"Matthew is correct in the fact we are competing with Serena now. She knows all that we know."

"Don't take his side!"

"Angry! Mad Alyson," The baby chimed in.

"Alyson, you know as well as I, we cannot risk those eggs falling into other hands."

"I... I know that."

"New egg! New egg!," she purred and rubbed my legs.

I scratched her scales," Are you sure you are okay to fly? It's going to be all day!"

"I know my limits. I can fly."

I turned back to Matthew he and Corin were still talking, Collin was now sitting beside Ashley eating breakfast. Quinten was with Erea and Tholus was listening to him while he was saying something.

I walked to Matthew," I'll make you a deal."

He was not interested but he let me continue," We all travel together and fly today, but when we find the egg and it hatches, we stop for a full day. I need to time to connect and get them all acquainted."

Matthew was silent for a moment," Fine, once the egg hatches we will stop for the rest of the day."

I stuck out my hand and we shook on it.

[1] Shielded

[2]Fire