We flew over the trees, the island was actually very beautiful. It had almost a tropical feel to it, it was so plush and green, not to mention the intense humidity. Even with the gorgeous greenery, there was a chill, it was nothing like I had experienced: humid, cold and sticky? I couldn't shut the lid of the crate, the baby was too big for it, so she sat with her head out, enjoying the view of the flight. Tholus rode with Corin and Valor, but Erea was the one now carrying the wagon of supplies.

We had been flying for a few hours when I noticed the baby try to crawl from the crate, I grabbed her and pulled he back in.

"No!," she refused and tried again. "No! Fly! FLY!"

"No, no," I told her. "You're still too young."

"Maybe soon," Luna comforted her. "Not today."

I could feel that she was angry about this, she sat back in the crate, but I kept my hand on her just in case. After I felt better about it, I sat back up, letting her just watch. That's when she made her move and jumped from the crate.

"NO!," I screamed as she disappeared over the edge. "LUNA!"

Luna swept into action, nose diving after the falling gray baby spun in the air then stretched out her wings catching the wind on them. Before Luna caught her, she flapped and kept herself in the same spot, suspended in the air before I reached and grabbed her. She screeched and tried to pull away.

"Stop, stop fighting," I tried to tell her. Her sharp talons dug into my arm, cutting deep as I struggled to hold onto her

She clawed at me," FLY FLY!," she jumped again and this time started to flap immediately which kept her from falling.

"Youngling, that is not safe," Luna coaxed her back beside me. "We can practice once we land, yes?"

"Fly please Luna," she pouted.

"Are you guys okay?," Ashley called from above.

I gave them a thumbs up and winced as my arm throbbed. Luna went back up into the pack, I could hear Corin laughing.

I looked to the baby, "That's not safe, please never do that again, you scared me so much. I thought you were going to fall to your death!"

"I fly," she told me.

"Yes, you did fly, but don't jump off Luna's back again, it takes time to learn to fly like she does."

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I fly later."

I wrapped my arms around her," Yes, fly later."

We kept flying until it was time to eat, Matt let us land and rest for a while, I know Luna was appreciative

"Fly!," the baby jumped over her back once she landed and floated in the air, gliding on her open wings.

"It looks like the crate will not longer be needed," Luna chuckled.

"As if, she can't fly like you can."

"Yes," Luna chuckled. "I know."

"What a energized hatching," Erea came over to observe. "She is quite the sight to see."

"Energy is the correct word," Luna told her and the laughed together.

As we ate, the baby kept jumping and flying in circles around the camp, she was determined to keep flying and she was doing a good job. When it was time for us to get back on track, she did not like the idea of getting onto the crate.

"What if," I looked between her and Luna," She sits on the back with me? No more crate."

"NO MORE CRATE!," she danced in circles happily.

"But, no jumping off."

"No crate and no jumping," she confirmed.

"Luna?"

"Sounds fine to me," she looked to the baby. "You are getting to be so grown."

"It's kind of crazy," I noticed.. Keep you eyes peeled, this place is a lot harder to spot the egg than the desert."

"How did you find it so easily then?"

"The map was much clearer there, but here... it's a big space, lots of trees."

"Woah," my breath caught as we stepped out of some trees and there was a wall of crystals in front of us.

"This is Jupalos," Matt told me. "It's about 100 leagues long," he stated proudly. "This is the only place these crystals can grow in Alagaesia."

"It's beautiful," the wall shimmered, there were jagged pieces sticking out and there was a surprising depth. I reached out and touched it, it was cold, but still stunning.

"It's one of the treasures of Alagaesia," he smiled an we turned walking beside the wall.

"It's almost like a border or something."

"Actually they're cliffs," he told me. "If we were to climb up and make it to the other side, it would be the ocean. "

"Fly to the ocean?," the baby asked.

"Not today, little one," Luna told her.

"This place is probably the prettiest thing I've ever seen!," I was in such awe, I almost tripped.

"Be careful," Matt caught my arm. "And focus on the mission. Look for the egg."

"Yeah, right," I looked to the damp ground, it was mostly tree roots and pebbles, nothing egg like stood out to me. "Is that ... a waterfall," my mouth dropped.

Now abut 500 feet in front of us was a waterfall, it was gushing water from the top of the Jupalos down to a large lake at it's base, which carried it away by a small stream.

"Holy shit!"

"It is a quite a sight to see," Matt agreed. "You know, you only see the water in the summer months, no other time is it wet enough here."

I took my phone out and snapped a picture, but it didn't do the beautiful view any justice. The sparking clear water only made the pink and purple crystal gleam brighter.

"Hey guys!," Quinten waved to us, he was standing at the edge of the water. "Any luck?"

"Not yet," Matt replied.

"You can feel the magic here," Luna said in wonder.

"Yes," Beloiuhn agreed. " There is strong magic here."

I saw the small gray dragon dart forward, skipping and then flying to jump and splash in the blue water.

"Ms. Alyson! Your dragon, he ran into the water," Tholus sounded worried.

"Swim! Swim!," She cheered and splashed.

I smiled to Tholus," That's okay. She'll be okay." I followed her and rolled up my pant legs, wading into the water and throwing water on her, she screeched and ran deeper. "Want to come in," I offered my hand to the boy

"How's the water?," Quinten asked, reaching his hand in.

"Little cold," I admitted. "But I don't mind it."

"I can't swim, Ms. Alyson." I put my hands on my hips and he swallowed," Sorry, I mean Alyson."

"You don't have to know how to swim, it's very shallow."

"Can I master!?," Tholus looked to Corin.

He rolled his eyes," Do not get the boy sick," he told me.

Tholus copied me and rolled up his pants and, he dipped his toes in and yelped," It's so cold," he backed away.

I closed my eyes and for a second, it felt like home. I felt like I was back in my mountains, standing in my own stream, breathing the rich air.

"And to think this is where Dragon Riders used to live," Corin noted.

I opened my eyes," Really?"

"Yes," Matt continued to look for what could be the egg," It wasn't until a battle against Gallbatorix caused a Rider to accidentally make the land poisonous."

"Poisonous!," I jumped and rushed back out of the water, pushing Tholus farther away.

Corin chuckled," We are safe, we shielded ourselves and you too."

"There you guys are!," Collin emerged with Ashley.

"Did you find anything?," Matt asked them.

"All Diamond found was some big snail."

"It was quite tasty," Diamond licked her scales.

"Guys, we need to keep looking."

"Wow, this place is so pretty," Ashley gaped at the waterfall.

"Where did your little dragon go?," Quinten peered past me.

I turned and I didn't see her anymore," Shit," I mumbled and waded back into the water.

"Come on out, little one," Luna called to her.

"Come one, we can have a snack. I just want to know you're alright."

"I'm safe," she told us, peeking out from behind the water fall.

"Good," I stopped and looked to the water, I could see the pebbles under my feet and just off to the right was a small orange fish, swimming without a care.

"To think our ancestors lived here freely," Erea pondered.

The aura here was strong, it was intense but so inviting that I didn't mind it. I leaned against the crystal wall and looked up to it's towering stature, I reached out and brushed my finger on the tip of a sharp piece sticking out. it wasn't as sharp as I thought it looked, but it was still really cool.

"Guys, come on, this isn't a vacation. Keep searching," Matt was annoyed.

"I'll come with you," Corin offered and they continued down the stream. "Boy, come with us."

"Yes, master," Tholus scurried to be by his side.

"Why don't we go back to... that place and look again," Ashley pulled Collin and he smiled following her back into the tree.

"Swim is fun. I like to swim," the baby told me.

"Swimming is fun," I smiled to her, a fish caught her eyes and she ran after it.

"I do feel something close to us," Luna reached out to me. "Do you?"

"I feel something here... I'm not sure what," I walked towards the falling water, the loud sound of it crashing against the rocks was soothing. "Maybe it's just the magic here."

"Perhaps..."

I ducked behind the waterfall, looking at the rocks where the water was hitting, they weren't actual rocks but just clusters of the Jupalos. Through the curtain of water, everything was blocked and I closed my eyes again. This is nice... I like it here. It smelled fresh, the water was cool and I couldn't get over how gorgeous the Jupalos were. I opened my eyes and started to walk out, but the pebbles underneath me slipped and I nearly fell, caching myself on the Jupalo. My head had fallen into the water's path, so I moved away quickly, taking in a ragged breath before finally falling backwards into the water. It wasn't deep by any means, it just meant I had drenched myself.

Great, I stood up.

"Are you alright?," Quinten asked.

"Yeah, just great," I watched the water drip off my fingertips.

The baby came back to see me," Alyson wet. We swim. We like to swim."

"Not my intention," I told her.

"Egg," she stated looking beyond me.

"Egg?," I turned and saw nothing, just the Jupalos clusters. "There's no egg there."

She marched over to behind me, right where I had fallen, there was small Jupalo, around maybe the size of tire. She went around it and sat down then looked to me," Egg."

I reached over, steadying myself before running my hand along the jagged edge. This is the egg?

"Oh my god...," I didn't know how I knew, but she was right. She found it. This was the egg! "YOU FOUND IT!," I cheered and scooped her up.

"Egg! Egg! We found egg!," she laughed.

"Alyson," Quinten was now concerned.

"Did you say you found it," Luna asked.

I set the baby down and rushed out from behind the waterfall, the biggest smile on my face.

"WE FOUND IT! IT's HERE!"

Luna wasted no time and came to us, the water barely covering her massive talons.

"Here," I pointed to the crystal.

"Yes," she agreed. "This is the egg!"

Quinten was next," That?"

"Yes, this!," I jumped. "This is it!" I went and leaned over the gem, running my hand over it's surface again," We found it!"

Luna brought her snout closer," Another little one is only just inside."

"Here, I'll go get Matt," Quinten turned but I grabbed him, just as Erea came into the circle.

"Wait... just wait," I stopped him.

He gave me a nod and I let him go, looking back to the glittering purple jewel. I could feel something, something I couldn't explain... but I didn't want everyone to be huddled around us.

"Do you hear that?," Luna asked.

"No," I peered closer to the egg.

"Sing! Sing!," the baby reered up and rested it's front paws on the egg. Then she started to hum, Luna joined in and I did too. We all matched tones and hummed the sweet calming melody together. A deep crack erupted across the sharp exterior of the spiky jewel, I stopped humming and gasped out loud.

"She is hatching!," Luna said in awe.

"Oh my...," Erea whispered.

The baby jumped off the egg as another fracture ripped through the shell, a large chunk fell and splashed into the water.

"Oh my god," I couldn't tear my eyes away from what was unfolding.

Piece by piece, the armor surrounding the baby chipped away and then suddenly a tiny purple creature fell out the side of the weakened shell and into the water. I felt the instinct take over me, I leaped forward to grab it before it sunk into the water. I didn't even think about the bond and I was met with insurmountable pain, I screamed and held gripped my wrist.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!," my voice bounced off the wall around us.

Luna roared and the gray baby yipped, all of us combining and maximizing the volume. The grotto only caused our pain to echo and hurt Quinten and Erea's ears.

"Shit, shit! Fuck," I still held my hand close to my body. "What the fuck!"

My baby gray ran and cowered beside Luna, she was shaking from the bond and Luna was panting heavily. I looked over to the new small member of our family, it was trembling behind it's old egg shell.

"Are you okay?" Quinten was ready to help in any way he could.

"Shit... it just fucking hurts," I shook my hand but it was still burning.

"Quinten! Quinten!," Matt was calling for him, I could hear he was panicked.

"I will go explain," Erea volunteered and left for the rest of the Riders.

"Oh fuck," I groaned and looked at my palm, it was't red or hurt in any way, it look completely normal. "Shit..."

"B-Baby?," my gray dragon peeked over Luna's claws.

"Is the hatchling alright?," Luna grunted.

"Yeah," I looked into their bright round purple eyes. "Yeah, they're okay... Hey," I lowered to it's level. "It's okay. You're alright."

The new purple baby stumbled over it's own legs, slipping as it came over to me. It tucked into my side, shivering and huddling beside me for comfort and warmth, I stroked it's scales.

"Woah," Quinten stood there. "I... I can't even believe it... and I even saw it with my own eyes."

I smiled to him and looked down at the new baby," See, you're alright... it's okay."

Luna moved to see her more clearly and the gray baby wasted no time coming up to introduce herself. "Baby! Baby dragon," she sniffed happily.

The new baby was still scared and took a second for them to curiously start checking out the other baby.

"Alyson?! Are you alright?!"

"Did the egg hatch?!"

Matt and Corin where shouting from the shore.

I sighed and turned to Luna," I almost don't even want to go back out there."

"Look at her, she is remarkable."

"She? It's another girl?"

"Take your time," Quinten told us. "Erea can keep them at bay. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," I sighed. "It's just bonding, hurts like a bitch."

"Yes," Luna nodded. "Hello little hatching. Hello," she lowered her muzzle and softly brushed against the baby.

"Hello baby!," little gray jumped in circles. "Alyson, Luna, baby! Baby dragon!"

"We have two babies," I looked to Luna. "TWO!"

Luna chuckled," Yes, we do."

"She's surprisingly big," I looked to my right where the baby was still glued. "She's only a little smaller than... than her. Oh god, we have to name them, this is going to get too confusing."

"Yes, she is only a bit smaller than our little one."

"That's common," Quinten interjected. "Dragons can be born at different sizes."

"Yeah, yeah, we know," I looked at her in awe. "She's so beautiful."

Her scales matched the bright purple and pink gems surrounding us, like she herself was a little gem. Her scales were vibrant fushia and magenta mix.

"Gem... I like that name," I looked down at her. "Gem."

"Acorn, you cannot pressure her into a name," Luna told me.

"I know, just a suggestion."

"ALYSON!"

I scoffed at them, trying to bombard me already, "I guess we should go out there," I stood up and my purple dragon weaved in between my legs and looked up to me with a whimper. "Aw, look at her little face," I bent over and picked her. "So cute."

She was heavy, pretty much exactly like her gray counterpart, but I could still carry her. We walked out and I saw Corin and Matt waiting at the bank of the lake, Erea blocking their path.

"You found it!," Matt gawked then he added," And it hatched!"

"Yes, as I told you," Erea huffed.

"This is amazing," Matt looked to the baby cradled in my arms.

"Baby dragon! Our baby!," I felt little gray's happiness as she emerged from the water.

"I... I feel so tired," Luna admitted. "Even with the joy of the hatchling, my body feels like I've been training all day."

"Mine too," I agreed, my arms starting to cramp from holding the baby in my arms. "Maybe we all feel each other's sleepiness."

"Woah, master... another dragon," Tholus' eyes were big and round as he stared at the new baby.

"You should rest," Valor stepped forward.

"Yes," Corin nodded," We will keep watch."

"We'll camp here for the night then," Matt announced. "Night will fall soon anyway."

Luna had already curled up, little gray had snuggled up beside her. I set the purple dragon down and she stayed at my side," Don't forget out deal," I told him.

"Sleep," Little gray murmured, then I felt her drift from consciousness.

Matt grumbled," Today is your day."

"No, that's not fair," I fought him. "We should get tomorrow! We're all exhausted from the bond."

"She's right," Quinten took my side. "They should have some time to connect with the new dragon, not rushed to the next egg."

"We have a schedule for a reason," Matt countered.

"You promised!"

"Fine," he groaned. "Tomorrow we will do nothing, waste the entire day and hope that no one comes here to try and kill us. Before you all nap, let me see your hand."

"My hand," I looked down and saw that my gedwëy ignasia had changed. The two lines making the arrow, now had a third line that only connected a the bottom right which was my little gray's addition. This new pinkish line did went towards my thumb and crossed over Luna's pale white line. "Look," I showed him.

"See, it changed again, like I suspected" he went to dig out his journal, sketching it out again." It must have something to do with binding to multiple dragons."

The purple dragon as my feet rubbed against me, and then an image of Luna and little gray appeared in my head, she also wanted to go sleep.

"Okay," I yawned," We're heading off," I told them with a wave and wandered over to Luna, the purple dragon went over to the little gray, rolling up beside her. I smiled at the sight before slipping into the easy world of slumber.