Clay sighed as he shuffled into his den and made to sleep.

It had been another grueling week; more lessons, more training, more disappointed, hateful, glares from Kestrel, more lessons, more training. More, more, more. Weren't he and his friends enough?

He just collapsed onto his bedding for a few heartbeats before sniffing and getting up to pop his joints. Then began his nightly search for that one truly comfy spot to sleep.

There were two upsides to all of this though; His friends that he cared for very much and cared for him likewise. Whatever he lacked in his attacks it was Tsunami that helped him improve. Whenever there was something he couldn't understand in the scrolls it was Starflight that helped him understand it. And then there was Sunny and Glory the two that gave him the most help by making him smile when he felt broken the most inside, especially when Kestrel expressed her disappointment in his lack of killer instinct he had once displayed.

He treasured them all and unknown to each of them, they had become his driving force to do better. He would not let anything happen to them, they were his family.

And then there were his new, nightly lessons with his favorite teacher, Megatronus. At first he thought the first encounter had been a very vivid dream, until he rammed his head into a rock wall on his second lesson thinking nothing of it. He had then spent that night and the next day nursing a sore head while also listening to the scolding for 'bumping' his head in the night. That and his new 'birth mark,' were another big hint that his dreams were more than that.

That had been his 'waking moment,' as Megatronus called it, now he knew that what he learned the night before had very real world effects and consequences. He also noticed small differences between him and the others the days afterward. They seemed to be getting slower and weaker whenever they mock spared against one another, but as he soon learned from his teacher that wasn't the case. Rather he was growing stronger, faster and would one day surpass those around him in ways he could not even begin to imagine.

Of course this scared him frequently because of the possibility of accidentally hurting them, but each time his teacher assured him it was good. For it meant he would someday become a great Guardian just as he was for Clay. He would ensure his friends were kept safe and that his fear for them would also strengthen his will if he kept a healthy respect for his newfound power but did not allow it to consume him. All of this gave Clay a new feeling he had never felt before in his life: Pride. He looked up to his teacher more after that, (If that was even possible.) and took everything he taught to heart.

Clay's first lessons had centered not on harnessing the power around him, but rather the power within him. Before he knew nothing about his scales, now he could harden his scales to a state called 'Ironhide,' making him immune to physical attacks. Next were his strength and speed increasing to where he could lift up to four times his weight on his wings and sprint half a cave length in twenty heartbeats. The best part, as his teacher said, he was still growing. One day, he would even surpass his teacher and become a force to reckon with in his own right.

To say his new teacher was upset with his progress would have been a lie.

Megatronus was both proud and pleased of him.

Throughout it all he had been a firm yet fair teacher, far better than any he had before. Clay dared to even compare him to what an actual father was like. He didn't want to risk his friendship with the elder however and so kept these thoughts as quiet as possible. If Megatronus knew of these whispers he gave no indication. The only one who could match him was Starflight and that was only through the scrolls. Megatronus had decided to focus on Clay's spiritual training and then focus on teaching him so as not to arouse questions to his sudden prowess.

This also meant keeping his new talents hidden as well, except on the condition where his life or those he cared for were endangered.

Clay smiled to himself as he settled to doze off. Megatronus was waiting for him as he stretched out again and stood up, eager to begin his next lesson.

"What do we do today Teacher?"

Clay chirped as he bounced around his elder's paws like a three month old.

"Today we will be resting."

Megatronus smirked as the young one mistimed a bounce and toppled on his muzzle.

"Resting? But why?"

This time he couldn't help but chuckle slightly at his student's pout.

"While you eagerness to learn is commendable, in life you must learn to retain all that you learn so you may carry it forward and one day pass it on to yours. What better way to do so than on a day of resting?"

Coiling his tail gently around his middle he set Clay on his paws.

"Come along Constellation. Today I walk among the 'Sea.'"

That erased Clay's disappointment instantly. Since that first day when he choose his teacher they had worked in a cave under what was called the 'Great Central Plain,' where many beings came seeking answers to many questions, even the other twelve from time to time.

He learned early on that what those who entered the plain were actually seeking Megatronus, whose title here was Guardian of Forbbiden Wisdom and Judgment. Few were gentle and left either with their answer or when told to return.

A good deal of the others however were more hostile and tried scouring the plains where Megatronus hid away the answers as well as countless traps that would ensnare them till he decided to release them for his punishment.

Clay never knew how his teacher knew where everything was as the plains constantly shifted making him think more of a sandy sea than a plain, it was also due to its constant shifting Megatronus was hesitant to let Clay come with him until he was sure he could handle himself well enough to run and find him. All of this excited the young dragonet, his teacher thought he was ready and he would finally see what he had taken to calling the 'Sand Sea.'

He had spoken to Megatronus about the name once, he had only shrugged his wings and admitted that it was what the other twelve had decided to call his home than sea of sand. Although he rather liked the sound of it.

So while the other twelve beings and their students on the rims referred to their domain as the 'Great Central Plain,' Clay and his teacher simply called it the 'Sand Sea.'

With all this in mind, as well as his excitement and youthful energy, Clay led Megatronus out the cave entrance to the 'Sea.'

They were miles from where they started when Clay stopped. Megatronus turned and realized the sensations of Ancient Magics from Chaos and Order, he looked to Clay and shifted to his Second Sight. Something was about to happen to his pupil, what though he couldn't tell. All of the thirteen couldn't fathom the wisdom of the One who had set their world in motion.

All he could do was something he hadn't done in millennia; he bowed his head and sent a silent prayer to his life giver, Primus. Begging silently that his student would survive this trial and worrying that he hadn't taught him enough to prepare him for it.

Clay saw an entrance to a cave nearby and cautiously walked inside. Instinctively hardening his scales as he went deeper into the darkness, unaware he was alone.

But not for long.

"Hello, is anybody here?!"

He chanced calling out into the darkness, he hadn't counted on someone replying with a very loud scream of: "HELP!"

He dashed ahead, hardening his scales the rest of the way and focusing on his hearing as he ran straight through rock and dirt without so much as slowing down.

"Where are you?!"

Another scream gave him direction and he raced down into the dark until he saw a jagged crack in the floor with light shining up from underneath. He looked down and was surprised what he saw.

There just below him was a Scavenger male with dark brown, neck-length fur with green eyes and fair colored skin. He was wearing a purple colored covering, tucked back by a strange black sash with an odd silver piece and a darker blue covering over it. He also had dark gray coverings down his legs to dark brown foot coverings with purple accents.

What caught his attention most was a red scrap of what he thought a torn covering around his neck, as well as the Shades that had cornered him.

Megatronus warned Clay of these beings. Once they were actual living beings that slowly lost themselves to madness if they actually found their answers without Megatronus deciding if they were worthy of it or not.

They served as both a warning of what would happen to those that dared try to learn without Megatronus's guidance and as vicious guardians of the very secrets they had once pursued. For if a Shade found anyone they would not hesitate to pursue, capture and change the trespasser into one of their own as a form of retribution.

Clay knew he had to find the other who needed help but first he had to help the young Scavenger male first.

He jumped up, smashing all his weight down on the crack. He plunged down on top of the Shade that was about to pounce on Scavenger. At his presence the other Shades quickly dispersed. They knew the Master of this land and this other carried his smell, better to leave the trespasser to this one than be destroyed. Even the Shades valued their twisted existence.

Clay turned to the Scavenger and stopped. He didn't look very old at all, maybe 5 moon cycles old. What was he doing here? He shook his head, another question for another time, right now he had to find the voice.

He got up and shook himself and looked at the Scavenger making a shooing motion with his wings before turning to look around and listen for the voice.

"HELLO!"

He called at the top of his voice. He about jumped out of his scales when the Scavenger next to him replied in a tiny voice.

"Thank you."

Clay looked at him like he sprouted another head.

"YOU CAN TALK?!"

The young Scavenger backed up as the dragon got closer with huge eyes as he looked down at him.

"Y-y-ye-yeah! So can you!"

He replied dumbly. Clay just fell on his rump and stared at him with an open maw. The Scavenger just looked anywhere excpet at the dragon in front of him as he dug his foot coverings in the dirt.

Clay shook his head as he realized that his voice was the same one that had guided him down here. Turning he wanted to ask his teacher but froze and then circled with mounting panic.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no. No!"

Clay grumbled and covered his head in his wings.

"What's wrong?"

Clay looked up at the small Scavenger through a crack in his wings.

"I lost my Teacher."

Clay sat up and glared as best he could down at the smaller being when he busted out laughing. He snorted when he finally seemed to have better control of himself.

"Sorry, it's just that was the last thing I was expecting you to say."

He giggled as he sat down beside him with an apologetic look sent his way. Clay huffed but silently accepted his apology as he thought how he was going to find his teacher.

He looked up at the hole in the ceiling, the best way to go was up and follow the path he made, it wasn't that hard to find.

He shook himself and stood up before putting the small Scavenger on his back, shaking off the tingling that happened when he did so.

"We need to go find my teacher, he must be worried sick about me."

With that he jumped and pumped his wings with all his might, true he was stronger but flying with the Scavenger was really awkward. Thankfully it was a short flight up to the hole he made when he crashed down on the Shade.

The tiny Scavenger was shaking as they landed and clung to his wing after sliding down his left shoulder. His legs were shaking so badly, Clay worried he wouldn't make it.

But as they walked up his breathing evened and his stride got stronger. Clay had almost forgotten the Scavenger could talk when he voiced a question.

"Your teacher must really care for you."

Clay didn't jump as high as last time but still bumped his head against the roof of his 'tunnel.' He really had to remember that this one Scavenger could talk and not to be as surprised by that.

"He does, he's one of my best friends."

Clay chirped as the Scavenger turned and looked at the floor while they kept walking.

"Wonder what that's like."

Clay nudged his arm in curiosity. The Scavenger's scent kept changing so much, first it was the bitterness of sadness, then a sharp tang of fear as he nudged the small creature before it calmed.

"I'm not sure you'd understand."

Clay huffed and straightened as he looked ahead of where they were walking. After a few moments he heard the Scavenger sigh.

"I just turned five a few days ago but that was after my Mother remarried. My new Father is the King. I mean THE King! How do you deal with that!"

Clay just looked down at him, confused.

"I told you, you wouldn't understand."

Clay nodded as they resumed walking up before speaking again.

"You're right I don't. I mean your Mother loves him, do you not like him?"

The Scavenger spun and gawked up at the dragon before finding his brain.

"I do, he's been nice and helped me settle into the castle but what do I call him? When he came to my birthday I didn't know what to do and just said 'Hello your Highness,' then hid behind Mom."

Clay turned and looked back down at him.

"Just call him 'Dad.' If he's as nice as you say then maybe he's just trying to make sure he loves you as much as he loves your Mom, but he can't know that if you're not willing to try. It just takes time to make new friends."

Clay laughed at the Scavenger's expression before looking up and seeing light.

"We're here, c'mon!"

He nudged him again and felt another jolt of...something.

They both raced up and shielded their faces from the bright light of the sun. After recovering their eyes, the Scavenger looked around.

"So where do we start looking for your teacher."

A muffled 'thud,' shook them from behind.

"You can try looking behind young ones."

Clay spun around and raced off kicking sand in the Scavenger's direction as he raced over.

"TEACHER! I am so, so, so, so sorry, I promise I won't-"

He stopped as he gently set a talon against Clay's muzzle and smiled.

"It's alright Constellation, you don't need to promise me anything. I am just proud that you were able to prove to me that you could handle yourself."

He bent down and nuzzled his cheek. Clay blinked for a moment then returned it as best he could against the rough, rock that was his Teacher's skin.

"Wow!"

A breathless voice had the two separating as the Scavenger dusted the sand off of himself.

"Oh, Teacher, this is the Scav-"

Clay paused as a thought occurred to him.

"Actually, do you have a name?"

The Scavenger paused in dusting out sand from holes in his gray coverings. (Weird.)

"Uh, Callum."

He looked at both dragons, one considerably larger than the other he met, clearing his voice he repeated it a bit more loudly.

"My name is Callum."

He didn't expect the younger dragon to bound up and nudged him again toward his gigantic teacher.

"Right, Teacher, this is the Scavenger Callum, I found him down below."

Callum worked to get his legs under him before turning to look up, still trying to understand all the younger dragon had said. He was a little terrified when he looked up into Teacher's large eye but felt genuine warmth from both dragons instead of hostility. This was so different from what he had learned and believed most of his life.

"What is it you seek from here?"

He asked in his softest voice so as not to spook the poor child anymore than he already had been, in response Callum just shook his head.

"I don't know, actually can I just go home please?"

Megatronus smiled and nodded before waving his right paw in a half circle motion. As if by command a door the size of a Scavenger appeared not that far away.

"Return to your family then young Prince, and know you are welcome to return here."

Callum turned to look up at him in awe.

"How-"

Clay chuckled from beside him.

"Teacher knows everything about anything."

Callum turned to look up at the smaller dragon beside him while Megatronus eyed the pair with his Second Sight. Unaware to either youngling the Magics of Chaos and Order wove together creating a bond between the two that he knew would suffer strain but also grow and become unbreakable. A true bond of Friendship had been born.

He relaxed his Sight as the two finally got around to saying their names that sealed the bond between them. What surprised him was when his student gave both his names to this Callum, making the bond that much stronger between the two.

Megatronus was worried at first but relaxed. He would have to trust his student's judgement of character and observe what came of it.

He watched as Callum walked through the door promising to return, much to Megatronus' amusement. Things just became more and more interesting with each passing day spent with Clay.

Callum bolted awake and shook his head groggily as he looked out to see the sun rise. What a dream he had. The dark monsters, then the dragons; Teacher and his student, Constellation who was also called Clay? Was any of it real? It sure felt like it.

'It was real!'

A voice, that sounded oddly like Clay's, echoed in his head with indignation.

He froze and looked left and right in his empty room.

'See you tonight Scavenger Callum, don't be late, Teacher will be starting a new lesson. I can hardly wait.'

Callum found himself falling backward onto his mattress as the voice stopped completely.

After the shock wore off, he smiled and then promptly fainted.