Having finally escaped, the adrenaline rush that had accompanied the fear was wearing down, and the pain in my shoulder became excruciating. I gritted my teeth to keep from moaning, but I was unable to fool Comet. She sped as quickly as she could towards the Bewilderbeast Sanctuary, throwing anxious glances at me as she went.

I began to feel light-headed and faint again, swaying on Comet's back. I forced myself to focus on what lay ahead, to prevent myself from succumbing to the blackness creeping towards the edges of my vision.

The ocean swayed below us, broken at random intervals by icebergs or sheets of snow. Sparse islands dotted the surface, often covered with a layer of white that reflected the sun. It was always so bright during the day, and I preferred to fly at night, when there was only the faint, pale glow of the moon to guide us.

I saw a pair of Scauldrons rise from the icy water below us, gracefully gliding for a few seconds before diving back under the surface. I stroked behind Comet's ear. Seeing wild dragons made me nostalgic. I had never tried to tame a wild dragon, as Comet had grown up alongside me. Comet found me lost in the woods when I was younger, merely a baby, when she was still young and small as well. Not all wild dragons are hostile, but the changewing I had accidentally encountered was not necessarily delighted to see me. It began to attack me, when suddenly a tiny black figure leaped from behind me and defended me, shielding me with with a small pair of black wings. The changewing seemed unintimidated, until the Night Fury let out a roar and snorted in determination.

The changewing, while not intimidated, seemed to decide against pointlessly attacking, and flew away with a screech. The little Night Fury turned to me, a small look of pride on her face. Being so very young, I did not fully understand what she had done, but I hobbled over and hugged her neck anyway. My father came crashing through the trees, calling my name and frantically searching for me. He halted when he saw me cuddling with the young Night Fury, a smile spreading across his face. "I guess you've found yourself a friend."

Comet and I have been inseparable since. She even refused to sleep in the stables by our house, preferring to sleep in my room, curled up on the floor beside my bed. I have never had a better friend or soul partner than her.

I looked up from my memories, and realized more time had passed than I had thought. The icy dome of the Bewilderbeast lair lay ahead, and the relaxing, safe feeling that came with the sight flooded me. Comet landed lightly upon the icy platform leading towards the kitchen, careful not to jar my shoulder and cause pain. I slid off, wincing. Valka was at my side in an instant, alerted to our presence by Cloudjumper, who had run up to greet us, realizing something was wrong.

"What happened?" She asked, hastily peeling off the ragged bandages and inspecting the wound. The razor net had not sliced too deeply into my skin, yet it left a thick red line across my shoulder and collarbone. It stung dreadfully. Valka grabbed some cloth bandages from a small basket in the kitchen, gently wrapping them around the wound as best as she could.

"The Bewilderbeast attacked a fort out across the ocean. Dragon trappers were stationed there, and quite a few dragons had been caught. The Bewilderbeast went to free them. Comet and I went down to examine the ruins, and we were attacked. A razor net was shot at us, and it cut Comet's cheek as well." I ran a finger along the gash on Comet's jaw, solemnly knowing it was my fault it had happened.

Valka caught the look in my eyes, and turned me to face her. She stared deep into my eyes, evaluating my expression. She could always read exactly what I was thinking. "This wasn't your fault."

"Valka, we were trapped. They caught us. Had there not been a commotion outside, and had my cell not been breachable, we would have been taken to Drago. It was my curiosity that led us into danger." I hung my head. "And I caused Comet harm." Comet looked up at me, forgiveness in her wide, green eyes.

"Lucaria, don't blame yourself. What if there had been another dragon still trapped? You may have put yourselves in danger, but you would have saved another dragon from Drago's command and freed them from cruel captivity." She lifted my chin up with a finger. "Be proud you are so brave as to risk yourself for another." She smiled.

"Thank you Valka." I returned her smile, giving her a hug. As we broke the embrace, it occurred to me how motherly she was. I had lost all of my family to Drago's attack, and she was filling the empty gap in my heart with her love and care. I wondered if she had any children herself. She never talked about it, and I wouldn't dare bring up anything so personal against her will. She turned towards Comet and Cloudjumper, who were comically chasing each other. Cloudjumper was not as enthusiastic as Comet, seeming to at least keep some of his dignity. Comet was jumping circles around him, playfully watching him swivel his owl-like head as she went around.

I smiled to myself as I watched them, happy that Comet found a friend in Cloudjumper, just as I had found a friend and mother in Valka. I walked through the kitchen, following Valka out to the main chamber of the sanctuary. Cloudjumper followed obediently, Comet still jumping around and even leaping up onto his back. He threw her a look over his shoulder, but she refused to jump down, so with a roll of the eyes he continued without question.

I plopped down onto the grass as we entered the expansive chamber ahead. I laid back, feeling the soft tickle of the green blades underneath me. Comet jumped off of Cloudjumper and curled around me, laying down beside me so I could prop myself up against her side just behind her arms. I lay against her chest, feeling her breathing beneath me as she lowered her head into her arms. I'm not one for big revelations, but it seemed everything was easier, calmer, more peaceful when she was around. I hid nothing from Comet, and she hid nothing from me. We understood each other to an extent seemingly impossible and unattainable between two creatures so different.

But we weren't all that different. She understood the world just as much as I, knew it's expansiveness, cherished everything it offered. She felt the joy of zipping through the air high above the rest of the world, up with the clouds and the sky and the sun, seeing the world from a perspective new and different each time. She felt sorrow from the loss of our family and friends, the isolation and fear that followed. She knew the symptoms of a broken heart, an abandoned heart, and through her own suffering and anguish seeked to comfort me as best she could. And I tried to comfort her too, no matter the circumstance. It was this understanding, deeper than any I have ever known before, that protected me, sheltered me from tearing myself apart. I confided in her, and she listened, she knew my pain, shared my pain, and we relied on each other more than anything or anyone else.

"I love you Comet." I whispered, and her ear picked up slightly at the sound of my voice. She cooed and nuzzled even closer, placing her snout on my outstretched legs. I drifted off into a peaceful sleep, nestled in Comet's protective circle, calmed by her presence. The last thing I remember thinking before sleep swept me away, was a single thought:

I could not have asked for a better friend.