A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks to the people who reviewed the last chapter, it's always nice to get peoples' opinions. I tried to add more dialogue in this chapter, as well as some POV changes. Please tell me what you think. As always, the usual disclaimer: I don't own the power rangers. Enjoy chapter 2.

Ch.2- Midnight Visits

So few of us,' he thought as he watched the flames burn higher, only three left.' Hunter Bradley stood with his brother and their adoptive father as they said goodbye to yet another family member. So many people- family and friends alike- had lost their lives in battle that this had almost become a habit.

The pain never lessened though. He still couldn't believe that she was gone. Leanne was one of the best fighters; she had come back from countless battles. But not this time. They had they had been talking only that morning about the exciting news.

"Hunter!" At the sound of her voice, he looked up from the breakfast he was eating. She practically skipped over to the table before she sat down with him.

"I've never seen someone so eager to go into battle."

She gave him a playful scowl. "As much as I love bashing a few dragons that's not why I'm here."

"So why are you here?"

"You're purposefully trying to ruin my fun aren't you?"

"That's what I'm here for" he says smirking.

"Well it's not gonna work this time, you wanna know why?" Hunter merely raises an eyebrow. "Cause I'm pregnant!"

"Are you serious!?" Hunter got up and swung his sister around laughing in joy.

"Of course, Justin and I are going to have a baby!"

"This is amazing! When are you going to make the official announcement?" Hunter inquired as the started walking down the hall towards the gates.

"We'll make the announcement as soon as we get back from the fields."

Hunter stopped dead in his tracks. "HOLD IT! You're pregnant and you still plan on going to the fields to fight."

"Hunter, I'm not even a month pregnant. My Squad needs me and I can take care of myself. So I would appreciate it if you would stop acting like I'm helpless and treat me like the warrior I am." Smiling she added, "Besides they're only dragons. How hard can this battle be?" She lightly kissed him on the cheek, "I'll see you tonight." and she ran off to join her squad.

King Amino was the first one to leave, retreating to his room so he could mourn his daughter's death in private.

Hunter looked over at his brother and saw the tears that he knew mirrored his own. Looking at the funeral pyre, "I can't take much more of this Blake." It had been awhile since they had said goodbye to someone so close, Leanne's death had put it into perspective for the elder Prince. How long until its Blake up there?' He didn't think he could stand to see his brother up on the pyre.

Blake glanced up. "I know Hunter, but its not like we can just walk into the Dragon's Nest and tell them that the war is over and to stop fighting. They'd laugh at us before they killed us."

Hunter looked at his brother, an idea dawning on him. "Blake, do you remember that time when the leader of the avian shifters visited?"

"Yeah, here name was Kelly or something like that. Why?"

"Do you remember what she said?" Blake shook his head. "Before she left she told us if you ever want to end this hopeless war then our people will help you, but we will not get mixed in this battle'. I think it's time we took her up on her offer."

Blake's face lit up with a huge grin. "Bro, that's a great idea. We could have peace talks in her court cause its neutral ground. I'll go talk to dad and send the message to Queen Kelly."

"Thanks Blake."

"No problem, I know you always go on one of your mysterious walks' after every battle. I just wish you'd take someone with you its dangerous."

"Thanks for you concern Bro, but this something I can't do with someone else."

"Just be careful."

"Don't worry, I always am."

With that the two brothers parted ways. Hunter watched as his brother made his way back to the Lion's Den, the home of all the thunder shifters. He would have liked to tell Blake where he went after every battle, but he wouldn't be allowed to go anymore if he did. He couldn't afford to not go, he would be needed.

"Dude, we like totally kicked butt!" Cam knew who had just entered the room before he turned around. He looked at the three dragons as they came up to him. "This is just a guess but your latest mission was a success, or am I totally wrong?"

Shane gave him a grin. "Cam, man it was amazing. Those raiders didn't stand a chance."

"Yeah dude," Dustin gave his own mega watt smile. "someone's gotta tell those thunder cats to send stronger creeps."

Tori gave him an incredulous look. "Dustin, I can't believe you just said that. We want to end the war remember? That's why we're rangers."

"I know, I know. Sorry, I was just kidding."

"I hate to break up this interesting conversation, but I need to know how much gear I'm gonna have to fix from this last endeavor." With a slight smile at their guilty looks he added, "I also need your formal reports, but I guess both issues can wait because it's late. You guys can report tomorrow."

Shane stuck the back of his hand against Cam's forehead. "Are you feeling alright? Guys, I think Cam is sick."

"I'm not sick. It's just late. Now go before I change my mind and make you stay and give oral reports." Cam couldn't suppress his grin at the ranger's antics.

A look of mock horror swept across the three rangers faces as they turned to leave. Before they left Tori turned around, "Cam, you said it yourself. It's late. We're not the only ones that need rest."

"What do you mean?"

"Dude, I'm supposed to be the dumb one. We know you were gone all day in the fields. You've gotta be a tired as we are."

Usually he would have argued, but he was exhausted and he couldn't let his work be weakened just because he was tired. Grudgingly he stood up and walked over to the door with them. "Fine, I guess I'll turn in then too."

His companions grinned as he parted ways with them in the hallway. "Night Cam."

"Good night."

He watched his friends grow the dragon wings of their demi form and fly off two their own room. Not being able to shift himself, Cam made his way towards the stairs at the far sides of the Nest.

He usually wouldn't go to sleep this early, but he had told the three rangers he would so he went.

A few months ago, he wouldn't have even put up with their pestering but to his surprise he had grown close to the three rangers. Being the son of the dragon king, as well as not having normal dragon abilities had made it hard to make friends, but after working with the rangers for so long they had slowly become good friends. At first it had scared him a little.

He had never had friends that he could talk to, but as they all became closer he realized that they had become aru mai, soul friends. He wouldn't tell them this out loud, it didn't really need to be said, but he would give his life for them if he needed to. Subconsciously Cam knew that they would do the same.

Before Cam made it to his room, he came upon his father going the other way.

"Cameron, I need to speak with you."

"Privately?"

"No, we may speak in the hallway. I believe that it is reaching the time that you took on the duties of leader of the Dragon's Nest. You are old enough and as soon as you have announced a soul partner to be your mate, you will take over my title."

Cam was speechless, but he needed to say something. So keeping his face blank Cam asked, "May I have time to decide on my partner?"

"Very well, you made have two weeks to make the announcement." With that King Watanabe ended the conversation. "Good night, my son."

Cam bowed and turned towards his room. "Good night, Sire."

Kanoi Watanabe watched his son walk down the rest of the hall and enter his room. Releasing a sigh, he turned and walked towards his own quarters.

It had been a long time since Cameron had called him father.

Cam mulled over the new information as he prepared himself for bed. The last thing he did before he blew out the candles was put the necklace his mother had given him on the bedside table. She had said it would protect him, but it didn't seem to keep the nightmares away. Oh well, he could always hope. He sent a silent prayer to the amulet and fell asleep.

The dream started out as they always did. He was four, the age he was when his mother died.

He was in the battle field. He had followed his mother without her knowing. Cam didn't see her until it was too late. He found her just in time to see her fall to the ground with a dagger in her side.

"Mmooooommmyyyyy" the little boy ran too her side.

"My son, I love you" She looked up at her son and slipped something from her neck to his. "I will always be with you."

Hearing a growl, the little dragon looked up. A lion was slowly stalking towards him and his fallen mother. Fear gripped him and kept him frozen as the monstrous feline prepared to pounce.

Suddenly a roar sounded behind him and Cam saw a blur pass him as his father charged and killed the lion in his fury.

The dragon turned around and collapsed by his son and wife's side.

At this point he became detached. Watching as an outside observer as his mother gave her last wish and died. Then things started to fade to black……

He was in the fields again, but not as a child. This was the same place he had walked earlier that day. He watched as soldiers died, and made his way to one of the bodies.

It was the body of the thunder princess. She was bleeding. No matter how much he tried, Cam couldn't stop the bleeding. The blood pooled around him and soon it was all he could see.

He was drowning. All the bodies were gone, only a sea of blood remained. He couldn't swim. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't fight the drag pulling him under. He couldn't form any coherent thoughts, all he could do was scream and hope the pain would end soon.

The jaguar slowly made his way into the dragon prince's room. He knew his way around, he had been coming here for a long time.

The first time had been when he was only thirteen. Two of his family members had been killed in battle and he had decided to exact revenge by killing the young dragon prince. He had made his way into the bedroom and drawn his knife, but couldn't bring himself to kill the other boy. The dragon wasn't even in his bed, he had fallen asleep in front of a remembrance alter. The young jaguar looked at the alter and saw a picture of a woman that looked like the boy. His mother'. The dragon had dried tears on his face. No, the jaguar couldn't kill him. Not when he understood the other boy's pain.

Turning away, the jaguar prepared to leave when he heard a cry behind him. The dark haired boy was thrashing and crying out.

The blond boy was unsure, but he did the only thing he could think of. He walked over to the dragon and cradled him in his arms until he calmed down and fell into a peaceful sleep.

That had been the first of many visits to come.

It hadn't taken many of these visits' for Hunter to realize that the dragon had the nightmares after every battle, and they were at their worst after he had walked the fields.

He looked down at the sleeping dragon, couldn't help running his hand through the jet black hair and gently tracing the face that didn't reflect any of the emotions of the day, only calm peace. He slowly moved his eyes downward over the soft mouth and over the lithe and finely muscled frame of the dragon's torso which he kept uncovered, deigning only to sleep in light cotton pants.

As he watched over the sleeping dragon, Hunter found himself thinking of the man's eyes. A pair of deep chocolate brown pools that looked at him with sadness but also hope for and end. Maybe they would be able to stop the fighting.

Then the nightmares started.

Hunter knew the signs well, the dragon started to fidget and moan in fright. The jaguar knew what to do. He carefully cradled the other man in his arms as his fidgeting became thrashing and the moans became cries.

He sat and comforted the man until he calmed and slowly drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Just as hew was about to be lost in the sea of blood, a hand grabbed his own. It pulled him out and into a warm embrace. When he was a child, the person had first been his mother, but when he was thirteen the person had changed. Instead of the tan skin and dark eyes of his mother, his rescuer had pale skin and ice blue eyes. At first he had questioned this change, but had soon accepted it. It gave him hope that maybe there was a chance to end the fighting.

As the blond thunder ninja cradled him in his arms once again, all he felt was peace as he fell into the peaceful oblivion of dreamless sleep.

TBC

A/N: Hope you liked, please review. I'll try to update as soon as possible.