I'm really glad you're all liking the story so far. I noticed the lack of excitement in the battle area and stuff on the dragon aspect, so I'm going to focus more on that next. Thank you all for your reviews. It means a lot to me and helps me to continue this fic. :)

Mrs.Quincy25 - Yeah, the whole period thing is why I actually changed my mind about pairing Hunter with Taelin. I mean, that would embarrass them both to no end and make them more akward around each other in the romantic sense, but I am thinking of pairing Taelin with someone. I'm glad you liked how I introduced the OC. I'm trying to point out that the Hunter I see wouldn't trust a new comer right out of the blue, necessarily.

I always loved sarcastic senses of humor. LOL. I think I lightened up a bit on that though, which I need to fix... LOL. I'm a Tori/Blake lover myself, so I had to include them in the couple sense. Hmmm...Taelin has her wise moments, but she's also still in the same age group as the others, so she'll probably act like it at times.

star-dreamer09 - I had to do that chapter. I think it was the main reason I decided to write and post this. I mean, I wanted to try the whole Dragon and Windian thing in a fic, but that period chapter was a must, no matter what! LOL. I know, it's hilarious. My best friend's boyfriend just gets into joking about it, with us.

I'm glad you liked it. LOL. I couldn't help but picture it and laugh while writing it.

GinaStar - This...is why I didn't pair Hunter with Taelin. LOL.

Thank you:) I wasn't sure how the fic was coming across at that point. I noticed that I ended up leaving the humor and action behind to do more emotional stuff. So...back to the humor and action!

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(Ops, Normal POV)

Angie sat at the table, alone. Everyone else had gone out but she didn't feel up to it. In fact, she didn't know how she felt.

On one hand, she got to meet two Dragon Clan members, making her feel slightly better, knowing she wasn't alone. On the other, the only one of the two who'd been the slightest bit hospitable, was Blake.

This didn't exactly go as I imagined. she thought. Well, she didn't know how she imagined it to go, but to have one Dragon Clan treat her like a constant threat or stranger, and the other to be nice...

And to end up finding out that Ninjas actually existed. She thought they only existed in fairytales or something, but they really existed in real life.

Part of her was happy to meet new people, intrigued by Cam's wit and Shane's competitiveness, interested to see the bond forming between Blake and Tori, amused at Hunter and Cam's constant banter, amused at Dustin's dense moments... It was nice to have people she could be sarcastic or smart-aleck with and they didn't take her too seriously, or open up to who'd understand her.

Then, part of her constantly wondered why Hunter seemed so angry at her. If she remained at a distance, in a local place, she could see him open up around the others and laugh. Sure, she still saw and felt the walls around his heart, but he wasn't openly hostile.

"Hey."

Jumping a little with a gasp, Angie turned to find Hunter standing in the doorway, his eyes resting on the floor. Biting her lip, she turned and looked at the table, remaining quiet, simply because she just didn't feel like arguing with him today.

"Listen, I..."

She looked at him as he trailed off and could see how uncomfortable he was, but he also seemed to be making an effort to be nice.

"I'm sorry..." he blurted. Frowning deeply, he looked up through his blonde bangs at her, crossing his arms over his chest as he shifted to lean against the wall. "You know, about yesterday, attacking you like that."

Looking back at the table, she felt her arm ache in memory and it her lip before nodding. "It's ok." she said softly.

With a heavy sigh, Hunter stalked over to the table and dropped down ungracefully at the edge of it, leaning his arms on it and looking at the wooden surface like it was the most interesting thing in the world. "It's hard for me to open up to people." he stated gruffly. "It wasn't so bad with the others because I knew all their back stories and stuff, but you just came outta nowhere."

She nodded again, remaining quiet and sensing that he needed to be the one talking just then.

"I know you weren't lying. I knew all along that you were being honest. It wasn't that I didn't trust you, it's just that I'm not good with making friends with new people." he continued, still refusing to look at her.

By now she could smell a hint of salt coming from him and knew he was close to tears. Pain practically radiated from him and she knew he was recalling painful memories. Tentatively, Angie reached out to touch his hand, but he quickly pulled back, moving away from her a little.

"I dunno if anything's gonna change." he stated after a moment, sounding a little more sturdy. "I just..." Shaking his head, he got up. "I just wanted to say sorry." he said quickly before turning and walking out of the room.

A couple minutes later and she felt a small weight on her shoulder. Turning her head, she looked at Sensei.

"You must forgive Hunter. He has suffered greatly, as has Blake, but it seems to affect him more." he stated sadly.

Angie frowned and looked at the doorway. "But, I don't understand what happened."

"He is adopted, as is Blake. They have both lost two sets of parents, the most recent, Lothor used against them. He managed to manipulate them into believing that I killed their parents, but in finding out the truth..." He sighed and closed his eyes. "They saw the spirits of their parents, telling them it was Lothor who killed them."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she turned back to the door. Lothor... Just like I thought, everything deals with him.

"Then, they wanted revenge against him, going to his ship alone and ending up brainwashed. Only this time, things went badly. Somehow, Hunter ended up with a more...complicated brainwashing, making him believe Blake betrayed him." He frowned and looked at the table. "They are past that, but I believe it may still haunt Hunter."

Nodding a little, Angie remained quiet as Sensei leapt off her shoulder and sat in his habitat, seemingly going into a meditative trance. Getting up quietly, she bowed, like she'd seen the others do, before heading out of there and walking through the forest towards the road to Blue Bay Harbor.

So everything's this Lothor's fault. He's the reason Hunter's so wary around people and always seems to be pushing people away. He's the reason for everything. she thought angrily. Frowning, she bit her lip as she made it to the highway, deciding to walking towards town. If she walked the whole way, it'd take her hours, but if nothing else, she needed the time to think.

I want him to pay... Go away and stop hurting people, but...what can I do? I'm not a fighter, even with the self-defense training I go through.

(Hunter's POV)

"I dunno what do to." I sighed, sitting under a tree at the park. "It just...hurts to much to tell her what happened."

"Bro, you gotta tell her or how's she supposed to know?" Blake asked with a look, sitting beside me.

After talking to Angie, I came here, to the park, to relax. It didn't take Blake long to find me and join me. Whether he lowered his mental blocks and read my mind, or just somehow knew I needed to talk, I don't know.

But I did know where he came from.

"So, you and Tori finally got over your shyness?" I asked with a grin. He smelled strongly of salt, telling me he came from the ocean, and a hint jasmine, a smell I recognized coming from Tori.

Shooting me another look, Blake raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, and no changing the subject."

With a sigh, I closed my eyes and turned my face to the sky, feeling relaxed under the sun's rays. "I apologized to her. Spoke to her. I wanted to tell her, but I got all confused and it just...hurt to remember it." Opening my eyes again, I blinked back the tears as I looked at a single bird flying by. "I didn't even get to say goodbye." I muttered under my breath, talking about the last time I saw mom and dad.

"Neither did I, bro." Blake responded, just as quietly, reminding me of our enhanced senses. "Look, I know it hurts. How 'bout if I talk to her?"

I opened my mouth to reply when the beeping of our morphers cut in and I groaned, looking down at my wrist. "I dunno." I stated, lifting my wrist to my mouth. "Go for Hunter."

"It's Cam. Listen, Angie's in trouble, just outside town. I've already called the others. Get there a.s.a.p!" Cam ordered sternly. "Cam out."

Just outside town? Frowning, I turned to Blake and nodded as we stood. Checking around, we made sure it was safe before morphing.

"Thunder Storm! Ranger Form! HA!"

Once morphed, we ninja streaked off to where I could sense pain from, knowing it was her.

It didn't take us long. She was well outside town, along the main highway back. She was also surrounded by kelzacks. Biting my lip as I rushed forward, I kicked two kelzacks off her, using my fire powers combined with my thunder powers to send a large group flying back. What was she doing, walking to town?!

Blake sent me a look, and even behind his helmet, I could read it.

Behave.

Shaking my head, I grabbed Angie's arm and pulled her up, noting a nasty bruise forming on her exposed side. "Are you ok?" I asked bluntly.

She looked a little embarrassed, or...was it shame...? But nodded slowly, clutching her side as I released her arm. "Sorry." she muttered.

What for? Sensing a kelzack coming up behind me, I kicked out without even looking and turned my head as it flew back into a bunch of others. "Don't be. Just watch yourself." I instructed, turning and going back to the fight.

Luckily, the other Rangers showed up within seconds and the kelzacks were taken care of easily.

Turning back to Angie, I noticed her head was hung low, and how her long brown hair was messed up. I guess she must've sensed me looking at her because she slowly looked up, her dark blue eyes gazed at me, almost shyly, confusion flashing in her eyes.

She's is kinda... Shaking my head, I looked away, willing the thought to go away before it could even finish in my head.

(Next Day, Blake's POV)

"Ok, bro, stop!" I hissed, feeling a massive headache making my head pound.

Hunter had been pacing the living room for what felt like hours, lost in thought. I tentatively opened my mind to him and found him questioning how he felt about Angie and where the sudden thoughts about her being 'cute' came from. But even in my amusement, I could only take him pacing for so long.

"Hunter!" I yelled, when he continued to pace, seemingly oblivious to me. "Stop!"

Jumping a little in surprise at my yell, Hunter looked at me in confusion and a hint of hurt as he stopped pacing. "Blake?"

I rubbed my temples and went into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of aspirin and a bottle of water from the fridge. Taking two of the little pills, I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to will them to hurry up and work.

"Blake, what's wrong?" Hunter demanded, walking into the kitchen.

I winced at his voice, even though it wasn't that loud and closed the bottle of water. Placing it back in the fridge, I glanced at the time, wondering how anyone could be as awake as he was at 6 in the morning. "Just a headache." I stated quietly.

"You've never snapped because of a headache before." my brother stated with a frown. Walking over, he placed a hand on my forehead and drew back quickly. "Bro, you're burning up."

Raising my eyes from the floor, I watched as Hunter took a step back and his eyes grew wide. I was about to question what was wrong when everything began to spin. "Bro..." I croaked as I felt my legs giving out.

As everything turned black, I had this weird feeling of power surging and like my whole body was changing. Then I landed on a warm, soft surface and welcomed the sleep.

(At Ops, Angie's POV)

"No way!" I cried as my eyes widened. "Are you serious?!"

Tori nodded silently, with a huge grin, from the edge of my bed in my room at Ops, and Taelin, who sat beside me, giggled nervously. "Yep. Blake took off and left it up to Hunter to explain." the Water Ninja stated with a grin.

"Man, I don't know whether to laugh at Hunter or feel mortified for Taelin." I stated with a laugh. "Well, ok, it is impressive that he managed to handle it. He did handle it, right?"

Tori nodded with a grin. "Yep. Told her all about the fact that it was a period and she wasn't in danger. He did pretty well."

Wow, imagine this. These Ninjas I was staying with, actually turned out to be the Rangers. Well, that actually explained a lot of things I didn't notice before. Like their elements and why they were always running off and stuff.

And now here I am, talking to Tori and Taelin about how Hunter and Blake raised Tae from a baby, having to deal with food fights, diaper changing, and Taelin's first period.

"At least until I finally showed up with some personal items for her, and he snapped at me for being so long." Tori stated with a giggle.

Taelin nodded, her own face in a bright grin. "Yeah, I remember hearing you asking him if he wanted to teach me how to use them and heard his feet running down the hall."

I laughed as I imagined his face. "Oh god, that's priceless!" I choked out between my giggles.

Finally having enough of this topic, Taelin turned to Tori. "And you've finally gotten over your shyness with Blake, I take it?"

The Water Ninja's face turned a deep cherry red and she looked down bashfully before nodding. "Yeah. It kinda took me by surprise. We were having a serious talk at the beach and then he just..." She bit her lip and shrugged. "Kissed me."

"And...?" I stated, leaning forward with what I knew was exaggerated excitement. "How was it??"

Her jaw dropped and she smacked my arm lightly. "Angie! I'm not telling you!" she cried as she burst into laughter.

I gave a mock pout before letting my head fall dramatically. "You're so mean!"

We all busted up laughing. "At least she got her man." Taelin stated with a sigh, a dreamy look coming over her face.

Grinning evilly, I exchanged a look with Tori. "Ok, who is it?" I demanded.

Tori nodded. "Spill!"

She turned a deep red and ducked her head in embarrassment. "...Well, I don't wanna tell you."

"Hey!" Tori cried with a swat to her lower leg. "That's not fair! Come on, please?!"

Biting her lip in a habit I think she picked up from Tori, Taelin looked to the door. "Ok, Dustin." she said reluctantly, keeping her voice down.

Tori's jaw dropped again and she began to giggle. Then she turned to me. "And I don't even need to ask with you."

I blinked blankly, frowning a little as I looked at her. "What do you mean?" I asked cluelessly. Then I picked up on what she meant and shook my head violently. "Oh, no. Don't even think about it!" I warned lowly. "Not a topic of discussion!"

"Guys!"

Blinking again, my head turned slowly to the door as Hunter's voice echoed down the hallway.

"Saved by Hunter, again." Tori stated with a grin.

"Tori! Taelin!" he called, his voice bordering on panicked. "Angie!"

Frowning a little, I dug into my ear with my pinky. "Is it me or did he just call my name?" I asked in disblief. "It's gotta be me."

"I wonder what's wrong?" Taelin muttered in confusion and Tori jumped up and bolted out of the room.

Shrugging a little, Tae and I followed her, entering the main room to find everyone surrounding Hunter.

Wait a minute. I thought in confusion. Looking over the group, I began to count heads. One, two, three, four, five... Taelin makes six... One was missing. Taking a few steps forward, Hunter came into clear view, holding a little sapphire dragon in his arms, which was clearly asleep. "Ah, I see." I stated with a nod.

"See?!" Hunter demanded in panic. "See what?! What's going on?!?"

"Blake's in his weakness period." I stated, biting back a grin at Hunter's visible wince. "He'll be in dragon form for a few days. And while in that form, he'll be... Oh, this is fun to explain." Closing my eyes, I tried to think on how best to explain it. "He'll be controlled by the dragon's senses. Be able to sense if someone is bad or good or wants to hurt him. He'll be able to recognize those closest to him."

That last part was stated with a pointed look at Hunter and Tori.

"He'll be able to understand, to a point, what's going on and being said. He won't be able to talk." I continued.

The little sapphire dragon stirred a little in Hunter's arms, curling up into a tiny ball, wrapping his tail around his body and burying his snout in it. Letting out a loud breath, everyone turned to him when it came out as a huff, and one chocolate eye opened briefly, looking at us all, before closing again. Then, one little fore-claw raised in a brief wave before being hidden by the long, sleek body again.

I blinked a moment, fighting back the urge to coo at how cute that was. I figured I'd wait until it was Hunter's turn and do it to him, instead. "And he'll probably like to cuddle, since heat relaxes him. Think of lizards and stuff. They love heat, are drawn to it, and relax under it. It's the same way for him." I finished with a grin as Hunter's eyes softened and he shifted his hold a little to make Blake more comfortable.

A small set of sapphire wings with black webbing fluttered a little as he settled, and I think he dozed back off again.

"So, this is normal for Dragon Clan?" Hunter asked warily.

I nodded. "Yeah. Everyone goes through it."

Nodding a little, Hunter turned and walked over to the table, sitting down carefully, so as to not jostle his little brother. Turning to look at Tori, I could see her eyes sparkling and knew she thought he, Blake, was adorable.

Grinning a little, I waved to the others and turned, heading back to my room.

Hey, it's only about 7 in the morning! I'm still tired!

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You know, I didn't even realize, but it's 7 pm here when I wrote that. LOL. Anyway, I had to look over the part with the fore-claw twice, to make sure I was reading it right. I mean, I got the image of Blake lifting a fore-claw and giving everyone the finger... That's not right. LOL! Funny, but not right.

For a couple of weeks now, I keep imagining different story ideas with Hunter as a Dragon Clan, and can't help but picture those little scenes where he'd clutch at a shirt with a claw, or huff as he relaxs, or curling up into a tiny ball, burying his nose under his tail. It just makes me want to coo about how adorable it is.

And for Hunter/Dustin fans, I've even had this idea floating around about them together. I don't think I'd write it, since I've never written slash, but I can think of such cute moments for the fic.

Hope you like it.

R+R please.

Thank you.

Tenshi