Two weeks had passed. Night after night, the three Defenders returned to the same spot in the forest. Night after night, Thorne got easier to calm down. But, day after day, Crocness became more worried about Thorne.

The half-human, half-reptile noticed that Thorne was getting more aggressive during daylight. She was sure it was because the chemical agent was altering his DNA. At night, his transformation would start earlier and last longer. It was just by a few seconds' difference each night, but, night by night, they would soon add up. In a matter of time, Thorne would be stuck as a dragon for the rest of his life.

But there was another reason why Thorne was acting more angry during the day. Crocness hadn't figured that one out yet.

Thorne was getting frustrated with himself. Everytime he was around Crocness, he got this strange, unfamiliar, almost content feeling. It made him calmer and, to an extent, happier. Thorne knew exactly what the emotion was, and he didn't like it one bit. It wasn't supposed to happen. Not to him. He wasn't supposed the fall in love, not with anyone, not ever.

He was convinced that it was the chemical agent's fault. He was sure it was poisoning him, and making him feel this strange way. Everyday in his lab, he tried as hard as he could to change himself back to normal. But nothing he made ever worked.

At first, whenever his finished antidote didn't work, he would just grumble to himself slam his hand on one of the counters. But as time went on, and still nothing worked, he would do more than just grumble. Eventually, he got to the point of yelling and throwing things across the lab when yet another attempt failed.

And he would only stop screaming and flinging things when Crocness appeared in the doorway and reminded him to calm down.

This particular day, when Thorne returned to the castle from the forest around ten o' clock in the morning, he decided to stay away from the lab. He was tired of doing countless tests and calculations, and ending up with failed results.

So, after grabbing some breakfast, Thorne decided to take a walk around the castle grounds. He intentionally made sure to avoid all of the other Defenders. He didn't want to deal with any taunts or angry remarks. He was sure some of them were probably upset with him.

Thorne wandered around the courtyard for a while before marching into the Stockade. Suddenly, as he walked across the Pardoning Platform, he could sense someone approaching him from behind. He stopped walking when he heard their distinctive voice.

"Hey, Thorne!"

The said Defender growled, then turned around. He was about to snarl at the Australian bird to go away when he froze. His face softened when he saw Kook's arm in a sling. He could suddenly feel a very faint sting of guilt.

Thorne calmly straightened his arched back. "Hey." He took a deep breath. "How's your arm?"

The bird glanced at his injured limb. "It still hurts a little, but Gildar said it should be completely healed in a few more weeks." Kook smirked. "At least that means less work around the castle for me!"

Kook laughed in his unique, high-pitched way.

"What are you doing out here?" the alchemist asked, ignoring his urge to comment that he thought the bird's laugh was really annoying.

Kookaburra glanced back at the castle. "Gildar wanted me to get some fresh air. He said that I've been stuck inside the castle for too long."

Thorne nodded. He looked down into the Stockade and thought about his pesky emotions. He suddenly remembered that Kookaburra had gone through the same thing.

He sighed. Thorne didn't want to talk to Kookaburra about it, but he didn't think Skabb or Tinkor would be very helpful, and he would choose Kook over Gildar.

The surly Defender turned back to the green-haired bird. "Kook, I need...I want to ask you something."

The bird blinked with surprise. "Really? What?"

"Why do you like Shaiden?" the alchemist asked, crossing his arms.

Hearing this, Kook's face turned bright red. He glanced around uncomfortably. He then smiled awkwardly at Thorne, hoping that his suddenly hard expression would soften a little. It didn't.

"W-Well, uh, um..." Kook hesitated. "She's...she's very pretty..."

The bird smiled nervously, hoping Thorne wouldn't kill him just for saying that. Much to his surprise, however, Thorne was staring at the ground, thinking.

Well, that doesn't help; I think Croc's more scary than pretty...although, I like scary...and her eyes, on the other hand...Thorne blinked when he realized what he was thinking. He growled under his breath. Shut up!

A pause.

"Is that it?" Thorne asked, looking back at Kook. "Is that all it takes to fall in love with someone?"

Kook paused. "Um...no, I don't think so. There's also the matter of personality, skills, and stuff..."

Thorne grunted and looked out at the courtyard. Though Thorne was being a bit subtle about it, Kook figured out why he was asking him these questions, although who it was he liked was still a mystery to the bird. Normally, he would have teased the alchemist about it, but he didn't want to be responsible for Thorne's next dragon transformation.

The Australian bird hesitated before he spoke. "There's nothing wrong with liking someone."

The Defender with the mohawk stared angrily at the kookaburra.

"N-Not that you do," Kook added quickly. "But stuff like that's normal, mate! It happens!"

Well, it's not supposed to happen to me! Thorne thought, baring half of his teeth, which frightened the bird a little bit.

Another pause.

"Why do you ask? Is Shaiden interested?" Kook asked with a smile, trying to loosen the tension and hide the fact that he knew what Thorne was feeling.

The alchemist glared at the bird. "My sister wouldn't date you even if you were the last man on the planet!"

"For your information, I'm not a man, I'm a bird!" Kook retaliated with a smirk.

***

Later that night, Crocness and Thorne were back in the forest. They had found a lake a couple weeks before, and they were currently standing in front of it. Crocness had allowed her pet to go for a swim, so she was busy watching him. Thorne was busy telling himself to get rid of his romantic emotions.

You're not supposed to be in love, he told himself. Besides, she's not even in to you...

Thorne blinked, then looked at the Defender standing next to him, recalling that she had told him he was cute as a half-dragon. Did she really mean that?

"Crocness?"

The reptilian woman looked at her comrade. "Yes, Thorne?"

Thorne instantly regretted deciding to ask. He paused. "...Are you ready for the Attackers? They should be coming in a few more weeks."

Crocness nodded. "I'm ready."

Thorne nodded back, then looked down at his boots. He was reminded that Ballista still hadn't got him those articles of clothing she had promised him. He really needed a new pair of boots.

"As a whole, though, I don't think anyone's ready," Crocness said suddenly.

Thorne looked at her. "What do you mean?"

The reptile woman looked out towards the lake. "Well, Kook's still unable to defend. And with the recent dragon attacks and your current condition, things have been put off." Crocness turned to Thorne. "You haven't been making any slime, goo, or foam, have you?"

Thorne shook his head.

Crocness sighed. "We should be busy getting ready. And we need to find a way turn you back to normal."

Thorne silently stared at the crocodile woman for a long moment before he spoke again. "We'll get through this, Crocness. Just like we did when we first arrived; when all sorts of beasts went after us. And now most of them have become part of Skabb's skull collection."

Crocness laughed. "You're right." She took a deep, refreshing breath. "Ah, those were some good times, eh?"

"Yeah." Thorne paused. "Remember during one target practice I "accidentally" shot Gildar with the Splatzooka?"

Crocness smirked. "How could I forget that? The look on his face was priceless!"

Thorne cackled. Crocness smiled, then looked back at the lake. All of a sudden, her eyes widened with alarm.

"Albert!"

Thorne whipped his head to the lake. A large, monstrous boa constrictor had wrapped itself around Crocness's beloved pet. Albert was strong, but the thick snake had already overpowered him. Thorne unsheathed his claws and glanced at Croc.

"I'll get-"

Thorne blinked. Crocness wasn't standing there. He suddenly heard a loud splash. Turning, he found that the croc-woman was already in the lake, wading towards the struggle. It wasn't long until she was pulling the snake from her pet with her bare hands.

"GET AWAY FROM MY ALBERT!" she screamed.

Thorne stared at the crocodile warrior as she tore the snake apart from Albert, his mouth partly open. As he stood there, only one word came to mind:

Wow...

Thorne couldn't help it; he was impressed by how strong the reptile woman was and how fiercely she fought for her best friend.

It was then, as Crocness grabbed the constrictor's snout and mercilessly squeezed it, that Thorne saw everything he admired about her. The other Defenders might think differently, but to Thorne, Crocness was absolutely beautiful the way she was.

The ninja was watching the scene from the shadows. Particularly, she had her eyes locked on her half-dragon, half-human brother. She momentarily averted her gaze to the lake, where Crocness was beating the life out of the unlucky snake.

I thought that boa constrictors lived in South America.

Shaiden returned her gaze to her brother when she concluded that the Attackers were getting more desperate, and had the snake imported to Canada. Suddenly, Shaiden's jaw dropped.

Thorne was smiling.