We didnt fly for long, decending into a thick woods somewhere south of where we started. Each of us was silent as we contemplated the things we had just been in. As i wearly climbed out of Ravinia's saddle, and slid to the ground. Hylon was sniffing the air curiously.

Marcus spoke up Sauron folded his massive wings. "Guys, sleeping out in the open isnt the best idea." He was gripping his backpack loosely in his hand. Marcus looked so tired and downtroddena t that point it was almost pitiful. There was aloose collection of aggrement, but no offers of a better idea. Were were all silent infact, until Hylon nudged Sarah's arm , and pushing her towards a dark opening in the hillside; A cave.

We were all silent as we filed into the dark hole, And someone flicked on a flashlight. THe opeining in the rocks went far back, opeining into a large cavern as we went, with lots of room for six smallish dragons. The air was damp and cool adn filled with sound of dripping water. The cave went far past the flashlights beam, dissapearing into the blackness. Ravinia cirlce a small patc of the drier looking srone, settling down. We might as well sleep. I doubt well be followed tonight, there is too much attention. I relayed Ravinia's words to the group, waiting to see iof the would follow suit. Sarah and Hylon were the first to do so, taking up psotion near the front of the entrance. i watched as the others found their own small areas, and settle down in silence.

I slid down to the hard cold floor, leaning back against Ravinia's side quietly. The air itself was not very cold, but the wet floor seemed to steal the heat from my body. i pushed up closs to my dragons side, using her body heat. I coulds barely see in the darkness as the sun went down, and Marcus had shut off his falshlioght. I could feel Ra (as was her common nickname) shift beneath me.

There is no need to be cold, Cody. one second. I shifted my weight off of her haunch momnetlarily, and waited for her to settle again. Once she did, i had discovered that she had rolled partailly to one side to exsposde her smoothe belly scales. This made things much more comforatble, but still not as nice as the lined sleeping rooms at the home cave. NOw that the adrenaline had been burned out of muy system, I found that i was afraid. Events liek this always happened to someone else, some were othe than where you lived. But this had happened to us, were we lived. It happened right were we werre supposed to always be safe. Only we weren't safe anymore, and no one knew about it. i suddenly felt very alone in that cave. Someone wanted to kill us, or capture us. Whatever we had done, we had greatly upset someone, or some group of some ones. And not a one of us knew anything about surviving or fighting.

You should calm your thoughts, Cody. You may not be trained in survival, and neitehr am i: but you forget something.

And what is that? I could feel the laugh Ravinia wasd holding within. I knew she was trying not to wake the otehrs.

i ama creature of myth and legend! Neither of us should exsist. No one has ever fought a dragon, therefore we have the advantage. So ease your mind, little one. Peace will be with us.

You stole that Straight form Eragon, didnt you?

I did. you liked it, so i copied it.

You know that is called plagarism, right?

I though immitation was the sincerest form of flattery? Besides, let them Argue, for i am a god among men... Or at least among the beasts. i had trouble staying silent, a snort escaping in the darkness. Ra wrapped her tail around me, and drapped a leathery wing overtop, making a small tent of her body. the temperature began to go up pretty steadily, unit i t reached a wonderfuly warm calm temperature. Silence once again envleoped us, and was soon replaced with the deep, steady woosh of a massive set of lungs. Ra was asleep. I setteld back against her haunch, and closed my eyes. I dont remeber falling asleep, But i was suddnely being nudged by a hard nose as Ravinia treied to wake me up.

Wake yourself, you have slept far into the morning, and the others are wating. Grogily i looked about, blinking in the dim sunlight that was filtering through the cave's mouth. It looked as if Ra and I where the only ones left inside, but i could hear distinct talking not far from myself. MY muscles graoned as I stood, not appreciating my cramped position. teh sunlight nearly blinded me as i extited the cave, and i stood tehre in the entrance looking rather stupid for a minuet or two, blinking and shading my eyes until my eyesight adjsut to the brightness of the morning. The rest of the group was gathered around a small campfire, heating water. Cold brisk air quickly cooled my body temperature, making me wish i was wearing more than a light hoodie, t-shirt and jeans. I made my way to the fire, picking up on the conversation as i did so.

"-burned the house down, looks like half the town square!" Commented Alex, staring at his smart phone. I could hear a woman's voice over its speakers, recounting last nights events. i sidled aroud the fire to look over his shoulder. The town square was indeed in ruins. MAny of the builds surrounding our apartment lay in ash, with massive plumbs of smoke risnig from the dust. Fireman surrounded tehs tructures, still dousing the smouldering timbers in waves of water.

" The search continues today for Six missing young adaults who occupied one of the apartments here on the square. Their bodies have yet to be found, and Authorities have alerted their famailes. Foul play is currnelty suspect, as several containers contating what appears to be the remnants of napalm have been found. We interviewed a local who knew the teams this morning, who says he is 'shocked'. "

IT was the old farmer grayson, looking rather distressed.

"I knew these teens well, and Cody was a freuent handa on my farm. He was good, hardworking man wiht intergrity. Whatever has happened to him, whereever you are, I still owe that Cheeseburger." I found Grayson's messege to be comforting, and it brought a small smile to my face. Cody continued to watch, but i had run out of intrest. I continued to move around the circle until i came upon Alex And Sarah. After a short greeting, i listened to them discuss options.

"We can stay here for a short time. we all have money. The only issue will to not be seen where ever wse go. The guy was obviously not found in the fire, so obviously hes still looking for us. Where are we, by the way?" We all tunred to look at Sarah, who was also on her phone. "Mamoth cave" wqas her grunted response. What a great place to hide a secret than a massive set of holes stretching for miles. Hah.

I spoke first, breaking the silence; "So we stay here and hide? Why dont we contact our parents? Or the scientist?" I saw Sarah's eyes sadden already tried.

"The west said they would continue to call, and let us know when they hear from them. They are probably in the mountains, out of signal range. Umbra said they'd send a team. So now we wait. " Alex and Sarah returned to thier conversation after that, leaving me to my peace. Kyla was kneeling by the fire, With Onyx sitting above her. I could tell the dirt was bothering her, as she was going to pretty extreme measures to keep it from getting on her hands. Marcus and clarah sat on either side of her, their respective dragon lounging in the trees. Ravinia still had not left the cave, but had gone back to sleep.

It was amazing how at-ease our dragons were, sharing none of the fear we had. i dropped in the grass beside my adopted brother Marcus, grabbing some of the hot water anda cup. We had powdered coffee (thanks to Sarah) and i poured some inot the cup, shaking it slightly in a lack of a utensile. i felt grateful to the drink of life, Glad to have something normal on this crazy ride. A upset exclamtion from across the clearing drew all of our attention, and more than one of us starrted feircly. It was Alex, looking at his phone in credited disbeleif. "Theye've locked my account out!" He exclaimed. then realuization dawned upon him. "Were missing, they think our stuff has been stolen..."

Clarah piped in this time: "We'll ahve ot use cash. There should be $200 in each backpack. If that cant sustain us for a week or two, we're in trouble. " At that momnet, Clarah's optimisom seemed hoepful. I felt that before this was over, we would need alot of hope.