I adjusted the wrinkled lavender skirt of my dress attempting to smooth it because I knew Marietta would not approve of seeing me in such a state of disarray. Since the attack nearly six months ago, Henry and Marietta were put in charge of the city, and that meant me. Marietta was a woman of formality, insisting everything be perfect, quite unlike her husband. Henry, however, was a man of free will and change but also one of great seriousness and calm. Two great doors of smooth willow were opened up unexpectedly upon my arrival making me jump a bit. I just stood there, wringing my hands unsure of where to go exactly. Nox bumped my back nearly knocking me over, but it got me walking again. It was always a rather awkward ordeal when I had to meet with Henry because part of me felt like he didn't trust me fully, although it had been ages since he had requested my presence, I always sensed he wore a mask in front of me. "Ah Avina!" I heard him say, clapping his hands together, and Walking toward me. "How are you my dear?" He asked, a flash of doubt behind his eyes. I looked at him skeptically, narrowing my eyes ever so slightly. I ignored his question. "What's happened" I said as I got a sinking feeling in my gut. The look of pleasantness instantly left his face as though someone a doused a flame "we've gotten news of another attack by the Cobalus in the north." He said bluntly and I sighed. "How many are dead" I asked, dropping my gaze to the polished marble floor. It was his turn to ignore my question. "There are rumors that they are building an army-" "And you believe the stories that are often spread by children?" I interjected, speaking quickly and sharply, flicking my gaze up to match his. "When they are stories of a consequential death, I'm afraid must" he sighed. "What reason do they have?" I demanded. "Disappearing for a hundred years then coming back so suddenly and mutilating all in their way... It doesn't make sense!" "You know why." He said becoming very still, giving me a look. "What did I ever do to them!" I demanded, throwing my hands up in question. I turned my back and crossed my arms, walking over quite a way away to stand next to Speronox who stood behind me in the great hall. "Just your mere existence threatens their lives, Avina" He explained for the thousandth time. "Riders are the soul reason that they disappeared, and now that they not only have their strength back but also their numbers, they are willing to do anything to retain them." I sighed heavily "I didn't ask for this." I instantly regretted these words, a hurt click in Nox's mind made me come back to the real world. "I'm not some magical enchantress whose 'destiny' it is to save the world from the dawn of time. I'm just a human, nothing more...what do you expect me to do." "A pair scouts recently confirmed the existence of a dragon colony not too far west." I unfolded my arms and felt Nox stir in my mind and beside me. A mix of excitement and anxiety grew inside him. "Now if we have any foresight, the Cobalus will try to rally them." "And I'm supposed to get to them first?" I deduced, as I placed a hand on Nox's great scaly form, trying to calm his rampant emotions. "Precisely." Henry said smiling. I could feel how much this meant to my bond and it took no hesitation for me to accept. "When?" I asked. "Ideally?... Tomorrow." He said, nodding as of in thought. I took this as a dismissal and took my leave. "Oh, and Avina, do not speak of this to anyone you will leave without a send off." Henry added at the last moment and I kept walking. As I walked the floor of the city, the emotions in Nox grew. His mind had obviously never abandoned the news we had just received. "Go clear your head" I said finally, as I stopped my pace and turned to him. He didn't say a word and he didn't have to, I felt a wave of gratitude flow in his mind and in an instant he was in the air and out of sight. I continued my walk with my hands casually clasped behind my back. This place was the oldest part of the city. A topless structure with carved pillars that marked its walls. It twisted and turned like a labyrinth and decorated with old relics and carvings, each of them softened with time and age. I enjoyed my surroundings seeing as autumn had began to overtake the world and left a golden hue on the world. Leaves littered the ground making my footsteps crackle beneath me so I changed my pace to walk in silence. A few of the still-many golden and orange leaves still clinging to the trees were butterflies as they fluttered down around me. The scent of the them swirled around me like a ribbon, Making my hair flutter around like I was underwater. With a huge grin, I spotted the silhouette of Landon down the opposite end of the corridor, sitting in one of the many little open parlors that opened up into a small courtyard with a blooming cherry tree. I knew it was him because no one else ever seemed to come to this old and forgotten part of the city. He had told me once that when he was a boy Morgana would take him here, to the place I found him now and tell stories of fantastical heroes and magical battles. Gathering my skirt a bit, I raced silently down the corridor, my bare feet making no noise, only the gentle swish of the fluid fabric of my dress and the leaves it swept up in the air current could be heard. When I was but a few steps away I saw him glance back to see who was there and upon seeing me he smiled, moving over to let me sit next to him on the sun warmed stone bench. We sat in silence for a while, a light smile never leaving my lips. we watched the world until I ended the silence. "Henry spoke with me today" I said softly, afraid to disturb the peaceful silence around us. "When are you leaving?" He asked, already knowing what I was talking about. There was no disappointment or any negatives in his voice. "Tomorrow" I replied, reaching a hand out gently in front of me as a delicate cherry blossom laded upon my open palm. I ran a finger over the tiny delicate pink petals when the wind suddenly swept it up and into the dazzling blue sky. "Come on, let me show you something." Landon said suddenly, offering his hand. I took it without a moments hesitation. He led me through the still unfamiliar paths in the winding pavilion as if he had memorized them long ago. They let out into a place of Ansnora I never knew existed. It held no trees like the rest of the city but it seemed ivy had claimed it as well as various other climbing flowers. It but beautiful nonetheless. The placed brought me to was as if the earth had been broken away, a cleanly cut cliff overlooked an autumn stained wood that stretched for miles and a clean silver river cut through the middle of it like a snake. The hight of the drop was staggering, but I had grown un afraid of heights recently, knowing I would always be caught. I watched him sit on the edge, the precariousness of it made me nervous so I sat with my feet on the ground rather than hanging in the air and I leaned agains his shoulder in quiet company. "This city never stops hiding little gems doesn't it." I said smiling gently, looking out over the tree tops, resting my chin on my knees "If it did, why would people want to live here?" He asked with a crooked smile. "Well, you said no one ever comes out here." I mumbled, picking at a lose thread on the hem of my lavender skirt. "Nox didn't take what Henry said too well I can assume?" He spoke his mind turning toward me. I shrugged, wrapping my arms around my knees. "How would you take learning you weren't alone like everyone's always told you?" There was a pause "Do you think that GreenDale was attacked?" I asked suddenly, no longer able to suppress my worry since Henry mentioned an attack in the north. I had not let myself be consumed by the fear for my mother while Nox was still around, but now, it was all I could think about. I felt Landon wrap a strong arm around me. My gaze was was low and on the trees below us. "You know I won't lie just to make you hope false things, but no, I can say with near certainty that GreenDale is safe for now." He said quietly into my ear. I couldn't help but feel the guilt of having to leave with out a goodbye but I convicted myself that this would do. I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder and we watched the sun sink beneath the earth until the stars shone above like the souls of our ancestors.