ANNOUNCEMENT: Me and my family will be traveling to Guatemala for two weeks, and I am leaving Monday, so I might not be able to post at all while I am on vacation, but we'll see! Thanks for the support! I will return on July 12th.

ANNOUNCEMENT (AGAIN): Lizardkicker33...you were the 50th commentor! But, sadly, I cannot them offer you the prize...:'( I need to PM you to do that, and you don't have an account... I am so sorry! You have to have an account, so the prize will have to be given to the next comment with an account. Deepest apologies. :((

Also, there are two lines in here that are from Avatar: The Way of Water. Can you find them?

Elvie: I couldn't find them, so when someone does, PM me and give me hint? Please...

PS: ElvenQueenLibrary shall still be available during those two weeks, and I can forward any questions through outside means of communication.

"There's a dragon!"

The cry rang our as the Strander camp dissolved into chaos when they saw Ash charged forward, roaring and spitting out flames.

Itzel and Arthie came behind her, shouting and waving their arms.

"GET THE DRAGON!" shouted a large Strander with a brown beard, scrambling to get closer to the water on the beach.

Other Stranders ran around their already half-burning camp, scrambling for weapons and buckets of water and rope.

"LET! LIAM! GO!" roared Arthie as he leapt at the nearest Strander, bearing his dagger.

The man growled at him and shoved him off, as if he were merely a feather. The dagger tumbled out of his reach. "You're coming with me, boy!"

Arthie got up from the ground and started wildly punching and kicking as the Strander lifted him from the sand.

"AGH! STAY STILL, YOU!" the man shouted as Arthie scratched his face.

"NO! LET! LIAM! GO!"

"OOMPH!" the Strander let go of Arthie as he was kicked in the stomach- hard. Arthie took this opportunity and thrashed and wiggled out of the man's grip. He then tripped his feet and knocked him on his back. As the Strander rolled over, Arthie took his arm and tried to twist it behind him. The Strander gasped in pain.

He had some fighting experience, since he was supposed to be the next Throne Warden.

Then, he grabbed his dagger and took off running towards the cave. He looked back and saw Ash wreaking havoc by burning the Strander camp, and...

Arthie turned away quickly before he could see Ash chomp a Strander in her jaws. He kept running, trying not to think about it.

To die trying.

"Arthie!" Itzel cried, running towards him. She was carrying a string of keys, her skirt slightly burned. Arthie whipped around and hugged her tightly.

"How did you get that?" he asked, gesturing towards the keys. Itzel gave him a tired grin.

"I snuck into the camp and found them while everyone else was too scared to pay me any attention!"

"Good going, Itzel!"

They shook themselves off, then started for the cave again. They were nearing, until they heard a slimy voice bark,

"Just where do you think you're going?!"

A young, teenage Strander girl leapt into their path, snarling at them and skillfully welding a dagger.

"None of your business!" shouted Itzel, giving the girl a dirty look.

"Aw, how feisty. But I gotta stop you riiiiight there." She stalked closer. "Give. Me. Those. Keys."

"Never!" Arthie snarled, jumping in front of Itzel and curling his fists up.

The girl laughed. "So brave, yet so foolish. I'll be nice, once. Then I won't." her glare turned colder as she stretched out her palm. "You can give me those keys and come with me, or I will snatch them from your hand and drag you away."

"Then lets get it done," growled Arthie, jumping at her. She tumbled out of his way, but she landed at Itzel's feet. Itzel came down on her with fists, punching her.

Somehow, the girl dodged each of her punches, then grabbed her fist midair and twisted it back.

Itzel yelped with pain, and she was forced to the ground as the girl jumped up and snatched the keys from her hand.

But then, Arthie threw himself onto her back from behind and clawed her neck and pulled her scraggly hair.

"Hey! OWW!" she screamed. "YOU PATHETIC RAT!"

She fell to the ground and over, squishing Arthie. The breath was knocked our of him, and he groaned painfully.

"Ha! That'll teach you to-" the girl began as she got up and stood over both of the doubled over children, but another voice cut her off.

"MARY! FORGET THE KIDS! GET YOUR REAR OVER HERE AND HELP US WITH THIS MAKER FORSAKEN DRAGON!"

Mary, the girl, snarled at the voice and then looked back over at the kids.

"Whatever," she smirked as she sped away, with the keys.

Itzel got up first, crawling over to a wheezing Arthie.

"I'm...fine," he gasped, his chest heaving and his eyes watering. Like Itzel, he was most definitely not fine. But he got up with the help of Itzel, who was cradling her wrist (twisted at an odd angle).

"We need...to go...help...Liam," Itzel groaned, holding back a sob of pain.

Arthie stumbled upwards, then grabbed the dagger once again on the ground. So far, in this battle it had only been thrown around. No actual help. But it still felt good to have it with him.

As the children stumbled over to the cave, they kept thinking the same thing.

She took the key. She took the key.

But finally, they made it to the entrance and they stumbled in. And just like they thought, on the far side of the wall, Liam was chained up.

"Liam!" they cried, and they rushed over to him. Liam groaned and opened his eyes. He blinked slowly, then they focused on the children.

"A...Arthie? Itzel?" he croaked, his voice a husky tone that hadn't been given water or used in days. Tears spilled over Itzel's cheeks as she nodded enthusiastically and embraced Liam tightly.

"Oh...Arthie, Itzel!" Liam cried, shiny tears gathering in his eyes as he looked up at both of them and sunk into her hug.

Arthie felt tears of his own form in his eyes, and he didn't fight them as he joined the embrace.

Liam ordered his eyes not to cry, but his tear ducts didn't get the message.

Sobs bubbled up in his chest, and he tried to swallow them down as best he could, but some of them slipped free and cried as his cousins hugged him.

They were here! But...how?

"How...are you here?" Liam asked, his red eyes watering all over again and his voice sounding nasal.

"Not now," Itzel told him, pulling away. "We have to save you. But..but she took the keys! What do we do?!"

Arthie had the answer in his hand. He held up the dagger proudly and said,

"I knew this would have a good use!"

Liam watched as Arthie plunged the blade into the lock on his chains, and twisted it until there was a CLICK! and Liam's shackles fell from his hands.

His arms ached as he pulled them from the floor. His wrists hurt, and his arms were sore, but most of all, he was finally free!

He stared at his wrists, red and swollen. Red rimmed his vision. The Stranders had done that to him. They had taken him prisoner. Chained him. Beat him. Forced him to work. Liam stood up, wobbly at first, then he stood up straight and faced the burning camp outside the camp, the wind blowing in and raffling his wavy hair.

It was time for some payback.

"Do you have a plan to get out of here?" Liam asked, coughing.

"No," admitted Arthie. Liam faced both of them, his tone turning serious.

"Why is the camp on fire?"

"Oh, well...funny story..." Itzel said, smiling in spite of herself.

"WehaveadragonthatcanbreathefireandwerescuedherfromthestonekeepershernameisAshandanywayswehavetogetourofheresoletsstoptalkingandcomeupwithanactualplanofhownottodie!" Arthie quickly recapped.

Liam blinked. "Well, um, okay."

"We need to get off the island," Itzel said. Liam nodded slowly, a plan forming in his head.

It was risky, but it might be the only way to get out of there.

Liam huddled closer to the children and spoke in a hushed tone as he said,

"I have a plan."

ElvenQueenLibrary: THAT WAS EPIC!

Seriously though, it was an amazing and adventure filled chapter. Remember that I will be available for PM or reviews while Rainy is missing for two weeks.