First of all, I would like to shout out to THRONE WARDEN's story. Its called, "The Wedding that was Almost Prevented" Go read and review!

Now, sorry we haven't posted in a VERY long time. Loge is kinda getting hectic... Thanks for hanging tight, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Arthie woke up with a start. He saw a scarred Grey Fang's face staring at him. He snuffled his nose.

"Wakey, wakey, Wingfeathers. Today's A big day for ya."

Arthie got up from his horrible bed. His mattress was thin and creaky, and the blankets were ragged, thin, torn, and rough. There wasn't even a pillow.

The Grey Fang snuffled again, wrinkling his wet nose. "Well, get up, the Stone Keepers be waitin'." Arthie forced his stiff legs to swing off the bed and step onto the floor. His vision was woozy for a second, then the Fang dragged him forward.

Once outside in the Fang "city", he saw another Grey Fang leading Itzel away.

"Me names Snort, by the way. I will be your personal caretaker. Nab got fired after lettin' you cheeky kids get away with some shenanigans," the Grey Fang leading Arthie said.

I thought it was Neb, Arthedor thought.

Arthie looked up at the Fang as he walked.

"Snort?" he asked.

Snort looked down at him, and sniveled once more. He reached up a paw to wipe his runny nose, as if that answered his question. It did.

Soon, Arthie found himself being led up into another cave-room. As soon as they stepped in, Arthie noticed the difference in temperature.

It was colder. There was a glassy pool of water, and in the middle of it, A huge amber spotted against white egg.

Arthie shivered. Then he looked around him and saw Itzel and another Grey Fang.

The two children looked at each other, then from the shadows, came two limping, ugly Stone Keepers. Murgah and Amrah.

"Well, good morning, children. I see you are here to cooperate," hissed Murgah.

Amrah turned to the two Fangs.

"You may leave now," she said. Both Fangs dipped their heads, and scurried out of the room.

Arthie slid over to Itzel, and they stood together as both Stone Keepers neared them. Itzel shivered. Murgah smiled.

"You may have noticed the drop in temperature. Ah, that is because this dragon egg must be kept alive under specific conditions. The low temperature of the Dark Sea where it would have been kept must be obtained on land. What better place than a cave?"

Murgah lurched forward into the glassy pool. Amrah followed her.

"Come, prisoners. Follow us," Amrah said in a ragged voice. Itzel looked in dismay at Arthie. Arthie sighed. Then he inched forward a baby step. Then another. And another.

"Hurry up!" Murgah said impatiently.

Arthie finally stepped into the pool. Icy cold water lapped at his feet. He bit back a squeal as the ice cold water seeped through his shoes and froze his feet.

Amrah sighed and rolled her eyes. "Dramatic kids," she mumbled as she splashed her way back to them and yanked Arthie and Itzel into the water. The cold shock fazed Arthie for a moment as the water came up to his knees. He heard Itzel suck in a sharp breath as she was pulled closer to him.

"Now, we want you to use your special connection to communicate with the dragon egg's. You must inflict negative emotions and thoughts. You know the rest."

The Stone Keepers looked at them expectantly.

Arthie wasn't sure how to do this. He hadn't ever received lessons in how to do it. It wasn't like his parents had taught him or anything. He wasn't even sure if the "connection" was real or just fables!

But he had to try. If he ever wanted to go home, he had to at least fool the Stone Keepers that he had done it.

Arthedor closed his eyes and focused in his head. He imagined his thoughts racing, and then said in his mind,

Hello?

He tried directing it to the dragon egg.

Hello?

Silence.

HELLO?

It was probably just magic stories. That was all. Arthedor opened his disappointed eyes, then suddenly, something appeared in his mind.

It was a feeling, more like it. It was warm and fuzzy, but also lonely. It took over his heart. Homesickness engulfed him, but it was strange.

Arthie knew that feeling wasn't his. It was...

"Anything?" Murgah growled.

Arthedor sucked in a breath before nodding.

"It's...it's sending me...emotions?" he said, not quite believing himself.

Amrah raised an eyebrow.

Arthie turned to Itzel.

"Can you try? I need to know I'm not crazy" he said. "Just pretend you're tuning into the thoughts of the dragon egg or something."

Itzel furrowed her brows. What now?

But she did as he asked. She wasn't sure what he had done, but she pretended to force her consciousness directly at the egg, and then..

"Woah," she breathed. A warm, nestled feeling whooshed inside her.

Hi, she said in her head.

A warm burst of energy was sent her way.

Murgah gasped as the egg rattled. "So it's true," she marveled.

Itzel could barely understand what was happening. She relaxed her mind, thinking she broke the connection, but the emotion still buzzed in her mind.

"I don't have to concentrate. It's just like...talking," she realized.

"So it's just always there?" asked Amrah.

Itzel nodded.

"Fascinating," Murgah said softly. Then she whipped her head up and her mean glare was back.

"Well, now you must complete your job. Go on," she said.

Arthie and Itzel looked at each other. They didn't want to do this. It was evil.

Another feeling of loneliness washed over both of them, making them sad.

"Actually, can we be alone with the egg now? It would be better for our focus," Arthie said. Murgah and Amrah rolled their eyes, but they cleared out and slunk out of the room.

"You have ten minutes. Then we're coming back," Murgah warned, then she slammed the door to the cavern behind her.

The children turned back to the egg.

"Can you hear us?" Itzel said softly. She rested her hand on the egg.

Another buzz of warmth.

"Say 'yes' if you can hear us! 'Yes'!"

All at once, A weird echo rang in their minds. The sound bounced back and forth until it was shaped into a word.

Yes.

Until next time!