The fire was lit, and the smoke slowly started filling the tent. It made me pretty nervous because there was no opening for us to breathe. Suddenly, the bison standing, took out a bag and threw whatever it was into the fire. Whoa! I put my arm in front of my face from the huge fire blast. When I put them down, the fire was now a mixture of blue and lavender. The bison sitting down started chanting in a language I didn't understand. Now the smoke that completely filled the tent surrounded the fire as it got lower. The bison standing started chanting too, but they talked slowly.

"It's almost time", the leader whispered to me.

Oh boy, can't wait. I almost can't contain my excitement, but then the pain on my shoulder reminds me to take it easy. Hehehe oooow.

"Come now hornless child", said the bison standing turning to me and lending their hand to me.

I…ow…do my best to stand up without causing…too…much pain to my shoulder, and walked over to the fire. The smoke has now take form, of what I have no idea. Wait a minute, it's…forming my-

"Dad?", I whispered in shock

"Who is this, how are you able to speak with me?", my father said sounding confused and concerned.

"It's me dad, it's Tara", I said moving a little closer to the smoke.

"Tara?"

"Yes, it's me", I said happily being brought to tears, "I'm so…*sniff*…happy to see you again, even if it's just smoke", I said wiping my eyes.

"I'm…wait, what happened to your shoulder?", my father asked with concern.

"Oh, I was shot", I said with a sad face, "But, I will get better. So no need to worry about it", I said putting on a brave smile.

"…", my father expressed a…scary glare, "Do not lie to me"

"…I…actually don't know if I will get better…", I confessed looking down, "I'm sorry"

I know I shouldn't lie, but the last thing to wanted to do is make him and mom worry. Speaking of which I should ask where she is. When I looked up, I saw my father grab something rather fast. He crushed it with his hand and suddenly something black started forming in the smoke. What is he do-*GASP*!

"What?!", the-the leader said.

M-my father hand is…in my shoulder! I can feel it. But…how?

"D-d-dad, what are you?!", I said in complete shock.

"Helping you"

"AAAH!", I screamed falling to my knees, "Dad please stop,…it hurts!"

"You'll thank me for this, Tara", my father…said.

"AAAAAAAAHHHH!

"Stop the ritual, now!"

"Hey, what's going on in there?!", Ma…ri, "…Hey! Let me the heck through!"

With…one eye…I saw…the bisons trying to stop my father.

"It's not working, he's magic is stopping us!", said one…of… the bisons.

"He's too strong!"

"Back, OFF!", my father…shouted.

"AH!", the…bison shouted.

My vision is getting blurry and my body is starting to feel numb…I can…hardly…think…

"…There", my…fa…ther said, "Oh, you will be needing this. Consider this, a late birthday present"

I…regained some consciousness, and when I did I saw something fall before me.

"Goodbye, Tara", my father said turning around.

"Wait, what about my mom? Dad please, don't go! Dad!", I begged reaching out with my hand.

Without any hesitation, he disappeared. The smoke had vanished and fire went down until it became nothing. What did he just do to me? Huh?

"Tara!", Mari shouted running in, "Oh gods, what happened here?"

"Uuuggh", said the bisons that were knocked down to the ground.

"*Gasp* Tara, girl what happened?", Mari asked before running to me then got on her knees.

"My shoulder"

"Your shoulder?"

"It's healed", I said lifting up the other arm.

27 minutes later…

"Incredible", a bison doctor said examining my shoulder and arm, "And again you say your father did this?"

"Yes, I still don't understand it myself"

"To think your father could be so powerful", the village leader said, "That blast he did was dark and cold, as if it was death itself"

Death itself? No no, I shouldn't think like that. He and my mother ARE alive. They are.

"Tara, hey Tara"

"Huh? Oh Mari, did you need something?"

"Here, this was on the ground next to you", Mari said handing me something.

It was a card, but it was gold. Shiny even. It showed a photo of what looked to be a bone drake, and the words, were a bunch of…symbols I am not familiar with. I turned to the back and it was gold too, only…wait. I squinted my eyes and looked closer,…it was a skull. That could mean many things, though I'm not sure which is the right one.

"Also about wanting to see my parents?", Mari said looking at the leader, "I take to back, I take it all back"

"Wise choice", the Village Leader said with a gentle nod.

"Okay, what do we do now?" Mari asked.

"Well, we need to catch up with Eli and our crew", I said getting off the bed.

"Child, you can't ", said the bison doctor, "Even with it being healed, you shouldn't push yourself like this"

"IIII'm with the doctor, girl", Mari said folding her arms and tilting her head, "I mean, shouldn't push your luck like this"

"Then at least let me visit one in Cooper's Roost, I still want to see how he's doing", I said, "Also,…I need a new dress"

"Rrriiight", Mari said putting her hands on her waist, "And hhhow,…are we going to get there?", she asked putting her other hand up.

"If you like, you can borrow my ship", the leader said.

"What, really?"

"Yes, I don't use it very often and you can use it until you finish your quest"

"Huh, okay then", Mari said sound calmly surprised, "And what does this ship look like?"

9 minutes later…

"Will this do?", the leader asked.

"Whoa yea it will!", hahah Mari shouted happily surprised.