'The hero Atreyu had saved himself, and Tartus from the dark Princess. But the fate of the other woodlanders were unknown. As the two walk through the woods, they discus how strange it was since they escaped through that portal/door that night.' Suddenly, there was a net over the two's head as the remaining group of woodlanders attempt attack them, before realizing who they were. "Don't you know who this is? It's Atreyu and Tartus!" Yonie exclaims to the other woodlanders as they start to get the net off of them.
'The Woodland children asked the two where they've been, and that they endured a whole cycle of the moon to find them.' The two then realized that they had lost a month of their lives. 'Hiding from Xayide, the young refugees survived in makeshift shelters and scavenged for food.' They all wished for the luck dragon to come, they even wondered with the power of the Auryn, if it would bring it to them.
"Bastian! I'm calling you!" Michael asks from the kitchen. Bastian sets his book down and heads downstairs. "Sorry um, the meeting went on a little longer than I thought. Michael states. "That's ok I had stuff to do." Bastian replies as he starts to do the dishes. "You know, I worry about you being alone all the time, maybe I could cut back on my work schedule." Michael suggests. "You don't have to. Really, I'm good." Bastian says as he grabs the soap container from the sink. "Wait, that's the wrong stuff." Michael says before handing him the dish soap.
"For a cleaner clean?" Bastian scoffs as he fills the dishwasher holes. "You know dad, I'm seeing you in a whole new light. You're like, the helpful household hint guy." He suggests. "Very funny." Michael says before taking the chicken out of the microwave. Once they set the table and start to eat, Michael speaks up again. "Are you sure you're doing okay Bastian? I could always call a sitter if…" Bastian cuts him off. "What?? Dad I'm 12!!" He exclaims. "I know I know…I don't know why I even entertained the thought." Michael assures.
Bastian just looks down and continues eating. "I'm not saying anything's wrong, it's just…" He sighs. "Your mother was always there and did almost everything for you, now you're in a situation where you're more forced to be independent. And really, I think you do a great job taking care of yourself when I'm not around Bastian, I do, but…" Bastian looks up from his food, wondering where is dad was going with this. "Sometimes I wish…." He trails off before stopping himself. "Nevermind." He says as he continues to eat his food as well.
"…you wish she was still here… "Bastian says softly. Michael looks back over at Bastian. "Of course I do, it's been awfully different." He says, not revealing all of what he was going to say. "…even after you guys split up..?" Bastian asks. "Bastian, just because me and her separated didn't mean I stopped loving her. But her being completely out of the picture now, and seeing you without your mother…it's saddening." He says the last part quietly, as if he was about to tear up, but wanted to stay strong for his son.
Bastian hated seeing his dad upset like this, Bastian just looked down and they took a moment of silence. "You know, Marley actually called up and asked about you a couple days ago, saying you haven't really been yourself." Bastian doesn't say anything, he doesn't really want to admit he's having a hard time adjusting to his new lifestyle.
"You can talk to them you know." Michael reassures. "They've been your friends forever, you know they'll always be there for you." Bastian just looks down. "I know dad, but seriously, I'm fine." Michael just nods and they both stay silent for the rest of dinner. Bastian didn't really feel comfortable venting to people like that, he doesn't know why, but he was never really one to speak on his feelings. After dinner he hurries upstairs to keep reading.
The Woodlanders heard an unusual sound up ahead. Once they all gathered around to see what it was. After guessing around they found that it was none other than the Luck Dragon, or so they thought. Once it made its way back around, there was a parachute with strings attached to small bags of food and supplies for the whole group.
Bastian was eating breakfast when he heard the phone ring. He left a ruler on the last book page he was on and rushed over to the phone. It was Marley, him and Lucas were working on their science fair project and were waiting for him. "Bastian? What's taking so long? Where are you?" Bastian sighs, he remembered that he has promised the two after school he would print papers about Leonardo da Vinci's "flying machine," first thing this morning.
"Man, I totally forgot. I'll do it right away then I'll come over." Bastian sets the phone down and darts his eyes right back over to the book. As he starts reading he quickly shuts it, realizing he has to have some self control. Just then Michael walks into the kitchen, and asks Bastian if he's ready to go before seeing the mess. "Bastian! You said you'd clean up before we left!" He complains. "Dad, I can't go shopping. I kind of promised Lucas and Marley that I'd work on the science project with them."
"Oh, alright. But I don't want to see this mess when I get back." He says as he starts to walk towards the door. "Oh and don't forget, I'm out of my cereal, and you know, junk for my lunch." Bastian reminds his dad before he walks out. Bastian then put the spoon down of the cereal he was pretending to eat. He stares at it in disgust for a second before running to his room to go print.
Bastian turns on his computer and looks up a global search of Leonardo. While he's waiting he opens the book again. The Tatterdemalions were opening the bags of supplies they received before a ragged girl came from the forest, who apparently knew all about the luckdragon. She sends Atreyu off to the fountain of Nectar in the city of old emperors, leaving Tartus in charge with the rest of the refugees.
Soon enough after Atreyu and his horse are far away, the little girl starts to flee away from the campground. After a couple of the children followed in suspicion, they were shocked to find out that the little girl was none other than Xayide in disguise. The Tatterdemalions scattered to their hiding places but not all were lucky enough to escape the knights.
Bastian read as Atreyu and Artax arrived to the City Of Old Emperors, and soon enough, the one and only Fountain of Nectar. After his horse took a drink, he had then realized that he had been tricked, this water wasn't going to help the luck dragon at all. In fact, whatever comes in direct contact with it was water is bound to freeze into solid ice.
Overstriked with grief, Atreyu hugged his horse, murmuring sorrows to him and stroking him. However, this unfortunate incident phased Bastian more. The boy started to frantically flip each next page one by one in hope to skip ahead, only to keep repeating the same line over and over in his head on the same part of the page. The story wasn't changing. "This can't be happening! I hate this book!" Bastian exclaims as he slams it shut and takes off to Corianders.
"Ahh Bastian, finished the book already?" Coriander asks as he walks in. "I don't want to read it anymore." He states. "Parts of it are pretty scary?" Coriander asks. "I like the scary parts," Bastian says. "So you find it hard to understand?" He questions again. "That's not it." Coriander sighs. "Then that leaves…chapter three." He astutes. Bastian nods. "The part when Artax dies.." He pauses again. "It makes me sad when I read it, and I don't want to feel sad anymore."
Coriander then understood that with the loss of his mother, he's been feeling grief a lot lately. "Well just keep it here, but for there are consequences." He insinuates. "And maybe later, if you've changed your mind-" He starts before Bastain cuts him off. "You don't get it." Coriander just sighs and gets down to his level. "You see, everyone has a hard time with chapter 3, but when you get to chapter 4…oh it's worth it." He expresses.
"T-that book is ruining my life. My dads mad at me, my friends are-" He starts before remembering. "Oh no! I'm supposed to be doing a science project on Leonardo De Vinci. I'm sorry, but I have to go." He says as he picks up his bag and leaves. Coriander watched as he left, knowing he could come back for it, and if not, somehow he would get it back to him.
