Aurora, Ember, Truth, Jasmine, Joseph, Arthur, and Alexander, along with several gypsies and peasants, stood watching as Fireball came swooping down and landed within the castle wall. Several “oos” and “awes” could be heard from those less used to the presence of the mighty dragon, along with gasps of fear.
“This is your beast?” Alexander asked uneasily, backing away from the huge winged reptile.
“Yeah, it attacked us in the forest, and we were pretty much fast friends,” Aurora replied. Alexander turned to look at Ember.
“You don’t have a dragon, too, do you?” he gulped.
“No, I just have a cobra.”
The serpent crawled out of Ember’s sleeve and she stroked its scaly head. Alexander watched this in shock, looking more than a little grossed out.
“So, what is the plan, then?” he asked, obviously trying to change the subject.
Truth answered this. “First, we stop in Wyvern City, where my brother is, then Mystic City, where the rest of my family are. Unless you have different plans.”
“That sounds perfect,” Aurora agreed. She was feeling homesick as well.
“We could go to Mystic City to earn a little money,” said a gypsy man. This was met by a general agreement from many of his comrades.
“Then, onward to Mystic City,” Alexander declared.
Aurora looked back at the crowd standing behind her.
“But, what about all of them?” she wondered. She glanced at Fireball, whose back could hold several people, but certainly not the two hundred or so hungry captives desperately wanting to leave the Dark Mountains.
Fireball looked Aurora in the eye as if to say, “I’ve got it covered.” Then the great dragon stood on two legs and let out a mighty roar.
* * *
Aurora sat astride the base of Fireball’s neck, the wind blowing in her face once more. Only this time, rather than the usual crew sitting behind her, there were three strangers, Ember, and Alexander. Truth, Jasmine, and Arthur were each sitting at the front of their own dragon, with several strangers sitting behind each of them. Aurora had figured it would be best for the people with a little more experience to lead some of the non-experienced ones as they all rode toward Mystic City on a flock of about forty dragons.
“Who would have thought Fireball could have so many friends?” Arthur shouted above the wind, trying to get his dragon to fly faster than Aurora’s.
Aurora had thought that her dragon had flown fast before. But now, they raced over the Forest of Dragons at breakneck speed. Aurora thought how helpful it would have been if they had flown this fast before, even if it was a bit terrifying at first, but by the time they landed at the crack of dawn at the Northern Entrance of Wyvern City, she could feel Fireball panting, heart pumping faster than was probably healthy for a dragon.
It seemed the entire village was gathered at the Northern Entrance to watch the flock of dragons land. As about two hundred people dismounted, an eager little boy ran from the crowd of villagers into Truth’s arms.
“Benny!” Truth exclaimed at the sight of her little brother. “I’ve missed you so!”
“Why did you leave me?” Benny asked, hurt.
“It was not safe for young boys,” his sister replied.
“But I’m brave! I could have killed hundreds in battle!” Benny boasted.
