Chapter 15

Tsuki wrapped her feathered wings around Hide's neck, smiling even wider.

"Welcome back! Besides what Takashi may say, we missed you!" She said.

Tai had an odd expression on her face. It looked bitter, although she had said nothing so far.

"We have to leave, Asap." Hide said, looking around anxiously.

"Hm? What do you mean?" She asked.

Takashi soon awoke from his slumber, spitting out a flame in the dark.

" What's going on here." He asked, glaring at Tai.

"Apparently, we have to go," Tsuki said, looking a bit downcast.

"I'm sorry. I'll explain in a bit." Hide said, grabbing things he dropped around the den.

Tai looked over to Hide, looking upset.

"What is it, intruder," Takashi asked, spitting smoke at Tai.

Tai adverted her eyes, looking to the sand below her talons.

Hide quickly put his satchel around his long neck, and flicked his tail.

"You guys awake enough to fly?" He asked, making his way to his way to the entrance.

Tsuki and Takashi nodded. Tsuki trotted her way to Hide, as Takashi took his sweet time walking over. Tai smiled as she saw them get ready to take off.

The three dragonets stretched their bodies as they prepared to fly further south. Further into the sand kingdom. Of course not into the main palace, but around the deserts.

"Uhm... Hide?" Tai asked.

Hide looked back at Tai, who was on the verge of tears.

"Please, just don't forget about us, and what we taught you.." She said, wiping tears from her eyes.

Hide smiled warmly and walked to her.

"I promise. I'll use what you taught me, every day of my life," He said, his smile slowly fading.

"Please be sure to take care of Kira," He added

He nodded to his friends, and one by one, they shot into the sky. The dark, night sky was slowly fading, as the three moons were lowering. Hide felt terrible as he departed from his new friend. But what else could he have done? Kept her around? Someone he had never met before? With new insight into dragonets who would readily betray him, he couldn't take the chance.

As he flew, he lost himself in his thoughts. Before much longer, he saw a pale green dragonet swoop past them. Their shovel-like tail, helped them glide with ease through the breeze.

"HIDE!" Takashi cried.

Hide looked behind him, towards Takashi, only to realize he and Tsuki were gone. He was taking the same flight path as before, but his friends were gone. Like they had teleported out of reality.

He stared at the pale green dragon, as they did small tricks in the air, like large loops, and falling into, and out of the air. It was freaky how they hadn't even bothered to help if his friends were in serious danger.

He shot himself forwards, to the dragon, watching their patterns before finally matching them from afar.

The pale green dragon flew over to him after a few minutes, a curious expression on their face.

"Are you watching me?" She asked.

Hide finally realized who it was, and she did too.

"Hide?!" Tai exclaimed.

"What are you doing here? Did you follow us? Where are my friends?!" Hide cried.

He had so many questions for her. Why was she here? Why hadn't she said anything to his friends? Why had she been out this way?

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about. The young dragonet looked fine, so I went out to investigate something I saw on my patrol, " She said, looking behind him.

Hide followed her gaze, noticing Tsuki and Takashi, darting their way over to him.

"Hide! Why didn't you come to help us?!" Tsuki cried.

Hide had a confused look on his face, as he peered at her.

"Hide, my tail got caught on a branch, and it was impaled. You didn't even care to look back and help me. You just ditched me. " Takashi said, revealing a gaping hole in his tail. It wasn't anything massive, but it was still painful to look at.

Hide winced at Takashi's tail, and looked away.

"Typical Weak-wings. Always thinking of himself, and no one else. Pathetic." Takashi said, looking pissed.

Hide looked back to Tai, who had been looking rather upset. Hide hovered over to her, looking back at Takashi.

"I'm sick of you. It was a simple accident, and you know that. Tai has been nothing but understanding the whole time we've known each other. She's been on my side this whole time. You're just a pathetic dragonet, who can't get his priorities straight. Come find me when you've made your mind up." Hide said, taking Tai by the talons.

"Come. We're going into the desert, and checking out what you found on Parol." He said, flying away with her, talon in claw.

Tsuki looked crushed by his words.

"AND WHAT ABOUT ME?!" She called out.

Hide stopped, looking back at her.

"If you're on his side, I don't want you with me either." He said, choking tears back.

Tsuki looked broken at his phrase.

Hide continued flying, as Tsuki sobbed.

"Why would you do that to them? Takashi may have called you something rude, but that doesn't mean you should have snapped like that. She cares about you. You clearly just broke her." Tai said, looking over at Hide's glossy eyes.

"Takashi has been nothing but cruel to me, and my friends. At this moment, I'm done with his shit. I just want to be free from his treachery." Hide said, stiffening.

Tai hadn't understood Hide's pain. He'd been through so little with her, and she seemed to be doubting him

Hide had been crushed, though. He didn't want to do his friends so dirty like that. He loved both of them, deeply. He couldn't do it anymore though. Dealing with Takashi's anger and fury was more than enough already. He was crying quietly, unable to undo what he had tried not to do.

"Think of it this way, now you're elemental powers can be put to better use." Tai tried.

"I suppose. Maybe I can try matching the color you give me?" Hide quizzed.

Tai nodded, smiling.