12

We moved out as soon as the rest of the bags were strapped on. My long strides made me much faster then the rest of the group. It was easy to leave the guild. We walked the whole day. Only stopping for a few breaks.

Mostly for Bryce. He didn't have nearly as much stamina as the rest of us. I didn't like being delayed, but there wasn't much we could do. My wings, and tail were the only parts of my body that wasn't burdened. I snorted as I flicked my tail.

When night came it was time for us to stop. I wasn't tired yet, but the people around me needed sleep.

"I'll stay loaded up," I laid down flaring my wing out, and dropping it to the ground to create a tent, "And I'll take first watch."

"You've been working all day," Bryce looked at me, "Why would you take first watch? Aren't you the one who's the most exhausted?"

"I only need four hours of sleep, and I can see in the dark," I bared my teeth at him, "So why wouldn't I take the first watch?"

Bryce looked flustered at my irritation. He was the reason we were moving so slow. I curbed my aggression, and reminded myself that I was the one that wanted him to come with. Ethan laid down closest to my body. Savannah rolled her bedroll out next to Ethan's.

Jax didn't seem to like the idea of sleeping under my wing, but the first droplets of rain was enough to persuade him. I glanced at the tarps covering the gear. The tarps themselves were secured by bungee cords. The old rubber style bungees were still one of the best, and cheapest ways to secure tarps, and other things like that. My tail flicked casually.

The night was uneventful. I woke Ethan first so he could take the next watch. He seemed to need less sleep then the others since I'd given him my blood. His advancement to advanced bonded had shown many benefits. I'd even seen him borrow three of my stats while sparring with a lizardman.

Well I guess saying I saw it was a bit of an exaggeration. I'd seen the interaction in Ethan's memories. It was difficult to stay still. A growl was all it took to turn away the weaker creatures. I fell asleep shortly after Ethan took over the watch.

I found myself within my inner world. Savannah joined me there not long after. Regala taught her while I was working on the exercises she'd taught me. Jax had been avoiding my inner world. I wasn't surprised.

Last time he'd been in my inner world he'd woken up in a world of hurt. Bonded to a dragon he didn't even know.

"You can't stay here all night," I cut in during a moment when Regala wasn't speaking.

Savannah looked at me funny.

"He's right," Regala agreed, "Staying within the inner world while it's time is slowed like this will exhaust your mind. You will need to leave soon."

"Doesn't that apply to you as well?" Savannah looked at me.

"My inner world doesn't affect me as much as it does you," I cocked my head apologetically.

"You've already been here three hours," Regala frowned, "It would be best if you left now."

Savannah looked more then a little disappointed as she left.

"What would happen to a human if they spent too much time in here?" I asked Regala.

"What made you think she needed to leave?" Regala turned to me with her own question.

"Just a feeling," I shrugged.

"A human mind with fall apart if it's strained to much," she shrugged.

"Would the same thing happen to my mind if I stretch time in here too much?" I shuddered slightly.

"A dragon's mind is as vast as their inner world," she gestured for me to do the exercise while she was talking, "You would have to come here every night for at least six months to risk breaking your mind. Time moves faster in your inner world to more accurately imitate a dream state. Truthfully allowing your mind to move slowly is very similar to what your mind does while you are sleeping."

By the time I woke I knew I would never do this for a week straight. Let alone a the six months required to cause me to break mentally. I stood up slowly. Pulling my wing in, and allowing the light drizzle to fall on my group. Ethan was already awake, and had already packed up his bedding.

Savannah woke up with a nasty headache, and I was glad that I didn't allow her to stay in the inner world longer. Jax was the slowest to wake. Bryce looked irritated, but didn't say anything. I wanted to get moving again, but I had to wait for the others.

"Wouldn't you be better off without us?" Bryce suddenly asked, "I mean you need less sleep then a human, and you're far stronger then we are so why do you put up with us?"

"Human's balance dragon's mentally," I snorted, "We're angry creatures. It takes very little to rile us up. Take me for example. I was pissed that you were on my back strapping this stuff down even though I was the one that asked you to do it." My lips curled up slowly, "I thought about throwing you off multiple times. I would have killed you if you'd crawled up on my back without permission."

Bryce's face paled. Telling him the truth was a bit blunt on my part.

"Don't look so surprised," I drew my teeth back into my gums, "You're the one that asked."

"Why aren't you angry about him jumping all over you?" Bryce swallowed as he pointed toward Ethan.

"Ethan's different," I didn't know how much I should withhold, "He's one of my friends."

"That doesn't explain why you're okay with him hopping up on your back," Bryce swallowed again, "We would be considered acquaintances. Not quite friends, but closer then the average joe on the street. You just admitted that you would kill me if I didn't have permission to climb on you."