5

It looked like she was going to argue that the land belonged to humans like she had before when discussing such things with me, but she seemed to think better of it. Humans weren't the rulers of this planet until the dragons vanished.

"I will thank you again for coming to greet us personally," I bowed my head a second time, "But I don't want you to take up too much time here with us. You have a large amount of land to defend. Please return to your duties."

Her horn touched the ground as she bowed deeply. Then she turned, and vanished into the white snow that covered most of the ground around us. He disappearance being even more sudden then her appearance. She'd taken the time to announce her presence to us as she approached. When she left she stopped trying to be polite by allowing us to sense her.

I'd given her permission in a way. I liked the way she respected me. I wished more humans would behave that way. My wings twitched at the thought of how quickly she could take me out if she chose to. She could come up to me without alerting me quite easily.

Killing me would be easy task for such a powerful spirit. I was weak compared to her. Her strength was more then enough to kill all of us in an instant. I flicked my tail casually. Turning to look at Wyatt again. I wondered when he was going to wake up.

*****

We'd located Wyatt on earth. It wasn't a good thing considering how far Magnus was willing to go. Him being back on earth had painted a very large target on his back. Magnus had been able to hold his flaming temper back because he knew that he was off planet. Now that the dragon was back on earth Magnus fully intended to launch a full scale attack.

He'd approached me, and asked me to fight alongside him in the attack against the dragon. I'd declined the moment he told me where the fight would be taking place. The forbidden zone was exactly that. Forbidden. That was my excuse anyway.

Goliath had stood by the creature, and my one experience fighting alongside him told me that he wasn't exactly a typical beast.

"What do you intend to do about Magnus's proposal?" Alexandria, my eldest student, asked.

"His proposal to fight the dragon in the forbidden zone?" I tapped my desk while deep in contemplation, "I have no intention of going along with his plan. I would actually prefer to go speak to the dragon himself."

"Why?" Alexandria looked confused.

"I believe that creature is worth more alive," I stood up, "He claims that his survival has changed things here on earth. The crops have been more successful the last two years then they have been in decades."

"And what would one beast have to do with that?" Alexandria frowned at me.

"He claimed that he was responsible for the change," I stretched slowly, "If he's correct then I'd hate to kill off something that is helping the world thrive."

Alexandria nodded, "It is unusual that he can speak at all."

"That nutcase has also taken an interest in the creature," I didn't need to mention him by name for her to know who I was talking about, "We should speak to him before we go. He will want to come with."

"You're planning to go to the forbidden zone?" her eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Why?"

"I told you that I would like to speak with him again," I walked toward the door casually as if I hadn't just announced that I would be heading off to the most dangerous corner of the world to speak to the most dangerous creature the human race currently knew of, "I am curious if we will be attacked if we don't attack the residents of the forbidden zone."

"I'm not letting you go alone," she fell in stride just behind me.

"Invite whoever you wish Alexandria," I waved my hand almost dismissively, "But keep in mind our intent is not to attack the dragon or any of his allies. This entire mission is a peaceful chat." I strode down the hall with purpose, "If they are looking for a fight then they can stay behind. I leave tomorrow at six sharp. If they're not ready by then they'll be left behind."

"I'm guessing that you're not going to ask permission to go on this mission either," I could hear the smirk in her tone.

"Of course not," I laughed, "On paper I'll be taking a well earned vacation."

"With your students," she laughed with me, "I'm sure they won't question that at all."

*****

I'd long since lost track of the days. I was certain it had been more then a month since Wyatt went down. He didn't seem to be in pain, but his absence made me jumpy. I ran my hand along the stone that incrusted his scales. It looked more like he'd been sitting here for years, and it felt as if it had been that long.

Savannah kept trying to pull me away. To distract me. To put me to work in one way or another. I refused to leave his side. Sometimes I even forgot to eat.

Goliath's arrival was an irritating change to my routine. He made sure I was helping build barriers, and dig trenches. Forcing me to eat with the rest of them. At night I was allowed to sleep where I wished. I chose next to Wyatt.

Even if I wasn't doing much sleeping. I refused to be separated from him for the full eight hours a normal person would need for sleep. He was defenseless so why did they want to take me away from him in the first place? Sometimes I did actually sleep. I didn't like it when that happened.

I needed to be alert to keep him safe the way he'd protected us.

"Ethan," Goliath's voice boomed across the camp.