"And may I ask who you are?" Scylla asked, glaring down at them. The jade green Dragon, Griffin, and Nereid cowered. She especially glared down at the Nereid.

Only the night blue Dragon didn't cower. He held her gaze. "I'm Eveningstar," he said. "The other Dragon is Lush. The Griffin is Skyheart. And the Nereid is Sapphire."

Scylla studied them. They weren't creatures others would usually see traveling together. Neither were they, but these creatures especially.

Snowflutter came out and stood by Scylla, followed by Moondrop and Stormpelt.

"Why are you here?" Stormpelt demanded. "We know only half of you we can trust a little bit. The other half we know we can't trust at all. So why are you here?" She had her bow and arrow ready, just in case there was an attack.

Eveningstar swelled in rage. "Half us can't be trusted at all?" he said bitingly. "You mean me and Sapphire, Centaur? How do we know we can trust you?" He bared his teeth, eyes flashing eclipse red.

"We're at least more trustworthy than you," said Moondrop, squaring his shoulders.

Sapphire stepped forward in rage. She stood directly in front of him. "More trustworthy?" she growled, rage in her eyes. "Now listen here," she said while poking him. "I have been ridiculed by my own kind! I have been almost attacked by those two," pointing at Lush and Skyheart. "And I have been dragged all over the world for a fate I have no idea about! Now explain to me why do you guys have a Dragon Orb?! That doesn't seem trustworthy to me!"

No one spoke. They all stared at Sapphire.

Eveningstar walked up to her. "A Dragon Orb?" he whispered. "Why would they have it?"

Sapphire glared at Scylla. "If we can trust you," Sapphire said. "Then explain why you have a Dragon Orb. From a Water Dragon."

Scylla looked down at Sapphire in surprise. She was surprised at the strange Nereid's bravery and how she knew they had a Dragon Orb.

"Okay, that's it," Stormpelt said. "This proves we can't trust you. How did you know we had a Dragon Orb? And that it was a Water Dragon's?" She stepped forward.

Eveningstar blocked her way to Sapphire with his wings. "Why are we here Sapphire?" he said. "Just to hear this ridicule?"

Sapphire was shaking in anger. "Forget this," she said. She turned to the others. "Let's go guys. This isn't worth our time."

"Wait!" someone screeched. A Phoenix landed in a tree above them. "Scylla, Snowflutter, it's great to see you," he said, feathers shimmering. "I'm glad you got my message."

"Can it wait for a second?" Scylla asked. "We have to deal with these creatures." She indicated toward Eveningstar and his group.

"Why are we still here?" Skyheart asked. "Guys, they don't trust us. And they think they are so wonderful and trustworthy. They are not worth it." She started flying, Lush followed. Eveningstar crouched for Sapphire.

"Wait," the Phoenix said. "I'm Flamebeak. I want all of you to meet someone."

Lush and Skyheart waited. Eveningstar hesitated. Sapphire didn't look at anything, fuming.

"All of us?" Eveningstar asked, glaring. If they tried anything, he would be ready.

"Yes," Flamebeak said. "All of you. And I'm not going to hear any objections." He flew off gracefully. Scylla's group followed closely behind. Then Eveningstar's group followed.

Lush dived through the trees like a seal in water. Skyheart was slower, used to more open areas. Eveningstar went through with ease, like water in cracks.

Scylla, Snowflutter, Moondrop, and Stormpelt stuck to a path. Flamebeak's orange feathers glowed, so they could see him through the trees.

"The trick of the light makes him beautiful," Stormpelt said, staring at Flamebeak's unique feathers.

"It isn't the trick of the light," Moondrop said. "His feathers are actually glowing. Phoenix are apparently birds of the sun, so their feathers glow. I also heard they go through cycles of living again, rising from their own ashes." He was starting to get a stitch in his side from all the running.

"True. They used to," Snowflutter said. "When creatures used to destroy each other. A lot of creatures have adapted since. Since there are so many Phoenix, they don't rise from their ashes anymore, they just die like any other creature. Except for young Phoenix. If they die too young, they'll start anew. They are the only creatures who have a second chance if they die too young." He glided above them, keeping an eye on the other group of creatures.

"So much information," Stormpelt muttered. "How can I remember it all?"

Scylla said nothing during the whole entire conversation. She was thinking about the other creatures. How they stood their ground until they knew they stood no chance.

The Nereid, Sapphire, was especially brave. To know that no one was going to trust you and travel the world took guts. As she travels the world, she might not have any guts soon. Many would literally try to decapitate her on sight. Nymphs were very infamous. They are known to bother other creatures, but were severely private.

The Dark Dragon, many wouldn't even willingly go near.

The other two could definitely go somewhere without being killed.

Why would these creatures risk everything for a world that doesn't accept them?