"Never in my life have I ever wanted to see İzzet's face so much in my life," Kiragi spoke as he stroked Rorvim's back. Doryu smiled as he thought of his father, Danuška, and Lorcan. The bird's old and wise personality; he missed the owl dearly. During his trip to Oxgarde, he taught him his first magic; telepathy. He owes everything to Lorcan. Without him, he would've never met İzzet or Danuška. Doryu rested his hand on the scales of Alaois's neck. He smiled as he felt the dragon's body move with rhythm; how his scales reflected off the sunlight. Alaois was surely the most beautiful creature Doryu had ever seen. And I'm sure Rorvim will be the same. Doryu could see Luqibia in the clear horizon. He was impatient to get back to the wonderful city of Fethprist.

What do you think will happen when we get back?

"What do you mean by that, Emerald Scales?" Kiragi asked. Alaois flapped his wings before descending in height a bit.

What should we do? Bokon will most likely come after us. How can life continue to be normal when war has most likely started? We can't just hide. Yes, we need to continue our training, but how far can the Frukink's go with that? What about the Elves? Doryu looked back at Kiragi.

"My answer?" He smiled at them. "We'll have to train Kiragi and Rorvim. I guess that's our duty, Alaois, as the leaders of the new Riders." He patted the dragon's shoulder blade. "We'll continue our training with the Frukinks. We will go to the Elves and seek training if they are willing to. We will join the Ġellieda and help them too. We will fight any battle that comes our way. We will slay Bokon and defeat Shahzad and Valdhoadior. We will return Gildham to its former glory. But most importantly, we will continue to live and fight for the people of Gildham at any cost. Because that's our duty."

"Well spoken, Doryu Raulart,' Kiragi complimented.

Look! Alaois exclaimed. The two looked ahead to see a large, gray blob.

"Danuška!" Doryu shouted. The gray dragoness roared in response. Alaois increased his speed as fast as he could, impatient to get back to his mentor.

The two finally met and they exchanged purr-like sounds to each other as they rubbed their scales against one another's necks. Doryu smiled as he was close to the gray dragon's large and muscular build. He could hear her breathing and wingbeats again, and he released a sigh. Danuška arched her neck to Alaois's back and stared at Rorvim, who returned the glance.

Kiragi..?

"I'll explain later, Storm Scales. Now, we must return to Fethprist. Everyone must know Doryu is alright." Danuška turned her body around and began her flight back. Alaois continued behind her, his nose touching the tip of her tail.

~

The two dragons landed in the large clearing within the city. Frukinks emerged from their houses and the streets to greet the four back. Kiragi hid Rorvim the best he could. "I want to wait for the Royals," he had told Doryu. Alaois released a loud bellow. The citizens screamed and cheered with joy. Doryu unstrapped his legs and slid off the saddle. His legs wobbled as he landed and he leaned against Alaois to gain balance.

"Doryu!" He turned his head to see his father approaching him, and before he knew it, he lost his balance as İzzet wrapped his arms around his son. "I am so glad you're safe, my boy."

No thanks to you, Alaois snarled. You wanted to wait two weeks before you attempted a rescue mission.

Watch your tongue, Alaois.

"I promise, I did want to come to your aid, but infiltrating Oxgarde was a huge mission, and we wanted to be sure we succeeded. I didn't want the rescue mission to end in much bloodshed. But I thank you, Alaois, as I can see not much damage has been done."

Trumpets began to blare as the Frukink Döyüş Qüvvələri strode through the crowd, making a pathway for the Royals. King Adrazar and Queen N'Bushe walked together side by side. Zinreene continued behind them, with another Frukink by her side. Harika, I presume. The sight of Zinreene released a lot of worry and guilt from Doryu. I'm glad they were able to help her. Zinreene caught sight of Doryu before sprinting to him. She grabbed his hands with hers.

"I'm thrilled you have returned, Doryu Raulart. I am forever grateful that you have rescued me from the clutches of Shahzad. I can not thank you enough. May my ancestors look down upon you with wistful battles for years to come."

"I'm just glad you're okay," he responded. Zinreene smiled before looking up at Kiragi. Her smile grew wider when she caught sight of the blue Frukink without injuries.

"Glad to see you are fine, Doryu. However, Kiragi.." King Adrazar's frills expanded as he approached Alaois, who gave him a warning by baring his teeth and taking a step back. "You have disobeyed me for the last time."

"You will not treat him like that anymore, King Adrazar." Doryu stalked to the front of the Frukink. "He risked his life to rescue me. From what I heard from Alaois, you didn't even bother to come to my aid. I thought I was super important to you guys, am I not? Then, if I am irreplaceable, why not come rescue me? No matter how dangerous it may be, you still should've come."

"I must take precautions for my people, Young Rider," Adrazar spoke.

"So that answers that question." Doryu spun around and told Kiragi to dismount. "Anyway, you will now treat Kiragi with respect."

Or else you'll see the whites of my jaw, Alaois snarled. Kiragi held Rorvim in his arms as he walked to the Royals. The citizens all gasped before bowing. Zinreene examined Rorvim with much presession, checking for any deformities. She then stared at Kiragi, cried, and hurled herself onto him, wrapping her arms around him. Doryu grabbed Rorvim to save her from being squished.

"You did it, Kiragi! You're a Rider!" she exclaimed. The green Frukink princess rested her head on Kiragi's shoulder as she cried with tears of joy. Harika made his way to Doryu and ran his hands across Rorvim's back.

"Is this true?" Kiragi released his grasp of Zinreene and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"It is, but let us discuss this at the pavilion. There are many things that must be talked about."

Shall you fly with us, Kiragi? Alaois asked as he stretched his wings. The Frukink took Rorvim from Doryu, who then ended up resting on his shoulders.

"No, I'll walk," he responded as he rejoined Zinreene. The princess welcomed him with a wide smile.

"Okay, we'll meet you there."

~

Alaois flicked his tail, keeping Rorvim occupied while Doryu and Kiragi talked. They sat on the ground inside Doryu's hut within the Tempat Tidur Pengendara. Doryu had his back leaned against his bedpost while Kiragi laid on the circular carpet.

"I never thought his day would come," Kiragi said as he held out his scaly hand. "Thank you."

"It was nothing," Doryu responded with a shrug.

"Nothing?!" The Frunkink sat up and held his hand on the dagger that rested in its sheath on his belt. "Don't let me hear you say that again. It wasn't 'nothing'. You've granted me the wish I dreamt of for a while now, and you have increased our chances in winning this war." Alaois joined in on the conversation.

He has trouble taking credit for anything.

"Whose side are you on?" Alaois gurgled in his laughing like manner.

Yours, of course. But that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to speak the truth about you. Doryu rolled his eyes before whistling for Rorvim. He patted the carpet to help get her attention. And with his luck, he did. The tiny dragon bounced over to him with her tongue held out and wings sprawled behind her. She leaped onto his shoulders and began to climb onto his head, releasing a tiny squeal.

"Alaois never had this much energy when he was little," Doryu said as he grabbed Rorvim's side and placed her on the ground in front of him.

"Guess the next few days I won't get much sleep," Kiragi laughed as he stroked the dragon's back. Rorvim then whipped her head around and bit Kiragi's finger. The Frukink yelped in surprise and pain as he pulled his hand away. A coo then came from within the hut. Halitus dived at Rorvim's head, screeching as her talons were outward in an attempt to scrape the dragon.

"Halitus, I'm fine! Leave her," Kiragi ordered and the owl obeyed before resting on his shoulder, nuzzling his neck. "I know, I missed you too." Doryu pulled Rorvim towards him as he examined her back. When he ran his hand over the winged reptile's left hind leg, she once again screeched and drew her head back to nip at Doryu. Alaois huffed a puff of smoke as he stood, but Doryu calmed him.

"When Bokon injected the Wiñay Plant into her, he must've hit her leg. Look." Doryu pointed to a tiny black dot on the dragon's body. "I don't think it'll have much effect on her later on, but it will hurt for the meantime."

"Will she be okay to fly in three days?" Doryu glanced at Alaois, hoping he'd have an answer. Thankfully, he did.

Not to our knowledge. If she's bouncing around right now, she'll be okay with flying. Doryu sighed, smiling at the dragon.

There's still a lot I need to learn. Alaois yawned but kept his yellow sage green eyes locked on his Rider.

Many hatchlings grow out of anything they encounter when they are young, so it's an educated guess. But yet, you too have a lot to learn, as do I.

~

Doryu and Alaois spent the remainder of daylight walking through the streets of Fethprist. Adrazar appointed a few guards to watch over him, but Kiragi would occasionally shoo them away. The two talked for what seemed like hours while they strolled. The subjects went from dragons to birds to magic to foods they enjoyed. Doryu learned that Kiragi enjoyed a dish called Vanja, which was a soup like paste made from tree nuts.

"I personally enjoy anything, but my mother's meals are at the top of my list." Kiragi was about to correct him, but Doryu refused. Deanna and Ronish had raised him for as long as he could remember; how could he not call them 'mother' and 'father'?

After moments of silence, Kiragi suggested they'd see his friend, Nulto. With nothing else scheduled for the rest of the day, Doryu and Alaois agreed. Kiragi led the way down the streets, past the shops and doors engraved into the trees on the ground.

"Wait here. I'll bring him out." The blue Frukink then left the dragon and Rider on the Earth while he climbed a tree and entered a doorway. Alaois batted away buzzing flies with his breath or trapping them with his maw, complaining how they couldn't magically fulfil his hunger.

If you're hungry, just go hunt. No one is stopping you. Alaois puffed out smoke out of anger before walking between two trees and escaping into the forest.

Won't be long.

Doryu leaned against the trunk of one of the trees in the surrounding area and folded his arms across his chest. He rested his eyes while keeping his mind open for any surprising dangers. After his capture, he knew he wasn't safe anywhere. For the time being, he decided to play a game; one he entirely made up on the spot. He would recreate a landscape in his mind that he had seen these past weeks, deciding to start off with the beauty of the Goderrath Peaks while he temporarily lived in the cave. He imagined the beautiful yet mysterious lake that illuminated past dusk. He imagined the Scriptr he freed flying freely amongst the sky, dancing with the clouds. The trees ranged from lush green colors, and they only grew smaller the more he pictured the environment.

"Doryu!" Sending a quick scare through his body, he quickly opened his eyes and walked out of the shade from the tree. Alaois quickly jumped to his side from the forest.

Find anything? he asked. The dragon growled in anger.

Just some squirrels and mice. Nothing appetizing or filling.

You can go hunting when I return to the Tempat Tidur Pengendara. Guards will be posted outside my quarters, don't worry. Plus, more creatures will be out with the coolness of night.

"Nulto, this is Doryu Raulart," Doryu smiled at Kiragi's friend, who was a yellow Frukink. "And this is Alaois." The dragon hardly acknowledged Nulto. He just circled to the side of his Rider and sneezed.

"Pleasure to meet you, Rothaí Óg," Nulto announced, bowing in the traditional Frukink way. "I've heard much about you from my friend."

"Has he talked about himself? That he's now a Rider?" Nulto glared at Kiragi who wore a sheepish smile on his face.

"In fact, he has, but he never mentioned anything about having his dragon now."

"It only happened during our trek to Oxgarde, and I didn't have time to mention it to you. Doryu laughed as Nulto scolded Kiragi, who gave him a warning glance.

~