Aubrey's shrill scream tore through the Atlantian air not even a second later. She staggered forward a step as an entirely different world settled in around her in a cloud of dust and dry air. Pressing her lips together, the sound cut off abruptly. Yet the fear and dread still lingered as the image of her injured friend was burned within her mind.  

Aubrey swallowed and fought against her roiling stomach. Worry would not help Andrew. Worry wouldn't help Tiberius either. 

Birds squawked feverishly overhead, her sudden appearance sending them into a frenzy. Undergrowth snagged at her ankles as she stepped away from the portal and fully into the world she was still getting to know.

Aubrey stole a glance behind her but other than a few half buried stones, there were no signs of her arrival – or of anyone following.

Facing forwards once more, she felt her stomach lurch uncomfortably. The forest was unfamiliar. The trees old and rich with life, their leafy canopies blocking out only thin slivers of sunlight. And they were a far cry from the habitat surrounding the Atlantian stronghold.

Aubrey paused and drew in a deep lungful of air as she surveyed the trees around her. Other than the usual sounds of nature, she couldn't sense any other intrusive presence. She was alone. The realisation brought relief and dread.

A loud squawk brought her back to the present. With a shake of her head, Aubrey adjusted the satchel slung over her shoulder and checked that the ancient and powerful resting against her hip was secure. And then, placing one foot in front of the other, she walked away from the portal that had returned her to Atlantis and her only safe means of escape.

The progress was slow. Branches snagged at her clothes. It was clear no one had walked these trails in months, perhaps even years. Yet, Aubrey couldn't allow herself the luxury of false safety. Instead, she took great care not to snap branches or leave foot prints in the patches of soft mud. Tiberius's life was in the balance. There could be no trail to let them know she had returned. Success would only happen if she could catch them by surprise. Aubrey was outnumbered but with Merlin's help, she now had access to great power. She could only hope it was enough. It had to be enough.

It felt like hours before the trees began to thin. Slowing her pace, she reached up to wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead. Her trek had been face from gruelling but there was something about the close set trees which captured the moisture and heat. It was uncomfortable and sticky. Aubrey was sure if she ever trekked to the Amazon rainforest it would be the same.

The trees overhead rustled as a strong gust of wind rushed through the canopy. A second later, a dark shape blotted out the small slithers of light. Aubrey ducked, her eyes watching the familiar movement sweeping above her.

Dragon.

Creeping towards the edge of the tree line, Aubrey made sure to keep her body behind a tree trunk as she peered out. The beast swept over head, the breeze blowing down the back of her neck, a welcome relief in the humidity.

The wings banked to the side as it turned, the light glinting off of the dark green scales of its snout as it swooped back towards her. Its eyes swept over the treeline – familiar eyes.

"Akan," Aubrey breathed, her eyes following the dragon's graceful movements as she slowly stepped out of the shelter.

Much like Jet was her dragon half, Akan was Tiberius's. She belonged to Tiberius as much as he belonged to her.

At the sound of her voice, those fierce eyes honed in on her before the dragon gave a throaty rumble. Aubrey felt a lump lodge in her throat to head that sound. A small part of her had assumed Tiberius's dragon had been killed when he had been captured. It had never felt so good to be so wrong.

The dragon swept overhead and let out a low grumble that shook the ground beneath her feet. Aubrey glanced around but swiftly shook her head. It was no use. The tree line was too close to the cliff edge for the dragon to get close but, as Aubrey edged forwards, she noted the sheer drop below offered a lot more room for an adult dragon.

She sighed and swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. There was only one option.

"Catch me, Akan." She bellowed loudly, waiting for the dragon to circle overhead before pointing over the edge.

The dark green scales glimmered in the sunlight as gave a nod in response.

Drawing in a few deep breaths, Aubrey tried to calm her racing heart. Since starting her second life as an Atlantian, death seemed incredibly elusive. And yet, the lingering memory of her human mortality balked at what she was about to do.

Edging backwards to give herself enough of a run up, Aubrey tugged on the sword strapped across her body to make sure it remained secure. And then she was running full tilt towards the precipice, her feet pounding against the dirt as loudly as her pulse thudded within her ears.

The edge drew closer and closer. And then the ground was gone from beneath her feet. Her stomach lurched uncomfortably as her body started freefalling towards the ground. Her heart raced uncomfortably in her chest as her instincts screamed at her for making such a monumental mistake. And then Akan was beneath her, flapping her wings just enough that she caught her falling body with only the smallest impact.

The strap of her back yanked down against her neck at the sudden halt. The sword slapped painfully against her thigh. Ignoring her own discomfort, Aubrey swiftly moved her feet out of the way of Akan's wings  and then she patted the sun warmed scales with her hands.

"Nice job, Akan." She said by way of greeting. "I'm not even going to pretend to understand how you knew to be here but I am so very glad you are. Now, let's go and get Tiberius."

Akan's body vibrated beneath her as she gave a low roar. 

Then, her head lowered. Her body streamlining for additional speed. Aubrey tucked herself close to the dragon's warm scales so that they brushed against her cheek. 

Trees, rocks, and flower decorated hillsides moved in a swift blur below. And, as they soared towards the heart of the Atlantis and the home of the Atlantians, Aubrey felt the knot in her stomach tighter with every moment that passed. She was finally on her way, she only hoped they didn't arrive too late to save him.

**

Darkness had long fallen by the time Akan's wing beats began to slow. Though she wasn't nearly in tune with the winged beast as she was with Jet, Aubrey understood as soon as those reptilian eyes stared back at her. They were close. 

The Atlantians resided in a medieval city which had been carved into the side of a mountain. The white stone gleamed bright even in the night. At the centre, stood a tall cylindrical tower which loomed over the rest of the Atlantian compound. In the daylight, with the sun to illuminate all of the intricate stonework, it was a beautiful sight to behold. In the darkness, it was just a beacon drawing her home.

Akan circled slowly, her dark green scales offering her camouflage in the darkness. With each sweep, they passed closer and closer to the Atlantian stronghold. Even from the high altitude, it all looked very normal and mundane. Lights shone from windows.

Yet, despite the tumult of their rapid departure, and the hostage they were keeping in their dungeons, there was no outward sign of any threat. There were no sentries outside. There were no signs they were awaiting an attack. There were no weapons on the roof tops and certainly no other dragons and their riders in the skies.

Either the Matriarch's replacement was far too comfortable in their new position. Or it was a trap.

If Aubrey had any faith in the men who had taken over command of the Atlantians, she would have assumed the latter. But, as far as they were concerned, she was still very much back on earth with no way back. And, if she had her way, they would keep believing that right until the last moment.

"It looks quiet but I don't want to take the risk." Aubrey murmured, leaning close so that Akan could hear her over the beating of her wings. "We don't want to tip them off. You'll have to drop me down onto the outer wall and then you have to get out of sight. Tiberius would kill me if anything happened to you."

Akan turned her head and even in the gloom, Aubrey could see the dragon rolling her eyes.

"Don't give me that look." Aubrey muttered,  shrugging off the satchel. She briefly considered the contents before holding out an arm and dropping the bag into open air and into the rocky valley below. She tested the bindings on the sword to make sure it was secure. And then she was  wrapping her arms around the dragon's neck.

Carefully, Aubrey allowed her body to slip sideways until she was gripping Akan from below. She felt like a baby monkey clinging desperately to its mother. Gravity tugged at her body, attempting to pull her down towards the cold and unforgiving ground. Her arms strained under the sudden weight. 

Hugging herself tighter to Akan's comforting strength, Aubrey closed her eyes.

"I'm ready, Akan." Aubrey called up, before loosening her legs on the dragon's body.

Immediately gravity strengthened its grip so that she was holding on by only the strength of her own arms. The unused muscles burned at the sudden weight. Opening her eyes, she glanced down as lethal looking talons wrapped around her waist.

Aubrey released her hold and allowed her to drop into Akan's precarious grip. They sharp edges of her talons dug into her sides as the hold was adjusted.

"I'm good. Head towards the outer wall behind the grain store. No one is out there at night." Aubrey called up, her hands wrapping over the talons as she peered through the night at their target.

Akan's wings stopped their steady beating above her head. Instead, they opened wide to catch the air currents. The dragon banked from side to side as she made a slow decent towards the compound, circling closer and closer on a silent breeze.

All too quickly the grain store on the far side of the stables was drawing close, the boundary wall just a few feet beyond it. A hundred feet. Fifty feet. Twenty feet. They were so close, Aubrey could make out each and every single stone that made up the floor.

Fifteen feet. Aubrey tapped her hand sharply against the scales knuckles surrounding her. Well versed in stealth tactics, Akan's gave the smallest beat of her wings to provide some resistance against gravity, their descent slowing for just the barest moment. At the same time the grip around Aubrey's waist released and she dropped the final few feet to the ground.

She hit hard but Aubrey allowed herself to roll across the ground before ending up back up on her feet. 

Before Akan could follow her down, she gave a strong beat of her wings, gaining just enough height to glide over the boundary wall. There was barely an inch to spare, her body swooping so close that the wine covered walls shivered in her wake. And then she disappeared back into the blackness of night. 

Feeling exposed, Aubrey ducked and hurried for shadowy alcove between the stables and the grain feed. Her pulse thundered in her ears. She was almost certain someone had noticed her arrival. The sound of her feet hitting the ground her sounded so loud - at least to her. 

But, as she stood there wrapped in darkness, there was no sudden surge of activity. No ambush waiting for her. 

There was nothing. At least,  there were no people. 

Aubrey's brows pulled together as she stared at the ground at her feet. It was – humming. Sliding her foot from side to side, she winced at the tingling in the soles of her feet that was most definitely not from the sharp landing.

It was magic. And it was alive. It was almost as if she were feeling the beating heart of Atlantis.

But that would be crazy. Magic existed but it wasn't truly – alive. Not like this. It felt as if it was welcoming her home.

Like it had on her initiation. 

She had laid within in Tiberius's arms, and had been completely buried beneath Atlantis's rich soils. Yet, he hadn't been the only thing holding her. Even in the unconsciousness, as she had slowly been reborn, she had felt something else there. It had felt safe. Reassuring. Aubrey had almost forgotten about it, like it was an echo of a dream.  Yet it had been there protecting her when she couldn't protect herself.

Aubrey shook her head. There was no time.

Unsheathing her sword, the metallic ring and answering throb of the magic laden sword, she peered around the edge of the building. And then, when she could stall no longer, Aubrey slipped from the shadows. Though, as she felt the energy thrumming insistently beneath her feet with every step, Aubrey couldn't help but wonder why it was happening now.

Was it just newly awakened senses after her training with Merlin?

Or was it something more?