"You mean you've written a whole book and didn't write the resolution to this problem yet? Explain yourself, you fool of an author!"

I step away from the raging beast. "Have you ever heard of character development? As in the fact that it can take time to come up with a character? These things can't be made up on the spot... unless you want to risk ruining the plot and having to rewrite the whole, entire book... FOR THE TWENTY SEVENTH TIME!"

"Do it then. Rewrite your stupid book. I doubt it's that hard to do so."The dragon sighs. "You have two hours."

"Two hours?" I could barely write a cohesive chapter in that time, much less reconstruct an entire novella. "I need two WEEKS at least."

"Let. Me. Explain. Something." Was the talon clacking on the ground between every word really necessary? I don't think so.

"Every second spent brings my entire tribe closer to the point of no return.. So you'd better give me something to work with, or someone you love will pay for your incompetence."

All I can do is nod and sigh. This is not the Spectrum I originally wrote. That dragon was young and foolish, adventurous but somewhat naive.

This is an angry, desperate shell of Spectrum, with seemingly no heart, but enough resolve to make up for it.

No longer the happy young child I wrote him as, a dangerous beast has been unleashed inside him. I must tread carefully around him, play my cards correctly, and call the bluff of a creature who can literally read my thoughts.

I need to buy time. I need to come up with something. And I need to do it fast..

"Well?" The last thing you want to see when trying to think is the face of a very impatient dragon. "What have you got for me?"

"Well..." I have nothing. But I can't tell him.that. "The old tree! I mean the tall pine. There have been some mysterious happenings in that area recently. Specifically between midnight and dawn." I know its grasping at straws, but it may be my only shot at getting some time to work this out. Even with his flight, there's no way he's getting there in time. So that gives me three or four days.

"The tall pine you say?" At my nod, he continues. "Not to make a big deal about this or anything, but that is in the middle of the human camp. Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I know what I wrote." I sigh. Won't this dragon just go already?

"What about the supposed ruins at the summit of mount Everfog?" Spectrum looks happy. "I should check those first."

That is a much shorter journey, only about 6 hours. I won't have enough time for this. Unless... "Why don't you check both, and the mystic spring for good measure." Three different spots in three very different directions from the plains of the fire flower, which is where we now are. I'll have plenty of time to finish developing the Halfblood. A week or more.

"Fine." I can't help but sigh. "But," the next sentence makes me groan. "You're coming with me."

I open my mouth, but his glare silences any protest I may have.

"It could take me over a week and there is no possible way I'm leaving you alone for that long. This is a dangerous place, anything could happen to you."

Okay. I honestly was not expecting that. "Since when do you care about me? I thought you just wanted to find the Halfblood."

The dragon turned red. Not an angry red, bit a soft red. "You may be my only key to doing so." His voice was almost sad. "Therefore, I must do my best and endeavor to assure that you remain safe and unharmed for the duration of this quest, either until we have located this creature, or until I fade into nothingness along with the rest of my kin."

This makes sense now. I'm his backup plan in case the search turns sour. Thus, he wants to make sure I can still write if need be. Then again, he did save my life at least 3 times, so I do owe him a few favors. "You have already shown me great kindness in saving my life from her clutches. I should not have questioned your resolve in the first place. I will gladly be your companion on this quest."

Spectrum smiled. "I was hoping you would say that. It's always better when you don't have to drag someone along unwillingly." He let out a chuckle, but to me it seemed more of a threat. A way of ensuring that no matter what happened, I would not change my mind.