In which I remember
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The hallways were dark and gloomy. I didn't get to see the sun. I felt a wave of grief wash over me. What if I never saw the sun again? No. I needed to find my sister. I needed to find Calysta.

I could see Daniel shaking anxiously. From what I've heard him say, Caasi was thr only family he had left.

Caasi to him was Calysta to me, I realized.

Suddenly, Daniel stopped, pushing me back.

"What?" I mouthed. He flicked his head towards a door behind the wall we were hiding behind.

"They're here." He whispered. My breath caught in my throat. I knew I would see them eventually, but this felt too soon. In all honesty, I was terrified. I had never fought without Naji by my side. 

I peeked into the room. There were six guards and a young girl with blonde hair and dark blue eyes, just like Daniel. Caasi. Two gaurds were leaning over her, talking and grinning. She looked very uncomfortable. 

"Those pigs." Daniel said through gritted teeth. 

Suddenly, rage filled me. I didn't want to die, but I couldn't stand these thieves. And they had my dragon. Daniel said we'd be sold into slavery and a client wanted Naji's scales. I wouldn't let anyone do that to Naji. I stormed into the room. 

"Where is my dragon?" I thundered, looking at all the gaurds. I noticed a sword in all of their sheaths. I didn't have a weapon. 

"Surprised that thing's not dead." A thief laughed, "but 'er will be soon. Just like yee two kids." All the thieves erupted in laughter. 

"Really, Ayla?" Daniel muttered, taking a step back. 

I glanced at Caasi, who was terrefied. A thief stepped towards me, and I staggered backwards. The thieves all laughed, shouting things like "coward!" and "run little girl!"

"Run." I said, turning around. I grabbed Daniel's hand, then ran as fast as possible. I heard footsteps echoing behind me, then spotted a corner. I ran to the corner, then hid in the shadows. The thieves looked down the hallway I ran into, then continued running straight. 

I sighed in relief, then stood up, looking at Daniel, who was staring straight past me. 

"What?" I said, turning my head to see what he was looking at. 

I almost started crying in relief. Laying down on the cold floor was a big blue dragon with a dark steel muddle on his snout. He was chained, bruised, and bleeding, but he was still alive. I ran to the dragon and embraced him a hug. 

"Naji!" I cried, taking off his steel muzzle. "Thank the Gods you're alive!" 

Naji looked up at me, then purred happily at my presence. 

I looked at a pretty nasty wound on his back. My smile went thin. 

"What did they do to you?" I muttered sadly. He was hurt, but it would take a lot to keep a dragon down. 

The sound of shouting and footsteps filled the air once again, and my reunion was ruined. 

"Ayla," Daniel said, "We need to get going. The thieves will find us soon." 

I nodded, then pulled a sword out of Naji's saddle then sliced off the chains that held Naji. He shook off the iron, then did his cute little dragon smile. 

I grabbed another sword from the saddle, then tossed it over to Daniel. he caught the sword, then looked at Naji uncomfortably. 

"Let's go get Caasi for real this time." I said. Daniel nodded, then all three of us walked straight into the chaos. 

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If I said I wasn't nervous, I would be lying. What stood in front of Daniel, Naji , and I, was terrifying. Yes, it was only six guards, but what if more came? What would we do then?

Soon, we were standing at the same room as before. The six thieves had gone back to what they were doing before. Maybe they didn't see Daniel and I as much of a threat. I held back a laugh. They would be surprised. 

Caasi glanced at the exit. We locked eyes, and I could see the terror and pain she was in. My eyes softened with sympathy. 

I gripped the hilt of the sword tighter. 

I looked back at Daniel and Naji, then stepped forward. 

All of the thieves turned and looked at me. They all looked unamused and tired, as if they were sick of me already. 

"Alright." One of them said, standing up, "You're really starting to get on my nerves." 

Every bit of strength I had went into standing still in that place. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die.  I'm going to--

No. 

I had spent years training to fight. I need to survie, find my sister, and bring honor to my family. How will I be able to do that if I'm dead? I was raised by a dragon. I played with knives and learned to hunt and climb. What does a filthy bandit have against me?

Nothing. A voice whispered. You are a figure of  magic and life. You have my blessing. 

And suddenly, I was pulled into the past. 

A dragon stared at me, her golden eyes filled with love and kindness. Her scales were the most beautiful shade of purple I have ever seen. He wings were tucked back in an elegant way that radiated her beauty. 

"I'm tired , Maegrythe." I had mumbled, resting my head on the dragoness'  large body. I was only three when I met  Maegrythe, and I spent years living and training with her. After the incident with my family happened, Maegrythe was the only family I had. 

"Rest, young one."  Maegrythe whispered soothingly. "Tommorow, you shall train. I will not be able to protect you forever."

"But I want you to protect me forever!" I protested, looking at the dragoness. 

"Yes, but don't you want to learn to hunt?" Maegrythe asked. "Don't you want to learn to fight off evil bandits and thieves?" 

My young eyes had widened with joy. 

"Yeah!" I said, leaping up and down with excitement. 

I blinked a few times and found myself back in the real world, six years later. 

 Maegrythe was always able to talk, but Naji couldn't. Maegrythe was the only dragon I've seen who could talk. I never understood how or why. 

I looked at the thief. I wasn't going to die. Not yet. 

I sliced my sword across the thieve's stomach, then kicked him to the ground. I smacked him on the head with the hilt of my sword and he fell to the ground. I stood above the body, partly hoping I didn't kill him. 

One down, five to go. 

The thieves were silent. 

"Oh, have mercy on our souls." A thief said, dropping to the ground. I looked at him in surprised, then watched as all the thieves began laughing again. 

"Get 'em!" A thief hollared. The thieves stopped laughing, then charged. 

I began fighting furiously. I looked back at Daniel, who was fighting too. Naji blasted shots of smoldering fire some gaurds, but if he blew too much, the whole place would burn to the ground before we would be able to escape. 

Three thieves now lied on the ground. I had taken out two and Daniel took out one. I watched as he slashed his sword. Now four thieves were down. 

But one of them was being especially resielient. I knocked him down, but he got back up. I stumbled backwards, then tripped on a chair leg and dropped to the ground. Daniel was busy with his own battle now.

"This is the end of you." The thief laughed, raising his sword. I managed to move, but the wound he gave me was still fatal. I put my hand on my side, where a pool of crimson was forming. 

"You stubborn girl." The thief growled, but before he could deliver the killing blow, a sword stabbed through his chest. The thief dropped to the ground, next to me. Standing over the body was a frigid Caasi. Her eyes were teary and bloodshot. Her breath was heavy. She dropped the knife she was holding. I stood up weakly, then she pulled me into a hug. 

"Thank you so much." She wailed, crying on my shoulder. I smiled weakly, grasping the wound on my side. 

Daniel walked to us, the theif he was battling was down.

Caasi broke the hug, then ran to her brother, hugging him. 

I smiled. 

Soon. I told myslf. Soon, I would find Calysta.

"Thank you." Daniel said to me, then he spotted my wound. "Oh, Gods..."

"It's fine." I said, feeling a bit woozy from the loss of blood. 

"We need to get you some help!" Daniel panicked. "Caasi is the village healer. She can help you and your dragon."

"Dragon?" Caasi echoed. 

"It's a long story." I said, walking to them. My footing got messed up and I fell. 

I could barely hear Caasi and Daniel's panicing. Everyhting seemed fuzzy and messed up. I stumbled to Naji, then weakly climbed onto him with the help of Daniel and Caasi. 

"Naji can fly us to the village." I said, but it all came out as mumbles and gibberish. 

"What if she dies?" Caasi cried. That was all I heard, then everything faded to black.