Staring at the Blue Dragon, I couldn't help but wonder why he is feared. There is no malice, no sadistic aura to him. I can't see why they would be afraid of him.

"The mask, the Blue Dragon's mask has . . . AH!" The man threw his head down and clasped his hands to his head, fear overriding him.

"What is it?" Yoon questioned them. "You turn into stone if you look at those eyes!" He screamed in terror.

Stone? "H-He came out to kill us all!" Another villager shouted. Anger boiled within me and I glared at them.

What the hell is their problem?!

"The Blue Dragon saved me. He won't kill anybody without a reason." Yona tried. The Blue Dragon closed his eyes. Eh?

He's closing them . . . for those horrid people? He reached down and grabbed the mask and placed it back on his face. It only covered the top half, revealing the lower half.

He's letting them know he has no hostility towards them. I don't get him, and I don't get this crazy village.

"What do you want Blue Dragon? You have no intention of coming with us, correct?" Kija questioned, not happy in the very least about his decision.

The Blue Dragon bent down and picked up the axe on the ground. He then turned, heading towards Kija.

Kija jumped and brought his claw up in case he needed to defend himself. But he didn't send bloodlust.

Yoon had grabbed Yona and dragged her away in case the two decided to brawl, but I can't see it. There is no hostility.

He stopped in front of Kija and raised the axe. He swung down and hit the wall next to him. Huh?

He then continued to hit the same spot. I see. He's digging.

Kija blushed in embarrassment at his mistake of thinking he'd attack him. "You . . ! If you came to help us escape, why did you not say so?!" He shouted at him, still embarrassed.

"I was in despair, thinking we Dragons would have to fight amongst ourselves! Wait, why are you digging here? The exit is over there." He motioned to the collapsed rubble.

The Blue Dragon stopped momentarily. "This . . . leads out. It's quicker to dig here . . ." His voice is quiet and smooth.

"You should have mentioned that sooner! Princess, I will start digging now, so please wait." Kija said, directing his attention to Yona.

She frowned, but her eyes held determination. "I'll dig too. Let me borrow that." She took a villagers knife.

What an interesting Princess she is. "You must not. It is we, the Dragons, who have a duty to protect you." Kija countered with her.

"Let me . . . let me help as well! Let's get out of this place quickly!" Kija blushed at her attention to him. "Yes!"

Yoon took another villagers knife, since they lost whatever threatening presence they had earlier.

"You guys start digging too, if you want to live." Yoon scolded the villager. I laughed at that and grabbed my spear, beginning to dig as well.

We all continued to dig. Kija, Blue Dragon, and I were doing the most progress, but the others were helping.

Blue Dragon moved and I turned to see him stop Yona from falling over. "Blue . . . Dragon . . ." She mumbled. She's tired, and the amount of oxygen in here is thinning.

"Are you okay?!" Yoon asked worriedly, stopping his digging. "Yes . . ." She lied.

I pursed my lips. We need to speed up the digging. "Blue Dragon, take the Princess to your room. There should be more air there." Kija said.

Yona smiled weakly. "I'm fine. Ah!" Blue Dragon picked her up with ease and left. He's so kind.

Why? Why doesn't anybody try to understand his kindness. Saving Yona, closing his eyes, starting to dig, bringing Yona to a better room with more oxygen. Why? Why do they see him as a monster?

He probably came out because he was worried about those damn villagers. I bet he kept protecting the village in his own way like this. Yet they don't seem to notice, or care.

I sighed loudly, sweating from all the digging. I grabbed my spear and readied it. "Yoon, Kija, step away." The two did so and I let one foot off the ground and spun quickly.

The wall tried to halt my movements but I kept on turning, breaking the wall apart and making a larger hole in it.

I stopped when it became a bit much and stepped back. Well, it made great progress, but that was a lot of energy.

This is annoying. I spun again, digging more. I'm tired, and I'm having difficulty breathing. But I won't stop.

Hak would never forgive me if I allowed her to die. And neither would I. Not her, Yoon, Kija, or the Blue Dragon.

My spear is to protect the weak, to protect those I cherish.

And I will protect them with every fiber of my being! "Ha!" I spun some more, the others digging around me.

Yona returned and began to dig. "Yona!" I shouted, not happy to see her here. "Princess, please rest." Kija said.

She shook her head and went back to digging. "I'm fine." She reassured him.

This is taking too long. "Back up." I told the people near me. They did so. I took a deep breath and readied. I then lunged forward, pressing a symbol on my spear. It broke apart some, but revealed it's connected my chains.

"HA!" I roared.

I slammed them against the wall with great strength as I swiped the blade across. The wall broke apart and I fell through, my spear clashing with . . .

"Hak?" I blinked, surprised to see my brother and the light of day. His glaive is blocking my spear, as if we were locked in combat.

I sighed in relief and stepped away as he immediately went to embrace Yona.

That could have been bad. We all filed out and our little group was outside, the villagers watching from the entrances of the village.

"How'd you know where to dig?" I asked my brother. I had put my spear back into place, but Yona complimented the weapon.

She hasn't ever seen me use it to its full potential. "I got it out of the villagers. They only revealed their secret when their family members lives were at stake."

I snorted. Selfish, cruel, annoying, bastards.

I do not like them, not one bit. "I'm glad they weren't people who'd abandon their families." Yona said.

I rolled my eyes. Doesn't make them any better. "It's human nature to let fear get the best of us too." Yoon stated.

Human nature, huh?

I glanced over to see Blue Dragon isolated as the villagers looked at him in fear. "So, what are we gonna do about him, Princess?" Hak asked, insinuating the isolated dragon.

"So here's the problem. I can't give up." Yona declared.

I smiled at that, along with the others. "Well? Go get your Dragon." I nodded towards him.

"Blue Dragon!" She jogged over to him. She stopped just in front of him, arms length away. "I'll ask again. Let's go together. I want to take you with us." She held her hand out to him, a warm and kind look on her face.

Blue Dragon stared at her hand. I can't see half his face, but I think uncertainty is on it. "I . . ." He spoke very softly.

"You don't have to close your eyes in front of me. Does your power really kill people indiscriminately?" She questioned, not an ounce of belief in it in her voice.

She looked down at the little squirrel that stood beside him, eating an acorn. "Even when Ao is so attached to you? Ao knows that you're not destruction." She added.

I stared at her back. Yona has always been like this. Even at the castle, when everyone bad mouthed her behind her back, calling her a spoiled, foolish princess who's too into herself then others.

They were always wrong. Because this is who Yona is, who she always will be. She is the light, who draws people to her.

Blue Dragon moved his hand slowly to her hand and froze just inches away from it.

Hey, Blue Dragon. I wonder what you will do. Isn't it in your blood to go along with her? Or is it because of her?

I watched his hesitation, but he placed his hand in hers, making me smile.

My eyes widened a bit as I saw a single tear drip off of his chin.

We walked over to the two, smiling. "Welcome to our happy group." I grinned cheekily, hand on hip. "Shall we go?" Hak suggested.

Yona nodded in agreement and turned to where the villagers watched. With a big smile on her face she waved. "Thank you for everything!" She called.

I scowled at the group, whose faces remain as uninviting since the moment we arrived.

Giving them a return stare, I headed off, along with the others as Blue Dragon bowed in good-bye, before following us.

I stretched my arms. "So glad we're leaving them. I was this close to exterminating the damn place." I held my fingers millimeters apart.

Hak smirked as Kija nodded enthusiastically. Yona frowned, giving me a disapproving look as Yoon sighed.

I shrugged. I'm not ashamed of it.

After walking for a while, we were nearly off the rocky terrain when Yoon turned back. "Kija, do you know the location of the next Dragon?" He questioned.

Kija smiled, but I frowned. He looks a little red. And not an embarrassed or angry look. And he's sweating a bit.

"Yes . . . the next Dragon . . ." His eyes fluttered closed and he began to fall.

I quickly caught him. "Whoa." I muttered as his weight dropped into my arms.

Yona quickly rushed over, along with Yoon. "Kija?!" They shouted. I picked him up princess style and Yoon placed his hand on his forehead.

He frowned. "We should go set up camp for the day." He said. Well, we could all use the rest.

Maneuvering Kija, I tossed him over my shoulder and stood. "Alright, let's go." Yoon's eye twitched as he looked at me strangely.

"For your size it's surprising you can carry people like Thunder Beast and Kija." I shrugged my shoulder nonchalantly.

I pride myself in strength. Hak and I trained our muscles well and we're stronger then the average soldier.

We left the mountain and ventured into the forest where we decided to rest.

Yoon checked up on Kija who laid his head on his bag. We sat by him, staring strangely. "He probably overworked himself, digging the hole at full power." Yoon informed.

Well, it was pretty tedious. "Kija . . ." Yona whispered, looking down on him with worry. Hak placed a white cloth over his face. "Rest in peace." He merely said.

I sweat dropped and my eye twitched. Hak . . .

Kija quickly sat up, waving his hands, making Hak jump up with a 'whoa'. "I'm alive!" Kija shouted, the white cloth falling from his face.

Yona closed her eyes, smiling. "Calm down." She said, ignoring what Hak had done and Kija's reaction.

Kija did as she said and lay back down. "I-I apologize. I feel sluggish and the Four Dragons' locations are hazier than usual.

Hm. It may just have to do with overexerting himself with an area of low oxygen. I mean what else could it be?

"Don't push yourself." She said, still worried about him. "There's one more person who can sense the Four Dragons' locations." Yoon said.

Ah! We all turned to look at the Blue Dragon. He was so quiet I nearly forgot about him.

"He was with us?" I quickly elbowed my brother, making him grunt in pain. "Yes, idiot." I hissed. Hak shot me a glare, clutching his ribs in pain.

"Blue Dragon, can you tell where the other Four Dragons are?" Yona asked him. The Blue Dragon kept staring at us, indifferent as usual.

He tilted his head ever so slightly, making me laugh lightly. That's cute. "Looks like he doesn't even know what 'Four Dragons' are." Hak observed.

Kija sat up again, a sad look on his face as he clenched his fist regrettably. "It is truly sad. I know, it is not your fault."

He stood up and grabbed Blue Dragon's hand, a nice, sparkly atmosphere around them as he gazed at him with a weird emotion.

"All this time, no one taught you. I will teach you the Four Dragons' way from now on. You can call me 'brother'." Wow Kija. He's so full of emotion. Blue Dragon and him remained staring, waiting on the Blue Dragon to respond.

His response? He ran off.

Well then. "Huh?! He's running away?!" Kija shouted, watching him scurry off. A devastated look on his face. "Maybe the 'brother' thing was revolting." Hak suggested.

Kija slumped, gloom on his face. I frowned and punched Hak in the back of his head, making him shout.

"You're revolting." I said, placing my hands on my hips and shaking my head in disappointment.

We quickly ran after him, and followed him to river that was nearby. He took off the hair attachment of his mask and tossed it aside right next to his sword and stood in front of the flowing water.

What is he doing? "Blue Dragon?" Kija asked, unsure what he's doing. Suddenly he dove right in and Kija paled and his mouth dropped open as lightning struck around him. "Suicide?!" He shrieked.

"Look at what you did. He threw himself into the water." Hak pointed out. I scowled and delivered a swift kick to his back, making him fall.

"Shut it." He shot me an annoyed look and I returned it. Kija was mumbling if it was his fault, obviously believing Hak's implications. Before I could comfort him, the Blue Dragon emerged, exiting the river, and walking over to Kija.

He held his hand up and I blinked. He caught a fish. Well then. That's some fishing skills. Impressive. "Is that for . . ?" Kija trailed off, staring at the scene.

He gratefully took the fish from him, relief filling his face. He smiled brightly at the Blue Dragon. "You want me to eat it and build my strength? I am thankful, but could you just say so?"

As expected the Blue Dragon didn't speak. Instead, he squatted down and into a ball, shivering since he's soaked.

Hak faced Kija, motioning to the Blue Dragon. "What are you gonna do, White Snake Nii-San? He's shivering." Hak stated in that teasing voice of his.

Kija looked at the Blue Dragon with worry and regret. "Is it my fault?!"

My temple throbbed and I quickly put Hak in a headlock. "You know he's not very good with teasing." I grounded out as he wiggled around in my grasp, trying to free himself.

While the three of us were doing that, Yona and Yoon walked over to the Blue Dragon. "Are you okay?" Yona asked, voice laced with concern. "How did you know there was a river?" Yoon questioned.

Curious, I released Hak who began gasping for air as I walked over. The Blue Dragon tapped on his mask, where his eyes are underneath.

That's right. The Dragon power. Makes sense. "Ah, your eyes have long distance vision. You caught the fish instantly, so you probably have great dynamic vision too. Is it true people turn into stone if they look into your eyes?" Yoon asked him.

The Blue Dragon shook his head, making me smile lightly. Those villagers really painted him out to be a monster. But really, he's just an innocent boy.

Adorable really, as is the other Dragon. "Really? Then why don't you take off that mask?" Yoon asked. The Blue Dragon looked down, not really wanting to answer, no, he doesn't know how to answer.

Yona sensed it and smiled. "Hey, first, let's start a fire, warm up, and eat the fish Blue Dragon caught." She suggested.

I smiled at that. "I'll go start the fire." I said, heading towards where we set up.

After a while, the sun began to lower, casting a golden light across the forest floor. I stared at the food Yoon created. "Miso hot-pot? Looks good. Where'd you get the ingredients?" Hak questioned our little mama bird.

"I traded them for medicines at the Blue Dragon's village. The pot too." He answered.

I blinked at his words. "When did you do that? Before or after they tried to kill us?" I asked skeptically, not sure when the hell he could have done that.

I mean I was right there the entire time!

"Oh no, Yoon! A bug dove into the pot!" Yona exclaimed. I glanced in to see it had. "Please rescue it Kiri." Yoon told me. "Yes~." I plucked the bug with ease and tossed it into the grass.

Yona looked off to the side and I followed her line of vision to the clothesline where the Blue Dragons clothes remained soaking wet.

"The Blue Dragon's clothes aren't drying." Yona murmured in disappointment. "Yeah. But besides that . . ." We all looked at the Blue Dragon.

His hair piece is currently covering his entire body in a ball of fur as his head was out, along with his hands, holding a bowl of the soup Yoon prepared.

"What kind of monster is he?" Hak questioned.

Yoon sweat dropped. "This group is becoming freakier and freakier." He stated, making me laugh nervously.

He's not wrong . . .

Kija quickly turned to us. "Don't say such thing! It is my fault the Blue Dragon is like that. He's probably very humiliated."

We all turned our gaze back to the Blue Dragon. "He doesn't seem to be listening." I stated.

Ao hopped onto his hand and began plucking some of his soup and plopping it into his mouth. "Blue Dragon, hurry and eat before Ao finishes it all." Yoon suggested.

The Blue Dragon took a spoonful and brought it to his mouth. "How is it?" Yona asked him. He began to quickly eat it before looking up, a smile and content look on his face.

"I'd say he likes it. Well, Yoon is a great cook. Right, Yona?" She nodded frantically, turning to Yoon. "Good job Yoon!" She complimented.

Yoon blushed a bit but looked off like it was nothing. "Yeah, yeah." He ate some. Yona stood and walked over to Blue Dragon. "Are you cold? Do you want to borrow my coat?" She motioned to her cloak.

"Th-thanks, Yona." I blinked, not used to hearing anyone say her name.

The boys immediately tensed and looked at them in surprise. "Yona?!" They spoke in unison.

I glanced at them, smirking. That's right, they all call her Princess. And each has a certain degree of liking for her. This is interesting indeed.

Kija grabbed his face, a look of shock, horror, and disbelief on his face. "C-C-C-Calling the Princess by her name?!" He shouted in disbelief, not reaching Yona or the Blue Dragon.

"So easily." Hak muttered, unsure of what to do.

Yoon just looked at them, obviously wanting to call her it as well but a bit too prideful. A bit of jealousy on his face.

I chuckled. This really is the best. "It's been a while since anyone other then Kiri has called me by my name." She smiled brightly.

"I want to call you by your name too." She declared. He looked up at her, but it's hard to read his emotions with that mask.

"You don't have a name right? Is there any name you want to be called?" She asked him curiously.

The Blue Dragon stared at us before rolling over and lying on the ground in a fury ball. I sweat dropped at the scene. "He curled up into a ball." Yona stated, still staring at the ball of fur.

"How about 'hairball monster'?" Hak suggested. I smacked his arm but it didn't even make him flinch.

But in turn he smacked me upside my head. I rubbed it in pain, grumbling profanities.

We all ate dinner, talking here and there, and soon night fell. I sat in the tree above Yona who is watching Yoon make medicine. "Hey, Kiri, Yoon." Yona spoke.

I glanced down at the two. "Hm?" Yoon responded, continuing making medicine. "The Blue Dragon said to call him by whatever name I want. What should I call him?" She asked us.

Well, Blue Dragon is so informal and totally not a name. I never really thought about names to name a person before though.

"Hm. If I had to pick a word for the Blue Dragon, it'd be 'quiet'." Yoon said thoughtfully. I shifted my gaze to the star filled night sky.

"I'd say 'cute', maybe 'innocent'." I mulled. The night sky has stars twinkling through the darkness. "Quiet, cute, innocent." Yona played with those words on the tip of her tongue, thinking.

"Pick something that clicks for you. It's you that pulled the Blue Dragon out of that cage-like hole." Yoon said, finishing up his work.

"I think he'd love whatever name you picked out for him. Out of all of us, he's spoken the most to you, and reacts more to you then us. You're like his angel that rescued him." I said, thinking about how he ran away from us at first.

From what Yona told me, he had pulled his sword on her and talked, but couldn't do it.

The Dragon's blood is definitely a part of his compulsion and pull towards her. However I think that Yona, herself, is the one that made him open up, even if it is the slightest bit.

He'd like anything she comes up with.

"The reason he keeps the mask on is probably something psychological, but he seems to open up to you." Yoon spoke my thoughts aloud.

I looked back down to see the two sitting together at the base of the tree I am sitting in. "Anyway, are you really a princess?!" He demanded.

I blinked. "You're really asking that now? I thought Ik-Soo clarified it." I spoke. Yoon blushed and tried to play it off.

"I just want to make sure. She didn't flinch when the Blue Dragon pointed his sword at her, and you didn't get discouraged when you were trapped in the hole."

He turned his attention back to Yona. "I was scared too. The Blue Dragon didn't scare me, though."

I chuckled at her wording. "What?! You don't know what it means to be scared!" He accused. She turned her head to him.

"It's true. I tremble just thinking about it." She grabbed her arms for effect. "Well I feel breathless just thinking about it!" Yoon countered, clutching the cloth to his chest.

"Take a deep breath." She said. Yoon nodded. "Okay."

I bursted in a fit of laughter, making the two look up at me. "Kiri! You wouldn't understand!" Yona pouted childishly.

I looked down at her. "Eh? Do you not remember gramps? He spoils you, but he's like a demon when it comes to his grandkids." I said, shivering at the reminder of him chasing us with his spear.

"That's because you and Hak were always causing trouble!" She defended. I huffed, turning away. "You pull a couple pranks and gramps tries to murder you." Yona laughed at that, and I couldn't help the smile that made its way onto my face because of it.

After her laughter died down, Yoon began to speak. "I used to think royals were cunning and dirty, but I take it back." Hm? Yoon was looking off, a tiny blush of embarrassment from his previous beliefs on his face.

"I'm sorry I said harsh things when I first met you." Yoon. I smiled lightly down at him. I see how it is. "Were you feeling bad about it this whole time?" Yona asked him, not a hint of anger in her voice.

He jumped slightly, his face saying it all. "You're so cute Yoon." She giggled, a heartwarming smile on her face. I couldn't help but mimic it. "Very cute." I added.

This just made him blush more. More so that it came from Yona's mouth.

She stood up and began walking. "I'm going to go drink some water." She informed, heading off.

"A-Also!" She stopped at Yoon's voice, glancing back. "Can I call you by your name too? Calling you 'Princess' is long, and it's such a pain." He blushed bashfully, having his 'I'm right and this is no big deal' face on.

She stared at him a bit before covering her mouth. "You're adorable." She repeated. "Why?!" He demanded. She just giggled and walked away.

"You really are adorable." I agreed. Yoon, still blushing, looks up. "Why?" He asked in embarrassment. I laughed. "It's okay Yoon. Besides, aren't you happy you can call her 'Yona'?" I teased.

He blushed some more and looked away. "Shut up." That just made me laugh more. Everyone of them is adorable. What a cute little bunch they are.

"Ah, that's right. Aren't you going to follow Yona?" He asked, looking up curiously.

I turned my gaze back up at the night sky. "No. There's someone who's worried after the incident, he doesn't want to leave her side quite yet. I thought I'd give them some alone time." I answered honestly.

I could feel Yoon's gaze. "The Thunder Beast?" He guessed, but he had no doubt. I smiled lightly, the image of the two most precious people to me popping in my mind.

"It hasn't been that long, since that day." I whispered to myself. Yona is still in pain. Hak is still in pain. Both betrayed by someone who held an important spot in their hearts.

In my heart.

His betrayal cut through our hearts like the blade of a knife. The wound has not healed, and the more we move, the more it hurts, just as much as the day it happened.

She who loves him, he who loves her, both loves is almost too painful to think about. Both whose love is as real as the sky up above.

The wound remains, and the pain intensifies as the days pass. A wound cannot heal unless it's stitched up. But we can't stop to stitch it up. This wound must heal a more painful way.

The pain must be ignored, the cut that runs deep must be ignored so we can move forward. The more we move, the more it hurts before the pain numbs.

Ah-Ah. What a terrible trap they're in. What I'm in.

The moon shone brightly, staring down at me. I reached my hand up towards it, images of the past flashing. Yona, Hak . . . Soo-Won.

I closed my hand to grab the moon, but I can't. The moon is unattainable. As is the future I wished for as a child.

I closed my eyes tightly, willing the memories to disappear. I'm not sure when and if they'll ever move on. The ultimate act of betrayal from someone who was trusted so much. Someone who we wanted to dedicate our entire lives to.

There is no need to think of unnecessary things. There is no need to think of a foolish dream. I don't need to dwell on feelings that'll only bring me down.

The only thing that I need to do is move forward and keep those two safe. I will do anything to protect my family.

~

I sat on the branch, swinging my legs back and forth as the sun peeked over the horizon. I didn't sleep much last night, but then again I hardly slept since the beginning.

Insomnia has always plagued me, ever since I was a child. I didn't mind though. It meant I could see the sun rise everyday, the light skewering the darkness that had claimed the land.

It brought forth hope, a new day, and another chance.

"Kija, how are you feeling?" Yona's tired voice sung out like the soft chime of a bell. I looked down to see her looking over at our sick comrade.

Kija stirred before rolling onto his stomach and propping his upper half up with his elbows. He stared in the direction of the sunrise.

"Kija?" Yona asked, curious of his odd behavior. "Green." He said. Yona furrowed her brows in confusion. Kija sat up, staring in that direction.

"I feel the Green Dragon's presence."