Akaysha beat her wings once as she flew aimlessly through the mountains. She didn't know where she was going. She didn't really care. All she knew was that she needed to get away. Get away from the city that had torn her apart. Away from the man that she cared so much for but couldn't understand. Away from the source of her torment.

She didn't understand the emotions running through her. It was like a turmoil of hurt that pierced her entire being. It was strange. There was no physical pain, but it felt physical, to the point her legs were shaking and her body ran cold. The fire she knew she could summon forth at will seemed small and pathetic. Even the part of her that was connected to the magic of the world seemed insignificant compared to the despair running through her.

For hours she flew, until the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon. She didn't even notice Ragin's mind disappearing and reappearing in the back of her mind. She didn't care. It was difficult enough to make sure she didn't accidently crash into a mountainside. Focusing on what her rider was doing would only cause her more pain.

As the sun began to rise a mind touched her own. She tried to brush it away, but it wouldn't go. With a growl she finally let the conscious in. Sashi's mind was a soothing one, calm and firm, unlike the storm that was Akaysha's own. The younger dragoness glanced to her side as her golden scaled mentor flew in alongside her.

'Akaysha,' Sashi said softly, 'You seem weary, how long have you been awake?'

Not really wanting to talk the dark dragoness sent her response through pictures and feelings.

'All night? Oh... Akaysha,' her mentor sighed, 'I have some more bad news for you.'

Akaysha glanced at her and tilted her head, 'What did he do now?'

'He's gone. Someone went to his room this morning to find he has disappeared. We can't find him.'

'Oh,' Akaysha flexed her claws, letting a small trickle of smoke to run from her snout.

'We were wondering if you had any idea...?'

The younger dragon snorted, 'His mind is gone from mine. I can't even feel it, let alone find it.'

Sashi watched her for a moment. She could feel the anger in those words, as well as the sense of betrayal that pierced deep into her. She had never seen it within a dragon before. Very rarely was betrayal a worry, because dragons tended to share everything with each other, and what rider would ever betray their dragon?

They flew in silence for a couple of minutes, their wing beats the only sound in the cool mountain air. Mist was beginning to rise from the valley below creating a blanket of fog that caused the trees below to nearly disappear. The early morning snow caressed the peak of each mountain, sending dazzling arrays of light across the valley. It was almost blinding should someone look at it directly.

'Akaysha, follow me,' said Sashi eventually, 'We need to talk.'

The other dragon looked at her and snorted, 'About what? The idiot human I call my rider? I already told you, I know nothing about where he's gone.'

'No, we need to talk about you.'

Akaysha blinked, tilting her head, before sending her reluctant agreement to the golden dragon. Sashi banked to the left, flying down another valley. Akaysha followed. They flew for another couple of minutes, before landing on a large ledge on the side of a mountain. The smaller dragon landed heavily, her tired wings drooping by her side.

Sashi gave her a concerned glance. The dark dragoness wasn't well. Her scales were gloomy, the usual starry nightlike shine of her scales gone. Akaysha sat on her haunch, looking to the ground, carving grooves into the ground below with her claws. The two were silent for a moment, Sashi regarding her with worry.

'What do you want Akaysha?' asked the golden dragon eventually.

Akaysha rumbled softly, 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'You know,' Sashi's emotions passed through their mental link, her concern shining most of all, 'We can shut of the connection that causes you so much turmoil.'

'I know.'

Sashi studied her students mind, watching the guilt ridden pain that swallowed the younger dragon. Akaysha had considered the separation, considered it long and hard. The love she held for the man she called her rider was great, but with every betrayal and hidden emotion caused by Ragin dinted and shook that love again and again. This final movement was nearing the last straw. If Ragin didn't want her, than why should she want him.

But there was a hesitation. A doubt. Because as much as he had hurt her, Ragin was still her rider. He had raised her, loved her and protected her. His recent betrayal of her didn't take that away, and because of this she couldn't quite believe that he had pushed her away. There had to be a reason. She knew him, maybe not all of him, but she knew the type of person he was. That person wouldn't go awry so easily, even if he had lived most of his life that way.

Sashi sighed softly, 'Akaysha, have I ever told you how Logan and I met? How we became dragon and rider?'

The darker dragon looked at her in surprise, 'No.'

'As you know, we weren't bonded like Ragin and you were, nor any other rider and dragon. I was originally meant to be a wild dragon, not belonging to anyone. But when Logan rescued my egg and attempted to save my mother, a spell was cast. Whether from me or my mother we do not know, but this wild magic bonded Logan and me together in a way that had not happened for nearly a thousand years.'

'You were bonded through wild magic?'

'Yes, at least that is what we believe. There were a number of things about my hatching that were obscure. Magics both wild and not were present. There was a shade, who was trying to steel my egg for himself as well, and he was casting spells over me before Logan managed to save us. But because our bond is so different, should I ever choose to do so, I could remove the bond between us.'

Akaysha nodded her head slightly, 'You've told me that before. Have you ever thought of doing so?'

'Yes,' Sashi's answer surprised the young dragon, 'Because as much as I love Logan, the part of me that was hatched wild has always wondered what it would be like if I didn't have the constant presence of another inside my mind. Or at least, I had those thoughts once.'

'What changed?'

'I am sure you have heard of the war of shades a little that happened over two hundred years ago,' The golden dragon tilted her head.

Akaysha nodded, 'Yes. Logan and you were the ones that brought that to an end, right?

'You are correct, but the riders kept some details of that final battle rather vague, as should some information become common knowledge it would be rather frightening to consider.'

'Oh? What is it?'

The golden dragon seemed to hesitate a moment, before pressing to Akaysha's mind the information that was considered so frightening. It was a strange experience, as it was the first time the dragoness had ever felt anything resembling terror from her mentor. It was only a moment before she realised why.

'You were a shade?!' Akaysha's shock caused her to forget her exhausted depression as she took a step backwards.

'I was. The first, and hopefully last, dragon shade. As you can see, the spirits that possessed me are gone. Again, wild magic is incredibly powerful and useful.'

'But... how? I didn't think it was possible to survive such a thing.'

'Usually it's not. But I had retreated into my Eldanuri before the spirits were able to control my mind. They took my body, but I managed to take it back.'

Akaysha went silent as she mulled over what Sashi had told her, 'Why are you telling me this?'

'Because when I did become a shade, when I did fall into the darkness, Logan didn't give up on me,' the golden dragon said with fondness, 'He nearly did, but he clung to the hope that I could come back, and he fought for me to do so.'

The younger dragon rumbled softly, 'Are you saying I should do the same for Ragin?'

'No. What I'm saying is that when you chose your rider, he did change. You became a part of him, and he became a part of you. And if Logan was willing to face an army of shades for me, I can tell you Ragin would do the same for you.'

'Then why!? Why did he run away? Why did he destroy everything that had built here? Why... why hide everything from me?' Akaysha mourned, her frustration coming out with a roar.

'I don't know...' Sashi looked away from her, 'But I do not think it was out of malice.'

Akaysha growled at that, 'How can you be so sure? How can you be so certain that he isn't as evil and selfish and conceited as anyone else with his background.'

'Because of you,' The golden dragon rumbled a laugh, 'Because he could of escaped at any point over the past month or so he's been here. But he didn't. You've been inside his head Akaysha. You know his thoughts, even if you don't think you do.'

'But he's hidden so much from me,' the young female lowered her head sadly, 'I don't know if I knew him at all. I could of never guessed that he killed Freya's parents. I know he stole my egg... but that he would attempt it again... And now he's running away.'

Sashi sighed softly, seeming to think for a moment, 'Akaysha, I don't know what to say to you. But perhaps this will help. I believe I know your true name.'

Akaysha tilted her head, confused, then the weight of what Sashi was saying hit her, 'Wait... what? How do you know that?'

'I've known you for the past month Akaysha. You have shared a lot with me, and I with you. I believe I do know the truth behind who you are, and I believe this will help you understand Ragin as well,' she said, 'You two are joined together, thus your true name is also a part of him.'

'Oh...'

'I will give you this choice Akaysha. It is unusual for a dragon to show another her true name, but in this case, I believe it will help. But the choice is yours.'

The dark dragoness looked away from her mentor for a moment. Part of her was frightened about learning who she was, but she was also curious. She had no idea what her true name was, hadn't even really thought about it. She only knew of such a thing through Ragin, and what she did know was limited. But she also knew that if someone knew her true name... they would be able to control her. She looked at Sashi again, and sent her silent agreement. In the end, her curiosity outweighed any negative.

Sashi nudged the other dragon in order to comfort her, before saying a phrase in the ancient language. It was a short phrase, but it was one that sent shivers through Akaysha's entire body. Her scales seemed to almost shine with an inner light and her heartbeat increased. As soon as Sashi said it, Akaysha recognized the name. It was her, she was it. It spoke of her magic and her pride of it. It spoke of her desperation to be like others of her kind. It spoke of her connection to Ragin, her need to be a dragon and her deep love and frustration of her rider. But most of all it spoke of longing. Longing to have Ragin accept her, longing for him to be seen as the man she knew he was, longing to fit in, in a world that didn't seem quite made for her. The name excited her and humbled her, leaving her in awe of who she was.

'Thank you,' Akaysha whispered to the golden dragon, feeling slightly dazed.

'Do you see now?' asked Sashi, 'Do you see why you can't give up on him?'

She could, for no matter what Ragin did, or how he acted, or what he had been through, he was part of her. A part of her that was so deeply rooted in their bond that without him she would cease to exist. And she needed him. She needed him to see her for who she was. Without him, this life wouldn't be worth living. Just as she knew this about herself, she knew it was true for Ragin as well. If her true name was so deeply entwined with him, she knew that for him it would be the same. He needed her as much as she needed him. In the end, that was all that mattered. It was the only thing that made sense.

Sashi watched as each thought flittered through the dragon's mind. When it all came to a stop Akaysha raised her head, the depression and doubt from before gone as quickly as a wave from the ocean. There was a new spark, a new fire, and this time the dark dragon would not let it go out, no matter what happened.

'I know where he is going,' said the dark dragon, 'There is only one place he could go.'

The golden dragon rumbled in surprise, 'Are you sure?'

'Yes. It is the only thing that makes sense. There is only one man that could make him do what he did, and the only way to break from whatever oaths he has told is to confront that man,' Akaysha growled, 'He is headed to the banks of the Isenstar Lake near Gilead. He is going to confront Tharin.'

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Hey guys! New chapter. Hope you enjoyed, vote if you did and comment what you thought. Sorry for such a short one, and sorry it took so long. This chapter has probably been the most difficult to write so far, as I had no idea how I was going to write it, so any feedback on how I did is welcome. Thanks, the next chapter will be out as soon as I can get it. See Ya!

Pennator^^