I was just about to give up and start sobbing like the truly heroic superhero I am before I heard it. 

A roar so loud, so terrible... I slammed my hands over my ears as my eardrums threatened to burst. The mountains shook, shedding giant boulders and shaggy goats. When the terrible noise finally finished I had to feel my chest just to make sure I was still alive. I was still alive, right? All I could see was the blurring shapes of the mountains around me as a horrible hum overwhelmed my senses. I was in limbo, between the physical and all-consuming darkness that threatened to take me. I leaned forward and was sick off the side of the mountain, my small lunch falling to the slopes below. It wasn't until my depth perception kicked in and I realized I was leaning towards certain death that I scrambled back until my back hit the craggy wall of rock. Solid ground wasn't as comforting as it used to be. Whatever had made that sound had easily shaken the mountains. If it could do that with it's voice then I couldn't imagine what it could do with its body. What was it? Something in me had a horrible feeling that I knew what it was, but my mind refused to process it. Was it a volcano erupting? A... an atomic bomb? Was there going to be a mushroom cloud blooming in the blue Alaskan sky? For some reason, I didn't even look. I couldn't bring myself to. My gaze was straight ahead at the small mountain flower rising up through the rocky terrain with a triumphant display of small petals and uplifted leaves. 

The question remained, no, burned, in my brain. I heard it over and over in my head. 

What am I going to do now?

But more importantly: What can I do now?

I'm just a kid. I'm not Superman. I can't do this. I can't save my friends. What good could I do? Slink around in the shadows? A sudden wave of emotion swept over me. This wasn't fair. I should be worrying about Chemistry tests and basketball games. With a family to make me dinner and talk about my day to and, and....

The self pity turned sour in my stomach. I could feel it curdling from the inside, wrinkling up like a shriveled raisin. Even I couldn't have pity on myself. I had caused this. I led these people here in the first place. 

Another wave of self pity threatened to creep up on me but I pushed it away angry. 

Avery, Dustin, Merman... they were your family. 

I screamed and kicked the flower, crushing it to the rocky ground. Its bruised petals fluttered in the breeze, the leaves feebly attempting to erect itself but only lifting off the ground slightly. 

I glared at it before snatching it from the ground in a fit of anger, the stem breaking with a satisfying snap, before chucking it over the edge. "AAAHH!" 

My scream rebounded off the surrounding peaks, returning to me with a chorus of angry, childish wails. 

Are you done throwing a fit yet? 

I twisted around at the sudden, calm voice. "Wh-what?" I whispered. 

Standing before me was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. A slender head was crowned with two ivory horns swirled like a sea shell. Deer ears flicked from a slender head, bright purple eyes surrounded by lighter black skin, making him appear to have eyeliner to make girls jealous. Bright purple flames raced down his neck like a brilliant Ponyta mane, his tail just as vibrant, flickering with energy like a shooting star. His back legs and underbelly were marked with four neon blue stripes. 

He seemed to smirk. I think it's high time we both did a little growing up. 

Was this... was this my Caedmon speaking to me? "Is.. is.."

The twenty foot tall beauty shook his head. It's not permanent. I can only hold this form up for so long. We must hurry. 

Caedmon looked so amazing with his fiery mane and shiny black scales. I felt like... heck I felt like I could rule the world! With a new surge of confidence, I stepped towards my dragon. Caedmon crouched, his front leg extending to help me up and onto his back. I stepped on his leg and managed to crawl up his side after jumping a few times and Caedmon laughing his head off. Then, triumphant and beet red, I emerged victorious as I plopped my butt on his spine. "I'm-"

Before I could say 'ready' he had hurled himself off the cliff. I almost went tumbling back, knees to chest but managed to stay on because my belt loop caught on a spike. The ripping of fabric was lost to me as suddenly I was clinging onto his neck for dear life as his wings battered the air frantically. "You don't know how to fly this thing!?" I screamed, looking down at the growing rocks below. 

"I got it- I-" Caedmon folded his wings suddenly before plunging onto a lookout spot on the trail where a few tents were pitched. 

"What are yoooooouuuuu?" I began to ask but ended with a scream as he landed on his front paws and took off running. A man with an expensive camera jumped out of the way as Caedmon hopped over him and scared away the rare mountain lion he had been attempting to capture. I only saw a glimpse of his shocked expression before Caedmon had bounded off another ledge, this time his wings spread out for an easier glide. He was aiming for another ledge on a mountainside just a few hundred yards away.

"Clever boy," I grinned when I realized his plan. 

But it was not as easy as I would have expected. To gain more height, he raced up the mountain side like a snow leopard, leaving me to cling onto him for dear life. Breathing heavily, I managed to latch myself into the straps on the saddle. I wouldn't realize until later that there had been no saddle. 

Now secured, I was able to appreciate how fast Caedmon climbed and how lithe he was, jumping from impossible crack to impossible crevice. With every powerful leap, I felt my adrenaline beginning to rush, my heart pounding in preparation. Caed the Shade and Justin the human were at it again!

Caedmon let out a triumphant roar before kicking off the side of the mountain like a swimmer in an Olympic race. He waited a moment to spread his wings, letting his momentum spring him forwards before unleashing his massive wingspan. It was like riding the awesomest roller coaster on earth. At first the heart stopping dive... then the smooth dip back up to higher elevation that made your stomach feel like it was doing a barrel roll. Wow!

Suddenly there was a blast of energy that made my arm hairs stand on end and my heart skip a beat. Caedmon was so surprised that he didn't land very well and ended up stumbling and falling to his side. His pointed rib cage protected me, keeping my legs from being crushed under his weight. 

The smell of ozone filled the air and immediately I knew who it was. 

"Avery!?"

"Don't say my name you freakin TRAITOR!" I heard her scream and another blast narrowly missed us and fried a nearby pine tree. 

Yup. Definitely her. 

"Avery!" Caedmon roared, getting to his feet, his tail lashing in distress. "We're friend..." He was cut off by another zap that hit just above our heads. She screamed in frustration. 

"You ruined it! You ruined it all! Everything! Mardu is dead! And the place... there's a dragon the size of a freakin mountain that YOU led here. S-11 is done! Finished! I hope you're happy!" She screamed so loud sometimes her voice cracked.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean it. I swear." I said, looking over at the albino beauty, her eyes narrowed in rage as she rode her dragon. Her hair was whipping around her in a sort of tragic heroic way, a spear in hand. I gulped.

"I don't care," Avery said. "But... but  I saw you back there... wailin' like a baby." She admitted in a softer tone, so soft that I could barely hear her. "So I'm gonna join you on this... on this dumb suicide mission. But that does NOT mean I forgive you and it most certainly does NOT mean I'm not going to kick your white butt to Timbuktu when this is all over. Ya hear me!? I'm doing this for them- not you!"

Dang. She'd be a great drill sergeant. I couldn't help but respond with a sharp "Yes ma'am."

"Now." She panted as her dragon landed in front of us. "You two idiots listen to me, okay?"

Caed and I nodded numbly. "You... got a plan?" I asked her in a small voice.

"No. I'm still working on it." Avery said. 

"Can I make a suggestion?" I raised a wilting finger. 

"No." She snapped, her arms folding. There was a small pause. She gave a huffing sigh. "What?" She asked impatiently. 

"How about we distract the giant dragon... then round up all the kids and run for it because there's no way we're defeating that thing." I said all in one breath. 

She sighed and shook her head but didn't turn down the idea. "Let's just see what the situation is. What does he want? The tall blond."

"Well what he told me is that he wanted to set you guys free. And I think there's some sort of grudge going on? He swore he wouldn't hurt any-"

She held up a hand to silence me. "Alright. That's enough. Let's go." Her dragon took off once more. I looked to Caed. Caed was grinning stupidly.

"Caedmon, this is a life or death situation it's not time for you to be teasing me about blushing around her. Get going!" I snapped. Caedmon snorted but jumped off the ledge and soared behind the electric dragon. 

I knew what Caed was thinking. We were a team again. And who could stand against such a mighty crew? This was exciting. Maybe, just maybe, I could be the hero for once.