I woke up feeling refreshed but confused. I looked around the space that I couldn't- place in my mind. "Reina you're awake. How did you sleep?"

I frowned as Eric walked towards me with a bowl and a cup. "How long was I asleep for?"

"All night. Don't worry nothing was going on that couldn't be handled by me. Now eat this and then you can go back to running around fixing the world."

I took the bowl from him. "Thanks, Eric."

He smiled and walked away to answer the knock at the door. Topaz stood there framed by the light of the morning. "I came to check on Reina." He said.

Topaz steped in at a gesture from Eric. Katja came in on his heels and I couldn't help but smile. "She is eating." Eric said looking over at me.

I picked up the spoon and started to eat. I didn't feel as hungry as I had the night before so I ate slowly. Topaz came over and put his hand on my forehead. "You feel well?" He asked.

I frowned. "I feel better now."

He smiled. "You fell asleep quickly so Eric was worried. He asked me to come look at you."

I nodded putting my bowl down. "I haven't slept since Kyanite left. So I was tired." I admitted, staring into my bowl, having lost what little appetite I had.

He nodded and sat back on his tail. "You should stay here until he comes home. You mentioned you might need to go home?"

"I'm stressed at being in charge of everything here. I would like to take myself away from this stress." He nodded getting to his feet. "I'm just stressed and in need of a break. Nothing else."

"Then I will leave you alone." He said, smiling.

Topaz stood and walked back to Katja. She smiled and whispered something to him then waved at me. They left as Eric came over with another cup of tea. "What have you got to do today?" He said, frowning into the half-empty bowl.

"I need to sort out those humans, then speak with the group flying to the town with the supply lists, then I need to see the smith about armaments. That is just the start of the list. That's not even considering all the people that will walk up to me to pose a new problem."

Eric smiled as I took a sip of tea. "Good that should take you past midday. I will come and find you then. You will eat today."

I smiled handing him the cup back. "I will do as you tell me. I'm not foolish enough to disobey you."

His smile warmed more as I stood and walked to his door. "I will make you eat dinner and go to bed too." He called after me as I stepped out.

Closing the door behind me I felt the coolness of the morning air and smelt the damp grass around Eric's little house. The village was coming alive with people moving about with their morning chores. I stretched and rubbed my hands together. I suppose I should get on too. I thought walking towards the tent. I felt the extra energy the sleep and meals had given me knowing I would be hopping if I was in rat form.

Walking into the tent, I looked around. The humans were being held by some of the Dragons in a small cluster. There was another human that brought them food and waited for the plates. I walked up to them and one of the men stood. "You have been looked after?" I asked the man.

"We have but they won't let us leave."

"You attacked us so we don't want you wandering around until we are sure we can trust you. We would also like to know you are fit and well." The man nodded and looked around. "You will be given shelter and food until we can trust you so I would suggest you stay on your best behaviour."

The man nodded and bowed to me. I turned from him to look for the group moving to the town's. I found them next to the wall. "Are you ready with your lists?"

The lead bird nodded pulling out the long list of things we needed. I took it from them going over it one last time before sending them on their way. That was the way my morning was going. I checked each list and the birds that were going to make sure they had everything they needed before they left. Once I had seen them off I moved off to my next job.

Eric found me with the group of smiths using Dragons to make steel. We were in the middle of discussing what goes into making armour and weapons when he cleared his throat behind me. "One moment Eric. So you think this will speed up production." I asked the smith.

"I do. I will set this up and then show you the results."

I nodded. "I will want a side-by-side test of the quality."

The smith smiled at me as I turned and walked off with Eric. He sat on his porch with a plate of food. "How is the day going?"

I looked at the sky where I had lost sight of Kyanite. "Fine.... they will be at the castle by now."

Eric sighed. "They will. Is that why you are keeping yourself so busy?" I nodded feeling every millimetre of space between me and Kyanite. "I'm sure they are fine." He added.

I'm not so sure. There is an ominous feeling in the air. Just as that thought went through my mind, the movements of the people in the village changed, drawing my eyes to them. "ATTACK!" The cry went up and the village was suddenly like a kicked ant nest.

I darted inside the house. Eric helped me into my armour and then ran for his kit. I went out of the house following the others. "Spread out across the wall! Don't bunch." I called and the people spread out around the wall.

I saw the attack then. A group of people coming towards us glinting in the sun. A soft thud met my ears and I looked down to see the arrow near my feet. Shields came up over the heads of the people in the hands of Dragons. I saw Topaz in his armour near me looking very stern. To my surprise, Katja stood near him with no armour but she had her quarterstaff.

The thudding of the arrows into the large shields was so loud it hurt my ears. Thank god those Dragons think of these things. They made them out of broken wood from the destroyed buildings. A great idea.

The people attacking us stopped firing as they drew closer. We started firing back at them. Forcantly the first row of horses fell under our arrows. Before I could give the command to make a wall of spears, two Dragons moved forward, bringing their giant shields down over the opening in the wall, morphing as they did and tucking themselves behind it.

The arrows flew over the top as they braced themselves for the impact of the horses. A loud thud shook the boards followed by screams as the horses and men broke against the mite of the Dragons.

"THEY ARE RETREATING!" Someone yelled.

Those two dragons took flight and started burning the humans. Why are they... Topaz put his hand on my shoulder. "They will come back with a larger force. They are scouts of a large army we have been keeping watch of."

"That army will come looking for them!" I shouted at him.

"And we will tell them the truth. Two Dragons came and burned them all then flew off. Watch."

The Dragons flew off towards the castle and disappeared. "Did anyone think to try and talk to this army? The human armies are meant to be in the south. They are miles from us and aren't expected until at least summer."

Topaz shook his head. "They are bandits." I sighed rubbing my head. Topaz eyed me suspiciously. "You need to sit down, Riena. You are pail."

I turned from the scene and walked back to Eric's home. Sitting on the chair outside I saw Topaz had followed me with Katja trailing behind him. Eric came out and saw me. "Reina are you..."

"Leave me be." I snapped.

"I think it's what she saw that has her angry. The Dragons burned the attackers." Kaja said.

That's not why I'm angry! I thought as I stood up to leave. That was when something heavy hit my mind making the world spin as my legs collapsed. I knew as I fell it was Kyanite.

We walked into the camp an hour before dark. "What happened?" Tiger asked.

"There were two dead spiders there. We can start to clean up." Kyanite walked toward the way back to the village as I spoke.

He was staring at the sky. "This means we send some back and have supplies brought in to repair and clean the place." Tiger said sounding relieved.

"It will take a lot of work to repair the damage to that place. It's been very neglected. The good news is there was a fountain, so there is more likely than not a spring, so we will have water when we find it." I said watching Duha walk to Kyanite.

She put her hand on Kyanite's back and they talked so softly I couldn't hear them over the sounds in the camp. "So we sort who will leave and they will go in the morning."

I shook my head looking at my friends. "I think they will insist on going tonight."

Tiger shook his head. "It's nearly dark!" He yelled at me.

I nodded. "I need to talk to those two then we will plan." Tiger threw his hands up in anger as I walked away.

As I got to Kyanite, Duha said. "We need this. If we keep deviating from the plain we will lose the trust of the others."

"I agree Kyanite."

He turned his eyes hard and intense "They are under attack!" He growled at me.

He reached out to me and I fort with my instincts to back away. "Tell me what you see Kyanite." I said in a shaking voice.

He grabbed my shoulder and his eyes widened and seemed to glow like fire in the setting sun. Duha was watching him with a silent snarl. "He has called the seer. He sees!" A Dragon said softly.

I knew the others were worried but I could see the Dragons were stopping anyone from coming over to us. "Tell me Kyanite."

"The village is under attack. A large army of deserters harry them. The path wavers! A decision is made and feet move. Blood..... blood everywhere... or the blood will not be from our hearts. Death is coming to the village but where will he reap?" Kyanite dropped his hand and his eyes changed. "There is nothing we can do. If we leave now we will not get there until two days after the attack. Unless we leave everything here."

My legs gave out and I fell to my knees in front of Kyanite. Duha howled long and hard. Her howl echoed through the mountains like the wild wolves were sharing her message.

Kyanite looked to the Dragons. "We must trust in the Dragon fire. Reina will make her choice The choice will seal the fates of us all."

"How can you be so calm?" I asked.

Kyanite looked at me. I was struck by the look he gave me. His face was wet as tears ran down his cheeks. He's crying! Kyanite shook his head and walked away from us. I tried to stand but Duha stopped me. "I will go to him. He needs something you can't give him right now."

She walked off after him disappearing from view. "What do we do then?" Tiger asked sounding defeated.

"We find a stop-off along the route here. We make camps there and we head back. We will have to leave people here to start work." Even I was surprised by the calmness in my voice.

"What is the point if the village is under attack?"

I stood and walked to Tiger grabbing him and looking him in the eye. "There is more at stake here than the people in the village! There are hundreds more of us than I could have imagined. We can do nothing for those we left behind! We can save the people in the cave; the others are coming!"

I let him go as a Dragon touched my arm. "Calm yourself, Kyros, of the mountain. We have options. Our home is close by, we could send someone home tonight and have reinforcements sent to the village."

"Talk to Kyanite." I growled.

"No need, Kyros, of the mountain.He flew off with Duha of the nightwolf pack in the direction of home." Another Dragon said.

I nodded. "Send someone else or he will burn the world to save Reina." The Purple Dragon nodded and walked away. "The Dragons are sending someone after Kyanite and Duha. They are on their way to the home of the Dragons, they are going to get them help."

Tiger frowned and then sighed. "He is very independent isn't he?"

I nodded. "Let's settle in and get ourselves sorted to do what we need to. It's what we need to focus on now. We still need to do our job here no matter how hard it is." I sat down by the fire and stared into it. I hope you are alright Eric. Stay safe out there and be there when I come home.

Reina went down as her legs gave way. She lay there staring up at the roof of the porch. The boys froze because of her anger moments before. I moved closer to her and took her hand as she reached for me. "I... lost my balance."

I smiled at her. "Your legs couldn't keep you up any more. I passed out when that happened to me." I helped her sit up and stopped her from standing. "Stay here a bit."

She nodded looking up at Topaz. "If they are deserters then we will need to get ready. They will attack us. They don't need money they need food and shelter, and they will never negotiate with us. We need help."

"We could send a Dragon home."

I frowned. "We only have five Dragons. That won't help if they attack before they can get back with help. Can we get work on the wall going all day and night?"

Reina shook her head. "That would leave everyone working unable to fight and we will need bodies. Prioritize the gates and make sure they can be secured."

"Can we build siege weapons?" I asked.

Topaz frowned. "Let me help you by calling a meeting here. You need to rest a little. It is not like we have the answers you need Reina." She nodded and Topaz rushed away.

"I wish Mum was here." I mumbled.

I helped Reina to her feet and sat her back in the chair. "I wish she was here too Pup. We will have to hope that Kyanite sees this coming as we can't risk calling for help." Eric frowned but didn't say anything as he helped her out of her armour. I sat next to Reina she smiled at me. "Will you distract us by telling us about you and Topaz?"

"Oh yes please." Eric added.

I sighed. "There isn't much to tell. He took time off so we could spend the day doing what I wanted. I think he was disappointed as I wanted to learn everything he could teach me. He loves teaching me though. He keeps saying I have a brilliant mind."

Eric smiled widely and Reina chuckled. "He is desperate for you to be happy." She said.

I opened my mouth to say something else but I saw Topaz walking towards us with a group of people. "Katja I will need you to translate for the Dragons please."

I nodded. Translate for the Dragons. Topaz isn't quite good enough yet to do it so she wants me to do it. I'm being included only because I can speak their language When will they see me as an adult?

The group stopped in front of us. "Dragons stand close to Katja as she will translate for you. If you have something to say she will translate it back to everyone else here." They nodded and moved over to me.

The others stood near Reina. "What is this about Rat?" One of the others asked.

I started to translate.