Michi shifted next to me in bed. I sighed staring up at the ceiling. "You still awake Duha." Michi muttered into his pillow.

"Yes." He rolled over and pulled me into his arms.

"It's been months since we put Kyros to rest. So why can't you sleep still?"

"I'm going for a walk." I said pulling out of his arms and sitting up.

"Duha... what is wrong?"

I stood up walking to the door and leaving him with his questions that I had few answers for. I walked through the dragon home stopping at the entrance. I looked up at the sky feeling a lot less hemmed in. "Duha?"

I sighed. "What do you want Reina?" I asked turning to face her.

"To see if you were alright. I was coming back from a midnight snack run to see you walking away like you were going to kill someone."

I looked back up at the sky. "I'm... trapped Reina."

"Follow me." I looked back at her as she turned and walked away.

Curious I followed to the deep alcoves at the side and down a new tunnel away from the main entrance. The walls were rough instead of polished and there were candles on the ground instead of in wall sconces. She lit one carrying it with her to light the way. As we walked I saw all the tools that sat on the floor ready to cave the walls to make them like all the others here. Smooth slightly reflective black rocks with wall sconces to light the way.

Before too long the tunnel gave way to the night sky and the soft lapping of the sea around this dead volcano. I breathed deeply at the stiff breeze that tasted bitter with salt. "I found myself feeling rather... enclosed. Many others are living here now. Humans and yaspilrmeth. They want to see the sky. We will have boats to take people to the mainland unless there are Dragons to take them." I shivered in the cool air and sat on the rock. "I don't think it's just feeling trapped that has stopped you from sleeping. Is there anything I can do?"

"I doubt it, Reina."

She put her hand on my shoulder and sighed. "We all owe you a lot. You did so much for us in the war, so ask and it shall be yours, my friend."

I turned when her hand left my shoulder and she walked away lighting a single candle on her way back inside the dragon home. I morphed shaking off my clothes and lay on the rocks. I felt more at peace now I was in my wolf form. My fur moved in the wind but kept me warm. The bitter smell of the sea was somehow stronger now I was my wolf. That feeling of standing still for too long was lessened with the bitter wind and the sound of waves. "Mum?"

At the soft voice, I looked over my shoulder to see Katja there and Topaz retreating up the tunnel. Her body had changed over the months since we repelled the armies. She looked like she was about to pop but still had time to go until she met her pup. "Sit down will you." I growled at her.

She waddled over sitting next to me. Katja sighed strokeing my fur. "Dad said you can't sleep again." I growled. She moved her hand up to my ears and scratched them. "You..." At the pause in her words, I looked up at her. I saw the pain but she continued. "are very grumpy Mum."

 "I want to be free."

She shifted looking uncomfortable. "You want to hunt?"

I yawned looking up at the sky. "I want to be free. I want to run through the forest hunt for my dinner, but...."

Katja shifted again. "You have things to do." I nodded. "Reina took time off. So am I, although mine is enforced. It will be another week before our home will be done. After the last of the armies burned as they left. Ower village didn't get too much of the burning from the army as they left. They had already taken everything from it but some places there got destroyed. Ower house is still there though." She struggled to her feet. "So go mum. Take Michi and enjoy being a wolf for a while."

She picked up my clothes and wadded towards the tunnel. I followed her as Topaz appeared from the darkness. "I don't want to abandon people." I grumbled.

"Your not. Look Mum you've been through a lot with all the fighting and trying to heal. Then you're left twiddling your thumbs. So go have a few days out there in the wild. Take Eboni, she will want to be a wolf for a while. It will help her heal to run with her sister again. Remember how clear she was after your last hunt."

Topaz scooped her up and walked up the tunnel. "Topaz." I called. He stopped and turned back to me. The dim light caught his eyes making them shine in the tunnel. "What do you think?"

He smiled. "I think you need to do what you need to do honoured mother. Your mood is not good for anyone. If you do not mind me saying Katja will need the level-headed mother more than the wolf soon enough. Go out there and be for a while so that you can welcome this presuse hatchling into the world with us."

I nodded. "Thank you." I said turning back to the sea and lying down.

The wind cooled my blood and I felt the rage in me cool with my skin. I watched the waves move and sighed lettting the sea wash my feelings away. I was left alone in the darkness of the evening and that made me feel better.

A warm hand touched my fur the wind hiding the approach of the person sitting next to me. "Duha... if you want to be.." Michi started quietly.

"No Michi. I'm just on edge."

He stroked from my head to my tail. "Katja said you would be going on a hunt..."

"WE will take a holiday. We will take Eboni and hunt. We will run and sleep under the stars and call the wild ones for sport. We will drink the blood of our catch and eat their strength."

He chuckled drawing my eyes up to his. "Yes, alpha." He said softly tickleing my ears.

I lifted the covers as Reina came back into the room. She sighed looking at me. "You awake?" She whispered coming over to the bed.

"Yes. You enjoyed your snack?"

She climbed into the bed smiling as I covered her with the blanket. "Yes. Although I had to sort out Duha. She is very grumpy at the moment." Reina yawned after speaking.

"Her and Katja took over all our jobs while we went away."

She nodded burying her face into my chest as she morphed. "Let's... talk in.. the morning." Her last word was whispered into my chest followed by her gentle snore.

I closed my eyes and felt myself drifting off with Reina.

Topaz sat me in my chair and I winced at the pain in my side. "Is that pain back?" He asked putting his hand over mine.

"Yes... Ahh," I gasped as the pain came back and was sharper.

Topaz straightened and hurried to the door. He called to someone outside but I couldn't hear him over my cry of pain. In seconds he was at my side holding my hand. "Katja is there somewhere you want to be? On the bed?" I nodded and he tried to lift me from the chair. I cried out as the pain got worse and he froze to let it pass. A sudden dampness drew both our eyes to my now-soaked trousers. "Ahh... I think we will get you in the nest and call for a Blue Dragon."

I gripped his arm tightly and whispered. "It's too early."

Topaz scooped me up and carried me to the Dragon nest. "That is not quite true. Your date could be off...." He started as the pain hit me again.

"Don't you... dare tell me Dragons... are heavier!" I gasped through gritted teeth.

Topaz chuckled as he lay me in the nest, but by the time he came around me, he was all Blue Dragon again. "I hear you my gem. I will keep quiet for the most part." He reached for me and I grabbed his hand as the pain came back. "That is good Katja my gem. When that pain eases I will need to check you over."

"I'm scared Topaz." I whispered as the pain eased. 

"You are going to be fine my gem. I am right here with you until my sister arrives then I can just hold you." He said as he pressed his hands to me.

"Topaz... I want... m... my mum." I sobbed.

He smiled and nodded. Turning to the door that I realised was still open he waved. "Could you find Duha of the night wolf pack please Dragon. Last I saw her she was by the sea." I heard feet running away as Topaz came to sit behind me. He offered me a leaf. "This will help you my gem."

I chewed on it as he warmed my back. Between the leaf and his heat, the pain was easier to deal with. He ribbed my side growling happily.

Mum trotted into the room with Michi next to her. Her wolf raised its nose in the air and twitched. "Well, I suppose my vacation needs to be put on hold." She gave me a wolfy smile that was all teeth. "Michi... would you get Eboni for us."

Dad looked from mum to me just as the pain took hold. His demeanour changed in an instant and he hurried off closing the door slightly as he left. Mum walked to her clothes and changed back into a human. "We have someone coming to help honoured mother." Mum nodded as she dressed. "Katja said she wanted you I hope you do not mind me disturbing you."

She turned and smiled. "Mind? Why would I mind? For the first time in a long time, I get to be Katja's mother and not just a Black Dragon or alpha to her."

Mum came to my side and took my hand. "Mum... I'm scared."

She stroked my hair and sighed softly. "There is nothing to be afraid of. We have the whole of our pack watching over us. Not to mention Topaz being here with me and Eboni coming. We all know what we are doing." 

The door to our room opened and I sighed as Reina sat up. She blinked at the door as Eboni walked in. "Reina! Pup! The Pup has arrived?" Reina frowned at her in confusion. "Come!" She hurried out of the room.

Reina climbed off the bed and hurried after her. I was slower to follow but saw Eboni disappear into Topaz's room as I got to the door. Reina picked up speed when she saw where we were going. I rushed over and gasped at the sight inside the room. Katja lay in the Dragon nest asleep with Topaz stroking her back. Duha had a wrapped bundle in her arms.

Eboni knelt next to Katja touching her hand every now and then. "Not dead." She whispered. 

Her Black Dragon knelt down next to her and stroked her face. Reina made her way to Duha. "Is she alright?" Reina asked pointing to Katja. 

"She is fine, just exhausted. This one didn't give her too much trouble but didn't give her enough time to have Blue Dragon turn up. So she didn't have any painkillers." Duha smiled and I saw the pride for her doarter as she looked over at her.

"Not Dead." Eboni whispered as I walked over to Reina's side.

Duha pulled the cloth so we could see inside the bundle she held. I smiled as I saw the hatchling. They shone in the dim firelight. Their beautiful bronze scales shimmered more than the ones that covered my own young.

"They have returned." My mother's voice came from the doorway. I frowned as she came into the room. "The colour that was lost. They have returned. This is why we lost the sight."

Reina shook her head. "You lost the sight because I requested it. I was told the history by my gold sister. She told me that their pain made them force the sight onto others. We both speculated if they were forbidden to do that anymore then they would want to be born again. They got content on the other side Silver Elder. They wish to prevent death and this is their answer to that." 

My mother's eyes went wide at Reina's words. "We need to clean the chair in the councel chamber." Katja said tiredly from where she lay on the floor.

Eboni was holding her hand now as her Black Dragon rubbed his head on hers. Katja reatched her arms out to her mother who stood and brought over the bundle. "Takes after his dad." Topaz rumbled as Katja took the baby Dragon.

"He dose." Silver elder said bowing to Topaz. "I am sorry to intrued on your joy. I shall leave you to your family." 

She started to leave when Topaz met my eyes. "Please wait Silver elder." She stopped turning to him with a look of suprise. "I aksed Kyanite for some advise a long time ago. He told me that I should go to his mother. I got angery at him as his mother was not you. He told me I would understand one day." He looked down at Katja and the baby Dragon in her arms. "I understand now. My mother passed and Green elder wanted compony in his greif. You where my mothers sister and I hated you for taking my mother from me. You never tryed to take her from me. Just offered me love." He looked up at her again. "May I ask if the offer is still open?"

Silver elder whent over to them and knelt next to Katja. "I would be honured if you would consider me your mother untill you meet yours again."

Katja smiled tiredly at them both then yawned. "Ahh my gem is tired and will have to feed our hatchin soon..."

"Bronze." Topaz frowned and looked down at Katja. "His name is Bronze. Now I love you all and thank you for comeing but can you all leave excempt mum and Eboni." 

Silver elder smiled and stood. "I have a peace to make for you Katja so I will return in the morning."

She bowed to them both and left the room. Reina bowed to her and headed for the door. I looked to the Black Dragon as he shifted his feet. "Katja I think your bother in scailes wishes to stay." I said softly.

Katja sighed already nearly asleep. "Oh... he can stay."

I nodded and bowed to them walking out and closeing the door softly behind me. Reina took my hand in her paw and sighed. "Come on my dear lets get some sleep before our little ones wake up." 

Smileing I let her lead me back to our room. Once she was inside she whent to the cots. She stared at the children. I walked over to her and hugged her. "Let's leave them asleep and rest." She looked up at me then sighed. I picked her up and carried her to bed. I layed down puttting her next to me. "I love you Reina of the dragon fire. My pressus gem with gold saciles that shine like the sun."

She smiled and yawned. "I love you two Kyanite whome holds the histroys. My big strong Red Dragon with the soft hart."

My emoutions overwhelmed me and I growled softly. Renia yawned again and cerled up against me. Her dark eyes closed slowly and she started to snore softly.

I held her too me my own eyes drifting shut. "Kyanite." A soft whisper of a voice in the room made me open my eyes again. "Kyanite." The whisper came again and I realised it was the ancients calling. I sat up and opened myself to them and images flashed before my eyes.

First was an aerial shot of Duhas village. All the damage was repaired and it looked better than it had with new buildings and people plowing the feilds just outside the walls. "Your a fool Dragon! They attack us because we will defend ourselves." Kyros's words echoed around me as my view changed to the castle. Banners hung from the walls and the flag the white fang had gifted to Reina fluttered from the keep. It's gold scailed background shone in the light with a claw crossed with my sword. "And how will that one go? Bear, rat and dragon got themselves in to something and got themselves killed." Kyros's voice said biterly.

Those words cut deep now that he was gone. The image changed once again to the border wall repaired. As I flew over it I saw the Purple Dragons reinforceing it useing Kyros's method. I saw it as if I flew along its length. At various points along it where new villages and towns.

Around the gate that had been taken was a bustling city where the flag we had agreed on flew everywhere. The gate itself was agein reinfored the way Kyros had done to the castle. The buildings close to the wall held the colours of the Dragons that held their posts there and I smiled knowing that this was him too. I felt my cheek damp with tears.

"If you hurt her dragon... I'll kill you." Kyros's voice echoed once more with his threat from the past.

The images faded from my eyes leaving a deep sadness in me. "Happiness comes at a cost my little ember." My brith mothers voice came to me faintly at the end. The message was clear... we made our peace at grate cost. Those voices need to be heard that cost remembered for as long as we live.

I thought I wasn't alowed to see any more but think the message was from Kyros witch couldn't have come any other way. He's telling me that it's time for predator to guard pray. I turned and looked at Reina. She laid there fast asleep where I had left her. Her sleep showing how much the resont events had taxed her nerves. I will ask Reina what she thinks this message means when she wakes up.

I picked up Reina and looked down at her snoring softly in my arms. The story of Rat, Bear, Wolf, her pup, and Dragon.... the yaspilrmeth war. A story that starts with pain and ends in love. Even once everyone that fourt in this war is gone life will continue, and now we can't push the yaspilrmeth back in to obscurity. We shouted we are here and here we stay. You got us freedom my friend. I know you didn't want this fight and you never wanted to kill. So for that I thank you.

I closed my eyes and saw him standing in the mouth of his cave. "Take care of her Dragon. She is a sweet kind person." As the image of him faded from the darkness of my own mind I thought. I will my friend. I will protect her for the rest of the life you left me with. I squeezed Reina making her sigh softly. I miss you my friend. Sleep well.

I laided down holding Reina to my chest. The yaspilrmeth war... that will be the next book I will write. People will know the pain we suffered here and will weep for years to come at the blood spilled. Reina shifted in my arms and whispered. "Kyanite... not..." I smiled as I rembered her telling me off when we slept in the waggon in Duha's village when we had returned from home. I stilled myself to let her sleep. We will live on and rember the blood spilled by humans, dragons and yaspilrmeth.

The end