I woke up in the most comfortable bed that I ever had the pleasure to lie on. It felt like a marshmallow cloud suspended by a floral breeze (which I strongly suspected was Febreeze). I didn't want to leave it. I didn't even want to open my eyes. Sleeping on a cot for so long in S-11, then a little twin bed in the Twinkie factory, this was a huge upgrade. The covers on me were so soft against my skin as I lay tucked tightly in a cocoon of warmth. I probably would have stayed there forever if I didn't start to remember what had happened yesterday. Mardu, the tracker in my chest, that hurtling fist from Thor himself. Oh man, what had happened? My eyes shot open and I felt my forehead, thinking I'd have a unicorn horn of a swollen wound. All my searching hands found was a zit. Which I wasn't exactly happy about, but it was a lot better than a colossal multicolored battle bump.

My heart skipped a beat and I raised the covers to look at my tattoo, feeling it. It seemed just the same as before, except without the tracker device. I felt where it was before and sighed in relief. I felt a little violated that the thing had been there in the first place, tracking my every move. 

Then I realized someone was watching me and my head shot up. A handsome devil was smiling broadly now that I was awake. Creepy.

"Ah!" I shot up in bed. "Have you been watching me this whole time?"

He reached out and put his hand on my knee, ignoring the question. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'd feel better if you'd stop turning into me," I snapped, a bit more spiteful than I meant. I pulled my leg away from him.

Riley looked a bit hurt, and I immediately felt bad. He did save my butt yesterday.

"Hey..." I said, wetting my lips. "Thanks... for yesterday. That was really brave."

He broke into a huge grin. "It was nothing," he said before leaning forwards and wrapping his arms around me tightly, holding me close.

"You just had to make it awkward," I mumbled, head on his shoulder. I didn't return the hug.

"You know I'd do anything for you, right?" Riley spoke in a whisper. "You just have to ask." He leaned back and cupped my face in his hands. Ugh this was so weird. I was tempted to ask him to go away.

"I am so proud of you, Justin," he said, almost teary eyed. He seemed to be trying to say something, but he didn't know how. His mouth opened and closed, reminding me of a fish out of water, his black brows pinched.

"Why?" I asked, looking up at his rapidly swirling violet eyes.

"Well... you've grown so much. I remember when you were just a little tike, when you used to run around outside with that wild black hair of yours" –oh great this was getting worse and worse- "And you'd try to catch crickets and worms to feed to me." He laughed a little at the memory. "You were so cute, with those big, curious eyes." He looked at me like he was about to cry. Please don't cry, dear toucan. "And you were such an escape artist. We couldn't keep you in the crib! The second we'd look away, you had already made your-"

"Wait," I interrupted his reverie. "What do you mean 'we'?"

He blanched, his eyes becoming round. His mouth opened, but no sound came out.

At that moment there was a knock on the door so hard that the door almost splintered, the hinges barely hanging on for dear life. Riley was so startled, he jumped and turned back into a toucan, letting out a startled croak. I shot up before falling out of bed, taking the blankets with me. I landed in a heap of blankets, only my head sticking out. "Ow." I mumbled, face down on the white carpet.

"Are you awake in there, lad?" The booming voice had about as much strength to it as the fist that had knocked my lights out.

"I am now," I mumbled to myself before calling to him. "Yeah, come in." I started trying to worm out of my blanket.

He opened the door and walked in, bent over because he was too tall. Poor dude, he probably had to have special clothes and everything. Caedmon was in his arms, chilling. He looked up when Darius entered and his ears perked up when he saw me. Darius crouched, letting him down. He trotted towards me and immediately began to walk on my back before plopping down on the blankets on top of me like he was going to sleep. He was getting really heavy! I could hardly breathe. "Not.. helping." I grunted, worming around some more. Caedmon looked alarmed and held on with his talons.

Darius watched me struggle with amusement. His long elf ears twitched and I could tell he was holding back a laugh. "Need help?"

"No." I grunted, finally emerging from my cocoon victorious... and mooning Darius. I jerked up my Batman underwear, standing up quickly. Wait, why was I in my underwear? Who had undressed me? Caed hopped off the blankets to start prancing around my feet, trying to get my attention. He was even larger than yesterday, and was losing his baby fat. I kind of missed his potbelly.

"Listen, Justin," Darius said, putting his huge hand on my shoulder. "Ahm very sorry about all ya went through yesterday. I pushed ya both very hard, and all ya got in return was a knockout punch from me."

I looked down at Caedmon, crouching to pet him. He nuzzled into my hand. "It's alright," I shrugged.

"No it's not," Darius said seriously. "I want t'make it up to you." He reached into his back pocket. He pulled out a few dollar bills before handing them to me. "Here's for new clothes... and whatever else ya may want."

I looked down at them and a huge grin appeared on my face I was holding in my hands nine big Benjamins! "Wow, thank you!" I should get knocked in the head more often! I ran my fingers over the money.

"Yer welcome," he broke into a fanged grin. "I'm afraid you'll hafta agree t'a few conditions though." He raised a taloned finger.

Sure. I didn't mind. If he told me to moonwalk through town playing a banjo with a pink sun hat on my head, I would. I nodded.

"First one," he pulled out glasses from his back pocket. "Ya hafta wear these." He handed them to me. I looked the aviator glasses over. Ray Bans? These suckers were sweet! I grinned and saluted him. "Sir, yes sir!"

He chuckled at my enthusiasm. "Two- Caedmon can only go if he stays in the shadows. If anyone sees him, I will find out, an you'll be owin' me nine hundred dollars. Comprende?"

"Loud and clear," I said sharply, thinking of all I was going to buy.

"No powers." He lifted a brow. "And I'm going t'have an escort for ya." Darius had the weirdest accent. It changed every day. Sometimes it sounded Russian, sometimes it sounded Redneck, and sometimes it sounded Texan. Some other accents I couldn't identify.

"Who?" I asked. Caed nipped my finger because I had stopped petting him. I absentmindedly started petting him again.

"Blaize."

Blaize? What? The guy that was freaky as heck? I was going to be having bonding time with the big bad wolf himself?

He saw my expression and frowned a bit. "He's not as bad as ya think. Ya won't even know he's there." He pulled out a cigarette lighter. "He'll be in here."

What? That was really weird. How could the dragon get in there? I nodded dumbly.

Riley made another angry croak. "I can look after him." He said, clacking his large beak grumpily.

Darius lifted a brow at him. "I'm sure that stores don't allow exotic birds. And I'm sure Justin wouldn't like t'have white junk on 'is shoulder."

I made a face at the latter statement. "And you can't turn into me. That's weird," I added.

Riley shuffled his wings angrily, mumbling something about  being an intelligent, potty trained bird. He continued to grumble, swooping off awkwardly. His effort of a dramatic exit failed when he bonked his beak on the side of the door and croaked in surprise before struggling through the air, black feathers flying.

Darius chuckled at the bird, putting the lighter in his pocket. When he stood up, his head banged on the ceiling. I winced as I heard the loud bang and the heated curses from the huge guy. "Oof," he crouched again. A perfect example of Karma (not that I believed in that). "Well... come downstairs for breakfast. We've got pancakes and bacon." He rubbed his head as he walked out.

I rubbed Caed's back, looking up to find a dome shaped dent in the wall. That gotta hurt.

I turned to the door. "Darius where are we?" My voice got smaller and smaller as I spoke, realizing that he couldn't hear me. I looked around slowly, taking in my surroundings for the first time.

It seemed like I was in a log cabin. The large windows created most of the light in here. Above them, blinds were coiled up, to be released when the day and nights melded into one of everlasting sun. The remaining light were the cool lanterns hanging by the bed. A purple-ish sofa was facing towards me, besides a window seat. The rustic feel and smell made me smile. This was a huge step up from a Twinkie factory. I slowly walked towards the window as Caed jumped onto the window seat and put his paws on the window.

"Wow," I breathed.

Evergreens spread their prickly branches in straggly bunches in front of my window, but as I looked beyond that, I could see bright blue waters of a lake, the waters placid. It was the mountains looming over it all was really what took my breath away. In the summer, the mountains were a beautiful sight, ancient and proud. Where we were, it was hard to go anywhere without seeing mountains, but I never got used to them. White, puffy clouds drifted in front of the smaller ridges in the mountain, displaying just how large it really was.

Caedmon patted the window pane to get my attention. My eyes drifted downwards to see him pointing a claw down, towards the lake.

I looked down at the lake and a smile formed on my face as I saw Jesse's dragon (who's name I have forgotten. It was just really weird) playing with Terral in the lake. They were play fighting, with the chameleon dragon rearing on his hind legs, his head tilting as he opened and closed his jaws, nipping the smaller frost dragon gently. The white dragon pushed at the big grey, trying to topple him over which didn't seem to be working thanks to big dragon's tail steadying him, similar to the tail on a kangaroo. The grey dragon lunged to the side suddenly, splashing further into the lake, making large waves in his wake. Frosty raced after him, trying to bite the other's tail, his gorgeous wings half unfurling.

"I wanna pway," Caedmon said excitedly, bounding around on the window seat like a dog waiting for his walk. "Les go!" He crowed.

I bit my lip, thinking that my little dragon would most likely be stepped on by the larger dragons.

He must have been spying on my mind because he nipped my finger. "Hey!" I said.

"Too fast! I won' get step on!" He protested, stamping his paw on the ground indignantly.

"Alright," I sighed. "But after I get something to eat." I started heading for the door and I could tell by the clicking of his talons that he was following me. Dang his talons were long. Was I supposed to clip them like a cats?

He nipped my ankle. Apparently not. "Jeez! Stop being so bitey, mister!" I snapped at him.

He raised his head, prancing in front of me with his wings unfurled halfway. Eight o' clock in the morning and he was already mad at me.

"Giving me attitude already." I shook my head, following him.

Downstairs, I followed my nose towards the beautiful smell of bacon. I knew I had reached the kitchen when I saw the frosty Eskimo chick leaning against the doorway. "What took you so long? The food's already cold."

I ignored her, piling my plate with pancakes and bacon from the large polish pottery plates set on the granite counter. Blaize was sitting across from me, chewing placidly on the bacon. He looked up at me as I grabbed a napkin. Drool and bits of bacon dripped from the huge hole in his cheek. By the way he looked at me I was guessing he didn't really want to go with me either.

"Blaize," Darius sighed. "Why don't you put on your bandage before you eat?" He grabbed a napkin and cleaned Blaize's cheek as if Blaize were a toddler. Blaize stayed still, patiently, pausing his chewing. Darius grabbed the bandage and peeled off the plastic covering before tenderly putting it on his dragon's cheek, pulling his blonde hair behind his elf ears. It struck me how tender Darius was to him, even though it was a little amusing how Blaize had to be taken care of like that.

I took my plate and my glass of orange juice and shuffled over to the table, where Aly was sitting. She was sipping Starbucks coffee and typing at lightning fast speeds on her Apple laptop. I wondered what she was doing and tried to peek but she tilted the laptop away from me without taking her eyes off the screen.

Okay... I sat on the other side of the table, feeling a bit awkward. Zach was the only person aside Alasie who was near my age. Without him, I felt like a lonely middle schooler. Pretty pathetic really. I slowly munched on my pancakes, offering a few chunks to Caedmon, who forgave me the second I gave him one lathered in syrup.

Finally the screen door opened and I saw Jesse holding Zach by his elbow, leading him inside. "There's a ridge here," he said, and Zach stepped over it, allowing Jesse to lead him in. "I'll memorize this place soon enough," Zach said to Jesse. "Thanks." Jesse guided his hand to a chair. A plate was set in front of him on the table. He slowly sat down, feeling the table before smiling as he felt the plate and pulling it to him. "Wow, pancakes and bacon. That's what I'm talking about." He said, grabbing a piece of bacon and eating it.

This was awkward. Should I tell him I was here or just wait for him to notice me? Caedmon licked his muzzle, patting my leg, asking for another chunk of pancake. I gave it to him, finally clearing my throat. "I saw Terral playing out there in the lake."

Zach smiled, his blank eyes looking in my general direction. "Yeah, it's great to see him having fun. He's always with me, being my Seeing Eye dragon. It's a good change to see him being a dragon, not just my eyes."

Jesse patted Zach's back. "Don't feel bad about that, Terral loves just being with you."

Zach tilted his head, his eyes wandering. "Yeah, I suppose." He chewed thoughtfully.

"Your dragon seems to be having a lot of fun too," I said, looking at Jesse.

"Yeah he is." Jesse said. I'm not sure, but his Mohawk seemed even taller than yesterday. It was really hard to look at his eyes instead of his hairstyle. "He loves to roughhouse with Terral. They are the best of friends. How are you feeling?"

I chuckled. "Caed saw them and he really wants to join in on the fun." I said, petting Caed's head slowly, stroking his eye crests. "And I'm feeling alright. Whatever you guys did to fix me up really helped."

Jesse nodded, but before he could reply, a voice overshadowed him.

"Ah so the little tike wants t'play with the big dogs, hm?" Darius folded his arms and leaned against the wall, his catlike yellow eyes glinting playfully.

"I'm big boy now!" Caedmon said, puffing himself up as much as he could. He made a concentrated face before puffing out some purple smoke from his neck. Then he panted at how hard it was to accomplish it.

"Oh we know you are," Zach said. "I'm sure they'd love to play with you."

I looked at Zach with a frown, trying to make hand motions to tell him to shut up. Then I realized he couldn't see it and facepalmed, feeling stupid. Jesse was pursing his lips and I could tell he was trying not to laugh at me.

Caedmon scampered to the door, ready to go. He pawed at the door excitedly.

Darius walked over and opened the door for him. "Have fun." He said as Caedmon rushed out, his tail high and little puffs of purple smoke trailing behind him in his excitement.

When he closed the door I groaned. "Why did you do that? He could get hurt- the other dragons are a lot bigger than him!"

"You're forgetting something, Justin," Darius said, walking up behind me and placing his large hand on the back of my neck. "Caedmon is not your baby. He's a dragon, a beast of great power."

I gulped but continued to argue. "He's still a baby though!"

Darius patted my back and I nearly wheezed up a lung at the strength of it. "He can handle it."

Jesse looked at me sympathetically. "The other dragons will be gentle with him."

Zach nodded. "They'll have a great time, trust me. No one's going to get hurt."

"Maybe this is a good idea, he can stay here while you go shopping." Darius said. "It's good for a hatchling to have some older dragons to look up to."

I didn't feel so convinced, but I knew he was right. "Alright," I sighed.

"It's hard at first." Zach said. "But it's surprising how much they can handle at such a young age."

I finished my last bacon. "Alright." My tone was halfhearted.

Darius grabbed the keys. "Ready to go?"

I stood up, quickly telling Caed in my mind that I was going, then I gasped as I saw through his eyes Jesse's dragon pawing him gently as Caedmon giggled and splashed around in the shallow water. I didn't feel so bad about leaving him now. "Ready to go." I stood up.

Darius tossed the keys to Blaize. "Have fun." Then he handed the passed the lighter to me. "When you get there, open the cap." He instructed me.

"See you later," Zach said. I noticed he had the Inuyasha shirt on that I had been wearing and I bit back a chuckle at the way he had reclaimed it.

"Don't spend it all at once," Jesse smiled. Aly waved passively before returning to her typing.

"Alright," I said before turning to Blaize, feeling dwarfed by his large size. Oh great, this would be fun. I wished I could have gone with Jesse instead. He seemed pretty cool.

Blaize led the way down the hallway before opening a door with steps leading down into a dark room. I looked at the living room as I passed by, and grinned as I saw a large TV, with a huge fireplace beside it. Huge moose antlers branched out over it. The stand beside the plush couch was supported by intertwined deer antlers. Welcome to rustic Alaska, folks.

When I walked down the stairs, I realized that I was in the garage. A large black Hummer was stationed inside, like the ones bad guys used in movies. Next to it was a sweet 1970 Cadillac Eldorado, which was a glossy black with a silver grill complimenting it. The old style, long car was slick and I knew it would roar to life because it had a powerful engine. I wouldn't mind driving that thing! I started walking towards it but Blaize was passing by.

I pouted as I followed him, passing the largest motorcycle I had ever seen. I gaped at the monster, then realized it was big because Darius was a big guy. 

Blaize was already seating himself in the driver's seat of a large grey Ram pick-up truck. I sighed. Right next to it was a Lamborghini! All these awesome cars and we just have to get into the truck. I opened the passengers side and sat down, buckling up. The seat was so far back and so low that I couldn't even see out the window, but I felt too awkward with Blaize to try and adjust it. The garage door opened and Blaize backed out, before beginning to drive. He was still wearing the patch, which was beginning to leak again. His drool escaped from the hole in cheek like a bulldog. I wiggled a little in my seat. The seatbelt was basically covering my face so I just gave up and put it behind my head.

Blaize drove, his expression set in stone like usual. I couldn't help but wonder if his blind eye impaired his driving. And I couldn't really see out the window to see if he was a skilled driver.

I played with my fingers, bored to death. I looked at Blaize every once in a while, but he couldn't really see me because I was on the side of his blind eye.

After about one hour I was dying of boredom, I felt like I could just scream. I really wanted to turn on the radio, or just find out how to pull my chair forwards so I could at least see out the window. I finally found the courage to speak up. "So... what's the house? Another base of yours?" And why weren't we there in the first place instead of a stupid abandoned Twinkie factory? I thought.

He was silent for a long time. I started to think he was ignoring me before he finally spoke. "Brother's house." He said at long last in that Batman voice of his. I lifted a brow as I saw what I thought was a wince, but before I could really think about it, it was gone.

Brother? I found it hard to believe. He had a brother? I tried to keep up the conversation. "So... what's your brother's name?"

He waited a long time yet again before replying. Did he forget his name? "Shard." It came out in a guttural grunt.

"Oh, that's a nice name." I rubbed the back of my neck. "So he's a dragon like you, huh."

Blaize must have thought that was a stupid question so he didn't answer it.

"Where is he now?" I asked.

Blaize made a growling sound and pulled over on the side of the road. I gripped the arm rest, my eyes going round as he looked over at me. "No more questions," he growled. I saw blood coloring his fangs and my eyes widened. I nodded slowly. Suddenly he began to cough, really hard. He put his hand over his mouth, and I saw his blind eye water. He grabbed the large glass water bottle on the cup holder and his hands glowed a yellow color so I could see the veins underneath his skin. My eyes widened when the water within began to boil. He opened the top and started downing it. When his other hand pulled away, I saw that it was splattered with blood.

As soon as he was finished drinking he put it aside before grabbing a rag that was stuffed into the other cupholder. He washed his hand on it. Did this happen often?

"Are you okay?" I asked in a small voice, shrinking a little in my chair.

Blaize looked back out the window, driving back onto the road. Now he was clearly ignoring me. "I'm sorry," I mumbled, biting my lip.

I saw a tear drop race down from his blind eye before it was soaked up by the bandage.

I didn't say a peep during the rest of the ride.

As soon as Blaize parked the car and turned off the engine, he gave me the car keys. I put it in my pocket before getting out the lighter and opening it like Darius had said. Blaize turned into a small flame and settled in the lighter. He was a bright purple flame and I watched him for a long moment before I put the cap back on and put him in my hoodie pocket. I opened the door of the truck and slid out, closing the door and locking it. I turned and found I was standing in front of a large mall with a strange white dome protruding from the top. Opaque glass was set on even intervals on either side of the grand entrance, each of them composed of several panes with linings of white separating one from the next.

I felt like I hadn't gone to a mall in ages. Not that I went to them much in the first place. 

The first stop I made was to go to the shoe store, where I bought a pair of black converse and some vans that had the Joker emblazoned on the top. There goes over a hundred dollars. I began to get a bit nervous. Why were things to stinkin' expensive?

Four hundred dollars later, I had an iPod, a pretzel, and a massage, but still no clothes. I shuffled along with my bags, wondering how on earth I was going to make it outside with clothes bags. I contemplated having Blaize assist me, but quickly thought better of it. I wondered how he was doing in that little lighter. Poor fellow, I hope it wasn't cramped in there or anything. Or maybe it was like a Pokeball, where he was just chillin' in there? Or maybe a TARDIS, where the inside was bigger than it appeared from the outside?

I hoped he wasn't getting annoyed at how long I was taking. 

I stopped at Hot Topic to do my clothes shopping. At that store, money goes by fast. I rifled through the T shirts, snatching my favorites. This place was the best for all nerdy apparel. One of my favorites was a Deadpool sweatshirt. I wondered why Caed hadn't contacted me as I stared blankly at a Game of Thrones bobblehead Drogon. Maybe he was having such a blast that he forgot?

Get down. A voice in my head, that I don't think I've ever heard before said. It was rumbling, almost a purr, something you'd expect a lion to talk like if a lion could. Still, it was demanding. And it didn't belong in my head. Maybe I was getting schizophrenic?

Who are you? I asked.

No time! Get down now! The male voice yelled in my head.

Why should I listen to a random voice in my head? I looked around shiftily though.

This is Blaize. Get down right now before I rip your stupid head off! The words that came next I don't care to repeat.

Now I was freaked. I immediately got down, my shopping bags rustling. Blaize- how did you get in my head?

Leave your bags. Crawl under the clothes rack.

What? But I remembered his threat and quickly pulled the heavy bags from my wrist and crawled under the clothes rack, letting the strips of pant legs cover me.

Now, you see that perfume? The black one- shaped like a skull. I want you to reach over and grab it as soon as I say so. I want you to be fast. Got it?

Yes. I wondered why on earth he was making me do these ridiculous things but I knew better than to argue. There was a pause. I peeked around the pant legs, looking at the skull perfume Blaize was talking about. For some reason, my heart was starting to pound.

Now.

I reached out and snagged the skull shaped perfume, pulling it back towards me.

Open it. Try to make as little sound as possible.

My fingers shook a little as I slowly started to peel the plastic wrapping back. Why? I asked the dragon.

Shut up and listen. I want you to spray yourself with the perfume. Put it in your hair, lather your face, as well as spraying your shirt and pants.

Is this a way you're telling me I smell bad? I frowned as I sprayed my shirt.

You're lucky I'm in this lighter. Blaize said darkly.

I continued to spray some in my hands and lather it on my face. Yuck. This was Goth girl perfume. I sprayed my whole body, waiting for further instruction.

Crawl to the other clothes rack, the one with the bright red shirt. Quickly, and quietly.

Can't I just shadow travel? Hot Topic was really dark after all.

No! He roared in my mind. If you use your powers, the smell of your liver will be the stench filling your nose instead of this perfume.

I flinched at his wording, before crawling over as he told me. Be still, very still. Hopefully she will pass.

Who? I don't think I've ever been this frightened. I was trying not to shake. It seemed very tempting to shift to shadow right now.

I'm going to use my sight to show you. Do not be frightened. It will appear strange. Blaize warned before suddenly the whole place turned black, and I saw the outlines of everyone in the store in pulsing shades of red and yellow. It would be pretty cool if I wasn't so scared. I even saw their heart beats as a slighter deeper shade of red pulsing. See the one that doesn't belong? He asked me as if I were a toddler. My eyes raked the scene before stopping when I saw an outline that was all yellow, with a faint orange pulsing from where I guessed her heart was. What is that?

It's a wolf. Not the wolves that Bobby and his crew of clowns at S-11 refer to- but the wolves that the facility that dissects dragons was named after. They are shapeshifters, the great werewolves that used to roam the Alaskan wilderness, hunting the frost dragons such as Terral. They don't go for big bulls like me, no. I'm too powerful. Instead, they go to the young, old, or weak. Like you. 

I can count on you to comfort me.

Luckily he didn't reply. Soon the dragon sight was replaced by my own and I saw the woman clear as day. She looked native to the area, with darker skin, almond eyes, and long black hair pulled into small braids. She was beautiful, and stylish too by the looks of her Gucci black heels, fur-lined jacket that managed to outline her curvaceous body, and black leggins. She didn't look like she belonged in Hot Topic at all.

You can come back to retrieve your bags later. For now, go to the dressing room. You stay here and you're bound to get caught. Crawl, slowly, carefully. She can attack quickly. Put me in your hand.

I grabbed the lighter in my sweaty hand, biting my lip before slowly crawling towards the dressing room, earning some strange glances. I fought the urge to look back at the woman, the hair on the back of my neck raising. What if she was right behind me? I could imagine it like a horror movie, where you look back and they were right there, looming over you with soulless black eyes.

Do not panic. Only prey panics. I am here to protect you. Blaize reminded me once I slipped under the door of the dressing room. Luckily no one was in there. Wait until she nears. Then unleash me. When I go, do not leave this place.

No, you will not be unleashed, this time I was overhearing Darius talk in my head. My brain was starting to feel like a Skype call. Protect the boy at all costs, but do not reveal yourself. Only at last resort you may shift.

Yes sir, Blaize replied.

But by now I wasn't listening.

I was watching shoes as black and hair rising as the pits of Tartarus pointed in my direction, on the other side of the stall door.