It was a long walk back in the mud, but Emmet walked diligently beside Granite and the strange dragon, the royal egg kept warm and safe in his coat against his own chest.

Once in the barn, Granite helped the Shadow Dragon to a large stall in the back before taking over watching the egg while Emmet performed first aid to the dragon. His left wing was scorched from lightning, and on removing the crushed saddle, it looked like his left shoulder was broken along with a knife wound in the right paw. Sleeping would be very uncomfortable for him that was for sure..

“Whats your name?” Emmet asked, tending to wounded leg first.

The shadow dragon looked at him with those violet eyes. the gleam in the pupil showing that the dragon had night vision. “Umbris..” He answered.

“Well, Umbris..” Emmet said as he started working on a splint for his shoulder. “What are your plans with the egg?”

Granite looked up from his resting spot, the royal egg nested in the straw at his side while his tail made a protective barrier around it.

“I’ll be taking it back to Shiveryn.” Umbris answered. “And pray Queen Allure has mercy on me.”

“And how do you plan on doing that?” Granite asked. “As the royal egg has been stollen, isn’t it likely that the borders would be closing? Its more likely that you would be slain on sight just for having this egg.”

“What if we were get the authorities?” Emmet asked.

“No!” Umbris said. “The slayers have been working at getting their people into law enforcement. Going to the authorities would not ensure the eggs death, but yours as well.”

Emmet swallowed and quieted as he applied the splint. “This may hurt..” He said before quickly tightening it, the bone slipping into place with a painful pop and making Umbris snarl in pain.

“And what if the egg hatches?” Granite asked. “Before you get it back to the High Queen? You do know how to care for a young one right?”

Umbris looked at Granite before looking down. He didn’t… he had been raised by his Holder, Hollow, not by his mother as dragonets should. He was sure his childhood was not one he would pass to another young one.

Granite gave a nod. “As suspected…” He said, looking at the egg. The queens smell was still on it… but Granite could smell the slayers and Umbris on it as well as he thought. They had no females on the farm… He was only alpha because he was the eldest there, and having been the dragon to the human alpha, Emmets father. Being higher ranked than Monsoo made it that the decisions that concerned new comers and the land fell to him. He gave a long huff before looking at Umbris as Emmet finished wrapping the gash and started gently rubbing an herb salve of Aloe and Warm Mint to the burns.

“Well, you’re clearly not going anywhere for a long time.” Granite said. “At least until that leg can steadily bear weight. Until then you’re welcome to stay and rest… but I think Emmets mother shouldn’t know about your presence just yet.”

Emmet looked up at Granite. “How come?”

Granite looked at the young man. “How well do you think she’ll take knowing that a dragon formally part of the Slayers had escaped their ranks with a royals egg and is now hiding in her barns with said egg?”

“She would..” Emmet said, reasoning coming to him. “Call the authorities at once..”

“Exactly.” Granite said. “So, Umbris is to stay here in the barn and keep a low profile.”

“What about the young royal?” Umbris asked. “The barn is too exposed. And I don’t smell any females to keep it warm enough. If the young one hatches, they could have complications..”

“What if I took the egg inside?” Emmet asked. “I have a heater in my room, and plenty of blankets to keep it warm.”

“And if it hatches?” Granite asked.

“Then I’ll sneak the royal out here.” Emmet said. “You and Umbris can watch over him.”

“And Monsoo?” Granite asked.

“I’ll leave explaining the situation to him up to you.” Emmet said.

“And whats if your mother has a cleaning spree?” Granite asked.

Emmet gave a grin. “Granite, I’m very good at hiding things from Mom if I don’t want her to find it.”

“Alright…” Granite said. “What about Esther?”

Emmet bit his lip and folded his arms as he looked down. What about Esther?… Was it possible she could be trusted with a secret like this?

“Esther?” Umbris asked.

“She’s my little sister.” Emmet said. “And I get the feeling if I try to hide it from her, Nym would find out and tell her anyway. It may be best if she knows about the egg. And Umbris.”

Granite gave a sigh. “Alright… just please be careful..” He said, slowly standing and moving his tail away from the egg, letting Emmet carry it.

“I did carry it here from the clearing.” Emmet said, gently scooping the egg up and slipping it back in his coat.

“Thats not what I mean.” Granite said. “Emmet, that egg could hold the very future of dragons and humans alike. Its absence could draw a line of distrust between dragons and humans. It could cause a war… You are literally holding the future of the world in your arms…”

Emmet was silent. He hadn’t thought about the gravity of this situation. The High Queen would be outraged that her egg was stollen. And since her mate had passed away, she couldn’t lay more. He looked at the egg, suddenly wondering if he could uphold this responsibility. He looked at the hard shell, the ivory speckled with deeb red… and he thought for a moment he could feel heat coming from the center. he had heard that dragon eggs gave off small amounts of heat to show they were still alive, but feeling it for himself was amazing. Granites words slowly sank in… he was holding the fate of the world. He looked at Granite, only nodding in understanding.

“Alright.” Granite said. “The Egg is in your care. We’re counting on you.”

“Thank you Granite…” Emmet said.

“Emmet!”

Emmet and Granite looked up at hearing the woman’s voice. It was Margret. Emmet went pale… he didn’t feed the livestock! And he still had that tart to make for Esther! Not to mention help with dinner!

“A moment ma!!” He called before looking around at all the unfinished chores he had left..

Granite obviously saw this and stepped aside for Emmet. “You head inside.” He said. “I’ll get everyone fed. I might even pick up that lamb you still owe me.”

Emmet finally smiled. “Have at it. And go ahead and pick a cow for yourself and Umbris.”

“Won’t say no to that.” Granite said before watching Emmet head inside with the egg secure and safe in his coat.

Sneaking the egg inside was more tedious than Emmet first thought. He slipped inside through the back door as quietly as he could. He had to get the egg upstairs to his room before his mother or Esther saw him. He slipped his muddy shoes off before going the back way towards the stairs. He made it half way up before his mother called at him.

“Emmet! Chores took you a while this time, everything okay?” She asked.

“Yeah!” Emmet answered. Oh how he hated lying, especially to his mother… “I’m just a muddy mess! The rain soaked almost everything out there. So I’m gonna get clean up real quick before helping with dinner!”

“Okay,” Margret said, but she already heard his steps hurrying further up the stairs.

Once in his room, Emmet carefully set the egg on his hammock and quickly changed. Once in clean clothes, and his dirty ones successfully in the hamper, he looked at the Egg before looking around the room. He needed a safe place to hide it… So his mom wouldn’t find it and neither would anyone else looking for it… He bit his lip as he went to his closet. It was directly over the kitchen where the oven was, and always seemed to trap more heat… perfect!

He pulled out his extra blankets and started making a make-shift nest in the warmth of the closet, then carefully added the egg. It sure looked comfortable… though the colors made it stand out in the shadow of the tiny room, Emmet felt it would serve its purpose. He slid the door closed before going back downstairs.

The first face he saw was Esther's. Nym was also looking at him, but his sister didn’t need the dragons Psychic abilities to tell him that she knew something was majorly different. He looked at her for a moment, hoping that Nym had picked up that he would tell them later what had happened. And that keeping it secret was of the upmost importance.

After dinner, and after the wonderful tart, Emmet seemed to relax a bit about what had happened. The family relaxed for a while while Emmet and Esther worked on homework, Emmet enjoying some music from his iPhone and headphones, almost trying to drown out the worry about the egg upstairs.

Esther glanced around the kitchen for a moment before lightly poking Emmet’s arm, actually making him jump before he took his headphones off.

“What was out there?” She whispered. “You looked spooked earlier. I’m surprised mm didn’t ask..”

“I’ll show you later..” Emmet whispered back. “But you have to swear to secrecy…”

Esther started nodding, but Emmet stopped her. “I mean it Rebel. This is dead serious. It has Granite uneasy, and you know how steady he is.”

Esther looked at Emmet, the seriousness in his eyes showing the gravity of the situation. She slowly gave a nod. “I promise.” She said.

“Pinky Swear…” Emmet said, holding out a pinky for her.

Esther nodded and looped her own pinky around his. “I pinky swear.. No backing out.”

“Good..” Emmet said, lightly squeezing her pinky with his as if a friendly embrace and felt her pinky do the same. “I’ll show you after Mom goes to sleep.”

Esther nodded and slowly went back to her homework, Nym laying on the table with her fluffy tail draped over the girls forearm. Emmet relaxed a bit, at least now he had some time to think of how to tell his sister about his new charge.