The girls untied Oliver. He stretched out his arms and his tail.

"So I assume you have some kind of plan on how you are going to unite the two warring species." Luna asked.

"I do," said Oliver.

"Care to share it?" Yadi asked impatiently

"Oh yes, sorry I'm not used to having others to talk to. I don't want to talk out here. You never know who could be listening." Oliver looked around. "Follow me." He slithered away and the girls followed him. They followed him for a while and then he just vanished.

"What?" Drippy's eyes almost popped out of her head. 

"Are you coming?" Oliver asked as only his head appeared. Drippy almost fainted but Luna caught her.

"What's going on?" Drippy felt totally lost, well more lost than usual.

"Fascinating." Luna said as she put her hand where Oliver was. Her hand vanished. "It's a barrier."

"Exactly. Now get in here before someone sees!" Oliver vanished. Luna behind him and then Yadi went in guiding Drippy by the hand. Drippy wasn't sure why but she held her breath. Once they entered she gasped for air.

"You people are so weird." Oliver said. Beside him was a beautiful tree, something the girls had never seen before. Its leaves were white and danced in the wind.

"Wow." All three girls said in unison.

"What kind of tree is this?" Luna asked as she placed her hand on it. "It's beautiful"

"I would love to tell you but it's one of a kind." Oliver said with a smile. The smile looked a bit sad.

"How can that be?" Luna asked as she tried to look at the tree from all angles. "Where did it come from?"

"It came from my dad." Oliver said, sounding sad. 

"Where did he get it from?' Luna asked.

"Himself." Oliver said

"Listen punk if you aren't going to be cooperative with us we aren't going to be cooperative with you." Yadi said angrily.

"I'm being serious, this tree is my dad." Oliver looked.

"Wouldn't your dad be an orc or a naga?" Drippy asked, feeling genuinely confused.

"He was a naga. One of the greatest. He was the highest ranking. One day the dragon's minions, the vampires found our home. Mom, dad and I tried our best to fight them off but it seemed like no matter how many we fought off there was always more. My dad shoots my mom this look, I had never seen him so serious. My mom gives a nod. Then she grabs me and starts running as fast as she can. I hear my dad shout something in a language I had never heard. Next thing I hear is a loud noise like an explosion. My mom was fast but I'm not sure if I slowed her down but we got caught in it as well. Next thing I know I wake up and that tree is there, my dad is gone and so are all the vampires. My mom later sat me down and told me that it was a contingency plan just in case the family was in danger." Oliver looked listlessly at the tree. His eyes looked at something that was carved into that tree.

The girls were in silence. "I've seen that mark before but I'm not sure where?" Drippy said.

"That's a mark of protection; it allows the user to use powerful magic beyond their capabilities. "Magic requires a sacrifice. Usually the sacrifice is determined by the person but this mark overrides that. It allows the magic to take as much as it needs." Oliver explained. Yadi and Luna looked sad. Yadi brought down the sleeve on her wooden hand.

Drippy felt how heavy the atmosphere was. "So what was your plan?"

Oliver perked up a bit. "Oh yeah, the plan is to infiltrate both camps. Unfortunately I can't for obvious reasons." Oliver waved over his body. He did kind of stick out "Infiltrating the Naga base is easy. They have an open door policy to anyone they think can increase their wealth of knowledge. So Luna you seem like the smart one so I say you go and speak to them. They love magic and are always looking for new magic." 

Luna looked so Fragile in that moment. "Do I have to go alone?" She asked.

"Ideally yes. No offense to your team but they don't exactly seem like scholars." Oliver said. Drippy and Yadi wanted to argue but he was right.

"I can't do it..." Luna said as she looked down at her feet. Yadi practically bolted by her side. She took her hand.

"Luna, you can do this. I know you're anxious and feel like you need me by your side but you can do this. You can do hard things." Yadi said gently. "You're strong." Luna still looked unsure. "I'd love to hold your hand during this but I can't. Instead how about I give you something that will give you some courage." Yadi leaned in and gave Luna a kiss. Luna turned as red as a tomato.

"I'll! I'll do it!" Luna turned around embarrassed. Yadi Spanked her butt and Luna yelped.

"Now go wow those nagas with that big sexy brain of yours!" Yadi exclaimed. Luna walked off briskly. Oliver slithered after her to make sure she was going the right way.