* * *

“So, let me get this straight.” Granite said, as he grudgingly walked through the rain and soft soil. “There's a dragon out here that is injured,”

“Yep,” Emmet said, on Granites back, holding a flashlight in his hand and an electric lantern tied to the saddle. With it was a dragon first aid kit.

“And you only know this because Nym connected you to him?” Granite continued.

“Right so far,” Emmet answered.

“And you didn’t tell your mother about this?” Granite asked.

“Nope,” Emmet answered.

Granite sighed but was quiet as he continued to walk. He was uneasy about being out in a storm like this. It was nasty like this the day he lost his rider. He snorted, steam coming from his nostrils, but the snort gave him something. He paused and lifted his head, smelling the air.

“Sup Granite?” Emmet asked.

“Blood…” Granite answered. “Definitely dragon.”

With that, the earth dragon moved a little more quickly. He followed his nose to the glades, where he stopped dead in his tracks and gave a low growl as he saw the breed of dragon it was. Emmet raised his flashlight and gave a small gasp at the sight of the downed Shadow Dragon. He could see it was breathing heavily, and in the light of the flashlight, its muscles quivered under its scales. The Shadow Dragon must have smelled them, or heard Granite growl, because it stirred and dragged its head from under its wings and looked at them, snarling back.

Emmet had never seen a Shadow Dragon… but he was sure a sight to see. He had more of a lupine head, the horn-like scales along the back of his head looking like raised fur around the four pale horns that crowned him. His body was lean with muscles that allowed speed and silence in flight and running, and his claws showed he was more dexterous than most other breeds. But Emmet could also see that his left wing was charred and looked stiff as it laid over him. He was covered in cuts and gashes as he lay in a low crater. He crashed, which was a rare sight for any dragon, let alone living a crash. Emmet knew that Shadow Dragons were often hired by the Royals, both dragon, and human, to act as silent and hidden protectors… assassins, and paired with riders. But he also knew that they were the favored dragon of the Slayers…

“This is my territory.” Granite snarled, turning his side to the Shadow Dragon to show his size and that his colors claimed him as the dominate drake of the territory, a show of Dominance to the intruder. “What is your business here?? And where is your rider?”

Emmet blinked, flashing his light back at the shadows dragons back, now seeing the crushed saddle still tied to his back.

“I crashed rock for brains…” The shadow dragon replied, his voice deep, but there was a hint of a youth to it. “Why else would I be laying in the muck?!- RAH!!!..” He had started to lift his head, but then gave a small roar of pain and laid down again.

“Will you let me look you over?..” Emmet asked.

The dragon snared, barring all his teeth. Emmet’s father had taught him everything he knew about dragons, including body language, and that understanding their body language was the basis of their communication. And the snarl the dragon was giving more out of fear than aggression. He was hurt, and at Emmets and Granites mercy… and he knew this very well.

“I promise we won’t hurt you.” Emmet tried, getting a look from Granite.

“He could be a traitor.” The earth dragon snarled. “One with the Slayers!”

“Would it ease you to know I once was?..” The shadow dragon answered, earning a long snarling hiss from Granite, the earth dragon raising his back aggressively. “Once!. I’m not anymore… I left my Holder!…”

Granite was still growling, but he relaxed his stance slightly, showing that he was listening and he was curious. But the Shadow dragon had gone quiet again, releasing a groan of discomfort.

Emmet pressed his lips together and carefully dismounted.

“Emmet!” Granite growled in warning.

“He needs help, Granite,” Emmet said. “Even if he’s a Slayers Dragon.” He looked back at the shadow dragon. “But how can we trust that you did leave the Slayers? And that this isn’t a trap to attack us?”

The dragon gave a huff and looked at Emmet with violet eyes. He regarded the boy for a long time before answering. “The Slayers don’t care about small communities. They attack to make people fear them, so larger communities and cities are a larger threat than you… and they would kill me on sight after what I’ve done… though I’m sure anyone would at this point…”

“Why do you say that?” Emmet asked.

The dragon was silent for a very long time, and at first, Emmet thought that he had given into his pain, but he answered a moment later. “My holder forced me to commit a step down from the ultimate crime… and I foiled the Slayers plans… How would I know you won’t kill me if I said?”

“We live by the Code Laws.” Granite told him, approaching to protectively stand by Emmet. “We fight when it's fair.. not when a dragon is at a disadvantage. And seeing as you can barely move, you’re at disadvantage. You won’t be slain this night. That is unless you hurt my human, then I will forget about the Code Laws.”

Usually, one would be insulted when referred that they belong to someone, but Emmet felt honor in what Granite said. It was more like when a father claimed a kid as his child. The humans of Sunny Glades Farm were all part of Granite's pride, so hearing Granite confirm this gave Emmet a warmth in his chest.

There was another long silence before the shadow dragon gave a pained groan and carefully lifted his injured wing. He didn’t lift it far, but the smell Granite caught made him gasp and lift his head in shock. Emmet could see something white and round near the shadow dragons middle and shined his flashlight at it. He gasped in shock as well as he saw the royal colors… This dragon had a royals egg! No wonder he was fearing for his life. Stealing an egg was punishable by imprisonment or death, depends on the reasons for the act. But to steal a Royals egg… that was instant death to the thief. How he managed to get the egg this far away from the City of Shiveryn, the Capital of the four Kingdoms, was astounding!

“It's not healthy for it to be in weather like this…” The dragon said.

Emmet carefully walked forward, now seeing that the dragon had used his other wing to shield the egg from the mud and encased it in warmth. but he was right, the cold could seep through the wings and affect the hatchling inside, making hatching difficult if not kept safe and warm.

Granite snorted as he thought over the situation. Sometimes being the alpha wasn’t easy… but he couldn’t leave the dragon and egg out here… Especially a Royals! He gave another snort before looking at the Shadow Dragon. “And what do you plan on doing with this?”

“I want to return it..” The dragon said. “To atone for my sin… and if Queen Allure wishes, she can kill me or let me live… at least the youth would be back where it belongs.”

Granite watched the dragon’s face, neither snarling anymore. Then Granite stood. “You’ll have to stay in our barns for a while. To let yourself heal. My humans are skilled in carrying for Eggs, the young ruler will be well cared for in that time.” Granite then suddenly pounced, pressing a paw on the shadow dragons neck, just behind the head.

Emmet stepped back, knowing this wasn’t a fight, just another show of Dominance. To show the intruder that if any line was crossed, Granite would not tolerate it one bit. “But if my family is harmed in any way… I will slay you myself and keep your wings as trophies!”

The shadow dragon stiffened and his eyes widened, but didn’t bare any teeth, and eventually looked down, showing submission to the Earth Dragon. “Understood…” He answered.

Granite gave a nod and got off the shadow dragons neck before looking at Emmet. “You’ll have to carry the egg and walk. I’ll need to support this guy back tot he barn. There's no way he can walk like this.”