A girl and her Horse

Chapter 24- Homeward

Alex and Jaslo rested well in that meadow, the air felt right against their bodies and neither felt uneasy with their newest good Hound friend who watched over them as they rested. Neither noticed that they had fallen asleep until the next morning, as nobody really understands the drain of energy put on their bodies in stressful events. Alex was the first to awaken, sitting up and stretching only to freeze and look around. The same Hound that greeted them before sat next to her, watching over the now small group of beasts gathered all around. Beasts that looked more like mythical creatures than car, and some that looked more car than living being. There was easily a good group of 25-30 creatures all around them, all resting in the morning's light. Alex looked over them all, seeing most had fresh wounds and all had old scars.

"They all wish to follow the Dragon," the Hound spoke softly, looking down to Alex.

"Were all of you from the first lab?"

"No, but most of us that were didn't make it out of this one. Our stories were told to all these newer beasts, so it's not something to mourn at least."

"I don't think there's room for everyone at my family's barn."

"I can speak for most of us, we do not wish to be in a building or near them anymore. If there is empty land, that is where we wish to be."

"I think that can work." Alex thought back on the patch of desert she roamed often, and looked up to the Hound with a smile.

"I don't think I ever gave you a name to call me by. The name's Alex. What about you?"

"We had already grown used to called you Dragon Rider, but it's good to have a name for you now. Alex, the only one to ride the black dragon and save us all from hell. I was once called Silver, but recently was known as Ghoul."

"I like Silver better, it sounds more fine like the metal itself."

"Silver it shall be then." The two nodded their heads to each other and chuckled, only smiling wider once they noticed other beasts began to awaken. Alex stroked Jaslo's roof, stirring the Blazer awake with a grumble. Jaslo nearly jumped at seeing so many around her, but just smiled to see Silver stand and chuff to call everyone to stand. Alex used what she had to tie herself into position on the Blazer's roof and smirked as she looked to the sky.

"You ready, Jas? We have a long distance to cover today."

"Let's go home, I'm tired of sleeping away from that dumb barn." Jaslo began to walk through the group, making her way into a more open part of the meadow. She yawned as she gave her wings a stretch and a test flap, shaking herself off as the final bit of her waking up. Alex looked back to see Silver standing with their whole weird herd behind him, ready to move on their call. Jaslo reached the other side of the tree line and turned back, breaking into a gallop with a long howl. The other beasts gave their calls, and Alex leaned in. Jaslo bounced once, twice, then leaped into the air with a strong beat of her wings. The duo quickly climbed and Alex looked around for the visual reference point of home, the mountains. Leaning to turn the Blazer in that direction, they soon made their way towards home, and glancing down they both saw their herd following through the wilderness away from humans and traffic. Jaslo let out a strong roar as she picked up speed, driven to get back with her friend just as eager to be home once more.

"You'll have to lead them to the desert wash area near the house," Alex laughed, making Jaslo chuckle as they flew over the land and gathered eyes they never wanted before.

"I guess that should work. I was out there long enough already, should be easy for them to scent it out."

"If not, we can put some torches out there."

"Alex! That'll freak some of 'em out! Not to mention I think that ain't allowed!"

"Eh, only illegal if we get caught!" The two laughed and took in the peace for once. This was a strange feeling of calm that Jaslo wasn't used to. All her life she was running away or into things. Built to fight only to be trained to take down in a city, then fight the very thing that made her. Even before she found other beasts here, Jaslo never could rest easy with the dread of something near. Finally though, she felt calm and able to live her life for herself. Such a strange feeling for a weapon to feel, if she even had to keep calling herself that. It was now just her and her new family of beasts and humans, in another place that she didn't belong but was making the best of it. Alex caught on to her silence and gave her friend a pat on the roof.

"It's going to be a trip seeing everyone again. Think old crazy Watson is still going to be after your tail?"

"You know, it would be fun jus to have him chase me around a bit."

"Jaslo!"

"What?!" The two friends joked for a bit longer, and as the hours went by they neared a familiar sight. Alex held back tears as she saw the house and property from here, seeing it so tiny but finally coming to terms with the fact this washer home. Her family was waiting for her down there, and her voice was caught in her throat. Jaslo roared out as they neared the property and flew a bit past it to circle back, letting everyone around know they were home once more.