Beyond this World - Dragon warrior (Book 1/?)

Chapter 22 (Part 2)

Tundra thought of what Damien said of forming her own family. The Tereis clan's hall was certainly big enough for the Dragon guild and their families. Tundra turned to Aaron after remembering a crucial detail. "What happened to Conlead?"

"Ah!" Aaron shuddered. "I left him with the werewolf elders and went looking for you... Is that a problem?" Aaron sheepishly asked.

"I guess not..." Tundra mumbled. Damien was intrigued what this was about; he could sense the danger of asking however so he kept to his business and walked towards the two men mounting their horses.

The eventually met up. Elias asked Aaron whether or not he would like to come home. Aaron took a brief moment to think if an answer that wasn't a direct 'no'. "I do miss Arkbowel but I won't be coming back anytime soon I think. Is Sir Cameron doing well? I've been meaning to ask you guys..."

"Yes, and now we know why. He knew you were alive, right?" Elias asked to confirm his theory.

"I guess." Aaron shrugged, he couldn't really remember if he came to say goodbye to him or if Cameron would keep his hopes that he was still alive. "Either way, I don't think anyone would believe it's really me. I mean, both you and Lloyd had trouble believing it too. I'm content with what I have though I'm glad I came across you two."

"Wait, Elias and Lloyd are here?" Tundra asked in a bit of a surprise, she kept her head low the whole time so she never really saw them. Elias and Lloyd looked at each other; though neither were sure who she is other than Lloyd as 'the girl from Aaron's room' they were surprised by her sense of familiarity.

She briefly took the hood off and as you might predict there was no memory-striking reaction from either of them. There was not much to go on from facial features alone; she gave them a warm smile. "It's nice to see the both of you again."

"Do we know you?" Elias naively asked. Tundra nodded. "Really? I feel like I would recall..."

"You never saw me before today I don't think, not like this before." Tundra showed off her arms and giggled. "My name is Tundra. Nice to meet you officially."

Elias and Lloyd were both dumbfounded by that revelation. Lloyd began speculating how that would be possible; recalling the hellhound man mentioning she is his daughter his most logical conclusion would be she's a shapeshifter of some kind.

Elias was deeply bothered by this, though he tried not to show it. He began to think how ever since Tundra occurred in Aaron's life that things changed. He held a grudge in that regard.

Along the way they had almost forgotten about the horrors they lived through earlier in the day and as the night settled in, the nocturnal animals made their presence known.

They settled for the night, Damien lit the campfire, Lloyd helped to gather wood while Kithok reviewed a piece of paper and took noted in a small leather journal he had strapped to his belt. Elias took interest in the dwarfs unusual exclaims and mumbles.

Aaron and Tundra distanced themselves from the others. Their excuse was looking for something to eat; it was not necessarily a lie, Tundra needed something fresh to replenish her strength. Aaron caught a puny looking rabbit. "This was the first thing I was able to catch."

Tundra looked at the rabbit that wiggled in Aaron's grasp with great sadness and regret. "I... I don't..." She sighed and slumped down on the ground. "Sorry."

Aaron released the rabbit and it scampered off at the speed of light. Placing his arms around Tundra he gave her a tight squeeze. "There is nothing you need to be sorry for."

"There is..." She whispered though a faint sob. "Those people... They had nothing... they did nothing to..."

Aaron gently placed his finger over her lips and leaned his forehead on hers. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." She shuddered at his touch; stroking his cheek she brought her lips to his but retreated quickly, deeming herself as unworthy of such caring attention. Aaron took her wrist and pinned his lips against her own. Tears flew down her cheeks but she wanted it, she needed to be validated. She had a need to right the wrong but she understood what good it would do; she was guilty.