RejectedShotgun: Two halves of a whole Book 1

Chapter 10

Drake's POV
We set up camp in a hidden grove near the Hatchery. Grayson went hunting for food and Mia made a fire and rolled out our sleeping bags. Zhoobla-khan and I kept an eye on Luke. I heard him stir behind me and I turned to look at him. His face turned into a sour scowl.
"Untie me this instant! You can't keep me bound forever!" he shouted.
I stared back at him.
"Oh, yes we can. You could be of use to us." I said. He sneered at me, putting on a brave look.
"The Empire will look for me. They'll come and free me, and then they'll kill you and your little pet!"
At the mention of 'pet', Zhoobla-khan glared daggers at Luke, rendering him into silence. I sighed and sat down in front of Luke, careful not to bump my injured arm. Zhooby jumped into my lap and purred as I pet his head. I looked over at Mia. She was peacefully sleeping next to the fire, and Grayson was still looking for food.
"Luke" I said calmly. "I want to know: why did the Empire kill off the dragons? What do you have against them?"
He looked at me in surprise, his light purple hair falling in front of his blue eyes.
"Y-you really want to know?" he asked. I nodded. He took a deep breath and began.
"Well, from what I was told as a child, the Empire erased the dragons because it feared their power. So, they they killed them all just to prove they were the superior race. We were all taught as children that they were savage enemies. So I guess it's just a natural grudge."
I simply stared down at Zhoobla-khan, digesting what Luke had said. Was this tiny little thing as dangerous as Luke says they were? I looked back up at Luke.
"Listen Luke. The Empire won't look for you. Because you and the rest of your men haven't returned, they will presume you're dead. You know this. How many soldiers have gone missing and haven't been searched for? How many, Luke? How many more innocent people need to die because of the Empire?" I asked, tears streaming down my cheeks. He turned his head, his eyes sad and averted my pleading gaze. I stood up, Zhoobla-khan crawling off my lap, and I went to tend to the dying fire.

I could hear Luke's quiet crying.