The King of Thieves Book 2: The War of the Region

Chapter 2 - The Gathering

He had been flying for most of the day. Dylan fell asleep and woken up from his dragon on multiple different occasions. He finally started to fall asleep when he was awoken by Zlandi. He looked ahead and saw a plume of smoke. He readied himself as they flew in.

As they group started to land, the soldiers scrambled around as one went to a large tent. As he started to unhook as they touched down, he saw his girlfriend walk out. She had dirty blonde hair now, and grew an extra few inches. He grew as well so he was still taller. He dismounted and walked up to her.

             Before he started to say anything, Dakota smacked him across the face as he felt the red mark on his face. The group flinched at the sign and stepped back.

             "You have some explaining to do, Dylan." She said firmly. They entered the tent and he began to explain what was happening. Once he finished, Dakota looked outside to the dragons.

"You're wrong about them." She said as she started to approach Thorne. Both Dylan and Zlandi had puzzled faces as she rolled her eyes.

"Torent, Flame, and Thorne are girls. Char is the only guy. You can tell by the colors. Cool colors are female and warm are male." She said as she walked away.

Dylan walked over to her side, and she didn't even look at him. "Is something wrong?" He asked as she finally looked at him.

"Actually, yes. You see, after seven months, I am irritated by you. You never even sent a letter to talk to me, which you were allowed to do, and there is a lot more I can name. Do you know how hard it is to live with the fact that I will have to fight my dad again and not have you with me for the aftermath? It is still killing me." She said in frustration as she started to walk to a cart of goods. After getting supplies, she walked back in the tent, and he left in shame.

             A few hours past and Dakota came out of the tent with a less hostile attitude. Tyson, Zlandi, Diane, and the couple joined Orani and Liya and chatted for a while. A soldier suddenly came to the group bearing news.

"What!" Both Dylan and Dakota shouted at the shock.

"It's true! Dabagar is leading a small battalion this way. It is weeks out and if we stay at our current pace, we will meet them in around four days time." He said as he looked at both of them. Dakota grabbed her head and sat on the ground. She looked at the group, and then at her boyfriend.

Dylan spoke, "Well then, I guess we don't have a choice. If he is coming this way with that small of troops, then something isn't right. There has to be a catch." The solder nodded and trotted off. He then sat by Dakota and put his arm on her back. After their meal, the group went to sleep.

             Dylan went to Thorne to sleep on her stomach again, but then Dakota grabbed his shoulder.

             "Come on." She said, leading him to her tent. He layed out his bed, and fell asleep at the other side of the tent as Dakota. He woke up and then looked at his friend. She later in the opposite direction as he was facing, and then saw Orani come in. He nodded to the king and then went to Dakota. He nudged her with his foot, and she awoke. They went out to eat breakfast.

             The soldiers started to pack up immediately, but were stopped suddenly. As Dylan left the border of the camp, Char growled at him viciously. He got his black tail, and hit him to the center of the camp. He got up to see the other dragons doing the same thing. His eyes then spotted Thorne doing nothing, simply laying on the ground, enjoying life.

As he started to walk over, Char roared at him again. He started to reach out to touch her, but then got tackled out of the way. Where he was standing was now a scorched patch of grass.

"What is going on with them!" He yelled in frustration and confusion as the beasts cornered them to the middle of the camp. Dylan then walked over to Torent, touched her, and then to Flame and did the same thing. He finally started to go to Throne, but retreated quickly at the sound of Char.

He started piecing together the puzzle while confusion was still stirring. It confused him that Char was so protective all of the sudden, but he wasn't before. He thought that maybe the spring pollen was messing with his senses, but remembered it was happening to the others as well and it wasn't affecting his pet.

"What is going on with Char? He never acted like this." Said Zlandi as he went to Dylan. Dakota walked over and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe the hormones are going to his head." She said assuringly. Dylan looked up and at her. She is a genius rushed through his head as he started to fit the things together.

"I think I know what is going on." Dylan said as they both looked at him. "Think about it, they are all acting like this but Thorne. Also, Char won't even let me touch her." He said. Zlandi thought on it, and his eyes widened like he saw someone get killed before his eyes.

"Thorne is carrying an egg." He said as they both looked at him.