Dragon's Familiar

Chapter Five

At first she had to shut her eyes from all the bright lights, but as Ivy opened them, she stared in wonder. "Surprise!" All of the villagers gather before her with wide smiles. Decorations littered around the town in a festive manner. Ivy's heart thumped in her chest as tears came to her eyes.

"W-What? What is all this?" she verbalized after finally finding her voice again.

Cilas stood in front of the villagers grinning, "Well we can't say goodbye to one of our own just by saying it. We decided to show you how much we care about you and that we will miss you quite a lot. Plus my nephew wouldn't quit pestering me about it." He turns to Mason giving him an amused expression.

Ivy smiled brightly as tears began to fall down her cheeks and she rushed to wipe them away. She sniffled a laugh, " Thank you. I'll will miss you guys so much. I wish I didn't have to leave you all, but I care for you all a great ton."

"As do we. Now, enough of the tears! Let the party begin!" Cilas cheers causing everyone to join in.

Ivy looks at Mason and they both smile widely at each other as they run towards the party. There was lights, decorations, music, dancing, a feast big enough to feed a village five times our size, and everyone had smiles on their faces. Ivy and Mason danced in and out, weaving through the others that were dancing in the middle of town.

Everyone had a joyous time and soon enough they gathered around to the tables. Cilas stood up causing everyone to look up at him as he raises his glass, " To Ivy, though you may not be here in person as of tomorrow, you will always be in our heart and minds" Everyone raised their glasses and nodded their heads, "To Ivy. "

Ivy smiled, nodding back lifting her glass to drink when her ears twitched as they did before. She froze and looked around finding a shadow crawling between two buildings. Her sight was drawn away when Mason nudged her.

"You okay Ivy? You haven't taken a drink yet?" Mason's eyebrows furrow together looking concerned.

Ivy smiles nonchalantly, " Yeah. Yes. I'm fine. Sorry. Just thought I saw something." Ivy took a drink from her glass and glances toward the spot were she had seen the shadow, only to find it missing. Her brows furrow, but she lets it go and goes back to the celebration.

Soon enough, all fun was over and everyone dispersed back to their homes. Mason offered to send Ivy back to her cabin and she gratefully accepted.

"Mason my feet hurt! Give me a piggyback ride!" Ivy whines pouting as her ears flatten.

Mason looks at her and sighs, " Alright come on. Climb on my back". He bends his knees and squats down as Ivy climbs onto his back and puts her arms loosely around his neck.

She grins in victory and swings her feet back and forth lightly as they walk through the town. She was starting to zone out when she remember, " I want to go to the stream. I want to say goodbye to it and the tiny fish." Mason looks at her weirdly, but shrugs his shoulders and makes a right turn heading that lead straight to the stream.

Ivy smiles brightly and jumps off of Mason's back. She looks around and her smile becomes sadder. Mason looks at Ivy, " Don't worry. We'll be here waiting for you when you get back. I mean eventually you get to come home. At least once in your nine lives." He chuckles.

She looks at him and her smile gets a little bit brighter, " Of course. You still owe me that solid, Mason. Don't think I've forgotten about it. Sending me a room of dragons, just become you didn't want to be served rump roast. " She smirks giggling. " Now lets head back I'm getting tired. "Ivy jumps back on Mason and they make their way to Ivy's little cabin.