Finding Hope

Chapter nine

The next day

"Home sweet home" Spitfire commented as Stardust and Christina walked into the barn.

"We just finished up saying goodbye to Shimmer, it's just us again" Christina stated.

"I gotta get home, mom must be worried. She's overprotective enough, this will make her flip her lid" Chase sighed, climbing onto Cloud. "We're gonna go explain things"

"good luck. When we got back from Draconus, Mark's mother fainted seeing Storm" whirlpool stated, earning a few snickers, chuckles, or giggles.

"That was funny" Mark giggled.

"Catch you later!" Cloud called, leaving the barn and flying into the air. He flew to the Liftlocks, and Chase sighed, getting off. "See you in a little bit, Chase"

"Got it. Thanks Cloud" Chase said, walking up the hill. Across from the school was an apartment building. Chase sighed and went inside, going to a top floor apartment. Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

"Hello-" the woman stopped her greeting finding Chase there. Then she burst into tears and hugged him. "My baby boy!"

"M-mom! Easy!" Chase cried and she let go.

"What happened? Where were you!? Are you ok? Why didn't you tell me? How-" Chase cut his mother off.

"Mom, please. Let me talk!" Chase exclaimed. His mother stared at him, but he grabbed her hand. "I need you to meet a friend of mine. Then I can explain, but please don't freak out"

"Ch-Chase, your worrying me" his mother claimed.

"Trust me" Chase flashed a smile and his mother nodded unsurely. She got some shoes on and followed him. They went up on top of the Liftlocks and Chase's mother covered her mouth to muffle a scream.

Cloud instantly snapped his head up, looking at her in alarm. Chase snickered, but stopped when his mother grabbed him. She was shaking, but had panic and terror written across her face.

"M-monster, come on Chase. W-we need to go!" She urged fearfully, but Chase stopped her. He grabbed her hands and she looked at him.

"Calm down mom. He's not going to hurt us. His name is Cloud and he's my dragon. I was gone because I had to save him. My friends and i are dragon riders, we have telepathic bonds to our dragons and can understand dragonese. Their language. I promise mom, Cloud isn't someone to be scared of" Chase explained.

"Ch-Chase...... Th-this is insane, h-how? Wh-why?" His mother breathed.

"I don't know, but Cloud is my bonded. He's my dragon and I'm his rider" Chase said. "Please, give him a chance"

"Yeah Carly, Cloud is amazing" Chase and Carly, his mother, looked over as a figure came out from behind Cloud's wing. Her curly fiery red hair and bright green eyes were the features Chase noticed first before he chuckled nervously.

"H-Hey Sam" he greeted nervously.

"Samantha. When did you learn of this?" Carly asked sternly.

"When Chase and Cloud landed, Chase ran off to get you and I came out of hiding. Cloud is a real sweetheart" Samantha giggled.

"He's not a sweetheart, he's cool" Chase stated stubbornly. Carly smiled as Chase ran over, jumping on his dragons neck. Cloud laughed and laid down, allowing Chase to lay on his wing. Samantha crawled over and laid beside Chase, the two chatting away.

Slowly, Carly walked over. Cloud looked at her, but she gently pet his head. He purred and allowed Carly to continue. Carly blinked, then smiled softly.

"Chase?"

"Yeah mom?"

"I approve of this"

"REALLY!?!? THANK YOU!!!!"

"Ouch. Humans are loud"

"Oops, sorry Cloud"