The Mystery Rider (Under Re-writing and being renamed}

Avalon

"No! It's way too dangerous to do alone, Heather!"

"I won't be alone. I'll have Windshear with me."

"They have nets and chains; they can and will fire at you! You need back up!"

"Av--"

"No! Midnight and I are coming with you both, and that's final!"

I turn on my heel as I clench my hands and begin to storm towards the two sleeping dragons but am stopped when a hand grips my shoulder.

"Avalon, I get it. You're scared we'll get hurt. But we're stronger now." She comes around and picks my head up, forcing my hardened amethyst eyes to lock on her kind green ones."You've trained us well. We know what to do. Plus, this, as you said, will be very dangerous."

I shrug off her hands and then plop down beside my purple-eyed Night Furry and lean against her as I rest my face in my hands. I peak my eyes between my fingers and gaze at my best friend, the one who has saved my life countless times over the years. I remove my hands and gently caress her black scales as I sigh.

Heather plops down beside me on the cold grassy ground and gently lays her hand on Midnight as well."Look. I get it. You're scared that the two of us will get hurt, but we won't. I promise."

"I-it's not just that Heather. I don't want you guys to leave us. You're the only ones we trust with our lives." I scoot closer to her and rest my hands on her shoulders."You both are the first ones we have trusted this much since I was 10!"

"I know. And we trust you as well, but I have six other people I trust like that. But you and I have been through more." She whistles, and Windshear perks up, as does Midnight, and she walks over to Heather. "You need those people as well. You can trust them, the same way you can trust me."

She bounces up and then extends her hand and pulls me to my feet, causing Midnight to stand.

"After tomorrow Windshear and I are going to go our way for a bit." My eyes grow big as Midnight nudges Heather in sorrow." and if I don't contact you in 3 weeks, stay low."

"Because the scum bags may have caught you." I spit as I cross my arms.

"Yeah," Heather says as she rocks on the balls of her feet.

"Not happening, I have shit to do! The biggest being find you!"I say, shoving my finger into her armor.

"For Thor's sake! You can be stubborn." Heather groans as she pushes away my hand." But Avalon, I need to do this, and that also means you and Midnight cannot follow us. It will be too dangerous even for the both of you. Please, Avalon, I am begging you."

I bite my quivering bottom lip and then quickly wrap my only human friend in a hug as Midnight nudges Windshear.

"I know I'm going to regret this, but be careful, please," I whisper into her ear as I hold her tight. I then retract from the hug as the stinging sensation enters my eyes.

"I promise."

Midnight returns to my side and moves her head under my arm as we watch Heather swing herself onto her dragon's neck. She spares us one last look and shoots us a weak smile as she launches into the cloudy night sky.

~

I rest my head on Midnight as we lay beside the small crackling fire inside our desolate cave. I sigh at the memory of the last encounter the two of us had with Heather 3 weeks ago as I push myself to my feet then walk to the cave entrance. Clutching the piece of paper that she sent in my small hand. I look back at my best friend and half-smile at her curled up shape then hesitantly look back to the letter in my hand. I release a sharp breath and then re-read the letter.