‘A lot can happen in a single day’ was all I could think of, while I layed near Hickory’s house watching him. It just made me wonder what has happened at home. I know mom said a lot was going to change soon, but she didn't tell me when or what. I really wish I remembered how long I had been away from home. I really want to go back. I have grown since I left home, I know that for sure. I am not sure how much I still have a lot of gaps in my memory.

I hadn't noticed when I drifted off to sleep, but I found myself again in this weird place. I don't know what I should call it but I named it for now the abyss. It seems to have become a regular place I seem to end up, when I fall asleep. I find it comfortable, but nerve wracking at the same time. Try as hard as I can, I can't seem to feel right here. I wonder if it is just going to send me back home again, in some memory.

I blinked and found myself somewhere strange. A place I don't remember ever being before. It felt foreign. The stars all looked different. I noticed in a glimpse of my hand, which I then turned to look at myself, that I looked different almost see through.

“Is this another dream? It is a really weird dream this time.” I mumbled out loud.

A chill ran down my spine and a sense of danger arose. I felt great power around me. I looked frantically around me, that's when I saw them, the thing my mom warned me about. Shades.

I held my breath, not even sure if I was breathing, but the panic made my body freeze. These shades were massive. They still had that weird effect of being hard to look at directly, it made my head hurt. What shook me the most, was one spoke.

“You two go ahead. I have something to take care of first.” The more human looking one said.

Panic had gripped my heart, I was sure that I was going to die this time. My fear had all been but confirmed when he started looking around. The power I could feel off this thing was suffocating. It was way stronger than the one I had fought. It was impossible for me to defend myself against such an opponent.

What was my saving grace, was he turned and left the way he had come from. I wasn't sure why he didn't see me. ‘Maybe I was so underneath him?’ I shook my head at that. I am not sure, but was grateful to have not been noticed by him. I looked around some more when I noticed something grave. Corpses were floating around me. I was so focused on the living shades, I had yet to notice how much death was around me. One stood out among the rest.

A very large red dragon. Regal and mighty, but his lifeless eyes, still seem to be looking at the shades around him to challenge him. I fly over to this mighty warrior and bow my head in respect. He fought bravely, and to the end. I do not know this dragon, but he should not be out here. I looked around some more, and looking in the direction of which the other shades had gone I saw fighting. I could see dragons, I couldn't see details, it hurt my head too much.

I made up my mind, I reached out to the mighty red dragon, who I could feel. I felt, for some reason I am not sure why, but I reached out and I could move him. I started pushing him. I felt a flicker, a reminisce of his soul flicker at my touch.

“You should not be here” wasn't spoken, this dragon was very much dead, but I felt it from his remaining spirit.

“It's okay, I think. You did a wonderful job mr. red dragon.” I said to him, as I kept pushing him with all my strength.

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“You are brave.” I felt his flickering spirit dwindling.

“I am not brave mr. You are. I am just lost. I am not sure how, or why I am here, but I did not like the idea of you being out here.” I told him.

“You're like my son. His name is Aether.” It said to me.

“Aether? What a strong name. You must be proud of him. I don't think I have siblings, but my name is Lost.” I said to him, talking to his dwindling soul.

“Lost, if a dad may ask of you. If you see any of my kids, please take care of them.” It asked me.

I was stunned for a second. I am not sure if I even know where this dragon came from, or where I am. I wasn't sure how I was talking to this dragon, but it all felt real.

“If I ever meet your kids Mr, I will do my best to take care of them. I will be strong for them. Help them with all I can.” I assured the dragon. If I ever find such dragons I will do my best to take care of them, but I really hope they don't find where I have been, and end up trapped like me. It might keep them safe, but I am not sure that would be good for them to be there. Maybe I could take them home, to my real home, Aynezh.

I could feel the soul flicker more, it wouldn't be much longer till his soul was gone. I was not going to get him to more dragons before then. I put more effort into pushing him, my wings working as hard as they can.

“Hang in there Mr! I will get you to someone I promise!” I spilled out, to the huge red dragon.

“It's okay child, I know I am in good hands.” The soul reassured me.

I bit my lip and tried to hold my tears, and pushed harder. I was not going to let this dragon’s dead body remain lost out here. He did not deserve such a cruel fate. I was so focused on pushing this huge dragon, who is many times my size, I had not paid attention to how long I was pushing.

I felt a sense of warmth from the dragon, then his soul was gone. I almost felt it echo through the expanse of space, the flicker which reached far and wide. He was now, very much truly gone. I stopped pushing, I was shocked. He was now truly gone. The thought echoed through my head ‘I heard his last words, and they of his kids.’ What a great father this dragon was. I never met mine. That I knew.

If I meet these kids, my age or younger or older, I will take care of them. I don't know if I could ever tell anyone about what or how this happened. Maybe this will stay with me, A reason to stay alive. To grow and get stronger.

I backed up from the dragon. I lowered my head to him once again out of respect. He had complimented me, this mighty warrior, I felt so honored. I looked to see where we were going, and we had closed the distance to the battle. I could see the dragons much better now. I could see a large female red dragon, tearring her way through the shades. She looked angry and maybe crying. I felt my job was done.

I backed up from the mighty dragon, I am not sure what it was, but I felt accomplished here. I felt myself fading from these instants, and going back to myself. I wonder what this is, but maybe I was needed here. Slowly everything fades away when I start to wake up. My face was wet. I rubbed my face. Was I crying? I looked over at Hickory who was looking at me worried.