It was quiet as we sat there, the only sounds being the occasional whistles of wind, the sounds of the wood and metal creaking, followed by the tip-tap pattern emanating from the legs moving on the sand. Perception was the only full moon tonight, the other two couldn't even be seen due to the dark clouds in the dark, blue sky.

It was freezing in the desert, but the tents installed on the wind walkers will keep us alive for the night.

I sat on the edge of the large machine, just behind the railing as the it rocked back and forth as we traveled across the desert sand. We still had three days before reaching the village in the rainforest.

I looked back again at the pile of swords and spears, each weapon representing someone we had lost, there were thirty-six in total. Nearly a fifth of the village, gone. Scorpion... was gone.

Why did it end up this way? It shouldn't have ended up this way, this wasn't what I saw.

"Because I was slow." Pebble's voice suddenly spoke up.

I jumped and looked up, as he then took a seat next to me.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.

"Guess you could say that, but it's no one's fault, if anyone, it's the Icewing." It's mine.

"You're wrong, I should have taken care of that Icewing before it got to her-"

"Then we'd all be dead."

"What?"

"I assume you only did the blood-sucking thing once, cause you can really only do it once, right?"

He shook his head. "I honestly don't know, I-I just figured that if I could do it on water and venom, then why not blood? But I guess I did feel really tired after that, and I did collapse but I feel like that's barely anything compared to what everyone else went through."

"Don't, none of the blame is on you." I said sternly to him, but he just turned away and watched as the sand passed by.

"I could have saved her, if I knew-"

"But you didn't know, and that's not your fault."

"But-"

"Pebble... we have to move on." I lied, I didn't want to move on, why couldn't I just stay right here and sink? Then my mind flashed back to Yarrow and the last time I saw my father's kind eyes. My face fell into a frown, but I was grateful that he let me into his life to begin with. "Things in life, in this world, aren't fair, I doubt it's ever gonna be fair. But this is the life we've given, and it would be a shame if we waste it, and tie ourselves down by mistakes made in the past."

Pebble snickered suddenly yet his eyes remained haunted. "Did you come up with yourself or-''

"Three moons no! I chuckled sadly as I wiped a tear from my eye. "My old man taught me that, he was a healer."

"I bet you miss him..."

I sigh. "I do, but... I'm also happy that I have people to miss... it means that... despite everything cruel, they made it good for a while at least."

He sighed. "I suppose."

***

The machine slowly continued moving while in the rainforest, it only took a couple of hours before we heard the sounds of activity and saw a few more wind walkers had parked.

The other refugees greeted us as we came down, rushing to see who was left, there were cheers of happiness, but also loud sobs as some people never returned. I just continued forward as I saw a man dressed in green and golden robes and fur, with several others in leaf-like clothing approaching alongside him.

"Thank you for your hospitality, village elder."

He was a short man, bald and with a long black beard, his blue eyes were soft as they stared up at my half-lidded ones, sunken a bit into my skull. "I'm just happy to help, you may stay as long as you need, we will get through this together.'' I bowed and he did the same before walking away with the rest of what I guessed was his guard.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I said nothing as I just watched as the crowd melded together before starting to fizzle out as people were guided to the treehouses, ironically they were all hidden in the dirt.

I'm suddenly pulled down and I see the boy from earler. "Thank you..." Was all he said before leaving, but then Ant and Pebble joined me.

"Boyo, it's been fun, but also... not really, this is where we part ways." He sighs.

"Aye." I say as I use his accent, before I start to detach my prosthetic and offer it to him, but he stops me.

"No, keep it, ya earned it boyo, ya should feel proud." He chuckles.

"I don't feel it..."

He just chuckled. "Aye, but maybe in a year or two, you'll remember how you saved a village from twenty dragons." He frowned and looked down suddenly. "How you, Pebbles, Palm... and Scorpion saved the people of Sunset's Watch. I'll see ya all in hell." He snickered before walking without waving goodbye. I waved back and then he seemed to just vanish in the crowd.

"Have you seen Palm lately?" Pebble suddenly asked.

I shake my head, but we both had a pretty good idea.

***

It was quiet and eerie, the snakes hissed as we approached but once we got to part where the forest didn't block any trees, shining the light down on us, the snakes retracted as they recognized us.

Laying there, by the same snake she rode upon when we first met, was Palm, sobbing quietly.

Pebble froze, but I took a step forward. "Palm-"

She cut me off as she hissed, her eyes wide and bloodshot. "First Toucan... then Pyro... then Scorpion... n-no... n-no more change... l-leave m-me b-be... l-leave m-me b-be...''

"Palm..." Pebble approaches but is only met with a hiss.

"LEAVE ME BE!"

***

I reached in my pocket to pay, but the vendor stopped me as they put my arm down. "You saved my son... they're yours."

"Oh, t-thank you..." I whispered quietly as I put the bolts into my quill.

I walked but I could feel as everyone around me in the village looked at me, some with hope, some with happiness and awe, while others glared, believing I could have saved more, not that I didn't agree.

It was mostly quiet though, and it felt unnerving as I walked past plants and flowers instead of sand, it wasn't long till I managed to reach the outside of the village. And I continued to head west until...

Just looking at it made my heart thump powerfully in my chest, trying to break out as I let out a few shaky gasps. The cave seemed like an endless pit, swallowing any light that was too close, and it smelled like fire, like it was a pathway to the deepest and darkest pits of hell.

"Terrifying, isn't it?" Pebble asked as he suddenly made himself known next to me.

I growled, "Pebble, I told you not to come with me."

"I know, but did I ever say that I would listen? I don't think so." He said while fixing his glasses. "Besides, you're reckless, and you're gonna need someone to pull your ass out of the fire."

I smirked at his now aloof attitude, but I could still see the pain hiding behind his eyes. "Where did this guy come from? Who are you, and what did you do to Pebble?" We laughed.

"Yeah, anyways..." he shudders as he looks at the cave.

"Well, you're the smart one, so what do you think?"

He sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, whatever is in there, we don't want it knowing we're there."

"So no snakes."

"And remember to be quiet, we just have to hope it isn't a giant bat dragon in there."

"That's not a terrifying thought at all."

I shifted as I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Oh, um, I'm not the best when it comes to physical contact."

I glanced at him and saw a hand on his shoulder. "Pebble, that's not mine." I stated, while looking at the one on my shoulder.

"What do you mean- oh!"

He exclaimed as we turned to see Palm, staring at us with a glare that could kill a dragon. "I'm going with you two."

I shook her off and started walking away. "No, none of you are coming with me, I-" I started but was cut off as they both started to follow me.

"Can't lose anyone else? Funny, I was about to say the same thing." Palm said as she then gripped my arm. "Us Teardrops... we have to stay together... remember?"

I sigh. "No matter what I say, you're just gonna come anyway, aren't you?"

"Yup." I didn't miss the pain hiding in her eyes as well, but at least she wasn't crying anymore as she led the way. "Come on, let's go!" She beckoned us while waving her hand.

I grunted as I followed, Pebble surprisingly not hesitant at all as we all entered the cave to hell.

***

"This is where he died..." Palm said suddenly as we had traveled for thirty minutes.

We all paused and bowed our heads as we let Palm collapse to her knees and stare at the ground.

"I'm so sorry Toucan... but I've never forgotten you... and I never will... let's move." Palm said.

We both nod but I notice Pebble glance back at the spot. "There was no sign of a body." He whispered to me.

"What?''

"I felt the snake's ash but still, nothing more than that."

"So you're saying they could-"

"No, all I'm saying is that they didn't die here at least-"

"Pebble! River! Listen!" Palm suddenly shut us up.

There were loud tip-tapping noises coming from deeper into the tunnel, before getting louder and turning into heavy thuds. "Talon-steps." I growled. "Remember what we practiced!" I whisper-shouted as all of us pushed our backs against the cave's walls, trying our best to become one with the very wall. We held our breath as we could hear the thuds getting closer, and closer, till...

We heard the giant creature growl, but none of us could see it. We all held our breath, yet it stopped right in front of us, it didn't see us... did it?

Then the dragon lets out a small burst of flame, lighting the place up and revealing it staring directly at me.

He sees us.

"Fuck! I'll take care of-" Pebble starts but I cut him off.

"Wait!"

"What the hell do you mean wait!?"

"We just got ourselves a free ride inside."