The next morning, the group gathered at the entrance to the dragon wing of the Sanctuary of Fire. This was the part of the tour everyone had been waiting for—the chance to see actual dragons, the creatures of legend, up close and personal. The excitement was palpable, but Angel maintained his cool, leaning back against the wall as the tour guide, Professor Gover, greeted them.

Professor Gover was an older man with sharp eyes and a calm demeanor. You could tell he had seen it and heard it all before. His voice was measured, every word carefully chosen. "Welcome, everyone. Today, we will be exploring the Sanctuary's collection of dragons. Each species has been carefully recreated from ancient DNA, allowing us to witness the majesty of these creatures once more."

The group followed Professor Gover through a large set of reinforced doors that led into the dragon enclosures. The first dragon they saw was a sleek, midnight-blue creature with iridescent scales that shimmered in the light. Its eyes were a piercing green, moving with a fluid grace that made it seem almost otherworldly.

Gabriel was the first to speak up. "Wow, it's beautiful," he said, his voice full of awe.

Professor Gover nodded. "This is an Astral Wyrm, one of the most intelligent and agile dragons ever known. A keen observer with a kind heart."

Selena looks sideways at him. " Aww it's just like you."

Gabriel blushed slightly at the comparison, but Angel just smirked. "Figures. You've got the heart of a dragon, Gabe."

They moved on to the next enclosure, where a massive, hulking dragon with thick, metallic scales lay coiled up like a giant machine. Its eyes glowed a deep amber, and it let out a low growl as they approached.

Khalil crossed his arms and nodded approvingly. "Now that's more like it. Looks like it could take on anything."

Professor Gover smiled. "Indeed. This is a Steelback, known for its strength and resilience. Much like you, young man. Tough on the outside, but with a loyal heart."

Khalil's only response was a curt nod, but Angel could see the slight smirk on his friend's face. Khalil liked the comparison, even if he wouldn't admit it.

They continued through the tour, each dragon seemingly a reflection of one of the group members. There was the sleek and quick Emberclaw, which Professor Gover likened to Selena's fiery and unpredictable nature. The Sylphwing, with its graceful, gliding movements, reminded him of Asha's quiet strength. The small but fierce Frostbite was compared to MJ's playful yet formidable personality. And finally, the Firebrand, with its striking appearance and intense presence, was matched with Michael's cool, commanding demeanor.

Angel took it all in never faltering. But beneath that, he couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement. These dragons were impressive, no doubt about it. He relaxed, feeling at home. But having the cool rep he had, instead, he kept up his usual sarcastic banter, keeping the mood light.

"Dragons, huh? Not bad. But I was hoping for something a bit more… you know, impressive," he quipped, earning a few laughs from his friends.

As the tour continued, Angel found himself drifting to the back of the group. He was curious, but he also enjoyed his own company. Besides, he had a feeling that the best was yet to come. And he was right.

They reached the last enclosure, where a massive dragon with dark, smoky scales and glowing red eyes loomed over the area. It was a terrifying sight, and even Angel had to admit it was impressive.

"This," Professor Gover said, his voice lowering slightly, "is our Duskbeast, one of the fiercest dragons in our collection. It's a creature of pure instinct, driven by a deep, primal need to protect its territory."

Angel tilted his head, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Now this is a cool ass dragon." he muttered under his breath as he watched it move about. His smile grew wide as he realized he was finally enjoying himself. Who knew such a nerdy trip could turn out to be so cool.

As the tour moved on, something caught Angel's eye. A door at the far end of the enclosure, slightly ajar, seemed out of place. Without thinking, Angel slipped away from the group, curiosity driving him forward. He walked with caution light on his feet as he approached the door. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, finding himself in a dimly lit corridor that seemed to lead deeper into the sanctuary. He moved quietly, his sharp eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. This was the part of the sanctuary that the public didn't see, the part that held the real secrets. And Angel was more than ready to uncover them.

As he wandered through the corridor, he heard a loud screech echoing through the halls. It was a sound that sent a chill down his spine, but it also intrigued him. He followed the sound, his footsteps light and quick, until he reached a large chamber filled with cages and enclosures.

And that's when he saw it—a pterodactyl, loose from its enclosure, screeching wildly as it flapped its massive wings. It was attacking something in the corner of the chamber, something that was fighting back with all its might.

Angel moved closer, his heart pounding in his chest. The wolf-dragon, a different one this time of a dark blue color was locked in a fierce battle with the pterodactyl. The creature had already wounded the wolf-dragon's mate, and was now trying to snatch her egg. Without thinking, Angel sprang into action. He was calm, and collected as he moved toward the fight, his mind racing with a plan. He grabbed a tree branch from the ground and used it to distract the pterodactyl, swinging it at the creature's head.

"Hey, punk! Over here, come mess wit me!" he shouted, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he taunted the creature.

The pterodactyl turned its attention to Angel, screeching in fury as it lunged at him. But Angel was ready. He ducked and rolled out of the way, keeping his movements controlled as he led the creature away from the egg.

But the pterodactyl was fast—faster than Angel anticipated. It slashed at him with its talons, catching him across the chest. Angel hissed in pain, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. He had to buy the wolf-dragon enough time to get its mate to safety.

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The wolf-dragon, seeing what Angel was doing, took the opportunity to attack the pterodactyl from behind. Together, they managed to drive the creature back, forcing it away from the egg and the injured dragoness. But just as they were about to finish the fight, the pterodactyl whipped around and struck Angel with its beak, sending him crashing into the wall. He groaned, feeling the sharp pain in his side as he struggled to get back up.

Before the pterodactyl could attack again, the wolf-dragon let out a ferocious roar and charged, ramming into the creature with all its strength. The impact sent the pterodactyl sprawling, and it finally collapsed, too exhausted to continue the fight.

Angel, breathing heavily and clutching his side, looked up at the wolf-dragon, who was now towering over him. The creature's eyes were filled with a mixture of anger and suspicion. It snarled, baring its sharp teeth as it loomed closer to Angel, clearly still on edge after the fight. A heavy amount of blood dripping from it's body.

"Easy there, big guy," Angel muttered, trying to keep his voice calm. "You hurt bro you don't want to do this. I'm not yo enemy."

But the wolf-dragon didn't seem to care. It growled low in its throat, its muscles tense as it prepared to attack. Angel tensed, ready to defend himself, but he knew he was in no condition to fight. The pain in his side was getting worse, and he could feel blood trickling down his chest from where the pterodactyl had slashed him.

Just as the wolf-dragon lunged, a loud voice echoed through the chamber.

"There it is! Take it down, now!" Javi shouted, his Irish accent thick as he barked orders. The staff members moved in quickly, firing tranquilizer darts at the wolf-dragon and the pterodactyl.

The wolf-dragon froze, its head whipping around to see Professor Gover, Javi, Dr. Lovington, and several other staff members rushing into the chamber. The wolf-dragon growled again, but it stumbled as staff surrounded it.

The wolf-dragon let out one final roar before the tranquilizers took effect. It staggered, its eyes locking with Angel's one last time before it collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The staff rushed to secure the area, but Angel barely noticed. He was too focused on the pain in his side, the adrenaline from the fight wearing off as he slumped against the wall.

Dr. Lovington, a woman with beautiful features and a no-nonsense attitude, was the first to reach Angel. "You're hurt. Let me see."

Angel tried to shrug her off, but the pain made him wince. "I'm fine. I was just…"

" You could have been killed Angel!"

Dr. Lovington frowned, signaling for the other staff to tend to the injured dragons while she focused on Angel. She quickly assessed his injuries, her expression softening slightly as she saw the deep gashes on his chest and the bruises forming on his side.

"You're lucky to be alive," she said quietly as she started patching him up. "That was incredibly reckless."

Angel managed a small, crooked smile. "Yeah, well, that's me."

After a few minutes,Dr. Lovington finished tending to Angel's wounds, carefully bandaging the gashes on his chest and applying a soothing ointment to the bruises on his side. The pain was still there, but the immediate sharpness had subsided, replaced by a dull ache. He squinted in relief.

Angel looked into her eyes. " The egg, I was tryingto stop it from…takin' the egg."

She stared at him for a minute as if surprised by his actions.

"These dragons are rare, the last of their kind. They only have one egg at a time. I'm not agreeing what you did, but I'm glad you stepped in like you did."

As she worked, Professor Gover and Javi were busy coordinating the response team. The pterodactyl was sedated and secured, and the wolf-dragon was being carefully examined by another staff member. Angel watched, his heart suddenly heavy with worry. The dragon's condition and his mates injury weighed heavily on him.

Finally, Professor Gover approached Angel, his face a mask of concern. "You did well today, Angel. I understand this wasn't easy. I definitely will advise you never to do that again. But, you just may have saved a rare species if the egg survives. It's a male."

Angel managed a faint nod, though his usual smooth demeanor was somewhat dimmed by the gravity of the situation. "Thanks. Wait, are the other two… they're okay right?"

Professor Gover sighed and looked toward Dr. Lovington, who had just finished her work on Angel. "Dr. Lovington, can you tell us about the dragons?"

Dr. Lovington nodded, her expression serious but kind. "The wolf-dragon is named Shadow, and the female dragon is Kira. Shadow was severely injured, and Kira was hurt as well. We're doing everything we can to stabilize them."

Angel's eyes widened as he absorbed the names. "Shadow and Kira… I didn't know their names until now."

Dr. Lovington gave him a sympathetic look. "We're incubating the damaged egg, but it's too early to tell if it will hatch. As for Shadow, I'm afraid he didn't survive the attack. Kira is recovering, but the loss is a heavy blow."

Angel looked at them, the gravity of the situation settling in. He had risked his life and faced down a fierce pterodactyl, only to see Shadow die and Kira's egg damaged. The sanctuary staff's offer was appreciated, but it did little to ease the sadness he felt.

Professor Gover placed a hand on Angel's shoulder. "We've notified your counselor and family about your bravery today. They're all very proud of you. As an apology for what happened, we'd like to offer you a financial reward of $500,000, an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the sanctuary as well as a longer stay. We hope this will make up for the distress caused."

"Five hundred thousand…I mean," Angel said quietly, his voice tinged with emotion. "But ….."

"It's fine." The Professor stated. " We'll send that right home."

Angel nodded, swallowing hard. "Thank you. My uh, family could really use that money right now."

The Professor nodded. After a few more minutes of quiet reflection, Angel stood up, his wounds still throbbing but his resolve firm. "I wanna stay though too. Thik i kinda like tis place. I wanna see if she gets better. It's the least I can do after everything I caused."

Professor Gover nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Very well. We'll make sure to give you the best experience possible."

As the staff worked to clean up and secure the area, Angel's friends gathered around him, their expressions a mix of concern and admiration. Khalil, usually so composed, placed a hand on Angel's shoulder.

"You did good, man," he said quietly. "Real good. I can't believe it man you got paid bro!"

Gabriel and Selena, too, offered their support, their usual playful banter replaced by genuine concern.

MJ gave Angel a reassuring smile. "I'm glad your ok."

The group headed back to the hotel, the mood somber but supportive. Angel walked with his friends, his injuries throbbing but his spirits bolstered by their presence.

Dragons So Far

Astral Wyrm

Appearance : This dragon is sleek and slender, with midnight-blue scales that shimmer with an ethereal, silvery glow. Its wings are long and narrow, allowing it to fly with incredible agility. Its eyes are a piercing green, and it has a long, sinuous tail that ends in a delicate fan of glowing scales.

Personality : Known for its intelligence and agility, the Astral Wyrm is graceful and observant. It can be quite reserved but forms deep bonds with those it trusts.

Steelback

Appearance : The Steelback is a massive dragon with a robust, armored body covered in thick, metallic scales that resemble plates of steel. Its eyes are a deep amber, and its horns curve backward like a pair of crescent moons. Its wings are broad and sturdy, built for powerful flight.

Personality : Strong and resilient, the Steelback is a steadfast protector. It has a calm and collected demeanor, making it a reliable and formidable presence in battle.

Emberclaw

Appearance : This dragon has vibrant, flame-red scales with hints of orange and yellow that resemble flickering flames. Its claws are sharp and elongated, and its wings have a tattered, flame-like appearance. Its eyes are a fiery orange, glowing with an intense heat.

Personality : The Emberclaw is fiery and unpredictable, embodying a passionate and energetic spirit. It is quick to act and has a bold, fearless nature.

Sylphwing

Appearance : The Sylphwing is a graceful, ethereal dragon with translucent, iridescent wings that sparkle in different colors as it moves. Its body is slender and agile, covered in smooth, pale blue scales that seem to shift in color. It has delicate, feather-like frills around its neck and tail.

Personality : This dragon is gentle and serene, with a calm and soothing presence. It moves with fluid elegance and prefers peaceful environments, showing a quiet strength.

Frostbite

Appearance : The Frostbite is a strikingly unique dragon with icy blue scales that shimmer like frozen glass. Standing at the height of a six-foot human male when on all fours, its compact size belies its impressive strength. Despite its relatively small stature, the Frostbite boasts large, powerful wings that allow it to carry objects and creatures up to five times its size. Its crystalline spines run along its back and tail, adding to its formidable appearance. Its eyes are a chilling, frosty white, giving it a piercing and determined look.

Personality : The Frostbite is fierce and playful, with a spirited and aggressive demeanor. It has a knack for surprising those around it with its strength and agility despite its size. This dragon is energetic and not afraid to confront larger opponents, making it a lively and dynamic presence in any situation.

Firebrand

Appearance: The Firebrand is a striking dragon with bright, blazing red and orange scales that seem to crackle with internal fire. Its wings are wide and powerful, and it has a row of flame-like spines running down its back. Its eyes are a blazing, molten gold.

Personality: Intense and commanding, the Firebrand is known for its strong presence and leadership qualities. It has a bold and passionate personality, always at the forefront of action.