Alex stood up and turned around slowly. Their attacker was a handsome guy about their age, with a camouflage jacket, pants and boots. He had dusty blond hair, windswept to one side. His eyes were brown, with a dangerous sparkle to them, and his skin was a dark brown—almost black. Alex had never seen anything like that before. He was holding a large dagger, too small to be a sword but almost two feet long. When Alex faced him, he took two steps back for some reason. Was there something wrong with him?

“Oh my gosh!” Turquoise said, zipping over to where he stood. “Why is your skin such a weird color?” She grabbed his arm and poked him, leaving him looking slightly flustered. “Are you just really dirty? Do you need a shower? Why is your hair blond if your skin is brown? What’s your name? I’m Turquoise!”

The new guy slowly recovered his composure and moved away from Turquoise slightly, rubbing his arm where she had poked it, and giving her a strange look. He shot Alex and Sapphire a glance like, is she cracked in the head or something?

“My name’s Andesite,” he said, sheathing the dagger and sticking out a hand, “but you can call me Andy.” Turquoise took his hand and shook it vigorously. “Also, I’ve never seen skin as pale as you guys, although she seems a little different,” he added, nodding at Sapphire. It was true—Sapphire’s complexion was olive, while the rest of them were paler. “Where are you from? And how do you know Jade?”

“The Caves,” Turquoise answered. “I guess that’s why our skin is so pale.”

“You know where Jade is?” Sapphire asked. All hostility had been dropped at the mention of their friend. Jeez, it sounds like she trusts him more than me, Alex thought.

“I’m right here,” said a familiar voice. Out of the darkness strode a fit figure, with ruffled black hair and sea blue green eyes. A weird sword with an eye on the hilt was strapped across his belt.

They had found Jade.

***********

“Jade!” Turquoise cried, tackling him to the ground with a fierce hug, totally forgetting about Andy. She had a very short attention span. “By Emerald’s name, how did you find us?”

“I know a few people,” Jade said nonchalantly, grinning at all of them. He gently broke out of the hug and walked over to Sapphire. He shook Alex’s hand but didn’t make eye contact or even smile at him.

“Hey,” Alex said, grinning and tilting his head at Jade as he shook Andy’s hand. Why was everyone avoiding him? Seriously.

“Where’s Pyrite?” Jade asked, scanning their surroundings as if they were hiding Pyrite somewhere. Alex, Sapphire, and Turquoise all hung their heads. Jade’s face fell, and his eyes clouded over. “No,” he whispered. “I thought she would be with you guys!”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“She may not be dead,” Alex reassured him, but Jade ignored him.

“In the talons of CaveDragons?” Sapphire muttered glumly. “She is as good as dead.”

Alex elbowed her. “There’s always hope,” he tried again. “Pyrite’s pretty fierce—”

A growl interrupted his sentence. A white dragon with silver and blue markings on his body ran into view. Tanzanite and Erinite snarled at him, baring their teeth, and stepped in front of the humans. Andy seemed surprised that he was also included in their protective circle.

The white dragon growled at the CrystalDragons, circling them. They shifted to block him whenever he got close to anyone. Shrieks and growls were exchanged, but the CrystalDragons held their ground. Tanzanite snapped her teeth at the strange dragon. He looked extremely frustrated, stomping his feet and scratching the stone. He lashed his tail and shook his spikes. Finally, Jade elbowed past Tanzanite and Erinite. Erinite snorted at him, but he held up a hand and screeched at her.

Everyone except the white dragon looked shocked. Jade continued to hold a conversation with all the dragons. It was unsettling, Alex thought, to hear dragon noises coming from a human mouth. When he was finished, the CrystalDragons grudgingly agreed to let the white dragon to pass.

“Guys, this is CloudWing,” Jade said, gesturing towards the white dragon. “He’s a WindDragon.” He ignored their shocked stares, acting like he hadn’t just casually held a conversation with dragons.

“That was interesting to witness,” Andy said dryly, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “I’ve never actually…I mean, I heard stories, but I guess I never entirely believed it until I heard you.”

“Oh…yeah, I had to keep it a secret from the Elders in the caves,” Jade explained sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I can understand them as if they speak Human.”

“So, you guys are old acquaintances?” Andy asked, looking back and forth from each of them. The poor guy was probably really confused right now.

“Yeah,” Turquoise answered. “We were practically raised together.”

CloudWing stepped in and growled something at Jade. Jade’s eyes widened for a moment, and then he looked thoughtful. He sat down on a large rock, and all the others followed suit.

“Pyrite’s not dead,” he announced to the rest of them.

“Hold up,” Andy held up a palm. “Who is Pyrite?”

“A friend of ours,” Turquoise filled him in on all their exploits, starting with them getting kidnapped. “She was captured by CaveDragons and separated from the rest of us.”

“Sounds like you guys had quite the adventure,” Andy replied, leaning back on his rock slab and winking at Turquoise.

“Anyways,” prompted Sapphire, “Jade, you were saying something about Pyrite still being alive?”

“Yes,” Jade answered, his eyes roving up towards the night sky. “CloudWing says that the StealthDragons are holding Pyrite prisoner, at Volcano Ridge.”

“Well, let’s go let’s go!” Alex said, jumping up. Everyone stared at him oddly. “What?”

“Alex,” reprimanded Sapphire, “You know how hard it will be to stealth our way into the camp of StealthDragons without a plan?”

Alex sat down. “Hard,” he admitted. “Really hard. So, we need a plan!” He jumped back up again.

“I’m with Alex,” Turquoise said. “We burst in there, snatch Pyrite, blow up some stuff, smack some StealthDragons, and then book it. BOOM!” She waved her hands ecstatically and kicked the nearest rock for emphasis.

“Look,” Jade said, “I want to rescue Pyrite just as much as you guys, but we’re low on dragons. What is Andy going to ride?” He did not mention Alex.

“SHHHH!” Sapphire suddenly hissed, jumping up. She cocked her head. “There’s something coming!”