When dawn broke a heavy storm moved in, casting the world in perpetual gray. Rain fell, piercing the veil of trees and showering those underneath. Thunder exploded overhead, scaring the wildlife.

But for Chief Calsen, none of that mattered. He was used to the elements, to severe storms like this. Besides, he had more important matters to attend to. And nothing would get in his way.

“We’re getting close,” he said to the four men, his men, behind him. These were the most trusted of his loyalists, they would follow him through hell.

Yet, all he could see of them were pawns.

They’re useful, but nothing more than that. It was a cynical and selfish thought, but he had to be pragmatic. He was a small fish in a big pond, and there were bigger fish…

I hate to admit it, but I need his help if I’m to get my hands on those eggs. He better pull through.

His ‘contact’ was mysterious, yet had proven their worth already. Calsen had been approached by a shadow panther, a chance encounter he’d originally thought. Thankfully, it turned out not to be the case.

And since then, he’s provided me with useful information. Including how to hatch those eggs. A smile began to form as another crack of thunder sounded overhead.

“Sir! Up ahead, I see a light!” one of his men called out.

Sure enough, as he broke away from his thoughts, he saw the faint glow of a fire through the brush. “That has to be him.”

He picked up his pace and crossed the remaining distance, his men scrambling behind him to catch up. And, upon reaching their destination, they came to an immediate halt. In front of them was indeed a fire, but–

“A dwarf?!” Another man called out.

Calsen couldn’t help but also feel surprised. Dwarves rarely come down from their mountain home… But, then again, if there is anyone who could help us, it would be a dwarf. He began to relax.

Meanwhile, the dwarf in question had merely peered up to them as he sat by the fire. A moment later, he pulled out a compass and turned his attention towards it. “Ah, so it is you that I am supposed to meet.”

“That would appear to be the case…” Sensing something was off with the dwarf, Calsen played it safe and offered a proper greeting. “I am Chief Calsen–”

“I know.” The dwarf held up a piece of paper. “My instructions told me who you are.”

“Right…” He didn’t really know where to go with that. “And what is your name?”

“Hanzel.” The dwarf stood up and began kicking dirt into the fire. “I am ready to go.”

“That is good, however…” Calsen gestured to his men. “We have been traveling for some time, we need a rest–”

Hanzel stopped his kicking and looked down at the doused fire. “Oh,” he said and let out a sigh.

What is wrong with this guy? “I can get one of my men to get another fire going. Meanwhile, perhaps we can discuss our plans as we rest?” the chief offered.

But the dwarf shook his head no. “They would not build it right.” He began to collect the unused wood and started to build another fire.

Calsen turned to his men again and saw they were just as perplexed as he was. “Go rest, I will discuss things further with our new uh…friend.”

They simply gave him a wary nod before setting their things down. The sudden sound of a roaring fire brought his attention back to the dwarf. Somehow, even with wet firewood, Hanzel had managed to light it.

“Anyway… I hoped we could discuss what you could do to help us,” he said.

Hanzel gave him a shrug and plopped down next to his new fire.

Seriously, how awkward is this dwarf? I’ve never heard of one like this… Letting out a sigh, Calsen joined him.

Perhaps I need to be more direct? “Listen, we need your help. You know what we are after, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now, the biggest help we need is getting into the hatchery. Can you help us with that?”

Hanzel nodded.

That caused Calsen to raise an eyebrow. “How can you help us?”

The dwarf leaned over to his side and reached for a pack. A moment later he pulled out something that made the Chief’s blood run cold.

“W-what is that?” he asked, subconsciously scooting away. The object in question glowed with mana.

For the first time the dwarf smiled.

“A bomb.”

----------------------------------------

When Felix woke, the sun was already out. Still, it was early enough for a heavy fog to envelop him. He could not see anyone.

Groggily, he got up. His muscles protested, but thankfully that was all there was. The welts and bruises were gone.

Zira? he called out, still getting his bearings. The last thing he remembered was flying but looking down, he was now standing on his bedroll. Where am–

Oh, you’re up, she said, cutting off his thoughts.

I am but… Where are you? Where’s Eri and Kyrith? he asked.

Kyrith is with me, we were getting breakfast for ourselves. Eri should be there, though. She was preparing a meal for you.

Felix blinked and looked around again, but the fog was too thick. “Eri?”

“Oh, you’re up!” he heard her say.

With a relieved sigh, he made his way over to the sound of her voice. And, as he got closer, he could hear the crackling of a fire–

With a curse, he tripped over a root and nearly fell. Luckily, he recovered quickly only to find that the fog parted slightly. It was just enough, though, as he saw Eri sitting next to a small campfire. In her hands were two thin sticks that she held over the flames.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Damn this fog…” he grumbled as he approached and took a seat next to her.

“Good morning to you too,” she said with a chuckle before shoving one of those sticks into his hands. “Here, breakfast.”

“Thank you– And good morning.” Looking down at the ‘skewer’, he found part of a cooked rabbit. “You went hunting?”

She gave him a nod before pulling the other skewer off the fire. “I managed to snag a rabbit before the fog rolled in. Almost got myself lost though…”

Felix went to take a bite but stopped. He couldn’t help but notice that Eri looked a little apprehensive. “Is something wrong?”

“Huh– Oh, no… I’m fine,” she answered, but the way she pulled away from him said otherwise.

Is it about yesterday? he wondered. The events of the previous day were slowly coming back to him. I better say something… “Hey, Eri?”

“Y-yes?”

“About last night– Actually about yesterday in general, I’m sorry. Between the storm and then not properly signaling to you when we were turning… Me and– I’m sorry.”

She lifted her head up and gave him a surprised look, as if she was expecting him to say something else. “Oh… Right, apology accepted.”

Unsure what to make of that, Felix simply lifted up his skewer and took a bite…

By the time they finished their breakfast, the dragons had returned. And, not wanting to waste any time, they set off to gather their supplies and began strapping them to the dragon’s harnesses.

However, there was still one concern… The fog.

“Are you going to have any trouble getting back to the sanctuary?” Felix asked aloud.

“Yes and no,” Zira responded. “Kyrith and I scouted the entrance out on our way back. And while the fog is thick, we shouldn’t have a problem getting there–”

“That’s good.”

She let out an annoyed growl. “You didn’t let me finish. We shouldn’t have a problem getting there on foot.”

He looked up at her as he did one final check of the saddle and harness. “Oh… And you don’t think the fog will be a problem?”

“It thins out the closer we get to the sanctuary. But that isn’t even the main problem, we’ll have to take it slow. The brush and trees get denser as well.”

“And I take it, there aren't any good landing spots nearby?”

“This is the closest landing spot. We quickly landed last night after you decided to fall asleep… Anyway, I suspect it will take us an hour to get there on foot, less so if we find a path through the brush.”

Felix let out a sigh and prepared to lift himself up. However, Kyrith decided to add to the conversation.

“Oh! I could lead the way this time and make us a path!”

Zira turned her head to the other dragon and, for a moment, Felix thought she was going to strike his suggestion down. Yet, that did not happen.

“Are you sure?” she asked seriously, much to his surprise and enjoyment.

Interesting…

Kyrith gave an enthusiastic nod despite there being an annoyed groan coming from his partner. “Absolutely. The brush doesn’t bother me that much.”

“In that case, I’ll let you lead.” Zira brought her attention back to Felix. “Are you ready?”

Her question snapped him out of his amusement, and a moment later he hopped up onto his saddle. “Yeah, ready whenever.”

Squinting through the fog, Felix barely made out Eri as she got onto Kyrith’s back. “Ready over here,” she grumbled. Clearly, she wasn’t happy about the arrangement.

“Off we go!” Kyrith shouted as his form began to vanish into the fog. Zira didn’t wait for long and soon followed after.

Let’s hope he actually knows where he is going, she said with chuff. Don’t worry, though, I do know where to go.

Felix let out a chuckle. I’m glad someone does, because I still have no clue where we are…

***

The trek through the fog-covered forest was agonizingly slow. Even with Kyrith volunteering to clear a way through the brush, they still had to contend with trees tightly packed together.

And it wasn’t just the sky trees, either. No, trees of all sizes blocked their route, forcing them to either knock them down or turn around and find another path. Curiously, though, Zira and Kyrith didn’t seem to have as much of a problem navigating the fog…

Finally, it's starting to thin out! I can already see much further away, Zira said with a hint of relief.

Felix shook his head in amusement. Honestly? I’m surprised you were able to see at all. I could barely see your neck, and it's right in front of me!

My sight is better than yours.

He rolled his eyes. I know that, I was being sincere.

Well then… Thank you, but what I said is true. The fog is annoying but ultimately no match for my superior vision.

Letting out a smile, he was about to respond but stopped. Through their bond, he could sense her becoming distracted. A hint of her emotions began leaking through, a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Is something wrong? he decided to ask.

Oh, she responded, immediately reeling back her emotions. I was just thinking about something.

First Eri acting strange and now Zira? he thought to himself. He was beginning to wonder if something had happened last night.

What are you thinking about? He asked carefully.

She was silent for several moments before she answered. Felix? If you could, would you form a bond with Eri?

Felix was taken aback by the question. Well… I don’t know? The bond you and I share is special, and only your kind can form them with others. But, if you were asking if it were possible? Then… Maybe? Of course, I would talk with you first.

Again, there was silence as Zira considered his answer. Maybe? Wouldn’t you want a connection with her like you and I? She sounded a little surprised by his response.

Putting a hand up to his chin, he thought about the question and where Zira was going with it. I think I would…but it’s complicated. I wouldn’t want to turn our bond into something less.

She purred at his statement. Well, I appreciate the sentiment. But, what if I agreed? What if I thought you should?

Furrowing his brow, Felix peered over her neck and found her glancing back at him. What are you getting at? he asked suspiciously.

She looked back towards the direction they were heading. Me and Eri talked last night, and I came to a decision I wasn’t even aware I was making.

And that was…?

I want to form a bond with either Eri or Kyrith, perhaps both if–

WHAT?! His jaw dropped while Zira let out a rumbling laugh.

I said–

I know what you said! But, why?!

Because, Felix, I can’t say how I know but… I have a feeling if I bond with one of them, all our bonds will be shared. You and Eri could have a deeper relationship.

Stunned and shocked, Felix could only sit there in silence.

Oh! It looks like we’re here, she said nonchalantly.

Blinking, Felix was slow to react but when he did he found that they had indeed made it to the entrance.

As they pushed through the final trees, they were greeted by the view of a massive cavern. The ground surrounding it was packed hard with rock, while large boulders protruded up from the crevice and into the sky.

Something about it, though, concerned Felix as his mind began to finally work. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now that we’re down here on the ground…

He looked over to Eri who was sharing a similar look as him. Their eyes met as they both came to the same conclusion.

This place isn’t natural.