*Everyone looks so afraid. It’s probably because of him. This menacing mysterious black dragon is probably terrifying them.*

“Hey, Tidal! Who’s your new friend?”

*I know that voice it’s Fireball and no doubt that Canyon is close by.* “Who’s this?” grumbled (My acquaintance? Friend? Captor?) Sulfur.

“Just a good friend and someone I see often. What did you do this time Fireball?”

“Nothing, just saw you with a new “friend” and wanted to come meet him.”

“Well now you have, can we move on to where you were taking me?” grumbled Sulfur.

“Sure. Fireball wanna come?” I ask hoping that he will because Sulfur is not a very fun dragon to talk to.

“Sure” Fireball replies, *Thank the moons.*

“Fireball, where’s Canyon?”

“Right here” is what I hear before a large orange dragon lands in front of us.

“What the fuck Canyon, I about had a damn heart attack!” I shout while trying to collect myself.

“Blame Fireball, it's his fault for throwing a crocodile carcass at me. Speaking of Fireball” she says as she looks menacingly at Fireball who looks nervous to say the least.

She then suddenly jumped on Fireball and pinned him. “Okay, okay, can I get up now?” pleaded Fireball. “You gotta do one thing first.” Canyon said as she pulled the carcass off her back.

“Kiss it.” she demanded. “Kiss it?!?” Fireball said confused. “Do it, or I can just stuff your tail into it.” she said. “Fine” he replied before kissing it and then gagging. “Now can we go?” Sulfur grumbled, “I’m not the best dragon to be kept waiting.”

Canyon climbed off Fireball, letting him get up. “Now let’s go.” I said enthusiastically.

“How the hell did you meet this dragon and what even is he?” Fireball whispered to me as he walked next to me.

“He was following Gull who landed in front of my clinic and said that Gull had to pay for breaking off one of his back spines. He says he’s a “Mineralwing” and apparently he’s from across the ocean.” I explain to Fireball.

“So where are you taking him?” Fireball asks. “To a friend.” I say leaving it vague. “Helpful.” Fireball grumbles.

We walk and talk for a few more minutes before arriving at a shack in the worse parts of the town.

“A shack? Who’s a shack supposed to help me?” grumbles Sulfur. “Just wait” I say before knocking on the door.

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“You all may want to wait out here, he doesn’t really like new guests” I say before the door creaks open. “Fine” Sulfur grumbles, “Just hurry up.”

“Good to see you Tidal. What do you need this time” asks a voice. “It’s time for you to repay me.” I say.

“So the day has finally come where I must fill in my part of the contract.” the voice says again before I see a dragon materialize out of the shadows on the other side of the room.

“It has indeed” I say, “I need your help with a new friend, he has… a problem. That probably only you can solve.”

“So my power is what is needed to help this new friend of yours? Very well what’s his problem?” he asks while focusing on picking at his talons.

“He needs your help to find his way home. He says he’s from another continent.” This causes him to perk up.

“Another continent you say? Bring him to me right now.” he demands.

“Sure, he’s right outside. Can I also bring in my two friends that are also outside?”

“Fine. Just bring me this new dragon at once.” “Sulfur! Fireball! Canyon! Come here!” I shout. I hear the door open before seeing them come in and sit next to me.

“Tell me your problem, mysterious new dragon”

“The names Sulfur and I need to know how to get home to where I come from, Hailaxia.” Sulfur mumbled.

“Did-did you say your name was Sulfur?”

“Yeah..?” Sulfur said, confused. “Damn, it” said the dragon sitting across from us before grabbing his head. “Argh!” he screamed in pain before shouting out: “Darkness will be brought upon us unless the northern lands are found. These lands contain a great evil, that grows stronger with each passing day. Seek these northern lands in the Arctic, the northernmost parts of our world. Careful of whom you trust and don’t trust. You’ll find that dragons who were once enemies will become friends and dragons who were once friends will become enemies. These lands are full of bloodshed and destruction. You’ll experience death and despair on this journey but you must push on. Otherwise this great evil from the north will succeed and sweep down on us and destroy our world. You must not let The Northern Winds succeed!” and then passing out.

“Fives! Fives!” I said before running over to him and shaking him. “Fives, get up” I plead, still shaking his shoulder.

“Stop fucking shaking me and help me up” he says weakley. I help him to his feet and let him lean against me.

“Fives” I say dead serious, “How do we stop this?”

“You must take a team and find the islands.” he says.

“How do we do that?” I plead. I can feel him sliding down my side and he’s also getting heavier.

“You, you must search for them. Try, try following the Claw star and you’ll find it.” Fives says.

“What’s the Claw star?” I ask. “He knows” Fives says, barely whispering before pointing at Sulfur and collapsing.

“Fives!?!” “Fives, no, not like this!” I say trying to hull him up but he’s too heavy. Fireball and Canyon are now on his other side trying to help. *If we can get him to my clinic I can-* I start thinking before my train of thought is interrupted.

“It’s no use, he’s dead” says Sulfur.

“No, no, no.” I say before I start crying.

“I’m sorry for your loss but maybe we should go save the world from whatever this impending doom is.” Sulfur suggests.

This outrages me completely. “Of course you want to leave, you don’t care about anything, you self absorbed camel!” I shout at Sulfur. “I just lost someone I’ve known for years and you just want me to move on and forget it?” My gut screamed at me to stop but my mind said keep going. “I ain’t fucking going yet. We’re going to put together a team to help us with this mess. Before we do that we’re going to fix my brother!” I finish shouting out of breath and feeling good.

“Alright then, we can do that.” Sulfur said his voice was softer than normal and he wasn’t grumbling or mumbling.