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Fuck me, we’re doing this , Griff mused. Confront a fucking monster so terrifying even the dragons balked, with reason. After all, offering up one’s life, even if one could be re-hatched, wasn’t easy.

However, with a clever twist of words that held the truth, Avera had convinced Argent to help them on their mission. Whether or not he’d do more than fly them, though, remained doubtful.

Still, they were off to save the world and Griff couldn’t help but wonder if he should have kidnapped Avera and fled instead.

Only, any escape would have been a temporary reprieve.

If Zhos did go through with its threat, nowhere would be safe.

The rift that would be opening was their only chance for a future.

Stop being so contemplative. You’re ruining my enjoyment of flight, Argent complained.

“Well, excuse me for having some trepidation,” Griff grumbled. He didn’t speak loudly, but despite the wind noise rushing past his features, Argent heard him.

You’re the one choosing to go on this mission.

“Is there really any other choice?”

No. Zhos will destroy humanity.

“And everything else.”

A pause before, Most likely.

“Knowing this, you still won’t help?”

I’m flying you there, aren’t I?

“To save your friends.”

Dragons don’t have ? —

“Don’t give me that crap. You obviously have some sentiment for the others, or you wouldn’t have offered to come.”

I do not wish to see my kind go extinct. A disgruntled admission.

“So what’s your plan then? Grab your friends and fly away?”

That would be the ideal scenario.

“Zhos will come for you.”

You sound like the little queen.

“Because she’s right and you know it.”

I don’t wish to die again. Nor do I wish to be the one banished to another realm.

“No one wants to die.”

Says the man embarking on a futile mission.

“Is it, though? Zhos has been trying awfully hard to kill Avera. There has to be a reason it fears her above all others.”

You know, when I was in my egg, I dreamed. I saw the strangest things like a little boy screaming as he rode down a staircase rail. Of flying with someone on my back. Of a place of ice with simmering volcanoes and valleys of green where the ocean waters were ripe with fish.

“And?”

I wonder if some of those dreams were visions of the future . And if I could experience those while in my dormant state, could it be Zhos did too?

“You think Zhos saw Avera succeeding.”

It does appear to be more actively working against her than others, so it’s not the fact she’s blooded that concerns it. Hence, it must be something she can or will do.

“Avera has no idea how to proceed. After all, if the guardians couldn’t find a solution in a thousand years, then how is she supposed to figure it out with only days left?”

Instinct? Argent proposed. In my experience, sometimes the most successful maneuvers were the ones with the least planning.

“My father used to say only fools rushed in.”

Your father, while a decent man, moved too slowly even with facts. I told him not to trust Basil. He chose to mull over my statement, and it led to his demise.

Griff scowled. “Not helpful.”

Just stating a fact. Trust the little tiara. Believe in her. For she is the only hope.

Rather than reply, Griff hunched. He’d not told Avera or Argent, or anyone for that matter about his mother’s words long ago.

How the little tiara would stab him. Knowing her as he did, he had to believe if it did happen she’d have a damned good reason, and because of his love for her, he’d allow it.

They flew for hours, stopping for the night on the shore of the Lake of Tears, a place Avera warned was toxic to flesh.

To people maybe, but the dragons happily dove into the calm waters, floating and splashing each other.

The rest of them huddled around a campfire, Avera quiet as Monty regaled them with his excitement over flying.

His over-exuberance hid his trepidation.

They all understood the danger of their mission.

The plan, which wasn’t much of a plan, consisted of the dragons dropping them on the highest spire just before dawn when they wouldn’t likely be seen.

Avera and Griff would mark their companions with blood to avoid them being caught in a Zhos spell and would smear some on weapons as well.

Then they would track down Zhos and… That was where things became unclear.

Argent spoke suddenly, Starlight and I are hungry and scent nothing nearby. We’ll be back before morning.

The dragons took off, immediately invisible in the dark sky.

The party settled down for the night, Griff spooning Avera, not fully asleep, hence he heard when the dragons returned with the distinct whip of their wings.

Only it wasn’t Argent’s voice he heard saying, There she is. Snatch her before the others wake.

What?

“We are attacked!” Griff yelled as he sprang to his feet just as a deep darkness descended. The murk concealed all to the point Griff couldn’t see his hand in front of his face.

“Avera?” he called, but she didn’t reply. It made no sense. She should have been right there. “Avera, answer me.”

“What’s happening?” Gustav roared. “Where’s the queen?”

To which a woman called out, “We have the queen. Do not try and follow. All is happening as foretold.”

Say what?

The unnatural gloom disappeared as fast as it arrived, leaving Griff standing on the shores of the lake, impotent with rage, cold with fear, and filled with anguish because Avera was gone.