n

n

nThe portal behind them closed and the remnants of dust settled around them. Daryn hopped off his horse and sprinted to where Quetz was. He had watched him stagger out of the portal, padding over the thick grass beneath them and then coming to a stop. Quetz's eyes were droopy and over him lying unconscious was Dawn. Her hands flailed on the sides, as she lay unconscious over her dragon.

nQuetz walked carefully and very slowly. He appeared sluggish than usual. As soon as Daryn came near him, he crouched as low as possible in order for him to pick Dawn from his back.

n

"Dawn?

" Daryn called her name. He held her in his arms and then made her lie on the grass nearby. Dawn!

" he called her again, this time tapping her cheek. His stomach churned and the chest tightened. He looked at Quetz in the most helpless way, and then blamed himself for not getting Dawn with himself. There was a long, deep cut in her leg from which blood oozed crazily. He rushed back to Izar, opened the saddlebag and took out whatever cloth came in hand and water. He washed her wound and then wrapped his shirt tightly around her leg.

nQuetz padded sluggishly away from them and when he came back, he had a green paste of plants that he had chewed on his way back in his mouth. Dropping it in front of Daryn, he nudged her with his head. The paste looked gooey with Quetz saliva mixed in it, but Daryn picked it and applied it on Dawn's wound. Once he did that, he pulled his wife on his lap and cradled her holding her head tightly to his chest. A lump formed in his throat and he reached her mentally, 'Come back baby. Please…

" But he was met with darkness.

nQuetz clambered behind his rider and sat down. Daryn leaned onto his underbelly. The dragon curled around them and then spread his wings to cover both Dawn and Daryn. His neck was still warm.

nThe night had become dark and with his energy to an all time low, Quetz closed his eyes. When Dawn was feeling miserable and hopeless, when her body rebelled at the thought of getting separated from her mate, the anxiety that she endured made him anxious. His heart hit against his chest so hard that he felt his ribs would rip apart from his body. The thought of losing his rider created a void in his soul. He couldn't let that happen. He let his energy flow through his rider. He didn't know how that happened—it was a new experience, but he did what Dawn wanted, what she willed.

nWhen dawn fluttered her eyes open in the morning, she thought that she was hurled into a kiln. It was so hot that she was sweating. She realized that she was lying in Daryn's lap while he was leaning against something greenish-grey. Her hands felt a leathery membrane.

nAs soon as she stirred, Daryn woke up.

"Baby, are you well?

" he asked in an anxious voice. His eyes were red and hair all mussed up. All his body muscles were sore with ache by sitting in the same position throughout the night. But all he wanted was one thing��Dawn���s safety. He had been dead worried about her. It looked as if all her energy had depleted. She was pale and the blood had drained out of her face.

nDawn nodded and crawled out of his lap.

"I am fine,

" she replied in a hoarse voice. She turned her face to see the wound on his arm. It was completely healed. She became aware of her wound and pulled her leg up to check. There was no trace of blood over there, only a small scar. Daryn's gaze followed hers and he gave a sigh of relief.

nDawn removed the leathery wings of her dragon. Quetz stirred. He lifted his wings from around them letting in the morning sunshine fall upon them.

nShe got up. Swaying slightly, she spun around. They were in the middle of a large moor that stretched miles and miles over rolling hills to wherever her eyes went. She noticed that the moor was interspersed with rocky tors, which seemed to interrupt the scenery, the beautiful windswept moor. Riot of violet, yellow and red had ebbed on the fringes of the tall green grass. The soft ground, the smell of the grass and the cold howling winds at tempestuous gusts - it reminded her of her days in Bradford. A smile wormed on her lips. She was expecting to come to a dense forest but this was a pleasant surprise. Navigation would be easier.

nDaryn stood up and stretched beside her as Quetz also stretched and yawned like a baby.

n

"I want water,

" she said in a whisper.

nDaryn ran to Izar and brought back a bottle of water for her to drink along with some bread and cheese that Nusgroth had packed for them.

"Sit down Dawn,

" Daryn urged.

nThey sat on the springy grass. While she was munching on her bread, he asked,

"I was extremely worried Dawn. Why did you pass out while crossing the portal? Quetz was also not well. He was so sluggish that it seemed that he barely managed to carry you back. You were injured badly. He went to get some herbs for you, which I applied over your wound.

" He pointed at her leg.

"It is completely healed.

"

nShe smiled and looked at Quetz who was looking hungrily at the sky towards the red grouse and golden plovers. 'Thank you,' she sent him a message.

n'For what, Dawn? We saved each other,' he replied and took off the ground.

n

"When we were about to cross the portal, several Cadvals surrounded us and they tried to drag us back to the Derize Barrens. I suspect that they also held onto Quetz's legs too.

" She brought her hand to his cheek and lightly grazed on his stubble. He hadn't shaved in two days.

"I was furious at the thought that I won't be able to see you and after that I don't know much. I think I went into a trance-like state. I do remember some green lights emitting out of my hands and stretching the portal that was diminishing in size. However, after that I don't remember much,

" she said and picked another sandwich. She was extremely hungry.

nDaryn stopped eating and stared at her with wide eyes.

"Did you do magic?

" he asked in a shaky voice.

"Because what you just narrated sounded definitely like magic.

"

nShe stared back at him and shrugged.

"I don't know.

" A nervous expression came on her face as her facial muscle tightened. She chuckled.

"It can't be,

" she replied.

"I don't know anything about magic.

"

nDaryn looked up at the sky—at Quetz who had gone berserk seeing so many delicacies. He was screeching and diving in happiness towards the flock of the birds.

"Do you think that the magic came from him?

" he pointed with his chin to the beast.

"Brantley also has magic and he is a dragon rider.

" Daryn turned his eyes to Dawn and said,

"It is possible that your magic comes through him.

" He was mesmerized. It was likely that Quetz revealed his magical ability only through his rider, and both Dawn and him weren't aware of this ability.

n

"I don't think it is like that,

" replied Dawn. She kept the sandwich back in the cloth in which it was wrapped and twisted her wrists in different directions.

"See, nothing!

" she said with a chuckle. But Daryn wasn't convinced.

nOnce they had breakfast, they wrapped up the things and mounted Izar. Quetz was still eating his breakfast atop one of the willow trees dotted the moor. 'We are leaving. You can follow once you have eaten,' Dawn communicated to Quetz.

n'Okay,' he said and gulped down the red grouse. 'This is so tasty!' he exclaimed. 'I was dying for my delicacies ever since you had moved to Bainsburgh.'

nDawn laughed. 'How do we find the Temple of Annubalis?'

n'Look for signs. I am sure there must be something around that would indicate the presence of a temple,' he replied.

nDaryn let his horse trot at a comfortable speed. He was in no rush.

"Lean on me Dawn,

" he said.

nDawn leaned on his broad chest and kissed his muscular arm.

"I am so glad that you are with me on this journey and I am in a hurry to go back to Bainsburgh. There are so many things I have to do before I die,

" she said with a sigh.

n

"Die?

" Daryn roared with laughter.

"You are an immortal my dear.

"

nDawn sprang up.

"How come?

" she asked.

n

"Because you are a werewolf, my neotide,

" he said with amusement.

nShe pressed her hand to her mouth.

"Oh my God!

" she exclaimed.

"I didn't know that.

"

n

"Mhmm. You won't be able to leave my side any sooner.

" He said as though it was a punishment for marrying him.

nShe couldn't believe that she had become an immortal. Her skin tingled.

"That must be an issue with you guys. How do you manage to stay without getting noticed in the society?

"

n