Heroes Without A Plan
Chapter Eighteen: Silly Dragon

“Pire!” Mike rejoiced. Alyssa and Eliot looked in curiously, surprised to see the dragon rubbing against the cave wall, fighting an itch. Taking a closer look, Eliot ran to the walls and examined them in comparison to the Epraei stone.

“I think that’s it!”

“Really! Let’s go!” Mike laughed as he patted him on the head. “Well done, you silly dragon!”

They landed on the ground just before sunrise. And found Agatha sleeping on the ground after waiting so long.

“HEY!” Alyssa yelled excitedly and jumped off Pire. Agatha jumped up at the sound of the girl. “We found it!”

“Pire found it,” Mike corrected. With it in hand, Alyssa was ready to go home.

Ready to try again, the heroes found themselves back at the top of the hill.

“Alyssa...I’ll miss you.” Fighting back tears, Eliot hugged her as tightly as he could. Alyssa kissed his cheek as they parted and Agatha began creating the portal for the last time. All she had to do was recite a magical incantation.

“Taria toshra, owyole. Taria toshra, owyole.”

She repeated it over and over until the wind stopped and the stone shone brightly.

Agatha placed the stone next to Alyssa as the ground was bathed in the familiar bright blue glow.

“This is it, jump in and you’re home.” Agatha shouted her final goodbye over the loud swirls of the portal.

Alyssa had a nervous glance into the blue abyss, then back to her friends. Pire tilted his head at the sight of Alyssa’s foot sinking into the portal.

“Goodbye, I’ll never forget you.” And with that, Alyssa disappeared into the gateway.