The Dragon's Keeper
Chapter 3 Start our Journey

I didn't own a thing to my name, so I didn't bother stopping at my room. However, we stopped by James' house to pick up a few things... well, house is a bit of an overstatement. More like a shack with a sheet hanging from the ceiling to divide the rooms.

"Come on! I wanna grab some things before my father catches us and locks me up!" he said as he pulled me in his room.

"What do we need?" I asked.

"Well, it's still early spring, so it's not warm at night. I'm going to take both the blankets; and take one of my father's work shirts for you. It might help keep you warm. And I have and old cloak from when I was younger, it should fit you. I can grab mine..." he spoke as he wandered around grabbing things and throwing them onto a pile on his bed... which was a pile of hay, just like mine.

Finally, he rolled them all up in the blankets and tied them up with twine.

"All ready. Let's go!"

He peaked his head out the door, then grabbed my arm and pulled me after him. The baby dragon growled at this. He probably didn't want to be disturbed from his nap.

"Hey, Midnight. We have to be quiet, so we can escape from here. If someone catches us, they will take you from us and lock us up. Do you understand?" That was possibly the stupidest thing I have ever said. He was a baby dragon! He was just a few hours old. How could I expect him to understand anything yet?

But looking down into his intelligent eyes, I swear he nodded and purred as he snuggled in deeper.

The Villa is always busy with servants going back and forth, trying to get their chores done in a timely manner, before they get punished. Quickly and quietly, we ducked behind buildings and checked our way was clear.

We just made it around the last corner when a guard saw us.

"Hey! What are you two doing? Get back to work!" he demanded.

"Run!" James whispered.

Not that it mattered, as he was pulling me along with him, but I did put as much effort into it as possible. We puffed as we ran toward a group of trees. Multiple footsteps pounded behind us. They were chasing us! We couldn't get caught! We would be beaten for sure! Not to mention we promised Flame to take her baby to the Island of Dreams. If we got caught, we would be called thieves and they would take Midnight from us. Then they would beat us and lock us up for the rest of our short lives.

We had to get out of there or not only would Midnight disappear, but all the magic in the land.

I almost tripped, but James caught me and pulled me harder.

We finally made it to the trees and he pulled me behind the biggest tree. He put his arms around me and held me tight, just as the guards entered the trees.

Suddenly, Midnight started glowing dark blue. I looked at Jamie in question, but he just shrugged his shoulders.

Four guards spread out and walked right past us.

My jaw dropped and I stared at Midnight in awe.

"Show yourselves! Thieves and runaways shall be punished severely! But, if you come back now, it will be better for you!" the first guard shouted.

"Where did they do?" whispered a second guard.

"They couldn't have gotten that far!" said a third.

"Keep searching!" demanded the first.

For about an hour, I watched as the guards came right up to us and passed us by without seeing us; still holding the baby dragon; in my best friend’s protective arms.

Finally, the guards gave up.

"When we replace them, they will be whipped! growled the first guard, as they all stomped out of the trees.

I waited a full minute before I let my breath out and relaxed.

"Midnight, that was amazing! Thank you for your help!"

"Yeah, good job, little guy!" James said as he scratched the baby dragon's head.

Midnight purred in response to the adoration. I grabbed Jamie by the hand, and we made our way swiftly thought the dark trees.

When we finally made it to the end of the Master's woods, we looked out together.

"Well, this is the beginning of our grand adventure to save the world of magic!" I exclaimed.

"Together!" James added.

And we took our first steps forward into the night.