Jogging to the outskirts of the camp, I spot a group of birds. Taking the pits out of my apple core, I give them the remainder of flesh. They're peculiar looking little things.

I walk towards the small clearing on the outskirts of camp, not sure what to expect. Yet I still don't think anything could have prepared me for this sight.

I recognise the blue and green dragon from Ezran's speech yesterday. She was adjacent to Pyrrha.

I also recognise the black hair and tall stature.

River.

Has it been 2 days since I last saw him in Katolis? I don't really care at this point, I've just got a schedule I need to follow. "I need that dragon," I call out and he swivels around to see me. The dragon also perks up at my voice, steadying her feet in case I'm a threat.

"(Y/n)? Hey, stranger?" His green eyes shine when the sunlight hits his face. No wonder Dalia is so keen to marry him. "What're you doing here?"

Now that's a tricky question to answer in our short time frame. I shrug my shoulders, "long story." He nods his head, going back to comforting the dragon. "Can I borrow her?"

He chuckles now. "It's Lazuli," she squirms her head and leans closer to me. "You're actually the most useful person I could've run into right now."

Well that's always good to hear. "Kazi told me that she has spotted... people," I don't know how to not put this awkwardly. "So could you possibly point me in the direction of the Sunfire Elf that can communicate with her?"

River exchanged a sheepish look with the dragon and I can't believe what my own mind is thinking. That is, until he says it aloud.

"I can communicate with Lazuli," his smirk isn't a cocky one, but he seems to be embarrassed.

Skies know I don't have time for this.

"You can... what?" I try to hide the shock. He goes to answer again but I interrupt. "And you never told me!?"

The dragon wonders forward slowly, head nudging up and down my body inquisitively. It seems as if she remembers me. "It ain't really something I go telling everyone," he pauses, "she's seen you before."

That is fair reasoning. "I've seen her before," I clarify. Lazuli finishes checking me out and chooses to sit on the shadier side of a nearby tree. "Anyways," I urge, closing the gap between River and I, "I'm just gonna pretend I'm completely fine with that new piece of information," we share a smile, "now what has she seen?"

He pauses, "I am glad you showed up when you did," I wait for him to finish actually answering my question. "I think she said she spotted two people, an elf, and a... a thing.... On this raft going down a river."

That flow of water must lead to the sea.

"Okay, River, I really need this dragon to take me there," I think about my plan from what Kazi told me, "then to another place... then I need a boat... But that's not your concern. "

He squints his eyes at me suspiciously, truly taking his time to ponder my words. However I hope River realises that I'm not asking. Just as I'm about to say something else, he brings two fingers to his mouth and whistles loudly. "Come here, girl." He stares at me, giving an almost unnoticeable nod in the dragon's direction.

I take it as permission to walk over to Lazuli, saying her name softly a couple times. She seems to feel comfortable with my presence which is what I want if she's gonna take me to Claudia and Viren. Stroking a hand along her back, I ponder if I have everything. Digested an apple - check. Dagger and sword - check, check. Seems pretty good. I mount Lazuli carefully, finding comfort in the most stable crook of her neck. I stroke her scales. "Let's go, girl."

River's voice pops up, "oh, I'm coming with you."

Lazuli flicks her head to look at him, then her neck turns to look at me. "Uh," I don't really know what to say - which is annoyingly happening a lot lately. I just thought I'd find transportation and do this alone.

"Cmon, (Y/n), don't be stubborn on this." River steps towards Lazuli and her head goes instinctively to his hand. "I know you don't need me," good, he's not completely delusional. "But even you have to admit, it would be helpful to have company as well as someone who can communicate with Lazuli," I go to protest, "on another level." The dragon, River, and I exchange prolonged looks. "If you say no, I'll walk away," he concludes.

Would having two of us increase the changes of success?

Friendship can be a weakness or a strength depending one the situation.

I just want to find Soren.

But I don't say that aloud.

Obviously stopping Viren and Claudia from freeing Aaravos is a priority. Or simply finding his magical prison before them.

However, seeing my friends again and ensuring they're alright is a must.

"I'm sitting in the front."

He understands the permission immediately and looks thankful. "Do you have any food or water?" Now I do feel dumb. My silence is enough for him to start heading towards town. "I'll meet you on the North side in ten minutes," he calls, starting to jog back into the camp.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thankfully, River did grab some water and food for us. 

Now Lazuli is taking us along the river to where she saw the people. Plus, if the information that my friend relayed to me is true, then the description matches who we are looking for.

Sure enough, after 2 hours of catching up talk, we spot a raft going down the stream. I'll admit, it's beautiful. There's flowers and vines woven into it for shade. Claudia's little play thing of a boyfriend must be the elf with them. Upon closer inspection, I can see the figures better.

It is them.

"Okay, game plan?" Lazuli circles back a bit to make sure they don't see us. She glides against the breeze to minimise the flapping of her wings. "We need to take them off of this course."

Neither dragon nor man replies to my hushed words. River's finger's glide smoothly along her scales. "How do you feel about getting a little wet?" He says.

"I'm due for another shower," is all I reply with.

Lazuli swoops down back into the current, and the feeling of water in my boots is more than slightly unenjoyable. She submerges herself to her neck, and therefore River and I's entirely bodies are underwater. Good thing the fruits and vegetables are all fine in the fresh stream.

When we get close enough, Lazuli emerges and I hear shouts come from the front of the raft. She sends an onslaught of water against the boat - sending it hard against a rock on the shoreline. The raft smashes into pieces, all of which float mournfully down the river. I watch as Claudia, Terry, Viren and that creature, seek refuge behind some boulder at the tree line.

However something is off.

Viren seems unresponsive.

They stay behind the rocks and Lazuli roars in outrage. I pet her side and hop off. My armour shiny and wet, the ends of my hair soaked. I motion at River to stay on the dragon, and for the dragon to stay put.

"Claudia, don't!" The worry in Terry's voice makes me somewhat unnerved. My feeling is quickly replaced with confusion. If he knows how bad she is, why does he stay with them?

"(Y/n)," my name is more a sneer than anything else. She walks towards me with that fucking black sun staffed raised. Lazuli roars again but I extend an arm to stop her. Then Claudia screams back at the dragon. Animalistically barbaric.

"Claudia let's not be inhumane," I chuckle, knowing full well that's the definition of what she has now become.

"Where's my brother?" She sounds genuinely interested until her gaze flicks beyond Lazuli to where River sits. "I recognise that guy, why did you bring him here?"I see that his sword is in his grasp as a precaution. "Wait," Claudia points her staff at me. "Why are you here!?"

"To stop you," I scorn as if it's obvious.

This girl doesn't hesitate. She strikes at me, but I bring up my sword to block it. She may have dark magic fueled by rage, but she's never been trained in combat like I have. It takes 3 simple steps to disarm her. I feel like yelling down, "never attack when full of hatred, dumbass."

I kick the staff away from her reach, my weapon still raised. She cries out as if I've stolen a lollipop from a spoiled baby. Then Claudia stares me dead in the eye, Terry says something to her but she doesn't listen. "You care about others more than yourself, (Y/n)," she drawls. "I've always admired that about you."

"I think it's a bit late for compliments," I state, not knowing what to prepare for.

Her smirk is absolutely vile. River says my name in some sort of worried tone. Lazuli plants her feet behind me. I try to give the dragon a look that says wait but she doesn't listen. A strike a water exists Lazuli's mouth, heading straight towards Claudia.

But as her eyes go back, and purple mist forms around her, I know this isn't good.

The water blast bends to Claudia's will. Before I know it, she fires back ice.

I shard hits me in across the left side of my face. I can feel the blood start to drip. But Claudia is right - I'm more worried to see Lazuli and River's bodies are encapsulated by the frozen substance. River is merely stuck, but a shard of ice is aiming directly at the dragon's throat. She whimpers fearfully, trying to struggle out of the cold embrace.

Terry looks just as stressed out as I am.

"All through history, dragons have had the power while humans lived in fear," Claudia spits. "Well... times are changing." I can tell the grip of ice is tightening on my two friends as they start attempt to fight the frost.

"Oh stop it," I scowl, annoyance laced my tone more than anxiety. It helps focus her attention on myself nonetheless. "Claudia what is your goal here?" She knows I'm talking about more than this moment. Their whole plan. "To destroy to world?"

She laughs exaggeratedly. "To save my father," she shakes the unhappy thought from her head, regaining built up anger. "AND YOU'RE HERE, (Y/N), TO KILL MY FATHER!"

"He killed mine," I snap. The plan here was not to murder them, even though they have killed so many. I'd consider it a win even if I could delay them. Make them walk for a bit. It's at-least a 2 week trek from here to the sea. Then I could reach my other friends at Scumport, and tell them what we know.

The spike inches nearer to Lazuli's neck.

"Claudia when does this cycle of violence end!?" She doesn't reply.

Terry jumps over the rocks. Unexpectedly, he stands next to me. "Clauds you don't have to do this!" he pleads. The old nickname of hers sounds peculiar on his tongue.

Finally her eyes return to their normal green. "Wait," she steps closer to me, so I shift the sword, reminding her it's there. She stops, but doesn't release her hold on Lazuli and River. "You could save him."

Out of everything she could have said, this didn't come to mind.

"No." I'm ashamed to say that the word comes out as an unsure mumble. "No," I repeat more confidently shaking my head.

She scoffs, "(Y/n) I thought you believed in forgiveness... in mercy."

"I believe in justice," the words are like a growl. For everything Viren has done, from my parents, to Soren - I can't save the man just like that.

"Claudia let them go," Terry shouts then urges me in a whisper, "just leave."

I look at the painful expressions across River and Lazuli's face, then to Claudia. The ice starts to crumble, and the dragon backs away slowly with her freedom. Afraid.

"(Y/n) if I see you two and that winged beast again, I'll shoot you all out of the sky," she makes very clear.

Before turning, I whisper to Terry so his girlfriend can't hear, "please delay yourselves. Do what you know is right for Xadia."

River extends an arm for me to re-mount Lazuli. He's shivering but otherwise unharmed. I listen to Claudia shout at her father it was time to leave.  I believe we should be departing also, but a feeble name sound is carried by the wind.

"(Y/n)."

I've never heard Viren's voice so gentle. "Please, tell Soren..." he seems so weak, "please tell my son... that I'm sorry." His eyes are cold and empty as they look at me. It's as if he's not even present here at all. Claudia seems starstruck. He probabaly hasn't been talking recently. "Tell Soren that I love him." He's delirious.

River is so incredibly silent sitting behind me.
"Let's go," I tap Lazuli's shoulder. Viren's blank stare darkens a little. But when I give him a small, sure nod, a hopeful look of bliss crosses his face.

I feel... sympathy... for a man I wished dead.

I need to find Soren.

~~~