I wake up for a moment thinking everything that had happened had been a dream, then I look around and see where we are. I look up at Grey, sitting against a tree asleep, with me on his lap sleeping against him. I sigh before getting up.
I look around and sigh before getting dressed and talk to my dragon.
"What are we to do, now? Our home is captured, we are fighting against an army of demons, and we are taking shelter at a sanctuary."
My Dragon didn't say anything, just comforted me as I felt arms wrap around from behind me, and I leaned against Grey. "We should get moving; I'm sure the council has something to say."
"Are you sure? I know it's a lot, and we do need time to think about everything."
I know he's concerned about me, but my responsibility is to my people; I can't just do nothing.
"We aren't doing nothing, but we can't blindly jump in. We don't know what happened-"
"Yes, we do. It was a demon attack." I look back at him.
"But how did they get in? Who's supporting them. Until we know everything, we can't act."
I look up to the sky, annoyed that he was right, and this was probably far bigger than I know.
I sigh and lean against him again, just wanting to forget all this. When I hear something flying above, I look up to see My father coming into land.
As he landed, he changed from Dragon form to human. I walked over to him and hugged him, not saying anything, and he returned it; we stayed there for a bit till he started to talk.
"The Council whats to talk with you, we have a bit of an idea what has happened and are planning what to do next." He sounded stressed and worried, and I understood why.
I looked up and nodded. "But why me? I know as much as anyone." I was confused by this since the council rarely called for me.
"You will understand when you get there; they...have been talking." He sounded annoyed by this, which made me more curious.
I change to my Dragon form and motion for Grey to get on; he does too and takes off with my father, both of us heading to the temple.
As we land, I see people gathered around and royal guards around the temple; it all felt so strange; the temple never was like this before but now. I sigh as Grey gets off, and I change to human form.
"This...isn't right."
I know, but it's what we must do for now since we can't go back, not till the demons are gone." I could hear the loathing in my father's voice.
I sigh and start walking to the temple, guessing that the council is holding court inside; Grey follows, as does my Father.
As we walk, I see the council sat on the floor in front of the statue and around the sigil on the ground.
I sit behind my grandmother, and my Father sits beside me; I can sense Grey sitting behind me as well.
"Now that we are all here, let's proceed with the matter of the special strike force." My grandmother said in the authoritative voice she usually uses when acting as a council member, making both me and my dragon almost instantly listen harder and respect her.
The other council members look up from their papers and nod.
"Since many of our elites are busy on missions outside the kingdom, and those we have left are trying to ascertain the extent of the demon infiltration and the betrail from some nobles. Therefore, we need to form a new group of highly skilled individuals to go and do high stakes missions in the land where safety can not be assured."
The council nods, and I would guess they already discussed this and know who this strike force will be, there only reiterating it for me.
"So I propose that Sendria Elzax lead that strike force, which can consist of forces she chooses but must remain small enough and mobile enough to get into most places undetected.
I was stunned by this, I was barely an adult and got my dragon, and now I will lead a strike force. I look at the faces of the others here and see them all in agreement except my father and Grey. My father seems annoyed by this but isn't saying anything, while Grey looks stunned as well.
Grey stands up and seems ready to speak, but my Grandmother raises her hand. "We know your concern Grey, but this is a decision made as the leaders of the dragon people; you are here as a guest from the Elven lands."
I see him sit down and sigh, I understood his concern, but he couldn't do anything.
"Sendria, please stand." She motions me forward.
I stand beside her, nervous, but I know that it should be fine, right?
"We will leaving you to assemble your team, but be on standby for when we might need to send you."
I nod but still don't understand why I am making a team. I barely am an adult and still have a lot to learn about my powers.
A Guard approaches. "Lords of the council, May, and Delco of the werewolves are ready to meet you."
They nod. "Send them in." My Grandmother then motions for me to sit again. I do and watch May and Delco walk in.
They both give a light bow. "Hello, the council of the dragons; we have come to talk about recent events." Delco said with a very formal voice.
"You do not need to bow, Delco; you are the future alpha king." My Grandmother was very respectful but also seemed to want to say something else.
"We understand that demons have invaded and that now you plan to take back your capital." Delco spoke respectfully, but I knew the council didn't like him talking about it.
"We are aware, and will be sending you back soon so you will both be safe while we are dealing with this." She was respectful, but also, the underlying meaning was that they wanted the werewolves to leave this as a dragon matter.
"We must respectfully decline. We have always been close allies, and a demon threat threatens us all. I will return to the werewolf forest and talk with my father."
Saphire looks to the other council members, and they nod. "Very well, we will wait for Gaius King response, but please be safe."
Delco nods and looks to May. "will you be going with me or staying here?"
"I will be talking to Aaron; I believe he will send support as well, then I will return."
He nods, and they leave; I get up and look to the council. "May I leave as well? I believe I need to get started on my...team."
My grandmother, sapphire, nods, and I leave with Grey.
Once outside, I sigh and look up to the statue of Arca at the top of the temple. "This...I didn't need this, but I guess I need to deal with it."
I feel Grey hug me from behind and lean against him. "Thank you." I go to look at him but then see Retsuko approaching us with May and Dylan. I get out of GRey hug and go over to them.
"Is something up?" Retsuko hugs me as I see Dylan looking annoyed.
"We are going home; I don't want to leave. The mean demons need to be chased away." I sigh and laugh, patting her head.
"You heard in the meeting; we are going back to talk with Gaius and with Aaron; Delco is getting our stuff ready." May was cold again, but I could tell she was worried; maybe this was how she defends herself in times like this.
"I know, and you will be back, hopefully with support. But I right now need to assemble a team because I will apparently be leading a strike force."
This seems to support all of them, not that I was surprised.
"You need to get some good people then." May looks over to Dylan. "You want to be a part of it? Fine, but watch yourself, and don't rely on your powers too much.
I could tell May was worried for him, and she looks at Retusko and shakes her head. "No, you still need more training."
Retsuko pouts, and I pat her head. "Well, thank you, Dylan, I know Grey wants to, so that's two, but I want a few more."
May nods. "Delco might want to join, and so WIll Aaron possibly, but I can't be sure, and when I get back, I can, so that's a good team, and we can move quickly."
"Wait, I..but your all alpha werewolves; I can't do that; you need to lead your people."
I sigh and nod. "Ok, we can talk when your back." I knew that they would all be strong, but they are also all werewolves, and this wasn't their war; they didn't need to do this.
I feel Dylan's hand on my shoulder. "We are here for you and the dragon's Sen; that's why we're doing this; it's because we care."
I look at him. I don't want them to get hurt because of us, but I guess I can't stop them.
"Ok, but try to all stay in one piece." I see May smile a bit, and Delco chuckles.
"We can hold our own, and if Aaron decides to join, then we will be a pretty powerful team." I could tell Delco was trying to cheer me up, but it just reminded me that many werewolves would be in this team...this was a dragon problem, but I am relying on werewolves.
I go with Grey as May, Delco, and Retsuko go to finish getting ready to leave. "Grey...I didn't want this..they could get hurt..o..or." I feel him hug me and cling to him, trying not to cry. "Why does everything have to be like this..why can't I just have a peaceful life?"
"I don't know, but peace rarely comes to those with power, Sendria...my family knows that well."
I knew he was right, but I didn't like it. So I push away from him and take out my wings. "Sendria, wait. What are you doing?" I can hear him trying to stop me, but I take off, flying into the sky and away; I don't know where I just want somewhere away from everyone.
I fond a cliff overlooking the valley and temple and sit there, looking out over the land, holding my knees to my chest. "Why did those stupid demons have to attack? Why must my life be like this? I just want to be home in my bed, relaxing, with Grey." I look up to the sky, wondering why it had to be like this. Was this the thing Grey and May were talking about earlier? Us being betrayed and this happening? I hate it; I hate that there right.
I hear someone waking up behind me, but I don't care. I see Grey out of the corner of my eye sitting next to me. "How did you get up here? I want to be alone."
He doesn't say anything, just sitting there. I look away; I did want to be in his arms, but the fact that he was right about all this...I didn't like it at all, my dragon nor I did, and we didn't want him to think everything was fine.
"It's hard, huh? Your whole life is falling apart and given so much responsibility when you just want to live the life you had before this."
How did he know? Why is he always right? I hate it! I could feel the wind starting to pick up as it got both hot and cold at the same time, but he just laid down, seemingly not caring.
"So you don't like that I am, right? I don't blame you, I didn't want to be right, but here we are. But Sendria, just because all this is happening doesn't mean you need to push others away; we are here for you, and we won't leave."
I don't look at him, knowing that if I do, I would just collapse into his arms.
"So what? I have to stand up for my people, be something they want, regardless of how I feel."
"We do care; it's simply that those with power can't only think of themselves. We can't be selfish."
Was he calling me selfish?! I have always tried to help others, and he was-.
I feel him hug me from behind and pull me against him. "You are one of the most stubborn people I know, but you always wish to help others; you're just scared that things are so dangerous now, and that's ok."
He..but..why..why does he have to be right?
I turn to him and hug him. "You're still a jerk." He was, but he was still mine, always there for me, and that was enough.
"Maybe I am, but I will always be there for you, whether you want me or not."
I could handle that...I think.