I looked at them out front of the temple with me. We were all ready, our supplies packed, antidote and amulets ready, so hopefully we could make it safely. I looked at the map Valko had given me, it marked safe and dangerous areas in the forest with our objective marker out from the other dangerous areas.
"Ok, Dylan you can take us most of the way, but we'll need to walk the rest since he's never been there."
They would nod, we had gone over this while planning the path we would take, and Dylan marked on the map where we would appear as well. I walk up to Dylan and put a hand on his shoulder. He holds Retsuko's hand as the rest of them follow me so he could teleport us more easily.
Away we went, the familiar but unsettling feeling of my body changing, becoming energy before reforming elsewhere, I had closed my eyes to not get at much vertigo, but the altitude and footing change still almost made me sick, but as I look I see Retsuko and May we're just fine, but Grey and Delco looked a bit sick, it seemed I was right, his siblings had the same immunity to his teleportation side-effect.
"May, please scope the area with Dylan while the rest of us get over the side effect, we will head out at ten."
She mods and they walk off in different directions as Retsuko keeps a vigil, the rest of us needed a few moments to recover our senses and make sure we would be on our game for the journey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After five minutes May and Dylan had returned and we double-checked our position and the sun, planning where we would stop before we head off, May upfront with Delco and Dylan in the back, and Gray and I were on either side of Retsuko by May's request.
The journey was uneventful till we hit the edge of the dark woods, the change was definite, the lush green forest stopped and an almost swamp-like forest started.
"We set camp here then go in when the sun rises so we make as much distance as possible, we will sleep in shifts as we agreed, I will be up first, then Delco, the May, then grey, and finally Dylan, any objections?"
Retsuko raised her hand. "What about me?"
"Well we only need eight hours of sleep, so May and Dylan said you didn't need to be woken up."
She rolled her eyes but didn't complain, though I knew what she was thinking, still I was going to follow May and Dylan's requests.
I open the pocket space and take out our tents and cooking supplies. "Who wants to go hunting?"
Retsuko raises her hand, I glance at May who nods. "Ok Suko, just don't go into the dark forest, we don't need you stirring things up."
"I'll be safe" she changes to wolf and looks ready to run off before May puts a hand on her shoulder.
"We aren't worrying about you, it's more that it might make the journey harder."
She nods before running off.
May looks at me and sighs. "Why is she so difficult?"
"It's because you hold her back, and she doesn't like that, she's a free spirit"
I knew what she meant but I could see Retsuko's side too. May wanted her safe, but Retsuko wanted to be free and see the world, reminding me of myself a bit, with my father.
"She can be dangerous to herself or others, she needs training."
She said like it was obvious, I understood but I also knew how suffocating it could be, and my dragon felt almost offended by that.
"I understand, but dragons are dangerous, vampires are, and many races can be dangerous, but that doesn't mean she needs to be restrained so much, or she will just possibly run off."
The look into May's eyes told me that was what she feared, I understood why, but they are family, and she needed to trust Suko.
I feel Dylan's hand On my shoulder and he shakes his head. I know why and help him set up the tents as May goes around the perimeter with Delco, and Grey sets up the fire and cooking supplies.
"Dylan, I know you recently met your sisters, but I think after this is all over, it might be good to take Suko on one of your adventures, train her and let her explore, so she can be herself."
He nodded and chuckled. "I plan to, I just know that this will be a touchy subject with her, but I hope our missions can help show her that Retsuko is very strong, just needs training as you said."
Once we are set up and Suko returns, I see Dylan pull Retsuko aside and talk to her, I go to sit by Grey.
"It feels like this team is more than just a good group to do missions that others can't do.."
Grey nods and puts a hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer so I rest my head on his shoulder and watch the fire.
"In my opinion, after seeing all the politics of my people and watching the dragon families, I think it's a message as well.
" What for? We are a group that is loosely connected but while powerful, we might get in the way."
"That's why this first one is relatively easy..we can quickly get away if needed, but we also have some danger to get through and learning to do."
I sat with him for a while, sighing and watching the forest and the fire.
"I hope things go well, I know what this first can be like and it isn't that nice, even in the less dangerous areas, after all, even before the great war it was considered dangerous to anyone not well prepared, and how, even if you are, it might be."
"We'll be fine Sen, we are a good and powerful team, and able to get out quickly if we need to." He rubs my shoulder as I see Dylan and May talking heatedly, I knew what it was about.
"We can still get hurt, and we have so many things to work through to be a good team..my father spends weeks helping new members get used to the elites, and often the others can help the person. They are established and know what they do, we are a new rusher group."
"You really think they rushed this? You're talking about one of the most influential and respected groups in this world. The dragon council."
I sigh, he was right, they know what they're doing, but how am I supposed to lead these people when we are all as strong and capable as each other?
Dylan came back and sat by us, seeming annoyed by his debate with May, who was now off at the edge of the woods.
"I am guessing you both talked about Retsuko?" I knew it was obvious but I still wanted to talk with him, I knew he'd want to talk as he always did.
"Yeah, she thinks she can keep Retsuko safe and close, but suky can go wherever she wants, she can teleport like I can, nothing can stop her." I could hear how annoyed he was.
"Well she just needs to learn, after all, it's been safe where they grew up, and now that Retsuko is seeing more of the world, she'll want to see more, just like you did."
"I know, and I'm trying to get May to see."
"But she's as stubborn as you can be huh? Think it runs in the family." He looked like he wanted to argue, but stopped himself and shook his head chuckling.
"I guess you're right, I just hope Delco can get her to see it."
After a while, Retsuko and May joined us. They had a bear with her, I looked surprised for a moment, looking at Gret who shrugs. I know I can fight one, but normally need my dragon form or magic to do it without getting hurt, but Retsuko seemed just fine, covered in blood but fine. May goes up and starts to skin and gut the bear, prepping it.
"Well our food is taken care of for a few nights"
Retsuko seemed pleased as Delco helped May finish prepping the bear, getting enough food for tonight and studying everything else, careful with the hide.
I have Suko sit by me and pet her, seeing her tail go.
"Didn't give you any trouble huh? Just took the bear out like it was nothing."
She nodded. "I saw it and knew it would be great for us to have."
I nod, happy she was able to help and feel proud, knowing I would need to help May see how good Retsuko can be on her own, though Dylan might be able to take her and train her, maybe it can help give May confidence.
Once Delco was cooking the meat and May was putting away the last of the bear, I went over to her and waited for her to finish.
"I know you talked to Dylan, and told him that Retsuko should..be allowed to do whatever she wants."
"That's not it, you need to let her live her life, or she'll just leave you, she's more of a free spirit than anyone I know."
"And she's more dangerous than anyone else! To herself most of all, I can't lose her."
"If you keep this up, you will, and it will be your own doing."
She glared at me and growled, my dragon senses a challenge and I growled back, I could feel my dragon trying to take control.
"Don't do this May, not here, not now."
We growled at each other for a few moments before she looked away and stormed off.
Once she was out of sight I sighed, this was harder than I thought, but how am I supposed to talk to her, how do I get her to understand?
Grey came up before long as the meat was ready. "Hey Sen, are you ok to eat?"
"I'm not sure how I feel, I mean, what should I do? I can see how this might go."
"We just deal with it as it happens, you have all of us to help, we can talk together." I felt him hug me from behind, I leaned into him.
"How do you do it?"
"Elven politics are far worse than an overprotective sister." He chuckles.
"True.. let's go eat." I go to the fire with him. I sat with the others, I could feel May glaring at me but didn't look at her, I didn't want to argue more.
As we finish our dinner I go to my tent but feel Grey hand on my shoulder, I put my hand on his. "Want to sleep with me again?"
"I think you need company tonight." His voice was comforting but I could tell he also wanted to just be with me. It made me and my dragon happy, so we decided to reward him.
"How about we skip the tent?" I change to my dragon firm, easily as big as an elephant, then curl up and let him rest against my side, I saw him laugh and do that as I cover him with my being, my tail on his lap as I put my head at his feet, knowing my form will also keep normal predators away from the rest.
As I drift off, I go into a dream again, it was a lake, the one at the temple, with the same radiant woman by it, but I was in my dragon form and approached her, starting to suspect what she might be, but it can't be her, even oracles rarely talk with gods, so I shouldn't be having these many visits.
"You are suspicious now hmm? I do not blame you as it does make sense, but you must have conviction in your words, in your actions while relying on those that are by you, those that want to help, even if they stent always agree with you, they should be heard and understood, you can ask your father of grandmother, they understand better then any."
I knew what she said was right, but how can I do any better? I'm doing everything I can and we haven't started, why do I need this talk?
"You should guard your mine better, though it doesn't work on me anyways, and you will see why, as I need to say these things before it matters, what use is it after?"
She had a point, but how could she know what would happen?
I hear her laugh, a soft gentle laugh that seemed amused.
"Many things can, I mean you're going to see him, a person that could change everything in the war, and he's not the most important player."
Who was she talking about? More important than skia? But as I wondered, the scene shifted.