I was the first to wake up, and looked around sleepily.
Next to me laid Lisa, and also the rest of the Moon Lake cave had filled up abundantly. Hardly a nest was still free, and everywhere were sleeping dragons.
In all colors and sizes they laid peacefully there.
Even though I knew they probably wouldn't harm me, I still got goose bumps.
I remembered what had happened last night, but when I looked at the nest where Ryan had been sleeping, it was empty.
He had looked pretty hurt after Lisa bitched at him.
Maybe that's why he changed nests?
Slowly, I sat up as an ear-splitting roar filled the entire sleeping cave.
All at once all the dragons were on their feet, including Lisa.
Panicked, I looked up at her and our eyes met.
"What was that?!"
I asked in a shaky voice.
Instead of answering me, she stretched out her wing and gently pushed me onto her back.
Dead silence now seemed to reign throughout the cave.
"Just stay calm, I'm not going to let anything happen to you, understand?"
Lisa's voice seemed uncertain as she whispered this to me.
I could only answer with a quiet
"Okay."
I was still shaking like crazy and didn't know what to do about it.
From the corridor leading to the main cave only Ryan appeared, looking quite serious.
In a strong voice he started talking.
"Don't waste any time, get the young dragons to safety! The elders and pregnant dragons as well. Flee to a safe place! Viti's warriors have entered the Moon Lake Cave!"
It took less than two seconds for the dragons to start evacuating.
They rushed to a corner and dug a hole in the ground there, which must lead to a secret passage.
One by one, the dragons then disappeared into this tunnel.
But what do we do now?
Lisa did not move an inch.
Ryan quickly came to us.
"The smartest thing would be to send her with the others, we need them here now Lisa!"
Again smoke rose from Lisa's nose.
"I can't leave her alone, the others would just trample on her!"
This time smoke also rose from Ryan's big nostrils.
"Either she escapes too, or she fights along! Mineva is just about holding the warriors at the entrance, but they're almost inside the cave!!!"
With a determined look, Lisa turned away. "Alright!"
At first I thought she would spread her wing like a slide and I would escape with the other dragons, but she didn't.
"I'll take Kay to the herb cave, she still has a tucked up ankle and should finally get some treatment now!"
Ryan was about to object, but let it go after one look into Lisa's serious looking eyes. Adrenaline shot through my veins.
"Kay, listen to me carefully now okay! I need you to hide these by Mineva's nest as soon as you get to the herb cave. Mineva won't fight with you, she's a healer and she's not allowed to, until she really has to, plus she has to take care of Arma too, she's ready to have her baby."
Without saying a word I just agreed with Lisa. Out of the passage that led to the sleeping cave, we scurried along the wall.
There was no one in the cave, only loud grunting and heavy footsteps could be heard coming from the main entrance.
After a short time, Lisa scurried into the herb cave.
At the triangular entrance to Mineva's nest, she gently pushed me off her back and motioned for me to go inside.
She also went to Arma, and helped her get to her feet.
First they went to the small spring in the middle of the small cave and both drank from it.
Then Lisa helped Arma to get into the cave where Mineva had her nest.
She laid down exhausted on the nest, and one could see very well on her swollen belly that she will soon give birth.
I gently stroked the bridge of Arma's nose to relax her.
She was scared too, I thought.
Lisa gave us both a last look and then disappeared.
Arma seemed really exhausted, yet she looked at me lovingly.
"You don't have to be afraid child. The dragon warriors are strictly forbidden to enter the healer's nest. Nothing will happen to us."
I had to smile.
Those are the words of a mother, and it reminded me a bit of my own.
I really missed her.
Carefully, I sat down in front of Arma's nose and started stroking her.
Her contractions started and she kept wincing.
"You have to wait just a littlewhile longer. I'm sure Mineva will be here soon."
But I wondered, do dragons lay eggs?
Or do they give birth like us humans?
I guess that question will be answered for me soon.
Fortunately, Mineva came in the next moment.
With her eyes she told me to sit against the wall and make room.
I obeyed, and watched her in the darkness as she turned Arma on her side.
The Dragons breathing quickened, and she began to moan painfully.
I had to cover my eyes.
I don't know how much time passed, but the small cave became quiet for a moment until something started crying.
I finally dared to take my hands from my eyes again, and next to Arma laid a cute little dragon.
You could barely make out the young one's light brown scales.
But it was so incredibly cute.
Mineva walked out of her sleeping cave to make room for the two.
I followed her and sat down on a nest as well. Although Mineva looked pretty exhausted, she took some herbs out of the big slits in the wall and put them on the ground.
Then she changed back into her human form and came to me.
Quickly and skillfully, she tended to my ankle. "You should rest for a few days and your ankle will be completely healed."
I inspected the bandage on my leg, which consisted of a few large leaves.
"Thank you Mineva."
I smiled at her, but only now did I hear the loud roar coming from the Moon Lake cave. What was going on out there!