Skylar's eyes blinked open to find that it was still dark out. She glanced over at the blanket-covered form of Percy, whose breathing was still slow and steady. Still asleep then. She lifted her head to peer over her hip at Orion, who laid on his back with his hands folded neatly on his chest. His broad chest also rose and fell at a steady rate. The horses were also calm and dozing in a close huddle. What had woken her up?

As she sat up to ponder this, the reason quickly became known to her. Her full bladder balked at being folded into a sitting position and she gasped at the sensation. Well, that explained her sudden awakeness, although she would much rather be sleeping. Where was she supposed to go to the bathroom, she wondered. Not in the woods certainly. Princesses did not relieve themselves in the woods.

Her bladder was far too insistent for her to argue much longer, and there would be no holding it until they could stop somewhere that had a civilized toilet.

"Well, fine then," she hissed, shoving to her feet and picking her way into the surrounding trees to find a somewhat hidden spot.

"I can't believe I'm being forced to pee in the woods like some animal," she growled softly as she held her bodice against her chest. It was still untied and therefore threatening to fall away from her, leaving her in nothing but her shift. She continued a little further into the forest until she encountered a somewhat sheltered spot, though it was still far too out in the open for her liking. But, nature calls and there would be no ignoring it any longer.

Skylar very unceremoniously gathered her lovely, if ruined, skirts around her waist as she squatted and relieved the pressure in her bladder. She'd never felt more filthy in her life. As she rose, she vowed never to speak of that experience again. She needed to wash, just needed to wash. She'd feel better if she could at least wipe her face of dirt and dried tears.

Her ears quickly caught the sound of a stream not far away and without a second thought, she continued her march away from the small camp where her captors slept peacefully. They'd never know she was gone. Her dragon was very aware of the activity and was ready to retaliate if Skylar even thought about running. She didn't plan on it, but the dragon didn't trust her wishy-washy human side. Skylar could change her mind at any time and try to take them away from the dragons. All Skylar really wanted was to wash her face, and she knew that Orion and Percy would track her down if she ran. She wasn't particularly keen to encounter Orion when he was really angry. He was frightening enough when he was simply irritated.

The little stream ran toward the woods towards what was likely a lake. It was only about two yards wide and perhaps a yard deep, but it would serve Skylar just fine. She knelt beside it and dunked her filthy hands into the cold water, scrubbing them raw. Oh, her poor, beautiful hands. Her wrists were rubbed raw from her bindings and her palms were scratched and filthy from when Draco's men had tackled her and she threw them in front of her to catch her fall. The cool water stung the small cuts, but was soothing nonetheless.

Skylar lifted a handful of water and splashed it to her face, rubbing gently to remove the dirt and grime that had accumulated. Even her dragon was calmer after the simple preening ritual. Dragons were somewhat vain creatures, and Skylar's dragon liked her human to look as presentable as possible. Skylar snorted at her dragon and bent down to peer at her reflection. The flowing water distorted it, but she could see herself well enough. And she truly was a mess. Her hair was wild from sleep and general activity of the night. Sky pulled the fancy pin from her hair and let it fall around her shoulders in a cloud of red curls. She fluffed the mass of locks flirtatiously at her reflection before pinning some of it back with the bejeweled pin. She then perched on a flat rock that lined the shore and lifted the silk hem of her skirt.

Perhaps she could clean it? It was torn and frayed, but that didn't mean it wasn't salvageable, did it? She knew enough about sewing to do it as a hobby, but she didn't think silk could be mended by sewing it back together. Oh, Greta would be crushed that the lovely gown had been ruined by a bunch of barbarians.

Skylar kicked her slippers off and rubbed her sore feet. They weren't used to so much running, especially in the forest, and they'd never really gotten a chance to relax after dancing all night. She stuck them in the cool water and almost moaned at how good it felt. "Ah, there we go," she grinned and kicked them back and forth slightly. A bath would feel so good, cold or otherwise, and she was almost tempted to shed her dress and jump into the stream. She was actually about to when a heavy hand landed on her shoulder.

"What do you think you're doing?" Orion demanded angrily. His gold eyes were hard with irritation and suspicion as he spun her around to glare at her. Skylar squeaked in surprise at his sudden appearance; she'd never even heard him approaching.

She was too surprised to answer, and her silence increased his anger.

"I warned you not to run off," he snarled, baring his impressive teeth at her. "And yet, I wake up and you're gone!" His nostrils flared in his barely controlled anger. He was an imposing man, and his emotions rolled off him in strong, nearly palpable waves. He was a man used to being obeyed, just as Skylar wasn't used to obeying. She never had to ask when she wanted to go somewhere, she simply went. The assumption that he was in charge of her irritated her and her dragon, fond as the beast was of their captor's strength and powerful aura.

"I needed to pee," she growled. "And then I wanted to wash up. I felt disgusting, and I heard the stream. I wasn't going any further than that."

"You didn't tell me you were leaving," Orion responded slowly. She pulled his tight grip away from her shoulder and eyed him evenly.

"You were asleep, and so was Percy. I didn't want to disturb you simply because you think I need a chaperone. Besides, earlier you were quite upset you were following me around the woods instead of sleeping. I thought I was doing you a favor." In all honesty, it had never even occurred to her to wake him, but he didn't need to know that.

Orion relaxed slightly as he realized she hadn't meant to run off, that she was still safe under his control. "Well, just let me know next time, I guess." He sat on the rock next to her and rubbed his eyes before laying back to stare up at the stars.

"You can go back now, I'm not going anywhere, I promise," Skylar told him, scooting away from him slightly on the rock. She nearly toppled off the side, but she didn't want to accidentally touch him.

He shrugged but never looked at her. "Consider it me keeping you company rather than chaperoning, if you wish. I'm not going anywhere."

She resisted the urge to bare her teeth at him and instead simply ignored the nuisance of a man; he was about as pliable as the rock they sat on and she wouldn't be able to make him go anywhere he didn't want to. She went back to kicking her feet in the stream and periodically leaned down to scoop some of the cool water up to run up her arms or legs or the back of her neck. She would have preferred a hot bath with her lavender scented soaps but this was better than nothing.

Orion was silent next to her, letting her wash in peace. He would shift every now and then, but other than that he didn't move. Out of the corner of her eye she could see his long legs hanging off the side of the rock, his booted feet planted on the ground. She wondered what he was even thinking about. What occupied the dragon's thoughts? Who was he among his people? Was he as curious about her as she was about him? Was he even conscious? She was about to check if he'd fallen asleep when his rumbling voice cut through the quiet night.

"Why?"

She rotated to look down at him, but he was still staring up at the sky. There were no trees above the stream, so the stars were easily visible from their position. His impressive profile was illuminated by the silver light of the moon. The strong cheek bones, square chin, and acquiline nose were prominent against the black backdrop of the trees. Her dragon was rather fond of the view, and Skylar couldn't disagree. As much as she really didn't like him, she couldn't deny that he was a good looking man. She didn't think he was as handsome as her sweet Jonathan, who was lovely in an elegant, noble way with softer, clean features. Orion had a more rugged look about him, with his hard cut features and perpetually fierce expression.

"Why what?"

His gaze flicked to her, but didn't linger. "Why suppress your dragon?"

The words "because she's a monster" were ready to fire, but Skylar hesitated. Yes, her dragon was a beast and made Skylar's life far more difficult than it needed to be, but was she truly a monster? After being away from the castle for the last few hours, and experiencing the animal's protectiveness towards her, she thought perhaps she wasn't quite as terrible as everyone made her out to be. She'd definitely been easier to handle since they'd left the castle.

She gave the most honest answer she could. "It's the only way I know."

Skylar turned back to the water and splashed her toes quietly, pondering. She remembered very clearly listening to her parents tell her she mustn't shift or she would be killed. She remembered those first few days when the dragon inside of her begged to be free, even escaped a few times, and that was when she'd forced it into a cage. It hadn't been hostile when they were young, simply eager to experience the world. She'd only turned hostile when Skylar locked her up. Skylar figured that she might have turned bitter as well, if she'd been locked up against her will.

"You parents told you to then," Orion deduced. There was no judgement, simply a matter-of-fact tone. "They were convinced you'd hurt someone."

"I think so, yes. And I was only six, I didn't know any better. They were my mom and dad, I trusted that they knew best."

"Do you still think it was best?"

"I think my life would have been easier and more pleasant up to this point."

Orion said nothing, simply stared up at the sky. He tapped his fingers on his muscular chest in thought, his mane of dark hair spread about his head. Skylar counted five breaths before she decided he didn't intend on answering.

"What do you care, anyway?" Skylar asked. "Why would you care, 'why'?"

He shrugged. "Simply trying to understand so that when I help you set her free it's safer for everyone. It would seem that you locked her up for selfish reasons, for what she could potentially do, not anything that she actually did. She's never done anything to prove she was a danger." Once again, he never looked at her. His nonchalance about the whole situation was infuriating. This was her life, and he thought he could bend it as he liked.

He sensed her anger, she didn't even need to say anything. Her defensive snarl was enough. He sighed and sat up, holding his hands out in surrender. "I didn't mean anything by that, not much anyway. I was simply stating a fact. Was I wrong?"

He had her there. "No," she ground out through clenched teeth. "But hiding her was better than being killed for someone discovering what I am."

"Did it ever occur to you that it would be easier to hide if you understood her, learned to live in harmony with her?" A dark eyebrow arched in question.

Once again, he had a point. "Obviously not."

At her admission, a corner of his mouth turned up in amusement. "Well," he climbed off the rock, "I suppose it isn't too late to change that, if she's as sane as you say she is." He held out his large hand to help her to her feet. She took it reluctantly, not surprised to find it rough with work. What she did find intriguing was the gentleness of his grasp, despite the strength she could feel residing inside him. She released his hand as soon as she was upright, wary of the way his warm touch brought her dragon to rapt attention and the immense pleasure she sensed from the beast. She was perhaps too fond of this stranger.

Skylar clutched her bodice tightly to her chest, and knew that she'd never be able to tie it on her own. And she wasn't about to ask Orion for his help. Fortunately, he noticed her struggles on his own. Without a word, he moved behind her and began the laborious task of retying her laces. His fingers were light and he didn't fumble as much as she would have expected. He didn't tie them tight, just enough to hold the bodice in place, but she was grateful nonetheless.

"Thank you," she told him quietly.

He shrugged his broad shoulders and ran a hand through his shaggy hair. "It's no trouble."

He turned began walking back toward the camp. "We can still get a few more hours sleep, and I suggest that you do. When we get back to the clan, you likely won't have much time to rest."

"How long will it take to get there?" She hoped it wasn't more than a few days; she'd rather not be out in the open when the full moon forced the shift on her.

"On horseback it would be about two weeks," Orion estimated. "But we'll only have about a day of riding, and then we'll fly. We'll be home in time for the full moon."

"Fly?" Skylar squeaked.

"It's the fastest way home."

"I've never flown before," she admitted softly.

"I guessed as much. You won't have to fly tomorrow, and I'd rather not force you to shift and then immediately put you in the air. We'll work up to shifting, as I don't think either you or your dragon are ready for it. I'll give you a ride," he stated casually. She appreciated the fact that he wasn't as hostile about her relationship with her dragon as he had been earlier. Perhaps Percy had been right; Orion had just been tired. A few hours sleep had done him good. She followed him through the woods, her eyes focused on the broad expanse of white shirt that stretched across his back. It was slightly dusty from him laying on the ground and then on the rock and she fought the urge to brush it off.

"How long have you been away from home?" Skylar asked to fill the silence.

"Too long," he said shortly. "But almost exactly a month. We left right after the last full moon. We wouldn't be going home if we hadn't found you."

She supposed she'd be wanting to get home quickly as well, if she'd been gone that long. And, by the looks of things, she would be gone at least that long. Orion didn't seem keen to let her go anywhere any time soon, especially since he was intent on setting her dragon free.

She wondered what they'd been searching for, why they'd been gone so long. She recalled Percy saying something about missing dragons, but they obviously hadn't known she existed. She was simply an excuse to abandon their current search. Was it possible for dragons to go missing? Why were they so important that they deserved two obviously high-ranking men to hunt them down?

A sudden crashing came through the forest, causing Skylar to jump closer to Orion, who had tensed slightly. His fists clenched and his nostrils flared as he scented the air. Skylar self-consciously copied him, feeling silly, but she made herself do it. She supposed she might as well try to learn from him; it would at least keep her on his good side.

Her sensitive nose was bombarded with the different smells of the forest, but she immediately smelled Percy, whose scent was getting stronger and stronger. It was about half a second after that that he burst through the trees. His chest heaved from his sprint as he pointed behind him. "They're coming. Horses, this way. A lot of them," Percy gasped. "They found the abandoned carriage. Knights, from the sound of it."

Orion looked down at Skylar and then back up at his friend. "Can we outrun them?"

Percy shook his head. "Our horses aren't ready to go, and it's a very straight stretch of road. They'll see us, and they'll see her. They won't stop."

Orion nodded thoughtfully. Skylar was amazed at how calm he still was, especially since Percy seemed shaken. She wondered how many knights had been sent after her, likely all of them, and if Jonathan were among them. Whoever was looking for her was so close, perhaps-

"Don't even think about it," Orion snarled, snatching her up into his arms, so she was once again cradled against his chest. She was too surprised to fight him, she only yelped in shock. Her dragon admired his strength, and the fact that he was detaining Skylar and keeping her from running back into the arms of the humans. "Your face gives every one of your thoughts away."

He dismissed her then. "Is there anything in our saddlebags that we need or will give us away if they find it?"

Percy shook his head. "Not if we head home right now."

"It's risky, exposing our presence like that."

"They'll find us for sure if we don't," Percy pointed out.

Orion nodded in agreement. "Let's go then." He looked down at Skylar, and opened his wide mouth as if he were about to say something, but then apparently decided against it. He simply took off further into the woods, Skylar clutched tightly against him. Percy was close on their heels, and both men kept glancing over their shoulders. Skylar tried listening for the knights, but she couldn't pick out anything obvious. Of course, she didn't know what she was listening for. All she could hear were the shockingly quiet footsteps of her companions and the sounds of animals moving away from them. She focused on the footsteps, confused about their near silence despite the fact that they were sprinting through the forest. They should have been landing on dried leaves and twigs, but they avoided them with what appeared to be ease.

Skylar was jostled around in Orion's iron grip, but it was preferable to trying to keep up with them. She'd had enough of trekking through the forest to last her a long time. She wrapped her arms around Orion's neck and simply allowed him to carry her. Where they were running to, she had no idea. At least, she had no idea until they came to the clearing created by the lake. Both men slowed and Orion set Skylar on her feet. He grasped her shoulders and caught her gaze.

"I'm going to warn you now, we're going to shift," he told her slowly, but also slightly rushed. He looked over his shoulder, as if expecting the knights to come bursting through the tree line at any moment. "And we're going to fly. When I shift, climb onto my back. I will carry you in my paws if I must, but I'd rather not."

She blinked at him, but nodded slowly. She was about to encounter her first dragon, her first real dragon, and she really didn't know what to expect.

Percy shifted first. It was quick and appeared easy for him. One moment he was a man, and in one fluid motion he grew into a beast. The dragon was huge, she would have fit neatly in his paw, and he was menacing. Spikes grew out from his jaw bone and lined his spine. His silver scales matched the rays of the moon almost perfectly as he shook his body and opened his wings. The dragon paid her very little attention as he leaped into the air and took off. Her eyes followed him nervously, she still wasn't sure about dragons, when Orion stepped away from her.

When the shift came upon him, it was much different from Percy. It still appeared easy, and it happened in one fluid motion, but the word Skylar would have used to describe it was graceful. Orion shifted forms as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As he allowed his dragon to emerge, it stepped forward with all the arrogance and bulk of the man who shared his soul. Skylar would have known the dragon was Orion even if she hadn't seen them trade places only moment ago. The golden dragon held himself in the same way Orion himself did, as if he were the most important person in the room. The set of his shoulders and aura that washed off him, they were all Orion.

The dragon was beautiful. If there were only one word to describe Orion in his dragon form, the word would be magnificent.

He looked like Percy in shape, but he was larger, and his golden scales caught the moon rays in a way that took her breath away. The dragon swung his massive head to look at her and opened his mouth slightly, revealing long, sharp teeth. One fang was the length of Skylar's arm. He stretched his long neck to its full length and then stood tall, staring down at her. The elegant arch of his neck gave the animal an almost regal appearance. She swallowed nervously. She was supposed to approach this creature? Even her dragon was slightly intimidated by him, especially since she couldn't appear to hold her own against him.

Skylar knew they were pressed for time, but she couldn't make her feet move forward. She couldn't make herself get any closer to the beast. He seemed to sense this, because he took a step toward her and lowered his head to her level, so it was basically laying on the ground. He sniffed her carefully, and it somehow didn't seem quite to odd when she was sniffed who Orion was in dragon form.

"Hello," she said stupidly. The dragon blinked, and his golden eyes twinkled in what she thought might have been amusement. She wrung her hands together and jumped back when the dragon moved his nose closer to her. He growled softly when she backed away from him. Her dragon wished for nothing more than to be free and interact with this living, breathing, companion of her own kind. And Skylar wished she could let her do that because that would mean Skylar didn't have to worry about being afraid of him.

The dragon looked pointedly over her shoulder at the trees and then back at her. The intense gaze was nerve racking, but Skylar nodded in understanding. Very slowly, she lifted her hand and placed it on the dragon's nose. The beast was surprised by her gentle touch, but permitted it. She was amazed at the temperature of the scales. She expected them to be cold and dry, but these were warm and deceivingly soft. She took a deep breath and slowly ran her hand along his nose, to his cheek, and then down his neck to his shoulder. The scales grew larger and harder as she moved away from his face, more armored. She placed one foot on his bent leg and hauled herself up to settled between his shoulder blades.

As soon as she was in place on the wide expanse of his back, he rose and extended his impressive, nearly translucent wings. The membrane stretched taught between the bones as the limbs straighter out, and she watched them fill with air as he jumped into the sky. She grabbed the spike in front of her and shut her eyes tightly. She waited for the impact back into the ground, and when it never came, was amazed when the sky accepted their presence. She opened one eye and then the next and gasped when she saw the tops of the trees and the lake they had just been next to. She also saw the knights who had been pursuing them. They were just appearing beside the lake, where she and Orion had been only moments before. They'd been so close, Orion had to have known how close they were. And yet, he hadn't rushed her. Hadn't grabbed her in his paws like he said he would.

Skylar stared down at the world from a view that she'd only ever dreamed of. She studied the knights, she couldn't make out faces but could tell they were her father's, and saw they were pointing up at Orion and Percy. They likely couldn't see her. If they did, they would tell her parents she'd been carried off by dragons. The knights wouldn't know what that meant, but her parents would. They would think she had abandoned them. Jonathan would think she was dead. But as she stared down at the world and then up at the star filled sky, she found it difficult to worry about anything.

Skylar, Princess of Trael, was flying. And she and her dragon had never felt more at home.