“Hey, Dad?”

“What is it?”

“Are you using these for anything?” I point to the Emerald green stones on his desk...

He shrugs his shoulders. “Not that I can think of right now, no, why?” He goes back to work.

“Can I have them?” He looks back at me.

“What for?”

“I want to make them into Lector stones, like so.” I show him the black and white sketch... He looks it over. “Sure. But it will take your mother three years to infuse mana in them.”

“I'll wait.”

Dad glances me over a few times. “You won't tell me what they are for, will you?”

“No.” I answer blunt. “But. I will tell you this much. I'll wait three years for the Stones and I will leave after that.”

Dad sighs. “You really hate doing this, huh?”

I squirm. “It's really boring...”

“Oh well. It can't be helped...” Mom comes in too. “Lemme see 'em.” She takes the stones and the draft.

“Alright. I'll do it.” She smiles at me.

“Thanks!” I hug her. “I've finished everything for today, I left it all on my desk. I'll see later!” I call out, leaving the house. FOR ONCE I rush over to Era in daylight. Haven't been around in a few days... I hope she's ok.

My night time routine continues on right after that one lucky day break... I got full of myself… I can't keep going like this much longer…

“Hey girl, sorry I'm late. I had to finish one thing.” I tell Era sliding down the rope. A muzzle touches me. “Oh? Hey now. Are you sitting up?” I touch her. “That's great? How are you feeling?” I pet her. A low growl. A gentle one.

“Good, good, I'm glad. Finally. Here.” I hand her a fish. “Sorry I couldn't get anything more...” She eats it whole and lays down. “Feeling better then, huh?” I pat her and yawn. “Sorry...” She looks up at me and nudges me. “Huh? You want me to leave? I'm hurt...” I pout. She nudges me again. “Alright, alright. I get the hint.” I pat her one last time and climb out with some help. “See ya later.” I tell Era and drag myself back. I come back to the house as quietly as I can.

“Where are you sneaking off to each night?” Uh-oh. I freeze. Guess I wasn't as quiet as I figured... A light shines in on me. Mom stands in the doorway with a candle. I slowly turn around.

“I'm in trouble, aren't I?”

“That depends on your answer.” Dad shows himself too.

“Nowhere?” I play dumb.

“If that's the best you can come up with, then prepare yourself. You'll be chained to your desk for the rest of time.” Dad says. Yeah, that was too stupid of me...

“Wykren, we did not raise you with all the love and care we have for you just so you would not trust us.” Mom's face is sad...

“But if lying to us is the best you can come up...” Dad hasn't looked at me yet...

“I can see how you'd think that...” I admit... Now what?

“This night time routine of yours has been going on long enough.” Dad finally turns to face me.

“We tried waiting it out but there are limits to everything.” Mom sighs. “We live in the middle of nowhere, I find it hard to imagine you managed to get yourself into some kind of trouble?” I don't answer.

“Did something happen while we were gone? Is that it?” Mom persists. She's worried. Can't blame her... I'd be too...

“Your silence isn't doing you a favor.” Dad says.

“Come on. I'll show you.” I step forward. Both of them glance at each other and make way for me.

“You'll need something bigger than that.” I point to the candle. Dad takes a torch of the wall. Mom gets the Spark stones. We leave the house with me leading the way. None of us say anything.

“Wait here a moment.” I ask them. I go over to the tree.

“Hey girl, you awake? I need a favor... Can you come out?” I hear movement. I wait a little bit. A rumble. I step back and stand halfway between my Parents and the tree, with my back to them. Emerald shows herself. She looks me over. I spread my arms to the sides.

“It's ok. They are my Parents. You know? Mom and Dad. I got caught.” I smile at her. Her eyes change for a quick moment. I swear she's saying "told ya".

“Come here, I want you to say hi.” I gesture to her. She comes over and we walk a few steps closer to the couple.

“This is–“

“Emerald.” Mom says. I smile.

“Yeah.” I keep petting Era. Mom steps forward and Dad holds her back.

“Hyra.”

“It's ok.” Mom takes his hand of her shoulder and walks over to us. She reaches for Era. Era waits for me. I nod. She leans in and touches Mom's hand with her muzzle.

“She's beautiful.” Mom whispers.

“She the one you need the stones for?” Dad asks coming closer too. “Evening.” He nods.

“Yeah.” I admit.

“There hasn't been a Saber seen in ages... She could possibly be the last of her kind...” Mom speaks, stroking Era.

“I know.”

“That's some responsibility you've taken upon yourself.” Dad says.

“I can't leave her alone anymore...”

“Well. If that is what you decided, then we'll do whatever we can to help.” Mom smiles at me.

“Had a feeling you'll say that.” Dad admits.

“Thanks. It's ok now, you can go back. Thank you.” I tell Era. She looks at me for a good moment more and returns to her lair.

“How'd you find her?” Dad asks me, going back.

“I feel into her lair, the same time I got back home with the hurt ankle.”

“You fell right on her head and she didn't eat you?” Mom looks at me. I nod. Both of them laugh. “I see. Well. Lucky you.” Mom ruffs my hair up.

“You know, the stones might not even work with her.” Dad tells me.

“I know...”

“No harm in trying.” Mom says.

“Hey girl, you awake? I need a favor... Can you come out?” I hear Wykren in my sleep. I move around a little. I feel his scent. I climb up. I emerge from the tree. Wykren stands a few steps away. A pair of others like him stand a bit further off too. I look the boy over. He spreads his arms to the sides.

“It's ok. They are my Parents. You know? Mom and Dad. I got caught.” He smiles at me. Told ya. I stare at him.

“Come here, I want you to say hi.” He waves to me. I walk over and we take a few steps closer to the Parents.

“This is–“

“Emerald.” The woman says.

“Yeah.” Wykren keeps touching my fur. The woman steps forward but the man holds her back.

“Hyra.”

“It's ok.” She takes the man's hand of her shoulder and walks over to us. She reaches for me. I look at Wykren. A nod. I lower my head and touch her hand with my nose.

“She's beautiful.” The mother whispers. “Look after him…” She says quietly into my ear. I gaze at her confused… Her eyes… I blink once. She smiles.

“She the one you need the stones for?” The father says, coming closer too. “Evening.” He nods to me. I blink once.

“Yeah.” Wykren says.

“There hasn't been a saber seen in ages...” She could possibly be the last of her kind... The woman says as she strokes me. More like the only... I’ve never seen another me…

“I know.” The boy admits. He has his father's eyes but his mother's face and hair color.

“That's some responsibility you've taken upon yourself.” The father tells the boy. Huh?

“I can't leave her alone anymore...” I didn't ask you to stay with me.

“Well. If that is what you decided, then we'll do whatever we can to help.” The mother smiles at her son.

“Had a feeling you'll say that.” The father keeps staring at me.

“Thanks. It's ok now, you can go back. Thank you.” Wykren tells me. I keep my eyes on him for a bit longer and return to my tree. I've been fine on my own all this time. No need to guard me now... I curl up and sleep.

Ever since their meeting with Era, my Parents have been giving me more time off. I spend all of my evenings with Emerald. Mom even makes sure to pack us lunch. Meat for Era, bread for me. I'm glad it's working out... Maybe I was scared for nothing?