The next two days passed in a blur. Emma didn’t see Tessa again, and with her mind preoccupied she forgot about the Fiend. Working in the bog, dodging Whipper's strikes, and keeping an eye on Daniel kept her busy and alert. Early in the morning of the third day, just before dawn, Emma woke up to a torrent of rain, pelting the thin roof of the shack.

Looking around the pitch-black shack, she saw Daniel lie closeby, one hand outstretched in her direction. Emma frowned, but even the other's proximity couldn't curtail her good mood. The rain was what she had been waiting, hoping and praying for, and now that it was there, her plan could begin.

It seemed to take forever for the others to wake up, and even longer until Whipper came to get them. But when he did, Emma was the first to dodge below his blows and run outside. The rain seemed to make the Goblin sour, and he snarled and whipped more than he usually did. When everyone finally bunched together in the torrential rain, their feet sunk deep in the mud, Whipper made them rush towards the bog.

"Is something wrong?" Daniel asked, soft as he trudged next to Emma. When he got no reply, he frowned but kept quiet. None of the others spoke much, some using the downpour to wash as they moved.

The water caused the Kobolds to have a great deal of energy, and they traveled to the swamp faster than previous times.

Most of the trees were chopped down up to the swamp, creating a pathway. Only the thickest, tallest trees remained, a few marks on their bases showing the failed attempts to clear them. In the distance, the lush purple jungle made way for darker trees with clusters of roots connecting them.

Walking between two of the immense trees, the drenched group arrived at the temporary cabin. The shallow, murky water was rising and overflowing the area of brow grass and read that bordered it. If the rain continued, it might reach the cabin before noon.

Ahead of the group, Whipper scanned the rising water until he saw the telltale bulbs of the three-eyed crocodiles. Most were close to each other, partially hiding between the dark network of roots that grew around the mangroves.

"It seems the crocs are even happier about this rain then you are. I wouldn't try anything stupid! Get to work, and if you come back with less than ten flowers, I'll show you what this is made for!" He threateningly raised the whip. At the same time, the Goblin guards spread out along the swamps edge, bows ready.

"And stay where we can see you, or we will hunt and kill you without another question!" Whipper yelled his standard warnings.

Emma barely noticed what the Goblin said. She tried not to stare at the mangrove far in the bog and waited for one of the others to move. As soon as one did, she walked deeper into the swamp, heading towards a lonely mangrove, beyond the range of where she was allowed to go.

It was a place she had found a week ago when she had fled from a crocodile that ate one of the others and almost got her. Eventually, the crocodile left, and she looked around the place and found a dozen red flowers. Luckily too, for it had quieted the Goblins who wanted to shoot her for going too far.

More importantly, however, she had found a narrow slit in the tree trunk. It was barely enough for her to squeeze through, and she almost got stuck twice, but inside she had found a natural cavity in the tree. Warm and dry, it showed no traces of anything living there, besides some small ants. If she wasn't so afraid of the crocodiles and getting stuck in the swamp at night, she might have hidden there.

A smile of anticipation on her face, she trudged further. Even with all the rain, the swamp was still only ankle-deep, but the rainwater was changing its properties just like the day she had fled the crocodile. Usually, there was a painful, corroding sensation when the swamp touched Emma's scales. It would cause her to weaken, almost as if she was getting sick. Now it was barely a tingle, and the only reason she could reach the large mangrove.

Sloshing footsteps from behind caused a rush of fear to wash away the anticipation, and she took a quick look across her shoulder. Daniel was following her, his eyes on her back. When he saw she had spotted him, he smiled.

"Where are you going, Emma?"

Emma frowned. What kind of question was that? But, something about the other's eyes made her fearful. Without stopping, she replied, "searching for flowers, what else?" Her voice shook, and she hoped Daniel didn't notice.

They were a dozen meters into the swamp now, and the muddy water was knee-deep. There weren't any other Kobolds anywhere close. Most of the others had gone to the roots closer to the edge, hoping to find some flowers. It was unlikely they would find more, as they had picked the nearest area's clean.

From the shore, four of the Goblins had their bows raised, pointing at Emma and Daniel. Emma was almost sure they couldn't hit them even if they tried a hundred shots, but the little nagging doubt that they had practiced had stopped her from fleeing. That and the crocodiles. Not too far from were, they stood, three eyes stared at them unblinking.

She stopped when the water came to her waist and turned to Daniel. The other took a few more steps before stopping just out of arm's reach.

The kindly smile faded from Daniel's face. "You're up to something... Why don't you share what you know? Are you going to escape?" His voice came in a low whisper that grew aggressive towards the end.

Emma barely recognized him, and she felt her throat clench shut. Trying to draw a breath, she finally managed to croak out a question. "What do you want?"

Daniels' frown deepened. "Why are you so afraid of me? Have I done anything but help?"

When Emma didn't respond, he snarled. "Fine, I don't know what you think, but I am done playing games. You know something, tell me, or I will throw you to the crocodiles!"

As he spoke, Emma felt her heart rate spike. What was she supposed to do now? She took a fearful look around, her eyes a split second away from Daniel.

With a surge, Daniel shot forward and grabbed her around the throat. He lifted her off her feet until they were kicking against the surface of the water. "Enough! Tell me what you know, how are you planning on getting away from here!"

The stoic tapping of the rain on the water was the only sound for a second.

"Hey, what are you two doing!" One of the Goblins screamed from the shore, but none of them made a move.

Emma grabbed Daniel's hands, trying to pull them away, but he was much stronger. She could barely breathe and knew if he didn't let up, she might fall unconscious, struggling to speak, only unintelligible whispers came out.

Daniel violently shook Emma around like a ragdoll, before tossing her into the mud, planting a foot on one of her legs. "Now tell me how you plan to flee or so help me I will use you as bait for those crocodiles and make a-" something wooshed through the air, and a long, black-feathered arrow stuck through his throat. The heavyset kobold took two unsteady steps back, gagging as he grabbed the arrow with two hands.

Her head barely above water, Emma saw Daniels face warp to fury instead of fear, and he snapped the back end of the arrow. Without thinking, she pushed herself back, turned, and dove into the water.

Her water-lids closed over her eyes, making the murky water even harder to see through. All she saw were brown shadows and slimy green and brown plants that grew sporadically in the mud. The drops hitting the water, caused a constant backdrop. In total panic, she shot forward like a torpedo. The tingling from the bog became stronger as she headed deeper into the murky water.

With her speed, it took only seconds to get to the mangrove. She noticed a movement in the corner of her eye, and looking over, she saw something heading her way. It was as fast as she was if not faster, and much bigger. Almost choking on her fear now, Emma tried to squeeze out more speed. Ten meters, six, two, she was going to make it! Angling up towards a two-meter broad root that would grant her safety, her hands shot out of the water when something slammed shut around her ankle.

Red hot pain shot through her mind, and she slammed her sharp nails into the slimy black root, digging for a hold. Something was trying to drag her back! The pain increased, and she howled and screamed. Her voice echoed around the tangle of roots below the mangrove. Jerking her leg back, she felt something give, and the pain increased even more. Scrambling, crying, and howling, she climbed up the side of the root until she dragged herself up. Shaking and shivering, she drew her leg back and screamed. Part of her mind heard someone shouting her name, but it was muted, and faraway, fading into a roaring sound like the ocean.

Her foot was gone! A bleeding stump, with a piece of bone sticking out and ravaged meat and scales, all that was left. Feeling her stomach heave, and becoming lightheaded, Emma began wailing. She was going to die! A loud splash from below caused another burst of adrenaline, and she scrambled back along the root. Looking around, she saw the trunk of the tree two meters further. The small slit in the side was visible, three meters higher.

Seeing it, Emma crawled forward, dragging the red pounding mass of pain that was her leg with her. Reaching the trunk, she felt weary and a bit dizzy. She shook her head and tried clawing her way up the tree. She failed twice, sliding back. The second time she landed on her leg, causing her to blackout for a moment.

The third time she managed to reach the slit, and she wormed her way inside. Lying down on the wood, she wondered why everything was so black. The last time she could still see clearly. And when had the rain stopped? It was the last thought she had before she blanked out.

--

The other was back! The young dragon felt its presence, but something was wrong. The mental presence was weak, and no words came. She sensed the other's mind drift away, and a sense of urgency welled up from deep within.

Taking a last look around the cavern that had been her home for as long as he recalled, her animalistic nature suddenly resisted the idea of what she had to do. Would anything of her remain? Her survival instincts proved stronger. If the other died, so would she.

Lying down, the dragon closed her eyes and encompassed the others being, pulling it closer. As if something had been waiting for this moment, a dam breached. Energy flooded into her, washing into their collective minds and creating a way for the other to pass through.

Without any resistance, the unconscious mind of the other flooded into the dragon's mental sea, and their memories began mixing. The dragon had no way of controlling what was happening, feeling as if she was swimming through a hurricane. Incredible images of towering buildings of steel and glass, steel birds, and monsters that breathed out black smoke filled her mind.

Somewhere during the blending of their memories, the other awoke, scared and panicking. With the knowledge she had gained, the dragon quickly sent images of comfort and safety. Realizing she knew the other's name now, Emma, she attempted to communicate, but before she could, her consciousness whisked away like a small plume of smoke.