"Right!" Sorrel emerged from Winter's tree, map in hand. "I've worked out our route back to Silence Gorge. We should head south from here, that way we should hopefully avoid that madman and get off these moors quicker." She pulled her attention from the map and smiled at Cloud. "When we're off the moor we can follow River Pinn all the way home. Easy!"

Little Cloud smiled back at her. "It's a pity we lost the horse," he said. "Still, Winter here will keep us company." He looked expectantly towards the wolf.

"Actually..." she began, scuffing the ground with her paw, "I can't come." She looked up at Cloud and quickly explained, "If I leave the moor I become no more than a simple wolf. I was cursed a long time ago by an old Lamya woman, if I leave—"

"It's okay," Sorrel said, rolling up the map, "really, we understand. Bartram will guide us."

Winter nodded. She seemed a little disappointed. She sighed and turned back to her home. "I'll wait here," she said. "I'll watch you go. If you ever need me send the raven and I'll come regardless."

"Thank you, Winter." Sorrel turned to Cloud and together they set off on their way south.

#

After a while of travelling in silence, Sorrel and Cloud soon found their voices and continued in high spirits. Sorrel couldn't wait to see her brother Leif again and she knew Little Cloud was imagining the look on his grandfather's face when he returned home announcing he was a seer.

She pushed him playfully and ran ahead, her arms and legs flailing in the way she used to run when she was a child. Little Cloud looked on with a bemused expression on his face before he too forgot himself and ran after her.

"Sorrel!" he cried, laughing. "Wait up! Sorrel!"

She grinned and glanced over her shoulder at him. Then she skidded to a halt and stared as a huge black shadow passed overhead. She drew her sword and held it ready.

"What was that?" Cloud whispered as he reached her.

She pointed to the sky as a huge red dragon swooped across the sun right in front of them. She gasped as the dragon turned and headed straight for them.

"It's here. Get down!" she yelled, throwing herself to the ground and pulling Cloud with her. "Bartram, land now!"

The dragon swooshed overhead, so low its wings brushed the ground and its tail thudded down inches from their heads. The rush of wind forced the raven to the ground in a feathered mess and there he stayed with his beak open, gasping for breath.

Sorrel kept her face to the ground and her head covered as the dragon turned towards them again. Both she and Cloud screamed in terror as the fearsome creature roared its thundering cry.

Then, all of a sudden, it was quiet and the air was still. Sorrel chanced a look behind her and her heart skipped a beat.

A huge deep red dragon with great arched wings and pointed tail had landed a few feet from where they lay. It was an awesome sight. The creature stood proud with its head turned towards them on an elegant neck. It had long curved black claws on all four feet and scales so tightly knitted it was like snakeskin. The sound of its breathing was enough to frighten anyone and when Cloud chanced a look, he screamed again in fear.

"Shh!" Sorrel whispered, holding a finger to her lips as she gazed at the dragon. "Isn't that amazing? He has the blackest eyes I've ever seen! I didn't think we'd meet him so soon."

Cloud didn't care for admiring the beast. He started crawling backwards as fast as he could manage on his elbows.

The dragon lifted its head sharply and watched as Cloud struggled to his feet and started to back away.

What's he doing? "Stop!" she cried, looking from Cloud to the dragon. The animal took a couple of paces forwards and lowered its head a little. "Cloud, stop!"

But Cloud was beyond listening. Seeing the dragon was now moving, he picked up the pace.

"Cloud, no!" she screamed. The dragon beat its mighty wings and took to the sky in a flurry of dust and wind. "Cloud!"

#

Little Cloud ran as fast as he could but the dragon was faster. The creature flew low right behind him, breathing hot breath down his neck, its wings thumping a steady beat in the air. Cloud's heart beat a dozen times faster. He could feel the dragon's eyes burning into him, knew that any moment it'd snap its jaws. He screamed and stumbled and suddenly the beast had overtaken him and turned and was looking him right in the eye.

He held up his hands and backed away. "Please," he muttered. "Please don't hurt me!"

The dragon took a step forwards and lowered its head level with him. He stopped and closed his eyes briefly as the dragon thrust its head within inches of his own.

The animal's breathing was slow and calm and as it stared at him, he saw its eyes flick to his jacket. He held his breath as the dragon almost touched him.

"Dragon stop!" Sorrel screamed at the dragon as she came to a halt behind Cloud. The dragon lifted its head and looked at her as she stood with her sword raised aloft protectively. Her arms shook.

"I command you to stop! Cloud, remember your amulet."

Little Cloud hurried to open his tatty jacket to reveal the dragon scale amulet. "Here!" he cried, holding it up. "Here, look!"

The dragon's eyes flicked to the scale. Then it turned back to Sorrel and lowered its head in respect.

"Cloud, cover your eyes," she commanded, her sword still raised. She knew what the dragon was about to do. She felt it instinctively. "Quickly!"

Cloud did as he was told and just in time too. A bright light eclipsed the dragon and when Sorrel moved her hands from in front of her eyes to look, a Lamya boy stood in the dragon's place. Or what appeared to be a Lamya boy.

"Sorrel! It really is you." The black–haired, black–eyed Lamya bowed low then came forwards to greet her.

She helped Cloud to his feet and reached out to touch the newcomer's arm. "It's odd," she said, "but I feel like I've known you my whole life... Gaeshi Sarkany." She said the name with wonder. How had she known that? Her heart thumped heavy in her chest.

Cloud, still not quite calmed down from being chased by a dragon, looked at her, then at Gaeshi and then back at her again. He rubbed his head and frowned. "Sorry, who?"

Gaeshi managed to tear his gaze away from Sorrel. He smiled and held out his hand in friendship. "My name is Gaeshi Sarkany," he said. "You must be Little Cloud."

"Please," he said, still shaking Gaeshi's hand. "Call me Cloud."

Sorrel couldn't help but laugh.