Dragon awoke in a cold sweat. He sat up quickly, feeling his bandages cling to him like it were eel flesh. He lay in a bed, a strange feeling after all this time on the road. He shuddered as he stumbled out of the bed. The cool air struck him first, his sweat quickly drying.

He almost fell against the door, but the moment he touched the door knob, the cool metal caused him to relax. He looked around in the darkness to see a dresser to one side and then a lamp.

He sat back down on the bed and then switched on the lamp. He pressed it against his chest towards his heart and slowly warmed himself up.

The heat was familiar and calmed him. He inhaled deeply. The air wasn’t quite as fresh, but it felt new. Memories were coming back to him of what had happened. Last he recalled he was in the wagon. No, he wasn’t…He was walking beside Tiger and then… blackness.

He looked down at the dressing of his bandages.

‘New…’

Even though Tiger was looking rough himself, he had still changed the bandages for Dragon. The shame fell through his body like a river.

‘Tiger…’ He almost cursed at himself. To think that he’d pass out randomly after everything…

He thought of Wolf as well. His eyes darkened for a moment.

He understood why Wolf and Tiger came after him. He had expected it.

He should run right now. He didn’t want to cause them anymore trouble, though perhaps by running, he would cause even more…

He sighed.

He had lost.

He couldn’t even run away, Wolf had the ring that he needed, and he doubted he’d be able to outrun the pair of them. He couldn’t even do it with the help of the slavers against Tiger alone, never mind with Wolf on his heels too.

He eventually stood up, having warmed himself up. He stood taller than he had for some time. He stretched out his back and shrugged his shoulders.

He stared out the small window, off into the town. It was dark, perhaps a little before dawn. He didn’t see anyone outside, just the owls flying around whilst surveying the town.

He left the room and peered outside. As he explored, he saw a bath house adjacent to the building. He stepped out into the cool air, basking in it for a few moments, before swiftly stepping into the building. The water needed warming so he shovelled some coal and then waited.

He heard the foot steps of two others approach. One of them yawned loudly as he entered, the other remained mostly silent.

Dragon exchanged a look with Tiger and Wolf, both of whom looked tired still. Just like him they had spent a large amount of ki quickly, although Tiger seemed fine in comparison to both of them in that regard.

Dragon noted that Wolf was heavily injured as well, though they his injuries were quite old.

‘Did something happen with The Seven?’

Dragon narrowed his eyes, not suspiciously, more so out of shame.

If Wolf had left the organisation because of him…

He closed his eyes, shaking his head.

Tiger let out an audible groan as he stepped into the large bath, the water still quite cold. He sank to a corner, shivering wildly.

Wolf waited near Dragon for the water to warm up.

“Wolf. Tiger.” He kept his head bowed.

“Oi, what’re you wimps doing? Come on in, the water’s fine!” Tiger chuckled.

Wolf remained standing on the side. He didn’t reply.

“I’m so-”

Dragon couldn’t finish his words since Wolf had pushed him towards the bath. Dragon, in shock, blinked once before he was submerged.

‘Damn it.’ He thought as the water flooded around him, causing him to shiver wildly within the water.

With the betrayal fresh, he couldn’t help thinking to himself.

Finally, Dragon was back with his brothers.