The next day, I wake... refreshed. I rub She-Dragon’s nose as she snorts in her sleep. Her bleary brown eyes peek at me before she closes them with a huff.

“Someone’s not a morning person,” I say casually. She huffs again and flicks her tail. She moves her head to the other side of her body and curls up, leaving me at her back with a very cold shoulder.

I chuckle. “Awww, is big bad dragon still sweepy?”

She slaps me with her tail hard enough to send me rolling and shows me an image of jumping off a cliff. A split second later, much like an afterthought, she sends an image of her catching me before I splatter on the rocks.

I laugh at her grumpiness as I get up to dust myself off; then quickly leave before she squashes me for my humor. I wonder where... ahhh... there. My nose leads me down the incline towards a camp.

Many of the Werecats are up and about. I found out last night they built a small village while they were captive. Tiny log cabins and mismatched animal hide tepees make a half hazard circle in the valley. The glassy stream runs directly beside it before meandering out of sight further down. Weeping Willow trees line the side of the water, giving the area a mystical feel, especially as mist rises from the river, creating a haze the sun pierces only in arrows of light.

The small village is in a forest of mixed trees that tower above the huts.

The huts and tents themselves are crude, with jagged edges and sealed mud. What surprised me most was the roofs. Each is layered with grass and topped with tree limbs stripped of their leaves.

It’s a curious modification, and Brendon informed me it was to make it less likely for any passing dragon to make out the village.

They did an amazing job of being resilient. They stayed hidden and took care of the women and children the male kidnapped and She-Dragon rescued, even making a bathing area for the women and another for the men in a private part of the creek.

I scale along the edges of the forest, trying to avoid any attention.

“There’s the hero!” A thundering voice makes me jump.

I turn my head, seeing Flash stalk up behind me and wrap his arm around my shoulders.

“Where were you sneaking off to, eh?” Flash asks.

I inwardly wince. This outgoing cat is going to be the death of me. “Nowhere,” I mutter.

Someone smacks me on the back hard enough to make me jerk in surprise. My heart beats quickly, flashing back to the dull throb of cuts and bruises from those who moved too slow or were caught unaware during training. I jerk out from under Flash’s arm.

The large man behind me merely watches me with that all-knowing gaze and one eyebrow raised, not flinching as my leg darts for his head. I pull back with all my might and am able to stop my kick a hairbreadth from his cheek.

I can’t help the incredulousness that crosses my face as I ease my leg back to the earth.

“What were you thinking?” I say. My heart is thumping wildly in my chest as a cold sweat breaks out on my forehead. I just attacked my best ally.

He simply grins. “You ain’t the only one who can sneak, Shifter. Don’t tell me you were avoiding us?” Those bushy eyebrows rise to his hairline, pumping up and down.

I shake my head as he rolls my attack under the proverbial rug. “Can’t I get a moment of peace?” I ask in exasperation.

The Imperial chuckles in a deep timbre that would make a bear jealous.

“No rest for heroes,” Flash says, his voice low with mock solemnity.

I punch his shoulder. Harder than I should, if I were being polite. Which I'm not.

With absolutely no remorse, they drag me to the breakfast hut. Inside, a couple produces a stew. I have never inhaled something so luscious, such a delicate aroma of sweet and spicy. It's a daring blend of peppers and a sweet fruit that smells of the citrusy, softly sweet spring aura of the valley. The line to the door is fifteen deep waiting for bowls to be filled.

Most are still bleary-eyed from an early wakening. Two ladies present have sleep lines and their hair is sticking all about as if the aroma was more important than looking presentable. I don’t blame them.

If such a smell woke me every morning, I wouldn’t bother with putting clothes on, much less brushing my hair. I feel my hair and realize I look little better. Amusement makes my shoulders quake in silent laughter.

To my embarrassment, the wind is behind me, drawing my scent to the Were. The amusement sours in my stomach. Like a well-rehearsed play, fifteen plus heads turn to stare at me. I stop.

The mistrust in many of their scowling faces I'm used to. It’s the look of awe on a boy’s face... I can’t handle that. Then there are some ladies, who peek at me with admiration, as if I saved the world. One is twirling a lock of brown hair around her finger while a few of the others try to pat down messy locks.

I turn on my heel and retreat. Flash grabs me in a headlock before I go more than two feet. I grunt as I grab his arm and put my foot behind his ankle. With a twist and a shove, he lands in the dirt. He laughs as a puff of dirt surrounds where he landed.

Before I’m able to utter an apology, he twists on the ground, catching me flatfooted. In a flash, I’m on the ground beside him, another cloud of dust billowing up and making me cough.

I laugh. I get started and for the life of me, I can’t stop. The villagers chuckle with us, not completely aware of what’s so funny, but unable to ignore the contagious laughter.

“Flash,” I pant out between chuckles. “That’s the easiest someone has taken me down in ages. I see where you get your namesake.”

“Oh, no. Dad nicknamed me because no one could say Grendalsomen in the time it took me to get into trouble. Hence, he named me flash so that he could yell it...” He pauses to meet my eyes. His blue ones flash with mischief; the same feeling lightens my face in a grin.

“In a Flash,” we finish together.

I can’t help it. Laughter abounds in the small meadow. I laugh until my breath is gone.

The Imperial helps us up. A broad grin makes his pearly whites shine through his beard. "Well, well. Seems as if Flash has finally found a friend." The Imperial leans over, the grin never leaving his face as he whispers loudly, pumping his eyebrows again, "I never believed it possible, what with all the mischief he finds himself in and what his mother named him, Allfather rest her beautiful soul."

I smile at the blush coloring Flash’s cheeks. I lean over in the same conspiring manner as the Imperial. “Of course, I understand. I will do my utmost to never mention ‘the word’. I can tell it is hard for such a delicate soul.”

The Imperial chuckles. “I appreciate your sensitive handling of the matter. One can never be too careful with such an emotional heart. Gets it from his uncle.”

Flash looks as if he can’t decide whether to throttle us or run away screaming. I decide for him.

“Grendalsomen, what are you doing waiting around? The…” I never finish.

With a roar, Flash grabs me in a headlock. I can’t stop laughing as he muses my hair with the air of an annoyed elder brother. Then he stoops down to whisper in my ear. “Perhaps they should know who you really are, Alpha?”

My laughter dies in my throat. My heart pounds in alarm. Did I trust the wrong Were? I look him dead in the eyes as he releases me from the crook of his arm.

“You wouldn’t.” It comes out more of a growl than words.

He looks back, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Naw. Gotcha.”

I roll my eyes. “What’d I do to deserve him as a friend?” I ask the sky.

Flash slaps me on the shoulder with more force than necessary. “You about bit my foot off. Now you get to live with me.”

“Yay me.” My sarcasm isn’t lost on him. He throws an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s get you some grub, kinko. Or should I say Bloodfang?” he says the last in but a whispering echo.

I just shake my head as I hit his ribs with enough force to make him grunt.

He sends me a stink eye and rubs the spot that will probably bruise. I ignore him. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. I forgot how annoying brothers could be.