Atlantis

The next wave of antagonists reveals itself after a suspicious warship shows up around Celestial City. The three leaders, Zack, Shaun, and Bryon are discovered to be old friends turned bad.
Jenna is the first person throughout.

Onboard the ship, the cockpit was completely dark, save for some holographic monitors glowing the ship's vitals and status reports to ensure it was in working order. Without warning, the door slides open and a pearlescent CTS pokes his front end into the darkened room.

"...Sir?" He squeaks. "You alive in here, man? I know how Taco Tuesday nukes your convertor and all--"

"Just a mild disruption tonight, bro. I think Pierre used less spices this round, thank GM." A deep voice chuckles from the gloom. "Did you take care of the intruders, Siddeon?" A chrome rim glints in the neon lights as its owner runs a tread down the main command dashboard. "We wouldn't want anyone to bring harm to my sweet Welsummer. If only my sweet Welsummer was the real girl and not this old ship, but she's still mine."

"Yes, sir, we handled them promptly." Sid, the Cadillac car's name, proudly bows. "They didn't seem intent on harming the ship; they just saw us while riding their dragons. They were of Green Acres, Bryon." A pair of tall LED taillights light up the room as the mystery voice flinches at the name.

"Green Acres." He breathes. "Describe the intruders, bro."

"I'm guessing they were both vehicles of sorts in their human morphs, but the man was about 7' to 7' 5", a bright ginger, and the woman was short and a little chubby. She was more of a cinnamon ginger with glasses." Bryon, obviously an Escalade, changes his idle to a slower, dreamier pace.

"Speaking of my sweet real life Welsummer." He purrs. "It looks like we'll meet again. Get my detailers up here, please; I could use a clean up before my date tomorrow."

"Sure thing, man. Just do me a favor and leave your lights on." Sid flips on a light, making Bryon cringe in pain. "It's not edgy, cool, or emo. It's just going to kill your vision."

---

The phone rings, and while bolting to answer the call, Acer about plows down poor Kygo in his wheelchair.

"Hey! Watch out, dude! It's a crime to flatten sexy paraplegics!" Ky roars, Ace finally reaching his destination, taking a deep breath, and happily picking up the phone.

"Yellow?" He cheers.

"Put it on speaker; I want to hear it." I point. He nods and shares the call.

"Hi, is this Green Acres?"

"Why, yes it is! We help rescue stray kittens, find criminals, train homeless people into soldiers, and rehabilitate young cars to stand up to bullies!" I stare at Acer in bewilderment, and he shoots me an innocent smile.
He had that feeling, too.

"...That last part, bro. That's a nice thing you do there." The caller hesitates a moment. "Uhh, my friend. He needs help."

"How can we assist?"

"I can tell your call-out bro more when we meet up. Uh, go out towards the forest. I'll meet you out there, if you don't mind. I'm on a hiking trip right now. Kind of remote! I can't really access civilization at the moment."

"No problemo! What's your name, guy?"

"Uhh, it's... Uhhhhhhhh... Chopper. Yeah. Chopper Jones. Chop-per Joooones and mee!"

"Song reference. Nice." Kygo admits. "I trust the guy."

"Ah-huh. Okay, then." Acer gulps, jotting down the information. "See you there, I guess! I'll have one of our field agents there as soon as--!" The mysterious caller hangs up as he finishes talking. "...I can locate one? Hello?"

---

"Hey. What are you buzzing about?" Felix teases, nudging me in the side with his fender.

"I'm not buzzing about anything." I hiss, pushing back into the Ram. "Can I just have a moment to think around this place, huh? Big, curious doober. No eavesdropping. None."

"Liar, liar, tailgate on fire. Guh-huh; you can tell me! I'm your fleetmate, sis. Your big, scary, doofy brother will hurt to death whatever is bothering you. That you learned years ago." I hug him over my shoulder, still looking forwards at the sunset.

"...Felix, do you remember those kids we had down here years ago, back when D3 was on Azhuiea?"

"Ah-huh. Why? You can't possibly think they're the new anti-clan, right?"

"I hope not. I just keep getting weird feelings, though. Like erase Spidey Senses out of the equation, because we're dealing with back to back Deja Vu at this point. I feel like I've seen all this before, like I had a chance to nip it in the bud decades ago but failed my chance." Felix goes human with a bright flash of light, and sits next to me with a soft grunt.

"Back's been hurting lately. I was looking at immersion tables this morning." I smile and shake my head. "What? I'm feeling older by the day, man! Okay, so, we're talking about those three luxury SUVs; Bryon, Zack, and..."

"Shaun."

"Of course. But they were sent to us because they couldn't stand up to two cars half their age! What makes you think that they suddenly have the diffs to antagonize the same military agency that helped them?"

"You're right." I mutter, resting my chin on my fists. "Maybe I'm just losing my mind. I'm sure it's not them, that's final. I've met many of cars... Yet none of them had that weird inflection that Bryon had. It's been years, and I always wondered what happened to them since, you know, those we help usually stay in touch. Occasionally even to an obsessive extent. Johnson still calls every night to make sure Hiendrick isn't burning his strudels."

---

The beautiful ESV sits regally without even trying, letting the harsh light glitter off his chrome and polished hood. He bows and looks me in the eyes.

"The original plan was to have our resident entertainment specialist start up a movie in the ship's theater, but the projection bulb blew up and cooked all the popcorn in the storage room." He chuckles with a smooth, confident voice. "So now Demitri and Rogan are busy eating all the remnants of the one hundred mistakes made. Those one hundred mistakes were the one hundred bags of popcorn Zack's bro put next to the projector."

"It can't be you." I plead. "It can't be. Bryon?" Bry blinks in shock and happily smiles.

"Y-you remember me!" He yips. "Awesome, bro! I don't care who else remembers me at this point as long as my dream girl does!"

"Bryon?! Is that you?" Acer yelps. "Wowza, you grew up! And now you're... How many feet long, there? Dang, dude; you're a Cadillac Suburban for sure. I think your hatch is scraping the far wall."

"You talk like you never met an ESV before, bro." He proudly poses, despite himself before snapping out of it and nodding to one of his assistants. "James, erase everything on my schedule; replace it with family game night. My Welsummer is home!" Finally, Zack the crimson Navigator and Shaun the white Enclave come storming in.

"We're here!! Here we are!" Shaun yowls, excitedly. "Did you get them?! Ooooooooh! I don't even care how deep into trouble this gets us; our plan finally worked!"

"My plan. My plan worked." Zack corrects. "Jen! It's amazing to finally find you! We've been looking for ages. We knew we had to when Bry here stopped sleeping." Bryon lightly rests his bumper on my chest.

"Insomnia brought on by years of depression." He purrs. "Not anymore though! It's just going to be you and me from now on, Welsummer. I-I'll teach you how to pilot my ship, a-and we'll go to the park and rescue dumped ducks! We're gonna have so much fun, bro!"

"Save me." I plead. "I don't have time for this committed of a relationship. Happily single."

Jenna!

We look up at the sky as our only means of escape disappears. My jaw was hanging, still stunned from the previous events.

<...You saved me!> Bryon says, in shock.

<I shouldn't have. Now I'm screwed.> I whisper, hysterically. <I am screwed because I couldn't let you die! Ha! My mind is going wild!>

<Well, my wing is broke.> He says, without sounding in pain whatsoever. <A rock hit me. I'm sorry.> I desperately take off. There was no way I was stranded with this freak! No way! I continuously super beam into the sky. Luckily, we landed out of reach of the volcano. I fly up in a spiral, trying to trigger the portal again but nothing happened. I just hovered, panting with exhaustion and fear.

We had been left behind in the prehistoric world. There was no hope. I fly back down. Bryon was already back to normal.

"Are we actually the only ones?" He asks, concerned. "We're actually stuck here?"

<Ha! You are the only one!> I snort. <Buh-bye.>

"Hey! Where are you going?"

<To find a way out by myself.>

"You can't just save my life and then leave me!" He cries.

<Watch me.> I start flying off, but stop. He was the dumb idiot that rescued me from the Lian and raptors. I look back. He was fearfully staring up at me. Great. Now we couldn't live without each other. Or at least he couldn't live without me. Screw him. I prepare to continue, but hesitate and look over my shoulder once more. He was staring at me, longingly.

"P-Please, Welsummer!" He pleads. "Don't leave me! I'm sorry, I swear! I didn't mean to do this!"

<You deserve to be left behind.> I snap. "Cadillink scumbag!> "KYE!" His eyes well up with hurt. But the look he's giving me! He looks so sweet and innocent... I slyly smile inwardly, satisfied with my idea. I fly up and out of there before rounding back and landing nearby.

"W-W-Welsummer?!" He shrieks in close proximity. "Welsummer!! Wait!! Come back!! PLEASE!! I'm lost without you!!...Please!" He ends with a whimper and starts crying. "Now what, bro? She saved me and then just dumped me here. I-I still love you, Welsummer, no matter how many times you abandon me or insult me! Please come back to me! Y-you'll die out there alone without me! And I'll die without you, too, baby!" I feel a big vibration, and then another. Leaves rustle not too far away from Bryon. I eagerly crouch and wait to watch the carnage of a dinosaur finally ending Bryon's crappy life. Another thumping footstep, and Bry jumps, fearfully, and really starts wailing. "N-no! N-n-no! I can't die yet!! I never got to be Jenna's partner, o-or even just kiss her and show her how much I love her! Or meet my son!" A Bull Rex tromps out of the brush and roars.

"HHHHWWOOAAARR!!"

"AAAAAAHH!! Why, baby?! Why did you save me just to leave me here?! You're my everything!!"

I guiltfully sigh and roll my eyes as even the dinosaur tips its head in confusion. <The idiot. Fine. I won't leave you...yet.>I roar and charge the Bull rex from behind. "KYEEEEE!!" I scream and hit it with my tail.

"Hwwwooaar?!" The dino yowls in pain.

"J-Jenna?!" Bry gasps in awe. I jump off the dinosaur, land between him and Bryon, and flare.

<I changed my mind!> I snarl. <He's my meat!! If anybody kills him, it'll be ME!!> The Bull Rex squints at me before roaring in departure and lumbering back into the woods. I snort before I turn back and glare at Bryon.

"Y-you saved me again!" Bry whispers, staring at me in utter love. "You didn't dump me!"

"I should. I should dump you so hard! So hard! And I might if the others were still here to see. Lucky you." I grumble. "And don't take it as a favor for a friend. I hate you. I hate you with the same burning passion you love me with. I hate you like you love me. Got it?"

"Understood. Now what do we do?" He slumps, though still looking relieved that I rescued him from that rex. "I have no other experience out here like this. I mean, I managed to fall into a crevice. Go me."

"Do I look like I have experience either?" I snap. "What can you do that's useful?"

"Useful?" He echoes. "Well, I can do this." Bry strains for a second before back firing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I stare in disbelief for a moment before hopelessly moaning.

"Ohh, my worst case scenario nightmare has finally arrived! But instead of a peaceful island, I'm stuck in a world of dinosaurs with you! Why didn't I give you to that dinosaur?"

"Well, I'm sorry I cause you nightmares." Bryon shrugs. "But you were the one who saved me--both times. You didn't have to, but you did. And I thank you for that, though I can't figure out why you keep trying to kill me but then save me from doom. So, what's next?" I look around. We were in some woods. They almost seemed half way modern.

"...We need to find a shelter." I sigh. "There might be a cave system nearby." So, we head into the deeper woods, in pursuit of shelter.

---

<l got to return the favor of saving you. You spared my life, so I saved yours in return!> He happily throws his head and yips. "Koh!"

"You didn't need to save me, genius!" I grumble. "I was perfectly capable of saving my own sorry hatch without your help!"

<Oh really?> Bry slyly proves. <You couldn't even roll and bail off the dinosaur you were riding. You were too scared of heights!>

"Y-you don't know that!!"

<I know everything about you. And besides, you jumped on me to save you after begging for me to save you! Just admit that you're thankful for my help!>

"When heck freezes over!" I stand up and pat the dirt off my clothes. "I'll never be thankful for your presence you big, fat tailpipe! I hate you so much I could choke you!" He watches me in amusement. "Don't laugh at me!!"

<You're so sexy when you're furious, Welsummer.> He winks. "Koh-ra!"

"That's it!! I am storming out of this Ford-forsaken wasteland! And without you!" I stomp towards the edge of the cliff, grumbling to myself.

<You look beautiful with the mountain range in the background.> Bry smiles. <Too bad I don't have a camera.> Just then, another thunder rumbles far overhead. A wet drop of rain lands on my nose.

"Oh great; now it's raining. I moan. "What can go right in this dump?! If Bryon wasn't enough, now it's getting ready to storm! Crap on my biscuits, universe!!" Bryon looks up at the sky, and then he looks around.

<There doesn't seem to be any caves nearby. He gulps. <Uhh... There's a small indent over there. It's enough to block most of the wind and rain.> Bry jumps up and we run for cover, using his wing like an umbrella to shield me from the rain. The indent wasn't much; certainly not enough to keep us dry. The rain really starts dumping then.

"Good job, genius. Now it's pouring and we have no shelter!" I growl. "What made you think we would find anything up here?" He spreads his wing again.

<I will shield you with my wing.> Bryon offers. He smiles that dumb, innocent dragon smile.

"Don't look at me like that!" I point. "What do I pick? The rain, or should I stand under your wing and give you the satisfaction of helping me?"

<If you get sick, there will be no way to treat you.> He proves.

"I still choose the rain, thank you smart hatch." I snap.

<But you'll get sick and defenseless!>

"Awesome! Maybe our dino friends will find me and eat me!"

<I'll never let that happen!>

"Well neither will I let you win. I am going to stand in this rain--far away from you--even if it kills me!" A huge bolt streaks across the sky and an earth shaking rumble sounds. I yelp and dive for the cover of Bryon's wing.

<Ha! You're scared of thunder!> Bry crows. <If it kills you, eh?>

"I'm scared of huge, sudden, prehistoric, thunder, yes! Modern thunder, no!" I sigh, standing strongly. "And noise can't kill me, so there!"

<Well you have no reason to be afraid when you're with me. I won't let the big, bad thunder hurt you.> He winks, "Koh-Kohh!"

"I am two steps away from standing in the storm like I said! You're lucky I'm standing here at all!" I growl.

<Then why aren't you? Go on. Go stand in the rain. Prove me wrong.> I stare into the rain, unsure.

"...Fine!" I gulp and strut into the downfall, pridefully. Like a cue, a lightning bolt sears the closet nearby mountain peak with a blast. I scream in terror and dive under Bryon again. "Okay! Okay!! Don't even say anything about it!!" Bry gives me a cunning grin.

<I'm not saying a word.> He chuckles. I squint at him before he looks up to the sky. <If you think about it, this storm happened a million years ago. But yet, we're braving it in the present!>

"Who cares? That's the question, man." I sigh. "I'm not in the mood for your petty ramblings."

<Well, it's just neat to note our situation.> Bryon shrugs. <What other car has the chance of a lifetime to experience this?>

"It's almost too bad the circumstances aren't less grave." I snort, sarcastically. "Now if it were a vacation rather than a death sentence with your enemy, and you could go back if you gave up, that'd be great. So come on! I give up!" My only response was a slight rumble of thunder. I slump and heave a sigh.

The sun fell quickly after that. The temperatures fell from a nice, 85, down to 50 in two hours. I was pridefully shivering next to the wall. The rain had stopped a while ago, but I was still soaked. Rain sure fell hard back then! Or now. It's whatever!

<Come on! You're going to freeze over there.> Bryon pleads.

"Yeah, snuggling with you is not on my list, pal." I grunt, sitting up and leaning on the rock face behind me. To my disdain, my back soaks up even more water. "Great. Wonderful. Spectaculoso."

<We're equally responsible for each other. I won't let you die on my watch.>

"Why not? I'm your worst enemy."

<I'm yours, too. But you didn't let me die.>

"That's because I'm an idiot. And, oh, wait, so are you."

<Imagine if we crawl out of this hole, bro. If we can just somehow make it back to the present... they'd respect us. They'd respect me and you both.>

"A nice thought, buddy. But it's looking pretty grim at the moment."

<I remember the day before we got sucked into this mess--literally, too--I was playing a GrilleBook game. It was some really dumb virtual dragon game; I don't even know what it was called. Sometimes, a wild dragon would come into your base, and it would give you an option to keep one for yourself and post another on your wall for a friend to claim in their game.> I hear a grunt. <It was like "Hey, look! A random dragon has wandered into your camp. Share with friends?">I roll over. He stood there with one front leg up, staring expectantly.

"Hey, random dragon, go find your own spot!" I snap. He smiles obliviously. "Again with that dumb look. You look like a complete doofus."

"Koh?"

"Quit acting like a real random dragon." He slowly creeps over. "It's not going anywhere, dude. It's just not." But instead of listening to me, he walks right over and gingerly lies down next to me and lays his head on his feet, staring at me with his eyes. I sigh and grumble "Go away, Bryon."

<Well I'm sorry for caring.> He yawns. <We will find a cave first thing. I promise, Welsummer.>

"Make sure your calculations are right next time, brainiac." I sigh. He nods in agreement as he sprawls out his back legs like a rabbit.

<I'll make sure.> He assures, spreading his wing and glancing at it. <It's still cold out here. I can't hurt you. It's not like I roll around in my sleep, you know.> He smiles warmly. <And you'll be nice, happy, and warm, too. And I'll also be nice, happy, and warm.>

"Why should I?"

<Your survival as well as mine.> Bry winks.

"Yeah, what's gonna kill you like this?"

<Myself if I let you die out here.> He gives me a long stare before I throw up my hands.

"... Fine. You win." I snort. "It's just a random dragon; it's just a random dragon!" I get up and lay down beside his chest.

<I believe you did both of us a favor.> Bryon winks. <Especially me.> I sigh in irritation as he curls his big, strong tail around his legs--and me--and gently folds his wing to cover me up. He takes a deep breath, and sighs it out, contentedly before hugging me with his front legs, too. I squint, considering snapping something to him about it before I noticed his breathing had slowed. Bry was asleep already! I squirm a little before finding a comfortable position. All the while, Bryon's enormous heart-both literally and metamorphic-ally-hammered in my ear. I slowly fall asleep.

All I didn't have to complain about was that I wasn't freezing my hatch off anymore.

And that it was Bryon, not Shaun.

---

I skip breakfast and give Bryon my meal. He was happy to oblige other than he was worried that I didn't eat. With promises of real food, we continue our search for shelter. As we fly over the mountain range, the sun caught Bryon's wing scales just right, so they glowed as shiny as his ESV body does. He flaps once, contentedly riding the bubble of warm air. Thinking about him, I noticed something.

"Hey, how come you're still a dragon?" I ask.

<I have an unlimited time as a dragon each day, but depending how long I am as one governs the amount of time before I can furn back into one after becoming an Escalade again. Right now, eh, it'd be 4 days before I could turn back if I went back into 'Slade-ville.>

"How did you even get this?

<Oh, I have a scientist.> He explains. <It's a prototype of your morphing crystal.>

"So you guys can morph too, but yet you have never used it on us?"

<Oh, no. I'm the only one out of all of them. They don't know I can be anything other than a dragon. I have them believing I am like your Felix or your Maverick.> He chuckles. <It's more for times of recreation. Or times like these. No flirt intended but you could accept one, if you'd like.>

"I hate to admit it, but that's actually clever." I slowly nod. "And thoughtful, since you never used it on us."

<Bro, that would be cheating. I'm not a cheater. I don't think I've cheated at anything. But I'm always the one with the short stick, huh?> He sadly sighs, clearly regretting something. <But anyways, when we land, I'll show you what I mean.> I look around below and spot a big hole. I rub my eyes for a second to make sure it was no illusion of shadows. But the cave was still there, a gaping black hole in the middle of a forested foothill.

"I see a cave!" I point, actually happy for once. It didn't take much to make one happy in this situation, did it? I could only imagine what it'd be like to find a house! Bryon looks down and dives. He nimbly swoops and lands inside. I try to slide off, but he stops me with his tail.

<Wait.> he insists. <Let me check it out.> I pause before nodding in agreement.

"I second that." He sniffs around, on the floor, on the cave walls, and on the entrance. He snorts at the end of his search.

<Alright. It's been abandoned for some time; we're safe here, Welsummer.>

"Some time?" I echo, unsure.

<Eh, at least a few months. If they came back now, I don't think the sight of a big, bad Gordayo and his mate would make them want to bring in the boxes of stuff.>

"Everything's accurate save for the mate part." I admit, sliding off his strong shoulders, and a bright light engulfs him. I watch in amazement as the light fades. In the dragon's place, a really tall guy stood. He had blonde hair with a slight reddish tint, a goatee, and for some reason, really huge, muscular arms, not to mention those same unnaturally dark blue eyes. He was good looking as a car.

But he just had to be downright sexy as a human. I stare in shock. "I see why I about broke my hand on you this morning." I gape. "I didn't expect this!"

"Ha, now you can't deny my awesomeness." He smiles and bats his eye lashes at me sweetly. "At least the only guy in the world is sexy, says Jen."

"Shut up, genius." I nervously snap, disturbed I was finding him more attractive by the minute. "Dude, now you can't turn back!"

"It's okay. You can morph too, right?" He wonders. I sigh and sit on the rocky ground. "And you actually don't have a limit, either. So how come you were relying on me?" He gives me a curious, side-ways look, head slightly cocked.

"I-I don't know!" I shrug. "I guess I liked a guy doing something for me for a change. Red is always off on a mission, though he about kills himself working whenever he gets home. Suddenly I have a man-slave that I don't have to worry about giving a heart attack to!" His eyes light up.

"...So, when you were acting all prideful and stuff last night, you could have just turned into a Luginoid instead of accept my offer." Bryon smiles, hopefully. "Did you just want to cuddle with me?"

"Yeah, I'm going to go get some grass and stuff. You better stay like that for now." I nod, briskly. He was about to say more before I turn into a Luginoid, screech, and fly off. I look around, and land in a field. I grab several huge handfuls and fly back to the cave. <Here.> I look around, noticing genius's abscence. <Bryon?>

"AAAH!! For the love of GM, save me!!" Someone yells outside. "Heeeeeelllllp!!" I look. The raptors had Bryon surrounded below the entrance, and he couldn't climb back up! Every time he'd try, he'd slide back down to the base of the hill. The last attempt, he rolls head over shoulders and hits his head on a rock, causing him to black out.

<Oh Ford have mercy, Bryon!>I snort, this time feeling sorry for his idiocy. I reach down and wrap my tail around his waist and easily pull him up. I untwine my tail from around him, and he lies limp on the cave floor. <... Bryon? Are you okay?> I ask, concerned. He says nothing. <Bryon?> Again, no answer. <Oh no! Oh dear Ford, I think the fall killed him!> I turn human and guiltfully bend over. "Ohhh! At least before I wasn't alone! I had your stupid hatch for company!" I lay my head on his chest to listen for his heart. It was beating, but they say the heart can continue beating for several minutes even without oxygen. Either way, he wasn't breathing. "Ford dang it, Bryon! Why? Why did I save your stupid butt and risk giving up my own just for you to die anyways?! Why did you have to turn against us for? You were a good kid! I'll forever go down in history as the girl who saves her own enemy just to let him get killed anyways!" I pick up his head to look for injuries. He had a minor scrape on the back of his head and a welt on the side of his forehead. I shake my head regretfully before laying my head on his chest again, my seclusion already starting to sink in. "You dumb idiot. What a waste." Suddenly; he throws his arms around me! "YAAAAA!!!" I shriek in shock.

"Ha ha! You fell for the oldest trick in the book!" Bryon crows. "I'm a possum, bro! You fell for the possum!"

"Let me go!! This isn't funny!!" I roar. "I thought you were dead you idiot!"

"I don't think dead people can lovingly hug anyone." Bry proves, stroking my head lovingly. "And woah, bro. I don't think we've ever hugged before!"

"I felt like a failure!!" I rage. "Imagine if I had saved you just for you to die anyways!! I feel like I've failed you enough already!"

"How have you failed me?" Bry wonders, pointedly. "The only way you have if you have would be by not being my partner." But I admittedly liked the head petting...NO!

"You're a moron!! Let me go!! Final warning, you jerk!" I growl.

"What? I just want to hug and pet you! What's the harm? Don't you like it?" He wonders.

(...Yes. More than I'll ever admit.) "No!! Why should I like it?!"

"Because you love me and you were afraid you lost me? Oh, and by the way, you're fun to hug." He adds with a happy smile. "You're warm and sweet-smelling, and kinda chubby too!" I squint, and throw my leg. "OOF!" He lets go instantly and curls up. "Owwwww! 10 points, bro! I meant the chubby in a good way!" I stand up and cross my arms.

"Ha! And that's what you get!" I dance. "I warned you!" He looks up at me with tears in his eyes.

"Why don't you like me?" He cries. "I just wanted to make you realize you love me more than you think you do!"

"I have plenty of reasons to hate you!" I shrug. "You kill my friends, you kidnap me, you annoy me, you're weird, I have a partner, you're an enemy, among plenty others."

"Well, obviously not anymore." He shrugs. "And wasn't even unconscious; I heard everything you said." I sigh and sit again. He was right. No matter optimistic we were, there was escape. We were just couple screw-ups; skin tags in the butt-crack of time. I was just taking out my guilt, anger, and frustration him, now. I was beating him down for being him, no longer just for being a Cadillink leader. Bryon sits up with cringe, making me guiltfully wince.

"You, uh, need some help?" I sigh.

"No. You didn't get me... That hard, bro."

"...Sorry."

"No, You had the right to kick me, Welsummer." He hangs his head, sadly. "The only thing we can do is to help each other survive. We're the only modern things on this planet. The only people we have are each other. You may hate me, but having you here is the best thing I could ever ask for. At least I wasn't sentenced to an unknown time with Zack.".

"...Or me with Lucas." I shiver. "He's a total wimp. I'd be dead already." He looks at me side-ways again.

"You saying I'm brave?" He winks.

"At least brazen enough to hug me. I don't think Lucas could even do that. But, just so you know, he would have kept an eye out for flying rocks in the first place." Bryon slowly looks down and sighs.

"I wonder what the time is." He wonders. I turn back into a Luginoid.

<It's getting late. I'll go find some dinner.> I nod and turn for the exit. "Oh, uh, can I come?" I pause, and look over my shoulder. Bryon stood, staring hopefully at me with those big doe eyes.

<I thought you were sore. I prove.

"I am." He squeaks. "It hurts just standing here. But I really just want to be with you."

<...Fine.> I sigh. <The last time I left you, I came back to a hoard of raptors attacking you anyways. And don't give me that look. You look pathetic. And I can't stand pathetic.>I roll my eyes as he happily climbs up onto my back.

"You hate the pathetic or do you feel sorry for the pathetic?" He wonders.

<It's a weakness, I admit.>

"Well, let's go get some dinner, then. Yip ha." He jokes. We fly off into the distance. Luginoids were mainly fishers. They have claws similar to eagle talons. Their bodies are specially adapted to dive, grab a fish, and fly right back up again while never losing momentum. Providing that, they really couldn't hoist a chase like hunting dragons can while diving. It was because the tail was very skinny and long, with four spikes that also help impale fish. It wasn't any good for balance, compared to other dragons. So, I find a stream. My special eyes could see deep into the water. Large fish swam in schools. <You feel like sea food?> I wonder, licking my lips at the sight of the big, juicy fish.

"It sounds better than giant mice." He laughs. I land on the bank, and Bry swings off, landing on his feet easily. I eye the water, scanning for fish with my Osprey-like vision.

<it looks like a dead zone here.> I sigh. <There's no fish in the shallows at this time of day.> Bry scans the waters, too, shielding the sun from his eyes.