Tynx looked at Jay nervous, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

Tynx looked at Jay nervous, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person. Shawn's sunlgasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. YOu have explained to do when we get to Kendall's."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to guage the dragon's emotions.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to guage the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

"Alright, alright!" Kendall backed up, "Shouldn't we go someplace else? Who knows how long before the neighbors see a huge dragon in my backyard." Chayn huffed, but lifted her head.

"I will leave. You three stay," she lowered her head again. "Talk, stay out of this storm."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

"Alright, alright!" Kendall backed up, "Shouldn't we go someplace else? Who knows how long before the neighbors see a huge dragon in my backyard." Chayn huffed, but lifted her head.

"I will leave. You three stay," she lowered her head again. "Talk, stay out of this storm."

Jay flicked a glance at Tynx and asked Kendall, "Could we make room in the garage, maybe?"

Shawn bobbed her head. "I don't want to make Chayn leave." She managed a small smile.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

"Alright, alright!" Kendall backed up, "Shouldn't we go someplace else? Who knows how long before the neighbors see a huge dragon in my backyard." Chayn huffed, but lifted her head.

"I will leave. You three stay," she lowered her head again. "Talk, stay out of this storm."

Jay flicked a glance at Tynx and asked Kendall, "Could we make room in the garage, maybe?"

Shawn bobbed her head. "I don't want to make Chayn leave." She managed a small smile.

Kendall looked at Chayn, slightly at loss. "Uh... we can try." He looked around. "Jay, help me move the heavy stuff into the house, if it won't fit, let's move it as close to the wall of the garage as we can get it." Kendall turned to Tynx. "You.... if you can help, than help. Might as well make yourself useful. Shawn, you carry the smarller, lighter things inside. We'll get this dragon in here even if it kills us." Tynx and Chayn snorted in alarm. "It's a figure of speech!"

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

"Alright, alright!" Kendall backed up, "Shouldn't we go someplace else? Who knows how long before the neighbors see a huge dragon in my backyard." Chayn huffed, but lifted her head.

"I will leave. You three stay," she lowered her head again. "Talk, stay out of this storm."

Jay flicked a glance at Tynx and asked Kendall, "Could we make room in the garage, maybe?"

Shawn bobbed her head. "I don't want to make Chayn leave." She managed a small smile.

Kendall looked at Chayn, slightly at loss. "Uh... we can try." He looked around. "Jay, help me move the heavy stuff into the house, if it won't fit, let's move it as close to the wall of the garage as we can get it." Kendall turned to Tynx. "You.... if you can help, then help. Might as well make yourself useful. Shawn, you carry the smaller, lighter things inside. We'll get this dragon in here even if it kills us." Tynx and Chayn snorted in alarm. "It's a figure of speech!"

"I'll try to find some towels, too," Shawn said. Jay stood up. "Okay, lets do this, then. Tynx, you going to stay as a lion?"

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

"Alright, alright!" Kendall backed up, "Shouldn't we go someplace else? Who knows how long before the neighbors see a huge dragon in my backyard." Chayn huffed, but lifted her head.

"I will leave. You three stay," she lowered her head again. "Talk, stay out of this storm."

Jay flicked a glance at Tynx and asked Kendall, "Could we make room in the garage, maybe?"

Shawn bobbed her head. "I don't want to make Chayn leave." She managed a small smile.

Kendall looked at Chayn, slightly at loss. "Uh... we can try." He looked around. "Jay, help me move the heavy stuff into the house, if it won't fit, let's move it as close to the wall of the garage as we can get it." Kendall turned to Tynx. "You.... if you can help, then help. Might as well make yourself useful. Shawn, you carry the smaller, lighter things inside. We'll get this dragon in here even if it kills us." Tynx and Chayn snorted in alarm. "It's a figure of speech!"

"I'll try to find some towels, too," Shawn said. Jay stood up. "Okay, lets do this, then. Tynx, you going to stay as a lion?"

Tynx shifted into a human. Kendall stared again. "What? Never seen a shapeshifter before?" Chayn moved as best she could while the guys shifted equipment to the house. She tried to be helpful, but all she managed was giving the garage wall a nice gash.

After a few minutes, the trio watched, gasping for air, as Chayn squeezed into the garage. And there was even enough room for her tail.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

"Alright, alright!" Kendall backed up, "Shouldn't we go someplace else? Who knows how long before the neighbors see a huge dragon in my backyard." Chayn huffed, but lifted her head.

"I will leave. You three stay," she lowered her head again. "Talk, stay out of this storm."

Jay flicked a glance at Tynx and asked Kendall, "Could we make room in the garage, maybe?"

Shawn bobbed her head. "I don't want to make Chayn leave." She managed a small smile.

Kendall looked at Chayn, slightly at loss. "Uh... we can try." He looked around. "Jay, help me move the heavy stuff into the house, if it won't fit, let's move it as close to the wall of the garage as we can get it." Kendall turned to Tynx. "You.... if you can help, then help. Might as well make yourself useful. Shawn, you carry the smaller, lighter things inside. We'll get this dragon in here even if it kills us." Tynx and Chayn snorted in alarm. "It's a figure of speech!"

"I'll try to find some towels, too," Shawn said. Jay stood up. "Okay, lets do this, then. Tynx, you going to stay as a lion?"

Tynx shifted into a human. Kendall stared again. "What? Never seen a shapeshifter before?" Chayn moved as best she could while the guys shifted equipment to the house. She tried to be helpful, but all she managed was giving the garage wall a nice gash.

After a few minutes, the trio watched, gasping for air, as Chayn squeezed into the garage. And there was even enough room for her tail.

Turning, Jay took his eyes off of Shawn as she attempted to dry off Chayn's large blue wing with a towel and looked at Kendall. "Well?"

Kendall bit his lip. "I've...heard about the portal, in a way."

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

"Alright, alright!" Kendall backed up, "Shouldn't we go someplace else? Who knows how long before the neighbors see a huge dragon in my backyard." Chayn huffed, but lifted her head.

"I will leave. You three stay," she lowered her head again. "Talk, stay out of this storm."

Jay flicked a glance at Tynx and asked Kendall, "Could we make room in the garage, maybe?"

Shawn bobbed her head. "I don't want to make Chayn leave." She managed a small smile.

Kendall looked at Chayn, slightly at loss. "Uh... we can try." He looked around. "Jay, help me move the heavy stuff into the house, if it won't fit, let's move it as close to the wall of the garage as we can get it." Kendall turned to Tynx. "You.... if you can help, then help. Might as well make yourself useful. Shawn, you carry the smaller, lighter things inside. We'll get this dragon in here even if it kills us." Tynx and Chayn snorted in alarm. "It's a figure of speech!"

"I'll try to find some towels, too," Shawn said. Jay stood up. "Okay, lets do this, then. Tynx, you going to stay as a lion?"

Tynx shifted into a human. Kendall stared again. "What? Never seen a shapeshifter before?" Chayn moved as best she could while the guys shifted equipment to the house. She tried to be helpful, but all she managed was giving the garage wall a nice gash.

After a few minutes, the trio watched, gasping for air, as Chayn squeezed into the garage. And there was even enough room for her tail.

Turning, Jay took his eyes off of Shawn as she attempted to dry off Chayn's large blue wing with a towel and looked at Kendall. "Well?"

Kendall bit his lip. "I've...heard about the portal, in a way."

"In what way?" Shawn prompted, ducking under Chayn's wing to dry it underneath.

"I thought it was just a story," Kendall continued. "I had overheard two people talking about it. Probably... two, three weeks ago? They first mentioned how weird the weather had been. You two might have noticed," he looked at Jay and Shawn, "Then one of them said something about the portal. The other scoffed at the idea, but his friend insisted it was reall, and that he had seen one before. He said they seem to show up just before heavy rainfall, then disappear for ay amount of time." Tynx swallowed, looking out the window at the rain that splattered against the glass.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

"Alright, alright!" Kendall backed up, "Shouldn't we go someplace else? Who knows how long before the neighbors see a huge dragon in my backyard." Chayn huffed, but lifted her head.

"I will leave. You three stay," she lowered her head again. "Talk, stay out of this storm."

Jay flicked a glance at Tynx and asked Kendall, "Could we make room in the garage, maybe?"

Shawn bobbed her head. "I don't want to make Chayn leave." She managed a small smile.

Kendall looked at Chayn, slightly at loss. "Uh... we can try." He looked around. "Jay, help me move the heavy stuff into the house, if it won't fit, let's move it as close to the wall of the garage as we can get it." Kendall turned to Tynx. "You.... if you can help, then help. Might as well make yourself useful. Shawn, you carry the smaller, lighter things inside. We'll get this dragon in here even if it kills us." Tynx and Chayn snorted in alarm. "It's a figure of speech!"

"I'll try to find some towels, too," Shawn said. Jay stood up. "Okay, lets do this, then. Tynx, you going to stay as a lion?"

Tynx shifted into a human. Kendall stared again. "What? Never seen a shapeshifter before?" Chayn moved as best she could while the guys shifted equipment to the house. She tried to be helpful, but all she managed was giving the garage wall a nice gash.

After a few minutes, the trio watched, gasping for air, as Chayn squeezed into the garage. And there was even enough room for her tail.

Turning, Jay took his eyes off of Shawn as she attempted to dry off Chayn's large blue wing with a towel and looked at Kendall. "Well?"

Kendall bit his lip. "I've...heard about the portal, in a way."

"In what way?" Shawn prompted, ducking under Chayn's wing to dry it underneath.

"I thought it was just a story," Kendall continued. "I had overheard two people talking about it. Probably... two, three weeks ago? They first mentioned how weird the weather had been. You two might have noticed," he looked at Jay and Shawn, "Then one of them said something about the portal. The other scoffed at the idea, but his friend insisted it was real, and that he had seen one before. He said they seem to show up just before heavy rainfall, then disappear for any amount of time." Tynx swallowed, looking out the window at the rain that splattered against the glass.

Jay attempted to hide his dismay. "This...could get complicated."

"It already is," Shawn almost napped at him. He could see the tensity of the past hours wearing on her.

Tynx looked at Jay nervously, kneading his claws into the seat cushion. Jay spotted a police car behind him. What was going on?

The officer rapped on the window, making Jay jump. Without glancing at Tynx, he rolled down the window.

"Um, hi. Can I, er, help you?" A raindrop hit the window.

"I hope so," the officer replied, peering into the car. Jay tried very hard not to look at Tynx. "My partner behind you happened to notice that your tags are expired."

"We've been traveling a long time," Tynx's voice made Jay turn, about to scold. Tynx, however, was gone. In his place sat a person, Shawn's sunglasses covering his eyes. "My cousin and I, we travel all over. We must've forgotten to check the tags before we left."

Jay tried his best to wipe off the surprise that kept flickering on his face before turning back to the officer. "We can get them renewed right up here, right?" he said, trying to appear eager to please and wanting the conversation to end soon.

"You can," the officer nodded, "But mind you, you need to do it soon. Clear?"

"Yes sir," Jay nodded. A few minutes later the officer was gone, and they were able to get clear of the traffic, discovering that it had been because of a small accident.

"Alright, how did you-" Jay glanced at Tynx. Tynx smiled and removed the sunglasses, revealing his amber eyes. "Well that explains the glasses. You have explaining to do when we get to Kendall's." He peered through the rain and put on the turn signal.

Tynx grinned. "I can explain it now just as well!"

"No, I want some aspirin first, I think."

Shawn looked around her, shivering in the thinner, damp air. "I hope it doesn't thunderstorm. Oh, Chayn, follow that river there for a while." She tried to gauge the dragon's emotions.

"We should be able to beat the storm," Chayn assured her, sniffing the air. She redirected her course slightly to follow the river. But deep inside, all she wanted to do was rip up trees and roar until all her nervousness and panic was gone. But right now, she had Shawn to take care of, and ripping up trees probably wouldn't help.

"I hope we can..." Shawn trailed off. "Am I comfortable? I mean... I've never ridden a dragon before, and I don't know if I'm doing it right, or pinching you, or something."

"You are fine," Chayn glanced at Shawn, "Of course, I've never really had anyone ride me, except Tynx. But he moves around so much I never know if we are doing it right."

Shawn giggled lightly. "I can imagine that..." She scrunched up her freckled nose as a raindrop plunked on it. "Almost there, almost there..."

Chayn's wings pumped harder. She didn't particularly enjoy flying in the rain, especially if it meant there was thunder and lightning.

"There, Chayn!" Shawn yelled over the rushing wind. Chayn suppressed a warning call as she spiralled down toward a house, landing in the backyard.

Jayson glared at the rain pouring outside the car garage. He glared at the forms as he signed them, and glared when he put the tags on crooked. He glared even more at the bill. Meanwhile, Tynx attempted to stay upright on two legs while constantly turning, attempting understand everything in the garage. "How do you humans do it?"

"Good question," Jay growled as he tripped over a piece of metal. "Come on, let's go." Tynx smiled and got back into the car.

"Are we almost there?" He asked. Jay groaned. "Alright, I'll shut up."

"Thanks. I've been asked that too many times..."

"So how do you know Shawn?" Tynx smile faded. "Oops."

Jayson smiled a little. "Okay, that one I have enough brain cells and patience to answer. We lived in the same town for years." Tynx opened his mouth in what looked like the beginning of an 'aww,' but one glare from Jay and Tynx promptly remained silent, save for a smile.

At the house, Chayn was trying very hard to keep her long limbs close. Her tail was the worst. She watched as Shawn approached the house, already drenched.

"I'll see if you can fit in the garage, Chayn," Shawn said, her heart going out to the miserable, bedraggled dragon. She turned and dashed into the side door. "Kendall! Kendall! I need some help!"

A head of thinning brown hair turned from the workbench with a smile. "What do you need?"

Chayn sniffed at the side door, then turned her head to peer in with one eye. Before Shawn could speak, Kendall jumped up with a cry of alarm.

Jay sighed with relief as he pulled the car into the drive. Tynx fidgeted on his seat and peered out the window.

"Are they here?"

Jay's eyes opened wide at the yell. "I'd say...yes. You might want to go ahead and shift back." He grinned a little. "This is about as bad as asking Dad about all those pets..."

"We should probably make sure Chayn doesn't eat him," Tynx said. Jay's grin dissipated. "I'm kidding! She won't eat him unless she has a reason to... I think."

"We should get over there," Jay shot out of the car. Tynx laughed and followed, shifting into his fox form again.

Shawn whirled around to face the door. "Chayn! It's okay! Don't breathe fire, or something." Kendall started to calm down.

Until the fox came barreling in, accidentally knocking Jay over and through the doorway.

"Tynx!" Shawn exclaimed. Tynx froze, staring at Kendall. He backed up slowly. Chayn nudged Jay where he lay near her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Kendall said slowly, watching the fox and the dragon.

Shawn turned, a queer half-smile playing on her lips. "They're, um, lost. And we need to get them back."

Jay took a deep breath. "We need some help."

"What did you two do this time?" Kendall stared at Shawn and Jay, then at Tynx and Chayn. Tynx hid behind Shawn.

"We didn't do anything," Jay snorted, "These two need our help." Chayn moved her eye to look at Kendall, examining him critically.

"Can you?" Shawn tugged at her hair, glancing between Kendall and Chayn.

"I, uh... wow," Kendall sat down, looking at Chayn and Tynx. "I can try, I suppose. What happened?"

"They came through some kind of portal," Shawn replied, kneeling down to pet Tynx reassuringly. "And now they're kind of lost."

"Kind of?" Tynx yipped, his voice unusually high. Chayn huffed at him, blasting him with warm air from her nostrils. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kendall thought. "Where was the portal?"

"Over Stone Mountain." Looking at him, Jay thought he could detect a trace of memory flashing over Kendall's face. "What?"

"Hmm? Nothing, really..."

Jay opened his mouth to speak again, but Tynx was faster. He had shifted. An expression of shock appeared on Kendall's face. A few seconds later, a huge lion stared at him, tail lashing.

"I don't like to get rough," Tynx told Kendall, "I've tried staying calm, I've tried hiding what I feel. But right now, I'm as scared as I can be. If you know something, tell me before I-"

"Tynx!" Chayn snarled, making everyone flinch. Shawn looked terrified, Jay was at loss, and Kendall was as white as paper. Shawn attempted to move between Tynx and Kendall, but froze as the lion turned to her. Jay's shoulders tightened.

"Kendall... You were saying?" He didn't take his eyes off the cat and Shawn.

"Alright, alright!" Kendall backed up, "Shouldn't we go someplace else? Who knows how long before the neighbors see a huge dragon in my backyard." Chayn huffed, but lifted her head.

"I will leave. You three stay," she lowered her head again. "Talk, stay out of this storm."

Jay flicked a glance at Tynx and asked Kendall, "Could we make room in the garage, maybe?"

Shawn bobbed her head. "I don't want to make Chayn leave." She managed a small smile.

Kendall looked at Chayn, slightly at loss. "Uh... we can try." He looked around. "Jay, help me move the heavy stuff into the house, if it won't fit, let's move it as close to the wall of the garage as we can get it." Kendall turned to Tynx. "You.... if you can help, then help. Might as well make yourself useful. Shawn, you carry the smaller, lighter things inside. We'll get this dragon in here even if it kills us." Tynx and Chayn snorted in alarm. "It's a figure of speech!"

"I'll try to find some towels, too," Shawn said. Jay stood up. "Okay, lets do this, then. Tynx, you going to stay as a lion?"

Tynx shifted into a human. Kendall stared again. "What? Never seen a shapeshifter before?" Chayn moved as best she could while the guys shifted equipment to the house. She tried to be helpful, but all she managed was giving the garage wall a nice gash.

After a few minutes, the trio watched, gasping for air, as Chayn squeezed into the garage. And there was even enough room for her tail.

Turning, Jay took his eyes off of Shawn as she attempted to dry off Chayn's large blue wing with a towel and looked at Kendall. "Well?"

Kendall bit his lip. "I've...heard about the portal, in a way."

"In what way?" Shawn prompted, ducking under Chayn's wing to dry it underneath.

"I thought it was just a story," Kendall continued. "I had overheard two people talking about it. Probably... two, three weeks ago? They first mentioned how weird the weather had been. You two might have noticed," he looked at Jay and Shawn, "Then one of them said something about the portal. The other scoffed at the idea, but his friend insisted it was real, and that he had seen one before. He said they seem to show up just before heavy rainfall, then disappear for any amount of time." Tynx swallowed, looking out the window at the rain that splattered against the glass.

Jay attempted to hide his dismay. "This...could get complicated."

"It already is," Shawn almost napped at him. He could see the tensity of the past hours wearing on her.

"Wh-what're we gonna do?" Tynx asked, looking distressed. "How often does this place get storms? Would it show up in the same place? Would we even be able to get back? We-"

"Hey!" Kendall shouted. Tynx flinched. "Everyone just needs to chill. Yes, even you, dragon." Chayn huffed, slowly relaxing her tensed up talons. "Right now, we can't do much, so we might as well just wait out the storm. Food will help." The group stared at each in silence. Then Tynx asked, "Do you have granola?"

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sihed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refridgerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

"Tynx!" Jay tried to grab the fox but missed him in the dim light. "Kendall! Where'd he go?"

"This way!" Kendall yelled, as something crashed to the ground. "Other way, Jayson!"

Inside the garage, Shawn desperately hoped Chayn didn't put her head through the roof. "Um... I'm sure everything is fine. Really. Um..."