"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifedt into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifedt into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifedt into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifedt into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifedt into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifedt into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by SHawn, his body quivered nervously.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifted into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by Shawn, his body quivered nervously.

Jay grimaced as Chayn's weight bore down on him. "I might have seen someone I rather unfortunately know, though I'm only reasonably sure."

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifted into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by Shawn, his body quivered nervously.

Jay grimaced as Chayn's weight bore down on him. "I might have seen someone I rather unfortunately know, though I'm only reasonably sure."

"You know this person?" Chayn's eyes narrowed. "You're not in league with him, are you?" Chayn's tail swished slowly.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifted into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by Shawn, his body quivered nervously.

Jay grimaced as Chayn's weight bore down on him. "I might have seen someone I rather unfortunately know, though I'm only reasonably sure."

"You know this person?" Chayn's eyes narrowed. "You're not in league with him, are you?" Chayn's tail swished slowly.

Shawn's eyes were glued on Chayn's tail. "We work at the same place, but not like this. Let's just say he doesn't find my company...enjoyable."

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifted into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by Shawn, his body quivered nervously.

Jay grimaced as Chayn's weight bore down on him. "I might have seen someone I rather unfortunately know, though I'm only reasonably sure."

"You know this person?" Chayn's eyes narrowed. "You're not in league with him, are you?" Chayn's tail swished slowly.

Shawn's eyes were glued on Chayn's tail. "We work at the same place, but not like this. Let's just say he doesn't find my company...enjoyable."

"You work with him?!" Tynx exploded. Chayn snarled at him, then turned back to the boy under her foot. "What do you mean, not like this? Speak carefully."

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifted into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by Shawn, his body quivered nervously.

Jay grimaced as Chayn's weight bore down on him. "I might have seen someone I rather unfortunately know, though I'm only reasonably sure."

"You know this person?" Chayn's eyes narrowed. "You're not in league with him, are you?" Chayn's tail swished slowly.

Shawn's eyes were glued on Chayn's tail. "We work at the same place, but not like this. Let's just say he doesn't find my company...enjoyable."

"You work with him?!" Tynx exploded. Chayn snarled at him, then turned back to the boy under her foot. "What do you mean, not like this? Speak carefully."

Jayson chose his words accordingly with the pressure literally bearing down on him. "He and I work for the same place. But we aren't conspiring about anything like this...whatever 'this' is."

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifted into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by Shawn, his body quivered nervously.

Jay grimaced as Chayn's weight bore down on him. "I might have seen someone I rather unfortunately know, though I'm only reasonably sure."

"You know this person?" Chayn's eyes narrowed. "You're not in league with him, are you?" Chayn's tail swished slowly.

Shawn's eyes were glued on Chayn's tail. "We work at the same place, but not like this. Let's just say he doesn't find my company...enjoyable."

"You work with him?!" Tynx exploded. Chayn snarled at him, then turned back to the boy under her foot. "What do you mean, not like this? Speak carefully."

Jayson chose his words accordingly with the pressure literally bearing down on him. "He and I work for the same place. But we aren't conspiring about anything like this...whatever 'this' is."

Chayn tilted her head. "So... you are like rivals?" Tynx's fur was beginning to stand on end.

"If they work for the same place, how can we trust Jay?" Tynx looks nervously at Shawn. "Or her?"

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifted into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by Shawn, his body quivered nervously.

Jay grimaced as Chayn's weight bore down on him. "I might have seen someone I rather unfortunately know, though I'm only reasonably sure."

"You know this person?" Chayn's eyes narrowed. "You're not in league with him, are you?" Chayn's tail swished slowly.

Shawn's eyes were glued on Chayn's tail. "We work at the same place, but not like this. Let's just say he doesn't find my company...enjoyable."

"You work with him?!" Tynx exploded. Chayn snarled at him, then turned back to the boy under her foot. "What do you mean, not like this? Speak carefully."

Jayson chose his words accordingly with the pressure literally bearing down on him. "He and I work for the same place. But we aren't conspiring about anything like this...whatever 'this' is."

Chayn tilted her head. "So... you are like rivals?" Tynx's fur was beginning to stand on end.

"If they work for the same place, how can we trust Jay?" Tynx looks nervously at Shawn. "Or her?"

"You could say that," Jay answered. "We work for the same organization, but we aren't friends, for various reasons."

"We're trusting you guys, for one thing," Shawn threw in.

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifted into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by Shawn, his body quivered nervously.

Jay grimaced as Chayn's weight bore down on him. "I might have seen someone I rather unfortunately know, though I'm only reasonably sure."

"You know this person?" Chayn's eyes narrowed. "You're not in league with him, are you?" Chayn's tail swished slowly.

Shawn's eyes were glued on Chayn's tail. "We work at the same place, but not like this. Let's just say he doesn't find my company...enjoyable."

"You work with him?!" Tynx exploded. Chayn snarled at him, then turned back to the boy under her foot. "What do you mean, not like this? Speak carefully."

Jayson chose his words accordingly with the pressure literally bearing down on him. "He and I work for the same place. But we aren't conspiring about anything like this...whatever 'this' is."

Chayn tilted her head. "So... you are like rivals?" Tynx's fur was beginning to stand on end.

"If they work for the same place, how can we trust Jay?" Tynx looks nervously at Shawn. "Or her?"

"You could say that," Jay answered. "We work for the same organization, but we aren't friends, for various reasons."

"We're trusting you guys, for one thing," Shawn threw in.

Chayn stared at Jay a moment longer, then lifted her foot and backed away. "You are right. You two are willing to trust us, so we should be willing to trust you. I apologize." Chayn nudged Jay's shoulder. Tynx yips happily. "So who this... not friend?"

"We need to find that portal," Tynx said. "That's what we investigated when we saw it, and it sucked us right in. If we can find it again, maybe it'll un-suck us!" Jay tilted his head. The logic was there, but the word choice was... unique.

"Un-" his voice dropped off as he heard a crackling in the nearby woods-too near for comfort.

Shawn heard it too.

Tynx's hackles were raised as he whipped around. Chayn's mouth lifted into a snarl as she wraped her tail in front of Shawn protectively. Jay took a cautious step forward.

"Someone's coming!" he hissed. The look on his face told Shawn he was baffled that Chayn was already protecting her. "We've got to get away from here."

"What're we gonna do?!" Tynx asked in a panic. Chayn rolled her eyes and lowered her self down, so her belly touched the ground. "We can fly, if it wouldn't make too much noise." Tynx was prancing in place.

Jay hesitated as Shawn clambered on the dragon's back with the ease of a natural. "I-"

"There's no time, Jay!"

Chayn smiled. "I can pick him up, little one."

Jay's face paled. Chayn lifted her wings as Tynx sprinted past and scrabbled up the dragon's leg. Chayn lifted into the air with ease, gently grasping Jay in her talons before gliding silently away.

"Don't scream!" Shawn hissed.

"I am not going to scream. Fainting is more probable."

"You will be safe," Chayn assured him. "Where should we go?" Tynx peeked over the edge, squinting. "I don't see anyone," he said.

"That's probably his plan," Jay muttered, trying to stay calm.

"What's probably his plan?" Shawn asked. "Who was it?"

Jay ignored the second question. "Whoever was coming might not have wanted to be seen," Jay explained. Chayn wobbled slightly in a strong gust. "Whoa-"

"Sorry," Chayn glanced down at him. "You two know more about this odd world than I, where do we fly?"

"Fly out over the lake. There's are a bunch of islands that no one can really get to."

Chayn shifted her course and glided smoothly over the glossy lake surface. Even thought he was dangling under a dragon, Jay couldn't help but admit how beautiful it looked.

Shawn smiled as she felt the stiff wind blow through her hair, lifting it off her shoulders and tangling the light curls. She laughed as Chayn skimmed Jayson's feet on the surface of the water, throwing a jet of water into his face. He sputtered and grinned hugely.

Tynx yipped with pleasure as Chayn circled above an island, slowly descending. She placed Jay on the ground before landing nearby. Shawn clambered off, her eyes bright with wonder and her hair a mess. Jayson grinned.

"How's that for flying?" Tynx exclaimed, hopping off. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet. Chayn rolled her eyes and looked around, she sniffed the trees. Tynx looked up at Jay and Shawn. "How did you guys see us, anyway? And who was that in the wood?"

"I saw you when I was cloudwatching." A moment of silence followed as Jayson stared fixedly elsewhere. "Jayson Neil Lewis, don't be cagey!"

Chayn's eyes narrowed at Jay. Her tail swept around, knocking Jay's feet out from under him. He yelped as her foot pinned him down. She looked him in the eye. "You're hiding something. What do you know?"

Shawn blinked in surprise and resisted flying at the dragon. "Don't hurt him!"

"I have no immediate plans to do him permanent damage."

"Thrilling," Jay quipped. Chayn snarled viciously and pressed down.

"Start talking, little one," Chayn growled. Tynx stood by Shawn, his body quivered nervously.

Jay grimaced as Chayn's weight bore down on him. "I might have seen someone I rather unfortunately know, though I'm only reasonably sure."

"You know this person?" Chayn's eyes narrowed. "You're not in league with him, are you?" Chayn's tail swished slowly.

Shawn's eyes were glued on Chayn's tail. "We work at the same place, but not like this. Let's just say he doesn't find my company...enjoyable."

"You work with him?!" Tynx exploded. Chayn snarled at him, then turned back to the boy under her foot. "What do you mean, not like this? Speak carefully."

Jayson chose his words accordingly with the pressure literally bearing down on him. "He and I work for the same place. But we aren't conspiring about anything like this...whatever 'this' is."

Chayn tilted her head. "So... you are like rivals?" Tynx's fur was beginning to stand on end.

"If they work for the same place, how can we trust Jay?" Tynx looks nervously at Shawn. "Or her?"

"You could say that," Jay answered. "We work for the same organization, but we aren't friends, for various reasons."

"We're trusting you guys, for one thing," Shawn threw in.

Chayn stared at Jay a moment longer, then lifted her foot and backed away. "You are right. You two are willing to trust us, so we should be willing to trust you. I apologize." Chayn nudged Jay's shoulder. Tynx yipped happily. "So who this... not friend?"

Jay grimaced and got up off the ground. "This is kind of an off day for me... His name is Alec."

Shawn's eyes narrowed.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrated Jay's green ones.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" He asked, his nose twicthing as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" he asked, his nose twitching as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

Jay squinted at the wrapper. "Sugar, oats, 'natural flavors'..." He opened the package and broke off a piece. "Here, try it. It's crunchy."

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" he asked, his nose twitching as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

Jay squinted at the wrapper. "Sugar, oats, 'natural flavors'..." He opened the package and broke off a piece. "Here, try it. It's crunchy."

"Natural flavors?" Chayn tilted her head. "Like grass and-" But Tynx had already chomped down on the offered piece. He chewed for awhile, then looked up, eyes wide.

"That stuff is incredible!!!"

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" he asked, his nose twitching as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

Jay squinted at the wrapper. "Sugar, oats, 'natural flavors'..." He opened the package and broke off a piece. "Here, try it. It's crunchy."

"Natural flavors?" Chayn tilted her head. "Like grass and-" But Tynx had already chomped down on the offered piece. He chewed for awhile, then looked up, eyes wide.

"That stuff is incredible!!!"

Shawn laughed until tears came to her eyes. "You like it?" She took the package and handed Tynx another piece. "Chayn, do you want some?"

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" he asked, his nose twitching as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

Jay squinted at the wrapper. "Sugar, oats, 'natural flavors'..." He opened the package and broke off a piece. "Here, try it. It's crunchy."

"Natural flavors?" Chayn tilted her head. "Like grass and-" But Tynx had already chomped down on the offered piece. He chewed for awhile, then looked up, eyes wide.

"That stuff is incredible!!!"

Shawn laughed until tears came to her eyes. "You like it?" She took the package and handed Tynx another piece. "Chayn, do you want some?"

"I love it!" Tynx exclaimed. Chayn smiled. She looked at the granola bar thoughtfully. "I think I'll try some," she said at last. "So long as there's enough for you and Jay."

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" he asked, his nose twitching as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

Jay squinted at the wrapper. "Sugar, oats, 'natural flavors'..." He opened the package and broke off a piece. "Here, try it. It's crunchy."

"Natural flavors?" Chayn tilted her head. "Like grass and-" But Tynx had already chomped down on the offered piece. He chewed for awhile, then looked up, eyes wide.

"That stuff is incredible!!!"

Shawn laughed until tears came to her eyes. "You like it?" She took the package and handed Tynx another piece. "Chayn, do you want some?"

"I love it!" Tynx exclaimed. Chayn smiled. She looked at the granola bar thoughtfully. "I think I'll try some," she said at last. "So long as there's enough for you and Jay."

"There should be enough. I'm not hungry." Jay broke off a piece and held it out to Chayn. "It doesn't take much to fill you up."

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" he asked, his nose twitching as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

Jay squinted at the wrapper. "Sugar, oats, 'natural flavors'..." He opened the package and broke off a piece. "Here, try it. It's crunchy."

"Natural flavors?" Chayn tilted her head. "Like grass and-" But Tynx had already chomped down on the offered piece. He chewed for awhile, then looked up, eyes wide.

"That stuff is incredible!!!"

Shawn laughed until tears came to her eyes. "You like it?" She took the package and handed Tynx another piece. "Chayn, do you want some?"

"I love it!" Tynx exclaimed. Chayn smiled. She looked at the granola bar thoughtfully. "I think I'll try some," she said at last. "So long as there's enough for you and Jay."

"There should be enough. I'm not hungry." Jay broke off a piece and held it out to Chayn. "It doesn't take much to fill you up."

Chayn observed the piece of granola for a moment before lowering her head down. She carefully grasped it in her mouth and chewed. She swallowed, her eyes sparkled. "That is very good." Tynx looked around.

"So what's on this island?"

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" he asked, his nose twitching as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

Jay squinted at the wrapper. "Sugar, oats, 'natural flavors'..." He opened the package and broke off a piece. "Here, try it. It's crunchy."

"Natural flavors?" Chayn tilted her head. "Like grass and-" But Tynx had already chomped down on the offered piece. He chewed for awhile, then looked up, eyes wide.

"That stuff is incredible!!!"

Shawn laughed until tears came to her eyes. "You like it?" She took the package and handed Tynx another piece. "Chayn, do you want some?"

"I love it!" Tynx exclaimed. Chayn smiled. She looked at the granola bar thoughtfully. "I think I'll try some," she said at last. "So long as there's enough for you and Jay."

"There should be enough. I'm not hungry." Jay broke off a piece and held it out to Chayn. "It doesn't take much to fill you up."

Chayn observed the piece of granola for a moment before lowering her head down. She carefully grasped it in her mouth and chewed. She swallowed, her eyes sparkled. "That is very good." Tynx looked around.

"So what's on this island?"

"I don't know. I've never-" Shawn was cut off as Jay grabbed her arm.

"Listen!" he hissed. "Do you hear that?"

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" he asked, his nose twitching as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

Jay squinted at the wrapper. "Sugar, oats, 'natural flavors'..." He opened the package and broke off a piece. "Here, try it. It's crunchy."

"Natural flavors?" Chayn tilted her head. "Like grass and-" But Tynx had already chomped down on the offered piece. He chewed for awhile, then looked up, eyes wide.

"That stuff is incredible!!!"

Shawn laughed until tears came to her eyes. "You like it?" She took the package and handed Tynx another piece. "Chayn, do you want some?"

"I love it!" Tynx exclaimed. Chayn smiled. She looked at the granola bar thoughtfully. "I think I'll try some," she said at last. "So long as there's enough for you and Jay."

"There should be enough. I'm not hungry." Jay broke off a piece and held it out to Chayn. "It doesn't take much to fill you up."

Chayn observed the piece of granola for a moment before lowering her head down. She carefully grasped it in her mouth and chewed. She swallowed, her eyes sparkled. "That is very good." Tynx looked around.

"So what's on this island?"

"I don't know. I've never-" Shawn was cut off as Jay grabbed her arm.

"Listen!" he hissed. "Do you hear that?"

Chayn stiffened, her nostrils flaring. Tynx hunkered down, his ears darting every which way. Shawn strained to pick up whatever it was Jay heard.

"What's wrong, little one?" Chayn slowly, very, very slowly, lowered her head, her eyes glued to their surroundings.

"Are we in trouble?" Tynx asked nervously. "He... he won't find us here, right?" Chayn looked at Jay, her dark blue eyes penetrating Jay's green ones.

"He shouldn't be able to." Jay squirmed internally. "What?"

Shawn didn't move.

"What do you two work for? Or who?" Chayn asked. "And what would happen if he did?"

Shawn titled her head, her eyes still narrowed. "I work as a sort of analyst for the government."

"I'm a field agent, so to speak," Jay said shortly.

"What's so special about a field?" Tynx asked. "And what do you analyze?"

"Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what is this, government?" Chayn asked.

Shawn smiled. "I do a lot of papers, research and planning. Sometimes I oversee things that are going on."

"The government's job is to protect the people." Jay scratched his head. "I'm a field agent, meaning that I go out and...protect things. Sort of. Anyway, having a dragon and a shapeshifter show up from another world would mean a lot of 'red tape.'"

"What's red tape?" Tynx asked. "Would the government not like us being here? Is that why your friend, but not friend, tried to sneak up on us?" Chayn's tail swished nervously.

Jay's eyes locked onto Chayn's tail. "I don't think he knows anything yet. He was just seeing what was going on. If the government caught you, it wouldn't be a fun experience. You probably wouldn't get to go back to your world."

"But we aren't going to let that happen." Shawn was calm and poised.

Tynx exploded in a panic. His eyes went wide with fear, and his body shook.

"We couldn't go home?! Why not?! Why wouldn't they let us go home?! I don't wanna die here!!!" Tynx's rant was cut short as Chayn's tail came down on him and pinned him to the ground. Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay tried to control his expression. "No, we'll get you back home safely." Shawn smiled.

Tynx exhaled slowly and deeply. Chayn lifted her foot and turned back to their new friends. "So what do we do now? We're not keeping you from anything, are we?"

Shawn shook her head. "Not me. Jay?"

Jay shrugged. "I wasn't busy." Chayn smiled slightly and nudged them both. "Thank you, both of you." Tynx, still lying prone on the ground after his panic attack, suddenly whined, "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Shawn glared at him. "I know, I'm always hungry. What do you like to eat, Tynx?"

"Anything, really," Tynx shrugged, rolling over onto his back. "Fruit, meat. Stuff like that." Chayn rolled her eyes.

Jay dug his hand into the pocket of his jeans. "Want to try a granola bar?" His eyes twinkled.

Tynx's eyes latch onto the granola bar. "What is it made of?" he asked, his nose twitching as he sniffed. Chayn sniffed too, but she tried to be more subtle while Tynx was completely enchanted by the idea.

Jay squinted at the wrapper. "Sugar, oats, 'natural flavors'..." He opened the package and broke off a piece. "Here, try it. It's crunchy."

"Natural flavors?" Chayn tilted her head. "Like grass and-" But Tynx had already chomped down on the offered piece. He chewed for awhile, then looked up, eyes wide.

"That stuff is incredible!!!"

Shawn laughed until tears came to her eyes. "You like it?" She took the package and handed Tynx another piece. "Chayn, do you want some?"

"I love it!" Tynx exclaimed. Chayn smiled. She looked at the granola bar thoughtfully. "I think I'll try some," she said at last. "So long as there's enough for you and Jay."

"There should be enough. I'm not hungry." Jay broke off a piece and held it out to Chayn. "It doesn't take much to fill you up."

Chayn observed the piece of granola for a moment before lowering her head down. She carefully grasped it in her mouth and chewed. She swallowed, her eyes sparkled. "That is very good." Tynx looked around.

"So what's on this island?"

"I don't know. I've never-" Shawn was cut off as Jay grabbed her arm.

"Listen!" he hissed. "Do you hear that?"

Chayn stiffened, her nostrils flaring. Tynx hunkered down, his ears darting every which way. Shawn strained to pick up whatever it was Jay heard.

"What's wrong, little one?" Chayn slowly, very, very slowly, lowered her head, her eyes glued to their surroundings.

"Get back in the woods and be still!" Jay sprinted for the brush.

Shawn tripped and fell, landing hard on her knee. "Hurry!"

Tynx scrambled after Jay, his eyes wide with fear. Chayn followed, but stopped by Shawn. She nudged Shawn's shoulder before sliding her tail in front of Shawn and helped lift her on her feet.

"Hurry!" Tynx hissed from where he hid with Jay, prancing in place. Chayn and Shawn joined them as quietly as they could.

Tynx scrambled after Jay, his eyes wide with fear. Chayn followed, but stopped by Shawn. She nudged Shawn's shoulder before sliding her tail in front of Shawn and helped lift her on her feet.

"Hurry!" Tynx hissed from where he hid with Jay, prancing in place. Chayn and Shawn joined them as quietly as they could.

"It's a helicopter," Jay grumbled under his breath.

"A what?!"

"SHHHH! And stay still!" Jay put his hand on Tynx.

Tynx scrambled after Jay, his eyes wide with fear. Chayn followed, but stopped by Shawn. She nudged Shawn's shoulder before sliding her tail in front of Shawn and helped lift her on her feet.

"Hurry!" Tynx hissed from where he hid with Jay, prancing in place. Chayn and Shawn joined them as quietly as they could.

"It's a helicopter," Jay grumbled under his breath.

"A what?!"

"SHHHH! And stay still!" Jay put his hand on Tynx.

Chayn's eyes locked on the skies, her head so low the grass tickled her chin. Tynx was wide eyed, his tail twitching.

"Why is it so loud?" Chayn asked quietly, her lips parted in a small snarl.

Tynx scrambled after Jay, his eyes wide with fear. Chayn followed, but stopped by Shawn. She nudged Shawn's shoulder before sliding her tail in front of Shawn and helped lift her on her feet.

"Hurry!" Tynx hissed from where he hid with Jay, prancing in place. Chayn and Shawn joined them as quietly as they could.

"It's a helicopter," Jay grumbled under his breath.

"A what?!"

"SHHHH! And stay still!" Jay put his hand on Tynx.

Chayn's eyes locked on the skies, her head so low the grass tickled her chin. Tynx was wide eyed, his tail twitching.

"Why is it so loud?" Chayn asked quietly, her lips parted in a small snarl.

"Because...it isn't."

"Genius, Jay." Shawn was gingerly examining her injured knee. "That type of helicopter is designed for bearing heavy weight and speed, not silence.

Tynx scrambled after Jay, his eyes wide with fear. Chayn followed, but stopped by Shawn. She nudged Shawn's shoulder before sliding her tail in front of Shawn and helped lift her on her feet.

"Hurry!" Tynx hissed from where he hid with Jay, prancing in place. Chayn and Shawn joined them as quietly as they could.

"It's a helicopter," Jay grumbled under his breath.

"A what?!"

"SHHHH! And stay still!" Jay put his hand on Tynx.

Chayn's eyes locked on the skies, her head so low the grass tickled her chin. Tynx was wide eyed, his tail twitching.

"Why is it so loud?" Chayn asked quietly, her lips parted in a small snarl.

"Because...it isn't."

"Genius, Jay." Shawn was gingerly examining her injured knee. "That type of helicopter is designed for bearing heavy weight and speed, not silence.

Tynx crawled over to Shawn and sniffed her knee. "Are you OK?" Tynx glanced up. "Who does it belong to?"

Chayn, however, was far from calm. Her tail twitched sporadically, and her claws dug into the cool soil. Her dark eyes watched the sky as her wings quivered, sometimes unfurling, but never all the way. At least not yet.

Tynx scrambled after Jay, his eyes wide with fear. Chayn followed, but stopped by Shawn. She nudged Shawn's shoulder before sliding her tail in front of Shawn and helped lift her on her feet.

"Hurry!" Tynx hissed from where he hid with Jay, prancing in place. Chayn and Shawn joined them as quietly as they could.

"It's a helicopter," Jay grumbled under his breath.

"A what?!"

"SHHHH! And stay still!" Jay put his hand on Tynx.

Chayn's eyes locked on the skies, her head so low the grass tickled her chin. Tynx was wide eyed, his tail twitching.

"Why is it so loud?" Chayn asked quietly, her lips parted in a small snarl.

"Because...it isn't."

"Genius, Jay." Shawn was gingerly examining her injured knee. "That type of helicopter is designed for bearing heavy weight and speed, not silence.

Tynx crawled over to Shawn and sniffed her knee. "Are you OK?" Tynx glanced up. "Who does it belong to?"

Chayn, however, was far from calm. Her tail twitched sporadically, and her claws dug into the cool soil. Her dark eyes watched the sky as her wings quivered, sometimes unfurling, but never all the way. At least not yet.

"Chayn, stay still, and they won't see you." Jay put his hand lightly on her leg.

"I'm okay. I don't know who owns it," Shawn hissed. "Jay, did you bring any bandages?"

Tynx scrambled after Jay, his eyes wide with fear. Chayn followed, but stopped by Shawn. She nudged Shawn's shoulder before sliding her tail in front of Shawn and helped lift her on her feet.

"Hurry!" Tynx hissed from where he hid with Jay, prancing in place. Chayn and Shawn joined them as quietly as they could.

"It's a helicopter," Jay grumbled under his breath.

"A what?!"

"SHHHH! And stay still!" Jay put his hand on Tynx.

Chayn's eyes locked on the skies, her head so low the grass tickled her chin. Tynx was wide eyed, his tail twitching.

"Why is it so loud?" Chayn asked quietly, her lips parted in a small snarl.

"Because...it isn't."

"Genius, Jay." Shawn was gingerly examining her injured knee. "That type of helicopter is designed for bearing heavy weight and speed, not silence.

Tynx crawled over to Shawn and sniffed her knee. "Are you OK?" Tynx glanced up. "Who does it belong to?"

Chayn, however, was far from calm. Her tail twitched sporadically, and her claws dug into the cool soil. Her dark eyes watched the sky as her wings quivered, sometimes unfurling, but never all the way. At least not yet.

"Chayn, stay still, and they won't see you." Jay put his hand lightly on her leg.

"I'm okay. I don't know who owns it," Shawn hissed. "Jay, did you bring any bandages?"

"I think I brought a few," Jay whispered back. Eventually he handed some to Shawn. Chayn twitched under his touch. Tynx looked at her. "I've never seen her like this. I hope she doesn't-"

Chayn was crouching very low, back arched and wing half-furled. Her eyes had a panicked look in them.

Tynx scrambled after Jay, his eyes wide with fear. Chayn followed, but stopped by Shawn. She nudged Shawn's shoulder before sliding her tail in front of Shawn and helped lift her on her feet.

"Hurry!" Tynx hissed from where he hid with Jay, prancing in place. Chayn and Shawn joined them as quietly as they could.

"It's a helicopter," Jay grumbled under his breath.

"A what?!"

"SHHHH! And stay still!" Jay put his hand on Tynx.

Chayn's eyes locked on the skies, her head so low the grass tickled her chin. Tynx was wide eyed, his tail twitching.

"Why is it so loud?" Chayn asked quietly, her lips parted in a small snarl.

"Because...it isn't."

"Genius, Jay." Shawn was gingerly examining her injured knee. "That type of helicopter is designed for bearing heavy weight and speed, not silence.

Tynx crawled over to Shawn and sniffed her knee. "Are you OK?" Tynx glanced up. "Who does it belong to?"

Chayn, however, was far from calm. Her tail twitched sporadically, and her claws dug into the cool soil. Her dark eyes watched the sky as her wings quivered, sometimes unfurling, but never all the way. At least not yet.

"Chayn, stay still, and they won't see you." Jay put his hand lightly on her leg.

"I'm okay. I don't know who owns it," Shawn hissed. "Jay, did you bring any bandages?"

"I think I brought a few," Jay whispered back. Eventually he handed some to Shawn. Chayn twitched under his touch. Tynx looked at her. "I've never seen her like this. I hope she doesn't-"

Chayn was crouching very low, back arched and wing half-furled. Her eyes had a panicked look in them.

"Chayn," Shawn whispered softly. "Chayn.... It's okay."

Tynx scrambled after Jay, his eyes wide with fear. Chayn followed, but stopped by Shawn. She nudged Shawn's shoulder before sliding her tail in front of Shawn and helped lift her on her feet.

"Hurry!" Tynx hissed from where he hid with Jay, prancing in place. Chayn and Shawn joined them as quietly as they could.

"It's a helicopter," Jay grumbled under his breath.

"A what?!"

"SHHHH! And stay still!" Jay put his hand on Tynx.

Chayn's eyes locked on the skies, her head so low the grass tickled her chin. Tynx was wide eyed, his tail twitching.

"Why is it so loud?" Chayn asked quietly, her lips parted in a small snarl.

"Because...it isn't."

"Genius, Jay." Shawn was gingerly examining her injured knee. "That type of helicopter is designed for bearing heavy weight and speed, not silence.

Tynx crawled over to Shawn and sniffed her knee. "Are you OK?" Tynx glanced up. "Who does it belong to?"

Chayn, however, was far from calm. Her tail twitched sporadically, and her claws dug into the cool soil. Her dark eyes watched the sky as her wings quivered, sometimes unfurling, but never all the way. At least not yet.

"Chayn, stay still, and they won't see you." Jay put his hand lightly on her leg.

"I'm okay. I don't know who owns it," Shawn hissed. "Jay, did you bring any bandages?"

"I think I brought a few," Jay whispered back. Eventually he handed some to Shawn. Chayn twitched under his touch. Tynx looked at her. "I've never seen her like this. I hope she doesn't-"

Chayn was crouching very low, back arched and wing half-furled. Her eyes had a panicked look in them.

"Chayn," Shawn whispered softly. "Chayn.... It's okay."

"It's... so loud," Chayn rumbled, her eyes searching the skies. She looked as if she'd spring into the sky at any moment, but she remained where she was. Tynx hid behind Jay, shivering.