"You know, you guys were very lucky," said the Nightshade Dragon, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled over the camp. "The Obsidian Veil Dragons lurk in that forest as well. It's surprising we didn't get caught."
Cole's eyes widened with alarm at the mention of the dreaded Obsidian Veil Dragons. "Obsidian Veil Dragons? Are they as dangerous as they sound?"
Cole's eyes widened with alarm at the mention of the dreaded Obsidian Veil Dragons. "Obsidian Veil Dragons? Are they as dangerous as they sound?"
The Nightshade Dragon nodded solemnly. "More so. They're masters of deception and manipulation, lurking in the shadows and striking when you least expect it. If they had caught wind of our presence, we would have been in serious trouble."
Aurora shivered. "I'm glad we made it out of there in one piece.”
Cole nodded. “But if they're still out there, we'll need to stay on our guard."
Elanor frowned, her thoughts turning to their next steps. "We'll need to be extra cautious as we continue our journey. The Obsidian Veil Dragons won't hesitate to use any advantage they can against us."
Cole clenched his fists, determination shining in his eyes. "Then we'll just have to be one step ahead of them. We didn't come this far to let a few dragons stand in our way."
The Nightshade Dragon nodded in agreement. "I'll do my best to keep an eye out for any signs of danger."
"We should give you a name," Aurora said to the Nightshade Dragon, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hmm...how about Shadow?"
The Nightshade Dragon gave a small smile. "Shadow... I like it. It suits me."
Cole nodded in agreement. "It's fitting, considering your ability to blend into the shadows and your mysterious nature."
Elanor grinned, pleased with the choice. "Welcome to the team, Shadow."
Shadow's chest swelled with pride at his new name and the acceptance of his companions. "Thank you, all of you. I'll do my best to live up to it."
The next morning, as the group continued their journey, they found themselves approaching a coastal village. The scent of saltwater filled the air, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing backdrop to the bustling activity of the village.
"Look, a coastal village!" Cole exclaimed, pointing ahead. "Maybe we can find some food supplies or information here."
Elanor nodded. "And while you're at it I'll get my medical supplies."
Aurora's tail swished with excitement. "I wonder if they have any interesting trinkets or stories about the Gem of Power!"
Shadow, still getting used to his new name, surveyed the village with curiosity. "We should be cautious. Not everyone might be friendly, especially with the rumors of the Gem of Power spreading."
They entered the village, and the villagers greeted them warmly. Small, colorful huts lined the sandy streets, and fishing boats bobbed gently in the nearby harbor. The group made their way to what appeared to be the central marketplace, where merchants were selling fresh fish, fruits, and various trinkets.
"Let's split up and gather what we need," Elanor suggested. "Cole, you handle the food. Aurora and I will look for medical supplies. Shadow, keep an eye out for anything unusual."
Cole nodded and headed towards a stall selling dried fish and fruits. Aurora and Elanor made their way to a small apothecary, where they hoped to find some herbs and potions. Shadow, meanwhile, blended into the crowd, his keen eyes scanning for any signs of trouble.
As Cole haggled with a fishmonger over the price of a particularly large fish, he tripped over a stray crate, sending a cascade of apples rolling down the street.
"Sorry!" he called out, scrambling to pick them up, much to the amusement of the nearby villagers.
Aurora giggled as she watched Cole's clumsy antics. "Same old Coal," she said with a smile.
Elanor chuckled. "At least he's trying. Let's see what we can find here."
Inside the apothecary, they were greeted by an elderly woman with kind eyes. “What can I do for you, dears?" she asked.
"We're looking for some herbs and potions," Elanor explained. "Anything that can help with healing and stamina."
The woman nodded and began gathering various items from her shelves. "You must be travelers. Be careful out there. Strange things have been happening lately."
Aurora's ears perked up. "Strange things? Like what?"
The woman lowered her voice. "There have been whispers of a powerful artifact known as the Dragon's Heart. Some say it's powerful enough to end a war. It's been hidden in the Crystal Caves. Many have gone searching for it, but none have returned."
“I thought the Gem of Power ended wars,” Aurora muttered.
“Ah. That's a completely different gem, my dear,” the woman chuckled. “The Gem of Power has similar abilities to the Dragon's Heart. But because there were so many greedy dragons and kings, the Blue Fire dragons destroyed it.”
“Thank you for the information," Elanor said, accepting the bundle of herbs and potions. "We'll be careful."
They regrouped with Cole, who was now balancing a pile of provisions, and Shadow, who had been keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.
"Let's head out," Cole said, his earlier clumsiness forgotten in the face of their mission. "We have a long journey ahead."
“Change of plans. The Gem of Power was destroyed,” Aurora announced.
“So does that mean we're going back home?” Shadow asked worriedly.
“We've come this far. There’s no turning back now,” said Elanor.
Meanwhile, by the shore, a Tide Walker Dragon and a Marine Finback Dragon were deep in conversation.
"Imagine the praises we'll get for turning them in!" the Tide Walker exclaimed, his eyes wide with enthusiasm.
"We'll be famous!" the Marine Finback added, his fins twitching with excitement.
The Tide Walker did a little dance in the sand. "Just think of it! Everyone in Draconia will know our names! We'll be heroes!"
The Marine Finback, whose friends called him Reef, nodded vigorously. "Yeah, Splash! We might even get our own statues in the capital!"
Splash’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "We have to make sure we catch them first. But how? They're bound to be cautious."
Reef put a fin to his chin in a mock thoughtful pose. "Hmm, maybe we could pretend to be their friends? Lure them into a trap?"
Splash laughed, a bubbly sound like waves hitting the shore. "That's perfect! We're so sneaky, they'll never see it coming!"
Reef’s laughter joined Splash’s, the two dragons reveling in their plans. "Let's go find them!" Reef said, turning towards the village. "We can start by asking around if anyone's seen a group of travelers with a Nightshade Dragon."
Splash nodded. "Yeah! And if we see them ourselves, we'll be extra friendly. They won't suspect a thing."
The two dragons set off towards the village, their minds filled with grand visions of praise and fame. Despite their silliness, their determination to capture the group and claim the glory drove them forward.
ns 18.68.41.147da2
