By the time the two had hiked the five miles of forest landscape back to Soranto, they both plopped down on the soft grass next to him.  The dragon still lost far into a deep sleep had been unaware of their presence. 

"I'll let him sleep a little longer." The empress leaned over and whispered to the gremlin. 

He nodded and s there with her in silence waiting for the dragon to wake. A half hour passed by them and the dragon had not stirred from his slumber.

"I hate to wake him." Ralvania whispered.

"I know it." Vamier replied.

"But e have been back over a half hour now." She told him. 

"Yes, we should get moving again." The gremlin spoke, looking up with sad eyes.

                  She nodded to him, taking a long slowed breath. Shaking her head and really not wanting to disturb him. He deserved a good long rest. As soon as this was over, she'd have to give him a long rest.They had been traveling days that felt like weeks. Over the years she'd known thousands of creatures but Soranto had always been her favorite by far. If it weren't for the majestic beast she wouldn't have saved half as many beings. 

"Are you going to wake him?" Vamier whispered.

"A few minutes this is much further than he's accustomed to flying.

"We could walk some of the way." He suggested.

"I'll ask Soranto when he's awake and ready to move." The empress replied.

                She leaned over and was just about  to shake him when the dragon slowly opened his eyes, yawning. Scratching his left ear with his back paw, he began to focus, remembering here the were and why. 

"How long have  you been waiting ?" The dragon asked.

"Not that long." The empress replied, grabbing her bag pulling out a few green apple and giving them to Soranto. 

"Thank you' He responded.

The empress nodded, handing one to the gremlin,too.

  "Are you ready to continue on this quest?" 

"Yes, but if you are still tired we cold walk some of the way." The gremlin offered.

"A few ms on foot wouldn't hurt." Soranto agreed.

 The three of them headed north through the forest, the dragon was more than happy to let his throbbing wing rest a little longer. A few miles on foot turned into roughly thirty seven. They passed by a small golden creek, miles of ongoing forest terrain, even a small village to the west of them. Another six miles and his wing had finally stopped aching.