"Is there some kind of trick that involves being hugged that causes sleep?" I joke. "Pretty much," Asher chuckles as well. "It calms us down or something, which makes it much easier for us to sleep. Is it the same with you?"

"Yeah," I nod, petting Stylive's side. She's been sniffing at Melanite and Asher ever since they came in. "Is she your friend?" Asher asks, looking at her. "She is. This is Stylive," I confirm. Asher morphs into dragon form and sniffs at Stylive for a moment before roaring at her, staying quiet so that Melanite doesn't awaken.

Stylive copies his actions and then bows her head, though not in a submissive way. Asher shakes his head before doing the same, roaring. "What's going on with them two?" I ask Selene, who's been watching us the whole time.

"They're talking about you," she replied, watching as the two dragons now were just plain rawking and roaring to one another. "Stylive's telling Asher about you. Nothing major, just the basic stuff. You know, favourite things, hobbies, ar- hahahahaha!"

"What's so funny?" I ask, wondering why she's suddenly laughing. "She just said your catchphrase," Selene replied. "I... don't have a catchphrase," I say, confused. "She said it was 'I swear on Alpine's frost, Gordon, if you don't get off of me you're not getting any treats for the rest of your life' or something like that," she laughed again.

"Well I do say that a lot," I nod, chuckling. "Then again, Gordon gives me every reason to."

"Who's Gordon, then?" She asks. "Alpha Cave Dweller," I reply. "Acts like a puppy dog with wings, not an Alpha. He's always trying to play."

"Fair enough," she nods with a slight smile. "Alpha Cave Dwellers and Alpha Night Terrors are like that because they're more like friends to their packs than Alphas. They're like one dragon. They don't try to put up appearances to one another."

We watch as Asher and Stylive start to play with one another, rolling around and nipping at their tails. "Take it outside, please," Selene chuckles to them. Asher motions for Stylive to follow him out. She turns to look at me, her eyes pleading.

I nod to her and she grins at me. I take a step forward to follow her and Asher out, but Selene holds her arm out to stop me. "Why are you going with them?" She asks. "I'm not leaving Stylive," I reply calmly. "Why not?" Selene asks. "In case something happens, I need to be nearby to keep her safe," I shrug.

"Why do you think something would happen to her that Asher couldn't take care of?"

"Simple precaution," I state. "Better safe than sorry, right?"

"True..." she must've seen my hesitance to part from Stylive. "She'll be fine, trust me. Besides, what would we do to her?"

"Again, it's a simple precaution."

"You know what? Why don't you both just rest up instead?" She suggests, probably knowing she can't win this. "Hm... good idea, I should be getting home now anyway," I reply, though I know that's not what she means.

She sighs. "You know what I mean. There's plenty of space here for you and Stylive. You can even take my nest if you'd like that."

"Thanks for the offer, but I can't stay. I need to get back to the pack and keep them safe. Then there's lots of work to do on top of that to keep the sanctuary running. I don't have time for this," I tell her.

"When was the last time you had a break from it all, Indigo?" She asked. "Today was supposed to be my 'break', but I was forced into it," I shrug. "Other than today?" She persists. "Never," I reply. "Never?!"

"Never," I repeat with a bored tone. "Hunters don't take breaks and neither do I. I don't want them and I don't need them. I'm more than happy to get on with my work."

"Indigo, you need a break," Selene states. "Now either stay awake or go to sleep, I don't mind which, but you're staying here at least for the night. I don't want you and Stylive flying when it's so dark out. It's not safe."

"If anything the night is safer," I point out. "Keeps us covered." "Well either way, you're staying," she persists. Asher nudges my hand, trying to convince me of the same thing. "No. I'm supposed to protect them, not have a sleepover."

"Indigo, please, just one night," Selene practically begs. "Just one night with my daughter. Is that really too much to ask?"

"I should've been back by now already and last time I went missing for too long an entire island almost went up in flames due to the pack looking for me. I can't stay."

I start walking out of the cave with Stylive, but Asher uses his wing to block the exit. "Asher," I sigh. "Just let me go."

He growls warningly at me, telling me to just give in. "No, I won't go down without a fight," I snap back. "Now move before I make you."

He growls again, not letting up, so I scratch his sweet spot and smirk when he collapses. I step over his now limp wing, Stylive doing the same, and leave.

I'm barely out of the cave when darkness consumes me and tugs me back. "Let go of me!" I snap in annoyance, struggling against the tight grasp of a pair of wings that have wrapped around me. A growl sounds. From its slightly higher pitch, I can tell it's Selene who grabbed me.

"Let me go!" I demand. "You can't force me to make such a selfish choice!"

"Ugh..." Asher's voice mutters. "As great as that was, Indigo, don't do it every time we fight. It's still kinda weird. Now what do you mean it's a selfish choice?"

"It's short, mediocre happiness for me only or the safety of the whole pack that you made me choose between if I stay," I explain. "You're trying to force me to choose my own amusement over their lives. How is that not selfish?"

"They can handle themselves for one night, I'm sure," Asher states. "Now go to sleep. That's clearly the only way we can keep you here."

"I won't sleep!" I snarl. "The second you tire out and fall asleep, Selene, I'm just going to leave. There's nothing you can do to stop me."

"There might be," I can practically see the smirk on Asher's face when he says this. My eyes widen at the all too familiar words and I start to thrash around madly, as if having a seizure. "No... no! NO!"