When I wake up it's due to a loud crash that has me instantly sitting up with my sword in hand. The moment I do, however, I wince from the pain still throbbing in my chest and have to bite my tongue to hold back a yelp.

Looking around for the source of the noise, I spot Gordon trapped beneath my armour, which he accidentally knocked onto the ground. I sigh in relief that that's all it was and put my sword down again, slowly moving towards him so as not to aggravate my wounds too much.

Once I reach Gordon I pick the armour up, freeing him. "What were you doing?" I ask him curiously. "I was going to bring you your armour because I know you're hurt but it's too heavy," he replied, flying upwards and perching on my shoulder.

"Aren't you sweet," I smile at him, using my finger to tickle him under his chin. He purrs in delight. "Thanks for trying to help out, Gordon," I tell my little partner. "You're the best."

"I am, aren't I?" He smirked cockily. I rolled my eyes but smiled at him. "Don't get a big head about it, Gordon."

He simply proceeds to nuzzle into me, wanting hugs as usual. I sit myself down on my bed and rub his belly, which of course he loves. He starts purring happily and wriggling around so I get every good angle of his stomach. I can't help but feel my spirits lift.

Indigo?

I freeze when I hear his voice in my head. Gordon picks up on it instantly and stops playing around, looking up to me with worry in his eyes. I pet his head slowly for comfort.

Yes, Alpha?

Are you free to come here?

Of course, Alpha. I'll be right there.

I look down to Gordon. "Alpine wants me," I explain briefly. "I'll be back in a bit." "Okay," he agrees, wagging his tail, oblivious to the situation that brought me to tears yesterday.

I stand up carefully and make my way down to Alpine's cavern, where he's already risen from his watery spot. "You wanted to see me, Alpha?"

As his gaze turns to me, I bow my head in respect. That's when I realise that I haven't changed my shirt from yesterday and it's still covered with blood. Great.

Alpine spots it instantly and huffs. "You were reckless yesterday," he states calmly. "You should've let me handle it."

"I couldn't let you get hurt," I reply. "You should've," he repeats himself. "Whether I should've or not is not important because I still let you get hurt," I point out bitterly, looking to the spot on him where he was repeatedly shot by Toothless. It's still covered in ice to keep it clean.

"You didn't let me get hurt, you did everything in your power to protect me," he says. "And yet I just stood to the side and watched!" I snap, finally not able to contain myself. "I wanted to ignore you and stop you from getting hurt again, but I couldn't! I just had to watch you get hurt! I don't want to see you hurt, even if it means I have to get hurt myself! I don't care if I'm hurt, but you're so much more important! I can't let you get hurt!"

By this time the tears have started up again, but I refuse to be a crybaby and submit to them. "I let you get hurt. I can't do that again. I've already had one dragon die to protect me, I can't lose you too."

Alpine uses his tusk to nudge me closer, then presses his ice cold forehead against mine. I feel my tears freeze to my cheeks where they've turned to ice, but I don't care. All I care about is making sure I don't lose anyone else.

"Who died protecting you?" He asked, his deep gravelly voice rumbling. "My father apparently died when trying to get me away from dragon hunters," I answer. "His dead body covered me up, so I wasn't seen. He died and my life was saved. But it should've been him that survived."

"Why do you say that?" Alpine questions. "Because he would've been so much more useful than me," I point out. "He had a mate, Alpine. He had another daughter on the way. He could've replaced me with Melanite and then everything would've been back to normal. Like I never existed."

"And if you never existed then thousands of dragons would be dead," Alpine says. "And hundreds of cruel people would be alive to take even more innocent lives away. There's a reason for everything, Indigo. Nothing happens by chance. Not in our world."

"I failed my reason," I sigh. "Which is?" He inquires. "You know it's to protect dragons," I grunt, for a moment forgetting myself. "You failed that reason the moment you first allowed yourself to get hurt since you're a dragon," he points out. "And that is not your reason."

"Well what is it?" I ask, getting a little impatient now. "I don't know exactly," he replied, his eyes full of wisdom as he looked down on me. "But I do know that it's way more than simply looking after wild animals."

I'm about to argue when he pauses. "There's a breach in the patrols," he informs me. "Only one dragon rider who already found a way inside. I suggest you let the others handle this. You're in no condition to be defending anyone right now."

"I can do it," I say, walking off. I hear him drawing in a breath, so I duck behind a previously created chuck of ice before he can freeze me to the spot. He huffs in annoyance when he realises I've bested him.

He sucks in another breath, knowing that I can't hide forever. I pick up a small chip of ice from the ground and toss it towards the other side of the cavern. The second it bounces on the ground Alpine blasts at it, giving me the opportunity to escape.