''Have you heard that?"

''What?"

"That squee sound," you tried to find source of the sound. You were sure you didn't imagine things. The forest around you seemed to be calm.

"Come to think of it...," Atem said looking around. Once again you heard the squee. The half-dragon followed the sound and walked towards a crack in the rocks. You looked inside the hole and saw a small, fluffy ball. You saw yellow feathers. It cocked it's head and looked at you.

"It's a griffin!" you shouted taking it into your arms. It was no bigger than an adult cat. It squeed again nestling in your arms. "So cute~! Can we keep it?"

"Huh? I don't think it's a good idea. His mother might be lurking around," Atem replied. You pursed your lips and looked at him frowning.

"But I can't see his mother anywhere. Besides, she could be, em... dead by now."

Atem looked at you conflicted. He scratched his chin. His amethyst eyes were examining you from head to toe. You wondered what came across his mind. Finally he signed.

"Alright."

"Yay! Thank you!" you beamed at him and hugged the griffin closer. It poked your cheek and tugged on your hair. "Hmm, how should I name you? Atem, got any ideas?"

He shrugged as if saying: 'No. You're the owner.'

"Mako!" you exclaimed, finally getting the idea. The creature squeed again and fluttered its wings. You grinned. Atem only nodded, you guessed he didn't understand your excitement.

You travelled by foot through the forest. You had to find a path leading to the Lake where you were supposed to meet with Yugi and the rest. Atem said that he knows the road, but it will take at least two days to reach the Lake. You walked in a steady pace maneuvering through the rocks. Mako settled on your shoulders. You didn't mind the occasional squees in your ears.

For the night you decided to camp between the rocks. Just in case if griffins were to attack once again. The discussion about what griffins ate was resolved by the creature itself. While you talked it caught a bird on the branch. You were terrified because your argument about Mako being a herbivore was violently torn to shreds.

"Mako, why?"

"Told you, griffins were carnivores."

You sighed and laid on your blanket. You looked up, towards the stars. You reached your hand to the sky, wanting to touch it somehow. Your silver bracelet reflected the light. You noticed few scratches on it. You focused your sight on the stars again. Those small natural wonders made you happy inside. You looked at Atem's profile when he sat beside you. His face, as usual was focused. He frowned. Somehow he looked nostalgic. You wondered what he was thinking about. He was so enigmatic sometimes. Like a million thoughts were crossing his mind, yet he decided to not share them with anyone.

"Do you like watching stars?" you felt a little silly asking him, but you wanted to start a conversation.

"Not really," he replied after a few moments and frowned a bit more. Why was he looking so down? You didn't know, but were determined to change it. You didn't like it, when he was sad. You didn't know why.

"Oh, I see..." silence greeted you. You sighed softly and turned your gaze towards the sky. You guessed you won't be hearing much from him tonight. You watched the shining sparks dance on the horizon. A few trees obstructed your view, but you could still see the sparkling lights.

"How long will it take to reach Mt. Tap Turpu?" you asked.

"If everything would go well, around two to three weeks."

"Whoa, soon!" you sat up delighted. "Aren't you excited to see your friends?"

He glanced at you.

"It's not like I have friends there."

"Huh? Impossible!"

"I'm half-dragon, did you forget?" he sighed looking away. "Yugi and I are not exactly accepted there."

"But it's been so long..."

He didn't say anything more. Atem just frowned at the sky. You felt bad for him and perhaps somehow you understood his situation. You didn't have friends either, till he and Yugi showed up. But for years you were stuck in the cave, only Mr. Katham came to visit you. Now you understood that it was more of an obligation than true feelings. After witnessing work in the village, you could imagine that he worked as hard and to addition had to take care of you. But your years of loneliness were perhaps nothing compared to the rejection Atem and his brother experienced. Still, you could relate.

"One would think it would pass, but it didn't," he spoke. "Dragons are not that different than people. In wealth and happiness they are there for you, but when something bad happens then you learn who is your true friend and who is just a shadow. Now pureblooded dragons tend to look at us like we're some kind of filth. Even she does..." his voice carried away.

"She?" you perked.

"Once in a lifetime dragons chose their mate. She was my mate, "he looked at his hands. "We were happy. We... used to watch stars together. But after I lost the ability to transform into a dragon, she left. She turned away like the others," Atem looked grim and you had no words to comfort him. It seemed that even after all these years it still hurt him. "Yugi and I were left alone, only Lord Pegasus was compassionate enough and helped us."

Those were his last words. He didn't speak anymore and turned away from you. You turned your back too and hugged Mako close. Beside sadness after hearing of his experiences, something else stirred within you. It was an ugly feeling you wanted to leave you. But you couldn't help, but still think about that mysterious woman. Was she able to make him happy. You wondered if he still loved her? Without doubt, he felt pain.

You could hear it in his voice, but was he still in love with her? And why did you even care, if he did? Jealousy clenched your heart. You didn't want him to love her.

Why...?

***

"Finally we're out of this friggin' rocks!" cheered Jonouchi.

"Agreed," Laegil added. Yugi only laughed at their antics. They navigated through rocks the whole morning till they finally reached the path. Still it was steeply down, but it was a way easier route. According to the map Yugi was carrying they had at least one more day of walking. From the path they travelled on they could still see the river. On the other side, there was the main road, but seeing so many patrols they agreed to not use it.

Once again they saw soldiers on the road. They were carrying pennants with Westenra Kingdom's golden falcon on a red background. Their column stretched far with fully armed knights, they were preparing for the departure. It didn't seem like a normal patrol, they had rich colored tents. The three of them leaned out of the bushes.

"It's the king, right there!" Jonouchi pointed. Their eyes fell on the man on a black horse. His white hair reached over his shoulder. His crimson red cape flew on the wind as he got on a horse. He stood confidently with a small troop behind his back. "King Bakura."

"I think we should stay back, and let them just pass," Yugi said observing the troops. His companions nodded and they started to withdraw from the bushes. Suddenly Yugi's horse made a run, scared by the griffin's screech resounding in the sky. The black mare galloped straight into the king's camp. Some soldiers caught her and calmed her down.

"Shit," they simultaneously cursed and froze. The king noticed the commotion in the bushes.

"Catch whoever is there and bring them here, shoot a few arrows if you want," he said, in a surprisingly boyish voice. But his subjects obeyed immediately and jumping on their own horses headed towards Yugi and the rest. Dogs barked and ran after the horses.

Arrows cut through the air as the three companions made a run for it. They waded through the forest. The soldiers were long behind them, as they had to navigate through the trees on horses. Yugi ran as fast as he could hearing shouts from the king's subjects.

They ran further into the forest when he noticed that the small valley began forming. On both sides he noticed higher and higher rocks.

"Dang it!" Jonouchi cursed. Yugi immediately understood what his friend meant. They had run into a dead end. They couldn't climb on the flat rocks. Yugi started considering breaking the spell that bound Laegil to human form, but it would only bring them more troubles. Lord Pegasus forbidden him taking it off till they were on Mt. Tap Turpu. Moreover, now, that he knew of king's objective of killing dragons, it would only make things worse.

"What now?!" Laegil yelled. With inhuman hearing they could hear soldiers being closer. Yugi desperately thumped his fists on the stone.

The only way out was to kill the enemy. Usually thinking creatures of their world didn't meddle with humans. They avoided each other or coexisted, one way or the other, they tried not to fight. But now, with all options gone, they prepared to fight.

The ground shook and collapsed under Yugi and his companions. Coughing from dirt they found themselves in an underground cave. He looked up at the hole they had made, hanging high in the ceiling, now hidden behind branches.

"To the tunnel!" Laegil shook them and pointed at the black space. They hid in the shadows and waited for the soldiers. They heard barking from the dogs and soon horses' neighs followed. Yugi unconsciously held his breath. Soldiers examined the rocks.

"Nobody's here," one of them stated.

"Yeah, let's get out of the canyon and go report to the king," another said.

"Eh, it's probably some farmhand, run off scared," first voice snorted.

"We'll see. Now let's go."

"Aye, captain."

The soldiers rode off. Yugi and others stayed hidden till they couldn't hear them anymore. He breathed in relief.

"Now what?" Jonouchi asked. The hole was too high for any of them to reach.

"I'll use my plant magic and we'll get out here."

"Couldn't you do it earlier?" Laegil put a hand on her hip.

"I wanted to, but the ground collapsed, and now we don't have soldiers on our tail, so..."

"Alright, alright," she sighed.

Yugi touched the ground and made a complicated gesture. Out of the dirt grew a green, strong plant that was shaped like stairs. In a matter of seconds it reached the hole. Yugi stepped on the plant and smiled at his friends.

"Hey look at this, guys!" Jonouchi pointed into the tunnel. Both dragons turned their heads and saw light coming from it. All three cautiously made their way into the tunnel.

It seemed like Yugi's magic made some of the dirt come down. They saw a crystal like surface, clear and clean. They almost could see themselves in it. It wasn't big, but shone brightly. Jonouchi and Laegil moved their faces closer. Suddenly, a blue eye opened and the two bounced back simultaneously.

"The hell?!" Jonouchi panted. Beside this movement the creature didn't do anything.

"Let's get out of here," Yugi proposed, a little startled. "I'd rather not wake it, whatever it is."

They nodded and the three made their way to the plant stairs.

~~***~~

After long and exhausting battle with my inspiration, here it is! 11th chapter!
Well, I hope you enjoyed!
Thank you for InnerGlow for correcting my grammar :)