5 Years Later

Elliot awoke and found Pete gone. However, that wasn't exactly strange. He would come and go as he pleased; Elliot was just usually with him. In the mornings, though, it wasn't uncommon for him to get up earlier than Elliot. Elliot enjoyed to sleep in, considering he didn't have anywhere else to be.

He rose to his paws and came out of the den, looking around at the forest with slanted eyes. He licked his lips as he followed the scent of Pete. He bounded forward as he lifted his head, breathing heavily. He slashed his tail against the ground as his breath billowed from his nostrils.

He caught Pete's scent strongly as he strode forward. He bounded forward slightly as he heard the familiar roar of a bear. It wasn't uncommon to see bears, but they knew to leave him alone. He could defeat anyone of them now that he was bigger and stronger than them. But, they didn't always leave Pete alone.

He continued on in the direction as he came over. He heard a growl and then a scream from Pete as he leaned out of the trees and let out a low growl with his ears turned backwards.

The bear looked up at him as he looked up to Elliot. The bear whimpered as he turned and bounded forward and away from Elliot. Elliot couldn't help but smile as he watched him go.

Pete turned around swiftly and he smiled broadly as he looked up at him. "Hey, Elliot!"

Elliot strode forward and reared on his hind legs with his wings spread out across from him. He then lowered down and licked Pete's face affectionately.

Pete laughed as he nudged Elliot backwards. "Want to play?"

Elliot lowered into a playful crouch as he wiggled his tail tip. Pete darted past him before Elliot turned on his paws and pelted after Pete, letting out playful chuffing noises after him. He bounded forward and back into the forest. He thrust his paws gingerly against the ground so that Pete wouldn't be crushed under his paws. But, they had been running for a long time together and play with each other for years. They knew exactly what to do.

Elliot then swept forward and did a trick that Pete always seemed to love. He concentrated hard, but not as hard as he used to, before he disappeared completely. He reared on his hind legs and stared forward as he looked to where Pete was following. He breathed lightly as he tried to keep himself where he was.

Pete gazed around before his eyes finally caught onto where Elliot was. "Elliot," he sighed.

Elliot shook his head as he lowered down, crouching down. He let out a huff that always meant that he wanted to play.

Pete laughed as they ran before Elliot leaped into the air and landed onto a tree and propelled himself forward. He landed on the ground and surged forward.

"Come on," called Pete.

Elliot knew exactly where Pete was going and what he needed to do. He continued forward as he leaped into the air with his wings spread outward as he started to fly.

Pete screamed as he leaped from the side of a cliff. He hurtled down the cliff before Elliot flew after him, diving downward. He flew right under Pete as Pete grasped onto his shoulder fur and Elliot righted himself upward. He flew back up quickly as his wings were thrust out.

He took to the air and to the clouds with Pete clutching his fur for dear life. However, he knew how much Pete enjoyed this and Elliot enjoyed this as well. He enjoyed flying alone, but even more with Pete on his shoulders. It was a bond that would never be broken when they flew like this.

He howled in enjoyment as he took to the clouds, twisting and twirling the air. He then dove forward as he made his way toward the water. His tail trailed down as it splashed behind him. He continued to fly as Pete grasped harder.

"Higher!"

Elliot bellowed as he began to fly higher and higher with his paws stretched upward. He smiled as he heard Pete howl in pleasure. There was nothing better than flying with Pete on his shoulders and Pete enjoying it.

He flew about as high as he could as he turned and dove down. Pete continued to grip at him as Elliot dove and twisted once more. He then reached the water and thrust his paws against it. He lowered down as Pete slid from his head and into the water.

The two began to play in the water with Pete splashing water at Elliot. Elliot lowered his head into his shoulders as he reared on his hind legs and thrust water at Pete. Pete drew backwards before he ran.

"Come on, Elliot!"

Elliot bounded forward as he pelted forward. He skidded forward in the water as he continued to splash water as he bolted. He leaped in the water before he led Pete back into the forest. Pete climbed a tree and leaped onto Elliot's back. Elliot lowered down one of his wings and allowed Pete to slide down it.

Pete laughed as he ran forward with Elliot following. Elliot shook his head slightly as he continued forward. He rushed after him as Pete chuckled when he followed. Pete lowered down as he patted his knees, offering Elliot forward.

Elliot lowered down and rushed from paw to paw playfully. He finally launched forward when Pete charged forward.

Elliot then scooped up Pete with his head as Pete slid down his neck and back on his shoulders. Elliot reared on his hind legs before he flew upward with his wings beating slightly as he continued to fly.

He made his way up and emerged into the clouds as the sunset began to illuminate him. It was always darker in the woods than everywhere else, so if you wanted to see the sunset, you had to do it from the clouds.

He turned and flew back down when Pete started to complain that he was hungry. He lowered down with his paws shot out in front of him. He landed a little roughly, but Pete was still able to get off of his shoulders in good time.

Pete bounded over to their usual food source, at least Pete's usually food spot. He began to shovel mushrooms into his mouth before he swallowed. He continued that for a few minutes, since they only usually ate a few times a day, if that.

Elliot plopped down and looked up at the night sky. He always looked at the North Star, thinking about how long it would take him to be there. He thought about the song that his father used to sing to him when he was younger. He had never forgotten it, even after all of this time. He just didn't have a way of getting there.

"Elliot, what's wrong," asked Pete as he came over to his dragon friend. "What are you looking at?"

Elliot murmured to himself as he continued to gaze up at the North Star. He licked his lips as he longed to be there. But, he didn't need Pete to feel bad a bit it.

Pete nodded. "Oh, okay. I guess that it means something to you." He then rested against Elliot with his head on his foreleg. Elliot lowered his wing and covered Pete protectively. Pete looked up at the star as well as Elliot.

Elliot shook his head. It was time to stop living in the past and start to live in the future. That was where Pete was and that was where he would be.