"Mama, where do you think dad and Melborne are," asked Jayla as she leaped up to Signga and wiggled her haunches.

Signga blinked her eyes before she narrowed them partially to slits. "I'm not sure," she confessed, her voice tight. "But, I'm sure that they'll be here soon."

Jayla waltzed away to join Bracklow as Signga lowered down at the entrance. It wasn't strange that Falcor would take Melborne out. Falcor always had had a special connection to Melborne. But, for them not to be back by this time was alarming.

Signga let out a low moan. She thought about calling to her mate, but she knew that it could do more harm than good if they were hunting. She forced herself to just wait it out as she played over the worst case possible.

She had drifted off before she heard a roar and saw glow in the distance. Alarm showed in her eyes before she heard another howl fill the air.

"Falcor!" She turned madly and looked at her daughter and son. "Stay right here and don't move. Stay toward the back. I'll be back."

She turned and darted forward. She plunged into the forest and spread her wings as she roared a warning and an alarm call at the same time. She soared through the air and came over to the place where she had seen the fire glow through the forest.

She landed with a thud and jumped forward. She narrowed her eyes as she saw her mate laying against a fallen tree. She looked around and saw smolder all around before she saw her son laying a few paces away.

She darted over to him and snorted as she lowered down. She nudged his face and saw a long scar that ran from his neck to his face and his muzzle. She gasped when she saw that half on his left side was missing. She couldn't see it anywhere, but she knew that it had to come from a Howkler.

"It's alright," she murmured, even though she was sure that Melborne couldn't hear her. She lowered her head and sunk her teeth into his scruff. He let out a small moan, but because he was only a quarter of the size of her, he was easy to carry.

She turned and set her son on her back. She bounded over to her mate and arched her neck. She breathed against his face as Falcor let out a moan and lifted his head. It took a while, but his eyes finally focused on her standing in front of her.

"Signga," asked Falcor.

Signga wasn't sure whether to be angry or excited to see her mate awake and conscious. "Yes, it's me," she answered dryly as she lowered down and nudged him harshly. "You need to get up. What happened?"

"Howkler," answered Falcor as he rose to his paws. He then fell down and whimpered in pain. He looked at his hind legs as he shook his head and rose to his paws with a moan. He turned turned his head and saw Melborne on his mate's shoulders.

"Melborne!"

"Hush," chided Signga in a sort of low growl. "He can't hear you."

Alarm showed on Falcor's face, but he didn't say anything else. He hung his head and limped forward, favoring his hind leg slightly. He managed to come forward with his mate at his side.

They made their way to the den as Jayla and Bracklow began to cluster around them.

"What happened?"

"Are they okay?"

"Melborne?!"

Signga let out a growl as she turned to her son and daughter. "That's enough! What Melborne needs is rest, not questions and noise."

The two leaped backwards as Signga helped Melborne down onto the ground. Melborne still didn't wake up as he whimpered in pain. Signga licked Melborne's cheek, but he still didn't wake up.

Falcor tried to get to his son, but Signga nudged him backwards. Falcor looked like he wanted to argue as he narrowed his eyes.

"That goes for you too," Signga told him sternly with her lips slightly curling. "He doesn't need to see you and panic."

Falcor drew backwards as he let out a deep breath. He slumped down with his paws spread out. He lowered down heavily and looked at his son.

Signga lowered down beside him and licked his cheek. "You alright? I didn't actually ask that."

Falcor shrugged his shoulders. "Stings a bit, but it's just a scratch," he replied as he looked at his son. "Is it bad?"

"He lost part of his tooth and has a long scratch, but it's not too bad. He's probably just in a lot of pain," reassured Signga as she licked Falcor's ear. "He'll be alright."

Falcor struggled not to snap at her. "It's all my fault! I should have done something more! He tried to stop the dragon from attacking me. Wolf-hearted Howkler!"

"Keep your voice down! You'll scare them," she chided as she continued to console him. "Just relax and get some rest. I'm sure that everything will be simpler in the morning."

Falcor wasn't sure. But, he kept thinking that all of this was his fault.