40

They saw the dragon fly up in the air for a while before heading downwards, towards them. They immediately made way for this huge dragon to land. When it had landed, it crouched and moved its head to its back twice.

"It wants us to get on its back?" Mrs Grey asked while holding her frightened girl's hand.

They saw the dragon move its head towards its back again.

"Seems so." her husband said before carrying his youngest son. He gently placed the boy on the dragon's back. The dragon nodded.

Mrs Grey was finally convinced. Seems this dragon is intelligent!

She and the other children walked forward. Mr Grey got down and helped the rest of his family to get on the dragon's back before he finally joined them.

Lavana seeing that none of them was left rose and spread her wings. She turned her head to look at them to see if they were stable. The man nodded and gave a thumbs up while the wife just smiled.

Since all was set, she levitated off the ground, slowly flapping her wings. She looked at the family again before flying higher. At first, the family screamed but when they reached a certain height in the sky, they became fascinated.

"Darling, even in my dreams I never thought of meeting a dragon say less of riding one." said Nelson to his wife.


"We're so lucky. Even our foetus gets to experience this with us. How lucky he is." his wife replied with a smile.


"This is the most amazing way to fly." the oldest son yelled.

"Mama, Papa, we're flying," Amanda exclaimed in delight and her mom petted her head.

"Yes, baby. We are." Mrs Grey said.


Amanda giggled and clapped excitedly as she saw several birds fly past.

Lavana soon slowed her flying speed and began to fly lower until she was a few inches above the water. When she had begun to see rocks close to the shore, she stopped and landed, her feet touched the seabed.

The water was knee-deep.

Mr Grey realized this was where the dragon intended to place them. So he first jumped down. Lavana crouched so he'd get his family down. The wife was carrying Amanda, while the husband carried one son on his back and held two with his hands. The eldest one stood in between them.

"Lord Dragon, thank you and your master for your help. We will repay your kindness in the near future." Mr grey, his wife and their oldest son bowed their head.

Then they walked forward to shore. Then they started waving at the dragon with big smiles on their faces.

Lavana, seeing that they were safe now, straightened her body and flew away from their sight with the family cheering.

When she was far enough, she headed downwards, diving into the water, causing a huge wave in the process.

She flapped her wings slowly till she landed on the seabed. Then she crouched and let out a roar that scared away some approaching predator fish. She started shifting back into her human form in pain. When she was done, she collapsed to the ground, sighing in relief.

That's it. She's saved the family from dying in the water and they are in a place where humans live. They should find their way from there.

She needed to rest first for a few minutes. Then she can try to find a way to get to the Bloodstar pack. She'll just close her eyes for a few minutes…

&&&&&

When she woke up she saw it was now dark underwater.

"Gosh!" she sat up quickly. She saw she's in her mermaid form. Since it's dark here, then it means Beatrix must have woken up. Maybe a search party was even happening right now!

"You can teleport again." Oceana had woken up from slumber.


"Oceana…"

"Don't worry, just do it."

Lavana was reluctant. She used it once and it took her to an unknown place. What if she teleports into a volcano or appears on a tree? Either way, she'd get hurt!

"Lavana, just trust me. You have to relax and clear your thoughts. Then activate the gemstone."

She did as she was told. Now that her gemstone was activated, her heart started beating fast.

"Relax." Oceana chided. Lavana heaved a sigh.

"Clear your thoughts and think of where you want to go."

"Okay."

A second later.

"I'm ready, Oceana."

"Great. So the next thing is to teleport. Say where you want to go and say the magic word and you're good to go. I'm retreating to slumber. And one more thing. You did a great job today. But don't casually let others know about your existence."

"They don't know I was the dragon…"

"Don't interrupt my lecture. You aren't strong enough to face those strong villains out there. So you must be careful. Those people have seen your face and believe you live in the water and that the dragon who took them to land was your ride. No one will believe them if they say they saw and rode a real dragon or that they encountered a beautiful mermaid. There were other choices you could have made and still gotten the result of taking them to safety."

"Building a raft?" Lavana asked.


"No. But you must know your safety is important."

"Oceana… I'll do better next time."

"You did a great thing no doubt. But you must remember the consequences of your identity being leaked out. There's a reason you are a tribrid."

"Mind telling me?"

"When you've finished with the most urgent matter, you will know."

Oceana retreated to slumber while Lavana sighed. She started to ponder on what Oceana had said.


There were indeed other ways to achieve the result without letting them know about a dragon's existence. She could have 'borrowed' a boat from that inhabited land and taken it back to the island. Then just say to the Greys that she found it on the island mysteriously, get the family on it and shift to her mermaid form, attach ice chains to the boat and swim since she knew the way to the inhabited area.

She would dissolve the ice chains once they neared land.

This would save her from all that stress of dragon transformation. The family's already honored to see her mermaid self. Why show them her dragon self? Though it's kind of nice but…

Fear of Beatrix not finding her when she wakes up and the resulting ruckus it could cause in Blood star pack, maybe that's why she acted that way.

In the end, she got tired and woke up past the time she'd planned and what she feared to happen in the pack should already be happening now.

She sighed.

There were plenty of chances to think twice in the future. And as long as that family keep their promises, it should be well. She's done here. It's time to go back!

She sighed and finally closed her eyes.

"Bloodstar pack. Teleport!" she shouted and pink light covered her. In few seconds, she had vanished from the water.


&&&&&


Opening her eyes again, she found herself outside the window of their room. She wanted to sigh in relief only to fall to the ground. Geez!  She forgot she was still in her merform!

It was daytime already and the birds were happily singing. She sat up and made herself invisible. She couldn't let anyone see her like this. How to explain why a mermaid that supposed to be in the water is seated on the ground in a wolf pack?


After returning to human form, she rose and stretched her body a bit before entering the room through the open window. She recalled closing it last night. Since it was open it meant the little one was up. Upon entering the room, she saw Beatrix seated on the chair with hands folded, her expression unreadable.


Lavana felt pangs of guilt. She had made the little babe worry again. She should be more responsible! She decided to first wear some clothes before making herself visible again. Who knew she'd kick her foot again against the water bottle that was in the way in the process of hurrying?


This immediately alerted Beatrix as she immediately rose from her chair.


"Who's there? Show yourself!" she demanded while assuming a fighting stance.


"Sigh. Baby girl it's me." Lavana replied, cancelling her invisibility.


"You..." Beatrix pointed at Lavana with widened eyes before harrumphing and seating back on the chair.