- Dark Magic Bitches -

                                    

                                          
Jogging to the outskirts of the camp, I spot a group of birds. Taking the pits out of my apple core, I give them the remainder of flesh. They're peculiar looking little things. 
I walk towards the small clearing on the outskirts of camp, not sure what to expect. Yet I still don't think anything could have prepared me for this sight. 
I recognise the blue and green dragon from Ezran's speech yesterday. She was adjacent to Pyrrha. 
I also recognise the black hair and tall stature. 
River. 
Has it been 2 days since I last saw him in Katolis?  I don't really care at this point, I've just got a schedule I need to follow. "I need that dragon," I call out and he swivels around to see me.  The dragon also perks up at my voice, steadying her feet in case I'm a threat. 
"(Y/n)? Hey, stranger?" His green eyes shine when the sunlight hits his face. No wonder Dalia is so keen to marry him. "What're you doing here?" 
Now that's a tricky question to answer in our short time frame. I shrug my shoulders, "long story." He nods his head, going back to comforting the dragon. "Can I borrow her?" 
He chuckles now. "It's Lazuli," she squirms her head and leans closer to me. "You're actually the most useful person I could've run into right now." 
Well that's always good to hear. "Kazi told me that she has spotted... people," I don't know how to not put this awkwardly. "So could you possibly point me in the direction of the Sunfire Elf that can communicate with her?"
River exchanged a sheepish look with the dragon and I can't believe what my own mind is thinking. That is, until he says it aloud. 
"I can communicate with Lazuli," his smirk isn't a cocky one, but he seems to be embarrassed. 
Skies know I don't have time for this. 
"You can... what?" I try to hide the shock. He goes to answer again but I interrupt. "And you never told me!?" 
The dragon wonders forward slowly, head nudging up and down my body inquisitively. It seems as if she remembers me. "It ain't really something I go telling everyone," he pauses, "she's seen you before." 
That is fair reasoning. "I've seen her before," I clarify. Lazuli finishes checking me out and chooses to sit on the shadier side of a nearby tree. "Anyways," I urge, closing the gap between River and I, "I'm just gonna pretend I'm completely fine with that new piece of information," we share a smile, "now what has she seen?" 
He pauses, "I am glad you showed up when you did," I wait for him to finish actually answering my question. "I think she said she spotted two people, an elf, and a... a thing.... On this raft going down a river."
That flow of water must lead to the sea. 
"Okay, River, I really need this dragon to take me there," I think about my plan from what Kazi told me, "then to another place... then I need a boat... But that's not your concern. " 
He squints his eyes at me suspiciously, truly taking his time to ponder my words. However I hope River realises that I'm not asking. Just as I'm about to say something else, he brings two fingers to his mouth and whistles loudly. "Come here, girl." He stares at me, giving an almost unnoticeable nod in the dragon's direction. 
I take it as permission to walk over to Lazuli, saying her name softly a couple times. She seems to feel comfortable with my presence which is what I want if she's gonna take me to Claudia and Viren. Stroking a hand along her back, I ponder if I have everything. Digested an apple - check. Dagger and sword - check, check. Seems pretty good. I mount Lazuli carefully, finding comfort in the most stable crook of her neck. I stroke her scales. "Let's go, girl."