The corner's of my lips curve softly at the thought of Soren. "I don't think I could love anything more... I don't think I will."
We fly into a mass of grey clouds that have consumed the darkening sky. Lazuli glides down to see below them. 
I feel a hand on my shoulder. River doesn't say anything, but the gesture speaks for itself. I'm happy for you. 
I start seeing boats in the murky ocean. Looking ahead, there's lights. 
"We're here." 
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lazuli lands on the outer end of Bright Hope Cove. It's aesthetic is not living up to its name. I dismount, and River follows suit. 
"So, would it now be dumb of me to ask if you're coming along?" I scratch under the dragon's chin as my friend grabs his bag. 
"Yes, (Y/n), that would be a dumb question." River gives Lazuli one last pat on the back in thanks. I assume more communication occurs mentally between them. 
"Thanks for everything, girl," I say and she responds with a sort of purr. "Be careful getting home... and say hello to Pyrrah for me." River questions the unknown name but I just smile at Lazuli's twinkling eyes. We take a step back, and she's off, scattering sand from the dusty ground. 
River and I walk in toe towards the town port place. "What's the plan?" He inquires, eyes scanning the buildings and crowd. 
"Let's split up and see what we find." I have to remind him that we are truly playing this by ear. "Remember we are looking for Soren, Rayla, Callum and or Ezran- PLUS Zym, the Dragon Prince, who would probably be easiest to spot. Or we are finding out if they've passed through already." River nods his head in understanding. "Maybe get some accomodation if possible. But keep in mind it can be dodgy in a town like this. So priorities are to stay safe of course, but I trust your judgement." I feel like a mother sending her child away to summer camp. Except River is my adult male friend, and it feels like we are walking into hell. He chuckles at my long list nonetheless. I survey the ports around us, spotting a popular statue. "Let's meet at the bottom of that structure there," I motion to it with my eyes, "every day when the sun peaks and sets over the horizon. "
"Sounds good," River clicks his tongue trying to act casual. "First meeting this morning?" 
"Perfect." He flashes one last smile and turns, but I grab his hand. "Be careful."
The assured nod River gives me is all I need. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sea leviathan meat and bones, freshly caught."
"Do I hear a starting bid?"
"Stembolts. Get yer stembolts here, all self-sealing."
"Bees. Smoke bees by the barrel, sellin fast!"
"Oils! Get your necessary oils here."
Merchants are posted at every single corner of the docks. I feel unsafe. Unprotected. Isolated. It's not a great feeling. I make my way deeper into town, trying to hear the gossip between inhabitants. 
No word of 4 misfits and a dragon. 
Maybe we are too late. 
As I think more on that, it's not necessarily a bad thing. As long as they did find a boat, and they're not chopped into pieces buried in a freezer somewhere here. 
I stop at the bottom of the tallest building. Biggest structure in town - my bet is that it holds the biggest boss in town. At least the best unofficial boss there would be. Winding stairs creep inside. It's captivatingly terrifying. Nailed into the side of the wooden entrance, there's a poster. In ink it reads: