Ashlyn POV

I didn't know where I was anymore, and I knew that I didn't want to know.

I was trapped in the haze again, although there was no memories this time, just darkness.

I could hear whisperings at the back of my mind. They sounded mocking. They were most likely mocking me.

I had made a fool of myself, going into that cave.

I had risked my life going into that cave.

I had risked someone else's life going into that cave.

Why had that red dragon helped me?

He had saved me back there.

And he had been hurt. Of course. Everywhere I went, someone got hurt.

My vision was slowly turning from completely black to fuzzy around the edges, and the sudden light was blinding.

"Hey ya? Boss? It's awake!" A croaky voice shouts as a hard kick is aimed to my side and I groan.

In the seemingly far distance I hear a shout, "Leave the thing in its cell, Reggie. I'll deal with it once I've dealt with this little betrayer," The man's voice turned bitter at the end of the sentence.

I begin to panic. Where was I?

The rugged man looks down on me, a crazy gleam in his eyes.

I catch my reflection in the murky brown eyes, and I realise that I'm still in my shimmering golden form.

It all comes rushing back.

Wait. I'm sure I heard my dad. What has happened? I had blacked out completely, but I was definitely sure that it was my dad that had shouted at the massive silver-plated beast as his claws dug into my side.

As soon as I thought of those massive black talons sinking through my skin, pain flares along the side of my body, and I roar in agony.

I watch, bleary eyed with pain as 'Reggie' jumps back, obvious fear in his eyes.

"Boss?" He squeaks.

"Yes, Reggie?! I'm kinda busy here, whas tha matter now?" The same gruff voice from before replies, obvious irritation rolling from the tone in waves.

"I-I think you migh wanna send Cade in, tha beast is goin mad in here," He yells back, voice quavering.

"Right," The man grunts, "Caden! Get yer butt in that call to calm that thing down!"

Caden? That name. There was something about it. Something I should know.

I hear a new voice, a voice that seems achingly familiar.

"Yeah, boss, sure," It sighs, and I hear a strained creak of wood, as though somebody had just stood from an old rocking chair.

The plodding of boots was deafingly loud with my new senses, and I feel a sudden dread as the noise draws closer.

My claws dig into the wooden boards beneath my feet as the presence draws closer, and the pain in my side becomes more intense, and I thrash, trying to break the chains that bound my legs to the four corners of the stone room.

I glare at the steel door in front of me, smoke swirling around my nostrils as a strikingly familiar smell invades my nose.

Reggie whimpers and presses himself to the wall farthest from my towering frame.

The metal door handle slowly turns, and is swung open.

A boy with Brown hair that hangs in his face lopes in, hands shoved in his pockets.

He lifts his head to look at me, and our eyes connect.

And the dam breaks.

All the memories come flooding back. Memories.

Memories of him. Memories of a friend. Memories of a sibling. Memories of a brother. Memories of a twin.

Caden.

Cade.

I feel myself shrinking, as my tail retreats inside my body, and the the scales recede to make way for the hair that sprouts from my head as my muzzle and fangs recede.

Bones crack, though it isn't painful this time around.

I even feel clothes coat my body, how this is possible, I do not know. All I am focused on is the boy in front of me as the shackles fall easily from my limbs, that were now swamped in the chains.

I untangle myself as Cade stares at me in shock.

I don't know what else to do. I throw myself at him, and agony rips through me. I don't care.

I crush him in a hug.

"Ash," He chokes, his voice breaking.

Before he can say anything else, I interrupt.

"I missed you so much," I sob heavily, "Even if I didn't remember you."

It is the last thing I say before I collapse in a heap, the pain becoming too much to bear.