The night wore on uneventfully, and finally, the sun peeked timidly behind the mountains. Bast’s body lay where it had been the night before, cold and lifeless.

Jing had been relifed when she saw the sun rise, looking over at Bast and waiting for him to finally wake up.

But Bast didn’t move. He didn’t seem to be reviving at all.

Jing’s face slowly went pale the longer she waitied, and she finally went over beside him, shaking the Kankiru a little. “B…Bast? Come on… Wake up…”

Silver had crawled out of bed, and stood at the entrance of the small shelter, waching Jing and shivering faintly. Bast was cold and slightly stiff to the touch.

Jing was in shock, body starting to tremble as she shook him more. “Bast! COme on… Wake up. The sun rose! You… You should be fine!”

Silver felt himself shake more, slowly slding to the ground, watching Jing in silent terror. Bast didn’t respond, body moving like a rag doll under Jing’s hands.

Jing shook her head, looking at the Kankiru in horror. “”N…No…This can’t….Its not possible. T…The curse…. Your cursed. Y…You can’t stay dead! You can’t! Wake up! Bast wake up!!!!” She grew louder the more she spoke, tears coming to her eyes.

The cries woke the others, and slowly they moved outside. Iris bit her lip as tears fell down her face, moving beside Jing. “Jing… he’s gone…” She said quietly, “We… should be glad… he is no longer bound to the curse. He can… finally rest in peace.”

“No!” Jing yelled, trembling more. “Its permanent! It can’t… Its not possible!! Bast! Wake up! WAKE UP!” She screamed desperatly. This couldn’t be happening, was the curse really not as permanent as she had grown up beliving?

Iris moved to hug Jing, pulling her away from Bast’s body. “I’m sorry Jing… he did… say that he was close to ten thousand deaths… perhaps…”

Jing pulled away from Iris, shaking her head more. “I…It isn’t suposto end! He…He should have woken up! The sun rose!!!”

Lei stood back, watching everyone in shock. Bast had said he would come back… and now. The group still needed him. He had seen it since the start, Bast was the best leader for them all.

And now Bast was gone… forever. Silver lay huddled in a little ball, crying desperately. Rena watched them all, dazed and in shock. Dalit was also crying, scared now.

Iris tried to comfort Jing, tried to calm down her hysterical cries.

Jing barely heard Iris, hands over her face which was covered in tears now. “Wake up! Come on Bast wake up please! The sun rose! You should be okay… You can’t be gone! You can’t! Its permanent! The curse doesn’t end!!”

Lei looked at them all before going down beside Dalit, hugging the small dragon close to comfort him.

Iris flinched, “Jing! There IS an end. You aren’t immortal and neither was he. We all have to die one day, but not now… just calm down!”

Jing just curled up, crying more and her body trembling badly. “Bast… wake up… please wake up…” She continued to repeate between her sobs.

Iris watched her in pity, and finally moved to place a hand on her head, planing to make her fall asleep, but she paused. Something was glowing on Bast’s chest.

Jing was still curled up, not paying attention to anything around her and continuing to say the same thing over and over again.

“What is that light?” Iris asked, moving closer to Bast, and gasping as the light got stronger, outlining Bast’s body.

Lei looked over as he heard Iris, going a little closer and blinking confused. “I have no idea…”

The light glowed brighter, and was echoed by two amulets, around Lei and Jing’s necks.

Jing looked up as she saw the glow from the amulet under her shirt. Pulling it out and holding it with her trembling hands she finally looked at Bast. What was going on?

Lei brought out his amulet quickly as he saw the glow, confused more then ever. “Whats going on?!”

Iris shook her head, “I… I don’t know…” She said, trying to reach out to touch Bast. As she did, the three lights winked out, leaving them slightly dazed in the following gloom.

Jing watched confused as the lights vanished, looking at her amulet before Bast, still unable to say anything.

Lei blinked a couple times, looking at his amulet very confused. “That… was so weird…” He muttered before looking over at Iris, Bast and Jing.

Iris looked at the others in confusion, then back down at Bast, as he suddenly inhaled sharply, groaning faintly.

Jing’s eyes widened in shock as she watched him move and heard his voice. He…was alive?! “B…Bast…?”

Lei was more confused then ever as he watched Bast, still keeping back to not crowd him anymore, expecting he would be attacked by all his friends.

The others were quite shocked and still dazed at what was happening, and no one moved. Bast moved faintly, head turning slightly towards Jing. Eyes still closed he mumbled under his breath, “Iejir uoinota batobot jahus vi lot di ouith…”

Jing was trembling more and after she heard Bast’s voice she couldn’t hold back anymore, moving to hug Bast tightly and crying again.

Iris moved back, a smile brightening her face as she watched Jing, then looked to the others. “He’s… alive!”

Bast grunted as he was hugged, eyes opening slowly to look at Jing. “Hey kiddo.” He said weakly.

Jing shook her head a little, for once not arguing with the comment. She was just glad Bast was alive and hugged him more.

Lei smiled as he heard Iris and watched Jing with Bast. “Good to have you back Bast.”

Bast smiled slowly, one hand moving slowly, stiffly, to pat Jing’s back. “Glad to be back.” He said gruffly.

Lei nodded, looking down at his amulet again. “So… Anyone have a clue how he is alive?”

Iris shook her head, looking relieved but still quite confused. Silver finally reovered and hopped to join in the hugging, causing Bast to grunt at the extra weight. He felt weak and stiff and didn’t move much besides patting the two. “M’kay, don’t kill me now.” He grumbled, “Gotta breathe too.”

Lei chuckled as he saw Silver join in on the hugging.

Jing finally let go of Bast a little, rubbing the tears from her eyes. “I…I thought you were really gone…”

Bast looked up at her with a wry smile. “Yeah… me too.” He said. “But looks like I’m getting one last chance… Better use it well.”

Jing nodded a little “So…So no more playing hero. Got it…?” She asked, looking down at Bast.

Bast chuckled, “Yeah… no more playing hero.” He replied.

“Good…” Jing muttered, just staying close to Bast now and trying to stop crying.

Lei watched them all, smiling before looking at his amulet again confused. How had it glowed?! And why?!

Bast slowly moved to sit up, groaning like an old man. Silver moved back, smiling widely. “That was AWESOME!” He said happily, mood restored. “Are you a zombie now? Are you going to eat our brains? How was the afterlife? Does it hurt? Why’d you come back? How?!” Silver kept prattling at Bast, making him wince and grab his head. “Oh gods, I think maybe coming back wasn’t the best idea…”

Jing laughed a little as she heard Silver, moving to poke him “You can attack Bast with questions later.” She said, having her own as well but it was obvious the Kankiru needed some rest.

Silver paused, “I guess… but how DID you come back? Did you really die?” He asked. Bast sighed, nodding. “Yeah, seems the curse is gone, that was my ten thousandth death, I’m not… reviving any longer.” He said slowly, looking at Jing. “It was Leria and the other dragons with Palari’s help that revived me, at Leria’s bidding.

Jing listened, very confused. “Wait… Leria… Palari? I don’t understand… How could they do that…?”

Bast nodded, “Yeah, Leria and the other dragons are uhm… busy… but she convinced Palari to give me a last chance, and the god revived me.”

Jing nodded slowly “I see… I’m glad you are back Bast…”

Bast smiled, “Yeah, me too.” He reached out and ruffled her hair. “Someone needs to look after you kids.”

Jing twitched at the comment, bringing her hand to Bast’s face and poking his forhead. “I’m not a kid!” She said before sighing. “You… Saw Leria then? Did you… by any chance see Kinu…?”

He smiled and nodded, “She sends you greetings, and says she misses you.”

Jing smiled a little as she heard that. “I miss her too… Did you hear… when they would be coming back…?”

He frowned, as if thinking of something, then shook his ead, “No… not exactly.”

Jing blinked a couple times confused “What do you mean?”

“Leria and Kinu are trying to convince the other good dragons they need to fight, help us against the evil dragons.” He said.

Jing was more confused then ever “The others… don’t want to help us?”

He frowned, “It’s… not that exactly.” He sighed, “The evil dragons are holding all their eggs and young hostage. They forced the good dragons to plege they would not fight.”

Jing winced as she heard that. “I see…”

Dalit frowned, “But they’re killing the eggs, not keeping them safe!” He said. Bast nodded, “I know, but the good dragons don’t want to believe it.”

“But they don’t see the army of draconians? I mean… thats where they come from are the eggs!” Jing pointed out.

Bast smiled faintly, “True, but they’re balming Leria and her involvement in this war so far. They say it’s her fault the eggs were hurt.”

“What? That doesn’t make sense! Besides… shouldn’t they fight to save those left? And I mean… Its not like the evil dragons have all of the eggs. There are some safe!” Jing argued before sighing.

“SOme.. how many were in that cave, Jing? Leria told me all the other eggs were being held prisoners, over 400 eggs…”

Jing was shocked as she heard that “Over f…four hundred?! Thats insane! But… There probably arn’t near that many now… with the army of draconians…”

Bast nodded grimly. “If Leria can prove that their eggs are being defiled, they’ll come and help.”

“Then all we can do is wait and trust Leria… and keep doing what we were before…” Jing muttered. “Oh… Hey Bast? Do you know how you were revived?” She asked before looking down at her amulet. “Cause… This kinda started to glow when you did…”

Bast looked at her amulet, then grabbed his. “Well, the dragons all… helped in part, with Palari’s magic to restore my spirit to my body.” He said, “That’s probably why they glowed.”

“I think I undertand…” Jing said with a small nod. “I still don’t…” Lei said, sighing. “Sorry to butt in on the conversation… But do either of you know why this glowed?” He asked, refuring to his amulet. He had seen Jing’s, and it looked a lot different then his. So he didn’t understand the connection.

Bast looked at him, “That’s a dragon amulet.” He said, “It resonated with the magic.”

Lei was still confused, looking at it again. “A dragon amulet?”

He nodded, “That was from your mother?” He asked.

Lei nodded “Thats what I was told yes.”

“Then your mother was either a dragon, or part-dragon.” He said.

Lei nodded ‘Guess so… How are you feeling Bast? Think you are strong enough to walk?”

Bast hesitated, slowly getting to his feet. “I think so… we should probably get moving anyways. I saw a large draconian army heading towards Altador.”

“An army?!” Jing said in shock. “We were two days away flying… its going to take ages walking!”

Bast nodded, “I know. That’s why we have to get moving.”

“Then lets get moving.” Jing said before standing.

The others nodded and soon were ready to go. Bast was still quite weak and moved slowly.

Lei looked at Bast and sighed a little “Need some help?”

Bast grunted, “I can manage…” He said slowly.

“At any kind of speed that will get us to Aldator before the next ice age?” Lei asked with a small smirk.

Bast grunted, not sure of that but too proud to say he needed help.

“I’ll take that as a silent ‘I need help but to stupid to admit it.” Lei said, going over to him. “Come on. I offered, so its not like your asking for the help.”

Bast scowled, “I’m fine!” He protested, stopping to lean on a tree to catch his breath.

“Bull. Why are guys like you always to stuborn to admit when they need help?” Lei asked, crossing his arms.

Bast smirked, “Oh and you’re different then?” He asked.

Lei chuckled “I know when to admit I need help. And you died yesterday. If that doesn’t need help then I don’t know what.”

Bast sighed, “And what are you going to do, carry me?”

“Since it was your idea you can’t complain.” Lei grinned. “So good idea Bast!”

Bast shrank back. “No way!”

“You suggested it.” Lei pointed out with a smirk. Obviously he had been waiting for Bast to suggest it.

Bast scowled, “I can manage on my own.” The two had fallen behind the erest of the group, and Bast pushed away from the tree and walked bast Lei, then his knees gave way.

When Lei saw Bast’s legs give way he moved quickly, picking the Kankiru up before he hit the ground. “No arguing now.” He said before quickening his pace to catch up to the others.