"Theres nothing else to eat" he rolled his eyes.

He looked more rested but he wasnt gaining much weight. He looked severely anorexic and honestly it scared him.

"Well, we should get going when your ready"

He nodded and walked outside.

he took a moment to fully transform. He wasnt as big as most dragons his age but big enough to carry ryker.

He gave a small shake and stretched out his wings.

He smiled and took off.

He loved flying and wished he could do it longer.

He flew for a good 4 hours straight before he had to land, making sure no one saw him land.

He changed back to his mostly human form.

"Other than tired and a little woozy im fine." he nodded.

"What i would do for a huge slab of fish right now" he stretched.

"How about you? You okay?"

"Hey can we talk first?" he leaned on a tree. He wasnt buying Rykers little...show he was putting on.

"Whats really bothering you?" he crossed his arms after he yawned.

Sure he was tired from the flight but its not like he was gonna drop like he used to.

"Talk to me. whats on your mind?"

"Brother...i told you after my heart attack i was told i wast going to live past 30. ive...always known i wouldnt live a full life." he sighed.

"Well..after im gone...i want you to find someone else who needs a protector. someone who wants company" he stood up looking for a river.

"I want you to continue on...not give up" he was kneeling now, smelling the air.

He gave ryker an incredulous look then shook his head.

"The disease is special. literally only runs in my family. so thers no cure. Even my own dad died before i was born...not that...i know how old he was when he died..." he sighed.

"Listen, when i die i just...dont want you to give up...okay?" he stood.

"Youve changed so much since we first met, and i dont want that to jut go down the drain simply cause im gone"

"Well...yes and...no..." he started walking.

As they got further into the wood, ther ewas a smelll.

The smell of death and rot.

Eke's nose was more sensitive so he ended up holding his nose. It made him feel queasy.

They finally came upon the river...but it was full of dead fish and other animals. Even the plants were dead, and the water was black and sludgey.

The whole thing made eke puke behind a tree.

"This is...so wrong." he stood up looking pale.

"This feels wrong..."

He knelt by the water and slowly touched it.

He felt back as it burned his finger, and he yelped in pain.

"Mother trucker!!!!" he held his hand. "That hurt!"

"I...i dont know...i think i feel okay for now" he flexed his fingers wincing.

"though ill keep an eye on it." he nodded.

"We should leave...this is...wrong.." he shuddered and began wlking away.