13. A SAFE HOME

CHAPTER 13 A SAFE HOME Worm transported Drake, Val, and the three Invisible Dragons back to Queen Sofia's castle. They landed beside the nest on top of the tower. The four baby dragons were listening to Diego tell a story. Carlos sat in the nest with them. Lalo was perched on the tower wall, in case the babies tried to climb it again.

The baby dragons chirped happily when they saw Fig and their parents. They scrambled out of their nest and tumbled over one another in their excitement.

Tana and Yeray, who was fully visible now, lowered their heads. They nuzzled all of their babies. Drake looked at the little dragons' foreheads. "No horns yet!" he told Val. "We got here in time."

Carlos climbed out of the nest, and Drake and Val ran to him and Diego. "You found the parents!" Diego cried. "And the missing baby, too." "That's Fig. She followed us to Dove Island," Drake explained. "We got the fruit from the Dragon Tree. Fig ate hers, but we need to feed the other babies right away!" Diego made a high chirping sound, and Fig's four siblings turned their heads. Then they scampered to Diego and lined up in front of him. "Good dragons," he said, and he fed the babies as Val handed him the fruits, one by one.

Just as Fig had done, the four baby dragons glowed brightly from the magic of the fruit. At that moment, Queen Sofia arrived in the tower. Her eyes widened at the sight of Tana and Yeray. The queen turned to Diego. "You were certainly right to trust Drake, Worm, and Val. Well done, all of you!" "Thank you, Your Majesty," Drake and Val said together. They both bowed. "I have prepared a home for these dragons on the castle grounds," the queen continued. "Please let this dragon family know they may live here as long as they like."

Drake heard Worm in his head. Tana and Yeray are very grateful. "The dragon parents say thank you," Drake reported. Diego bowed to Queen Sofia. "You are so kind, dear Queen. May I have your leave to go back to my cottage? I will return shortly to check on the dragons." "As you wish, wizard," the queen replied. Diego turned to Drake, Carlos, and Val. "Say your good-byes to these Invisible Dragons. It is time for us all to head home." Val squeezed Fig, and Drake saw a tear roll down Val's cheek. "Oh, Fig, I'll miss you," Val said. "But you're going to be so happy here with your family." Drake heard the heartbreak in Val's voice. It's too bad Val isn't Fig's Dragon Master! he thought.