9. INTO THE MOUNTAIN

CHAPTER 9 INTO THE MOUNTAIN Drake's stomach lurched as the waterfall pulled Worm down, too. He held on tightly! Splash! Luckily, the waterfall wasn't very high. The three of them landed in a shallow pool of clear water.

"Where's Fig?" Val cried. "We need to find her!" Drake looked down. "It's not deep," he said. "I don't think she's underwater." They both tumbled off Worm's back. Drake stood up. The water reached his elbows. He looked around but didn't see the baby dragon anywhere. "Maybe Fig turned invisible," Val guessed. "Worm, can you sense Fig?" Drake asked.

But before Worm could reply, the little dragon became visible on the shore. "Fig! I was so worried!" Val cried. Val, Drake, and Worm climbed out of the water, dripping wet. Val hugged the baby dragon. "How about we stick to the ground from now on, okay?" Fig motioned with her head for Val to follow, and trotted along the bank of the stream. Drake, Val, and Worm dried off as they followed Fig.

The stream led them to a wide, open area at the foot of a mountain. Rocks were scattered across the ground. Some were boulders as big as Worm, and others were the size of barrels.

The stream flowed through the rocky area and then entered the mountain through a cave-like opening. Suddenly, Fig took off toward a big pile of rocks. The baby dragon sniffed the ground as she moved. Her tail wagged.

"Fig seems really excited," Val said. "Do you think her parents are near here?" Drake looked at Worm. "Can you sense anything?" Worm closed his eyes. Yes! There is dragon energy here. Energy that is not Fig's. The three of them approached Fig, who was still sniffing around the large rock pile. The air next to Fig began to shimmer with purple-and-green light. Drake gasped. A big dragon was taking shape in front of their eyes!