13. HELP FROM AFAR

CHAPTER 13 HELP FROM AFAR Chaya reared back his head, gearing up for an attack. Drake, Jean, and Darpan ran and ducked down behind Worm and Argent.

Darpan thrust the scroll into Drake's hands. "Get out of here!" "Come with us!" Drake urged. Darpan shook his head. "I cannot leave my sister. Go. Find help. I'll be okay—Aruna won't hurt me." Drake nodded. Jean already had a hand on Worm and one on Argent. Drake touched his dragon. "Worm! To the Training Room in Bracken!" he yelled. Worm transported them back to King Roland's castle before Chaya could attack.

Griffith, Bo, Rori, and Ana greeted them. "Did you find the Shadow Dragon?" Rori asked. Drake and Jean told the story of Aruna and Chaya. They explained that the Shadow Dragon had been cursed with great power. Drake held out the scroll. "We need to summon a Star Dragon," he said. "The instructions should be in this scroll."

"Let us study it in the classroom," Griffith suggested. Before they could follow him, a circle of swirling, golden light appeared in the Training Room. A boy stepped through the portal. He wore a Dragon Stone, a white shirt, and an orange skirt. A gold parrot sat on his shoulder.

"Darmal" Drake cried. The boy grinned as the portal closed behind him. "I sensed that you might need my help, friend," he said. "So Hema and I came."

The parrot flew off Darma's shoulder. Golden light exploded from it. When the light faded, a large, beautiful dragon stood in its place. The Dragon Masters stared at Hema the Gold Dragon in wonder.