That night I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling in my room at the Lions Den. Ally lay in the bed across the room sleeping while Andrew occupied the room across the hall. I thought back over the past two weeks. Two weeks ago, I was laying in my bed in Hillsdale preparing to celebrate my fourteenth birthday. Since then I found out I had a brother, lost the only family I ever knew, nearly drowned in a river, found a third family and now I have found a fourth family. I had barely walked out of Orion's office when the cheers rose and I was engulfed in hugs. I don't think I can count the times I heard people tell me they'd told me this would be the outcome. I sat up and looked at my uniform laying on the chair beside my bed. A uniform I had admired since I was a young child, now belonged to me. It still didn't feel real that tomorrow evening I would return to the Dragon compound and start my official apprenticeship. My eyes traveled to where Ally slept. Tomorrow I would also have to say goodbye to more family. That part I wasn't looking forward to. It would be over five months before Andrew and his family returned for the market. I heard Ally's blankets move and watched as she groggily sat up.

She yawned and looked over at me. "Are you still awake? I thought after the party your brothers threw, you'd be out the second your head hit the pillow, mine was," she said, standing up and walking over taking a seat beside me. "Although I can also see why you might be awake," she said smiling up at me.

"So much has changed. I've lost more than I could imagine, but I've gained more than I thought possible. I've felt more at home then I thought I could after losing my family. Is it weird that there is something about being in Jarrow that feels like home? I've never been before, yet it feels right to be here," I said turning to face her.

She didn't respond right away, just gazed at me. "Sam, I think you've always known that you'd do more than live in Hillsdale. I've known you hardly two weeks and I can see that there is something in you that seeks more. Jarrow is a place where that can happen. Hillsdale has prepared you for whatever it is in Jarrow that is calling you," she said, then got a goofy grin on her face. "Now that we're awake, you have to tell me how this week has been. Like the details you didn't mention in front of dad. How awkward has it been keeping your feminine side a secret? Alakay mentioned that you ran into some youth our age? Did you fall in love with one of them but can't do anything because you're a girl? I need the details, woman!" She said leaning forward.

And so I found myself recapping every close call and great moment of the past week. The sun was starting to rise before the two of us fell asleep side by side on my bed. A tear ran down my cheek. Chloe and I would do this, we would stay up after an eventful day and talk about all the details until neither of us could keep our eyes open. "I'm living for you Chole... for Papa and Mama... for our village... for my first family..." I whispered as sleep took over my body.

I groaned as there was a knock on the door. "Ally... the door," I yawned, nudging Ally who lay sleeping beside me. She didn't budge. I shook my head as I climbed over her and walked towards the door. "Who's there?" I called not opening the door yet. I wasn't bound. I didn't want to see anyone that could expose my secret.

"It's Andrew," he called from the other side. I opened the door enough for him to come in. He entered and looked to the bed where Ally was now sprawled. Andrew chuckled as he looked from Ally to me. "How long did the two of you stay up?" He asked.

I yawned, wiping my eyes. "I believe the sun was rising and the rooster crowing when we finally called it a night," I said, sliding onto the chair beside the table.

Andrew smiled in understanding. He walked over and shook Ally earning a groan from her as he pulled her to a sitting position. "Come on, time to get up," he said. "You have about fifteen minutes to get ready before meeting me downstairs for breakfast," he walked out so there was no room for argument.

I groaned as I looked at the binding laying beside my clothes. "That is the one thing I do not care for about this set up. The binding is so annoying. It's also hard to make up excuses why I don't go shirtless like they do," I said as I prepared to get dressed.

Ally nodded as she also got dressed. "You'll figure it out," she encouraged as we finished getting ready and walked down the stairs. We quickly spotted Andrew at a table standing talking to the Innkeeper, Travis. We were staying at the Lion's Den, the same place my brothers had brought me for lunch towards the beginning of my training.

"Ah, and there he is! The man of the hour," Travis said turning and beaming at me as we walked up. I raised my eyebrow unsure of what he was talking about. "News is spreading quickly of your apprenticeship, Sam. It's an honor to be housing you for your celebration day. Food's on the house," he said holding out his hand.

"Thank you, sir. It's an honor to be accepted as an apprentice. I hope to make the Dragon's proud; as well as the city of Jarrow," I said.

Travis grinned again. "I'm sure you will. Now sit! Enjoy!" He said motioning for us to sit. Throughout breakfast, a handful of people would stare and whisper.

Ally grinned every time. "Your famous, Sam!"

After breakfast was finished the three of us walked around town. Ally would grin as people saw me and started to whisper. "I hate being the center of attention," I said as we passed by yet another group of people looking at us.

Andrew dropped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. "It will die down after a little while, Sam. There hasn't been a Dragon apprentice for many years. They simply want to know what is so special about you that changed the mind of one of the most stubborn men on the planet," he said. I nodded in understanding. It didn't really help, but at least I could look forward to it ending at some point. After a while, we found a small lawned area surrounded by trees. "Let's see how you're doing," Andrew said, pulling his sword. I dropped to the ground not expecting the sudden attack. I grinned up at him as I rolled away as he continued to attack me. Ally gasped as his sword cut the grass by my head.

"Shouldn't you be using dulled swords?" She asked as I jumped to my feet pulling my sword and blocking an attack.

"Sam's good enough he shouldn't lop off my head," Andrew said leaning back as I took the opportunity to change from defender to attacker. We fought for nearly twenty minutes before he knocked me off balance and held his sword to my neck.

"I yield," I said, keeping my sword lowered. Too soon it was time to head back to the compound. I was excited to be starting my new beginning with the Dragon's, but it would mean that I would not see Andrew and Ally for a few months. It would be another goodbye I would have to face. As we walked back to the compound, Andrew walked in front with Ally and me a few steps behind.

Ally slowly slipped her hand into mine. "I'm going to miss you, Sam," she said looking up to me with tears in her eyes.

I nodded feeling my own emotions growing. "I can't believe that we have only known each other a few weeks, yet it feels as though we have always been friends," I said. I stopped at the end of the road as we came to the compound. "I wouldn't be here without you and your family," I said.

Ally shook her head. "You would have made your way to Jarrow and to the Dragons with or without us," she said.

It was my turn to shake my head. "No. I would be dead without your family, Ally. It was your family that helped me after I lost my village. It was you who came up with this plan to get me here. You are forever my sister and if you need me I will be there," I said, pulling her in, both of us crying at this point. After a few moments of silence, we walked into the compound where Andrew was talking to Orion. Before we could approach them my brothers intercepted us. At first, they were excited to see us but then saw the tears.

Shepherd took a step forward. "Don't worry, Ally, we will take care of Sam," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "He's our little brother and we won't let anything happen to him," he said.

I looked up at the four men standing beside me. "I think we are all where we need to be, Ally," I said.

She nodded, wiping her eyes. "I know. You fit as a Dragon. You fit in Jarrow. However, it doesn't mean that I won't be sad leaving you," she said, wrapping arms around me once again.

"We'll fend off any girl that comes at him. You two may not see it but you'd be an adorable couple," Alakay grinned. "Ow," he cried glaring at me as I kicked him in the shin.

"Come on," I said pulling Ally towards Orion and Andrew.

"This is your last chance, Sam. When Andrew and Ally leave you will be stuck with us for a year," Orion said crossing his arms.

I glanced around before looking up at him. "I think I can handle being stuck here for a year," I said with a grin.

Then came the hard part, the goodbyes. "You will do great here, Sam," Andrew said, pulling me into a hug.

"Thank you for all you have done for me, Andrew. Your family means the world to me," I said looking up at him with tears in my eyes.

He smiled, wiping them with his hand. "And you the world to us," he said. "Come Ally, we need to make it to Chains before nightfall," he said. And with one more hug from Ally, I watched them leave.

I turned to my brothers. Walking towards them whispering "I'm home,"