I was shaking. Every muscle in my body screamed at me to charge forward, to fight, to do something. My draconic hand clenched so hard I could feel my nails digging into my palm even through the scales.

Then Meli's hand touched my shoulder. Magic flowed through me, calming, steadying. It helped, but barely.

I watched the bandits spread out to search. Ten of them stayed by the carts, guarding the Moonpetal. I could see faces I recognized through the bars. People who'd been kind to me my whole life. People who'd stood with us when the soldiers came.

And I couldn't do anything.

My breath came hard and fast. I almost lunged forward anyway. Almost threw myself at them despite the odds. But Meli's whisper stopped me.

[b]"I don't think we can save them right now. I hate saying this, but I think we need to retreat..."[/b]

I wanted to argue. Wanted to scream that we couldn't just leave them. But she was right. We were two people against dozens. If we attacked now, we'd just end up in those cages too. Or dead.

I forced myself to breathe. Forced the rage down into something I could control.

[b]"Okay,"[/b] I whispered back, my voice rough. [b]"We go back to the orchard. Check on Elena, Garrick, and Isolde. Figure out what to do from there."[/b]

But even as I said it, I kept my eyes on those carts. On the Moonpetal trapped inside.