Marcus stepped off. The ground felt solid and real.
He reached back and helped Elara down. Her legs were still shaky.
"Can you walk?" Marcus asked.
Elara nodded. She took a deep breath of the pine-scented air.
"I can walk," she said. "I am okay."
Marcus turned to the dragon girl. She was still fast asleep on the carpet.
He sighed. He bent down and scooped her up.
He positioned her on his back. Her arms draped over his shoulders. Her head rested on his neck.
"Piggyback it is," Marcus muttered.
She was light, but the dead weight was awkward.
Ventessa floated in the air. She waved a paw at the carpet.
The woven wind unraveled. It dissolved into a gentle breeze and vanished.
"Done," Ventessa said.
She looked at the path leading out of the woods.
"Now we walk," she said.
Goliath hopped down from the carpet before it disappeared. He landed in the grass.
"To the mansion!" Goliath cheered. He pointed a fuzzy arm forward.
They began to walk.
