ã€ŠBurden of a Fire Dragonã€‹


 Prologue: Baby Dragons at Play

    Two baby dragons had grown old enough to leave the nest, so they frolicked through the forest. Rambunctious, the friends laughed without a care in the world.

    "Ha! You missed me!" Fia jeered. She leapt into the air and beat her wings to send herself careening to the side.

    The fireball which Arenis had spat from his jaws went sailing past her. The tiny inferno smacked against a far-off tree.

    The bark was charred black beneath the flame, but luckily, it did not erupt into a wildfire. The smoldering mark in the tree was left unattended. The two fire dragons might just burn down the whole forest in the name of good fun.

    Once he had given up slinging fireballs, Arenis used his more muscular stature to catch up to Fia. Neck extended in full, Arenis flapped his wings to empower his sprint. The baby dragons were too young to fly, but their play brought them good exercise which would prepare them to take to the skies one day.

    Fia broke through the treeline and arrived at the coast. Her talons immediately sunk into the sand and slowed her down. "Oh no!" It had just dawned on her that the elders forbade them from straying this far from the village. If we don''t hurry back, me and Arenis are going to be in big trouble! she thought.

    The other dragon scrambled up the side of a tree and launched himself over the brush. His wings snapped open to catch the air and glide a few feet. Then, he folded them into a dive and pounced on Fia. His dive bomb was a success, and he pinned her to the ground.

    "Gotcha!" he roared. "Did you see that? Of course, you didn''t! I came from above¡ªout of nowhere. When I grow up, I''m gonna be a flying ace!"

    Although Arenis was bigger and stronger than Fia, their physiques were not so far apart to render her efforts ineffectual. She kicked up her back legs with all her might. Fia''s wings were braced across the ground to steady herself and offer more power. At the same time, she flipped over and slammed Arenis onto his back.

    "A perfect dive means nothing if you can''t finish ''em off!" Maw spread wide, Fia lowered her jaws around Arenis''s neck. She clamped down hard enough that he could not risk squirming around, lest he wanted her teeth to inadvertently sink into his neck before he could become a flying ace. Fia had won this match.

    Smugly, she clambered off Arenis and said, "I really gotcha good this time."

    His mood was more subdued in the wake of defeat. On both sides of his body, his head and tail were slumped low. "My takedown was cooler¡­" he muttered.

    "The one who wins is the coolest!" Fia said, sticking her nose up in pride.

    The days of the dragon''s childhood were idyllic, just like this. It was all cut short when a chain was thrust against Fia''s neck and drawn taught like a garrote.

    "Ack!" she gagged and found herself lifted off her feet. Even her hind legs dangled in the air. Only her tail could touch the ground, but the appendage was not strong enough to support her weight. As a result, her tail swished desperately from side to side as she was choking.

    A deep, diabolical laugh erupted from behind her. Fia tried to twist herself every which way, but a tall, fleshy creature had her effectively restrained in the air.

    "Fia!" Arenis howled. His magic power gathered between his fangs into the biggest fireball that he could muster. The attack soared straight for Fia, and she ducked to let the fireball strike the assailant behind her.

    A painful holler erupted in response. The chain slackened around Fia''s throat and fell across the ground like a lifeless snake.

    She dropped back onto her clawed feet and scrambled away. Before she could reach Arenis, her tail was yanked back. "Eek! Arenis!"

    Between their frivolous game earlier and his massive fireball just now, all his mana reserves were used up. Arenis danced on his anxious claws, uncertain how he should join the fray to best help Fia.

    A harsh, foreign language was uttered near her horns. Fia contorted her long, serpentine neck and let out a simple but effective flame breath. The burst was brief¡ªthe simplest spell that a fire dragon could conjure¡ªbut it was plenty to scorch the enemy''s face.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    The man staggered back, howling and batting at the burn with the hand that previously gripped her tail. In his recoil, he floundered a mace wildly with his other arm.

    The weapon bludgeoned against Fia''s hip as she tried to escape. At seven years old, she was about the size of a dog but sturdier with her scales. The heavy blow forced her to collapse onto the sand. Luckily, no bones were broken. Before she could get up, Fia was dragged back by the tail once more. The sand was running through her talons as she tried to gain purchase.

    Fear blazed through Fia. When she turned to look back hastily, she realized just how many men had joined the assault. It looked like a dozen at a quick glance. No! Why are there so many? she thought.

    Between their meager magic power and novice fighting ability, the humans would soon overwhelm the baby dragons.

    Fia cast her judgment and yelled, "Arenis! Run!"

    "No! I can''t leave you here¡­!"

    A loud snap caused a metallic bolt to launch from one of the men''s weapons. The projectile drove into the sand at the tips of Arenis''s claws and made him jump on all fours. The crossbow packed enough force to likely penetrate the scales of the baby dragons.

    "Get help!" Fia screeched. "I''ll hold them off." A waver threatened to enter her voice in that last display of bravado. Fia doubted that she could hold her own for long.

    However, Arenis was thoroughly spooked by the advanced weaponry and followed her order. He ran and ran till his breath came out in puffs of smoke. "Sea bandits!" Arenis screeched. "A bunch of bandits came from the sea and captured Fia!"

    On that unfortunate day, his best friend was left in a fight for her life on the beach. It was a losing fight. Fia danced backwards on the beach, trying to make it to the trees. Her claws flitted between attacking and fleeing.

    In an eloquent duck, she dodged a swing from a curved sword and leaped onto the man''s hip. Her momentum carried her around onto his back. Her claws punctured through his clothes and into flesh at the lower portion of his back¡ªthe kidneys. The man immediately dropped like a rock.

    Fia bounded off him and ran for the trees again. Her bloodied talons sinking into the sand slowed her down more in comparison to the boots of the grown men. The group caught back up to strike.

    This time, she jumped in a sideways circle. Her hind claws lashed out and split open the man''s shins. When Fia landed on her feet once more, she kept running for the trees.

    The men spat at her in anger. Once she had nearly made it to the tree line, the crossbow was fired again. Fia gasped and halted as she watched the wood splinter into the air from the tree directly ahead. That could''ve been my head¡­.

    The momentary pause was all the men needed to catch up. One of them clubbed the back of her head. Dazed from the hit, she staggered to the side, fell down, and could not find the strength to get back up.

    Her bleary eyes opened and closed. Fia observed how near she had been to the tree line, where she could have hidden in the canopy.

    Is this where I die? Before I can even become a flying ace with Arenis? Fia had yet to figure out what she even wanted to do in life for herself, young as she was.

    A muzzle was secured around her snout and prevented her from performing any more magic tricks; she only knew how to cast magic from her maw. A metal collar was clasped around her throat. Lastly, the chain which had nearly choked her was fastened to the rung near her chest.

    The humans celebrated and danced around her. The leader took up the chain and yanked her towards the rowboats. His lackeys had spears which were leveled at her from behind.

    Fia dragged her sluggish, miserable claws through the sand as slow as she could. Arenis should''ve made it back to the village by now. The elders will be here soon to save me! She tried to stall to win them more time. Nevertheless, she was forced onto the boat.

    Her trembling talons tapped against the wood in rapid succession. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Water lapped at the sides of the rowboat. Splish splash. Splish splash. Splish splash. The dragoness could not cease her shaking; she was so scared. Tap. Tap. Tap. Creak!

    Subtly, Fia tried to lean her weight to the side. If she could capsize the boat, perhaps she could use the commotion as her chance to slip away. At minimum, the incident would buy her more time. However, the boat hardly seemed to move. Maybe if I dive into the water, I can swim back to shore¡­.

    One of the men pointed a knife towards her throat. He said some unintelligible words with a smug grin on his face.

    The humans were cruel, cunning, and attentive to their captive. Fia saw no chance to escape. Their rowboat arrived near the base of a massive ship, cast in its shadow. Fia tilted her head all the way back in horrified amazement.

    Large, wooden structures loomed over the edge of the ship and cast sharp shadows. A harpoon tip rested in place. Those were the anti-dragon ballistae, a terrible contraption that her parents spoke about in hoarse whispers. Her father once thought to tell her a bedtime story which had induced nightmares. However, he had left her with an important message:

    You are growing up in a dangerous time, Fia. The skies are becoming more perilous for dragons. Stay away from human ships and cities!

    Once she was on that boat, she doubted that her clan could save one little, disobedient dragoness. Only her mother and father might fly desperately over the sea, searching for the ship which had already been lost on the horizon.

    That was how Fia came to be whisked away as a prisoner across the sea.

 Chapter 1: The Dragon in the Shadows

    A young dragoness was hauled into a dungeon by the chain around her neck. If she struggled and dug her talons into the ground, the meek resistance earned her a jab in the rear with a spear. Some of her scales had split apart. Blood ebbed from her aching haunches. Fia let out a draconic whine which echoed throughout the cavernous hall.

    The cruel men surrounding her guffawed in their strange language.

    "Stop!" she shrieked at them. "Mom! Dad! Arenis! Anybody! I want to go home!"

    Nobody was around to hear her plight who cared. The terror in her voice transcended language. The men knew full-well how they were traumatizing her, but they held not an ounce of sympathy for the baby dragon. She was not human and therefore undeserving of humane treatment.

    Some coarse barks came from the men, followed by a notably heavy jerk of the chain at Fia''s neck. A metal-toed boot drove into her ribs. The butt of a spear was jabbed between them. Fia was flung back against the cobblestones, and her body collapsed into a heap of weary scales. An iron-barred door swung shut in her face.

    The arduous sigh which passed between her fangs was louder than the tumblers of the lock. A man uttered his final words and spat at the tips of her claws. Their boots marched away and gave Fia a moment of reprieve at last. As badly as she wanted to screech at the rocky ceiling overhead, she dared not test the patience of her tormentors.

    From the looks of it, this dungeon would be her new home. At least it''s better than the brig¡­. Fia had hated the ship where the incessant rocking upset her tummy and forced her to throw up the sorry excuse for food. After an arduous journey across the sea, Fia had been relocated to a dungeon in the heart of the human city.

    The young dragon''s incessant optimism did not mean that she was acquiescent to a life behind bars. Something about the underground cell affected her psychological state for the worse. The dragoness''s new life was devoid of the open air which she had always dreamed of harnessing under her wings. Fia had not realized the extent of her dire situation¡ªuntil now.

    Her clan was not coming for her. She felt entirely alone in this strange world. I want to go home¡­.

    Since that was not an option, Fia might as well make herself comfortable. Up on her feet, she was prepared to slink into a corner, curl into a ball, and cry herself to sleep. However, before she could lift another talon, a deep rumble resounded from behind.

    Fia gasped and spun around, wings furled wide out of shock. Despite the growl, a most welcoming sight entered her field of view. The emerald eyes of a second dragon glinted at her from the shadows.

    Some painfully lonely weeks or months had passed with Fia alone on the ship. All the dragons that Fia had ever known were part of her clan. They were friends, so she naturally felt reassurance from another dragon''s presence. "I''m sure glad to see you!" she trilled.

    The dragon emerged from the shadows, revealing his superior size. Although he was still a juvenile like her, he had several years and a hundred pounds on her. His scales were inky black like the shadows surrounding him. Unresponsive to her kind greeting, the growl never ceased from his throat.

    "Hey. What''s with you?" Fia tilted her head out of confusion. Wait, is he one of those wild, stupid dragons?

    When he unfurled his wings, they were leathery, shredded slabs. This dragon was destined to never fly, even once he turned old enough. Those useless wings draped around his body like a bat. The other dragon crouched low. His rigged form stalked forward and circled around her. The slow, sad sound of his dragging chain followed every step that he took.

    Does he want to play? Arenis and I always do this when we''re getting ready to wrestle! Fia was confused because she at least thought that they should exchange introductions first. She twirled around with the other dragon, keeping her wide, friendly eyes on him. "My name''s Fia. What''s yours?"

    A savage hiss came from his split jaws. The other dragon pounced on her. His talons went straight for her neck and pried up some of her scales. Fia fell back before he could cut into her flesh. Next thing she knew, she was pinned on the ground. The larger dragon bore his weight on top of her and had his fangs fixed around her neck, above the banded, iron collar.

    "Ugh. You win." Her voice was a harsh whisper, as Fia had to minimize the movement in her neck to keep the tips of his fangs from poking into her throat.

    The other dragon had frozen like a gargoyle looming over her. His jaws neither opened to release her nor closed to crush her. The flick of his tongue caressed the vulnerable, exposed flesh of her neck.

    That was when the realization struck Fia. Her heartbeat immediately exploded into a race; it was rather impeccable she did not die from fright right then. This isn''t a game. It''s a real fight! The other dragon was hesitating to end her life.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Fia thought, He''s gonna do it. I''m about to die! A squeal ripped from her throat, the loudest that she could produce. Even if those men despised her and threw her in this cell, maybe they could break up the fight and move her to another one.

    Ever so slowly, the hostile dragon gently forfeited his grip around her neck. His freshly emptied mouth huffed out a sigh. The words of a foreign language passed over his tongue. Dejected, he turned and slunk back into the shadows whence he came. The dolorous chain dragged after him.

    Fia lay stock-still across the ground. Why did I freeze up? I''ve done that with Arenis a thousand times. Even though he''s bigger than me, I can always flip him if he tries to pin me¡­.

    Slowly, Fia picked herself back onto her feet. Her head was hung in great shame. It was not just the humans who she had to watch out for, but a hostile dragon. This was twice now Fia had been unprepared to fight for her life¡ªthe whole reason she had been taken prisoner in the first place. Next time, I won''t let someone get the better of me!

    The young dragoness retreated to her own, respective corner of the cell. When the other dragon sealed his vivid eyes behind his lids, his black scales merged completely with the shadows. The flick of his sickly, green eyes was the last distinction of color against the darkness.

    Blinded, Fia''s other senses became more pronounced. Her back was pressed up against the rigid and cold, iron bars of the door. For a sense of security, she wound her tail around one such rod. The rotten scent of old feces filled her nostrils as it wafted from one corner. Meanwhile, the sheer silence let her worries expound in her head.

    A vicious dragon occupied the cell with her. He had already threatened to kill her once. At any moment, he could attack her again.

    The tears were welling in her eyes, but the young dragoness could not cry right now. She needed to stay calm¡ªkeep her vision entirely clear to watch for any movement from the dragon in the shadows.

    I was captured by humans, taken across the sea to a scary place, thrown into a cell with another dragon who might try to kill me at any point. We don''t even speak the same language¡­.

    A deep breath of the foul air filled her lungs. Fia took command over her emotions. I''m seven years old. I''m smart. I''m good at making friends! A common language was not required to forge a connection between dragons.

    Carefully, Fia focused all her mental faculties and prodded the other living presence in this cell.

    The heat of their dragon hearts flooded into one another. Seamlessly, a tether formed between their minds; the two dragons could now communicate. The ideas transferred directly from one brain to another¡ªno language necessary to encode what they wanted to express.

    I have nothing to say to you, the menacing, black dragon said in response to the connection. Beyond that, his thoughts were silent.

    Fia was taken aback. Her jaw dropped open, and she gaped at him in disbelief.

    The older dragon glared at her in return. Now open, his emerald eyes bore into her and expressed the depth of his disdain for her.

    Surely, he can''t mean that! she thought to herself. His bristly attitude was just for show. If he truly did not want to associate with her, he would not have accepted the telepathic link. Some part of him must desperately long to talk to the new dragon in his cell. After all, he had chosen to let her live.

    So, Fia uncoiled her tail from the bars and lifted it to express her goodwill. Her thoughts were made extra upbeat and chipper as she communicated, My name''s Fia of the Carlinoa Clan.

    Hm.

    Fia waited a long time for him to reply further, expecting him to share his name. In the end, she sheepishly fiddled with her talons and prodded him, I told you my name. Would you mind telling me yours?

    A snort came from the black dragon''s snout. Umbra Caligo. His mood was oddly satirical when he shared that name with her.

    Fia thought to herself, Huh. What a peculiar name¡­. She could just call him Umbra, she supposed.

    The silence resumed between them.

    A big gulp slid down Fia''s throat as she dared to speak again. Could you tell me what''s going to happen to us here?

    The eyes of Umbra became glazed over, but his tail lifted in a dragon''s typical smile. Instead of offering an answer, he simply said, No.

    Once more, Fia had nothing to do but gape at him. She had not expected such a quick and terse rejection. Why not?

    He countered her question with another one of his own. How old are you?

    S-Seven. Hesitant, Fia was not sure if her true age was the right answer. Should she have said a bigger or smaller number? The one which she stated turned out wrong.

    Umbra sneered at her. You''re old enough to take care of yourself.

    The telepathic link was severed. Umbra closed his eyes and merged once more with the shadows.

    What? No! Please! The frantic thoughts stayed within Fia''s head alone. Her big eyes lingered on him beggingly. I need your help¡­.

    The dragon called Umbra Caligo could no longer hear her; he was unmoving. Fia would have to rely on herself. While he was older than her, he was still too young for all the scars that he had. If she survived, she wondered if she would end up more like him.

 Chapter 2: Enter the Leo Medusa

    The young dragoness tried to stay awake, staring at the shadow of Umbra for as long as she could. Fia eventually gave into her weariness and passed out. Her dreams were a nightmarish fugue. When she woke with a start, there was a muffled drone of a thousand voices.

    "Huh? What''s going on? No¡­. Five more minutes¡­." Her speech slurred off her serpentine tongue.

    The constant noise reminded her of the hustle and bustle when she had been dragged into the human city. The cheers sounded more energized than the common noise on the streets.

    Not wanting the sound to stir her any further, Fia rolled over and groaned. She clapped her frontmost claws over her eardrums and let herself snore freely to drown out the ruckus.

    The warmth of Umbra''s dragon heart flooded her mind. Wake up, he spat. Don''t wanna listen to you snore. The smooth side of his claws smacked the nape of her neck.

    "Ugh. Good morning," she murmured. What''s happening? she asked telepathically.

    It''s time, he replied simply.

    Time for what? Fia got up and followed him towards the iron doors. He stood with his hackles raised; the large spines along a dragon''s back could stand on end when danger neared. She followed suit, mimicking the readied stance of his legs and lifting her spines as well.

    Time for you to die, Umbra said. A dour note of sarcasm returned to his internal mood, projected through his thoughts as he added, Best of luck.

    "Huh?" she gasped. Before she could question him, their human overlords marched towards their cell in the dungeon.

    Torchlight bounced off the tunneled walls. The metallic clink of keys was followed by the grating of the door as it swung open. The men grabbed up the chains which remained hooked around the necks of Fia and Umbra.

    Save your strength. It''s not the humans who you must fight. The black dragon ended their telepathic link and walked out first. His calm strides were unfazed by the weight of his chain.

    Did you just give me a bit of advice? Her question was projected to the void. Nonetheless, a small hope lightened within Fia''s chest. If she could simply follow Umbra''s lead, she might survive this.

    In contrast to his confidence, her frightened state showed in every step. Fia wanted to struggle against the chains as usual, but she could not waste her energy¡ªnor the one bit of kindness that Umbra had shown her. She tried to mimic him as much as possible while marching up the stony stairs where the humans led them.

    Fia and Umbra were ushered into a curved room. Weapons lined the back wall¡ªmore wicked than the implements which had been used to capture her. A long bench was placed along the frontmost wall. In the center, large double doors were used to seal off an expanse beyond. That space was only visible thanks to the grated windows above the benches.

    The armed guards latched their chains to some metal rings over there. Umbra climbed onto the bench and curled his tail around his claws. Figuring that she could sit by him, Fia hopped up too.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    Other men in chains and dirty, leather armor had their meaty hands draped over their knees. More animals were brought into the room with terrifying appearances, none the likes of which Fia had ever seen before. Some bore shackles, chains, and muzzles while others were kept entirely restrained in cages.

    Their human overseers escorted one of the men to the heavy doors. Blazing sunlight entered the room as the doors opened. The light was unhindered in contrast to the feeble rays which were divided by the bars. The man stepped out, and the voice of an announcer bellowed at the roaring crowd.

    Fia hardly paid attention to this, as she was still amazed by the zoological wonders in the room with them. However, she soon became more aware of her surroundings. Umbra is watching something out there¡­. I probably should too!

    Wrenching her neck the other way, she peered beyond the bars. The open space was an arena. A monumental coliseum housed an eager audience on all sides. The beautiful, blue sky was obfuscated by a metal cage which topped the arena.

    In the middle of the trodden dirt, a man battled with another. Their weapons clashed. A spurt of blood shot out, and the crowd cheered all the louder.

    The sudden sight of red made Fia''s eyes go wide and her pupils constrict. A terrified gasp rushed down her throat, and her hind foot slipped off the edge of the bench. Fia tumbled onto the floor with her chain clattering after her. Although she loved blood as much as the next carnivore, the implications terrified her. They''re gonna make us fight. They''re gonna make us fight to the death!

    Briefly, she shook herself off. When she looked up, she saw Umbra glaring down at her. Sheer annoyance filled his face. Without their mental connection, she could not offer a proper apology. Luckily, one simple, remorseful word in her own language got the message across well enough. "Sorry."

    Umbra ignored her and returned his full attention to the arena.

    By the time that she clambered back up, one man stood victorious over the fallen corpse. Both his arms were raised high to brandish his weapon. The announcer concluded the fight, and the warrior returned to the other gate.

    Next, the arena was prepared for the next fight. The corpse was carried out. An aesthetic blood stain was left behind.

    Their overseers paced about the room with a surveying gaze.

    They''re looking for the next victim! A quick draw of breath was caught in Fia''s throat. Her stomach immediately twisted up inside. This is why Umbra said I''m gonna die today¡­. I really am gonna die!

    She tried to make herself as small as possible. Every muscle trembled while she watched the guards take a step closer to her. If anything, her cowardly behavior only made her stand out more.

    The guard smirked beneath his decorative helm. Some harsh words left his tongue while he stared straight at her. He reached for the chain, and Fia squeezed her eyes shut tightly. The tug at her neck was never felt.

    Instead, Umbra''s chain had been selected. He was led towards the arena with not a hint of fear or hesitation in his step. The heavy doors shut after him with a note of finality.

    All Fia could do was watch helplessly behind the bars. She could not take her eyes off the fight this time, not even for a moment.

    The announcer said similar words as before, allowing Fia to construe their approximate meaning.

    "Enter, Umbra Caligo the dragon!"

    As he pranced outward, Umbra lifted his claws high with every step¡ªthe most animated Fia had yet to see him. He rose up on his hind legs and beat his wings. Every tear was shown off as Umbra spread them wide. Talons splayed in the air, his jaws opened to the sky. His fangs glinted in the sunlight like the gleam in his emerald eyes. A screech ripped from deep within his chest.

    The crowd answered him in an excited uproar. The shouts conjoined to become one booming holler.

    The doors to the other side of the arena opened up.

    "Enter, Regificus the leo medusa!"

    A sizable mammal bounded out¡ªtwice Umbra''s size. Its face was crowned by slithering serpents on all sides of its face. When the lion roared, all the snake heads reacted in sync and hissed.

 Chapter 3: First Battle in the Coliseum

    Umbra exhaled in slow pants, as if he were already calculating his every move right down to his breath. The leo medusa across from him shook its serpentine mane and took up a deep growl, accompanied by the undertone of constant hissing.

    The excitement of the crowd intensified as they marveled at the fearsome beast. Without further ceremony, the fight began.

    The leo medusa charged forth. Blown back by its sprint, the snake heads retracted into its mane as if coiled to strike.

    Already, Fia thought her death loomed imminent. And I''m not even the one in the arena yet!

    The lion rushed to pounce on the black dragon. All its snakes reacted at once, snapping outward to bite at Umbra. The paws tipped with sharp claws extended as the lion lunged.

    Umbra jumped to the side at the last second. In doing so, he also flung out one claw to rake at his opponent. Between Umbra''s sweeping roll and the lion''s skidding stop, a small cloud of sand was kicked into the air.

    The leo medusa froze for a moment. Umbra assumed a low crouch and never shifted his gaze from the enemy. The airborne grit settled around them. Slowly, the lion lifted one of its paws. A trickle of blood ebbed from the side of its ankle.

    "Ooh." The crowd seemed to react in unified fascination. The intrigued murmurs rose in volume as the next bout began. Fia''s heart raced like a drum against the thrum of noise.

    The leo medusa hurled itself at Umbra in a frenzied sprint. The serpents began spitting green streaks of venom which hit the ground and sizzled. With so many snake heads attached to the lion''s mane, their accuracy was terrible. The leo medusa struggled to control that many distinct parts of its body simultaneously.

    Umbra fled in zigzags to avoid the acid sprays. If any corrosive droplets had landed on his scales, his reaction showed no sign of injury. Since Umbra had to dodge the frenetic attacks and the leo medusa could take the straightest path to him, the gap between them closed. Umbra tried to throw himself out of the way in the same manner as before.

    The leo medusa learned to anticipate this pattern already. Umbra was caught in an outstretched paw. The thick, lion claws scraped across his scales, toppling Umbra to the ground. With a fearsome roar, the leo medusa rose to smash him beneath its weight. Every snake head loomed above Umbra''s head, hissing in readiness to bite their victim.

    A snarl sounded from the dragon, unaffected by fear. He flipped onto his back and dragged his wings across the ground to push himself farther beneath the lion''s body. When the lion came down, its claws pierced Umbra''s already ruined wings. Its weight would have pinned him in place if not for what he did next.

    Like every dragon knew, the belly was a vulnerable spot. Umbra scratched all four claws across the lion''s gut and made it recoil. Yowling, the leo medusa leaped off of him, and Umbra scrambled away.

    The black dragon shook himself off. When his eyes lifted to take in the enraged lion, fear seemed to enter those emerald eyes for the first time.

    The leo medusa snarled savagely. The snake heads danced in an elaborate swirling motion. With their jaws spread wide, the venom could be seen dripping from their fangs. The substance amassed into an orb floating in the air¡ªan advanced magical technique unlike any Fia had seen before. The green poison reflected in her awestruck eyes, and the toxic bomb was launched at Umbra.

    He leaped away as quickly as he could, but the poisonous orb exploded with a wide blast radius. The noxious fumes swirled like a storm, encompassing Umbra. He was swallowed within the blast and did not reemerge.

    "No¡­." Fia moaned. The corrosive venom of the leo medusa had singed the ground, and Fia could only imagine what it would do to his scales. As the green cloud diffused with the rest of the air, Fia prepared to see his corpse.

    There lay Umbra where he had collapsed.

    "No. No. No," Fia repeated absently. Her anxious claws brought her to pace on a small stretch of the bench. He can''t die. I''m gonna die too!

    The crowd erupted into gleeful cheers. The lion roared and shook its snake-infested mane.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Regificus the leo medusa wins¡ª!" The final announcement was cut short as a sight movement in the arena caught everyone''s eye.

    The pile of black scales twitched. Umbra staggered onto his feet and coughed.

    "Umbra Caligo lives!" While Fia had no idea what the announcer bellowed in the foreign language, she imagined a joyous declaration like that.

    "He''s still alive," she whispered to herself. Fia hopped up and down giddily, but worry stayed in the posture of her wings as she leaned forward intently.

    The rumble in the leo medusa''s chest thundered over Umbra''s growl. The two circled each other with new regard for their adversary. The leo medusa must have expended the last of its mana in the toxic blast since the monster attempted no more magical attacks. Dashing into close quarters once more, it must rely solely on its physical prowess.

    The tides of battle began to change, as the leo medusa''s wound now took its toll. Its movements grew sluggish while Umbra recovered rapidly from the poison. The smaller dragon successfully tumbled to the side of the charge and struck another gash across the lion''s paw.

    Relentlessly, he focused his attacks on a single leg. The scratches accumulated and caused the lion to limp after Umbra who now took the offensive. The lithe dragon leaped onto a shoulder. From there, he flipped onto the leo medusa''s back. His claws dug into flesh for a secure grip. Umbra drew back his head like one of the snakes prepared to bite and struck the nape of the neck.

    A deep, throaty howl sounded from the lion''s jaws. Its whole body shook to throw Umbra off. However, his teeth must only shred deeper into the lion''s vulnerable neck. The dragon clamped down like a vice and tore his head side to side to keep up with the lion''s movement.

    Meanwhile, the snakes contorted around the lion''s head to defend their host. Umbra surrendered one claw from the lion''s back and slashed it through the air when they struck. A few serpentine coils were sliced clean through, and the severed snake heads dropped to the ground.

    The remaining snakes managed to puncture Umbra''s scales, softened from the acid. If anything, the snakes only helped hold Umbra in place while he gripped the thrashing lion with one less claw. Like this, he remained clamped on its back, his jaws crushing into its neck.

    The frontmost half of the leo medusa collapsed first. Then, its rear quickly followed. The monster had fallen, and Umbra cut the remainder of the snakes away. He sprung off the lion''s back and withdrew in a series of dizzy, staggering steps. A few snakes were still alive, hissing furiously, but they could not get close enough to attack Umbra anymore.

    The swell of cheers from the crowd overwhelmed the announcer who could barely be heard. "Umbra Caligo wins!"

    Despite his exhaustion, Umbra rose on his hind legs and flung out his wings. A victorious roar lifted from his chest. After the brief celebration, his front claws tapped back to the ground. Umbra bounded back towards the leo medusa and flitted about the remainder of the snakes.

    Crouched low, he hissed at the snakes and carefully sliced off their heads when they tried to bite him yet again. Before he could finish off the leo medusa''s mane entirely, some human guards walked out to him. They leveled their spears and forced him back towards the gates.

    Umbra tossed his head and denied the guards this humiliation. With his nose pointed to the sun, he pranced out of the arena.

    ¡°Wow,¡± Fia murmured in a sharp intake of breath when she saw Umbra.

    Once the doors were drawn shut, his posture changed immediately. His shoulders were slouched, making his wings dragg across the ground and his talons plod over the dirt-trodden floor.

    As he drew nearer, she prodded his mind to create the telepathic link.

    Without a glance her way, he allowed it. Umbra barely mustered the energy to hop back onto the bench with her.

    You did amazing! I can¡¯t believe what I just saw. Are you alright?

    The connection was severed as quickly as it had been made. Umbra curled into a ball and used his wings to shield himself for some privacy. He did not respond beyond a few unintelligible mutters. More loudly, his stomach grumbled.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Fia leaned nearer to him and batted her concerned eyes. Though she no longer had a way to commiserate with him, she now understood.

    Their captors had not fed the growing dragons enough for supper last night. The hunger pangs had started in Fia¡¯s belly long ago, ever since she had been transported on the ship. Umbra, however, had spent a much longer time in the humans¡¯ clutches. The lines of his ribs were visible beneath his weary, scarred scales.

    He¡¯s hungry. He was trying to feed on the leo medusa¡¯s corpse¡­.

    To him, she whined, Umbra¡­! Fia repeatedly poked his brain, begging him to bring back their telepathy.

    What? he snapped at last.

    I asked if you¡¯re alright, she pouted. Your scales¡­. Do they burn?

    I¡¯m fine.

    Is there anything I can do to help?

    Stop bothering me. Worry about yourself.

    Their mental connection quietly ended. The brutal battles in the coliseum continued. Indeed, Fia must worry about herself, how she would survive the next fight when her chain was the one selected from the wall.

 Chapter 4: Birds that Strike Terror

    Fia was dragged into the arena by her chain. She dug her claws into the dirt and left long, narrow ruts behind her. A speartip prodded her haunch which inspired her to leap past the doors with a yelp. They slammed shut awfully loud behind her with a note of finality.

    "Enter, Favilla the dragon!" the announcer said.

    The fervid cheers for Umbra had been replaced by raucous guffaws.

    The noise made Fia feel small as she crept into the stadium, and it inspired some conflicting emotions in her. On one hand, she wanted to disappear. More so, an anger boiled within her chest.

    They''re laughing¡­. They''re laughing at me! I don''t want to die this way!

    Fia drew in a deep, calming breath. Momentarily, she recalled all the times where she had played with Arenis. The wrestling had been practice for a real fight. She whispered, "I can do this." If she ever wanted to make it back home and see her best friend again, Fia needed to survive.

    Her chest lifted and fell with her big inhalations. Fia was entirely focused on the opposing set of doors. When they opened, three sizable birds ran out¡ªas tall as Fia was long. "Enter, Ictus Beccus the terror birds!"

    Leaning into their sprint, the birds extended their necks so that their massive beaks were thrust out. They had long legs like a crane but far more muscular. The thicker bodies and heads would render them unable to fly with their small wings. Nevertheless, their speed and size made the trio of birds a fearsome foe.

    When they stood at their full height, they loomed a neck and head over Fia. The sheeny quality of the feathers gave them an oily appearance.

    She was certainly stricken with terror. Fia pranced about while the three birds took aggressive stances. Their black, beady eyes seemed to gleam as they stalked around her in heavy steps. Two of them flanked her on either side while the biggest one¡ªthe leader¡ªfaced her head on.

    With each step that the terror birds took, Fia backed up. The space between her and the enemy dwindled, as did the space between her and the wall. If she kept up like this, she would soon find herself cornered.

    What do I do? Fia wondered. Her heart thrummed so loud and fast in her eardrums, she could scarcely think.

    Hey Pinkie. Are you a blackfire dragon? Umbra''s presence in her mind had an immediate, soothing effect.

    Fia had never heard of blackfire but replied, Yes, fire.

    Well, use it. Set the birds on fire from afar. Don''t let them get close! They¡¯ll try to peck your neck.

    Thanks. Despite Umbra''s brash personality, he had offered her valuable advice like before.

    Fia centered herself, calling on her magical power to use the spells which were hard for her to control. She needed a fireball. Once a magma-like heat bubbled between her jaws, Fia spat the energy out towards the rightmost terror bird.

    The spinning ball of fire reflected in its terrified eyes, and the terror bird dashed to the side.

    All three birds shrieked and closed on her.

    "Ah!" Fia screamed. Thanks to the adrenaline lighting up her mind, she was able to make the second fireball faster and larger than the last. She spewed the molten projectile at the same bird, and this time, the fireball struck the center of its chest.

    The sudden impact made the terror bird stumble and trip over its long legs. Flames crackled and fulminated across the terror bird''s body. The squawking bird got up and took a haphazard lap around the arena. The blustering wind from its sprint only fanned the fire like bellows on a forge.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    The other two birds had converged on Fia. She tried to flee towards the open space that she had made, but the terror birds were too fast. The bird which had charged in from the left hammered its beak on her tail.

    Fia screeched when she felt the linked bones of her tail dislodge. The lower portion of her tail broke with a crack. The injury sent immense pain radiating up to the base of her tailbone, and it would hinder her performance for the rest of the fight. However, the state of her body mattered naught if she would die here and now.

    The largest terror bird loomed overhead with its neck slightly craned back. The black eyes seemed to flash as it came down to strike her neck. This was exactly what Umbra had warned her about.

    Fia fell back and flung out a wing. I''ll never fly if I can''t survive anyway¡­. Eyes squeezed shut, she braced herself for the ruin of her wing.

    The razor-like beak of the terror bird impaled the leathery material. The thicker base of the beak eventually got stuck. Without many nerves in her wing, Fia was unhindered by pain when she bashed her wing outward. The terror bird was whacked in the face and stumbled a half-step back.

    By then, Fia had accumulated her mana into another fireball. In her exhale, she heaved the flames a short distance into the terror bird''s face. The remaining terror bird had released her tail, so Fia scrambled away and prepared for the next exchange.

    Two terror birds had their plumage turn to plumes of smoke. The gray-tinged air trailed after them as they were running around, shrieking. Fia discounted them from the fight and focused on the only composed bird left.

    It charged for her at its full sprint.

    Fia gathered the last of her mana between her jaws. Her claws dug into the ground, prepared to run as soon as she released the fireball. However, it had been her mistake to ignore the other two terror birds.

    In their frenzy, one of the birds happened to plow over Fia and kick her onto her side. The sudden contact made her splutter the flames across the ground. The last of her mana had been wasted.

    No¡­! It was a devastating loss, and Fia might just lose her life in the next seconds. Her shoulders arched to brace herself, but the terror bird did not step on her. Its talons landed a stride away and carried the screeching bird to the far side of the arena.

    Roll left! Umbra gave the command, and Fia obeyed blindly.

    Eyes squeezed shut, she pushed with her wings and legs to make herself flip over as quickly as possible. A loud thunk sounded at her side. Fia peeked her lids open to see the terror bird had pounded its beak into the dirt. A cavernous divet was created where her head had previously lain. If she had been a second slower, that hole would have been smashed into her skull.

    She tried to offer to Umbra, Thanks so much¡ª

    Move!

    Fia dodged to the right just as the terror bird slammed its beak back down. Its head lifted to prepare for another rapid attack; Fia could hardly keep up at this range. She needed to get out of striking distance, so she flipped herself over backwards and landed on her feet.

    An idea flitted to mind, inspired by the way that Umbra had evaded and attacked the leo medusa simultaneously.

    This time when the terror bird''s beak struck the dirt, her claws flashed outward to slice at its head. The breath held in Fia''s throat as she went in for the kill. Her nostrils were soon greeted with the fresh scent of blood.

    A gash was struck by Fia''s claws across the bird''s head, but the wound did not seem to faze it. The terror bird headbutted her and tossed her backwards onto her side.

    Fia lay helplessly and tried to roll out of the way. Alas, the terror bird clasped one taloned foot over her body. The dragoness could only squirm and squeal as its head pulled back. Fia scratched desperately along its ankle, but the tough, scaly foot was immovable.

    Firelight flashed into the corner of her vision, and a second terror bird happened to charge into the one that pinned her. The collision toppled both birds. The one engulfed in flame did not get up, completely consumed like a bonfire on the ground.

    The other terror bird jumped and shrieked as fire spread to its own feathers. It flapped its stubby wings and took off in a frantic dash.

    The chaotic arena had turned in Fia''s favor. The dragoness no longer had to directly involve herself in this fight. The two remaining terror birds could not fly; neither could Fia for that matter, but she could climb.

    She bounded over to the edge of the arena. Fia scampered onto the metal cage and hauled herself up. Her body slunk from side to side as she scaled the curved bars. Near the top, she was safely out of reach of the terror birds. Fia hung nearly upside down and craned her head all the way back to watch.

    The two flaming birds darted around in vain until they ultimately collapsed.

    ¡°Favilla the dragon wins!¡± The announcer¡¯s voice resounded when the terror birds¡¯ bodies no longer thrashed or twitched.

    A massive sigh of relief left Fia¡¯s jaws. Through a little bit of skill, a little bit of guidance, and lots of good luck, she had won her first match in the coliseum.

 Chapter 5: Friendly Terms

    While Fia hung nearly upside down from the arena cage, the terror birds had collapsed into burning piles. The announcer proclaimed her victory. ¡°Favilla the dragon wins!¡±

    She dropped from the cage, flipped in the air, and tossed out her wings to glide back down. Unexpectedly, her body careened dangerously to one side which caused a yelp to slip past her jaws.

    My wing¡­!  The wind whistled past the hole in the leathery flap. Fia beat her other wing fiercely to even out. Her partially broken tail did not work the same for balance anymore. Once she was close enough, she fluttered her wings rapidly to tap safely onto the ground.

    The crowd was cheering so loud, Fia could hardly think.

    Umbra. Naturally, she remembered him¡ªthe one who had guided her to victory against the terror birds. Fia approached the nearest corpse.

    Unfazed by the flames, she worked her jaws to snap off the bony, lower leg. Next, she carved around the hip joint with her claws. Fia yanked the meaty thigh off the terror bird. Before the guards could do anything to tell her otherwise, she dashed back to the gates.

    The crowd was cheering all the while. A number of people sounded angry in their yells for some unbeknownst reason.

    Sheepishly, Fia slipped past the doors and scampered over to the benches. She dropped the more-or-less cooked meat at Umbra''s feet.

    His heavy lids lifted a little along with a marginally happier tail. I didn¡¯t think you would survive. Good job.

    Beaming, she nuzzled the drumstick closer to him. Thank you so much for your help! This is for you.

    For me? Umbra seemed shocked with one claw lifted off the bench. His prideful nature made him hesitant to accept, but his pragmatism quickly won over. Greedily, he ripped the meat off the bone.

    The outermost flesh had been charred too deep while the innermost had been left nearly raw¡ªand everywhere in between. The large drumstick was the perfect snack for a dragon: crunchy on the outside and bloody on the inside.

    Fia watched wryly and lamented the loss of her first real kill. Young as she was, she had yet to hunt for herself. Fia and Arenis had technically flushed out some rabbit warrens and munched on the residents, but those were too small to count. The adult dragons procured the large game available on the island for the entire clan.

    The dragoness sat quietly, missing home, while the older dragon ate ferociously. The drumstick was stripped of meat. When only a few succulent bites remained, Umbra gave pause. He bumped the drumstick with the back of his claws. Have some. It''s your own kill.

    Fia recalled herself back to the present. Thanks! Before devouring the last bite of meat as eagerly as him, she said, I¡­ want to be friends with you. You can have the rest if you¡¯ll be my friend!

    Umbra shifted his weight back and observed her with a humored light in his eyes for the first time. Perhaps, he droned with a roll of his eyes. I''ll consider your offer if there''s more food involved. But you finish that last bit.

    Alright! Fia saw those terms acceptable. She caressed her tongue over the bloody juices to lap at the flavors. Slowly, she tore the flesh off and carefully sucked on it in her mouth before swallowing. Mm. So good!

    Yeah, I know.

    A spark alit in Fia''s eyes. Finally, she realized that she did have something to offer him: the ability to roast his meat. Too giddy to think of a coherent idea, Fia beamed at the stoic, silent Umbra.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    After a while, he added, Thanks for the food.

    The dragons regarded each other for a moment. Umbra cast his gaze past the bars, and Fia craned her neck to peer out.

    Watch the fights, Umbra instructed. You can learn a lot that way.

    Fia nodded and stared intensely. The fights carried on throughout the day, bringing her eyelids to droop lower after each one. Having won her battle, a monumental weight had lifted from her shoulders. The young dragoness was overcome by the need for a nap. Sleep was the best thing to help her wounds recover at this point.

    Pay attention, Umbra snapped. This is how I knew the attack style of the terror birds.

    Alright, she whined. When he put it like that, Fia owed her life to his diligent observation of these fights. She shook herself awake and continued to bear witness to the brutality. The dragoness never imagined that the sight of blood could come to sicken her so.

    The last matches concluded when the sunlight aged into the afternoon. The surviving creatures were corralled back to their holding cells. Fia and Umbra walked together, orderly one after another. They did not fight the guards, nor did the guards feel the need to antagonize the two dragons.

    As the metal door swung shut behind them, it grated against the stony ground. Previously, the metal had shrieked in Fia¡¯s ears, but it now sounded almost soothing. The dungeon was perhaps the safest place for her in the humans'' coliseum.

    Exhausted, Fia lowered herself to the ground and buried her face beneath her talons and wings. ¡°Ugh. What a long day.¡±

    Umbra settled down in the corner to lick his wounds. Since Fia needed to do the same, she flicked her tongue out to brush the hole in her wing.

    Swiftly, her tongue snapped back into her mouth. The bottom jaw began to waver. Fia broke down into tears, sobbing relentlessly.

    It felt like she was entirely alone, given how Umbra deigned not to acknowledge her outburst. In his own way, that was probably a considerate response¡ªsimply allowing her to cry without disparaging her.

    The gasps caught in her throat. She needed to calm down so that she could breathe, yet Fia could not manage that much. Her head grew light-headed as her breaths shortened.

    Umbra got up with a huff. Carefully, he approached and leaned back on his haunches. His mind connected with hers, filling her head with his attempt at reassurance. It''s a small hole. It will heal.

    Yet it was still a hole. Even if the damage to her wing would heal, the scar tissue would be an inferior material. The integrity of her wing was forever damaged. At this rate, how would Fia become a flying ace with Arenis? She weeped harder.

    Hey, Pinkie, Umbra insisted. I''m proud of you.

    Her eyes widened, and the tears ceased. Fia lifted her chin to better regard the older dragon. You''re¡­ proud of me?

    Yeah. Umbra winced as if it pained him to give her such a high compliment. You made a good choice in the arena. Better to let your wing take the terror bird''s beak¡­ than your face.

    While Fia was not sure if this counted as a pep talk, it was true enough. I know¡­.

    Slowly, she let her gaze traverse Umbra''s wings. He had been forced into that situation time and time again. New slashes ripped down his wings from the leo medusa''s claws. Earlier today, Fia had witnessed those wounds take place.

    A deep growl sprung from Umbra''s throat. Don''t you dare look at me with pity in those big, stupid eyes!

    I wasn''t¡­. Fia tried to say, except she was. There were no emotions but sorrow for the dragon who would never fly. Unlike the small hole in her wing, the lacerations in his wings were too severe to heal on their own.

    Acutely aware of this fact, Umbra slung one of his shredded wings across the cobblestones. We''ll never fly if we die anyway. I''m proud of my wings, so don''t ever look at me that way again. His thoughts oozed with the unbroken pride of Umbra Caligo the dragon.

    You should feel that way too, about that hole in your wing, he said. Stop blubbering about it!

    Drawing in a deep breath, Fia extended her wing in front of her. The hole could be viewed positively, she supposed. Fia reiterated to herself, I did survive. Umbra''s right. I have a lot to be proud of!

 Chapter 6: Life Imprisoned

    No longer crying, Fia chimed to Umbra, Thanks for cheering me up.

    Only did it ''cause I knew you''d shut up sooner. Umbra got up and retreated back to his own corner.

    She whined, Are you trying to make me cry again? Words like that coming from Umbra should not hurt her¡ªnot after how he had shown his true colors by helping her. A few tears beaded to her eyes nonetheless.

    Crybaby.

    Hey! The insult was not fair. Fia was only seven years old. Plus, she was a fire dragon subject to intense emotions.

    Umbra twisted his neck around and lifted his tail like a mischievous grin. I''ll cheer you up in a different way.

    R-Really?

    Yeah, really. Do you want to know my real name?

    All focus on her injuries evaporated. Fia''s tail went straight up despite the pain, and her wings lifted in intrigue. Yes, please.

    You earned your arena name today, Favilla. That means ''ember'' in the language here. Mine is obviously Umbra Caligo, ''shadow mist''. My given name was Viliant.

    The eerie name seemed to suit the black dragon. Fia marveled at his name, but he quickly downplayed its significance.

    I''m not particularly attached to it. Call me whatever you like.

    Obviously, he meant that she could keep calling him Umbra if she wanted, but Fia saw an opportunity. In that case¡­. She bounded a half step closer to him. Can I call you Vilie?

    No. To further punctuate that one word, he snapped their telepathic link.

    Fia blinked at the empty thoughts in her head. With so many questions to ask him yet, she could not ruin the conversation over a bad joke.

    She moaned, "Viliant. Viliant! I''m sorry¡ª"

    I never should''ve told you my name. I already said everything I have to say to you, kiddo.

    But I haven''t shared everything I want to say! Can I talk to you now? she asked. We are friends, aren''t we? Fia was impeccably eager to be on friendly terms with Viliant¡ªor at the very least, not unfriendly terms.

    Maybe tomorrow. Viliant gave her the cold shoulder and settled down to resume licking his wounds. The dark shade of his scales hid any discoloration from the acid.

    Fia also licked herself quietly.

    A proper feast for a carnivore was brought to them later that evening.

    "Wow!" Fia said with her eyes growing wide.

    Now that the food had arrived, Viliant prodded his way into her mind. Though he expressed nothing, his presence lingered with a weight of expectation.

    This is a lot of food! she remarked. The way you were acting, I thought they didn''t feed us enough¡ª

    They don''t. I''m twelve years old.

    Oh¡­. While Viliant was bigger than Fia, he was not five years bigger as he should have been. The food would have been plenty if they were both her size, but Viliant needed more to undergo his first growth spurt.

    Fia bowed her head, staring at the thick cuts of meat which oozed blood between the cobblestones. However, she could do nothing to make more food appear.

    Instead of dwelling on this unchangeable fact, she snapped her attention back to him. I can make the food tastier! Finally, Fia would get to impress him. Let me cook for us.

    He snorted and said smugly, Fine by me.

    Fia seated herself, talons on either side of their dinner. Her chest lifted in a deep inhalation. From there, she let a stream of flames blow from her mouth. Her puffy cheeks deflated as Fia held her fire breath as steadily as she could.

    Her magic system felt exhausted, considering how much mana she had already expended today. The fire went out when her concentration slipped. Oops. She took a deep breath, recentered herself, and finished broiling the meat.

    Ta-da!

    Viliant offered no acknowledgement before he set to devouring the food.

    Out of habit, she began to gobble it eagerly beside him. A wave of peace washed over her. Now that she had a friend, her imprisonment felt less like a dungeon. Dinner with Viliant reminded her of eating besides Arenis and the other baby dragons back home. Fia still missed home terribly.

    While she reminisced on happier times, Viliant''s bad manners flared up. The older dragon snapped his jaws at her and growled. You said I could have your food.

    Not all of it¡­ she whimpered.

    Most of it! Viliant shouldered her aside and took her place.

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Fia fiddled with her claws in front of her. Not wanting to invite another fight between them, she figured that she had already eaten enough. Besides, Viliant needed the calories more than her.

    The dragons slept, neither of their bellies quite full.

    ***

    The next morning was a groggy one. Fia felt sore all over from the tip of her tail to the tip of her snout. She barely had the energy to crawl over and eat a raw breakfast.

    Already too lazy to cook? Viliant asked with a sneer.

    Yeah¡­. She ate hastily before Viliant would scarf the rest of her food for himself.

    The dragons dedicated the far corner to relieving themselves. If Fia had more energy, she also thought to burn the excrement.

    Humans will come to clean our cell, just not often enough, Viliant mentioned.

    Good to know.

    The only way their cell could be cleaned often enough was if a dedicated maid picked up after them the moment that they went. Dragons hated to bear the shame of wallowing in their own squalor. Yet here, they were forced to live like animals.

    Fia dedicated the long, uncomfortable hours to picking Viliant''s brain. Yesterday, you said we could talk more tomorrow. Now it''s today! Can we, please?

    I guess so. Before he had permitted something that he would soon regret, Viliant clarified, You can ask me three questions, and that already counts as one.

    What? No!

    With his mind already made up, Viliant did nothing to acknowledge her outrage.

    However, Fia could be just as persistent, so she said, I will bug you more unless you take that back!

    Now that¡¯s a fearsome threat. He exchanged an ultimatum of his own, snapping his jaws and letting out a feral growl. I¡¯m generous enough that I did not count that ¡®What?¡¯ as a question.

    Fia felt as though she were treading on thin ice with Viliant. Carefully, she decided how to maximize the value of her two questions. First, she prioritized the information that she needed to know in the short term.

    How often do fights happen?

    Once a week.

    The answer made Fia¡¯s gut churn. Only six days were allotted for them to rest up. Ready or not, she must fight for her life again soon. Next, she asked the most crucial question¡ªthe way to survive in the long term.

    How do we escape?

    If I knew, do you think I¡¯d be here? Viliant asked right back.

    Well, no, Fia admitted. If she had spoken aloud, her voice would have sounded as small and silly as she felt inside. Just, I really have to get out of here, so I was wondering if you had any ideas. Tell me what you¡¯ve tried so far and why it didn¡¯t work. We can come up with something new!

    The forked tongue flicked in and out of his mouth before he replied, If I had any bright ideas, I wouldn¡¯t share them with you.

    But I can help! Thinking her hardest, Fia offered, What if we make a break for it when the guards walk us to the arena?

    Already tried that, Viliant said with a disinterested roll of his eyes.

    What went wrong?

    So many questions¡­. Though Viliant complained, he provided more details. The hired hands around here are more powerful than you''d expect. Even if we do leave the coliseum, they''ll catch us before we find a way out of the city, nevermind the country.

    Oh. Fia fell silent.

    If she were added as another member to that escape attempt, the outcome would be the same. Perhaps it would go even worse if she caused them to get caught sooner. Aside from sharing her food and cooking it, she saw no other way that she could be useful.

    This stinks! she said. Fia only had the fire in her belly to offer, but she could not burn past the metal bars. She wracked her brain, trying to come up with a way out of this mess.

    Then, an idea dawned on her.

    Viliant had not used any spells during his fight against the leo medusa. This would be understandable if he had no mana in his veins, however his scales were not brown like the common, unmagical dragons. The dull, black scales indicated some sort of elemental alignment, although she did not know what.

    Fia became animated from sheer excitement. She would do what she did best: pester him with more questions. What¡¯s your element?

    Can¡¯t you count? You already asked more than two.

    Yes, but you never used magic during your fight. If you don¡¯t know how, I can teach you! Fia sat prim and proper with a single talon pointing towards her chin.

    You teach me? It wouldn¡¯t work. Viliant got up and strolled over to the cell door. Sitting down, he closed his eyes and pressed his horns against the bars. For the first time, he let his thoughts flow freely from his mind to hers.

    I¡¯m a metal dragon. To channel my element, I need to center myself around a stoic, serious personality, unmoving and infallible like bronze. A blackfire dragon like you draws power from her rage, all-consuming like her flames. We¡¯re opposites.

    No matter what he said, Fia did not see it. Deep in her heart, she knew that they could not be so different from each other on the inside.

    Bounding next to his side, she bent over in an attempt to enter his vision. Well, that¡¯s heavy and dark, she stated. The elders told me a fire dragon receives strength from their bottomless passion and kindness! T-That¡¯s why I need to stay cheerful no matter what so my fire doesn¡¯t go out.

    A leery gaze shot her way. Viliant snapped, Either way, that¡¯s the opposite energy I need to bend metal. His horns banged against the bars thrice. If only I could make my magic work, then maybe I¡¯d have a real chance at getting out of here!

    While Fia had never heard of the metal element before, she could envision his frustration. The fabled metal dragon could effortlessly bend the bars in the dead of night and waltz out. The helpless Viliant had to turn his back on the iron door and retreat to the shadows of the dungeon.

    Uncertain what to do, Fia shifted from one claw to the next. Viliant¡­! she whined with all her might. What about friends do you not understand? You¡¯re not alone anymore. Let me help you!

    The black dragon had secluded himself in the shadows. Never had one before, so I wouldn¡¯t know. Leave me alone.

    It seemed he would rather wallow in his own misery than accept her help. Viliant removed himself from their telepathic connection and continued to nurse his wounded scales.

    A trembling pout crept up to Fia¡¯s snout. ¡°Fine!¡± she hollered aloud. She turned her back on him and tried to curl into a ball. I''ll practice magic by myself. You''re free to join me whenever you wanna grow up and act your age! Fia broadcasted those thoughts even if Viliant no longer bothered to listen.

    A fiery passion had been sparked by her annoyance. She would demonstrate her value as a magic mentor, so she began to practice accumulating large fireballs between her jaws.

    The flames danced in Fia''s hopeful, blue eyes. She intended to escape and make it home no matter what, regardless if Viliant would make himself useful or not.

 Chapter 7: Good Luck Tomorrow

    Over the course of the week, Fia could hardly discern between the days. She trained, ate, and slept. A human mage, dressed in a long, brown robe, came to fix the broken tip of her tail.

    Since Viliant knew the language here, he provided translation. The wordless meaning behind the words filled her head, almost as if she could understand the man as he spoke.

    "Hello, little dragon," he said as he crouched by her. "Did you hurt your tail? I can make it like new."

    Hey! she snapped at Viliant. Stop messing around.

    I''m just translating.

    Is he really baby-talking us like that?

    Yep.

    Fia stuck her nose up to the man and let out a deep grunt. Hmph. Do humans have no respect for dragons?

    I mean, you are pretty small. Plus, your scales are pink¡­.

    I''m a healthy size for my age! Momma always told me my scales are beautiful. They''re the same color as hers.

    That explains a lot¡­. Viliant replied.

    What''s that supposed to mean? Fia rose onto her hind legs and snarled at Viliant. Her wings flared out to either side, and a soft thunk sounded in the direction of the human mage.

    The man had fallen onto his rear. One arm stuck into the air so that he could shield himself from Fia''s outburst. "Whoa there," he said, or whatever expression of surprise that they used in this language.

    Viliant sneered and passed some words of apology along to the mage on her behalf. He turned to seat himself along the wall, saying, I''ll stay out of the way.

    As the mage refocused on her, his smiling eyes bore no grudge against the dragons. A green light flowed from his hands, allowing the energy to seep into her flesh. The lingering pain from the dislodged links of her tail dissipated.

    Wow! Fia had only seen water dragons perform healing magic before, but they used an entirely different technique in this land.

    "That should feel a lot better," the human said, according to Viliant''s translation. To test her newly fixed tail, he squeezed it and swished it naturally from side to side.

    It''s perfect! Fia thought. Tell him thanks.

    Viliant relayed the message in a monotone voice and translated the meaning for her. "She says thanks."

    "You''re welcome, little dragon. Now then. Let me have a look at those scales, Umbra Caligo." The mage moved over to tend to Viliant''s body. The green glow cascaded over the surface of his scales and restored them to their full strength¡ªa glossy black.

    Before the mage took his leave, Fia bounded at his feet. She extended the wing with a hole in it, making it block the way of his shins. Her head tilted to the side as if she could ask him a question directly. To Viliant, she said, Ask him if he can heal my wing, please!

    Do you think I''d have so many holes in my wings if he was able to heal them?

    No, I guess not, she said foolishly.

    Without needing Viliant to say anything, the mage crouched down and patted her head gently. The strange syllables were lined with a note of sorrow and disappointment. "Sorry, little girl. I don''t know how to patch up your wing." The mage still gave her the courtesy of using some of his magic. The soothing spell made her wing feel good, although a bit tingly around the edges.

    "It was nice to meet you, Favilla, and good to see you again, Umbra Caligo. If I don''t see you two next week, I hope it''s because you earned hardly a scratch in your next fight. Good luck!" The mage bid them farewell and locked the door after him. A series of heavy footsteps disappeared into the dungeon as the guards escorted him back.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Fia sighed heavily. It was worth a shot. Thanks for translating for me!

    No problem.

    With Viliant providing direct meaning to the words in her head, Fia suspected that she could learn the language here quickly. However, she lacked sufficient interaction with others to properly practice.

    Aside from the visit from the human healer, nothing notable happened that week.

    Two meals per day marked the passage of time. Fia ended up speaking little to Viliant. After all, they had no reason to associate with each other beyond what was necessary.

    Some friends we are¡­! As a result of her training, she could reliably spit fire across the cell. A spinning ball of flames struck the cinder blocks. The wall resisted the fiery burst as it died away in a few flicks of light.

    Viliant''s disinterest in training persisted. If he did attempt to practice magic, he would sit in front of the metal bars, unmoving. Once nothing happened for hours, he grew frustrated and would bang his horns against the cell door. Clang, clang, clang.

    If Fia had been trapped here for as long as him, she might want to bang her head against the wall too.

    ***

    On the night before the second week''s fight, Viliant breached the silence. Ready for tomorrow?

    Ready as I''ll ever be, I suppose. Fia heaved a massive sigh. In some ways, not knowing about the gladiator-style fights had made it easier last week. At the very least, she had been able to sleep on the first night, more or less.

    Tonight, she lay awake with a twitching tail and tapping talons. Her body kept rolling this way and that. Her wings never seemed to find a place to rest comfortably. As if a fire raged in her mind, Fia tried to imagine every possible opponent that she might face tomorrow.

    Relax, Viliant called to her. Get some sleep. Or at the very least, stop moving around so I can sleep!

    Sorry, she thought in a shameful murmur. While she forced herself to stay still for Viliant''s sake, Fia lay awake just the same. Her anxiety only heightened, knowing that she would not fight her best without a good night''s rest.

    Viliant had yet to retreat from their telepathy. Since he could sense her persisting restlessness, he asked, You know what I liked from your first fight?

    Her heart skipped a beat. It was almost unimaginable that Viliant had come to admire anything about her. Really? What? Fia held her breath in all suspense.

    You got lucky.

    And there was the insult. Fia huffed and tried to ignore his negativity. Don''t discourage me the night before the fight! I need to stay positive for my fire to burn bright!

    I''m serious, Viliant said. Luck is something to honor in and of itself.

    I guess, she said with a roll of her eyes. I would''ve been dead without it. Her first fight she had won by sheer luck. It begged the question, would she get lucky tomorrow? This was the precise reason why sleep could not find her.

    Fiercely, Fia shook her head. She needed to keep these pessimistic thoughts out of her brain.

    Your skill only determines your chance to win, Viliant said. Doesn''t matter if you face the most vicious beast in the world. Get lucky, and you''ll win anyway.

    For a long while, Fia stewed in silence. I sure don''t feel all that lucky. The fact that I''m here in the first place must mean I have some pretty rotten luck.

    Don''t we all? he replied. Just be the least unlucky bastard out of everyone.

    The strange philosophies that sprang from his head confused her. That''s funny, coming from you. You won your fight because you were strong¡­.

    No, I got lucky. Viliant''s intense, green eyes bore into her from across their cell. I''m a metal dragon. The leo medusa was a poison beast. Do you know what that means?

    No. Since she was unfamiliar with the foreign elements, Fia did not know how the type match-ups worked. She listened intently to his explanation like a similar lesson from her clan elders.

    A stronger metal element is unaffected by poison, but the stronger poison element can corrode metal. We''ve established that I''m the most pathetic metal mage in existence. I can''t even twist an iron bar! I don''t think I should have survived the leo medusa''s attack, yet here I am.

    Fia lowered her head and thought about that for a long while. Maybe you''re really strong and just don''t know your true strength yet! You could be a late bloomer.

    To herself, she wondered about the possibility of Viliant having another element entirely. He always spoke about elements that her elders never mentioned before. It was strange. Taking into account Viliant''s appearance, Fia was partial to this explanation. He looked like an earth dragon with scales as black as the richest soil and eyes as green as verdant foliage.

    Hm. Viliant had no more to say on the topic. Get lucky tomorrow. That''s all I wanted to say to you.

    Fia lifted her tail. Slowly, it curled into a big smile. Thanks, Viliant. Good luck to you too!

 Chapter 8: Banshee Screams

    The thrum of noise awoke Fia. Her heart rate immediately elevated. It''s time, she thought¡ªthe precise words which Viliant had said to her last week.

    As she got up, she elected to do a series of stretches. In particular, she flexed her clawed toes and opened her jaws wide in a yawn. Her teeth closed with a snap. Good morning, Fia said shyly to Viliant.

    The black dragon lay quietly in the shadows. Try saying that any other day of the week. I might say it back.

    Fia chuckled softly. Sorry. You''re right. It''s not exactly a ''good'' morning.

    The dragons moved to wait in front of the iron bars. The guards fetched them to bring them into the arena''s holding room.

    Fia paid close attention to the path in which they walked. While Viliant said that attacking the guards and running away was a bad idea, she might need the layout of the coliseum''s facilities mapped for when they had a more carefully planned escape.

    Like last week, Fia and Viliant took their seats at the bench. Together, they watched the fights until Fia''s chain was selected first this time.

    Wait, no! I''m not ready yet! Fia snarled at the man who yanked on her chain. Snapping her head back to Viliant, she looked to her friend with desperate eyes.

    He did not even glance her way as she was dragged into the arena; that was where he would watch her.

    "Enter Favilla the dragon!" the announcer said. Her entrance inspired some cheers as she bounded out this time around.

    Her talons dug into the tightly packed ground. Fia adopted a readied stance as she awaited her opponent from the other side of the ring.

    The doors opened to an inky black beyond. One of the guards tossed a small cube into the arena and promptly shut the door. The box bounced on its various sides before coming to a stop. The object lay there, harmless.

    What is that? Fia tried to project to Viliant.

    Your opponent, he replied. Some kind of demon or spirit has been bound to that chest.

    As if on cue, purple and black smoke accumulated around the cube. It began to rock and shake violently. A loud pop resounded as the sinister energy catapulted into the air, spiraling as it ascended.

    "Enter Domina the banshee!"

    The smoky body was in constant flux, making it hard for Fia to focus her eyes on the banshee''s form. Some massive claws, longer than the entirety of its body, hung down from its folded hands. The bone-chilling white color of a skull was blazoned across its face. A burning, orange light resided within the otherwise empty eye sockets. The banshee floated peacefully in the air as those eyes focused on Fia.

    The announcer added on more than his usual description, and Viliant provided the translation in her head. "The banshee is a vile, twisted creature. Her most ugly attribute¡ªaside from her face¡ªare the screeches she belts out while annihilating her target. Only those who care about the victim can hear her screams. So anybody who''s a fan of Favilla¡­. You might want to cover your ears for this fight!"

    The banshee let out an ear-splitting scream, so intense that Fia''s vision immediately blurred. The sides of her head felt damp, as if blood trickled from her eardrums. Her heart had already been racing, but now it seemed to triple in pace. Her breath came out in shortened gaps, overcoming her with an intense need to run away.

    The subsequent screeches did not disorientate her so badly, but it was already too late for the dizzy dragoness to avoid the banshee. It had appeared directly in front of her, ready to strike.

    The small hand of the banshee lifted its massive claw. Fia stuck up her own claw to clash with it and jumped back before its superior strength could break through her defense.

    Ah¡­. It''s small but so strong! What do I do? Since Fia could not think straight with fear lighting up her head, she delegated the decision-making to Viliant.

    Run! he replied immediately.

    That was exactly what she wanted to do, so Fia sprinted her fastest along the edge of the arena. As she rounded the curve, she saw the banshee trying to follow her on a tighter line at the arena''s interior. Its incessant screeching inspired her to run faster. Fia blindly stuck with this pattern, even though the banshee kept up with her¡ªand with less effort expended on its part.

    As a reptilian species, dragons were primed to listen to their base fight or flight response. The banshee''s screams innately caused an aspect of fear in all those who heard it. Fia ran and ran, tears ebbing at the corners of her eyes. Adrenaline helped her keep at it for this long, but she would soon exhaust herself early into the fight.

    Fire! Viliant gasped in her thoughts. It''s a ghost. Blast it with magic.

    Right. Fia knew she could not keep doing what her instincts bid her if she wanted to win this fight.

    The banshee had stopped chasing her in favor of a more efficient method. It floated in a direct line to her, endeavoring to clip her off with another massive swing of its claws.

    Just in time, Fia brought herself to a skidding stop. Every talon dug into the ground, along with her arrow-tipped tail and the tops of her wings. She lowered her neck close to the earth so that the banshee could sail overhead.

    Its claws bounced off the arena''s cage with a ring of metal. A magical barrier made its ephemeral body careen off the side. The banshee tried to drift to her left so that it could flank Fia.

    She had practiced this hundreds of times in the comfort of the dungeon. Fia gathered a fireball between her jaws and launched it ahead of the banshee''s path.

    Her aim was perfect; the banshee and fireball crossed paths in the next seconds. However, the fire sailed clean through the gaseous abdomen.

    At first, nothing happened. Soon, licks of flames erupted throughout the banshee''s figure. Every inch of its body¡ªinside and out¡ªcaught on fire save for its claws and bony mask. The savage hues of fire appeared behind its eye sockets, giving the orange orbs in its eyes all the more ferocious effect. The shrieks increased in volume now that the banshee was in agony.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Fia cringed under the pain of its shrieks. Since she already set the enemy on fire, this monster could die the same way as the terror birds. Fia just needed to outlast the banshee now, so she turned to flee once more.

    It''s putting itself out! Do something! Viliant snapped at her.

    When Fia tilted her head back to look, she saw the stationary banshee was moving in a tight circle with a heavy haze surrounding it. The banshee attempted to use its own shadow magic to suffocate the flames.

    For the first time since the banshee split her ears with its terrorizing scream, Fia had a moment of clarity. If the banshee tried to snuff out its body, Fia simply needed to foil that plan by fanning the flames. She approached the banshee as near as she dared. There, she rose on her hind legs and beat her wings in its direction.

    The wind that she created was enough to dislodge the film of shadows and reignited the dwindling flames beneath. They roared back to their full intensity, and the banshee bellowed out its shriek once more. It barreled at her in full force.

    When Fia tried to jump out of the way, the banshee disappeared. The fiery body flashed out of existence, then reappeared right in front of her. "Ah!" she let out a terrified screech that rivaled the banshee''s wail.

    She could do nothing but throw a claw into the banshee''s face. Her attack was a success, but it did little to avert the attack against her when its claws were so much longer than hers.

    A horrific pain sunk into Fia''s chest as the banshee sunk its claws into her. On the right side, the claws had slipped between her ribs and punctured her lung. On the other side, she had been lucky enough that its claws were misaligned. Her ribs bore the brunt of the damage, protecting her other lung. Most importantly, the banshee had missed her heart.

    She could still manage some labored breaths, wheezing in intense pain. Through her big, watery tears, she saw that the glowing light of the banshee''s eyes had gone out. The orange orbs had been punctured by her claws.

    Gingerly, Fia removed her claw from the banshee''s face. The shadows which made up its body were rapidly dissipating. The flames hissed into a last trail of smoke as they went out. The plate of bone which made up the banshee''s face fell to the ground with a thunk. Its massive claws were left embedded in Fia''s flesh.

    "Favilla the dragon wins!"

    There was an eruption of cheers.

    Fia felt incredibly dizzy. No¡­ she thought dolorously. Favilla the dragon loses. I''m gonna die from these injuries!  Without any particular intention, she broadcast her thoughts out as if she were shouting in misery.

    Remember the healer? Viliant replied. You''ll be fine. Just get back over here.

    As she stood, her entire body shook violently from the injury. She could barely stand, nevermind walk. Do I have to get all the way back there?

    Concern seemed to fill Viliant''s head. Even so, he kept his thoughts brusque as always. Take a step and pretend to fall down. Someone will carry you out.

    Thanks, Viliant. Weary and overcome by pain, Fia did not have to pretend. She collapsed to the dirt and lay beside the banshee''s skull.

    Two guards rushed to carry the dragoness back to the holding room. They needed to keep the competition moving so that it was exciting for the audience.

    The healer from earlier that week tended to her hastily. His cure spell was applied before he removed one of the banshee''s claws. From there, he focused on repairing her body so that she would not lose too much blood. This process repeated for the rest of the claws.

    Fia thought to herself, I guess they want to keep me alive till next week¡­.

    He spoke to her in a soothing, friendly way. Once he had finished, the healer asked her something in a rising tone of a question.

    Without Viliant around to translate, Fia could only guess that he asked her how she was feeling. Her body now felt better physically, even if she still felt shaky from the severe injury. Fia forced out a happy chirping sound and said, "I''m all better now. Thank you!"

    The human had a big grin spread across his face, and he patted her head. He said some words of farewell, and the guards dragged Fia back into the holding room.

    Her tail still hung low as the banshee screams echoed around in her head. Fia lifted her eyes to observe the black dragon who had remained on the bench.

    As always, Viliant watched the fights as Fia had undergone treatment.

    I don''t understand! she moaned at once. The healer just fixed me up like new. How come he can heal holes in lungs but not holes in wings? I''d think that internal stuff is so much harder to do¡­.

    Viliant turned back to regard her with considerate eyes. Oh, I have no doubt that he could heal our wings if he wanted to¡ªor was allowed to. We need our lungs. We don''t need our wings. Why would the humans repair something that we''ll just use to escape when we''re old enough?

    Fia heaved a sigh. Maybe we wouldn''t wanna escape if they were nicer to us.

    Doesn''t matter how they treat us. We''ll want to leave regardless. It was nice enough they didn''t slash our wings or clip them as soon as we got here.

    A shudder ran up her spine, not wanting to think about that. Yet again, Fia found her thoughts returning to home¡ªwondering if anybody missed her as badly as she missed them. Was anybody still looking for her and trying to save her?

    Fia, Viliant called, bringing her back to the present. I''m glad you''re back. Watch the fights with me.

    As she looked up, she observed Viliant''s state closely for the first time since her return. A slight tremor had entered his frame. His tail flicked in agitation while his eyes bore into the arena. Perhaps he had been more worried about her than he had let on.

    When she hopped onto the bench, she sat a bit closer to Viliant than usual. Leaning to one side, she bumped shoulders with him. You okay?

    Why''re you asking me something like that? If anything, I should be the one asking you that¡­ if I cared enough.

    Those were not the words that she wanted to hear, especially not after she had come so close to death. Fia stared at her crossed talons and bit back her anger with Viliant. Instead, she tried to focus on him and sympathize with why he was shaking. Did your fight happen immediately after mine?

    No.

    Well, why are you shaking like that?

    You''re shaking too, he snapped. That''s just the aftereffect of the banshee''s screams. It has a physiological aspect of fear to it.

    Fia fell silent for a long while. That piece of information reminded her of what the announcer had said before the fight. I thought the only people who could hear the banshee''s screams were the ones who cared about the victim¡­.

    Viliant''s eyes narrowed at her. Well, maybe I do care about you a little bit. Isn''t that what friends are for? With his shoulders hunkered over and his neck curved in an arch, his body kept trembling feebly.

    Aw, thanks Viliant! Truly, she was shocked to hear him admit to such a thing. The fire in her belly bubbled with a new degree of warmth. Fia leaned to the side so that her shoulder could maintain contact with him.

    Gently, Viliant rested a bit of his weight against her in return. The dragons helped resolve the banshee''s effect over them more quickly, thanks to each other''s presence.

    We really are friends, huh? Fia asked.

    Yeah, Viliant said. This was the last time where you burn something and run around helplessly till you win. It''s a terrible strategy. I''m going to teach you how to fight properly from now on.

    A gasp caught in her throat. Fia beamed at the prospect of them training together.

 Chapter 9: A Lesson to Remember, A Fight to Forget

    That afternoon, Viliant had his match. This also served as Fia''s first lesson under his tutelage.

    A sly look entered his eyes. Viliant looked back at her through the corners. His tail flowed in an arc as he hopped from the bench and strode to the doors. When it''s your turn to fight, do you get scared?

    Of course! Fia''s exasperated thoughts must have sounded shrill and whiny in his head. How could I not?

    Do you think I''m any different?

    A few blinks fell over Fia''s eyes; Viliant never ceased to surprise her. She thought he would have become immune to any apprehension before a fight, or at the very least, never admit to it. I can''t imagine that feeling would ever fully go away¡­.

    Precisely. Do I look it though? Viliant had his eyes closed. His nostrils flared slightly as he took a deep breath. His posture leaned forward, making him look eager to barge through those doors. The older black dragon was the picture of confidence.

    No.

    You have to put on a good show for the crowd. If you entertain the savage masses, you''ll bring in more money for our human overlords. Then, they''ll be more likely to give us a fight that we can win¡ªkeep us alive and keep the profits rolling in.

    That''s really smart, Viliant! Truly, she was astounded by the amount of thought that he put into this. Too much time alone in the dungeon must have forced him to dwell on such matters.

    The doors creaked open in front of him. At once, he sprinted out and kicked up dust from his claws.

    The audience recognized their favorite dragon and came alive before the announcer could even finish. "Enter Umbra Caligo the dragon!"

    Viliant skidded to a stop and rose onto his hind legs. He screeched and beat his wings whilst tearing his claws through the air.

    According to plan, the excitement of the crowd was further elevated.

    If I had magic to my name, I would definitely use it here. Imagine Favilla the dragon belting fire to the sky! Teasingly, Viliant added on, If you do that, you might become even more popular than me.

    With meager mana reserves such as hers, Fia was not certain that she could waste it for a frivolous show. She did not question him, though, since he would need his full attention in the next seconds.

    The far doors opened to release his opponent. The hunkered frame of a black bird stood in the doorway. Its feathers ruffled around its bald, grayish neck, almost like a cape. The coloration of its skin turned to white near the top of its head. Like the banshee, it had a skull-like face with its beak tipped in a crimson hue.

    Similarly, the bird had bright, red talons. It lifted them to hobble slowly into the arena. The massive wings opened up and struggled to carry the bird into the air.

    "Enter Mortuus Carnis the carrion condor!"

    The bird sailed overhead and briefly passed beneath the sun. Cast in its shadow, Viliant had his head tilted up to it.

    It''s fine, he said with a laugh in her mind. Just a normal animal. It''s big enough to impress humans, but nothing special beyond that. I was worried it''d be another shadow elemental like the banshee, but this thing has no magic.

    How can you tell? Fia asked.

    Can''t you sense the difference between them?

    Fia squinted her eyes against the sun and tried to analyze the carrion condor closely. Nope. Nothing.

    The shadow element is powerful¡ªeasy to sense. You were lucky the banshee could only use a few magical techniques.

    Yeah¡­. Fia started to curl her tail around her feet in shame, but then she remembered what Viliant had said. Her good luck was a thing to celebrate; she did not have to feel any less proud due to her means of survival.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The stoic dragon remained in place as the bird circled above him. This oversized chicken won''t land a scratch on my scales. It''s harmless. But this is still really important. Pay attention Fia!

    Lifting her head, she concentrated on the uneventful battle¡ªif one could call it that. It had become a game. The dragon played with the bird as a cat would play with a mouse.

    When the condor drifted lower to scratch at him, Viliant performed a backflip in response. Completely upside down, he kicked upwards to meet the bird on its descent. In a real fight, a flashy move like that would have ranged from impractical to suicidal. But here, it was the perfect thing to elicit cheers from the crowd.

    The bird tumbled through the air. After it struck the ground, it rolled some more. Sand accumulated in its wings. The condor got up and puffed up its plumage to shake itself off. Unconcerned with the fight, it tried to preen its feathers.

    Viliant rushed in and tackled the bird. It could''ve been dead long ago¡­! he remarked to Fia whilst wrestling in the dirt. A wide swoop of his tail threw up a curtain of grit, obscuring much of the visibility for the onlookers.

    Suddenly, Viliant sprung out of the fray on his own volition. But I shouldn''t end the fight just yet. That wouldn''t be exciting enough¡­.

    An observant spectator might have noticed the trickery employed, but the black dragon was a good actor. He seemed to expend effort from his hunkered shoulders and limp wings draped around his body. A savage growl and hiss came from his barred fangs.

    The agitated condor responded in kind, releasing its terrible scream.

    A shudder ran up Fia''s spine. While the vulture sounded like a songbird compared to the banshee, it sounded more fearsome than Viliant. Since he would never let himself be surpassed that easily, he sunk one claw into the earth and let out his deepest roar.

    Viliant charged the bird once more. The carrion condor tried to flee, however it could not take to the air quick enough to escape. Viliant snapped his jaws around its wing like a vice. Rising onto his hind legs, he sunk one claw into its shoulder and tore with all his might.

    The wing came off in his jaws. The imbalanced bird was left to flounder on the ground, squawking out of pain. Blood spewed from the socket meant for its wing.

    Viliant should have put the poor thing out of its misery, but he was far from done yet. In a gruesome display, he sprinted back to the center of the arena with the detached wing. His head thrashed back and forth until he finally spit it out. Viliant also coughed up a few, stray black feathers which had stuck to his gums.

    Somehow, the audience was cheering for this. Fia felt sick to her stomach. What are you doing? she snapped at Viliant.

    Just giving the good people what they paid good money to see. The ridicule was laden thick in the mental projection of his voice.

    Fia knew full well that they were trapped in this wretched place. Even so, the act of torturing the helpless bird did not sit well with Fia¡ªespecially when it came to the mutilation of its wings.

    Do not lecture me, Viliant hissed in her mind. I''ve already ruined my own wings in this hellhole. I will rip this bird to shreds!

    In his mind, this was necessary for his own survival. Make a gory mess of an easy opponent for entertainment''s sake, and keep receiving the easy matchups in the future. Once he had finished torturing it, Viliant closed his jaws around its slender neck and applied the force necessary to snap it.

    Hastily, he went through his celebration routine by shaking its corpse and rearing up. Viliant spit it out so that he could roar over the droning masses. Then, he put his mouth more gently around the bird''s carcass. His neck needed to stay fully extended to keep it from dragging across the ground as he trotted back to the exit.

    Sorry, ''bout that, Viliant said as he returned to her side. I know you didn''t like to see that.

    It''s fine, Fia said tersely. It makes me sad, but I¡­ understand. She knew Viliant probably did not enjoy torturing the bird needlessly either.

    The moment of apology had passed. Viliant adopted his usual mannerisms, telling her, Now cook it for me.

    Alright, she said reluctantly. Fia supposed he had been considerate enough to offer some sort of apology.

    She held the giant bird carcass between both talons and spun it around. Her breath of fire burned the feathers, slowly smoking away and charring the top layer of skin. The bird had been turned into a rotisserie condor, which Fia served to Viliant on the ground.

    Delicious! he said with his mouth stuffed full of the first bite. Viliant ate ravenously, as if Fia was not already sharing her rations with him. Once only a few small bites remained, Viliant looked up to meet her hungry eyes.

    His fat, happy cheeks were still full of the most recent bite. The thoughts transmitted to her came through clear, even if his speech would have been muffled if he spoke aloud. The bird''s big enough for us to share.

    You already ate most of it!

    If you don''t want the rest, I''ll eat it, Viliant said.

    Before he could rescind the offer, Fia tore the last of the meat off the bone.

    There. Now you can''t say that I''ve never shared my food with you.

    Viliant¡ª! she tried to object. Already, that tasty morsel of meat was betraying her with indigestion. Like a stone in her stomach, Fia had a feeling that Viliant would never let her forget this one time.

    And you can''t say that I''ve never taught you anything.

    The two dragons watched the remainder of the fights before they were returned to the dungeon. Their shared cell would soon become their new training grounds.

 Chapter 10: Every Element a Possibility

    Too exhausted to do any of her own training that evening, Fia suggested, Let me help you learn magic!

    The cynic that he was, Viliant huffed, I doubt this is going to work, but fine. He got up and joined her at the bars.

    First, Fia described what she did when calling upon her magical prowess. Much of her speech, she repeated the elders'' lessons verbatim. We store power in our dragon hearts. It is part of who we are¡ªintimately attached to our element. When you close your eyes, you should sense the presence of your element around you. For you: metal. It''s right in front of you. Can you feel it?

    Viliant sat completely still, eyes closed in concentration.

    Fia also let her lids fall shut. By his side, she meditated and practiced feeling her element. There were no external sources of fire in the immediate vicinity, so Fia took solace in the constant warmth harbored in her belly.

    After a long time passed, Viliant fell forwards and smacked his horns against the bars. Clang! In a wry voice, he said, Yep. I can feel my element now. That''s metal.

    A heavy sigh left Fia''s snout. She shook her head. It''s alright. You''re not supposed to get it on the first try. It usually takes weeks for young dragons to make any progress¡ª

    Viliant lunged onto his feet and snarled in her face. I''ve been meditating for years!

    Her muscles began to tremble due to his outburst.

    The anger was quelled as quickly as it arose. Viliant sat down roughly. What you said, though¡­ that meditative guide¡­. Never heard anything like it before. I think it might be helpful.

    It''s something the elders always did with us! She tilted her head to ask, How did your clan try to teach you?

    A long pause held in the air, heavy like the burden that Viliant must bear upon his hunched shoulders. I was too young to begin training, before I was brought to this place.

    Oh. Fia was too stunned to say more. That meant Viliant had learned to survive here when he was even younger than her.

    A knot twisted in her stomach. Asking questions would get her nowhere. That much, she already knew. If she wanted to learn more about Viliant, she would have to wait for him to reveal his past on his own accord. In a chipper tone, she said, If you ever wanna talk about it, I''m here to listen!

    Thanks, Fia, Viliant murmured in her head. His normal demeanor returned as he focused on magic practice. I think I felt something.

    Where? Fia asked. Her tail lifted excitedly at the prospect of her theory''s confirmation. Indeed, Viliant might not be a metal dragon, but another element altogether.

    Everywhere, he replied. Must be ore deposits in the walls.

    Or¡­! Fia said, What if you''re not a metal dragon?

    The angular, ridged brow of Viliant''s face was lifted in skepticism. The soothsayer of my clan scryed my element before I hatched. My element is metal.

    Likewise, Fia had been identified as a fire dragon while still an egg. Based on her own childhood experiences, she knew the predictions were accurate. Nonetheless, Viliant''s clan might have done things differently.

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    A chasm of uncertainty¡ªand therefore possibilities¡ªlay before them in Fia''s mind. For Viliant, it must only be a sliver of doubt.

    What if she was wrong? Fia pried.

    Viliant bowed his head. Then I must have different parents.

    The bottom of Fia''s jaw tightened. Both your parents are metal dragons?

    Yes.

    Fia also had two fire dragons for parents. In fact, the Carlinoa Clan was comprised mostly of the fire element. Different magic types were only propagated if the parents had different elements themselves.

    Besides, Viliant said, shaking his head fiercely, I have the personality of a metal dragon: stubborn and serious. I''ve been trying to bend metal this long without progress¡­. Only a metal dragon would do that!

    That''s not the only option, Fia tried to prod him. You could have the steady personality of an earth dragon! Eager to reveal her theory, she stepped closer to Viliant and pressed her snout close to his face. You look like an earth dragon too! Your scales are dark like soil and your eyes are pretty like leaves. Fia fluttered her own eyes playfully a few times.

    A series of stunned blinks fell over his eyes. Viliant had his mouth drop open as if he wanted to speak aloud. His thoughts were empty. The older dragon seemed to break for a second. With a huff, he reseated himself farther away from her. His tail swished around in disbelief. Earth isn''t a real element! he tried to say, sticking his nose in the air.

    Once he had composed himself, Viliant mused, Neither is pure fire for that matter¡­. He released a big sigh. Whatever. Might as well try to move some rocks.

    The two dragons moved to sit before the rocky face of the dungeon. Again, nothing happened.

    Well, it was worth a shot! she said to cheer him on.

    Viliant glared at her. See? I''m not a bastard. He moved back to the iron bars where he was content to waste away the evening.

    The pink dragon felt like a shadow following the black dragon around¡ªor perhaps more like a fairy. Fia perched beside him once more. This time, she was the one to tap her horns against the metal bars. Think! she said to herself, if only that helped her think harder.

    The Carlinoa Clan had primarily fire dragons. Even when non-elemental dragons had children together, they were sometimes blessed with a fire-kissed child. Viliant''s clan probably had something similar. He was unlikely to manifest any of the elements from her region.

    The four classical elements, fire, water, earth, and air, were the most common. Rarely, a light, time, or mind dragon would hatch. Then, there was aether which encompassed them all. It was these elements which Viliant denied their very existence.

    What were the elements you learned about? she asked.

    The four primary elements are metal, ice, nature, and thunder. The three tertiary elements are shadow, gravity, and poison. Then, there''s the pinnacle element: void.

    Fia scratched behind her horns. Were any of those super common in your clan? Do you have the personality that matches with any of those elements?

    Viliant tilted his head to her. Would you say that I''m aloof and cold like ice?

    Absolutely!

    Don''t see how I would practice with ice around here, he muttered. Viliant tapped his claws anxiously and tried to say, Trying every single element isn''t going to work! I''ll end up even more confused and hopeless than before.

    Desperately, Fia tried to stop his negative spiral. I''m your mentor! If you listen to me, everything will turn out just fine. She opened her wings to gesture to either side. As you can see, there''s no fire either, but I can still feel it. You should feel the cold, chilly mana stored in your belly if you''re an ice dragon!

    Once again, they tried it. Viliant was as much an ice dragon as an earth and metal dragon. "Argh!" He growled to the ceiling.

    Um, try a different one!

    No, Fia. This isn''t working!

    Just one more! Please? You said you felt something before¡­.

    No. We''re done for today. Viliant closed their telepathic connection so that she could annoy him no more. He simply wanted to eat dinner and sleep.

    Fia''s fire was ever-burning in her belly as she lay down to rest. There was yet one more technique that she could think of to help him find his element. She would try it this week during their first sparring session.

 Chapter 11: The Key to Power

    Some snarls and thumps sounded from the cell of the two dragons. Fia and Viliant circled one another. She tried to scamper away from his blunt attacks, but the close quarters gave her no place to run or hide. Viliant trounced her and inevitably pinned her for the umpteenth time.

    "Ugh," Fia moaned. You''re too big! I can''t fight you without magic.

    How will you manage against something like the leo medusa, then?

    With fire! she shrieked in his head. Her legs were pressed into her body, and her belly against the cold ground.

    Viliant kept his weight over her back. He hovered his head alongside hers, so that he could gaze at her with his jeering eyes. Try again.

    Fia let out a high-pitched whine, characteristic to an angry lizard. How will you manage against a magical creature?

    I already do just fine, Viliant said.

    Then a little fire won''t hurt you! Fia summoned a ball of fire.

    Momentary fear flashed in Viliant''s eyes, but he dodged to the side in the knick of time. The fireball sailed past him and burst against the wall. Viliant turned around to stare at the scorched bricks. Your temper''s getting a bit out of hand. How about we take a break¡ª?

    No! Fia gathered a second fireball, larger this time. She spit it out faster.

    To avoid this one, Viliant needed to dive and roll. This left him open to a brief attack. Fia pounced and snagged her claws around his neck.

    Before she could proclaim her victory for this round, Viliant headbutted her. His large horns helped him gain leverage, and he threw her off.

    Fia let her talons scratch grooves into the stony floor. In a low crouch, she prepared for Viliant to rush her again. Their claws clashed briefly. Both dragons successfully blocked each other''s hits. Their serpentine bodies sprung apart and readied for the next bout.

    You know, there''s another way for you to unlock your magic! Fia said to him. Have you ever tried calling on your power during a real fight?

    The energy isn''t as strong out there as it is in here¡­. Viliant feinted one way, then turned the other and lashed her with his tail.

    Fia jerked back. The sharp tip sliced by the thin scales on her face. If she had not moved in time, she swore Viliant would have just taken out her eye. Stunned momentarily, she was now the one vulnerable to attack. Viliant tackled her on her back and pinned her once more.

    "Ah!" she screamed. Thrashing every which way, Fia could do nothing to escape short of a fireball to his face. Viliant was a lot bigger than Arenis, so the same techniques did not work on him. She was forced to relax under his weight and give up.

    There, he spit. Are you happy? Still couldn''t beat me, even with fire.

    Only because I didn''t wanna hurt you, Fia muttered. Before their sparring session, the dragons had agreed not to injure each other in the slightest. One bad scratch might compromise them in the next fight, since they could not count on the healer visiting them before then.

    Viliant scoffed in her face. You weren''t holding back. I''m holding back! More darkly, he said, You were out of control.

    Sorry, Fia said sheepishly. I''m a fire dragon.

    I''m aware. Viliant released her and shuffled over to the scorched wall. Already, he acted like he was done for the day when Fia was only getting started.

    Her claws tapped eagerly across the ground as she approached him. You said the magical energy is stronger down here. Try calling on that power as we spar! Fia said. It might help if you fight¡ªreally fight¡ªso you can be pushed past your limit.

    Sounds like a recipe for disaster, Viliant replied. The healer only visits if we''re injured. Neither of us are injured.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Fia pouted. A different week then?

    Doubt tore up Viliant''s pinched eyes. A different week, he confirmed.

    ***

    It did not take long until one of them had gained a mild injury on competition day. The healer only addressed life-threatening wounds during the event itself. The rest, he tended to throughout the week whenever his mana reserves allowed it.

    From the most recent fight, Viliant had a large gash struck across his breastplate. Even though the cut had scabbed over, it would rip open if he moved around too much. In Fia''s eyes, these were the perfect conditions for them to spar.

    For the past week, Fia had daydreamed about the Blazing Ritual. Her childhood friend, Arenis, claimed to have snuck up the mountain to watch his older brother partake in it, and he babbled ceaselessly about it for a full year.

    All prospective warriors underwent a rite of passage, administered by the master of their element. The initiate must battle the master, close to the point of death, in hopes that they would unlock their final, ultimate spell and become a master in their own right. There were some cases where the participant died¡ªeither accidently, or they refused to yield when the master dismissed them. Those who survived and completed the ritual had new, destructive power at their command.

    Of course, Fia did not want to take things that far, but she thought the pressures of a real fight might help Viliant uncover his magical potential. She started by spitting a fireball into his wounded chest.

    The older dragon howled in pain. What was that for?

    Fight me! Fia snarled gleefully and performed a new technique that she had been practicing. Her claws were enveloped in fire, and she swung them for Viliant''s face.

    He was forced to back off lest he wanted to get burned again. Swiftly, he tried to rush her from a new angle.

    Fia flashed her fiery claw. This time, she spit another fireball at him when he tried to fade away.

    Their dance continued. Fia refused to give up ground to Viliant, always trying to keep him at bay with her flames. Eventually, he decided that he must endure the heat if he was to land a hit on her.

    They became a tumbling ball of wings and horns, scales and tails, as they wrestled each other across the ground. Fia''s scratches dealt more damage onto Viliant, scorching his scales and burning the flesh beneath when she ripped through them. The tips of his claws pried desperately at her scales. Even when he pierced through them, he left only a scratch.

    Alright, he said. I''ll let you win¡ª

    Fia used this opportunity to level his favorite tactic against him; she clipped their telepathic link.

    His face fell in a dumbfounded look of surprise. Then, he was forced to writhe in pain and yowl while her flaming claw pressed into the gash at his chest.

    She was deliberately trying to put Viliant in pain when they had agreed not to bring each other harm. The swell of his anger thrummed in her mind. Viliant wanted to chastise her, but she had nothing to say to him besides, Sorry! This is for your own good.

    I just want to rest¡ª!

    She was filled with a sense of vindication, ignoring his complaints for a change.

    Viliant kicked her off with his superior strength and scampered to the other side of their cell. The fight went on with a new vein of desperation between the young dragons. Viliant just wanted her to knock it off, while Fia dared to push him harder than before. Her snapping jaws threatened to nip at his wings.

    Viliant drew away and closed his eyes. Their dim cell suddenly turned darker. Even when Fia started a fire for some light, she could scarcely see an inch in front of her nose. The muffled tap of claws could be heard through the murk. Viliant was circling her. The subtle, auditory cues were the only thing that gave her any hint as to his location.

    The shadows seemed to swirl in a slow-moving vortex. Out sprang Viliant. His extended claw was coated in a dark, purple energy which struck her in the back. The claws ripped up her scales and left a deep gash. The sinister energy passed through her body with that same momentum.

    Her blood went cold all at once. The breath was stolen from Fia''s chest. She fell straight to the ground and found Viliant looming over her. Rolling over onto her back, she extinguished her flames and yielded. Her vulnerable belly was exposed while she looked at Viliant''s enraged face, upside down. A demure look settled across her eyes as she tried to calm her palpitating heart.

    Their mental link was reestablished, and she cheered in his mind. Did you see what you just did? Look around you!

    Viliant did so. His eyes slowly widened in a mixture of awe and horror at the swirling shadows. His wavering voice whispered, "No."

    No? Why? Dejected, Fia felt like all her efforts had been for naught. For once in his life, Viliant was supposed to feel happy over something. He had just unveiled his element!

    This is wrong, he insisted. I''m supposed to be a metal dragon.

    Well, you''re actually a shadow dragon. That''s a powerful element! You should be happy!

    Viliant shrunk into himself, wincing with his eyes squeezed shut as tight as they would go. I suppose¡­ I should thank you. At least I have potential to become a strong shadow mage. A baleful glint entered his emerald eyes. Can you guess what energy empowers a shadow dragon?

    The dark element must involve something equally sinister behind it. Pain? she asked. If that was the answer, she hoped it was not the pain of others. Fia backed up slowly, fearing that he might restart their fight with his newfound power.

    Instead, Viliant folded his wings into himself. Quietly, he said two words in his own language and shared the meaning in her mind. "Misery and despair."

 Chapter 12: An Escape Plan

    Misery and despair¡­. Fia thought to herself. Ah, that makes sense. If shadow dragons gained power from their melancholy, that explained a lot about Viliant. She was only surprised by the fact that he had not uncovered his power sooner.

    The dragons quietly nursed the scratches which they had dealt onto one another. Viliant was more silent than usual, and that was really saying something for him.

    Eventually, Fia could take the discomfort in the air no longer. Hey, she asked. Are you okay?

    Peachy.

    Her eyes grew wide. The Viliant that she knew would never put it like that. Something was terribly wrong. Maybe she was incorrect to assume that a powerful element would outweigh its emotional backlash.

    If you wanna talk about it, just let me know.

    Hm.

    The silence persisted. Then, a pit dropped in her stomach as she realized the issue. Viliant had already told her exactly what troubled him. He had two metal dragons for parents. One or both his parents were not his real ones.

    Viliant¡­. About your parents¡ª

    Stop. I don''t want to talk about it.

    Today had shattered his entire worldview. The twelve-year-old dragon must have spent nearly a decade of his life, growing up in this cell. Fia had already experienced enough to know what the majority of his childhood would have been like. The sole happy memories, which he held dear, must have been about his parents.

    Doubt must encircle his brain. Was all his life a lie? Did Viliant ever have a moment of his life where he was truly happy? Fia could only gaze on in pity and wonder.

    She told herself not to regret the outcome of today. She was only trying to help Viliant the best she could. Regardless of family lineage, he needed whatever power was available to him a long time ago.

    Nevertheless, that sort of misery would only feed into the element which had ruined it all for him. The mounting shadows would thrive off of his despair.

    ***

    The next day, Viliant acted like normal aside from the hunch in his shoulders. Thankfully, the healer also happened to visit them.

    "Umbra Caligo! Favilla!" he gasped when he stepped into their cell. "I thought you just had a single scratch. What happened?"

    Viliant gave an awkward reply. "We knew you''d be coming. Thought it might be fun to wrestle."

    The healer gave them each an odd look of concern.

    Fia wiggled out of happiness, knowing that she was the one with the fewest scratches. I really got you good, Viliant! You''re welcome.

    His eyes closed while he took in a deep breath. I''m not thanking you for anything. This looks really bad.

    The healer used his magic to make the scratches meld back into healthy scales. He left the two dragons to their lonesome once again.

    Time passed. Days turned into another week. Both dragons survived their next matches in the arena. Viliant saw no need to use his shadow magic, preferring to keep it secret for when he was most desperate. Life was good, if they could call it that. However, Fia did not want to keep testing their luck for how long that would last.

    She began to pester Viliant about their escape plan between their training sessions.

    How''re we going to escape?

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    I don''t know.

    If you kept training your shadow magic, do you think you could teleport short distances like the banshee? You could just slip right through these bars! Fia slid her claws through the gap and wiggled them in a little wave towards him.

    Let me rephrase that, Viliant snapped. I don''t care.

    For a moment, Fia was stunned into silence. How could you not care?

    It is your dream to escape. Not mine.

    Her eyes pinched up as she tilted her head to the side. One wing lay across the ground to emphasize her confusion. You¡­ don''t want to escape?

    A large sigh hefted from his jaws. Some peculiar philosophies always seemed to fester in Viliant''s head. If he found some way to say yes, Fia swore that she would spit embers across the tip of his tail.

    Have you ever heard this story? Viliant decided to share with her a fable told in his clan.

    There once was a dragon bound in chains for what felt like eternity. Even once the chains crumbled away at the end of time, the dragon stayed in place. He was no longer capable of dreaming of the skies.

    The black dragon had his weary head tipped back to the rocky ceiling. His gaunt face showed the long years in which he had lived here. I¡¯ve been here for so long. There''s nothing for me to go back to. I wonder, to what extent would my life be easier¡­ if I just stayed here?

    Fia''s eyes pinched up in an uncontrollable fury. Her field of view practically turned red as the fire erupted within her. As promised, she spewed a spattering of flames across his tail.

    "Argh!" Viliant sprung onto his feet with a yelp. Again? What was that for?

    Don''t say things like that. Ever! It''s nonsense, all of it. Instinctively, she turned away just like he did. Fia gave pause and admitted, Sorry. There was a bit of truth to what you said. You have been here too long, she said with extra emphasis. It''s affecting the way you think.

    Turning back to her, Viliant sneered. Really? I never would''ve guessed.

    She disregarded the sarcasm. Entirely serious, Fia told him, You do want to escape, Viliant. I promise you''ll be happier out there than in here. That was when a bright idea came to mind, so she relayed her thoughts faster. Plus, you do have a place to go. The Carlinoa Clan will be your new home!

    For what she thought was a tremendously gracious offer, Viliant was oddly unresponsive. At last, he asked, Would they accept a dragon like me? His gaze cast down to the vestiges of his wings.

    Of course they will, Fia said, curling her tail into the sweetest smile. You''re my friend.

    Is that what being a friend means?

    Yes, she said. Plus, you saved my life. I wouldn''t have made it this far without you! If my clan is going to welcome me back, then they have to accept you too.

    The logic must have been acceptable to Viliant as he nodded his head. Thanks, Fia. I think¡­ I think I would like that.

    It''s settled then! We need a way to escape.

    Both dragons put their heads together and weighed all their options. Teleportation via Viliant''s shadow magic would not work. In the short term, his mana system was exhausted from the sudden increase in magical activity. Even if he could master the technique, it was unlikely he would be able to take Fia with him.

    My fire isn''t hot enough! The dragoness blew an inferno against the bars until they turned a soft yellow. However, she could not bend them even when she tried with all her might. "Ugh." Fia gasped and dropped back down onto all fours. I see why you wanted to be a metal dragon so badly.

    Viliant did not reply. His clawed feet shifted slightly, and his head angled towards the ground. That had been a foolish thing for her to say.

    Sorry¡ª she tried.

    No. It''s fine.

    They had little in the way of a plan. Everyday, Fia and Viliant practiced their magic and tried to think of a way to escape that did not hinge upon their ability to get past the bars.

    If we can''t get out of our cell, that leaves only two other possibilities, Viliant thought. Either we can attack the guards, or we can try to slip out of the holding room. Both of those will be risky attempts. The hardest part will be getting out of the city and country.

    What happens if we fail?

    Viliant gave her a sidelong glance. They''ll decide the troublesome dragons must be kept apart. Also, they''d probably give us tough opponents to kill us off. That''s what happened back when I tried to escape.

    Her heart dropped in her chest. They needed to make sure that their first escape attempt was a success.

 Chapter 13: Sky versus Ground

    Together, Viliant and Fia made careful preparations to sneak out of the holding room under the veil of his shadows. They ironed out every crease, only needing to wait until his skill with magic caught up to their grand ideas. Alas, they had delayed their escape for too long.

    On each tournament day, Fia had grown accustomed to stirring awake to the noise of the crowd. This morning was different. The roar of a thousand voices seemed to bellow directly in her ear. Sometimes the coliseum hosted special events, but this must have been the largest one in history.

    This is weird! Fia said to Viliant out of alarm. What''s going on?

    Don''t know, he said, but I don''t like it.

    They had nothing to do but wait for their breakfast to arrive. Perhaps Fia was imagining things, but the portion of meat seemed smaller than usual. It was as if their last meal was simply a token, not meant to sustain them for a day rife with battles.

    Next, the guards came to unlock the door of their cell. Unlike the usual silence, the men deigned to speak to them. The harsh, laughing words fell over Fia''s ears.

    Viliant drew his eyes wide and froze in place.

    What did they say? Fia nagged him to translate.

    "Hope you enjoyed your stay. Today''s the day you die, dragons!"

    What¡­? she gasped. Before she could think of anything, the guards grabbed up their chains. They were pulled unceremoniously towards the arena with spears to guide them.

    Even when Fia and Viliant tried their best to cooperate as usual, the guards sought to brutalize them.

    What do we do? she cried to him.

    Shh. I''m listening for a moment.

    The guards were talking to each other as they manhandled the young dragons. "I can''t wait to see the Dragon Slayer in the flesh!"

    "I thought his reputation was all just a bunch of rumors, minted by the royal family to elevate the crown prince. Didn''t think he had the gall to prove the weight of that name."

    "Apparently, there''s gonna be a big announcement today. It will change the future of the kingdom!"

    The conversation made Fia''s heart race in the worst of ways. The human kingdom had a dragon slaying prince¡ªone who would kill Fia and Viliant for sport to advance his political messaging. If she was going to die, this seemed like the worst possible way for things to end.

    Once Viliant had finished translating, he barked, Fia, listen to me closely. You are running away before we get to the arena.

    We are? she asked, exhilarated.

    You are, Viliant emphasized. The way I see it, only one of us has a chance to get away. Might as well be you. My destiny was always to die here.

    A disillusioned snort slipped past Fia''s nostrils. What are you saying? We agreed to leave together¡ª!

    My clan was eradicated, Viliant stated. Honest thoughts never fell so freely from his head. The Novemis Clan, a group of cowardly dragons who lack magic in their bloodline made a pact with this kingdom. They killed our elders¡­. They kidnapped the baby dragons. They offered some of us to entertain their human allies in this coliseum.

    If the guards did not threaten to stab her with a spear, she would have walked slower to better regard his story. The chain strained her neck, but she did her best to gaze upon her friend. Viliant, I''m so sorry¡ª

    He ignored her sympathies, rushing to tell her the rest. I lived long enough to watch everyone I care about suffer. If I''m going to die, I''d like to see this Dragon Slayer for myself! A note of savagery hung in his thoughts. He would seek vengeance if he could manage to stand against the one called Dragon Slayer.

    We''re running out of time, Viliant continued. You know why I bothered telling you this? Viliant took up his chain in his jaws. The glint of green flashed at her through the corner of his eyes.

    No, she said simply.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Don''t concern yourself with me. You still have your people to return to. Run away.

    No, Viliant¡­! she gasped. I can''t leave without you.

    Please, Fia. I want you to go home. Viliant''s calm, confident eyes had never shone so bright. He twisted his neck and yanked the chain from the guards'' hands.

    A spear stabbed at him. In response, he contorted his neck to the side, hissed, and bit back. In the dark of the passageway, Viliant could call upon the shadows for aid.

    Fia darted between a man''s legs. As she passed, her claws slashed for the chink in the armor at the backs of his knees. The man hollered out in pain and fell. Fia kept running. With tears beading in her eyes, she did not look back at Viliant who kept fighting¡ªholding the guards off for her sake.

    The harsh sunlight, unhindered by a metal cage, made Fia wince as she stepped outside. The bustling street was filled with people. The onlookers shrieked and screamed as Fia ran by.

    She needed to get somewhere with good elevation. Even if Fia could not fly, she could glide elsewhere in the city. Hopefully, she could land somewhere with a place to hide.

    Aside from the coliseum, the tallest building in the area had steeples which ventured into the sky. The many ornamental decorations across its pillars gave Fia easy footholds. She scurried up the side of the building. As she neared the top with panting breaths, her heart rate began to slow.

    The parade of humans looked like ants beneath her¡ªas they should. Before she took off, she gave one last glance back to the coliseum. Viliant¡­ I''ll never forget you.

    She spread her wings and jumped. Just like that, Fia was free.

    It lasted only for a moment. Her body careened towards the ground, much faster than a simple free fall. What''s happening? Panic enveloped her, like the wind whistling in her ears.

    Fia''s body crashed against a shiny black orb. This mysterious object which had drawn her from the sky and ripped a sharp pain through her entire chest. It was worse than being stabbed with the banshee''s claws. Her ribcage fractured like glass had struck the cobblestones.

    Then, the orb disappeared and she collapsed onto the street. Fia tried her best to steady her labored breaths. Her vision was blurring from the intense pain. She still did not understand what had just happened to her.

    Two large, black boots stepped closer to her. The texture was glossy as if the owner had someone to lick them clean. The unintelligible words fell from his lips, sickly and sweet.

    Fia could not understand the language, but she hated this man for his tone of voice. A gentle hand lifted up her head, encouraging her to look at him. She winced at the touch, but Fia felt too faint to snap at his fingers.

    When her sight came into focus, she curled her lips back at the pallid man. His long, ebony hair was topped in a golden crown. An eloquently carved staff rose in his hand. At its tip, a massive, purple amethyst seemed to have a dark energy swirl within. The regal dress which adorned this man screamed that he was the prince, the Dragon Slayer.

    Why¡­? Fia could not understand why the prince deemed it necessary to chase after her. Only one dragon had run away. The Dragon Slayer was supposed to be content with the one that had remained behind.

    A sideways smirk curled onto his lips.

    Fia had never hated a man more in her life. Fueled by her anger, she tried to blow fire through her pursed snout.

    The Dragon Slayer held two fingers up to halt her attack. An eerie, black orb¡ªthe size of a pinpoint¡ªspun on two fingertips. Her fire orbited around his own magic until the light was ultimately consumed.

    That did nothing to discourage Fia. She kept feeding her fire breath to the peculiar orb. None of her magic could escape its immense pull. Once she had given up, the Dragon Slayer dismissed the strange power. His fingers stayed up to waggle at Fia as he chastised her. "Nuh uh uh." It was the only thing which she could understand from him.

    Even though Fia was already immobilized, the Dragon Slayer casually gestured one hand for her to follow. A tingling sensation started up. Soon, Fia''s body felt light as a feather as it suspended in the air. She floated after the Dragon Slayer every step that he walked. His long cape, a rich purple hue, billowed after him in a supernatural way.

    He must be a gravity mage, she thought in horror. It was no wonder that he had earned such a title when he could instantly drop a dragon from the sky.

    As the Dragon Slayer strolled past the populace, wild cheers broke out. The same people who had screamed at Fia''s freedom now celebrated her capture.

    I never did anything wrong! she thought. I never did anything to hurt you!

    The Dragon Slayer carried her into the coliseum. The people outside tried to follow, but the guards barred their way and shut the doors.

    Once more, she found herself trapped in the darker interior of the coliseum. Fia squirmed and whined in her floating bubble. The Dragon Slayer brought her into the holding room. Usually, caged animals filled the empty space, but today, only one black dragon stood next to the healer. A squad of guards stood on duty near the doors.

    Viliant observed her with unblinking eyes. Well, you tried your best.

    I''m sorry! Fia broke down into helpless sobs. Unlike her, Viliant was selfless and brave. He did not fear death but was willing to face it, just to give her a chance at life. Yet she had squandered that opportunity.

    Viliant ignored her volatile emotions and focused on translating for her.

    "Heal this pathetic, little mongrel," the Dragon Slayer said. "I want her in perfect condition for when I kill her¡ªor at least looking like it." Unceremoniously, he ended the anti-gravity field.

    Fia''s body smacked against the ground. A scream tore from her throat as her entire body seethed in agony. Her wails grew louder, inspired by both her pain and terror.

    The healer knelt by her and lowered his shaky hands close to her body. The green glow of his magic washed over her with an anesthetic effect. As the pain faded away, her sobs reduced to sniffles. Fia could think clearly once again, so she could strategize with Viliant.

    What are we going to do?

    Same thing we always do. Fight our best.

 Chapter 14: Beyond the Boundary

    Fia''s heart might as well have stopped right at that moment. The two dragons would not stand a chance against the Dragon Slayer who had already decimated an entire clan.

    Remember, Viliant said. The same rules of the arena apply. I guarantee this prince will turn the fight into a spectacle. It needs to last just long enough to entertain¡ªmaximize the impact of his message.

    She did not see how that was supposed to make her feel any better. Now that her ribcage was reconstructed, she could stand. All four knees were knocking together. I don''t want him to torture us!

    He''s going to underestimate us, Viliant said. Don''t worry. I''ll hold him at bay. What I need you to do is climb to the top of the cage and make a hole.

    The wire mesh was markedly thinner compared to the bars of their cell. Fia could probably get it hot enough to rip through the metal, if only she had any fire left in her belly. Fear paralyzed her. She would die this day. The hopelessness of their situation served to extinguish her flames prematurely.

    Her claws fumbled together meekly as she whimpered, I don''t understand how you''re not falling into despair at a time like this¡­. As soon as she said the word, her attention flashed up to him.

    Of course, Viliant would despair. That bleak emotion was the source of a shadow dragon''s power.

    Fia took a deep breath to calm herself. She offered a nod to Viliant; they could do this. Her friend had lived his life surviving against stacked odds.

    The Dragon Slayer stood like an imposing statue in the room. His eyes did not blink, nor did his shoulders rise and fall with his breath. The prince stared at them with a subtle smile as they were corralled into the arena.

    The healer stood off to the side, hands folded and eyes downcast. Since he could not speak to them in a friendly manner like he usually did, he opted not to say anything at all. He did not even look at them.

    The doors opened before Fia and Viliant, dragging across the ground with monumental weight. The clamor of the crowd now lifted to its full volume. Briefly, they shared a glance with each other.

    Let''s do what we always do, Viliant said.

    The announcer bellowed his usual line. "Enter Umbra Caligo and Favilla the dragons!"

    The dragons split ways, each running to one side. As if timed together, they rose onto their hind legs and roared. Fia practiced her fire, but only a lick of embers came out. Oh no¡­.

    The sheer number of humans drowned them out in a unified cheer. Unlike a normal tournament day, many people screamed hostilities and booed at them. Everyone who attended today was eager for the dragons to die.

    Pull yourself together, Viliant said to her. Now''s not the time to let your emotions control you.

    I know! I know! she snapped. This was the worst possible time for her fire to fail.

    The gates on the far side of the arena opened. "Enter His Royal Highness, Prince Marcellus, the Dragon Slayer!"

    Each step of the prince held weight as he walked into the coliseum. His eyes did not grace their presence. Instead he turned to focus on his people.

    "Dragons." A sweeping hand gestured out to them. Before Fia and Viliant could make a move, two of his orbs appeared at their feet and glued them in place.

    Out of shock, Fia thrashed her immovable limbs. Her wings flapped, and she reared her head whilst screeching.

    "These savage creatures thought they could dominate mankind for eternity, but we stand at the turn of an era. We are the Kingdom of Syene¡ªa stronghold against the dragon menace¡ªthe first human nation to win independence from the draconic tyrants. We hear the plight of our brethren! Every human village will be liberated to our gracious rule, and the dragons shall serve us!"

    The crowd boomed joyously. It was quite the speech to pander to human ears. Fia was left mortified. On the tranquil island of her people, she never knew that such volatile societies existed beyond its shores.

    "I present to you today two dragons: Umbra Caligo, the last of the Dagonir Clan and Favilla, the first of the Carlinoa Clan."

    A harsh gasp raced down her throat. How do they know where I''m from? Her stomach twisted into a knot, and she started to think that perhaps it was not a coincidence that a baby dragon had been kidnapped from her island.

    "With this fight, we will eliminate the Dagonir Clan!" the Dragon Slayer bellowed. "And, begin our war on Carlinoa!"

    The audience roared. The horrific swell crashed over Fia''s ears, and she imagined an army that loud showing up on her island''s shores. "No¡­. No, no, no!" She tried to free herself from the magnet below her. Her head thrashed either way as though she tried to wake up from a nightmare.

    Fia! Viliant yelled in her head.

    A few crystal tears hung from her eyes. When she blinked, they steamed away from the sheer heat that emanated from her body.

    Are you angry?

    Yeah. She was furious.

    Use it.

    The enemy of the two dragons turned to them. Surely, the prince could have heightened the gravitational pull at their feet and killed them where they stood. Instead, he released them and brandished his scepter. Just as Viliant said, the Dragon Slayer must make an exhibition of his victims first.

    Fia, go. Viliant charged recklessly towards the enemy.

    She dashed to the side of the arena and hopped onto the nearest links of the cage. As the only one who could create an escape route, she would burn through the metal as quickly as possible. Then, she would help Viliant escape.

    The Dragon Slayer leveled the jewel of his scepter into an even line with Viliant. An orb materialized behind him. Despite the fact that his legs were running his fastest, his body was slowly drawn backwards.

    Fia''s heart raced as if she were the one sprinting like that. Flames exploded from her maw and heated the wired mesh. While she waited for the metal to heat up, she could not resist watching Viliant from the corner of her eyes.

    A second, sheeny sphere materialized at the tip of the Dragon Slayer''s scepter.

    Viliant relinquished his attempts to fight the gravitational pull. Letting his claws go, he flung backwards and just barely skirted beneath the underside of the orb. The momentum carried him safely behind it where he replanted his feet.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    The launched orb collided with the stationary one. They merged into a single mass which was now set into motion.

    As it neared Viliant, he leaped to the side and twisted in an eloquent arc. The orb helped swing him around as well, allowing him to evade it and dig his talons back into the dirt. Every time that he moved like that, he was drawn closer than before.

    Luckily, the orb kept going until another force stopped it. It lost its sway over Viliant as it drifted farther away. The Dragon Slayer dismissed his spell before it could crash through the cage. He leveled a new attack.

    Already charging on the offensive, Viliant had no time to dodge. One claw was enveloped in shadows. This darkness soon consumed his entire physical form, giving true meaning to his identity as shadow dragon.

    While her fire had been affected by gravity, the absence of light had no substance. By enveloping himself in the shadows, this quality extended to Viliant. He was unaffected by the gravity spell for a brief period of time. Like a ghost, he haunted the Dragon Slayer and lurched through his body.

    This was the first time where Viliant had chosen to utilize his element in the arena. The element of surprise made this attack all the more devastating, and the shadow magic caused an affliction on the heart.

    Clutching his chest, the Dragon Slayer dropped down onto one knee.

    The crowd grew quiet, aside from their disquieted whispers.

    This was Viliant''s best opportunity to attack, so he slashed forth with an unmodified claw.

    The prince parried the blow with the rod of his scepter. Some loose strands of his ebony hair drooped on either side of his eyes. When he lifted his head to look at Viliant, all fury befell the man''s face.

    Meanwhile, Fia''s flames burned their hottest. The metal had already turned a scorching red color. Her jaws opened wide to take a sizable bite of the metal. Screech! The sound of metal ripped in her ears, and a section of the cage came off in her jaws.

    I did it! she called to Viliant. Get up here!

    No, he replied sternly. One way or another, I''m going to finish this.

    I''m not leaving you here! she barked at him. While she waited for him, Fia was eager to get a second taste of the open air. She plucked the metal debris from her mouth and held it in her claws. Fia tried to stick her head through the hole, but her snout smacked against an invisible barrier instead. Ow¡­. Oh no! Out of panic, she wailed, Viliant! The magic barrier¡­. I forgot about it!

    The banshee had been deflected when it rammed into the metal cage with enough force to bust through. The dragons had no way to get past this.

    As her heart sank, Fia''s grip around the metal slackened. The junk fell near the Dragon Slayer and clattered against the ground. This unfortunately drew his attention upwards. He took aim at Fia with the scepter and shot an orb straight to the sky.

    Move! Viliant screamed in her mind.

    Fia jumped and kept her wings folded. The wind breezed past her scales as she dropped from the top of the arena''s cage. However, she did not jump far enough to take into account the orb''s pull. As they passed each other, its dense material grazed her shoulder¡ªripping through scales, flesh, and bone in the process. A shriek of agony tore from her lungs.

    While Fia had meant to spread her wings and catch herself in the descent, her body now tumbled in the air. She struck the ground on her back and hacked. Her right shoulder had been mostly destroyed, leaving to wonder how long she had till she would bleed out.

    On her back like this, she could watch the gravitational orb fly through the magical barrier and shatter it. Iridescent fragments fluttered through the sky until they ultimately dissipated. Fia now stared up at a gap of the open sky.

    You okay? Prodding her mind, Viliant tested to see that she was alive and not paralyzed.

    Mm. I think so. The tip of her tail flicked and confirmed that nothing had broken in her spinal column. To keep herself from collapsing in pain, Fia had to hobble on three legs when she got up.

    Then run. Get out of here!

    In her critically wounded state, Fia''s temper ran out. I said I''m not leaving without you! she shrieked in his mind.

    All fury lit across her mana system. The magical circuits overflowed to the point where a fiery light manifested around her. Sparks flew off her scales, then bursts of flames flared out from beneath them.

    Surging with power, she was inspired to rise up on her hind legs. More than that, her hind feet lifted off the ground as a vortex of flames developed beneath her. Her anger and passion melded into one, allowing Fia''s magical power to break beyond the boundary.

    A stunned look fell over Viliant''s eyes before his tail quickly curled in a content smile. He used this as his opportunity to make a dash for the edge of the arena. Viliant began to climb, safely out of range of her fury.

    A massive firestorm enveloped the arena with Fia at its heart alongside the Dragon Slayer. The heat was so intense that she shut her scaly lids in order to protect her eyes. Her bloody shoulder, unshielded by scales, was cauterized in a mostly painless process for the fire dragoness.

    The hazy forms of Fia and the Dragon Slayer could be seen through the flames. Sizable streaks were torn through her wall of fire with ease. The gravity mage employed a dozen tiny orbs on all sides to suck in her flames and protect himself.

    Even his magic could not halt her assault completely. His cape was licked with embers by the time that her rage had ceased. The soft, human skin had been burned. The man was still standing, however. His injuries would not stall him for long.

    The power was leaving her body rapidly. Her muscles grew weak as though she might faint any second.

    Now''s our chance, Viliant called to her. Let''s go!

    Driven by his voice, she scurried up the cage as quickly as she could manage in a three-legged lope. When she reached the top, she hopped through the hole in the cage and joined Viliant in the fresh air.

    He tried hopping down the cage, figuring that his only means of escape was by running away. Fia had another idea in mind.

    Let''s fly! By fly, she meant glide. She leaped from the top of the cage and landed on Viliant''s back. From there, she spread her wings wide and struggled to stay aloft with the larger dragon in tow.

    Her frantic thoughts began to calm enough for Fia to realize how fast her heart raced. The air breezed by them tranquilly, indifferent to the urgency of their quest. I think we did it, Viliant¡ª

    Look out!

    The Dragon Slayer had defied gravity and floated through the hole in the cage after them. His scepter aimed for Fia and gathered his energy into a tiny point.

    The shot careened much faster than the others, but it luckily had less mass behind it. The orb zipped through Fia''s left wing, earning her another hole to mirror the one in the right. The sudden force rocked Fia to the side. Unable to restore her balance with Viliant in her arms, her wings folded and they fell together.

    "Ah!" they hollered together. Chins tucked, the dragons protected their necks the best they could and squeezed their eyes shut.

    A building caught their fall. The damaged shingles shifted beneath them as they pushed themselves up.

    Viliant ran ahead first, but he stalled when she lagged behind. Come on, Fia! We need to keep moving.

    Can''t¡­ hold on. Her body was utterly wiped from the fire which she had unleashed. She tried her best to take a few, wavering steps closer to Viliant.

    He rushed forward and caught her with a shoulder before she could collapse. Naturally, Fia''s wing draped over Viliant''s back while she curled her head up against him. His neck was extended in full, desperate as he looked around for some way out of this.

    Fia could hardly walk even with Viliant there to support her weight. We''ll find some place to hide, he admitted once taking into account her state.

    Thank you. Delirious as she was, Fia still knew that it would be easier to leave her behind.

    Viliant helped her down from the rooftop and found a dark alley where they could lurk. The shadows parted to welcome them, then reformed to conceal them without a trace.

    I think we''ll be safe for now, he said. To keep Fia from instantly dropping to the ground, Viliant helped ease her down gently. He lay immediately at her side, acting as a means to reassure the quaking dragoness.

    Her breaths came out in clipped gasps. Even if they had truly escaped the coliseum at long last, it hardly mattered anymore. The Carlinoa Clan had become the next target in the humans'' warpath. Viliant, she moaned. What are we going to do? My people¡­.

    Won''t become like mine, he said harshly. You are the only one who knows about this plan. You can make it back to Carlinoa first and warn them! You have to, Fia. This is your burden.

    Her tears became steam, merging with the surrounding murk. Since the shadows would harbor them for now, Fia gave way to her exhaustion and slept.

 [Maps]

    Here are some maps for where Fia and Viliant are currently located and where they could possibly travel in the next arc! My first attempt at making maps~

    Note: I want to add a river from the big lake to the shore, but I no longer have access to Photoshop through my uni. I''ll get my own subscription eventually, when it might make more financial sense. Until then, imagine the river! Thanks for understanding.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    They are currently in the capital of the Kingdom of Syene (positioned at the southern harbor). The Kingdom of Syene is the ONLY independent human country. The Miorashe Clan is a dragon clan which has free humans living in their territory. The rest of the areas subjugate humans to varying degree of severity.

    The Hard Terrain makes up mountains to the north, badlands to the east, and divided by mountains, there is a rainforest even further east after. (I''ll probably want to update the maps to visually show those regions, but this is it for now!)

 Chapter 15: Alone and Abandoned

    When the young dragoness stirred awake, she was alone. Night had fallen. Her eyes strained against the darkness for any hint of the older, black dragon but Fia could catch no glimpse of him.

    Viliant¡­. The emptiness of her mind, unconnected to the fellow dragon, made her heart ache. He left me. I''m alone¡ªcompletely alone.

    She wanted to stay curled up in this spot, cry herself to sleep, and wake up tomorrow at home. Fia could sob to her mom about what a terrible nightmare she had, yet this had been her life for too long to indulge in wishful thinking.

    The angry hollers of humans could be heard outside. Lightning cracked across the sky and reached a glowing pole on the street. Then, the lightning jumped from that rod to the next. The soft, orange light from the pole aided the guards who scoured the streets with torches.

    They''re going to find me! All by herself, Fia needed to think of a way to escape. Already, she missed Viliant dearly.

    This is your burden. Those words echoed in her head, the last thing which Viliant had said before abandoning her. Apparently, her friend would have nothing to do with her burden.

    "Ugh." She grunted as her demolished, cauterized shoulder put her in immense pain. As Fia tried to get up, her tail thwacked against a splintered piece of wood which jutted from the nearby shack. A crack resounded, and the humans barked some harsh words.

    The firelight grew brighter, bouncing closer to her.

    Oh no! She had just alerted the guards to her presence. Even the dark alley could not hide her now.

    Suddenly, her mind was filled with the presence of a furious dragon. Viliant¡­! she cheered happily.

    Fia! he roared in her mind. What''re you doing?

    Sorry! Just bumped into this stupid piece of wood. Where are you? What are you doing?

    The shadow dragon leaped off the roof of the precise building in which she was lying under. His claws tapped near silently on the ground; the movement of his form could hardly be seen in the shadows. When his eyes flashed open¡ªlivid¡ªFia could see that her friend was the same as always.

    In his mouth, he had gathered a swath of long, stringy thatching from the roof. His mouth opened wider to grab a chunk of wood that had been ripped from the building. He set to helping her up with his neck and horns.

    We need to go.

    Their talons clicked away as they ran. Fia pushed herself as fast as she could go on three legs. The shadows gathered at the mouth of the alley. By the time that the men peered through the curtain of shadows and brandished their torches, the dragons were gone.

    Her labored breaths sounded loud in her ears. Fia could not go much farther. Her destroyed shoulder hindered the mobility of that limb, and she had to be careful not to trip over the useless leg. Each time it dragged along the ground, more pain screamed up her muscles.

    This is far enough, Viliant said. Here. His horns bumped open the door to a shed, anxiously waiting at the entrance for Fia to pass through.

    She walked into the darkness and found the comfiest spot to lay on some old straw.

    When Viliant tried to follow, he bumped the pieces of wood against either side of the door frame. "Ugh." He grunted softly and tilted his head to the side to bring his spoils inside.

    What''s that stuff for?

    Your leg. I was gathering supplies for a splint. Carefully, Viliant shut the door after himself.

    If the dragons were to keep moving, Fia would need her useless leg bound out of the way. When she thought Viliant had left her, he had actually been doing his best to help her. Emotion bubbled in her chest. Thank you, Viliant!

    It''s fine. Roll on your side.

    As instructed, Fia flipped onto her good side and exposed her leg for Viliant to perform the necessary care.

    He tugged her limb up to her shoulder and laid the wood against Fia''s foreleg. The strips of thatching wrapped around her upper leg and shoulder. Viliant tied up her limb the best he could with the supplies available.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    How''s that?

    By the time that he was done, Fia''s leg was stationary¡ªbound close to her body so that it would no longer impede her movement. Great! It''s perfect. Thanks so much, Viliant.

    Let''s keep moving. Our best chance to escape is under the cover of darkness.

    However, Fia hesitated to abandon the quiet shack just yet. If she had anything else that she wanted to say to Viliant, now was the time to do it. More than just gratitude had welled up inside Fia. A heavy feeling in her chest weighed on her. To herself, she thought, I never should''ve doubted him.

    The guilt inspired her to admit, I, uh¡­ I thought you left.

    Viliant froze. His tail swept to the side as he turned around, hunkered over in aggression. You thought I''d just leave you like that? Thanks to their telepathic link, more than just those words passed between them. She could also feel the deep-seated hurt harbored in Viliant''s mind.

    I''m sorry! Fia tried to say. Instantly, she realized that her honesty had hurt Viliant more than if she had opted not to say anything. I was just really scared¡ªscared that I wouldn''t be worth your time once we got out of the arena.

    Viliant snapped, I said I don''t want your people to end up like mine. He hefted out a sigh and shook his head. We don''t have time for this. Let''s go.

    Balanced on three legs, she leaped forward and stopped Viliant before he could turn away. Fia tipped her head up and nuzzled her cheek against his. I''m sorry! I promise I''ll never doubt you again.

    Viliant pulled away from her sudden touch at once. Although, he still mumbled in her mind, I''d appreciate that.

    The dragons loped through the streets, followed by the shadows to keep them swathed in total darkness. The pursuant eyes would naturally glaze over the darkness, encouraged to look away. In contrast, the slitted, reptilian pupils reflected the light better. Hence, the dragons could see more than the humans searching for them.

    Fia drew to a halt as she recognized the only human who had treated them with kindness in the arena. The long, brown robes helped her recognize him even when his face was concealed beneath the hood. The healer stood in the streets, alone with a lantern.

    Viliant, it''s the healer! Maybe he can help us¡­. The young dragoness would feel immensely better if her shoulder could be treated with his magic. Plus, she could run faster with the support of all four legs.

    Are you stupid? Viliant snapped in disbelief. All humans are the enemy. We keep moving.

    However, Fia had glued her talons to the street. Her experience in the coliseum led her to distrust humans like Viliant, but she was willing to override her instincts for the one human who had proven himself otherwise.

    The healer put his hands up to his mouth, helping his voice carry deeper into the alleys. "Umbra Caligo! Favilla!" He hollered something after their names, but Fia could not understand the words.

    Viliant, can you translate for me?

    Little dragons¡­. Viliant said in her mind, a mockery of sweetness lining his voice. I''m here to kill you¡ª!

    Stop! Fia whined.

    That''s essentially what he''s saying if I translate for you what he actually means! Viliant snapped.

    Just give me the words.

    When the healer started up again, Viliant relented and transferred the words'' meaning directly to her mind. "Umbra Caligo! Favilla! Where are you?"

    At once, Fia exclaimed, He''s searching for us!

    No kidding. This whole city of humans is looking for us, Viliant replied snidely.

    "You''re just baby dragons," the healer called. "I know you didn''t do anything wrong¡­. I''m here to help! I can heal your injuries, Favilla!"

    See? Fia said. I was right¡ª! Without a second thought, she tried to rush towards him.

    No. Viliant jumped on top of her and pinned her to the ground. Watch.

    Fia clamped her jaw shut and winced, her foreleg lighting up in pain. Since she could not wrestle Viliant off her in this condition, she was forced to watch with bleary eyes.

    The healer sighed. After a while passed, he spoke to another person concealed from view. "I''m sorry, Your Highness. They''re in the area, but it seems my presence is unable to lure them out."

    None other than the Dragon Slayer revealed himself from behind the buildings. His level steps approached the healer, and he said in an authoritative voice, "You will find those lizards."

    "Yessir. Of course, Your Highness." The healer gulped and looked to his feet.

    Oh no! Fia wanted to squeal at the sight of their nemesis, but Viliant had his claws wrapped around her snout.

    Hush. This is why we didn''t run out there. Probably would both be dead by now. Let''s keep going. When Viliant released her, he helped Fia back up. The dragons darted away before the humans could notice them.

    Fia''s tail hung at a new low. No¡­ she moaned. I can''t believe it. I thought the healer was nice!

    Doesn''t matter if he''s nice or not. The prince is using him against us. Since Viliant better understood the abilities and limitations of the magic in this land, he explained to her what the nature element could do. That healer would''ve gotten a good sense of our life force while working in the arena. I bet he''s set up a perimeter, and as soon as we cross it, the Dragon Slayer will know exactly where we are.

    How do we escape?

    We send them the wrong way, Viliant said smoothly.

 Chapter 16: Misdirection

    The cunning, black dragon led the injured, pink dragoness through back alleys. Eventually, Viliant''s claws shrieked to a stop. Here. Do you see that?

    An eerie, green light flowed across the ground like a shimmering snake. It was so faint that Fia could hardly notice it through Viliant''s magical haze. That''s the healer''s trap, he announced.

    Oh no! Fia whined. The magic spell would prevent the dragons from proceeding beyond this point, lest their hunters should discover their precise location. The human guards would collapse on them¡ªincluding the Dragon Slayer.

    Her anxious claws tapped against the dirty street. What do we do?

    Stay put, Viliant ordered. I''ll trip it.

    Immediately, her stomach wrenched at the daring prospect. We''re not splitting up, are we?

    Viliant curled his neck around so that he could narrow his eyes and scowl at her. What happened to trusting me?

    Sorry, Fia murmured.

    We''ll only make it look like we split up, and I''m going this way, Viliant continued to explain. His attention focused on the magical security system in front of them. Remember how I fazed through the Dragon Slayer?

    Yeah, she said.

    Since my shadow magic allows me to disengage from the physical realm, I think I can mask my life essence¡ªcross this boundary without them knowing.

    The complexities of his element confused her. Fia appreciated the simplicity of her element and suggested her own solution. Or¡­. Fire burns plants! I could spit fire on that nature magic.

    Fia¡­. Viliant curled up his talons and pressed the backs to his forehead. The mental projection of his voice was the perfect blend between disbelief and disappointment. Let me handle this.

    Alright, Fia said in an elongated tone. When you need me to burn something up, let me know! She sat prim and proper against a building, tilting her nose up to the sky.

    Viliant took a bold hop over the magical boundary in the alleyway. The light flickered like a heartbeat; his presence was acknowledged. On the other side of the line, he closed his eyes and focused on his magic.

    Anxiety mounted in Fia''s heart as she waited. She tried not to interrupt his concentration, but he was taking too long. The shouts of humans could be heard in the distance. Hurry up, Viliant!

    I''m trying! he snapped. I can''t seem to remember how¡­. Another useless minute passed. They should have practiced before putting their plan into action.

    Fia got up and tapped her three, good claws in a little dance. We need to go! Just get back over here. It''s fine.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    No! he exclaimed, exasperated in her thoughts.

    The humans would assume that Viliant had kept traveling towards the city walls. If he crossed over their trap again, they would know exactly where he was. There was no time to explain this rationale to Fia, so he gave simple orders.

    Follow the line north. We''ll meet up. Viliant bounded off and disappeared behind a building.

    Fia''s eyes widened. Despite the darkness, her slitted pupils tried to constrict out of fear. I said I''d trust him¡­. I''m sure I''ll see Viliant again in no time!

    Out of sight from Viliant, she left the alley the other way and traveled the direction that he had indicated. At the soonest opportunity, she made her way back towards the spell boundary.

    Soon after she turned the corner, a commanding voice sounded on the main street.

    "Establish a new perimeter," the Dragon Slayer''s dark voice said. "I want to know where those snakes turn up next."

    "Yes, Your Highness." The healer gathered up his robes as he trotted to keep up with the Dragon Slayer''s long, angry strides. "It was only Umbra Caligo who crossed my first magic circle. He must''ve decided to leave the injured Favilla behind¡­."

    Fia hurried to find Viliant so that would not happen. Before she even made it to the boundary, she ran into a hard object which she could not see in the darkness.

    The way her foreleg was bound up, the back of her claws rammed against it. By extension, her shoulder was sent into excruciating pain. Her tail twacked against the ground as she fell onto her rear. By sheer willpower, she kept her jaws clamped shut and only a pathetic whine was audible. Instead, she funneled all her pain into her voice. I''m so glad to see you, Viliant!

    You okay there? he asked in response. You still don''t think I''d leave you, do you?

    Of course not. I trust you! When she hopped back up, Fia leaned into his side and stifled her cries. I just hit my shoulder when I ran into you. More importantly, she gasped in Viliant''s mind, the Dragon Slayer¡­. He''s nearby!

    Now that Viliant had successfully passed over the barrier with his shadow magic, the two dragons snuck back the way they came. Swathed in shadows, Viliant peered around the corner.

    The Dragon Slayer and the healer crossed the street, heading towards Viliant''s previous location. Once their enemies had disappeared down an alley, Fia and Viliant looked at each other and shared a brief nod. They pressed on.

    Other guards passed them as they tried to move to the dragons'' perceived position. Fia followed Viliant as he often changed their trajectory to avoid them. In another alley, she cowered beneath his wing, squeezing her eyes shut, and nestling her face into his scales. His shadows cloaked them while heavy boots passed on the main street.

    Keep hanging in there, Viliant remarked. C''mon.

    The dragons'' claws halted when they came to a second line of nature magic, drawn across the stony street. The curvature of this line bowed inwards the opposite way. Fia and Viliant had made it to the other side of the perimeter.

    I''ll try to extend my shadow magic to you. I don''t know if I can sneak you past in the same way¡­. Viliant closed his eyes and tried to focus. His breathing became more labored, but in the end, he released a big huff. His eyes reopened, slightly squinted in frustration. No¡­. Can''t do it.

    Thanks for trying, Fia cheered. Already, she was grateful how much he had done to get them this far. At some point, Viliant would become too fatigued to use magic altogether. If he pushed himself to the point of passing out like Fia had earlier, that would do no good for either of them.

    Instead, he enveloped himself solely in shadows. His entire form became a murky haze. In shadow form, the dragon calmly walked over the magic circle. The green light beneath him did not respond.

    Viliant returned to his normal, physical form on the other side. They''ll still think I''m going the other way. You''re going this way. Ready?

    Here, the chase would truly begin. The dragons had a head start thanks to Viliant''s efforts to misdirect their pursuers. A large breath swelled in Fia''s chest, and she limped over the line.

    The flicker of light below her was timed with her racing heartbeat. The humans would know her location. Without letting her thoughts dwell on her fear, Fia ran on three legs with Viliant sticking close to her injured side.

 Chapter 17: Wall

    Before they could escape the city, the next daunting task rose ahead of Fia and Viliant: the wall.

    She tipped her head back as far as it would go so that she could take in the shadowy structure. A big gulp slid down her throat. Do I have to make it all the way up there?

    Yes, Viliant droned indifferently.

    Fia reared onto her hind legs and reached her left claw out to the coarse, uneven bricks. Normally, the wall would pose no trouble for the dragons to scale, especially with their claws to dig into the footholds. But with her condition, Fia dreaded how the effort would put her broken shoulder in immense pain on top of slowing her progress.

    Can you carry me? she asked. It would be so much easier to cling onto his back and let him do all the hard work.

    Five years her senior, Viliant had a large enough stature to bear her weight. However, his back was lined with dozens of sharp spines, starting from six horns on his head. The texture was more like narrow quills along his neck but then spread out along his shoulders and got larger. The length of those spikes surpassed even his primary set of horns, before thinning back into quills on his tail.

    Those spines lifted incredulously at her question. Does it look like you want to ride on me?

    No, Fia said in a small voice.

    He could have lowered his back spines as much as possible, and that still would have communicated the impracticality of a piggyback ride to a similar effect. Rather, Viliant also demonstrated that his bristly attitude matched those spines¡ªsomething that Fia knew very well by now.

    I''ll help you climb, Viliant said quickly.

    The two dragons ascended the outer wall of the city, making progress slowly but surely. Going at Fia''s pace, Viliant remained wordlessly at her side only lagging slightly behind so that she could more readily lean on him. With every step, Fia chose her three footholds carefully. The vertical journey, painful and tiresome as it was, numbed Fia''s senses to all else.

    Almost there, Viliant said. Watch for lights near the top. I can see some guards occasionally, but you''re kinda blocking my view¡­.

    Fia only listened to the first two words that he said. Thank goodness! A heavy sigh left Fia''s snout, and she put more focus into climbing. The injured dragoness had no energy to waste, gawking at the top.

    At last, her claws peeked over the rim of the wall; Fia and Viliant had reached their goal. Just as relief began to flood her weary scales, her heart dropped in terror. A single word was yelled aloud, one of the few that Fia had picked up in the local tongue.

    "Dragons!" a guard shouted.

    Human! Fia shrieked in Viliant''s mind.

    I told you to watch¡ª he started to yell at her, but he clipped himself off. Viliant must have thought better of chastising her right this second.

    The firelight was shining from the torch in the man''s hand, cutting through their cloak of shadows. Fia and Viliant just so happened to poke their heads above the wall at the precise moment that a guard patrolled this section of the wall. Her eyes widened and reflected the light in terror, too exhausted to do anything but watch.

    Viliant sprang to action. He leaped over the parapet to one side, drawing attention away from Fia. When the guard thrust his sword forth, Viliant contorted his neck to the side. The blade narrowly missed his face, but this was by design. Thanks to the narrow miss, he only needed to open his maw and snap down on the metal.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    With a wrench of his neck, Viliant twisted the guard''s wrist at an unfortunate angle and disarmed him. He swung his neck in a wide arc and tossed the weapon over the wall.

    The man tried hollering for backup as he turned and ran. As the torchlight bounced away with their target, Viliant disappeared to the shadows and bounded along the parapets in pursuit. His talons clattered along the stones¡ªthe only indication of his movements.

    Since the guard could hear the dragon drawing near, he turned with a sweep of the torch. The flames were brandished just in time to reveal the black dragon, claws extended and fangs barred savagely. Before the guard could complete his swing, Viliant''s feet connected him. He kicked the human over the edge of the wall.

    The man fell like his sword, tumbling through the air. The only difference was the noise. The human was a lot louder, screaming the entire time that he fell. His body gave an audible thunk against the ground, and the racket was no more.

    Though Viliant said nothing, his mood could be felt through the telepathic link. Jubilant. Unlike his indifferent demeanor whenever he had been forced to kill in the arena, his mind lit up with joy at the death of this one guard. Perhaps it could be considered his first act of freedom¡ªor a small step towards revenge.

    A shudder ran up Fia''s spines. She did not like Viliant deriving such twisted glee from killing sentient people, not too much unlike how she enjoyed ripping apart a rabbit. The young dragoness preferred to make that distinction and think of themselves as doing what they must to preserve their own lives. This was not the time to bring up her concern with Viliant.

    The noisy demise of the guard brought more running along the wall towards their location.

    Hurry, Viliant said to go. Time to go! At the same time, he recognized that she was having difficulty hauling herself over the wall.

    Fia looked to him beggingly and graciously accepted the help up. Thanks.

    Glide from here like you did at the coliseum, Viliant ordered her, but Fia objected at once.

    No! Since he spent so long in captivity, Viliant must have forgotten the weapon that had decimated his people. Fia, however, had her father''s warning fresh in her mind. Human cities have anti-dragon ballistae¡­. We''d be shot down!

    It''s too dark for them to aim, Viliant snapped, shoving her up to the highest ledge of the parapet. He hopped up alongside her and waited.

    With a last, anxious glance to the oncoming humans, Fia clambered onto Viliant''s back¡ªlegs long enough to clear his spikes¡ªand let him jump. Her wings spread wide as they sailed off the wall.

    Teetering dangerously from side to side, she struggled to stay aloft with the two small holes in her wings. In some respect, she had the Dragon Slayer to thank for evening them out. So long as nothing threw them off balance like he did before, Fia could keep gliding like this till they reached the ground.

    The angry shouts of the humans were left behind them. Some arrows whizzed blindly at them in the darkness. Lightning from one of their mages illuminated the sky briefly¡ªa momentary glimpse of the dragons'' location. A clamorous snap resounded before the thunder. A spear from the ballista was fired.

    Fia squeezed her eyes shut and prayed. The delayed thunder filled her ears. When her breath whoosed out of her nostrils, she knew that she had survived. See? she wailed in Viliant''s mind. We almost died! This was so dangerous!

    But we didn''t. Viliant audibly scoffed beneath her. Then, he had the audacity to say, I told you so. It was nowhere near us.

    Ah! Fia wanted to disagree with him somehow, but she was too exasperated to find any words. Flustered as she found herself, she needed to adjust her grip on Viliant''s shoulders in her three good claws.

    Hey! Sorry. Don''t drop me.

    Although she had no intention to do that, Viliant''s brief fright made her chuckle weakly. Of course not. Why''d I do that? After all, the dragon duo had successfully escaped together. We did it!

    Fia had to resist the urge to roar in celebration. Even as they flew away from the city¡ªcovering much more ground than they could on foot¡ªshe did not want to risk any unnecessary noise. Fia''s fear held her fast.

    While they had fled the capital, the dragons were still stuck within the borders of the human nation. Fia and Viliant had a long way to go till they were truly safe, and even longer to make it home. For now, she wanted to travel as far away as possible, so she angled her wings to let the breeze carry them.

 Chapter 18: A New Dawn

    When Fia and Viliant drew closer to the ground, she let him drop the small distance. In this manner, she avoided poking her belly on his back spikes when they landed.

    His claws uprooted some long grass, and his wings flung out to either side for balance. Though he hardly stumbled, Viliant still said in a moody intonation, I thought you said you wouldn''t drop me.

    Fia focused on sticking her own landing; she hopped on three legs and flapped her wings. Ultimately, she tipped forward and fell face first in the grass. Her shoulders hit the ground hard, and the immense pain made her freeze with her neck laying flat.

    "Ow ow ow!" she howled. The mournful, painful whimper curled into the empty field. While her injured shoulder was smeared in the dirt, her tail drooped forward and dangled between her eyes. She rapidly blinked to clear away the tears.

    You''re fine. Viliant hurried to help her up and limp off the pain. His neck swiveled as he surveyed the darkness. We should keep moving¡ªcover as much ground under the cloak of darkness while we can.

    Though she longed for rest, Fia agreed. The dragons needed to decide which way to travel, now that they were on foot. Where do we go? As badly as Fia wanted to head straight home, she knew that any dragon territory¡ªsave for the human-allied Novemis Clan¡ªwould be a safer place for the kids than here.

    Viliant confirmed that much. We should get out of the humans'' kingdom as quickly as possible. I think¡­. He trailed off, deep in thought. This was his first time out of that cage in a decade, so he tapped a claw on his chin while trying to get a sense of their surroundings.

    Taken as a toddler, Viliant had been too young to know the lay of the land even in his home territory. However, his years of imprisonment did not leave him totally clueless about the world. Much like how Fia and Viliant had gathered information by overhearing the guards'' talk that morning, he had developed a general sense of the surrounding areas over a decade.

    This way is south, he said with a gesture of his head to the side. You can smell the ocean. His tongue flicked out to sample the salt.

    That''s the way home! Fia said with an audible gasp.

    And how''re we crossing the sea?

    Uh, swim?

    Says the fire dragon, Viliant scoffed. No, we''re not doing that. Turning in a half circle, he flicked his tail the other way. My territory is to the north, but it''s overrun by humans and the Novemis Clan now.

    That left two options for them to travel: east or west.

    I think there''s a dragon nation that the Syene Kingdom hates to the west, Viliant said. Elevire? Something like that.

    But their flight had taken them east, the exact opposite direction. To go west, they would have to travel the entire distance back to the capital and sneak by unharmed.

    You should''ve said something sooner! Fia wailed in his mind.

    Why do I have to be the navigator? Viliant asked. I was a little preoccupied, getting us out of the city!

    She realized that he was right; they really had not possessed the luxury of time to think about where they were going. The lightning and the shot of the ballista still rang in her ears. They could have died if they had lingered too close to the city.

    Sorry, Fia moaned. Yelling at him for the past would not help them make a decision now. She tried offering productive ideas instead. What if we walk backwards the whole way? Our tracks will appear around the city and lead out here! To demonstrate, Fia skipped backwards on three legs in front of Viliant, her claws marring the dirt.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    No, Fia¡­. Viliant began, exasperated by how stupidly cute she looked. Quickly, he gave pause. Wait, that''s actually kinda clever. We''re still not walking backwards for miles! Tersely, he turned his nose to the east. We''ll keep going this way. I don''t know what''s out there, but humans call it the Bad Land.

    The ominous name made Fia shiver. It certainly sounded less than ideal, but she tried to remain optimistic. "Those bad lands for humans are probably good lands for us!" With any luck, they would meet some smaller dragon clans to help them.

    And so, their most important decision had been made. Fia and Viliant would travel eastward across the human territory and escape to the Bad Land. The dragons only altered their path when they needed to skirt around farmhouses which dotted the landscape. One step after another, they walked in silence until dawn.

    Fia''s head started to droop low, as if she were to use a rock for her pillow. Do we get to sleep during the day? she prodded.

    A yawn of admission slipped past Viliant''s jaws. I guess we''ll have to¡­..

    Tired as they were, Fia and Viliant could hardly walk in a straight line anymore. They snuck into a wooded area between the rural, plowed fields. The shadows and foliage gave them coverage both to hide and keep cool during the day.

    Each chose a spot behind some small clump of trees for their bed. Fia made a point of snapping some feathery leaves off the low-hanging branches. She laid them across the ground and patted them down by walking in a few circles. Next, her head was held high as she trotted on three legs over to Viliant. A couple of branches dangled from her mouth spread its widest.

    Her friend was already laying down and looked half asleep. One green eye opened to glare at her. Go rest. We''re traveling as soon as I wake up, whether or not you''ve slept. The lid closed once more.

    No, get up! she whined.

    Since she started thwacking his horns with the branches, he relented with a sigh. Viliant got up and droned, What''re you doing?

    Making you a comfy bed! Fia tossed down the leafy branches where he previously lay and smoothed them out.

    Uh huh. Thanks. Viliant deliberately lay down in the dirt where he was standing, completely ignoring her act of kindness. Go to sleep.

    No! You can''t sleep yet! Fia nudged him with her horns and bounded to the tree line. Come sit next to me. Pretty please, Viliant?

    No. You bug me one more time, I''m blocking our link like I used to.

    But Fia could not express how badly Viliant needed to see this! Her nose pointed towards the east where they would travel tomorrow. There, the sun was rising in the first display of natural beauty that she had not seen in a long time. It had been even longer for Viliant; he probably did not even remember what the sun looked like without bars in the way.

    To get him to come over, she decided to cry, Humans!

    Where? Some leaves rustled as Viliant rushed to her side and looked out, wings and hackles alert.

    Just kidding. Fia did not explain beyond that because the view spoke for itself.

    The soft gray sky relented as half the sun peeked over the horizon. The colors shifted to pastel purples and pinks, oranges and yellows, then at last blue.

    Indeed, the breathtaking view left Viliant speechless. His rump was seated to the ground, a wingspan away from Fia. His big eyes stared at the sky rather waverly.

    She got up and made a point of sitting nearer to him. After a few seconds, her body scooted to close the last of the gap. The scales of her good shoulder brushed up against him.

    What''re you doing? Viliant asked absently.

    Sitting next to my friend! The dragoness had tricked the dragon into watching the sunrise together. A thread of wonder was shared between their silent minds. Once the sun was all the way up, Fia asked, Isn''t it beautiful?

    Actually, yeah. It is. Viliant seemed surprised to make that remark. After a long while, he added, Thanks. I''ll make you a deal. I''ll be a better sport in the future, and you don''t say there''s danger unless it''s real next time.

    Deal! Fia chimed. Her tail curled, overjoyed that she had convinced him to watch the sunrise.

    Without another word, Viliant turned to go back to sleep. When he returned to his spot, he wrapped himself in a ball nestled comfortably on a bed of leaves. The delicate, sweet scent wafted up from the wisteria.

    Viliant yawned and smacked his jaws. His chin rested on his front claws, his tail curled around his hind legs, and his wings draped over his body like a blanket. In this moment, he was filled with contentment. He could worry more about Fia''s severe injury and the human''s inevitable hunt tomorrow.

    The mental connection between them closed as he drifted off to sleep. Fia peered through the leaves to see that Viliant had accepted the makeshift bed. With her spirits lifted as she pranced away, she retreated to her own bed and settled down to rest.

    Such happiness filled her heart, she could ignore the persistent, throbbing pain in her shoulder as she joined him in the realm of sleep.

 Chapter 19: Mind of the Dragon Slayer (Bonus)

    "Your Highness," came the breath of an exasperated messenger. A tug of the reins brought the horse to the stop in front of the Dragon Slayer. "Favilla has scaled the wall and flown away!"

    "Is that so?" Prince Marcellus sneered out of disgust and jumped on the messenger''s horse. His heels dug into its sides and he guided the reins toward the east wall.

    There was no use searching for Umbra Caligo anymore who had disappeared like smoke. Instead, he would go straight to the fire. Where there is smoke, there is fire¡ªor in this case, vice versa. The shadow dragon could be found with the pitiful, fire dragoness.

    They thought they could trick me¡­. It infuriated him that it had worked thus far. As clever as the young dragons thought they were, the Dragon Slayer vowed to track them down and live up to his name.

    While the horse galloped across the city, his jaw clenched tightly. It always locked up as the first sign of the medicine wearing off. The complexity of gravity magic and its sheer mana requirements forced his body into a state of weak manzy¡ªthe ailment of magical exhaustion. Normally after expending so much mana, he needed rest, yet it seemed that the prince had to do everything himself.

    The worst part about all this: the Dragon Slayer had his suspicions. He knew dragon behavior, so he could predict their moves. The savage species would not hesitate to betray their own kind¡ªall except their closest bonds. Parents to child. Lovers to each other. Twins of the same clutch.

    In this vein, Umbra Caligo and Favilla regarded each other in close kinship. The illogical bond was something that Prince Marcellus had not expected from the older, hardened dragon. The younger female had likely imprinted stronger on the male out of necessity for her survival, but not so much the other way around. This would have explained the behavior witnessed in the coliseum. Favilla risked everything to escape with Umbra Caligo, but when it came to his own survival, he ought to have left her behind.

    As expected, the healer had delivered the first news as to his whereabouts. Umbra Caligo had breached the west side of the perimeter alone. Naturally, Prince Marcellus wanted to maximize the odds of catching both dragons, so he personally went after the real threat¡ªthe shadow dragon. Fewer guards were left behind to search for the already debilitated Favilla in the circle. She had no chance of escaping alone in her condition, so when the report came, he knew that Umbra Caligo had played a shadowy trick. Prince Marcellus had not expected his magic to subvert nature magic¡ªlife itself.

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    Given that shadow was an element as rare as his own, Prince Marcellus reasonably could not have known better. The topic never came up in his academic studies. Even with his experience against the Dagonir Clan, he had never encountered such an interaction with a niche spell. The nature mage, on the other hand, should have understood the limitations of his own element.

    "Blasted healer¡­." As punishment, Prince Marcellus would reassign him to the frontier.

    The adolescent black dragon was either young enough to consider her a sister or old enough to protect her as his future mate. Either way, Prince Marcellus now knew that those two dragons would be inseparable. I''ll use that to my advantage next time, he thought. I''ll tear them apart!

    No time to plot now, he arrived at the wall. The Dragon Slayer received the report from the guards who had witnessed his prey¡ªthe ones who had survived anyway. Outside the city, they gathered around a dead body.

    "When the pink dragon climbed up, it appeared he fell over the wall from shock," said the guard who had witnessed the ordeal.

    Prince Marcellus examined the body with numerous broken bones laid askew. "How many dragons were there?"

    "Just the one, Your Highness."

    Prince Marcellus clenched his fists at the wrong answer. I''m surrounded by incompetent baffoons, he fumed. The guards had been too far away to see the black dragon at night, especially under the cloak of shadow magic.

    Taking in a deep breath, Prince Marcellus calmed himself so that he could unclench his hand. The tightening muscles were spreading from manzy. His fingers traced the marks of dragon claws along the shoulder of the corpse. Too deep for Favilla''s small claws, the larger Umbra Caligo had been the one to kill the guard.

    The prince stood up and gave the orders. He dispatched an initial search party towards the east. "All reports of missing livestock must be investigated in full. I suspect our little dragons will have a big appetite come morning."

    "Yes, Your Highness." His subordinates always agreed and bowed before carrying out his commands. The search party galloped on swift steeds, freshly tacked at the nearby stables.

    Whenever they found the dragons, it would be too late for the Dragon Slayer''s image. Since he needed to reconcile support for the war effort as quickly as possible, Prince Marcellus whispered to one of his trusted knights.

    "Bring two drakans, faces painted with pink and black dye. I want them decapitated, and their heads put on stakes outside the coliseum." The public would not be able to discern the difference between drakan and dragon, especially once the flesh began to rot.

    "Yes, Your Highness."

 Chapter 20: Open Wound

    The buzzing of flies stirred Fia awake in the most annoying way possible. They zipped by her horns and eardrums, and their tiny presence could be felt landing on her eyelids.

    "Gah!" She awoke with a start and tried to shake the flies off. Some flew from beneath her wing, where they had been trying to get to her cauterized wound. "Ew¡­ leave me alone," she muttered.

    Her outburst also woke up Viliant abruptly, so she accepted his frantic mental connection. What''s wrong?

    Just flies, she said.

    None are bugging me.

    Probably ''cause they''re all attracted to me. Fia squirmed as she tried to get comfortable once more. Because I''m so sweet!

    Though she wanted him to leave her alone so she could get more sleep, Viliant came over sluggishly and swatted away the rest of the flies. Get up. We''ve slept enough. Let me see your shoulder.

    Fia lifted her wing higher up her body, shielding her face from the sunlight and exposing her body to him. Everything ached from overexerting herself last night, both physically and magically.

    "Ack!" Viliant made a sound of audible disgust. Uh, Fia, I think they laid eggs on your wound.

    "What?" she yelped and jumped up at once. Fia started wailing, not even wanting to look at her shoulder. It was too early in the day for this. I don''t want the flies to eat me! She sniffed and cried more intensely, waiting for Viliant to make it better.

    It''s okay. Stop crying. He said that in her mind, immediately followed by a harsh, "Shush!" We''ll get moving and find a stream. Then you can wash your wound.

    That solution would take too long to resolve the issue. Fia wanted the fly eggs off her this instant, so she roared in Viliant''s mind, I''m gonna burn them! This''ll teach them not to mess with a fire dragon¡ª

    No, wait!

    Fia waited with bated breath. Tiny flames danced from her nostrils in a snort. One brow lifted while she stared at him. What?

    Your shoulder is already burnt.

    Exactly. Fia had a high heat tolerance¡ªmore so than the bugs. She had already cauterized her shoulder in that explosive, uncontrollable fire spell, but that much heat would not be necessary to cook the insect eggs. Some additional flames would hurt that area none, or so she thought.

    I don''t think you should make it any worse, Viliant said gently. The flesh you can see is burnt, but not so much underneath.

    Fia realized that this was true as she tried to move her shoulder. The waves of pain became more intense deeper down, where the flesh had been seared less. In contrast, the exposed surface of the wound did not hurt, probably why she had never felt the flies land there. The nerves were burned past the point of sensation.

    Thanks to this, she might be able to gently brush the eggs off with little pain. Fia tried to tend to her wound. Though her neck was long and flexible, her head was too big and her shoulder too close to lick it comfortably. She would miss spots, and then she feared what the larvae would do to a dragon.

    Maybe she could run her shoulder along a bush or against the ground instead. However, the harder and pricklier surfaces would probably cause pain. Moreso, she worried about cleanliness if she could not lick her own wounds.

    Will you¡ª? she started.

    Let''s get going. Viliant knew exactly what she was about to ask, and he did not even want to hear the request. We''ll find a river. You can wash your shoulder there.

    The dragons marched eastward under broad daylight. Both their claws dragged across the dirt as they crossed little ground for a lot of effort. Oddly enough, Viliant seemed to struggle almost as much to walk. His head drooped low enough that long grasses and low shrubbery brushed against his face. He could not bother to lift it any higher.

    Are you sore? Fia asked.

    Yeah, Viliant mumbled. Just overdid it.

    The inexperienced mage had cast spells all night to save their lives. The duration of his magic usage made the aftereffects linger, unlike Fia who had pushed past her limit all at once and conked out afterwards.

    You''re not gonna die are you? In its most severe state, mana exhaustion could put a magic practitioner on their deathbed.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Nah, I''m fine. A teasing intent entered his mind as he said, More likely the flies will get you first!

    Fia squeaked out of fear and bit back a fresh assault of tears. Now that she was awake and moving around, she could keep the bugs at bay. They irritated her more than usual given the recent violation, so she swatted at them with ferocity in her wings and wickedness in her tail.

    The flat of her rigid tail spike hit Viliant squarely on the cheek, who had been bringing up the rear.

    "Oops! Sorry." Thoroughly surprised by her accidental misdeed, Fia gave a verbal apology.

    His scales could protect him from the scratch but not the aggravation. Hey, watch it! I''m not a fly.

    Fia rolled her eyes around innocently. We flew pretty good last night! I think that technically makes you a fly.

    An unamused glare settled over Viliant''s face. His shredded wings drew closer to his body as he muttered, You were the one who flew, not me.

    Right. I''m¡­. Fia was about to apologize for the insensitive remark but then remembered how Viliant did not want any remorse for his wings. Her mind fell silent.

    Although Viliant was perplexed by her incomplete thought, he did not bother to question why she trailed off. His mood stayed broody for a while, but he rebounded soon enough and then some.

    The black dragon seemed to put some effort towards peppiness for her sake. Viliant tried to distract her from the bugs and her soiled wound. The sun feels nice, doesn''t it? So warm on our scales¡­.

    I know! So nice! As a reptilian species, the dragons gathered warmth from their surrounding environment¡ªexcept for Fia whose fire always burned in her belly. Instinctually, she still enjoyed the sun on her scales. We''re free, she mused. We''re really free!

    It''s still hard to believe, Viliant agreed. When I close my eyes, I can still see that cell¡­. A shudder ran down his spine to the tip of his tail. Thanks for helping me get out of there.

    Back then, the older dragon had already seemed to give up on life. Now, Viliant would have a bright future beneath the sun and open sky. Fia could not wait to return to her clan so that he could have a home again¡ªand warn her people.

    When she walked closer to nuzzle Viliant, his black scales felt incredibly hot from absorbing the sunlight. Thanks for saving me too, Fia said. Couldn''t have done it without you!

    Viliant gave her a sidelong glance, confused but accepting her friendly gesture. We''re in this together, till we make it back to your clan. You have to save them. And you promised me a home.

    Yes! Despite the urgency to their cause, Fia did not dwell on their long-term goal. As long as she had Viliant at her side, she felt as though she could do anything! For now, she focused on their immediate circumstance, and those worries reconquered her mind.

    Late in the afternoon, they still did not come across a pond or stream.

    Viliant! she whined.

    Fine. Flies hatch quickly, he reasoned. We should probably get them off sooner rather than later. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anything else.

    The dragons rested beneath the boughs of a tree.

    Can you lick them off? Regardless of the fly eggs, her wound needed tending. The curative properties of dragon saliva could help stave off infection.

    Viliant''s snout wrinkled up. Give me a minute.

    She stared at her crossed, tightening claws while he composed himself.

    You owe me big. His eyes squeezed shut when he lowered his snout into the cavity of her busted shoulder and stuck out his tongue. Once he had some eggs on his tongue, he immediately spit them out and licked grass. He repeated these steps, only opening his eyes just enough to see the spot that he should lap at next.

    There. Done. Viliant moved over to the tree and scrubbed his tongue on the bark. At the sight, Fia could not help but giggle to herself. His head bobbed like a snake rising out of a basket; he only needed some snake-charmer music.

    Since he could sense her amusement, he snapped, What? Did I get fly eggs on my face?

    No, it''s nothing, she dismissed hastily. A warm and fuzzy feeling was fostered in Fia''s chest, knowing that Viliant had done something disgusting for her sake. Thanks so much!

    We''re traveling during the day from now on, sleeping at night. I''m not cleaning your wound everyday! Viliant sat with his nose upturned to the leaves above. He continued, We passed a town not long ago. I''m going back to find some medicine, a proper cloth to wrap your wound, and more importantly¡­. His stomach spoke for him in loud rumbles. Food.

    Her own belly panged in hunger. Yes!

    They had not stopped to eat all day. Dragons had big bellies, so they could easily stuff themselves with their daily or weekly caloric needs during a single feeding period. Albeit, Fia and Viliant would probably want to sleep afterwards if they ate enough for a whole week.

    Since Viliant had never learned to hunt¡ªnot even bunnies¡ªhe would have to pillage livestock from the nearby farms. Her belly grumbled as she thought of those sheep and goats that they had seen on the way. The growing dragons needed to eat a lot, especially to replenish the energy expended traversing across the countryside and performing magic. A part of her worried an angry farmer might come looking for his lost animals and discover them, but the dragons needed to eat.

    If not for her broken leg, Fia would catch some rabbits and show Viliant how to hunt small game. That would be much safer, but there was nothing that they could do about it. She sighed and emphasized, Remember to bring me back a big, juicy steak!

    Will do. Stay here till I get back. Viliant stalked away and became nothing but a rustle in the long grass.

 Chapter 21: Fierce Hunter

    At dusk, Viliant went off on his own but kept his telepathic tether with Fia until he walked out of range. Over their weeks spent together in the coliseum, he had gotten used to her presence more often than not. His head felt distinctly empty yet peaceful now that they were apart.

    However, the separation made him more worried about her welfare and preserving their newfound freedom. I sure hope nothing bad happens while I''m gone¡­.

    The black dragon pushed himself as hastily as his sore muscles would allow. His mana-exhausted body wanted to do nothing but lay still, yet his stomach urged him on.

    By nightfall, Viliant had doubled back to the village. Perfect timing. He slunk in the shadows, no magic necessary unless any humans came outside. The residents had already winded down for the evening.

    Viliant flitted between the houses. Near the shuttered windows, he sniffed at the wood and flicked out his tongue. When he found a building with an herbal scent, he figured this must be a healer''s or alchemist''s house. His claws trod softly to the front door. His nose nudged it open a crack, so he could peer inside.

    The single room of the hut had numerous shelves and tables for the alchemist to conduct his work. No human was in sight, at least not until Viliant noticed the oblong lump on the bed. The sole inhabitant had gone to sleep for the evening.

    Viliant''s heart raced, thinking how easily he could end the old man''s life before he could scream. No¡­  he thought. If the dragons left a trail of death wherever they went, they would become easy to track. Out of his own self-interest, Viliant resisted his murderous inclination.

    But who could tell the difference between a singular claw and a knife? What''s stopping me from using a human knife? he wondered. Viliant was confident he could find one inside and wield it well enough to land a lethal blow. If the dragon killed the man strategically, perhaps the humans would think it was a feud among the common folk. He shook his head hard and admitted, Robbing him''s enough. There was no point in risking it.

    Since Viliant did not know the difference between a medicinal herb and a common leaf, much less what all these plants did, he grabbed a basket in his teeth and swiped a variety inside. He doubted that any plants on the shelves were poisonous, so he could apply them all to Fia''s wound. Lastly, he draped a clean, folded linen over the top which would be large enough to wrap her shoulder.

    With his basket of supplies, the dragon tiptoed back to the door as quietly as possible. A sudden change to the old man''s breathing made him freeze. Just as well, Viliant''s breath hitched in his throat.

    The dragon called to the shadows, but he felt a tug on his nerves before his magic failed him. Viliant had to rely on his natural camouflage. In case that did not work, he set the basket down and prepared to rush the human before he could holler for help.

    A big breath was drawn by the slumbering man. He exhaled in a shaky sound, followed by another snore on his inhalation.

    Fast asleep¡­. Viliant mused. His adrenaline had spiked for nothing. A part of him was disappointed. I guess you get to live. The next human that he encountered might not be so lucky. Swiftly, he picked up the basket and closed the door after him.

    Next, Viliant needed to find food. His flicking tongue enticed him elsewhere in the town where one house had a pen of sleeping animals. Some piled together with their horned heads resting on each other''s bodies. Viliant found one that was alone with stubby horns. He set the basket down briefly and snatched a rope instead.

    With a leap, he perched on the fence and peered down at his prey. His heart raced as his pupils dilated not only from the dark, but also excitement. While Viliant had killed plenty in the coliseum, he never felt quite like a true hunter until now.

    Viliant sprang on the sleeping goat and looped the rope over its horns. The noose drew tighter around its neck, so it was already too late when the dark eyes opened with fear. The startled goat bleated as it got up, trying to butt its tiny horns into Viliant''s chest. Its groggy movements were too slow, allowing the dragon to easily shrink to the side.

    A few of the other goats woke up, but they moved to the far end of the pen in agitation. None of them seemed inclined to help their fellow goat.

    Viliant jumped onto the fence once more and tugged the rope in his jaws. The goat tried to resist, snorting stubbornly, but it was forced to walk through the gate which he opened. Viliant latched it shut once more. The remaining goats were left untouched.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    My first successful hunt¡­! Viliant thought. His chest swelled with pride because all his goals in town had been accomplished. Viliant picked up the basket and led the goat away with his head held high. A victorious prance snuck into his steps.

    Oddly enough, the goat seemed enthused to follow him. It caught up and poked its nose into the basket, attempting to ruin Fia''s clean bandage and the herbs.

    "No!" Viliant growled to more effectively communicate with the goat.

    The dumb animal shied away temporarily. No matter how he snapped or hissed at the goat, it tried coming back for more. It was not even trying to eat the herbs inside the basket, but rather it settled for tugging the cloth between its teeth.

    "I said no!" Viliant snatched the fabric back and bounded ahead of the goat. If he wounded the beast now, that would make it more ornery and harder to take with him. Most certainly, Viliant did not want to kill it and have to drag it all the way back. So, he settled with outpacing the goat which wanted to eat Fia''s medicine.

    The goat ran faster too.

    "Stop chasing me!" Viliant just wanted to walk calmly back to their hiding place after a long day. His weary legs ached too much for this.

    His own prey was trying to hunt him down. No longer interested in the basket, the goat made its teeth brush against Viliant''s wings and clamped down.

    "Ow! No! What''re you doing?" Viliant wrested his wing free. This time, he was the one who shied away from the goat. The dragon could not believe what just happened. Did a goat really just try to eat me? Louder than he should have been, he roared, "I''m the one that''s gonna eat you. Got that?"

    This was the first thing which Fia heard as a sign of Viliant''s return. Though the dragoness could not understand the language which he had spoken aloud, she could recognize his voice. Hence, she was not privy to his struggles with the goat.

    Embarrassment still rooted its way inside, and Viliant buried those emotions before accepting the new mental link.

    ***

    Fia had lain under the tree the entire time Viliant was gone. The dragoness tilted her head, listening intently for rustles in the long grass to interrupt the chirping crickets.

    A new friend kept her company in the meanwhile, easing her of the worries which had magnified with the onset of darkness. The magical luna moth landed on her nose, gently pulsating its luminescent wings.

    He''s gonna be okay! Fia told herself over and over again. It was illogical to worry about the shadow dragon so much now that night had fallen. However, his earlier show of weariness entertained the idea that he might be too worn out to cast magic. Viliant would have to be careful in town and rely on natural stealth.

    The faint glow of the moth''s turquoise wings helped calm her. You''re right, Fia agreed. There''s nothing to worry about!

    Nothing should happen to Viliant in town. Roughly twenty-four hours had passed since they made their escape over the wall¡ªnot enough time for the humans to catch up with them, or so she hoped.

    Fia was pulled from her rumination, as Viliant''s voice lifted over the long grasses. She bombarded him with a fresh telepathic connection until he accepted it. Ooh, Viliant! Look at this. I found a butterfly!

    At the mention of an insect, Viliant must recall the horror of the flies. He rushed through the grass with a basket in his mouth and goat in tow, and proclaimed, Where''s the bug? I''ll kill it!

    Naturally, Fia turned her head to look at him which caused the moth to float away. No! Come back! She followed its flight pattern intensely with her nose. Her slitted pupils grew larger around the middle, and her head coiled back. She could not resist any longer. Fia snapped the moth into her mouth and held it carefully on her tongue.

    I see you got it, Viliant said, a touch disappointed.

    The fluttery, dusty wings¡ªstill moving¡ªtickled the inside of her mouth. Fia sneezed out the moth with a trail of glowing specks. In all haste, the moth tried to drift away from the dragoness who had nearly eaten it.

    Don''t go away! Fia blew a tiny ember. This was her technique in attracting it to her in the first place; the glowing moth came back for the light. Fia would halt her stream of fire as soon it drew near, tricking it to land on her nose, but then her concentration was interrupted.

    Fia, stop messing around.

    Her flames did not cease soon enough. The moth flew directly into the fire so that its wings were engulfed. The delicate membranes turned to ash, and its crispy body dropped to the ground.

    Wah! My friend¡­. It''s all your fault, Viliant! Fia''s grief lasted a grand total of ten seconds. Immediately after, she asked, Do you want me to roast that goat now?

    Of course, Viliant sneered. Let me kill it first. The dragon derived great pleasure as he raked his claws across its neck and slit its throat.

    The slaughtered goat collapsed to the ground. As the fresh blood oozed out, their meal already looked scrumptious.

 Chapter 22: Talk of the Town

    The smell of the roasted meat wafted into the air as Fia unleashed a stream of fire, the perfect temperature to cook it to the dragons'' liking. The carnivores descended on their supper and gnawed the goat down to bones.

    Mm. That was delicious! Thanks for bringing it back, Viliant, Fia cheered.

    No problem. Thanks for cooking it. Once he had finished licking the blood off his chops and claws, Viliant rustled through the basket of herbs like an after-dinner salad. His fangs were not as efficient as molars at mashing the leaves into a pulp, so he chewed at it like gum for a long time.

    Is that medicine for me?

    Yeah, Viliant said.

    Fia flitted around him, confused, with her big blue eyes turned up to him. If it''s my medicine, shouldn''t I be the one eating it?

    Not eating it, it''s for you, he said. Ugh. Tastes like grass. Once Viliant had finally pulverized the leaves thoroughly, he spit it onto Fia''s wound and spread out the green mush with his tongue.

    What is this? she asked, intrigued by what the plants could do that dragon saliva could not.

    It''s my signature blend of herbs that''ll help you get better. The touty pride was evident in the mental projection of his voice.

    No, I mean, what plants are they? What do they do?

    Heals faster. Viliant finished smoothing out the herbs and wrapped her shoulder in the cloth. Between his teeth and claws, he tied it in a tight knot on the far side of her neck. This should keep it clean.

    Fia sighed in contentment. Her wounded shoulder now had a sling and a bandage, as well as saliva and medicine to aid in her recovery. Thanks for taking such good care of me! With this grave injury, she really would be at loss without him.

    Thanks¡­ for looking out for me too. For a moment, a conflicted look of guilt flashed through Viliant''s eyes. Back in the arena, you didn''t have to do that.

    If she had fled at first opportunity instead of attacking the Dragon Slayer in explosive force, Viliant likely would not have gotten out of the arena at all. Of course, I did! I''d never leave you behind, she said. After that big stink he made when she had mistakenly thought that he might leave her, Fia snorted at the irony.

    Still, his shoulders were hunched, and his neck was lowered shamefully. Just, I''m sorry you got hurt.

    Fia stomped in front of him with her chest puffed up in pride. Don''t look at me like that! I''m p-proud of my shoulder right now, you know. Like how you are with your wings.

    My wings aren''t going to¡­! The thought in his head suddenly trailed off. Viliant had deemed his reaction unsuitable to share with Fia. He snorted and turned his back on her, tail swinging wide. We leave tomorrow at dawn.

    Fia was left blinking in concern, knowing that she had said something wrong. Never ever mention his wings again! she reminded herself. Every time she did so, she just seemed to offend him. With a sigh, she turned away and nestled behind her own tree. Sleep claimed her, more sound than the previous morning now that her belly was stuffed full of yummy meat and her shoulder was properly wrapped.

    Their relatively little rest yesterday combined with their big meal made them sleep long past dawn. The baby dragons kept snoozing until rays of sunlight snuck between the leaves overhead. The light warmed their scales and stirred the reptiles to a more wakeful state.

    Viliant spread out his wings to naturally sun himself, but quickly, awareness came back to him. He leaped up and shouted aloud, "Fia!" much to her surprise.

    "Gah!" she said, jumping up just like he did. What is it?

    We overslept. Let''s get moving.

    A big yawn curled from her jaws. As much as she wanted to keep laying in the sun and enjoying the lazy morning, she knew that Viliant was right. Just because they had made it out of the humans'' capital did not mean that they were safe yet.

    Humidity had settled in the air, making their journey muggier than previous days. Smells like rain soon, Viliant observed, flicking out his tongue as if he could lap at the moisture in the air. Hopefully our tracks can wash away.

    That would be super good luck! Fia chimed.

    If it''s one thing we have, it''s good luck, the older dragon mused.

    Unsure if he meant that ironically or not, Fia tried to cheer him up. We also have each other!

    Yeah. Quietly, he accidentally shared a thought over their mental link. I have a friend.¡­ His chin lifted a little higher as they continued their travels.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    The goat kept them satiated for four days. Fia and Viliant made excellent progress during that time. The dragons stayed away from all manner of towns and roads, crossing the countryside where their pursuers would have the greatest difficulty in their search. The one time that they got anywhere near a road, the dragons crouched atop a hillside. Below, a group of horses charged to the next town, looking like ants from afar.

    Do you think they''re searching for us? Fia asked.

    I''m sure they are.

    In the evenings, they rested their weary legs. Viliant checked the state of her shoulder each night before they went to sleep. The medicine seems to be helping your wound.

    Seems to be helping? I thought this was your special blend! Fia whined.

    Definitely helping! Viliant hastily exclaimed right back at her. I''ll try to get more when I go into town. High time we get more food too.

    Be careful, Viliant! The horses which they had spotted recently were especially worrisome. Out of anxiety, she plucked a random wildflower into her jaws. The petals were yellow like sunshine, exactly the sort of color that Viliant needed in his life. Fia shoved the flower into his face. Take this for good luck! It''ll make sure you come back safe.

    The pollen so close to his nostrils made him sneeze in her face. A few petals blew off the flower''s center and tumbled to the ground. Uh, no thanks. You keep that. Attract another butterfly or whatever keeps you entertained. No fire, though! Don''t draw any attention to yourself.

    When Fia lay down, she curled herself into a tight ball. The limp flower dangled between her fanged teeth. I''ll be right here when you get back¡ªpromise I won''t budge a claw!

    The dragons bid each other farewell as Fia was left behind with her worries. Just like last time, Viliant would return safely with all the supplies that they needed for another few days. The dragoness insisted this to herself since she had nothing to do but wait.

    ***

    The consecutive, peaceful days in the Syene countryside had given Viliant ample time to rest from the mana overexertion of their escape. His longer legs and uninjured body allowed him to walk much easier than Fia, leaving him with plenty of energy to go into town. He had covered the ground faster than expected and outpaced the dying sunlight.

    It was not as dark as he would like when Viliant arrived, though he was confident that a heavy cloak of shadows could get him out of a pinch. Interested in the happenings of the town, he snuck amongst the buildings and stayed hidden around the corner, ready to cast a spell if anybody came close to him. For the time being, he observed the last of the peasants making their way home after a night of drinking.

    The noise of human merriment grated against his eardrums. Viliant started a low growl in his throat, too quiet for those fools to hear over their own ruckus. He did it solely for his own benefit. The aggressive sound helped him endure the time that he had to wait until nightfall, watching these buffoons.

    "You''re a liar!" a young man said while clapping one of his companions on the shoulder.

    "No, I was really there! I saw the dragons with my very own eyes. They were just baby dragons, but they were already the size of horses!"

    Viliant snorted. I only wish Fia and I were as big as those dragons. The additional strength that came along with a dragon''s size would make fighting their way out of human territory easier.

    "Oh yeah?" One of his friends scoffed. "And where''d you see these dragons? Did you buy a front-row seat in the coliseum itself?"

    Wait a minute¡­. As soon as Viliant heard a mention of the coliseum, he realized, They must be talking about us!

    "Nah, of course not." It must have been a feat of great restraint for this man to keep his story more realistic for the sake of believability. "I went to the capital to sell my carvings and make money, not piss it all away. I saw them on the street when they escaped!"

    Though Viliant did not know these men and had no stake in the petty argument, he was inclined towards his friends'' skepticism. Liar. You''re lucky you didn''t see me. If any civilians had caught a glimpse of them in the city, he would have killed them to prevent them from alerting the guards.

    Even now, that temptation was aroused at the back of his mind. The drunken idiots would not have time to realize what was even happening to them before he had them all dead. If they started to say the wrong things about the dragons, Viliant really might do it.

    The teller of tall tales claimed, "Their scales were all sinister colored. One was black as night while the other was blood red!"

    Hmph. I''ll have to tell Fia about this. Pinkie turned into a blood red dragon.

    "Well," the most sober man said, "I''m glad the dragons were caught already. Wouldn''t want them treating our livestock like a feast or stealing our women like princesses!"

    The first part of that statement was fair enough, but Viliant was perplexed by the latter bit. What would a dragon want with human women? In his draconic mind, he reasoned that they did not seem too different from livestock¡ªjust another thing to potentially eat.

    "I went to the front of the coliseum myself and gazed at their ugly heads on stakes!"

    "The Dragon Slayer sure lives up to his name," another remarked, nodding happily.

    But we''re not dead¡­. Viliant''s tail started to curl around in a wicked smile. Their public escape was too great an insult for the prince to handle; the so-called Dragon Slayer could not even kill a couple of baby dragons. He had chosen to cover his own back, but in doing so, the Dragon Slayer severely hampered his own ability to catch them.

    Both Viliant and the humans went their own way, happy as could be. Their surroundings had become dark enough to allow the shadow dragon to carry about his business. Though he scoured the whole town, he could not catch a whiff of herbal remedies.

    His claws curled around in the dirt, clenching out of frustration. Fia''s shoulder had only started to look a bit better. Even so, her wound would not be able to heal entirely without proper medical treatment. However, the cauterized flesh looked less inflamed, and no odors developed. Viliant took all this as a promising sign that the herbs had helped.

    As far as he was concerned, she needed those herbs. What should I do?

    Viliant could plunder the shacks out of pure desperation, hoping to find something which the scent receptor at the top of his mouth already told him did not exist. Or he could give up. With a hefty sigh, he turned away with a dragging tail. Though Viliant''s head was constantly mired with irascible thoughts, he was too cautious to risk anything.

    Useless humans can''t even keep their houses stocked with herbs¡­. I hope they all get sick and die. Viliant grumbled ill wishes to the entire town while he went off to find food.

 Chapter 23: Beast in the Night

    Much to a dragon''s interest, one human family had decided to build a tiny house for chickens outside their own residence. Viliant climbed up the narrow ramp and stuck his head inside. The plump, sleeping birds made his mouth water. A sticky trail of drool started to slip from one side of his jowls.

    Shifting his weight to get ready to attack, a creak sounded under his feet.

    A few of the chickens'' eyes flashed open at the sound. Viliant had not bothered to shield himself in shadow magic for his helpless prey, so he found himself blinking back at the hens. They clucked and cawed and ran around haphazardly in the coop, waking up all the others.

    Now, he called on his element. Viliant swung a shadowy claw through the wall of the coop. His claw rematerialized and slashed the chickens into ribbons. Blood splashed over the feathers of both the living and dead ones. The remaining chickens became even more terrified.

    A fat hen rammed Viliant square in the nose against all expectations. What? What''re you doing? You''re supposed to run away from me!

    More chickens joined the assault. Whether they were too stupid to realize that they charged straight at the maw of their hunter or they were strategically coordinating an assault to get out the door, it worked for them.

    Out of surprise, his hind claws slipped on the board that was too narrow for him. Viliant fell outside the coop''s doorway and rolled to the ground with his wings flopping uselessly. Some of the hens bounced on his belly as they scattered. The wind was knocked out of him, and he coughed out a couple of feathers for good measure.

    "Ack!" Sprawled on his back, Viliant was left to wonder how such an embarrassing defeat could happen to him. Did I just get tackled by chickens? He had vanquished terrifying monsters such as the leo medusa in the coliseum, yet the elusive chicken had bested him.

    Back then, Viliant had fought his hardest; a single mistake could have ended his life. These days, he had the luxury of failure. It did not matter if he underestimated the chickens because he was still laying here, blinking up at the stars.

    A grin curled into his tail as he flipped over. The panicked clucks of the fleeing chickens made a thrill enter his quickening heart. "Unacceptable. I''m the hunter. You''re all going to die!" Viliant made his declaration with a roar into the night.

    The black dragon chased down the scurrying chickens and killed them one by one. Their wings and heads were torn off by his jaws. The plump breasts split apart between his claws. His green eyes sparkled out of sheer enjoyment until they closed momentarily to summon his element. Viliant intercepted his prey from the shadows, pouncing the short distance to the next chicken. He gashed its body open and kept doing this, ripping apart their bodies so that it was hard to tell that the piles of bloodied feathers were once chickens.

    Viliant stood at the center of his handiwork, scales spattered in red and his breaths panting hard. "That was fun." He marveled at it all before he took a bite from the nearest chunk of flesh. Savoring it, he thought, Tastes good too.

    Though he had killed more than the two young dragons could eat, Viliant had no regrets. He had fun slaughtering them all. The only way this night could be better was if the carnage around him had been humans.

    The bloody meat sated both his hunger and thirst for the time being. While he ate, he dreamed of having revenge on the species that he despised. A voice startled him from his fantasies.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "My god! The chickens!" a mortified human voice cried.

    Heart lurching, he reflexively cast his cloaking spell. Viliant disappeared to the shadows and slowly crept away from the spot where the humans rushed with torch and pitchfork in hand.

    "This was no fox, was it Pa?" a second voice asked. "Looks more like the work of a demon to me."

    "No, son, a fox doesn''t roar like that¡­."

    As much as Viliant longed to kill humans, ravaging their chicken coop was enough for now. He gathered as many intact birds as he could fit in his maw, only dragging the ones which lay out of sight from the humans. Viliant crept away with his bounty dangling from their feet and wings. The dragon scampered off to rejoin his friend. Fia would be overjoyed to have a bite of his fresh kill, cooked to perfection by her flames.

    Thinking of roast chicken did little to take Viliant''s mind off his disastrous hunt. Tonight, he had been too loud and messy. Using his magic from the beginning would have helped him kill four or five chickens stealthily, taking only what they needed. Well, it''s a good thing the humans already proclaimed us dead. Won''t be looking for me and Fia anymore, or so he thought.

    ***

    When Viliant returned to Fia''s hiding spot, he only admitted to one thing going wrong. Sorry. I wasn''t able to find the proper ingredients for my herb recipe.

    Though this disappointed her out of concern for her injury, Fia masked those emotions. It would do no good to burden Viliant with something that could not be helped. Thanks for trying!

    In better news, I got food.

    After cooking their dinner, Fia descended on the chickens with Viliant. The dragons devoured their meal as if they had not eaten in days¡ªfour to be precise. The chickens would not keep them full for as long as the goat, so the older dragon told her the logistics while they ate.

    Two days from now, we should stop at the next village we come across. This will also give us another chance to find more medicine for you.

    Is it dangerous for you to go into so many towns? Fia asked

    Nah. I have some even better news! Viliant rehearsed the conversation that he overheard from the drunken humans. After relaying all the important information, he finished with a funny detail. You turned into a fierce, blood red dragon in the humans'' stories!

    I am fierce! Fia said, rearing onto her hind legs.

    With a soft laugh in his throat, Viliant said, I know, Pinkie.

    Her good claw raked playfully through the air until she needed to land back down gingerly. Though she had never thought anything of Viliant calling her Pinkie before, she had to wonder why the humans saw the need to change her color. Is something wrong with my scales?

    Not at all. They''re just pink.

    Well, my mom is pink too. She says I''m a cutie pie, and I''ll grow up to be beautiful just like her!

    The brittle chicken bones splintered and shattered like wood chips under their teeth. Fia became lost in memories of home, trying to keep tears slipping from her eyes. She stopped eating and stared down at the leftovers of her chicken.

    Her friend stayed quiet for a long time. Though Viliant knew what it was like to miss his parents, he had stopped hoping for them long ago. Don''t worry. You''re going to make it home in time to warn them. His confidence behind those words were soothing. Then, he said more playfully, If you don''t finish your chicken soon, I will.

    Fia started gobbling her food down once more, not wanting to sacrifice another bite of her food to him. You need to hunt more if you wanna eat more. This chicken is mine!

    The couple of chickens could sustain them an additional two days before Viliant had to go into town again and leave Fia all alone.

 Chapter 24: Trap of the Dragon Slayer (Bonus)

    The chicken corpses were six hours old by the time that the Dragon Slayer stood at the center. Surveying the carnage, his eyes squinted up while he had to suppress his smile.

    Prince Marcellus wore the same uniform as the rest of his knights. Only a medallion on his breast indicated his authority over the rest¡ªthe badge of a knight commander. Aside from that, he wanted nothing to indicate a higher status, his true status. There was nothing to gain if the common folk knew that he was the prince. His true identity would only create a commotion.

    Where there were dragons, the Dragon Slayer was close to follow. However, Umbra Caligo and Favilla were already proclaimed dead. The heads of two drakans were currently rotting outside the coliseum, a few days older than the chicken corpses which surrounded him.

    While that decision had artificially limited the size of his operation, the small hunting party had lulled their prey into a false sense of security. The dragons were getting sloppy. Specifically, Umbra Caligo had let himself get carried away last night, based on the size of the claw marks in the chickens'' wounds and lack of singed feathers.

    "How many chickens did you have before this incident?" the prince inquired of the owner.

    "Eleven, sir."

    "How many did you lose?"

    "All of them!"

    Prince Marcellus rephrased his question. "How many of the bodies are missing?"

    "Four, sir. And that one looks over half eaten over there!" The peasant man pointed out a bird with its breast consumed.

    Every hen''s body had been cracked open like an egg. Their innards spilled across the grass which was once their range. Clouds of flies plumed over the rank lumps of flesh which could not be salvaged in time by the peasant family. The stench was mild compared to the battlefields wrought under the Dragon Slayer''s command.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    He hid his high spirits in favor of a stoic demeanor when addressing the quaking peasantry. "We will investigate this matter thoroughly. Whatever manner of beast was the culprit, it shall be slain."

    Prince Marcellus paid the man the worth of his chickens¡ªand some for the information. "This should cover your losses. Thank you for your cooperation in our hunt. Keep quiet about this incident as we have it all under control."

    The peasant man accepted the small purse of coins. At first, he did not seem too enthusiastic about the payment until he peeked inside. The glint of golden pieces caught his eyes¡ªnot bronze or silver. "Thank you, sir!"

    Prince Marcellus rode away with his small company of knights on horseback.

    The dragons were traveling eastward, trying to escape to the monster-infested land where few plants could grow in the clay-riddled earth. The Kingdom of Syene lay no claim to that cumbersome land. If his targets made it that far, the forces of nature would finish the job for him. So long as their claws tread in my country, I will hunt them down.

    At this point, his aim to kill the dragons extended beyond basic need; this hunt had become personal. The Dragon Slayer wanted the satisfaction of releasing his full power on them, killing them in an instant with every scale smashed and bone shattered. He could do that to a flock of adult dragons, just as he could have brought down the coliseum if he had unleashed that sort of power on Umbra Caligo and Favilla.

    In the interest of protecting his own citizens and giving them more than a five second show, he had gone too easy on the juvenile dragons. Time did nothing to assuage the loss. Each passing day infuriated him more and more as the dragons were left alive. If only I hadn''t tried to make a show of it, I could have killed them already!

    Even in his frustration, he could not help but chuckle to himself. A goat had gone missing four days ago. Based on the weight of that meal compared to the four and a half chickens and how far the dragons seemed to travel each day, Prince Marcellus now knew the best locations to stake his men. The knights were circled around him as they received their orders.

    "If you see the black dragon in town at night, do not confront him. Follow his tracks to the pink one. She is injured, smaller, easier to take. I doubt Umbra Caligo will want to leave his little friend behind¡­."

 Chapter 25: Flickering Memories

    While Viliant had gone into town for the third time, Fia hummed to herself as she entertained herself with the wildflowers. One of her earliest memories had been a bright, sunny day in a field of flowers with her mother.

    "Focus, Fia," her mother cooed. "Feel the fire burn in your belly. Let your happiness turn to fire!"

    Try as she might, every time she blew on the flowers, the petals simply wavered with her breath. Fia could not produce a lick of flame at that age. "Wah! I can''t do it! Are you sure I''m even a fire dragon?"

    "Yes, dear. Focus. I know you can burn the flower. You''ll make me so proud, just like you always do!"

    "Mhm." Eyes closed, she nodded fiercely. Those blue irises reopened to stare at her target¡ªa yellow blossom with round petals. Fia''s cheeks puffed out with the big breath that she was holding in. Then, she let it all out. Instead of breathing fire, she blew on the flower hard enough to snap some of the petals off.

    Her intense gaze turned watery. Fia was about to cry again because she could not produce a flame.

    Her mother lay beside her the entire time, plucking the wildflowers and weaving them together until she had a complete circle. "I made a flower crown for you, my little princess!" Her mother placed the ring of flowers over her horns, perfectly sized to fit Fia''s head.

    "Mmm!" Jumping up, the little girl could hardly contain her excitement. Words had not come to her as easily back then, so she simply roared in joy and pranced her claws up and down. Fia''s glee bubbled over and embers spattered from her maw.

    The edges of the flower caught alight and spread till the entire blossom was consumed in a ball fire. "I did it, Mama! I did it!"

    "You did!" Her mother cheered, leaping up to celebrate with her. "I''m so proud of you, Fia. Do you think you can show Papa?"

    "Ooh, yes! Papa!" she called. Fia started to bound back home, completely forgetting that her mother could fly them back much faster.

    The larger, adult dragoness easily dashed in front of her daughter. Fia''s mother extended her wing so that the baby dragon could skip up her back. From there, Fia snuck up her mother''s neck so she could sit on her head, between her horns. Her first taste of the sweet sky and refreshing clouds was on her mother''s back.

    Fia had closed her eyes with the nearness of the sun on her scales.

    ***

    When she opened her eyes again, the dragoness was staring down at a yellow flower with pointed petals. The plants were different in this land, reminding Fia how far away she was from home. She blew out an ember, igniting this flower just as she had done when she was younger.

    I can''t wait to see Mama and Papa again¡­.

    To preoccupy herself, Fia tried to figure out how to weave a flower crown like her mother had once done. All she ended up doing was setting the flowers on fire when she got frustrated. "Hmph!" Her nose stuck up in the air as she recalled Viliant''s warning.

    No fire! Don''t draw any attention to yourself while I''m gone.

    Fia steeled her nerves and offered more patience to her arts and crafts. Eventually, she figured out how to link the flowers together. I wish Mama could see me now.

    She made the chain of flowers bigger and bigger. This crown would not be for her own head, but Viliant''s. I bet he''d look so pretty with flowers around his horns! Already, she knew that he would never accept it willingly. Fia tried to devise a way to place it on his head without him knowing. That way, she could admire how cute he looked with the flowers complementing his grumpy scowls.

    A happy hum filled her eardrums, up to the point where footsteps interrupted her song. Somebody was approaching from the grassy field.

    Viliant¡­! she called, but her friend was not around to establish a mental connection. A knot twisted in her belly. Oh no.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Some of the steps had sounded small but heavy¡ªand many. When those drew to a halt, lighter feet touched the ground. The clang of boots and armor reminded Fia of humans.

    No, no, no! What do I do? Where do I go? Posed on her three good legs, Fia swiveled her neck from side to side. Viliant! Help! she tried calling out of desperation.

    However, he was nowhere near her. Fia was all alone. A group of humans steadily approached her location in the forest. The light from the torches bobbed with every step closer.

    The trees were tall and thick. Fia could try to hide behind a trunk or find a hollow in the ground surrounded by roots. Not enough sunlight reached the forest floor to support a large amount of undergrowth, leaving the dark, nighttime woods barren. If she tried to run in her injured state, the humans would catch her on their horses even if she tried to wind between the trees. Worse yet, if she fled into the grassy field, the horses would chase her down faster.

    Think! She needed to act now if she wanted any hope to withstand the humans.

    An idea struck her, inspiring her head to tilt straight back. In this situation, there was one thing which Fia could still do better to escape humans and horses: climb.

    With the flower crown clutched in her mouth, she clambered up the closest tree trunk. Her claws bit into the bark easier than the stone wall of the capital, but she sorely missed Viliant''s aid with her injured leg. Her shoulder screamed from the solitary effort. Fia hauled herself onto the lowest branch and stilled her body as much as possible. She could scarcely breathe as the humans came within sight.

    The two knights were clad in steel armor. Though it was dull beneath the nighttime trees, the firelight reflecting off the metal looked too bright in her eyes. One man spoke to his companion in an ominous tone. They stopped to examine the claw tracks which the dragoness had left behind.

    Her eyes darted down to the tree trunk. Scratches adorned the bark from her hasty climb. It was too late for her to glide to the branches of a different tree. When she looked back to the humans, their attention had already shifted to the trunk.

    Fia''s lower jaw clenched so tightly that her fangs severed the flower stems. The crown came apart and dropped to the ground. The fallen flowers attracted the humans'' gaze momentarily, then their faceless helmets shot upward.

    A high-pitched squeal peeled from her chest out of fright. A fireball shot from her split jaws, hitting the human directly below, squarely on the front of his helmet. Fia wasted no time in turning tail and fleeing. Her wings flapped in a flurry and carried her to the next tree.

    Viliant! After failing to reach him through telepathy yet again, she let out a terrorized screech as loud as she could. The dragoness hoped that her voice could carry far enough for him to hear her. It might be a while yet before Viliant returned from town, so she would have to hold out against the humans as long as she could.

    A big breath filled her lungs. In the face of terror, she tried to calm down and think more clearly now that she had more distance between her and her adversaries. I need to get lucky¡­ but I also have everything I learned in the coliseum!

    She devised a battle plan. First, I need to take out one as quickly as possible. The only reason why she had been able to defeat the terror birds was because she prevented them from fighting as a cohesive unit. I''ll focus on the guy I already hit! Then, I''ll only have the last one to deal with.

    The men were rushing towards her. One lagged slightly behind the other. The thinner sections of metal on his helm around the eye guard had gained an orangish tint. Since they were clad from head to toe in armor, Fia had an elemental advantage. While she could not produce fires hot enough to melt steel quickly, she could bake the men in their armor.

    Fia''s neck straightened as she rose up on the tree branch. An explosive stream of fire belched from her maw. She concentrated her attack on the one which had taken a fireball to the face earlier. Even through the furious haze of her flames, the color of the knight''s armor brightened. He dropped down with the screams curling from his scorching hot helm.

    One down. While the floundering man was not dead yet, he was incapacitated for the time being. Fia focused on the man still charging towards her. One more to go, she thought though this one was already starting his attack.

    His hand was drawn close to his hip, but he was not bothering to reach for the sheathed blade. The fingers cupped within the armored glove seemed to gather energy at the tips. Some objects shot out like arrows and whizzed by Fia, too small and fast to see. Instinctively, she jumped to the side and fluttered to the next tree.

    A shallow pain sliced across her side. The attack left some bloody streaks on the surface of her intact, pink scales below the wound. Fia''s attention was wrenched to the sound of splintering wood where she previously stood. Sections of the tree peeled apart where thin, metal razors were embedded.

    Squealing, she thought, A real metal mage! Fia jumped and flapped her wings frantically to reach the next tree. What little she knew about the foreign elements of this land, she assumed that it would be impossible to hurt him unless her fire could melt through the steel which he could manipulate.

    I can''t do anything! If I didn''t dodge just now, I''d be dead! Tears were blurring her vision as she fled to the end of the treeline. There was nowhere else for the young dragoness to run.

 Chapter 26: Blazing Terror

    The metal mage barreled through the trees, coming for Fia in all haste. His sprint was slowed by the weight of his armor, but he would come into range for a second shot of metal razors at any moment. Harsh words curled from his helmet, yelling back at his companion.

    An unintelligible groan sounded from the other man, still disabled and rolling about on the ground.

    Through her teary eyes, Fia took notice of the men''s horses tied up. The swift steeds could carry her to safety when she had nowhere else to run on her own, injured legs. There was no reason why a baby dragon could not fit on the saddle. I might not be grown up enough to take out these humans, but at least I''m still small enough to ride a horse!

    She released the branch which her claws had been clutching desperately. The wood finally gave under the pressure of her leap, cracking behind her. Fia''s wings snapped out to glide past the tree line. The wind whistled by the small, tightly woven scales around her eardrums just as her pulse pounded against her head. Don''t hit me. Please, don''t hit me!

    The metal mage could strike her down from the sky much like the bolt of a ballista. Luckily, the last trees must have provided enough cover to shield her from attack.

    The shadow of her wingspan neared the horses. While the animals seemed perturbed, the warhorses were trained to not spook at anything¡ªat least not until Fia''s claws sunk into one of their backs. The dragoness extended her hind legs like a hawk and stabbed through the thick, leather saddle.

    A painful whinny split the horse''s lips as it reared up. The front hooves flailed in the air while its terrified eyes flashed back to catch a glimpse of the dragon on its back.

    To hang on, Fia dug her left front claw into its shoulder. She kept her claws steady, biting into bone so that she did not need to exert any effort through her broken arm to stay on. When its forelegs landed back down, she used this opportunity to slash through the rope.

    Like that, she had freed her steed. The horse was lucky Fia was not any bigger, or else its natural predator would have flown off with it. Instead, she intended to ride it like a human. Giddyup!

    The horse took off. Fia wrenched her neck to the side and spat a quick, dirty fireball at the adjacent animal. She made sure to take aim close enough to the halter that the lead could catch alight. With fire suddenly flashing in its face and burning its eyes, the other horse took off in another direction. The fiery braid of the rope was weakened sufficiently for the horse to snap through.

    The hooves of her own horse beat steadily beneath her. Dragon claws encouraged a horse to run faster than a spur or whip ever could. Fia sighed as her mount carried her away. I''m gonna be alright¡­.

    She turned around to see the metal mage stumbling into the grass. Those big, steel-clad hands lowered as he realized the other horse had run away too. All the man could do was look hopelessly back at her.

    In contrast, Fia puffed out her chest while she rode horseback. I wonder if I''m the only baby dragon to ever come up with this. Her ingenuity was unique, or so she liked to think. Since she was expecting an attack, she kept looking backwards to watch for the nigh-invisible metal razors slicing through the air.

    The black cross section of the knight''s helm glowered straight at Fia. The stare seemed too intense given his previous dejected state, making her squirm in the saddle as she watched one of his hands rise up. The metal mage gestured in her general direction while his fingers were curled towards the sky.

    Nothing came. Instead, a dying grunt and cry came from the horse''s chest. Blood splattered up through the saddle and wet Fia''s belly. When she peered underneath her own body, she saw a metal spike had impaled through the underside of the horse.

    The metal rod was forcibly ripped through the horse''s belly by the momentum of its own gallop. The intestines spilled across the grassy field as the horse gored itself. The front legs folded first. The horse was already dead by the time its head hit the ground, snapping its neck for good measure.

    Fia jumped off as the fleshy beast collapsed. Her claws landed a short ways in front of it, but she failed to stick the landing. The dragoness stumbled forward and fell on her chest, sending a searing pain up her shoulder. Her whine rivaled the final neigh from the horse, screaming to the sky in pain. I''m going to die, just like that!

    Despite the pain, instinct bid her to jump up and slink to the side.

    A second metal spear jutted from the earth. The rocky pieces¡ªnot the metal mage''s element¡ªcrumbled and fell from the unnatural protrusion which he did control.

    There must be metal underground here¡­. Fia thought. Unbeknownst to her, she was surrounded by the enemy''s element when she had none of her own. Yet. The long, dry grasses swayed in the subtle breeze. They were brushing against Fia''s ribs, tickling her, practically begging to be turned into a raging wildfire. Out of desperation, the dragoness sputtered out the last of her flames and spun round and round.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    A ring of fire flickered around her. The dry grass provided kindling for her flames which danced outward. All the while, Fia performed a dance of her own. She ran frantically inside the space which she had created. Metallic spikes shot out of the ground repeatedly. Each time the earth was upset, thereby upsetting Fia as well.

    Viliant! she screamed in her head. Surely, he would see the smoke and find her. Viliant! Her friend would save her, she just needed to last long enough for him to get here.

    Even as the flames spread inward, she could continue to dodge and weave at the center. The curtain of fire partially shielded her body from view which caused the metal mage''s attacks to become more inaccurate. The pillars of metal glowed from the heat, providing easily visible stakes to dodge¡ªif only she had four healthy legs.

    Every abrupt change in direction was arduous, especially as the knight repurposed his old spikes and stabbed them outward into new, horizontal projectiles. More always seemed to appear faster than they receded and reformed. Fia''s evasive patterns needed to grow more complex as the metal mage unleashed chaos.

    Viliant¡­. Her panting lungs filled with the smoke from her own fire. Though her nostrils were better suited for this activity than most creatures, she could only take so much. Fia was getting dizzy from the exertion, thinking that she would collapse at any moment.

    Viliant¡­. She called his name out of habit, not expecting a reply anymore.

    Fia! His presence lighted up in her head, aligning on a singular point: fury. His roar bellowed over the constant, crackling fire as he rushed to her aid.

    Finally, the weary dragoness thought out of sheer relief. Fia had no idea if she said that in Viliant''s head or not.

    The black dragon''s spiny form was an elongated shadow on the other side of her flames. His physical body tore away like streaks of smoke. Thus began a new dance wherein the shadow dragon weaved between the darkness of the remaining grass, cast by her flames.

    The towering suit of armor fell. Viliant rematerialized on the other side of the knight with his outstretched claw reappearing last. That claw had slung through the plate armor and the torso of the man in turn.

    However, Viliant''s shadow magic failed to stop the heart completely, only chilling and stunning the target. From the way that he had fallen, the knight would not be able to get back up under the weight of his armor. The metal mage glared at the intervening dragon and blasted off his armor in an explosion of metal spikes, straight for Viliant.

    The spears shot through him, but only shadow trailed off him like mist in place of blood. Viliant had disappeared from the physical realm in a split second and let that attack sail through him harmlessly. This time, the black dragon could use his unenhanced claws to end the mage''s life.

    A ferocious swing of Viliant''s claw split open the knight''s throat. Fia watched with profound relief as the body slumped onto the ground for the final time. Viliant stood over their slain hunter with great hostility. His wings were partially folded, low and rigid on either side of his body. The growl had yet to die down from his chest.

    I''m safe, was all she could think. Then, Viliant!  Fia limped out of the flames, slowly approaching him. The air was still smoky but fresher out here. Almost as if her body was beyond her control, Fia found the strength to run again. She was rushing to her friend as she called out to him again, Viliant. Viliant!

    Her frontmost left claw stumbled. Normally she would have fallen face first onto the ground, sparking pain into her shoulder all over again, but Viliant was there to catch her. Fia landed against the rigid plate of his chest, and broke down into high-pitched cries.

    Fia, are you all right? The amount of emotion present in his mental voice shocked Fia, almost as stunned as he did feel.

    How was she supposed to answer that? Fia kept crying and thought that was answer enough. After a few sniffles, she managed to come up with the response that he was probably looking for. I-I''m not much worse than before, she thought wryly. Even so, Fia was not fine inside. She was so scared, she could not stop crying now that it was over.

    Stoically, Viliant sat down and looked to the sky. His chest rose and fell with his laborious sigh. Other than that, he did not move as he let Fia cry on him for a long while. Though he distanced himself from their telepathic link, hiding his own response to the unfortunate night, he stayed present in her mind for her sake.

    Since she would not calm down, Viliant shifted his weight next to her. The anger was only just beginning to subside since the human lay dead beneath them.

    Sorry, Fia managed to think. Her throat was constricted, choking her up so that she kept gasping even when she tried to stop crying. Bad thoughts started to encircle her head, how she needed to save her people from the humans.

    That is your burden, Viliant had said to her on their first night of freedom.

    Becoming the savior of her people seemed like an impossible task, especially when every human that she encountered could nearly kill her. She made sure to keep her thoughts to herself, not wanting for Viliant to snap at her and confirm her fears. I''m just a burden to Viliant. That''s the real burden: me. Just me.

    Against her expectations, however, Viliant did not try to pull away. He lifted one shaky wing and draped it over her back.

    Fia leaned into him and cried a little longer till he gently prodded her.

    We have to move. Before more soldiers come for the smoke.

    She knew that he was right. Without the energy to say anything, she nodded against his chest and stood on her own three legs. Fia hobbled away, leaning on Viliant for support as they searched for safer grounds. They kept walking through dawn.

 Chapter 27: Aftershock in the Aftermath

    When the dragons found a secluded spot, Viliant said in Fia''s mind, Sleep. I''ll keep watch. Though he might have said that, he could barely keep his bleary eyes open just like her.

    Too tired to object, the dragoness flopped onto the ground as if her legs gave out. Fia immediately rolled to her left side to protect her right shoulder in the sling. Every muscle already ached from the aftermath of her fight with the humans, yet she was still twitchy from the shock.

    The humans won''t come for us again right away, will they?

    The deep green eyes of Viliant answered her question with some slow blinks. They both knew that they would only be safe once they had reached the Bad Land.

    Fia squirmed on her good side and curled herself into a tight ball. She could not shake the frightful feeling from when she had been alone, practically helpless. The watchful presence of Viliant should put her mind at ease, yet the events earlier that night kept replaying over and over again.

    Viliant crouched a short distance away, lurking in the shadows of the dim, dawn light. Since she could not sleep, Fia figured that she might as well talk to him.

    Hey Viliant¡ª

    The older dragon cut off her thoughts and replied tersely, You¡¯re supposed to be asleep.

    I can''t.

    Do it anyway.

    But I can''t.

    But you have to, Viliant growled. Too much aggression crept into his thoughts for such a simple statement.

    Her guilt from last night compounded in her head. Fia thought he had every right to be mad at her, as useless as she was; Fia could not even fall asleep when they had a moment''s reprieve. Her frustration mounted, forcing her to resist the urge to let a shrill whine curl from her throat as she snapped at him. I said I can''t!

    The severe stress and exhaustion made both dragons irritable, but Viliant huffed out a sigh and approached this rationally. Wanna keep the first watch then?

    No¡­. I''ll sleep. A shudder ran up her spine as she recalled how she had been perfectly awake when the humans snuck up on her. Fia had simply failed to pay close enough attention to her surroundings. The burden that she was, she did not want her oversight to put Viliant at risk while he slept.

    Useless. I''m so useless. Keeping those thoughts to herself, Fia could not shake it from her head. Instead of falling asleep, her mind dwelled on yet another failure. At the very least, she would do good to admit her failings to Viliant before she drifted off. Fia murmured sheepishly in Viliant''s head, I forgot to tell you something.

    What?

    Her mental voice was tiny, shrinking back preemptively for his explosion. There was another human.

    There was a what? he roared in her mind. Viliant jumped up with the sound of rustling leaves beneath the growl in his throat.

    Another human, she squeaked. I burned his face in his helmet, but I forgot he was still alive.

    Fia¡­.

    I know.

    We should have killed him while we had the chance! Though their telepathy passed between them without sound or words, it still felt like Viliant was yelling at her¡ªall the more intense since it was inserted directly into her head.

    I''m sorry! she cried.

    There was nothing that could be done about it now, so Viliant let it go. Remember to tell me everything next time. Everything. We can''t afford to slip up like that. Now they''ll definitely be right on our tails.

    Fia had nothing to say for herself aside from, I know. I''m sorry. Despite feeling like a hopeless, lost cause¡ªalready doing the best she could¡ªshe murmured, I''ll do better.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Good.

    She stewed in self-loathing, but even now, Fia tried to look for a shred of light in the darkness. My fire, though¡­. Will it keep the humans preoccupied for a bit? It''d be dangerous if the flames spread to the village.

    I doubt it, Viliant replied instantly, crushing her hopes. You saw how humans are. They''re cruel and stupid¡ªwilling to sacrifice their own to kill us! Every human only cares about themself.

    Even the healer¡ªthe closest thing to a good-willed human that they had ever met¡ªhad aligned himself with the Dragon Slayer upon their escape. Fia sighed, unable to argue with Viliant''s assessment of humanity. Somewhere at heart, she knew it to be untrue, yet her experience had her young mind convinced for now.

    Now go to sleep, Viliant said. I''ll wake you when I need to rest.

    When she closed her eyes, a fire raged on the back of her lids. The afterimage of the metal mage''s spikes still radiated a seething orange light. The nightmarish memory enthralled her till she fell asleep.

    ***

    Something nudged at her intact shoulder. Fia. It''s your turn. The stream of consciousness from Viliant''s thoughts broke off as he could not suppress a massive yawn. Keep watch. Wake me up if there''s anything suspicious.

    O-Okay. Fia got up and shook herself awake. She lay down where Viliant once hid and surveyed their surroundings. The telepathic link was severed as he collapsed and conked out almost immediately.

    Alone in her own head, she did everything she could to stay alert. Whenever she found her attention drifting off, Fia simply glanced at Viliant. I can stay awake¡ªfor him. In this moment, he was vulnerable and entrusting her to keep watch. I''m not going to let him down!

    ***

    Nothing caught Fia''s attention, so she allowed Viliant to sleep until he naturally stirred. After rolling to the side and snuggling his cheek into some weeds, he suddenly jolted upright and asked, What time is it?

    The two dragons turned their snouts up to the sky and blinked at the afternoon sun.

    Why didn''t you wake me up sooner? Viliant asked.

    You let me sleep awhile. You deserve to sleep too! Fia said.

    When Viliant rose and splayed his shredded wings in a stretch, his stomach rumbled for breakfast. An awkward tension hung between the mind''s of the dragons. They were both hungry after missing supper last night, yet retrieving food from the next nearest town was no longer an option.

    When do you think it''s safe to get food? Fia asked.

    At first, Viliant seemed to contemplate an answer. A response was bubbling in his mind, yet he dallied to share it with Fia who observed with bated breath. Viliant''s head stooped lower as he walked past her.

    She picked up her feet to follow him, and she slowly came to realize that he simply did not like the truth.

    Probably never, Viliant admitted at last. We need to keep moving right now. We also need food, so we''ll eat when we can wait no longer.

    The dragons had already thought their rations scanty in the coliseum, but their freedom did not mean it was time to feast. The trips into town proved too dangerous, so they must now learn to endure a fast.

    Since she had been stationary for a while, Fia stretched out her hind legs as she took her first couple of steps. A low groan emitted from her throat. The ache in her injured, front shoulder had become more persistent over the last week. Her limp slowed their progress more drastically though Fia simply brushed it off as the aftershock of last night.

    With the poor intention to cheer her up, Viliant chimed in her mind, At least the humans had decided to come at dinnertime. Too bad we didn''t have time to eat¡ª

    No, stop! Fia panicked that he was about to suggest that they could have eaten the bodies.

    Viliant blinked at her outburst and finished by saying, The horses.

    Oh.

    The detachment of Viliant''s mind made it seem like he was trying to hide something, perhaps a true desire to eat human flesh like it were any other prey. Fia had once wanted to talk about his overzealous aggression towards their enemies, but she did not have the energy to bring it up after the humans'' attack. The silence provided a much preferable walk.

    Like she had once done for him, Viliant now made an effort to keep a conversation between them. How''s your shoulder holding up? His larger form hovered nearby to support her. A glint of deep concern shone in his eyes, but Fia could not make eye contact with him.

    Not good¡­. Same as always.

    I didn''t have time to find the herbs for you. I''m sorry.

    The fire had summoned him away from the village prematurely, so the only one who had to feel sorry about that was Fia. It''s fine. When she mumbled that in his head, she took great care not to express her true mind.

    They walked on for a bit, but their steps were sagging like their stomachs. The dragons had nothing to say to each other. Even so, Viliant did not allow the silence to stew between them for long. You seem distant.

    The scaly edges of her mouth began to waver, but Fia stiffened her jaw. Time would not allow for her to break down to tears again. I just wish we had a healer like the man at the coliseum.

 Chapter 28: Friends or Enemies

    Fia and Viliant abided by their new travel and sleep schedule, keeping watch for each other whenever they needed to rest. Currently, Viliant was sleeping soundly, curled into himself like a porcupine of massive spikes.

    Alone and bored, Fia resisted the urge to hum a song to herself. It was more important to keep her ears clear to listen for any sign of danger. Her attention perked up as a break in the ambience came through the trees.

    A snuffle and grunt sounded from the other side. The ring of metal resonated like a gong, making Fia''s heart lurch. A connection was instantly made in her mind. Humans have metal. Either the dragon hunters or some random civilians were in the vicinity¡ªboth a threat to Fia and Viliant''s safety.

    Her tail coiled, and her muscles tightened, ready to spring to action. I should wake up Viliant! she thought at once, but when her eyes flitted to her peacefully snoozing friend, she thought better of it. I should confirm it''s actually a threat, first.

    Fia got up to investigate and edged nearer to the trees. The giggle of a child should have put her at ease, but all she focused on was the laughter of a human. Since her curiosity got the best of her, Fia peered around the thick tree trunk.

    A little boy ran with a massive stick and thrusted it towards a stout creature that lunged at him. The animal had furry legs and brown tufts coming out wherever metal did not encase the most vulnerable parts of its body. When the boy hit the bear cub with a stick, the sound of its armor rang into the trees. The bear let out a cute yowl and reared onto its hind legs, flailing the oversized paws to swipe at the stick.

    At the sight, Fia''s eyes widened. Her wings perked up, and the tip of her tail began to twitch from sheer excitement. The human child and the bear cub looked like they were having fun. How long has it been since I got to play? Fia never had the chance to play with Viliant, nor would he entertain her even if she begged. They simply did not have the time or energy to spare on frivolous things during their waking hours.

    Oh¡­. It dawned on her that the last time she had fun was with Arenis on the day of her capture.

    The grim memory threatened to snuff out Fia''s light-hearted nature, but that was all the more reason why she needed to have some fun right now. She needed a release after the severe stress of last night. However, when Fia took a step closer, the tug in her right shoulder kept that leg from touching the ground.

    A sharp gasp rushed down her throat. Her injury hindered everything¡ªeven play. I can''t play with them¡ªshouldn''t anyway, she thought. Then, reality struck her. Fia realized what she had been about to do. Whew. Even though it''s just a child, I still shouldn''t draw attention to myself. Viliant would be really mad.

    Though the human was just a child, all humans posed an undeniable threat. The grown-ups would not be too far behind. Fia could see a tiny reflection of herself in the shiny metal of the bear cub. Her slitted pupils constricted at their width, exacerbating her look of fear. The dragoness should be grateful that her injury prevented her from running out there mindlessly.

    Fia sighed as she turned away. The slight noise and waft of smoke from her nostrils caught the attention of the two children of different species.

    The human child froze in place while the bear cub started to approach her unabashedly.

    "H-Hi," Fia said to it, her voice shaky and panicked.

    The snout twitched as the bear sniffed her. The rest of its iron-clad face was impossible to read for emotions. The big, brown eyes seemed friendly enough, however.

    "Sorry, I can''t play with you," Fia said, even though neither human nor bear could understand her. They should be able to perceive the mournful tone in her voice as she turned to go. "I have to go!" Fia hastened away, but not before the bear rushed to wrestle her.

    A whine slipped from the dragon''s throat as she met the cub with a gentle claw, trying to keep it in place. However, the cub was heavy and strong for its size, sending Fia careening to the side. Though she landed on her good shoulder, a jolt of pain flooded in her right shoulder. The bear tried to clamber on top of her and open its mouth in a playful bite. One of its paws pressed on her limb the wrong way, and Fia yelped from pain.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Get off me! she cried, but only dragons could receive telepathic communications with each other.

    Fia was stuck beneath the bear, tears beading to her eyes as she squirmed to escape. Since she could not compete in the wrestling match properly, she was stuck in a painful position. How do I get it to stop? Fia did not want to make new enemies. She had originally hoped to make friends, but her situation demanded the opposite of her. It looked like she might have no other choice but to hurt the cub to get it off.

    Right then, the human kid came to her rescue. He raced over and smacked the bear in the side with his stick. The impact startled the bear enough to stumble off her.

    Fia jumped at the opportunity to right herself and shy away. Hiding behind one tree, she watched as the human boy turned to look at her.

    His eyes met hers. Blinks fell between both their eyes for a few seconds before the human boy tried to say something. The language was the one that Viliant knew¡ªnot Fia, but his tone of voice sounded amicable. Her heart nearly skipped a beat. The healer was the only a human who had ever spoken kindly to her and Viliant, but even he had betrayed them.

    The human child turned away and ran to play with the bear again, waving the stick in a wide arc in her general direction. It was an invitation to play. As much as it warmed Fia''s heart, she could not play with her injury. At least I''m still good at making friends! If only I could make friends with the soldiers instead of having to fight them¡­.

    Another human''s voice¡ªadult and feminine¡ªstarted calling from deeper into the trees. The same syllables repeated several times, most likely the boy''s name. "Citrio! Citrio?"

    One mother was already searching for her child. Then, the danger dawned on Fia. What about the bear''s mama? As soon as the mother bear came looking for her cub, they would all be in danger. Fia gasped and darted back through the trees.

    "Viliant!" She nudged her nose beneath the wing draped over his head, poking him in the cheek. "Wake up!"

    Viliant groaned, opened his eyes, and looked at her through the holes in his wings.

    Now that he was alert enough to establish a telepathic link, Fia started begging, Get up! Get up!

    What is it? The older dragon mirrored her panic and jumped to his feet. Is there danger?

    Yes! Already, Fia understood that the smartest decision for them was to leave. However, she did not want to turn a blind eye to innocent people in need. So, she announced to Viliant, I made friends, and they''re in danger!

    What? What''d you do this time? Viliant''s expression changed from protective to aggressive in the span of a second. The black dragon was willing to defend his one and only friend, but newcomers meant nothing to him.

    Please? I found a human kid playing with a bear cub. When the mama bear comes¡ª

    We need to leave. Viliant looked both ways. Once he picked out Fia''s tracks leading towards her new friends, he turned and walked the exact opposite way.

    Fia started to follow him with no intention to abandon them so callously.

    Trotting on three legs to catch up to Viliant, she insisted, When the mama bear comes, they''ll be in danger!

    And when the adult humans come, then we''ll be in danger.

    Viliant! she whined. If Viliant always did things his way, then they never would have become friends in the first place. This was something that she had to encourage him to do¡ªand she would not budge on her stance. So, Fia stopped walking and upturned her nose to the air. I won''t go!

    Viliant kept going, but his steps slowed as he realized Fia no longer followed him. Turning back uncertainly to look at her, he asked, What do you mean?

    I''m not moving another step that way. We need to go this way! Fia started heading back towards the human child and bear cub.

    Fia¡­! he said exasperated, but their telepathic link was cut-off as Fia walked out of range.

    Her heart rate elevated in her chest. Every step became ladened with more weight. The young dragoness lifted her chin higher as she limped onward. Fia still had it in her to follow her heart and do what she believed was right. Her mind was empty of Viliant''s presence, leaving her to wonder to herself, He''s gonna follow me, right?

    If there was one thing that she knew about Viliant, he had insisted on his promise. He would never leave her behind, even if she made the choice to protect the humans from the bear.

 Chapter 29: Mother Bear

    Fia''s heart pounded as she crept back onto the edges of the scene.

    The human boy was still playing with the bear cub despite his mother''s calls.

    "Citrio!" The other words spoken by the human woman, Fia could not understand, but she would soon¡ªassuming that Viliant would follow her.

    The boy''s laughter and the cub''s squeals informed the adult human where to find her child, so Fia crouched safely out of the way.

    Viliant stumbled into range somewhere behind her, yet before he could even see for himself, he cast his judgment. Fia! It''s not a bear! It''s a dog.

    A part of her felt instant relief now that she knew Viliant had followed her though she had to ask innocently, What''s a dog?

    Humans have tamed wolves.

    No, it''s most definitely not a ''tame wolf''! When the rustle of leaves joined at her side, Fia said, Look. Now, he could see for himself.

    Several blinks fell over Viliant''s eyes when he saw the stout, furry form of the animal wrapped in metal. The round face, shielded like a helmet, had circular tufts of fur poking out from the sheets of metal at the top. Guess I stand corrected, Viliant admitted. That looks like a baby bear, alright. Still don''t see what we should do about it¡­.

    At that moment, the adult human dashed through the trees. "Citrio!" she gasped as she fell to her knees and clasped the boy into her arms. Her frantic words rushed out, and with Viliant here, there was no reason for her to not comprehend the tense, emotive reunion.

    Translate! Fia whined.

    Though Viliant rolled his eyes, the meaning of the humans'' words passed directly from his mind to hers. The mother had the boy''s cheeks pressed between two hands. "Why didn''t you answer me?"

    "I was having fun." The boy had relinquished his stick when his mother hugged him, leaving his hand free to point at the bear cub.

    The mother twisted to the side, hefted up the kid against her chest, and staggered a few steps backwards. "Citrio, that''s dangerous! We have to go now." The whites of her frantic eyes flashed to check for danger¡ªthe mother bear, likely nearby. She started to hurry back the way that she had come.

    Loud rustles and snaps approached from the opposite, including a slight vibration that was sent through the ground. The dragons huddled closer together. Even as Viliant crouched in an aggressive stance, he stood above Fia protectively. On three legs, she curled her clawed toes into the dirt cravenly. Viliant, she murmured in his mind with great trepidation. Can you fight for me?

    Of course, if it comes to that, but it won''t. We have my shadows to sneak away¡ªplus a diversion. Those cold, green, calculating eyes observed the fleeing human with the child in her arms. The black dragon had his lower jaw set in determination. If any emotion flitted over him, Fia swore she saw a glimmer of ravening anticipation.

    Her stomach twisted up and lurched when a thunderous roar broke through the trees which announced the arrival of the mother bear. A boulder of fur and metal rushed to put herself between the humans and the cub. On either shoulder, sharpened spikes of iron adorned her like pauldrons, scoring the tree trunks which grew too close for her to pass. The lumbering iron-clad bear doubled the size of her unarmored cousins and must have quadrupled them in weight. The guttural roar from her throat sounded like grating gears. Her paws were extended in claws of knives, raking the air as she reared to display her ferocity.

    The human mother was not so fearsome, but the bear still saw the figure dashing away as a threat. The bear left her cub''s side to eliminate the humans.

    Viliant, save them!

    Save them¡­! he repeated in an astonished, exaggerated tone. Viliant sneered off her plea.

    A scream curled from the human woman''s throat long before the bear reached her. She dropped her child, cried out, "Run Citrio!" and turned to face their hunter¡ªangry mother against angry mother. The canopy of leaves seemed to twitch overhead, as if the forest around her were revolting.

    Perhaps it was just Fia who could not stomach another mother and child ripped apart. Momma, she tried to remember the last time that she had seen her own.

    "Ma!" the human boy cried as he looked over his shoulder. Although he had already started running, he hesitated to leave his mother behind, so he tripped. The forest floor scuffed his hands and knees, but that mattered little compared to what the mother bear would do to him¡ªand more immediately¡ªhis mother. So, the little Citrio got back up and ran again.

    Fire burned through Fia''s muscles. There was no time for her to explain things to Viliant who had no proper memory of his own mother. None other than Fia was willing to take action, so her chest swelled up with a big breath in preparation to breathe her element.

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Fia! What''re you doing? Viliant snapped.

    If she could put a wall of fire between the mother bear and the humans, then she hoped that the bear would not allow such a division between itself and the cub. This idea was communicated to Viliant''s mind instantaneously. I wanna keep the bears and humans apart with fire!

    Are you crazy? Fire will give away our location to even more humans¡ªthe soldiers!

    With a sigh, Fia realized that he was right. They could not leave wildfires in their wake everywhere that they went. However, Fia needed to do something this instant, and so she decided that now looked like the perfect time to play with the iron bear cub.

    No! What are you up to now? Viliant roared in her mind as she leaped out into the open. His jaws tried to snap at her tail, but the arrow-shaped tip slipped between his fangs.

    Playing! She was both trying to play with the cub and play Viliant into her plan. A loud whistle lifted from her jaws as she knocked the fluffy and metallic creature over. Though she tried to sound cheerful, the note trembled with fear. Fia reared her head over the cub and pretended to bite at it, just like it had done to her.

    Its squeals were delightful, interspersed by grunts as it tried to free itself. The mother bear halted in her tracks; she was not so amused by the baby bear''s fun. A larger thump vibrated through the ground which marked the halt of her charge.

    The human woman stood her ground with her shoulders hunched and hands clenched into determined fists despite her helplessness. As the iron bear turned, a snaggly root had risen from the ground like a thrashing snake. The jerky movements managed to coil around a single paw of the iron bear and draw taut.

    She''s a nature mage¡ª! Fia gasped to Viliant.

    However, she was not a strong enough mage to halt the magically-reinforced creature.

    The root snapped away like a rotten twig. The iron bear hardly noticed anything had slithered against her ankle. The creature powered through, coming straight for Fia with all rage in her blackened eyes.

    A frightened howl came from the dragoness as she jumped off the bear cub and ran back towards Viliant. Save me! Save me! Save me! she thought. Some or all of her frantic thoughts must have made it through to him.

    As livid as he seemed in her head, all that fury was directed at the mother bear. The black dragon leaped from cover, merging into the shadows all at once. The smoky vapor passed through the bear, and Viliant rematerialized on the other side. Though he could have leapt through her chest and out her back, he decided to twist around and stick the landing. His claws sunk underneath a metal plate where he held fast.

    Fia looked on in awe, reminding her of the time that he had fought the leo medusa. That was Viliant''s strategy to take down large foes. Take the high ground by scaling the creature itself, but this time, his methods were more refined with the usage of shadow magic.

    The mother bear yowled atrociously. The mother bear must have known that she had already lost as soon as Viliant could pierce through her armor. Her forelegs twisted around the thick of her shoulder, trying to rake him off. When that failed, she reared up to smash him against a tree.

    Viliant drew in a quick breath, and in the heat of the moment, he merged into the shadows beneath the bough. As the mother bear''s body crashed into the sturdy oak, the dragon''s misty body passed through the wood and out the other side. In that form, he could not hold onto the mother bear''s back any longer. His talons scraped along the bark as he shimmed up the tree, higher than the mother bear could get in a single swipe.

    The bear''s mood shifted from agitated to spooked at the living shadow. She ran to collect the cub and scurry off together. However, the mother had drawn the ire of a creature as zealous and vindictive as herself when it came to protecting those in her care. Viliant would settle for nothing less than the bear''s death, so he leaped from the tree with his rear claws aimed at the nape of her neck. He came down like a hawk, puncturing through the chink in the armor. The shadowy remains of his strike curled away from the bloody fur, exposed. The mother bear fell.

    The cub yelped and darted to the side of her mother''s falling body. After being frozen for a second in fear, it sprinted away and did not come back.

    Huffing, Viliant rebalanced his weight onto his forelegs on the mother bear''s armored skull. He pulled out his hind legs with a squelch and asked, You alright, Fia?

    Why would you do that? she asked.

    The note of ire was quickly restored to his thoughts as he asked back, Why would I save you? And get us some much-needed food while I was at it?

    But she was trying to run away with the cub¡­.

    You really care about animals more than your own life! First the humans, now the bears. Eat grass and starve for all I care, Viliant raved.

    Fia shrunk back, thinking maybe she was too nice for a dragon. No, she thought to herself, shaking her head. I''m just being civilized. Her big, hopeful eyes looked in the direction where the human mother had previously stood. If Fia could just see the looks on their faces¡ªthat thing with the lips curled up that the healer always used to do¡ªthen maybe she would feel a bit more vindicated in her position.

    Much to her astonishment, the humans were still there, mother and child. Citrio hid behind his mother''s skirt who kept one hand on his shoulder. However, neither had a smile on their faces. The deep frowns seemed to have been engraved on the petrified figures in the presence of dragons. Then, the adult opened her lips to say two words.

    Viliant took a half-step back with one foot.

    What did she say? Fia asked.

    For a long while, he hesitated sharing it with her. But then, he admitted what the human had said. Thank you.

    Those syllables in the Syene language were still ringing in her ears. "Thank you," the woman had said. Fia squirmed out of sheer joy because, in the end, she had saved the humans. Hopefully, Viliant could see that he had saved them as well.

    Best of all, the dragons had just found their nature mage and, through their kindness, they had given her a compelling reason to heal Fia''s shoulder.

 Chapter 30: A Mothers Healing Kiss

    The nature mage stood between the dragons and her son. While she tried to back away slowly, Fia and Viliant took some eager steps forward. As the uninjured one, Viliant could naturally walk faster and stand firmly between her and the humans.

    "You''re welcome," the older dragon spoke gruffly to the woman, translating for Fia over his words. "We helped you, now we''d like to ask for a favor in return."

    The human woman seemed momentarily shocked that she had received an intelligent response. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before words managed to come out. "I''m sorry. I don''t think there''s any way a humble woman like me could be of service to dragons." She attempted a curtsy and continued backing away from them.

    "Nonsense," Viliant said, sickly sweet. "You''re a nature mage. Heal my friend." He lifted one ratty wing like a curtain to reveal Fia behind him. Her rigid foreleg was propped up in the makeshift splint and sling, where her shoulder was covered with a slightly muddy bandage. At least the inside of her wound had stayed mostly clean.

    "I''m not a nature mage¡ª" the woman began.

    "Don''t lie to us!" Viliant growled. Crouched low, he stalked closer to the woman with each word of his accusation, "We saw how the leaves reacted around you and the root you summoned to trip the bear. Now cast a healing spell!"

    "I''m really not capable of that. I''m not a mage!"

    "I saved your life," Viliant said in a hushed tone. "I can undo that just as easily."

    Fia''s heart was racing in her chest. For a second, she questioned if her own eyes had betrayed her. Have I messed up again? Did I put the two humans back in danger? If she mistakenly told Viliant that the human was a nature mage, then she did not know if she could calm his wrath after the correction was made. No, I''m sure of what I saw!

    The mystical reaction of the forest, rising to the woman''s defense, surely indicated that she had bent nature according to her will. Yet the woman insisted that she had no magic in her veins, unless she was truly that unwilling to repay the dragons.

    Based on her situation, a refusal to help made no sense. The flabbergasted woman backed up against a tree, letting go of her child instead of clutching him close. Just like the bear, she was prepared to face the dragons to buy her child some precious seconds to escape.

    Viliant''s eyes flitted to her child. That cunning mind of his had just identified the woman''s biggest vulnerability.

    No! Fia yelled in his mind at once. More rationally, she tried placating Viliant by suggesting, What if she doesn''t know she''s a nature mage, just like how you didn''t realize you were a shadow mage¡ª?

    I don''t care about unlocking her hidden, magical talent, Viliant replied derisively. I''m just trying to get her to heal you before we dispose of her.

    What? Fia shrieked back in his head.

    Even if she helps us, what do you think she''ll do once we let her go? She''ll report us, if not because we''re dangerous, then because she can make some quick gold. Then the humans will be hot on our tails, and if they catch us, you might get injured again¡ªundoing any healing that the woman is able to provide.

    No matter what she did, Viliant did not intend to let her go, and the trick was working on her. She got on her knees, frantically making her little boy turn to face her. "I can try my best, but this is the most that I''m capable of!" Her shaking fingers steadied as she brushed along the child''s cheeks, down his shoulders, and took both of his hands into hers. "Did you hurt yourself, Citrio? Let me see."

    At some point, the boy must have fallen while playing with the cub or trying to run away. His palms had red, muddied scuffs. He could hardly look his mother in the eye as she brought his hands to her face.

    The woman placed a gentle kiss along the base of his palms, first one hand, then the other. The tilt of her head revealed a green glow of light from her lips. "I love you, Citrio." The glow was left on her breath.

    "I love you too, Ma." Citrio managed to look up, steel in his gaze, yet his lip still wavered.

    She gave his hand a feeble squeeze, likely a signal to run again. The mother turned to Fia and said, "Okay, darling, let me see how bad your shoulder is." With an undue amount of care, she undid the bandage.

    Viliant could have unwrapped the bandage faster than that, and he had neither fingers nor opposable thumbs. His eyes narrowed, and his lids drooped over the slitted pupils, unamused by the obvious attempt to stall.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    While the dragons were preoccupied, Citrio backed away carefully. If the mother''s plan worked out, this would be the last time that the young boy would see his mom alive. Once he made it to the nearest tree, he slipped behind it¡ªout of view for a time.

    Fia''s bandage fell away, and the woman gaped at the cavern of cauterized flesh. "God, how did this happen?" she murmured, more so out of shock than as a genuine question.

    Viliant was not about to answer. He only gave the order, "Fix it."

    "I''ve never healed wounds this deep before. I don''t even know how to restore broken bones, much less regrow¡­ missing flesh."

    It dawned on Fia that the nature mage at the coliseum was probably a highly skilled healer, highly paid to protect the valuable combatants. The coliseum owners had gathered many rare, dangerous creatures from faraway lands; Fia herself had been taken across an ocean. Perhaps the healer had been among the best in the human land, and this random woman that they had stumbled upon in the wilderness could not compare.

    "I don''t care," Viliant replied. "Then do everything you can. You are going to keep healing her until your mana is drained."

    "I can do that." The woman placed a gentle hand against the exposed flesh. The physical contact was undetectable by Fia''s scorched nerves, but she still looked away. Magical energy seeped into her shoulder, soothing the pain deeper in. Alas, relief was the sole thing that she experienced. To double check, Fia glanced over her shoulder.

    The site looked slightly less inflamed but nothing beyond that. The shattered bone stayed lodged in place, and the flesh did not knit back together. The healer had done nothing substantial for Fia''s wound.

    "I''m sorry," the woman gasped. "This is the limit of my power. Please have mercy on me and let me go!"

    Viliant''s eyes drew wide and flashed with contempt. "Quiet!" he snapped. "Keep going."

    "I really can''t do anything more, but I can keep trying¡ª"

    "I don''t want you to try. I want you to do it!"

    The woman broke down to tears as her feeble magic kept failing and the ferocious dragon kept growing and snapping at her. At this point, Citrio had gotten far enough away that he started to run.

    Fia assisted in the distraction by nipping at Viliant''s cheek. Would you knock it off?

    When he turned to glare at her, the boy was removed from his field of view.

    You knock it off! Viliant said. I''m trying to help you!

    This made Fia angrier because he was not helping at all. Your growling is doing nothing but distracting her!

    "And you!" Viliant said, contorting his neck to snap back at the woman. His heavy, dark lids fell over those menacing eyes in a long blink. "This is your last chance."

    The pitiful quaking of her hands had returned. The woman tried again to do the impossible which Viliant demanded of her. The longer that she tried, the more red-tinged that her deep-tanned skin would become. She wasted not even a second to breathe on her final attempt.

    The energy intensified, and Fia felt a change in her muscles. The crawling itch started up in her flesh, exciting her as it reminded her of the healer''s methods at the coliseum. Then, it felt all wrong, twisting and knotting in pain.

    Stop! Fia squealed out a high-pitched note as she recoiled. It hurts!

    Viliant reacted at once. He pounced on the woman who was crouched to his height and tackled her to the ground. In a roar, he asked, "What did you do to her?"

    Pinned by the throat, she still could hardly take a breath unless she wanted the tip to draw blood. The roots of the trees must have shifted underneath her as the ground gave way enough for her to comfortably speak

    "The body is a complex thing. I''ll end up hurting her if I keep trying¡ª!"

    Viliant slung his claw through her throat.

    Viliant, no! Still recovering from the bolt of pain sent through her shoulder, Fia was too slow to stop him.

    The woman''s eyes stared up at the treetops emptily. The clean, red gash seeped over either side of her neck and pooled in the recessed dirt. That did not satisfy Viliant''s bloodlust, however. He turned back to look for the little boy.

    By then, Citrio was far out of sight in the dense woods, but his shoes had left obvious tracks.

    Viliant took off, but so did Fia, shooting a fireball in the same direction. Since he did not expect her to attack him, Viliant ran straight into the line of fire. The blaze connected with his cheek, and the sudden pain made him stop in his tracks and yowl. You''ve really lost it.

    No, you''ve lost it! You''re not killing the boy too. He''s around our age¡ª Fia began, but then she remembered that Viliant doubled her in years. He looks like my age, she said, even though she knew nothing about human maturity.

    We have to kill all witnesses regardless, Viliant insisted and resumed his pursuit. The duo were no longer just rogue dragons in human territory, occasionally plundering livestock or killing only the knights sent after them in self defense. Now, they had actively killed innocent civilians which would warrant an even more extreme pursuit against them.

    Worst of all, Fia and Viliant could no longer agree on a course of action. Before he could dash off, she got close enough to leap and tackle him. I''m not letting you do that! she said, and the dragons tumbled through the dirt. Fia grit her jaw to fight against the intensifying pain in her shoulder and also prepare her to fight Viliant¡ªjust enough to convince him that he was wrong.

 Chapter 31: Disagreement

    The high-pitched yip of the dragoness lifted from her as intense pain flooded Fia''s shoulder. She twisted around with the thrashing Viliant and landed on her side. Though she gasped, she could not breathe with the wind knocked out of her.

    Over her, Viliant loomed. A hasty series of blinks fell over his eyes which softened for a moment. Though he recognized that he had just hurt his already-injured friend, rote necessity fell back over him. Stay out of the way! He bounded over her to pursue the child again.

    No! Fia flipped over and wriggled on her belly. Like a snake, she snapped onto the spike of Viliant''s tail and yanked backwards.

    This time, it was the dragon''s turn to yelp and fall to the ground. The pressure at his tailbone had caused him to land on his chest. A livid hiss lifted from his maw as he turned back to her. Meanwhile, his tail evaporated like wispy smoke in Fia''s mouth. Viliant got back up and continued running.

    Stop it! Fia could not run fast enough to catch up, so she spit another fireball at him. This one sailed past his horns and smacked against the side of a tree. Unlike the trees of her homeland, this one''s smoldering bark caught fire quickly. Oh no¡­. Fia dashed to the base of the tree and danced fretfully at its roots. Though she thought about spitting on the bark to put out the embers, she fanned it with a wing instead. I''m gonna start another wildfire if you don''t stop!

    Put it out while I''m gone. Viliant rustled around in the forest farther ahead. The telepathic signal between their minds was growing weaker and would soon be lost completely.

    Viliant¡­! she gasped in his mind. If she wanted him to agree with her, then he needed to appeal to him on his own terms. The kid''s already gone! We''ll waste more time hunting him down. We need to get out of here and keep moving. In a last, shrill attempt to convince him, she begged, Let''s eat!

    Though he did not acknowledge her, Viliant''s mind remained connected to hers. He should have run out of range by now, but instead, the dragon with hunched shoulders and head hung low slunk back into view. I guess¡­ I can agree with that much. Kid''s a waste of time. I''m hungry. With his stomach rumbling, Viliant paced around the fallen iron-bear corpse.

    Even if he did hunt down the last witness, the father would go searching for his missing wife and son. In a matter of time, the marks of dragon claws on the body would direct the hunt back to them. Instead, the child could run back and cry about the unbelievable appearance of dragons. It would take a while for the adults to realize that a hysteric child spoke the truth and find the mother''s body to prove it. The most sure way for the dragons to buy more time for themselves was to simply keep going.

    Viliant had restrained his anger enough to see this logic. Amazed, Fia''s mouth dropped open. Her eyes widened out of sheer happiness.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Are you gonna cook? Or do you expect me to? Eying the bear carcass sidelong, Viliant did not look inclined to wait.

    Coming! Hastily, she started spitting on the small fire and licking the side of the tree to put it out. After that, she skipped on three legs back to the iron-bear. The soreness in her shoulder made her stop short and walk the rest of the way.

    You okay? You didn''t hurt yourself when you jumped on me, did you?

    Uh-uh. Fia sat with her claws folded neatly beneath herself and wrinkled up her nose. If anyone had worsened her injury, she definitely blamed Viliant for that one. Rather than bickering over that, she wanted to prove him wrong by a different means. No, you didn''t hurt me, Fia shared. I actually feel pretty good. The nice lady did something to help my shoulder. I wish she was still alive¡­. Maybe we could have brought her with us.

    Viliant kept his head low. His drooping lids stared into the stream of fire as she began cooking the massive hunk of flesh. The metal glowed orange as it heated up and contained the bear like a roasting pot. Fia, you do not get to blame this on me.

    Huh?

    You do not get to have everything your way and act righteous when it all goes wrong! A low growl sounded from his throat as he expressed his hostilities. Look around you! This is your fault.

    Fia shrunk away, and her flames sputtered. From the side of her eyes, she glanced at the fallen body of the human mother. The longer mark of Viliant''s claw adorned the front of her slit, bloody neck. He''s the one who murdered her, not me! roared in Fia''s mind. The humans would have died regardless at the claws of the iron-bear, so she caused no more harm than already existed in the world. Still, she felt terrible. If only she could have done more¡­.

    I was just trying to help, she squeaked.

    You want to help? Then help yourself! You need to focus on helping your own people!

    Her cooking fire died out completely. Fia could not focus enough to produce a flame, tilting her teary eyes back to the leafy canopy. Freedom meant little if she still could not do what she wanted¡ªwhat she thought was right.

    I need to save my people and only my people. That''s my burden, Fia thought to herself. To Viliant, she intoned at last, I understand.

    Good. From now on, listen to me.

    She swallowed back the lump in her throat and continued cooking the bear. Thanks to its flesh roasting within its own, heated metal, the cooking had continued even without her. Ultimately, the metal was too hot for Viliant to touch, so Fia pulled it back with grasping claws and chomping jaws. The two dragons set on their meal and ate more than they should, much too quickly.

    Viliant coughed and almost threw up everything that he had eaten so far. As soon as he swallowed back his gag, he resumed eating with renewed fervor. Once they had both their stomachs stuffed, the dragons flopped onto their sides.

    We can''t sleep here, Viliant said, even as he lay motionless on the ground just like Fia.

    I know, but I want a nap, Fia whined.

    Just five minutes, Viliant confirmed.

    As long as they left long before the armed humans showed up as reinforcements, a short nap would not hurt. The dragons would travel much faster afterwards and make up for lost time.

 Chapter 32: On the Run

    Fia had gorged herself to a lesser extent than Viliant on the bear meat, so she stirred awake first. Crickets chirped nearby, lulling her droopy eyes back to sleep. No! she told herself. Naptime''s over. We can''t afford to dawdle any longer. Aloud, she called, "Viliant!"

    In the hazy dusk of the forest, Fia could not see the black dragon, so she started searching for him by patting her wings against the ground. The soft leather hit a bunch of pointed horns which marked his head. "Viliant," she repeated while she gave his head a few more pats.

    What? he shouted as he suddenly forced a telepathic connection with her mind. Did I fall asleep?

    Um, yes?

    Now that he was newly refreshed from the food and nap, Viliant had the energy to panic over it. He got up and paced their makeshift camp, reorienting himself with the carnage around them.

    Bugs had swarmed to feast on the remains which the two dragons could not finish off. Rather than the flies which had come for Fia''s shoulder when its condition had been worse during the daytime, these insects were all manners of creepy crawlies. Gross! At least they didn''t try to eat me this time¡­.

    A shudder ran down her spine and ended in her twitching tail as she observed the insect''s behavior¡ªespecially when her eyes set on the human corpse. The bugs seemed to have liked the woman''s eyes the best, teeming over her face and burrowing into the eye sockets.

    A wave of guilt overtook the dragoness. Smoke curled from her nostrils as she was tempted to set the bugs alight.

    How long? Viliant asked out of nowhere. The thought sounded like a murmur to himself, frazzled by their impromptu nap.

    Huh?

    We slept too long. At least we can travel under the cover of darkness. Let''s get moving. Viliant walked past her with his tail coiling through the cloak of shadows which he had cast around himself.

    The murky cloud was large enough for Fia to walk beside him, but she let it drift away with Viliant. Her talons dug into the ground, rooted firmly in place. Fia twisted her long neck to look back at the woman who had lost her life because of Viliant''s callousness. The human mother deserved so much better than this fate. It would only take a moment to torch those bugs, she figured to herself.

    Move, Viliant snapped at her.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Coming! Fia knew that they did not have even a second to spare. A fire would risk giving away their location. To herself, she mused. It''s not like she''s even alive anymore. I need to be a little more practical, like Viliant.

    The dragoness bounded to catch up with Viliant who did not stop. Between the nature mage''s humble cure spell and the long rest, Fia''s shoulder felt its best since her injury. The dragons adopted a quick march and covered the most ground in a single night on their entire journey thus far.

    The perception of their distance traveled was amplified by the changing scenery. The trees cleared, bringing them back to a field of tall grass blades. Fia and Viliant slithered their way through the foliage, grateful for the coverage. However, even the grass began to thin out until they found themselves trodding over short, dry grass.

    A stifling quietude held between them. The air around Viliant was tense; the dragon was likely still inflamed from their previous discord.

    Look at how the land''s changed! Fia remarked in an effort to make small talk. Do you think we''re getting close to the Bad Land?

    I hope so. Viliant did not say anything more than that. After their fight, he was even more terse than usual. Worst of all, he did not merely cut off their telepathic link entirely. Instead, Fia had to feel connected to his mind, feeling more and more guilty throughout the course of the night.

    I''m sorry, she tried to offer.

    Good. You should be.

    Her anxiety mounted, filling her with worries that the bad humans would catch up with them. If that happens, then it''ll be my fault, she thought to herself. Finally, she started to relate to Viliant''s previous anger. Fia gave a dry gulp and tried to think optimistically about how far they had traveled tonight.

    In silence, the dragons continued. The ground beneath them changed from coarse grasses to tightly packed dirt. When Fia''s claws dragged across the dusty ground, a little excitement lifted in her. This was another chance to try making idle chatter with Viliant; he would have to forgive her eventually. The ground''s different here, like it''s a path!

    That''s not a good thing, Fia. Viliant crossed the road and jumped into a shallow ditch. Get over here! We need to stay off the human roads.

    Fia hurried to catch up and hopped down with him. They kept heading due east, but before they could get far from the road, a slight tremor could be felt from the ground. The sound of clopping horse hooves drew nearer.

    Stay down! Viliant jumped close to Fia, draping one of his black wings over her and weaving the shadows as thick as they would go.

    Though Fia could not see through the darkness, she could hear the thunder of the galloping horses as they rode by on armored knights. The humans could not see the dragons, hidden by magic. The animals were more keen to the predatory presence which lurked in the shadows nearby. A horse stopped a few paces away from them, rearing and whining before it tried to dart the other way.

    This behavior immediately alarmed the riders since trained warhorses did not spook easily. "Something''s there. Search for the dragons!"

    Fia and Viliant looked at each other with wide eyes. They jumped together and bolted the other way, beginning the chase.

 Chapter 33: The Chase

    It''s my fault¡ªall my fault! Fia thought to herself as she gasped for breath, running as fast as she could on three legs.

    When Viliant started to run away, his longer, stronger, uninjured legs carried him far in front of her. Despite his promise that he would never abandon her, miserable thoughts could not help but consume Fia. She had been a lost cause ever since she had been wounded, but on top of that, she even refused to prioritize their own survival. The humans had found them because of her. If he leaves me behind this time, I''d deserve precisely that, she figured.

    So, Fia volunteered that option to him. Just go. Her steamy tears started to traverse the grooves of her scaly cheeks. They''ll have a harder time catching us if we split up.

    What''re you talking about? Viliant spat back. If they split up, it would only give him a better chance to escape since Fia would become a diversion for him. As much as she worried about his overzealous hostility, it came in good use at a time like this. I won''t pass up an opportunity to kill the humans who imprisoned us.

    His running path bowed out, allowing him to face the enemy at a more advantageous angle. Viliant charged to intercept one of the horses.

    However, the cavalry knights were also mages. The human closest to him had one arm raised. Bolts of lightning shot forth from his fingertips and streaked across the sky. This technique illuminated the sky for a few seconds. Viliant''s shadows gave way like the rest of the night, exposing each of the dragon''s locations.

    The knight''s other hand which held his weapon generated electricity as well. Yellow sparks flew from his fist which held the pole arm. The constant stream of energy traversed the rod and made it glow up to the spear tip. When Viliant lunged towards the horse, the knight lowered his spear to meet him.

    Even if Viliant''s cloak of shadows had unraveled, leaving him in plain sight, he could still vanish from the physical realm. His shadowy body went through the spear, however the surrounding energy maintained its effect. The murky form of the black dragon shuddered and blurred as the electrical discharge of the spear struck Viliant.

    "Viliant!" Fia cried. She needed to find a way to help him, but she had her own adversary to worry about.

    A frigid, crystalline structure appeared at her feet and encased her three, good claws to the ground. Huh? What is this? Despite her best attempt, all the strength in her legs was not enough to pull free. Fia had been frozen in place, and when she looked up, she saw a second cavalry man charging towards her. The horse''s heaving breath could be heard over its pounding hooves, and above all that, Fia screeched.

    An intense heat erupted from her scales by sheer instinct. It was then that she realized how easily she could free herself from the icy shackles. As they began to melt into a puddle beneath her feet, Fia let out a stream of fire from her maw to hasten this process. When the horse drew near, she flipped her chin upward to blast the flames at the horse.

    The beast reared up, whinnying and snorting in discomfort but a heavy fabric protected its skin. The expert horseman stayed atop his mount, flashing a sword overhead. One of his hands gripped the reins fiercely while that sword swung down for Fia''s neck.

    Like a serpent, she twisted to evade the blade and let out a terrified, hissing shriek. A final few embers spattered over the exposed ankles of the horse. The panicked animal stomped its hooves down, landing on the tips of the claws belonging to her good foreleg.

    "Eek!" Fia shrieked. The blow severed the quick of her claws where the hard exterior snapped and shattered around it. Intense pain radiated through her leg, all the way up to her shoulder and tingling along the wing on that side. But she was lucky that the horse had only landed on her claws. If its hoof had landed a few inches closer, Fia would have been rendered practically immobile.

    The horse, however, was less fortunate. While the horseshoe helped protect the outer portion of its hoof, the shards of Fia''s claw jabbed towards the center. The tender center of the foot was stabbed, and the horse dashed away trying to gallop and hobble at the same time. It bucked in pain, forcing the rider off.

    When he landed, a ramp of ice formed over the short, tough grasses so he alleviated the momentum of the fall into a harmless slide.

    One horse down, Fia called to Viliant. She stole a quick glance to see how her friend was faring.

    Thankfully, the older dragon could always take care of himself. While being shocked in his ephemeral form, he had managed to flail his body away from the electric rod. This prevented the shaft from impaling his chest when he was forced back into the physical world. His claws and teeth ensnared the side of the horse''s long neck as he fell, striking a deep enough wound that the horse would likely bleed out.

    This one''s a goner too. With the men''s steeds incapacitated, Fia and Viliant stood a better chance both in fighting and running away. The dragons rejoined each other. Viliant jumped in front of Fia and stood defiantly, glancing between the ice and electricity mages. Let''s fall back, he ordered. Create a barrier with your fire!

    Fia could not help but take pleasure in setting fire to the human''s territory indiscriminately. Her maw hung open its widest, and she swung her head from side to side to burn everything. The short grasses in this region did not provide much fuel to her wildfire, but the blaze grew tall enough and thick enough to deter mere men from crossing. Done!

    Let''s go.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Viliant took the lead up the steep hill at their backs. If the humans did catch up to them, then the dragons would have the higher ground.

    Fia naturally lagged behind with a more severe limp. Even though a broken claw was not that severe of an injury, it hurt tremendously. Alas, with her other leg useless, she had no other choice but to walk on the aching claw. She took one last look at her fire.

    The new terrain created by the ice mage did not stop simply at the spot that his horse had fallen. The icy path was heading towards the flames, and the heavily armored knight was sliding across it faster than the horses.

    Oh no! Fia realized the danger and recalled Viliant''s attention. That cold stuff turns to water when it gets hot!

    You mean ice?

    Though Viliant took no time to formally explain ice to Fia, she was able to comprehend it in the same instant that she touched it anyway. Her mouth split wide as she gathered enough power for a massive fireball. There was only enough time for one shot to stop the ice mage in his tracks, so this one needed to be perfect. Fia took a deep breath and spewed her projectile a short ways ahead of the man.

    His icy path manifested there next. The ice mage arrived at the same moment as the oncoming fireball. The flames reflected in the shiny breastplate of his armor, and the ice mage recognized the need to coat himself in his own element just before the fireball struck him square in the chest. The force sent him sliding back down his own path.

    Take that! Fia said, unable to help but giggle erratically. The elite knight looked quite comical against her attack, even if he endured little harm between the ice shield and metal armor.

    The delay had gained Fia and Viliant more time to summit the hill. As the one who struggled the most to climb with only three legs¡ªone of which had tender, broken claws¡ªFia became the easiest target for the subsequent attack. The electric mage pursued them with his armor glowing like an eerie lantern, much like his energized spear which aimed for her. A hazardous ball accumulated at its tip. The electrical ball released in a snap and hurtled straight for her.

    "Fia!" Viliant hollered.

    She tried to move, but there was no time to dodge a lightning projectile such as this. The lightning strike would surely affect the physical body much worse than Viliant''s shadow form, so Fia braced herself for the worst. I hope I live¡­.

    Heat flooded her body as the electricity surged through her¡ªmuch more intense than her own element. Even Fia''s own flames could singe her, but this was worse as the burns licked beneath her scales from the inside. Her heart gave an abnormal flutter, leaving her gasping when the electricity left her body in the next moment.

    The dragoness was still standing, so she shook herself off to make sure that she was okay. Huh. I think I''m fine, she replied to Viliant.

    The slitted pupils of his eyes had constricted from fear, too narrow for this low amount of light. Viliant looked shaken, but he simply barked, Good. Hurry up.

    The dragons continued scampering up the hill. As the ground became more rocky, Fia began to close the ground between her and Viliant. She could hop off a high mound, then flutter her wings and glide to the next best spot to jump. Viliant, on the other hand, had to scale inconvenient rocks until they arrived together at the top of the hill. Fia looked down to see how far the humans were behind.

    The wall of fire had been cut in half where the soaked ashes remained in its place. The ice mage had doused the flames by his melting element. Thanks to this safe path, the electric mage followed close behind. While the former had seemed faster at first with his paths of ice, those were rendered useless going up a hill. The electric mage, on the other hand, amplified his own muscles and climbed at a frightening speed. His speartip pointed at Fia and Viliant once more.

    Ah! Look out! Fia had no idea who he intended to strike, but she figured that her heat resistance as a fire dragon better enabled her to take a bolt of lightning. She flashed her wing in front of Viliant''s face and tucked her own chin, grimacing.

    The leathery part of her wing tingled, and electricity radiated down her body again. Drool dangled from one side of her jowls by the time it stopped. When Fia reopened her eyes, she saw Viliant''s shadow form return to normal behind her wing.

    Why would you do that? he yelled in her head.

    Despite having already proven that he could survive a previous electric shock, Fia had been worried about him. She felt foolish now, but that did not matter. We can fly from here!

    Viliant turned his attention to the other side of the hill where a vast, empty landscape awaited them in the darkness. Cooperatively, Viliant lay down on his belly and waited for Fia to take her spot as the glider. She gingerly avoided the large spines on his back which were lying as flat as they could go. Ready? Fia asked.

    Hmph. Viliant jumped and trusted Fia to spread her wings wide.

    The trickle of a small river ran below them. The grasses regrew around this source of water along with some scraggly trees. As the dragons drifted further away, the vegetation turned more coarse and sparse. The earth had become a wasteland of red-packed dirt when they landed.

    Though they put a decent amount of distance between their pursuers, Fia knew that this would not last long. As soon as the humans got to the top of the hill, the ice mage could create a slide to rush back down. Consequently, the dragoness tried to keep running as soon as she hopped off Viliant''s back.

    Fia, he called back to her gently. When she glanced back, she saw that Viliant was not moving. They''ve stopped.

    Huh? What do you mean? Fia drew to a sharp halt. Her head tilted back as she looked up the hill where the two knights stood at the top together. As they seemed to stare at one another, the young dragoness tried to understand what was going on. The humans had been pursuing them mercilessly for so long, it seemed unbelievable that they would give up the chase when they were so close.

    This must be what the humans call the Bad Land, Viliant said with a hint of relief.

    Fia scritched a back claw against the cracked ground where nothing seemed to grow. Although she had no idea what animals they would find for food here, she knew one thing at least: no humans would try to kill them. For that, the dragons had found their sanctuary. We did it!

    Despite her exhaustion, the young dragoness jumped for joy and let out a trill of victory. We did it! We did it, Viliant! she skipped around him lopsided and nudged his shoulders from both sides, trying to get him to celebrate with her.

    Hooray, Viliant shared telepathically in monotone.

    Fia nuzzled his cheek for good measure and beamed at him, her wings and tail lifted in happiness.

 Chapter 34: Regret of the Dragon Slayer (Bonus)

    When Prince Marcellus got to the aftermath this time, an innocent woman had died by the dragons'' claws. The prince knelt down, examining the body even as bugs had already started to infest her. His brow furrowed as his head hung low, not wanting yet to lift his eyes and face the men in his company.

    Worst of all, the husband was the one who had run to town and reported the death of his wife. "The dragons were right there, asleep! I saw them with my own eyes!" he insisted.

    Prince Marcellus kept staring at the insects crawling amid the woman''s eye sockets. Another death¡­. Always more death. Before his people''s liberation, countless humans were slaughtered like any other livestock if the tribute of cattle, sheep, and pigs were deemed insufficient. His campaign against the Dagonir Clan had freed the slaves in the north and gave them access to the precious iron mines needed to liberate more humans, but the conflict was everpresent. Prince Marcellus aspired to liberate all humanity from the dragons, but staring death in the face was particularly harsh when he knew that he could have prevented this one.

    Dragon Slayer¡­. Some slayer of dragons I am. If only he had not played with the juvenile dragons for a political stunt, this woman would be alive right now.

    The slit across her throat was the perfect size for Umbra Caligo''s claw. The iron bear''s flesh had been roasted in its metal shell, easily the work of Favilla. The two dragons had gorged themselves on its flesh so thoroughly that they had taken the liberty of a nap afterwards. To think, I haven''t caught these overgrown, lazy lizards yet.

    Prince Marcellus looked up, eyes steeling over his men and the distraught widower. He asked a basic question to confirm the veracity of the man''s testimony. "What color were the dragons?"

    "Black and pink." The man accurately described Favilla''s color as pink¡ªnot red like the rumors. He was not merely trying to profit off an unrelated tragedy.

    With a simple nod, Prince Marcellus began delivering orders. His authoritative voice sounded emptier than usual. "Trackers, follow their path directly. They are still traveling eastward. The rest of you¡­." He described the locations where he wanted to station the knights. "Stop them from ravaging any more civilized areas. Drive them out to the wasteland."

    The knights grouped into pairs which synergized their elements the best and rode off. The last duo to lag behind had one man ask from atop his horse, "And what about you, Commander?"

    "I will remain here to assist the family and will join the search as soon as I''ve finished my duties here." Prince Marcellus watched the last of his men ride off and remet the widower''s eyes to give him a proper introduction. "I am Sir Antoninus the commander of the Dragon''s Bane Order of Knights overseeing the report of dragons in this area." He used his middle name, much less recognizable than his first. "We assure you," he said formally, "the dragons shall not harm another citizen. My condolences for the loss of your wife¡­."

    The man nodded grimly, still too shocked to respond otherwise.

    Better than any words that he could say, Prince Marcellus began to help with the body. The prince accepted the unsightly task of brushing the bugs off the woman''s corpse, so her husband did not have to. They loaded her onto the back of the horse, and the two men walked in silence for a while.

    In a shaky voice, the widower piped up, "I don''t understand how a thing like this could happen. We have beasts in the woods, and monsters from the badlands, but dragons here in Syene? My wife¡­ I don''t understand why she had to die like this."

    Prince Marcellus sighed. He could not deny the dragons'' involvement when the man had already seen them with his own eyes. All the more reason we must wage war against the dragons, he scoffed to himself.

    The party arrived at the widower''s cottage where they would prepare the body for a quick and simple, yet proper, burial. However, the children already dreaded the awful news and came running out to meet their returning father.

    "Papa," a young boy asked, holding the hand of his younger sister next to him. Both their eyes fixated on the horse''s limp cargo. "Is she really dead?"

    "Citrio¡­ I''m afraid so," the father admitted to his son.

    The boy''s face fell stony. The anger and resentment filling his eyes was the only emotional reaction from him.

    The little girl slipped her hand away from her brother''s clenched fist. As she burst into tears, she tugged on her braided pigtails¡ªthe hairstyle which her mother had probably done for her so neatly. Through her bleary tears, she looked up to Prince Marcellus. "Your armor''s so shiny. Are you really a knight?"

    Slowly, Prince Marcellus knelt down to the same level as the tearful girl. "Yes, indeed, I am a knight."

    "Why didn''t you save Mama?" The girl sobbed uncontrollably, and Prince Marcellus had no idea how to reply. When he looked up to the despondent father, the prince figured that he could also help by consoling the children.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    "Come closer," the prince offered gently. "Let me show you something."

    The girl hobbled over to his outstretched arms. Once again, she tried to wipe her tears to no avail.

    "Do you see this?" Prince Marcellus pointed to the sigil at his breastplate.

    The little girl blinked her watery eyes until she could focus on it. "It''s a wing. It looks funny."

    "That''s because it''s a dragon wing¡ªa broken one. I''m sorry I got there too late to save your mother, but I promise you, I''ll find those dragons and kill them. That''s what my order of knights does. We slay all kinds of monsters, dragons above all."

    The little boy, Citrio, stepped forward and blurted out, "Do you know the Dragon Slayer?"

    "Why yes, matter of fact, I do," Prince Marcellus said, ears flushed beneath his helm. Though he had become a popular hero throughout Syene, the prince felt ashamed that he had gone undercover as a knight and had the audacity to stand before this particular family.

    "Well, why didn''t he kill them?" Citiro shouted. "Why did he let my ma die?" The boy had big tears beading at the corners of his eyes. When he blinked, they cascaded down his cheeks much like his sister. However, this boy also possessed in him an aptitude for magic. The natural surroundings reacted to his emotional outburst. Vines coiled up from the grass to swing around his ankles where he stood defiantly.

    The words of the child rang through the prince''s head. Why did he let my ma die? Prince Marcellus had failed these innocent kids. At the same time, he saw much potential in this young boy; he had both power and the motivation to use it. And the military always needed more nature mages. With a slight smile on his lips, he asked, "Is that how you feel? Then stand up," he barked.

    Shaken by the sudden order, Citrio hesitated before he obeyed.

    The sudden shift in the atmosphere snapped the father back to the present. "Please forgive my son''s rudeness!" he started begging. "He''s just a poor trapper''s son, distraught over the loss of his mother. He means no insult against the royal family."

    "Quiet." The father fell silent, trembling as he watched Prince Marcellus, clad in armor and sword on his hip, loom over the helpless boy. "I agree with you," the prince said sternly. "The Dragon Slayer did fail you. But what are you going to do about it?"

    Citrio had his hands balled into fists. His stare never wavered from Prince Marcellus''s eyes even as hot tears kept streaming down his face. "I-I''m¡­. When I grow up, I''m going to slay dragons better than him!"

    Prince Marcellus reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. Gazing into those tearful, enraged eyes of a child, he said, "I hope you do just that." After giving him a final pat, Prince Marcellus said, "You should take your sister back to the house. Let the adults finish up here."

    Citrio, slightly shaking, took his sister''s hand once more and led her back inside.

    When Prince Marcellus turned back to the father, he offered a quick apology. "Sorry about that. I''ll wait outside while you prepare your wife for the afterlife."

    The act of preparing the body for a funeral was an intimate, family affair, so the prince stayed to dig the grave where the widower had specified. Once finished, he walked back to his horse tied at the fence.

    "Thank you for your assistance, sir," the man said as he accompanied him to see the knight commander off.

    Prince Marcellus withdrew a hefty sack of gold coins from the satchel and passed it to the widower. "No amount of money could replace your wife or the children''s mother, but please allow this to assist your family after the dragons'' defilement. Furthermore, take this pin." The metal trinket had the same sigil of a broken dragon wing which Prince Marcellus used, and anyone who bore this mark had his favor. "Send your son to the capital, and it shall guarantee his acceptance to the Royal Academy."

    "Thank you." The man bowed deeply, both hands extended for the hefty coin purse and the pin. When he straightened himself up, he clarified, "You said that your name is Sir Antoninus?"

    "Yes."

    "As in the Dragon Slayer, Prince Marcellus Antoninus? I''m so sorry for what my son said earlier. He really didn''t mean anything by it¡ª"

    The common folk were uneducated, but seldom ignorant. Prince Marcellus smiled tightly as he cut him off and replied, "Children often speak the truth." Since he had no reason to further this conversation with a peasant, Prince Marcellus mounted his horse and rode off. He had dragons to hunt, and many miles to cover in order to catch up.

    ***

    Throughout the night, Prince Marcellus rode to the east. A gravity orb hovered a few feet ahead of his horse''s chest, drawing its center of mass closer to that point. Like this, the horse could maintain an unnaturally fast canter without tiring, more than worth the small amount of magic that it used.

    The hastened, midnight ride carried on like this until rapid lightning strikes caught his attention. The flashes of electricity were too massive and frequent to be natural, so at once, Prince Marcellus kicked his horse into a gallop and raced towards the fiery aftermath.

    Old flames roared across the base of hill. A path of soggy embers had been cut down the middle, so Prince Marcellus guided his horse through the gap in the flames. The heat made sweat drip down his brow, but moreover he was itching to fight the dragons.

    However, when he arrived to the top of the hill, he found two of his knights calmly keeping watch over the badlands below. "Report," he said simply to get up to speed.

    "The dragons flew somewhere into the badlands," a knight said, eyes never moving from the darkness beyond. "We are keeping watch to ensure that they do not come back, according to your orders, Your Highness."

    Prince Marcellus nodded in assent to that plan. "Good."

    "Should we pursue them?" the second knight asked. The electricity mage still seemed jittery from his previous spellcasting and eager to attack the dragons head-on.

    "No. Let them go," Prince Marcellus replied. "As long as they do not come back to drink our water, let their bones be picked by monsters. Set up camp to keep watch. I¡¯ll stay with you here tonight. Send out the lightning flares to rally the knights here.¡± Prince Marcellus turned to the lightning mage. ¡°Now that our people are safe from these dragons, I must focus on the invasion of Carlinoa. Sir Hadrian, I¡¯m leaving you in charge to ensure the dragons don¡¯t return."

    Tomorrow, he would focus on organizing the troops and ships that would go to the homeland of the little, pink dragoness.

 Chapter 35: The Bad Land

    The two dragons had squirmed between some rocky ledges for shelter that night, and dozed in the cool, confined space. Can we just sleep or do we have to take turns keeping watch? Fia asked.

    Sleep. Viliant closed his eyes and said no more.

    The dragons had their backs covered by rock. If anything came to get them, they would have to come from the single entrance and be met by dragon claws and fangs, blistering fire and manifesting shadow. The humans were no longer after them, so Fia and Viliant fell into their deepest, most sound sleep in a long while.

    When the dragons woke up at high noon, they crawled from their shelter onto the sun-baked ground. Fia pressed the bottoms of her three, good feet flat on the ground. Mm. It feels warm. She twisted around and hopped onto some rocks which were even hotter, much to her liking. FIa stretched out her belly, tail, and neck, rubbing her scaly cheeks along the smooth stone. So nice, she purred.

    What''re you doing? Viliant snapped. We just woke up, so it''s time to move¡ªnot sleep.

    This feels amazing. Try it!

    A skeptical glare bore into the dragoness who was leisurely sprawled out, but Viliant gave in and sank to the ground exactly where he stood. His black scales absorbed even more warmth from the sunlight than Fia''s pink scales. As his eyes closed in relaxation and his chin drifted towards the ground, he slowly spread his tattered wings.

    See? You do like it!

    Shut it. Though Viliant might not want to admit it, all dragons enjoyed the warmth of sunlight on their scales. They would now have time to sun themselves for a few minutes each and every morning, a well-deserved moment of leisure.

    I haven''t gotten to lie on big rocks like this since I was home, Fia marveled.

    Viliant folded his wings and got up with a grunt. If you still want a home to go back to, we''d better get going.

    You''re right, Fia acquiesced and skipped down from the rocks after Viliant. It''ll be your home too, you know. She walked sideways into him and nudged him playfully.

    Though the dragon turned his cheek away, his tail lifted in the slightest smile. Things were finally looking up for the two young dragons, but first, they would need to find a way back to civilization. A vast wasteland spread before them. In broad daylight, they could now see how barren the landscape truly was, an endless expanse of rock and sand. The few plants which managed to spring up here only amounted to a small, scraggly growth.

    Are we sure there''s gonna be monsters out here? Fia kicked a stone up with some dust and watched it skate over the dry ground. Doesn''t seem like anything can survive out here.

    We''re gonna survive, Viliant said. And yes, I expect monsters¡ªsome of which I''ve probably already encountered in the coliseum.

    Naturally, the ominous tone in his voice made Fia think back to the previous monsters that she had witnessed. With a crown of snakes atop its head, the leo medusa had been the most formidable in both physical and magical prowess. However, Viliant had surely faced some even more fearsome than that. A shudder ran down her spine which made both her wings and tail shake; Fia did not want to think about it, but at least Viliant could take care of whatever horrendous creatures that they might encounter.

    Right now, they had nothing to worry about. Their recent escape from the human country helped lift their heads a little higher. The blazing sun overhead, constantly warming the dragons'' scales, gave Fia and Viliant an extra spring in their step. The older dragon already concerned himself with their next, most immediate needs.

    Water is our first priority, so keep an eye out and your ears sharp. The food will come to us.

    The dragons'' bellies still protruded from their recent feast. They could go nearly a week before they needed to eat again, and monsters would surely come to pick them off for that very same purpose.

    The dragons'' claws etched some scratches across the rough terrain as they pressed onward throughout the intense daylight hours. When Fia flared her nostrils and swallowed hard, the interior of her mouth felt sticky as her saliva thinned out. I wish we could''ve gotten one last drink at the river before we left the humans'' land.

    They never would''ve allowed that, Viliant remarked.

    I know, but I''m thirsty.

    Well, it might be a while until I can do anything ''bout that.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Fia restrained the urge to whine the entire time, knowing that Viliant must feel the same physical need as her. So, they carried on, chatting pleasantly, until some movement sparked a glimmer in the young dragoness''s eyes.

    Viliant, look at that! The flexible spines on Fia''s back rose from excitement as she glimpsed her favorite prey.

    A rabbit with a thin, rugged coat of fur crouched along the ground, camouflaging well with the dirt as it munched on a tuft of spiny grass. This one had ears almost as long as its body, erect in the air and swiveling slightly to stay alert for the first sound of danger.

    Its ears are humongous! It''s so cute, but I bet it would look even cuter in my mouth. Fia slunk forward, placing one claw in front of the other silently. She tried to keep her movement as still as possible, so that her pink scales could be mistaken for the reddish, brownish tones behind her.

    It''s just a rabbit, Viliant said in her head. Leave it alone. We don''t need to eat right now.

    But it''s a rabbit! she replied as her counterpoint. We don''t know the next time we''ll get to eat¡­. This time, Fia would exercise her hunting skills to provide for them both. In full concentration, she drew closer to her prey and lunged.

    The rabbit, however, sprung straight into the air which caused the dragoness to sail beneath it. Fia landed on the patch of grass and tried to halt her momentum with her forelegs, sending pain across her shoulder. What¡­? Confusion overtook her greater than the ache from her missed lunge. This particular rabbit had jumped higher than any bunny Fia had ever seen. Is it a magical, flying rabbit?

    Even though her injury hindered her pursuit, Fia did her best to follow the erratic pattern of its dash. The dragoness did not want to admit defeat to a little cony.

    A disappointed groan from Viliant could be heard. Fia¡­.

    But she ignored him, drowning out the sound of his voice in her head with a roar. Fia spewed flames at the rabbit and singed its cottontail.

    Once more, the bunny leaped twice Fia''s height, safely over the fire. Upon landing, it darted in zigzags until it disappeared.

    A few blinks fell over Fia''s eyes until she started crying. "Wah! Stupid rabbit." She was not crying over the lost food; after all, the escape of the rabbit was inconsequential. Rather, if she had four healthy legs she would have caught it.

    It doesn''t matter, Viliant reassured her telepathically. We didn''t need the food anyway, so stop blubbering about it.

    Even so, Fia kept crying. She walked back to Viliant with her tail dragging in defeat, and she tapped her forehead onto his shoulder. I know, but everything''s been too much. I just wanna go home!

    Viliant rolled his eyes and took a step away from the crying, little girl. You need to conserve your energy, and you already wasted enough chasing the rabbit for no reason. Your tears are a waste of precious water.

    Her throat constricted as she swallowed hard and bit back her tears. Fine. It seemed like Viliant was not keen on consoling her like the last time she had cried, so she tightened her wings into her body and started walking again. Her nose turned up to the air to indicate her annoyance with him.

    ***

    By nightfall, Fia and Viliant scoured the area for another enclosure to sleep. Lacking a desirable shelter, the dragons had to curl up beneath the stars. The pink dragoness flipped onto her back gingerly with wings spread out. Look up, she suggested to Viliant.

    First, his head lifted and turned to look at the dragoness who sprawled herself out, upside down. Viliant would not put himself in such a silly position, but he did abide by her request. He flipped his own chin up to the sky, blinking at the starry sky.

    Isn''t it nice to gaze at the stars? Fia asked. It feels like it''s just you and me in the whole world.

    And a hoard of monsters all around us, lurking in the dark.

    "Eek!" Fia vocalized a shriek.

    Hush! Do you want them to come find us?

    No¡­. I''m sorry.

    The temperature dropped drastically once the sun had gone down and the rocky ground cooled. The chilly surroundings strengthened the dragons'' sense of sleepiness. Fia rolled onto her good side and curled her back away from Viliant. The serenity of the quiet night, bright from the stars and moonlight, started lulling her to sleep. But then, an annoying, persistent clicking noise began behind her.

    Viliant, what''s that? she asked. Her muscles tensed up, afraid that some nocturnal monster was stalking them with claws tapping eagerly and teeth smacking hungerly.

    It''s nothing, he said. Go to sleep.

    Fia tried her best to listen to him as she pressed one side of her head into the ground and draped a wing over the other. The sound only seemed to grow louder. Ugh. What is that? When she picked up her head to scan the open space behind Viliant, she saw nothing behind his trembling frame. Oh.

    The black dragon had been too proud to admit it, but his fangs were chattering and his scales were clinking together from his violent shivers. The nighttime temperature of the wasteland had dropped too low for a non-fire elemental.

    Are you cold? she asked.

    I''m fine, he said, even as shivers wracked his body.

    Well, I''m feeling a little too warm to sleep. Fia got up and plopped down next to Viliant who she leaned against just like a cool rock. Is that better?

    Suit yourself. I don''t care, Viliant said, who curled into a tighter ball.

    A giggle caught in Fia''s throat as she settled down to sleep next to her friend who had finally managed to stop shivering. Out in the open, the dragons slept more lightly in case anything found them during the night. At least there were no humans tracking them anymore.

 Chapter 36: Lizards in the Desert

    The badlands were more peaceful than expected. The next dawn brought a morning as relaxing as the day before. The dragons woke up lazily, stretched their wings, and sunned themselves until they felt thoroughly energized. Even after they had begun their travels for the day, Fia and Viliant lay down for brief stops, closing their eyes against the sun''s rays.

    Rest your shoulder, Viliant said. We have a long journey ahead of us.

    Thanks. Fia was grateful now that they had the ability to take reprieve whenever they needed.

    Despite acting like he called the breaks for her sake, Viliant needed to rest too. Whenever he lay down, his eyelids started drooping down and flicking up again in a losing battle to stay awake. A soft snore came from his nostrils when his eyes shut all the way.

    Aw, Fia thought to herself while doing her best to restrain a snicker. As much as Viliant humored her, she did not want her giggles to disturb him. The dragoness was resting her injured shoulder anyway, so he might as well sneak in a quick power nap. From the looks of him, he needed it.

    Their freedom from the coliseum had only amounted to a few weeks, but the black dragon already seemed bigger than when they had first met. Viliant was undergoing a growth spurt, so his scales must itch and his bones must ache. At this time in his life, he needed more food and sleep than Fia which made their desperate escape taxing on his body as well.

    Her eyes squinted against the intense sunlight which created a wavering haze as it baked the rocky ground. The dragons needed to keep moving, so Fia stirred Viliant awake. Rise and shine, friend!

    The older dragon got up and shook himself awake. I was not asleep, he said grumpily.

    Sure you weren''t, she teased.

    The dragons set off again, trudging side by side across the rugged landscape. At least there were no monsters like Fia had feared. We sure are lucky how we haven''t run into anything scary yet, Fia remarked.

    Don''t get too comfortable, Viliant intoned. The beasts could strike at any time.

    Against his warning, Fia drank in the wasteland around her with starry eyes. If only this place had some water to sate their thirst, the badlands would be an idyllic place for the dragons. Their third sunrise came without a drop.

    Viliant, Fia moaned, I''m so thirsty. When she swallowed back the dryness in her mouth, her long, narrow tongue felt scorched and shriveled in the desert.

    Me too. Hang in there, Viliant said. Where there''s life, there''s water.

    In addition to the dry, prickly shrubbery, the dragons had observed some small animals here and there. But what if there''s not enough water for anything bigger than a rabbit? Fia fretted.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Those are bigger, Viliant replied as his chin tilted back.

    Vultures soared above them, following their target in broad circles. The ominous shadows from their wings passed over Fia and Viliant''s heads intermittently. The dragons needed to find water soon or perish.

    Instead, Fia stumbled across a new animal which instantly lifted her spirits. "Ooh," she said gently as her nose came even with a tiny lizard hiding in the shadows, halfway concealed amidst a pile of rocks. The lizard''s big, gray eyes blinked at her¡ªfull of innocence. When its eyes reopened, Fia lost herself in the intricate, black web which ornamented the reptilian iris. Viliant, look! It''s like a teeny tiny dragon. I''m gonna name it Lil Vilie.

    No¡­. Viliant said as his voice dropped in horror. The older dragon fell silent at a loss for words. He refused to entertain her childish antics.

    It looks just like you! Fia insisted.

    The lizard lacked all the defining features of Viliant: his emerald green eyes, the innumerable spines across his back, and the six, sharp horns which topped his head. Furthermore, the gecko had a smooth, round face which contrasted with the dragon''s angular jaw and narrow snout. The circular pads on the gecko''s feet looked harmless, unlike Viliant''s overgrown claws. The only quality that the two reptiles shared in common was their black scales.

    Are you blind? I look nothing like that thing. With a shake of his head, Viliant yelled with greater passion, More importantly, get away from it!

    Fia jumped back like a cat had come across the creeping lizard, slowly emerging from its hovel closer to her nose. "Eek!" she shrieked. What is it? Is it dangerous?

    However, the harmless, little gecko responded to the flighty dragon with equal fright. Its limbs became a whirlwind, rotating backwards as it dashed into its shelter with impressive speed for its size.

    I don''t know. Just don''t touch it, Viliant replied.

    Aw, Fia said, edging closer with her tongue flicking out. It looks more scared of us. We''re the big dragons! I can''t believe you were worried about this tiny baby lizard. Come back out! she called. No other creatures were privy to the conversation held across their telepathic link, so Viliant was the only one to hear her. To better communicate with the lizard and also annoy Viliant further, she cooed to the pile of rocks, "Lil Vilie! Come out."

    Let''s go. We don''t have time for your games. Viliant turned around with a self-righteous flick of his tail and expected Fia to follow.

    You just don''t like the name I gave it, Fia muttered. She was about to turn to go, but then her eyes grew bigger as not one but two then three little lizards reappeared from the rocks. More and more kept scurrying out and settled on top of their shelter, all facing the dragoness, hunched over and leaning eagerly towards her.

    Her mind lit up, marveling at how many miniature lizards surrounded her. So many friends¡­ she thought to herself. If only we could ask them where we could get something to drink.

    However, the swarm of lizards seemed to have something else in mind. The leader at the center of the pack leaped forward and landed squarely on Fia''s nose. The pads of its feet tickled the thin, sensitive scales on her face at first, and the dragoness was content to let it crawl all over her. She lifted her nose higher, carefully balancing it while she went cross-eyed looking at it. Look, Viliant!

    A deep red hue started to burn within the gecko''s body. As Fia examined it closely, she noticed grayish stripe along its back was actually a recess into its hollow body. However, she could only glimpse its innards for a moment. Jagged streaks of darkness, almost like an eruption of flames soon swelled from within the lizard''s body and engulfed it. A warm sensation started on the fire dragon''s nose, reaching an unbearable heat which scorched her scales.

    Fia shrieked from pain and called to Viliant, more desperate this time. Help!

    All the rest of the lizards jumped onto the dragoness at once.

 Chapter 37: Ambush

    Wherever one of the geckos landed on Fia with their sticky, padded feet, she felt her scales chilled to the point where it affected the skin underneath. Ah! It''s cold, but it burns! she cried to Viliant in greater panic than before.

    Of course it does, he barked back. That''s blackfire.

    Normally, fire would not phase through the heat-resistant scales, yet these inexplicable, darkened flames behaved like an element all its own. Whereas normal fire burned in colors of red, yellow, and orange, the lizards produced a conflagration of black, dark gray, and light gray. The blackfire did not create light, but it rather seemed to consume the light around it. A haze accumulated around the tips of the flames, much like the appearance of shadow magic. Thanks to the way that the blackfire sapped energy from its surroundings, the intricate pattern of the gecko''s eyes glowed with a white light.

    The leader of the blackfire geckos crawled up Fia''s nose and planted itself firmly on her forehead. As its tail dangled down her snout, flicking between her nostrils, it lifted its hind legs to stick them into the dragon''s eyeballs. "Achoo!" The dragoness sneezed from the tickling tail and shut her eyes just in time. The thin scales over her eyelids would not protect her for long though.

    The dragoness reared and thrashed out her wings against the additional lizards which tried to jump on her. On two legs, she lifted her good foreleg and slashed at the gecko on her forehead. Her talon slipped into the slit in its back, puncturing through its narrow belly where she felt the organs rip and give way. Hardly a flick of her claw was needed to slice down the entirety of its abdomen. Just like that, she had killed the first lizard, but that did not put out the fire which had already started within its belly.

    At this rate, the cold would blind her eyes and freeze her brain. Fia wrapped a couple of claws around the blazing corpse and tried to pull it off. The adhesive feet remained stuck to her scales, and Fia lost her balance as more lizards were jumping on her, burning all over.

    "Ah!" she landed on her good side, but her wing was folded awkwardly beneath her. Help, Viliant! Get it off! With her eyes closed, Fia could not see how her friend was preoccupied at the moment.

    They''re trying to get me too! he snapped back.

    It''s on my face! she insisted. If Viliant had the capacity to help right now, she knew that he would, but Fia could not rely on that. The dead gecko must be removed from her head this instant.

    Fia hefted herself back to her feet and leveled her neck, lining up the columns in her spine. If her memory served correctly, the elevated rock which the lizards had come from was located in the direction that she now turned. Fia ran headlong for the boulder. A proper charge involved leading with the horns, but in this case, she took the impact on the crown of her skull. The top of her head bashed into the side of the rock.

    Bones crunched as the gecko''s body was flattened. When Fia pulled away, she rubbed her head across the rock to make sure that she scraped the lizard off. Finally, she could open her eyes and view her handiwork.

    The leader of the lizard ambush had its guts plastered to its home rock momentarily before it slid down. There was not much to the creature''s innards. I got it, Fia mentioned to Viliant.

    Good. This is your fault, you know! The black dragon had lowered himself to the ground, doing his best to shield his vulnerable limbs and belly. With his hackles raised, the extended spines on his back made him look like an angry urchin but with a dragon head and wings. Viliant roared at the tiny lizards to back away, and whenever they tried to jump on him, he lashed out with claw and fang to kill them in midair.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    He was focused on defending himself. Any effort to help her would result in him getting swarmed by the geckos and ending up in the same dire straits as her.

    Luckily, Fia now knew how to handle the situation on her own. This pile of rocks from which the geckos came seemed like the perfect place to spurn them. The dragoness slammed her side against the boulder. Leaning into it the whole time, she walked forward as if she were trying to scratch her scales. The crunched bones distended from the fragile geckos'' bodies did just that, itching between her scales gently. Fia lifted her head in relief as the freezing burns abated, and she sighed. The rest of her body still needed attention, so she turned around to tend to her other, injured side.

    However, not all the lizards had immediately jumped onto Fia and Viliant. One such straggler perched atop the rock. Its glowing, demonic eyes cut through the cloak of shadow flames which engulfed the lizard. This gecko leaped onto the free spot of her bandaged shoulder.

    There, no scales remained to protect the raw, cauterized flesh underneath. At first, she felt nothing through the bandage, but the dark embers quickly burned through the cloth and scattered ashes over her wound. The deadened nerves on the surface did not respond to the attached gecko, but deeper in, a severe pain elicited a high-pitched scream from Fia. She thrashed around wildly, but more of the lizards could jump on her faster than she could throw them off.

    My shoulder¡­ she gasped and begged again. Help!

    This time, her call for help sent Viliant into action at once. He released his legs from the defensive crouch, and the army of lizards immediately rushed him. A few grabbed onto his legs and belly, but they could not land on his back due to his formidable spines. One such daring lizard had skewered its hollow body on him, helplessly swinging around as Viliant thrashed from pain.

    The blackfire was an enigma. Fia did not understand how a magic spell which seemed so close to each of their elements could hurt them both. All she knew was that she wanted it off, especially her shoulder.

    Viliant, please!

    I''m trying! he said, but the shadow dragon''s magic suffered in the broad daylight of this empty wasteland. There was not even a tree to offer them shade. However, the murky inferno surrounding every single lizard was enough for him to work with. The dragon immersed his body in the shadow realm, causing the geckos to fall off him and land on the ground. The darkness shredded off of Viliant''s body much like their flame, and his impressive stature loomed over the tiny lizards.

    Their big, glowing eyes blinked up to the dragon in shadow form. The geckos fell still and did not try to pursue him, even as Viliant dashed through their ranks, returned to his physical body, and snatched the lizard from Fia''s shoulder between his teeth. His jaw pressed together, snapping its back. Viliant threw away the gecko with a toss of his head rather than simply swallowing it, as its body burned his mouth. You okay? he asked.

    Yeah, I guess so. Her body was trembling from wing tip to tail tip. The ache of the cold burns persisted, but Fia realized that the remaining lizards had gotten off her body by their own volition. Are they retreating?

    Not exactly, Viliant said. Just don''t make any sudden movements¡­.

    When she looked around, Fia realized that the dragons were surrounded. The lizards had ceased their flames, reverting them to the cute geckos which had initially tricked her. They edged closer to dragons'' talons, encouraging them to stand closer together.

    Is this the end for us? she asked with a whimper.

    Nonsense. The older dragon started to give orders. On my signal, climb on that rock and jump as high as you can to fly away. I can take care of ''em just it will be easier with you out of the way.

    From all sides, the intense eyes of the geckos bore into them. The detailed web around their pupils emitted a white light as their black flames restarted.

    Now! Viliant said as he crouched down, preparing for all the lizards to lunge at him.

 Chapter 38: Reconciliation

    Wait! Fia whined. Instead of jumping with his signal like Viliant had told her, she leaned onto his side and cupped the underside of his foreleg. His claw protruded into the air, reaching for the little lizards, but Fia had stopped him in time. Don''t fight them. Just use your shadow form! They stopped attacking when you did that.

    Fia felt the irascible mood of Viliant through their telepathic connection, but he did not bother to scold her. The dragons did not have time to mess around, so he snapped, Fine. Now go!

    The dragoness clambered onto the rock which she could use as a jump pad, but lingered to watch Viliant. The geckos encircled and closed on him, but the dragon still refused to take Fia''s advice. Do it, she chided.

    Get out of here! he roared in her mind. The hostility made her tail droop between her legs and her wings collapse over her body shamefully. Fia was more shocked by Viliant''s rage than the icy flames of the geckos.

    He waited till the last possible moment to duck into the shadows. The geckos had already lunged for him when their target disappeared. This caused a dozen lizards to sail through Viliant''s shadow form and collide with each other. The sticky pads of their feet entangled and their flames amassed into a larger inferno. After their fragile bodies hit the ground, not all of them got back up.

    Viliant, stop! Fia cried. W-Why would you do that? she was stammering because she knew it was not her place to interject. If Viliant had things his way, she would be far away from here. But Fia did not see why she always had to listen to him, yet he would never take her advice¡ªnot even after her hypothesis had been proven correct.

    When the surviving geckos scrambled to their feet and shook themselves off, they looked up to Viliant with awe filling their wide eyes. The darkened flames went out, and the daylight around them was restored. Once more, the lizards sat peacefully around their dragon king which looked like a bigger version of them.

    Viliant turned his attention to Fia who had stayed perching on the rock. Why are you still here? he replied, raging at her. Why can''t you do the simplest thing to protect yourself?

    Because look! The Lil Vilies aren''t attacking anymore¡ª

    Shut up! The only little thing around here is you, Lil Fia, the stupid kid that''s been driving me insane. Even without the lizards'' fire to procure shadows for him, the darkness which consumed Viliant flared alongside his temper. His livid, green eyes bore through the murk straight at Fia.

    Eep! As she yelped from the aggression directed towards her, she jumped from the rock and darted the other way.

    Oh, now you want to run away? In pursuit, Viliant leaped over the pacified geckos so that he could berate her all the better. When I see you later, you''re in big trouble! he growled. Just you wait.

    I should wait? Though Fia was quite certain that he wanted her out of his sight this instant, she paused and turned back to him.

    No, you idiot. Go!  While they were arguing, Viliant''s shadow spell flickered and dwindled until he stood in plain sight.

    Behind you! she gasped instead.

    The lizards had lost their illusionment with their icon. They crept behind him in a semicircle, reigniting their blackfire one by one. The light was devoured around each lick of flame where darkness plumed in place of smoke.

    Not even shock registered in Viliant''s eyes for a moment. He coolly gathered the new shadows behind him and cloaked himself in his element. The little lizards leaped helplessly through him once more, and though they could have kept rushing for Fia, they stopped short. Yet again, they became entranced by the dragon who appeared to have stolen their blackfire.

    See? Fia said. As long as you keep that up, they won''t attack us anymore.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    His chin turned either way as he observed the placated lizards. So what? They''re still hostile the moment I drop the spell.

    I was thinking maybe we could have them show us where the water is¡­.

    And how do you suppose we do that? As Viliant fumed, he stomped in a broad circle. All the lizards followed him like a brood of ducklings after its mother. I''d have to be the one to lead them.

    Fia''s eyes trained on her claws fiddling with each other. Her head hung low, too ashamed to look up at Viliant. I don''t know, but it doesn''t matter. Look at all the friends you just made¡ª

    Every lizard behind him stopped short when Viliant halted where he stood. Friends! That''s your problem! he said, exasperated. You try to befriend everything that breathes, but it has done nothing but get us into trouble. First, the healer at the coliseum. Then, the bear cub and human child. Now, these lizards. When the lizards started their fire to rechallenge him, Viliant submerged himself in the shadows without so much as blinking at them. The geckos stopped, but the dragon kept going. It''s a miracle you didn''t try playing with everything you fought in the arena! Didn''t we just talk about this? Don''t you care about saving your people at all?

    Still unable to look at him, Fia blinked so that her watery vision turned fuzzy with steam. Her jaw gritted tight enough for her fangs to poke into her gums. The taste of blood dappled her tongue. Viliant did not usually talk this much which indicated how Fia had pushed him past a breaking point. The hardest part about listening to him rave was the heavy feeling in her heart, growing with every example that he gave. Deep down, she knew that he was right. Even before they had ever met, Fia had been playing with Arenis when she was captured by the humans in the first place.

    However, the dragoness refused to admit to his criticisms in the heat of the moment. Instead, she wanted to make him feel as bad as he made her feel. Maybe it''s a good thing I''m like this, she said with a soft growl. Otherwise, I never would''ve made friends with you.

    In his own words, Viliant had said that her one qualification for a friend was anything that breathes. His nostrils flared as he gave a furious snort, and his eyes narrowed. Yeah? Well, I don''t need our friendship. You''re the one who needs me to survive. As he turned to walk away, Viliant switched into his shadow form to cease the gecko''s fire. They skipped after him, oblivious to the rift that they had reopened between the dragons.

    Fia¡¯s heart was racing, pounding in her chest like it might explode. Her thoughts spun round her head fast enough to make her dizzy. Oh no. Oh no, she thought to herself. I really did it this time. I never should¡¯ve made Viliant mad¡­.

    The dragoness pestered him with her telepathic thoughts. I¡¯m sorry! she called after him. I¡¯m really sorry. Please don¡¯t go.

    The older black dragon did not turn back as he jeered in her mind. Yeah, you¡¯re gonna be sorry. You won¡¯t last another day without me.

    Fire was coursing through Fia¡¯s veins as she panicked. You won¡¯t last the night! she screeched. Their flames won¡¯t keep you warm like mine. To prove herself, she loped behind the blackfire lizards and planted three feet on the ground. Her chest swelled as she drew in a big breath. Please don¡¯t go, Viliant. You¡¯re my friend. I need you, and you¡¯re the only friend I need! she declared. Her lower jaw dropped open to release the bursting, roaring fire. The warmth could be felt against her scaly snout and cheeks. Each additional plume made the heat grow more intense, and the light tinged her pink scales into a glowing orange.

    When Viliant turned to see this, his eyes widened in shock. At the center of his green irises, a flash of red lit up within the slitted pupil. The dragon backpedaled while his useless wings flapped frantically to avoid the oncoming wall of fire.

    The blackfire lizards did not have the same, quick reaction as him. Their bodies were consumed in the path of Fia''s flames. The slender forms of the lizards danced like shadows within the fire. On two legs with their heads tipped back, they sang high-pitched yelps of pain. Their own blackfire rekindled in an effort to protect themselves. The two fires clashed with one another, creating streaks of black and red throughout the inferno, until the true fire of the dragoness won out.

    A tug within her body''s ley lines, like a lurch of the heart, marked the depletion of her magical reserves. Her flames sputtered to nothing. When she closed her mouth, Fia observed the smoldering corpses of every single lizard with a mixture of black and red flames. Though the hosts had died, the blackfire still warred with the red until all had been extinguished.

    Viliant stood behind the carnage where his rigid body had locked in place. After a few blinks fell over his eyes, his tail skewed into a devious grin. Apology accepted, he said.

    Her body felt faint. Though she trembled, Fia forced her wings to open in an uplifting way and curled her tail to return his smile.

 Chapter 39: The Rules of Survival

    I''m setting some new rules, Viliant said as he strode past the crispy blackfire lizards. One: put your survival above all else.

    You mean everything? Fia repeated for clarification. Her talons clicked against the rough earth as she followed him in small, hasty steps. Even you?

    Rather than replying over their telepathic link, Viliant shot her an unamused glare. The dragon had put himself at risk time and time again in order to help Fia, yet she repaid him with stupid questions. He continued, Two: do not make friends. You will not approach any animal unless we agree on killing it for food. This includes humans, most of all.

    Fia wings shook and her tail twitched as a shiver ran down her spine. I hope we never see humans ever again.

    If you listen to me, we won''t. That brings us to my last rule. Three: always listen to me¡ªwithout hesitation, without question.

    But¡­. Fia trotted faster on three legs so that she could catch up to Viliant. After the attack of the blackfire lizards, a sharp twinge of pain cut through her shoulder which elicited a wince. She composed her face by the time that she walked into view beside him. But can''t I help? I have good ideas too.

    Sometimes you do. That''s why you should tell me, and I''ll consider it.

    Except you don''t! I told you to use your shadow form against the Lil Vilie¡ªevil lizards, she corrected herself hastily. But you didn''t do it¡ª

    I listened. You saw me. Viliant blinked a few times, indignant that he had done exactly what he had wanted to do with that information.

    Fia hung her head and huffed a cloud of smoke onto the ground. I see. They trudged onward in silence. These new rules needed a few minutes to sink into the young dragoness''s head, causing questions to arise. If I''m not allowed to make any other friends, then will you play with me?

    No. I don''t play. We don''t have time for that. You''re in no condition to mess around either. Viliant tipped his head slightly to the right. His slitted pupil flashed to the corner of his eye, observing the dragoness who was walking slower and limping more due to her injury.

    More so, her tail dragged across the ground with her wingtips threatening to join because of this alien concept. No time for play. I guess when we escaped the coliseum¡­ when we made it to the Bad Land¡­ I thought we were free. I thought freedom meant we could do anything we wanted. I thought we''d be able to have at least some fun, even though we have to warn my clan. Fia clenched her fangs together. To herself, she chanted, Don''t cry. Don''t cry. Viliant''s already mad at me and doesn''t like it when I cry¡­.

    Tell you what. Viliant halted alongside the pause in his mind. Though cynicism followed him like his own shadow, rarely did fretful emotions overtake his mind such as the dread which consumed him now.

    Concerned, Fia stopped too. She sat down to give her legs a brief break, stretched her neck a bit closer to Viliant, and tipped her nose up to him. What is it?

    Slowly, he said, If you follow my rules, I promise I''ll play with you once we make it back to Carlinoa. The dread from Viliant''s mind evaporated, replaced by resignation to his fate.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Fia''s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened, almost as if firelight danced in those happy, blue eyes. You will? You mean it? You''ll play with me?

    Only after we successfully warn your people¡ª

    Hooray! Fia jumped up and felt a renewed strength to continue their journey. We''ll have so much fun once we make it home, and it''ll be your home too, she shared in a sing-song tone over their telepathic connection.

    Stoic as ever, Viliant walked around to her injured side and simply said, Lean on me.

    Oh, I''m fine.

    No, you''re not. Your injury has worsened.

    Fia did not want to admit that her carelessness with the unfamiliar lizards had caused her body further damage. I''m just thirsty, but thank you, she said and accepted Viliant''s support to help her walk.

    We need water, Viliant confirmed. His eyes squinted up to the sun which moved westward across the sky. The vultures drifted after them throughout the day, more gathering as they seemed to sense the delirious dehydration in the young dragons.

    Far off in the distance, Fia noticed another vulture flying towards the mountainous terrain ahead of them. However, its body was larger with four legs tucked into its abdomen. The wingspan of the silhouette spread far greater than any of the vultures which circled overhead. Most notably, its head was not bald but crowned with horns. The tail was adorned with spikes instead of feathers.

    At first, Fia thought she was hallucinating to see a dragon in flight where a vulture should have been. A few, hard blinks fell over her eyes, and she shook her head. When she looked back up to the sky, indeed, Fia still saw the dragon. Look, Viliant, we''re saved!

    He replied with one simple word. Water?

    No. An adult! A dragon! They can help us. Fia rushed forward and prepared her shrillest cry to garner the attention of the dragon.

    Stop.

    Her heart lurched, remembering the third rule which he had set earlier today. Always listen to Viliant¡ªwithout hesitation, without question. She could not break his rules just after he had made them. So, Fia let the call for help die in her throat just like the flutter of hope in her chest. There was no immediate threat posed, so she figured it was safe to ask, But why?

    Viliant''s eyes narrowed at the dragon which was flying farther away from them. Rule two: do not make friends.

    But that''s a dragon! Fia gasped. All the mature dragons cared about the children in her clan, so she could not imagine a world where an adult would refuse to help them. If Fia and Viliant were going to call for help, they needed to act now before the adult flew out of earshot.

    Just because they''re a dragon that doesn''t mean they''ll help us, Viliant snapped. The dragons from the Novemis Clan allied with the humans and killed my people.

    But we need water. We''re going to die without help, so we have to try, Fia insisted.

    No, we have a few more days. I can get us something to last till then.

    But¡­. The dragoness had already explained her rationale, yet Viliant refused to accept it. This further entrenched the belief that he never listened to her, simply dismissing her input like the young child that she was. She had one last chance to prove Viliant wrong. Courage gathered in Fia''s heart, swelling in her chest like the whistle which she prepared.

    Don''t, Viliant said in a warning tone. Listen to me. You call, that dragon swoops down and kills us.

    Fia watched with straining, tearful eyes as the adult dragon flew to the mountaintop. A dreadful pit formed in her stomach, fearing that she had just watched her last hope disappear. The dragon had flown before her very eyes, yet Fia had done nothing about it at Viliant''s behest.

    Cheer up. I''ll catch something to sate your thirst. His attention turned upward to the vultures¡ªsilhouettes against the falling dusk which enhanced the shadow dragon''s powers.

 Chapter 40: Desperate Drink

    Fia watched longingly as the adult dragon disappeared in the distance. There goes our chance¡­ she thought to herself dejectedly, but she needed to put more trust in Viliant. Their survival depended on him. If Viliant claimed that the adult dragon posed too big a risk, then they could not consider calling for help. Viliant turned his attention upwards to the darkening sky. I''ll catch something to sate your thirst, he promised.

    The colors of sunset faded from a transient violet to a murky indigo. Long streaks of shadow began to rotate from his magical influence. The circling vultures were blissfully unaware that their target had turned to hunt them until it was too late.

    The shadows formed a vortex around the nearest vulture. Its compatriots sensed something amiss, so the other condors fled with their shrill squawks splitting the sky. Viliant''s lone prey remained. As the darkness manipulated by his magic closed on the bird, the vulture tightened its flight path inward. The shadows quickened their spiral and steadily overtook the vulture. Fia recalled how a single swipe from his shadows had made her heart feel weak and palpitate, so the shadows pressing from all sides must steal the bird''s lifeforce away. Its massive wingspan folded, and its lifeless body dropped to the ground.

    When the bird struck the rocks, its light, hollow frame gave a splintering crack. A plume of black feathers rose up and rained down around it. Fia winced away, but her eager gaze gravitated back as hunger grabbed her belly.

    Oh! she marveled at the floating feathers, like an alluring invitation to dinner. That was amazing, Viliant!

    A series of stunned blinks fell over his eyes. I wasn''t sure if I could use my shadows to stop its heart from this far away. His legs trembled as he approached the successful kill.

    Fia followed him in a three-legged limp. Up close, the vulture looked like the same kind which Viliant had easily bested in the coliseum. Some sharp pieces of bone had punctured through its flesh and joined the feathers in disarray. The rich sight of oozing blood made her dry mouth water.

    Hastily, Viliant ripped away some patches of feathers which would tickle their noses and get stuck between their teeth. A single claw created an incision across a large vein in the bird, allowing the red liquid to steadily seep out. Drink up, he said to Fia.

    Her aquamarine eyes glimmered from excitement. She sank her fangs around the cut and greedily swallowed the refreshing, metallic taste. Fia carefully sucked the vein dry before moving onto a new one. The dragons tore open the bird''s breast and belly. Their narrow, forked tongues lapped at the blood which pooled around the intestines. When they punctured the heart with their claws, they could gulp directly from what had once been the source of all this blood.

    Usually when Viliant hunted, he performed a messy slaughter which lost plentiful blood to the earth. Fia''s cooking caused more to run off and clot, resulting in a scrumptious meal but less to drink. Without any water nearby, the dragons had become desperate enough to seek alternatives.

    Mm. It''s tastier than water, Fia tried to share her gratitude. Thank you!

    Hmph. Viliant brushed off her appreciation. It''s not as good as water for hydrating us but should hold us over for a couple more days. Viliant lifted his red-stained maw from the vulture''s carcass and aimed his attention towards the way that the adult dragon had flown. We''ll find a proper water source before then.

    Though the blood slaked their thirst, it could not sustain them forever.

    ***

    The subsequent days were grueling, each day harder than the last. Fia could hardly keep her three claws moving in a straight line anymore. She limped and swaggered from side to side. Violent chills seized her. No matter how much heat she absorbed during the daytime, her body shivered for more warmth. All night, her internal flame smoldered to no avail. The fire dragoness did not know how she could endure, perpetually wracked with cold.

    Her friend offered little consolation¡ªnot that she expected any from him. Viliant no longer had any reason to bother sleeping close to her for warmth.

    I''m sorry, Viliant, she moaned meekly.

    Just hang in there, he said with a rather touching degree of consideration. Focus on getting better.

    Fia clenched her jaw as she tucked her chin over her claws. A particularly vigorous quiver ran down her spine. She would have preferred it if she had not earned Viliant''s sympathy. I must be doing really bad if he''s being nice, she figured to herself. Just as he had advised, she did not waste her conscious effort on anything aside from tending to her inner flame. If she could just get warm, then maybe she stood a chance at recovery.

    Viliant had not fallen asleep yet and remained connected to her mind. Though he did not consciously express anything, irritation filled him causing him to let out a groan. He rolled over with floundering wings and flopped onto his other side. His back now turned to Fia, he snapped, Relax. Try to conserve energy.

    But it''s so cold, Fia whimpered. There was no use complaining. Viliant must endure these uncomfortably low temperatures as well, but he did so without letting on so much as a shiver.

    You feel cold? Viliant asked in alarm.

    Um, yeah. Her thoughts filled with shame as the dragoness did not want to admit that her internal flame had cooled. My fire magic isn''t working like it used to.

    Feels like it''s overworking to me, Viliant said. You''re making it too hot to sleep.

    Oh. The reality dawned on Fia that the fire in her belly raged as a response to the inflamed injury on her shoulder. Viliant still benefited from the heat which billowed off her, the reason why he slept so far away. However, the seemingly contradictory response of her body left her confused. If you say I''m too hot, then why do I feel too cold?

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    I don''t know, Viliant replied and repeated, Just focus on getting better.

    As the night wore on, Fia fell into a feverish fugue. Her slitted pupils twitched and danced against the backs of her closed eyelids. Sometimes a nightmarish terror seized her. I''m going to die! Mom and Dad. Arenis. Everyone I know is going to die! Tears streamed from her eyes and hiccups added a little jolt to her shivers. Other times, she dreamed peacefully of home as if her reality were a bad dream¡ªas if getting captured, taken across the ocean, and fighting in the coliseum had never happened. Lastly, her mind experienced some fleeting moments of awareness unaffected by panic or bliss. Fia was uncertain if she had managed to sleep at all.

    Suspended in this state, the dragoness tried to rest as best she could.

    ***

    With his eyes narrowed against the eastward sun, Viliant faced the direction that they must travel in a strong stance. He had awoken with the break of dawn, but he waited in the hours of the wee light for Fia to stir. Hopefully the extra sleep would help rectify her condition. Viliant could do nothing for her aside from continuing his search for water.

    That mission must resume now. Rise and shine, Viliant said to Fia. Time to get going. After a few seconds of silence, he asked forcefully in her head, Fia?

    No response came from the dragoness. Her body lay sprawled on one side. Her scales, originally pigmented a bright pink when they had met, were covered by a layer of dust and bleached by the sun. Her ribs rose and fell with her shallow breaths. Though she pretended to sleep, her mind was awake¡ªneither seeking out their telepathic link nor rejecting it.

    Fia? he asked again in greater concern. The dragoness was unresponsive to the mental prodding, so Viliant nudged her shoulder with the back of his claws. "Fia," he said audibly to demand her attention.

    "Viliant?" rasped past her throat. I don''t think I can.

    At first, Viliant did not know what to say. His attempts to show kindness and understanding were not working, so he growled fiercely. Finally, he barked an order which Fia simply needed to follow. Get up. You have to.

    The muscles of her legs flexed as she tried to right herself, but her body collapsed back to the dirt. She grunted and repeated with greater remorse, I can''t!

    Viliant let her lie there, and he slunk away with his head and tail hung low in defeat. The dragon needed to get out of range of the fire dragoness''s heat while he tried to think of a solution to the impossible situation.

    Are you leaving me now? Fia whined. Can you still go home for me? Warn my people? Tell Mommy and Daddy how far I got? I miss them.

    A murky sigh hefted from Viliant''s nostrils. He could lie to Fia at the end of her life to console her, but he had little interest in finding Carlinoa Island on his own. The child was his ticket to acceptance and gratitude amongst her clan. Without Fia, he might end up shunned as an outsider soon after he relayed his message. Besides, he would lack the motivation to make it that far in the first place without her.

    To himself, he rationalized what he knew. I''ll survive either way, but I''m watching my friend die. And I''m powerless to do anything about it. For her recovery, she required water, rest, and medicine¡ªnone of which Viliant could provide. He did not bother unwrapping her dusty bandages just to look at the infection rotting away at her shoulder. Whenever his tongue flicked out of his mouth, he could sense the sickly odor of death on her.

    However, Viliant did know one thing; he promised not to leave Fia behind, so he responded to her gruffly, No. I''m not leaving you. And you''re not dying.

    After a big intake of breath, Fia tried harder to get up and wobbled onto her three legs. The imbalance on her front half threatened to land her right back on the ground. Viliant dashed forward to support her before that could happen.

    A sudden hiss escaped between his fangs. Her body was too hot for comfort against his own scales, but Viliant bit back his complaints. At least she had managed to stand on her own, a much better way to travel than the only other option: dragging her.

    Maybe Fia was right, Viliant lamented to himself, never willing to admit such a thing to the dragoness and encourage her sprightly, defiant attitude when her health returned. If she was going to die either way, she might''ve as well called the adult over. The black dragon could have hidden in the shadows while she took a chance that he was not willing to take. Viliant did not rely on others for his own survival. In contrast Fia presently relied on him for every single step that she took.

    If they saw the adult dragon fly overhead again, that was what they would do, Viliant decided. For now he needed to pay for his short-sighted decision days prior, back when he had not expected Fia''s condition to deteriorate so rapidly. If they found an oasis for a prolonged period of drink and rest, maybe she still had a chance to rebound.

    That hope pushed him onward with one, laborious step after another. Every breath which he took sounded like a ragged gasp. Squinting against the harsh, noonday sun, Viliant felt as though he were boiling underneath his black scales. Wish I could make myself some shade, he said, sharing that thought with Fia.

    "Hm," she hummed in acknowledgement, possibly amusement.

    The act of performing shadow magic took much more effort than it was worth in broad daylight. Instead, Viliant could only fan out his wings to help cool his body. One wing draped over his head to offer him some shade. The holes still let sunlight through. Most of the blistering heat, however, came from the feverish fire dragon at his side.

    While he trudged onward, head down, Viliant stopped with his claw tips at the edge of an abrupt impression in the ground. A line of massive tracks cut across the dragons'' intended path. That''s a big one, Viliant observed, impressed that a large animal would choose to inhabit the arid wasteland. A creature of those proportions would require a lot of resources to sustain it. Instinct bid him to stay away, but then he sucked in his breath. An animal as big as that needs a lot of water, don''t you think, Fia?

    "Hm?"

    Big animal leads us to water! Viliant expressed in simple terms. If the little dragoness at all considered the outcomes of her actions, Fia must have wishfully imagined something like this when she tried befriending the ghast lizards. But unlike those tiny animals which required negligible amounts of water, this time her idea would actually work.

    Friend? Fia asked for a one word, delirious response.

    No, Fia, no friends! Viliant roared back in the closest thing that he had to a playful tone.

    Her sickly frame shrunk into herself further. Evidently, Fia could not tell the difference between serious reprimand and a good-natured joke¡ªnot that Viliant joked around all that much. He held back more of his frustration now that Fia''s physical deterioration had robbed her mind of what little sense she had. Luckily, there was still a chance for her.

    With renewed spirits, Viliant beckoned to Fia to quicken the pace. The dragons could look forward to finding water at last. Viliant only hoped that they would not have to face whatever massive monster led them to the watering hole.

 Chapter 41: Path to Water

    Viliant and Fia set a new course following the giant animal tracks. Their talons scratched a smaller trail alongside the bigger one. The leftmost set of claw marks from Fia dragged from one footprint into the next. As she stumbled forth with the support of Viliant, her feet hardly lifted from the ground.

    The terrain did not particularly change. No rocks appeared underfoot to trip them nor did they pass through any scraggly grass to snag their claws. Nevertheless, Fia''s legs gave out from under her. Viliant glanced to his side, trying to hold back his misgivings as he stared at Fia collapsed in a heap.

    I don''t think I can go on any further¡­. Fia voiced the same cynicism which constantly dominated Viliant''s thoughts. Right now, the situation demanded something else of him. He needed to exude positivity and encouragement where Fia''s natural disposition had failed.

    We''re almost there, he urged. Water.

    Fia''s bleary eyes flickered open, expecting the promised water to appear right in front of her. Where? she croaked.

    Just a little farther. Viliant did not wholly lie. Based on how fresh the large tracks looked and smelled, they would encounter the animal soon. Fia and Viliant moved too slowly to gain on anything faster than a tortoise, so the other creature must have stopped¡ªhopefully for water.

    Okay. Fia moved her legs in an attempt to continue their journey. She even let out a pained grunt from the effort, but she could not get her feet under herself. Her claws swiped uselessly across the ground.

    We''ll take a break for now. Viliant retreated from the immediate area to seek reprieve from her fever''s heat. Once he lay a fair distance away, he tried to regather his thoughts and reassess their options.

    Hopefully after a quick break, Fia could resume limping while leaning heavily on him again. In the event that her condition stayed as bad as it looked right now, then Viliant would need another solution. I could drag her, he figured, but that was a last resort which would be hard on both their bodies. Maybe I can get to the water and bring some back for her while she rests up.

    Viliant''s gaze bore into the heap of pale pink scales, assessing her chances of survival like a vulture. The buzzards had largely learned to stop following them after he kept killing them for blood and meat around dusk. However, he doubted that would last long if he left Fia alone in her current state.

    They had already resumed their slow, steady circles at a higher altitude around the unmoving dragoness. They judged her helpless and Viliant inattentive who lay a ways off. One brave bird descended to the ground and approached Fia in lurching steps.

    Perfect, Viliant thought. At least she works as bait. Even though he could not leave her unattended for any length of time, she still attracted her own source of food to replenish them. The shadow dragon could not pluck the vultures from the sky in the middle of the day like this, but he would gladly rip them to shreds on the ground.

    Viliant rose to his feet and charged at full speed with his horns lowered. The vulture turned its white, featherless head and realized the trap too late. The sizable bird could not lift off quickly despite its flapping wings. This allowed Viliant the time to cover the ground that he needed.

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    His horns collided with the avian body, impaling it at multiple points. Viliant ripped the bird away from his head with a savage claw and sunk his teeth into its neck. The vulture writhed for a second longer before it died between his jaws. Drink this for now. He casually flung the corpse inches from Fia''s nose.

    Her nostrils twitched and her tongue flicked from her mouth to confirm that something bloody and delicious had just landed in front of her. Still laying sideways across the ground, Fia crawled forward to latch onto bites of meat and suck at the blood.

    Is that good? Viliant asked.

    "Mhm," she moaned pleasurably in confirmation. Thank you.

    Once you finish, let''s see if you have the strength to stand.

    Fia did not acknowledge him right away. She wanted to drink forever, unthinking of their need to travel again. At last, Fia lifted her blood-drenched nose from the vulture and blinked at him a few times. Okay. Ready. She placed the claw of her good foreleg against the ground. Over the course of their stay in the coliseum and their desperate escape, her whole body had leaned out. The scrawny muscle already shook even before she had lifted herself off the ground. Fia''s neck and chest landed back down with a grunt. "Ugh." Can''t.

    Come on. You can do better than that.

    Though she suspended herself in the air for a few seconds this time, she gave up as decisively as before. I said I can''t!

    Try again. Viliant beckoned her onto her feet after each repeated failure. Even when he helped lift her by shouldering the majority of her weight, she could not stay up for long.

    I''m sorry¡­ I really¡­ don''t think I can anymore. Her head drooped towards the ground out of shame and exhaustion. The dragoness lacked the energy to open her eyes much less stay upright.

    Viliant crouched to ease her back down. It''s fine. He had already expected this, and offered the more strenuous option for him. I''ll carry you. The older dragon pressed his belly flat across the dirt to make it easier for Fia to balance herself over his shoulder. Put your neck over mine.

    The light, burning body of Fia squirmed against his scales as she tried to reposition herself. The smaller dragoness propped her head perfectly between his horns. Her good leg wrapped around his far shoulder along with a wing. Viliant gently mouthed the tip of her wing to secure her in place. Most of her body had to drape against his side due to his large back spines which he laid as flat as possible. Her hind legs and tail raked the ground as Viliant kept walking¡ªhalf carrying her, half dragging her. Hang in there, he told Fia, gritting his fangs together from the exertion.

    The childish sentimentality and irrationality which Fia always exhibited had ultimately rubbed off on him. Viliant knew that Fia was dying, yet he refused to break his promise, abandon her, and leave her to die alone. He told himself a foolhardy, optimistic lie which was uncharacteristic of his usual, cynical attitude. She''ll get better once we reach the oasis. She''ll be fine¡­.

    This was the disorder that their friendship had on his mind. This is what friends do, Viliant assumed. Refusing to give up on his only friend so easily, he trudged onward as the sun sank into the afternoon. Like this, some tedious hours passed. Viliant peered past his heavy eyelids at the horizon. Some leafy treetops came into view, the first sign of water in the distance.

    We did it, Fia. Water! Viliant lifted his head higher and summoned the strength to haul her body across the final stretch. After today, the dragoness could have as many days as she needed to rest.

 Chapter 42: The Creature at the Oasis

    In addition to the trees, more shrubbery grew close to the pond. The red-baked clay softened underfoot and darkened to a richer color. Viliant tucked Fia behind a bush, mostly sticks and thorns, while he intended to investigate the safety of the bank. Stay here. Call me if anything gets near you, even a butterfly or a gecko. Especially a gecko, he added in a grumbling afterthought.

    Alright. Lacking the focus to keep watch, Fia snuggled into her spot.

    Viliant flipped his head between the dragoness and the oasis. Should I really make her stay here? It''s dangerous to leave her alone, but the water might be even worse¡­. He agonized over the decision for several minutes.

    It was one thing if Fia''s own rash actions killed her but another if Viliant''s misjudgement brought about her ultimate demise. I won''t be the one responsible for her death, he vowed. If she did end up perishing, Viliant wanted it to be no scale off his nose. Fia would not have deteriorated this quickly if only she had listened to him in the first place. Reluctantly, Viliant trod off to check the watering hole by himself.

    As he approached, a jagged boulder came into view which split the shoreline. In Viliant''s eyes, everything about the rock looked out of place: its size, its shape, and its color. Unlike the reddish, brownish hues which formed most of the terrain, this one gave off a metallic sheen. Its sharp points were undulled by wind and bits of sand. Viliant swore that he even sensed a threatening aura emanate from the rock.

    A hard shake of his head helped him dismiss the paranoid thought. I''ve been on edge for so long, I''m starting to lose it. He chuckled to himself, knowing that the dehydration was simply affecting him.

    First, he would take a nice, long draft of water. After that, he would report back to Fia. Maybe if the water lifted his mood enough, he would even try to bring back a sip for her cupped in an untorn section of his wing. Relief flooded the young dragon. We finally made it, he thought.

    A tremor moved through the ground and dashed Viliant''s high spirits as it vibrated against his claws. The wary dragon automatically assumed an aggressive crouch with his wings splayed and tail curled at the ready. Then, his jaw dropped open. His head tilted up as he watched the rock transform before his very eyes.

    A set of legs extended from the base of the rock, each one thicker than the trunk of a tree. The earth trembled when its cumbersome feet sank into the muddy bank, creating the same impressions which Fia and Viliant had followed to get here. Rippling muscles flexed beneath its wrinkly, gray skin. The peak of the towering rock began to rise until a tortoise of epic proportions stood. Its metallic shell reflected the long, afternoon rays of sunlight.

    I''ve seen this somewhere before¡­. When Viliant blinked, a terrible memory flashed on the backs of his eyelids.

    ***

    A dome of iron bars curved over the coliseum''s fighting pit, trapping him here once again. The harsh sunlight cut through the mesh and landed on a smaller, shinier shell which belonged to the same turtle species.

    "Enter Magnum Mala, the alligatoise! This baby tortoise belongs to the largest species of reptiles in the world. It never stops growing throughout its life, and it''s equipped with the powerful jaws to eat almost anything!" The announcer''s voice turned more sly as he suggested, "Maybe even a dragon?"

    The raucous crowd still rang in Viliant''s ears sometimes, a thousand humans cheering for bloodshed.

    "Enter Umbra Caligo, the dragon!"

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    Viliant marched past the gate and roared at his adversary. He had one purpose in life: kill whatever was placed in front of him and survive.

    ***

    Viliant shook himself back to his senses. The memories of the coliseum bothered him no more now than it did back then. Though he might have killed a much smaller alligatoise in his younger years, that did not prepare him for the behemoth which stood in front of him now. This alligatoise at the oasis could eat him in a single bite.

    Crests of water sprayed outward from the alligatoise''s shell as it entered the water. Much to his surprise, the metal body floated atop the surface. Must be hollow on the inside, he noted. If necessary, he could kill the alligatoise after nightfall with magic. His body engulfed in shadows could rip through its vitals, but only if he knew where to locate them.

    The alligatoise turned around, giving the dragon a much unwanted view of its ugly face. The head barely poked out of its shell, however some manifold creases in its neck and innumerable chins suggested that it could reach much farther. Its long jaws had sharp, gnarly teeth like an alligator maw. Its yellowish, slitted eyes blinked but did not seem to notice or care about Viliant''s presence.

    His heart raced as he stood frozen in place, terrified that any movement might trigger the alligatoise''s wrath. If the tortoise did attack him, Viliant could only hope that it would lumber as slowly as its smaller kin. The sheer size of its legs, however, could make its slow steps cover a lot of ground. Even if Viliant could outrun it, he would have to lead it away from Fia''s hiding spot, leaving her unattended and vulnerable for too long. Luckily, the alligatoise seemed uninterested in a troublesome meal and unconcerned by an insignificant threat. Instead, it focused on the precious and plentiful water.

    The water levels had risen once the immense alligatoise had entered the pool, making it appear like even more had accumulated in the basin. A row of valves opened near the base of the tortoise''s shell, drawing water from the pond inside its body.

    That''s one way to take a swig, Viliant sniggered to himself. He thought nothing more of it until the water''s edge began to recede. His stomach lurched and clenched painfully as he watched more water get consumed. Between the height of its shell and expanse of its stomach, Viliant worried that every last drop might fit inside. Is there going to be any left for us? he wondered.

    They had come too far for an overgrown turtle to quaff down all the water for itself. Anger flared within him; Viliant was ready to go to war with the alligatoise for his fair share of water. First, he must wait to see if the colossus creature would spare some for the rest of the animals. Viliant communicated the situation with Fia in the meantime.

    I found the water, but a massive tortoise is sucking it up.

    No response came from the other end to indicate Fia''s receipt of the message. Viliant could feel the mental tether still in place, but maybe long distance communication was beyond her capabilities right now. He strengthened his end of the telepathy and let out a jaded growl.

    Fia, respond if you can hear me.

    Hi, she said weakly.

    Did you catch what I said before?

    Turtle.

    Great. Viliant did not mind conciseness, so he continued to broadcast the relevant information. I don''t want to fight it, but I will if it means getting us water. I''m going to monitor the alligatoise for now. Call me if you need help.

    Mmkay.

    With how pathetically she acknowledged him, Viliant did not trust her to contact him unless something had already attacked her¡ªtoo late for him to get there. He would check in with her periodically, but for now, he glared at the alligatoise still drawing water.

    Its body steadily sank until the underside of the shell appeared to rest against the basin''s floor. The peak stayed above the surface like a mountainous island at the center of the oasis. The elongated neck of the alligatoise unraveled, slinking through the water like an eel. The water had finally stopped receding.

    A relieved sigh rushed past Viliant''s maw. The alligatoise was not going to fill the entirety of its shell with water. Rather, it had filled itself enough to camouflage with the environment.

    The coast is clear, Viliant relayed to Fia. Despite his assurances, this figure of speech could not be further from the truth.

    Did you smash the turtle?

    No. Still hoping to avoid that, but we can get water now. We just have to be careful. With a last, leery glance at the alligatoise which had closed its eyes and lay motionless beneath the surface, Viliant turned to collect Fia.

 Chapter 43: Oasis of Blood

    The limp dragoness piggybacked on Viliant''s shoulder to get to the oasis. Some leafy foliage rustled on either side of them when he poked his head through to see their objective. The water''s surface had slow ripples drifting outward from the alligatoise''s shell. Though the creature tried to stay completely still, the tiniest of movements displaced the water due to its immense mass. Now Fia, he said sternly, you see that giant rock up ahead?

    With Fia''s chin pressed overtop Viliant''s head, he could not see if she had opened her eyes.or not. Either way, she droned, Yeah. I see it.

    That''s the shell of the alligatoise. The turtle is lurking underneath the water and will attack anything that tries getting too close. You only go to the water''s edge on my cue, and we retreat the second I say so. Got it?

    Got it, she said instantly. The confidence in her thoughts eroded almost instantly as her feverish mind was brazen enough to say, But uh, Viliant¡­. That''s not a turtle. That''s a rock.

    The bottom eyelid on his face started twitching. Viliant held back the loud groan which he wanted to let out, unwilling to agitate the alligatoise with a noisy approach. You know, I thought the same thing at first, but I guarantee you, that''s an alligatoise.

    The prospect of drinking water gave Fia too much energy. Instead of taking his warning seriously she banally cheered, Vilie is scared of a rock!

    I am not¡ª! he started to object with a foolish amount of investment in the banter. After a deep breath, Viliant composed himself. It doesn''t matter. Just stay away from it.

    I don''t wanna make friends with a rock anyway. Fia squirmed and repositioned her weight on Viliant''s shoulder.

    Hey, he quipped while crouching low from the pressure. Knock it off. If you have this much energy, you can walk by yourself¡ª His train of thought was interrupted as he saw a large creature dart by the other side of the foliage. Viliant drew his head back within the bush and stilled his body, hoping that the leaves would be enough to conceal them. Something''s close. Don''t move.

    Fia froze on top of him, but her breath sounded too loud in his ear. Even his own thudding heartbeat seemed like it might give them away. Viliant''s green eye blended in as he peered through a gap in the leaves.

    A group of bipedal animals ran at high speeds. At first, his mind leaped to the worst: humans. However, there were no signs of magic to amplify their travel like humans would need to move that fast. The two-legged animals had powerful enough limbs to sprint unassisted by any spells. The strength of their legs paled in comparison to the tremendous neck and hooked beaks.

    Terror birds, Viliant recognized.

    What? Fia asked. The very mention struck the dragoness with terror as they were her first foe in the coliseum¡ªthe first real time her life was on the line.

    The flock of four birds ran a straight course for the oasis. As soon as the last one had dashed past the bush, Viliant jumped out and loped with Fia clinging onto his shoulder.

    Where are we going? she whimpered. We''re going to draw attention to ourselves. My fire isn''t working to fight them!

    They''re going for the water, just like us. Viliant carved a wide arc around the pool. His talons dug deep scratches in the dirt as he abruptly turned inward. Now that they were far enough away from the original position of the alligatoise''s head to satisfy Viliant, he took Fia to the water. Get off, he snapped.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The injured and sickly dragoness responded too slowly, so he bucked her off. Fia slid in the mud, mewling from pain. Ow! I heard you. I was getting off¡ª

    Drink, he commanded, as fast as you can. To follow his own orders, Viliant stuck his face underwater and took gulp after gulp. His eyes stayed open, surveying the bottom where the alligatoise dwelled.

    The yellowish eyes were already fixated on its prey, the same direction from which the terror birds had approached the oasis. Its head and neck snaked through the water in a stealthy approach. Now that the alligatoise was preoccupied, Fia and Viliant could spend longer at the watering hole.

    Perfect, he thought and drank with greater ease. Viliant only stopped when he needed to come up gasping for air. "Ah," he panted and could not help but observe the state of the terror birds.

    They had spread out along the side of the bank, bowing their heads to guzzle water. When their beaks jabbed downwards and broke the surface, they created a series of unceremonious ripples. Once they had their lower beak filled, the terror birds tipped their heads back and flapped their stubby wings so they could relish in a drink. This process repeated, but they never got to swallow their next one.

    The open maw of the alligatoise breached the surface. Drops of water sprayed and flashed in the sunlight alongside its jagged, metallic teeth which encased a terror bird in shadow. Though the fleet-footed terror bird tried to sidestep the cavernous jaws, the alligatoise''s mouth was too vast. The other terror birds left behind some feathers as they screeched and ran away, all save this unfortunate one. The alligatoise''s jaws slammed down as loud as a thundercrack. Blood leaked out from either side of the alligatoise''s mouth. The flesh and bones of the terror bird must have been pulverized beneath those titanic teeth.

    Every desert finch in the vicinity abandoned its perch in the trees and bushes. Their fretful twitters disappeared in all directions as they fled the oasis.

    A splash floundered at Viliant''s side. What was that? Fia asked and lifted her head.

    Nothing! Last drink. Hurry. Viliant stuck his head beneath the water once more. He let his jowls fill completely with fluid, bulging out slightly as he kept a watchful eye on the alligatoise.

    In contrast to its lightning-quick ambush, the alligatoise pulled its head back into the water sluggishly. The water on that end of the pond was tinted red. The cloud of blood steadily sank deeper as the alligatoise withdrew its head into its shell.

    Let''s go. Now. Viliant flung his head out of the water and latched onto Fia''s tail. He dragged her away so that they would create no more disturbances which might call the alligatoise back for its second course.

    Fia clambered onto his shoulder, but before she could situate herself comfortably, he was already running. Wait, Viliant! she cried while her lower half bounced over the rocks. A muffled gurgling sound came from her as a verbal indication of her pain. Even so, a couple bruises beneath her scales would be nothing compared to the alligatoise''s bite.

    Viliant stopped only once they had returned to the brush on the outskirts of the oasis. Alright. We''re safe now. Though he tried lowering Fia to the ground, she flopped off before he could assist her.

    "Ugh," she grunted but refused to make any more sound than that. A greater amount of water dripped from her maw than if she just had wet scales. The side of her jowls were slightly distended as Fia had also chosen to fill her mouth with water as well.

    Viliant huffed hard through his nostrils due to the substantial quantity of water in his own mouth. The dragons blinked at one another, both their cheeks puffing out.

    An errant snort caused Fia to wince and keep her eyes closed. She tipped back her head and struggled to swallow the water. Once she managed to do so without choking, Fia collapsed into weak giggles. "Ha!" Her snout wrinkled up from laughter. We both looked like squirrels.

    Indignant towards that comparison, Viliant gulped down his water despite the large volume hurting his throat a little bit. The water has seemed to cheer you up a lot.

    Yep. Thanks Viliant, but I''m still thirsty.

    Me too. Let''s rest for now. Viliant encouraged Fia to lie down nearby. He stayed alert for the terror birds and other predators in case anything ventured to this side of the oasis. Most importantly, he waited for more unwitting animals to venture for water which would give them another chance to drink.

    They persisted on the fringes of the oasis for several days, in hopes that Viliant could nurse Fia back to health. I''ve done everything I could, he thought to himself. Now, her survival depended on her. If she truly wanted to save her people, then Fia needed to find within herself the will to live.

 Chapter 44: Last Chance

    Over the next couple days, Viliant cared for Fia as best he could. He lugged her to get water whenever another animal sacrificed itself to the alligatoise. When he hunted for them, he brought the best cuts of meat directly to her nose. In his spare time, he even gathered the coarse grasses and crinkly leaves to make a bed for her. Despite this opportunity for Fia to rest at the oasis, her condition continued to worsen. The telepathic connection between their minds slipped away, ultimately leaving behind an ominous silence.

    "Fia," he whispered dolefully. Their vocal languages were different, so if Viliant wanted to talk to her, he could only meaningfully say her name. "Fia¡­." He scratched pitifully at her sickbed.

    "Viliant," she uttered weakly with what little strength she had to acknowledge him. Her blue eyes flickered open. Each time that she did so, it was possibly the last glimpse that she would have of her friend. Those eyes which had once been welling with constant excitement now looked empty and dull.

    "You''re doing just fine. You''re getting better," Viliant said in a language which only he could understand. The reassurances were for his own benefit, not hers.

    "Hm," Fia hummed without reopening her eyes.

    Between their cautious trips to the pond''s shore, Viliant tried to make himself useful. Animals of all kinds emerged from the wasteland, attracted by the reservoir. If the dragons needed more water, then the newcomers were permitted to pass by the lurking, black dragon. If an animal looked like particularly easy prey, then Viliant intercepted it long before it could reach the alligatoise. Beyond the meat, the oasis had plentiful plant life which he took great interest in.

    Viliant scavenged among the short, leafy plants. Occasionally, he sniffed and licked them in an attempt to discern their usefulness. I doubt I can make her condition any worse, he figured. The black dragon set to grazing, plucking and chewing everything which passed his rudimentary screening. Once he had a mouthful, he went back to Fia and spit the pulpy pile onto her oozing, infected shoulder.

    With his mouth free, he said, "Fia." Viliant lowered his head against hers so that the organ which encoded their telepathy would be closer. He strengthened his end of the exchange and tried to mentally shout, Fia! I made my special blend of herbs. This will help you get better.

    Though she said nothing in reply, Viliant could faintly feel her amusement and appreciation. Her tearful eyes opened, shedding tears with every blink. Her throat constricted with some hiccups, and her whole body trembled as she cried silently.

    It''s gonna be okay, Viliant said. Keep fighting it. Awkwardness consumed the older dragon because he did not know how to console an inconsolable situation, but he was not callous enough to walk away. His muscles constricted with a constant tension. Though he tried to stay calm for her sake, his elevated heart-rate gave away the distress caused by caring for his deteriorating friend. Viliant tilted his head back to the bright sky, moving their telepathy receptors away from each other. I''m so worried about her¡­.

    Once Fia had tuckered herself out and resumed her nap, Viliant was able to wander around again. Restlessly pacing helped ease his nerves. Plus, the previous days of patrolling the area gave him more confidence to venture farther away. Viliant wandered among the patchy grasses at the fringes of the oasis. Something soft tickled the bottoms of his feet, so he glanced down to see some small, hardy blossoms crushed beneath his claws. Flowers? he lifted his foot gingerly as he realized, I bet Fia would like these. Viliant tore up their stems and carried a crumpled bouquet back to her bed, planning to give her these the next time that she woke up.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Fia rested so much, it was hard to tell the difference between a sound slumber and a wakeful period. After a successful trip to get water, he hoisted her back onto the nest of leaves. "Fia. Fia!" he chirped, nuzzling at her face to make sure that she did not go right back to sleep. Viliant fetched the bouquet and stood in front of her proudly at first.

    The stems flopped over from his previous, rough treatment. Some petals scattered to the breeze, making him feel foolish for presenting her with such a ratty looking thing. Nevertheless, he laid it across her claws delicately. Since he was exhausted too, Viliant settled down next to her limp body and pressed the sides of their heads together. You like flowers. Get well soon.

    Though it was doubtful that she understood him, Fia could feel the presence of her friend regardless. She leaned into him and snuggled beneath one of his wings. Much to his astonishment, the flimsy sound of her mental voice whispered in his head. You''re my best friend, Viliant.

    If the cold-blooded, cold-hearted dragon could feel his blood run any colder, then he surely would have. He nudged her back and said, You''re my best friend too, Fia. The pink dragoness would likely keep that title forever because Viliant had no intentions to make any more friends after she passed.

    The young dragon kept his eyes trained upwards, always watching for the adult to fly by. We need help, he was finally willing to admit.

    ***

    Providence came the next day in the form of the dragon''s silhouette in the sky. The protruding and slithering tail made it distinct from the vultures which liked to monitor Fia''s progress.

    Look, Fia! The adult''s back! Viliant said as he flung his wing off her and jumped up from excitement. However, his positive reaction was muddled with apprehension. While the adult''s reappearance was an unequivocal, good thing for Fia, it posed an unnecessary risk for Viliant. He still wanted nothing to do with this since he would survive on his own, but that did not prevent Fia from calling for help on her own.

    Get up, Fia! He shook her vigorously to gain her attention. She needed to wake up, so that way, Fia could plead to the adult while Viliant hid in the bushes. You need to call for help!

    "Huh?" Fia vocalized at first. She cracked open her eyes and lifted her head, but she was not alert enough or strong enough to do anything herself. When Viliant would not stop shaking her, she squealed and growled for him to knock it off.

    If you want their help, you have to act now! Viliant yelled with the side of his head shoved against hers.

    Can''t you do it? Please?

    When he pulled away slowly, he saw the begging, hopeful eyes of his best friend. Maybe gambling his own welfare would be worth a chance to save her precious life. "Tsk. Fine," he barked.

    Viliant launched himself out in the open and landed with a wide stance to brace himself. Adrenaline was coursing through his veins. His instincts screamed at him to do anything but this. His throat even tightened up. Despite all this, Viliant let his chest swell with a big breath and tipped back his head. A piercing whistle peeled from his windpipe, the loudest, highest note that he could produce in hopes that it would carry. Between the pitiful cries, he hollered, "Help! Help us! Please!"

    His mouth turned dry, and his voice turned hoarse. Viliant watched with his doubtful eyes watering from the effort as the dragon descended towards the oasis. Oh no. This is it. Please be half as outgoing as Fia¡­.

    At the risk of his own life, Viliant had called down the adult dragon for a chance at saving Fia.

 Chapter 45: The Dragon Sage

    The features of the strange dragon came into view as he drew closer. His sooty gray scales ended in broad spikes on the adult''s back, informing Viliant that he was dealing with another male. The adult dragon''s four, ebony horns curved like goat horns which ended in red tips. The crests of armor on his chest were tinged a similarly deep crimson, giving this dragon a demonic appearance.

    A pit formed in Viliant''s stomach as the cry for help already looked like a mistake. Since he could not take back the past, he tried to remain optimistic. Looks could be deceiving after all. This scary-looking dragon could be perfectly nice on the inside.

    Dust lifted around the adult dragon''s claws as he tapped down. His head swept upward in a display of power with eyes flashing lividly. Those scarlet eyes glared down at Viliant from their corners.

    Um, hi? Viliant timidly reached out with his mind. Dragons generally opted for telepathic communication when they wanted to establish good will.

    The fearsome dragon spurned the connection by jamming his receptor.

    "Ugh!" Viliant recoiled with a wince and gritted his fangs together. So that''s how it''s gonna be. He returned the glare even as some drool dripped from his jowl. Despite the hostility, Viliant did not dare trade a growl. The physical and magical difference between them spanned too great for him to risk escalating a conflict.

    "You are too young to know this," the adult intoned in a deep, menacing rumble, "so I will overlook your ignorance this time. But I am Rokirith, sage of Mount Ravia. I do not tolerate trespassers on my territory."

    Is that so? Viliant wanted to say, but that invited a challenge. As much as he loathed to lower himself, Viliant was a survivor. He feigned naivety to appeal to the older dragon. "Thank you. But actually, we need help." In a mournful voice, he whined, "My friend is sick. Can you help us please?"

    "Oh, is that so?" Sage Rokirith retorted in exaggerated, mocking pity.

    Yeah, it is, Viliant thought to himself. This dragon is a prick. Even as he was starving, Viliant had received a child with more grace when Fia was thrown into the same cell as him in the coliseum.

    "Give me a single reason why I should help you," Sage Rokirith said.

    "We''re children. Why wouldn''t you help us? If you don''t, you''re¡­ you''re terrible!" he said, flabbergasted.

    The eyes of the sage narrowed.

    The childish act was not working, so Viliant abandoned it. "You are fully capable of helping us, yet you would refuse?" Venomously, he uttered, "For that, you''d deserve to be struck from the sky and fall into the deepest pit."

    Sage Rokirith tilted back his head and let out a hearty laugh. "And who would be the one to do that? You?" The long neck of the adult dragon lowered to Viliant''s level. "I think not. The child is not as innocent as he claims, but he is just as powerless."

    Viliant clenched his fangs together furiously. As he stared directly into the sage''s face, he tried to discern if he could scratch out one of those rusty eyes, but the odds did not look favorable. Think, Viliant. This dragon is stubborn and cynical like me. If anyone can convince him to help us, it''s me. He turned round and flicked his tail for the adult to follow. "Then let me introduce you to my friend. She can''t walk, so the quickest way to get us off your territory would be to help her."

    "You are coming up with better reasons," Sage Rokirith rumbled in amusement, "but I will not follow you. Bring her here." The sage''s crimson wing gave a flutter as if to tell Viliant to hurry along.

    Rage mounted within Viliant as he slunk off amidst the brush. I can''t believe this dragon won''t help us. This is why I didn''t want to even bother! When he arrived at the nest where Fia lay, Viliant froze. Several blinks fell over his eyes as he tried to comprehend how such a kind, little dragoness was not worth a trivial inconvenience to save her life. I''m sorry I ever thought that way¡­.

    Viliant softened his tone as he beckoned to her. "Hey Fia." His head bowed to press their telepathic receptors together while his were still aching. The adult is here. His name is Sage Rokirith.

    With the first half of his message shared, the state of Fia''s mind became lively. Her eyes flung open, sparking with a revived joy. Are we really saved?

    Not yet. Viliant revealed the worst, second half of his news. It''s uncertain if the adult is willing to help us, but I''ll convince him. Just let me do the talking.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    You can do it. I trust you, Viliant, she said before the strength of their telepathic link waned. Fia spent the remainder of her energy worming her way onto his back.

    With her body draped over his shoulder, Viliant dragged her back to the self-proclaimed sage. "Happy?" he asked as he deposited Fia at his feet.

    "Not until you little wyrms are out of my sight," the Sage Rokirith said in his most pleasant voice so far, his eyes closed and tail curled in a smile. Every cruel word from his mouth served to aggravate Viliant even more.

    In contrast, Fia did not understand the language. The foreign voice grabbed her attention and drew her bleary eyes upward. Too weak for the sage to notice, she tried begging to speak over telepathy. Hello! I don''t understand the language here, but I''d love to talk to you¡­.

    Viliant looked down at her with a pitying glance. He placed his claws overtop of hers in an effort to silence her. He''s not interested in us enough for that. If he has anything to say to you, I''ll translate. Save your strength. To start with, Viliant made an introduction for her. "This is Fia from the Carlinoa Clan across the sea. The wound on her shoulder is infected, originally dealt by the prince of the human kingdom. They call him ''Dragon Slayer'' over there."

    "I am well aware of the state of political affairs," Sage Rokirith said as he thumped his tail impatiently.

    "If you could take us to the nearest civilization so she can get treated, that''s all we ask."

    The sage responded with a droll purr. "I could do that, but it seems the children have not made it as far as they would like to think. The nearest civilization is none other than the one you fled¡ªthe land ruled by cowardly humans and magicless dragons. I forget what the humans call their country," the pompous sage continued. "Sooner or later, they will be conquered just as they conquered the Dagonirs. Do you really want to go back there?"

    Viliant bowed his head to the dirt and winced. The reminder pained him greatly, both about how little progress they made and regarding the fall of his people. "No," he said, coming out of his daze as he shook his head. "There has to be some other place that you can take us. Your clan¡­?"

    "My clan is no more," Sage Rokirith said, looking westward wistfully to the human Kingdom of Syene. "As a sage, I live alone and tend to Mt. Ravia. There is nothing I can do for you. Nothing, that is, which you could not already do for her yourself." One blood-red eye flitted back to the young dragons, glaring with such malice that it made Viliant shrink back. "If you want to help your friend," Sage Rokirith said, "then put her out of her misery."

    "No!" Viliant roared in objection. "I would never do something like that."

    "Never?" The sage lurked around them in a slow circle with the cleaving blade at the end of his tail swishing dangerously close to them. "You have the eyes of a killer. I''m sure you''ve been tempted before."

    Viliant closed his eyes and shuddered. It hasn''t crossed my mind since I chose to spare her on the first day we met. If Viliant had a genuine inclination to kill her, then he would have done so long ago¡ªno hesitation. His eyes lifted as he arrived at this realization. It was akin to how this sage danced around his empty threats. The sage had seemed to enjoy exposing Viliant''s fake groveling, so maybe he would respect being called out on his own bluff.

    "You''re right," Viliant admitted, shifting tactics yet again. Thankfully, Fia did not understand the language, which meant he could say anything that might prove advantageous. "I had half the mind to kill her when we first met," he shared, "but I stayed my claw because what I really wanted was a friend."

    Viliant shifted his sweetened, reminiscent voice to a more accusatory one. "I don''t think you really want to chase us off, or else this pointless chatter would have ended long ago. I think you really do want to help us." The young, black dragon hauled his friend back up and turned away. Briefly, he lifted his wings in a smirk and let his gaze return to the sage. "Let me know once you''re willing to admit this to yourself. We don''t have time to play games with you." Viliant kept walking even as the sage released a thunderous roar behind him. Despite his display of bravado, Viliant could not keep his tail from curling between his legs.

    Powerful, leathery flaps beat the air around him. Sage Rokirith blew by and landed in front of him, blocking the way forward. "Are you so arrogant that you wish to pretend to be wiser than me, the sage of Mt. Ravia?" he said in a deep, booming voice.

    "I quit pretending when you asked me to stop acting like a child," Viliant replied, trying to quell the obvious trembles in his frame.

    A savage growl tore from the sage''s throat, cutting Viliant off. Any second, he might provoke the adult dragon into killing them in a fit of rage. This strategy was not working, but the more gentle approaches had not gotten them anywhere either. All Viliant''s judgements had proven wrong.

    The enraged sage asked, "Did you forget that you are in my territory?"

    After a deep breath, Viliant steadied his voice. "I also know you don''t particularly care about trespassers, otherwise you would deal with the alligatoise in your lake before you''d bother with two little kids. Unless we''re the only thing small enough for you to bully."

    Sage Rokirith narrowed his angular eyes. "I''ll take care of the alligatoise first, then I''ll take care of you." The gray and red dragon shot into the sky, letting out a high-pitched battlecry.

    Now that he no longer had to face off against the fearsome dragon, a wave of fatigue overcame Viliant. His knees knocked together, and he collapsed with Fia on top of him. He tapped his head against hers to say, I''m sorry Fia. I didn''t convince him to help us.

    Really? Fia asked. I thought for sure¡­. The sadness overwhelmed her thoughts, cutting her off as she burst into weak sobs.

    When Viliant blinked, he noticed that some wetness was dripping from his eyes too. Unwilling to share his sadness with Fia, he closed off his thoughts. Am I crying too?

 Chapter 46: A Dragons Pointed Teeth

    Both dragons collapsed onto the ground in defeat, burying their faces under each other''s wings. Viliant blinked away the useless tears. If these were her last days, he had better make them as peaceful as possible for her.

    Their best bet would be if the alligatoise killed Sage Rokirith for his arrogance. That way, Viliant could continue tending to Fia at the oasis. He would switch out her entire bed and replace it with tiny flowers¡ªanything to give her a last glimpse of happiness. For someone who always thought of survival, prolonging life day by day, he had never considered what made life meaningful. I''ll outlive Fia, but she burned so bright. She probably led a better life in less than ten years than I can do in over a hundred.

    His watering eyes took longer than he would have liked to stop. All the while, Sage Rokirith soared laps around the oasis. With wings spread wide, he belted out a fearsome warning cry. The scream pierced the young dragons'' eardrums as well as the depths of the pond.

    The alligatoise poked its head above the water. Its jaws opened and closed as if smacking in anticipation, greedily awaiting the adult dragon.

    Viliant tried to console Fia so that she would stop crying. Gently, he tried to suggest, Dry your tears. You''ll want to see this. For a moment, he considered how to present the situation in a way which she might derive a tiny bit of amusement. Viliant said, While I didn''t get the adult to help us, I did accidently goad him into killing the alligatoise.

    Okay. I''ll watch. Fia sniffed and wiped her tears against his wings.

    "Urk." As much as he revolted at having his wing used as a handkerchief, his newfound compassion for her helped him tolerate it.

    An intensity glowered behind Fia''s blue eyes despite her near certain demise. The turtle is not a friend. Must watch, so I know how to kill it¡­.

    Viliant''s mouth parted slightly. The poor dragoness must recall how they had observed all the coliseum fights together at his behest. A twinge of pride flitted through him. She did learn something from me after all,  he beamed. Even if it was too little, too late. Viliant kept his cheek pressed to hers, horns interlocking, with his wing blanketing her. Together, they tilted their heads up to the sky.

    When the alligatoise refused to flee at the warning cries, Sage Rokirith ended the last one with a terse growl. His snout aimed towards the sun, and his whole body put power behind a wingbeat so that he could fly higher. His flight pattern oscillated in a broad, upwards spiral, spinning tighter and faster as he neared the top. The sage flipped around backwards to enter a nosedive.

    So cool! Fia marveled as she took in a sharp gasp.

    Showoff. Viliant wondered if the sage did that specifically for him, the dragon with torn wings who would never fly.

    He looks like a flying ace, Fia insisted in all admiration. I¡­ I wanted to be a flying ace.

    You do know what that means, right? Viliant started to retort, but he quickly held back his criticisms. A kid could have her silly dreams. He certainly was not going to dash them when she would not live long enough to fulfill them anyway.

    The aerial maneuvers of the adult dragon paled in comparison to what came next. Some darkened embers kindled at Sage Rokirith''s maw. The ghast lizards might have introduced Fia and Viliant to the blackfire element, but now they witnessed a master in action. The fire expanded around the adult dragon until his body was engulfed in flames, appearing to descend like a black comet.

    The flashy display, however, would not protect Sage Rokirith from the alligatoise''s jaws. Although a single bite did not allow the alligatoise to swallow an adult dragon whole, the sheer bite force would prove fatal in the wrong spot. So much as a graze or nibble could maim the sage.

    The alligatoise drew back its head as it watched the blazing dragon fall closer to the oasis. Preparing its attack carefully, the alligatoise bided its time for a few seconds more. Then, its jaws split open as its neck shot straight upward. A torrent of water exploded in all directions. The entire body of the alligatoise lurched as its hind legs pushed against the bottom of the basin, adding speed and strength to the lunge. The alligatoise gave a final reach with its neck to position the dragon''s horns within the confines of its open maw.

    Sage Rokirith performed a tight flip in response. The bladed end of his tail cleaved across the tip of the tortoise''s beak, rending its tough, scaly skin down to the skull. In the process of this technique, Sage Rokirith directed himself to the sun once more. He beat his wings a single time before folding them close to his body. The sage evaded the alligatoise''s mouth as it snapped shut with a crack.

    A scratch like that was hardly worth the risk taken to deal it, yet Sage Rokirith celebrated the tiny victory. The gray dragon twisted himself into a vertical spin. His wings fanned outwards, revealing their leathery, vermilion interior. The dark flames peeled off his body and spread outward in a broad circle. Once the colorless, lightless, balls of fire had reached the edges of the pool, Sage Rokirith pounded his wings. He tipped back his head, and his reverberating roar triggered an eruption of blackfire.

    Geysers of frigid flames consumed the pond. An agonizing grunt came from the tortoise as it was engulfed within the inferno. Soon, the hulking silhouette of the beast became visible through the fire as it tried to march onto land. The alligatoise emerged, dripping with water and ice all the while blackfire licked across its metallic shell. The earth rumbled underfoot as the tortoise lumbered away from the oasis, knocking over some trees in the process.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Sage Rokirith looped through the sky and landed in the same spot where he had previously stood in front of Viliant and Fia. "Now then. The alligatoise is gone. Get off my land!"

    A heavy sigh whooshed past Viliant''s nostrils. They did not have much choice in the matter, so he invited Fia onto his back while he stayed laying down. Let''s go¡ª

    Wait! she hollered. Fia chirped unintelligible sounds, whining and begging for the sage to accept her telepathy as she edged closer to him.

    Sage Rokirith took a half step back from the sheer audacity of the dragoness. He lifted a claw as big as Fia''s whole head, dangerously close to her eyes. "Tell this little fool to get away from me," he said whilst looking at Viliant. "Or else I''ll spill her fever-rotten brains."

    "Fia," he intoned sharply. I said let''s go.

    Please! she said. Tell him I said please.

    He just threatened to kill you! Rather nastily, I might add.

    Fia''s eyelids drooped as the usual innocence abandoned her mind. That''s not much of a threat to me right now, is it? she asked in a trembling tone. Fear still enveloped her as she said, I''m going to die anyway, aren''t I?

    Fair enough. That was the whole logic behind trying to ask the adult dragon to help her anyway. Viliant wanted to walk away from the oasis alive, however, so he hesitated for his own sake.

    As if anticipating the worries hidden behind his mental filter, Fia said, You don''t have to pester him for help anymore. I just wanna tell him something. Please?

    Fine. Viliant made sure to take a step back as he informed the sage, "I told her, but she wants to tell you something. And she said¡­ please."

    Sage Rokirith turned his head to the side and lifted his chin, glaring down at Fia with great skepticism. With much reluctance, he finally accepted the telepathic invitation which included Viliant on the exchange.

    Fia''s mind held neither a plea for help nor any grudge against the sage''s refusal. Instead, she simply bubbled with appreciation as she gushed, That was amazing, mister! You''re a real flying ace.

    All at once, Sage Rokirith changed his body language. His terse wings eased up and his tail flicked into an endearing smile. Why, thank you. I must admit, you are much nicer than your companion. After a long pause, he added serendipitously, It almost makes me want to spare your life.

    Viliant''s mouth dropped open at first, but he promptly closed it and looked away. No way, he thought to himself. A groan curled from his chest, and his horns hit his claws with a tink. I can''t believe it! The young dragon had tried everything to appeal to the adult; everything that is, except flattery. How can I be so stupid?

    The watchful eyes of the sage observed Viliant''s reaction. After a long pause, Sage Rokirith asked patronizingly, "Do you understand?"

    The vanity of the supposed sage knew no bounds. As much as Viliant wanted to lambaste him, he held his tongue. He could not say or do anything to make the sage renege his offer to help Fia. So, he simply said, "No. Enlighten me."

    "Pinkie''s nice. You''re not."

    "Hey," Viliant growled softly. "That''s my nickname for her." Keeping his tone more even, he uttered slowly, "This is the same child who I''ve been asking you to save the whole time."

    "Yes, yes, but how should I know she was as sweet as you claimed? Many devious dragons will lie through their pointed teeth, particularly when they have something to gain." The fangs of Sage Rokirith flashed in front of Viliant''s eyes as a demonstration. "I am guilty of this myself, but you cannot fault me. We are dragons cut from the same scale, you and I¡­. Clever. Cruel." The elder dragon circled around Fia and Viliant, eyes narrowed in appraisal of the scarred, black dragon.

    "But as you said," Sage Rokirith continued, "it was always my intent to help. First, I needed to discern exactly what type of characters I was dealing with, lest my pity should unrighteously decide the fate of many others. A single life spared could be a thousand saved," he said, focusing on Fia with that proclamation. "Or a single life spared could be a thousand sacrificed," he added while looming over Viliant.

    I only wish I could kill thousands, Viliant thought wryly. While he might have shrunk back against the accusation, he could not help but imagine the human faces cheering at the coliseum. Every last one of them deserved a death as brutal as the fights which they had gleefully spectated. Nothing would sway his opinion otherwise.

    The sage dramatically dropped onto one knee, laying out his wing and bowing his neck. "I have chosen to assist you both. Do not embitter me when I look upon this day, or else I will be forced to atone for my judgment."

    An unsettling quiver raced up Viliant''s spine. This aged, experienced dragon flattened himself before two children, vowing to undo them if they wrought harm by his standards¡ªwhatever that entailed. "Fine," Viliant said, only because they did not have any other choice in the matter.

    As Sage Rokirith shifted his attention to Fia, he forced Viliant to disconnect from their link. The sage spoke privately to her which caused his hackles to rise. "What are you talking about?" Viliant demanded. Through his telepathic signals, he tried to politely rejoin the conversation, but his requests went ignored. Next, he tried to force his way in which got his mind thrust away and jammed painfully. Viliant was still reeling as the sage moved directly in front of Fia.

    Sage Rokirith blew a sliver of blackfire onto her forehead. The ember smoldered against her scales then disappeared, as if melding through them. The sage traced his claw over the same spot and whispered something unintelligible under his breath.

    Viliant leaped to her side and hovered protectively over Fia. "What did you just do to her?"

    "A small spell to help counteract the fever." He did not elaborate on what exactly he did beyond the effect. "Now then, I will take you to a healer."

    With Viliant''s assistance, Fia climbed onto the adult''s back with him. We''re gonna fly! she chimed. She eagerly looked over Sage Rokirith''s wings, but opted to lie down even before they took off. Her eyes closed and a soft snore caught in her throat. A spell of wooziness overtook the dragoness after the blackfire treatment, causing her to pass out for the duration of the ride.

 Chapter 47: Greener Pasture

    Right when Viliant got comfortable threading his body through the spikes on Sage Rokirith''s back, the elder dragon snapped, "Not you." A giant claw reached over his shoulder and snatched Viliant off.

    "I''m coming with her!" he objected. Viliant would never let this unreliable stranger whisk Fia away; he would follow them across the continent on foot if he had to. Of course, he would rather not do that, so Viliant demanded, "You''re taking me too."

    "Indeed. Just you''re too big for my back." Sage Rokirith fanned his wings out to the side and looked down at Viliant smugly. "Make sure you hold on tight because I''m not going to." With that, the sage leaped into the air with the adolescent dragon cupped loosely in his claws.

    The ascent happened so fast, Viliant clamped his mouth shut to keep from hollering out of shock. His heartbeat thrummed away as they soared higher into the sky and entered a warm wind current. Watching the ground below the entire time, Viliant''s slitted pupils constricted into tight lines. Even with the excellent, long-distance eyesight of the dragon species, Viliant could no longer make out the fine grit and cracks of the wasteland. If the sage dropped him from this height, his body would be mangled like the vultures killed by his shadow magic.

    A foreboding tingle ebbed from the soles of his feet up to his shoulders. His limbs felt like rubber, but Viliant latched onto Sage Rokirith''s claws anyway. The length of his tail entwined around one talon.

    "Scared?" Sage Rokirith asked, his deep voice reverberating in humor.

    "No! What kind of dragon is scared of heights?" Viliant scoffed.

    "A smart one if he can''t fly."

    A tremble ran down his spine. Between his youthful size and dilapidated wings, Viliant was just that sort of shameful dragon. Previously, the closest that Viliant had ever gotten to flying was when Fia glided off the top of the coliseum and city walls with him. If his parents had ever taken him into the sky as a hatchling, he had no proper memory of it. I don''t like this one bit, he thought, decidedly. Flying is overrated. I''m glad I can''t fly.

    The wind rushed against his scales and whistled against his eardrums. Instinctively, he flexed some muscles on the side of his head to protect his ear canals. Already, he knew to close the translucent film of his second eyelid but he closed his primary one as well. Like this, he neither had to look at the ground nor regard the dragon carrying him. Is this what it would feel like to fly? With his eyes closed blissfully, Viliant could not resist the temptation to extend his wings and savor the breeze above and below them.

    However, the unused flight muscles were not strong enough to keep his wings spread wide. Viliant''s wings folded and whipped back against his sides. The young dragon hung his head and ignored Sage Rokirith''s jeers.

    The terrain grew rockier, steeper, and too perilous for any creatures which still traveled on the ground. The mountains rose along with the dragon''s flight path. Sage Rokirith beat his wings and climbed higher, so that he could soar above the lofty peaks. As they flew to the other side of the mountain range, some foggy clouds drifted all around them. The haze made it difficult to see the new landscape on the other side of the mountains, but Viliant''s eye reflected the greenery. The humidity in the air made every single breath that he took feel thick in his lungs.

    "Welcome to the Malakow Jungle." After a long journey, Sage Rokirith finally began his descent following a river which originated from the mountain. The dense, leafy canopy of the trees prevented the large dragon from landing anywhere else. His forelegs tucked close to his chest as he skimmed over the water with Viliant in his claws.

    Drops of water sparkled across the streaming surface. If he felt so inclined, Viliant could lower a single claw or flick out the tip of his tail to touch water. However, he was certain that he did not regard the experience with the same wonderment as Fia would if she were awake. He fully accepted the grisly reality in which they lived, so it came to no surprise when Sage Rokirith hovered over the bank and dropped Viliant into the mud.

    "My bad. My claw slipped. Sorry about that," the sage said without a hint of apology in his voice. Without looking back, he ventured into the trees with his wings folded primly against his back. "My wingspan is too great to fly through the trees, so we''ll have to walk from here," Sage Rokirith said.

    In response, Viliant gave a sputtering sound as he spit the mud off his tongue. Before following the sage, he turned the other way and dunked his head in the water. Viliant came back up and shook the water off his scales, freshly washed of mud. That''s better.

    "Hurry up, or you''ll fall behind," Sage Rokirith called. Against the teasing tone of his voice, he did leave Viliant alone on the bankside.

    "I''m coming." Viliant loped to catch up with Sage Rokirith who had already disappeared through the gloomy trees.

    A constant racket of insects assaulted his senses. Viliant strained his ears to drown this out and listen to the footfalls or vocal calls of more notable wildlife. Though the vibrant jungle had plentiful water and food unlike the wasteland, he expected more dangerous, exotic creatures to reside here. At least it''s dark down here, Viliant thought as he tread carefully across the forest floor. Darkness was always a boon to his magical prowess, but he hoped the presence of an adult dragon would ward off any threats.

    The grand, gray dragon led the way. Viliant followed like a shadow, staying close to the tip of his tail. His worried eyes looked up to Sage Rokirith''s back where the pink dragoness rested her head.

    "How much farther?" Viliant tried to ask.

    Sage Rokirith abruptly froze in place. "Shh. Do you hear that?"

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Viliant nearly tripped as he came to a standstill. Though he listened closely, his senses could perceive nothing out of the ordinary in the strange environment. What is it? His pulse elevated, awaiting instruction from the sage. If danger was near, he would obey Sage Rokirith''s command as readily as he had expected Fia to listen to him.

    Finally, Sage Rokirith whispered, "It''s the sound of a child whining." In a loud, nasally voice, he cried, "Are we there yet?"

    "I do not sound like that¡­!" Viliant spat back. He had only bothered to ask out of concern for Fia. A soft grumble caught in his throat as he stalked after the sage.

    The dragons winded through the staunch tree trunks until Sage Rokirith halted at one which he seemed to recognize. The trunk had scores of scratches delivered by dragon claws. As if to knock, he thwacked the thick of his tail against the tree a couple times. "Diwa!" he called. "You home?"

    A creak came from somewhere higher up in the tree.

    Viliant had seen a rare few trees in his life before his recent escape with Fia. Even the smallest tree in the Malakow Jungle dwarfed the biggest oaks in the Kingdom of Syene. His awe at the tropical trees led him to ponder if there was more to the trees than met the eye. "Are the trees here¡­ conscious?"

    "No," Sage Rokirith said, "not most of them, at least."

    But some of them are? Viliant thought, alarmed to hear a major fact referred to so casually.

    A green blur suddenly fell from the tree. The creature landed on all fours like a cat, but after a moment, Viliant recognized her as a dragon unlike any he had ever seen before. She had a lithe form and little wings that looked like they could hardly support her weight for more than a short flight. Her horns were small stubs at the top of her head, even smaller than Fia''s despite their difference in size. The new dragoness with verdant scales evenly straddled the size difference between Viliant and Sage Rokirith. Her eyes, emerald like his own, fluttered up to their guide. "Aw Roki, I swear you just left. What brings you back so soon?"

    Roki? Viliant opined, reeling. Really? He could not imagine Sage Rokirith on friendly enough terms with anyone to go by such a demeaning name.

    As expected, Sage Rokirith reacted with a lofty attitude. "The distance I''ve traveled is far greater than the time that I''ve been gone," he said with a cough¡ªa thin veil for his boast. "I flew over the mountains and back."

    "Did you miss me that much, Roki?" the green dragoness asked, ruffling her wings to plump them up on either side.

    As he hid behind the sage, Viliant gave a silent gag. The nickname ''Roki'' was as cringeworthy for Sage Rokirith as he found ''Vilie'' for his own name. She definitely reminds me of Fia, Viliant determined.

    "If I did miss you, Diwa," Sage Rokirith replied, "I would''ve remembered how annoying you are and stayed away."

    "So, I''m unforgettable is what you''re telling me."

    As much as he wanted to scream at them to hurry up, Viliant contained himself. It would do no good to offend the dragon who might provide Fia with life-saving care.

    "Speaking of forgettable¡­" Sage Rokirith said, using it as a transition and shooting a glare back to Viliant. "I almost forgot about my guests." He stepped aside so that Diwa could see Viliant face to face.

    Out of habit of his distrust, he turned his head to one side. Viliant tried to soften the leer in his eyes.

    Diwa gasped. Her tiny wings framed either side of her jaws, but they were not quite long enough to hide her joyous shock. "Tell me. Who is this shy, little dragon?"

    No one reacts like that when they see me. Viliant adjusted himself uncomfortably, but in doing so, his wings stiffened in a dragon''s blush. And I don''t like it.

    "Ignore that one," Sage Rokirith said to ruin the moment. "He doesn''t matter."

    "But of course he does!" A fleeting look of concern passed through Diwa''s eyes for Viliant. The adult dragoness stepped closer, lowering her head but keeping her wide eyes trained on the sage. "You do care about children, don''t you?"

    "I have no idea what you mean," Sage Rokirith said gruffly. "I just needed to get these little hooligans off my land, and dumping them on you is the best way to ensure they don''t come crawling back." The sage turned and crouched to reveal Fia on his back. "Not so much this one, though. She''s not crawling anywhere, mostly dead."

    A sudden outburst roared from Diwa, much fiercer than her size would suggest. "Rokirith! Why didn''t you say something sooner?" Her attention immediately shifted to Fia. "Oh, you poor thing," she cooed. Diwa rose onto her hind legs and accepted the baby dragoness into tender claws. Once she had her, Diwa opted to stand on three legs so that she could cradle Fia in the crook of one leg. "I need to treat her immediately."

    The green dragoness fluttered her wings and latched onto the bark of the tree. Rather than flying, she climbed her way up. And though she used her legs, her body slithered from side to side almost like a snake.

    Before she got too far, Sage Rokirith called, "I''m leaving this other one here too. Be warned: he''s a menace. I can take care of him if he gives you any problems."

    Diwa released her short, hooked claws from the tree and landed immediately in front of Sage Rokirith''s nose. While she held Fia close to the crest of scales on her chest, she spoke in Viliant''s defense. "You will do no such thing! I won''t let you scratch a single scale on his head." Her narrow snout stuck defiantly up to Sage Rokirith. Her pupils danced as if trying to discern whether or not his suggestion had been serious.

    The sage let out a dull chortle. "Alright. I''ll bring meat to help feed the mouths that I''ve brought you. Farewell, Diwa, till next time." Sage Rokirith glanced upwards, where he would have taken to the sky if not for the dense trees trapping him on the ground. He turned and walked back towards the river.

    Viliant watched him go until he had disappeared among the trees. Left alone with the new stranger, Viliant turned back to Diwa. "Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to help us."

    "It''s no trouble, none at all!" Diwa insisted. "My nest is in this tree. Would you mind hanging onto my back? I''d be happy to take you up there."

    "No," Viliant said at once, his ingrained reaction anytime he might want to depend on others.

    "You sure?" she asked. "It''s okay to accept help, you know. You''re safe now."

    A heavy sigh left his muzzle. Now that a sense of relief was sinking in, an ache enveloped his body down to the bones. Viliant felt as though he could pass out where he stood at the foot of the tree. His exhaustion had reached a breaking point long ago, but he could not allow himself to be lulled into a false sense of security. The rainforest could host any number of deadly creatures in the understory.

    Since he was uncertain if Diwa could defend herself while carrying Fia in the event of an attack, Viliant had the duty to escort them up the tree. "I can climb," he muttered without looking up. His long claws were poorly adapted to the task, but he persisted and followed Diwa up to her home anyway.

 Chapter 48: A Flame Rekindled

    The jungle dragoness had constructed her abode as a treehouse. Several sturdy, broken boughs were braced between the tree''s trunk and its living branches, hewed and hitched together to form a lattice. A mud plaster filled the gaps to create the walls and floor. Diwa hopped through a hole near the bottom to enter. "Welcome to my home!"

    Viliant clambered after her, hefting himself onto the floor while letting his belly and tail drag.

    The cozy interior provided shelter from most of the insects. A thatched roof kept them dry and offered them shade from any of the elements which might seep through the rainforest''s canopy. Some curtains of woven vines were pinned open by the windows. The natural light poured into the room so that the dragons could see.

    Viliant collapsed in a mottled patch of sun and shade across the floor. A slight grunt came from him from the unceremonious landing. There, he lay in peace. The insects'' song chattered throughout the canopy in a constant drone. Birds twittered and other animals shrieked from afar now that they were higher up amidst the leaves. Thoroughly exhausted, he had no intention to get back up.

    "I did offer to carry you," Diwa gently chided. "Make yourself at home," she offered even though he had already done so.

    "Thank you," Viliant murmured. His mind was slipping. The small claws of Diwa tapped away and hopped to another room, leaving him alone. Fia¡­. Viliant thought. I need to make sure she''s actually getting the care she needs. When his eyes reopened, his vision blurred. But I don''t feel too good.

    His muscles did not obey when he tried to get up. Instead, they cramped and seized with pain. What''s happening? Viliant panicked as he writhed on the floor, unable to get up. Poison? No¡­ they wouldn''t bother with that. The jungle, however, might have something toxic in the air to which the native dragon had immunity.

    Before he could do anything about it, Viliant''s heavy eyelids fell shut against his will.

    ***

    When his eyes next cracked open, his surroundings had changed. A gasp caught in his throat. Viliant tried to jump to his feet, but the sudden jerk only managed to bring him to an upright, sitting position.

    "Don''t get up!" a panicked, feminine voice said. The green dragoness Diwa hovered over Viliant, blinking her wide eyes rapidly in concern. "Please lay back down. You need to rest."

    Viliant surveyed the room but did not see the pink scales of his friend. "Fia! Where''s Fia?"

    "Your friend is resting in another room. She''s fine."

    "But what about the poison?" Viliant asked, but he winced soon thereafter. His question was one out of disorientation and delirium¡ªnot a serious belief that he had inhaled noxious gas.

    "Poison?" Diwa repeated. In a shrill voice, she asked, "You mean you''re aware of the toxins building up in your ley lines? Why haven''t you done anything about it?"

    "Why haven''t I? My what¡­?" A daze still settled over Viliant''s mind. Though he was not certain what the nature dragon was talking about, it filled him with a sense of dread.

    "Your ley lines," Diwa emphasized, a little dumbfounded that Viliant did not immediately understand what she was talking about. "You''ve been over-practicing magic for too long. Did you not listen to your elders? It''s not healthy to cast spells without rest unless you want to develop manzy. It''s a good thing Sage Rokirith brought you here, or else you both would have died!"

    Those words sunk into Viliant''s ears. "No," he whispered. "No, I''m fine. I don''t know what you''re talking about." Only Fia had been anywhere near death''s doorstep. Viliant refused to believe that he had been only a couple days from that fate himself. Could using magic really do that to me? The awakening of his shadow element had felt like the one thing which had finally fallen into place in his life. If what Diwa said was true, then even his own talent had betrayed him.

    "I''ll try to reverse as much of the damage as possible, but you can''t abuse your power like that anymore. Otherwise, you''ll no longer be able to cast as powerful spells¡ª"

    "I''m fine!" he insisted. A slight tremor had entered Viliant''s frame. He did not want to listen to this. "Treat Fia first."

    "I already dressed your friend''s wound and administered the first round of healing."

    First round? Viliant echoed in his mind, becoming even more disenchanted with magic. Based on what he had seen previously, he had assumed that a competent healer''s cure spell would be more potent than that. The human healer at the coliseum had reversed critical, devastating wounds in no time. Although the useless, nature mage in the woods had tempered his expectations, Viliant hoped that a dragon healer would far surpass any human ones. An infection must be harder to treat than a cut, he reasoned.

    "I need to take care of you too," Diwa said simply, blinking her big, emerald eyes at him. She coaxed him to lay back down on the mat of furs. "I''ve only numbed the pain so far. You may have woken up already, but your ley lines are still a knotted mess."

    "Alright¡­" Viliant said reluctantly. He watched Diwa as she flitted around all sides of the bed. She poked her stubby claws between his scales as if to give him acupuncture. A soothing energy washed over him, but it did nothing to avert his distrustful gaze.

    Diwa must have felt his piercing stare. Without looking away from her work, she acknowledged, "I can''t imagine what you kids went through."

    "Hm." Viliant would not enlighten her on that matter. He had no intention to bare his heart to the healer, yet her remark still brought him to introspection. The closest person who understands what I went through is¡­ Fia. Yet she had not the slightest understanding what it was like to witness the extermination of his people, grow up year after year in the coliseum, and watch all the other young dragons perish.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "Whenever you''re ready to talk about it, I am here to listen," Diwa offered. A telepathic signal pulsed from her, inviting Viliant to share whatever emotions might emburden his mind.

    Viliant closed his eyes in one, long blink. When he reopened them, lids glazed over, he stretched out his wings. His body told the story of his life, those scarred wings and malnourished, brittle scales. He would never fly. He would never grow to his full size. And now, he might never reach his magical potential thanks to his damaged ley lines.

    It seemed that the past would always define him. As Viliant''s mind drifted back to the cage where he had led most of his life, he thought, I''m still trapped, but¡­ does it have to be this way? Everything about him had been broken and battered back then¡ªincluding his spirit. He had even reached a point where he could no longer muster the will to escape anymore, at least until Fia had come into his life. All her bright ideas had hitherto come to fruition. Maybe¡­ I can stand to be a little more hopeful.

    Even so, Viliant replied, "I¡­ want to rest." He closed his eyes and trusted Diwa to take care of them. As he drifted back closer to the realm of sleep, he swore that he heard an astounding promise.

    "Give me a little time," Diwa whispered, "and I''ll heal your wings too."

    So, this is what hope feels like. Viliant slipped into a deep slumber where his dreams could soar.

    ***

    The dragons rested in separate rooms where the healer had placed them. Fia and Viliant needed some time to recover first before they could seek each other out.

    Lucidity slowly reclaimed Fia''s mind as her fever subsided. Within a week, she could sit upright and assess her new surroundings¡ªa cozy room and a soft bed. A nearby window informed her the time of day. Sunlight dazzled on the underside of the leaves which Fia could see from here. The spark in her blue eyes reflected her newfound health. Fia admired Diwa in much the same way that Arenis used to look up to his older brother. I feel a lot better. Thank you!

    You''re welcome, dear. Diwa bowed her head and nuzzled the little girl''s face.

    The compassionate gesture hardly fazed Fia as she worried about the one who she most wanted to see right now. Where''s Viliant?

    He needs to rest too.

    Viliant? Fia marveled to herself. Rest? Though most of her recollection from the fever was hazy, she did remember his constant, concerned presence at her side. Viliant always cared for her, never taking repose for himself. The thought of the staid dragon, at last overwhelmed, put Fia to alarm. Is he alright? Can I see him? I want to see him!

    After a few blinks fell over her eyes, she realized that her demeanor was an artifact of the old Fia which had put herself in grave danger in the first place. The bubbly excitement projected in her internal voice died away. Knowing that she needed to change, Fia stated definitively as she got up, I''m going to see him.

    Oh no! Don''t strain your shoulder, Diwa fretted as she chirped fiercely at Fia. Please rest. I''ll carry you.

    Against her nature, Fia took a hesitant step backwards. I can walk. Her shoulder had a fresh bandage securely wrapped around it. Her leg had a new sling which supported her more comfortably than the makeshift one. When she had Viliant to lean on in the badlands, she had walked much farther in far worse condition. Fia, however, knew that she must endeavor to become more independent which entailed doing everything that she could by herself.

    Don''t be silly! Diwa said. Using your leg will interfere with your recovery. I''m here, so let me help you.

    Okay¡­ Fia was easily convinced since time was of the essence. Now that they had safely escaped the humans, they needed to direct themselves towards Carlinoa. Fia and Viliant would set out for her homeland as soon as they regained enough strength.

    For now, Diwa gathered Fia onto her back and bounded to another, connected enclosure of her treehouse. Your friend is this way.

    The dim room had a bed of furs along the far wall. A mass of black scales was curled into a tight ball, rising and falling with hastened breath. His body shuddered and twitched as though a nightmare had seized the sleeping dragon.

    Diwa knelt at the bedside so that Fia could easily dismount onto the furs with him. For a moment, she watched him sleep with concern swelling in her chest. "Viliant," she said gently and nuzzled him. Fia lay down on her good side with a wing draped over his head crowned by six horns.

    He seems to have nightmares more often than not, Diwa remarked. The healer settled down on the floor to join the child''s visitation of her older friend.

    A sliver of green peeked through Viliant''s eyelids as he stirred. "Fia," he croaked. The muscles of his jaw softened. His tail unfurled to release its tension and wrapped back around his body in a gentle smile. I''m glad you''re okay.

    Fia tucked her wing snugly under his chin and neck. We made it. Thank you, Viliant!

    His eyes fell closed again. You''re welcome. And¡­ thank you. Viliant was not ready to wake up yet, so he drifted back to sleep more easily now that his best friend was near.

    A twinge of delight lifted in her heart. While Viliant had expressed his appreciation of their friendship, Fia had not realized how deep that went. Best friends¡­ she recalled. Her presence soothed him enough to chase away nightmares which she could only imagine. In the coliseum, Fia had experienced but a fraction of his trauma.

    Lifting her eyes to Diwa, she shared in great remorse, He''s been through a lot more than me. And I almost died, she added with a shudder. Her system still felt the shock of her fever; she was amazed that she had managed to wake up from it at all.

    I''ll take better care of you, Fia vowed softly to Viliant. Like you''ve done for me.

    One memory from the feverish ordeal burned brighter than all the rest. Sage Rokirith had drawn his talon across her forehead and cast a spell to help her. The words which he had spoken next seemed to crystallize in her mind. I deign to let you and your friend live. However, you must watch over him. Do not allow him to commit any crime that you would not take upon your own head.

    As the sage commanded her this, Fia''s fangs had clenched together as strong as her new resolve forged in the throes of her fever. No longer would she amble frivolously through their mission. I need to take this as seriously as Viliant. He alone should not have to bear the burden of their journey. Some unsavory but necessary decisions were required of them both. Fia flexed her claws, ready to see them bloodied and dirtied for her cause. I will save my people.

    Gently, Diwa pulled Fia away from her personal musings. You don''t have to share anything that you don''t want to, but I¡­ can''t imagine. What happened to you children?

    Well¡­. Fia recounted her tale in fits and starts, how she was captured by humans, forced to fight in the coliseum, and driven through the badlands in their successful escape.

 Chapter 49: Hunter and Healer (Bonus)

    Within the week, Sage Rokirith returned to the foot of Diwa''s treehouse and thumped his tail in the pattern of their secret code. "Diwa!" he called.

    The green dragoness bounded down the tree. Even if her small wingspan struggled to sail over the mountain range in a single flight, Rokirith admired how her lithe frame could navigate between the tree branches¡ªsomething which he could not do without busting through them all.

    "Hi Roki," Diwa said, beaming up to him. "Nice to see you again."

    "Agreed. I come under much better circumstances this time."

    "I don''t know what could possibly be better than you coming here with children," Diwa said teasingly. "I only wish you''d bring me more¡­." The aroma of blood in the air made her trail off. The nostrils of the petite dragoness twitched, and her emerald eyes lit up. "You brought food!"

    Rokirith stepped aside so that his large body no longer blocked the view of the game which he had killed. Most alligatoises did not have a chance to grow to the size of the pest which had invaded his oasis. He had brought a much smaller one stripped of its shell over the mountains, preserved in the gelid bite of his blackfire. "It would be quite discourteous of me to bring you extra mouths to feed but nothing in which to fill them."

    "Thank you. I really appreciate it, Roki,"  Diwa said. As she passed him to approach the food, she brushed her neck against his. The scales of the jungle dragoness were smaller and softer compared to his rigid ones.

    Rokirith recoiled. His claws dug deeper into the moist earth, charring it with frost under his glare.

    Once she stood in front of the food, Diwa protested with a gasp, "But this is too much food for the dragonets!"

    In monotone, Rokirith said, "You have been expending much energy to bring the wyrms back to health. It is only fair that I provide food for you too, so you may recover yourself."

    "Aw, that''s so sweet of you, Roki."

    A twinge of annoyance flitted through Rokirith who had to listen to Diwa constantly coo that childish nickname. He ruffled his wings to keep them from curling into any show of endearment.

    "But," Diwa drawled, "I''m afraid this is still too much food for me and the children. Won''t you stay and eat with us?" Neither dragon faced each other, so she flicked her tail against his when she extended her invitation.

    As much as he secretly reveled in Diwa''s affection, Rokirith swatted his tail to the side. Much of his willpower was required to keep the tip from curling into a slight smile. "I¡­ suppose I could linger here a while yet. Feed the wyrms first. I shall wait."

    Diwa carved out a large slab of meat and scurried up to the tree like a hard-working ant back to her nest.

    "Oh, and Diwa?" Rokirith called from the ground before she could get too far. "Feed the little pink one first, not that the glutton steals it all from her."

    The green dragoness slithered around the girth of the tree trunk. When the wood concealed her body on the far side, she must have flipped around. She came back into view hanging upside down. Her neck reached downward the same distance in which Rokirith lifted his chin upward to meet her. Their noses nearly touched. Rokirith was enticed to stare at the slight flare of her nostrils¡ªannoyed with him as always.

    ***

    A blithe huff escaped Diwa''s snout. "I''ll make sure they''re both well fed," she snipped, despite how her tail curled into an endearing smile. At least he cares about the children, she thought to herself, but if only he could care about them both equally.

    When she made it back to the treehouse, she visited Fia and Viliant in turn. After the dragonets had fallen asleep together, Diwa had carried Fia back to her own room. She intended to have a motherly talk with her later; Viliant was old enough to appreciate a bit more space. For now, she greeted her favorite dragonette cheerfully.

    "Hi, Fia! How''re you feeling?" she said, her verbal words and telepathic meaning in tandem. While the dragonets were in her care, this was the best way to teach them the language of the Malakow Empire¡ªsomething which would aid them on their journey. "Sage Rokirith has brought us food!" Diwa sliced a generous piece of meat for Fia, then turned to take the rest for Viliant.

    Wait, Fia croaked in Diwa''s mind. Is that for Viliant?

    "Yes," she replied.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Can I cook it first?

    Diwa walked back over and caressed Fia''s cheek with the tip of her wing. "That''s very sweet of you to think of him, but I think you should take it easy for now."

    Okay, Fia droned. The dragonette''s mood drooped in disappointment.

    "Once you''re better," Diwa said to raise her spirits, "we can have a big, roast feast to celebrate!"

    Fia lifted her chin at once, mouth slightly parted in glee. Her jaws opened the rest of the way which allowed her to take a fierce bite of the meat. She snuffled as she swallowed hard and slurped at the blood, unthawing in the heat of her mouth. The dragonette ate hastily under the guise that this would help her recover faster.

    "Don''t eat too fast," Diwa suggested gently. "You might give yourself a tummy ache. There''s no need to rush."

    After another gulp, Fia gasped and paused till her eyes stopped watering. This is really good.

    "I know. It''s my favorite food," Diwa shared.

    Thank you, Fia said but paused. Her mind wracked all the sounds of the new language that she was absorbing. Fia managed to say aloud, "Thank you!"

    "You''re welcome, dear. I''ll tell Roki that you liked it." Diwa hurried to Viliant''s room so that she could get back to the sage sooner.

    "Hello, Viliant," she greeted her favorite dragonet. "How are you doing? Do you feel any pain?"

    No, he shared at once, even though Viliant clearly struggled to sit up.

    A soothing spell seeped from Diwa and transferred to the stubborn dragonet. "You can say ''yes'' with your words. You don''t have to let your body speak for you."

    Viliant lay back down easier and sighed now that the twisted ley lines running throughout his body no longer ached. Nonetheless, he denied any appreciation in favor of saying, What you just did was entirely unnecessary.

    "Your pain was entirely unnecessary," Diwa growled back.

    He recoiled at her sudden change in demeanor, but his eyes softened in understanding. Someone was angry on his behalf. The child could rest easier now that he had an adult dragoness who cared for him. At least, this was what Diwa hoped to communicate to Viliant in a way that he would understand.

    "I''ve brought food. This is necessary," she said and placed the hunk of meat in front of Viliant.

    The slitted pupils of his eyes widened at the center. His forked tongue flicked out, nearly licking the meat and giving it a taste. Who killed this?

    "I''ll have you know, I''m an excellent hunter!" Diwa said. Just because she pounced from the trees instead of swooping from the sky, her quarry was not any less impressive. "But in this case, Sage Rokirith has come to visit us with food."

    What type is it? Viliant asked, pulling back from the meat with a leery, sidelong gaze.

    "A rare creature of the badlands¡ªan alligatoise if you''ve heard of it."

    "I have." Viliant took a massive chomp of the meat, his jaws snapping as though he imitated the animal which he zealously ate. After swallowing the substantial mouthful, he clarified, I was just wondering because it looked good. The dragonet lowered his head as though self-conscious of his rudeness before, now trying to make up for it with compliments. His green eyes flitted to assess Diwa''s response.

    Her tail swished into a smile. "I''ll tell¡­"

    Don''t tell him I said that, Viliant added brusquely.

    With a sigh, she said, "But he brought us a delicacy. It wouldn''t hurt to thank him."

    His ego is already too big for that, Viliant countered.

    "You could say that about yourself," Diwa snapped. It should not be such an ordeal to give thanks where credit was due. Her tail swished out of irritation as she turned to go.

    Quickly, Diwa''s mood soared like the air beneath her wings. The dragoness dropped from branch to branch as fast as she could to get back to Sage Rokirith. Once she had reached a height where she could land on her feet, Diwa whistled as she struck a pose. "Ta-da! Our children are fed."

    Sage Rokirith turned to her, his attention lifting with little surprise. "They are not our children," the miserly sage corrected. "They are strange wyrms¡ªnothing more, nothing less."

    A hissed slipped out between Diwa''s teeth. Even if the dragonets did not hatch from eggs of her reluctant mate, she felt blessed to be surrounded by what seemed like family.

    The crimson eyes of the sage narrowed. "Do not pretend to see things which are not there. You know those wyrms will not stay."

    He sees me happy. Can he not let me be? Diwa bemoaned. Sage Rokirith might as well pry his talons beneath fresh scales grown over an old wound and rip it afresh. In contrast, she played off her pain with a roll of her eyes. "I don''t know what you mean, Roki." Diwa looked back to him with a devious kink in her tail. "I only have eyes for what''s right in front of me." She fluttered her eyelids rapidly, carefully watching his reaction between blinks.

    "And there will be nothing more than that." Sage Rokirith picked up the remainder of the alligatoise in his mouth. The thick base of his tail drooped. Its narrowing length dragged behind him, sweeping across the trail toward the river¡ªtheir favorite meeting spot.

 Chapter 50: Blush and Brass (Bonus)

    The path that they took to the river, cutting through the jungle, had not always been here. Diwa contemplated the time of its inception as she followed the stubborn sage. After she had met Rokirith, injured in the badlands, she had stayed in the mountains to help his recovery. However, the vast open space made her feel even smaller at his side. The lower levels of ambient mana made her more homesick than anything else, but on the day that she declared her return home, Rokirith offered to go with her.

    Diwa¡­! he had blurted out, his angular eyes with the increased vigor of his youth. His mouth hung slightly agape, searching for words which ultimately reverted to his ceremonious pattern of speech. Travel constitutes no burden to me. Let me accompany you.

    Once Rokirith crouched beneath the grand trees which Diwa had told him about, the dark jungle weighed upon him. He felt equally uncomfortable with his wings tightly folded as she had felt with too much air beneath hers.

    So, the sage returned to his mountain while the healer remained in her forest. Any plants which encroached on this trail were promptly frozen in Sage Rokirith''s blackfire the next time that he visited.

    A wide berth of the river had a small island at its center. Here, Sage Rokirth could spread his vast wings and jump to the land mass with a single beat. Diwa let the draft from his wings help her along, yet she still had to flutter them to reach the island.

    "I hope you are hungry," Sage Rokirith said as he lay down with the meat, freshly melted from the preservation of his element. Even after it had been frozen, Diwa loved the tough, tangy meat of the alligatoise. She shredded it beneath her fangs and savored the flavor in her mouth.

    "Thank you," she said after a swallow. "You always bring my favorite meat from the badlands despite its rarity."

    "I swear the alligatoise become more scarce with every hunt," Sage Rokirith chortled softly, expressing his high spirits. "I''d hunt them to extinction for you."

    Diwa giggled, a bit more nervously than him. I love you too, she thought but could not share those forbidden words. In their liminal relationship, Diwa and Rokirith expressed as much in countless other ways aside from an outright, declared commitment. "You might even convince me to go back to the mountains with you if you''d bring me one of the colossus alligatoise."

    "You would have to travel to the badlands for that."

    "Exactly," Diwa said, taking another bite.

    A quiet moment held between them. The two natural states for Diwa and Rokirith were banter and silence. The sage had a sharp tongue which always spoke candidly, so she would coax answers out of him under the guise of teasing. "Since you''ve brought me two adorable children, does that make you the father?"

    A parlous look flared behind Rokirith''s eyes. "I''ve already overstayed my plans to eat with you, but if you make me lose my appetite then I will go."

    Diwa pouted at him. She wanted answers, but he always wanted to delay serious conversations. For now, she would bide her time and show Rokirith the joys of their misfit family. Maybe it''ll be enough to make him want his own, she mused to herself. Listen, she beckoned him, nuzzling her head close to those impressive, crimson tipped horns.

    Their telepathic receptors hovered so close. Sage Rokirith always hesitated to allow Diwa the slightest glimpse into his mind, not that there was anything to hide from her anymore. He had already shared with her the desolate wasteland, scorched by frozen fire which comprised his hopes and dreams. Much like the regrettable state of the dragonets, Diwa could not heal the wounds of the mind no matter how badly she wished it so. Instead, she did the only thing she could do: prattle on cheerfully once he had relented.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Fia appreciates the food and thanks you! She''s so cute. She even wanted to cook for Viliant.

    Instantly, that statement seized Sage Rokirith''s attention. Please elaborate what you mean by ''cook''.

    Fia is not just a blackfire dragon, Diwa revealed. She''s a red fire dragon.

    That would explain her fever. As cold-blooded reptiles, dragons did not generate heat naturally, so Sage Rokirith knew that something was amiss magically. But red fire. Red fire, Sage Rokirith murmured, as if slipping into a trance. "True fire, burning hot, like that which is trapped beneath Mt. Ravia."

    Tipping her head to the side, Diwa did not understand his musings¡ªwhy he was so fixated on that particular mountain. Nothing good would come of his obsession, so she tried to take his mind off it. Her magic core is also fully awakened. She''s young enough that I can work with her, but I''m afraid she''ll quickly outgrow what I know. She''ll need a master of her own element soon. Do you think blackfire has enough similarities?

    Sage Rokirith tipped his head back to the open sky which twisted among the trees'' canopy just as the river did below. I don''t know everything, but it will be a fascinating challenge to work with her. My blackfire is a rare element not acknowledged within the classical system. Never did I fathom that the true, red fire dragon of myth would actually exist.

    A sudden change in Rokirith''s demeanor surprised Diwa, her mouth parted in awe.

    His crimson eyes, so often jaded, filled with wonderment for the first time in a long while. His wings and tail lifted with a crooked smile, but whenever Sage Rokirith looked like that, he had just conceived a devious plan.

    Sage Rokirith draped his vast wing over Diwa''s petite body like a comforting blanket. His coarse cheek lowered to her softer one, giving her a tender nuzzle. You should do everything within your power to convince the fire dragonette to stay. Can you do that for me, Di-Di?

    For a second, Diwa''s mind spun like the flotsam leaves and twigs aloft on the river. She had not received so much affection from Roki in years. She savored the moment yet to process what he had said. You manipulative scoundrel, Diwa hissed. She has parents¡ªreal parents! As much as she would adore to foster the little girl, Diwa would not unduly trick her into staying in the rainforest forever.

    The Sage Rokirith flapped his wing off the dragoness, splaying it outwards in a profession of innocence. I simply have taken interest in a potential student. She has great potential to advance my research.

    Diwa gritted her fangs. As much as she appreciated Rokirith, she did not want him to poison the dragonette''s mind. She''s so young, Diwa lamented, but she''s seen enough of the world to make her own decisions. Let''s wait and see what she wants. Diwa squirmed back under Rokirith''s wing. After teasing her like that, he could not withhold his attention from her anymore.

    The adult dragons snuggled alongside each other, only wishing for more time in the world. However, Diwa had patients¡ªcherubic patients¡ªwho could not go without her care for too long. As much as it pained her to wrench herself from Rokirith, she said, "I have to get back to the dragonets."

    Sage Rokirith walked to the highest edge of the quaint island where he would take off. He looked back to offer a farewell. "Give me another week, and I''ll have flown over the mountains and back to see this glimpse of green again." Despite their surroundings, he did not spare a glance to the lush jungle with his eyes¡ªnever faltering from her. "I trust that you''ll do as I said."

    Diwa''s wings ruffled in a blush, ignoring that last bit. "See you soon, Roki!" she trilled. The green dragoness remained on the ground, watching his ascent until he had disappeared over the trees. Diwa made her way back home to Fia and Viliant, her posture still smiling from the way that her lunch had made her feel.

 Chapter 51: Flighty Recovery

    The jungle never slept, and her lively surroundings kept Fia awake at night. The pink dragonette lay on the porch outside the treehouse. Her healthy muscles twitched restlessly, even her reconstructed shoulder.

    "Hey Fia," a sweet voice said aloud as well as echoing in her mind. Diwa approached from behind. She always spoke both verbally and telepathically to Fia in order to help her learn the language¡ªsomething which Viliant had not thought to do¡ªalbeit this language sounded different. Compared to the one that he spoke, Diwa added pops of her tongue and clicks to her fangs. "What are you doing out here?"

    Well¡­ Fia turned back to the green dragoness who had taken in the dragonet fugitives. She had told Diwa everything that had happened to them, including the Dragon Slayer''s declaration of war against her people, the Carlinoa Clan. We need to leave soon, she said, but Viliant seems so¡­ happy here. The word ''happy'' was perhaps too strong to describe the stoic dragonet, but he was more content here than Fia had ever seen him. You''re still repairing his wings, like you did mine. With one wing extended, she gestured to where a hole had once been, now a healthy, smooth flap. Maybe he should stay with you longer¡ªlonger than I can stay.

    Diwa lay down next to Fia and draped a tender wing over her body as she listened carefully. "You should not doubt your friend. He worked himself nearly to death, trying to keep you both alive in the badlands."

    Exactly, Fia thought with great remorse. Now that he was freed of the coliseum, he could have a good, long life ahead of him. He had no reason to risk that to save Fia''s people.

    Diwa tried to stoke the hope in the dragonette''s heart. "When the time is right, discuss your concerns with him. It''s his decision whether he wants to continue this journey with you. Don''t try to make that choice for him."

    "Yes," Fia agreed and laid her chin across her claws. She had already picked up a few, simple words in the new language.

    "In the meantime, we can prepare for your journey across the sea," Diwa suggested. "I''m not strong enough to take you home myself. I can take you as far as the Malakow capital. From there, we might be able to convince someone else to take up your cause, but we can''t count on that. I don''t have enough money to pay for the trip, either¡­." The dragoness trailed off as she rapped a thoughtful talon against the uneven wooden planks. "How about this? We can gather some herbs and sell them in the city to pay for your fare."

    You''d help us do that? Fia asked. As she expressed her gratitude, she had come across another simple phrase that she knew. "Thank you!" she chimed. How soon can we start?

    "Tomorrow," Diwa said. "But only if you get a good night''s sleep."

    Fia jumped onto her feet, suddenly feeling an urgency to go back to bed. "Thank you, Diwa! Goodnight!"

    Back inside the treehouse, Fia bounded up to her own, small room. Though she had originally wanted to stay as close to Viliant as they had in the same cell at the coliseum, Diwa had convinced Fia to return to her individual room. They were still near enough that she could connect with him telepathically. You still up, Viliant?

    Now I am, he mumbled, his thoughts hazy as he stirred awake.

    Oops! Fia closed their telepathic link to let him go back to sleep.

    Viliant insisted that she rejoin the conversation with many pulses against her mind. Tell me, he barked.

    No, it''s nothing. I''m sorry. Go back to sleep.

    I''m already awake! Viliant snapped, clearly irritated by that fact.

    Diwa says we''re gonna find herbs tomorrow to get money!

    Is that right¡­? Viliant said with a sliver of apprehension creeping into his mind. I suppose we''ll have to get moving again. The mission to save her people did not occupy Fia''s mind alone, but Viliant remembered her duty only with great reluctance.

    Don''t worry about that right now, Fia said gently.

    I''m not. I''m sleeping, Viliant said to signal the end of this conversation.

    Sorry I kept you up. Goodnight!

    Don''t let the dragonflies bite, Viliant added with the mental projection of a growl. Their telepathic link closed promptly.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    "Eek!" Fia squealed at the thought of dragonflies zooming in through the window to bite her. Alone, she listened to the muffled song of insects audible through the walls of the treehouse. While her best friend might have promised to never leave her, she wondered how long his commitment to her would last.

    Before, Viliant had nowhere to go, but now he had every reason to stay here. The Malakow Jungle far surpassed Fia''s offer to make Carlinoa Island his new home, a precarious place that their old captors would soon attack. If he would only say the word, then Diwa would certainly adopt Viliant as her own. Their emerald eyes matched as though they really could be mother and son.

    Fia slept fretfully, wishing the best for Viliant, but also praying for his help on her journey. I''ll work harder, she vowed, feeling an impassioned blaze within her. Fia needed to become someone Viliant genuinely wanted to ally himself alongside. If he would grace her with his company to Carlinoa, then she would never let him regret choosing such.

    ***

    Fia and Viliant stood with Diwa at the door to her treehouse, ready for an outing that morning. The handles of two woven baskets dangled from the adult dragoness''s mouth. One she would carry herself while the other she would give to Viliant once they were on the ground. Fia was too small to carry a basket herself, but she could help fill them both. Diwa set the baskets down momentarily and announced, "Today, we venture into the jungle to gather some useful herbs. Who''s ready?"

    Excitement bubbled inside Fia, but she restrained her jubilant response by narrowing her eyes. I''m ready, she said seriously. Let''s do this.

    Viliant gave her a curious glance from the corners of his eyes¡ªprobably because he was impressed by her initiative, or so she thought.

    "A girl your age should be able to handle the glide down," Diwa said to Fia, adding on for Viliant''s benefit, "given the condition of your wings. Do you think you''re up to the challenge?"

    "Yes!" Fia said and dove headfirst down the hatch of the treehouse. Leaves blustered past her on all sides. With wings folded tight, she only angled them to steer herself through the big gaps in the leaves. Despite her efforts, she smacked against a thick branch and started to slide off. Fia clung onto it for dear life and somehow found herself upside down.

    A green blur flashed through the leaves. Diwa opened her wings and perched delicately on another bough. Once more, she had the baskets in her mouth which caused her voice to only sound inside her head. Are you alright, Fia?

    She nodded with her chin nearly scraping against the underside of the branch. I can do this.

    Good. Try gliding down¡ªa little slower this time, Diwa offered in instruction and encouragement. You can do this! As a quiet aside, the dragoness admitted to Fia alone, I''m more worried about Viliant. Diwa tipped her head back and called, Viliant? Are you able to get down?

    I''m coming, he grumbled. When Fia looked up, she saw how the black dragonet desperately clung onto the tree. All four of his limbs wrapped around the trunk. Even the spiked tips of his wings helped in this endeavor, reaching above his head to help stabilize himself. His claws dragged gouges through the bark as he tried to slide down.

    Diwa hopped onto the trunk beneath Fia, facing downward in the optimal way which Viliant dared not attempt. "It''s easier if you climb a tree like this." She slithered around the tree trunk like a gecko for demonstration.

    The bark scratched and peeled away as Viliant leveraged his weight against his claws, too long for this task. I''m good.

    Suit yourself. Let me know if you need help. Diwa''s attention returned to Fia so that she could supervise her next drop.

    The pink dragonette''s whole body squirmed as she gathered her courage and prepared to release her hold on the branch. Already, she felt a bit light-headed from her time spent upside down. Fia let go and returned to the air, diving backwards to resume her descent. The successful flip sent a thrill through Fia''s heart. The wind streamed across her scales and left her breathless.

    "Fia!" a far away gasp called. Diwa''s voice in her head was drowned out by her concentration on her stimulating descent.

    She whistled out of glee as she dodged branch after branch, breaking through the understory. The forest floor came into sight. Fia hurtled towards the ground, suddenly terrified that she was going too fast. Her wings spread wide to catch the air like fallen leaves to drift through the air, but the previous period of confinement and recovery left her flight muscles underdeveloped for such a task. The flaps of her wings shot above her head. Fia screamed.

    Yet, she did not strike the ground as she once had. Every tendon tensed and vein coursed with adrenaline. Fia''s body could still recall the sensation of striking the ground in the human''s capital¡ªthe effect of the Dragon Slayer''s gravity magic. When she cracked her eyes open, Fia looked up to Diwa who hovered with her gently in her claws.

    Her descent had stopped right before the ground. Fia flicked her tail and brushed her scales against the ferns. Relieved, she could finally close her eyes. Like this, she felt her body lowered to the ground. "You have to be more careful," Diwa scolded, "especially when you can''t see how far away the ground is."

    "I''ll¡­ be more careful," Fia said between gasps, repeating the same words which Diwa had used. She had learned her lesson. From now on, Fia resolved to hop from branch to branch rather than taking her descent all at once.

    Some raucous rustles and thunderous thumps sounded overhead. Both Fia and Diwa turned their heads upward where the black dragonet floundered between the branches. Viliant bounced from the higher ones to the lower ones until he hit the ground. "Ugh," he let out in a loud groan.

    "And you need to ask for help when you need it, young dragon," Diwa said unsympathetically. "I even offered¡ª!"

    I didn''t need it, Viliant said as he got up and shook himself off. See? Made it down just fine.

    With a big sigh, Diwa let the reckless dragonets be. "This way." She led them through the trees where they would forage for useful herbs.

 Chapter 52: Herbal Funds

    Once her keen, green eyes recognized a valuable plant, Diwa set the basket down and plucked it from the stem. With her mouth carefully closed around the fragile plant, she said to them, This can make a potent potion. Do you see the leaf pattern? Look for more plants like this. Diwa put the herb in her basket. With that, she sent Viliant off with a basket and Fia springing all around him.

    Both dragonets scoured the area, but Fia searched zealously. Since Viliant had carried so much of the workload on their journey thus far, she was fervid to return the favor. I''ll find the plant first! she bragged to him. Her snout pushed aside vines and sprigs of other plants. Every time her eyes rested upon a foreign pattern of leaves, she had to resist the desire to spit a small fire over them. Not it. Not it, she groaned.

    Her eyes widened, thrilled when she finally recognized the desirable pattern. I found it! she squealed, snapping up the plant.

    Careful. We have to sell that. Viliant extended his neck to offer the basket held in his mouth.

    The duo continued their work. Fia darted around the undergrowth, constantly on the prowl for new plants. She was dedicated to contributing the most to their funds for the seafaring voyage. Viliant shambled behind her more slowly with the basket. You''re good at recognizing these herbs, he offered when she dropped the next one inside.

    You''re doing a good job as the flower boy, she replied.

    There are no flowers! Viliant snapped curtly in her mind, but he abandoned his futile attempt at objection. The basket in his mouth swayed as he shook his head back and forth.

    Diwa, overhearing the bickering, came over to their spot in the jungle. She set down her own basket and asked, "How''s it going?"

    Fia struck an attentive pose. Amazing! Her chest puffed out more in pride now that she could see how many more herbs that the dragonets had collected compared to Diwa.

    I''m¡­ not so sure, Viliant murmured as he stared down at the tangle of green stems.

    "Hm, most of these are the wrong plant," Diwa confirmed.

    "What?" Fia said aloud since she knew that word.

    "It was an honest mistake, but you''ve mixed up the plant that we want and one used to make poisons."

    "What?" Fia echoed again, her shock exacerbated. The dragonette did not want to accept the fact that she had done abysmally at her task. Instead of finding herbs for medicine, she had done the exact opposite.

    As long as they''re useful, Viliant remarked, we can still sell them.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Diwa''s head lifted from the basket and flipped toward Viliant. Her jaw dropped in a look of horror. "Emphatically no!"

    And why not?

    "Because that wouldn''t be ethical," she emphasized that last word, as if hoping that Viliant would pick up on that new piece of vocabulary in particular. "I do not want to have any claw involved with killing someone."

    Those words pricked at Fia''s ears¡ªidealistic as she had once been¡ªbut now her eyes narrowed. She turned her attention to Viliant, more interested in what her role model had to say.

    You would not be involved, Viliant reassured Diwa. They would''ve found another way to kill without the poison regardless. If anything, I''d consider it merciful. I can imagine plenty worse ways to go.

    Diwa''s snout wrinkled. "Did you hear Sage Rokirith say things like that?"

    Quiet up until this point, Fia whispered, I think Viliant''s right. We should be willing to sell poison. At least, I am. It could save all my people if we get there sooner.

    Aloud, Viliant said a single word. "Ethical." His head cocked to the side, a smug smile entering his twisted tail.

    Diwa took a step back from the two children who had ganged up on her. The first look of true anger fell over her face. "This is not up for negotiation! If you want my help, then follow my rules. Do you not realize why I''m even helping you? I''m doing it for goodness'' sake!"

    Fia flinched and crouched low. Out of the corner of her eyes, she glanced at Viliant who shrugged his wings.

    Fair enough.

    Diwa helped them sift through the medicinal herbs and poisonous weeds. She held up one of each in her claws, explaining the differences. "You can''t just look at the shape of the leaves. You also need to look at the space between the leaves."

    They still look like the same plant, Fia whined.

    At the same moment, Viliant could confidently say, The difference is obvious now.

    "How?" Fia barked at him for another one-word question.

    I had some practice, Viliant said with a roll of his eyes. Luckily, he had never coated Fia''s injured shoulder in the oils of a poisonous plant. He had always avoided the ones which seemed insidious like these.

    "Don''t feel discouraged," Diwa offered to Fia. "It''s only natural that a poison dragon like Viliant is better at this."

    Poison? Fia echoed, tossing a curious look at Viliant.

    The black dragonet did not look up from his talons. For years before Fia had met him, he believed himself a metal dragon. It seemed that no one could guess his element correctly. Actually, I''m a shadow dragon, he muttered.

    Oh, sorry. I''m less familiar with that element, Diwa admitted.

    I don''t mind, Viliant said. He did care about gathering these herbs and his ability to discern them. Now, whenever Fia came up to him with a new plant, he could direct her which ones to place in the basket and which ones to throw out. Not that one. That one¡­.

    The dragons had a plentiful basketful by the time that Diwa led them back to her treehouse for the evening. Fia rested easier after the full day of work. Once they could sell these herbs in the city, she would be that much closer to home.

 Chapter 53: Magical Therapy

    A soft knock sounded against the wall outside Fia''s room. "Hi. Come in!" she said, looking forward to another visitation with Diwa. Fia''s favorite nights involved bouncing on the same nest as Viliant, eager to hear another fantastical legend of the Malakow Jungle. However, a more serious air followed the green dragoness as she slipped into her room tonight.

    Diwa lay at the base of Fia''s bed and rapped a thoughtful claw against the wooden floor. "Tomorrow, I want to begin lessons with Viliant. He needs to learn the foundations of magic. I think this will be good for you too, if you''d like to join us."

    "Yes! I want to," Fia said with a fierce nod. I miss the classes we had at home, she lamented to herself. All the Carlinoan dragonets, just old enough to learn like Fia and Arenis, had received instruction from a shared teacher. In addition to her passion for practicing magic, she also enjoyed playing with her friends.

    "But I wanted to warn you. Our pace will be slow. Can you promise to stay with Viliant and not jump ahead of us? Your participation should encourage him, not frustrate him."

    "Yes. Can do." Fia flicked her tail into a smile. There was no need to show off; Viliant had already seen her capabilities especially when she had attacked the Dragon Slayer.

    "The lessons might feel too easy for you," Diwa continued, "but the basics are extremely important. Even more so now that your element has been fully awakened."

    "Fully¡­ awakened?" Fia repeated. The pink dragonette sat upright, fully awake by how cool this sounded. What does that mean?

    "You''ve unlocked all your power." Diwa explained, "When you first discover your element, it''s only partially awakened, partially available to you. Once it''s fully awakened, you''ll be able to use more spells¡ªand more powerful ones¡ªthan most other dragons."

    Between the time in which she had escaped from the coliseum and succumbed to her fever, Fia''s fires had burned brighter than any which she had made at home. The dragonette chalked up the difference to training in the cell and putting her magic to real use. The intensity of a life-or-death situation fueled her fire, so long as her flames did not sputter out from fright. Apparently, something more had underlied her explosive growth. A shudder crawled up her spine, causing her wings to drape over her hunkered frame. Fia could recall the exact moment that the ember of her internal flame had exploded into an inferno. The Dragon Slayer¡­.

    Unaware of Fia''s personal musings, Diwa continued, "Of course, you still have a lot to learn. If anything, I''m worried that too much power, too soon will make it easier to hurt yourself. Some dragons go their whole lives without ever awakening their full potential." Diwa''s wings folded and tail curled out of embarrassment. "I haven''t reached mine. Sage Rokirith is the only dragon who I''ve known, personally, to achieve the full awakening."

    I''m as great as the Sage? Fia gasped, not realizing that she had become so enlightened at a young age.

    Diwa chuckled and nuzzled Fia''s cheek. "I''ll tell him you said that. Goodnight, Fia. I''ll wake you for practice, bright and early tomorrow morning. Sleep well."

    And don''t let the dragonflies bite! Fia said with her roar slipping into a yawn.

    Diwa paused at the door, one dainty claw lifted in surprise. "Dragonflies? Who told you there were dragonflies in my house?"

    "Viliant."

    "Of course, he did." Diwa tromped off to the next room where she would likely tuck Viliant into bed only after he had received a scolding.

    ***

    The next day, Diwa stirred the dragonets first thing in the morning and ventured down the tree with them. On the forest floor, a small fire crackled, started by Fia on a patch of clear ground. Later, they would use the fire in their exercise, but for now, it provided a cozy atmosphere for their lesson.

    The firelight reflected off Diwa''s green scales and danced in her slitted pupils as she instructed, "All magic can be broken down into the two most basic spells: bend and manifest. We''re going to practice the first one right now. Fia, red fire burns in front of you. Viliant, the jungle casts its shadows all around. Focus on your element as it naturally occurs in the environment," the dragoness advised. "See if you can feel a connection to it, just as we are connected to each other''s minds right now."

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    All three dragons closed their eyes. Deep, slow inhalations filled their chests as they enjoyed each other''s company. Fia squirmed out of happiness, grateful that Diwa could foster quiet moments with Viliant like this. Her joy let her easily feel the dancing flames, swirling them into a helix above the pile of wood.

    The basic magic lesson was too simple for Fia personally, but Viliant had never received formal instruction. He needed to rehabilitate his twisted ley lines and rebuild the strength to cast the spells which he had learned too quickly. The gloom of the forest pulsed, responding to Viliant''s demands of it. The darkness pressed inward on the three dragons. A shadow of guilt crept over Fia''s mind, as she was the one who had helped him awaken his element and encouraged its misuse. Her vortex of fire destabilized and collapsed inward, sending sparks over the other dragons.

    Diwa yelped and cast a quick healing spell to soothe the spots where embers landed on their scales.

    Hissing, Viliant said, Stop. You''re not the only one here¡ª

    "Shh." Diwa''s meditative voice washed over them. "Quiet your minds, both of you. The more attuned you are to your element, the less effort it will take to manipulate it. Empty yourselves of all thoughts and emotions. Focus. Become one with fire and shadow."

    Fia sighed, knowing that Diwa tried her best to teach her own understanding of magic. However, she was feeling less certain how much of the magical foundations overlapped from element to element. The nature dragoness must require a tranquil mind, but the fire dragonette needed to burn with passion. Can I ask something? Fia asked tentatively.

    You just did, Viliant pointed out.

    "What is it, dear?" Diwa replied. Some annoyance flitted through her mind directed at Viliant''s bluntness.

    Since this question gnawed at her conscience, Fia asked, Is there only one way we can connect to our element? Fire dragons are supposed to stay bright and happy, but I don''t know if that''s something I can always do¡­ anymore. The dragonette dwelled on the journey ahead, the tough times which she knew would inevitably come. Do you think there''s another way I can connect to fire?

    As the glow of the bonfire reflected in her wavering, blue eyes, Viliant hissed an answer. Rage. The fire crackled and popped, whispering to her the same suggestion.

    "Viliant¡ª" Diwa started to reprimand.

    I''m serious, he said before she could deny the legitimacy of his idea. Viliant focused on Fia with an intensity to match the sincerity behind his emerald eyes. The fire you made right after the Dragon Slayer declared war on your clan was the hottest of all your flames.

    A knot twisted in Fia''s stomach. The feeling back then, she could hardly remember because she was so blinded by rage. The explosive fire spell had burned through all her energy and caused her to pass out shortly thereafter. That was the kind of boundless power that she needed. Viliant''s right, Fia admitted in a somber, hushed tone.

    Absolutely not! Diwa exclaimed. Don''t listen to him. You''ll be as much a fool as Rokirith if you willfully go down dark paths!

    The so-called sage had nearly rationalized leaving two baby dragons to die. As much as Fia admired Sage Rokirith, she cowered, afraid of the cost to obtain such strength¡ªthe strength to save her people. But if I don''t¡­ how is that fair? Viliant''s shadow magic draws from his despair. He can''t be the only one to carry that burden. It''s supposed to be my burden! Fia''s thoughts rushed through her mind, as if she could blurt them out loud.

    A tension, almost palpable, hung in the humid, tropical air. After a long pause to cool the fire dragonette''s head, Diwa finally answered her concerns. "The way you understand magic¡­ that''s not accurate at all, I''m afraid. Magic doesn''t care about your feelings."

    An anxiety welled within Fia over her wrongful magic education. But that''s what they taught me at home, she whined.

    A hefty sigh passed Diwa''s jaws. That model is called the emotion theory of magic. It''s an extremely harmful way to engage with the element in your magical core. At least it sounds like the Carlinoa Clan has made room for positive emotions, but the dragons of the plains are steeped in negative emotions. That''s why Sage Rokirith struggles so much, because he believes blackfire simmers from vengeance."

    After a pause intended to let these new concepts sink in, Diwa turned to Viliant, "Have you really been trying to channel your magic through despair?"

    Viliant recoiled at the question, ashamedly tucking his tail beneath his body where he lay. Nevertheless, he repeated the same two words which he had said upon awakening his magic. Misery and despair.

    The stubby horns on Diwa''s head smacked against the nearest tree. That explains a lot, she projected before she could withhold her judgment from the children. Aloud, she said, "Both of you must find a more sustainable way to engage with your element. In Malakow, we strive for balance in all things. You only need to meditate with a clear mind to connect to your element. Try again."

    Viliant closed his eyes to refocus on the exercise. His frame rose and fell, seeming to draw in more turmoil than that which he hefted out. The small muscles around his closed lids twitched and drew tighter. The shadows around them bore down, more drastic and insistent than before.

    Is it working for him? Fia wondered in her own head. Hastily, she rejoined the exercise to try the new technique for herself, siphoning the flames and swirling them around the bonfire.

 Chapter 54: Dessert before the Desert

    Between practicing magic, searching for herbs, and enjoying each day, Fia and Viliant kept busy.

    "The herbs from the jungle we can sell," Diwa began, "but it''ll take a long time to save up for your fare, I''m afraid. We''ll need to gather things which are considered more valuable in Malakow, from somewhere harder to access."

    Fia and Viliant shared a wide-eyed look. While she tried to think of a suitable option, Viliant said darkly, "No." We''re not going back there.

    Diwa tilted her head out of considerate concern. "I understand your objection, but you have nothing to fear in the badlands. This time you''ll have me!" She cast a wily look to the side. "And Sage Rokirith."

    That doesn''t give me much confidence, Viliant grumbled.

    The Sage already helped us once, Fia said. I don''t think he''d abandon us anymore.

    "Not on my watch," Diwa proclaimed, puffing out her lighter, mint-colored crest surrounded by the green scales of her body. "But if you don''t want to come with us, Viliant, you''re old enough to stay home by yourself for a couple of days."

    A hesitant glance made Viliant''s eyes dart between Fia and Diwa each. Fine. I''ll come.

    "Hooray!" Out of jubilance, Fia tackled Viliant. The dragonets toppled horns over tails until Viliant came out on top. "Ugh," she grunted as he kept her pinned to the ground.

    Knock it off, Viliant snapped his fangs close to her glossy eyes. This isn''t fun.

    Excited as she might be for the trip, Fia admitted to herself, Right. We''re not going back to the badlands for fun. This is serious. That very wasteland had been the place of her grave mistake; their return would provide an opportunity to redeem herself.

    ***

    The next time that Sage Rokirith came with food, the dragonets lay at the base of Diwa''s tree to eat together. The motherly green dragoness snuggled between Fia and Viliant, a wing draped over each of them and her head lowered to their level. The sage stood before them all.

    The delicious smell of blood wafted from the meat at his claws. Sage Rokirith announced, "Fia, hatched of fire, would you grace this meal with your element?"

    Today came the feast, promised by Diwa, wherein Fia got to cook for her new friends. The pink dragonette rose to her giddy claws and pranced in front of the meat. The meat, frozen in blackfire, thawed and tenderized under Fia''s steady breath of flames. Once finished, she looked up to Sage Rokirith and chimed, "Thanks for the food!"

    Though this meal was not as hearty or bountiful as the small alligatoise, Fia and Viliant ate until their bellies were full. Even then, Viliant kept gobbling the meat till his was near bursting. At that point, Diwa joined him to eat, sometimes hissing for him to get away from the few good cuts of meat which remained.

    Only Sage Rokirith did not eat. His watchful, crimson eyes passed over the dragonets and dragoness to survey the curtain of jungle vines and leaves. The rest of them felt safe to eat as they pleased without a worry that some bold animal might attempt to steal their food.

    So serious¡­. So vigilant¡­. Like Viliant, the sage would make a good role model, so thought Fia. She seated herself beside the great gray dragon and adopted an attentive stance.

    The slitted, reptilian eye of the sage darted in the side of his head to watch her. You''re not wary of me.

    A shallow gasp flared in Fia''s nostrils. Only she and the sage were privy to this telepathic conversation. N-No, she thought with banal hesitancy in her mind. You''re really cool, even cooler than Viliant!

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    A blithe rumble came from Sage Rokirith''s chest. I don''t take that as a compliment. That wyrm is directionless and destructive. You, on the other scale, I see potential. Fia tilted her nose upward to the giant, adult dragon who paid her little heed in contrast to the thoughts which he shared. What will you do once you make it home?

    Fia blinked once, then twice as she thought of her answer. At home, she would have her parents whose doting presence would allow her to continue being a carefree child. I can have fun then, she admitted sheepishly. Real fun. Viliant even promised me: he''d play with me in Carlinoa! He''s always kept his promises so far.

    Hm. The ramble did nothing to impress Sage Rokirith. His mind started to withdraw from her, leaving her with one last remark. Even after near-death, you are still so naive.

    Fia''s tail curled around her claws. Wait! I don''t mean to be this way. I need to be stronger for my journey. I know that!

    The wings of Sage Rokirith lifted crookedly, but they did not express as much emotion as his wicked tail did curl. You cling to the false impression that your journey ends when you make it home. But do you think they''re strong enough to protect you, stronger than the clan which produced Viliant?

    The shadow dragonet had finished eating at last. He retreated from the corpse of his meal and lay down like one, belly distended. A long sigh of satisfaction he let out. "Ah."

    No, Fia thought to herself, horrified. Is the sage saying my clan will lose, even if I warn them? Unable to fathom the notion, Fia shook her head. What else can I do? I just have to get back home¡ªwith enough time for the adults to do something.

    Diwa was left as the only one still dining. The dragoness looked up to Sage Rokirith with blood dripping from the fangs peeking out from her jowls. "Come eat with me, Roki."

    "No, thank you," he replied aloud. Fia would not have understood the language if Viliant reclining was not secretly alert, actively translating in her mind. The sage said, "It would seem that my stomach has become upset after watching a certain wyrm with such poor manners."

    One of Viliant''s wings flicked in the same way that an ear might twitch. "I heard that!" he started to object, but then he lifted a lazy claw and raked it through the air. "Bah."

    Since Sage Rokirith refused to eat despite multiple invitations from Diwa, she picked off the last scraps of edible meat. The total amount of food that she had eaten was not enough for a dragoness, even one of her small size, but the snack would give her more energy to hunt. The sage made it so that Diwa did not have to worry about feeding the dragonets, but rather only herself¡ªand possibly him.

    Out of hunger, Sage Rokirith picked the skeleton clean. He lapped at the blood left staining the bones. His jaws split apart the bones not already broken to get at the marrow.

    By this time, Viliant had recovered enough to crave dessert. He slunk toward the pile of bones, taking advantage of Sage Rokirith''s blind spot. As he neared, he unnecessarily cloaked himself in shadow. Then, Viliant dashed under the sage''s wing, stole a bone, and retreated with his prize.

    Sage Rokirith roared and thrashed the bladed edge of his tail. The cleaver split some of Viliant''s scales, leaving a reddened gouge across his cheek.

    "Viliant!" Diwa yelled, panicked, concerned, and angered all in one. "If you wanted a bone, you could have asked."

    Viliant''s tail curled between his legs. Never had his greed received reprimand. Those who took in the coliseum were always rewarded. Now, he looked for a way to explain away his behavior. Viliant bobbed his head from side to side with the bone filling his mouth. This isn''t for me. It''s for Fia. Viliant trotted to her and spit out the bone at her feet.

    "Ooh! For me?" she said aloud. "Thank you!" As much as she appreciated the dessert, she knew that Viliant had wanted it more. So, she approached the sage and batted her eyes up to him. Once more, she tried the vocal language, saying it telepathically as well in case she mixed up her words. "Can I have bone for Viliant?"

    Sage Rokirith did not react at once, blinking back at Fia. "Yes. I suppose since you asked nicely." His thoughts in particular intended to jab at Viliant.

    The four dragons enjoyed the marrow, slept in Diwa''s treehouse that night, until morning came for them to leave the jungle. Fia squealed as she hopped between Sage Rokirith''s horns in the midst of his ascent. His vast wings beat and carried them over the greenish tones of the river and trees. We''re flying! Isn''t this cool, Viliant?

    Yeah, right. Viliant lurched with each one of those wing beats, dangling from Sage Rokirith''s claws.

    Behind them, Diwa flew in a rocky motion with each bluster of wind. Their airstream evened out once they soared high enough. The dragons made their way back westward towards the mountains, with the morning sun at their back. On this venture, Fia hoped that they would finally have everything needed to pay the dragonets'' way home.

 Chapter 55: A New Pupil

    Fia''s excitement never wore off for the duration of the trip, but she put in great effort to subdue her reaction for Viliant''s sake. His shredded wings were still a sore spot for him. Unlike Fia who felt the temptation of the breeze, begging her to spread her wings to feel the wind rush by atop the sage''s head, Viliant knotted his scaly limbs into a ball around the sage''s claws. His stomach could be heard rumbling, likely digesting the hefty breakfast in which he had eaten.

    The sage snapped his jaws as he yelled in offense at Viliant, his meaning present only in the audible language carried away with a whistle in Fia''s eardrums.

    What did he say? she tried to prod Viliant.

    You''re getting heavy on his neck!

    "What?" she echoed back, unable to keep from writhing between Sage Rokirith''s horns at the insult. I didn''t eat that much. You''re the one who gobbled all the food!

    Only the sage cared naught for any petty arguments which might flit through the minds of the dragonets. Diwa, however, stayed linked telepathically and provided the explanation of a peacemaker. When Viliant''s belly growled, Sage Rokirith was¡­ worried if he was feeling airsick. I think the dragonets could use a break. Right, Rokirith? The echo of her thoughts in Fia''s mind felt strangely empty, no longer listening to her soothing voice in tandem. Diwa could not waste her precious puffs of breath on idle chatter. The quaint dragoness labored to keep up with Sage Rokirith as he soared higher and higher along the mountainous terrain. "Roki!" suddenly called Diwa''s shrill voice.

    "Land if you must," Sage Rokirith replied, "but I can''t in these trees."

    It''s not me! We need to take a break for the dragonets, Diwa insisted. Her droopy neck tipped downward, closely followed by her wings and tail. The green dragoness dove headfirst amidst the canopy. Some green leaves scattered to the air around the dark gap where she had gone. Within the next second, Diwa popped her head back up. Her body sprawled across some narrow branches which only together could manage to support her weight.

    The dragon sage''s smooth soaring was interrupted by a beat of his wings. He slowed and descended with the occasional flap to keep them aloft. Between those wingbeats, a loud burp came from Viliant who dangled in the sage''s rear talons. "I said you better not throw up on my claws!" A violent shake went through Sage Rokirith''s claws in angry emphasis. That did not seem to help Viliant none whose eyes closed and throat bobbed with a tight swallow.

    All the while, Fia stayed carefully balanced on Sage Rokirith''s head. She stared down at the tip of a tall tree growing ever closer. There, Sage Rokirith deposited Viliant with a sudden release of his claws.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Diwa flicked out a wing, not to catch the falling black dragonet, but a net of vines animated from the trees. The plants moved fast as the animals that normally scurried across them.

    Nice catch! Fia remarked, appreciating the new nature spell shown off by Diwa.

    The emerald-like eyes of Diwa twinkled up at the compliment. "Jump down, Fia! I''ll catch you. Before the sage can drop you!"

    A giggle caught in Fia''s throat. As much as she appreciated Diwa''s attempt to make their break fun, Fia hesitated. This trip was not supposed to be a game.

    Sage Rokirith stayed hovering above the trees with some heavy beats of his wings, moving them up and down as he asked her two questions. Do you want to stay a little wyrm, by the side of a dragoness who''s not even your mother? Or do you want to fly with me?

    Fia threaded her neck between two of Sage Rokirith''s horns. Like this, she peeked over the scaly side of his neck to blink down at Viliant and Diwa. I never wanna leave Viliant''s side, she thought, keeping her sentimentality from the sage. Yet, when she met his eyes, lids half-closed in a mix of sick and mad, Fia figured that he could use some time alone with Diwa to cure his air sickness.

    Besides, Sage Rokirith had not left her much of a choice, what with the way that he had phrased her options. I''ll stay with you, she murmured.

    Good, the sage said and shot back into the sky. His glide evened out as they took a broad circle around Viliant and Diwa. This singular loop would offer them enough time to rest, so Sage Rokirith took Fia nigh out to the mountains'' summit and back. His presence stayed in his mind, like an ominous cloud darker than Viliant''s shadow. "Meet Mt. Ravia, the pinnacle of this wasteland, claimed as my territory. Do you know what lies beneath this rock?" the sage intoned.

    Fia pondered the question hard. The sage did not seem like one to pose riddles for fun, so she answered seriously. More rock?

    "No. Fire! Red fire burns beneath the earth''s well of mana."

    A tilt entered Fia''s head, as if the strange idea weighed down her head more than her horns. Really? The earth has a flame inside it too?

    "Yes. And just likes yours, it begs for its master to harness that power. Power enough to save your people."

    A gasp alit Fia''s lungs, louder than any of Sage Rokirith''s wingbeats. "How? I know you said that warning them won''t be enough. Then¡­ show me how! I need to save them."

    The tips of the sage''s fangs glinted almost like a devious, human smile. "I will share my decade''s worth of research with you. Just tell Diwa that you want to become my pupil when we get back to the trees."

    Although Fia agreed, it did not sit well in her stomach. The pink dragonette switched roles with Viliant, now feeling air sickness once they resumed their flight.

 Chapter 56: The Sage Unmasked

    Diwa slunk down the treehouse, ready to raise trouble with Rokirith. As soon as she saw him lazing about on the platform built specially for him, her heart went soft. The iconic fur of a ring-tailed lemur dangled from his mouth. As if knowing the effect which he had on her, Sage Rokirith gave a coy tilt of his horns and slurped the lemur''s tail into his mouth. "Come eat your share. I saved you half."

    Already, Diwa had snacked on some small game during her hunting excursion. Her wings ruffled, but she primly stuck up her snout. "Who says I want to eat with you tonight?"

    "Why else did you come down here?" Sage Rokirith spread his wings in the little space that the trees allowed. His crimson eyes flashed downward, readying for his drop off the platform. "If you don''t need me for anything else, I can go¡ª"

    "Wait!" Diwa called breathlessly. She had yet to ask Rokirith to escort her and the dragonets back over the mountains¡ªnot that it was a huge ask given how he planned to fly there himself tomorrow. But first, before she could make that request, Diwa needed to set him straight with the dragonets. A rumble caught in her throat as she cleared it, recomposing herself to sound more serious. "We need to talk."

    "Aren''t we already?" Sage Rokirith lay his head alongside his claws. One of his wings lifted to offer her a spot beneath it, a rare invitation from the sage. Or do you mean like this? Even his willingness to engage with her over telepathy was unusual.

    Her narrow mouth clamped shut, pouting. "You know I''m mad at you!"

    Yes. And I also know this makes you less mad.

    The emerald and ruby eyes of the two dragons blinked at each other. The good intentions to placate her ended up coaxing her to tap over to him. She lay down beneath his wing and let her chin thunk against the wooden boards. Don''t undo all the progress I''ve made with Fia.

    Elaborate.

    You edged her on earlier today while I was hunting! Your cold, blackfire burns covered up the ones from her fire.

    Sage Rokirith sighed. While he shook his head, he leaned into Diwa to nuzzle her. I admit. I tried playing with the dragonets, but Fia got too enthusiastic to outdo my fire. I take responsibility, which is why I covered her burn marks.

    It took a dragon of strong, mental fortitude to lie through a direct, telepathic link. Diwa could feel the curtain behind which Rokirith attempted to hide the truth. I''m teaching her balance and control, Diwa insisted. The emotion theory of magic doesn''t do that. You of all dragons should know how miserable it makes you!

    I know the power it gives me, yes, Sage Rokirith said with a smug air about him.

    Diwa narrowed her eyes. Power isn''t everything.

    In matters of life and death it is. She''ll leave soon, unless you convince her to stay.

    A growl peeled from Diwa''s clenched fangs, expressing her disapproval of the angle taken by Sage Rokirith.

    Anything else you''re mad at me for? he asked, indifferent to her objection. The bold dragon lowered his snout closer to her snarling one.

    Diwa was half-tempted to give him a little nip, just enough to say, Get out of my face.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Although the sage obliged and leaned away from her, he reclined leisurely as though obligated to keep the nonchalant attitude.

    As much as Diwa was concerned that Sage Rokirith took too much interest in the fire dragonette, she was equally troubled by how dismissive he was toward the older dragonet. At least, were you nice to Viliant while I was gone?

    Nice enough. Sage Rokirith shrugged his wings.

    How come I don''t believe you?

    This time, the sage only answered her with another shrug. Each time that he did so, his wings lay back over Diwa like a comfortable blanket. Anything else?

    Her fangs poked into her lower jowl. Diwa doubted that this was an appropriate time to throw some knucklebones with him, but since he asked, she offered, Aside from that? Oh¡­ just the usual.

    Sage Rokirith slid his wing off her, stood up, and bowed his head over the platform''s edge. His wings still drooped, unprepared for flight. "I should go," the sage said aloud.

    "It''s been ten years since we met," she spat, "yet you''re still focused on that impossible goal! It''s time to move on."

    Before he abandoned her in the Malakow Jungle once more, Sage Rokirith turned back. "Then you must also remember the circumstances in which you happened across me."

    "Yes." Diwa hung her head, leering at Rokirith through narrowed eyes. The sage owed his life to the healer, or else he would have succumbed to his wounds dealt by the human called Dragon Slayer. That same, violent man was the one who had injured the precious, pink dragonette. Sage Rokirith ought to have a strong affinity for the dragonets whom he saved, yet he regarded the black dragonet with hostility. Diwa tested these waters, remarking, "You know, Viliant is a survivor of your clan."

    "You don''t think I didn''t know that already?" Rokirith growled, restraining his roar since the dragonet of discussion currently slept in the tree above. "He was just a hatchling back then, but he''s grown recognizable enough. I can guess exactly whose son that is¡­. We lived and died by his orders! Of all the dragons that perished, of all the hatchlings that we lost, why did his son get to live?"

    Diwa shrunk back against Sage Rokirith''s outburst. Any bad blood between Rokirith and Viliant''s father had nothing to do with the dragonet himself. "What happened back then¡­. Whatever choices his father made, that''s not the boy''s fault."

    "I know," Sage Rokirith grumbled softly. His head tipped back to observe the dark underside of the jungle''s leaves. "But why could it not have been mine?"

    No words could console Rokirith, the dragon still grieving after a decade. Regret consumed him, a deserter in the final invasion of the Dagonir Clan. All his people were annihilated. His mate lost her life. And his only child, still an egg, fell into human hands. Diwa knew his story; the scars from that battle still etched across his body. He never let her heal them so that he would never forget.

    The green dragoness¡ªuntouched by the ugliness of war, save for what the sage shared with her¡ªcould not truly appreciate the horrors that Rokirith had endured. Diwa laid her cheek alongside his weary claws. "I''m sorry I wasn''t able to help you find him," she whispered, thinking of his son whom she never had the pleasure to meet.

    "There was never any hope," Sage Rokirith said. "The humans¡­ did something different with the eggs." Despite having shared most of his tragic past with her, he never revealed that detail.

    Their heads hovered so close, Diwa could seamlessly reconnect with him telepathically. I''ll go back with you there, she offered. I have business in the badlands. The dragonets need money for their travels, so I can help them gather rare ingredients.

    Fine. We leave tomorrow, first light. Sage Rokirith paced back to the center of the platform, turned himself in a circle, and curled into a ball to sleep.

    Diwa got up to retreat to her own bed in the treehouse, yet she gave pause with one claw poised in the air. Are you feeling okay, Roki? Do you want me to stay here?

    No. I don''t need your pity. Sage Rokirith lifted his head and resettled himself facing away from Diwa.

    A raw feeling was left in her chest, and guilt overshadowed her mind. Diwa feared that she had erred in bringing up the past with Rokirith tonight, but at least they understood each other well enough to work together. Hopefully, the dragonets accompanying them over the mountains could lighten his spirits. For now, her tail disappeared amongst the leaves where she retreated into her treehouse till morning break.

 Chapter 57: A New Family

    "No! Wait¡ª!" Viliant gasped, but Sage Rokirith had already spirited Fia away. A low grumble resounded from the back of his throat as he rolled over in the net of vines. He was stuck here with Diwa, like she were an eggsitter.

    "Don''t worry, Viliant," Diwa said in an obnoxiously sweet tone. "The sage will take good care of Fia."

    "No, he won''t," Viliant spat back. He''s not exactly a dragon that I''d trust with children.

    "Hm," Diwa hummed and flicked her tail in disagreement. "It''s a good thing he''s not alone then. I''m here to take care of you right now."

    "What¡­ about¡­ Fia?" Viliant snarled and paused between each word audibly spoken.

    "She''s fine, Viliant," Diwa insisted. "What about you?" A minor cure spell washed away Viliant''s nausea, thereby assuaging one cause for his ill temper. "What will you do when Fia goes back to her family?"

    I''m going with her, Viliant replied at once. She won''t make it back without me¡ª

    "Yes she will," Diwa interrupted. "That''s the whole point of us saving up. We''re sending her back safely, the best fare that money can buy."

    Viliant glared with his jaw clamped shut. He had a hard time coming up with a logical refutation to Diwa''s point, but he disagreed all the same. So what if it''s possible for her to make it back without me? Anything could go wrong. Besides, she promised me a home. I have nowhere else to go¡­." Viliant rehearsed, but as he finished, he realized that this dynamic of their relationship no longer rang true. Slowly, his jaded eyes lifted to Diwa whose gentle gaze held steady.

    The warm presence of her mind stayed constant, inviting, "You will always have a home with me, Viliant. Let me be your mother. If that''s too much, then please consider me like a big sister."

    Though the offer was not wholly unexpected, Viliant''s head spun. He never dared to expect himself on the receiving end of such generosity.

    "You deserve a place where you can feel safe, and in time, happy," Diwa continued. "I''m worried if you go to Carlinoa with Fia, then you''ll be putting yourself back in the humans'' warpath."

    For precisely this reason, Viliant had avoided letting his thoughts dwell on Fia''s cause. I¡­ don''t know what to say. Thank you, he managed, but the mere gratitude of his mind did not feel like enough. "Thank you," Viliant repeated in the Malakow language taught by Diwa. Even so, he felt the need to ask, Can I talk to Fia first?

    "Of course, dear." Diwa''s tail curled into a smile. The black dragonet always hastily rejected any offers to help. In her eyes, his consideration was as good as his assent. "But Viliant," Diwa cautioned, "you don''t even know if her clan will take you in. You''ve only known Fia for a few months¡ªtraumatic months¡ªbut not that long nonetheless. You shouldn''t let her, or any part of your past, dictate the rest of your life. With me, you can start over fresh. I can even heal your wings."

    I¡­ agree. Viliant was not sure why he felt so hesitant to let these thoughts crystallize in his mind. Already, he knew that Fia would never understand. To himself, he thought, I should stay with Diwa in Malakow. It only makes sense. His stomach started to churn again as he dreaded Fia''s return.

    ***

    The canopy of the Malakow Jungle once again passed beneath Sage Rokirith''s wings. Fia stayed alert, trying to spy Viliant and Diwa as soon as they came into view. The black dragonet and green dragoness would be hard to spot as they camouflaged with the shadows and leaves.

    "Hm," Sage Rokirith grumbled in his throat. "I can''t seem to recall where we left them. Any idea?"

    All the trees looked the same. Fia swiveled between Sage Rokirith''s horns, trying to discern any difference in their surroundings. Panic mounted in Fia''s chest as she realized that they had lost Viliant and Diwa in the sea of trees. Viliant! she broadcast out with her mind.

    "They''re too far." A twinge of annoyance flitted through Sage Rokirith, the only one who had heard Fia cry out for Viliant. Her claws pressed into the grooves of his scaly head. The sage soared leisurely over the treetops, seeming to wait for her to come up with a proper solution.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    "We could use magic to wave to them," she suggested at last.

    "A flare sounds like a good plan. Would you like to do the honors?"

    Balanced atop Sage Rokirith''s head, Fia tipped back her own. Fire spiraled from her maw in a vertical column. Steady, she thought to herself.

    Toward the west, a chartreuse light flashed from one of the trees. Leaves swirled in a storm momentarily as Diwa''s signal.

    "There they are!" Fia cheered.

    "Good, dragonette." With a pound of his wings, Sage Rokirith flew faster to recollect Diwa and Viliant.

    The two dragons had moved closer together in the time that Fia and Rokirith were away. Much to their surprise, Viliant seemed content to be tucked beneath one of Diwa''s wings. His reluctant eyes had trouble lifting to greet Fia. "Upsy-daisy!" Diwa said as she sprung Viliant upward with a curled stalk.

    "Gah!" Viliant hollered at the sudden air passing through the holes in his spread wings.

    Sage Rokirith snatched him up with his hind talons and bobbled him carefully so as not to pierce the dragonet''s scales.

    As for Diwa, she slithered up to the tippy top of the tree which swayed under her weight. The dragoness glided into the sky and fluttered to catch up to Sage Rokirith. The gray dragon deliberately angled his wings to slow his speed and accommodate his smaller companion.

    ***

    The mountains neared, but before the dragons flew any higher, Diwa requested another respite. Fia, you look bored. Ready for a break?

    "The mountain! I''m excited!" The first time that Fia had flown over this mountain with Sage Rokirith, she had been in no state to form any fond memories. The sage''s comments about a fire mountain made her eager to see it up close.

    Viliant, Diwa called to the other dragonet¡ªthe older one who might pick up more nuance. You''d take a nap in the trees, wouldn''t you?

    What makes you think I need naps? Viliant snapped back.

    Diwa''s breath huffed harder with every wing beat. Her balance faltered side to side from overexertion.

    "We''re taking a break," Sage Rokirith announced. "Best to rest before the ascent."

    Thank you, Diwa said silently. Her wings folded into a haphazard dive into the trees.

    "You too," Rokirith said and released his claws, dropping Viliant where she had gone. The sage kept Fia in his company. This time, they could go up the mountain where the trees became shrubs before the vegetation disappeared all together.

    ***

    Viliant assessed the greenery all around him, reflecting in his emerald eyes. Home, he thought to himself, probing the word for its meaning. The Malakow Jungle could really become his first, true home.

    His attention shifted to Diwa who lay sprawled in the crook of two branches. Could you¡­ he began.

    Diwa opened her bleary eyes and fixed her posture. Her total attention was dedicated to him, silent and patient for what he had to share.

    Could you¡­ help¡­ me practice what I want to say to Fia? The awkward question formed in fits and starts in Viliant''s mind, but he finally got it out. His claws twisted together, and he hunkered his frame away out of shame.

    Of course! I''d be more than happy to. Before they began, Diwa said, And Viliant, I''m proud of you for asking like this.

    A tension creased across the ridges above Viliant''s eyes. He really did want to regard Diwa as family.

    ***

    The moment that Sage Rokirith''s claws touched the ground, he lay down. "The effort coming up here was worth it to land."

    Fia hopped off his head with an extra bounce to her step. Given that the sage had carried her all day, she had plenty of energy to explore. To hop from rock to rock, she threshed the air with her wings. Fia climbed high enough that Sage Rokirith needed to look up to her. "Get used to the feel of basalt under your claws," he told her. "This will be your new home."

    "Home¡­." Even as she stood on a ledge of dark-colored rock, Fia could still recall the sensation of her claws buried in sand. The island of Carlinoa was her one and only home.

    Their recess passed in otherwise silence. Sage Rokirith rose to his feet. "Let''s get Diwa."

    "And Viliant! Don''t forget him."

    "Hmph," the sage grunted as he took to the sky. The rush down the mountain happened faster with less effort expended. To this spot, Fia and Sage Rokirith would return with Viliant and Diwa.

    ***

    Upon reaching the peak, Diwa said, I¡­ I can''t go any farther. Her body collapsed across the rocky, slanted ground. Her nostrils flared¡ªwheezing¡ªas she inhaled the thin, mountain air.

    When the sage landed, he gave pause. Sage Rokirith dipped his head to the ground, leveled to the same height as Diwa who lay several wing spans off. Fia dismounted from his head and walked over to Viliant''s side. Attentively, she observed the curious consideration which the great gray dragon seemed to have for the green one.

    Sage Rokirith flung his neck around, tail thrashing the other way. Spittle flung from his hiss directed at Fia and Viliant. "Wyrms, take a hike till you feel as tired as she does!"

    At his outburst, Viliant sprung into action. The dragonet placed himself defiantly between Fia and Sage Rokirith. Nevertheless, his wings and tail curled round into himself. Viliant slunk off with one wing over Fia''s back. Let''s go. There''s something we need to discuss, anyway.

 Chapter 58: A Mutual Decision

    Fia trotted off with Viliant on Mount Ravia, but her stride soon evened out and matched his plodding one. What do you want to talk about, Viliant? she asked innocently enough, but based on a bittersweet mix of emotions in his mind, she already knew.

    A heavy sigh fell past Viliant''s fangs. Fia, this has nothing to do with you, he began in a scripted way. You''ve been a good friend¡ªmy best friend. I''m grateful for the way that you''ve come into my life and how we escaped from the coliseum together.

    Fia''s eyes drew as wide as her slitted pupils did constrict. Am I dying again? she wondered to herself. This level of sentimentality did not belong to Viliant.

    But I think¡­. he continued.

    You want to stay here with Diwa, Fia finished for him, sick of hearing the words of the dragoness infixed in his mind.

    Rarely did Viliant''s eyes possess the look of shock, but those green orbs wavered intensely. A silence permeated the air like ash adrift. I was not expecting you to take it this well, he admitted.

    Fia nodded, knowing that her younger, more immature self would have wailed for him to stay. Even now, if she had no other options, she would have groveled at the tip of his turned tail.

    Is she not going to miss me? A sliver of hurt slipped through his mental filter before he shielded that part of him off. Knowing that she had become privy to that, Viliant swished his tail in abashment.

    Don''t worry. We''ll see each other again¡ªas often Sage Rokirith comes to visit Diwa, she figured. This was a coincidental benefit of Fia and Viliant happening to arrive at separate but starkly similar decisions. Actually, she admitted, I was thinking the same thing. I want to stay here¡ª

    A roar peeled from Viliant''s jaws. You don''t get a choice! You can''t abandon your clan just like that¡ª

    I''m not! she tried to compete with a softer roar. Fia hastily clarified their misunderstanding. There''s another way I can help them¡ªhelp them even more than just warning them. We can stop the humans right here!

    Her declaration snapped Viliant back to his cynical attitude. How? How do you suppose you''re gonna do that?

    Sage Rokirith knows a way.

    The wings and shoulders of Viliant slouched into a hostile stance. Is that what the sage told you?

    She hesitated to confirm it but said, Y-Yes.

    If Sage Rokirith had the power and inclination to eliminate the humans, don''t you think he would''ve done it already?

    Yes? Fia answered, uncertain as to the point he was making.

    Exactly. There''s nothing he can do to help your clan.

    Sage Rokirith says there''s a way. He needs my help¡ª!

    "Ha!" Viliant laughed curtly. I would''ve loved to hear him say that. What does a grown dragon need wyrms like us for?

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    The pink dragonette narrowed her eyes, refusing to let Viliant discredit her talents this time. I''m strong. My fire element is fully awakened. Diwa says the only two dragons that she''s ever known to fully awaken their elements are me and the sage!

    I don''t know what that means, and I don''t care, Viliant growled. What has the sage accomplished with his ''enlightened'' and ''awakened'' element?

    He hasn''t done much because he''s trying to do something which involves my fire, not his, Fia conjectured. Although Sage Rokirith had yet to unveil the full scope of his research, she could take a gander at his goal. There''s fire¡ªred, hot fire like mine¡ªunderground. My elders told stories about fire mountains. Though she wracked her mind, she could not remember the better term for it. Fia did not fully understand the concept anyway, so the language-agnostic telepathy would not do her any favors. Viliant glared at her, unimpressed, so Fia insisted, Our island has one!

    Another large sigh huffed from Viliant''s maw. His whole head hung from the weight of his disappointment, shaking back and forth. He prolonged saying something which he did not want to admit, but finally, he muttered, We''ve both been played for fools.

    What do you mean?

    Sage Rokirith never cared for helping us. We knew that well enough¡ªor at least I did. But not even Diwa has our best interests at heart.

    Fia crooked her horns in a curious tilt of the head. Diwa has helped us so much though! The green dragoness had gone to great lengths to foster their health and happiness, but Viliant no longer saw things that way.

    Think about it. Where do her loyalties lie? A couple of dragonets dumped at the foot of her tree? Or the sage who she''s probably known before we even hatched?

    Bewildered blinks fell over Fia''s eyes. No matter how she looked at it, she could not see past her best friend''s paranoia. I don''t know, Viliant. Like you said, what does Sage Rokirith want with two¡­ wyrms like us? Fia cringed over the unsavory word.

    I don''t know! Not all dragons are good. The Novemis Clan allied with the humans. He could be trying to prevent you from warning your people. Before she could poke holes in that theory, Viliant spat out of frustration. "Gah!" It doesn''t make any sense. I don''t know, but we can''t fall for their trap. We can''t stay here!

    Fia dipped her head, eyes pinched together out of indecision. I think I understand why they''re doing this.

    Yeah? Heavy skepticism ladened Viliant''s mind; the young dragonette had come up with a proper explanation before he did.

    Diwa and Sage Rokirith don''t think we can save my clan. At least, they don''t think I can do it. Her wings started to curl into herself, but when she glanced up from her hooded eyelids, she saw Viliant unfazed and incensed. Fia corrected her own posture and puffed out a wisp of smoke. Together, we can do more than they know.

    That''s the spirit, Viliant said without registering what he had said. On occasion, the dragonet''s stubbornness lent him well to optimism.

    We''ll make it back, Fia reiterated. I''m sure of it! But what if it still isn''t enough? The humans wiped out your clan ten years ago. They would''ve only gotten stronger since them. I''m scared¡­. What if my clan isn''t any better?

    If Sage Rokirith is right, Viliant said, ¡ªif the fire mountain really does hold the secret to stopping the humans¡ªthen your clan will know better how to use it. You''re sure they have a fire mountain, correct?

    Well, Fia faltered. Though still too young to understand the basis for all her people''s customs, she insisted, I remember the summer festival. We dedicate a big hunt to the mountain in the center of the island. Because it''s a fire mountain!

    Viliant chuckled gently and shook his head, a rare outward display of his endearment toward her. Even as she tried to act more mature for the sake of her mission, she was still a child with limited knowledge about the world. Fia was the one part of his life that he did not want to leave in the past. Is your offer still good? You promised me a home in Carlinoa.

    Yes! And you''d promise that you''d play with me when we get there. Fia and Viliant made their way back to Diwa and the sage, better equipped to resist the tempting offers from the adult dragons.

 Chapter 59: Dragons in the Desert

    That night, the dragons arranged a small camp where they could sleep. Fia''s fire burned at the center where all the dragons lay, creating a cozy atmosphere.

    "Come here, Fia," Diwa called. Her open wing beckoned the dragonette away from Viliant and toward herself.

    Before their serious talk, Fia would not have hesitated to dive beneath Diwa''s wing. Now, one of her hind feet took a distrustful step back. Diwa tried to steal Viliant from me, she thought to herself. Fia glared intensely like a fire smoldered in her eyes.

    "What''s wrong?" Diwa asked with a dismissive laugh. "Did the lemurs yesterday make my breath smell bad?"

    From his dusty bed of rocks, Viliant hefted himself up. His body blocked Fia from the view of Sage Rokirith and Diwa on either side of the campfire. I want to make something clear. The two of us are going back to Carlinoa together, and there''s nothing you can do to convince us otherwise.

    A confounded look crossed the scaly faces of Diwa and Sage Rokirith, especially as they turned to stare at each other. As a result of their surprise, they did not have the patience for telepathy. Between Rokirith''s call to rain mountain fire down on the humans and Diwa''s plea for the black dragonet to have a cozier life, Fia and Viliant could not understand the exchange. Only a few words did the former dragonette manage to parse out.

    "I told you not to mess with Fia!" Diwa roared. "Her parents are waiting for her. They might even be looking for her!"

    "And I told you to let them go!" Sage Rokirith snarled back. "If you have to keep one, Fia is a better choice. We''re not keeping that other wyrm!"

    Over the dancing flames of the campfire, Diwa and Rokirith leered at each other. After seemingly careful deliberation, the green dragoness lunged over the flames. Her small frame was agile enough to latch her claws onto the sage''s shoulder before he could stagger back. The larger dragon threw his weight to the side, purposefully crashing to the ground. Diwa squealed under the heavy blow of his muscles and scales.

    As the one on top, Sage Rokirith got up faster and shrugged her grasping claws off him. The sage placed a claw over Diwa''s body. "Calm down."

    "Let go!" Diwa''s thrashing caused the sage''s claws to tear up some of her own scales. As blood oozed from her injury, she ceased her writhing. Diwa was trapped, still pinned by Sage Rokirith''s weight at the point of one foot. Her whole body reduced to trembles after she had submitted.

    An amused rumble came from Sage Rokirith''s chest. Not in front of the children, Di-Di, he said in their private headspace.

    Aside from her labored breaths, only her eyes moved. Her slitted pupils darted to the corner so that she might glare at the sage.

    Cowering behind Viliant, Fia peeked her nose over his wings. Why''re they fighting?

    Because I was right! They were trying to manipulate us. Sage Rokirith targeted you. Diwa targeted me. Now, they''re upset their plan didn''t work.

    The apparent confirmation of his suspicions made Fia''s tail drag in sadness. They''re not gonna force us to stay, are they?

    No. They can try, but it won''t work. We''re leaving as soon as we get what we need from the badlands.

    Fia nodded. Even chains and cages could not hold them back, so she had nothing to fret about.

    After the adults'' bout, Diwa apologized profusely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for losing my temper with the sage. You have a home to return to, Fia. I only want what''s best for you¡ªfor both of you.¡± Her tone turned stricter as her gaze settled on Viliant. ¡°I hope you rethink this decision. Sleep on it.¡±

    Everyone calmed down and went to bed for an early start tomorrow.

    ***

    Fia''s giddiness over flying yesterday had vanished completely. Even after the rush down the mountainside, the barren rock and sand beneath them brought back painful memories. A small grove of semi-arid trees clustered around a visible pool of water below. I almost died there, Fia reflected to herself. Expanding her thoughts to include Viliant, she said, Thank you.

    What? Viliant lifted his limp neck upward, trying to catch a glimpse of Fia from his spot in Sage Rokirith''s claws.

    Thanks for everything you did at the oasis.

    You''re welcome.

    From so high up, Fia could even see where alabaster canyons met the bright sky and plunged into the dark depths. Near a canyon, they landed. "There''s three things that we can look for," Diwa instructed them. "In order of value they are: the aloe vera plant, ghast gecko tails, and scarlet sand pockets. If we could find scarlet sand, we''d be rich!" The sense of thrill eased away from Diwa''s mind in favor of a more realistic goal. "But we''re more likely to be able to find ghast geckos¡­."

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    A gasp rushed down Fia''s throat. Not ghast geckos! she thought to herself, mortified. Since she wanted to avoid those at all costs, she broadcast telepathically, Let''s look for the plants. And sand! Fia frantically scoured the dirt for plant life other than the thorny shrubs. Once she failed to find anything of notable interest on the surface, she started digging for red-colored sand.

    Why don''t you want to look for the lizards? Viliant inquired, pointedly. I thought you liked them.

    Fia pouted wordlessly at Viliant, feeling betrayed that he would make light of her grave mistake. He''s testing me, she told herself. Fia had already vowed never to be so naive again.

    Luckily, Diwa had a knack for finding plants and showed them how to identify the long, spined leaves of aloe vera. "It has a lot of medicinal properties¡­." She explained their uses in the same way as she had done for the jungle herbs.

    While Fia and Viliant tried their best to help, Sage Rokirith sunned himself. He only stirred when Fia, Viliant, and Diwa scavenged farther away. The sage spread his wings and glided barely above the ground, moving as far ahead of them as he once lay behind. There, Sage Rokirith settled to sun himself again. By the time they passed him by yet again, he yawned. "I¡¯m bored. I''m going to hunt alligatoise."

    Presently, Fia was still furrowing through the clay-packed ground. Not a gleam of red stood out from the rust-colored earth¡ªat least not until a lizard poked its head out of a tunnel that she had uncovered. Its red eyes matched the hollow innards visible from its back. "No, wait! Sage Rokirith, help!" she screamed out of fright, her mind alight.

    "Fia!" That level of concern over her name, she had only previously heard from Viliant and Arenis when she had been captured. However, this panicked voice belonged to none other than Sage Rokirith. Already prepared to take off, the sage turned from his crouch and rushed to her aid.

    His claws gripped gingerly around the tip of her tail and pulled her out of the hole. Fia dangled upside down with her front legs tucked into the tan crest of scales at her chest. Sage Rokirith stared into the hole that she had dug, growling. When he saw nothing, he asked, ¡°What has gotten the dragonette spooked? Did a beetle crawl over your claws?¡±

    "No!" she gasped. Before she could stop herself and opt for its proper name, she cried out, "It was a Lil Vilie!"

    "A little¡­ Vilie?" Sage Rokirith pressed his eye down to the hollowed earth and peered into the hole. "Ha!" he laughed. "And here I thought you found something dangerous like a cracked earthworm. Fia has uncovered ghast lizards. Lil Vilies, you call them? Lil Vilie!" he called again, jabbing at Viliant''s mind in particular.

    "Ugh." Viliant¡ªwho had previously been hard at work, zealously biting the leaves off an aloe vera plant¡ªnow lay down in a heap. Privately to Fia, he moaned, Why did you have to say that to the sage of all people?

    However, the impact of the sage''s teasing paled in comparison to Diwa''s assault of faux sympathy. Aw, Viliant, there''s no reason to feel shy. She joined him alongside the ground, putting their telepathic receptors together so he could not forcefully block out the older dragoness. The ghast geckos are really cute, just like you!

    Leave me alone, he snarled, wrapping his torn wings over his horns.

    With his steady, low laughter, Sage Rokirith swung Fia by the tail and placed her on her claws. "Normally, ghast geckos like to attack en masse," Sage Rokirith explained the behavior which Fia and Viliant had already experienced for themselves. "Their brain is just big enough to give the inferior lizards the sense to cower before dragons, but their stupidity precedes them. Watch this." Sage Rokirith backed away from the hole and set himself ablaze with a cloak of blackfire. The dry air gained a harsh chill as the sage''s element sapped its surroundings of warmth.

    Many, blinking eyes gathered around the entrance to the ghast geckos'' underground abode. They marched out one by one and gathered around their idol, Sage Rokirith, and praised him by covering their own bodies in blackfire. The geckos reacted the same way to his magic as they had to Viliant engulfed in shadow.

    You''re right about something, Viliant retorted to the sage. They''d have to be pretty dumb to copy you.

    "Hey!" Fia whined, the one who had initially considered tutelage under the great sage. Somehow, she needed to ease the tension that she had created between all the dragons. "They''re not Lil Vilies!" Fia declared. "They''re Lil Ro¡ªLil Rokies!" She felt weird using the adult dragoness''s nickname for the sage, but Diwa burst out laughing.

    "Yes!" she cried. "Lil Rokies!" Tears beaded from her eyes. Diwa''s mouth hung open, gasping, trying to catch her breath between wheezes.

    A roar bellowed from the sage''s chest to drown out her guffaws. With his deft claws and cleaver tail, Sage Rokirith lashed out against the Lil Rokies. A pile of lizard bodies encircled him, brought to a swift end. For those which managed to scurry away, the sage succeeded at slicing off their tails. "There. I have done more than my share."

    "You scared the Lil Rokies away," Diwa said, her voice drooping in disappointment.

    "And you''ve driven the great Sage Rokirith away," the dark gray dragon said, insisting upon his proper name. "I will not hear a peep of this when I get back," he said, red eyes flashing, livid, "or else I''m leaving you all here on the wrong side of the mountains." Sage Rokirith stomped away from the three other dragons, leaving them to collect the gecko tails.

    Sorry¡­ my Lil Roki, Diwa echoed to him alone before he slammed her out of his mind.

    As for the dragonets, Fia and Viliant did not overhear that last bit, but they did witness Diwa recoil in pain. The receptors at the side of her head visibly throbbed. "Fia, Viliant, let''s pick up the tails," she said out loud in simple words, not ready to use her telepathic transmitters so soon. "These are worth a lot¡ªenough to send you home."

 Chapter 60: Danger in the Badlands

    As much as the money to go home thrilled Fia, the sage''s hostility toward Diwa had frightened her. The dragonette wrapped her wings around herself and leaned into Viliant. Why did Sage Rokirith do that?

    Because he''s a boor. Viliant nudged her back into action. Come on. Let''s help Diwa pick everything up.

    They scrambled around to put the gecko tails into one of Diwa''s woven baskets when Sage Rokirith suddenly rushed back. "Rokirith, I thought you were leaving¡ª" Diwa began. The back of his paw thwacked the basket from her claw. The valuable contents spilled halfway across the dusty ground.

    This time, Fia did not shy away from witnessing Rokirith''s wayward ways. She glowered at the scattered ingredients which they would have to gather again. Why''d you do that? she demanded of the sage. Just because he had wanted her to stay as his pupil, that did not give him the right to interfere with her mission. That''s my ticket home¡ª

    Leave it, he said, rejoining the dragons'' wordless network. Take cover. Now!

    Diwa swooped Fia and Viliant beneath her wings, ushering them all to duck under Rokirith''s broader ones. Together, the dragons shielded themselves behind a natural protrusion of rock. Sage Rokirith lay down to fully conceal himself.

    A raw feeling ate at Fia''s heart. She preferred not to leave the geckos scattered across the ground for the vultures'' picking, but she trusted the elder dragons'' judgment. What is it? Fia asked, the only one curious enough to peek out. To do so, she needed to rise onto her hind legs with her front claws placed against the boulder for balance. There, her wavering, blue eyes glimpsed the most humans that she had seen since her imprisonment. "Humans!" she squealed and fell over backwards, her tail floundering back and forth.

    Silence! Sage Rokirith said, imposing silently upon her mind. His barred fangs loomed close to Fia''s face, yet he dared not hiss. If the presence of the human battalion alarmed even the sage, then the dragons must face an imminent threat to their lives.

    Fewer humans marched along the canyon''s rim than Fia once saw lining the coliseum''s stands, but these men were heavily armed. Are these¡­ the same, bad humans? Fia inquired, assuming that the human tribes must have as many numbers and variations as the dragon clans.

    Yes, Sage Rokirith replied grimly.

    Viliant did not heed the sage''s warnings and poked his own horns around the boulder''s edge after Fia had fallen. The black dragonet looked much less conspicuous compared to fia''s pink scales. With his keen eyes, he was able to provide elaboration to the sage''s answer. The Dragon Slayer is leading them.

    No¡­. Fia could not believe that the Dragon Slayer had entered the badlands, not after he had let them go beyond its borders. She crawled along her belly to Viliant''s side, feeling the need to see this with her own eyes.

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Sweat ebbed down the side of the Dragon Slayer''s face, making his black hair slick where visible beneath his regal helm. A crimson cape ruffled behind him as he spearheaded the human forces. Behind him fluttered a red flag with an emblem of a slain dragon, wings broken.

    They''re not chasing us again, are they? Fia asked.

    No, Sage Rokirith answered definitively, but they might if you are so intent on giving us away! Before the sage could pull Fia and Viliant back by their tails, Diwa also wormed her way over to the side of the rock.

    Let the dragonets be. I want to see this too. From the nature dragoness''s magic, a sprout rapidly unfurled beneath their chins. The vine soon hardened with bark. Its branches grew around their necks, and even as its leaves expanded, the plant grew around their eyes so as not to obstruct their vision. Diwa''s wings rested over the dragonets'' tails which stuck outside the newly grown bush, their haunches concealed behind the boulder.

    Diwa, Sage Rokirith said with insurmountable disappointment. That bush is the greenest thing for miles.

    The obvious nature of their hiding spot did not deter Fia, Viliant, and Diwa from watching with their eyes peeled in terror. A high-pitched dragon''s shriek split the sky, but it had not come from any of the dragons in their company. From the depths of the canyon, a brown dragon suddenly emerged¡ªa plain dragoness based on her small ridges and horns. In the midst of her ascent, higher and higher, the brown dragoness performed a complex spiral. Fia assumed the performance to be advanced, evasive tactics.

    That dragon''s in danger! Fia gasped, panicking as she could not think of a way to save the aerial ace.

    Is there anything we can do? Diwa asked trepidly, expecting Sage Rokirith to have an answer to all their woes.

    Yet the insidious, purple gravity orbs never manifested from the Dragon Slayer''s palms. The prince continued to lead the march unfazed. The brown dragoness kept turning her body over in fanciful loops, soaring and roaring out of glee.

    Why is the Dragon Slayer not killing her? Viliant asked.

    Because that''s his mate, Sage Rokirith replied.

    Huh? Fia did not understand how such a relationship would work. Her inherent immaturity due to her age felt particularly raw in this moment. When she felt Viliant and Diwa''s concordant confusion, Fia felt much reassurance.

    Pay attention to the human on top of the dragon, Sage Rokirith said harshly. They call her Dragon Rider.

    Oh. Fia forced her downcast gaze to lift back up, following the brown dragoness as she landed in front of the halted regiment. The slender form of a human slipped off the back of the saddled dragoness. The Dragon Slayer and Dragon Rider met where a rocky ledge jutted over the widest point of the chasm.

    A woman, in light riding leathers, trailed her fingers across the brown scales of her steed. Her casual touch most humans might do to the mane of a horse. Her helm had a gilded ring around her head, a smaller decoration to match the Dragon Slayer''s crown. She curtsied and passed an oblong object up to his outstretched grasp, followed by another.

    Both ovals were plain, dull brown in color but nonetheless recognizable. Eggs. Fia''s thoughts descended into horror. They have dragon eggs! After the Dragon Slayer had attempted to slaughter Fia and Viliant¡ªtwo juvenile dragons¡ªin a political spectacle, she did not want to imagine what atrocity he might commit against the unhatched baby dragons.

 Chapter 61: Blackfire Chasm

    Fia wriggled backward in the bush, but she was unable to pull her eyes away from the Dragon Slayer who held two brown dragon eggs. What are the humans going to do with them?

    No response came from Diwa or Viliant. Their silent, horrified minds did not want to go through the wretched thought process necessary to produce one.

    All too knowing, Sage Rokirith remained silent and grim. A single idea crystallized in his mind. I won''t stand idly by and let it happen again. The sage abruptly got up, the top half of his body fully exposed over the boulder. Sage Rokirith did not need a hiss to express his dire command. Diwa, take the dragonets away from here.

    The green dragoness swept Fia and Viliant back under her stout wings and ushered them away. Hurry!

    All four dragons were now visible if any of the humans looked this way. However, they kept their attention dedicated to the Dragon Slayer who delivered an address in front of the chasm. Fia, Viliant, and Diwa distanced themselves from the preoccupied humans while Sage Rokirith alone lingered closest to the regiment. His claws clacked over the boulder as he hopped up. There, at his perch, he tucked his wings into his body. Despite being the largest and strongest of the four dragons, the sage cowered to make himself seem like the smallest and weakest.

    Diwa gave pause and snapped wordlessly, What are you doing up there? Come down! Come with us.

    Although Fia tried to halt beneath Diwa''s wing, Viliant nipped at her heels. She''ll catch up. So too, Sage Rokirith could run faster and fly higher than the younger, smaller dragons. No matter where they went with Diwa, the sage should be able to rejoin them. Fia did not understand why the dragoness frantically implored the sage to come with them, unless he had no intention to follow at all.

    He''s making sure we have a chance to get away! Fia restrained her loud, breathy gasp of realization¡ªnot that the humans would have heard her. Nevertheless, their proximity made her chest tighten so that she could hardly breathe. Fia wrenched her neck back to the sage and marveled, He''s the most heroic flying ace in the world.

    Do not remember me for bravery or kindness, Sage Rokirith snapped in response to her unbearable admiration. I am none of those things. I am a coward and a traitor.

    When the sage broadcast this message, Viliant dragged his claws through the ground in a sudden stop. No, he''s trying to use us as a diversion¡ª!

    Diwa''s lithe frame twisted around and shoved Fia and Viliant back into motion. Move it. Rokirith would never do such a thing!

    As they turned their tails on Sage Rokirith, Fia could no longer see the humans'' ceremony.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    The Dragon Slayer and a contingent of black-robed nature mages treaded onto the jagged overhang, looming into the chasm. At the center, the Dragon Slayer thrust out his arm with the first dragon egg. All the mages closed their eyes, concentrating their power together. Even the Dragon Slayer lent his aid with a neutral veil of magic extending into the chasm, charged and ready to unloose the force of gravity. From the coven of humans, the presence of mana in the dry air shifted¡ªhumid and humming with energy.

    The Dragon Slayer released his hand, dropping the egg. Its ovoid shape tumbled in the air until it disappeared into the pit. Shortly thereafter, the Dragon Slayer untucked the second one from the crook of his arm. He spurned that egg into the abyss just as he did the first.

    Fia bore witness to none of this, but she did hear the air pummeled by Sage Rokirith''s wings. The great dragon took off, flying straight toward the Dragon Slayer at the heart of the human forces.

    A warning squeal split the jaws of the brown dragoness, alerting them to the sage''s intrusion. His thunderous roar announced his own presence and put to shame the one from the humans'' dragon. Sage Rokirith drew dangerously close, both for the enemy and his own sake.

    The Dragon Slayer turned and lifted his palm to the brazen dragon, as if a gravity orb should appear at his fingertips. Instead, he dropped onto one knee and hung his weary head¡ªmana exhausted after the cultist ritual that he had partaken.

    Before the Dragon Rider could jump on her mount''s back and rush to her husband''s aid, the brown dragoness abandoned her human to fulfill that very role. The brown, serpentine body contorted around the vulnerable, human one and braced herself for Sage Rokirith''s raid. This dragoness was willing to use her scales to shield the Dragon Slayer where his metal armor would fail.

    However, Sage Rokirith did not spend any precious seconds to overpower the dragoness. He shot like a comet into the canyon.

    The brown dragoness uncoiled herself from around the Dragon Slayer and leaped to suspend herself in the air. Each wingbeat brought her to hover up and down, awaiting Sage Rokirith''s return back into broad daylight. The beat of war drums started in the same time as the dragoness''s wings. The soldiers, now recovered from the shock of Rokirith''s charge, prepared their spells and weaponry. Each aimed for the maw of the abyss where the dragon had disappeared.

    By this time, Diwa and Fia had wrenched their necks to behold the sage''s headlong dive into oblivion. Awestricken by his unparalleled bravery to go after the dragon eggs, this would burn in their memory as the sage¡¯s final moments. A mournful thought lingered in Diwa''s mind. Roki¡­. However, she kept the dragonets moving. They had not a moment to spare in honor of his sacrifice lest they wanted to squander it.

    No longer did Diwa try to covertly slink away with Fia and Viliant under her wings. All three dragons took off in a sprint, only to pause so that Diwa could shepherd Fia from behind. The pink dragonette lowered her horns and flapped her wings, desperate to do everything possible to run faster. Despite every one of her muscles straining, closing her eyes from the effort, Fia could not catch up to Viliant.

    Hop on my back! Diwa yelled in her mind. The dragoness''s talons scratched across the earth and kicked up dust in the middle of her path.

    Fia flung her eyes open alongside her wings as she leaped onto green scales. The dragonette clung onto the base of Diwa''s neck. Now, the dragoness freely dashed to catch up to Viliant and paced herself with him. Even after all the ground that they had covered, the tips of the dragons'' tails turned cold.

    An explosion of blackfire roared to life. The interior shadows of the chasm ripped upward, rivaling the sage''s descent of the chasm''s walls. Rock blasted away in vast sections, unleashing more blackfire. This was the power of a fully awakened blackfire dragon, all his scales ablaze as he rose from the dark inferno, screaming above the destruction which he wrought.

 Chapter 62: The Sages Exchange

    Sage Rokirith warred against the human army alone. The gray dragon, consumed in blackfire, appeared as a wraith. The dark fire plumed beneath his wings and trailed after the tip of his tail like smoke. When he soared over the humans'' heads, blackfire rained down on them, engulfing all those below his flight path.

    The surviving human forces failed to mount any serious counterattack as they were caught in disarray. The rash, brown dragoness roared and leaped to pursue their assailant on her own. A shrill cry from the Dragon Rider clipped her flight short before the chase could even begin. "Stay down!"

    The brown dragoness landed behind the Dragon Slayer¡ªa man too dangerous for dragons to fly in his presence. During Sage Rokirith''s brief dip into the chasm, the gravity mage had time to gulp down a tincture. New mana surged through his system, allowing him to create a small gravity orb at the midpoint between him and his wife. The Dragon Slayer propelled himself forward and thrust the Dragon Rider back to her pet. "Stay put!" the prince ordered as he rushed after the rogue dragon.

    Sage Rokirith''s battle-hardened scales gave him the experience needed for a fighting chance. Beyond the line of human forces, his claws touched down gingerly on three legs. One foreleg he kept tucked close to his ridged chestplate. Sage Rokirith knew the ideal moment to land, just before a massive gravity orb caused his talons to grip into the dirt for purchase. The tips of his claws raked across the clay-riddled earth. The backward pull was so strong that it required him to leverage all the might of his legs to hold his ground.

    Crossbow bolts snapped through the air and cracked Sage Rokirith''s scales. The metallic tips pierced into flesh. Despite blood seeping from the wound, the accompanying pain did not so much as bring a yelp to his jaws. The moment that the Dragon Slayer''s gravity magic expired, Sage Rokirith lifted his claws into a three-legged bolt to escape.

    The Dragon Slayer led a group of fleet-footed mages and horse-mounted knights in pursuit. Aside from those who wielded ranged weapons, most of the human troops could do nothing to join the dragon hunt.

    Fia glanced back up the ridge at the humans'' large caravan of equipment. We''re lucky they haven''t wheeled out any anti-dragon ballistae like they had in the city. Why''d they bring so many supplies for so few people?

    These transient thoughts from Fia brought both Diwa and Viliant to look back, fearing other human contraptions. While neither of them saw any other dangerous, ranged weaponry, the sight caused the dragons'' cold blood to run even colder.

    The canyon''s lip appeared to waver as a hurrying, scurrying movement spurred across a wide berth. Like beetles swarming a carcass, freshly hatched monsters climbed out of the chasm in an endless march. Thousands of reptilian soldiers formed a new army for their creators.

    Drakans, Diwa gasped, unable to take her eyes off the little abominations. That''s where they come from. That''s what happened to all the dragon eggs!

    The corrupted reptiles echoed the potential dragon that they should have become. Their brown scales, curved horns, leathery wings, and swishing tail all exemplified their draconic qualities. However, they also in some ways resembled their masters. About the size of humans, the drakans rose onto their hind legs like a bipedal animal. The horde of drakans surged after Sage Rokirith, their wings pounding to help them run faster¡ªeven faster than the dragon himself.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Sage Rokirith! Fia wanted to cry out to him, but she was powerless to do anything but watch his last stand against the humans.

    If he survives, Diwa said grimly, we''ll see him again.

    The dragonets fled the scene without looking back at the sage anymore. They put more distance between themselves and the hostile army. Meanwhile, the drakans in the lead closed on Sage Rokirith.

    The dragon sage belted out a stream of blackfire. His flamethrower toppled over the magicless drakans who had no resistance to the chilling burns of that element. Now with some space between himself and his pursuers, Sage Rokirith tried to run again. He did not make it far until more drakans took the place of the fallen. Each time that he paused to delay the drakans, the human mages¡ªand most notably the Dragon Slayer¡ªgained on him.

    However, if he did not cut down their numbers then the drakans threatened his tail. One latched onto it, then another. Without stopping, Sage Rokirith lashed out with a wild convulsion. Bursts of blackfire erupted from beneath his scales. The drakan bodies flung into the air and even more were sliced at the tip of his bladed tail. Sage Rokirith shook himself off in a flurry of sparks.

    These same tactics would not work. Sage Rokirith would lose the battle, overwhelmed by the enemies'' sheer numbers. His only hope to survive the altercation was to flee, so he must take flight¡ªnow or never. Sage Rokirith pulsed his wings to match his rapid, thudding heartbeat. The gray dragon tried to fly as high and far away as possible. If he did not put enough distance between himself and the Dragon Slayer, his hopes would come crashing down.

    As the man reached the limit that his magic could help him run, the Dragon Slayer cast a final spell worth his remaining mana. A grandiose sphere shimmered as it moved through the open space. Some unlucky drakans floated into the air as it passed overhead. Their ragged wings lifted upward despite being unsuited for flight.

    The massive gravity orb destabilized as it neared the end of its life. A dozen yards behind Sage Rokirith, the gravity bomb imploded inward on itself. The suction channeled the airborne drakans and pulverized their bodies into a bloody stew. Despite his distance from the orb, Sage Rokirith did not wholly escape this effect.

    The tip of his heavy, cleaver tail ripped off. Blood spurted from the ragged stump. Without the proper balance of an intact tail, Sage Rokirith wobbled in his leaden flight. He veered to the side; the sudden blood loss made him light-headed. If not addressed, an injury this severe would cause him to drop from the air and pass out within minutes. Luckily, his element could help stem the wound. A flash of blackfire licked across his own flesh, unprotected by scales. A cold burn seared the remainder of his tail, constricting the vessels to ebb the flow of blood. Even this only served to buy him more time.

    Sage Rokirith swung his head back. The humans marshaled their new, disorderly army of drakans into lines. A small troop remained in pursuit of him, but no notable members joined that ensemble. No Dragon Slayer. No Dragon Rider.

    With a sigh of relief, Sage Rokirith deemed it safe to reunite with Diwa and the dragonets. He would need her healing powers to last more than an hour. The green dragoness was easy to spot with the little, pink one on her back. His black scales like a shadow, Viliant loped beside Diwa. Before he braced himself to land, Sage Rokirith looked down to his front claws where he clutched a brown dragon egg dear to his chest.

 Chapter 63: A Dragons Clutch

    As they fled from the scene of the battle, Fia, Viliant, and Diwa did not look back. A shadow passed overhead in the shape of another dragon. Fright flooded through Fia, assuming that the brown dragoness had given chase on behalf of her human masters.

    Diwa let out a savage snarl, but when she turned to fight in defense of the dragonets, the protective growl died in her throat. No longer bound to silence by the nearby belligerent humans, Diwa whistled aloud, "Roki!"

    Fia and Viliant turned to see Sage Rokirith on a quick descent through the sky. He made it! Fia''s blue eyes sparkled up to the dark gray wings framed by the cloudless sky. How? she wondered. Even a child''s imagination could not dream how he had managed to fight his way back out of the chasm. That did not matter. A true flying ace could do anything, in Fia''s eyes. She joined Diwa in her joculous cheer. "Sage Rokirith! You did it!"

    The sage''s remarkable feat did nothing to change his reputation in Viliant''s ill-tempered mind. Silent, the black dragonet withheld the cause for his perturbation. He deemed it an inappropriate time to express any ridicule, but his general mood still slipped through their telepathic connection. He was lucky that Diwa was too preoccupied to inquire into his seemingly misplaced emotions.

    As she eagerly waited for Sage Rokirith to land in front of them, Diwa titled her head back and ruffled her open wings. Fia jumped up and down beside her, yet despite their celebration, they did not seem to catch Sage Rokirith''s attention. He shot overhead, soaring at a rapid pace but veering at a gradual decline.

    His balance careened to either side. Even as Sage Rokirith drew nearer to the ground, he did not slow down or angle his wings to land as he should have. The base of his tail thrashed about, but it looked shorter than it usually did. His attempts to rudder the air were rendered ineffective. Oh no, Fia thought. He''s going to crash!

    The sage made no effort to stick a landing on his claws. Instead, he threw his weight to the side and sponged his fall with his side. His left wing folded beneath himself and scraped across the sharp ground. Some rock cracked and groaned under the impact of his weight. A sharper grunt from Sage Rokirith peeled above the ruckus of his landing. A cloud of dust drifted around the sage''s gray body, concealing him from view. He almost appeared as though he could have turned to stone, an unmoving boulder at the center of the hazy plume.

    "Rokirith!" Diwa cried, running to be the first to arrive at his side.

    Fia dashed after her, lastly followed by Viliant. The black dragonet stood behind Fia, keeping the most distance from Sage Rokirith. His green eyes flitted in a frenzy between the sage and the direction from where he had flown, back to the human army beyond their sight.

    The airborne grit settled, and the injured state of Sage Rokirith was revealed. His side rose and fell with labored, painful breaths. One wing sprawled askew over his body. As he stirred, slowly moving as if to assess the new damage to his person, Sage Rokirith peeled back his uninjured wing. This unveiled the condition of his tail, the majority lost to the gruesome battle.

    A raw gasp sliced down her throat like razors had entered Fia''s windpipe. Though she had seen death¡ªfighting for her life in the coliseum, and witnessing her best friend slaughter humans¡ªnothing quite compared to this. Even her old shoulder wound, a chunk of flesh ripped away by a gravity orb, had enough healthy muscles around it for Diwa to heal the gaping wound. In contrast, the Dragon Slayer had dismembered a crucial part of any dragon''s mobility. While a dragon had four legs, Sage Rokirith had lost his one and only tail.

    In his forelegs, curled close to his chest and cushioned by his broken wing, Sage Rokirith cherished a brown egg. Before the dragon egg could smash against the canyon floor and spawn a thousand demons, the great sage had reclaimed it.

    Up close, Fia''s mouth pursed slightly ajar as her eyes lifted agog. The pink dragonette now scolded herself in hindsight, guilty and foolhardy, for thinking that Sage Rokirith would ever have let her die at the oasis. He''s really a hero. Champion of the Bad Land.

    While the dragonets stood stock-still off to the side, Diwa rushed to the limp residual of his tail. The healer immediately charged her most powerful spell.

    The sage floundered across the ground and managed to bump Diwa in the chin with his heel, claws curled to shield her against an accidental nick. "Save your magic for where it''s needed most!"

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Diwa shrilled back at him between her clenched fangs, "I need to heal your tail right now!" She started preparing the spell again, but Sage Rokirith lumbered to swing his hindquarters around, tucking his residual tail beneath his abdomen.

    "What tail?" the sage hissed vehemently. "Leave it."

    "If I don''t do something now, I might never be able to regrow it¡ª"

    Insistent, Sage Rokirith redirected her attention to a more vulnerable victim. "The egg! Check the egg! Their diabolic magic hasn''t ruined it yet, has it?"

    As they spoke, veins of a blackish color rippled across its rigged surface. The egg gained a pattern like snakeskin. The evil magic pulsed, ready to consume the egg.

    Diwa hesitated momentarily, inert like the dragonets. Her only movement was an anxious twitch to her claws. As badly as she might long to reward the sage''s selfless sacrifice and restore him to his previous condition, she must weigh the priority of her patients. Diwa had no other virtuous choice but to heed his request. She released her spell on the egg.

    Slowly, she lowered her belly to the ground and stretched her nose out to her patient. Diwa''s nostrils twitched, as if the nature mage could smell whether or not something had gone amiss with the egg inside. "The baby is fine."

    A sigh of relief soughed past Sage Rokirith''s maw, as though the confirmation from Diwa knocked the wind out of him even more than the collision.

    "You can feel it, too, can''t you?" she remarked so that the sage could verify it for himself.

    As Fia overheard this exchange, she ventured outside her familiar telepathic network with Viliant, Diwa, and Sage Rokirith. In doing so, she also took a half-step closer to the brown and black-mottled egg. Fia prodded it to see if the dragon inside would be capable of telepathic engagement. Already, a concept of self had cultivated in the baby dragonette¡ªunhatched but fully developed.

    Hi? squeaked the new presence in her mind.

    She''s a little girl, Fia observed, like me. Her snout stretched out, and she edged her claws a bit closer to join Diwa and Sage Rokirith with the egg.

    Curious? The brown dragonette in the egg wondered at the newcomer in her headspace. She speedily decided that she liked Fia. Happy!

    The uninhibited presence of the unhatched dragonette made Fia flinch, stumbling backward into Viliant.

    Watch it, he spat and shoved Fia back. Viliant refocused his eyes on the empty horizon, flicking his tail with greater agitation. With Diwa engrossed by Sage Rokirith''s wounds, the black dragonet adopted the role as sentinel.

    Fia knew that she ought to stand guard beside him. Nevertheless, the strong emotions from the baby dragonette scattered her thoughts.

    Sad! The baby dragonette became crestfallen as quickly as she had taken to Fia.

    Oh no! I''m sorry! The older dragonette had never intended to hurt the baby''s feelings when she had withdrawn abruptly. Fia''s attention shot upward, frantically looking to the adults to help smooth over her introduction with the unhatched dragonette.

    All this happened as Diwa importuned Sage Rokirith to uncurl his tail. "Let me heal your tail!" she screeched. "I know you like to keep your scars. Rest assured. It will scar well enough."

    "Heal my wing," he spoke back. The sage shifted his weight and pulled out the limp, leathery flap from beneath his body with a wince. Though Fia could not understand every word, she did hold onto the calm and authoritative tone of Sage Rokirith''s voice, even if a bit haggard. "I sprained it during the landing, but we must fly again." The sage leaned to the side to splay his crooked wing with fresh tatters in the leathery flap.

    This revelation finally earned Viliant''s attention, his gaze lingering at the slits of light formed by the rips.

    First, Diwa pulled Sage Rokirith''s wing into the proper position. Then, her healing magic emanated in a feeble flow. Despite how tightly she clenched her jaw, drool slipped between her fangs. The light of her spell wavered as she tried harder to concentrate. The minor tears of his wings melded over while the bones still needed to straighten into form.

    Just like that¡­. Viliant grumbled as he watched from afar. However, no one paid him any heed at this moment.

    Sage Rokirith looked around Diwa''s wide, incensed stance to regard Fia. "Won''t you be a dear and help Diwa? Fia, you can fix my tail."

    "Me?" Fia had not the slightest inkling how she could begin to ameliorate such a grave wound.

    Sage Rokirith gazed at her. His typical, self-assured posture slouched under the agony that he must endure. "I''m waiting," he said, expecting Fia to do something about it.

 Chapter 64: Delayed Flight

    Fia shrank under the pressure to do the impossible. To her knowledge, the fire element could do nothing to reverse wounds, only inflame them.

    The nature healer took great offense to Sage Rokirith trying to assign her role to another. "You can wait for me to repair your tail after your wing!" Diwa shouted.

    Sage Rokirith rolled onto his shoulder and roared back. "I know you want to," he said, voice breaking in pain, "but you can''t!" Momentarily, the sage''s hostile glare almost seemed to resent her for not commanding the skill of a better healer. With a toss of his horns, he slanted his weight to one side so that he could put pressure on his tail. Shiny, oozing blood had restarted its flow from the jagged tip, so he used the force of two forelegs to stop it. "I need your fire," Sage Rokirith said, directing his attention to Fia once more. "Mine can only slow the bleeding, but yours can stop it."

    Fia gave a shallow nod. I understand now. The dragonette had once cauterized her own wound from the Dragon Slayer, but that had been an accident¡ªa byproduct of fully awakening her inner flame.

    "Nonsense!" Diwa shouted and growled in Fia''s face to keep her at bay. "The dragonette has nothing to do with this. I''ll wrap you a tourniquet out of vines."

    The last thread of Viliant''s patience finally snapped. His head swung back from the detachment of human soldiers coming this way. "It doesn''t matter what you do but hurry up! Humans."

    The three other dragons lifted their heads toward the oncoming, horse-mounted men. Sage Rokirith barely had the strength to hold up his own neck and discern the enemies whom he had narrowly escaped. Even the brown dragonette quaked in her egg, startled by the grim mood which possessed all the dragons.

    "Diwa?" Fia said, creeping beneath the wing of the green dragoness. "It''s okay." The pink dragonette articulated her thoughts with great care, hoping to reassure Diwa and not arouse greater concern. I burned my own shoulder before. Remember you were able to heal it just fine? To prove her point, Fia flexed her shoulder as she spun in tight circles, her tail close enough to tickle her nose.

    "What happened back then was not okay¡ª" Diwa started.

    "I want to," Fia stated aloud to express her commitment. She tried to make her thoughts sound as mature as possible while insisting, "Let me help Sage Rokirith. We don''t have any other choice!"

    At last, Diwa relented with a sigh. They had no time to argue like this. "I''ll focus on his wing. You can tend to his tail."

    A grateful gasp filled her open mouth. Fia almost lifted her wings and tail in an overexcited smile before she remembered the solemn task before her. Trepidly, she crept over to Sage Rokirith''s tail where two of his feet tried to crush the major artery and prevent more blood from seeping out.

    "Hurry," he said with a wince. "I don''t want to freeze it again, unless I must." The drastic temperature changes would only serve to harm his tail, so his body ought to stay warm before fire was applied.

    "I can do this," Fia reassured him. She put one of her own, small claws over his wider one. Her weight meant little compared to his own, but she tried to offer solidarity in the form of pressure. With a deep breath, the air heated inside her mouth from the depths of her belly. Fia steeled herself and squeezed her eyes shut as she purposefully breathed fire on Sage Rokirith''s tail.

    Her stream of fire scorched the ground. The torrid smoke billowed back up against her face. Through her eyelids, tears beaded down the inner corners. I''m sorry! I don''t mean to hurt you, Fia wailed childishly, keeping Diwa, Viliant¡ªand most importantly, the baby dragonette¡ªout of this exchange.

    Sage Rokirith had not the coherence in thought or word to respond. A miserable groan peeled from his throat, his low voice ululating into a high-pitched whine.

    When deliberately applying fire to a wound like this, Fia had no idea when to stop. She did not want to char the gray scales of Sage Rokirith black, so she pulled back.

    "Thank you," he said as the first words from his mouth. Sage Rokirith lifted his claws from his tail and swiped some drool from his jowls. Now that he had made himself more presentable, he lengthened his neck above Fia. His wings spread as much as his energy allowed, but his tail could no longer curl into a smile. "You did good."

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Those words were the most affectionate gesture that Sage Rokirith could offer her. Fia beamed in pride, though her smoke seemed to leave a bitter aftertaste on her tongue. "You''re welcome."

    "And thank you, Diwa," Sage Rokirith said, inclining his cheek toward her, "for soothing my sprained wing."

    "You''re welcome¡ª" Diwa replied, her own voice twisted with misgiving.

    The harsh sound of Viliant''s thoughts splintered those of the other dragons. "I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but did you forget? Humans!" The dragonet lowered his stance against the charge of pounding horse hooves. He barred his fangs, braced to fight alone against a dozen human warriors and mages.

    "Get over here!" Diwa cried. "We''re not fighting!" Her fleet, frantic claws scrambled to lead their retreat.

    Fia darted after her, but only far enough to shield herself behind the sage. This skirmish against the humans would be defined not by Viliant''s grit, but by the fight left in Sage Rokirith.

    "Don''t be a fool!" the sage barked at Viliant. "I''m ready to fly again--"

    Both Viliant and Diwa objected to this proposition in tandem. "No, you''re not!" they both happened to outcry.

    I''m not flying with you, Viliant insisted, his mind aloft with astonishment that Rokirith still expected him to blindly accept a ride. I saw how you crashed just now. His lowered shoulders stayed square, facing the humans whom he would rather take his chances with.

    Viliant''s right, Diwa expounded on his concern with a focus on Rokirith''s welfare. You''re really in no condition to fly. Let''s find a safe, quiet spot for us to rest until the humans give up!

    When the dragons kept their conversation exclusive to telepathy, they could riffle through every eventuality as quick as the idea could form in their head.

    Sage Rokirith barked back, Nowhere on this side of the mountain will be safe for dragons, at least not until human hands retake the egg and my head along with it!

    Then leave it! Viliant wheeled back against the onslaught of horse riders. However, this option was not worth considering to any of the dragons, not even to the one who had suggested it.

    Diwa spun around on her hind claws. As she trotted backwards, she begged in front of Sage Rokirith, Give me the egg! I''ll keep it safe. I promise! We need to split up¡ª

    The sage stared deep into her eyes as he passed the egg from his claws to hers. I trust you.

    With one fewer dragon, their exchange became simpler. Diwa fled by her wings and exited the range limit of her transmitters and their receptors.

    I''d rather take my chances here, Viliant proclaimed as he took his last, battle-ready stance. My odds are better against the humans than flying with you!

    Suit yourself, the sage replied simply. His head ducked to Fia''s height so that his snout could nudge underneath her chest. Sage Rokirith lifted her onto his forehead by tipping back his head. With that, air filled the space beneath his freshly restored wings. Sage Rokirith wobbled into flight.

    "Ah!" Fia yelped meekly out of surprise. Her own wings hung limply over Sage Rokirith''s eyes. "Viliant!" she squealed aloud¡ªnot because she did not want to go with the sage. Quite the contrary, she trusted flying with Sage Rokirith more than ever. His previous crash showed his willingness to shield a young, innocent life at the expense of his own body.

    Alas, Viliant did not feel confident that the sage would do the same for the oldest, least favored dragonet in their company. If he did not come with them however, he would lose this reckless fight alone.

    "Viliant!" Fia shouted with all her might.

    The thundering hooves of the twelve horses shook the ground. Most of the human riders clenched the reins with one fist. Their free hands wielded weapons or readied spells.

    As the horses closed on him, Viliant lost his nerve at the last moment. He turned and ran ahead of the humans'' steeds, buying a few more seconds before a knight''s lowered lance would pierce him. "Sage Rokirith! Help! Take me with you¡ª"

    The dragon sage''s crimson wings folded and beat backwards. Sage Rokirith veered toward the ground at an angle unexpected by the humans, not even fully anticipated by the sage himself. He strafed the human with a spattering of dark fireballs as he hovered over Viliant.

    I can help! Fia realized. First and foremost, she got out of Sage Rokirith''s eyes. Secondly, she spun herself the right way around which allowed the dragonette to join the assault. Fia spitfired as many red firebombs as she could to cover the gaps left by the sage.

    Under the intense barrage, the horses whinnied and reared. A few gave a low, breathy scream where the fire singed them¡ªhot and cold. One of the horse-mounted mages consoled his beast and lifted both hands off the reins. A sheet of magical ice blanketed the air in front of the human army, protecting them momentarily.

    By this time, Sage Rokirith had snatched Viliant into his claws and shakily climbed back into the sky. He flew higher to get away from the humans, racing toward the mountain where Diwa had gone. With her throat still burning from her rapid spell casting, Fia''s heart pounded at their narrow escape.

 Chapter 65: Frayed Wings

    Sage Rokirith''s once-powerful flight had become encumbered by his injury. The huffing dragon had to flap his wings many times to stay aloft. Their shaky, slow progress brought his talons to land on the mountain after dusk.

    "Rokirith!" Diwa cried, uncurling herself from where she had cradled the egg in her tail. "I''m so glad you made it. I was worried sick that something happened to you."

    The sage shooed away Fia and Viliant before he dropped onto his side. "Ugh," he grunted, more so relaxed than pained. I couldn''t feel more alive.

    "And you couldn''t look closer to death! Your tail¡­. Let me try to heal your tail tonight. We have time now." Diwa pulled her gaze away from Rokirith so that her troubled eyes could rest on Fia and Viliant. "I''m sure this whole ordeal has been overwhelming for both of you," she tittered.

    Fia stared down at her claws, poking into the ground, only wishing that she could have done something to stop the Dragon Slayer. That man had raised a vile army to destroy her people, but here she sat. Fia struggled with the simple task to warn them. Every one of her muscles trembled¡ªbut not from fear, scared as she might feel.

    I''m mad. I''m outraged! Fia tried to commit this feeling to her body and soul. Her unbridled rage was the only way to access enough power to save her people; Sage Rokirith had proven that much to her by rescuing a single egg. Fia would never become the calm, collected mage the way Diwa wanted to train her. All her burdens, she kept them to herself and let her fury burn.

    Viliant''s head tipped to one side, seeming to think long and hard about something. I''ve seen worse, he said at last.

    Not a muscle moved in Diwa''s body save for a twitch of her lower eyelid. A shaky breath fell from her maw. "I think you and Fia could use a nice, relaxing stroll. Here!" Diwa tucked the brown and black dragon egg into the crook beneath Sage Rokirith''s jaw. She jumped to lead the dragonets away, remorsefully reminding the sage, "I''ll be back soon. Hang in there a little longer."

    Take your time. I have everything I need right here, Sage Rokirith murmured as he nestled his cheek closer to the egg.

    The adult dragoness walked with the two dragonets to a quiet ledge. A shout would carry to the sage''s resting place if danger approached, but here, their hushed voices could chat freely without disturbing him. "Viliant, you spent most of your life in a cell," Diwa spoke plainly but tenderly. "Have you ever paused to look up?"

    A few blinks fell over Viliant''s eyes, the dragonet unsure why a question like this must come out of nowhere. Why would I do that?

    Diwa implored him with egregious cheer in her voice, "Look up! It''s beautiful. The darkest nights have the brightest stars. Even if you can''t see them, we always know they''re just beyond the clouds."

    Begrudgingly, Viliant tipped his head back. His eyes searched the inky sky, analyzing the pinpoints of white light which he had not paid any heed before.

    Fia, however, kept her neck slung low and her gaze buried into the dirt. She became more enthralled by the flicker of fire which supposedly lay within the mountain than the stars above.

    "You can even see shapes in the stars called constellations," Diwa continued, trying to engage the dragonets as much as possible. "I can teach you some, but first, can you find any patterns you like?"

    I see a dragon''s wing, Viliant said, attempting to trace one claw in the air to let Fia and Diwa see it too. With his magic, he cast a purple shadow overhead to outline the stars, eerily aglow. It''s like the Dragon Slayer''s sigil, except instead of a broken wing, it''s shredded. Viliant''s shadowy image of wings became marled by unstable blotches of his own magic.

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    "Viliant¡­" Diwa intoned sadly.

    "Diwa," Viliant spat back in a deep, commanding voice. "Heal my wings." His voice cracked over the edge of a growl. The next words which he wanted to say became too complicated for him to articulate aloud, so he opted for telepathy alone. I know you''re capable of doing it. I watched you heal Sage Rokirith''s wing¡ªbone and all. He roared, "Fix my wings! Right. Now."

    "Viliant," the dragoness gasped, reeling, "you have it all wrong! Those rips were so much smaller, and they were fresh," Diwa whined. "New wounds are always easier to heal. I need to fix his tail while I still can¡­ if I can."

    Her painstaking reason did nothing to assuage the anger which possessed Viliant''s glare. That doesn''t explain anything! he fumed. Why haven''t you healed my wings sooner? Why haven''t you mended the tiniest hole? That might''ve made me believe you! I wanted to trust you! Viliant''s roar trailed off, more raw at the end. As if shocked by his own confession, the black dragonet lurched back and blinked away his outburst.

    "I''m sorry, Viliant," Diwa cried. "I''ve done everything I could to help you!" Her desperate mouth hung open, wanting to say so much more, but she must have deemed some things best left unsaid. Instead, Diwa closed her eyes and took a few, deep breaths. With a new smile forced into her tail, she bumped into Fia, asking, "Have you taken a look at the stars yet?"

    "No," Fia had no intention to engage in Diwa''s juvenile attempts to cheer them up. After Viliant''s adverse reaction, the fire dragonette did not want to explode on her too. "I don''t wanna look," Fia mumbled, despising how her short quips sounded more like a pout than Viliant''s angst.

    Nevertheless, Diwa insisted, "Did your mom or dad ever take you stargazing?"

    The last thing that Fia wanted was a reminder about how badly she missed her parents¡ªhow she would never see them again if her mission failed, how the Dragon Slayer sought to kill them¡­.

    "We all live under the same stars," Diwa coaxed gently. "You might recognize some of them. I''m certain, your parents have looked up to these stars and prayed for you to come home."

    Finally, Fia pulled her head back with a slight totter. She could hardly see the light of the stars through her shiny tears. "They''re all¡­." Choking up, Fia gave up on the vocal language. They''re all mixed up! I can''t find the coconut or the dragonfly like Mommy taught me! she wailed.

    "Shh," Diwa hushed gently. "Shh. It''s okay. We can see any shape we want. It doesn''t have to be a coconut or a dragonfly." Helplessly, the dragoness contorted her neck under the stars. All her attempts to allay the dragonets'' stress had backfired.

    Viliant cleared his throat and draped a wing over Fia. Shh. It''s okay, he said, copying the same words which Diwa had used. Look, Fia. I think¡­ that''s¡­ a flower. Viliant winced as he tried to remember some of the pretty things that his best friend liked.

    "Huh?" Fia blinked, her tears quickly drying in a plume of steam. The dragonette recognized his abnormal attempt to console her. While kind words might not be his specialty, he was always there for her when it mattered. He had even risked his life to stay by her side at the brink of death. Fia leaned into Viliant''s shoulder and watched his magic trace a precarious flower through the stars.

    "Ooh!" she whistled out of excitement. This one over here looks like¡­ a chicken! Fia started lines of fire to connect the stars until she made a chicken dance in front of Viliant''s eyes.

    You''re right, he said, flicking his tail into a smile. The moment that Viliant turned back to Diwa, his tail dropped in displeasure. We''re fine by ourselves, he snapped. Leave us alone.

    A grim, weak nod brought the dragoness''s chin to bob up and down. A tight swallow slid down her throat. Diwa got up and silently slunk away from the dragonets whom she had tried to do nothing but to help.

 Chapter 66: A New Leaf (Bonus)

    When Diwa returned, Rokirith''s head jolted up as he instantly felt her mood was amiss. What''s wrong? he asked over their telepathic link.

    I''ll heal your tail now, she intoned. Diwa hid the source of her ire¡ªthe dragonets¡ªas she did not want to worry him with anything other than his present condition.

    Rokirith sighed. Fia and Viliant had probably given her a hard time, especially that latter wyrm. Though this did not come as a surprise, anger still flitted through him that they had made Diwa so disheartened. His pain flared up, quickly making him acknowledge Diwa''s good judgment.

    "You were so brave," she whispered as she nuzzled his other cheek, the one across from where he held the egg.

    "No. Do not falsely attribute such a quality to a dragon as lowly as me. One moment of bravery does not atone for an entire life led in cowardice." Sage Rokirith stared at the dull, brown shell reflected in the distant gaze of his eyes. Its latent streaks of black magic constricted its future like his past did to him.

    "One regret does not need to define your whole life either," Diwa countered. As badly as she wanted to lie beside him, she turned to the curled stub of his tail.

    The burnt smell of his cauterized flesh caught in her nostrils, reminding her of Fia''s wound when Rokirith had first dropped the dragonette off. Her shoulder had already pushed Diwa''s magic to its limits. On top of working to untangle the black dragonet''s ley lines, mana exhaustion had accumulated in her own magical veins. Diwa''s meager talents as a healer would not enable her to undo the damage done to Rokirith, but that did not make her crisp voice falter. "I will do everything I can to save your tail."

    "I don''t care about my tail," Rokirith muttered, but the gratitude in his mind resounded, Thank you. Large tears gathered in Sage Rokirith''s eyes, wavering at his lower lids till he squeezed his eyes shut. "It was hardly a sacrifice to save this egg¡ª" his steady voice broke off. "I only wish it were mine!"

    A chill ran down to the core of Diwa''s bones. She patted a sympathetic paw against his haunch as her bleary eyes focused on his tail.

    Quieter, Sage Rokirith whispered, "Why did I not save my son?"

    "You tried your best. You did everything you could at the time." Diwa offered the sage this reassurance for the hundredth time. Her patience had begun to fray from his perpetual mourning over the past decade, but now Diwa understood. The egg laid by his late mate had not merely been broken or eaten by the barbaric humans. Sage Rokirith''s unhatched son had been splintered into a thousand pieces, corrupted into an instrument of war.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    A guilt started to broil within Diwa, worse than their initial failure to recover Sage Rokirith''s egg. "I''m sorry I wasn''t able to help more," she whispered in a haunting, empty voice.

    Diwa could hardly see past the tears in her own eyes as she cast spell after spell on Sage Rokirith''s tail. Her magic kept fading away. Dwelling on the past would do nothing to avert the pain of the present, so she focused her power to do all that she could to regrow his tail. Even if it costs me my magic, Diwa thought gravely to herself, willing to damage her own ley lines for his sake, she told Rokirith aloud, "I will restore your tail."

    The sage sobbed quietly as he clung onto the egg. A choke caught in his throat, and rampant emotions possessed his mind. Abruptly, he said, "You''ve done enough."

    By now, she had managed to grow a few inches onto the end of his tail. Its tip had smoothed out, no longer a jagged cut. I''ve done so much, she marveled to herself. I can do more! Diwa pretended not to hear the weak concession of Rokirith. A wheeze slipped past her clenched jaw, determined to keep going.

    "I said you''ve done enough!" Rokirith gave a muted growl and flung himself to his feet. Though she could have easily dodged his lethargic tackle, Diwa was too preoccupied to do so. "Stop," he intoned in a low voice as he kept her pinned. "Please." Rokirith fiercely nestled his cheek to hers, as if the proximity would help her better understand with his transmitter pressed to her receptor. I don''t want us both broken beyond repair.

    Shocked by his intense, emotive display, Diwa fell silent for a few seconds before she finally relented. Very well. The dragoness collapsed under the dragon''s greater weight. As soon as she ceased resistance, the sage fell on top of her. The egg still lay within his grasp, a breadth away from their flaring nostrils. The dragons'' pupils flitted to look at one another, tears glistening in each of their green and crimson eyes.

    Apologies, Rokirith said as he gathered the strength to push himself back up.

    No, don''t be sorry, Diwa said with her eyes rolling to watch him retreat. I know you''re exhausted.

    The sage turned back to look at her, the short remainder of his tail curled in offense. That is an understatement. When he lay down, Diwa got up to follow him.

    How are you feeling, Roki?

    Sage Rokirith sniffed and composed himself so that he could evenly express, My tail feels numb. Hastily, he added, In a good way.

    Please rest, Diwa said with a wing flap draped over his spiny back. You did good, Sage Rokirith.

    Don''t call me that anymore, Rokirith said. I''m sage of nothing. Those are the wisest words that I will ever say. The great, gray dragon closed his eyes with his scaly cheek affixed to the dragon egg. Both his claws encircled its shell, never intending to let go of the baby dragonette inside.

    Diwa sighed and patted a claw over top of Rokirith''s forehead. When he next opened his eyes, she prayed that he would feel ready to turn over a new leaf in his life.

 Chapter 67: A Bad Nights Sleep

    Fia''s racing heartbeat had finally settled while stargazing with Viliant. Still fraught with tension, she puffed out a slow, gentle exhale. Thanks for cheering me up.

    The virescent eyes of her best friend gave a slow blink. Determination filled his gaze, and Viliant offered a supportive nudge. We''ll make it back to Carlinoa in time.

    And we''ll find a healer there for you too, Fia said.

    One who''s actually willing to heal my wings, he added with a snort. Briefly, he bowed his head before tipping it back to the starry sky with an exasperated sigh.

    The dragonets kept their cheeks hovering close together with their eyes trained upward, focused on their dreams. The muscles around their ear canals twitched when a weary voice called to them.

    "Fia? Viliant?" Diwa crept toward their rocky outpost. "Are you ready to come back now?"

    First, Fia directed her gaze to Viliant. Though she had butted horns with Diwa earlier, the black dragonet had a real bone to pick with her. He lay motionless, too still to have not heard her call. Viliant purposefully ignored her. When he finally turned, his tail curled into a sudden smile, more unsettling than his anger. It only makes sense for us all to sleep at the same camp. Safety in numbers. Viliant hefted himself up and stalked toward Diwa. When he walked past her, he glared at her from his low crouch.

    Fia scampered after them. Once she had caught up, she corrected her posture and walked somberly beside Viliant. Diwa trudged behind them. None looked more dignified than Sage Rokirith who rested his chin over the egg. "The dragonets return," he observed.

    Before she settled down to sleep that night, Fia approached the great, gray dragon on the mountainside. "Sage Rokirith, you were so heroic back there!" she gushed, trying not to let her voice expose the ulterior motive that she had laced in this compliment.

    "You don''t have to call me ''Sage'' anymore," he said, waving about a cordial claw. "I find that title quite¡­ insufferable."

    One of Viliant''s wings lifted in interest, and the dragonet tilted his head along with it. That smug look expressed more than if he had said, I told you so, over their telepathic link.

    "Are you going to save more dragon eggs?" Fia asked.

    "I''m hardly in the condition to do so," Rokirith rejected in a kindly tone. His tail could not lift in a smile.

    "Then," Fia said, pausing so that she could think through her words before blurting them out. "How soon can we wake the fire mountain? I''ll do anything to stop the army!"

    The green eyes of Diwa and Viliant flitted to watch this exchange. A tension flexed through their ear canals as they listened. Neither wanted Fia to stay with Rokirith in the first place, but especially not now.

    The dragon''s short tail flicked as if he would have smiled, but the sudden movement made him wince instead. Rokirith straightened his neck above the dragonette. "No," he responded promptly. "It''s no longer an option for us to cause an eruption. You will go back to Carlinoa."

    Several blinks cascaded over the dragonette''s eyes. Fia had not expected him to rescind his original offer. "What? You said that we can stop the humans here¡­."

    "Our time together is coming to an end. Even if we had more time, I''m not willing to teach you any longer," Rokirith clarified, enunciating each word since Fia had chosen not to understand. "It''s not that I don''t want to, but I can''t," he admitted with his gaze cast away from the dragonette.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Her frustration bubbled inside, bringing her to demand in a shrill voice, "Why not?"

    Rokirith answered her question by posing another. "How can I teach you to harness rage when I''ve lost so much of my own?" His chin tilted downward so that he might observe the dragon egg, his eyes filled with such tenderness that Fia missed her own father.

    The dragonette''s tail curled around her ankles. A grumble crept into her throat, and she retreated to Viliant''s side. Only to him, she shared bitterly, Just wanted to see if he could still be useful to us. Her talons tapped anxiously in a circle before lying down and forcing herself to sleep.

    ***

    Her nightmares hardly spared her a wink. Fia tossed and turned in an effort to get comfortable, but her tumultuous mind would not settle.

    Some erratic snuffles came from Rokirith''s lurching body. I''m jealous, Fia thought of his snores. The dragon slept soundly after his victory, or so she thought at first. The occasional, muffled grunt revealed the persistent discomfort of his half-healed tail.

    It must''ve hurt really bad, Fia considered, ruminating on her own shoulder destroyed by the Dragon Slayer. The indomitable element of gravity left brutal wounds in his wake. Though Fia''s injury had healed well, the dragons had yet to ingratiate themselves with a healer talented enough to grow back a whole tail.

    "Sleep," Diwa whispered the one word to soothe Rokirith. Her meek spell ebbed away as her eyes reclosed.

    His body stilled. His breath evened out. However, his moment of calm did not last forever. Long after Diwa had fallen asleep, Rokirith writhed in his sleep. Even after he had quieted, Fia''s wide eyes stared at the glistening moon.

    Only Viliant seemed unaffected by the ordeal. His chin rested motionless against his claws, but when Fia looked away, a crack of green appeared between his eyelids.

    ***

    The dragons did not intend to wake up at any specific time after yesterday''s crisis. They needed rest, especially Rokirith after his injuries and Diwa from her efforts to heal him. Fia and Viliant stirred first, huddling close together as they debated whether to disturb the slumbering adults.

    We should get going soon¡ª Fia stressed¡ª now! Some reddened lines broke across her eyes from her sleepless night.

    I''ll do it, Viliant offered and walked closer to the adults.

    Fia held her breath. Though she tiptoed after him, she lagged behind and watched from a few paces off.

    The dragonet approached Diwa first, the less threatening one from the adult pair. As he loomed over her, Viliant swished his tail irately through the mountain''s ash. "Wake up." A growl picked up in his throat. "Diwa." Viliant lifted one clawed paw. The knuckles of his toes cracked quietly as he splayed his talons.

    "Viliant," Fia hissed, concerned why he must point them toward Diwa. Though she knew that Viliant would never hurt the dragoness, he might do so accidentally if she jolted awake.

    The black dragonet traced his claws over the smooth, light green flap of Diwa''s wing. When his clawtips reached the end, he slipped them under and used the backside of his claws to lift her wing. Viliant ducked his head underneath and bit Diwa''s tail.

    "Ah!" she yelped awake. Out of self-defense, Diwa punched her tail outward. The flaps on the tip thwacked Viliant in the face who scampered out of the way before her hind claws could kick. "Viliant?" she seethed as greater awareness came over her mind. "What did you do that for?"

    Rokirith instantly woke to Diwa''s holler. His protective foreleg wrapped around the egg as he raced over to her.

    The dragoness deftly took the egg and slunk around the larger dragon''s side. Hiding behind Rokirith, Diwa glared at Viliant.

    We need to go, he told them. You can sleep all you want after Fia and I are on the boat back to Carlinoa.

    A big yawn split Rokirith''s jaws. "I''m eager to be rid of you too." His gaze shifted to Fia, clarifying, "Although, I admit, I''ll miss you, Fia." As he stepped closer to collect the dragonets to fly with them, Diwa followed him closely.

    "You need more rest¡ª" she tried to implore him. Her close following distance caused the residual of his tail to brush against Diwa''s shins.

    The dragon howled out of the sudden contact. Even though Diwa had tapered a smooth end for his severed tail, the sensitive nerves had yet to adjust.

    "Careful!" Diwa cast a feeble spell to soothe him, but her magic fizzled out as she gagged.

    "I could say the same to you," Rokirith replied, more tenderness in his voice than his words might otherwise suggest. The dragon glanced back at Viliant through the corners of his eyes. His heavy blinks made his exhaustion evident, but Rokirith understood that they must fly.

 Chapter 68: A Dragons Weary Wings

    Before they took off, Rokirith extended an invitation to Fia. I need to stretch my wings. Come help me practice. With her atop his head, the dragon fluttered his wings in a short test flight.

    The rounded tip of his tail now extended a few inches beyond the spot where it had been severed. The additional length did not stop his tail from whipping through the air like a floundering snake. Rokirith''s stiff wings maneuvered them toward the ground. The sharp angle of his descent made Fia yelp and cling to his horns.

    He stuck the landing by jogging a few paces ahead. When Rokirith stopped, he gave Fia a shake between his horns. "Adorable wyrm, do not squirm so much."

    "I''ll be more still." Sheepishly, Fia admitted, "Sorry. I still get excited when we get to fly."

    Now that they were ready to go, Viliant crept over. His tail twitched back and forth, agitated with distrust. Though the human and drakan army no longer posed an immediate threat, Fia''s mission required all haste. Today''s flight should prove perfectly safe; after all, Rokirith had been in much worse condition to fly yesterday. Viliant reluctantly allowed the recovering dragon to carry him away from the mountain.

    Their flight was shaky, rocking with every breeze over the trees. Rokirith had yet to adjust to his new balance. He could not figure out how to compensate for his shorter tail and enter a streamlined glide. Thus, Rokirith flapped his wings more often than Diwa. The extra downbeats and his passengers'' weight took a heavy toll on the larger dragon.

    Ultimately, Rokirith ended up lagging behind Diwa as they faltered over the Malakow jungle. Fly ahead of me, he offered. Take a break whenever you need to. Rejoin us when we catch up.

    Are you sure you''ll be fine on your own? Diwa asked. Neither dragon spoke aloud, too tired to waste their labored breaths.

    Yes, Rokirith insisted. I have nowhere to land¡­ must keep flying till the river. The great dragon stretched and strained his neck to press onward. Just keep the egg safe.

    I will. I promise. Diwa hastened her glide and pulled ahead of them. The sporadic flap of her wings became harder to make out. Her tail disappeared inside some distant clouds.

    At the same time, Rokirith seemed to fly slower over the next hour. His breath became raspy, and the altitude of his flight gained more variance. Several, rapid wing beats brought him higher. Then, he drifted lower shortly thereafter.

    Viliant, worried about them crashing, offered, That tree looks sturdy. His thoughts directed their attention to an expansive treetop which rose above the others. There has to be a tree which can hold your weight.

    Well, yes, Rokirith admitted, but I don''t like the trees, and they don''t like me back. Nevertheless, he hovered lower to rest at the tall tree which Viliant had pointed out. The dragon precariously perched himself in the fork of a couple, sturdy branches that formed a brace for his weight.

    While they rested, Fia ventured down Rokirith''s back¡ªcarefully avoiding his tail¡ªto check on Viliant. Since they were both perplexed by his earlier statement, Fia tilted her head. "Trees don''t have feelings, do they?" She spoke aloud, happy to keep practicing the Malakow language whenever she knew how to express herself.

    "Hush!" Rokirith hissed harshly. "I think it heard you¡ª"

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    A rustle spread through the branches, starting with a subtle vibration. Its shake intensified until the whole tree became encompassed.

    What''s happening? Fia kept her mouth clamped shut this time, not wanting to inadvertently bite her tongue or gums.

    I thought you were kidding when you said the trees didn''t like you! Viliant cried out with his thoughts in disbelief.

    The pitch of Rokirith''s voice bounced with the motion of the tree. "She didn''t mean it! We''re sorry!" The simple apology did not assuage the tree''s emotions. Hang on! he projected to the dragonets. He grabbed both Fia and Viliant in his front claws.

    When he tried to take off, his poor footing did not allow him to get a good jump. Rokirith''s wings folded, and he fell back down the tree. The ridges along his spine cracked against a bough. The dragon bust through, curling his tail inward for protection. Both Fia and Viliant were shielded against his chest. Rokirith struck branch after branch on his way down.

    Can you glide away with me? Viliant asked, his cowering face tucked tightly against Fia''s cheek.

    Her eyes, squeezed shut, flung open. The blur of leaves rushed by them. Her slitted pupils danced about, searching for a way out. No! I don''t think so. If Fia jumped away from Rokirith, then she would only end up falling by her lonesome. The soft pad at the center of her foot clasped over the top of Viliant''s. The dragonets must rely on the adult to keep them safe.

    Once the canopy had thinned out, Rokirith dropped straight to the forest floor. He landed flat on his back, coughing hard.

    Stunned from the fall, Fia and Viliant blinked at each other. They lay comfortably across Rokirith''s chest. Nary a twig had grazed them.

    You actually protected us¡­. Viliant observed out of his surprise.

    Not you, Rokirith snapped as a thoughtless reaction. Fia. The gray dragon got up slowly and slid them off his crimson belly. As he stood over the wide-eyed, pink dragonette and the scowling, scorned one, Rokirith''s eyes softened. But it was my duty to protect you too¡­ Viliant.

    The admittance seemed wholly unwarranted from Rokirith, causing the dragonet to take a step back. Thanks, I guess, Viliant mumbled, his thoughts too stunned to fully form. He added on, abashed, You didn''t owe me anything.

    The usual, serious aura surrounding Rokirith grew more somber. On the contrary, I owe you an apology. Rokirith crouched his body to stand even with Viliant. I''ve behaved like a juvenile in your presence, and I''m ashamed to have stooped to your level. I''m sorry.

    I still feel insulted, Viliant snapped. His cheek turned away from Rokirith, but his wings ruffled, flustered that the sage had ever deigned to apologize. To himself, Viliant thought, Guess he needed his tail ripped off to get humbled.

    The three dragons surveyed their present circumstance. The darkness of the jungle loomed around them. Fia passed her gaze between Viliant and Rokirith before swinging her neck all the way back. "How do we get back to the top? We need to fly!"

    "I think it''s best if we walk from here," Rokirith grumbled and tested his strength with a limping gait.

    "Will Diwa find us down here?" Even if they did not see Diwa until they met up again at her treehouse, that did not matter so much as the predominant question on Fia''s mind. Are we going to make it back in time? Her eyes closed momentarily so that she could assure herself of the fire swelling in her own belly. I will make it home in time. Even if the trees sought to trap her, the fire dragonette would reduce the whole forest to ash.

    "Unlikely," Rokirith replied as he picked a path between the trees.

    Viliant started to follow him first, though he paused underneath some low hanging vines to wait for Fia. Stay close. Stay alert. Given Rokirith''s condition, I doubt he''ll do much to keep monsters at bay.

    If anything, the injured dragon would serve to attract savage animals which desired a rare feast. If the two dragonets did not want to become a snack along with him, then they must be prepared to fight.

 Chapter 69: Jungle Expedition

    Just beyond a thicket of voluminous leaves, water babbled. The humid air of the rainforest grew cooler as Fia, Viliant, and Rokirith stepped their claws into mud. "We made it this far," Rokirith announced with a hefty sigh. "Now we follow the river. I''ll recognize the area once we''re close to Diwa''s house."

    Sunlight streamed from the rift in the canopy, reflecting off the constant current of water. The light could not cut through the river, occluded by silt and algae adrift. The jungle teemed with insects chirping. Their song overpowered any bird which had gotten lost on the forest floor. The loud, languid croak of toads were seemingly answered by the more exuberant ribbits of frogs. A bounty of colorful leaves and flower blossoms gave the dragons'' expedition a sense of ease.

    Fia would not allow herself to be lulled by the beauty. As she gazed upon the plants, frogs, and bugs, she thought wryly, I wonder how many are poisonous. Her wings hunkered around her body as she walked between Rokirith who led the way and Viliant who brought up the rear. The dragonette broke formation to cautiously approach the riverside, hoping to sate her thirst.

    "There are faster moving parts of the river which are clear," Rokirith commented. "We can drink there, but not here."

    Midstep, Fia stopped with her claws hovering above the ground. "Thanks. I''ll wait."

    As she marched along the river with Viliant and Rokirith, the corners of her eyes often flashed to the murky water beside them. The dragonette felt on edge around unfamiliar waters, ever since her respite at the oasis. She worried that an unseen monster, fearsome like the alligatoise, might lurk just beneath the surface.

    Viliant? Rokirith? she asked trepidly. Fia only conveyed her question over telepathy. Instinct bid her to stay quiet, not sure what else might be drawn to their vocal conversation. Should we be walking so close to the water?

    Would you rather stay below the trees? Rokirith kept strolling in a line, content that he no longer had to weave between the trunks.

    The low light of the forest floor made a shiver crawl up Fia''s spine, but she had less to fear in the dark thanks to Viliant''s element. The muddy bankside had caused the larger plants to thin out. Even so, branches, leaves, and vines still loomed over their path in an attempt to reach the sunlight. Smaller trees persisted at the water''s edge. Their root system became tangled into a knot above the water. There was enough foliage that a creature could still pounce on them from above, but now, they also had to worry about an aquatic ambush predator from the side.

    What do you think, Viliant? Fia did not have the gall to disagree with Rokirith, but her friend would have no qualms in doing so if he deemed their surroundings unsafe.

    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    This is fine for now. In an environment where Rokirith had more familiarity, Viliant was willing to trust his judgment. The adult dragon knew the jungle better than either of the dragonets.

    Fia''s attention constantly swiveled to the branches overhead, the dark forest to her right, and the river to her left. A suspicious shape drifted along the streaming surface.

    "Monster!" Fia roared and leaped into the air with a few flaps of her wings. This helped her gain extra height to spew fire at her target. Her flamethrower rained over the river, dissipating to steam. Trails of fire hissed along the wet snout of the aquatic beast. Those flames soon petered out, leaving a blackened piece of flotsam in its wake.

    That''s a stick, Viliant said. Both he and Rokirith had frozen in their tracks, staring at Fia.

    "Oh." Her shameful tail curled between her legs.

    The dragons continued their trek through the jungle. Ever alert, Fia had to stop herself from jumping at every leaf which brushed by her scales. The dragonette''s blue irises and slitted pupils went cross-eyed when she saw a long insect on a big leaf, inches away from her nose.

    Look at this stick, she called to Viliant. It''s moving.

    Yeah, he dismissed. They do that when we walk by.

    No, I mean it''s walking on its own! Fia insisted. Her initial curiosity quickly turned to horror as the dragonette realized how often she had made the same mistake before. "Monster!" Fia gagged a spattering of embers across the stick bug.

    Its six legs moved faster and turned the walking stick into a running one. The bug scurried off the end of its leaf, and it plastered its burning body between Fia''s eyes.

    "Ah!" she yelped, staring at her own fire all the while. "It''s attacking me!" The heat of the flames did not faze her, nor could the bug stick¡ªalready charcoal¡ªdo anything to hurt her.

    Viliant rushed over to her side. You good? Did you set your own nose on fire?

    "No. It''s the bug!" Fia swiped her claws across her face to get it off. Her foot stomped on the insect and stamped out the measly fire. Fiercely, she shook her horns out of embarrassment. Don''t worry. I killed it. That encounter could have gone better, but at least Fia had taken out the insect before it could take advantage of her lowered guard.

    She lifted her eyes to meet Viliant''s harsh gaze. Behind him, Rokirith turned back to glare. Unintentionally, she had drawn all their attention onto her. Now only she looked toward the river, glimpsing the movement in the water past Rokirith''s wing.

    "Look out, Rokirith!" Fia yelled.

    What is it this time¡ª? Viliant began to ask, but once he had wheeled around, he gasped. Behind you, Rokirith!

    A slimy creature with a bald, dome-shaped head rose from the river. Tiny ears flicked from the side of its brown head. A snorkel nose drooped from its face, dripping dirty water. This short, muscular trunk curled backward and flicked in Rokirith''s direction. Mucus flung from its nostrils in a sticky streamer.

    When the offending material struck Rokirith''s shoulder, the dragon yowled. His scales sizzled at the point of impact. The smooth, gray surface of his scales blackened around the edges where a hole ate its way through his defenses. Blackfire rippled along his exposed flesh, chilling his fresh injury.

    The dragons now had a true threat to worry about.

 Chapter 70: Swamp Monster

    After annihilating the stick bug, FIa''s fire was already warmed up for the newcomer. She was the first dragon to volley a counterattack, opening her maw wide and hacking two fireballs in quick succession. The dragonette had no idea what creature that ugly, snorkel face belonged to, but it made a great target for her next fireball.

    Close behind her, Rokirith retaliated against the surprise attack. He turned to shield his injured shoulder and breathed blackfire toward the river. The twin fires briefly reflected in the piggish eyes of the swamp monster before its head submerged back into its domain.

    The red flames frizzled against the water whereas the black ones thickened the algae bloom into slush. A few bubbles breached the rippling surface where the vile creature had gone.

    Viliant bounded to the river''s edge. It might be safe from your fire underwater, but it can''t hide from my shadows! All four of his clawed feet slid through the mud as he took a wide stance. Viliant barked a savage sound, and the dark jungle responded to him. Tendrils of shadow arced from the murky water and plunged into its depths.

    "Get back to the trees!" Rokirith shouted. The adult limped over to Fia and shoved her with the side of one wing. "Move."

    She sidestepped him and ignored his order, entirely focused on how she might assist Viliant.

    An insidious, purplish energy laced the dragonet''s black scales. His eyes gleamed with a long-awaited ferocity. Viliant had not killed anything since Rokirith had rescued them at the oasis. Now, he unleashed all his frustration after they had not been able to stand their ground against the human army.

    The muffled sound of some sharp cracks peeled above the water. The disturbed surface convulsed as different currents whipped against each other, interrupting the possible formation of a whirlpool. An inky cloud started to accumulate below. Its reddish tint soon became apparent, followed by a large body which floated to the top.

    The brown, horse-like body had every bone in its body snapped the wrong way. Some white spears of bone protruded from its flesh. Across the remainder of its shredded skin, ropes of shadow bound the beast. Once rays of sunlight shone across its sorry state, the hold of Viliant''s shadow magic weakened and released it.

    "Get away from the water!" Rokirith reiterated in a shout. "Tapirs usually live in herds."

    A tapir? Fia wondered, still not entirely sure what manner of beast was attacking them. The mangled, floating corpse did not provide her a good example of one. She did not have to wait long to find out as a half dozen tapir heads peeked out of the water.

    With their faces half submerged, the tapirs'' snouts skimmed the surface. Large beads of water rolled down the sides of their sturdy bodies as they clambered onto the bank. Each tapir looked to weigh at least a couple hundred pounds. Their four-toed feet left deep impressions in the mud, each step spreading farther apart as they entered a frenzied run.

    As the closest one to the tapir stampede, Viliant once again found himself overwhelmed by sheer numbers. A gravelly grumble caught in his throat. He fell back on his element and dipped into the realm of shadows.

    The enraged tapirs plowed through Viliant''s ephemeral form. They kept charging for the two other dragons in front of them.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    With one clawed foot, Rokirith grabbed Fia by the back. He dashed amongst the trees on three legs with her tucked close to his ribs. Then, his leg which held her swung upward and hurled Fia into the air.

    "Eek!" she yelped and closed her eyes. Her horns punctured a few leaves on the way up. Once she opened her eyes and saw herself above a layer of narrow branches, Fia snapped her wings open. The dragonette glided to the nearest tree trunk ahead of her. The tips of her claws scratched for purchase, and her tail wrapped around a branch for stability.

    A relieved sigh huffed past her jaws. Fia shook her head to dislodge an odd leaf from her horns. That little leaf drifted downward, bringing her attention along with it. Fia looked down in time to see the shades of the tapirs'' muddied backs blur by.

    The leaf rustled on the ground after five of the tapirs had passed. The slowest, smallest one of the herd dawdled behind just in time for a leaf to land in front of it. The movement caused the pudgy tapir to tip back its head.

    From her vantage point in the trees, Fia blinked back at it. Before she had entered this jungle, the dragonette would have tried to smooth over this rough introduction with the tapir. The old Fia would have squeaked a hello. Instead, she leaped from the tree with claws extending for the rearing tapir.

    A whistle curled from its raised trunk. The tapir shot out some slimy mucus toward Fia.

    Fia closed the clear film of her second eyelids, normally utilized in flight to protect her eyes. Neither this layer nor her primary, scaled eyelids would protect her from the acidic tapir snot, but it helped her glare, unblinking, at the opponent. Fia needed her eyes open to watch where her talons sunk into the tapir''s back.

    A high-pitched scream, somewhere between an ululating, horse''s whinny and a piercing, pig''s squeal, curled from the snout at the end of its trunk. The tapir staggered to one side, then the other. Its wide-set eyes lolled back as if to catch a glimpse of Fia who clung onto its back. The tapir rammed sideways into a tree trunk, slamming Fia with it. Her claws caught between the tree and the tapir''s body with enough force to crack the side of her claws.

    A sharp pain entered the quick, but Fia responded with nothing more than a grunt. The fierce dragonette unlatched her gritted fangs and bit the back of the tapir''s neck. Her chomping, grating teeth sought to do as much damage as possible. Even though her fangs did not kill it yet, she gained a better grip.

    The tapir dashed forward at a breakneck pace. The chunky mammal proved itself surprisingly nimble as it weaved around a tree. Fia clung onto the tapir. The dragon jockey stayed low. All four of her clawed feet left bloodied trails along the thin, short-haired skin. I''m the predator now! This will be my biggest prey ever! Fia thought, excited to take down the tapir all by herself. The succulent taste of its blood made drool leak from the corners of her mouth.

    Suddenly, the tapirs'' forelegs ground to a halt. Its rear snapped into the air, but Fia had latched on too securely to be thrown off that easily. From there, the tapir crashed onto its side. Fia was not prepared for the unceremonious fall. Her legs were crushed beneath the rotund ribs. Luckily, this was the smallest tapir around Viliant''s size, so her bones were not crushed beneath its weight.

    "Ow!" she still howled. As such, Fia was forced to release its neck from her maw. She came back down with greater fervor, this time spreading her jaws wide enough to encapsulate its skull. Fire poured from her maw. The intense heat cooked the tapir''s brains till its body went limp.

    By the time that Viliant raced over to the trees and followed the tapir''s tracks, Fia had already clambered off her quarry. The tapir lay in a heap on its side. You alright? her friend asked as he joined her, staring down at it.

    I took it down¡ªall by myself! Fia announced. Briefly, she wondered if she owed Rokirith any credit for giving her a boost into the trees. Viliant would disregard any role that he had played, anyway, so Fia let herself bask in this moment alone.

    Good job, Fia. Viliant said. Should we go help the old dragon?

    She gave a firm nod. Part of Fia wanted to remember this location so that she could taste the same tapir that she had killed with her own claws. That was unnecessary so long as she helped Rokirith and Viliant kill at least one more.

 Chapter 71: Treehouse, Safehouse

    By the time that Fia and Viliant had caught up with Rokirith and the rest of the tapir stampede, the blackfire dragon had already laid waste to the surrounding jungle.

    Did you kill them all? Fia asked. The dragonette slowed herself to a downcast walk. I wanted to help¡­.

    In contrast, Viliant kept running until he had strategically positioned himself on Rokirith''s far side. Are the oversized pigs still around?

    No, Rokirith answered on both counts. I chased them off. The ashen dragon lay down, huffing hard.

    Though Fia might not be able to help fight the dangerous animals anymore, she soon saw a way that she could be of assistance. The fire dragonette dashed around, mixing her red flames with the black ones until they had snuffed each other out. Rokirith had rendered this same service for her after he had first instructed her how to harness rage. Now, she returned the favor.

    Much appreciated, Fia. Rokirith hefted himself up and dragged his feet back onto their path. Let''s push on.

    Since they were heading back the same way that they had come, Fia asked, Can we stop for food? I want to eat the tapir I killed.

    Very well, Rokirith said. Our arrival will be late no matter what, and Diwa''s reaction will be the same. Though he appeared in no hurry to get back, he did seem more eager to recline than dine. Once they had arrived back to the spot of Fia''s successful kill, Rokirith remained off to the side where he caught his labored breaths while staying vigilant.

    Fia swatted a couple flies away from the tapir corpse with a wing. Not so many had been attracted to the body that a dragon would turn up her nose and refuse to eat it. "Let''s see what it tastes like raw first!" A long, thin trail of saliva dripped from her jowl, swinging as she lowered her gaping mouth.

    Viliant waited politely for Fia to take the first bite. Even afterward, he watched her chew and savor the new meat before he chomped onto the carcass himself.

    It''s good, Fia thought with her cheeks stuffed full. Always tastes better when you kill it yourself.

    Viliant swallowed one bite of food and pulled back. I''ve grown fond of your cooking, he remarked. His expectant eyes occasionally blinked at her, waiting for Fia to cook the meat.

    She unleashed her fiery breath on the tapir, creating different sections of crunchy black, well-done, and bloody rare meat for them to enjoy. Fia and Viliant sampled everything and ate till their bellies protruded. The dragonets tottered over to Rokirith where they joined him, lying down themselves.

    The two of you better still be able to walk, Rokirith snapped. I don''t want to carry you both!

    We''re fine, Viliant dismissed. Just give us a minute.

    Do you want the rest? Fia asked. We saved a bit of everything for you.

    Rokirith left the dragonets to a quick, recovery nap while he picked through the remainder of the tapir carcass. His teeth snapped a thick bone in half, but he would not waste the time to get out the marrow. "Time to go," Rokirith announced.

    The dragons trudged through the jungle once more. As her adrenaline wore off, Fia found that her left legs felt sore. She stiffened the upper lip of her draconic snout. I''m not going to complain, she told herself. It''s not that bad. At least it''s the other side of my body. However, the continued activity of their hike made the pain worsen.

    "Mr. Rokirith," she asked, trotting beneath his wing. "Can you carry me?" Although he had preemptively refused to carry them, she figured that he would not mind if it had nothing to do with her gluttony. "The tapir hurt my foot a little."

    For an unspoken response, Rokirith lifted her up by a claw and placed her on his head. Viliant and Rokirith kept walking while Fia nestled herself between the adult dragon''s horns. I recognize where we are now, he shared. Rokirith''s strides quickened as he found a pre-existing path, carved out by old blackfire.

    The dragons now tread a familiar route. Despite their exhaustion, their heads lifted higher. Fia, Viliant, and Rokirith looked forward to arriving at the safety of Diwa''s house. "Did Diwa make it back?" Fia asked.

    "She should have by now," Rokirith replied. "We''re about to find out."

    The treehouse had become a frequent enough spot for the dragonets, making Fia swear that she recognized the scratch marks at the base of one thick tree. Rokirith turned to the side as if he would thump his tail against it, but the base of his tail hung limply in a dire frown. Instead, he knocked with his horns. "Diwa? You home?"

    A crash, loud enough to hear from the bottom of the tree, came from the higher up. Diwa appeared in front of them so fast, she must have dove down the tree in one fell swoop. "Roki! Viliant! Fia!" she gushed. "What took you so long? Anyone hurt¡ª?"

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "It''s alright." Rokirith patted a wing around Diwa''s neck to reassure her. "We''re all fine." While his words might have served to soothe her worry, it spurred another emotion in the dragoness.

    Anger beset her narrowed eyes and slanted wings. "You have a lot of nerve coming back here so late!"

    "Nerve?" Rokirith questioned with his wings blown back from surprise. "I hardly did anything wrong."

    "Well, you had me worried sick!" Diwa said tersely with her snout stuck up in the air. "I wanted to look for you, but I couldn''t take any risks with the egg. I''ve been stuck here, all this time, staring at that egg!" Her voice broke with such emotion, Diwa fell back into tender concern for Rokirith and the dragonets'' sake. "I was so scared that something had happened to you."

    To the green dragoness alone, Rokirith remarked, And here you had me believe that nature dragons were good with eggs.

    Diwa''s mouth hung open, letting out a loud, irate exhale. "Get inside. All of you."

    No longer did Fia want to blindly listen to everything that Diwa said. Her blue eyes darted to Viliant, reminding him, We can''t stay here long.

    No, but it''s late. This is a good spot to rest for the night. Viliant latched onto the bark and started to heft himself up. He splintered the wood with the point of his talons, a technique that he had learned to climb better with claws too long.

    Fia nodded as she watched him get a headstart up the tree. The dragonets were fortunate enough that they would not find out what nocturnal creatures lurked in the rainforest at night. Fia scrambled up the tree trunk after him, no longer needing Diwa to carry her up. She had even learned to traverse the trees better than Viliant in fact¡ªin part thanks to her shorter claws. The pink dragonette scurried past him and jumped through the trapdoor of Diwa''s treehouse first. Viliant joined her soon afterward.

    Faintly, the bickering of the adult dragons could be heard from below.

    "I''m not going inside," Rokirith said lower down the tree. "You built this platform for me, this is where I''ll stay."

    "No," Diwa countered. "You''ll be staying here a while. You need a proper shelter. I expanded the door for you a long time ago, but you hardly ever come inside."

    Rokirith must have shared another excuse over telepathy as Diwa suddenly exploded in a shout.

    "Get your tail inside!" Between her pushy attitude and some physical shoves, the dragoness forced the larger dragon to cram inside her tiny home.

    Fia and Viliant backed up against the wall to make room for him. Her hind claw brushed against a pile of rattan leaves. When Fia looked underneath her raised wing, she saw behind her the brown and black dragon egg in a cozy nest. Hi, again, she reached out softly.

    Friend. A warm, fuzzy feeling expanded from inside the baby dragonette''s egg. Her mind felt much more content and relaxed now that she was surrounded by all the dragons, back safe and sound. The day had been an eventful one¡ªeven for an unhatched dragonette. Her hazy consciousness slipped away and entered the dormant, sleep state which would dominate most of her time in the egg.

    Good night. Sleep tight. And don''t let the dragonflies bite, Fia thought and sidestepped to nudge Viliant in an effort to bid him to say goodnight to the dragon egg.

    He looked at Fia from the side of his wide eyes like she were insane.

    "Can you watch the egg and the dragonets for me?" Diwa asked Rokirith. "I have to hunt and I have to prepare provisions for the journey¡­." Her voice faded as she raced between a couple, smaller rooms of her house, but that did not hinder the delivery of her instructions to Rokirith. I might be out late. Make sure the dragonets are tucked in and asleep by the time I get home! Ever since the waylaid dragons had returned, Diwa''s claws did not rest¡ªa constant pitter patter against the wooden floor.

    "The dragonets already ate while they were out with me," Rokirith offered, an attempt to ease the weight which Diwa felt on her wings. "Their appetite should be satisfied for a few more days¡ªat least for Fia. I don''t know if it''s possible to satiate Viliant."

    Diwa barged back into the main room and yelled close to Rokirith''s nose, "Viliant should eat everyday! He''s in the middle of his second growth spurt." Her head shook to dismiss that concern for now; after all, Rokirith would not be responsible for feeding them on the journey. Diwa rapidly asked another series of questions. "How come you had time to stop and hunt? What did you feed them?"

    "A herd of tapirs attacked us first," Rokirith said with a shrug of his wings.

    "A herd? A group of tapirs is called a candle," the dragoness corrected. In her state of hypervigilance, nothing could be done right in Diwa''s eyes except by her. "And tapirs aren''t aggressive," she scolded. "What did you do to aggravate them?"

    With his wings peeled back, Rokirith acted innocent as he said, "I admit, I got too close." His dark red eyes darted to Viliant as he said, "Someone did not leave them alone when I said so."

    Viliant ignored the blame thrust onto him. It had never dawned on him that the tapir''s venomous snot had been a mere warning shot, nor did he care to reflect on his actions. Whether he encountered tapirs, bears, or humans, so long as he could kill anything that posed a threat, he would do so without question.

    Diwa turned her sights onto Viliant and opened her mouth to reprimand him.

    However, Rokirith came to his aid as quickly as he had outed him in the first place. "Diwa. Go hunt. You need to spread your wings and get the knot out of your tail. I''ll take care of everything here while you''re gone."

    A slow, reluctant nod brought Diwa to bob her chin. Her terse posture relaxed, and she slunk back down the trapdoor of her treehouse.

    Rokirith sighed and planted himself alongside the dragon egg. His weight crushed one side of its nest, but his scales formed a new one as he cradled himself around the egg. "That''s better," he sighed, "now that it''s quieter."

    Fia and Viliant stood close by one another. The former dragonette tried to huddle closer to the stoic one. She better understood Diwa''s anxiety around the upcoming trip, feeling unnerved herself.

    "We''ll leave first thing tomorrow," Viliant reminded her, "no matter what."

    Fia nodded grimly and tried to settle in for her final night at Diwa''s jungle abode.

 Chapter 72: An Inquiry on Mankind

    Since Rokirith would stay behind at Diwa''s treehouse the next morning, the dragonets settled in front of him to give their last regards that night. Fia stared at her claws for a long while until Viliant nudged her.

    Her blazing, blue eyes flung up to stare at him. This might be the last time that she ever spoke to the former flying ace¡ªher hero. "Thank you, Mr. Rokirith. You saved my life, and you helped my people a lot."

    "We need more dragons like you to count among our kind," Rokirith said with an approving nod of his ridged chin, "the kind who can shine a light for those mired by dark times." His gaze slowly shifted to focus on Viliant.

    Compared to Fia, who absorbed Rokirith''s words with intensely unwavering eyes, Viliant seemed disinterested. His green eyes, glazed over, gave a few blinks. It was now the reluctant dragonet''s turn to share his parting words. You turned out to be better than I originally thought, Viliant said, unwilling to give Rokirith any more of a compliment than that.

    "I hope you also prove yourself greater than my first impression," Rokirith replied in kind. His wings lifted upward, a hint of a smile, where his tail could no longer do so.

    Fia lay in silence for a while. Once again, Viliant prodded at his perturbed, silent friend. Just to her, he encouraged, Pick his brain. Your clan is bound to need as much information as possible about the human-drakan army. Rokirith knows the enemy best.

    Although Fia agreed with this sentiment, she did not have a clue where to begin. Shakily, she began, "There''s something I don''t understand." Her attention fell down to the brown dragon egg, marred with dark streaks from the Dragon Slayer''s ritual. "I knew those humans were bad, but how can they be so cruel, even to an egg?"

    Rokirith paused for a moment as he considered her question. The scales of his cheek whispered against the grooves of the eggshell. "The humans outbreed us. They have a lot of their own young to worry about¡ªa lot to replace their fallen kin in times of war. The smaller the species is, the faster it reproduces: humans, rabbits, insects¡­." The elder dragon listed out a few creatures that he deemed comparable, losing the stain of contempt in his voice by the time that he had trailed off.

    Quietly, Fia nodded along as she finally started to grasp the depths of her naivety. "I guess I just assumed that humans were kind of like us. They can talk. They have a big civilization¡­." She did not come up with another thing to list before Rokirith gently corrected her.

    "But that does not make humans civilized. Even wasps build nests."

    "I think I understand now." Gradually, Fia discredited the kindness which the healer had once shown them at the coliseum. Only in retrospect, after she had more experience with the foreign nature element, did she realize how incredibly potent his magic had been. If even he did not deem his strength enough to defy the command of his colony, then she should not expect so much from any of them. "It''s in human nature to sting like wasps?"

    "More or less." Rokirith''s shortened tail twitched along the ground, a motion intended to be a flick of amusement.

    Viliant sighed out of contentment with his chin laid against his claws. Finally. Someone is getting through to you.

    Fia ruffled her wings and lengthened her neck above Viliant to let out a hiss. "Hey! My clan didn''t have humans on our island. It''s not my fault I didn''t know."

    "They are quite the peculiar species," Rokirith confirmed. "All others abide by the natural order. A predator hunts its prey, like dragons do to all that crawls upon the earth, swims in the sea, and dares to fly with us in the sky. But the ancient humans chose to capture and breed their prey instead. Now, modern humans view dragons no differently from any other animal. They seek to do the same to us."

    A shudder ran up Fia''s spine. Despite the hostile denizens of the human territory, the dragons had been able to raid the livestock for plentiful food. It abhorred her to think of dragons treated in the same way, confined to stables and ridden as mounts. Her mind drifted back to the memory of the chasm, how a brown dragon flew in the human army''s company. The Dragon Rider might scare me more than the Dragon Slayer¡­. Fia realized, surprised that the unknown enemy brought equal fear to her.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Already, she had experienced the pain and torture to be used for the humans'' entertainment. The coliseum had been her prison, but at least her wings had been her own. Fia stole a glance from the corner of her eyes at Viliant''s shredded ones. She could not imagine using their wings instead for their captors'' gain. A truly great and proud dragon would not bend to the will of any other.

    Upon noticing that Fia had registered what he had said, Rokirith continued, "The humans do not think the same way as dragons do. They treat themselves as a collective: humanity. Each dragon has value as an individual whereas humans think of their kind in numbers, to be leveraged and replaced as their king sees fit. The most prosperous place for humans will always be beneath the wing of a dragon-king."

    The knowledge which Rokirith tried to impart became increasingly abstract. As a result, Fia found her mind spinning. The spoken words made more sense than the ideas relayed over telepathy. Sensing her confusion, Rokirith realized that he had long ago reached the limits of the dragonets'' ken. Viliant agreed insofar as he thought that dragons should rule over humans.

    "You''ll understand one day."

    In contrast to her fierce eyes, Fia whispered in a soft voice, "Thank you, Rokirith. I still think you''re a sage. You helped me understand the true nature of humans."

    "I''m happy that I could be of service, although you didn''t need me to explain anything. You only needed to trust your eyes."

    Though Viliant remained a quiet part of this conversation, he could not have expressed himself any better if he had opened his mouth. With eyes drawn wide, the dragonet nodded repeatedly.

    Rokirith stretched out his wing and pushed it in Viliant''s face, thereby shielding him from Fia''s view. "But do not let these revelations diminish the kindness in your heart. A child''s heart knows best. Save it for those in need¡ªwho are most deserving of it." The crimson flap of his wing refolded, tucked back into his body so that Fia and Viliant could see each other once more.

    Her parents had taught her to be nice to everyone. Always cheerful, the internal flame inside her would surely grow. They taught her nothing of rage, nothing of when a dragon should bare fang and claw against an adversary. She was not entirely sure how yet to distinguish friend from foe, but her tail curled into a smile when she held Viliant''s gaze.

    Remember: you need to find out more about the human nation. The black dragonet reminded her of this fact more sternly. As in their numbers, supply chains, weaknesses¡­.

    Fia nodded emptily. With a shake of her horns, she tried to clear her head of the previous conversation. "How many¡­?" she asked shakily. "How many humans and drakans were in that army?"

    Rokirith provided an estimate. He expanded with relevant details when he deemed it necessary, remembering to keep it simpler so that the dragonets could relay the information. When Fia ran out of questions to ask, Viliant helped her form more.

    What relationship does the human kingdom have with the surrounding areas? Any potential allies?

    Before he answered that question, Rokirith first made a request of Fia. "Would you turn some of these leaves into ash? Let me draw a map for you, what my clans'' scouts had once gathered about the world."

    Fia coughed a spattering of embers over the leaves brushed into the center of the floor. A small fire flickered there, sometimes guided by a puff of Rokirith''s blackfire to keep it controlled inside Diwa''s house. Nevertheless, they did accidently scorch the floor.

    Rokirith drew the tip of one claw through the ash. He began to make a map, explaining, "This is what the shore of the continent looks like. Here is where we are. His claw pointed to a spot on the southern edge of the continent, slightly to the east of center. Then, pointing to the west: Here is where you two came from." The dragon traced his claw a small ways to the northwest of the human capital before drawing a circle. "This is where the old Dagonir Clan used to rule, now divided between the Novemis Clan and the Kingdom of Syene. In addition to their alliance with the Novemis Clan, Syene trades with Malakow. The Malakow Empire could crush them, but it''s easier to exchange for foreign goods than take them by force. To the west, there are the dragons of Elevire¡ªthe next most likely target of Syene''s conquest. If they go to war, the Plains Federation of dragon clans to the north will invade Elevire as well. While Elevire can hold their own against either the Plains Federation or the Kingdom of Syene, they cannot handle both. I don''t know if the Carlinoa Clan has made formal contact with Elevire, but they should send an ambassador. They might be willing to provide shipments of food or medicinal supplies to the dragons who fight the humans and pull a thorn from their side."

    Elevire. Fia memorized the name of that country. A dragon kingdom to the west, possibly able to help.

    Viliant continued to help her ask crucial questions. What''s the best way to exterminate drakans en masse?

    "Raise fire from below. You saw my demonstration earlier." Rokirith tilted his head to the side, and added, "Rain fire from above, I would also say, if not for the Dragon Slayer. Make sure to warn your people, whether they decide to fight or flee: do not fly."

    Their conversation lingered late into the night. Fia and Viliant always grasped at more questions to ask until Rokirith refused to answer anymore. "You would do well enough to remember all that I have told you. Sleep will help you do that." Rokirith sent Fia and Viliant off each to their own rooms, settling back into the main room with the egg.

 Chapter 73: Setting Out

    Their guide, Diwa, arrived long after the dragonettes had fallen asleep and woke them early. "Fia," she whispered and coaxed her from a restless sleep. "It''s time to go."

    Fia''s eyes flashed open. "Ready."

    Next Diwa went to stir Viliant. The three dragons gathered in the main room where the slumbering Rokirith still curled around the egg. Since Fia and Viliant had said their final farewells last night, they did not bother to disturb the slumbering dragon at the break of dawn.

    Diwa brushed her wing over the back of his neck. "See you soon, Roki." She finished her last preparations for them to go, explaining to Fia and Viliant: I''ve salted and hung a few days worth of meat. Rokirith shouldn''t have to hunt for himself while we''re gone. For their own rations, Diwa packed some slabs of salted meat into a pair of side satchels that she strapped to herself. In addition to this, the dragoness carried the tightly packed parcels of ingredients in a couple of baskets. "Let''s go," she whispered and ushered the dragonets through the hatch in the floor.

    Fia hopped from branch to branch and tossed open her wings. This was the last time that she expected to descend from Diwa''s treehouse. Her wings fluttered so that she could tap down onto the forest floor shortly after Diwa. They waited for Viliant to finish carefully picking his way down the trunk. Once both dragonets joined her on the ground, Diwa distributed her load between them. Fia took a lighter basket of herbs whereas Viliant''s cargo contained both dried plants and lizard tails.

    "Normally it takes me two days to fly to the capital," Diwa explained as they set off on their journey. "On foot, I expect it to take thrice that."

    Fia tried to ignore the lengthy amount of time, reminding herself that the human army would take even longer to complete their march and sail all the way to Carlinoa.

    Diwa proved herself more cautious around the jungle''s dangers than Rokirith. Though little light reached the forest floor beneath the abundance of leaves and flowery vines, it somehow seemed brighter today. Diwa''s considerate nose snuffled in the undergrowth, and she flicked out her tongue to better sample its scents.

    When Fia tried to copy her, she sneezed from the pollen tickling her nose. Some white, fluffy spores drifted through the air when she looked up. A small monkey with a tufted tail crouched atop a branch. The nimble creature flipped itself around, swinging through the trees, so that it could make way for the dragons'' approach.

    "This way," Diwa declared once her nose had discerned the best course. Other times, her keen eyes would spy a set of tracks which the dragoness deemed prudent to avoid. Diwa escorted them through the jungle with little trouble.

    At one imprint in the mud, Diwa paused for longer to rethink their route.

    You don''t have to do this for me and Fia, Viliant said. We''re stronger than you think.

    "I''m also doing this for myself," Diwa clarified. "It''s important to avoid unnecessary fights, especially when your ley lines have been taxed."

    "Hmph." Other than that sound, Viliant did not acknowledge her.

    "Trust me," Diwa continued. "We''ll reach the capital quicker this way." She finally decided upon the way forward and pressed on.

    Fia had full confidence in Diwa''s ability to get them there safer and quicker than she and Viliant could do on their own. Led by the dragoness, the dragonets marched until nightfall.

    "Let''s snack here," Diwa announced. Her careful claws unsnapped the buckles of her satchels and wrested herself free of the harness. Diwa took out two hunks of meat, one morsel for Fia and a larger portion for Viliant. "Eat up!" she cheered, even though Diwa ate none herself.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    While the dragonets munched the chewy bites of meat, they observed Diwa quizzically. "Are you not going to eat any?" Fia asked.

    "No. It''s important for dragonets to eat more frequently than adults."

    Viliant''s eyes flashed up from the meat on the ground. To Fia alone, he shared scathingly, As long as she didn''t poison it. He kept eating.

    What? Why would you say that? Though Fia tried to keep that exchange between herself and Viliant, her shock made her project it out to Diwa as well.

    "What did Viliant say?"

    "Nothing," he mumbled.

    Diwa suspended her attention away from Fia and Viliant for now. Instead, she tipped her head back to the nearby tree. "Can we rest for the night in your branches? We''ll kill any insects crawling under your bark that we notice."

    The tree did not acknowledge Diwa or indicate any response.

    "How can you tell that''s a talking tree?" Fia asked.

    "I can just sense it." Diwa walked a close circle around the tree. Her scales rubbed against the bark, including her tail which shifted from dragging along the base of the trunk to lifting higher than her head. After a full lap, Diwa cheered, "We can go up!"

    As they climbed, Diwa showed them how to keep their head hovered close to the bark on the way up. "Listen to the insects rattling underneath the bark. Can you hear them?"

    Fia flexed her ear and leaned the side of her head against the tree. A skittering sound danced up the trunk and made her fangs mimic the sound with a shiver up her spine.

    In front of Fia''s nose, Diwa punctured her claw through the bark. When she drew it back, a beetle had been skewered there. The carapace crunched underneath her fangs as Diwa chose to have a snack after all.

    "Are the bugs¡­ tasty?" Fia did not know that there were dragons who bothered to hunt prey so small.

    "Eh." Diwa shrugged her wings from where she clung onto the tree trunk. "It''s food." Her claws repeatedly stabbed the bark whenever she sensed an insect near. "This is the best way to make fast friends with the trees."

    The tree would keep them safe from any manner of beasts on the ground, and since they were on good terms, it would not shake them from the branches as one had done to Rokirith. Fia figured that the trees did make good friends, so she followed Diwa''s example. Her talons pierced the bark. Fia had not expected to succeed on the first try. The squirm and gush of an insect around her claw came as a pleasant surprise for her. "Ha!" she gasped. "I did it!"

    I can''t stop doing it. Viliant''s long claws constantly struck one or more bugs with each foot higher that he traversed the tree.

    "Hold on!" Diwa suddenly warned.

    All three dragons clung to the trunk as the entirety of the tree shuddered. The tree either liked to have the bugs killed that infested it, or it disliked the pricks of the dragons claws¡ªpossibly both at the same time.

    "Try not to rip up its bark too much," Diwa advised.

    As they ascended higher into the tree and neared the canopy, some benign insects started to crawl across the bark''s exterior. The ambient noise of their chirping seemed to magnify, a constant drone that would soon lull them to sleep. Once the dragons had reached a sufficiently thick and sturdy branch, Diwa jumped over to it. Her tail wrapped around the bough to anchor herself to it. Her two wings spread wide to welcome the dragonets to join her. Fia hopped and fluttered her wings to reach Diwa''s far side. Viliant lumbered onto the branch and looked down. They each took a seat to huddle on either side of Diwa. The dragons did their best to rest while they waited out the rainforest''s hours of darkness.

    Occasionally, the green dragoness flicked her tail irritably in her sleep. She scratched her claws through the bark immediately at her feet and slashed a few more insects. Her tail coiled around the branch like a vine once more, and she nestled her wings tighter around Fia and Viliant. The dragoness, more accustomed to life in the trees, helped keep balance for them all.

    Fia slept through Diwa''s occasional adjustments. The pink dragonette found herself able to fall into a deeper slumber now that they were on the move. We''re doing everything we can. This soothed her worries, trusting that if she tried her best, they would make it in time.

    ***

    For six days Fia, Viliant, and Diwa journeyed like this. As they drew closer to the capital, they started to encounter other dragons that passed by them on the forest floor. Others'' wingbeats caused loud rustles overhead. Fia was shocked to see the dark silhouettes of three dragons when she looked up. "Are we almost there?"

    "Yes. These dragons are from my clan, but we''re so numerous that I haven''t seen anyone I know." Diwa hummed as she praised her people. "The Miorashe Clan oversees all the dragons, humans, and trees that live across the Malakow jungle. Welcome to the heart of the Malakow Empire."

 Chapter 74: An Issue of Trust

    The fringes of a civilization began to appear around them: huts on the ground and treehouses suspended above. While dragons flew amidst the leaves, it was not too long until Fia, Viliant, and Diwa encountered humans as they walked. These men and women were dressed in more feathers and leathers than the cotton-based clothes of the humans of the Syenic plains. The feathered shirts made the people more colorful: bright reds, deep blues, and rich oranges. The humans'' teeth flashed when they opened their mouths to let out raucous laughter amongst themselves.

    Humans! Viliant barked in their minds and ducked in an alleyway between two shacks.

    Without a sound, Fia slipped behind him and peered distrustfully through the holes in his wings.

    Diwa stood out in the open, looking between the group of humans who walked closer and the dragonets who stayed out of view. "It''s all right," she told Fia and Viliant. "You don''t have to hide. The dragons and humans don''t hurt each other here."

    Agitated, Viliant swished his tail in a volatile manner. The end of it taped against Fia''s forelegs. Don''t let your guard down, he instructed her.

    Conflicted, Fia stayed behind Viliant and observed him and Diwa. She trusted both of them. While Diwa probably had a better understanding of her own homeland, it mattered more to Fia that she stuck by Viliant''s side.

    "I can even talk to them," Diwa said. To prove herself for good measure, she stepped forward and blocked the trajectory of the humans'' walk.

    The humans halted in front of Diwa and huddled their heads closer to share in some whispers.

    "Hello!" Diwa said, unfazed by the suspicious behavior of the humans. "I have two shy dragonets with me, but they like your hair decorations. Can they say¡­.?" Diwa did not bother to finish her question because the humans had already given her a wordless response.

    The small, piggish eyes of the humans drew wide. They immediately turned around and went back the way that they had come. None of them wanted to cross paths with the dragon, or so it seemed. Only one woman in the group dawdled behind, confused, but a man around her age tugged her arm to come with them.

    "See!" Diwa huffed a big snort with her nose up to the air. "The humans are harmless here."

    Now that they were gone, the dragonets stepped back into the open. I wonder how long that will last, Viliant thought wryly. We shouldn''t test their patience¡ªor mine.

    The dragons continued down the dirt street once more. Fia and Viliant walked warily after Diwa. Their wings hunkered over their backs, and occasionally they looked back to make sure none of the humans on the street had crept up behind their drooping tails. However, the next time that they crossed paths with humans, Fia and Viliant did not hide. The spines on Viliant''s back bristled so that he looked twice his size¡ªand even more dangerous. A low grumble caught in his throat, and his aggressive posture did not lessen even as the humans steered clear of them. At least the humans know to get out of our way, as they should.

    "Relax, Viliant," Diwa hissed close to his eardrum. "There''s no need for you to be so on-edge. Malakow has laws which both humans and dragons must abide by¡ª"

    A willowy young man neither gave into fear nor gave the dragons a wide berth as he passed by them. His focus remained straight ahead, hurrying with books in his arms.

    A snarl ripped from Viliant''s mouth. His barred fangs split open and latched onto the man''s leg. A yelp curled from his lips, a higher pitched sound than normally heard from male humans. Fia flinched, but she neither moved a claw to join Viliant''s attack nor stop him.

    Though the man tried to run, his leg was caught firmly in Viliant''s jaws. The dragonet held his ground and caused the man to fall. The stack of books fell from his arms with the pages aflutter. On the ground, the man became more vulnerable to Viliant who jumped on top of him. His claws aimed to pierce the human''s eyes, squeezed shut tight. The man could only muster to lift his book as a flimsy shield.

    "Viliant!" Diwa''s voice boomed over the terrified man''s scream. Her claws intercepted Viliant''s blow and flung him backward. The dragoness pushed him with enough force to make his claws drag long lines through the ground.

    Once Viliant recentered his balance in a low crouch, he growled menacingly.

    "Why would you do that?" Diwa yelled. She had her feet braced on either side of the man, standing over him protectively. Her dragon paws pointed away from the human at an unnatural angle so that her claws would not scare him any further. Every muscle trembled in his body as he tried to scoot away, only to look back and see the underside of Diwa''s terse jaw. "This human did nothing to you!"

    It''s a human that got too close! That''s more than enough reason for me. Viliant did not let up the growl from deep within his chest.

    "Fia," Diwa gasped. "Can you calm Viliant down?"

    The pink dragonette stood off to the side, her talons biting into the ground. Although she had not joined in Viliant''s assault, she also no longer felt compelled to dissuade him from attacking humans. Nevertheless, Fia slunk over to Viliant per Diwa''s request. She turned to join him and face off against the green dragoness who fretted over the bitten human. No emotion entered her wings or tail, she merely stood by Viliant''s side as Diwa had asked, doing what she knew would help the dragonet relax best.

    Fia bumped her left shoulder into him¡ªthe same one that had almost killed her from infection. Just between him and her, she shared, It''s all right, Viliant. I understand what you did¡ªand why you did it.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Huh?" His surprise made his wings lose some appearance of aggression. The rips in his leathery flaps sagged and closed to some extent. His wings once again returned to their limp position against his ribs. Viliant tilted his head so that he could better regard Fia through his emerald eyes. You''re¡­ not going to take Diwa''s side?

    No. After what the humans of Syene had done, Fia could not align herself with humans. Her pitied, perplexed eyes watched Diwa hover over the human with undeserved concern.

    "I am so sorry, mister," she spoke down to the human. Her flared nostrils and big eyes must fill the man''s vision, who looked at her upside down. "I had no idea he would hurt anyone. Let me heal your leg." The green light of her magic flickered to life.

    "Get away from me!" The man swiveled his head to look at all sides, but Diwa had him trapped. He could only crawl forward, but the injured man would not move closer to the dragonet perpetrator.

    Viliant glared as he watched his teeth marks in the human''s flesh meld over to smooth skin.

    "I can heal you," Diwa insisted, "so it will be like this never happened."

    "Stop! I''d rather see a real healer. Help!"

    Diwa finished restoring the man to his previous condition and backed away. She rejoined the dragonets, pushing Viliant aside so that she could stand in the middle. Her wings draped over both of them protectively. To Viliant, she hissed, Apologize. Now.

    No! I''m not sorry for what I did. Viliant replied with vehemence filling his mind. You''re still healing more things that aren''t my wings!

    Only because I have no other choice! Diwa growled and snapped in front of Viliant''s face.

    Fia stared at the ground, not wanting to have any part of this. She just wished this altercation with the human would be over already.

    Now healed, the human should get up and run away. Though the man picked himself to his feet, brushed the dirt from his clothes, and recollected his books, he was in no hurry to get away from the dragons.

    Two more dragons descended from the treetops. Their wingbeats drew the attention of the dragonets. Fia looked to her left, where a dragon landed with scales blue as the sky that they could not see beneath the trees. Viliant jolted and moved closer to Diwa. The other dragon on their right had green scales a shade darker than the dragoness. The strange dragons had two sashes of golden-colored threads which crossed over their ridged breast plates.

    Why do those dragons have clothes? Fia asked. Since she did not feel safe to speak aloud, she shared this question with only Diwa and Viliant.

    These dragons are the Malakow guards, Diwa explained. Her head hung in shame. "This is a misunderstanding," she said aloud to the two dragon guards. "As you can see, the human is perfectly fine."

    The blue dragon nodded to acknowledge Diwa, but he lowered his head to speak to the human. "We saw the black dragonet nipped you. Do you intend to seek justice?"

    The human clutched his books to his chest and narrowed his eyes at Diwa, Viliant, and Fia. "Yes, I do. It might have looked less severe from the trees, but the dragonet nearly ripped my leg off. He even tried to kill me!"

    Neither dragon guard seemed fazed by the human''s report. Instead, the dark green dragon stepped to the other side of the human. "Are you sure that''s what you want to do? The dragoness already healed you."

    The human clenched his jaw and gripped his books tighter. His lips curled upward at an odd angle, and he hefted a sigh through his nose. "I''m positive. I need this incident documented for the university."

    The blue dragon addressed their group. "In that case, we''ll have to ask you to come with us." When the blue guard reached out to invite them into a telepathic connection, his annoyed thoughts filled Fia''s mind along with Viliant and Diwa. This human should know better to press charges, but don''t worry. We''ll get you off light. Were you headed into the city or out of it?

    Oh, thank you. A sense of relief surged through Diwa''s mind after the guard had reassured her. We were headed in. I think the human was headed out¡­.

    In that case, we''ll take you to the trial along the lake. Aloud, he asked Diwa, "Do you need help carrying your dragonets, miss?"

    "Yes, please. Neither of them can fly."

    "Not even the black one?" The blue dragon looked down at Viliant with a skeptical gaze. "Ah," he murmured once his eyes noticed the dragonet''s shredded wings, tucked tightly against the scarred, black scales.

    While the blue dragon laid down and invited Fia onto his back, he needed to pick Viliant up to carry him. The adult, male dragon of the jungle did not compare to the sage''s vast size, so he struggled to get into the air as much as Rokirith had after losing his tail.

    Meanwhile, the dark green dragon bent his knee to let the human mount his back. "Follow my lead," he said and flew ahead, rushing toward the leafy canopy.

    After him, Diwa beat her wings and drew closer to the trees. She could keep a comfortable pace with the guards. No longer did she seem like a weak flier when compared to dragons of her own kin.

    The blue dragon brought up the rear. His breath huffed with each pound of his wings. His balance wobbled, especially as he weaved through the branches after the dark green guard and light green dragoness. The flight helped Fia cheer up, especially as this was her first time flying upward through the leaves. Wow! she thought. At last, they burst through the top layer and entered the sky.

    Her amazement was shared through the telepathic link with Diwa, Viliant and the guard who carried them. Her claws gripped against the white spines of the dragon''s back. His light blue scales, a near-perfect match against the sunny skies, made her feel like she soared all by herself. The guard''s turquoise eyes rolled back to glance at Fia. A smug satisfaction flitted through him, but he said nothing. The dragon guard focused on their flight.

    Now that they had risen above the wall of trees, Fia had an aerial view of the city. From the top-down view, she realized how much bigger the treehouses were compared to Diwa''s simple nest. They spanned multiple trees, and rooms opened above the canopy which were clearly meant for sunbathing. Not too far ahead, the massive trees thinned out around the edges of an expansive lake. A plethora of bridges connected the water''s fringes to tiered platforms at its center. Some islands seemed unstable, rising and falling with the lake''s subtle waves, almost as if they were floating.

    So this is the capital, Fia marveled.

    In addition to the houses in the trees and hovels on the ground, immaculate mansions over the lake rose to form a city. A stationary island lay at the center of the lake, and upon it a giant pyramid had been erected. At its flat top, an idol of a golden dragon had its wings spread wide. A silver figurine of a human stood at the base between its claws, smaller but true to proportions. Numerous bridges intersected this pyramid from all directions. The capital of Malakow spanned far enough that the hazy, far side of the lake she could barely make out.

    Even if the dragons were brought to stand accused of a petty crime against a human, Fia could not help but look forward to entering the city. The sparkling waters and shining city upon the lake made some hope return to her eyes. I''m that much closer home, she thought. The dragons had completed the first leg of their journey.

 Chapter 75: A Dragons Scale of Justice

    The guards escorted Fia, Viliant, and Diwa into Malakow to stand trial for what Viliant had done to an innocent man. They soared over the lake and descended toward a large platform, just to the side of the central island. In the middle of this broad pier, they landed in front of a tall building with elaborate, carved pedestals of light-colored wood from the planks below. It was the most peculiar construction that Fia had ever seen, as the building looked more like an unfinished frame with no walls. This allowed Fia to peer inside as she slid down the blue dragon''s wing.

    Many humans and dragons gathered inside, and though some members of the two species intermingled, each mostly kept to their own. The beady eyes of the humans and gem-like orbs of the dragons eyed each other distrustfully. The humans hunkered close to one another with their lips pressed to each other''s ears, whispering. This behavior made the humans appear especially malevolent, conspiring together, while the dragons sat upright and waited for their case to be called.

    The guards marched inside with Diwa, Fia, Viliant as well as the human whom Viliant had attacked. At their behest, the current crowd made room for them to sit along the far edge of the room.

    "Have either of you partaken in the petty disputes court before?" the blue guard asked.

    Diwa''s wings and tail were suspended in a rigid line in the air. "No," she said, shooting a glare down to Viliant.

    "Yeah¡ª" the human began to say, but he quickly changed his tune. "Remind me how the process works."

    "Since you are the complainant," the dragon said with narrowed eyes at the human, "you must first submit a fee for your case to be heard of five plated petals. This covers the cost of the scrolls and the orator."

    The human fished out a purse and dropped several, clinking coins into the dragon''s outstretched claws.

    The blue guard lowered his claw with the payment and lifted his other front claw which held three scrolls, each balanced between two of his talons. "Both of you will write a testimony on how the events today unfolded. I will also document what I''ve witnessed. The judge will discern if any losses were the fault of the accused, and if so, how best to restore the complainant to his original position."

    With his explanation finished, all three of them settled down to write. A small jar, which held an inky black liquid, was placed on the ground in front of them. Diwa and the guard dipped a singular claw into its contents. The human manipulated a feather in his hand. The tip of this feather and the point of the dragons'' claws scratched lightly over the unrolled, paper scrolls.

    Fia peered to watch Diwa write. What''re you doing? Her curiosity was piqued by the strange squiggles that the dragoness hurriedly smeared across the page.

    Hush. I''m busy talking to the guard. Diwa blocked the dragonets from her telepathic receptors so that she could focus on the link that she maintained with the guard.

    Viliant did not seem to have a good grasp of it either. It''s a way to record information. The humans would do this in the coliseum¡ªkeep ledgers on their profits.

    Fia nodded along even though she never saw her parents do anything like this on her island. If any arguments arose between dragons, they settled the dispute themselves. Fia could always cry to her parents, and any matter of large import, her family could elevate directly with the clan elders. The far larger population of Malakow clearly needed a formalized process despites its impersonalized nature.

    The blue dragon finished his record and rolled up the scroll, careful not to tear the paper with his claws. "Your case number today is fifty-six. Give your scrolls to the orator when you hear that number called." The guard placed his scroll in a designated bin and walked out with his companion.

    Fia''s eyes trailed after the two dragons, watching them go. At first, she expected them to come back, but she soon realized that the guards must be busy elsewhere in the city. Her head spun with the sheer number of dragons that she had seen so far today. She would probably never encounter those two dragons again, a stark change from the small community of her homeland.

    "Sorry, Fia," Diwa said with a wince. "We might be here a while."

    "What do you mean?"

    A draconic, feminine voice called with an authoritative tone. "We are now ready to hear the case numbered thirty-three." A small, violet dragoness jumped and flapped her wings to hover above the other humans and dragons. "Number thirty-three?" she called again, projecting her voice to reach different directions of the room.

    Two dragons jostled their way to the empty space in the front of the room. The purple dragoness collected a scroll from each of them to add to the third which she already held in her claws. She stood front and center between them. Across from her, at the head of the room, a dragon scribe sat at a low table. His aged, weary eyes glanced up once both dragons stood in front of him. A labored sigh left his snout. He stretched his wings and promptly resumed his slouch in a seated position.

    "Now presenting case number thirty-three: Akisik accuses Nashire of thievery." The dragoness told a story on the first dragon''s behalf how he had the product of a sizable hunt stolen from him. Next, she read a defense from the second dragon who revealed that he was a hunting partner who only wanted his fair share.

    Overhearing these accounts, Fia tilted her head. "Does that dragon know them?" Her nose lifted to the elder dragon who seemed to listen thoughtfully. "How does he know which one''s telling the truth?"

    Hush, child, Diwa cooed in her mind. Let''s not talk aloud during the trial.

    Oops. Sorry.

    We will enter a shared, telepathic space with the judge. Most dragons have a hard time lying through telepathy and controlling their emotions when they know they''re guilty.

    Fia nodded. Usually if she wanted to hide something from another dragon, she needed to suspend their telepathic connection altogether. Thus, this made any attempt to hide something as obvious as a whisper to keen ears. Fia doubted that she could mislead the dragon judge.

    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    It''s a good thing that we did nothing wrong, Viliant said. His nostrils flared with his snort while his eyes narrowed at the human that he had bitten.

    Diwa fluttered her eyes shut. Viliant, we wouldn''t be in this mess if you hadn''t done anything wrong. I''m not going to lecture you here, but after our trial, I''m going to have a word with you, young dragon. If Viliant''s shameless, relentless insistence on his innocence could help them avoid a harsher punishment, then Diwa would not ruin that for them. However, the dragonet might never learn if he did not face the consequences of his actions. In the eyes of the dragoness, Viliant could still benefit from the compassionate guidance of a parental figure before he must face the harsh discipline of the law.

    Although nearly two dozen cases had entered the queue before them, each one took only fifteen minutes at most. If a case proved to be too complex for the judge to decide on the spot, then he assigned them a date for a second hearing or elevated them to a higher court. Nevertheless, the sunlight began to age outside, streaming through the pillars of the court building, before Fia''s group was finally called.

    The purple dragoness announced, "We are now ready for case number fifty-six: Danilo accuses Viliant, represented by Diwa, of assault and attempted murder."

    Fia flinched as she heard the names of her friends announced. Her wings hung low as she dreaded the more grave charge than she had first anticipated, yet she could not whole-heartedly deny that had not been Viliant''s intent. The dragonette had watched her friend try to kill a human for less. Fia started to skulk after Diwa and Viliant to stand before the judge.

    While Viliant took his place at the center of the open floor unabashedly, Diwa paused. Her tail flicked to the side and barred Fia''s path, preventing the guilty conscious of the dragonette from bearing witness against them. "You don''t have to stand with us. Wait here."

    "Good luck!" With a sigh, Fia gratefully took a seat: a front row view for what was about to unfold.

    Diwa joined Viliant and nestled a wing around the reluctant dragonet. The two of them discontinued telepathy with Fia in favor of a connection that they must forge with the judge. The misty eyes of the dragon judge flitted upward. His ink-stained claw ceased its scratch across the page of an open book. With a long, slow blink, he gave the signal that they were ready to begin.

    "The word of the complainant," the orator announced and squinted to read the small handwriting of the human. "I was on my way to my magical practicum exam. When I ran past a group of dragons at a respectable distance, the black dragonet lashed out and chomped on my leg. He thrashed his head and nearly ripped my hip out of socket. This knocked me to the ground where the dragonet continued to attack me. His claws went for my face and would have surely killed me, but the green dragon stopped him. She pretended to heal my wounds on a surface level, but my leg still hurts and hinders my movement. Because of this incident, I was never able to make it to the magical practicum exam which has no opportunity for students to reschedule or retake."

    The dragoness allowed a silence to demarcate a transition to the next part of the human''s complaint. "Losses," she said, crisp and clear. "An injured leg. The cost of a professional healer. A damaged pair of pants. A missed attempt and failing grade on the magical practicum exam."

    Fia looked frantically between Diwa and Viliant. Too scared to speak up during the trial, she did not even reach out to them through telepathy, That''s not all our fault! Less certain, she asked the empty air around her, Is it?

    The purple dragoness switched scrolls and cleared her throat. "The word of the defendant." She then began to read the account that Diwa had written. "I keep my dragonets close by my side, especially Viliant whose broken wings are still in the process of mending. A human in a careless rush hit his wings and put him in immense pain. Viliant never would have nipped at anyone if they had not assaulted him first. We have already made a good-faith effort to rectify this incident."

    Lastly, the orator said, "The eye of the law." The dragoness presented the report that the dragon guards had left as evidence for their case. "As the two parties passed one another on a busy street, the human named Danilo brushed past the wings of the black dragonet named Viliant. In response, Viliant nipped at Danilo to make some space. This surprised Danilo who fell to the ground. By the time that we intervened, the dragonet''s guardian, a green dragoness named Diwa, had already healed Danilo''s leg and soothed Viliant''s pain. The complainant wished to pursue repayment for his damages anyway."

    The silent judge listened throughout the orator''s presentation of the three testimonies. His eyes fell closed, appearing to mull over the details of the case. If he made any inquiries, he levied them directly to the minds of the orator or the defendants. The reports from Diwa and the guard had the strongest similarity, thanks to their telepathy earlier.

    "The weight of the scale," the judge announced with a hefty sigh, "tilts slightly in favor of Danilo. It appears that the complainant still has some losses withstanding. I shall write an order for his university professor to allow a retake of the exam."

    Already, Danilo''s face broke into a smile. He ducked his head out of relief and rubbed his palms over his face.

    "And," the judge said, "as I can see the rips in his pants, he will be awarded a sum for those damages. I order Diwa to pay three plated petals, the value of one square foot of cloth. That is my verdict."

    "That concludes case number fifty-six," the orator said. "This case is not eligible for appeals. Next¡­."

    Viliant walked out of the courthouse with his head held high and filled with a sense of vindication. Diwa whipped his shoulder with the tip of her tail, reprimanding him physically when she must not have succeeded mentally.

    Fia joined them on the way out. A sense of relief surged through her that nothing worse had happened. They could finally leave the courthouse which had taken the better half of a day, but she was still concerned over both the lost time and funds. "How much is a plated petal? Do we have three of them? Will I still be able to go home?"

    Diwa chuckled. "Yes, we can still afford to send you home. Don''t you worry." The dragoness now seemed in higher spirits now that the last sun rays could grace her scales, unbarred by the pillared walls.

    The human Danilo, whose name they had learned in the court case, limped after them. He met them on the courthouse steps. With eyes lowered, he requested, "I''d like to receive the three petals now, if you don''t mind."

    "Yes, I can do that." Diwa rummaged through her satchel and retrieved a coin purse. She dropped a few silver coins into the human''s outstretched hand from a height that her claws would not nick him. Diwa put her foreleg back down and leaned closer to examine him. "Does your leg really hurt, still?" Diwa asked, her eyes pinched from both frustration and annoyance. "My magic hasn''t been the same as it used to be¡­. My ley lines have been overworked for too long. I can heal your leg again if you truly need it, but if it was just an act, I would appreciate it if you''d drop it now."

    Danilo waved his hand, refusing the care, in a silent admission. He hurriedly ran down the steps. The man disappeared into a city filled with other humans and a few dragons on the streets.

    If I ever see that guy again¡ª Viliant snapped back into Fia''s headspace ¡ªI''m going to tear that liar''s throat out.

    Some smoke huffed from Fia''s nostrils. However, neither Fia nor Viliant would ever see him again. Even if they happened to cross paths with the same human, they would never recognize him in the crowded city. The humans all looked the same, aside from their colorful feathers which could be changed at will unlike dragon scales.

    We''ve had a long day, Diwa said, also rejoining the telepathic space with the dragonets. Let''s go home. We''re spending the night at my parents'' house! In a chipper mood, Diwa took the steps in a single bound and waited for the dragonets.

 Chapter 76: Family Reunion

    Fia and Viliant raced down the stairs of the courthouse to join Diwa. The dragoness had invited them over to her parents'' home, giving them a hospitable place to stay in the big city without spending their limited funds on an inn. The prospect of seeing her parents again evidently excited Diwa whose stress left her tail after the court hearing.

    I can only imagine¡­. Fia thought wistfully, dreaming about how thrilled she would be to run inside her parents'' hut. As badly as she missed her parents, the pang in her chest felt more bearable now that she anticipated seeing them soon.

    Most dragons in the capital flew from place to place, but Diwa walked with the dragonets. They ascended a sizable stairwell that wrapped around a tall building. In its middle, Diwa stopped at the front of a humble cottage. "One thing," Diwa said, pausing with her claws ready to rap against the door. "My parents can be¡­ a little overbearing at times, so please bear with me." The dragoness finished her knock.

    The door opened, and a dragon with dark green scales and curved horns stuck his head out. His unsuspecting eyes lit up as soon as he recognized who had come to his doorstep. "Diwa!" he cried out joyfully. "Come in! Come in. How have you been?"

    "Today''s been a long day," Diwa sighed, relaying her speech through telepathy with the dragonets. "This whole week has been a rough one, but other than that, I''ve been doing well." She forced her slumped wings and tail to lift into a smile with her eyes closed. "I couldn''t be happier!" Some of the tension in her muscles relaxed as she crossed the threshold into her childhood home.

    "It''s good to hear that¡­ and see that," her father said. The older dragon''s attention flicked down to Fia and Viliant before returning his focus to Diwa. "Your mother and I were overcome with worry when you didn''t make your usual trip home this year." Louder, the dragon called, "Liwaya?"

    When he got no response, he stood on his hind legs to bump the blunt edge of his horns against the ceiling. Instead of shouting, he demanded more insistently that she acknowledge the telepathic invitation. Liwaya!

    What is it, Gio?

    "Diwa''s home!" Diwa''s father, Gio, could hardly resist proclaiming this out loud.

    Above them, the patter of claws responded against the creaky, wooden ceiling. A second adult dragon raced to reach a hatch. The smaller horns of yet another green dragoness appeared as she poked her head out. "Diwa!" A dragon''s house had no need for stairs indoors. The motherly dragoness, Liwaya, jumped down to the main floor and seamlessly joined the shared telepathic space. "I missed you so much!" Liwaya curled her neck against her daughter''s in a dragon''s compassionate greeting. When she pulled away, she gushed, "Normally you come home during every full bloom festival. Why didn''t you come this year? Did that Rokirith¡ª" she huffed, but Gio cut her off.

    "Ahem. We have company."

    Liwaya''s eyes flitted to the open space around the adult dragons'' wings. Her nose tilted downward to finally acknowledge the dragonets. "Oh! Oh¡­. You''ve brought dragonets with you. They''re so old. I only wish you would''ve brought them here sooner." Diwa''s mother took a half step closer to them, one clawed foot partially raised. "What are their names?"

    At this point, Fia had been the only one to follow Diwa inside. Viliant still hovered by the open doorway, so she replied on behalf of them both. "I''m Fia! And this is Viliant. Sorry. He''s a bit shy." She passed an expecting glance back to him.

    No, I''m not, he retorted, even as he kept their telepathy exclusive between him and her.

    "It''s okay, Viliant," Diwa said gently. "You can come inside."

    Once the black dragonet had received a personal invitation, he cautiously stepped into the new dragons'' house. Diwa pulled the door shut behind him with her tail.

    "Aw," Liwaya said as she got a closer look at Viliant. "He has your eyes!"

    "And Rokirith''s scales¡­." Diwa''s father muttered. Gio focused on Fia, next. "But the pink dragonette looks nothing like either of you."

    As though she had just noticed this, Diwa''s mother gasped. "Who''s the father, Diwa?"

    A coy smile entered Diwa''s tail with a flick. "I don''t know."

    "Diwa¡­" her father said with a stern growl, trailing off with an edge of disappointment.

    "Oh my!" Liwaya drew in a harsher gasp this time. "I''m sorry we ever gave you such a hard time about your friend, Rokirith." A dark glower passed through Liwaya''s eyes as a new possibility seemed to cross her mind. "Unless has he left?"

    "Mom! Dad! It was a joke," Diwa cried, doubling her long neck over in laughter. "These dragonets aren''t mine! I don''t know either of their parents."

    Fia shared a quick, perplexed look with Viliant. Though it was not enough to make the orphaned dragonet no longer miss his lack of parents, he felt even more envious if this was one of the greater sources of strife in Diwa''s life as a child. Lowering his head, Viliant''s hooded eyelids gazed at Fia. Her parents most likely coddled her in a similar way. He could finally see for himself how she could afford to be so naive when they had first met.

    The three adult dragons calmed down, but Gio and Liwaya still shot some dissatisfied looks in the direction of their daughter.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    "Well, Diwa, we weren''t expecting you to come today, so we don''t have that much extra food." Gio headed toward the door and announced, "I''ll make a quick stop at the butcher''s shop."

    "Your bedroom is always here for whenever you''re ready to come back home," Liwaya said with a drastic curve to her smiling tail. "I''ll prepare some extra beds for the dragonets."

    "Thanks, Mom. I won''t be staying very long though¡ª"

    "Nonsense! You and your friends are welcome to stay here as long as you need."

    "We won''t¡ª"

    Liwaya refused to listen to this, blocking Diwa from her telepathic receptors. The older dragoness bounced up to the second story where she expected the others to follow.

    "My mother never takes ''no'' for an answer," Diwa said with a roll of her eyes. "But don''t worry." The dragoness reassured Fia and Viliant with a bump of her wings. "First thing tomorrow morning, we''ll sell our stock and head to the docks to send you off, Fia. Sorry again about my parents." Despite being in the presence of two children, Diwa ruffled her wings in abashment from her own juvenile treatment. "They''re even worse when we don''t have company around, so thanks for that."

    ***

    The second round of Diwa versus her parents happened over dinner. Even though Fia had offered to cook for them, Diwa politely declined on behalf of her parents. "No thanks, Fia. I don''t think it would be a good idea to start a fire indoors."

    Gio angled his eyes toward Fia in great interest. "Are you a red fire dragon?"

    "Yes," the pink dragonette whistled. "Everyone acts like that''s a big deal. What''s so special about red fire?"

    "You must''ve come a long way to Malakow," Liwaya said with sweet consideration. "The only true fire dragons live south across the ocean. It''s very rare that one comes this far north."

    Diwa nodded. "We''ve already raised the money to send Fia home."

    "By that," Gio asked, "I''m assuming you mean that Rokirith helped?" His voice was laden heavy with skepticism.

    "No," Viliant spat. The dragonet had not picked up the vocal language as fast as Fia, so he ended up resorting to telepathy for even a simple sentence. Fia and I worked hard¡ª

    Diwa cut him off easily, in part thanks to the way that she could sing Rokirith praises in the otherwise quiet room. "Rokirith found them in the badlands. He flew them over the mountains a couple times while we gathered ingredients to sell."

    "So, you are hanging around that old, war-torn dragon," Liwaya said stiffly. The older dragoness sniffed for good measure, exacerbating her judgmental attitude.

    "If you want to settle down, a dragon like that is not the one to be with," Gio commented.

    "Actually," Diwa said darkly, "Roki couldn''t come today because he had to stay home with the egg."

    In unison, both of her parents gasped, "Egg?" While Diwa''s mother seemed beside herself, Diwa''s father leveled critically, "And where did this egg come from?"

    A sly look passed through the vulpine slant of the dragoness''s eyes. "We found it," Diwa replied.

    "You found it." Gio repeated his daughter''s simple statement, returning to an unamused growl.

    "Yep. That''s right." With a more serious attitude, Diwa launched into a story recounting the encounter with the Dragon Slayer''s army in the badlands. She especially emphasized Rokirith''s role as the hero. "Rokirith charged into the heart of the army and saved the egg, all by himself!"

    Fia could confirm that Rokirith''s blackfire had blazed as bright as Diwa claimed. Even Viliant could not deny Rokirith''s achievement.

    Gio and Liwaya stared for a while. At last, some rapid blinks fell over their eyes. Where words failed them, their thoughts communicated their awe. We''re so glad that you''ve come home safe! Rokirith is reckless, always putting you in danger. You should have nothing to do with a dragon like that¡ªor some other dragons'' egg.

    Diwa shook her head back and forth. No matter what she said about Rokirith, her parents never seemed inclined to accept him.

    Though Viliant had no bone to pick in this fight, he respected the authority of Diwa''s parents when it came to Rokirith. Like Viliant, Fia was too young to follow the conversation in full. Unlike him, she developed no opinion.

    Diwa declared the final word on the matter. "Right after I send Fia off, I''ll be going back to my treehouse. You can expect me to visit again once the egg hatches." Though this would not stop her parents from talking to her out loud, she severed the telepathic link to signal the end of this conversation.

    No longer able to express their doting, parental concern for their daughter over telepathy, Gio and Liwaya postponed the conversation for now.

    With a renewed smile forced into her tail, Diwa turned her attention to the dragonets who had been ignored for most of dinner. "Are you done eating, Fia and Viliant?"

    The meat was gone from the spot in front of them, leaving them with no other answer. "Yes. I''m full," Fia said. Her blue eyes flitted to Gio and Liwaya so that she could resound a cheerful, "Thank you!"

    "I want more," Viliant said, eyeing the remainder of the carcass that Gio had brought in.

    "You won''t make yourself sick if you eat more, will you?" Diwa posed.

    The grumbling Viliant refused to admit it, but he relented on his desire for more meat.

    "I''ll tuck you in first, Fia." Diwa got up and prompted the dragonette to follow. Diwa''s parents did not have a spare room in their house aside from the bedroom dedicated to their daughter. Earlier, Liwaya had laid out a nest of pillows and blankets for Fia to share in Diwa''s room.

    Here, Fia curled up and received a hug from green wings. "We''ll sell the herbs and arrange your passage tomorrow," Dia reassured her once again.

    "And Viliant?" A droopy expression affected the tips of Fia''s wings, fearing that the adult dragoness would try to steal her best friend again.

    Diwa released Fia from their prolonged hug, and the tops of her wings went flat. "I''ll try to negotiate the best price possible. However, I don''t anticipate having enough money for both your fares. You will have to travel in a lower class with him. Also, I''m concerned after Viliant''s outburst today. He might cause you more trouble than anything else on your journey."

    Fia hung her head. When she thought back to the trial earlier today, it still made her tremble. The tact to navigate civilized society was an entirely different skill set than Viliant''s, which had helped them survive in the wilderness. "I still want him to come with me."

    Diwa gave a shallow nod with narrow eyes.

    So long as the dragonets stuck to their own kind and avoided humans, Fia figured that they would manage well enough.

 Chapter 77: Same Page

    After dinner, Liwaya sprung up and gestured for Viliant to come hither. In a corner of the main room, she had prepared another bed for him. "Fia is sharing Diwa''s room," their dedicated host explained. "You don''t mind staying out here, do you, Viliant?"

    The dragonet found his voice to speak aloud with a rumble in his throat. "This is fine. Thanks." Viliant stared down at the plush pillows that would make an even more comfortable bed than the one at Diwa''s treehouse. Liwaya left him to get comfortable and headed to her own quarters with her mate, Gio.

    Just when Viliant had finished trodding three circles around the bedding and lay down, a desperate voice chimed into his head. Diwa''s coming by you! Fia relayed this fact like an urgent warning.

    Viliant chuckled to himself and settled his chin over his claws. I''ll pretend I''m already asleep. Don''t want to hear her badger me.

    More frantic, Fia said, She''s going to try to convince you to stay behind, again!

    Viliant scoffed, Not gonna happen. However, this gave him half the mind to stay up for Diwa¡ªnot because he would ever consider her offer. He wanted to rebuke Diwa for unsettling Fia yet again. His spiteful eyes were still open by the time that Diwa came down. When the dragoness spoke, she did not open her mouth so that she would not risk waking the others. This suited Viliant just fine.

    I''m glad you''re still awake, Diwa projected to him. We need to talk about your behavior today.

    Viliant clenched his fangs. Before he must suffer Diwa''s defense of the human, he tried to demonstrate that he had already learned his lesson. Malakow has laws. I might not like them, but I''ll follow them from now on. Viliant sighed reluctantly, but he masked no lie over telepathy. That human was more trouble than he was worth.

    Diwa''s eyes pinched at him, but this seemed to satisfy her for now. Are you going to be able to control yourself around humans from now on?

    I''ll avoid them, Viliant said with a shrug of his wings. Most of ''em seem to know their place and stay away from dragons anyway.

    Even if you''re forced to be around them?

    I can endure more than you know. The hooded eyelids of Viliant blinked a few times.

    Diwa''s head swayed back and forth, as though deliberating what to say. If you go with Fia, you''ll be trapped with humans on a boat.

    What? Viliant vocalized a roar to express his discontent. This might have been the exact reaction that Diwa wanted to elicit, but Viliant did not care. The final decision would be Fia''s alone. No, he thought, retracting himself from Diwa''s thoughts. Even if Fia told him to stay behind, he could stow away on the ship and follow her.

    In fact, you''ll have to take orders from humans, Diwa pressed on. The only way that we can get two dragonets on board for the price of one is if you both work your share. Can you handle that?

    Viliant growled, thinking that paying for Fia''s full fare and him stowing away might be their best option. However, he did not want to cause needless trouble for Fia. I can handle it.

    Alright¡­. Diwa agreed, her mind fraught with uncertainty. If you think better of it, you''re always welcome to stay here¡ª

    Viliant attempted to jam the connection that he had with Diwa, but his weaker telepathic signal could not overpower her receptor. He got up from his comfortable bed and lunged to butt his head into her temple.

    The first, telepathic assault warned Diwa as to his next move. She jumped up and reared onto her hind legs. Knock it off! Do you want to sleep on the steps outside?

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    No. I just want to sleep, so leave me alone!

    Diwa huffed and retreated to her room with Fia. Her tail, thrashing in agitation, was the last part of her to disappear up the hole which led to the second floor. Good night, Viliant.

    The dragonet trimmed his connection to Diwa and searched for his best friend instead. Fia? You there?

    Hi, Viliant! The state of Fia''s wide-awake mind was bereft with greater anxiety than he had left her. I heard noise.

    I told Diwa off. I said I''d do as much.

    A discontent worry still pervaded Fia''s mind. Even if Viliant no longer had any intention to stay on his own volition, she was not certain if Diwa would construct an artificial barrier to keep him from accompanying her. The adult dragoness had made it possible for them to get this far, this easily, so Fia desperately did not want to lose trust in her.

    For now, Fia and Viliant had nothing else to say to one another. The dragonets let each other''s presence linger in their minds. Viliant''s thoughts had never been so clear. Even if this journey with Fia might put him back in harm''s way, he could not imagine living without her. Viliant had already decided to risk his life to save her once, and he would choose to do that all over again.

    The sweet dragonette expressed some concern for him. Are you okay down there, all by yourself?

    This suits me just fine. I prefer staying close to the door anyway.

    If you say so. Goodnight, Viliant!

    Night, Fia.

    The dragonets slept as soundly as they could in the comfortable beds.

    ***

    Early that morning, Diwa''s parents crowded around their guests at the door. Fia had been outfitted in an old, leather satchel that Diwa had used in her youth. In addition to this, Gio and Liwaya had packed some salted cubes of meat for her.

    "You''re coming back here once you drop the dragonets off at the docks?" Liwaya asked Diwa for confirmation.

    "Yes, I will. See you soon, Mom and Dad."

    "Stay safe," Gio advised. "Today''s a tournament day."

    "Goodbye! Thank you!" Fia waved a wing cheerfully and hopped down the stairs after Diwa. Her spirits stayed high as she looked forward to seeing her own parents soon.

    What tournament was your father talking about? Viliant asked Diwa. His attention was directed up to her as they were heading down the tall building.

    "There''s a magical combat tournament that''s regularly hosted in the capital," Diwa explained. "It makes both humans and dragons a bit rowdier than usual, so I''ll make sure we stay away from the main event."

    A watery flash passed over Fia''s eyes. The last fighting event that she had experienced was the coliseum in Syene. "Is there an arena here too?"

    "Yes, but not like that!" Diwa exclaimed. She could guess exactly what Fia had thought of, feeling the vein of terror pulsate through her mind. "The tournament in Malakow is wholly voluntary. No one can force anyone else to enter."

    Why? Viliant questioned.

    "Yeah!" Fia barked. "Why would anyone do that?"

    "There''s prize money involved¡ª"

    "We have to enter!" Fia shouted. "We need to win first place!"

    Do both dragons and humans enter? Viliant asked.

    "Well, yes," Diwa replied to Viliant''s question with a trepid, sidelong glance.

    We should definitely enter. I want a legal way to attack the humans here.  It was a good thing that the dragonet only spoke over telepathy, or else he would have declared his disdain for humans as he passed them on the street. Their nearness caused a shudder to run down Viliant''s spine down to the tip of his tail which flicked back and forth.

    "Absolutely not!" Diwa said. In the privacy of their minds, she scolded, You shouldn''t attack humans for fun. A hum filled her throat. "Besides, we don''t have time for that."

    Fair enough, Viliant relented.

    "But we do need more money," Fia said. Although she did not know how much they had nor how much they would need, she tried to rationalize, "Getting money right now will save us more time later."

    "Let''s sell the herbs and lizard tails first," Diwa suggested gently. "We''ll see how much we can get for them. A childhood friend of mine has a good eye for these things." The dragoness approached a shop on the street level. Her claws slid into a latch that let her pull open the door which was sized for dragons. The three dragons stepped into a room which smelled of dried flowers and mushrooms.

 Chapter 78: Herbs for Sale

    Fia''s pert nostrils huffed from a tickling sensation when she entered the alchemist''s shop. The slitted pupils of her watering eyes expanded to let in more of the dim light. "Achoo!" she sneezed. Her throat burned from holding back her fire. She did not want to get thrown out as soon as they got here; Diwa always told her not to start fires indoors.

    After adjusting to the sight and scents, the pink dragonette could finally take in the oddities of the exotic store. Bundles of flowers hung upside down from the ceiling like chandeliers. An aisle of tropical, potted plants made Fia''s mouth part out of interest. "Ooh." Instead of a blossom, the flower''s head opened into a red mouth. Some thorny, green fangs lined the outside. She had the impulse to poke one claw into the plant''s maw, but Fia was aware of a watchful dragon''s presence. Near the door, a multicolored dragon stood behind the counter.

    She glanced up to their guide with hopeful eyes. Although Diwa seemed too nice to make a fierce haggler, the dragoness had another way to garner higher prices.

    "Hello, Klipip!" Diwa greeted the shop owner on friendly terms. "I''m back from the jungle. How''s business been doing?"

    "Swell! Swell," said the jolly dragon, Klipip. His clubbed tail paused work where he was pulverizing some natural material into a powder at the center of a large, stone bowl. Klipip reclined and lifted his chin in an attempt to make the display of his colorful scales look effortless.

    Although his body had a similar coloration of green and blue as the typical dragons seen in Malakow, those two colors were intermixed at the same time. Whenever Fia thought that she had determined the color of an individual scale, he would shift his weight slightly. The green scales turned blue, and the blue scales turned green. All his scales would change again within her next few blinks. This was the first time that Fia had seen a dragon with iridescent scales. The crest along his throat shone a vibrant orange before descending to a rich yellow along his belly.

    The golden eyes of the dragon seemed to light up when they fell upon Diwa. Klipip said, "Your scales look as shiny as ever, Diwa."

    "Thanks." Diwa accepted his compliment without enthusiasm, especially as the dragon''s garish scales made her look plain by comparison. If Klipip made any move to enter a telepathic space with her, Diwa politely declined. The dragoness hastily spoke of business. "I''ve brought you more supplies."

    "That''s great! The ingredients that I buy from you always get used up quickly." Klipip cleared an open spot on the counter for Diwa to lay out her offerings. While she got them out, he casually conversed with her. "Are you still living like a hermit in the middle of nowhere, all by yourself?"

    "I''m not alone." Diwa''s claws lingered over the ghast gecko tails that they had procured with Rokirith in the badlands. "Rokirith is never too far away."

    "I was wondering if you''re still tolerating that self-proclaimed sage. He''s a pompous mule," Klipip huffed, "And he still owes me money!"

    Fia and Viliant shared a puzzled look with each other. The former dragonette''s eyes drew wide. That dragon isn''t going to try to take all our hard-earned money, is he? Fia asked.

    I wouldn''t trust him, said Viliant, the dragonet who would not trust anybody. Or Diwa, for that matter. Watch closely. Let''s get ready to act, just in case.

    Fia braced her legs. Crouching low, she readied herself to dart in and snatch the herbs. She would pack as many into her mouth as possible and run away to sell them someplace else.

    "Well¡­." Diwa replied to Klipip''s claim of debt. "That sounds like something between you and Rokirith. You can settle that score yourself."

    "I would if I could," Klipip said with a sad shake of his head. "I was told it wasn''t worth the hassle. The guards wouldn''t even try to detain that brute! You shouldn''t hang around a dragon like that."

    "You should try talking to Rokirith again. I know you two had a spat before, but he''s gotten a lot better recently," Diwa said with her wide, innocent eyes aflutter with many blinks.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    "Ha!" Klipip sneered. "I''d sooner accept work as a human''s chariot than suffer being around him. I doubt he''d ever change that much."

    "You should see! We adopted an egg together recently."

    The club of Klipip''s tail, previously elevated in a good mood, turned in shock. Thunk. The blunt bobble landed against the wooden floor of his shop. "Ah, well, congratulations!" Klipip looked down at his tail which had betrayed his lack of enthusiasm. He lifted it back into a smile and continued to assess the goods laid before him. Klipip quietly did his job with no further small talk with Diwa.

    The dragon hovered his chin close to the countertop. He flicked out his tongue to get a better sense of quality than his sniffing nostrils could provide. "Some of these herbs aren''t as fresh as I''d like. The most I can give you is¡­."

    Diwa and Klipip snapped some prices back and forth at each other. After one raise, Klipip was unwilling to go any higher. "Sorry, Diwa. I can''t pay any more than that. You know you won''t be able to find a better buyer around here."

    "You used to give me a better price."

    "I''m running a business here," Klipip deflected.

    "Um, mister?" Fia bounced so that her head could pop over the countertop.

    Klipip leaned over the counter to get a better look at her. The center of his slitted pupils dilated. "Hello, cute dragonette!" he cooed. "What''s your name?"

    "I''m Fia!" When she respectfully requested to talk to him over telepathy, he accepted. Just in case I mess up my words, she explained and took a deep breath. The dragonette launched into her most eloquent Malakow. "Diwa was helping me negotiate. These are actually my herbs. I''d like to sell them for¡­." Fia named the last price that she had overheard Diwa try.

    Although Klipip had promptly rejected it from the adult dragoness, he now swished his tail back and forth. The dragon''s mind seemed to stall. He did not like the offer, but he could not bring himself to reject it outright. "I have a soft spot for children. Even the human ones are so ugly, they''re kind of cute."

    "Huh?" Fia did not hide her confusion from Klipip. The dragons of Malakow had entirely different attitudes toward their humans than she had learned from her experience with Syene. "If you do pay us extra," she begged, "we''ll use it very well! I need to go home to my parents across the ocean. The human kingdom declared war on us."

    A series of rapid blinks fell over Klipip''s eyes. "That''s¡­ terrible! I don''t even know what to say." Klipip thrashed his head to shake away his astonishment. "I had half the mind to let an adorable dragonette like you swindle me anyway. Here." Klipip counted an assortment of gold and silver coins. He left them on the counter for Diwa to double check the amount while he busied himself with storing the leaves and tails. "It always amazes me how you stop at no length to help others," he murmured as Diwa approached the counter once more.

    "Thanks for helping them too!" Diwa focused all her attention on the dragonets. Her claws pointed to the coins and slid them to one side. "This is how you count money. Pay close attention, Viliant." The dragoness could tell by Fia''s intense interest that she would learn as rapidly as she had picked up the language. Viliant seemed equally ambivalent. "You should know this if you''re going to work your way to travel alongside Fia."

    Viliant forced himself to pay attention and memorized the value of plated petals and gilded blossoms. Once the total value was confirmed, Diwa put them in her satchel save for one gilded blossom. Pinched between two claws, Diwa held up the golden coin etched with the design of a lotus. "Put this in your satchel and keep it safe. You''ll have to get used to carrying a few coins on you."

    Fia nodded enthusiastically. The dragonette squirmed to open a smaller pocket in the satchel at her shoulder to welcome the coin. Plunk. Once she closed the flap, Fia straightened her flexible neck with pride. "Thank you!" she cheered.

    "Thanks again, Klipip!" Diwa called on the way out.

    "Goodbye! Till next time, Diwa."

    Outside the store, Fia clarified their progress with Diwa. "Did I do a good job? Do we have more than you thought?"

    "We have about as much as I was expecting," Diwa admitted with a sigh. "But yes, Fia, you did a very good job. We would have even less if you didn''t talk to Klipip so nicely."

    Her tail curled into a triumphant smile. "Now it''s time for the tournament!" she roared, ready for another victory.

 Chapter 79: Argument

    "No!" Diwa snapped. "No one is entering any tournament, especially not after what you two have been through."

    Fia and Viliant shared a knowing glance. We have to get in, even if Diwa won''t let us. Her gleaming eyes, full of expectation, looked up to Viliant and hoped that he had a bright idea. The dragonets argued against Diwa''s better judgment as they strolled down the street.

    Viliant tried to convince her first. How bad can this tournament be? he asked with a sneer. They don''t fight to the death, do they?

    "Of course not."

    Then it''s perfectly safe, Viliant said. Fia and I used to fight for our life every week.

    "That''s exactly the problem!" Diwa exclaimed with a gasp. "Neither of you should ever have to fight like that again. I don''t want you to do anything even remotely related to it."

    Your concern is unfounded, Viliant dismissed. We already have the skills. Don''t let our suffering go in vain.

    "Yeah!" Fia agreed. "We were forced to fight for the humans, but now we can fight for ourselves."

    You said it yourself, Diwa, Viliant continued, this tournament has rules. We won''t get hurt.

    "Yeah! We''ll be careful," chimed in Fia.

    Diwa muttered her skepticism under her breath, sparing Viliant of the telepathic translation. "I''d be more worried about you accidentally¡ªor intentionally¡ªkilling someone."

    Viliant''s eyes flitted between Diwa and Fia. He could only assume that the adult had expressed some concern for the innocent dragonette. Fia can stay with you the whole time.

    "Yeah¡ªHey!"

    Ignoring her, Viliant insisted, Just let me fight. I''ll sweep the tournament and collect the winnings. Then we''ll be on our way.

    "Sorry, Viliant," Diwa said. "It''s a magic-only competition. Your ley lines aren''t ready for that level of exertion yet."

    "Me! Me! I can do it then." Fia jumped up and down and swung herself around to get in Viliant''s face. "I''ll fight for you. My magic is fully awakened."

    "No. That''s my final answer." Diwa repeated emphatically.

    Then we part ways here, Viliant concluded.

    "How do you suppose you''ll find a ship then?"

    We''ll manage. Thanks for everything, Diwa, Viliant said on a last, amicable note. Now hand over the money.

    This conversation had devolved too much for Diwa to talk out loud with a semblance of normalcy to any passersby who might overhear. She relied on telepathy to express herself alongside a cock of her head. How come I feel like you''re trying to mug me?

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Probably because I will if you don''t give us what''s rightfully ours. That line should have been a grim joke in poor taste, but intoned with the edge of a growl from Viliant, he might really mean it.

    Diwa growled more fiercely in reply. Her deeper chest as an adult allowed her to produce a lower sound. Remember that Malakow has laws. A threat like that can be considered a crime too, you know. Some moments passed as the two dragons'' emerald eyes glared at each other without a blink.

    Fia swiveled her head between Diwa and Viliant, unsure what she should do to resolve the tension. Nothing, she realized with a sly kink entering her tail. While it would be better if Diwa supported the dragonets'' desires, this disagreement worked well enough in their favor. Fia slipped away from Diwa and Viliant, and her telepathy receded into the privacy of her own mind. I''m going to enter that tournament, all by myself! The dragonette skipped off with a determined flick of her tail.

    Neither Diwa nor Viliant noticed her leave. Their intense stares were focused solely on each other. The black dragonet relented first, reverting back to a more civil mode of persuasion. You''ve made it a point over and over again; we only have enough money to send Fia back. If I''m gonna work my share, then let me do things my way. A livid light flashed through Viliant''s eyes. Unless are you still trying to coerce me to stay here with you? Be honest with yourself, Viliant sneered, you wouldn''t want to put up with me anyway.

    "Is that why you''ve been so feisty lately?" Diwa huffed. The ring of her laughter helped break the tension. "While you do like to be a thorn under my scales sometimes, I''ll miss you dearly." The dragoness took the stuffed coin purse out of her satchel and relinquished it to Viliant''s safekeeping. "I''ll give you the money, but you are still going to need me to help you find a ship. You might be able to cover the tournament''s entry fee, but you still can''t compete because it requires parental permission. I won''t do that for either of you."

    You never mentioned a fee. This made Viliant briefly reassess if the investment into the tournament would be worth the risk to their time and funds. He weighed the hefty bag of gold and silver coins in his claw. Viliant had no doubt that he could win enough fights¡ªeven magical ones¡ªto make it worthwhile. I bet I could pass for an adult, Viliant observed as he did not look too much smaller than some of the mature, female dragons of the jungle.

    "No, you won''t," Diwa replied. "Especially because you refuse to talk outside of telepathy."

    "I can talk." Viliant spoke aloud and rolled his eyes to the corners. Out of his discomfort, he looked down at the grainy, wooden planks below his claws. "Fia''s just more good at it."

    "Fia''s better at it," Diwa repeated, although she understood his meaning perfectly thanks to their telepathy. "Speaking of Fia, where is she?" The dragoness tossed her head either which way, scanning the crowd of humans and dragons. A fearful note hung in her mind as she expanded her signal out of concern. If the dragonette could sense her searching telepathy, Fia did not accept it. "Oh no."

    A twist of smugness contorted Viliant''s tail at his friend''s bold move. Fia? She was still in range and entertained a response from him.

    Good job, Viliant. Keep Diwa distracted for me! I''m going to enter that tournament.

    Diwa said it will require an entry fee and adult approval. Find out how much it costs first, then tip a random stranger to get you in. Preferably a dragon that looks more like you than not¡­. Viliant trailed off as he needed to pay attention to Diwa. He scampered after her, almost left behind as the dragoness took to her wings.

    "Come on, Viliant," Diwa ushered from her low glide. "Can you help me find Fia? It''s not safe for her to wander around the city by herself!" When they crossed the next street, Diwa pounded her wings to hover higher. She surveyed both ways before snaking through the air. The bright, pink dragonette should stand out compared to the common blue and green dragons, so Diwa hastened her frantic search. She was beside herself, needing to find Fia before something bad happened to her.

 Chapter 80: Tantrum

    Viliant dashed after the dragoness. Both humans and dragons gathered in greater numbers as they approached the focal point of the city''s festivities for the day. While Diwa flew overhead, he zigzagged through the thickening crowd of people on the ground. It became harder for him to run around the humans in a wide berth. Their legs formed a wall of sticks in constant flux with their steps. Sometimes his claws scraped to a stop so that he could wait to slip between them. Viliant soon lost sight of Diwa amid the flock of dragons in the sky.

    More dragons also took up space on the ground. Viliant noticed a greater variety in species than elsewhere in Malakow''s capital. Some vast dragons like Rokirith dwarfed the native jungle ones, except these had brilliant scales of white or light blue. Other long, skinny dragons had vibrant scales of yellow and amber. A lone, red dragon had deep blue eyes, intense as the ocean which they were headed. There''s lots of different dragons in Malakow, Viliant observed.

    Once he passed them, he could finally see what everyone had gathered around. The wooden piers ended and revealed an open area of the lake. Two wide-set pillars rose from the glimmering pool. Atop each column rested a circular platform. There, the competitors faced off against each other. A juvenile human female braced her feet on one side while a green-striped dragonet perched his claws on the other. A mixture of shouts, both human and dragon alike, cheered the contestants on. At the resounding boom of a gong, they both cast spells.

    The human flung her hands out in front of her. The water below her responded to her command, solidifying into spikes of ice. Those spears broke apart and flung at the dragonet who flapped his wings. He easily dodged above the magical attack. Once the ice shards sailed past him, he let his curled tail droop in a lazy way.

    The dragonet, who looked smaller and younger than Viliant, oscillated back and forth with each flap of his wings. His tail seemed too long for his body. The oversized, three-pronged barb at the tip appeared to weigh him down. There, the dragonet created a manifestation of his element. A stinger detached from his barbs. With a thrust of his tail like a scorpion strike, the barbs shot toward his opponent.

    The human girl leaped to one side of her pillar. The projectile from the dragonet zipped past her just as she had missed him. Not wanting to take up too much space, she waved her hands in small circles at her hips to keep her balance.

    Viliant could not help but roll his eyes at the lackluster performance from both sides. The ferocity and accuracy of Fia''s fireballs could easily send either of them into the water to cool their burns.

    The audience must share his assessment as the dragons chortled and humans laughed.

    I wonder if Fia''s managed to enter the tournament yet? Viliant wondered. He did not bother to look around for her, instead dedicating his attention to the air. Quickly, he spotted Diwa flitting to and fro.

    Viliant! Fia cried over telepathy in what would have been a whiny shriek. I can see Diwa! She''s gonna find me.

    Where are you?

    Hiding.

    Viliant closed his eyes out of frustration. How am I supposed to keep Diwa away from you if I don''t even know where you are?

    Just keep her busy, focused on you. Pretend like seeing the fight brings back bad memories, Fia suggested.

    This idea would let Viliant play into Diwa''s preconception that the coliseum had traumatized him. The only problem was that the stolid dragonet had no clue how to fake an emotional outburst of that magnitude. And how do I do that?

    Just act like yourself.

    A few blinks fell over his eyes, stunned that Fia would suggest such a thing. While Viliant could definitely pounce the nearest human, he doubted that the judge would go so easy on a repeat offense. Instead, the dragonet lay down where he stood.

    Tendrils of shadow began to swirl around Viliant. He formed a ball around himself, closing his eyes to block out the confused and alarmed reactions around him. This is so embarrassing, Viliant thought, piling his shame alongside the usual negative emotions that he associated with his element. The darkness ripped and shredded around him, becoming more chaotic as he let his power swell.

    A high-pitched yelp of a human sounded over the abrupt wingbeats of some dragons.

    "Viliant!" Diwa called. She shouted his name from far away, but her voice soon came from directly in front of him. "What are you doing? What''s wrong?" One of her gentle, numbing spells passed over his crown of horns and made his scales tingle. The physical sensation felt nice, but other than that, Diwa could do nothing to soothe any mental anguish.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Viliant did not feel anything aside from moderate annoyance. It worked, he shared with Fia.

    Thanks, Viliant!

    With Diwa''s undivided attention on him, he kept her away from his telepathic receptors. By withdrawing into himself, this only served to further the role that he played. In truth, Viliant loathed to agree with her too much for him to successfully lie over telepathy. "You were right, Diwa. I should''ve listened to you earlier." His voice naturally wavered over the language that he did not know very well, easily mistaken for a frightful tremor. "I don''t like it here."

    Despite the chilling, heart-stopping energy behind his shadow magic, Diwa endured the discomfort to step into range of his shadow magic. Her wings flung around his shoulders in a hug. "It''s okay, Viliant. You''re here with me. Calm down. You''re safe." Though she begged to connect their minds, he did not give in.

    Viliant did let his shadows subside even though this conflicted with the objective to distract Diwa as long as possible. He had no desire to subject her to pain. Instead, he received a warm and fuzzy feeling which confused him. Viliant did not know what to say or do while he sat awkwardly under the cover of her wings. His usual self would tell her off, but this much he could endure to lengthen the distraction. That''s the only reason why I''m tolerating this, he told himself, not because I like this!

    Diwa stroked her wing over the flattened spines along his back. She pulled back and curved her neck to look at Viliant, eye to eye. "Are you feeling better?"

    "No," he choked. "Can we get away from here?"

    "Yes, of course. Let''s hurry." With a wing still over him like a shield, Diwa blocked his view of the competition. The dragoness began to walk but paused when she realized that Viliant budged not a foot. "Viliant?"

    "My legs won''t move," he made up for an excuse. In this manner, he delayed Diwa coaxing and nudging him away from the watery arena.

    At last, she brought him into a quiet alleyway. "Is this a more comfortable spot for you?"

    "No," Viliant replied again. In order to take up more time, he needed to be as difficult as possible. He would never agree that Diwa had done enough for him, but this would also require him to feign a meaningful interaction with the dragoness. "Can I talk like this?" he asked first in his native tongue. "It''s easier."

    "But of course," Diwa replied softly in Syenic. "Talk in whatever way''s most comfortable for you." Once more, she prodded his receptors with an invisible impulse.

    Pushing back, he refused. His ruse came easier to him if he melded it with the truth. "This spot reminds me of what happened after Fia and I escaped the coliseum. While we were exiting the city, we hid in an alley just like this." Already, Viliant shared more than he would like. His lower eyelid twitched as he knew that he needed to keep talking if he was going to keep Diwa distracted. Give her a detailed report of events, he told himself. It''s just a report. His voice became more distant and stilted. "The Dragon Slayer shot an orb through her shoulder. She passed out after unleashing a fire storm. She burnt her own flesh in the process, so luckily the bleeding stopped, but I still had to¡ª"

    "Viliant," Diwa said softly, "I understand you don''t like the alley. Let''s get out of here. I''ll drop you off somewhere that feels better."

    "That''s nowhere." Except with Fia. A small part of Viliant looked forward to getting away from Diwa and traveling alone with his best friend, the way that their dynamic used to be. Even though he had not been genuinely seeking support from Diwa, the back of his throat burned when she cut him off.

    "I know a nice spot near here. You''ll like it," Diwa promised with a wink.

    With his dragging tail, Viliant delayed following her back into the shiny sunlight as much as he could. A sparkle light reflected off the waters of a fountain. Diwa escorted him to its stone basin at the center of the plaza. "How''s this? Stay here. Hang tight while I find Fia."

    Viliant was supposed to throw a tantrum, so he voiced his raw emotions. "Why''d you cut me off?"

    "I have to find Fia," Diwa repeated with a severe note of stress. "Please understand. She can''t be left alone in the city."

    "But I can?" Though Viliant did not often think of himself as such, he was a child too. He knew that he was acting juvenile, but his current role required that of him.

    Diwa drew a big breath into her lungs and huffed it back out. "I''ll be right back. Viliant, I''m so sorry that Fia tried going to the arena by herself. I''m also so happy that you''ve finally started opening up. We''ll find a moment to talk before you leave. I''ll make sure of it." She bowed her larger head so that their foreheads could bump together. The dragoness interlinked her smaller horns with his bigger ones and gave him a reassuring nod.

    "It''s fine. You don''t have to do that," Viliant recoiled and curled his tail around himself.

    "No¡­ Viliant," Diwa moaned. Just when the dragonet had started opening up to her, the present circumstances pulled her away. As much as it pained her, Diwa wrenched herself away to focus on the other baby dragon¡ªpossibly in another state of crisis all by herself. "I''ll be back soon!"

    Diwa flew her fastest to the aquatic arena once more. She had not finished her search before Viliant''s episode. This time, the green dragoness need not scour the crowd for the precious dragonette. Fia stood on one of the podiums for all to see, raised on her hind legs. The sky erupted in red, like the clouds themselves had caught on fire. The orange light reflected in the widened slit of her pupils. Diwa choked. "Fia?"

 Chapter 81: Tournament Entry

    From the moment that Fia departed from Viliant and Diwa, a thrill raced through her heart. I''m going to enter that tournament, all by myself! Although she had no idea where to go in the city, she followed the flow of traffic. More dragons flew and humans walked down the street in the direction that she was running. In the distance, she could see a flock of dragons swooping to land while others ruffled their wings in the air. Eventually, she squeezed her way through some humans'' legs which jumped away from her out of surprise.

    Fia saw two elevated platforms on either side of a pool. Above the water, two dragons twisted and spiraled through the air as they unleashed their elemental breaths. The faster, white dragon blitzed his opponent with a cloud of frost. He steadily forced the other dragon closer to the water. The cold energy gathered overhead and solidified into a sizable icicle. The sharpened hunk of ice dropped down and struck the middle of the other dragon''s back. Crash! The icicle shattered upon impact with the dragon and scattered small, crystalline shards to float atop the water. Splash! The dragon soon followed them and sunk under the surface.

    The spray of water elicited cheers from the crowd of humans and dragons alike. The ice dragon roared and soared in a victory lap around the pool. He fluttered back to his pedestal and bent his neck to look down. The loser popped his head out of the water. Droplets beaded down his scales which he shook off after clambering out of the pool.

    So this is the tournament, Fia observed. Already, she understood that the objective was not to harm the opposing side but simply knock them into the water. This looks fun! Her head swiveled back and forth, looking for where she could get involved.

    A cluster of dragons and humans gathered around one of the guards with a yellow sash. The dragonette headed over to join them with a sparkle in her eyes. "Is this where we can join the tournament?"

    "That''s right," a nearby adult replied. The purple dragon tilted his chin down to see the source of the high-pitched voice. "Where''s your parents?" he asked when he saw the dragonette alone.

    A dragonette smaller than Fia poked her head from around her father''s wing. Her pearly eyes blinked out of intrigue as she watched the dragonette around her age by her lonesome.

    "Um, not here right now." Fia did not know what to say, so she stated the obvious.

    "You should tell the attendant that you were separated from them. I can help you."

    "Thanks," Fia said, "but I actually need help entering the tournament."

    "You shouldn''t try to do that without your parents."

    Fia ignored him and tried talking to the next adult dragon in line. "Excuse me, miss. Can you help me enter the tournament?"

    "Oh dear," the dragoness said. "Your parents must be so worried! You should run back home."

    That''s what I''m trying to do! Fia resisted her urge to wail. She stiffened her lower jaw and waited until she could talk directly to the guard stationed at the tournament''s desk. During this time, her wandering eyes recognized one of the green dragons in the low airspace around the arena.

    Viliant! She frantically reached out her mind to him. I can see Diwa! She''s gonna find me. Already, Fia was running to ensure that would not happen. To those around her, it looked like the runaway dragonette had taken the adult''s advice and scampered home.

    Where are you? Viliant asked.

    Hiding. Fia scampered behind some barrels and stayed nestled away. Her blue eyes only peeked out to watch Diwa.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ***

    After Viliant had successfully caused a distraction and drew Diwa from the vicinity, Fia trotted back to the line. The registrations were almost closed, so she panted as she stepped up to the guard''s feet. "I''m here to join the tournament!"

    The dragon searched at his own eye level, looking for a fellow adult to talk to. When he looked down to Fia, he asked, "Where''s your parents?"

    Fia opened and closed her mouth. She needed a way to do this on her own. The first thing that popped to mind was how Sage Rokirith''s name seemed to carry some notoriety in the city. "I''m Sage Rokirith''s student!" she announced, even if she had not been able to accept his offer in actuality. "He told me to come here on my own and win the tournament."

    "So¡­ that spineless dragon''s not even willing to come here himself," the guard grumbled. He adjusted the golden sash around his chest and straightened his neck, towering above Fia. "Very well. I''ll permit you to enter the youth league with Sage Rokirith as your sponsor."

    "Ah! Thank you!" Fia giddily fetched the coin from her small satchel and handed it to the guard. I can''t believe that worked. She carefully watched as he made change from the gilded blossom into plated petals. The dragon did so too fast for her to keep up, so Fia quietly clinked through the coins in her own claws before putting them back into her purse.

    The dragonette joined a circle where other children and their parents waited for the youth tournament to start. Even some humans had decided to enter the same competition against the dragons. I suppose it is a magic competition, Fia thought. When she glanced back over to the next fight in progress¡ªa flying dragon who dodged a projectile from a stationary human¡ªshe could not help but feel the lack of wings put them at a disadvantage. I''ll make them wish they never bothered to enter! Fia thought with an excited growl in her throat.

    "I see they let you enter the tournament after all," the dragon from before said. His purple scales hid the tiny dragonette from view. "My daughter would like to introduce herself."

    "Oh, sure!" While Fia was not looking to make any new friends right now, she was not opposed to someone keeping her company.

    The gray dragonette extended her head from around her father''s legs. Her white irises almost matched the sclera if not for a hint of pink, purple, and blue mottled like an opal. "Hi," she peeped.

    "Hello. I''m Fia. What''s your name?"

    "My name''s Orimol. You can call me Ori."

    "Nice to meet you!" Fia flung out her wings in a welcoming gesture in hopes that the dragonette would stop acting so shy.

    "Go on," her father prodded.

    Ori lurched away from his side with a jump and crept more slowly next to Fia. The two dragonettes stood by each other as they watched the ending of the last round. "What''s your element?" Ori asked.

    "Fire!" Fia said with her proud chest puffed with hot air. Whereas she came from an island full of fire dragons, she basked in the way that everyone lauded her element as special.

    "You have a weird element too!" Ori gasped.

    "What''s yours?" Fia did not let the idle chatter pull her attention away from the fight. Unlike the other, clueless dragonette, Fia had learned to closely observe fights as Viliant had taught her in the coliseum.

    After a pause, the gray dragonette''s voice came out but a squeak. "Mold."

    "Huh?" That got Fia''s attention.

    Ori was too shy to explain. Her big eyes stared down at her neat claws.

    "Good job, Ori," her father praised. "Remember: rare elements are powerful." The purple dragon acknowledged Fia and said, "I''ve only heard stories about fire dragons. They''re even more scarce than blackfire."

    "Are you really strong?" Ori asked. "You said you''re gonna win the tournament!"

    "That''s right!" Fia''s tail twitched with a blush. The pink dragonette did not know how she would compare to other mages her age, but she would give it her all.

    At the conclusion of the previous fight, the dragon guard suspended himself mid-flight between the two pillars. "Next, we will begin the first round of the youth league! Bets are suspended, but we encourage you to cheer on the premier, upcoming talent of the empire!"

    The dragons and humans caused an uproar of approval. A hint of a smile curled into Fia''s tail. The goodwill of this crowd felt a lot different than the raucous jeers in Syene.

    "We will begin with Orimol the rot dragon against Talan the ice and metal human!" The dragon swooped out of the way so that he could collect the contestants and bring them to the podium.

    "Good luck, Ori!" Fia cheered on her new friend. With a clink of their horns, she easily forged a telepathic link with her. You can do it.

    "Thanks." Ori muttered softly enough that if not for the appreciation in her mind, Fia might have missed the word. The gray dragonette accepted a ride from the tournament''s facilitator up to her pedestal.

    Secretly, Fia was worried for the timid dragonette. She wondered if this was how Viliant felt each time he watched her fight.

 Chapter 82: The First Round

    Unlike the little dragonette who needed assistance to take her fighting stance on the pedestal, the young, human teen needed no such help. He strode over to the water''s edge in his bare feet. His feathery anklets flounced as he jumped onto the water. A sheet of ice materialized the moment that he touched the surface. With his eyes closed in a concentrated effort, a pillar of ice rose to match the height of the platform. The human named Talan stepped into his place and smiled at Ori across the pool.

    "He''s a lot older," Fia commented to Ori''s father. "Is that fair?"

    The dragon shrugged his wings. "It''s fine if Ori loses. They seeded the tournament and placed her last. I just want her to try her best and practice using her element."

    "What does a seedy tournament mean?" Fia asked her question in an odd way due to her unfamiliarity with the concept.

    "They order you based on how you''re expected to perform.  Normally a human does not get the first seed, but he won last year."

    "That''s unfair¡ªdefinitely a seedy tournament," Fia judged. Her eyes narrowed with concern as she observed Ori who cowered alone on her pedestal. The tremble in the gray dragonette''s frame was visible from here. Relax, Fia advised her. You''re way too tense! You won''t be able to cast magic that way.

    Right. Ori''s chest rose and fell with a big breath. She widened her stance to stop her knees from knocking together.

    The gong resounded for their bout to begin. When Ori flinched, her wings flapped back with her tiny jump. In contrast, Talan was unfazed by the gong. The human watched his opponent from the corner of his eye while he focused on adjusting his clothes. He took his time rolling up the cuffs of his feathered sleeves.

    Now''s your chance! Fia watched with all expectation to see what a mold dragon could do.

    Ori marched her giddy feet. Her mouth opened to cast a spell, but her elemental breath looked more like barf. A black and brown mass tumbled from her maw. A sickly green haze emanated from it, proving that this was, in fact, her magic. It fell immediately at Ori''s feet and splattered across her claws. The clumps of mold floated in the water.

    The crowd was silent aside from a few stray laughs. Most of those reactions were distinctly human rather than dragon.

    Oh¡­. Fia looked down to her own claws, feeling a wave of embarrassment on Ori''s behalf. The other dragonette had blocked herself off from telepathy out of shame.

    The eyes of Ori''s father bore into her intensely, most likely trying to reach her and reassure her.

    Talan waited no longer and raised his hands to send out magic of his own. Although Fia had been confused when two elements were announced for him, he proved his capacity to use them simultaneously: metal and ice. The iron shards moved with the icy wind, swirling as flower petals might on a breeze. The razor-edged wind assaulted Ori, clinging off her scales and slicing a few of them open.

    "Mmh!" Her scream was muffled by her closed mouth. She also kept her eyes squeezed shut tight. Ori stumbled backward and slipped off the platform.

    Fia turned away so she did not have to watch the splash of water. The slap reached her ears, causing a shudder to run down her spine.

    A chorus of cheers soon followed, once again more human than dragon. Since Ori was underwater, she was mostly spared this racquet. Her head resurfaced once it had quieted down. The gray dragonette''s snout barely poked out of the water. Her wings lay over the surface to help her float, and her tail slinked like a snake as she swam over to the edge.

    Fia hurried alongside her father to meet Ori.

    The dripping dragonette clambered onto solid ground. She wrapped her wings around herself like a blanket. Ori coughed once, then tossed her head back and wailed, "I did so bad!"

    "No, you did fine," her father countered.

    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    "Yeah, you were just nervous," Fia added. "I''m sure your magic is much more impressive, normally!"

    Ori received little consolation from their kind words. Her tears soon joined the wet scales of her face as she broke down. "That was so embarrassing! My magic didn''t work! Wah!"

    Fia flitted her tail back and forth, wishing that she knew what to do. There isn''t much to cry about, she reflected to herself, even though she often had a similar reaction to her problems several months ago. Ha¡­ Fia thought, Viliant probably thought I was so silly for whining about every little thing back in the coliseum. A few tears still welled in her eyes as she watched Ori get cradled by her father''s wings. Fia''s throat burned more like acid than fire. I''ll see my parents soon, she told herself.

    "Up next," the announcer called as he hovered in front of the arena, "please welcome Fia the fire dragon and Marwat the nature dragon!"

    Some murmurs lifted from the crowd, more so in awe at the fire element than the two which belonged to the last human. An energized thrill surged through Fia. She beat her wings a few times, lifting several feet off the ground on her own. "I''m ready!" she roared to the attendant. With his permission, she glided onto his back and jumped off when he spirited her up to the platform.

    The other, lime green dragonette was old enough to fly herself to the other side. Marwat saved her roar for Fia, trying to intimidate her after the crowd seemed to favor the exotic element.

    Some smoke curled over the tongue of Fia''s closed mouth. A plume huffed out of her nostrils after she inhaled and released a confident breath. I''m gonna burn her out of the sky. Fia would prove to everyone impressed by the mere mention of her element that it was more than hot air. Ori''s father had said that contestants liked to show off for their first round, so the pink dragonette intended to do just that.

    Already, she closed her eyes and began centering her power. To do this, she used the meditative technique which Diwa had taught her. At the ring of the gong, Fia''s eyes flung open. Now, she applied what Rokirith taught her. Fia let her ferocity amplify the magic in her veins.

    A single jump and flap of her wings carried her higher than it normally could. Her fire energy swelled and destabilized as she rose into the air. A circle of fiery balls orbited around her in a dance which became faster and more chaotic with each rotation. They each lifted higher into the sky before they exploded, turning the sky into the color of sunset. The reds, oranges, and yellows billowed and rivaled each other for supremacy, rushing downward to meet Marwat who had just taken to the air.

    Her yellow eyes flashed upward out of fright. Long before the flames reached her, Marwat recoiled from the heat. The limited bounds of the arena precluded her from flying around the inferno. The nature dragonette could also not pass through the fiery ceiling either. The flames'' intensity would cause her to burn up like a dried leaf. However, the unhurried pace of the fiery descent gave Marwat ample opportunity to retreat. A quick yelp announced her decision to flee.

    Marwat dove lower. Her eyes constantly monitored the flames'' procession, searching for a gap which did not exist.

    A pleased shiver raced down Fia''s spine as she passed through the fire. Her spell made her scales feel warm and tingly. This was her next most powerful display since her encounter with the Dragon Slayer, but this time, she had achieved it in a controlled environment through conscious effort. I did it! As much as Fia enjoyed the thrill of accomplishment, she also noticed her mana reserves running low. I''m tired. She lay down on top of the platform, careful to balance herself with her wings on either side. Fia needed to make sure she did not fall off.

    The layer of fire raced down the stone pillars. The flames gathered speed as they moved lower.

    The green dragonette glided along the pool''s surface, skimming the water with her claws and tail. Marwat laid her head down so that her chin nearly touched the water in hopes that the fire from above would let up. However, the unrelenting heat grew too intense. Marwat submerged herself underwater with nary a splash. The wavering shadow of the dragonette disappeared deeper so that she could avoid the steaming, bubbling water as the blazing fire collided with the surface.

    Fia jumped up to look more lively. A victorious roar bellowed from the depths of her belly. She flailed out her wings and jumped up and down. This was her celebration, just as she had learned from Viliant in the coliseum. I did it! I did it! Ori, did you see that? Fia reached out to the awestruck mind of her new friend.

    Yeah¡­! Ori started to pull away. You''re so much better than me.

    What? No¡ª Before Fia had a chance to come up with a new compliment for Ori, the other dragonette buried her face back into her father''s wing and refused to engage with her over telepathy.

    Instead, a different dragon reached out to Fia while she was waiting for the guard to help her down. Fia! The unfettered emotions of Diwa''s mind were a mix of anger and worry.

    Hi, Fia replied abashedly. The tips of her claws scratched at the stone platform as the dragonette knew that she had nowhere to hide.

 Chapter 83: Victory Streak

    Now that Diwa had caught up with her, Fia worried that she was in big trouble. Her wide eyes rolled upward without lifting her head, quickly recognizing the green dragoness in the sky. Fia hoped that Diwa would forgive her after seeing her cool performance. Did you see that, Diwa?

    Yes. Are you alright? Since Diwa could feel the dragonette''s mind unaffected by any fear, she did not wait for a response. You can''t run off on your own like that¡ª

    Thank you for teaching me more about magic! Fia expressed her gratitude, even as Diwa scolded her. I couldn''t have done it without you¡­ or Rokirith, she added as an aside. Fia suppressed the fact that she mostly gave credit to Rokirith.

    Diwa made it to Fia before the guard did. Her claws latched onto her shoulders, and the dragoness swept her away. "We''re going back to Viliant right now."

    "Wait. No!" Fia squirmed in Diwa''s grasp, giving her great difficulty to fly. "Put me down over there. I made a friend!" The pink dragonette needed to get back to the sidelines by the other contestants. More than just her desire to see Ori again, Fia needed to be there to compete.

    "Your friend, Viliant, is waiting for us right now!" Diwa huffed.

    "Help!" Fia cried out to the guard who was supposed to pick her up at the pedestal. "I''m being kidnapped!" Her childish mind had a convincing enough sense of distress that the guard flew his fastest to intercept Diwa.

    His powerful wings beat the air, the span wide enough to bar Diwa''s path even if she attempted to skirt around him. "I order you to land and let go of the dragonette, this instant."

    Fia¡­. Diwa expressed her irate discontent over telepathy. Certainly, she would have growled over the rascal dragonette''s name if not for the guard hovering right in front of them. Diwa set Fia down gently and landed behind her. I''m sorry, sir. This is a misunderstanding. I''m responsible for Fia in Malakow, but she ran away to join the tournament.

    The guard landed in front of Diwa and welcomed the wide-eyed Fia under the crook of his wing. This dragonette entered under Sage Rokirith''s name. Do you know that criminal?

    Diwa gaped at the guard and refused to confirm her association with the former dragon sage. Fia did what¡­? You let her fight with just the mention of a dragon who''s not even here?

    The guard tossed his horns side to side. They''re both fire dragons.

    The green dragoness fumed wordlessly. Diwa held back the rant that she wanted to give the guard. Well, my apologies for this misunderstanding. Fia can tell you that she wasn''t serious.

    Fia stood under the protection of the guard''s wing. If she did not want to go anywhere with Diwa, the dragoness could not force her. With a fire behind her eyes, she insisted to Diwa alone, I''m serious about fighting in this tournament.

    If you really want to play this game with me, young lady, you can find Viliant and get on a ship yourselves! Though Diwa tried to impose an even tone, her vexation made her seem more than strict. For the first time, the dragoness''s anger made her seem a bit scary in Fia''s eyes.

    At the same time, Fia could also feel Diwa''s concern. Briefly, Fia closed her mind off from all telepathy and stared down at her clenched claws. I know she really cares about me but¡­. This also consumed her with guilt for having pulled such a mean trick.

    The guard''s intense gaze bore down on Fia all the while. Her non-response got taken as one. A second guard had come to help with the situation. This way, Fia. My associate will apprehend the dragoness that tried to kidnap you¡ª

    "I didn''t mean it!" Fia blurted out, flooding her honesty through the reestablished telepathic link. "I know Diwa. I also know Sage Rokirith. He''d definitely let me enter the tournament. He''d convince Diwa too. Can we talk about it?" Before the guard could respond, Fia ran back underneath Diwa''s wing where she had grown so comfortable over these past weeks.

    The green and pink dragons made their way back to the sidelines of the arena. They still did not want to have this conversation in a manner that others might overhear.

    Diwa started to scold her again. Fia, accusing someone of a crime is serious business. You almost had me arrested¡ª!

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    I''m sorry! Fia tried to apologize before she received a long lecture. We''re going to part ways soon, she snapped. Viliant and I are going to be on our own again. That means we''re gonna do things our way. We don''t have enough money to send us both back. If Viliant has to work, I''d like to get it over with right now, doing something we''re good at!

    Some smoke puffed in and out of Fia''s heaving breaths. She continued to dump her rationale on Diwa. I''ve already paid the entry fee. If I don''t win now, we''ll lose the money. So let me fight. I¡­ want to part ways on good terms. Fia paused before she rejoined the waiting area where Ori and her father remained. Her eyes lifted from her talons to see Diwa''s reaction.

    The wings of the dragoness had steadily lowered as she came to understand Fia better. A hefty sigh came from her jaws. Fine. I¡­ give up. I''ll let the guard know that I''m okay with you fighting too. Diwa hung her head from the worries which weighed her down. But you''ll have to take care of yourself here, on your own, she warned.

    Don''t worry. Fia flicked her tail to lead Diwa over to Ori. I made a friend. Aloud, she announced to the mold dragonette and her father, "This is Diwa. She''s like¡­ my auntie in Malakow."

    "Scary dragoness tried to steal Fia," Ori murmured, glaring distrustly from behind her father''s violet scales.

    "Nice to meet you, Diwa," Ori''s father said. "I''m Bagwis. You should introduce yourself too, Ori, just like that."

    Ori refused with a shake of her head.

    Despite her usual compassion toward children, Diwa did not have time for any other dragonets. "I have to get back to Viliant," she snapped, but Fia could feel her greater sense of relief, knowing that the pink dragonette would not be alone. Diwa took back to the sky, leaving as suddenly as she had appeared.

    Fia settled alongside Ori and Bagwis to watch the next fights. She got to see a demonstration from all the dragon and human youths who had entered the tournament. Fia made sure to remember the winners who stood atop the platform victorious. In future rounds, Fia might face them on the other side. The crowd cheered the most whenever the dragonets beat the human kids, an uproar of cheerful dragon cries.

    Soon enough, Fia observed Talan in his second round. He beat another dragonet, this time expending less mana in a flashy attack but more in useful skills. The hail storm and bullet curtain forced the dragonet into the water after an unrelenting stream.

    "Why are humans so good at magic?" Fia asked. Her small back spines bristled, annoyed that such a weak species seemed to gain a better mastery over the elements than dragons.

    "The Kingdom of Syene trains the best combat mages," Bagwis shared. "We''d even send our dragonets to study there, but the Syenic humans don''t like dragons very much."

    "I''m aware." Fia stared glumly at Talan who dismounted from the stone pillar onto one of magical ice.

    The humans of Malakow cheered especially loud as one of their children had successfully beaten another dragonet. The racket rang around her eardrums, a familiar sound which Fia was constantly subjected to in the coliseum. Since that boy had studied in Syene, some dark questions bubbled to Fia''s mind. Could he have been one of the humans that watched me fight? Could his voice have been one of those cheering? A surge of heat, burning in her chest, made the dragonette pant with her mouth parted slightly. An impulse to sink her teeth into that human and taste his blood overcame Fia. This must be how Viliant feels around humans all the time.

    Fia settled for a growl. "I wish the humans wouldn''t cheer so loud every time one of them wins."

    Ori agreed quietly. "Yeah. It made me feel bad."

    "Magic is one of the few things that humans can do well," Bagwis explained. "Let them cheer all they want. Us dragons can just roar louder when we win." The father encouraged Ori to let out a squeaky attempt at a roar when the next contestant was called.

    "Up next, we have Fia the fire dragon and¡­."

    After each round, Fia''s flames burned brighter, turning to a hot yellow. Her explosive fire came easier with her winning streak. Fia made sure to roar and celebrate at the end of each victory. She came up with an especially showy routine when she trounced a human. After she sent a human girl into the water with her long hair aflame, Fia breathed fire into the air. The graceful dragonette did a backflip, then leaped off the edge of the platform. She angled her wings to glide in a tight circle. This gave her a great view of the dragons who cheered for her all around.

    When the guard brought her back to the sidelines, he reprimanded her. Tone down your boasting. We''ll have to disqualify you if you keep it up.

    Sorry. Fia failed to veil her indignation completely. Her mana reserves were running near empty, so she flopped onto her belly as soon as she met up with Ori and Bagwis again. "You''re amazing, Fia!" Ori gushed while bouncing up and down. "You''re gonna win the whole tournament, I think. You have to beat Talan for me, please!"

    "Don''t worry. I will." Fia closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Each successive stage of the tournament had a smaller number of fights, giving every mage less time to recuperate their mana. Fia nearly slipped into a nap if not for Ori who shook her awake.

    "It''s happening!" the gray dragonette cried. Her pearly eyes gazed up to the announcer.

    "This is the final match of the youth league''s winner bracket," said the dragon guard who hovered over the pool. "All of our contestants put on an amazing show, and we''re happy to recognize and reward the talented, young mages of Malakow! This last round will determine who takes home the first or second place prize. Please welcome to the arena: Talan the ice and metal human versus Fia the fire dragon!"

    "Ugh," Fia grunted as she got up. She had not braced herself to do the championship fight, back-to-back from her last one. The dragonette shook herself awake and let out her deepest roar yet. This is for Viliant, she reminded herself, energizing herself. I''m fighting so he doesn''t have to!

    Fia glared at Talan across from her, ready to scorch that smirk off that human''s lips.

 Chapter 84: The Final Match

    While Fia glared at Talan, he smirked back at her. Her fretful mind entertained the possibility that she might lose. Her eyes stared at the rippling pool below her. Suddenly, it dawned on her, I don''t know how to swim. She had only splashed in the surf with Arenis on the beach before. While she trusted her instincts would help her learn quickly, she would rather not put them to the test.

    Her fiery eyes burned holes into Talan. Even though she had closely watched all his fights, she had not discerned his weak points. The only time that she had faced a metal mage before, she had been injured and needed Viliant to defeat him for her. Further, they had run away from their encounter with an ice mage. Fia had yet to come up with a proper strategy against the teen mage of both elements. I''ll just have to do what I do best, she figured, burn everything. If only she had more flammable surroundings, Fia thought the playing field would be more balanced.

    The aquatic arena with stone pillars required her to get a direct hit on Talan. So, Fia wasted no time when the gong rang. The dragonette spit a flurry of fireballs, hoping to get a quick hit on him.

    As if anticipating this, Talan put up a metal barricade to encompass his platform in what looked like a cube from Fia''s view. The shield deflected her flames. The heat dispersed evenly across the metallic layer. Her fire magic would require much higher and more persistent temperatures before Talan would even begin to sweat inside.

    While her flames were not hot enough to melt metal, Talan''s wall poppled like it had turned to liquid. A circular window opened up, putting Fia in his line of sight. The human''s outstretched palm commanded some ice spikes to shoot out. While they flew toward Fia, Talan closed the hole in his defenses. The metal melded back into a flawless barrier.

    Fia fluttered her wings and dodged with the icicle''s cool air passing by. Fia landed on the other side of her platform. If she wanted to conserve her mana, she needed to evade as many of his attacks without casting a spell as possible. When she did use her magic, she dedicated her attacks to chip away at his defenses. Fia struck the same spot on his shield, hoping the metal would bend and break.

    Talan returned every assault twofold. His twin icicle spears shot out from a slit in his metal wall. On occasion, Fia had to spit a fireball to intercept the ice. Both elements collided and nullified each other. Her fire melted his ice which in turn doused her flames. Their fight settled into a slow pace, and time was not on her side.

    If Fia wanted to win, she needed to do something while she still had mana left. The dragonette enveloped herself in flames. Seeing nothing but the fire red of her own magic, she charged blindly in Talan''s direction. Her wings beat furiously, and the hot air helped propel her forward. Fia collided with a hard object. She landed against the pillar of his platform and began to climb.

    Since Talan also needed to conserve his limited mana, he had neglected to give his cube a floor or hind walls. Fia crawled onto his platform and flapped her wings to jump over the rising, metal slab. As the dragonette lunged toward his face, Talan reacted by bracing his feet to hold his ground.

    Her teeth snapped onto the metal pauldron that formed over his shoulder. The dragonette funneled the last drops of her mana into fire, hoping to leave him with a deep burn. The intense heat which she created, combined with her impact, was enough to destabilize Talan. This knocked them both over the platform. Air blustered around them as they fell. Before either of them could get their bearings, they slammed hard against the water and plunged below the surface.

    Since she had the human locked beneath her, he went into the water first. Fia hoped that this would count as her win. Satisfied, she released Talan from her jaws. So too, he let his metal armor dissolve. His arms reached for the surface and his legs kicked to help him get there.

    Bye, loser, she thought smugly. Fia only wished she could say that to him over telepathy. Her wings drifted open by the flow of water, and she tumbled in a swirl of bubbles. How do I swim? Is it like flying but underwater? Fia tried to glide, but when she sunk lower, she floundered her wings out of panic.

    "Hurk!" A choked sound caught in Fia''s throat. Some water burned her windpipe as it went through her nose. I don''t like this! I don''t like water! Her parents were supposed to teach her how to swim. That way, someone who cared about her could pluck her out of the water when it started to go wrong.

    Diwa? Viliant? she reached out to both of her friends. Even though the later dragonet likely had less experience in water than she did, Fia still thought of him whenever she needed help. She received no response from either of her friends. With all her might, she projected, Help! to any dragon who would listen.

    Before any dragon could enter the water, Talan ducked his head below the surface once more. His hands and feet now propelled him downward. The boy grabbed Fia in his arms, orientated them toward the surface, and kicked back up. Their heads bobbed into the bright air together.

    Fia sputtered and coughed. She tried to dry the unwanted water in her lungs by breathing fire with her mouth closed. Alas, not enough mana remained her ley lines to do even this. A sting coursed through her nerves instead. "Ugh." Fia lay limply. Her wings naturally floated toward the surface, and the rest of her body was suspended in the water by human hands.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Talan treaded water with his legs while he held Fia in his arms. "Are you okay?"

    She could barely hear his words as both dragons and humans cheered the loudest after the grand finale of the youth tournament. This left Fia confused. Did I win? Or the human? A series of blinks blotted her vision as she realized how close she was to the human''s face. The dragonette did not understand his pinched brow or the tight, lifted corners of his lips. Since he did not have a tail nor wings, the human boy looked expressionless.

    "Help," she called again, her voice weak. Fia ignored Talan and looked to the dragon guard who flew immediately overhead. "Get me out of the water! And away from this human."

    Her weight suddenly shifted. Fia squirmed and yelped. The drips of water rolled down her scales as Talan lifted the dragonette up.

    The guard took her in his claws and freighted her back to the sidelines.

    Talan clambered onto a floating piece of ice and skated over the bridge that he made.

    "I have to announce the official winner," the attendant said as he stood before both Fia and Talan. His terse eyes gazed down at the dragonette. "Fia, I''m sorry to say this, but you''ve disqualified yourself by physically attacking your opponent."

    "Huh?" Fia gasped. "But I used magic the whole time!" Her breath hitched and her heart cinched. Did I just throw away the second place prize, too? She wanted the guard to give her answers over telepathy.

    Talan spoke up. "While she did make contact, she also used magic the entire time." The teenager slipped his untorn shirt over his shoulder to reveal the blackened skin of a nasty burn.

    The adult dragon nodded. "Go to the healer. Congrats on winning the tournament, two years in a row."

    "Thank you." Talan bowed. The boy glanced back to Fia who remained in place, unmoving. He wandered off to find the healer.

    Fia was left with a sinking heart. Did I really throw away my prize money, just to hurt that human? He would not even stay injured as a dragon cast a green, glowing spell on his shoulder. The pink dragonette fumed and wanted to cry, but her eyes did not steam up like usual. She glared at the guard who did not take her side.

    The announcer flounced his wings for the final time in front of the crowd. "The champion of the youth league remains undefeated. Please give a big hand and roar for Talan the ice and metal human! Fia the fire dragon takes second place. And third place is¡­."

    "Ah." A big sigh of relief huffed past Fia''s jaws. I thought ''disqualified'' meant I wasn''t going to win anything. Fia hobbled back over to Ori and Bagwis. She collapsed in front of them, grateful but too tired to share in their enthusiasm. Now, the dragonette only hoped the second-place award money was generous enough to buy Viliant''s passage on the same ship.

    ***

    Fia stirred with the familiar, palliative feel of nature magic. Though she did not need any injuries healed, she felt more energy return to her muscles. Fia sat up to see Ori and Bagwis hovering over her. The dragon healer, accompanied by Talan, finished casting his spell.

    "That should make you feel better," the dragoness said. Her scales were peppered with the vibrant colors of lemon and lime.

    "It does. Thank you."

    "I''ll let you celebrate with your friends," the healer said and trotted off.

    The dragonette''s feisty, blue eyes focused on the human who was definitely not one of her friends. "Why are you here?" she spit at Talan.

    "I just wanted to say: thanks for putting up a good fight!" Talan barred his teeth, making Fia think that he wanted to start a real one. "I was hoping I''d get to face you in the tournament. That was the first time I got to see the mythic fire element! I''m sure you''ll win even more times than me, if you keep it up."

    Fia realized that Talan seemed genuinely happy, even if the human flashing his teeth had confused her. "Oh, um, thanks. You too?" She did not want to compliment the human who made her lose the first place prize, but Fia did not know what else to say. Her bashful tail curled around her hind feet.

    Fia pouted with her wings laid flat against her sides. I suppose it was a play fight. Just like I always did with Arenis. Just like how I tried to play with that boy¡­. Fia''s memory flitted to Citrio''s dead mom whom Viliant had killed. An old wave of confusion returned to her, wondering if all humans were bad. At least Talan did not seem so bad.

    "I hope we can face each other again next year." Talan extended his hand down in a fist toward Fia. His hand stayed there, dangling in front of her face like he wanted to get bitten again.

    Since the pink dragonette seemed clueless, Bagwis jumped in to explain. "You touch your horns against the human''s fist. It''s a gesture of goodwill." He bowed his head to give Talan''s knuckles a controlled bump. "Thanks for going easy on my daughter, during your first round."

    "The mold dragon!" Talan exclaimed and laughed.

    "Eep!" Ori moved from behind her father''s leg to behind his tail. The timid dragonette did not perceive his chuckle as good-natured, and neither did Fia.

    She rammed the flat of her horn against Talan''s fist to make him go away.

    The boy shook off his hand and bid his farewell.

    All the while, Ori''s demoralized mind tumbled about. I fought Talan too. But he didn''t say anything to me¡ªjust laughed!

    He liked your element too, Ori, Bagwis reassured his daughter. You could tell because he showed his teeth. Humans do that when they''re happy.

    The mold dragonette did not listen. Ori could not withhold her frustration anymore. She dashed forward as Talan walked away. "I''m gonna beat you next time!"

    Talan turned back enough to show off his smile. "I''ll look forward to it."

    Fia nodded her chin in fervent agreement. "You have to be the one to put him in his place, next year," she told Ori. "I won''t be here."

    "Huh? Where are you going?" Ori opened her mouth with the tilt of her head.

    "Home." Fia lifted her eyes to the sunny sky. It was high time that she collected her prize.

 Chapter 85: Tournament Reward

    The tournament administrator counted out a hefty amount of coins and placed them into a velvet pouch.

    "You did such a good job!" Ori still gushed. "You''re so strong. Will you buy us orange ice?"

    Although Fia felt enticed to try the frozen treat, she did not want to waste money on frivolities. "No," she dismissed Ori, still staring at the money behind the desk.

    "How about lemon ice?"

    "Sorry, I need this money to get home." The other dragonette pestering Fia made her lose track of the value. At least she could trust the Malakow officials to count it right.

    Bagwis gave Fia a quizzical tilt of his head. "Don''t worry, Ori. I''ll buy you and Fia whatever flavor of citrus ice you want."

    Fia salivated over the gold coins more than the prospective, sweet treat. The clink of claws from behind made her attention break away from the clink of cash.

    "Fia!" Diwa cheered. "We heard you won second place!" The green dragoness walked up to the desk with a black dragonet hunkered at her side.

    The silent Viliant did not spare Fia any kind words, not even a glance. As he stared down at his claws, his mind connected to hers over telepathy. Good job, Fia. I expected no less after I taught you.

    "Why aren''t you happier?" Fia scrutinized him with narrowed eyes. "I just won enough money so you don''t have to work anymore."

    I don''t want Diwa to suspect that I was faking. Viliant tapped his front claws close together. A wave of guilt washed over his mind, but masked under that feeling, he felt truly happy and proud of Fia.

    "You''re quite the lucky dragonette," the dragon guard said as he balanced the overflowing sack of gilded blossoms in his claw. "The prize money is just enough to cover your mentor''s debts."

    "Huh?" Fia''s breath hitched.

    The guard curled his tail in a smile. "Here''s the remainder after the debt has been paid." Between two pinched claws, he dropped a small, bronze coin into Fia''s outstretched paw. "One bronze bud," he said. "You can tell Sage Rokirith that he''s now welcome back to the city anytime." The dragon restored the fat, velvet pouch to the official coffers.

    "What?" Fia roared. "But all that''s mine!"

    Viliant snapped to full attention. "Why, that bastard!" he growled, ambiguous if he referred to the guard, the former sage, or both.

    "You can''t do that!" Fia reared and wedged her front claws against the desk. "Please, I need the money more."

    "She really does." Diwa stepped forward to allay the guard''s concerns. "Don''t make a child pay. I''ll take care of Rokirith''s debt." The dragoness tried to better explain over telepathy, This dragonette desperately needs the prize money. Her mind beheld their grand cause, not just to send Fia home, but to alert all the dragons of Carlinoa about a grave danger.

    The guard was not swayed to alter his decision. However, the honesty from the dragoness inspired him to be frank too. If the sage''s pupil didn''t win the prize money, we would''ve detained her to bring him back to the city. That''s the only reason why we let her enter under the name of a criminal. Now, run along and deliver the good news to the Sage Rokirith.

    The group of dragons slogged away, their claws and tails more heavy than usual. Not just Fia, Viliant, and Diwa, but also Ori and Bagwis had been affected. "I don''t understand," moaned the gray dragonette. "I thought Fia won second."

    Bagwis wrapped a wing around Ori. A slight grumble sounded in his throat as he cleared it. "Excuse me, but why does Fia need money?"

    Fia repeated herself, more slowly in a dire tone. "I need to get home. I was¡­ separated from my parents," she said to keep the story more simple and less scary in front of Ori. Just to Bagwis, she added, I was captured by the humans in Syene. That''s where I met my best friend Viliant, who was also welcome to share this telepathic space with them.

    I''ll find work along the way, he reinstated. That was our original plan anyway.

    The perturbed, purple dragon could only imagine what the dragonets had gone through in the Kingdom of Syene. Now that he better understood their situation, he knew how to help them. Bagwis bowed his head. "I work on the docks. If you''re looking for work, I might know a ship that''s preparing a route to the south."

    Fia and Viliant shared a look before the pink dragonette answered for them. "Yes, please! That would help us a lot."

    Bagwis led them through the crowd, straining his neck to spy an acquaintance of his.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ***

    The purple dragon recognized someone that he knew. Bagwis led Fia and Viliant over to a human in a different mode of dress: leather pants and a woven shirt. His attire appeared to be designed for practicality when compared to the festive feathers. "Hello Pako! You''re freighting a shipment to Aethara, right?"

    "Aye. We were supposed to leave last week," explained Pako the sailor, "but we''ve been lagged at port. More ship''s been lost on the river, to the cursed pirarucu. We''re looking to hire a couple strong mages for cheap."

    "Let me introduce you to these dragonets. The green-eyed one is looking for work."

    Viliant stepped forward, his jowl slightly curled to reveal the point of his fangs as he glared up at the human. Fia stayed close by his side, reminding him, We''re going on a human ship. Let''s not burn bridges.

    Pako ignored Viliant''s scowl and beamed at Fia instead. "I recognize the pink one! Thought she was about to burn all the docks around the arena." The man''s eye glimmered as he looked her up and down, from horns to claws. "That fire magic could keep the fish down for sure!"

    "Actually," Fia said, "I''m just a passenger." She opened one of her wings behind Viliant''s head. "But my friend would happily work for you. He''s even stronger than me! He taught me how to fight."

    The scarred scales and ripped wings of the dragonet evidenced his wealth of experience. Viliant splayed his wings out, waiting for the human to assess his imposing appearance positively.

    "And his element is shadow," Diwa added for him.

    "A shadow dragon? That''s one of the greater elements." Pako hopped in his boots and hurried to lead them elsewhere. "You''ve got to meet the captain. He''ll decide whether we hire you on." Pako''s eyes darted to Fia. "And take you as a passenger."

    Ori and Bagwis bid them good luck and goodbye for now. The purple dragon arranged a spot to meet once they were finished, promising that he would buy all the dragonet''s citrus ice. They planned to celebrate Fia''s second place and Viliant''s first employment.

    Pako the sailor led them away from the tournament''s festivities, bringing them to a port along the lake. He opened the door to the ground floor of a building. While he held it for Fia and Viliant to enter first, its dim interior looked too cramped for Diwa to fit inside.

    "Will you bring your captain out here?" Diwa asked. "The dragonets can''t agree to anything without my approval."

    "Aye. Wait here." Pako went alone into the building designed for humans.

    The dragons utilized the brief time alone to ensure that they were of the same mind. "Fia," Diwa said, lowering her eye to the dragonette''s level. "Are you going to follow Viliant around and do everything he does?"

    "Absolutely! Why?" Fia blinked her blue eyes innocently.

    "It''s important for our negotiation," Diwa shared gently. "I don''t want to overpay them for your passage if you''re going to work anyway. If that''s the case, they should be the ones paying you. We can''t let those humans take advantage of your kindness."

    "Oh." Upon hearing this, Fia changed her tune. "Absolutely not!" she roared.

    Pako came back out with a second, better-dressed human close behind him. The captain''s jacket had numerous buckles which clanged with the steps of his worn, scaly boots. First, he addressed Diwa who handled the negotiations of the dragonets'' rates. Once he understood how much the dragonets were worth, the man stroked a craggy hand through the coarse hairs of his beard. His small, dark eyes assessed Fia and Viliant as he questioned them with clipped, snappy words. "Are you capable of protecting our ship from all manner of attack?"

    "Yes, sir," Fia said. Although Diwa had made it clear that the dragonette would not help with the basic labor, she was another dragon mage capable of defending the ship in case of an emergency.

    "Anything that crosses me¡­ dies," Viliant said. Though he had yet to accustom his serpentine tongue to speaking aloud with humans, a fervent light flickered behind his green eyes.

    The captain tipped back his head and guffawed. "You''re hired. We set sail on the morrow."

    Both Fia and Viliant''s wings and tails lifted as they swung to look at each other. We''re really going! she gasped.

    Finally, he agreed.

    Their new boss said, "I''m your captain from now on: Captain Ulatu. You say ''aye'' when I give you an order."

    The edge of a growl caught in Viliant''s silent throat. His eyes flitted to Fia, his mind a storm of disaccord. I''m only doing this for you, he clarified. After some reluctance, Viliant spat, "Aye."

    Captain Ulatu delivered instructions as to where they would meet on the docks tomorrow. Viliant was expected earlier in the morning so that his muscle could help load cargo onto the ship. The captain strode off, in a hurry to get the ship''s delayed departure back on track.

    "I''ll show you the ropes," Pako offered. "I''m looking forward to working with you!"

    "Hmph. Do I have to say ''aye'' to you?"

    "No?" Pako said, a rising note of confusion in his voice.

    "Then that''s that." The black dragonet sauntered off with Fia and Diwa.

    "It wouldn''t hurt to get along with the other sailors," Diwa advised. "In fact, being on good terms with them could make the trip a lot easier."

    I don''t care. I won''t bow or say ''aye'' to any humans except the captain. An evident loathing already filled Viliant''s mind by his deferral to the captain''s authority. Only once they left the humans far behind, did his mood restore to the proper amount of high spirits. His satisfaction that the dragonets had earned their passage to Carlinoa Island outweighed his ire.

    Viliant stood taller than his usually hunkered frame, his eyes brighter now that he saw a clear path forward. In the agreement, you said that we''re responsible for our own rations, Viliant thought, focusing on a new topic with Diwa. Aside from the dragonets'' food, their fare was free. We should get ready now¡ª

    "Or¡­" Diwa said, cutting that thought short, "it''s time to celebrate!" She ushered Fia and Viliant to a street, almost as crowded as the stands of the tournament. Colorful tents lined both sides of the street where humans and dragons exchanged goods and coins.

    At the street''s center, Bagwis swept one of his purple wings to wave them over. Ori hopped up and down, excited that Diwa had brought Fia and Viliant back to enjoy citrus ice with her.

 Chapter 86: The Real Reward

    After expending all her mana reserves on placing in the tournament, Fia saw no harm in a quick break. She had most certainly earned it. Her tail twitched with an eagerness to try the citrus ice promised by Bagwis. Already, her keen eyes could spot the violet dragon waiting with Ori further down the street. It''ll taste even better since he''s paying for it, Fia thought, allowing her to suspend her constant monetary worries for now.

    Viliant permitted himself no such luxury. His claws bit into the wooden planks where he stood. Unless citrus ice is a fancy way to say ''salted meat'', Viliant snapped, we''re too busy for that!

    Like her stubborn friend, Fia also paused in the middle of the street¡ªhalfway between Viliant and Ori. It won''t take that long. We''ll buy meat for the trip right after!

    Viliant remained unconvinced and refused to dignify Fia''s persistent flippancy with a remark.

    Diwa doubled back to him and paced around the glaring dragonet. Their telepathy excluded Fia, as the dragoness attempted to draw out Viliant''s softer side.

    Don''t worry, Diwa told him. My parents will help get your rations together. You''re still a dragonet. Let yourself enjoy simple things for once.

    The lower half of Viliant''s eyes pinched upward, pressing his eyes into a tighter angle. No. I''m not so simple-minded.

    I never thought you''d say ''no'' to food! Diwa gasped, bobbing her head up and down.

    Viliant offered no reply. He suppressed the feeling of his insatiable hunger over telepathy, even if he could not stop his mouth from salivating.

    Try as he might to conceal his desire for new food, Fia could see the evident and eager hunger in Viliant''s eyes. Fia trotted back to his side and nudged the back of her dragon paws against his legs. "Join us! It''d be nice. That''s how you got your job. Bagwis and Ori are super nice!"

    A series of blinks blotted Fia from Viliant''s view until he began to see the pink dragonette''s disposition in a new light. While they stood stationary with Diwa nearby, the dragons and humans of the city parted around them. The strangers passed in chatter and laughter, going about their daily lives. Fia''s boundless capacity to make friends had benefitted them here, where the rules of civilization barred the worst from happening.

    I suppose¡­ it would be nice, Viliant admitted. I''ll go along with this, but only because we''ll have our rations taken care of. The black dragonet shot his piercing gaze back to Diwa, expecting her to hold her word.

    The green dragoness closed her eyes and nodded. Her tail could not curl into a happier smile.

    Viliant was the only dragon in their company who still kept his tail lagged, straight and distrustful.

    It''s okay. Relax! Fia pranced and led the way over to Bagwis and Ori. The confidence in her mind sought to soothe Viliant, making him feel embarrassed which caused him to rescind their telepathic connection once again. Fia giggled and focused on her new friends. "Hi Ori!" Her attention shot up to Bagwis. "Thanks again for introducing us to your friend, Pako." With an elated roar, she announced, "Viliant got the job!"

    Viliant stayed firmly behind Fia. He looked away from the raised wings of the dragons all around him, instead focusing on the distant ones that flew overhead.

    Ori''s pearly eyes grew wide. The gray dragonette capered in front of Fia and leaned into Viliant''s line of sight. "You''re shy," she stated as a simple observation. "Just like me! Don''t be. We''re gonna have citrus ice!" Ori skipped to lead them to one of the more colorful stalls on the street.

    A tarp had a flowing pattern of orange, green, yellow, and some thin streaks of pink. Behind the flimsy, wooden counter, the human vendor managed a few buckets. The blue tinge of magic at his palm caused an ice block to shatter into pieces. With a soft smile on his lips, he continually cast a spell to grind the ice into a crunchy, whitish mash.

    Next, the vendor mage levitated the icy snowball into the air. With a finger pointed downward, he dipped it into a bucket of a greenish, foggy juice. The chuck of ice came back out, dripping in the same color. The man floated the frozen treat over to a human child who eagerly bounced up and down. "Here you are: lime ice!" the vendor said with a broad smile.

    "Thank you, mister!" The boy''s mother paid for his candy. Then, they walked away together. The kid held his mother''s fingers in one hand and clutched his lime-flavored citrus ice in the other.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Are you sure we can eat that? Viliant asked, his nostrils wrinkled and flared. Humans will eat anything¡ªeven leaves.

    It''s mostly water, Diwa reassured him.

    Fia dashed alongside Ori so that they could be the next children in line. The two dragonettes craned their necks to watch the creation of citrus ice all over again.

    "What flavor?" the vendor asked, leaning his elbow on the counter so that he could get a better look at the dragonettes.

    "Lime. Wait¡ªno. Orange!" Ori flipped her head back to her father so she could ask him, "Can I have two?"

    "Just one is plenty," Bagwis said.

    "Please?" Ori asked in a long, whiny tone.

    Fia had planned to ask which flavor Ori recommended since she never had any citrus ice before. However, this kerfuffle made her choice easy. "I want lime!" she told the human vendor. Fia''s tail flicked into a smile and tapped Ori''s side. "Let''s share. That way, we can have both lime and orange!"

    The slitted pupils in Ori''s pearly eyes dilated. She nodded her chin fervently. "Yes! You''re not only strong but also smart, Fia!"

    As the man soaked their freshly shaved ice in the appropriate bins, his attention lifted to Viliant who lagged behind the two dragonettes. The smile never left his lips, and he tilted his head to the side. "Will there be any for the black dragonet?"

    Viliant stepped forward, his eyes unblinking at the human. A single word was spat from his maw, too low for any of them to hear: "Blood."

    "Sorry," the human vendor said, leaning closer. "What was that?"

    "Blood. Do you have a blood one?" He struggled over his words to make the question seem innocuous.

    "We ran out."

    That figures. Viliant stared at his claws, unhappy that he would be forced to try an unfamiliar flavor that was unnatural to a carnivore like him. He glared at the human, knowing that the man had plenty of blood in his veins.

    "You could have blood orange," Ori suggested. "It doesn''t taste anything like blood, but orange is my favorite!"

    Viliant stared at the buckets of colorful liquid. "Then pink," he said instead. "I want pink." He had no idea what the pink-colored juice would taste like, but it was his next favorite color after the red of blood. Viliant''s eyes flicked to the rosy scales of his best friend.

    "Grapefruit for the dragonet!" The vendor set to making a third ball of ice for Viliant. Once done, he floated all three orders in front of the respective dragonets at the same time. His smile grew just as broad as when he had looked at the human kid. "Enjoy!"

    Each of the dragonets took their dessert. Fia and Viliant carefully balanced it in their claws. Ori chomped off half the ice ball, then took the remainder in her paw. "Mm!" A noise squeaked through her clenched fangs as she sucked out the flavors of the ice.

    While Bagwis paid the vendor, the dragonets walked to the side where they could divvy their portions. Ori extended her other half to Fia, but before the pink dragonette accepted it, she glanced to Viliant.

    His tail drooped all the lower, curled against the wooden planks of the street. Viliant stared intensely at the curious ball of pink ice. Are you sure that human doesn''t put poison in the stuff that''s given to dragons?

    Diwa came over with a larger serving of citrus ice that she had bought for herself. She snuffled her nose in the center and looked at Viliant with some slushy droplets stuck to her snout. Yep! I grew up on this stuff. I''m positive it''s fine.

    Since Viliant''s skepticism was not serious, Fia tried to invite him to also exchange flavors. "Do you want to trade with Ori too?"

    Viliant gaped at Fia as though she were insane. No. I''ll only trade with you.

    "Great!" Fia said. She gave Viliant a quarter of her lime ice and half of the remaining orange ice. In turn, she received half of his grapefruit ice ball. Her claws then cut the pink ice in two and passed some to Ori.

    "Ooh! Thank you." Ori gobbled up the lime and grapefruit ice, one after the other.

    Viliant stared at the gluttonous dragonette, flabbergasted. That wasn''t for her! That was for you, Fia¡ª A cold sensation in his claws quelled his thoughts.

    Fia pressed both a quarter of lime and orange ice into Viliant''s claws. You did trade with me.

    Though Viliant squinted at both of their portions, unable to help feeling that Fia had given Ori too much. Even so , he let it slide. "Thanks," he mumbled.

    Fia ate each kind of ice, savoring the unique flavors. First, she sampled the tart lime that she had ordered for herself. Next, she licked the tangy orange juice off the roof of her mouth. Lastly, she suckled the sweetness from the grapefruit ice. The acerbic, citrus aftertastes melded in her mouth.

    With his flighty eyes constantly observing Fia, Viliant tasted his ice in the same order. His tongue flicked out to test the zesty lime first, then hastily chomped it down when he saw Fia had already moved on to the next. Just as hesitant to try the orange ball, Viliant gnashed his teeth through it after Fia had finished savoring it. Some crumbs of ice tumbled from his jaws. By the time that he tried the grapefruit ice last, he nibbled at the pink, melty snowball.

    "Those were wonderful!" Fia gushed, her curiosity sated as she swallowed the chilled water. "You were right, Ori. I really like citrus ice too!"

    It was pretty good, Viliant admitted, especially appreciative of the bitterness which lingered on his tongue. Since the dragonets had finished their celebratory treat, his mind drifted back to their preparations.

 Chapter 87: Swim Lessons

    That evening, Fia and Viliant had much to do before the ship set sail tomorrow. Diwa brought them back to her parents'' house where she enlisted their extra wings to help them get ready. Gio flew to the market for smoked and salted meats. Liwaya busied herself inside the house, preparing travel bags and an emergency medical kit. After this was packed, Fia and Viliant perched with idle wings.

    What else do we need? What else can we do? Viliant awaited another task to spring on.

    "I think we''re all ready for tomorrow morning," Diwa said with a big sigh. "I can''t believe this is really happening. We''re parting ways so soon."

    Liwaya ruffled her wings and draped one over her daughter''s back. It''s always painful when they leave the nest, isn''t it? the older dragoness teased.

    Fia stepped underneath Diwa''s wing and tilted her head back to her. "Thanks for everything! We couldn''t have done this without you!"

    Yes, we could''ve, Viliant shared snidely with Fia alone. I''d figure something out.

    Fia ignored him because regardless of their competency, Diwa''s assistance was appreciated.

    "You''re very welcome." Diwa closed her eyes pleasantly to match her smiling, curly tail. "I''m just happy that I was able to help some." Her eyes reopened to gaze down at Viliant with some guilt. "The two of you can rest for the evening."

    "Um." If Fia and Viliant had this final evening with Diwa at their leisure, she wanted to glean one last piece of knowledge from her. "Can you take us swimming?" Fia asked. "I don''t know how. I realized that at the tournament."

    "Oh!" Diwa gasped. "I never realized you didn''t know how to swim! That''s very important. You and Viliant should both know how if you''re going on a boat."

    "Can you swim?" Fia asked Viliant. Although she knew that her best friend had not experienced anything outside of the coliseum until recently, she never ceased to be impressed by his abilities.

    His mind contained a negative response, even if Viliant remained silent and did not want to admit it.

    "Don''t worry. I''ll teach you both how to swim!" Diwa announced, regaining her enthusiasm. "Just let me grab some toys. We''ll head to a nice spot on the lake." Once the dragoness gathered a few things around the house, Diwa raced with Fia and Viliant to a section of calm waters.

    ***

    The wavering reflection of a pink dragoness stared up at Fia from the water. The tips of her claws dug into the wooden dock. Fia stared at herself in the water while she contemplated submerging herself into it once again. The dragonette recalled her frightful experience underwater at the end of the tournament. That''s why we have to learn how to swim, she reminded herself. Fia and Viliant could not get caught in a bad situation like that when it would really count.

    Diwa led the way by stepping off the end of the dock. Her snout dipped to meet the water, diving head first. Her body became shadowed like a snake flowing beneath the surface. Her wings furled out on either side, helping bring Diwa back to the surface. She drifted above the water, splashing the water off her wings before she draped them over the surface. Diwa''s neck curled to regard Fia and Viliant who watched intently from dry land.

    "Come on in," Diwa sang. "The waters'' fine!"

    Fia cautiously poked her claws into the water first, just enough of her toes to feel the cool temperatures. Her fretful eyes had her pupils constricted to lines, waiting for Diwa to help.

    The green dragoness reached out her wings, beckoning Fia to jump the short distance into the water. "I''ll help you float. On the count of three," Diwa said and started to count. "One. Two¡ª"

    A shove from behind caused Fia to careen forward. Although Viliant kept his claws firmly planted against the wooden boards, he had decided to help Fia along. "Three," he said at the same time as her splash.

    "Gah!" Fia gasped. She began to thrash only to find her head above water. "Oh." While her body bobbed up and down, Fia turned to Diwa. The underside of her green wing scooped the dragonette closer to the surface.

    "See?" Diwa cooed. "I''ve got you." Her eyes lifted past Fia to shoot a dirty look at Viliant.

    Fia turned back to look at him too, glaring at his dry scales. "No fair!" she roared. "You should''ve jumped in with me at the same time!"

    You''re the one who wanted to swim so badly, Viliant replied. Diwa should help you first.

    "Brr!" Fia''s fangs chattered from her sudden plunge into the water. She stoked her internal flame and raised her body temperature to feel more comfortable.

    "It''s better to swim at midday," Diwa admitted, some shivers running down her own spine. "The sunlight helps warm up the water, and it reflects back onto our scales. That feels really nice!"

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    The setting sun caused an assortment of colors to glance off the rippling waves: orange, red, and purple. Their last-minute swimming lessons began with Fia first. "Take a big breath and keep your chest filled with air if you want to float on your own," Diwa advised. "It helps if you spread out your wings and tail."

    Fia followed these instructions, puffing out her chest and sprawling out her wings. The dragonette made herself as big as possible and found that her body gained buoyancy.

    "Kick all four of your legs! That will make you go places." Diwa demonstrated with her hind legs sending up some froth. The adult dragoness''s tail and wings steered herself like rudders to make a large circle around Fia.

    The pink dragonette started to move her legs in the same way that she did to walk. Fia bobbed with poorer balance, but aside from rocking herself atop the surface, she did not go anywhere. In response, she kicked harder like she tried to run. "Whoa¡ª!" she cried out. Her voice soon dipped to a gurgle underwater. Fia had flipped herself into a somersault, but before she could panic, she had somehow righted herself. "Oh!" she marveled. "I''m back up!"

    As Diwa made a second lap around Fia, she gave her some feedback. "Don''t do your front and back ones together. Alternate your kicks! Left. Right. Left. Right."

    Fia resumed her efforts to kick in time with the side that Diwa called out. The pink dragonette swam into the displaced water from Diwa''s circle. Fia lowered her right wing farther into the water, causing her trajectory to curve after the larger dragoness.

    "That''s it!" Diwa cheered. "You''re getting the hang of it!"

    Fia giggled, in part thanks to the bubbles which tickled her feet with every kick. The dragonette chased after Diwa like a duckling.

    Diwa drifted back to the dock and floated across from Viliant. "Now it''s your turn! Hop on in, Viliant!" Her open wings encouraged him, showing her readiness to catch him as soon as he made up his mind.

    I''m only doing this because it might help us survive, Viliant clarified.

    "Three. Two¡ª" Diwa started counting down for him to jump.

    Fia cast a sneaky fire spell which started behind Viliant. The flames licked at his tail and threatened to spread along the planks, setting a fire under him. Viliant sprung up and flung himself into the water before Diwa had finished counting.

    "One!" Fia shouted, a vengeful light gleaming in her eyes. The splash from Viliant''s body put out her embers on the deck. The floundering dragonet was caught underwater by Diwa''s wings¡ªboth of them this time to bobble his larger size.

    After Diwa had stabilized Viliant atop the surface, he glared at Fia. "That''s it," Viliant vocalized with a growl. His legs started to kick, right and left, like Diwa had coached her earlier. The older, stronger dragonet figured out how to swim more quickly.

    "Eep!" Fia turned tail and paddled through the water the other way. In her panic, she sprayed more water from all four legs which did not help her go any faster.

    Viliant nipped at her tail and trapped her in a tight circle. You''re lucky I don''t wanna drown us both, otherwise I''d tackle you!

    To get away from Viliant who kept corralling her, Fia roared playfully in his face. "Look! I''m a water dragon!" Her snout dipped into the water so that she could suck some up and squirt it into his face.

    Viliant squeezed his eyes shut, the corners pinched in disgust. He lifted a wing to shield himself. Maybe I should drown you, he grumbled.

    "You two can play rough and tumble in the water if you want," Diwa suggested. "It''s a great way to learn how to swim better! I''m right here in case you need help."

    With Diwa''s permission, Fia slapped her wings against the surface like she might fly. This sent a torrent of water over Viliant. The dragonette managed a small hop out of the water and launched herself through the watery curtain. Her fierce squeal announced her pounce on Viliant.

    "Gah¡ª!" Viliant''s mouth filled with water as they went under.

    Fia and Viliant contorted around each other. Each wrestled to claim dominance against the other, but the water made it easy to flip the top and bottom. Any time that Viliant shoved Fia deeper underwater, she could throw her weight to the same side and spin them round. "Whee!" she whistled under the water. The sound carried in a curious way, making Fia want to try screaming and roaring even more.

    Similarly, the range of the dragons'' telepathy expanded underwater. Their shared thoughts between Fia and Viliant felt more intense. This brought some embarrassment to Fia, as she could do little to restrain a level of excitement that she would normally keep to herself. I''m so happy! Viliant''s finally playing with me! He promised we''d play together on Carlinoa Island, but we''re getting to play¡ªright here, right now. I can''t believe it!

    Just as well, Fia got to experience Viliant''s mind in the most raw, unfiltered form. Fia feels so happy, but that observation was tainted by guilt. If I knew it meant this much to her, maybe I should''ve caved and played with her sooner. I almost lost her once, my best friend¡­. A bunch of bubbles came out of Viliant''s nose with a snort. His slitted pupils widened at the center, magnified even more by the water between their faces. Viliant snapped their telepathic connection to spare his private thoughts from becoming shared any further.

    With their minds detached from one another, only Fia and Viliant''s bodies remained entwined. The air in their chests was running out, requiring them to put in more effort to return to the surface. However, Fia never should have started this bout if she had not intended to go all-out against Viliant. He refused to call it quits and let the troublesome dragonette off easy.

    Some claws of purple magic reached up from the murky sandbar. These shadows, controlled by Viliant, grabbed at Fia''s limbs until they had successfully restrained every limb. The black dragonet peeled away from his friend and used his wings to help propel himself to the surface.

    Wait! Fia called over telepathy. What about me?

    Diwa sensed the sudden, frantic shift in Fia''s mood. The dragoness dove as gracefully as a kingfisher and wrenched Fia free from the hold of Viliant''s shadow magic. The dark claws receded back into the sandy bottom while the two dragonesses returned to the sunlight.

    Fia surfaced in Diwa''s claws. Her jaws hung open, gasping for air. The adult dragoness shifted her hold on her and encouraged Fia to float overtop her wings. "Are you okay, Fia?"

    Before she could reply vocally, Fia coughed and nodded her head. I''m fine.

    Viliant lurked in a shallow, shady part of the water close to the dock. From where he floated, he lay his chin to skim over the subtle ripples.

    "You should be more mindful, Viliant. If you need air, Fia needs air," Diwa scolded and retracted her earlier approval for them to lock horns. "Maybe let''s play a teensy bit nicer than that. It''s a good thing I brought toys!" The dragoness swam over to the edge where she retrieved a woven bag that she had prepared for their swimming lessons.

 Chapter 88: Water Games

    A big ball bopped off Diwa''s nose. The rubber ball plopped against the water with a lazy splash. Without needing any rules for the game introduced to her, Fia began to paddle over to the floating ball. Her forehead bumped it when she reached it. Fia gave chase after the ball which was spinning over the surface.

    "Don''t you want to get the ball too, Viliant?" Diwa prodded.

    No thank you, Viliant said, his attention turned to regard Fia critically.

    The pink dragonette had latched herself onto the red ball. All four of her limbs wrapped around it in addition to her wings and tail. She laid her neck flush against it as she tucked her chin. The ball rolled over with Fia still attached, causing her to cling to it upside down. Her weight made the rubber ball sag beneath the surface. Suddenly, it slipped from her grasp and launched a few feet into the air. Fia brought herself back up, giggling all the while.

    "Think of it as training," Diwa said. "You and Fia can race to see who gets the ball first."

    That would be me, Viliant thought smugly. His longer, stronger legs made him kick through the water faster. Between him and Fia, it was no contest.

    "Prove it," Diwa huffed heavily.

    "Fine," Viliant muttered. He wasted no time in paddling over to Fia, cutting her off before she could reach the ball a second time. His tail curled around its diameter and secured it with the help of one claw. "Ha! Too slow," he jeered at Fia, his voice too low to clearly indicate his good humor.

    Some frustrated smoke curled from Fia''s jowls. She lunged at him and thwacked the ball with the back of her paw, making it pop out of Viliant''s grasp. The dragonets bumped their shoulders as they clawed the water to get ahead of one another. Viliant had more weight to throw around and bumped Fia farther off course. The black dragonet took the red ball into his possession once again.

    "No fair! You keep cheating," Fia fussed and lunged for the ball. Despite Diwa''s suggestion to play nice, they soon started a wrestling rematch. Fia and Viliant pushed each other under the surface while the ball drifted atop. The red rubber flounced this way and that, influenced by the dragonets'' sudden jerks and twists underwater.

    After she let this go on for a minute, Diwa shook her head with a sigh. The green dragoness swam over and swiped the ball from them both.

    When Fia noticed the ball disappear from its spot on the surface, a stream of bubbles coughed from her open mouth. Wait! The ball! Her muscles relaxed around Viliant''s hold on her, eager to put her efforts toward their new objective.

    Viliant swam with her to breach the surface. "Let''s get it," he said, jaw tightening and tail curling over the water in a devious grin.

    "Go ahead and try!" Diwa shouted. Her voice lilted into a mocking tease. "You can''t catch me!"

    Fia and Viliant united on the same team to reclaim the toy from Diwa. At first, Viliant chased after her unilaterally. Fia tried to keep up, trailing farther behind Viliant. Although he was faster than Fia, the adult dragoness left him exhausted. Viliant floated with all four legs and his two wings stretched straight out. "We need a plan," he huffed at last.

    "I got it!" Fia said and took the lead. She now chased Diwa onto a path that Viliant intercepted. When they had her cornered against the pier, Fia clambered onto Diwa''s back. Water dripped from her scales as she balanced on the shoulder of the green dragoness. Fia reached around her neck while Viliant lunged upward from the water.

    Diwa lifted her claw which held the ball high into the air. Her hind legs treaded water furiously while her wings flapped, nearly lifting her into flight. Fia! she secretly colluded over telepathy. Want to be on the same team? I''ll give you the ball, then let''s keep it away from Viliant.

    Okay! Fia watched the red ball sail into the air after Diwa threw it. She jumped from her perch on Diwa''s shoulder and glided after her target. The remaining water droplets snapped off Fia''s wings when she opened them wide. Fia dove into the water, plunging her deep with the ball in her clutches.

    "Woohoo!" Fia howled underwater. Riding on the ball, it sprung upward to the surface. Fia bobbed a few times before she slipped back into the water next to the ball.

    "Good job, Fia," Viliant praised as he paddled over. "You got back our ball."

    The pink dragonette shielded the ball under one wing. "Our ball?" she questioned.

    "Fia¡­." When Viliant came over to receive a friendly pass, his eyes narrowed at Fia''s defensive stance. The black dragonet rushed to steal the ball. Before Viliant could take it, Fia jumped out of the water and headbutted the ball in Diwa''s direction.

    "Over here, Viliant," Diwa taunted.

    However, as Viliant sped closer to Diwa, the green dragoness lobbed the ball back to Fia. The pink dragonette nuzzled her cheek against her rubber treasure and giggled. She chucked the ball back to Diwa when Viliant got too close.

    Viliant swam to and fro, racing between Fia and Diwa to have a chance at retaking the ball. His shredded wings could not help him get as much altitude when he tried to leap out of the water. "If this is what you call a game, then it''s no fun!" Viliant raged. He ignored the ball tossed just over his horns by Fia who still found much fun in it.

    Diwa caught the ball in her cupped tail. "Sorry, Viliant. Just a little more! You were so close! If you get the ball, we can switch."

    Viliant side-eyed Diwa, resenting her efforts to goad him into playing.

    Diwa swung the ball from her tail, a deliberately clumsy throw that Viliant could easily catch in his mouth. Alas, the dragonet did not move his head. The rubber bounced off his temple, but the protection of his horns caused it to just barely graze his telepathic organ. The ball splashed next to him, drawing his wrath. Viliant pounced on the ball, sinking his foreclaws into the rubber and snapping his jaws at its center. The sphere became ovular under his pressure. Viliant thrashed his head back and forth until his teeth chewed down to a burst of air. Pop! The ball deflated to a thick pile of rubber which drifted toward the pier.

    "My ball¡­" Diwa groaned. Before she could dwell too long at the loss of her childhood toy, Diwa diverted her attention to the bag on the dock. "It''s okay. I still have more toys." She scooped up the busted ball from the water and shoved it into the sack. To replace it, Diwa pulled out some weighted rings. "These are diving toys! I''ll teach you how to fetch them. Watch closely."

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The bright yellow ring sank to the button of the lake''s floor until Fia could not see it anymore. She ducked her head underwater to view Diwa''s dive more clearly. The green scales of her neck and back arched like a sea serpent. Since she plunged her head beneath the water, her accompanying explanation came over telepathy.

    You can go farther on the initial dive if you start in the air, but this is how you gain a bit of momentum from the water. The dragoness pounded her wings backward, holding them close to her side, and slapped her tail to start the downward descent. Her body followed an oscillating movement and repeated until Diwa could bite the ring. Her wings opened up and carried her to the surface.

    Remember to take into account how much air you have left. It''ll take more energy to get back up if the object is big or heavy! Diwa broke her horns through the surface. Her head shook right and left, getting the water off her scales and the ring. "That''s how you do it! Ready to try?"

    "Yep!" Fia cheered.

    "Nah¡­" Viliant drawled, but he watched a ring drop several feet in front of him anyway.

    An identical, orange ring was thrown across from Fia. The pink dragonette practiced her dive a few times before she got a good enough start to beat her tail all the way down to the bottom.

    "Why don''t you try?" Diwa asked. "You can make it a race. See who can get their ring first."

    Viliant kept his mouth clamped shut. I already know I can, and I don''t need to prove it."

    Diwa ignored him in favor of diverting his attention to a bunch more colorful rings that she spun around her claws. "I can throw all ten of these rings in. See who can find and grab the most."

    That trick won''t work on me again. Viliant had no desire to enter a petty competition with Fia again.

    Diwa pouted. "I never played any trick on you. This is seriously the best way to learn how to swim, or learn anything, if you''re having fun."

    A few, jaded blinks fell over Viliant''s eyes. Fia came back up with a yellow ring between her fangs, glistening water. He watched Fia slither over to the other ring''s location and make another dive. Tomorrow morning, Viliant would oversee Fia without any adult intervention. I don''t appreciate how you''re lowering Fia''s guard, he criticized Diwa. It took long enough to make her stop treating everything like a game.

    "We''ve gotten her the safest passage possible. You two have already made it through the toughest part of your journey." Diwa had confidence that the dragonets had safe passage to Carlinoa, but Viliant did not share this certainty. Since she no longer had time to reassure him of their safety, Diwa appealed to his skepticism. "But you''re not wrong, Viliant. It''s good to do everything you can to protect yourselves. What if Fia falls in the water when she''s hurt and not able to swim on her own?" Diwa whispered. "You might need to dive in and save her." From her stack of weighted rings, Diwa selected a pink one close to the hue of Fia''s scales. She tossed it over the water, so it sank like a rock. Plunk!

    Viliant watched the toy sink into the murk of the water. His head snapped back up to Fia. His slitted pupils widened as he watched the dragonette come up from a failed attempt at a dive. Her open mouth sputtered water, but when her pinched eyes reopened, they gleamed with determination. Fia dove back under and thrashed her tail to go deeper. "Fine," he spat. "I''ll practice."

    Viliant''s emerald eyes gained clarity as he searched under the water. First, he practiced his dive over the toy rings. The holes in his wings caused more water to drag through his flaps, making it difficult for him to gather speed in the initial seconds of his dive. Viliant compensated with some extra kicks and strokes of his tail. He collected a ring shortly after Fia came up with her third.

    Every time that Fia and Viliant obtained another ring, Diwa tossed in a couple fresh ones for them. Viliant sank beneath the surface, finding that his affinity for magic grew as soon as he escaped the sun''s rays. Halfway to the bottom of the lake''s shallows, Viliant hovered and meditated there. His draw to the shadows increased, making him realize he did not need to exert so much effort to swim. Viliant called upon the shadows to carry him through the water like a current. His magic also lifted up the ring from its tangle of water ivy. The shadow claws passed the ring to Viliant who carried through the lighter waters the rest of the way.

    "Wow, Viliant," Fia remarked when they lingered around the surface at the same time. "You''re really good at this!"

    "Thanks, Fia." Viliant removed the pink ring from his stack and threw it back into the water for her. The splash broke Fia''s gaze of intense admiration, letting him swim the rest of the rings over to Diwa on the pier.

    "She''s right! You''re a fast learner," Diwa praised. "Are you up for another challenge?"

    "Try me."

    "If you go out deeper," Diwa said, pointing a talon to the open water that the dragons had not yet disturbed, "you might find some fish. Why don''t you catch yourself a snack?"

    "Say no more." Viliant slunk over to the deeper waters. He slowed his movements to more elongated strokes so that he would not startle away any fish.

    Meanwhile, Diwa kept Fia preoccupied with new variations of her swimming and diving lessons.

    A glint of silver caught Viliant''s eye. A small school of fish swam below him. Viliant tucked his body into a dive and seized the nearest fish with shadow magic. As soon as the rest of the fish sensed the magical disturbance, they scattered in all directions. Viliant had not expected the tiny fish to dart so fast. They all disappeared in the next blink of his eyes. The black dragonet stared down at the one fish that he had managed to catch, its small body skewered on his larger claw.

    Viliant drifted back to the surface and lifted the convulsing fish into the dying sunlight. This fish is so small it''s embarrassing! I almost wish I hadn''t caught anything at all. He had half the mind to throw it back or swallow it whole, just to get rid of the evidence. Viliant did not want to show his lame catch to Diwa and Fia, but at the same time, even the tiniest things like this little fish never ceased to impress her. I''ll give it to Fia, he decided, just because it''ll make her happy.

    The dragons clambered onto solid ground and shook the water off. After this, Diwa showed them how to wipe their soaked scales with the edge of their talons. This made some larger droplets of water glance off the dragons'' scales and spread out the rest to help them dry faster. Fia watched Viliant emulate this trick, not needing it for herself as the fire dragonette had already dried completely. She puffed some hot exhales over her friends to warm them up.

    Shyly, Viliant pinned the tail of a tiny, flopping fish with both of his front claws. "I caught this fish," he muttered without looking at either Fia or Diwa. He braced himself to hear them giggle and laugh. "It''s too small for me," he made up as an excuse, "so you should take it, Fia." Viliant thrust the slimy fish across the wooden boards in front of Fia''s claws.

    She struck her claws through the thin pectoral fins and lifted the fish up like a doll. "Aw," Fia cooed. "Thank you so much, Viliant! Are you sure you don''t wanna try your own catch?"

    "It''s all yours." Viliant considered this a small way to pay her back for all the food that she had given him in the coliseum.

    Fia tipped back her head. She snapped down the fish like a crocodile. Her jaws smacked a few times to assess the aftertaste. "It''s fishy, stronger than the ones my clan used to catch."

    "Hmph," Viliant snorted. He withdrew back into himself and did not want to speak anymore. Sorry it wasn''t very good.

    "No!" Fia gasped. "It was delicious. I missed fish a lot. We cooked it in a super yummy way at home. I can''t wait for you to try it, Viliant."

    The dragonets sat across from each other, flicking their tails happily. Diwa pulled Fia and Viliant in for a hug with her wings on either side. Her nose bowed down to their horns. "We had an eventful day! Let''s get you two dragonets tucked in bed, for an even bigger day tomorrow."

    ***

    The dragonets returned to Diwa''s family home and slept in their soft beds, one last time before they set sail. At the crack of dawn, Diwa stirred Viliant and walked him down to the docks. His workday started early since he needed to load crates on the boat with the human crew. Fia tossed in bed when she heard Diwa slip back into their shared room. Once the sun had risen higher, Diwa''s green eye cracked open once more.

    "Good morning, Fia," the dragoness called sweetly. "Today''s the big day!"

    Fia''s blue eyes opened wide, sparkling like the waters in the harbor. She jumped up and roared: "Aye! I''m ready to go home."

 Chapter 89: Setting Sail

    Fia skipped next to Diwa as they made their way to the ship anchored at port. Most of the humans and dragons that were out and about so early rushed by. Any humans who would have otherwise walked close to Fia and Diwa lengthened their strides. The quiet streets made it easy for them to give the dragons ample space. The empty skies allowed other dragons to soar directly to their destination with minimal interference from other fliers. The vendors of the street-side marketplace were displaying their wares to anticipate the day''s business. While most of the city was gradually filling with people, the port was already packed.

    Many strong dragons and men carried crates which looked too big for either species to handle. The dragons hovered over the ship decks while the humans walked up ridged planks. Since Viliant was just a dragonet, he had a large barrel balanced over his spiny back and horns. Two other humans helped lift the goods, ahead and behind Viliant. They coordinated their steps to ascend the ramp together.

    Fia resisted the urge to jump into telepathy with him right away. Instead, she contented herself with talking to Diwa. "Viliant''s doing such a good job, isn''t he?"

    "He really is." A slight curl entered Diwa''s tail. For the short time that she had known him, Diwa had watched Viliant grow so much. Now he even acted civilly around the humans in Malakow who had done nothing to hurt him.

    The moment that he got on the ship with the two other sailors, Viliant slunk out from underneath the crate. His tail slipped between his legs to make sure it did not get smashed. The two humans were left struggling to set the fragile cargo down gently.

    "That''s the last one!" cheered a violet dragon. Bagwis spied Diwa and Fia on the docks, so he hovered to greet them. "Perfect timing. We just finished loading the ship." Bagwis turned to address just Fia. "How''re you feeling? Are you excited to head home?"

    Fia jumped up and ruffled her wings, "Yes! Oh, yes."

    "Your parents would be thrilled that you''re about to get on this ship." Bagwis steeped his head in a bow. "Safe travels."

    "Thanks again!" Fia waved her wing as Bagwis took to the sky once more. He busied himself with more heavy things that required dragon wings on the docks.

    "Let''s head over." Diwa guided Fia close to the ship¡ªsmaller than the one which had captured Fia¡ªbut no less impressive to the dragonette as she stood in its shadow.

    Fia was so excited to get on the boat, she did not even spare Diwa a final farewell. The pink dragonette squealed and raced up the boarding ramp. "Viliant!" she called, connecting with him over telepathy.

    Viliant also made his way down the ramp. He intercepted Fia as she leaped against his chest. With a flex of his toes, his claws lodged against a wooden board, Viliant did not budge.

    "Oof." Fia knocked the wind out of herself, but that did not dampen her spirits. "Today''s the day!"

    Let''s go down the ramp first. Viliant jerked his neck to gesture to Diwa. We should say one last good-bye. The dragonet also wanted to give Diwa one last chance to heal his wings.

    Fia backed up her first couple of steps. Her hind right foot slipped and almost carried her off the ramp.

    "Careful," Viliant barked.

    The dragonette turned herself around and jumped so that she could glide the rest of the way. "Diwa! Thank you so, so much." Fia curled into her wings to get a last hug.

    "Of course, Fia. It was my pleasure," Diwa thrummed. "May the air and water currents hasten your journey! If you ever find yourself back in Malakow, please pay me a visit. You and Viliant are welcome in my home anytime."

    Viliant ducked his head, preparing the words for what he was about to ask. He spoke in the language which Diwa had tried her best to teach them. "Will you heal my wings?" In an effort to sound more polite, he added on, "If you can."

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    Diwa squeezed her eyes shut with a sigh. "Viliant, lay out your wings." Her chest swelled as the dragoness gathered her magic power. A green light swirled around the black dragonet''s wings, sprawled flat on the wooden pier. A few holes mended over, only the smallest ones around the edges. Diwa let out a gasp as her magic gave out. "That''s all I can do right now."

    Viliant lifted one wing to his face. His eye peered through the largest slit at Diwa. Figured it was worth a shot. Thanks for trying, he thought glumly.

    "I''m so sorry," Diwa hung her head, barely lifting her hooded lids to regard Viliant. "I hope you find a healer more skilled than me, elsewhere. If you ever come back¡ªand have the time to stay longer¡ªI''ll fix your wings for real."

    Viliant nodded, but he said nothing and thought nothing of her offer. He turned to head back onto the ship first.

    Fia felt how the mood had soured across their telepathic chain. With claws tapping frantically, she flung herself at Diwa for another hug. "Bye! We''ll see each other again some day, when I''m a flying ace!" The pink dragonette dashed after Viliant and bounded up the ramp.

    Pako greeted them on the deck, giving them a sailor''s salute. "Welcome aboard. We have two weeks of smooth sailing to Arucaway, the seaside city."

    The sailors did the last chores to draw up the boarding plank. One man shouted, "Get that drake over here¡ª!"

    Viliant gave a soft snarl and glared in the direction of the man''s voice.

    Pako lowered his hand close to Viliant''s face, a daring move despite his calming intent. "I have my hands free," he called to his fellow men. "I can help!"

    Fia and Viliant were left along the guardrail as the ship pulled away from port. Thrilled that they were moving on the water, Fia propped her forelegs against the wooden fence.

    Diwa kept her perch on the pier to see them off. "Good luck! Have a safe voyage home! I''ll miss you both!"

    "Thanks for everything, Diwa!" Fia whistled, waving an exuberant goodbye with her wing.

    Viliant copied her, balancing his front feet on the ledge. He chose to wave one of his wings too, the one that had the least shreds after Diwa''s meager healing. Thanks for everything, he repeated.

    The ship navigated onto the river where their journey began once more.

    ***

    Fia quickly discovered that the ship did not offer them much to do¡ªat least not in the way of engaging activities for a dragonette. Viliant still had much to do in the way of work. Don''t follow me. You''re not supposed to work. You''ll have to find a way to entertain yourself, but stay out of trouble! The black dragonet slunk off when Pako came to get him.

    "I''ll be good. See you later, Viliant!" Fia stayed by the rail, content to listen to the sloshing water against the boat''s hull. Despite having her egg hatch on an island, she had only seen the ocean enough times to count on one paw. And the last time, I was thrown in a cage. A shiver ran up Fia''s spine. The long journey on the ship to to Syene, where Fia was kept miserable in the brig, had turned hazy in her memory. To the dragonette, it felt like she would find herself on the shores of Carlinoa Island in the blink of an eye.

    When she next opened her eyes, she still stared down at the river water. Unlike the ocean, its turquoise colors had a lighter tint. Fia thought that she could see deeper into the water, shallow compared to a vast sea. A group of three silver fish swam by, a dim glint beneath the rippling surface. They appeared dull as the surrounding jungle shaded the water. The morning light could sparkle off neither the fish''s scales nor the flowing stream.

    Fia took in the rest of her surroundings. At the boat''s center, a cabin blocked her view of the other side. A small human peeked her head around the corner, where she also had her fingers wrapped. Her braided hair draped over her shoulder, and only one of her brown eyes were visible. When Fia met her gaze, the girl ducked behind the wall. There''s another child on this boat, Fia thought, her curiosity piqued.

    While she had not hesitated to make friends with Ori, a fellow dragonette, Fia did not run over to the kid. Viliant told me to stay out of trouble, Fia remembered. The only trouble on the boat is probably the humans.

    Instead, Fia moved toward the rear of the boat. Once she settled into a sunny patch of empty deck, her eyes fluttered shut. The dragonette meditated as a way to practice her fire magic without sparking a flame. If any monster reared its ugly head from the water, Fia would be ready to scald it and put it back under.

 Chapter 90: Dragons on a Boat

    It did not take long before Fia''s focus was interrupted. The girl crept out from behind the cabin and approached the pink dragonette. The human stood so that her shadow blocked the sunlight on Fia''s cheek. "Hi!" the girl peeped.

    Fia cracked one eye open.

    The kid had her lips stretched in a human''s weird smile. Although the dragonette did not know much about human dress, the girl looked less like the woman in the capital and more like a miniature sailor. When Fia did not reply, the girl asked in an innocent tone, "What''re you up to?"

    "Meditating."

    "What for?" The girl rocked on her heels with her hands folded behind her back.

    "I''m practicing magic." Fia opened her eyes all the way and glanced around for Viliant. The black dragonet was nowhere in sight, allowing her to relax some tension in her angled wings. The dragonette did not want her friend to catch her consorting with a human. Fia contemplated retreating to the other side of the ship, but no matter where she went, she had a feeling that this girl would follow her. Fia planned to find out what the human wanted first, then she would get away as soon as possible.

    "My papa told me you took second place in the youth tournament!" The girl''s eyes lit up in the same way that Ori had looked at Fia. "That''s amazing!"

    "Thank you." Fia could not resist her tail flicking into a smile. She stood up and stretched to hide the reaction of her tail.

    "Your name''s Fia, right? I''m Tacuma." The girl peeled her lips apart to reveal her teeth.

    Fia stared at her mouth, reminding herself that humans did not flash their teeth as a sign of aggression. "Nice to meet you."

    "Yeah! Nice to meet you too." Tacuma fiddled with her braid, and her eyes diverted away from Fia. "Your scales are really pretty. They''re the same color as my bow." Tacuma held out the ribbon tied at the end of her hair, some white and gray feathers stitched to the fabric. The rest of the pink silk twisted throughout her braid which added color to her glossy, brown hair.

    "Thanks." Fia ruffled her wings. "You picked a good color."

    Tacuma''s hands dropped away from her braid, and her downcast eyes stared at the wooden planks. "My mama picked it out for me¡­." Tacuma strained her voice as though she choked back tears. Her clear eyes flung back up to regard Fia. "That''s why pink is my favorite color! I bet we have a lot more in common, too. Let''s be friends¡ª"

    Fia walked past Tacuma and headed for the ship''s far side. Unless Tacuma was a better mage who could help Fia meditate, she was uninterested in making human friends. "I have to keep practicing magic."

    "Can I watch?" Tacuma asked, skipping behind Fia''s tail.

    Worried that the clumsy human might step on it, Fia curled her tail up to her heels. The dragonette stopped and spun, scraping her dew claws against the deck. "No. There''s nothing to watch. I''m just meditating."

    Tacuma huffed and tossed her braid over her shoulder. "Well, let me know when you''re done being boring. I''d love to see your magic sometime!" The girl tromped the other way.

    Fia''s breath quickened alongside her breath. Was I too rude? she wondered. Her mind reached out to Viliant, hoping to appease her guilt.

    What did you do? Viliant asked as soon as their minds reconnected.

    There''s a human girl around our age on the ship, Fia reported. She tried making friends with me.

    No, you did not¡ª! Viliant''s bad mood rumbled like a growl.

    I told her I''m too busy with magic to play.

    Oh. Viliant made no attempt to conceal his shock over telepathy. After Fia had made fast friends with Ori, he had assumed that she would still do so with humans indiscriminately. Good job, Fia. Don''t let the humans distract you. We have to stay focused on the mission. Even though Viliant could not see her nod, he could sense her assent over telepathy.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Fia settled down to resume sunbathing and meditating, at least until Tacuma pestered her again in the afternoon.

    "I brought my favorite toy!" Tacuma sat down next to Fia uninvited. Her fingers unfurled to reveal a knobby, hollowed ball. "It''s a singing, spinning top." When she twisted it and twirled it against the ground, the air whistled through the hole in the center. "See? Do you hear that?" A resonant pitch hummed through the air, quickly punctuated by Tacuma''s yelp.

    Fia coughed an ember over the top, setting it alight.

    "Ah!" Tacuma leaped to her feet. The girl bounced from left foot to right foot around the flaming, spinning top. "Why''d you do that?"

    "I thought you wanted to see my magic," Fia said, jumping to her own feet. The dragonette watched her flame spin round and round. Normally to get such an effect, Fia had to actively bend fire. The dragonette enjoyed watching it dance effortlessly.

    "Not like this! Please, put it out."

    Fia put her paw over the top, stopping it and snuffing out the flame. When her foot lifted away from the top, a piece of its burnt side crumbled away.

    Tacuma propped herself on her knees to examine her top closely. "Oh," she sighed out of disappointment. "It''s busted." Her attempts to spin it around only resulted in a feeble, lopsided roll. The top could no longer produce a pleasant sound aside from a hollow plunk when it fell over. Tacuma got up and shoved it in her pocket. "My papa made that for me. I guess we''ll have to make another one."

    "Go do that." Fia suppressed her urge to apologize profusely. She closed her eyes once more, finding it easier to ignore Tacuma that way. Just be like Viliant, she told herself. I want her to leave me alone, so I can focus on my magic.

    Tacuma''s footsteps padded away. The girl did not reappear until nighttime when everybody on the ship gathered together.

    ***

    The work throughout the day had not dampened the spirits of the crewmembers. If anything, the humid rainforest had carried the atmosphere to a fever pitch. Fia timidly peered at the congregation in the deck''s center from the edge of the cabin. Her frantic eyes searched for Viliant amidst the human legs. You said you''re here. I can''t find you! she cried to him.

    A human¡­ has put its arm¡­ around my neck. Even Viliant''s thoughts came through stilted, so aggravated that he could not think straight. If he does not move right now, I''m going to bite his throat out.

    No! Don''t do that! I''m coming. Fia stepped out into the open and approached the rowdy humans. She needed to rescue Viliant who had not managed to excuse himself from his coworkers'' jamboree.

    "Fia!" a sailor called from the crowd. A hand stuck up to wave her over. Soon, Pako emerged to shepherd her toward the rest of the humans. "We''ve been waiting for our guest of honor!" The way his words slurred together, Fia had a harder time following his speech.

    "You''ve been waiting for me? How come?" Fia flipped her gaze either which way. "Where''s Viliant?"

    "I thought we''d have to light the brazier ourselves." Pako laughed and steered Fia to the heart of the gathering. The dragonette gaped at the rotund, metal stand stuffed to the brim with cold, dry wood. The sticky night had stripped away common sense.

    "No!" Fia shouted, her slitted pupils constricted to lines. "A big fire on a wood boat is a bad idea." The dragonette did not want to burn her ticket home.

    "It''s fine, so long as it stays in here." Pako rang the metal strip of his barrel mug against the brazier. "Besides, what sparks do we have to worry about when we''ve got a fire dragon on board?" Louder, he shouted with an arm swung out, "And what does the night have us fear when we''ve got a shadow dragon right here?"

    Some hoots and hollers came from a small subset of the men, especially noisy around their subject of admiration. The black dragonet swayed back and forth by a drunken sailor''s arm around his shoulders. Viliant glared at the man sidelong, then glanced at Fia for help.

    Her head tilted quizzically. Couldn''t you use your shadow magic to slip away, anytime? The fact that Viliant was still here meant that he chose to tolerate the humans'' treatment toward him. Do you actually¡­ like this¡ª? Fia did not get to finish her thought before Viliant snapped their telepathy.

    The black dragonet melded with the darkness, slipping through the man''s arm. His ephemeral form plowed through the sailors'' legs, leaving them with a chill up their spines. Viliant''s physical form stood on the outer side of the ring. I''ll get the captain. He''ll break up the party. There''s no way this conduct can go on.

    Okay. Fia backed up and looked for a way to make her exit with Viliant, but she found herself surrounded by men. Her tail curled between her legs as she felt trapped, unable to use her magic to escape as easily as Viliant had.

    "Come on, Fia," Pako chided. "Don''t be shy."

    All the sailors on board cheered on the pink dragonette, expecting her to light their brazier so the party could truly begin. Tacuma sat atop the large beer keg, swinging her legs to and fro. Fia took a deep breath and figured that they would let her go once the fire had started.

 Chapter 91: Ghost Story

    "Fia! Fia! Fia!" The sailors had started a chant of her name, pressuring the dragonette to start the fire. Tacuma kicked her heels against the half-full barrel like a drum. All the while Fia stood with her eyes squeezed shut.

    I don''t wanna get in trouble, Fia bemoaned. Viliant will be back with the captain at any moment. They shouldn''t catch me starting a fire. Like this, Fia resisted the urge to comply with the men''s demands. Her head spun with the racket. She flapped her wings over her head to cover her ears.

    The sailors'' chant quieted down. Pako crouched near Fia, so that she saw his face when she peeked past one wing. "Are you okay, Fia? We can strike some flint if you don''t want to."

    "Thanks. I''d rather go with Viliant¡ª" Before she could finish and slip away, Viliant returned with the captain.

    "What''s all this about?" Captain Ulatu boomed, loud enough that all the men could hear him. At the same time, the captain waited only for Tacuma''s response. His eyes seemed to shine and lips smile behind his beard.

    "Hi, Papa!" Tacuma reached for her father who picked her off the barrel and swung her in his arm. The girl sat happily on her father''s bicep, sturdy as a tree branch. Her legs never stopped swinging.

    She''s the captain''s daughter? Fia realized, gaping. Oh no! I broke the toy that her father made for her. Her attempts to distance herself from the kid and stay out of trouble actually was the thing to get her in trouble. More than ever, Fia wanted to disappear from the center of the crew.

    "Do all you lubbers think our voyage is a party?" Captain Ulatu shouted. His voice lowered to a grave note as he crouched to take a seat at the foot of the brazier. "Let me remind you of the fiend that lurks in these waters: the ghost pirarucu!"

    The grown men gasped. Tacuma yelped and hopped out of her father''s arms. The mood of the crew shifted to regain some sobriety. Viliant slipped next to Fia''s side, settling in to listen for a while. Everyone held their breath as the captain delved into his legend of the ghost fish.

    "The pirarucu is all around us, watching every moment, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike." Captain Ulatu growled about the fish as though it were his bane. "The ghost pirarucu is not bound to water nor land nor sky. It has grown bigger than our ship, even wider than the river! With its shadow magic, it can swim through all things and hew our boat like an axe to papaya bark."

    A large branch snapped, a sharp sound which caused everyone to flinch. Shortly after, a girl''s giggle rang out. The crew had been so enthralled in the captain''s story that Tacuma had slipped away to add to its effect.

    The captain had already barked his warning, but he did not leave it at that. His attention shifted to the two dragonets to make sure that they understood. "And the scales of the ghost pirarucu are nigh impenetrable. Even metal mages can hardly pierce its scales. The fish''s jagged teeth can crack dragon scales like tururi nuts!"

    The telepathy between Fia and Viliant allowed them to remark on Captain Ulatu''s story without appearing rude. Although it instilled terror in Fia, Viliant sneered, Some fish tale.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    The men around them started to murmur. Some of their sidelong glances flitted to Viliant, gaining new doubts that their hireling was up to the job.

    "But we will not cower in the shadow of this fish!" Captain Ulatu yelled, rising to stand in front of the brazier. "Not when we have our own power of shadow and fire on our side."If the ghost pirarucu thinks it can haunt us, we''ll send it back to its watery grave!" The captain''s singular voice beckoned to the dark night.

    "Aye!" The sailors all leaped to their feet and cheered. The crew jostled each other to toast their mugs. Some of the contents sloshed out, spilling their beverage.

    Meanwhile, Captain Ulatu swept his arm out to the pile of wood in the brazier. "Get this fire lit," he ordered Fia.

    If the captain told her to do so directly, Fia had no qualms with lighting the fire anymore. Her billowing flames rushed from her maw and flared around the brazier. With the fire dancing on its own, the crew began to do the same.

    The dragonets watched the outlandish display of human gaiety. Fia stuck by Viliant''s side. Both kept their tails curled around their legs, making sure their shorter stature did not cause them to get stepped on. We can call it a night, right? Fia asked. The pink dragonette felt the most uncomfortable as the smallest one.

    Let''s go. Viliant tried to walk Fia out of the crowd, but Pako begged them to stay.

    "It''s our first night on the water," Pako reasoned. "We have to keep the pirarucu away! At least until our mast points to the moon." His finger pointed up to the sky. The white globe had yet to make its appearance between the trees, but by midnight, it would shine directly overhead.

    "I''ll stay," Viliant huffed. His eyes darted to Fia. You can leave if you want to.

    Fia snorted a puff of smoke in his face. I thought you needed me to rescue you from the humans! What if they bother you again? I don''t wanna leave you alone.

    I''m fine. His emerald eyes rolled around in his head. Viliant admitted, I don''t actually mind the way they treat me¡­ most of the time.

    Still skeptical, Fia refused to depart from the party without Viliant. She decided to crawl underneath the brazier where the fire warmed her back against the chilly nighttime air.

    Viliant retook his place near the center of attention. One of the men tapped a mug, overfilling with froth, onto the deck in front of the dragonet. Viliant turned his head to the side, observing the alcohol with distrust. His nostrils flared, and he flicked out his tongue to sample it. "Ugh. It tastes bad."

    Fia widened her eyes. This was the first time that she had ever seen Viliant dislike a food. She crawled on her elbows to pull her front half out from under the brazier. "Can I try it?"

    Before Viliant could shrug his wings, Pako crouched by Fia. "How old are you?"

    "I''m seven!" Fia replied. A chink of anxiety made its way through her scales, forcing her reassess how long she had been away from home. Not so much time had passed that another season of Fia''s hatching had come and gone.

    "That''s¡­ what?" Pako scratched his head, trying to remember how a dragon''s years reflected their maturity. No one had bothered to check Viliant''s age, considering how if he was old enough to work alongside the sailors then he could drink with them too. "Is this your first taste of pulque, Viliant?"

    "Yeah."

    Pako raised his brow. "Are you that young?"

    "No," Viliant snapped. He tucked his wings around himself, glaring at Pako and any other humans who gave him a look. "Why?" Still too small for his age, Viliant worried that he looked young¡ªeven among the smaller species of jungle dragons in Malakow.

    "I thought dragons made a ceremony out of their first, real pulque."

    As soon as Viliant heard this was a right of passage that he might have missed, he stuffed his muzzle into the mug. The dragonet gulped down its contents.

    Fia whined, unhappy that she could not join him. I wanna try it too! I''m jealous. If she knew how alcohol affected one''s judgment, then she would have knocked the mug from his claws instead.

 Chapter 92: Drunk Dragon

    Normally Viliant would not accept food or drink from humans so readily, but he had been goaded to take part. The last time that he had done so, the citrus ice had tasted delicious. After working alongside these men all day, most of whom praised his rare element and trusted him to defend the ship, Viliant felt confident that they would not poison him at least. The dragonet stuffed his nose into the mug so that his closed eyelids pressed up to the rim. He drank until he could not reach the shallow layer at the bottom.

    "Bleh." Viliant let his tongue loll between his fangs once he had finished. "It''s sour." Some pulque dripped off his chin. "Does this taste better to humans?"

    Pako shrugged. "You''ll get used to it. Wait till you feel it."

    "Feel what?"

    As a response, Pako and the other humans nearby only grinned. Viliant narrowed his eyes, more concerned by what he had just consumed. Based on the jolly nature of all the crewmates, they must like the resulting aftereffects of the pulque.

    Fia stayed curled beneath the brazier. Its warm underside heated her wings, which were tucked around her body like a blanket.

    Captain Ulatu knelt to peer at Fia. "Do you plan to stay out here, little dragonette? I''m seeing that Tacuma gets to bed." He gestured to his young daughter who kicked her heel along the boards.

    Without lifting her head, Tacuma glanced sidelong at Fia. The girl''s hooded lids made her expression look unhappy.

    The dragonette gulped. Fia had definitely gotten on Tacuma''s bad side, but it seemed as though she had not told the captain yet. "I''m okay. Viliant will take care of me," Fia said, but wanting to sound more mature and useful herself, she added, "And I want to watch the fire."

    Captain Ulatu nodded his bushy chin. "G''night, Fia." His stern voice softened once he had gotten up and turned back to his daughter. "Come on, Tacuma. There''s no reason for you to stay out here." The captain took Tacuma''s hand and walked off with her.

    The girl turned back to stare at Fia beneath the brazier. A hint of jealousy gleamed in her dark brown eyes. Tacuma followed her father into the cabin.

    Fia''s attention swiveled back to the men''s dancing feet. A low growl sounded below the tramp of their boots. "Viliant?" Alarmed by his sudden growl, Fia watched the black dragonet who had curled up and flattened himself along the planks.

    The humans gave him space at once. "Sorry," Pako said. "Did someone step on your tail¡ª?"

    A snarl broke in Viliant''s throat. "What did you¡­ do to me?" After a few broken words in Malakow, Viliant reverted to the vocal language of Syene. Fia recognized the sound of the syllables, but she did not understand their meaning.

    What''s wrong? Fia demanded from Viliant. She descended to panic when she could not reach him over telepathy. Even though he was only a few paces ahead of her, he felt distant as though he were out of range. Fia squirmed from her spot beneath the brazier and darted directly in front of Viliant. She replaced his view of Pako with her pink scales and blue eyes.

    Now that she had his attention focused on her, Fia was able to successfully renew their telepathy. What''s wrong, Viliant? Thanks to their telepathy, she already had a partial answer to her question.

    Viliant''s mind felt deranged and disordered like some ailment had overtaken him. He thrashed his head side to side. Poison. Stupid. Revenge. Humans. Hate. Myself. Too many ideas cascaded through his mind all at once for Fia to understand the present state of his mind.

    Slow down, Viliant! One thing at a time.

    Hanging his head lower, Viliant muttered some words aloud to help him concentrate. "Poison. I thought they wouldn''t poison me. I thought¡ª" Viliant gritted his fangs together and growled louder. "I need to get revenge while I still can."

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    What?

    Viliant wasted no more time in this useless talk. Although most of the sailors had given a wide berth around Viliant, Pako had crouched in front of him out of concern. This put the human''s face at the same level as Viliant''s snapping jaws and flashing claws.

    "No! Stop!" Fia tackled him mid-lunge. They tumbled together, and Viliant''s sluggish movements somehow let her come out on top. Fia stepped one clawed foot over Viliant''s head to keep him down, intending to stall him only long enough so that she could get answers. Her livid eyes focused on Pako, with her slitted pupils dilated so that they were almost round. "Did you poison my friend?"

    "Absolutely not," Pako exclaimed. The man had fallen back and scrambled to his feet out of frightened surprise. "That''s just the pulque. We didn''t give him that much, but maybe he drank it too fast."

    Before Fia could ask another question, Viliant used his greater strength to throw her off him. The long spines along the crown of his head stabbed the bottom of her foot. "Ow!" Fia yowled.

    Viliant flinched and turned back to his best friend. "You''re not hurt¡­. I didn''t just hurt you." His eyes narrowed at the human onlookers in his line of sight, accusing them of doing this to Fia instead.

    Along the bottom of her forefoot, a red prick broke the pattern of her scales. Fia lifted her paw to observe the big drop of blood before she tested her weight on it. "Ow," she yelped again. The unfortunate location of the deep scratch would have her limp until it had healed.

    "Hey, Viliant, you need to turn in for the night," Pako said sternly.

    Viliant''s glare flashed back to him.

    Fia hurriedly loped in front of Viliant once more. Facing Pako, she asked, "Viliant confused the feeling of the pulque for poison. How do we make him feel better?"

    "He just needs to sleep it off," Pako barked. "Maybe some food and water if your rations can spare it."

    "Thanks." Fia spun herself next to Viliant''s side. She leaned her weight on him before he could volunteer to support her. Let''s go, Viliant. Take me away from the humans.

    Fine. He let out one last growl and shot them all a glare before he skulked off. Viliant took Fia to their quarters below deck. While the rest of the sailors would sleep in a row of bunks, Fia and Viliant had the cozy space behind the ladder to themselves. The location at the center of the ship was safest for Fia and optimal for Viliant to monitor for the ghost pirarucu during the night.

    Amidst the crates of food, Fia rustled through the rations that the dragonets had supplied for themselves. She wanted to get Viliant a snack so that he would feel better.

    Objecting to her needless fuss, Viliant tossed his head. Lie down, Fia.

    This will help clear your head, Fia insisted as she stuffed some briny meat against his nose.

    Viliant wrinkled his nostrils. Since she stood on her three sound legs, Fia held the food in her injured paw. This made the smell of her blood more poignant to him. Viliant snapped down the meat, intending to let her to rest sooner. Viliant lowered himself next to Fia and nuzzled her claws into a lax, open position. I''m sorry for hurting you¡ªnever meant to poke you. He licked the wound which he had given her.

    Shocked, Fia watched him nurse her foot. She had been prepared to do this on her own. After all, Fia had always tended to her own injuries unless the locality was such that her neck could not reach. "Oh." Her tail curled from the pleasant surprise. Thanks, Viliant. I know you didn''t mean to. The pulque still had a strong hold over his fuzzy mind. Now that she had seen the effects of alcohol, Fia was grateful that the sailors had considered her too young to partake.

    We need to stay away from the humans, Viliant restated, quickly clarifying: I need to. You did good today.

    Thanks, Fia thought, but her mind drifted to how she had not been kind enough to Tacuma. I think you did a good job too, at least until you drank that stuff. Maybe we should not try any new foods, just for now.

    Sounds good to me. Viliant nodded his head, brushing his scaly cheek along Fia''s foreleg. Once he had finished licking her wound, he flopped onto his side with a wing draped in a limp invitation.

    Fia resisted the urge to squeal out of excitement. She squirmed underneath Viliant''s wing to get cozy. Maybe she should also feel grateful that the sailors had given him pulque. Although his aggression around the humans had been scary, Fia appreciated how he had lost his bristly edge around her. Viliant conked out before he could shoo her from under his wing, making up for the small way that he had hurt her earlier.

 Chapter 93: Spinning Tops

    Without any concerns or responsibilities to worry about the next day, Fia dozed into the morning. Eventually she grew concerned about Viliant who still snored beside her. "Viliant," she called, nuzzling his cheek. "Good morning. How''re you feeling?"

    Viliant jolted awake. His wing flopped off Fia''s back as he tipped to the side. His legs flailed before he leaped to his feet. "Argh," he grumbled, sounding like a day of work alongside the sailors had turned him into one already. I''m never doing that again.

    Fia popped up next to him. It''s nice that you tried a new thing! But yeah, let''s be careful until we have adults around us again.

    Viliant regarded Fia with some skepticism, his lower lids pinched up. Don''t let my stupid mistake make you reckless. The extent of human cruelty never ceases to amaze me. They tried to poison me, even though they need me. At least, he had let himself be coaxed into a false sense of importance as their guard. They''ll do even worse things to their guest, Viliant warned. A combination of fear and concern was rife in Viliant''s mind, visible by his pupils widened in the middle.

    I don''t think they tried to poison you, Fia clarified. Her tail flicked against Viliant''s ankles to reassure him. They drank from the same barrel. Pako said that''s just the way pulque is. Maybe you can ask him more about it today.

    "Hm." Viliant hummed, and his blank mind did not indicate any desire to understand. Stay out of trouble. The black dragonet went up the ladder first. His long claws gripped around the wooden rungs easier than tree bark, allowing him to scale faster than they had climbed trees.

    Fia followed and bid him farewell in the bright sunshine atop the deck. Since she intended to stay out of trouble, she had no other choice but to interact with one human on board. I need to apologize to Tacuma, Fia knew, or else the captain might get mad at me. The pink dragonette made a lap around the ship. When she spied the little girl with a pink bow in her dark braid, Fia gasped. "Tacuma!" she called and loped over.

    The captain''s daughter lifted her gaze from the greenish river which reflected the surrounding trees. When Tacuma saw Fia running toward her, the human girl turned away from the rail. She walked to the other side of the deck, just like Fia had done to her the other day.

    "Oh¡­." Fia hung her head. The sudden change in Tacuma''s attitude toward her stung. Ouch. This must have been how she made Tacuma feel yesterday. I was really mean, Fia realized. Perhaps Viliant was not the best role model for everything. Now that she had messed up, Fia did not know how to repair her standing with Tacuma aside from being persistent. Just like Tacuma had done yesterday, Fia chased her around the deck. "Tacuma, wait!"

    Tacuma sat in a sunny spot on the deck, her legs crossed just like her arms. "You''re just trying to be my friend after you saw who my papa was." Tacuma''s nostrils flared, an effort to contain her indignation. "You don''t have to do that though. I only want a friend who wants to be my friend too."

    In a small voice, Fia peeped, "I do want to be your friend. Just my other friend, Viliant, has always told me to be careful around¡­ strangers. You saw him last night."

    "Ha, yeah." Tacuma snorted. "Even though my papa made me go to bed, I heard about him: the drunk dragon! It seems like he made fast friends. Why can''t you?"

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    "Exactly!" Fia fumed. Even though Viliant had already admitted his mistake, she still felt as though the double standards were unfair. If Viliant got to interact with the adult humans all day, then Fia should be safe to consort with Tacuma. Fidgeting with her claws, Fia said, "I''m sorry again about your toy."

    "It''s okay. It was just a top," Tacuma said. "They''re easy to make. Wanna do it together?"

    Fia beamed with her mouth hung open in astonishment. "Yes, please. Please show me how!" After the disregard that she had shown Tacuma, Fia had not been expecting her forgiveness¡ªmuch less her kindness.

    Tacuma''s smile brightened to the exact same grin as the other day. She patted the wood planks to invite Fia to sit. "You like the sun, right?"

    "Yes!" Fia sprawled across the warm boards, her wings raised to absorb the sunlight.

    Between her claws, Tacuma dumped out a pile of large seeds from a rucksack bag. Each spanned the size of the girl''s hand when she lifted them up for demonstration. "We have to scoop out the insides of these seeds. Once they''re hollow, we''ll be able to make them spin and sing! Try it with your claws." While Tacuma got to work with her hands, Fia watched intently.

    The dragonette used her spear-tipped wings to help hold a seed in place. With one eye still on Tacuma, she began to follow the steps that she modeled. Fia''s sharp claws accidentally tore the partially hollowed seed in half. "Oh no!" she cried. "I broke it."

    Tacuma tittered a laugh. "That''s fine. It''s just a seed. We have lots more." Since she had fingers instead of claws, Tacuma took longer to finish hers. She also did not ruin it. Nevertheless, her top wobbled around without making a sound until it fell over. Plunk! Tacuma picked it back up and tried to spin it again with the same result. "Mine doesn''t work either."

    The girls each carved another seed. This time, Fia did not ruin hers in the process. She struggled to give it a good flick to start its spin, so Tacuma tried them both at the same time. Although their second tops spun a bit better, neither of them whistled a note as they did so.

    Tacuma huffed. "Well, they''re supposed to be easy to make. Let''s go ask my papa. He definitely knows how to do it." After she recollected her seeds in the bag, Tacuma got up to lead the way.

    "Wait," Fia gasped. "He won''t be upset about¡­ what happened to your first one?"

    "Nah. They get old¡­ lost¡­ broken all the time. They''re just seeds," Tacuma reiterated, "so it''s easy to replace."

    Still worried, Fia followed Tacuma with a dragging tail. The two girls made their way to the helm of the ship so that Tacuma could pester her father. "Papa!"

    Captain Ulatu gave directions to the man in his company. Once finished, he excused himself so that he could reply, "Tacuma!" The captain lifted his daughter up so that he could hold her at eye level. "What''s my little girl up to this morning?"

    "Can you help me and Fia make singing tops?"

    "Of course." Captain Ulatu turned his attention down to Fia, his smile hidden behind his beard. "I''m happy you made a friend, Tacuma."

    Fia and Tacuma gathered around the captain. He showed them how to scoop out the interior of the seed properly so that the grooves inside would let it sing. Captain Ulatu twisted his example and dropped it into a spin. The top resonated close to the same pitch as Tacuma''s original one had done. When Fia finished hers shortly after, and the captain helped hers spin too. "Mine works!" Fia whistled to match its note.

    Tacuma flipped hers into the fastest spin, and it sang at the highest note. "Hooray!" she squealed. "Thank you, Papa!" She hugged Captain Ulatu in both arms.

    "You''re welcome. Now run along and have fun with your tops."

    "Bye!" Tacuma waved to her father as she ran off.

    Fia dashed close at her heels. Together, they returned to their spot in the sun where they watched their tops spin. Fia learned how to spin the top with her own claws well-enough that she challenged Tacuma to see who could spin theirs faster. Sometimes they pitted their tops against each other until one got knocked down first.

    Tacuma collapsed into giggles. "This has been so fun! Thanks for playing, Fia. Here. Take some extra seeds, so you can show Viliant how to make singing tops too."

    Fia''s eyes welled up. "Really? Thank you! I know he''ll like this." Although she dreaded how Viliant would scold her for making friends with Tacuma, that would not cause her to keep secrets from him. Most of all, Fia wanted to show Viliant every nice and fun thing in the world.

 Chapter 94: Bump in the Night

    That night, Viliant confronted Fia below deck. I saw you running around with that small human. Did you¡­ stay out of trouble? The stream of his thoughts faltered as he tried to suspend judgment. As much as Viliant disliked her associating with the human girl, he did not want his strict standards to stop Fia from listening to him altogether.

    Yeah! We had fun¡­ Fia lost her train of thought as she gasped. The pink dragonette squirmed around, shying away from Viliant as she curled into a ball. Fia peeked beneath her wing to look at his emotionless stance. You''re not mad at me?

    It''d be better if you distanced yourself from the humans, Viliant maintained. Everytime that he spotted her with humans, Viliant intended to remind her of this fact. Their current ferry seemed small enough and the crew tame enough that they posed no immediate threat. If Fia had not adopted good habits by the time that they reached the ocean and changed ships, then Viliant would set her straight. For now, he avoided coming across like a hypocrite. I have to associate with the men for work. You shouldn''t do it just for fun.

    I know, but look at these! Fia used her tail to slide a pile of seeds in front of Viliant. We can turn them into tops like this one. She spun the already finished one that she had kept from earlier. Fia hummed in Viliant''s ears to match the tone.

    Quiet. Viliant hissed and thwacked the top over with his tail. There''s other people down here aside from just us. Even though the dragons had the corner to themselves and he did not care about being considerate toward the humans, Viliant would use any excuse to avoid playing.

    Fia lowered her chin against her claws as she pouted. Her tail flicked out of irritation while she racked her brain. The mischievous dragonette wanted a way to guilt Viliant into making his own top, so she buried her true intent behind a veneer of mock sadness. Oh no, she cried. It''s broken! The dragonette deliberately gave the top a weak spin. Now I''m sad!

    No, it isn''t. Here. Since Viliant no longer blocked Fia out of his head every time that she annoyed him, he needed another way to make her stop whining. The black dragonet picked up the top between two talons. Viliant squinted at it before he tried to toss it into a spin. The top rolled around on its side instead of its base. Hm. Viliant glared at it until some inky shadows bubbled up from the floor and bobbled the top around. See? I fixed it.

    It''s not making the sound. It''s supposed to be a singing top. Fia shoved a seed between Viliant''s paws. Let''s make a new one! Sitting at his side, she showed him the craft that she had learned earlier today.

    Viliant half-heartedly poked his larger claws into the sizable seed. To humor Fia, he carefully copied her method of turning the seed into a top. He only wanted to do this once. Done, he sneered, but he could not get his to spin. I¡­ might''ve messed up.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    You''re spinning it wrong. Do it like this! Fia demonstrated with her own. Her newest top completed one rotation before a subtle bump of the boards threw it off balance.

    "Ha!" Viliant snorted. Yours doesn''t work either.

    "Hey!" Fia fussed. No fair. The boat rocked and messed it up. Once the tremor through the hull of the ship had calmed, she gave her top another toss. Fia showed Viliant the technique to spin his top next, impressed that the one made by him spun faster and sang higher than hers. Wow, Viliant! Nice job. It took me a bunch of tries to get one this good.

    As Viliant''s pupils flitted side to side, watching his creation twirl, he leaned back smugly. Yeah? That''s what I''d expect. I''m good with my claws.

    I''m good at¡­. A giggle escaped Fia. She could hardly conceal her true intentions from Viliant any longer. I''m good at teasing you! You never broke my top. Fia flipped the original top into a spin so that they had three different notes, all going at once. While the additional top spinning and singing made Fia that much happier, its pitch clashed with the other two. The dissonant top let out a low, ominous hum.

    Before Viliant could stop the one which irritated his eardrums, all the tops fell over at once. The sturdy boards lurched beneath them. The ship careened upward on the water, making Fia bounce in the air and Viliant jump to his feet. The crash of waves splashed along the exterior of the ship. Their surroundings settled back down, unlike Viliant''s racing heart. I sense something in the water, he shared with Fia: shadow magic.

    "Huh?" Before she could ask him for more details, Viliant slunk up the ladder. Wait for me!

    Fia chased after his black tail which had slipped past the hatch. She clambered onto the deck with Viliant, and the rest of the sailors jogged toward the ladder. The sudden bump in the night had alerted more than just Fia and Viliant. Soon, all hands were on deck. The sailors raced into position to scan the waters and defend the ship.

    "Over here!" Viliant balanced his foreclaws on the railing. His green eyes leered into the disturbed water below.

    Fia raced over to join him. She poked her head through the slats, and her eyes widened with awe.

    By the dim light of the moon and stars, the gray scales of an aquatic beast shimmered. Its red, anterior dorsal fin sliced through the water like a scythe might cleave through blades of grass. Fia could count the pulses of her heart as the water whispered past the monstrous fish. Its fin seemed to never end. How big is it? she wondered, only able to imagine how much of it swam in those dark waters where her eyes could not see. Both the fish and the ship would not fit side by side, if they had not been lucky enough to cross paths at the widest berth of the river.

    Captain Ulatu''s low voice uttered, "It''s the accursed, ghost pirarucu."

    A group of sailors worked together to turn a device which looked like a leaner version of Syene''s ballistae, except its tip was angled to the water. They loaded a metal spear with a barbed tip into the contraption. Everyone waited with bated breath. The crew had no desire to aggravate the river''s bane, but if they must act, they prayed that their captain''s command would come before the pirarucu''s strike.

 Chapter 95: Attack of the Ghost Fish

    The pirarucu''s dorsal fin submerged underwater. The rest of its body disappeared into the murk. The choppy waves sloshed against the hull of the boat. Nobody moved from their station.

    "Ha." Fia let out a sigh and hung her head through the posts of the guardrail. Did it go away?

    No. Viliant dropped his front claws from the top of the guardrail and backed up to stand beside the captain. In broken but succinct Malakow, the tense dragonet relayed the movements of the ghost pirarucu which he could still feel. "Ahead of the ship. It''s turning back. Underneath us," Viliant hissed. "No," he took back. The proximity and intensity of its magic did not place the pirarucu under the ship, but rather inside the hold.

    A sharp intake of breath entered Viliant''s lungs. He was about to dash below deck again, but he realized that the pirarucu''s presence felt too large for the ship to encompass it. The fish had no reason to sneak inside the ship. The fish did not even require water to swim. "It''s swimming through us," Viliant breathed as he sensed the ghost pirarucu moved through the shadow realm. If the fish re-entered the physical realm, it could destroy the entirety of the ship. Viliant realized why he alone could protect them. With his eyes shut in concentration, he propelled a shadowy force that discouraged its path through their vessel.

    Viliant reopened his eyes once the pirarcucu made it to the other end of the ship. "Behind us," he vocalized its movements. Just as the pirarucu''s tail cleared the rudder, the powerful presence of its shadow magic abated. The ship lurched as wood cracked. The crew braced their feet to stay aboard the deck. The ship''s rudder was destroyed, removing its ability to steer.

    "Captain!" Pako shouted. "We need to stop the fish before it sinks the ship."

    "Next time we see it," Captain Ulatu commanded, "blast the harpoons! Aim for the red and purple streaks along the lateral side of its hide."

    As if inviting the humans to do their worst, the ghost pirarucu lazily circled around the other side of the ship. Its greenish, blackish scales flashed as it lolled to skirt around the hull. The snap of the harpoon mechanism resounded and plunged the bolt into the water. However, the harpoon''s tip glanced off the pirarucu''s scales with no effect.

    The trail of speckled scales along its body seethed with an angry light: red and purple. The ghost pirarucu twitched its tail to pick up speed. Ahead of the ship once more, it activated its shadow form. Even as its body contorted in a sharp turn, the ghost pirarucu''s body careened against land. It would have flung itself aground if not for the fact that it could swim through the very earth in the shadow realm. The ghost pirarucu redirected its path for the ship.

    "It''s coming back," Viliant yelled. "Fast!" His shadow magic could not stop the force of nature. The ghost pirarucu regained its physical form. If its strategic attacks on the ship evidenced its goal, then the ghost pirarucu did not want to catch a splinter between its scales by busting the ship in one fell swoop.

    A splash of water broke over their ears. A drizzle cascaded over the humans which stung their skin. Fia lifted one wing to help shield her squinted eyes. In the darkness, the gargantuan fish leaped into the air. Its trajectory would soon carry it above the mast. If both the rudder and the sail were ruined, then they could only travel where the current carried them, ruining the whole journey.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    At once, Fia''s magic exploded to help. The nighttime sky turned bright as daylight, except hot and red as her flames. Fia used the same technique that she had practiced in the tournament, but this time, she did not hold back any of her prowess. Her massive fireballs rained down like meteors.

    The first struck the pirarucu''s tapered head, directly against its upturned mouth and squat nostrils. The colossal fish made a guttural sound like it gulped air and fire. Soon after, its neck slapped against the water with a torrential spray which quickly turned to steam. The rest of the fireballs blitzed its back and sides. The mottled green within its black scales turned a charcoal gray, scorched by Fia''s flames. The ghost pirarucu retreated back into the water.

    I did it! she thought. As the pink dragonet jumped up and down to celebrate her small victory, she was oblivious to her embers raining across the deck. Many small fires ate at the boards, scattering the crew as they must address the new threat.

    "Fia!" Captain Ulatu roared. "Put out your fire!"

    Meanwhile, Viliant tracked the ghost pirarucu. He weaved between two of Fia''s bonfires so that he could ready himself for its reappearance on the other side of the deck. "Humans!" he gasped, realizing that he must call one by name if he wanted their attention. "Pako! Harpoon!"

    Snapping to attention, Pako abandoned his attempt to stomp out a small fire with his boot. The sailor dashed to aim the pre-loaded harpoon. Viliant leaped on top of a stable part of the device so that his pointed claw could follow the pirarucu''s location.

    Pako fired the harpoon into the depths. Though he had successfully shot at a vulnerable, charred spot on the pirarucu''s side, the fish must sense danger. It morphed its body into shadows so that the metal spear passed through its innards unscathed.

    Viliant''s fangs clenched together, biting back a curse at himself. It''s making itself invulnerable with shadow magic. The dragonet was quite familiar with this technique, so he surmised the best way to beat it. I need to counter its spells!

    However, the ghost pirarucu did not utilize shadows to only defend itself. An eerie wave of dark energy ascended from all around the ship. The shadows passed through the posts of the guardrail like water rushing overboard. The insidious spell grabbed at the crews'' ankles and tripped some of the sailors. Those who fell down also had their wrists and necks wrenched around. The ghost pirarucu could kill any one of the men, if only it would focus on one. Since its attack was spread over a large area, the pull of shadows resulted in a relatively weak force.

    The men were strong enough to kick or yank themselves free. Viliant jumped to Fia''s side and deflected the shadows from them both. The most vulnerable person aboard the ship failed to protect herself. During the commotion, no one had noticed that a frightened Tacuma had stepped foot out of the cabin.

    "Eek!" she yelped as the black waves of magic slammed into her. The tendrils carried her to the edge of the ship. Tacuma latched onto the railing with desperate hands. Though the little girl pulled with all her might, the ghost pirarucu sought to claim her as its victim. Her fingers slipped around the guardrail, and Tacuma wailed a final scream before she plunged into the water.

    "Tacuma!" the captain bellowed as his daughter went overboard. Captain Ulatu raced over to the railing, flinging himself against the wood. His horrified eyes scanned the water for her, but he could not spot her in the inky, black water. "No!"

    Captain Ulatu wheeled around to his recovering men. His duty to his daughter superseded the duty that he had to his men. Any one of them, he could order to dive in after Tacuma. However, among them, Captain Ulatu trusted only himself to save his daughter. Even he doubted his ability to successfully rescue her. The captain needed someone more capable to retrieve Tacuma from the ghost pirarucu''s domain. "Viliant!" he snarled in the closest thing to a human''s growl. "Get in there and save my daughter!"

    The sound of his name from the commandeering voice made Viliant turn his head. The only reaction of his slitted eyes beheld his disbelief. "No," Viliant scoffed. He protected his own interests: Fia and by extension the ship. Though the dragonet had come to terms with working alongside the human sailors, he was not about to risk his life for any of them¡ªnot even the little girl.

 Chapter 96: Hero in the Shadows

    When Tacuma fell over the rail, Fia raced to gape over the edge of the ship shortly after the captain. "Tacuma!" Fia hollered at the river. Its current crashed against the side of the vessel, drowning out her voice. Someone needed to save the human girl, but none of her kin were capable of diving into the water with the ghost pirarucu lurking in their midst. "You have to help her!" Fia yelled at Viliant.

    "No!" Viliant barked back, louder for his second refusal. He might shake his head out of disbelief, but he had come to expect outlandish demands from Fia by this point.

    Her mind spun with all the reasons that he ought to save her, more than she had time to articulate aloud. Tacuma is a little girl, just like me. She''s super nice and gave me extra seeds, so you could carve them into your own top! You''re strong enough to save her, Viliant. I know you can! Fia clambered her foreclaws against the rail and hopped up. Her body swayed as her tail writhed for balance. "If you don''t do it, I will!" Fia roared.

    No, you won''t! Viliant snarled and lunged at Fia. His jaws snapped around the end of her tail, snagging his fangs around the pointed tip. Since he had no intention to hurt her, he applied just enough pressure to pull. Viliant yanked her onto the planks with him.

    While Fia squirmed to right herself, she lost track of Viliant. She expected that she would need to wrestle with him to get anywhere near the water again.

    Instead, the dragonet had perched himself on the rail. I hate the things you make me do. Viliant dropped into a head-first dive. With his eyes closed tight, he braced his neck like he was ready to absorb the impact of a reckless charge. Viliant plunged into the murky depths where Tacuma had gone.

    All the while, Captain Ulatu watched with the skin of his knuckles drawn-taught. His hands could not grip the rail any tighter, much like how he clenched his jaw beneath his beard. The rest of the sailors scrambled behind him to put out the last of Fia''s fire aboard the deck.

    As the water surrounding Viliant amplified his telepathy, Fia felt no further away from him. Thank you, Viliant. You''re amazing! she cheered in his mind.

    Their connection snapped.

    "Viliant?" Fia called out to the chilly, nighttime air. The pink dragonette crept back to the rail to poke her snout through the slats. Her watery, blue eyes searched for him in the river. Viliant¡­? Her constant chatter over telepathy must have annoyed him, so Viliant blocked out the distraction. Fia quelled her excitement, hoping that he would reconnect with her empty mind. It became filled with uncertainty as more time passed without any sign of him.

    As the water rushed by his scales, Viliant peeled his eyes open. A faint, greenish glow emanated around his pupils which were dilated to see as much as possible in the dark river. The shadowed shape of a gangly human drew his attention. Tacuma floundered her small limbs like kelp that had no hope to reach the surface until her broken body drifted downstream. Viliant dove for her like a fish that he wanted to catch. Once his claws looped around the fleshy underside of her arms, Viliant beat his wings and angled his chin for the surface.

    "Ugh," he grunted, realizing how much harder it was to tow a floundering human through the water. She was going to run out of air sooner than him, and he might reconsider her a loss cause if she kept this up. Viliant pierced the tip of his talons through her shirt and pricked her skin. He hoped that would warn her to stay still, given that he could not calm her like a fellow dragon over telepathy. A thin trail of her blood was carried away by the current.

    Soon, the water''s course felt as though its direction reversed. A powerful force rushed by them. The pattern of layered scales became a blur in the murk. The ghost pirarucu swam too close to make out its larger form. Viliant snorted out a stream of bubbles and retreated to the shadow realm¡ªnot that he could hide from the pirarucu there. Its dorsal fin slashed across Viliant''s leg like a blade. If the dragonet had not already been in the process of moving upward, out of the way, he would have suffered a loss more devastating than a few split scales and some blood.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Frozen by fear, not a thought flitted through his mind. His telepathy with Fia dropped. Viliant recollected himself for a moment where he did not need to breathe in the shadows. Once his physical form splashed back into the water, Viliant gripped Tacuma tighter and thrashed his wings and tail for the moonlight. When they breached the surface, Viliant struggled to float while Tacuma writhed and gasped. Her arms waved to the boat, in which they had no easy way to get back on board.

    "Viliant!" Fia cheered, quiet due to her voice choked with emotion.

    "Tacuma!" Captain Ulatu bellowed. Now that his daughter was within his sight, his attention snapped back to the duties of his occupation. The sailors had finally put the fire out, but they had fallen into disarray without one man to command them. Captain Ulatu ordered the nearest man to retrieve the cork buoy from its fastening on the cabin door.

    Meanwhile, Tacuma had recovered enough to position herself to the side of Viliant''s spiky back. Her little fists gripped his horns, making his neck slouch so that she could float with him. The most surefire way to secure their immediate safety, though, was to remove the threat in the water.

    Viliant reconnected with Fia''s mind, overflowing her with his fear. Kill the fish! he ordered.

    Fia leaped into action, racing in the direction that the pirarucu had gone. "Captain!" she shrieked. "The harpoons!"

    Captain Ulatu accepted the buoy from his subordinate and cast it down to Viliant and Tacuma. While he held the rope, he shouted for the sailors to resume their battle stations.

    Fia dashed up one of the contraptions like a snake. Perched atop its frame, she flapped her wings and coughed out embers. The dragonette had already expended her mana reserves on her comet-like strike, but she drew in a deep breath to refuel her fire. For Viliant, she could do anything.

    On my signal, he advised. Viliant narrowed his eyes on her position, feeding her the location of the pirarucu which he sensed.

    The ghost pirarucu twitched its tail to start a new dash through the water. It swam straight for Viliant and Tacuma who clung to the buoy.

    "Pull us up!" Tacuma cried helplessly to her father.

    Captain Ulatu had only reeled them far enough for Viliant to wedge his claws against the hull of the boat. If the pirarucu did not want to strike the ship directly, then they were safe here. And if the pirarucu did destroy the ship in its charge, then Viliant and Tacuma would be hardly safer on board.

    The dragonet kept his eyes trained on the oncoming disturbance in the water. Now! he relayed to Fia.

    "Now!" she whistled to the men who controlled the harpoon mechanism which doubled as her perch.

    The sailors fired the harpoon, but it shot through the pirarucu''s ghost-like body.

    Viliant fluttered his eyes shut. Behind his eyelids, he saw the ephemeral form of the pirarucu swim through the shadow realm. A mist glowed purple around its black eyes until that magic streaked into a dull red along its linear markings of the same color. Farther away from the pirarucu at the center of this vision, bleak darkness radiated. The only mark, similarly dark, on the pirarucu was the burn which Fia had scorched into its side. Its maw of serrated teeth gaped open as the pirarucu drew nearer.

    Viliant mastered his mind like Diwa had taught him, putting aside the fear which did not serve him now. However, he could not deny how powerful a dragon like Rokirith had become through emotive spellcasting. Viliant despaired at the foe before him, capable of swallowing him whole without need to shred him with those teeth. With all his might, he cast his own magic to interfere with the pirarucu''s spell and drag them together into the physical world. Now! he ordered Fia again.

    Fia spread her wings and glided to the base of the next closest harpoon. "Now!" she barked at the men behind this one.

    The second harpoon struck the pirarucu''s side, but its scales were still too tough to pierce it. Fia did not delay to watch this lackluster result. She sprinted to the harpoon which was positioned nearest to Viliant. The barbed point of the harpoon, glinting in the moonlight, was the last hope to stop the pirarucu before it reached Viliant and Tacuma.

    A prayer caught on Fia''s breath. She fluttered her wings to jump onto the harpoon launcher manned by Pako. Her pounding heart made her blood course like lava through her veins. More mana poured from her being, swirling into a vortex around the metal bolt of the harpoon. "Now!" she shrieked in time with Viliant''s command: Now!

    The final harpoon, harmonized with her spinning fire, struck the pirarucu in its vulnerable burn. Fia closed her eyes and willed her flames to explode. The attack ruptured a vital point within the fish, and the ghost pirarucu lost its momentum. The dead fish bobbed underwater until it floated past Viliant and Tacuma''s spot.

    A silence held over the deck aside from some relieved sighs.

    We did it, Viliant quaked in awe.

    We did it! Fia shared her astonishment with him, panting.

    The rest of the crew soon erupted in cheers. They had slain the ghost pirarucu.

 Chapter 97: Star in the Dark

    The captain led the charge to get Viliant and Tacuma aboard the ship once more. The black dragonet tumbled across the deck. The human girl collapsed on her knees soon after him.

    Fia raced forward and coiled her neck around Viliant. Her wings smothered his face in a hug. You did so good! You saved Tacuma¡ªand everyone on this boat.

    I did what I could. Viliant shrugged away from Fia''s embrace so that he could peel his wings back proudly. I couldn''t have done it without you. His shining eyes regarded her, the one who had motivated him to jump in the water in the first place.

    Meanwhile, Captain Ulatu clasped Tacuma in a hug. His bearded chin rested over her shoulder while his hands pressed between her shoulder blades as though reassuring himself that she was still with him. "I was so worried about you, Tacuma," he whispered. "I don''t know what your mother would''ve thought of me, if she got to see you again so soon."

    "I''m okay, Papa," Tacuma said in a shaky voice. "The black dragon saved me¡­ Viliant." Her lips smiled after she had uttered the name of her hero.

    Many of the sailors clapped Pako on the back, for he was the one who shot the lethal harpoon which struck down the pirarucu. In their eyes, the crucial role which dragon fire had played was overshadowed by the involvement of human hands. No one realized that Viliant had made the pirarucu vulnerable in the first place, but they honored him for a greater cause.

    "Viliant saved Tacuma!" Pako shouted. "Tonight, we celebrate not just because we slayed the cursed pirarucu, but because everybody''s safe!"

    If any lives had been lost in the attack tonight, especially the captain''s little girl, the men''s mood would have been fit for a funeral. Instead, they jostled each other and laughed. The worst injuries endured by any sailor had come from the wildfire started from Fia''s firestorm.

    Pako announced, "Now, let''s turn that fish into a fillet!"

    "Argh!" his fellow sailors shouted in agreement. The men with idle hands worked to haul the floating pirarucu onto the deck. The sturdy rope from the harpoon held fast. Its edges, which had frayed from the initial strain of the fish''s weight, were already burnt and hardened by Fia''s fire. Once they began to pull it over the rail, all could see the harpoon lodged in blackened fish flesh.

    The hefty pirarucu threatened to tip the boat and return its dead body to the water. All hands on deck worked to balance the fish at the ship''s center. Viliant would have offered to dematerialize the ghost pirarucu''s corpse and levitate it through the shadows, however his mana reserves were spent. He reclined with Fia off to the side, watching the men slide and roll the fish until it ultimately flopped into the middle of the deck.

    "Will you start one last fire for us, Fia?" Pako came over to ask.

    Fia coughed a plume of smoke. "Sorry. I don''t think I have it in me."

    "That''s quite all right!" Pako said, holding up his hands. "We can start our own cooking fire. Do you dragons prefer your fish raw or cooked?"

    "Cooked!" Fia trilled.

    "Both," Viliant replied.

    Pako laughed from his belly. "Come over and join us."

    Fia stuck close to Viliant''s side as they walked over to the humans who gathered around the pirarucu. Everybody worked together to process the ghost pirarucu, skinning its multiple layers of scales and shoveling out its inedible guts. A team of men alternated strikes with a hatchet to chop off its head and tail like one of the great trees of Malakow had been felled. Tonight, the men would feast until their bellies distended. Then, they would smoke as much of the excess fish as possible to preserve it.

    Viliant got started on the feast before him, gulping down raw strips of fish. He balked at the fish guts tossed overboard. Although the humans did not consider it fit for their sensitive stomachs, Viliant considered it better than the scraps that were thrown his way in the coliseum. "I''ll eat that," he said, jerking his nose to the most aromatic sections of the pirarucu''s innards.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    One sailor piled the fish guts in front of Viliant instead of pitching it overboard. After the dragonet had sampled it to his liking, Pako came over with a stack of fine-cut fillets. "Are you sure you want that?" Pako questioned. "A lot of this will end up going to waste anyway. You can have the best cuts, if you want them!"

    The overabundance of food made Viliant''s eyes draw wide. His inability to eat it all almost pained him, and it would certainly pain his stuffed stomach later. Since he already liked the fish guts, he asked regarding the fillets, "Can I try it?"

    Pako lowered the white fish meat for Viliant to sample, but before the man could set it on the ground, the dragonet snapped it from his hand. Within a second of the succulent fat between the delicate fish melting on his tongue, Viliant determined, "This is better. I want it!"

    "Here you go." Pako slapped the fillets on the ground to avoid having Viliant eat from his hand again.

    Viliant stripped off sections of the fish and enjoyed the way it slid down his throat. "Ah." For this reason alone, Viliant considered it worth diving headlong into treacherous waters in retrospect. The dragonet found himself in a glutton''s heaven. He nudged Fia who had yet to indulge herself. "Are you sure you don''t want any now?"

    "I like cooked fish better," Fia said. At Viliant''s encouragement, she snacked on the raw fish as an appetizer. She did not want to waste her exhausted, recovering mana to cook it instantly when the human chef already had the first batch started.

    They soon had a second course of roasted fish. Fia and Viliant gobbled the food side by side, ready for more fish to appear before them. The dragonets hardly needed to get up and fetch more food for themselves as one sailor or another served them.

    This is the way that humans should treat dragons, Viliant determined. The black dragonet stretched out from neck to tail in hopes that would make more room in his belly.

    "Thanks for saving me," Tacuma piped up, her arms full with their next offering.

    Stunned out of his wistful dream, Viliant blinked rapidly. "Oh." His mind stalled over the many options which he could say as a snarky response. No need to thank me. It was the captain''s order. I was just doing my job. I didn''t want to do it. Fia told me to¡­. Viliant felt guilty that all these things held a veneer of truth, making any receipt of gratitude underserved. His eyes flitted to Fia for help. What do I say?

    You''re welcome! Fia shared with all the enthusiasm that Viliant lacked.

    Viliant gagged out a small fish bone. With his claws, he fiddled with the bone. "You''re welcome," he muttered to Tacuma, unable to meet her eye.

    Tacuma set the fish down for Fia and Viliant. Before she turned to go, Viliant gathered strength behind his voice.

    "Thanks for¡­ the spinning tops," he added. Viliant recalled how Fia had shared the gift from Tacuma right before the ghost pirarucu''s strike.

    A giggle came from Tacuma, and she waved both of her hands. "Let''s all play together tomorrow!" For now, she raced back to hold Captain Ulatu''s hand.

    Fia beamed at Viliant. She could not feel happier for him, doing right by a kid and opening up to those around him¡ªeven if they were humans. Finally, she realized what she admired most about Viliant: his inextinguishable strength. That quality, she had previously mistaken for his tenacious cruelty. Now I know why I want to become more like him. The stronger that she became, the more people that she could save. The brighter that her fire burned, the farther that her light could reach.

    Already, she had proven herself against the ghost pirarucu. Fia tipped her head back to the gleaming moon which peered through the canopy. She renewed her vow to become the shining star for her people.

    ***

    The dragonets slept the better part of the next day, their bellies full after last night''s feast. Since Viliant had not only fulfilled his role to defend the ship but also excelled at it, the sailors made few demands of him for the rest of the journey. Once the dragonets had stirred awake, Fia frolicked across the deck with Viliant close on her tail. A top dangled from each of their careful mouths. Once Fia had located Tacuma, she tossed her head and released the top into a spin. "Let''s play!" she roared with an open maw. Soon, they would arrive at the port in the coastal city of Aracuway.

    After a few nights had passed, the first dawn rays split across the sky and cast Fia in their subtle warmth. Her claws tapped across the wooden planks as she raced to the front of the ship. Viliant still snoozed below deck, so she ventured up to the bow on her own. With her claws perched over the figurehead, Fia gasped as she was struck with a dazzling sight. From the riverboat''s position in port, the sunrise beamed over a sandy beach and a sparkling ocean, seemingly endless to her eyes. However, Fia knew what waited for her across the ocean. I''m almost home.

 Interlude: Finding Fia 1

    The dragons of Carlinoa Island constructed their nests atop the centermost mountain. Vicente, like the other fire dragons, had made his nest out of whale bones. He perched on a sturdy rib which jutted out of the ground. The red dragon made repairs to the thatched roof while his mate was out hunting. His young daughter had run off to play with her friend, Arenis, but Fia was not with the other baby dragon when he returned.

    From his vantage point on the roof, Vicente spied Arenis as soon as he hauled himself over the edge of the cliff. The small, red dragonet dashed into the center of the village huts. "Help!" he cried. "Help! Fia''s gone¡­." As Arenis cried out of desperation, he headed straight for the shack that was Fia''s family home.

    Vicente tucked his wings and dove to meet him before he got there. "Where''s Fia?" he boomed.

    "Humans¡­ attacked¡­ on a ship." Arenis could hardly fit his words between his haggard breaths. The dragonet did not need to finish his report for the adult to understand.

    "Inferno! No." Vicente swung his head right then left, as if he expected to see his mate, Corisande, at his side. Her wings would have carried her too far on the hunt for her to do anything to aid their daughter right now. If Vicente wanted any hope to rescue her, he needed to act at once¡ªalone. "Which way?" he demanded of Arenis.

    The dragonet could likely count the times that he had left the nest on his front claws. Arenis''s feet kneaded the ground close together as he cowered under Vicente. "Uh, that way!" Arenis turned and pointed a talon in the direction that he had come from.

    "Blazing inferno," Vicente cursed again under his breath. His wings unfurled with his mounting anger. The roar of an enraged dragon split the sky as he ascended. Vicente pounded his wings to carry him high. So long as Arenis did not direct him in the opposite direction, he should be able to locate the ship from a dragon''s eye view.

    The fire dragon heated the air under his wings to help him fly faster. Once he had gained enough altitude, Vicente swiftly soared beyond the island''s shore. The open ocean spread out before him. Crests of the azure waves sparkled white below him. The pristine weather all around him made for too pretty a day for something so terrible to happen. The edges of his vision had turned red from the surrounding haze, charged by his magic. Vicente''s constricted, slitted pupils frantically searched the open ocean. He angled his wings toward the first ship that he saw.

    Vicente resisted the urge to announce his attack by the bellow of his roar. Instead, he would do so by casting the infernal humans into an inferno. A ball of fire to rival the sun gathered between his jaws. Before he unleashed the attack, the human scouts aboard the ship must have taken note of the dragon. They scurried out of the middle of the deck to a formation along the sides.

    Most of the humans manned the pointed contraptions which must be the ballistae of the north. Only two humans remained in the center by the mast. The first lifted his hands to begin growing a metallic shell to defend the wooden tower and cloth sails. The second mage coated the plank floor in a film of shiny, translucent crystal.

    Vicente planned to drop this fire bomb¡ªstill growing larger by the second. Then, he would fly away and return for another bout. I can reduce this ship to ash on the water, he thought. The flames would not hurt his daughter as Fia was hatched of fire like him. However, the foamy waves could drown her. His precious, baby dragonette would have to swim by herself out of the wreckage.

    The thrum of his heart and swirl of fire filled Vicente''s eardrums. For a split second, he questioned whether a blitz against the ship was the right decision to make. Fia was too young to have taught her how to swim yet. On a day of calm waves, Vicente and Corisande were supposed to take her to the shallow waters of the reef. There, his clan dropped the dragonets into the water to show them how to swim. They''re supposed to learn to swim on their own, anyway, Vicente reasoned. He would never get to take his daughter there if he did not rescue her now, so he trusted Fia could do it¡ªjust enough for him to get to her.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Vicente unleashed his charged attack. The inferno dropped toward the ship and exploded across the deck in a cloud of steam. The intense fire won against the damp wood and set it ablaze with a hiss. Vicente was satisfied to see some running, flailing bodies of the humans engulfed in fire.

    While the red dragon kept flying past the ship, he was still in range of the ballistae and magical counterattack. The snap of a mechanism rang out. Three bolts flung into the sky from the ballistae. The projectiles zoomed toward Vicente at blinding speeds, aided by an electrifying spell.

    A sudden force struck his side. Vicente had been so focused on the human ship that he had not noticed a second dragon that flew into the foray. This dragon used his fire magic to fly faster than even Vicente could at top speeds. If not for this other dragon''s intervention, Vicente would not have had time to dodge the ballista bolts.

    The two dragons tumbled from the sky together. Thanks. His wordless gratitude was relayed over telepathy, but Vicente should not have felt that way so soon. When he spread his wings to right himself in the air, the other dragon restrained him. They plunged below the waves at the same time.

    A dragon''s telepathy was even stronger underwater, but that was unnecessary given the proximity of their heads. The amber eye of Evander filled Vicente''s furious, blue ones. Let me fight! the older dragon demanded of the clan''s youngest warrior who had interfered.

    Don''t throw your life away! Evander seethed. One dragon can''t take down that ship alone.

    Some large bubbles drifted from Vicente''s nostrils with his snort. I see two dragons here.

    Despite his young age, Evander was celebrated as a flying ace. He had swiftly proven himself in some skirmishes against the Avuazu Clan. However, Evander stuck up his snout and gave a fierce shake of his head. I would if we could, but our best chance to save Fia is to have the clan elders rally a rescue party.

    Vicente coughed out some froth underwater. The larger, red dragon arched his back and whipped his tail to make his way to the surface. Would you say the same if it were your brother Arenis?

    Yes. Evander propelled himself through the water with a single wingbeat before he kept them folded at his side. Thanks to the quick flow of ideas through telepathy, the dragons could communicate more thoroughly than if they had bothered with auditory words. I want the highest chance of actually saving her as possible. Fia can''t swim. She''ll drown in that ship, even if you wreck it!

    Vicente''s growl was muted underwater. His head burst into the air so that he could snap at Evander who surfaced shortly after him. You don''t understand! You''re not a father, Vicente seethed. Evander could not possibly understand. The young warrior did not even have a mate yet. I have to get Fia back, Vicente insisted, right now.

    Do not let your emotions overcome you. Fly back to the island with me. Evander tossed his head south, in the direction of Carlinoa.

    Vicente commanded his raging flames to cool so that he could think more clearly. He already knew that he could not sink the ship if he wanted to keep Fia alive. Evander echoed his worst fear. Carefully getting her out would prove a greater challenge than destroying the ship. Some smoke clung to Vicente''s throat. I don''t know how to fix this.

    I''ll do everything I can to help, Evander promised. I''ll organize the rescue party myself, if I have to. The younger dragon made no effort to hide his doubt that the clan elders would sanction an official effort.

    I hate how this is my best chance. The persistent growl in Vicente''s throat diminished to a grumble. The two dragons dried their scales with the heated air that billowed beneath their wings. They flew their fastest back to Carlinoa Island, hoping to return in greater numbers to take the ship intact and get Fia out safely.

 Interlude: Finding Fia 2

    Only three of the five dragon elders listened to Vicente''s plight. Each sat on raised chairs made of whalebones, looking down on Vicente. They had little reason to call the other two clan leaders, considering how a majority opinion had already been reached.

    The three elders bowed their heads in unanimous agreement. "We give our utmost condolences for your loss, Vicente." The earnest, ruby eyes of the dragon elders drifted away from him. Only Elder Kivo maintained eye contact as he delivered the elders'' decision. "However, we cannot sacrifice our warriors and the safety of the entire clan for a single dragonette."

    "That''s my daughter!" Vicente roared. "Do you expect me to abandon her?" With his fangs bared, he huffed smoke with each of his irate exhales. He was about to let them have a firestorm of a tirade, but Evander stuck out his wing to hold him back.

    "Are you not the fathers of our clan?" Evander asked calmly. "It is your duty to preside over us all, in the same way that Vicente cares for Fia. The clan elders cannot perch with folded wings and watch the loss of even a single dragonet!"

    Elder Kivo, shortest in stature of all the dragon elders, flicked his mottled tail like he intended to swat a fly. His red and black scales gave way to rings of the darker color around his deep-set eyes. "Evander," Elder Kivo snarled, "you are closer to a dragonet yourself than you are to us. What would you know about leadership of the whole clan?"

    "I know that all five elders must be present before a final decision is reached," Evander stated simply.

    A faint growl slipped past Elder Kivo''s clenched teeth.

    "We cannot risk grown dragons¡ªtrained warriors¡ªfor one dragonette who cannot follow the rules," the dragon said at Elder Kivo''s right.

    "I agree," said the one on the left.

    "My mind is fixed," Elder Kivo replied without any further consideration. He punctuated his last word with a snap of his fangs.

    "Then all these years haven''t made you very wise." Evander turned to gather the absent two elders.

    Vicente winced. It pained him to listen to Evander''s juvenile tendency to talk back, a physical pang in his chest. This could affect whether Fia lived or died, or how long she must endure alone, captured by those hairless apes.

    A rickety roar came from Elder Kivo, reverberating up the loose scales along his saggy neck.

    Don''t talk back to our elders needlessly, Vicente hissed in Evander''s mind. That lapse in judgment withstanding, Evander''s cooler head still served them better than if Vicente had responded immediately after the elders had assessed the worth of Fia''s life with disdain. They don''t think she''s worth saving. I have to convince them otherwise. Or else¡­. Vicente did not want to think of the consequences of his failure. He took a deep, shaky breath and stood before the three elders.

    Vicente made another calm, collected appeal. "For what purpose do we train warriors if not to defend all members of the Carlinoa Clan? We are ready to fight and rescue Fia¡ªand I do not say this just because she''s my daughter. As you saw, Evander''s fire rages." The red dragon bowed his head, hoping he could smooth over Evander''s blunt tongue and use it to hasten the organization of a search party.

    Elder Kivo rolled his eyes up to the sky. "You tell that wyrm it''s about to rain, and he''s ready to set the clouds on fire."

    The other two elders murmured similar doubts. Vicente clenched his fangs, racking his brain to come up with what sparse power that he had to negotiate. His gaze fell away from the black rings around Elder Kivo''s eyes. "Just give me the permission to organize a search party. You can limit it to no more than five dragons." Even with only the assistance of three dragons, Vicente''s chances of saving Fia would soar. He stated a higher number first so when the elders thought themselves strict and lowered the number of dragons, there would still be enough to form a proper search party. "Please. That''s all I ask. Let those motivated in the clan take this mission upon themselves."

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    "He makes a good point. The clan elders are only supposed to adjudicate between family feuds to avoid bloodshed¡­" one of the elders allowed.

    "But if we do not unify our flight, our enemies will view us as weak," the other elder said. "They will circle our island like sharks!"

    "The clan elders must coordinate a strategy and lead us to prosperity," Elder Kivo said, nodding in satisfaction that the second elder who spoke seemed to understand that.

    Vicente interjected, "If we do nothing, the humans will think that we''re cowards! Their advances will only grow more bold." Vicente objected, exasperated that they would let any dragonet get abducted from the island. His eye flitted to the first elder who had come the closest to supporting his plight. Vicente clamped his mouth shut and waited to reiterate his points once the other two elders had arrived.

    Three dragons soared through the sky with all haste, drawing the horned heads of the other clan members upward. Evander led the two, remaining elders as they spiraled down toward the council. A small hope lifted in Vicente''s heart as he looked up, knowing that these two other dragons most frequently and obstinately opposed Elder Kivo''s views.

    ***

    Once all five elders were present, a proper council commenced. Vicente relayed his case first, reiterating the best of his points that he had already tested against the adversarial elders. Evander chimed in to offer support, a second voice who held no blood relation to Fia. As their impassioned speech went on, more dragons were drawn to the public display.

    "A lost dragonette¡­. Fia, a cute, little pink one, too."

    "How terrible!"

    ¡°Vicente was always too lax of a parent.¡±

    "This is why a dragoness should look after the hatchlings. The males can''t do it¡­."

    While Evander was making one of his points, Vicente turned back to growl. If some of the clan thought ill of him as a father, they could at least keep it between themselves over telepathy. They''re not wholly wrong about me, Vicente despaired. This incident evidenced how he failed to keep his dragonette safe.

    Together, Vicente and Evander finished their appeal to the elders. All five of the wisened dragons ducked their heads together. Their horn tips nearly locked with each other as they engaged in telepathy, exploring the pros and cons of different actions. An elder would lift his head and address Vicente aloud whenever the group had a question for him.

    Elder Nura, a dragoness with bright, yellow scales which had aged to some patches of white, splayed her wings. "Who here is willing to fight to get back one of our dragonets?"

    Vicente closed his eyes, scared to see the outcome of this poll even from the peripheral of his vision. He sent up a flare between his horns. The flame danced there to represent the favorable light in which he viewed the resolution.

    An external heat at his right side also blazed, Evander casting his vote. Additionally, two of Evander''s peers lit a torch between their horns. The younger dragons sought adventure with fewer obligations to tether their wings. Any dragons around Vicente''s age who had eggs or dragonets flicked their worried eyes to and fro. As much as they wanted the clan to band together and save Fia, they did not want to be the ones to go.

    The elders took into account the views of the clan. In the end, the elders'' majority opinion was still voiced by Elder Kivo. "We cannot justify sending a search party for Fia when it will put the whole clan at risk. As a reminder, for your safety, only authorized hunting parties are permitted to fly beyond the island''s shore!" The red and black dragon shouted louder, suspecting that the quiet dragons retreated to telepathy. "Any who defy this order should not bother to return to the Carlinoa Clan!"

    Two of the other elders hung their heads, glaring at Elder Kivo. "However," Elder Nura said sharply, regaining the crowd''s attention, "we would be fools to bar a parent from searching for his own child. Vicente, and his mate, Corisande, are given special permission to search for Fia on their own¡­."

    Vicente''s teeth clenched hard enough that some drops of blood dappled his tongue. His blazing, blue eyes bore into Elder Kivo and his supporters. I bet they wanted to forbid even me from going after Fia. Tendrils of smoke curled from the corners of his maw, clamped shut. How dare they act like it''s a kindness to let me do what I would do no matter what! Vicente turned sharply and thrashed his tail in the process. All the elder council had done for him was waste his time.

    "Some victuals and medicine will be provided for the journey!" Elder Nura called after him, louder to ensure that he heard.

    At least there''s that, he still seethed. Vicente would gather the supplies so that he could leave at once.

 Chapter 98: Next Ship

    When Fia and Viliant strutted down the ramp of the riverboat, the black dragonet no longer lurked like a shadow of the pink one.

    "Over here, Viliant," yelled Pako, their closest associate among the crew. His human hand stuck into the air to wave at them. His other hand was preoccupied with holding one corner of a tarp with the other sailors. "Jump!"

    Viliant paused with one clawed paw lifted from the boards. At first he was confused what the humans expected from him but, he soon surmised that they wanted him to leap onto their tarp.

    Go on, Fia nudged his shoulder. Don''t you want the humans to carry you around?

    Only because we''re still celebrating. The moment we get back on the water, Viliant warned, it''s time to be serious again. He suspended his expectations for the time being and flung himself into the air. His wings spread as though he desired to glide, but the breeze whistled past the large rips which remained in the leather-like flaps. Viliant still jumped far enough to fall into the center of the tarp.

    The circle of crewmates held the fabric taut enough to support Viliant''s weight. The dragonet curled himself in a ball as he lolled around on the tarp. Wait, Fia, Viliant panicked as he relied on not a single human to drop a corner of the blanket. Why''d I go along with this?

    Because you''re a hero! Fia whistled for him and bounced up and down on the boardwalk.

    "Viliant saved Tacuma," Pako bellowed. "Three cheers for Viliant! Hip! Hip!"

    "Hurrah!" The rest of the men cheered and whipped their arms upward. This motion caused the center of the blanket to carry upward, launching Viliant along with it.

    The shock in Viliant''s mind reflected in his wide eyes. "Ah!" he yelped, his body contorting in the air. In spite of his discomfort, Viliant recognized that the human''s little game posed no threat to him. The dragonet fell back into the folds of the tarp and bobbed along with his landing.

    "Hip! Hip!" Pako shouted again.

    "Hurrah!" Once more, the sailors hurled Viliant into the air.

    This time, Viliant knew better what to expect. This also helped him enjoy it more. His loose wings draped around his body as he went up. At the peak of his bounce, the wind tugged at the tips of his wings. They stretched above his head as he went back down. Viliant tucked his chin as he landed, and his tail curled in a grin.

    Fia shared in the fleeting moment of fun with Viliant. Happiness coursed through her brain by simply watching him and feeling his reaction over telepathy. That looks like fun! But since she worried that she might ruin the moment if she clambered onto the tarp with him, Fia joined in Pako''s rallying cry.

    "Hip! Hip!"

    "Hooray!"

    For the third and final cheer, the men tossed Viliant as high into the air as they could make him go. The sunlight glinted off his glossy, black scales. The slitted pupil of his emerald eyes dilated as took in the azure sky. Viliant deliberately spread out his wings and gave them a few flaps. I feel like I''m flying¡­!

    Viliant plopped back into the tarp. He rolled onto his stomach with all four of his legs braced. With his snout upturned to the sky, he waited for the humans to launch him again. Viliant intended to jump with the motion this time and get even higher. He wanted to savor the sensation of air moving beneath his wings, but it seemed as though that would have to wait.

    Pako lowered the end of the tarp which he lazily held in one hand. The sailor swept his free hand arm, gesturing for the dragonet to get off.

    "Oh." Viliant cleared a rumble out of his throat. I''m not interested in going again, anyway. It''s not like I wanted this in the first place. He crawled out of the tarp brusquely. The irritated thrash of his arrow-tipped tail cut a slice into the edge of the tarp.

    I''m glad you liked it, Viliant. Fia reclaimed her spot at her best friend''s side. She nudged his cheek with her nose. Though he might try to deny it, Viliant could not hide how much he had enjoyed it due to their telepathic link.

    The men clapped for Viliant and offered him a bump of their fists. Fia showed Viliant the way to tap the flat of his horns against their knuckles. Gently! she emphasized. Once the excitement around him had died down, the sailors resumed their work in unloading the ship. Viliant''s status as a hero excused him from participating in the last toils of the crew.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    While Captain Ulatu oversaw the work, he took an interest in the dragonets. The captain knelt in front of Fia and Viliant to formally thank them again. "Your assistance against the ghost pirarucu was greatly appreciated, Viliant. I can''t express how grateful I am that you''ve saved my daughter." Since Captain Ulatu''s voice choked up a bit, he cleared it and stroked his beard. "My crew has also taken a shine to you. Would a permanent position on my ship interest you?" The captain described an increase in pay and other benefits¡ªas in, smoked meats¡ªthat Viliant would receive.

    He did not listen to his offer of compensation. Viliant shook his head. Though he still struggled to speak Malakan, he managed to say, "No. I travel with Fia."

    Captain Ulatu nodded and made no attempts to convince Viliant further. He pushed himself up from his knee, standing up to his full height. "Well then, I suppose this is where we part ways. Fia, I''ll connect you with my associates."

    "Great!" Fia trod after the captain who led them to the other side of the port.

    His daughter came along with them, holding onto Captain Ulatu''s hand. The smiling, admiring, brown eyes of Tacuma rested on Viliant. "I was hoping you''d keep working for my papa," she said. Tacuma stuck out her tongue at him.

    Viliant growled back.

    "What is it?" Captain Ulatu turned around, alarmed that the dragonets would get aggressive with his daughter after everything that had happened.

    Fia snapped at Viliant in hopes that would cover for them. Don''t growl. That''s not what you do, in a situation like that!

    Huh? Viliant shot a skeptical glare at Fia.

    Captain Ulatu shrugged off the dragonets'' discord, assuming they bickered over telepathy. When he refocused on the directions through the city, Tacuma giggled at the dragonets.

    This only served to irk Viliant more. You can''t expect me to stand here while that ungrateful brat sniggers at us! If I saved her life, I can take it away¡ª

    No! Fia stopped his dark train of thought. Just do this. The tip of her forked tongue poked out of her mouth. Fia stuck out her tongue at Tacuma in return. You need to do it too. Humans stick out their tongues to assert dominance. Fia had to restrain her own giggles to mask her lie over telepathy.

    With his lower lids narrowed out of spite, Viliant flicked his tongue out of his mouth and held it there. Am I telling her she smells bad?

    Yeah, that''s it! Fia goaded him. You just put Tacuma back in her place.

    "Hmph," Viliant grunted. He slurped his tongue back into its proper place between his fangs. Humans are weird.

    The children''s antics made the walk to their destination pass quickly. The river delta spread around the city of Arucaway with a major channel that cut through its center. The south end of the city had its harbor open up to the ocean where even bigger ships waited for them.

    The pace of Fia''s steps slowed. The shadow of the ships'' sails cast a sense of dread over the pink dragonette. She slunk under Viliant''s wing for comfort. Those look like the same type of ship that took me away from home. Her aquamarine eyes wavered at the memory.

    I see. Viliant glared at the ships. Even though he knew that Diwa did her best to set them on a safe journey and he did not expect Captain Ulatu to betray them now, he would never trust humans. The black dragonet straightened his neck and puffed out his chest to make himself look like more of a threat. With a flex of his wings, Viliant kept Fia safely underneath.

    "Good morning to you, Mawsig," Captain Ulatu called to a man with a broad, feathered cap.

    The older man of colorful attire spun on the heel of his boot. "Aye, Ulatu!" Mawsig said. "What a surprise to see you in Arucaway again! Has the ghost pirarucu stopped haunting your path?"

    "Nay, but I hired a strong shadow dragon to guard the ship," Captain Ulatu stepped aside to show off Viliant. Their previous captain praised his performance, advertising his skills to the potential captain of their next ship. "Viliant alerted us as soon as the wretched fish appeared and helped us take it down. He even saved my daughter''s life!"

    "What happened to Tacuma? Is she alright?" Captain Mawsig bent at the hip and placed his hands on his knees, peering more closely at Tacuma.

    "I''m fine," she piped up, "thanks to Viliant!"

    "He''s looking for work that''ll take him south. A strong, compact, shadow dragon could prove quite useful to you. I hear some ships get wrecked on the Wraith Isle on your course."

    Captain Mawsig nodded along. His demeanor darkened while his eyelids became hooded, reminiscing on the Wraith Isle.

    "However," Captain Ulatu continued, "Viliant will only work for you if you take along this little, pink dragonette. She has the money to pay as a passenger, but I have to warn you about this one." Captain Ulatu leaned closer as he whispered, "She''s a fire dragon and a powerful one at that. When the ghost pirarucu attacked, she was quite¡­ zealous in her attempts to boil it in the river."

    "Ah. I see." Captain Mawsig''s eyes darted back to his ship. The last shreds of his interest seemed to get blustered away with a gust of wind. The salty seabreeze teased at Fia''s flared nostrils.

    The dragonette did not understand why the humans belittled her contributions on the night of the ghost pirarucu''s attack. "I helped!" she insisted. "My fire burnt its scales. We wouldn''t have killed the fish without me!"

    Captain Mawsig raised his chin and brows, despite his narrowed eyes, as he peered down at Fia. "How much are you paying?"

    Fia flinched. The remainder of her coins jingled in the small satchel tucked beneath her wing. Without a recount, she stated the amount from memory.

    The hefty sum softened Captain Mawsig''s sharp cheekbones with a smile. "I''ll take on these clients, but only if the pink one wears a muzzle."

    Fia tilted her head to the side. Her right wing drooped against the deck in the same direction. "A¡­ muzzle?" she repeated the strange word which she did not know in the Malakan language. Fia wished that humans had telepathy, so she could understand what he meant. She needed to find out what a muzzle was before she could agree to the new captain''s terms.

 Chapter 99: Another Try

    "A muzzle," Captain Mawsig repeated, "if I may." The man flourished his hand, glowing green with a nature spell. When Fia agreed to the demonstration, he pulled magical vines from the inside of his sleeves. The buds along the vines blossomed with small, pink flowers as their freshly grown tips raced toward Fia''s face. The length of the vines coiled around her snout and ensnared her jaws. The plant material pressed down so tight that she could not open her mouth a crack.

    "Eep!" she squeaked out between her jowls, peeled back. Her maw was not strong enough to overpower the rope of vines. In her panic, Fia did not think to use her claws either. She coughed a fireball which exploded inside her mouth. The rapid spike in temperature caused the plant fiber to set fire wherever it touched her scales. Soon, her whole muzzle was enveloped in flames. The singed plants dropped away from Fia''s maw and withered to ash on the boardwalk.

    "I guess a muzzle of vines ain''t going to work on a fire dragon, is it?" Captain Mawsig stomped his boot over her embers and snapped his fingers. "You''ll need a metal muzzle if you want to board my ship!"

    "I''ll keep my mouth shut!" Fia promised. "I won''t cast any spells." Despite the new captain''s assumption, she did not need to open her mouth to start a magical spark. Fia was not about to reveal this fact to him though, scared that he would rescind the opportunity to travel with him entirely.

    Viliant took over the negotiations. His terse eyes flitted to Fia with a pained, but determined look. "She will wear a muzzle," he said on her behalf.

    "Huh?" Fia gasped. How could you agree to that? The rest of her thoughts stalled with her disbelief.

    "But you give me the key to unlock it," Viliant clarified, doling out his one requirement to the new captain. To Fia, who still objected, he reassured her over telepathy. Don''t worry. I''d never let a human do that to you. As long as I''m the one to put it on you, you can still wear a muzzle, Viliant thought. His reasons were manifold, flashing from his mind to hers in an instant. I''ll keep our telepathy open constantly. I''ll take it off whenever it''s just the two of us. Of course, I''ll make sure you get to eat and drink. I won''t just keep all the food to myself¡­.

    But still¡­! Fia objected to the notion on principle. Tears stung her eyes as she remembered being bound in the brig, muzzled and chained, when the Syenic pirates had captured her. Fia never wanted to wear metal restraints again.

    The new captain was not open to negotiations either. "Ha!" Captain Mawsig laughed at Viliant''s condition. "No way. I don''t need telepathy to know you''ll let her out!"

    Between the two dragonets, they understood the accuracy of his suspicions. Viliant had just promised Fia that he would do as much. Nevertheless, he objected with a growl. "Then you will not have my help with the Wraith Isle," Viliant said, recalling the name of the place that Captain Ulatu had mentioned. The broad daylight weakened Viliant''s magic compared to when his power waxed at nighttime, but he did not let that hinder his demonstration.

    The shadow of the black dragonet flickered to life along the boardwalk. The outline of his limbs and spines elongated till his shadow stretched like the morning light had faded to late afternoon. This inky monstrosity lifted from the planks and hovered its larger form behind Viliant. When the green-eyed dragonet cocked his head to the side, the manifestation of his shadow did the same with its eyes aglow in a misty purple. "Are you sure you don''t want to have me watch your back?"

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Captain Mawsig gaped at Viliant and his formidable offer. The new captain assessed the value that the burgeoning shadow mage would bring to his crew. His narrow eyes flitted to Fia. "Aye, I won''t deny your skill, young shadow dragon, but I can''t make an exception for the fire dragonette. Our ship has no chance to reach the Wraith Isle if we burn on the water first."

    Viliant and Fia both clamored to object. "You''ll regret this!" The shadow monster above Viliant collapsed over his back with a swirl of shadows, dissipating to the shaded underside below the boardwalk. Viliant had intended to say something that sounded more eloquent and less like a threat. Over telepathy, he shared with Fia what he truly wanted to spit at Captain Mawsig: Your bad judgment shows¡ªboth passing on my skills and wanting to muzzle a tiny, pink dragonette!

    I can''t say that to him! Fia whined. Instead, she jumped up and down, begging, "Please reconsider! I have to get back home to save my people¡ªto see my mama and papa again. I''ll be good! I promise!"

    From the side of his eye, Captain Mawsig glared. "Find another ship to take you. Or hire a dragon ferry that''s willing to deal with your own kind." That signaled the end of his part in negotiations. Captain Mawsig''s jolly demeanor returned once he ignored the dragonets and conversed solely with Captain Ulatu. The men established a time to meet midday, before Captain Mawsig''s ship would depart first thing the next morning. They bid each other farewell for now.

    With a broad smile, Captain Mawsig crouched and waved to his associate''s daughter. "Bye, Tacuma."

    "Bye!" She skipped after her father, not understanding why the interaction had made Fia as glum as Viliant. Innocently, Tacuma asked, "Does this mean you''ll keep working on my papa''s ship?"

    "No, we can''t." Fia trotted ahead of Tacuma to look up to Captain Ulatu. "Sir, do you have other captain friends that we can talk to? It''s really important. I have to¡ª!"

    "I know you miss your parents," Captain Ulatu said tersely, cutting her off from explaining her story yet again. "Captain Mawsig''s schedule best aligned with your arrival. I have work to do, but I can make another connection for you in a few days."

    "We need to go now," Fia whined. "Why''d you have to tell him I''m a fire dragon? I helped kill the fish."

    "I''m sorry, Fia. It wouldn''t be right to Captain Mawsig or his crew if they took you on his ship without knowing your element. If you don''t like the shipping schedules, you can get more money for a dragon to fly you across the ocean. My offer to hire Viliant still stands."

    Fia glanced at Viliant and whimpered. None of these options she liked. Her dragging claws fell back alongside her best friend. Her frantic mind scoured his thoughts for answers. What do we do, Viliant?

    Calm down, first, he advised. Even though their negotiations with Captain Mawsig ended unfavorably, Viliant remained unaffected by stress. He reasoned, Getting worked up about it isn''t going to change things, but it might make things worse. We can''t miss another opportunity.

    Fia nodded. Though she took in a big breath, her heart still pumped with anxiety.

    Tacuma''s soft steps sounded behind Fia and Viliant. Slowing her walk, she put more distance between them and her father. "I''m gonna miss you guys, but I know how this is really important to you, Fia. I think I can help you get on that ship anyway," Tacuma suggested with a mischievous wink.

 Chapter 100: Box of Meat

    Before Fia could question Tacuma''s offer, the human girl stuck her palm against the dragonette''s snout. "Shh," Tacuma hushed as she pressed a finger against her own lips.

    "Come on, Tacuma," Captain Ulatu beckoned to his daughter. The captain extended his arm so that Tacuma could run up and grab his hand.

    I guess it''s a secret, just between us dragonets and kids, Fia assumed. She had almost blurted aloud how Tacuma intended to get them on the ship.

    We shouldn''t trust her, Viliant said at once. Even if he figured the human child meant well, her age belied her incompetence.

    It''s either Tacuma or Captain Mawsig, Fia reminded him. A shudder ran up her spine when she recalled the feeling of a muzzle around her snout. After everything that the two dragonets had managed together, Fia had full confidence in another child''s ability to help them out.

    Once the dragonets returned to their original ship, Captain Ulatu left them with his daughter. "Stay out of trouble, you hear?"

    "Yes, Papa!" Tacuma said. Her grin widened when she turned to Fia and Viliant on the deck. "You see how all these crates are going over to Captain Mawsig''s ship right now?" Tacuma pointed her finger at the crew in the midst of work, lugging a crate down the gangway. "So, what you''ve gotta do is sneak inside one of them! Once you''re on the water, then they''re stuck with you. That''s how I got Papa to take me on his work trips the first time."

    Fia nodded along, appreciating Tacuma''s story from first-hand experience. Her plan made perfect sense, except Fia doubted that Captain Mawsig would not show as much understanding to the dragonets as Captain Ulatu did to his own daughter. He''ll probably want to muzzle me again, Fia lamented, dreading if they should get caught. But he can''t do that if he never knows I''m there! Her eyes watched the men carry the crate down the boardwalk, headed in their general direction. How do we get inside without them noticing us? she wondered.

    "Easy." Viliant positioned himself against a rail. He flattened his black scales against the grainy wood to look like a shadow. When the sailors passed, his legs flexed to leap through the sides of the crate in his shadow form.

    "Wait!" Fia''s cry interrupted Viliant''s focus.

    The crew paid the dragonets no mind and kept hurrying with the crate to the next ship.

    "What?" Viliant snapped at Fia, annoyed. You just lost us a perfectly good opportunity.

    That won''t work for me, Fia whined. Her claws pawed at the pier. She only wished that she could phase through solid material with her magic. Unless can you cast that spell on me too?

    Viliant closed his eyes and concentrated for a few moments. No. I don''t think I can. Maybe at night¡­.

    Before he could finish that thought, Fia filled his mind with a better idea. Let''s hide together in our box of rations! We need to get it on Captain Mawsig''s ship anyway.

    You''re right. Viliant was harrowed that he had nearly forgotten about their food. After a perpetual feast on the pirarucu''s filets, the necessity of their rations at sea had slipped his mind.

    Let''s go. Fia bounded up the plank of the riverboat. At the center of the ship deck, she approached Captain Ulatu who delivered orders to any of his idle crew. "Captain Ulatu," Fia whined at his feet, "I''ve changed my mind. I need to get on that ship tomorrow, even if I have to wear a muzzle."

    The captain turned to regard Fia with his eyes glazed over. Though Captain Ulatu did not particularly enjoy childish antics from anyone aside from his own daughter, he nodded his bushy beard to Fia. "I''ll tell Captain Mawsig that you''ve changed your mind." His gaze lifted to include Viliant. "Are you going with her?"

    "Yes, sir."

    Captain Ulatu grunted his understanding. "I''ll have your rations moved with the rest of the cargo. There''s no backing out after that," Captain Ulatu warned, "or else you''ll lose your meat."

    "We understand," Fia said. Her chin nodded twice in grave agreement. They could not mess up their one shot to stowaway on Captain Mawsig''s ship. At the same time, Fia resisted her tail''s urge to twist in a waggish smile. "I''m gonna go check on it!" Before any of the humans could say otherwise, Fia darted between some of the sailors'' legs. She dove down the hatch to the cargo hold first.

    Close behind her, Viliant slid down the poles of the ladder. His claws etched some new scratches along the sides.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Hurry! Fia said, racing him to the plentiful box of meat that they had purchased in preparation for the long journey. We have to cram ourselves inside before the men notice. With a flap of her wings, Fia tapped her eager claws on the sealed lid of their crate.

    Viliant reared onto his hind legs and wedged his talons underneath the wood. He pried the top open swiftly, causing Fia to slide off the other side.

    "Eep!" she yelped at first. Fia collapsed into a pile of mischievous giggles on the ground.

    Indifferent to her brief stall, Viliant hauled himself into the crate. His tail floundered inside last like a snake.

    Are you going to be okay in there? Fia pranced her anxious feet around the edge of the crate, worried that the space inside could not accommodate one dragonet much less two.

    It''s cold, dark, and I''m surrounded by food, Viliant observed. A rustle sounded from inside the crate as the dragonet rolled over atop the slabs of meat. I''m going to be just fine, Fia. Don''t you worry.

    His nonchalant dismissal made her worry even more. Don''t eat all of our food! Fia wailed in his mind.

    Stop throwing a fuss and get in here, Viliant said. The larger dragonet had already made himself comfortable on the bed of meat. With his horns, he held open the lid a crack to invite Fia inside with him.

    Her bottom jaw dropped open from excitement. Though Viliant remained unaware, this felt like a game to her. Fia''s mouth even salivated from the aroma of salted meat. She jumped into the box with her wings spread wide. Fia crashed on top of Viliant with the pale underside of her wing smothered against his face.

    "Mmph!" Viliant grunted. Get off me, he hissed over telepathy.

    Fia thwacked his shoulder, pressing him against the back wall of the crate. No, you''ve gotta make room for me. Fia whined and grunted as she squirmed into the curve formed by Viliant''s neck.

    "Ack," he gagged when she struck his throat with an unfortunate kick. Knock it off. There isn''t any more room, Viliant tried to explain to her.

    For a short while, Fia stilled herself. Can''t you use shadow magic to make yourself a teensy bit smaller? Fia swore that Viliant''s frame used to be shorter and thinner when they had first met in the same cell together. Since their freedom, their plentiful access to food had put more muscles on his bones and helped make up for his lost years of growth.

    I could, Viliant admitted about his magic with some hesitation. However, apprehension filled his mind that constant reliance on his element would cause him to overexert his ley lines again. After the fight with the ghost pirarucu, he needed to rest and save his mana for an inescapable situation. For their present predicament, Viliant offered another solution. We''d be better off if I just ate some more space for us.

    "No!" Fia gasped. We need to save our rations for the ocean. Besides, haven''t you eaten enough food?

    The grumble of Viliant''s belly answered for him. I could always eat more. Since we''ve had nothing but fish the past week, we''ve saved a bunch of extra meat. One bite wouldn''t hurt.

    Fia narrowed her eyes at Viliant. When it came to pacing their meals so that their rations would last the full journey, she doubted his judgement. Before she could come up with another idea, the boots of the sailors drew dangerously close. Fia tumbled out of the crate so that the lid could fall shut. Her tail swished against the wooden floor, and she looked up to the men with crystal eyes.

    "Hey, Fia," Pako greeted the pink dragonette. "Is this your box of rations?"

    "Yep, that''s right," Fia touted. Frantically, she communicated with Viliant who remained in the box. Stay down! I''ll follow you in a different box.

    No, Fia! Viliant would snarl in objection if only he did not want the noise to blow his cover. Their plan would only work if the sailors did not suspect that Fia and Viliant tried to sneak on Captain Mawsig''s ship through the cargo. What if you end up going to the wrong ship?

    Fia''s wings drooped to wrap around her body. She had not considered the possibility that she could end up separated from Viliant, shipped back to Syene as a grievous destination.

    "Is everything alright?" Pako questioned after Fia''s sudden change in attitude. "Is it all ready to go?"

    A gasp caught in Fia''s throat. She needed to think fast.

    No, Viliant demanded her to respond. Send them away, so we can try again¡ª

    "Yes!" Fia blurted out before she could register Viliant''s excellent suggestion. I''ll glide onto the ship at night, Fia shared her own idea belatedly.

    As the men picked up the crate with a grunt, the soft sound of Viliant''s groan came from inside the box. Fia¡­. This isn''t good. We''re gonna get separated, then I''ll have to jump off the ship at the last minute. We''re about to lose our meat¡ª

    Stop! This is just fine. Once Viliant resisted his urge to catastrophize in her mind, the more that Fia recognized how their situation was salvageable. When it''s dark, you can help me with your shadow magic. No one will even notice me fly onto the ship. She trotted after Pako and the other man who carried the box with confidence.

    "I swear this box of meat got even heavier the second time around," Pako remarked.

    Viliant swayed atop the slabs of meat as the sailors hefted the crate up the ladder. I sure hope you''re right, Viliant said to Fia. Though he dreaded all the ways that their plan might go wrong, this also seemed like their best chance for success at this point.

 Chapter 101: Stowaway Dragons

    The night fell over the harbor with a chill that sent all the visitors away. The previously bustling port had now emptied of its sailors and travelers¡ªall except one. Fia bounded alongside the uneven posts of the pier. Her claws scritched against the wood as she slinked around the tallest bollard. With her nose upturned, her blue eyes sparkled at the tall masts of the sea-faring ship. The starlight reflected in her slitted pupils, dilated at the center to let in more light.

    Viliant? Fia called out to him over telepathy. She probed the area for a dragon within range, prepared to snap the invitation at a moment''s notice. The dense population of Malakan cities increased the risk that she would accidentally contact another dragon. A relieved sigh whooshed from her maw when a familiar mind greeted her.

    Fia! It''s about time you showed up. Though Viliant tried to downplay his concern, his mind was bereft with worry over their stowaway mission. Stay where you are. I''ll make sure the coast is clear.

    We don''t need the whole coast, just the ship, Fia giggled.

    Focus. Viliant did not spare any of his attention on idle chatter, only his objective. He needed to survey the deck and signal to Fia when she could glide across. First, that meant Viliant had to get out of their crate of rations. He centered himself to cast magic with good technique. When the black dragonet slipped into his shadow form, he fell through his bed of meat before he could stop himself.

    "Oof," he grunted. The delectable scent and palpable taste overwhelmed Viliant''s senses, diverting his focus momentarily. Well, this is interesting. To himself, he mused, Normally the meat goes inside of me. I don''t know how I feel about being inside the meat¡­. His fascination with their rations bled over their telepathic link to Fia.

    I told you not to eat our food! she whined.

    I''m not¡­ anymore, he let slip.

    While Viliant had waited for nightfall in the cramped crate, he had writhed with anxiety. When is Fia going to get here? Does she remember what the ship looks like? Are the men going to catch her¡ªor me?

    Shortly after the crate with Viliant had been loaded onto the ship, the sailors'' boots tramped around their box of rations. They placed similar containers and barrels of food in this section of the cargo hold. Viliant readied himself to dive into the shadows at a moments'' notice. One wrong move, and the sailors might bust the crate. All afternoon, the stowaway dragonet flexed his claws, prepared to fight if he must. Viliant abhorred each human step that he heard, keeping him on high alert.

    To distract himself from his worries, Viliant took his first nip of meat. He lapped at it with his tongue and sucked it between his fangs. Viliant tried his best to savor it and make it last as long as possible before he took another bite. The dragonet nibbled the smallest piece that he could still enjoy.

    He kept his telepathic receptors open, waiting for Fia to fill his mind with her chipper attitude. Eventually, the human activity in the storage hold diminished and disappeared altogether. Is it nighttime yet? The black dragonet did not want to risk leaving the crate, so he could not monitor the passage of time. Viliant dwelled completely alone in the dark. The boredom set in along with his hunger. Just one more bite, Viliant thought as he continued to munch on their rations.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Now, nighttime had come along with Fia to the ship. Viliant! she whined at him, exasperated.

    So what if I had a little snack? Viliant shrugged off her agitation. The wispy tip of his shadow tail swished into the open space at the top of the box. The ephemeral head of the dragonet stuck through the side of the crate. Viliant turned his head from side to side, surveying as far as he could see. Beyond the darkness, he sensed no one in the shadows.

    The black dragonet walked the rest of the way outside the crate. His physical scales returned to cover his ghostly body with each step that he took. His ripped wings lost their wispy appearance in favor of their natural, leathery one. However, the grainy texture of the wood could still be seen behind the rips in his wings. Viliant''s tail flicked back into physical form last, its razor tip striking a chip against the crate as he left.

    Viliant lurked in the cargo hold until he found the ladder up. Once more, the dragonet observed his surroundings before he exposed himself out in the open. I sense someone''s here, Viliant warned Fia. Though he could not see them from here, he could feel the disruption of shadows on the far side of the ship.

    A sharp sense of panic filled Fia''s mind. I see a light! The pink dragonette tumbled from her spot atop the bollard. Fia crawled beneath the boardwalk instead.

    Hide! Viliant told her, aware of neither her swift reaction nor her current position. The black dragonet popped up from the hatch and darted around the ship''s cabin. Since he could sense the steady strides taken by the human guard, he evaded him by circling in the same direction around the deck.

    Viliant paced himself so that he always stayed on the opposite side of the cabin. Once the guard with the lantern patrolled the other side, Viliant paused where Fia had originally seen him. The black dragonet claimed a perch on the ship''s rail. Do you see me, Fia? He flapped his weak wings to signal to her.

    Hi, Viliant! Fia blew a small ember to reveal her location to him as well¡ªsomething that he had already derived from the shadows. The pink dragonette scrambled back up the post and leaped from the top. Her wings snapped open to glide across the water. A flap or two of her wings even helped her gain a little air. Fia landed with all four claws wedged between the wooden exterior of the ship. She began to climb her way up.

    Once she reached the top, Fia jumped next to Viliant. Her giddy claws tapped next to him on the guardrail. She had resisted the impulse to tackle him. Instead, she jumped down from the rail and bounded after him.

    Hurry. This way. Viliant led Fia around the cabin in the same orientation that he had been going. The dragonets smoothly avoided the guard this way when he walked in a circle to the other side. Down here. Viliant''s faster run brought him to the edge of the hatch first. He waited for Fia to go down first before he slid down himself.

    Hooray! We did it. Fia strutted with her tail wagging side to side. We''re on the boat.

    Yeah. Viliant huffed out a sigh. Let''s not do that again. It''s better if we plan carefully.

    Fia shrugged her wings and bobbed her head. She had improvised a backup plan on the fly, after their first attempt had fallen through. It was Viliant who did a poor job sticking to the plan. She tossed a squinty look back to him. Where''s our rations? I gotta see how much you ate.

    Not that much. Just a bite. Viliant walked over to the stores of food with a dragging tail and hanging wings. The older dragonet was not looking forward to Fia''s reproach after he had been the one to do something that complicated their journey. If the dragonets ran out of food before they reached Carlinoa, then they might have to risk stealing from the humans'' stock.

 Chapter 102: Rations

    A sense of dread churned in Viliant''s stomach along with the excessive amount of food that he had eaten. Fia demanded to see their rations, so first, he walked through the side of the crate. His shadow form allowed him to situate himself comfortably inside. When he released the spell, his physical body crammed against the crate and made the wood creak. The spines along his back bit into the planks and bowed them upward before he even tried to push.

    Oops. Viliant only now realized the sheer quantity of food that he had eaten. Despite the additional space that he had made in the crate, Viliant''s bloated belly filled it up. His stuffed stomach pressed against the pile of meat underneath him, making his back put pressure on the lid above him. With a concentrated push against his horns, Viliant popped one side of the lid off. He dragged himself out of the crate so that Fia could inspect the contents.

    The pink dragonette balanced her foreclaws against the rim, and she took a look inside. At once, her jaw dropped as she gasped. You ate a whole month''s worth of food!

    First of all, Viliant objected, it clearly wouldn''t have lasted a month. It was a single night''s worth of food.

    For their rations, the dragonets had planned to subsist on one meal per week. Already, the reptilian species did not need to dine every day. If they stayed sedentary on the ship and spared their mana reserves, then they required even less food. Diwa had carefully figured the price of their passage, the length of their journey, and the cost of food for them. In anticipation of Viliant''s voracious appetite, she had even packed extra snacks for them both. Fia gaped at Viliant, unsure how he had managed to eat so much¡ªespecially after they had feasted on the ghost pirarucu.

    Second of all, Viliant explained, I was just trying to make room so we could both hide in here.

    If you can barely fit, then where do I go? Fia glared at Viliant''s engorged midsection. Maybe after you finish digesting all that, we can try it. Till then¡­. I go in the box! Fia kicked her back legs and flapped her wings. This motion made her topple over the side of the crate, head first. Fia somersaulted over their meat rations. Her rump hit the crate''s far side, and the tip of her tail sagged close to her nose. Upside down, Fia peered at Viliant who poked his face above the crate. You stay out there! she growled.

    Viliant chuffed a breath of disbelief. Fine. Between the two of them, the older dragonet knew that he was better equipped to hide amidst the other freight. If any humans approached, he could dip into the abundant shadows of the cargo hold. Viliant slid their crate''s lid back in place, concealing Fia inside. The black dragonet curled behind the box where he dozed for the remainder of the night, keeping one eye open.

    Fia slept soundly, sheltered in the box and guarded by Viliant who kept watch. Her slumber deepened throughout the early morning. The ship began to rock as it sailed out of the harbor. The motion reminded Fia of the way that her mother used to swing her side to side in the fold of her wing. I''m going home, she dreamed happily.

    The din of human voices snapped Fia awake. A sharp, silent gasp caught in her throat. Viliant, she hissed to him outside the crate.

    I know, he replied, and I''m ready. An edge of aggression lined Viliant''s mind.

    We have to stay hidden, Fia reminded him. However, that objective might prove difficult based on the topic of the sailors'' conversation.

    "The dragonets never showed," the first man remarked. "They must''ve chickened out."

    "Speaking of chicken," said the second man, "we already had their food moved aboard. That means more for us! Let''s take a peek, shall we?"

    The floorboards creaked as a pair of feet approached the crate where Fia was stowed away. Her pulse quickened alongside her breath. Viliant, do something!

    Brace yourself, he warned.

    Fia squeezed her eyes shut. She feared the human hands which must descend for the top of the crate. Abruptly, all the boxes in the cargo hold shifted along the bottom of the ship. Fia''s body tumbled inside her own crate. She clamped her jaw shut to keep herself from yelping.

    The men did nothing of the sort, howling as their bodies were flung against the wall. The strike of their shoulders was quickly followed by a grunt. The boxes careened toward the unsuspecting men. On top of this, some barrels tipped onto their side and rolled into them. The dark cargo hold turned into Viliant''s playground. Manipulated by his shadows, Viliant threw things around at his whim.

    "The water''s rocky! Let''s get somewhere safe, for now," the first sailor remarked.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    "Argh," cursed the second sailor. "I swore we battened down all the cases yesterday."

    Together, the two men hefted the storage containers away from them. Their fading footsteps signaled their retreat from the cargo hold in favor of a more stable area of the ship.

    They''re gone now, Viliant reassured Fia.

    Thank you, she groaned. I can''t believe they want to steal our food!

    I''ll keep them away, Viliant said. We can always steal their food¡ª

    No! Fia nipped that thought in the bud before he could become too attached to the idea. If any of their rations go missing, that''ll give us away. We can''t risk anything that''ll draw extra attention to us.

    I know, Viliant clarified. It''s a last resort, so we don''t starve.

    Fia rolled her eyes. We''re not going to starve, so long as you don''t eat everything too fast.

    A note of anxiety remained in the back of Viliant''s mind. After he had endured most of his early childhood with hunger pangs, he did not like to limit himself around food. Not that many moons had passed since he could count on a full stomach. Even if the rational part of him knew that he must ration their food, Viliant struggled to do so. A deep breath filled his chest. I''ll protect you and our food, he promised Fia.

    During the ruckus, Viliant had conveniently moved their box of rations toward the back. The other crates blocked it on all sides, discouraging the humans from checking this one. He even used a claw made of shadows, bubbling up from the floor, to prop a barrel on top.

    A dull thump sounded over the lid, just above Fia''s head. Her wings peeled back, pressed against her ribs. What was that?

    I''m burying our crate.

    Fia whined out of alarm. How am I supposed to get out?

    You don''t, Viliant replied tersely. I mean, you don''t need to.

    In a single, embarrassed word, Fia reminded him, Potty.

    Right. The other''s defecatory needs had easily slipped from their minds. It felt like an eon ago that they had designated a corner of their shared, cramped cell to that purpose. I''ll keep our box on top. Viliant did not want to constantly waste his mana, moving the crates to and fro everytime that Fia needed a brief relief away from their food. He enticed the shadows to arrange the cargo hold into an optimal layout for defense and convenience.

    Fia and Viliant were both tucked away in their hiding spots by the time that the sailors came back. "Hurry," one man said. "We''d better fix everything before Captain Mawsig notices." The two men found themselves busy enough that they no longer had time for a snack of salted meats. By the time that they had finished, the sailors hurried to fulfill work elsewhere on the ship.

    ***

    The days passed uneventfully. Fia invented various games to play with him over telepathy. I''m thinking of a number¡ª

    Seven, Viliant said at once.

    Nope! Fia jeered back.

    You''re lying.

    How do you know I''m lying? Her smug attitude came across their telepathic link. Despite the inane nature of a guessing game over telepathy, it attuned Fia and Viliant to the detection of lies over telepathy. So too, they practiced concealing their own thoughts. The game naturally devolved into bickering.

    This is stupid. I''m not playing anymore, Viliant finally determined.

    "Aw," Fia sighed inside the crate. Her belly squirmed overtop the meat. I''ll give you a bite of meat if you can guess the number that I''m thinking¡ª

    Two.

    That wasn''t it. Fia pouted from genuine surprise. She had kept seven as her secret number this whole time.

    No, Viliant clarified. I want two pieces of meat.

    Fine. Fia caved to his demands since she wanted anything to stave off the boredom. Their meat supply dwindled too rapidly for the first two weeks that passed on the ship.

    ***

    One morning, a coarse, scratching sound woke her up. "Eep!" Fia squeaked like a mouse. The dragonette wondered if a larger rodent had snuck onto the ship like they did. Viliant, she called, I think there''s a rat! Fia writhed from excitement. An infestation on the ship could provide a potential supplement to their food stock. The second that Viliant approved her to come out of the crate, she wanted to hunt.

    Rude. For some reason, Viliant took offense to her desire to catch a rat.

    Huh?

    That''s not a rat. It''s just me. A second bout of loud rubbing sounded against the crate''s exterior.

    Oh. Why''re you being so loud? Fia now worried that Viliant''s incessant noise would make the humans investigate its source eventually.

    I''m itchy, Viliant admitted lamely, and my scales are falling off.

    Fia gasped. Your scales are falling off? How many?

    A long pause accompanied his dread. At last, he revealed, All of them. During one of the worst possible times, Viliant''s scales had begun to molt.

 Chapter 103: Shed Scales

    Each time that Viliant kicked in an effort to scratch his scales, Fia''s anxiety spiked. You''re itchy. I get it. Try to keep it down!

    I can''t help it. I''ll stop when I sense the humans come down the ladder. Until then, Viliant continued to itch himself. His clawed foot made a loud: Thump! Thump! Thump! It sounded rhythmic like the ocean waves sloshing against the hull of the ship.

    Don''t leave your scales all over the place, Fia warned. The pink dragonette writhed inside the dark crate. If Viliant was going to make a mess out of his discomfort, she at least wanted to see it for herself. Can I come out?

    No.

    A whine trembled from her snout. But why not?

    It''s unnecessary, Viliant replied tersely. In spite of the racket made by him, Viliant considered that entirely necessary. The dragonet could not help it that he had grown too big for his current layer of scales.

    Fia wracked her brain for a way to make herself useful. I can help pick off your scales, she said in a teasing way, hoping that would make her offer sound more enticing. The faster we pull off your loose scales, the less time the humans have to catch you!

    A tenuous pause held between Fia and Viliant''s minds. Fine, he allowed at last.

    An excited giggle escaped Fia. She bounced up and down on the meat, testing her horns against the crate''s lid. Because of the amount of meat that they had eaten, Fia could not gain enough purchase to pry it up on her own anymore. Viliant''s molt had made him lethargic, so he was slow to lodge his claws against the top of the crate.

    The wood cracked open, allowing Fia to nuzzle it open the rest of the way. Hi, Viliant. Her front claws tapped onto the floor first, closely followed by her back claws. The pink dragonette circled her best friend to inspect the change in him.

    Patches of his dingy scales had dried out, causing them to peel upward. His brittle scales snapped and flaked away with a little encouragement from his claws. The old layer had turned translucent in the process of molting. This gave Fia a glimpse of the sheeny, soft scales which had already grown to replace them underneath. Stop staring, Viliant seethed over telepathy. Stop prancing all around me! This isn''t funny.

    I know. It''s totally normal, Fia replied. I just think your new scales look nice.

    Viliant grunted. The unfortunate timing of his molt made him even less receptive to frivolous compliments than usual. His droopy eyelids made the dragonet look exhausted. Let''s hurry up and get this over with. Help me get the scales off my back.

    A husk of old scales caught in the long spines along Viliant''s back. His own claws could not reach there. The only way for him to knock off the old scales by himself involved aggressively thrashing his whole body. Instead, Fia lay atop a crate about his height. From here, she could easily reach her front claws down to knead his back.

    While Viliant scraped his own claws across his scales in quick, successive swipes, he became distracted by Fia''s massage. All the spines along his back flexed, then relaxed. Viliant arched his back to make her claws dig deeper. "Mm," he groaned. A little to the left¡­ right there, he sighed when Fia followed his instruction.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    The dragonette giggled at his reactions. She peeled away his old scales until none remained on his back except the new, healthy scales. Fia stacked the old ones into a pile so that the clumps looked vaguely like a shell of Viliant. She jumped down from the box and wiggled in front of it. Old, crusty Viliant, she addressed the husk, meet the new, shiny Viliant!

    His bright, green eyes rolled around in his head. Stop goofing off. Despite how he tried to deflect the significance of his fresh suit of scales, the slight glimmer in Viliant''s eyes revealed his excitement.

    I''m serious. Once more, Fia circled Viliant to observe his scales from all angles. You lost the scales that you had in Syene. Most of your scars are gone now! These are super shiny like¡­ like obsidian! She named a rock which Viliant had never heard of before. Fia, herself, only had a cursory understanding of the mineral. Since she could sense Viliant''s lack of understanding, she shared what little she remembered about obsidian. It''s a hard, fire rock that''s shiny and black and tough! It forms under¡­ extreme conditions. Fia gave up trying to explain exactly what made obsidian special. It''s valuable! she promised.

    Thanks, Fia. Viliant stood up taller and flicked his tail into a curve. He flipped his neck back to glimpse as many of his new scales as he could see for himself.

    Fascinated by his scales too, Fia ignored how Viliant shied away when she stepped closer. The pink dragonette brushed her cheek against his shoulder. So soft.

    Hey! Viliant leaped on top of the box to get away from Fia. That''s enough. His scales would harden over the next, several days to the true toughness of dragon scales. Till then, Viliant ought to minimize his movement to avoid gouging the surface of his scales while they were still vulnerable. A simple scratch now would leave a mark like his old battle wounds. Most of all, he needed to avoid any violent altercations with the humans aboard the ship.

    Fia focused on the evidence left behind by Viliant''s molt. Get rid of it. She tossed her horns toward the wall of the ship, gesturing for Viliant to throw his shed skin away like he did with their other waste.

    However, Viliant hesitated to apply his shadow magic and fling it into the ocean just yet. His forked tongue flicked out of his mouth. I don''t know. Viliant hovered over his shed scales. They smell good.

    My mom told me not to eat my scales, Fia explained. For the couple of times that her scales had molted since her hatching, Fia had looked forward to showing them off to her parents. I''d always get to trade them for meat!

    Viliant tilted his head in expectation. I''d be willing to make that deal.

    A big huff came from Fia''s mouth. She just remembered that her hiding spot in the box gave her control over their rations. "Nuh uh!" The dragonette shook her head. Due to their depleting rations, she had already stopped bribing Viliant with food to play with her.

    I''m gonna eat them then. Viliant lay down to enjoy his feast of crunchy scales. His fangs gnashed them into bits, dropping crumbs before he gulped the rest down.

    Viliant had always devoured his shed scales in the dungeon of the coliseum. He thought nothing of the dry, bland taste. Whenever his scales had fallen off back then, he considered how his own scales might serve as his last meal. If the humans ever chose to make him fight before his new ones had hardened, then that would herald his demise. A similar anxiety flooded through Viliant on the ship, inspiring him to gobble up the scales as quickly as possible. At any moment, the sailors might come down to hear the ruckus that he had made.

    Get back in the box, he ordered Fia. I sense someone coming

    Viliant propped open the crate''s lid to usher her back inside.

    The tip of her tail thrashed as the last part of Fia to clamber into the box. She snuggled against the meat, holding her breath to better listen to the thump of boots down the ladder. Viliant slunk behind the crate in a slow, methodical movement. They waited to see what manner of business had brought the humans down to the cargo hold.

 Chapter 104: Murky Murids

    The plank floor creaked softly under the sailors'' slow, apprehensive steps. Despite the inspection that they levied to their own ship, the duo spoke in whispers. "Do you remember when those rough waters rearranged the cargo?" the first sailor asked in a shaky voice.

    "Aye. I''ve never seen anything like that before, not even after a storm." The second sailor was an older man who spoke from a wealth of experience.

    "What do you think it was? Could it have been murky murids?"

    "I hope it wasn''t murky murids!" the older sailor hissed. "I''d rather be on a burning ship with that fire-breathing lizard than deal with those buggers. The murky murids will eat all our rations and leave us to starve!"

    Fia clenched her fangs when they insulted her control over her fire magic yet again. Although she had never heard of murky murids before, their alleged appetite reminded her of Viliant. Focus, Viliant reminded her. They''re talking fast. Help me track what they''re saying.

    The more experienced sailor continued, "Nay. I don''t think murky murids would''ve been capable of moving all these crates around."

    "But I swore I heard something down here," the first man insisted. "Something big. Something like the murky murid king!"

    "Ugh." The second man leveled his calm, rational voice. "There isn''t any king of the murky murids. That''s just a myth."

    "Can we check?" the more junior sailor asked. "Just to be safe? How do we know the murky murid king isn''t real, if he''s invisible most of the time?"

    "Fine. Let''s do an inventory on the food stores. If too much is missing, then we''ve either got rats in the hold or rats in our crew."

    A sharp intake of breath passed silently through Fia''s nostrils. They''re checking the food! she warned Viliant. Hide!

    I am, he reminded her. You''re the one in the food crate.

    Since Fia and Viliant were not supposed to be on board, the humans considered the dragonets'' food to belong to the crew. The men cracked open the closest crates that they had easiest access to first. It was only a matter of time before they had shuffled around the boxes to reach their rations. Fia started to wiggle her body against the slabs, cubes, and slices of meat. The dragonette buried herself like a lizard into sand. In addition to hiding her, this position had the added benefit of making the contents of the crate look more substantial.

    A dim light invaded the interior. When the men peeked inside, Fia lay entirely still with her eyes closed. The pink scales of the dragonette camouflaged well underneath the raw meat. Any glimpse of her that the sailors could see, they overlooked her.

    "Everything looks good. The rations are holding out as expected, and I don''t see any signs of gnaw marks."

    Once they closed the lid, Fia let out a soft sigh. The dragonette was grateful that she had restrained herself and Viliant from constantly snacking on their rations. The nibble marks from their bridled fangs would have resembled the signs of murky murids. Since the sailors did not discover the dragonets, nor mistook them for rats, their footsteps retreated from the cargo hold.

    All clear, Viliant told Fia.

    The dragonette burst out from underneath the meat. "Pah!" she inhaled a deep breath. We have to be extra careful from now on. They''re onto us.

    Agreed. After using his shadow magic to conceal himself from the humans, Viliant felt even more exhausted post-molt. Keep watch for me. I''m gonna sleep now.

    For the next several days, Viliant moved and used his magic as little as possible. He delayed in pitching their fecal matter through the ship''s wall, promising that he would do it tomorrow. Whenever meal time came, he could not muster the strength to open the crate.

    If you want food, you have to come get it, Fia teased. The pink dragonette assumed that he would keep laying there if he did not actually need food that badly.

    Just give it to me, Viliant ordered, annoyed that she tried to withhold food for him. I''m so hungry, and I don''t wanna scratch my new scales. Please¡­! Viliant made a constant fuss until Fia caved and placed his rations in front of his nose. Finally. Thanks, Fia. Too lethargic to move his limbs, Viliant stretched his neck toward the meat to snap it up.

    On the third day, Viliant blinked his eyes with a renewed vigor. His fully hardened scales had expanded since the molt had first revealed them. Viliant''s body, when curled at his smallest, now looked the same size as he used to be with his wings flung open and back spines bristled. The black dragonet regained the energy to stand, humored by how he now stood twice as tall as Fia.

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    You look so much bigger now too! Fia admired. Any other time, his increased size would aid their survival. However, Viliant needed to stay tucked away behind the boxes and barrels. The black dragonet would no longer fit inside their crate even once they had emptied it of rations.

    So too, Viliant''s stomach adjusted to his new size. The dragonets had already eaten their rations too quickly, but now Viliant supped recklessly over the forthcoming weeks.

    ***

    No more food! Fia snapped at him. You''ll eat with me again in a couple days. A growl lifted from her throat before he could object. Fia sat atop a thin layer of meat, guarding it like a precious hoard. Between some of the slabs, she could see stripes of grainy wood. The lower that she lay in the crate, the greater that her anxiety elevated.

    We''re going to run out of food, Fia dreaded. Then we''ll have no choice but to eat the humans'' food¡­. That''s when they find us!

    That''s fine by me, Viliant admitted. At this point, we''re bound to be found out soon. I think we should eat as much as we can, while we can. The pessimistic dragonet had resolved himself to conflict with the humans, so he advocated for them to feast.

    Absolutely not. Fia wanted to last as long as possible, holding out to the last moment. Each day that they remained on the ship, it carried them farther south¡ªcloser to Carlinoa Island.

    Well, we still need to eat. Even though Fia had already fed Viliant his fair rations yesterday, the dragonet got irascible when she turned stricter in denying him food. In shadow form, Viliant stuck his head through the wall of the crate and stole a steak for himself.

    Fia noticed when her left, hind foot clacked against the wood. No! Bad! she snapped at him, swatting at his wispy horns with her paw. His magic made her claws pass through him ineffectually. Her critical eyes narrowed and blazed with a furious, blue fire. Viliant stuffed the meat into his mouth and receded through the crate''s side before she could do anything to stop him.

    Big tears dripped from Fia''s eyes. Her distraught mind filled Viliant''s belly with equal parts guilt as it did meat. Why can''t we just work together? she cried. I finally got serious, and I''m gonna do everything right to get home, but now you''re like this. I''d like to eat more too, but I don''t! I even give you some of my food, but that''s not enough. You always want more!

    Her explosive wave of emotions made Viliant recoil, trying to suppress its intensity without breaking their telepathy altogether. He could not leave his best friend like this without explaining himself. I just¡­ feel so hungry all the time. No matter how much Viliant ate, he always wanted more. At the prospect of restricting himself from food, he remembered every hungry day and night in the coliseum. Though he logically knew that he should follow Fia''s lead on the ship, Viliant lost control of himself around food. His throat felt choked as he swallowed the last bite of meat pilfered from their rations. I''m sorry, Fia.

    When they reached the end of their rations in a few days, Fia and Viliant split the final hunk of meat. This is it. Our last meal, Fia feared, before we have to steal. Though the sailors'' inspections of the cargo hold had dropped in frequency after they had determined that no murky murid inhabited the ship, they would notice quickly as soon as they broached the rest of the food storage.

    After a week-long fast, Fia and Viliant could not bear their growling stomachs any longer. The black dragonet stalked around their options, most eager to sample the humans'' food. Let''s skim a little off the top from every container. It''ll be less likely to be noticed then.

    We should cut with our claws, Fia opined as well, thinking back to the signs which might make the sailors expect murky murids over a rat in their own ranks. In the event that the humans noticed, Fia hoped that they would fight amongst themselves over who had done it.

    The dragonets now had variety in their diet, much to the distaste of their carnivorous appetites. The smooth bites of cheese agreed with their palate well. However, other morsels made even Viliant gag it down.

    I don''t know what this thing is, the ravenous dragonet said, munching on a crunchy biscuit. It''s kind of gross, but food is food. At least it''s not grass. The lack of fruit and vegetables in the humans'' rations pleased him greatly, for Viliant did not count any plants as food.

    Despite the abundance of caution in which Fia and Viliant plundered the humans'' rations, they were soon found out. While they hid from the latest men who fetched food for the crew, a wisened sailor was alarmed by the amount that had gone missing. "Argh! We have rats aboard the ship after all!" The man dashed up the ladder to report this infraction to Captain Mawsig.

    Fia''s heart thudded in her chest. What do we do? she asked, swishing her fretful tail. The captain''s response could range from accepting the juvenile dragons on board, throwing the stowaways overboard, or outright killing them. Although Fia hoped for the former, she understood that Viliant expected the latter.

    They''ll probably eat us to make up for their lost rations, Viliant thought grimly.

    Should we run away? The dragonets had nowhere else to hide on the ship, but they could voluntarily see themselves onto the open water.

    Viliant remained stalwart behind the crate. I''ll defend our position. Let''s see if we can hold out a few more days. His talons flexed, ready to put up a fight. Out of morbid curiosity, Viliant wondered if he could take the ship all together.

 Chapter 105: The Murky Murid King

    The sailors summoned their captain who also doubled as a nature mage. The boots of Captain Mawsig clacked against the dingy boards of the storage hold. His critical eyes glared down his hooked nose. Four other crewmates gathered behind him and flitted their worried gazes along the crates.

    "I sense a rat!" Captain Mawsig declared, punctuated by a stomp of his right boot. From the center of his foot, the grains of wood took on a greenish glow. This eerie light spread throughout the plank floor, creeping up boxes and barrels.

    Fia gasped when the light penetrated the interior of the crate which served as her hiding spot. She lifted her front, left paw to avoid the light followed by her right, rear foot. Helpless to avoid the life-sensing spell, the dragonette gave a tiny hop to gain a split second away from it. The nature mage''s spell quickly overtook the entirety of her box, so Fia could not even cling to the sides or the underside of the lid. Restraining her impulse to squeak out of fright, Fia warned, Viliant, shadow form!

    Already did that. During their escape from the coliseum, Viliant had misdirected the Dragon Slayer by tricking a life detection spell. The confined space of the ship provided little opportunity for such trickery. Although Viliant could hide, they could do little about Fia¡ªalready caught.

    "I''ve got it," Captain Mawsig announced in the closest thing to a human''s growl. "A really big rat with wings."

    A quiet whisper came from the youngest sailor behind the captain. "The murky murid king has wings?"

    The captain ignored the inane question from his crew. Captain Mawsig''s steps brought him closer to the dragon''s crate, emptied of rations.

    Fia cowered on her belly where her fire swirled, bracing herself for the moment that he lifted the lid. Hi, she thought to peep out before she spat a fireball. The dragonets might get to receive a permanent position on board, like Tacuma had done with her father''s ship. However, Captain Mawsig held no affinity for the dragonets like Captain Ulatu had for his daughter. If he shot vines at her, then Fia would return his hostility with fire. After she had taken down an elite metal mage of Syene who had possessed an elemental advantage over her, Fia had no doubt that she could beat a random nature mage with the advantage in her favor.

    Before Captain Mawsig could lower his hands to open the crate, the horns of Viliant poked up from behind it. The shredding shadows which enshrined his head made his six horns appear connected like a crown.

    In unison, the other sailors behind the captain keened, "The murky murid king!"

    The dark gaps in between the fractured light from Captain Mawsig''s spell fell under Viliant''s command. The shadows came to life in the form of a hundred individual mice. Viliant''s imaginenative mirage of murky murids chased the screaming sailors to the ladder. The shadows rippled like coarse fur as they ran, phasing through the captain''s boots.

    Captain Mawsig twirled with the feathery coattails of his jacket swinging around him. "Argh! Get back here!" he yelled after his cowardly crew. "There ain''t no murky murids. This is the evil-doing of dragons!"

    The presence of the shadow dragonet in the cargo hold posed the real threat. Viliant launched over the crate and lunged straight for Captain Mawsig''s chest.

    The captain dropped onto all fours. One of his hands clutched at his chest which throbbed along with the feeble glow of his healing spell. A chill penetrated down to his bones, intensifying with each additional shadow rat which passed through him.

    The ephemeral dragonet came through the other side of the human''s back. Viliant kept running with the final wave of his imaginary murky murids. At the bottom of the ladder, he stopped short. "Come on, Fia!" he shouted.

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    The accumulation of fire in Fia''s core burst out from underneath her scales. The crate exploded around her. This sent its fiery remnants in every direction, including at Captain Mawsig. The sharp, heated splinters pierced a dozen spots across his face, shoulders, and legs. The captain''s arms, crossed over his chest, shielded a majority from striking his torso. Before Captain Mawsig had a chance to recover, Fia pummeled the hot air beneath her wings. The dragonette jumped over top of his shoulders, kicking the captain flat against the ground. She hardly noticed how she ran over him, caring only about racing up the ladder with Viliant.

    Though the fake murky murids had chased the sailors away from the hatch, the broad daylight across the deck had stripped away their cover. So too, Viliant''s crown of shadows melted away. The black dragonet stood in plain sight with the smaller, pink one at his heels.

    The frazzled men blinked at the stowaway dragonets. Though slow to act in the absence of Captain Mawsig''s command, a deep-chested sailor soon took up the charge. "They ate our food. Let''s get ''em!" the man roared, drawing his cutlass into the air.

    Fia spun on her hind claws and kicked into a run. A sharp breath filled her chest when she realized that Viliant neglected to follow her. "Our jig is up. We gotta go!" she wailed at him.

    The black dragonet bared his fangs and lowered himself into a battle-ready crouch. His claws deflected the swipe of the first sword swung at him. A swift bite at that man''s ankles was all Viliant needed to yank him off his feet. Viliant pounced on top of the burly sailor. Before he could further attack the man, three others surrounded Viliant to force him off together.

    Fia let out a shrill whistle. "Viliant!" Regardless if the dragonets could kill the entire crew on board, the conflict would not yield them anything. Neither Fia nor Viliant knew how to steer the ship or fill the sails. There''s nothing else we have to gain here, Fia reasoned with him.

    Reluctantly, Viliant clambered off the helpless sailor. The black dragonet backed away from the additional men who threatened him with the reach of their blades. In between them all, the boards smashed upward. A thick, thorned tendril swung down for Viliant. It cracked across the deck with the impact of a fallen tree. From the gap in the deck, two bloodied hands grasped at the thorns like handholds. Captain Mawsig was still alive and swinging below deck.

    "Let''s go, Viliant," Fia begged. They had nothing left to gain aboard the ship. Any extended conflict would constitute a loss for the dragonets. They had no reason to waste their mana reserves more than they already had, and it made no sense to risk an injury.

    At last, Viliant retreated from the fight. The black dragonet darted to catch up to Fia who had already balanced herself on the guardrail. Time to fly, she chided. Jump as high and far as you can. I''ll catch you.

    With his larger size, Viliant doubted that Fia could operate as a glider for him anymore. Despite his doubts, he charged full speed ahead and leaped over the ship''s rails. The dragonets were destined to crash against the waves either way, so Viliant gave Fia the chance to catch him.

    The pink dragonette flung herself over the edge shortly after Viliant. Fia half-folded her wings to swoop alongside the pressed-down spines of his back. Her clawed paws grasped his shoulders and hips. When Fia snapped her wings out, his weight caused both her wings to flap upward. "Ah!" she yelped and coiled herself around Vilinat''s body. Holding onto each other tightly, the dragonets plunged into the ocean.

    Fia tumbled with her eyes open, staring through the bubbles that blew from her snout. Her legs kicked along with a thrash of her tail. The dragonette remembered how to swim and propelled herself upward after Viliant.

    Once they surfaced with a gasp, Fia realized that it did not matter how far away she had flown from the ship. The vessel''s momentum through the water already put safe distance between the human ship and the stowaway dragonets.

    Viliant''s torn wings skimmed the surface as he floated alongside Fia. Well¡­ he thought, at a loss. Now what?

    Fia''s body bobbed over a wave as she pondered that question. Her nostrils twitched as she sniffed the air. "The breeze smells like home! Let''s swim from here!" As far as the water that she could see, the dragonets had this as their only option. Fia began to doggy paddle and whip her tail to follow after the southbound ship. Its bow pointed them in the direction that they must keep going to reach Carlinoa Island.

 Chapter 106: Stranded at Sea

    While Fia paddled fiercely with her heart brimming with hope, Viliant trailed after her more slowly. This isn''t going to work, Fia, he warned. The black dragonet clenched his fangs. Viliant should have done more to guide her on a viable path. Because he let a naive, baby dragonette enact a plan from a foolish, human girl, they were going to die in the middle of the ocean.

    Food, he grumbled to himself. Water. Rest. Their surroundings supplied none of their needs. If they did not tire and drown first, then the dragonets would succumb to thirst. The briney spray from Fia''s kicks dappled Viliant''s face. When he flicked his tongue out, he could both smell and taste the salt. Viliant did not belabor his imminent concerns to Fia, not wanting to compound their problems with her tears. The dragonets had nothing left to do but swim until they perished. They needed to make it to shore. Against his expectations, Viliant hoped that Fia really could distinguish the sulfuric aroma of her island on the breeze.

    Oblivious to his dour mood, the pink dragonette kicked all four legs giddily. You''re gonna live with me and my mama and papa¡­. We''re going to pick flowers and crack coconuts with our claws! Fia''s thoughts revolved around everything that she wanted to do with Viliant once they made it to Carlinoa Island. As the sun sank lower against the horizon, so too did her wingtips sag deeper into the water.

    Fia and Viliant kept swimming until the waves shimmered orange with the sunset. The sky descended into rich hues of red and purple until the sunlight faded away. Once nighttime fell, the waves lulled as though the ocean bid the dragonets a good night. The time had come to test their ability to float and sleep simultaneously.

    To keep from drifting apart, Fia bumped her right side against Viliant''s left side. She interlocked her claws with his. Although they each tucked a wing closest to the other''s body, Fia and Viliant each used their exterior wing to stabilize them atop the water.  The pink dragonette tipped back her head and yawned so big that her eyes closed. When she opened them, the twinkle of stars across the moonless sky filled her eyes. Wait. Is that¡­ a coconut? Fia spotted the circular formation of stars with the three, brightest pinpoints in the middle. And there''s the dragonfly! Fia traced the stardust wings of the familiar constellation with excited eyes.

    Though she had finished her yawn, her chin hung open. The ship had carried Fia and Viliant far enough south that she could recognize the stars again. You''re going to like Carlinoa Island. I promise. Fia nuzzled her cheek against Viliant''s neck.

    The dragonets rested their heads on top of each other''s shoulders. Fia''s elevated temperature from her fire magic kept Viliant warm in the chilly, dark water. As the water sloshed against his scales, his heart thrummed with anxiety. We''re so close, he thought. A real home¡­. And yet, Viliant dreaded that he would never live to see Carlinoa Island with Fia. His eyes blinked more rapidly, stunned that he had fallen back into his old habit of despair.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    No matter what, Viliant always survived. His fangs gritted hard enough to prick a taste of his own blood from his gums. Although it still seemed too soon to regard Carlinoa Island as his new home with Fia''s family, Viliant would not let anything take that chance away from him. For tonight, the dragonets could trade shifts¡ªone staying awake enough to stay afloat while the other slept. Come morning, Viliant planned to steal an albatross out of the sky like he had done to a vulture in the badlands. Its meat would serve as food and its blood as their drink. Viliant''s tail curled into a slight smile as Fia drifted off to sleep first. The worries of his mind quieted as he kept the first watch, adopting a semblance of his best friend''s confidence.

    ***

    Dawnbreak arrived with the ceaseless swish of the waves. Not a single cry of a gull broke out. When Viliant realized that he had no flying targets to hunt, he said, We must be far away from land. His attention drifted downward to where the dragonets could still find food. The gradually encroaching sunlight had not chased the shadows too deep into the water yet. Viliant leveraged the darkness to locate a school of fish which circled below. His magic lifted the shadows upward, pressing his intended prey closer to his outstretched claws as he dove down. The majority of the fish rolled belly up as the shadows pulsed through their silver scales. Viliant gained a great sense of satisfaction when he speared the biggest survivor on his claws.

    When Viliant came back up, he prickled his back spines and splattered the water off of him. The black dragonet held out the fish to Fia while smaller members of its species drifted up to the surface. This is for you, Viliant said. Instead of looking at Fia, he adjusted his wings atop the water and watched the dead fish bob all around them.

    Fia accepted the fish and chomped its side. Thanks, Viliant, Fia thought, her mouth too stuffed to reply aloud. Isn''t this a little much, though? the pink dragonette asked, glancing at the sheer number of dead fish which they could not eat.

    Maybe for you. It''s never enough for me. Viliant drifted through the water from fish to fish. He snapped them up, then gobbled them down one by one.

    Some of the floating fish disappeared beneath the water before he could get to them. Large bubbles were left in their wake. Fia tossed her head from side to side, wondering where the fish went. To their right, a ribbed fin from a sizable fish slunk out of the water and dove back under.

    "Ah!" Fia shrieked out of fright. "Sea monster!" Viliant''s superfluous fishing had allured a massive creature of the deep to come closer to the surface. Its shadow¡ªequal to the size of a full-grown dragon¡ªtwisted in a fast rotation around the dragonets. A pair of sharp fins jutted from its slender body like wings. The sea serpent looped around until Fia and Viliant as it squared off against them.

    Fia slapped her frantic wings and frenzied foreclaws against the water, trying to back up. Her tail thwacked against Viliant who contorted himself in the water. Though he had limited experience in an aquatic environment, he braced himself to fight. Leave the fish and swim away! Fia urged him. Hopefully the food would distract the sea monster and serve as a peace offering. She did not want to test her fire power against the serpent which might possess water magic.

 Chapter 107: Mahi Mahi

    A series of twisted, branching horns rose from the rippling ocean like tridents. The serpent''s head breached the surface with its maw spread wide, filled with fangs. "Rude!" it barked in Fia''s native tongue. "I''m not a¡ª!"

    Fia blasted a fireball into the sea serpent''s open mouth.

    "Ack!" The neck of the sea serpent snapped backward. Its whole body flipped over and careened into the water with a dramatic splash. It floundered its large fins to right itself. Once it breached the surface, cresting over top a wave once more, a magical light glinted from its blue eyes in preparation to cast a spell. The sea serpent tipped back its head. A rivulet of water poured from its eyes, squeezed shut, like a fountain. The continuous stream joined the ocean, harmless to the dragonets.

    "Oh, um," Fia whined, unsure how to fix her mistake. She did not mean to lash out against a baby sea serpent that happened to speak the same language as her. "I''m sorry."

    "All you fire dragons are the same, slinging fireballs before asking questions!" the water dragon said in a fast-paced speech. His accent was clipped shorter than the native speakers of the Carlinoa Clan, leading him to rush over his words.

    "I''m sorry!" Fia bemoaned again. "I thought you were a monster."

    "A sea monster?" the water dragon repeated, spitting the word out of disgust. "What in the trenches do they teach you in Carlinoa? The only monster here is you, little fire salamander. You spat a fireball into my mouth! How savage is that?"

    Teardrops wavered at the rims of Fia''s eyes. "I said I''m sorry." Normally Viliant caused misunderstandings out of his aggression, but this time Fia had reacted to a potential threat too hastily. The dragonette dipped the lower portion of her snout into the water and snorted a stream of ashamed bubbles.

    Despite the serpent''s pitiable display, Viliant remained on high-alert. What''s happening? You''re talking to that guy. What''s he saying? Viliant positioned himself in between Fia and the strange, blue dragon to protect her. A low, warning growl resounded constantly from Viliant''s throat.

    Quickly, Fia summarized how she had upset the water dragon. This also served as a reminder that she ought to translate for Viliant alongside the spoken words. That would help him learn the Carlinoan language, like Diwa had done for them in Malakow. Lowering her head into an apologetic bow, Fia extended a telepathic invitation to the water dragon too. "We''ve been on the run for a long time. Sorry we''re on edge. What''s your name?"

    "Nuh uh!" The dragon said, shaking his head and refusing the telepathic link. "I don''t forgive you¡ªunless you give me food."

    "That thing already ate our food!" Viliant burst out. Luckily for the sake of their conversation with the stranger that they had fortuitously met at sea, Viliant spoke in neither a language that he understood nor lent his thoughts over telepathy yet.

    "Whoa!" the water dragon shouted. "That''s the language of the Syenic plains." He skirted closer to Fia and Viliant through the water and stuck out his fin-like wing in between them. The water dragon bowed his head as if he intended to whisper to Fia, but his voice did not drop in volume. "You know this guy?"

    Fia tipped her head to the side quizzically. "Yes. He''s my best friend," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. Although Fia wanted to help Viliant learn the Carlinoan language as quickly as possible, she felt bad translating the judgemental sentiments from the water dragon.

    The large, aquatic dragon reeled away from the dragonets when Viliant nipped at his wing. "Easy there! Do my scales look brown to you? I''m not one of those Novemis dragons." The sunlight flashed off the bright yellow scales of his neck, which transitioned into a green stripe along his lateral line. Above the stripe, his scales deepened into a blue which matched the ocean all around them. While the dragon ruffled his wings and splattered water off of them, Fia took an opportunity to placate Viliant''s temper.

    Relax, Viliant. I don''t think this dragon is gonna hurt us. He doesn''t seem all that bad.

    He doesn''t seem all that good, either, Viliant retorted. He stole our fish.

    We couldn''t eat all that by ourselves, anyway, Fia reasoned. He might be able to help us.

    I doubt it. Viliant tossed a skeptical look up to the big, blue dragon who continued to snap up their fish. The water dragon hummed and bobbed his head to a sea shanty as he did so.

    Is there anyone else around? Fia pressed Viliant.

    Well, no, he admitted reluctantly.

    Since the newcomer spoke Carlinoan, Fia assumed that he must know the location of her island too. With a final toss of her head, she told Viliant, It wouldn''t hurt to share. Let''s give him a chance.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    If the dragonets only had to give up some fish, then they only stood to benefit in this exchange. Their surplus fish would go to waste otherwise, but offering it to the water dragon might convince him to whisk them onto dry land. Viliant flashed a critical glare out of the corner of his eyes. He was unaccustomed to how rationality and generosity could align. Fine, he grumbled. I guess I don''t see the harm in it. To take out some of his frustration, Viliant focused on a new school of fish which had gathered below them.

    "You can have our fish," Fia told the water dragon who gulped down the last of them anyway. "I''m Fia. This is Viliant. What''s your name?"

    The dragon flipped his head to make some sparkly droplets of water fling off his horns. "The name''s Mahirano. Most people call me Mahi, but my friends call me Mahi Mahi. And only my best buds call me Mahi Mahi Mahi!" The dragon lowered his neck each time that he repeated his own nickname. With his chin hovered over the waves, Mahi said, "But you''re not my friends. Maybe I''ll consider it a token of our friendship if you get me more fish."

    A few, surprised blinks fell over Fia''s eyes. It seemed that Mahi had an appetite like Viliant, matched to the dragon''s larger size. "More fish, coming up!" Fia announced, prodding Viliant to make them appear.

    To keep himself busy while his friend handled the talking, Viliant had already raked tendrils of shadows through the scared fish. The school darted with a flash of their silvery scales, catching the last light which their eyes saw alive. A second round of dead fish bubbled up from the ocean before Mahi got bored.

    "Ah ha!" Mahi''s tail curled into a smile at the same time as his neck curled to strike. With great zeal, Mahi snapped at his pre-hunted prey. The dragon''s chest lurched with a burp after he swallowed it down.

    While he ate, Fia continued the conversation. "Excuse me," she peeped. "Do you know where Carlinoa Island is?"

    "Do I?" Mahi garbled his words with a fish in his mouth. "Of course! I gotta know where it is to stay away from it, you know? Those fire dragons would boil me alive if I got too close!"

    If Fia did not use her tail to keep her balance afloat, she would curl it down into a pout. The dragonette did not know much about water dragons, except her parents talked about them with the same disdain and distrust as humans. After what she had seen of the human nation, Fia imagined that the water dragons of the neighboring Azuazu Clan had done something to deserve it. Right now, Fia did not care about the differences between their clans. She needed to recruit the water dragon to help her get home. "Would you wanna see Carlinoa?" she offered. "No one''s going to hurt you if you''re with me."

    "Eh. Not interested." Mahi maintained all his attention on the fish. His belly bloated underneath him as he floated. As soon as he had eaten his fill, the dragon would lose interest in their conversation altogether.

    "Please?" Fia begged. "We really need to get to Carlinoa." Her mission hung on the tip of her forked tongue. I need to save my people, she thought desperately, but based on Mahi''s negative attitude toward the Carlinoa Clan, she feared that the water dragon might prefer it if the fire dragons were extinguished. Instead, Fia focused on what she could offer him. "We''ll feed you fish the whole way there!"

    "I can catch fish myself, you know!" Mahi paused his buffet long enough to squint at Fia with narrowed eyes. When he resumed eating, the water dragon slowed his pace.

    Viliant continued to employ his shadows for passive fishing. Despite the dwindling numbers from the school, the dead fish bobbed around each other in greater density. Viliant now hunted marginally faster than Mahi could eat.

    "If you can fish, why didn''t you get your own?" Fia asked. Her simple tone belied her genuine curiosity.

    "They taste better when someone else does all the hard work for you," Mahi boasted. "I don''t like to catch fish. I just like to eat them!"

    "Oh." Fia squinted her eyes up to the big dragon. His wide, stubby wings looked like Mahi needed to grow more in order to fly. After she had met the native dragons of Malakow, whose adult size was small enough to mistake for a juvenile compared to larger species, she wondered if other dragons could grow so massive that they dwarfed the likes of Rokirith. The open ocean seemed like the perfect place to meet such a dragon. "How old are you?" Fia inquired, wondering if Mahi was a fellow dragonet despite his size.

    Mahi froze with half a fish sticking out of his mouth. "Like¡­ forty years young."

    "Is that young for you?" Fia asked. Her seven years of life gave the dragonette little perspective on time, even if she knew that dragons lived for hundreds and hundreds of years.

    "Age is just a number," Mahi replied. What really matters is what''s in your heart!"

    Fia glanced sidelong at Viliant. After relaying the conversation over telepathy, she prompted him, What do you think? Is Mahi a dragonet or an adult?

    Either way, he''s stupid. Viliant suspended his willingness to guess. I wouldn''t trust him for directions, even if he offered to help us.

    Clearing her throat gently, Fia clarified, "I''m trying to figure out¡­. Are you a dragonet like us?"

    Mahi thrashed his head and slapped a fish tail against a crest of water. "I''m an adult!"

    "Sorry!" Fia squeaked, not intending her question to bring offense.

    Once he regained his cool after the outburst, Mahi slurped the fish''s tail into his mouth. "Well, thanks for the food. I''m gonna go catch some waves now. For a couple of dragonets, you two are no fun. Later!" The water dragon beat his wings in a flurry to propel him across the surface.

    A splash cascaded over Fia. The salty water dappled her tongue, her mouth hung open. No fun? she heard echo in her mind. Fia struggled to restrain her impulse to play throughout her entire journey. Recently, the dragonette had developed a serious mindset that was necessary to complete her mission. She limited her games to the recesses of their journey, no longer letting them turn into a diversion. How dare someone accuse me of not being enough fun? Fia seethed to herself.

    Before Mahi dashed too far away, Fia hollered, "Wait! I''ll show you some fun." Dual wisps of smoke drifted from her nostrils, determined to not let him get away.

 Chapter 108: Race

    Fia fiercely whipped her tail to chase after Mahi. "Let''s race!" she shouted. "Let''s race to Carlinoa. Last one there has to catch fish for a month!" Although Fia did not mean to volunteer Viliant to continually satisfy Mahi''s appetite, she figured that her parents would gladly pay the price to have her home.

    "Eh," Mahi drawled, but the proposition made him give pause. The blue and yellow dragon tilted his head back to glance at Fia with one, blue eye. "I don''t know about that. Carlinoa is kinda far. It''d take me a week to get there¡ªassuming you two lindworms can keep up."

    Fia''s eyes brightened with the new information. If Mahi could extend his magic to the dragonets, then Fia and Viliant could get home in a week''s time. The pink dragonette narrowed her eyes out of determination. "If you think you''re faster than us, prove it!" she spat.

    What are you doing? Viliant asked over telepathy. Just let him go. That dragon is a waste of time. In the critical eyes of the dragonet, Mahi had also proven himself to be a waste of energy. Viliant had thrown his mana into the sea, catching fish for an adult dragon fully capable of fishing for himself.

    Trust me. I''m good at making friends! Fia reassured him. She suspected that she could trick Mahi into helping them under the guise of play. The pink dragonette lined up alongside the larger, blue dragon. Her tail wiggled, ready to thrash into a frenzy when their race began.

    "First person to get to that iceberg wins!" Mahi announced. A clumpy, melty pile of ice accumulated over a distant stretch of water. The coloration of the iceberg was tinged with a magical, blue glow. The integrity of its structure did not last long under the tropical sunshine and heat.

    Maybe he''s actually an ice dragon? Fia wondered about Mahi''s element. She had assumed his magical alignment with water due to her familiarity with those dragons around Carlinoa Island. However, his element might bear more similarity to the ice mages of the north. If Fia wanted any hope to compete with Mahi, she needed to apply her own element to the race somehow.

    When I set things on fire, they run fast, Fia thought to herself. Maybe if I light my scales on fire, I''ll go fast too. Her mana bubbled in her ley lines, ready to explode the moment that Mahi signaled the start of the race.

    Both dragons bobbed along the waves which served as a wishy-washy starting line. Despite how the current pushed Fia back, Mahi edged further ahead. "On three," he instructed before listing off a slew of loosely related terms. "Ready. Steady. One. Two. Two and a half¡­. Fish!"

    Fia lurched to begin the race, but she realized too late that he had not said three yet.

    "Ha! I really got you," Mahi laughed. "I said fish, not three!" When he shouted the number, the dragon bolted into action. A spray of water blinded Fia''s vision as she floundered after him.

    "Wait!" She did not care about the salty droplets which spattered her tongue. Fia hollered in a long, exasperated tone, "That''s not fair!" Though her wings did little to gather forward momentum in the water, she flapped them anyway.

    A cloud of steam hissed around Fia''s body. The upper portion of her scales dried enough to allow a cape of fire to cover her back. A desperate whistle peeled from her jaws as Mahi shot ahead of her in a blur of half-frozen froth.

    In hardly any time at all, the blue dragon clambered atop his unstable, collapsing iceberg. Rays of sunlight flashed off his golden crest as he proclaimed himself victor. "I win. I win! You lose. You lose!"

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    A ragged gasp caught in Fia''s throat, irritated by her own smoke. He doesn''t have to rub it in, she whined. Since she had already lost the race, Fia drifted slowly through the water so that she could growl to herself out of earshot.

    Translate for me, Viliant said in her mind, snapping her out of her defeated haze. "Hey!" he barked, raising his voice to direct it at Mahi. "You cheated! Does it feel good, getting a head start on a tiny dragonette?"

    "Ugh," Fia grunted. As badly as she wanted to tell Mahi off, she did not repeat Viliant''s words. I can''t say that. He might get even more upset than me¡­. The fire dragonette tempered her frustration. Instead, she showed her goodwill by trudging over to the broken iceberg to congratulate Mahi.

    "Come on, Fia!" Mahi called. "You can still take second place. Beat that sad shadow of yours! Whoo!" he cheered, expressing undue enthusiasm. "Let''s go."

    Fia twisted her neck back to glance at Viliant. After two quick, successive blinks, she lowered her neck in a mischievous offer. Pretend to race me.

    "Fia," Viliant objected. I''m sore.

    If we entertain Mahi, we''ll get to rest sooner when we''re at Carlinoa.

    You just want to play, he accused.

    No, I just want to prove that I''m a stronger swimmer than you. Fia anticipated the best taunts to get both Mahi and Viliant to participate in the race. Aloud, she jeered at Viliant for Mahi''s entertainment, "Last one to the iceberg is a rotten egg!" Fia renewed the strength behind her kicks and took off.

    Viliant stretched out his neck and slunk along the surface like a water snake. The black dragonet pretended to put in more effort than he actually expended.

    From his perch as a spectator, Mahi giggled out of glee. "That''s the spirit!" He changed his tune when Fia drew closer. "Look out!" Mahi gasped. "Rough waves incoming!" A swell of icy water blocked the aquatic dragon from view. Mahi created a watery wall in front of him, cased in a sheet of ice near its base. He launched this unnecessary, magical obstacle at Fia and Viliant.

    "Eep!" Fia paddled faster until the muscles in her legs felt like they caught on her fire. When she entered the magical wave, the icy water shocked her system and slowed her swim. Fia stoked her inner flames, raising her body temperature along with her ascent of the wave. When it carried her to its highest point, the pink dragonette leaped out of the water. Her wings snapped open, and Fia glided the rest of the way to Mahi. "Ah ha! I did it!" she cheered with her triumphant nose pointed into the air.

    Left in the shadow of the wave, Viliant halted his progress toward the melted iceberg. His wings drooped at the same time as the wave curled overhead. "Oh no," he muttered. The slurry water threatened to pellet his face with ice crystals. To avoid the deluge, Viliant slipped into his shadow form. The icy wave passed through him, only affecting him in terms of temperature. A visible shiver wracked Viliant''s body when he clumsily ruddered his wings on the other side.

    "Good job, Viliant!" Fia called. "You''ve almost made it."

    When Viliant arrived into the icy patch of water, he glared up at Mahi. That was dangerous, he warned Fia. I told you that we can''t trust this guy.

    Mahi sneered, "About time you made it." The dragon spoke as though his head floated in its own bubble. "You know what they say: slow and steady wins the race¡ªexcept not in this case. You lost, buddy."

    Fia bit her forked tongue to keep from snarling at Mahi. It aggravated her every time that the adult dragon said something too insensitive to relay to Viliant. "Be nice to my friend. We''re both dragonets."

    With a sigh, Mahi admitted, "You''re right. Sorry. I got too caught up in the sweet taste of victory." The real winners were Fia and Viliant, as Mahi bowed his head down to the dragonets'' level. At last, the dragon accepted Fia''s outstanding offer for telepathy. "You two aren''t so bad after all. You can call me Mahi Mahi from now on."

    Fia beamed with a smile so big, her tail curled out of the water. She had successfully made a new friend who could help them get home.

 Chapter 109: Heat Vents

    "I want a rematch!" Fia announced to Mahi. "Can you show me how to swim faster? I wanna be cool like you."

    He''s not cool, Viliant reacted at once, forgetting that Mahi had joined them over telepathy.

    "Hey! Speak for yourself, little dragon dude." Mahi lowered his head to the same level as Viliant and narrowed his eyes in a glare.

    I''m exhausted, Viliant explained, hoping that Mahi could better understand their dire situation over telepathy. His muscles ached from swimming for so long, and castings spells did not help. After Fia had seriously partaken in the race, she had wasted precious energy too. Viliant insisted, We really need to get to land¡ª

    Clipping that thought, Fia told Mahi instead, "We really need to get to the next finish line!"

    "That''s the spirit. Let''s go! Just don''t cry when I beat you again." Farther south, a second unstable iceberg sloshed over the waves by Mahi''s magic. Without any count this time, the adult dragon took off.

    "Wait!" Fia whined. "You''re supposed to help us learn how to swim better." Though she shouted her loudest, Mahi had already blasted out of earshot.

    The only sound that he listened to was the splash of water all around him. Eat my froth! Better luck next time!

    Because she stood no chance at winning, Fia paced herself better over the course of this race. She nipped at Viliant''s shoulder to encourage him to keep up. Even though he turned over his paddling feet at his desired rate, Fia pretended like they were competing neck-in-neck.

    "Come on, Fia! You were so much faster than him last time," Mahi yelled once they got within range. "Both of you were faster¡­."

    Fia stretched out her nose into the cool water to make it there first. It did not matter if Viliant was not racing against her; she still liked beating him. The loose clumps of ice stuck to the small scales of Fia''s face. She pawed at the mixture and asked, "What''s your element, Mahi Mahi¡ªwater or ice?"

    The southern ocean had many water dragons that Fia was used to hearing about, but she had more encounters with the ice element in the northern continent. Since the dragonets traversed the waters in between these two regions, Fia did not know what to expect from Mahi.

    Enthused by her question, Mahi shouted, "Neither! Both! I''m not a part of the system. The official elements are too rigid for my taste. I''m a slush dragon!"

    "Slush?" Fia echoed, learning a new word in her native tongue. Thanks to telepathy, she understood the full meaning without needing Mahi''s demonstration. The slush dragon swiped his wing across the water and slapped a wingful of it into her face.

    "Slush!" Mahi shouted back.

    "Pah." Fia sputtered the water out of her mouth. The scales on her face tingled where the shards of ice struck. "That''s¡­ cool," she said, her interest in his element sufficiently doused.

    "You better believe it," Mahi replied. His eyes turned distant, reflecting the choppy surface of the water like glass. A note of warning flashed through Mahi''s mind. He remarked in a distant tone, "It''s cool to stay alive."

    Nothing to do with the chilly water that the dragonets bobbed in, a shiver ran down both of their tails. What do you mean by that? Viliant asked, his back spines poked out of the water as they stood on end.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The temperature around them rapidly changed, as though Fia heated the water to her comfort. Some bubbles drifted to the surface around the three dragons. I didn''t do that, Fia clarified, tossing her head to survey the waves.

    Without explanation, Mahi dove at Viliant. The slush dragon locked his claws around the smaller, black dragonet and dragged him under.

    "Viliant!" Fia shrieked. Her frantic eyes tracked the shadowy shape of the larger dragon that blocked Viliant from view.

    Against the hot, salty water, Viliant kept his eyes open. See? he seethed at Fia, somersaulting in the middle of Mahi''s dizzying vortex. We never should''ve trusted him! The constant flips disorientated Viliant which made it hard to keep track of his enemy. Each time that Mahi completed another rotation around Viliant, more slush was left in his wake.

    The half-frozen water numbed the dragonet''s scales and slowed his thoughts. Ugh. So cold. Viliant could not even escape into the shadows to avoid the deluge of slush. The unbearable, low temperature would only worsen in darkness.

    Leveraging it for what it was worth, Viliant reorientate himself around his element. The tumbling dragonet sensed the expanse of shadows toward the bottom of the ocean¡ªso deep that it never seemed to end. In a similar way, he tracked Mahi by the way that his body dimmed the rays of sunlight from above.

    The serpentine dragon tucked his broad wings into his body most of the time, but he flung them open to rudder an abrupt turn. Whenever he did this, Mahi''s shadow became prominent enough that Viliant could make use of it. These shreds of darkness, Viliant aimed back at the slush dragon''s belly.

    A high-pitched screech carried underwater. Do you have a death wish or something? Knock it off! Mahi''s telepathic command echoed more intensely underwater. I''m trying to save your life over here!

    Huh? Viliant did not know what to think about that. Although Mahi sounded earnest, a devious dragon could lie over telepathy like Viliant had practiced with Fia. In the split second needed to make his decision, he doubted his ability to discern the truth. Refusing to trust anyone other than himself and his best friend, Viliant fought against Mahi like his life depended on it.

    His blood boiled, and a wave of heat flashed. The edge of Viliant''s fear abated, knowing that he could count on Fia to put pressure on Mahi from above. Viliant continued his shadowy assault from below. By the time that he gained the upper wing, Mahi let him float back to the surface.

    "Gah!" Viliant gasped, refilling his burning lungs with air. The sunny waters now felt hot to him, energizing his muscles. His livid eyes flashed to target Mahi who drifted over the calm waves like nothing happened.

    "Don''t look at me like that!" Mahi shouted. His voice broke in what sounded like distress. "Where''s the gratitude? If it wasn''t for me, you would''ve just gotten boiled alive!" Without elaborating on the danger, it seemed that Mahi blamed Fia for the perceived danger.

    "She would never hurt me¡ªunlike you!" Viliant shouted back.

    While the two dragons argued about her, Fia folded her wings over her eyes. She buried her face underwater so that her snout poked out just enough to breathe. I didn''t do anything¡­ she whined.

    "That little fire-breathing snake dragged you out here, over a thermal vent," Mahi revealed. "The waters get steaming hot! Dragons like me and her can survive out here, but you can''t," the slush dragon said with an upward nod to Viliant. The sudden seriousness behind Mahi''s intense, blue eyes made Viliant avert his gaze.

    "I see," he muttered. Viliant squirmed in the hot ocean which gradually cooled back to its original temperature as time passed. From somewhere in the depths of those waters, a mana vent combusted into heat.

    Mahi stretched out his neck at Fia and Viliant''s level and told them, "I''m only saying this out of concern as a friend. You two should turn back. You don''t have what it takes to make it all the way to Carlinoa Island."

    Fia gaped at him with steamy tears in her eyes. "No!" she cried out. "We''re almost there. We can make it! We were¡ª" a hiccup broke off Fia''s voice, leaving her final thought to trail off, just starting to have fun¡­.

    In a shaky voice, Viliant did his best to back her up. "Yeah! Fun¡­. I thought you were playing around back there."

    The lids of Mahi''s eyes became hooded out of disbelief.

    Since it had become clear to Viliant that they needed Mahi to cross the ocean, he was willing to make a concession. With his chin raised with confidence, Viliant asked a question which made Fia''s jaw drop. "Want to play another game?"

 Chapter 110: Guessing Game

    A new type of surprise settled over Mahi''s face. A curl entered his tail when Viliant made the suggestion to play. "What sort of game do you have in mind?"

    Since Viliant did not know many games, he said, "I''m thinking of a number, one through ten¡ª"

    "Zilch! Zero! Absolutely not! No way." Mahi rejected Viliant''s suggestion with an aggressive shake of his head.

    "Well, I''m thinking of a type of bug," Fia interjected, introducing a modification to the guessing game on the fly. Over telepathy, she thought of the attributes which described a particular type of insect. It has wings that flutter really fast¡­.

    Viliant rolled his eyes. He knew Fia well enough to know her favorite bug. "Butterfly."

    "Dragonfly!" Mahi shouted.

    "You got it right, Mahi!" Fia cheered.

    Just between the two dragonets, Viliant growled, You''re lying. I can tell.

    Hush. Although Fia admitted that she had actually been thinking of a butterfly, she concealed that fact from Mahi. Besides, a dragonfly kind of fits my hint better.

    You don''t get to change your answer whenever you want, otherwise what''s the point?

    No, that''s the whole point! Fia thought back. The chaotic guessing game helped them practice concealing and teasing out truths over telepathy. Plus, we gotta keep Mahi happy.

    Viliant grumbled to himself. Although he could not disagree with Fia, he did not like it that he always had to lose in order to entertain Mahi.

    The adult dragon either did not pick up on Fia''s lie, or he did not care. Mahi chortled gleefully, "Since I won, I get to go next." With his eyes closed deep in thought, Mahi slunk slowly southward. I''m thinking of a flippity, floppity fellow¡ª

    A fish, Viliant thought.

    "Nope! You''ve got to be more specific than that." Mahi continued to describe his secret target, his enthusiasm bleeding through their telepathic link. My fins are my wings! I soar through the air when the waters get too hot. When I fly too close to the sun, I dive back into the water to cool off. What am I?

    The manner in which Mahi presented his riddle helped obfuscate the actual thing which he intended them to guess. Fia took a stab at it as her paddling claws repeatedly splayed through the waves. Is it¡­ you? she asked Mahi.

    "Nuh uh! But good try," Mahi offered.

    "Hm," Viliant hummed low, hanging his head as he followed in Mahi''s slipstream. But it is a type of fish?

    "Well¡­." Mahi swayed his head around mischievously. I suppose you could say that. But is a fish still a fish if it wants to fly like a bird?

    "Yes," Viliant drawled out of disbelief. What else would you call it? A bird fish?

    "A parrot fish!" Fia shouted with a gasp. The big, colorful fish was one of her favorite foods. She liked to pick off their pretty scales and crush them between her teeth. Do they fly? the dragonette wondered.

    "Not quite. But the fire salamander knows her fish! Try again."

    A fish bird, Viliant thought glumly, trying to reverse his first guess. The dragonet knew that he stood no chance to win against Fia''s prior knowledge of the native fish species, so he resigned himself to lose again.

    Fia began to list off every fish that she could remember ever eating or her parents ever mentioning to her. However, Mahi denied her guesses one by one. Fia became more desperate to get it right. With a flash of her snapping fangs, she yelled, "A shark!"

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    "Oh boy. I sure hope there aren''t any flying sharks around here!" Mahi retorted with a snort.

    A flying fish, Viliant offered for an intentionally dunce answer. As he kept swimming, the black dragonet did not expect Mahi to suddenly stop. Viliant bumped into the slush dragon''s tail.

    "We have a winner!" Mahi bellowed, shaking his head back and forth like a water spout. He added, "And here they come to celebrate." The slush dragon dove under the water, grabbing Viliant to encase him in a shell of ice.

    A wave of heat bubbled up from the vents of the depths. In addition to this, a school of tiny silver fish sped toward the two dragons at high speeds. Viliant winced at first, but once he recognized that the small fish posed no threat, his mouth hung open ajar. Mahi''s layer of slush diverted the trajectory of the fish and guided them to swim around the dragons¡ªmuch to Viliant''s dismay who had hoped to catch one or two in his mouth. The water''s temperature swelled, radiating an intense heat past the cool chill of Mahi''s slushy shield.

    To escape the boiling ocean, the fish leaped out of the water. Their thrashing tails propelled them into the air, flicking off glistening droplets as they crested over a low wave. Their long, narrow fins stiffened to catch the breeze like wings.

    "Wow! They really are flying fish!" Fia squealed out of delight. Thanks to the fire dragonette''s natural heat resistance, she marveled at the sight while her body bobbed atop the gentle waves. With her chin tipped back, her jaw dropped open to watch the fish glide through the air. A trail of saliva dribbled from her tongue in a similar reaction as Viliant.

    When an unfortunate fish hit her in the back of the head, Fia jolted out of confusion. "Huh?" The pink dragonette turned around to find a boiled fish adrift on the waves. Yum! she thought. While Fia did not feel particularly hungry after Viliant had finished hunting not long ago, she would not decline a snack if it looked her in the eye. The round, empty eyes of the fish made delight spark in Fia''s slitted ones. She slurped up the flying fish by its tail.

    Once the water cooled to a safe temperature, Mahi let Viliant float back to the surface. The flying fish had settled back into the water by this time. Even if Viliant did not get to see the fish soar through the sky for himself, Fia told him all about it. "Mahi was right. There really are fish that fly like birds."

    "I''ve been out on the ocean my whole life," Mahi bragged. "I''ve seen just about everything there is to see. Anywho, it''s your turn, little shadow guy."

    Viliant gave pause, unprepared to lead a round  given that he had never expected to win. I think of a thing, he clarified.

    Anything! Fia encouraged him.

    Anything at all¡­ Viliant looked all around him. However, he did not want to pick something too obvious like the endless water. That would bring his turn to a prompt end. However, Viliant wanted to bask in his victory as long as possible. Alas, creativity was not his strong suit. Maybe I don''t have to pick one, solid thing at all, he realized. Maybe it''s just the idea of a thing¡­.

    While he contemplated his choice carefully, Viliant glanced up to Mahi whose jaws peeled in a yawn. The black dragonet''s glum thoughts became weighed down by an unfair comparison. Mahi says he''s been out here his entire life, free to ride the waves, Viliant observed. I''ve been in a cage my whole life, at least until I met Fia. Although he kept these thoughts to himself, his gaze flitted to his best friend.

    The tip of Fia''s tail curled out of the water as she smiled at him.

    "I don''t mean to rush you, little dude," Mahi said, "but I''m definitely rushing you."

    With a deep breath, Viliant regarded slowly, I''m thinking of a place. The location matters less than the people who you find there. Where is it?

    Mahi gasped, his neck reeling back. "I know! I know!" he shouted. "The bar¡ª! Wait, no, you dragonets might be a bit young for that¡­." While the slush dragon dipped his snout into the water to think, his eyes narrowed in a squint, this gave Fia a chance to think about her answer.

    Her blue eyes reflected the roll of the waves. To herself, she mused, A place where the people matter more than the location¡­. That description inspired her to think of no other place than Carlinoa Island. The whole reason why Fia fought her hardest to return to her homeland was because she needed to save her people. Mommy and Daddy, she thought of who she missed most. With her clear eyes glimmering, Fia looked up to say her answer. "Home."

    Before he could restrain himself, Viliant''s tail lifted into a knowing smirk of his own. His steady gaze matched hers for a while. That''s right. Fia got it.

    "Blegh!" Mahi shouted. "You dragonets are too cute. It''s killing me."

    With Mahi as their guide, Fia and Viliant would make it to Carlinoa Island within a couple of weeks. While Fia looked forward to seeing her family again, Viliant looked forward to gaining a true home.

 Chapter 111: I Spy

    Their slow and steady pace helped the dragonets conserve energy, but this did not eliminate their desperate need for land. The quiet, telepathic guessing game also did not alleviate Mahi''s immediate need for entertainment.

    "I''m bored!" Mahi moaned. "It''s time for a different game¡ªsomething that''ll get the heart pumping. How about another race¡ª?"

    "No!" Fia wailed before the adult dragon could take off. "I have a better idea."

    "Yeah? Yeah?" Mahi bobbed his head up and down in sync with the waves. "Let''s hear it!"

    Fia began to speak with each of her words articulated carefully, "I spy with my little eyes, something that is¡­."

    "Oh brother," Mahi remarked. "This game is even worse."

    "Do you have another idea?" Along with that question, Fia included some more requirements which qualified as a good game for the two dragonets. We''re too tired for any more races, but we still wanna play with you, Mahi Mahi!

    "No. No," Mahi chuckled. "This game is just dandy. It''s gonna be a disaster, but that''ll be part of the fun! Sorry for interrupting you, Fia." With a wicked smile held in the posture of his bent wings, Mahi lowered his face down to Fia''s level with the small points of his fangs poking out. "What do you spy?"

    Starting all over again, so she could look around at their unchanged surroundings, Fia said, "I spy with my little eyes, something that is¡­ white!" she decided upon at last.

    Viliant tracked Fia''s gaze across the empty, ocean waves. Despite the squint to his eyes, he could not spot anything of note¡ªmuch less something white. Viliant realized that Fia had avoided looking at her intended object for precisely this purpose. The black dragonet tipped back his head to stare at the only obvious thing with a white coloration. The clouds.

    "Yep! It''s the clouds." Fia remembered to repeat Viliant''s guess aloud to help him learn more words in the Carlinoan language.

    "Your turn, Viliant," Mahi droned. His monotone voice sounded disinterested, yet a sneer at the end indicated that he derived entertainment from another aspect of this game.

    Did Mahi let me win this time? Viliant wondered, but he pushed aside his doubt. The black dragonet had won fair and square by putting in his guess faster. He surveyed the open water for any small speck of color which differentiated itself from the rest of the ocean. I spy something¡ª

    "Nuh uh!" Mahi interjected. "It doesn''t count unless you say the full thing, little dude."

    "Yeah!" Fia agreed, wanting Viliant to gain confidence in speaking in Carlinoan. "Try saying it aloud," she encouraged him.

    With the heft of a big sigh, Viliant started again. "I spy with my¡­ eyes¡ª"

    "They''re little!" Fia chastised him. When he shot her a glare, she muttered in her defense. "You''re supposed to say ''little'' eyes. It''s important."

    Viliant''s eyelids narrowed angrily, making his eyes become more little. "I spy with my little eyes, something that is blue," he decided to go with.

    "Any chance it''s my scales?" Mahi asked.

    "Not a chance," Viliant snarked back.

    "The sky," Fia trilled in a singsong voice, thinking that he went with the nearest color to her choice in the previous round.

    Mahi jerked his head to gesture between Fia and Viliant. "It''s Fia''s eyes, isn''t it?"

    "No." Viliant stretched his neck backward, trying to put more space between himself and Mahi as the slush dragon drew even closer.

    Mahi batted his eyelids furiously over his deep blue eyes. "How about my eyes?"

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    "No!" Viliant roared at Mahi.

    "What else is blue?" Fia wondered aloud.

    "I wonder," Mahi repeated. "What else is blue¡­?"

    After a pause, Fia belatedly realized that Viliant had chosen the most obvious thing. "It''s the water, isn''t it?" she groaned.

    "Yes, the water," Viliant said, repeating the words for practice.

    "My turn!" Fia cheered, glad that she could pick a color of greater interest. "I spy with my little eyes something that is¡­ green!"

    Still focused on himself, Mahi answered, "The green stripe in my scales."

    "Nope. Your scales are pretty though," Fia complimented him.

    "Aw, shucks," Mahi said with a humorous lilt to his voice. "Thanks, Fia."

    Viliant ignored them in favor of surveying the water, trying to discern any tinge of green in the waves. He hoped to spy green foliage which would herald land. However, he only saw various shades of blue. After much deliberation, Viliant decided to make a guess against his better judgment. "Is it the water?"

    "Ha!" Fia''s giggle got caught in a snort. "No. Sorry, Viliant. Not everything''s water."

    "I know what it is," Mahi teased.

    "Then say it." Viliant figured their escort needed to win a round to keep him engaged in the game. Compared to a race, or whatever other nonsense Mahi might come up with, Viliant liked this one.

    "Nuh uh!" Mahi sneered. "I want to see you figure it out."

    "Ugh." Viliant flattened his wings against the swell of the next wave. He wished that the sun''s rays cast some shadows on the open ocean so that he had somewhere to hide. The black dragonet disliked being used for entertainment. What else around here is green? he thought angrily, his patience running thin. No matter which way Viliant craned his neck, he did not see the color which Fia had chosen. Oh, right. Viliant winced with his eyes squeezed shut. When he reopened them, flashing their emerald color, he responded, "My eyes."

    "Yes!" Fia squealed. "Your turn."

    "I spy with my little eyes, something that is blue," Viliant said, not bothering to pause and think about a color this time.

    "My eyes!" Fia shouted, confident that Viliant returned the favor for the last round.

    "No."

    "Mahi''s eyes," Fia tried again, frustrated that he would choose their new friend over his best friend.

    "No."

    "I know what this one is too," Mahi said with a smug flick of his tail. Although he suspected that Viliant chose the water, the dragonet''s empty mind did not give away his selection.

    Fia doubted that Viliant could tolerate the boredom of choosing the same thing twice in a row. She rapidly guessed everything but the ocean. "Mahi''s scales! The sky! My flames when I sneeze really hard."

    "You never sneezed. And they don''t turn blue."

    Fia whined about Viliant being a stickler for details. Reluctantly, she uttered the thing which Mahi had expected all along. "It''s the water again, isn''t it?"

    "Yup."

    The game went on like this. Fia endeavored to select a different color and a different object every time. Mahi had more fun with his commentary than he did with the game. Viliant considered creativity unnecessary. On his next turn, he growled the ritual. "I spy with my little eyes, something that is¡­." Viliant trailed off, pretending to look for something new like Fia did for her rounds.

    In fact, Viliant spotted an unexpected apparition on the horizon. A ridge of land broke the steady oscillation of waves in the distance. At first, Viliant thought his eyes deceived him as the island seemed to flicker in his vision. He shook his head fiercely. When he looked back up, his jaw dropped. "Land," he whispered, too stunned for his voice to rise above a monotone.

    "Aw, come on!" Mahi shouted with a slap of his wing against the water. "You just gave it away."

    "No," Viliant barked, indifferent to the senseless game. "Land!" he hollered again. The edge of enthusiasm crept into his voice this time. By the time that Fia and Mahi raised their heads in the direction that Viliant pointed, the island had disappeared.

    "Wait," Mahi murmured, perturbed by Viliant''s sudden proclamation. "Is this guy doing alright?" With a wing lowered to pretend to speak to just Fia, he jutted the spiny tips of that same wing to gesture at Viliant. "Your friend seems a little green around the gills, if he had them."

    "Um," Fia flitted her eyes to him out of concern. We needed to change up the game''s rules a little bit anyway, she figured, using this to cover for Viliant. "Now we''re saying the thing, and we have to guess the color!"

    "Invisible. Clear. Transparent," Mahi guessed all the colors for the land which he did not see.

    "Black," Fia corrected him. The slitted pupils of her eyes dilated as she took in the dark blot of an island which had suddenly reappeared.

    "See?" Viliant said, too desperate to rest on solid ground to care about the evident magical aura that it exuded. The dragonets had finally reached land.

 Chapter 112: The Wraith Isle

    "No!" Mahi snapped back. "Bad land! Bad land!"

    The small spines along Fia''s back prickled at Mahi''s denouncement. How many Bad Lands are there? she wondered. What''s so bad about it this time?

    Mahi clarified, "That island is part of the Wraith Isles. They don''t really exist. Take a closer look. It''s a mirage, trying to trick you. It lures dragons to roost and wrecks human ships on its shore. It''ll disappear with you, if you let it."

    As the three dragons stared at the dark silhouette of land, its boundary faded against the rays of sunlight. The island disappeared like it had never existed on the open waters in the first place.

    Although the land mass was concealed from view, Viliant told them, I can still sense it. The whole island is just cloaked in shadow. Most importantly, he insisted, We can still rest there. The tip of his hopeful tail lifted out of the water.

    "What shadows?" Mahi pointed out.

    The broad daylight shimmed off the waves where the island should have been. In his experience, Viliant knew how much harder it was to manipulate his element without any cover. The island must control a large reservoir of mana to put up such an impressive display.

    Viliant regarded the sinister island with greater respect, lifting his chin upward as he hung back on the waves. The flow of the ocean pushed him closer in that direction.

    Mahi rushed forth with his wings swept low around Fia and Viliant. The dragon hastily steered the little ones away from the island''s pull. "No. They''ll be plenty of time to rest once we get to Carlinoa."

    The pink dragonette''s eyes brightened by the way that Mahi phrased it. "You''ll go all the way to Carlinoa with us?" Fia squirmed from excitement now that Mahi sounded certain that he would accompany them the rest of the way to Carlinoa Island.

    "So long as we keep having fun," Mahi stipulated, "I suppose. That means no Wraith Isle."

    Viliant curled his tail back into the water, and he turned his dejected cheek to the side. If they rested at the Wraith Isle, that was the closest thing which he considered fun. The island appealed to his elemental affinity like a siren call. It made him wonder what secrets that land hid in its shadows.

    Unlike her best friend, Fia felt relief wash over her after Mahi had given them a good reason to avoid the creepy island. "Hooray!" she cheered.

    The three dragons paddled away from the shadow island which flickered in and out of sight. Despite this, Viliant craned his neck to peer back at it often. Even when he looked at a dark place from afar, the world seemed so much bigger and brighter now compared to when his world had been a cage. Viliant shook away the temptation of the Wraith Isle.

    For now, he kicked his legs faster to catch up with Fia and Mahi. They swam at a slow and steady pace until the sun sank below the waves.

    ***

    In addition to his help with navigation, Mahi also assisted the dragonets in staying afloat at night. "Come here, my little dragonet ducklings!" His broad, fin-like wings opened to invite them closer. The slush dragon provided them with partial support by making the water seem more shallow beneath them.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Fia and Viliant no longer needed to worry about drifting apart on the nighttime waves. The pink dragonette curled against Mahi''s right wing while Viliant suspended over his left.

    While they rested, Mahi took care of keeping them all together. "You two better get some sleep. Tomorrow you have a big day ahead of you, filled with fun and games. I want to get at least one race of you guys."

    "Don''t get your hopes up," Viliant warned, barely able to open his bleary eyes a crack. After the eventful day and poor quality sleep last night, he was exhausted enough to trust Mahi to alert them to danger.

    The slush dragon, native to this part of the ocean, was better adapted to recognize potential threats anyway. Already, Mahi enabled Viliant to cross these waters by protecting him from the magical surge of the heat vents. Most importantly, he kept them from perishing from dehydration. His slush magic acted as a potable source of cold, refreshing water.

    "Drink up!" Mahi announced when he made an individual pile of slush appear in front of both Fia and Viliant.

    The warmth from Fia''s internal fire left her unfazed by the half-frozen water. She dipped her sleek neck to chomp on the tippy top. Once she had slurped up all the chilly water, she gasped, "Ah!" It reminded her of a flavorless version of the fruity ice that she had tasted in Malakow.

    The uncomfortably cold water did not deter Viliant for long. His thirst made him endure the frigid clumps of slush which clung to the thin scales of his snout. "Ah," he sighed after he had finished his share. "Thanks, Mahi Mahi." To express genuine gratitude, Viliant even used the slush dragon''s insufferable nickname.

    "Now about that race¡­." Mahi prodded him again.

    "Don''t push your luck," Viliant sneered.

    Despite the adult dragon''s flippant nature, Mahi still looked after Fia and Viliant in his own way. Fia had greater confidence in their fast friend compared to Viliant, bringing her to fall fast asleep. The pink dragonette puffed out a small plume of smoke alongside her soft snores. Right when Viliant was starting to drift off, Mahi let out a low, ululating whistle.

    The black dragonet jolted to full attention. He assumed that the odd sound from the slush dragon served as his signal. What is it? Viliant asked, shifting in the water cupped by Mahi''s wings.

    Mahi oscillated the pitch of his note in a jagged rift. "I''m singing¡­" he explained, keeping up the whistle in his throat. "I''m singing a song to my new friends. This is a lullaby for two dragonets! I bid you goodnight and a thousand happy days¡­." No matter what came to Mahi''s mind, he put it to the tune which he made up on the spot. The slush dragon tipped back his head and shouted to the moon, bopping his chin to an irregular beat in his mind. Mahi tried to compensate for his lack of musical talent with his enthusiastic volume.

    This ain''t a lullaby, Viliant growled. The black dragonet flapped his wings over his face, kneading his claws against the leathery material. He only wished that Diwa had patched the rest of the holes in his wings so that he could better block out Mahi. Make it quieter, Viliant demanded.

    "Oh, right," Mahi said, hunkering his head down. In a strained squeak, he warbled, "The dragonets are trying to sleep."

    "And slower," Fia murmured. Her drowsy voice slurred her syllables together immediately after Mahi''s ruckus had stirred her awake.

    "Oh, no!" Mahi peeped. "I even woke one up. Go back to sleep, please." When Mahi continued to sing at this new, whispering volume, Viliant rolled over and gnashed his fangs against the air.

    "No!" Viliant snarled. Even quieter.

    Over telepathy, Mahi completed, I can''t sing any softer than this.

    Exactly, Viliant remarked, considering that the whole point. I want you to be so quiet, I can''t hear you at all.

    Mahi ended his rendition of a lullaby with a final humph. "Fine. Have it your way."

    Once silence settled over the three dragons, they could finally sleep. The constant slosh of the ocean waves around Fia and Viliant ushered them into a dreamless slumber. The occasional twitch from Mahi did not disturb them as the slush dragon surveyed the dark ocean.

    ***

    With a new day came new games to play. Fia negotiated the rules with Mahi, and Viliant tolerated their antics from sun-up till sun-down.

 Chapter 113: Cooking Competition

    After several days of traveling and playing games to varying degrees of fun, a growl rose from Viliant''s belly. The time had come in which he anticipated the need to hunt for food again.

    "I''m hungry too!" Fia chimed in. Her adorable eyes blinked at him, hoping to share the catch with him. Her eyes also held in them a tinge of concern. The pink dragonette understood the toll that it took on his body to cast magic without adequate rest. Now that they no longer had a healer like Diwa around to straighten his ley lines, he could not expend mana recklessly like he had in the badlands.

    However, Viliant was also not so concerned with his own survival that he considered it necessary to starve Fia out to achieve that end, like their time together in the coliseum. He assuaged his best friend''s concern with a single thought. I''ll get enough food for you too. Even though he broadcast that message to Fia alone, Mahi attempted to include himself in it.

    "My motto is never say ''no'' to free food!" Mahi tossed an expecting glance at Viliant. "You''re hunting, right?" the shameless adult dragon asked the dragonet.

    For me and Fia, Viliant replied bluntly.

    "What about me?" Mahi whined. "I don''t eat that much. Just one or two or three or four or five¡­." As Mahi kept listing off numbers, he bobbed his head up and down with more and more excitement. "...big fish!" he finished at last.

    Since Viliant had stopped listening to Mahi''s unreasonable demand a while ago, he was unsure how many fish the slush dragon actually wanted. "No," Viliant told him regardless. That''s out of the question.

    "You guys want me to starve!" Mahi wailed. "If you want me to go away, you could just say so, you know."

    With a gasp, Fia did damage control for Viliant''s short tolerance when it came to Mahi''s antics. "No. No!" she urged him. "It''s so much fun to play with you, Mahi Mahi. Don''t go!"

    Viliant grumbled in a reluctant agreement. Mahi had proven his worth already, however Viliant did not want to lower himself and beg him to stay. We can all get our own food, the dragonet suggested, trying to suspend any harsh judgment in his mind. Viliant asked Mahi, Didn''t you brag about how you''re perfectly capable of catching your own fish?

    "Yeah," Mahi admitted with a shrug of his wings. "They just taste better when someone else catches them for you."

    "Hm," Viliant hummed without further reply. In some sense, he could relate to Mahi''s opinion. Viliant also liked it when Fia cooked for him. Now he just needed to make Mahi understand the undue effort that involved him fishing for an adult. "Mahi," he breathed with a sigh. Can I let you in on a little secret?

    "Oh boy! A secret?" Mahi repeated, shouting it out loud in a comical way. If anyone else besides Fia was around to hear them, Viliant would tuck his wings out of embarrassment. Mahi continued to lean into Viliant''s choice of words, which was intended to occupy the adult dragon''s short attention span. "What secrets does the shadow dragonet hold? Let''s keep this light, though. I don''t wanna hear anything that''s as dark as your scales."

    This warning made Viliant gave pause. I wasn''t going to share anything grim, he thought¡ªnot compared to all the other trials which the dragonet had survived. Nevertheless, Viliant worried that explaining the fragile condition of his ley lines was too serious of a topic for the adult dragon who did not bear any old scars on his scales. A glint in the corner of Viliant''s eyes flitted to Fia. Help? How do we talk to Mahi?

    Fia threw an even bigger fuss than the slush dragon. "I don''t wanna take a break from games to eat!" the dragonette wailed. "Let''s turn it into a competition!"

    "Like a race?" Mahi asked, sufficiently enthused by the idea that he already seemed to forget about Viliant''s so-called secret.

    "Yes, but instead of who''s fastest," Fia clarified, "we have to see who can catch and cook the yummiest fish dish." Before Mahi could object to the overall idea, Fia jumped right into the rules. "Everyone has to catch their own fish¡ªand no stealing. Also, you''ve gotta cook your own fish¡ªno getting any help on it either."

    A devious thought flitted through Mahi''s mind. His attempt to keep it to himself was ineffectual, letting Fia and Viliant know that he had already swallowed the game completely. The cute, little dragonets won''t stand a chance, Mahi chortled to himself. Viliant can hunt, but he can''t cook. And I bet Fia can cook, but I haven''t seen her hunt. I''m the only one who can do both!

    Stolen story; please report.

    Although Mahi did not need any further convincing to play the game, Fia sweetened the deal with her final rule. "Lastly, we need a judge who samples all three fish¡­."

    Viliant nodded his chin along. Yes, we definitely need a judge. Someone who loves all types of food, and he has to be willing to try anything. While he knew that Fia''s roast fish would taste delicious, he doubted that he had the skill to prepare anything that would come close. Viliant distrusted Mahi''s ability to cook something edible at all. Even so, no food could deter Viliant''s appetite. His love of food in all its forms made him perfect for this role. "If you insist," Viliant offered, "I suppose I could be the judge¡­."

    Fia ignored him as she was already in the process of extending that honor to another. "Mahi: that''s you!" she said.

    "Woohoo!" Mahi whistled. The slush dragon''s victory for this game was assured. Even if Fia or Viliant managed to put together a meal that tasted better than his signature dish, Mahi could still declare himself the winner.

    "What?" Viliant roared at Fia. His anger flared at her betrayal. How could you? he interrogated his best friend over their private, telepathic connection. You know I want to judge the food! How could you pick Mahi over me?

    Fia shrunk away from Viliant''s crinkled snout, his maw dripping venom from jealousy. "Sorry," she peeped out. Her heart fluttered with anxiety as she searched for an excuse. I wanted to make sure Mahi would stick around, without you having to catch fish for him again. She hoped to convey to Viliant that she always had the best intentions for him.

    Mahi already wanted to play the game, Viliant retorted. He''s going to say his food''s the best no matter what.

    That''s fine, Fia figured. We need to let Mahi win so he wants to keep playing with us.

    Viliant narrowed his eyes. His friend''s refusal to acknowledge her misstep only served to stoke his anger further. Am I even your best friend? Or do you like Mahi Mahi Mahi better just because he''s played a couple stupid games with you? he asked, thinking of Mahi''s obnoxious nickname with derision.

    No! Fia gasped. Despite their silent argument, she sniffled back the tears in her eyes. Mahi''s just a new friend who we need right now. I thought you''d agree with that¡­. I didn''t know you''d want to be the judge that badly.

    You know me! Viliant seethed. While he normally conducted himself under a strict paradigm of survival, he had one weakness which made him disregard all reason. I love food. His lower eyelids pinched up with shame that his love of food made him lose sight over all else. His nostrils flared with a quick intake of breath as Viliant realized how close his outburst made Fia to breaking down into tears. To cover himself, Viliant added, And your cooking is my favorite. I don''t want Mahi to snub you a win that you deserve.

    Fia shook her head, unconvinced by Viliant''s attempt to cheer her up.

    By this point, Mahi had noticed the distress in the terse flicks of Fia''s tails. The slush dragon paddled into a defensive stance behind the pink dragonette and draped one of his large wings over her. "Hey. Is your buddy giving you a hard time?" he asked, shooting a glare at Viliant. "You can always block him out anytime you want. It''s not like we''ve taught him Carlinoa well enough to talk without telepathy yet¡­."

    The tears wavered and spilled over Fia''s eyes. She did not want to cut Viliant off from her mind, not even when he descended into a tantrum. "You''re my best friend forever, Viliant!" she cried. "I''m sorry I didn''t make you the judge." With a big sniff, she flitted her puffy eyes to Mahi for help. "Viliant really wants to judge the food too. Can you and him try all the food together?"

    Mahi huffed out a sigh. His eyes of deep blue ice melted at the dragonette''s pitiful request, her big eyes wavering with her tears. "Sure, Fia. You''ve already made me a judge though, so I''ll share my spot only on one condition."

    A hard gulp caught in Fia''s throat. "What is it?" she asked with a tremor in her voice, still needing to steady it after crying.

    "You have to be a judge too," Mahi intoned gently. "That way, we''ll have a panel, so you can break the tie when me and this guy inevitably disagree." The slush dragon jerked his snout at Viliant who still sulked from his discord with Fia.

    A small smile curled back into her tail. The pink dragonette nodded her chin gratefully. "That''s a good idea, Mahi Mahi. Thanks!"

    "Now then," Mahi said, zipping around the water to ready himself over a good fishing spot. "On the count of three, let''s race to get our fish! Meet back up when the sun''s at high noon." Without further ado, Mahi began to count down. "Three. Two. One. Go!" A cold splash of water was left in Mahi''s wake as he dove deeper than either Fia or Viliant could manage.

    The two dragonets turned to blink at each other.

    "Sorry," Viliant murmured. Even though this was not the optimal position to float, the black dragonet tucked his tail between his legs.

    "It''s all right." Fia accepted his apology with a brush of her neck against his shoulder. "We''re all judges now. It''s time to make some tasty fish!" The pink dragonette lunged through the water in search of her prey.

 Chapter 114: Fishy Fish

    Fia''s mouth hung open in the salty water as she surveyed the sunny shallows for a suitable fish to catch. She needed a tasty specimen that would impress both Viliant and Mahi. However, the slush dragon dove as deep as he needed to catch the perfect fish. The shadow dragonet used his element to bring the fish up to him. Between these two stratagems, smaller fish frantically swam between the larger ones which were the targets of Mahi and Viliant.

    A guppy vibrated its tail to escape the carnage of its brethren below. Fia snorted a stream of bubbles as her slitted pupils dilated. Although this tiny fish did not look particularly appetizing, Fia did not have many fish in the sea to choose from. The pink dragonette swooped to catch the first fish which swam into range of her.

    The most difficult part of her catch was trying to keep the fish intact. Fia could easily gnash her fangs around its body and swallow it whole, but then she would have nothing to show for her efforts to Viliant and Mahi. So, Fia reached for the fish with her claws cupped around its floundering frame. The points of just two claws closed around its tail, holding it in place.

    "Aha!" Fia announced her success with a triumphant whistle underwater. The sound carried through the water along with her telepathic signal. I got one! I caught a fish! she boasted to her friends.

    Good job, Fia! Mahi praised her. But just wait until you see this bad boy that I''m hauling up.

    I''ve caught fish too, Viliant pointed out. They''re still on their way up.

    When Fia looked down, she had lost sight of Mahi. Instead, she saw a cloud of dead fish that floated toward the surface. They would soon encompass her if they continued on their current trajectory. A gurgle caught in Fia''s throat, and she squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

    No stealing my fish, Viliant warned.

    I''m not trying to! Fia trilled underwater. The slimy, limp fish brushed against her scales. Some caught underneath her belly and forced Fia to float up with them. They''re the ones stealing me! While Fia would normally open her wings and flap them to get to the surface quicker, she did not want the fish to catch under her wings too. The dragonette would consider this situation much more pleasant if she could eat her way through fish, however, this was Viliant''s catch for the competition.

    Fia breached the water first, closely followed by a ring of dead fish. Unlike them, her guppy was alive in her grip. Its body flapped with all the strength that the tiny fish could muster. Although she held onto its tail fin tightly, it surprised her by the fight still left in it.

    Viliant paddled up to her with a smug twist in his tail. Where''s your fish? Despite the fact that he could see her fish in plain sight, he acted as though her guppy was too small to warrant his notice.

    "It''s the same size as the first fish that you caught!" Fia objected.

    Since Viliant refused to let that insult stand, he bickered back. At least I can tell that you didn''t take one of mine.

    "You''ll need them all to figure out how to cook ''em!" Fia retorted. While she focused on having the last word, Fia did not realize the progress that her captive had made toward its escape. The guppy''s thrashing had ripped through the membrane of its own fin, launching itself into the air. "No! My fishy!" In the process of shouting this, Fia also opened her mouth to bite it. The dragonette chomped back down on the guppy''s tail before it landed in the water.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    In its struggle, the fish now slapped Fia in the face. "Mmph." Her eyes squinted shut as she grunted. The guppy seemed eager to get itself cooked as it tested Fia''s patience. A plume of fire kindled in her closed mouth. The wet fish smoked and steamed, leaving its scales with two distinct flavors. Fia nodded to herself as she could taste the delectable result on the tip of her forked tongue. The scent wafted to her nostrils mere inches away from her dish for the competition. I''m done, she said alongside an unintelligible muffle from her mouth which held the tiny fish.

    That''s all? Viliant scoffed. He circled around the hefty helping of a dozen fish that he had caught. Now he just needed to come up with a creative way to prepare them¡ªbut not too creative. Maybe I can turn the fish inside out¡­ he contemplated.

    Use your magic! Fia encouraged him.

    Yes, that''s the most efficient way to do it, he mused. Viliant remembered when he had shredded the tapirs in the Malakow Jungle, making their skeletons rip outward.

    No! Fia gasped with the fish tail in her mouth. No inside-out fish. Just cook them in your element like I do with my fire.

    A series of confused blinks passed over Viliant''s eyes. He did not understand how he might employ shadow magic to culinary applications.

    Hey! Mahi interjected in the dragonets'' headspace. Fia, I can hear you giving that guy pointers, up there. No cheating!

    Sorry. Fia pouted with the dead fish hanging between her front fangs.

    After Viliant had completed another lap around his fish, he attempted to cast a spell to steep one of them in shadows. Its scales blackened with an afterimage of his magic. Tendrils of darkness ripped off the fish''s fins like smoke. Success? Viliant wondered.

    That looks fishy, Fia commented.

    It''s a fish. It''s supposed to look fishy! Viliant did not appreciate Fia''s unwarranted criticism, at least not until they had tasted his concoction. His nostrils flared with two quick, successive sniffs. When Viliant dipped his head to take a bite of his own fish, his mouth passed through it.

    Fia bounced on the waves in a fit of giggles. Try again.

    Luckily for him, Viliant had plenty more fish to experiment on with his magic. While he quietly muttered to himself like a mad alchemist, Mahi ascended from his dive.

    "Check it out!" Mahi shouted when he resurfaced. He flung a big fish above the water that spanned the same size as Fia. "This fish is called mahi mahi¡ªlike me."

    I can see the resemblance, Viliant thought.

    Fia thought so too, admiring the fish which Mahi had caught.

    The scales along its dorsal fin had a deep blue hue to match the ocean. Its underbelly was tinted yellow in the same pattern as Mahi''s scales. The fish would look quite beautiful if not for its squat head and shrunken eyes.

    "All my friends say I look like this fish," Mahi bragged.

    Your face does look like that fish, Viliant replied.

    "My scales!" Mahi wailed to correct him. In doing so, he wrinkled his snout and squinted his eyes so that his face did look more like the mahi mahi fish. With that same level of determination held in his glare, Mahi dedicated his full attention to preparing his meal. His claws sliced through the fish as smoothly as the water. A blue light glinted from his eyes when Mahi applied his slush magic.

    Meanwhile, Viliant persisted in his endeavor to make a flavorful shadow fish. He corrupted every last corpse with magic. The numbers were on his side; at least one of these fish had to taste good and exist outside of the shadow realm. If neither Fia or Mahi could actually eat his fish, then Viliant figured that would leave more for him.

    All told, the three dragons had brought back three different meals¡ªor a morsel in Fia''s case. Each dragon had chosen to prepare their food in their respective element. The tiny fish, steamed in her fire breath, still hung out of Fia''s mouth. Mahi brandished his cuts of iced sushi. Lastly, Viliant''s shadow fish bobbed around them ominously. The three dragons dipped their heads together to try the food.

 Chapter 115: Judging

    Since all three dragons served as judges in their cooking competition, they each needed to sample the dishes that everyone had prepared.

    Mahi lowered his neck to intimidate the one dragonet that he deemed a worthy adversary. "Looks like this is just between me and you, little dude," he said to Viliant. "If I''m totally honest with you, I''m concerned that you''re trying to eliminate me." Mahi gestured his wings at the shadow fish which surrounded them like a field of magical mines.

    "Hey!" Fia objected. That single word was lost to a whine in her throat. The fire dragonette could not open her mouth lest she drop her tiny fish. I have a fish too! She brandished it with a gentle shake of her head. With one claw lifted to point at it, she spat the guppy into the palm of her paw.

    Mahi''s eyes bugged out like a dragonfly. A flurry of stunned blinks fell over his eyes. "Well, would you look at that," he said once he regained his voice. "No offense, but that seems more edible than what you made, Viliant."

    "I''m not trying to poison you," Viliant muttered to reassure him. While he had no intention to do so, Viliant also acknowledged that his fish might have unknown side effects.

    As Mahi gawked at him after this admittance with disbelief, his wings folded lower until he finally shrugged them up. "I never say no to free food."

    "Try my fishy!" Fia shouted. "Everyone needs to take a bite out of it." The dragonette took her nibble first before she shoved it between Viliant and Mahi.

    Both dragons backed their necks away. Viliant flitted his eyes over the fish to Mahi who he expected to take an enthusiastic bite. "Go ahead. You first," Mahi offered to the dragonet whose smaller mouth could take a more precise sample.

    Viliant bowed his nose closer to Fia''s outstretched paw. His tongue flicked in between her claws which grasped around the bony fish. Carefully, Viliant stripped some flaky meat off. "It tastes just fine to me," Viliant appraised, salivating over the aftertaste that lingered on his tongue. The dragonet had yet to experience a food that he did not like.

    Mahi swallowed the rest of the fish, its whole body a morsel to him. "More bone than fish," he said, smacking his jaws in time with the snapping bones, "but it leaves a nice, smoky flavor in your mouth. Thanks, Fia."

    "Yeah. Thanks, Fia," Viliant echoed, realizing that he had forgotten to pay his appreciation to the chef.

    The pink dragonette ruffled her wings. Fia had braced herself to receive negative reception due to the measly size of her catch, but their compliments bolstered her perception of her cooking ability.

    Then, Mahi shoved a foot into his mouth. "Certainly not the best, but I expect Viliant''s food to taste worse."

    "Hmph." Fia snorted out of displeasure, but she focused on his original compliment. As for the insult to Viliant, she figured that the time had come to try his food. Her snout stiffened as she said, "I''m sure your food is amazing, Viliant."

    "In that case, you should try it first," Mahi said, pushing Fia closer to the nearest fish with a sweep of his wing.

    "I will!" she shouted, but her bravado faded as soon floated in front of it. The dead fish, its eyes clouded by a dark murk, made her fear that she would turn belly-up like it. Fia tilted her head away as her snout scrunched into a cringe. She scarcely wanted to flick her tongue out to smell it. However, Fia had no other choice but to crack open her mouth and take a bite.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    The moment that her tongue brushed across the rough scales, Fia wanted to spit it back out. To suspend her judgment, Fia cut herself off from all telepathy. Her eyes watered as she forced herself to scarf down the fish as quickly as possible.

    "Don''t eat too fast," Mahi cautioned her in the middle of a gag.

    With too much blocking her windpipe to speak properly, Fia gurgled, "It''s just so good." When she hacked up some bits of fish, the rancid flavor was laced with bile. Fia swallowed it back down to spare Viliant any embarrassment.

    Her odd behavior sparked concern in the black dragonet as well. "Are you crying?" he asked in Malakan which happened to be the language that they shared the most words in common. "You don''t have to eat it if it''s bad¡­." Though Viliant suggested this, he turned his cheek away since he did not want to see his best friend spit out the food that he had made.

    "It''s making me cry tears of joy," Fia clarified after she gulped down her current mouthful. Once she suffered the last bit of the fish, she said, "It makes me wanna¡ª" The dragonette belched a stream of fire into the air.

    "Whoa!" Mahi shouted. "Now that''s a glowing review! I can''t wait to try it!" With his suspicions laid to rest, the slush dragon devoured a shadow fish. "Hurk!" Mahi gagged over the fish before he managed to swallow it. A chill made his whole body shake from his neck down to the tip of his tail. "Ugh. I swear. That thing almost gave me a heart attack!"

    Viliant hung his head, unwilling to apologize for his best attempt at a tasty meal. It''s not my fault that my element''s not any good at cooking food. In that regard, Viliant flitted his jealous eyes at Fia. Her element allowed her to roast all sorts of foods in her flames. At the same time, his eyes pinched up in appreciation. His best friend had pretended to like his food no matter how thoroughly it had disgusted her.

    "Don''t listen to Mahi," Fia said with a weak smile in her tail. Her thoughts over telepathy betrayed a disordinant worry for him.

    "It''s fine. If no one likes my fish, then more for me." Viliant drowned his negative emotions by munching away.

    "No!" Mahi shouted, his voice nearly breaking into a roar. "That was amazing! I never tasted food which has given me such a heart-pounding thrill before." The slush dragon cackled as if the shadow-laced fish had unraveled his mind along with his taste buds. "I already know what my sushi tastes like, and I like this better. Go ahead and try mine. Have all of it!"  he corrected himself. Mahi paddled through the water and scooped up the shadow fish with his head tipped all the way back. His neck bulged each time that he swallowed another one.

    Meanwhile, Fia and Viliant drifted over to the sliced fish that Mahi had iced on a platform of slush. The mahi-mahi had a sweet¡ªalmost floral¡ªflavor to it without much fat. This made the strips of raw fish taste more mild than some big game from the ocean, but it was also more delicate than other whitefish.

    A sigh heaved from Fia''s mouth as she took another bite. The mahi-mahi sushi cleansed her palate and restored her appetite. After she had endured the ordeal with the shadow fish, Fia felt an unspeakable amount of gratitude that Mahi''s fish tasted good. Luckily, she need not articulate what she had gone through to receive thanks.

    Viliant''s shoulder bumped against Fia''s side as the two dragonets dined beside each other. You didn''t need to do that, Viliant told her, but thanks.

    Fia''s wide eyes glimmered at Viliant who tossed his shy gaze aside. You''re my best friend. Of course, I''d do anything for you. Since Fia could hardly go back on her lie that Viliant''s fish tasted delicious, she voted him to take first place.

    "I can hardly argue with that." Mahi stuffed his face with more shadow fish. "You win."

    Viliant beamed with a straight neck. His wings even lifted out of the water from his surprise. The sunshine sparkled off his sleek, black scales. Even if he did not deserve it by his own merit, the acknowledgement made Viliant happy.

    The three dragons continued to have fun on their voyage across the ocean. Whenever they needed to do something serious for the sake of their survival, Fia and Mahi devised a way to turn it into a game. The concept of fun became less foreign to Viliant, just in time for him to arrive in a foreign land.

    A large island appeared in the distance with the jagged dome of a mountain. Its sandy beaches had the fronds of palm trees interspersed by the flight of gulls. Their sharp cries sounded dull in the distance, but that made them no less welcoming.

    Fia blinked rapidly, expecting the island to disappear like another mirage. Can that really be? she wondered. The pink dragonette had never gotten a good look at her homeland from far away, so she was uncertain if she recognized it. "Is that¡­ home?" she asked, too shocked for her voice to rise above a whisper.

 Chapter 116: Scout

    When Fia saw the island, she was so happy that her limbs stopped working. Can it really be? Did I really make it home? she feared that it might be another shadow island. Fia floated for a moment before her wings and tail drooped too low, and the whole dragonette bobbed under the water.

    "Whoa there," Mahi stuck out his wind to scoop Fia back up to the surface. "Yep. That''s really it: Carlinoa Island. Go on." He nudged Fia to get started on the final stretch of her journey. Her home was within sight.

    "Ah!" Fia gasped with her mouth hanging open from excitement. The salty spray spattered her tongue. The dragonette paddled fiercely with her tongue lolled out of her mouth.

    Viliant hastened his pace to keep up with her. "It''s not that close," he cautioned her. "You''re just going to tire yourself out." Although Viliant expressed a realistic concern, his enthusiastic voice broke without any intention to dampen her spirits. The black dragonet''s wings were angled out of the water with an irrepressible smile of his own. He was going to set his paws on the sandy shore of his new home too.

    Fia slowed at the same time as she crested a small wave. The pink dragonette tossed back her horns to glance at Mahi who lingered behind them. "Aren''t you coming too?" Fia echoed back at him.

    "No! No," Mahi hemmed and hawed. "Go ahead without me. I can''t get any closer than this. That island is full of fire dragons."

    "I''m a fire dragon. Of course, you can come with me," Fia invited him. Her eyes wavered with a plea for Mahi to see them all the way to Carlinoa Island. "We promised to give you fish."

    You promised, Viliant clarified, unwilling to catch any more fish for Mahi. When they reached the island, Viliant wanted to collapse in the sun until the last drop of  water had dried from his scales.

    Mahi swayed his head from side to side. "I don''t know¡­."

    "You''re the reason that we''re here now!" Fia insisted. "You helped me get home. You''re a hero!"

    As Fia piled more praise onto Mahi, his chest swelled with pride. "Aw, stop. You''re making my tail curl."

    The more that Fia complimented Mahi, it made Viliant wish that the slush dragon would get out of here already. I''m the hero. I''m the one that saved Fia, he thought fiercely. Viliant wanted to bask in everyone''s admiration, like the sailors had done after he had saved Tacuma. He imagined how it would feel even better, coming from fellow dragons. Viliant did not want to end up cast in Mahi''s shadow, who might get all the credit just because he was an adult.

    Viliant grumbled when Mahi trailed after them. At a slower rate, the three dragons pressed closer to land.

    The ocean, which had once seemed endless in its depth, had its water become clouded by stirred-up sand. The elongated waves rose upward when they hit the sandbar. "We can totally ride these all the way to the beach!" Mahi shouted. The slush dragon swam parallel to their destination, trying to put himself in a good position to leap onto a powerful wave.

    Before a wave arrived of satisfactory height, another adult dragon flew out to intercept them. A scout from the Carlinoa Clan had noticed the wanderers who had erred too close to the island.

    Fia tipped back her head and whistled, signaling him to come closer. "Over here! It''s me: Fia! I''m home!" When the dragon warrior flew into range, she reached out over telepathy.

    Her request was accepted, and the mind of a familiar dragon connected with hers. The youngest flying ace of the Carlinoa Clan greeted her in a jubilant roar. "Fia!" called Evander, the older brother of Arenis. The warrior swooped in his descent, his guard lowered now that he knew that Fia was in the company of foreign dragons.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    "Well, well, well," Mahi said when he recognized Evander. "Look who it is."

    Evander hovered over the waves. Each downstroke of his vast wings directed the water away from his tail in ripples. "Fia," he breathed, "I can''t believe it''s really you. Welcome home!"

    Fia squirmed to and fro, unable to contain her excitement in the water. Steam hissed from every crack between her scales, and embers alit like sparklers across her scales above the water. "I''m home. I''m home!" she cheered. Quickly swimming around Viliant to include him, she emphasized, "We''re home!"

    "Who''s your friend?" Evander asked. A smile curled into his tail even as he hovered in place.

    "This is Viliant!" Fia brandished a wing at the shiny, black dragonet. "He saved my life. And this is¡­."

    Without needing to introduce Mahi, the slush dragon locked eyes with Evander. "So, we meet again." Mahi''s voice caught halfway between a chortle and a growl.

    "Not you again," Evander snapped. His amber eyes, shaded with disbelief, looked between Fia and Viliant. "Where did you find this guy?"

    Before the dragonets could answer, Mahi sprung at the chance. "The ocean waves whisper in my ear. It told me about the tears shed from two, lost dragonets!" Mahi rolled onto his back and paddled himself around Fia and Viliant like an otter. "I saved them from boiling alive over the heat vents. I stopped them from drowning from exhaustion. I kept them from being tempted by the Wraith Isle¡­." Mahi paused before he boasted about his final, most important feat. "I even kept them from getting whacked in the face by flying fish!"

    While he gave his spiel, Fia tossed a surprised glance between Mahi and Evander. "You know each other?"

    "Unfortunately, yes," Evander replied.

    Mahi stuck out the tip of his forked tongue.

    The adult dragons spurned their telepathic link, leaving the dragonets to follow their vocal conversation.

    "You have to thank me, whether you like it or not," Mahi told Evander.

    "Thank you¡­ Mahi," the fire dragon droned.

    Mahi narrowed his eyes. "Say it like you mean it."

    "Thank you¡­ Mahi Mahi."

    "Louder!"

    "Thank you, Mahi Mahi Mahi!" Evander shouted, the edge of his voice shredding into a growl.

    While Fia watched this exchange, she had a hard time telling if Mahi and Evander were friends or enemies. Since Evander had repeated the slush dragon''s name three times¡ªwhich Mahi reserved for his bestest buds¡ªFia could only assume that they were on good terms.

    "I was promised fish for bringing Fia back," Mahi informed Evander.

    The fearless warrior of the Carlinoa Clan had sheer terror flit into his slitted pupils for the first time. "How much?" Evander asked.

    "A lot." Mahi started spitting out the types and amount of fish that he expected, negotiating with Evander who chuffed in disbelief. Ultimately, they settled on a number that Mahi accepted. "Sorry, Fia. The price is right. I''m selling you."

    Evander glared at the slush dragon who had a poor taste in jokes. Don''t listen to him, Fia. In a strict tone, Evander ordered Mahi, "I thank you on behalf of the Carlinoa Clan for returning one of our dragonets. However, I cannot permit a dragon from the Avuazu Clan to come any closer to our island. I will deliver your fish to the neutral zone."

    "You''d be lucky if you had a neutral personality. No fun." Mahi refocused on Fia and Viliant, the new friends that he had made on this trip across the ocean. "You dragonets were pretty fun. Even you, Viliant. Especially you, Fia! Laters!" The slush dragon flipped himself over a wave and zoomed into deeper waters.

    "Bye, Mahi Mahi Mahi!" Fia called after him. Once she finished waving her wings, they stayed upright in a massive grin. Her sparkling, blue eyes looked up to Evander who landed in the water.

    The orange dragon lowered his neck and invited Fia to ride. "Hop on! I''ll take you home, straight away."

    Fia trilled from sheer excitement. She clambered onto the back of Evander''s head so that she could get the best view from the flying ace.

    "What about me?" Viliant asked

    "I''ll carry you." Evander pounded his wings with a splash against the water. The big dragon reentered the air, but before he ascended any higher, he grabbed Viliant under the ribs with his forelegs. Like this, Evander spirited the two dragonets toward the mountainous island.

 Chapter 117: Reunion

    Before Evander took Fia and Viliant all the way to the Carlinoa Clan''s village, he stopped at the beach. When he swooped lower to skim across the sand instead of the waves, the orange dragon asked, "Ready, Viliant?"

    "Ready," Viliant echoed with a grimace. Although flying in another dragon''s claws did not amount to the most comfortable experience, he appreciated the warning. Rokirith had done no such thing before flinging him across the ground, so Viliant tensed up too much, expecting a similar treatment. Instead, the black dragonet had a soft landing on his feet. He blinked against the buffet of sand caused by the wings of the large, orange dragon who landed ahead of him.

    "Why are we stopping?" Fia asked. The curious, pink dragonette leaned over Evander''s curved horns to look at his face.

    Evander bowed his head to let Fa dismount easily. With a happy rumble in his throat, Evander said, "Someone''s been waiting for you, Fia."

    Closer to the treeline, a red dragonet bounded across the beach. "Fia!" Arenis shouted for joy. When he reached her, the red dragonet tackled Fia and pinned her like the old friends used to do in their wrestling matches. Arenis picked up right where they left off, playing on this very stretch of sand where the humans had taken her away. The fire dragonet''s intense breath heated her face. "I missed you so much!"

    "I missed you too," Fia replied, her voice choked with emotion. At some point, she had stopped dwelling on how she missed Arenis, thinking that she would never see her best friend from Carlinoa again. Now that they were reunited, she resumed her connection with Arenis as though nothing had changed.

    But something had changed. When Fia pushed against Arenis to break his pin on her, she found that she was no longer strong enough to throw him off her anymore. How..? she wondered. The dragonette swallowed the smoke in her throat and exerted all her might against Arenis. How come I can''t push him off me anymore? I''ve gotten so much stronger, she thought.

    Because of her familiarity with Arenis, she had connected with him over telepathy without a second thought. I''ve gotten stronger too, he clarified. Not only had the red dragonet enhanced his physical prowess, but he also improved his form. The quality of his pin did not leave any weakness for Fia to exploit and throw him off balance.

    The pink dragonette flopped her wings out on either side. Her neck sagged against the sand. Despite her irrevocable happiness that she had made it back to Carlinoa Island, she also felt a twinge of disappointment that she did not return as much stronger as she had expected. But I was fighting every day....

    Arenis curled his wings in abashment. And I was training every day since you were gone. An inferno blazed behind the dragonet''s eyes, barely contained within himself. I missed you, Arenis reiterated to sum up the guilt and rage which had consumed him since that fateful day on the beach.

    Fia had no other choice but to accept their difference in strength. She only got up once Arenis allowed it. The red dragonet ruffled his wings while Fia shook the sand from her pink scales. When they stood side by side, Fia realized how much taller Arenis had grown and how much wider his wings now stretched. The dragonet who had once been just a scale bigger than Fia now outsized her by the same amount as Viliant when she first met him. Her old friend served as a mirror through time¡ªwhat both Fia and Viliant could have been if they had not undergone the harsh conditions of the coliseum and subsequent survival as fugitives. I didn''t realize I could''ve grown bigger too, Fia lamented. She glanced at Viliant who was closer in size to Arenis, the seven-year-old dragonet, than he should be for a dragonet his age¡ªfive years older.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Despite all this, Fia stood her tallest. Their stunted growth was another accolade for the burden that they bore, just like the tatters which remained of Viliant''s wings. I''m proud of how we survived, she thought.

    Meanwhile, Viliant seethed in the shadow of Evander''s wing which stuck out to hold him back. The dragonet wanted to launch himself into the foray from the moment that a strange dragonet had charged at Fia.

    "They''re friends, Viliant," Evander clarified.

    Are they? Viliant wondered, but he had no reason to distrust the dragons from Fia''s clan. They had every reason to distrust him¡ªthe outsider. Even if Viliant knew that his best friend had a happy life before she was thrown into the same cage as him, it pained him to watch Fia''s reunion with her old friend. This was different from the times when Fia played games with an armored bear and a human child. This was different from the Malakow tournament where Fia had bonded with Ori, the lame mold dragonette. This was a friend that Fia had made, long before she knew Viliant. She''s my only friend, he thought by comparison.

    As if to rub salt under his scales, Evander revealed, "They''ve been friends their whole lives, ever since their mothers placed their eggs next to each other."

    A low growl peeled from Viliant''s throat. Even though he had yet to learn the red dragonet''s name, Viliant already knew that he disliked him. At least I''m her best friend, Viliant figured smugly to reassure himself.

    The gleam in Fia''s eyes redirected to focus on Viliant. "Ooh! You have to meet my new friend!" She trotted over, the red dragonet close behind her.

    When Viliant realized that Fia spoke to the other dragonet over him, his stomach wrenched like he had eaten rotten meat. Any worry that had seized him had dissipated as soon Fia introduced him.

    "This is my best friend, Viliant," Fia said. Her chipper voice over his name sounded like a bird''s twitter.

    The black dragonet bobbed his chin along. That''s right, he thought. I''m her best friend, after all.

    The tail of the red dragonet slumped. Even though he might be one of Fia''s friends, he did not get the coveted position as her best friend. What? Arenis asked, sharing his disbelief just between him and Fia. I thought I was your best friend.

    You are, Fia corrected after two, stunned blinks. She did not mean to cause any offense to her long-time playmate since the day of her hatching. Fia needed to do something to correct her blunder.

    Immediately afterward, Fia made the same introduction the other way around. "And Viliant.... This is my best friend, Arenis."

    "What?" Viliant snapped, his voice cracking into a roar.

    Fia cowered at his outburst. In a small squeak, she explained, "You''re both my best friends."

    Viliant''s eyelids became hooded in his glare, unamused. "You can''t have two best friends, Fia."

    "Yeah," Arenis chimed in, confident that their long-time friendship had forged a stronger bond than Fia could possibly develop with the vagabond that she dragged back to the island with her. "That''s what ''best'' means," Arenis explained, in case Fia did not fully grasp the definition of the word. "There can only be one."

    "Um...." Fia kneaded her claws into the sand, overwhelmed by the avaricious gazes of Viliant and Arenis. The dragonette did not know what to tell either of them, but she needed to do something. "My best friend is...."

 Chapter 118: Family

    Before Fia could utter another word, Evander raised his wings in her defense. "She already told you. Both of you are her best friends." His amber eyes flitted to Viliant and Arenis in turn. No matter who Fia picked as her ultimate best friend, Evander anticipated that it would cause a firestorm between the dragonets. The mature dragon did not want to mediate a foolish, childish fight at what should be a joyous occasion.

    "But she has to choose one of us," Arenis insisted, anxious to hear that Fia held no grudge against him after he had run away from the humans. The pirates had put up a fight that the dragonets could not win. Even so, Arenis never would have abandoned her if Fia had not yelled at him to get away. I got help as quickly as I could, he lamented, even if it had not been quick enough for the adult dragons to save her. What happened wasn''t my fault, the red dragonet rationalized despite all his guilt. I tried my best.

    Fia did not know how to manage Arenis''s emotions, especially when Viliant bombarded her on the other end of the telepathic link that she maintained between each of the dragonets.

    Do you even remember when you said I was your best friend? Viliant demanded.

    "No," Fia admitted with a peep. The dragonette only remembered when she had bargained with Viliant for him to consider her a friend in the first place¡ªhis only friend. At some point, their friendship had naturally progressed as their need for survival left them inextricably entwined. I don''t know when we became best friends. It just sort of happened.

    With his eyes squinted in frustration, Viliant knew it was not her fault that she could not recall the exact moment which had been so formative for him. You were wracked with fever. You were dying, Viliant remembered for her, no words needed to conjure the grave image of Fia in her most dire moment. I called Rokinth for help. I saved you.

    In spite of her best attempts to move past her brush with death, Viliant thrust that vivid memory back into her mind. It had already been scorched into her psyche, freezing her inner flame like blackfire. Overwhelmed by the message which she received over telepathy at this moment. Fia cut herself off from both Viliant and Arenis. The pink dragonette cowered behind Evander''s foreleg. Her bleary, watery eyes blinked past her hurt and confusion. "You''re both my friends, and that''s all that matters. I just wanna go home."

    Without another word needed from the dragonette, Evander bowed his head to let Fia climb between his horns once more. Close behind her, Arenis clambered onto his older brother''s back. Viliant was left with his claws clenched into the sand, waiting for Evander to pick him up in the loose grip of his claws. The vast wingbeats of the dragon warrior carried all three dragonets into the sky with him.

    Without any curved horns or orange scales to block his line of sight, Viliant had the best view of the landscape. He assessed the volcanic island which he had chosen to be his new home. Below sandy beaches gave way to tall green grasses, which themselves gave way to trees, short at first but taller the deeper into the island that Evander soared. Treeless meadows dotted the forest, scarred with scorch marks around their edges. In each meadow, colorful flowers blossomed. Viliant marveled at the closest cluster which had giant purple petals which drooped against their tall stems.

    As they flew closer to the center of the island, its most prominent feature became clear: the volcano. It rose from the forest, the trees along its sides giving way to brown then black rock. A plume of smoke lifted from its crater, breathing like the fire dragons that inhabited its gradual slope. Some shimmering veins curled down the mountainside, thicker near its source before thinning out around the first huts.

    Viliant''s body reacted with a slight shudder at the ambient mana which emanated from this location. "I never felt mana this strong," the black dragonet stated, still awestruck. The only thing which had come close was the Wraith Isle on their way here.

    "The Carlinoa Clan has made our home here since dragons first learned how to harness the wind beneath our wings and the magic in our veins." Evander shared a small history lesson with the dragonets. "Our ancestors have taken their final roost in the volcano for thousands of years, adding more mana to the scorched earth."

    Viliant did not understand enough about magic to comprehend how that process worked. However, he could witness the vitality of the Carlinoa Clan in its present state for himself.

    Viliant directed his attention farther down the slope of the volcano. The Carlinoa clan fashioned their buildings out of whale bones. Some constructions bowed like simple nests while others offered a roof overhead. Many open pavilions had braces in their rafters that formed a second story. Although the fire dragons'' architecture could not hold a candle to the humans in Syene or the dragons of Malakow, Viliant found the primal atmosphere more welcoming to his instincts.

    Below, dozens of dragons flitted across the volcano like ants on a hill. The residents of the Carlinoa Clan looked small from this vantage point, even if this species of dragon had the size to rival the likes of Rokirith from his own Dagonir Clan. The bright scales of the fire dragons reflected the sunlight in red, orange, yellow, and pink¡ªlike Fia.

    "I see it!" squealed the ecstatic dragonette. "That''s my house: right there!" Without bothering to point a claw that Viliant could not see anyway, Fia bounced on top of Evander''s head.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The warrior did not need any directions, since he knew exactly where the nest of Fia''s family neighbored his parents'' home.

    "Hold on," Evander warned Fia, whose little claws repeatedly poked the scales which covered his skull.

    She stopped bouncing and latched onto his horns like Arenis did to the spines of his back. In a firm but gentle grip, Evander secured his hold on Viliant. The dragon warrior tipped into his descent toward Fia''s family hut. His wings billowed out on either side until the claws of the large dragon touched down. Within the distance of another wingspan, the broad doorway welcomed any dragon whose entrance would not upset residents.

    Fia scampered off Evander''s head so fast, she did not wait for him to lower his neck. Her paw landed over one of his eyes, closed in defense. Fia jumped off his snout like any other perch, and she glided past the threshold of her house. "Mommy! Daddy! I''m home!" she announced. The claw at Fia''s heel scraped a line across the dirt floor. The pink dragonette stopped near the entrance, waiting for her eyes¡ªdrawn wide in excitement¡ªto adjust to the dim interior.

    No fire had been lit, making her home feel cold and empty compared to how she remembered it. Maybe they''re out hunting, she figured, but that made Fia pout her droopy wings. Either her mother or father always stayed close to home in case Fia came back to the nest for whatever reason. Right when Fia was about to timidly step back out with a trembling heart, a large mound shifted at the center of the room.

    The light pink scales looked dingy in the low light. The neck of the dragoness swayed like she had just stirred from a nap. "Fia?" her shaky voice croaked in disbelief. "Is it really you?"

    Having no need for words, Fia whistled a note that her mother would recognize. The dragonette raced to her mother who uncoiled her body. Fia flung herself into her mother''s open wings, connecting with her over telepathy. Too overwhelmed to speak aloud even if she wanted to, Fia said, Mommy.... I missed you so much.

    I missed you too, Fia¡ªmy little spark. Her mother held her dear to the ridged scales of her crest. Fia was swaddled in her wings and forelegs, neck and tail. Both Fia and her mother felt so overwhelmed and relieved, they broke down to tears. Together, they cried and shared the joy of their reunion over  telepathy.

    From the doorway, Viliant peered inside at this emotional scene. I guess it''s not just their scales, Viliant thought, recalling how Fia often compared herself to her mother. They both cry a lot too.

    Viliant did not know how to process the heartfelt display that he witnessed, so the cynical dragon relied on his first reflex. Nonetheless, he found his claws drawn a step closer. Viliant felt an urge to be a part of that scene. Maybe if he experienced it for himself, he would understand it better.

    Evander barred the black dragonet''s slow approach with an outstretched wing. "Let''s wait out here. We should give them some space."

    Fia''s mother nuzzled her cheek against her precious dragonette. While she did this, Fia noticed a plush bed behind her mother. This generous, dragon-sized bed had been moved into the middle of the room to accommodate more leaves, straw, and feathers. At its center, an egg was swaddled in the nest with its plates covered in a pale pink.

    The surprise made Fia regain her voice. "Is that an egg?" she blurted out. The stilted pupils of the dragonette nearly crossed as she stared at the rotund object. While she had taken an instant fondness to the egg that Rokirith had saved, Fia regarded this one differently. What''s this egg doing in my house? she wondered.

    Fia''s mother padded over to the egg and looped her tender tail around its thickest part. "I never got a chance to tell you," she trilled, delivering this message aloud and including telepathy to help Fia better understand. "I was ready to have another egg before you left."

    Despite the good intentions held within her mother''s mind, Fia''s chest thumped with dread. The revelation primed her heart to shatter like an eggshell. Bigger tears wobbled from Fia''s eyes all over again. "Mommy was trying to replace me!"

    "No!" her mother gasped in horror. She caught her squirming dragonette in her wings and soothed her with a melodic hum. "We''d never do that, Fia. You''re our precious dragonette. You''re irreplaceable. That''s why your father went looking for you!" As much as it had pained her mother to stay on the island, the dragoness also knew that she needed to lay her next egg and help it hatch. Fia''s mother was also the mother of another, unhatched dragonet. "I''m sorry I didn''t get the chance to explain this to you in a better way," she whispered to Fa, knowing that telepathy would not help the dragonette understand anymore. "But I love you, Fia."

    A small part of Fia. knew that she ought to trust her mother''s words. The dragonette let her mother''s lullaby soothe her anxious heart. I''m loved, she knew, and she did not need telepathy to feel that. Even so, Fia shot a distrustful glare at the egg which was not developed enough to hold a telepathic connection, much less understand anything that happened around it.

    After they had clarified the misunderstanding, the dragon mother and daughter lingered together in this moment, Fia''s mother peeked over the dragonette''s horns toward the doorway. She did not see the dragon that she expected to be waiting at the threshold.

    Evander shifted near the entrance with Arenis and another, big dragonet under his wings.

    Her mother looked down to Fia, her eyes welled with worry. "Where''s your father?" she asked Fia.

    "Huh?" Fia jumped out of her mother''s embrace, reanimated in excitement. Fia expected the question to prompt her to run and greet her father. Her excess energy brought her to dash around their hut in a circle."Daddy! Where is he?" Fia repeated, unsure where she should go to find him.

    "I thought you''d know," Fa''s mother said with a wince over her balk. "He went out, looking for you!"

    "What?" Fia reeled at this revelation. If Fia''s father had gone looking for her, then that meant she would not find him anywhere on Carlinoa Island. Her eyes wavered at the prospect of her father, flying all the way to the Kingdom of Syene by his lonesome.

    Fia''s mother directed her gaze past her, looking to the other adult dragon for a better explanation. From the doorway, Evander offered a sad shake of his head. Since Fia''s father had departed from the island in search of their lost dragonette, he had yet to come back.

    "No!" Fia wailed. She had not expected so much to change over the months that she had been gone. If she had learned anything over the course of her journey, then Fia knew that she needed to do something about it.

 Chapter 119: Home

    With her inner flame stoked by the challenge, Fia said, "We have to go looking for him!"

    "No!" resounded several voices in unison. Fia''s mother, Evander, and Viliant all shouted her down at once. Only Arenis glanced around in confusion, since he thought that Fia had proposed a good idea.

    "You just got back," Fia''s mother cooed in a softer tone. "You need to rest. And from now on, you''re not allowed to leave the village!" The frustration flared in her mother''s voice. She refused to overlook how her antics with Arenis had caused her to get egg-napped in the first place.

    Fia cowered away from the explosion of her mother''s concern. The dragonette had forgotten that she would get in trouble the moment that she got back.

    Evander rapped the back of his claw against the doorframe which curved with a whale''s rib bone. The dragon warrior sought permission to intrude. "It''s only natural that you miss your father too," Evander vocalized on behalf of Fia. "However, you should put more faith in him. If you made it back, all on your own, then he can too." This revelation made a flurry of stunned blinks fall over the eyes of Fia''s mother.

    "Wait," the adult, pink dragoness drawled. "Did you not bring Fia back?" her mother asked Evander.

    "No," he replied with a hesitant glance at Fia. Though Evander had spotted the dragonette in the surf while he scouted the perimeter of Carlinoa Island, only Fia knew how she had gotten that far. "I found her in the company of a water dragon."

    "I see," Fia''s mother murmured, assuming that Evander had rescued Fia from the clutches of a nefarious dragon from the Azuazu Clan.

    While Fia had many dragons to thank along her journey, her biggest supporter had been with her every step, wingbeat, and paddle along the way. "Actually," the dragonette twittered, "Viliant''s the one who helped me get back. He saved my life." Fia brandished her wing to show off her new friend¡ªher hero.

    At the mention of his name, Viliant straightened his neck and flung back his wings. For the first time in his life, he cared about leaving a positive impression on others. Viliant wanted to make Carlinoa Island his new home. Despite his best effort, Viliant did not understand why the other dragons'' wings sagged when he became the center of attention.

    With just a glance at Viliant, all the dragons could surmise the turmoil that Fia had endured with him. Even though Viliant appeared much healthier and happier compared to the skeletal dragonet that she had met in the coliseum''s dungeon, his body still told the story of that abuse. A trail of old scars streaked his shiny, black scales in faded, jagged stripes. His wings, which he peeled back in pride, made him look like he had flown through war.

    "Hi," he stated in an attempt to introduce himself. "I''m Viliant."

    Fia''s mother took a step closer to him. Though her rigid wings still angled in concern, the dragoness curled her tail into a smile. With a tilt of her horns, she offered Viliant to join her and Fia over telepathy.

    "It''s nice to meet you, Viliant. I''m grateful¡ªwhat you did for Fia." Since words alone could never express her appreciation, the dragon mother let her emotions swell over their telepathic link. The pink dragoness bowed her neck across the ground. Thank you.

    A twinge of embarrassment flitted through Fia, realizing that she had never expressed such extensive gratitude toward him. She attempted to make up for that now. Thank you, Viliant! The pink dragonette scampered to give him a hug. Once Fia had her wing flaps draped over Viliant''s face, she told her mother, "Viliant doesn''t have a home. I promised that he could stay here, if he brought me back to Carlinoa."

    Fia''s mother balked at that, and she dipped out of the shared, telepathic space with the dragonets. "Well," she stammered for an excuse, "I don''t know...." The dragoness did not know enough about Fia''s friend to promise anything. Viliant was a dragonet with far too many scars for his age. If Fia was going to get a brother, then her mother wanted a little, pink dragonet to hatch out of the egg behind her. She did not want to bring into their home an unrelated dragonet, old enough that he might cause problems.

    "I''ll ask our parents," Evander offered with a glance down to Arenis.

    "What?" Arenis shouted. The red dragonet''s eyes scrutinized Viliant with a squint. He can''t stay with us!

    Without a word, Viliant swept his neck back to glare at Arenis. That look from the shadow dragonet intimidated Arenis enough to break eye contact and fidget with his claws.

    "Hmph." Viliant did not care if the other fire dragons actually liked him or not, so long as he stayed close to Fia. He felt foolish for hoping that Carlinoa had any more to offer him. The least he could hope for was the island to remain safe against the oncoming human invasion. Aren''t you forgetting something important? Viliant reminded Fia darkly.

    "Eep!" she squeaked when she remembered. Fia sprang up with her wings alert, ready to flutter away. "The humans are coming!" she shouted.

    "What do you mean?" Fia''s mother asked, worried more so about her daughter''s emotional state than the state of their island''s security.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "I didn''t see any ships when I made my rounds," Evander pondered aloud.

    The two adult dragons dipped their heads closer to Fia and listened over telepathy. Arenis hopped underneath Evander''s wing to join the circle around Fia. Everyone waited to discern the true meaning behind her warning.

    The humans are coming to Carlinoa with big ships filled with these things called drakans! Fia recalled how she had seen the Dragon Slayer''s declaration of war and his performance of a ritual to raise an army. Over telepathy, the dragonette shared the horrors which she had witnessed without any need to articulate complex ideas with words. Despite the earnesty of her report, Fia''s mother and Evander had a hard time believing her.

    The humans are coming to wage war... on our clan? Fia''s mother thought, dubious of her distressed daughter''s claim¡ªnot because she did not believe her. The dragoness would struggle to wrap her head around the gravity of the situation, even if it came from the Elder Council.

    Why would they? Evander questioned about the humans. I thought Syene only attacked dragons that had humans in their territory. Why Carlinoa?

    With an anxious tap of her claws, Fia realized that she still did not grasp the humans'' motivation. I don''t know! They''re humans. It''s in their nature. Her mind buzzed with all the information which Rokirith had relayed to her in hopes that the adults could make sense of it.

    "Slow down, Fia," her mother cooed. "I''ll call the elders. The council will figure out what to do."

    "I''ll go," Evander offered. "You can stay here with Fia." The dragon warrior hurried from the hut with a flick of his tail. This left Fia''s mother with all three dragonets and the egg.

    While she had countless questions for Fia, her mother did not want to overwhelm her with any more. Fia''s mother figured that she would hear everything once the elders drilled into those same points of contention. "Right now," her mother murmured, "I don''t care if humans are coming or the sky is burning. We can fly away before they get here. I''m just glad you''re home." Her mother flung her wings around Fia and nuzzled the scaly ridge of her cheek against her daughter''s head.

    "I missed you so much, Mommy." The smoke cleared from Fa''s throat when she huffed out a sigh. Once more, they hugged and chatted about quiet topics.

    "I''ve added fresh down to your bed," her mother shared. "Do you want to flutter up to the loft to check?"

    "Yes!" Fa bounced from excitement, grateful that she was not forgotten when her mother improved the nest for the family''s new egg. The pink dragonette accepted the lift on her mother''s snout. Fia hopped onto the hut''s smaller, second level which only had enough space for baby dragons. She leaped into the tidy corner where her mother had her bed made for her.

    With the strength of his own wings, Arenis followed Fia up to her room. His tail curled in a goofy grin while he watched his friend roll around and mess up her bed.

    On the ground level, Viliant flicked his uncertain tail. Although he wanted to shadow Fia throughout her home, his wings did not let him access the loft. His expectant eyes flickered to the mother of his friend one too many times.

    No longer could Fia''s mother pretend that she did not notice Viliant. Her gentle hum caught in her throat when she looked away from the egg. "You''re too big for the loft. Sorry, Viliant."

    "That''s... fine." Viliant flexed his talons, anxious for something to do while he waited for Fia. I can''t go up there, he shared over telepathy. Hurry up, and get back down here!

    Just a minute, Fia assured him. The dragonette swept her gaze around her cozy bedroom where she would get to sleep tonight.

    Check this out, Arenis boasted to Fia. The red dragonet sauntered to the gap between the thatched roof and woven walls. He hopped through the window and propelled himself higher with two subsequent flaps of his wings. Arenis glided across the distance between Fia''s house and his family next door. At first, she did not expect him to make it, but then a couple more flaps of his wings lifted his body upward. Arenis swooped through the narrow window that opened up to his own bedroom loft.

    At a loss for words, Fia''s mouth hung open. Her reaction was limited over telepathy. You can fly? she asked out of astonishment.

    Arenis''s horns bobbed as the only thing visible from the neighbor''s window, after his landing. Soon, he propped his chin onto the ledge with a smug twist to his tail. Arenis tipped back his head and puffed a small ember into the air.

    Past her giggles, Fia returned his signal. The dragonets often animated puppets with fire before they went to sleep. Now, Arenis could fly across the upper floors of their houses if they wanted to play more after their bedtime.

    Arenis leaped from his bedroom and glided back over to Fia''s room. I really missed you while you were gone, he reiterated, unable to look Fia in the eye. I trained with Evander every day, so that I''d be stronger! When Arenis gathered enough willpower to raise his head, a wildfire burned behind his eyes with the desire to protect Fia the next time that she was in danger.

    Although the intensity of Arenis''s unbridled emotions made her want to withdraw from telepathy like she had on the beach, Fia tilted her head in consideration. I understand. I needed to get stronger too, so I can save our clan! She did not understand why Arenis focused solely on her welfare, rather than the clan as a whole. It did not matter since any passionate emotion stoked their fire magic.

    Fia slipped away from telepathy with Arenis and retreated to the ground level. The two dragonets fluttered back down to join Fia''s mother and Viliant.

    "Thanks, Mommy," Fia said, hugging her wings around the foreleg of the dragoness. "My new bed is so fluffy."

    "I''m glad you like it, Fia." Her mother draped a large wing around Fia''s whole body.

    At this point, another rap of claws sounded near the door. Evander poked his head inside and reported, "We have Elder Nura''s attention. She''d like to see Fia¡ªand our guest¡ªimmediately." The amber eyes of Evander flitted to Viliant who would join him. Like they had done on the way here, Evander carried Viliant in his claws.

    Fia flew on her mother''s head to her audience with the first elder of her clan.

 Chapter 120: The Elders

    Fia sighed and leaned into the wind, flying with her mother up the mountain of Carlinoa Island. Although the contents of her report made the dragonette''s heart rife with anxiety, she was not scared to deliver the news to Elder Nura. Among the five leaders of the Carlinoa Clan, Elder Nura was Fia''s favorite. The wisest dragoness in the village prioritized her time interacting with all of the dragonets, chatting or playing with them at the level appropriate for their age. It came as little surprise that Elder Nura requested Viliant''s presence right away. She''ll like him, Fia thought to herself. I just know it.

    Close behind her mother''s wingbeats, the downstrokes of Evander''s wings followed their ascent. Viliant swayed in the loose grip of the dragon warrior''s claws.

    The structures for the dragons'' houses became larger as they flew higher up the slope of the volcano. Midway to the peak, the dragons crested over a plateau. Five thrones of whale bones created a semi-circle where all the dragons in the clan sometimes gathered around the Elder Council. At present, only a white dragoness waited for others to join her.

    Fia''s mother and Evander landed in front of Elder Nura. Once she hopped off her mother''s head, Fia approached the oldest dragoness in their clan. "Hello, Elder Nura. Thanks for seeing me right away."

    The nostrils of Elder Nura flared with a deep breath. The dragoness lowered her head down to Fia''s eye level, tilting her cheek to invite the dragonette to join her over telepathy. "Fia, it''s a happy day that you''ve come home! Are you hurt, anywhere?" Elder Nura paced around Fia to inspect her before the dragonette completed her spins.

    "I''m fine," Fia said, flinging her wings outward to assange their leader''s worry. "I made friends with a healer in Malakow. She patched up the one, tiny hole I got in my wing."

    "That''s a relief." Unlike all the other fire dragons of the Carlinoa Clan, Elder Nura had a rare variation for her element: light. She served as the only healer of their clan who made miracles happen. Despite Fia''s insistence that she was alright, Elder Nura scrutinized her with narrowed eyes. "Your fire magic has fully awakened."

    When she revealed this to the other dragons who had not bothered to assess the dragonette''s magical core, both Fia''s mother and Evander gasped.

    "No dragonet has ever fully awakened their fire magic so young," Evander stated, impressed that Fia had managed a feat which he had only achieved through the Blazing Ritual.

    "Does that mean Fia...?" her mother asked, trailing off with an unspeakable question at the forefront of her mind. Did she almost die?

    Yes, Viliant answered silently for them all. The black dragonet accepted the open invitation for telepathy with the other dragons, and he stepped out from behind Evander.

    "This is my friend, Viliant," Fia chimed. "He saved my life."

    A smile twisted into Elder Nura''s tail. "On behalf of the Carlinoa Clan, I thank you, brave dragonet." The white dragoness tipped her nose down to regard Viliant who looked up to her.

    Viliant withdrew from telepathy to keep his hope held close to his chest. It''s not like their elders will appreciate me any more than Fia''s mother, he figured, tempering his expectations. However, they might be able to do more for him than she could.

    Elder Nura draped her wings around Viliant''s whole body. Close your eyes, she told him. A flash of light warmed his eyelids, chasing away the darkness behind them.

    When Viliant reopened his eyes, he looked all around to see what changed. No longer could he view his surroundings through the rips in his wings. A fresh, healthy membrane had grown in its place. "My wings...!" he shouted, his voice breaking from shock. "You healed my wings!" Just like that, the dragon elder had given him what he had given up on.

    "It''s the least I could do," Elder Nura replied.

    "The least...." Viliant murmured to himself. The least she could do had just made his dreams come true. His intact wings lifted in a broad smile, and Viliant''s tail looped around itself. He sprung from his claws and tested how well his wings now pushed against the air. Viliant ran around, jumping and flapping his wings. Not a care in the world flitted through his mind. If the dragonet looked silly, he did not care. All that mattered to him was that his wings were restored.

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    Fia chased after Viliant, prancing and pronking around with him. "Your wings...!" she gasped through her giggles. "Your new wings are amazing, Viliant!"

    A slight laughter caught in Viliant''s throat, choked by emotion. Already, the dragonet felt like he had soared into the clouds before he even left the ground. His new wings let Viliant experience the greatest happiness yet in his life. While he had celebrated his escape from the coliseum at the time, he was now finally unshackled from that memory.

    "You''ll still need to strengthen your flight muscles," Elder Nura cautioned him before Viliant leaped off the plateau''s ledge "They look underdeveloped from lack of use."

    "I''ve been working with Arenis to teach him how to fly." Evander offered, "You could join us, Viliant." ''

    Without his spirits dampened by the mention of the other dragonet, Viliant turned and blurted out, "I want to fly!"

    Evander chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Great. We''ll start tomorrow."

    Before Viliant could resume his celebratory laps around the elders'' thrones, Elder Nura blocked his path. "Are there any other wounds or scars that I''ve missed?"

    Viliant flipped in a tight circle, following the tip of his tail. His sheeny, black scales lacked the streaks of old scratch lines. He looked like a perfectly healthy, happy dragonet. "No. You fixed everything!"

    "I''m glad you feel that way," Elder Nura cooed. "I''ll want to see you another day to work on your ley lines."

    "What''s wrong with them?" Viliant barked. After Diwa had spent so much time untwisting his ley lines and neglecting his wings, he expected them to be fine.

    "It seems like you''ve had a bout of manzy," Elder Mura explained. "The healer you saw in Malakow kept your ley lines from collapsing altogether, but your unawakened element is almost entirely sealed off."

    "Huh?" Viliant echoed. He did not know what she meant by an ''unawakened element'' since he had already awakened his shadow magic.

    "The ley lines of dual element mages are much more complicated than single elements," Elder Nura elaborated, "but don''t worry. I''ll make it so you can use both elements again."

    "I have two elements?" Viliant asked. Maybe I was a metal dragon, all along, he considered. His eager eyes flashed up to Elder Nura for more answers. "What''s my other element? Can you tell?"

    Elder Nura tipped her horns back. "Your strongest magical core is like mine, except you''re from the north. Are you a shadow dragon?"

    "Yes! And...?" Holding his breath, Viliant waited for Elder Nura to reveal his second element.

    "I''m not sure," she said, much to his disappointment.

    Viliant huffed a sigh. It seemed that he needed to discover his second element for himself. Nevertheless, the dragonet considered it immensely helpful to know of its existence with confidence. I guess that''s why Diwa had a hard time healing me, he figured, but that did not lessen his frustration with the jungle healer''s incompetence. By comparison, he decided, I like Elder Nura. Viliant looked up to the old dragoness who had her white scales thinned to gray around her eyes.

    "Once I fix your ley lines," Elder Nura said, "we will ensure you make it safely home. Where are you from, Viliant?"

    With a snort, Viliant hoped that he had not made his opinion of her too soon.

    Fia swept her wing in front of Viliant. "I promised Viliant that Carlinoa would be his new home!"

    An amused chuff made Elder Nura shrug her wings. "Very well. I trust your family will make the proper arrangements for him."

    Fia''s mother glanced at Evander who had offered to help. "Yes," she said. "We''ll figure something out."

    "Now then," Elder Nura said, squinting her eyes at Fia. "I believe you have important news to share from abroad?"

    The dragonette directed her gaze down to her claws which bore into the dirt. While their conversation had progressed up to this point, more dragons flocked around the clan''s gathering spot. The early arrivals had flown off to alert their family and friends about what they saw. Their thoughts always reacted in some form of amazement.

    Fia''s home!

    That adorable dragonette is back from the humans.

    Vicente must''ve saved his daughter.

    Other fire dragons took issue with Viliant''s presence, distrusting the stranger who scampered around the heart of their homeland.

    A pitch, black dragonet has appeared on the island.

    That''s bad luck....

    It doesn''t belong here!

    For reasons either good or bad, many dragons encircled the whalebone thrones for an impromptu meeting of the elders. The other four members of the Elder Council deemed their attendance necessary. While they perched on their thrones, all the dragons waited with bated breath for the announcement.

    Fia drew in a deep breath, her lungs burning with the fire that she held back. The pink dragonette looked up to all the elders with her bright blue eyes ablaze. This was her moment¡ªher reason to fight so hard to make it home.

 Chapter 121: Fias Report

    In her most crisp and clear voice, Fia declared to all the dragons that had gathered to listen to her message. "The humans... The Kingdom of Syene has declared war on our clan. They''re coming to Carlinoa with an army as we speak!"

    A series of gasps whooshed past the dragons ''open maws, louder than the wind which whistled on the mountainside. The whispers of the audience did not compare to the roiling thoughts in their minds. Most of the dragons expressed their disbelief over telepathy, leaving Fia to focus on the elders'' reactions.

    "The Syenic humans are waging war..." Elder Nura echoed, "on Carlinoa?"

    "That''s not possible," Elder Kivo denied. "I can''t believe it. What grounds does your claim stand on?" The black-ringed eyes of the red, mottled dragon bore down on Fia.

    The pink dragonette stomped her anxious claws. What do you mean, you don''t believe me? I came all this way, all by myself with Viliant. Anyone who did not believe her, Fia begged them to listen over telepathy. "I saw their prince announce it himself! He''s a scary mage that can rip dragons out of the sky."

    Although the adult dragons could feel Fia''s terror, they assumed that Syene''s prince only posed that much of a threat to a baby dragonette. The skeptical eyes of the dragons darted amongst each other until they settled back on the elders.

    "Our island is closer to Aethara than Voidura," a third elder voiced his doubts. "What reason does Syene have to come here?"

    "I don''t know," Fia squeaked. "It''s in the humans'' nature." The dragonette repeated the best explanation that Rokirith had provided. You should know better, Fia thought of her clans'' elders who knew their island best.

    "It doesn''t matter," Viliant spoke up. "The humans are coming. They intended to kill us together when they declared war: Fia the first to die of the Carlino a Clan, and I the last of the Dagonir Clan. My people went extinct!" Viliant roared, ignoring the sparse diaspora of those like himself and Rokirith. "Yours will too if you don''t heed this warning. The humans are coming whether you believe us or not."

    The bleak vision portended by black dragonet caused every dragon to reel in silence.

    "I knew we shouldn''t have let those pirates take one of our dragonets! Now they think we''re weak!" an elder roared.

    Another said, "That isn''t the problem. It''s this black dragon that she''s brought back with her. If we send him off the island, we can still avert the worst of our fate. To restore order, we must cast him into the volcano!"

    This suggestion earned a whistle of approval from many of the fire dragons.

    What? Viliant took a step back, balking at the lack of logic in the elder dragon''s mind. How do I have anything to do with the humans'' warpath? The mere notion of throwing him into the volcano mortified him even more. Why did I come here again? he wondered, mystified. His sidelong glare flitted to Fia who had promised him a home. Apparently, the dragonette was oblivious to her clan''s superstitions around dragons with black-colored scales. Before Viliant needed to snarl in objection, the elders did that amongst themselves.

    "No!" Elder Kiro growled, half of his scales covered in an ashy color where they did not shine crimson. "The color of his scales has nothing to do with it."

    "So says you!" the first elder snapped back. " Our clan has been in decline ever since you joined the council."

    The feud between the two elders riled the dragons from their respective factions. Elder Nura stepped between them with raised wings. "As Viliant said, his clan is no more. The dragonet has nowhere else to go. A bad omen he might be, but he has already arrived. Should we harm our omen, then a worse fate should befall us."

    "Bah! He can stay here as well as the waters of the Azuazu Clan, or we can drop him off on the mainland. There''s even the Wraith Isle where his ilk might belong." Another elder suggested a kinder way to remove Viliant from their land.

    This made two elders strongly support Viliant''s continued presence on Carlinoa Island, but two other elders staunchly oppose him. The fifth elder''s opinion would decide Viliant''s fate. With a lot of possible options proposed, the elders ducked their heads to negotiate over telepathy with just themselves.

    "Wait!" Fia leaped forward to say her piece for the elder''s consideration. "If you''re sending Viliant off the island¡ªor throwing him into the fire mountain¡ªthen I''m going too!" Fia peeled out of bravado.

    This earned some chuckles out of all the dragons, including the undecided elder. The Elder Council resumed their contemplation. When the elders next opened their eyes, a decision had been reached.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    The bright voice of Elder Nura delivered the resolution. "Viliant, you are permitted to remain on Carlinoa Island for the time being. If your insight helps us deter the Syenic invasion, then we will acknowledge you as a full member of our clan."

    Viliant hefted out a sigh. Good. At least they''re not tossing me into a volcano. It went without saying that Viliant intended to do all within his power to protect Carlinoa. The dragonet did not want to end up as one of the few survivors of yet another genocide by human hands. Already, the fire dragons inability to assess a proper threat alarmed Viliant, given how they discussed throwing him out rather than preparing against the humans.

    Finally, the elders of the Carlinoa Clan focused and asked the important questions. "How long until this army arrives?"

    Fia stammered, "I-I don''t know. I was really worried we wouldn''t make it before them. Any day now?"

    "What are their numbers? How many mages? What elements?"

    "Uh. A thousand!" Fia shouted, remembering an estimate which Rokirith had given.

    "That''s just the drakans," Viliant clarified. "The human forces also have mages: metal, electricity, and ice are the primary offensive. They have nature mages for healers."

    "Which are stronger than water dragons!" Fia said.

    "But weaker than a light healer, apparently," Viliant grumbled. He dwelled on how Diwa had failed to heal his wings.

    "No," Fia corrected, blinking at Viliant who made what she considered an incorrect assessment. "That healer in the coliseum was the strongest we''ve seen." During their time in Malakow, Fia recalled how the local humans considered Syene the prime magical education.

    The dragonets'' bickering did not amuse the elders. "Let''s get back on track," Elder Nura prompted Fia gently. "We need to know exactly what we''re dealing with."

    "Worst of all," Fia said, "they have a gravity mage called the Dragon Slayer! He can make this dark orb thing that pulls you straight out of the sky and breaks all your bones." The gruesome memory replayed in Fia''s mind, vivid enough that all the dragons gathered around her winced.

    In a moment of silence, none of the elders pressed her with any further questions.

    Fia''s mother took a step closer from behind her. Did that... really happen to you, Fia?

    Yeah. The horrible memory had yet to process fully in her mind. Some tears dotted Fia''s eyes. The dragonette realized how seldom she cried, ever since she had nearly died in the badlands. Fia had toughened up out of necessity, but here, she lowered her hackled spines. "Mama," Fia whispered, barely audible. Her heart thrummed fast as she realized she was about to cry in front of the Elder Council and the entirety of her clan.

    Fia''s mother swooped her wings around her. The dragoness cooed a soft, soothing sound. "You''re safe now." Over telepathy, she bore the sadness with her daughter and introduced a new depth of feeling: guilt and grief mixed into the strongest regret.

    After a moment, Fia pulled back from her mother''s wings. The majority of negative emotions actually came from the adult dragoness, the little one realized. Fia looked up to her mother who had tears wobble down her scaly cheeks. Mama.... Fia pressed her smaller claw over top her mother''s larger one. Don''t feel bad. I''m bigger and stronger now.

    A wordless sob came from Fia''s mother who could not keep her composure. It was one thing to hear how Fia had brushed so close to death, fully awakening her magic. It was another thing for her mother to feel such a poignant memory from her daughter, every bone in her body crushed.

    Fia did not know what to do about her mother who receded from telepathy. Since her last thoughts had involved feeling bad for Fia, that meant the dragonette needed to prove how she was fine. Fia returned to her central spot in front of the Elder Council alongside Viliant. She straightened her back and wings, tuning into their discussion over the void elements.

    "All those elements are real?" a warrior clarified.

    "Magic gets more chaotic the further you go north," Elder Nura explained.

    "Our warriors don''t have experience against those mages. Will the same tactics we have to counter water work against ice?"

    Many considerations passed through the dragons'' minds. They needed to have a more detailed conversation about tactics later. Right now, the elders still sought a high-level understanding from Fia and Viliant.

    "Do the Syenic humans have any alliances we need to worry about? Or an enemy we can coordinate efforts with? Do you know of weaknesses we can exploit?"

    "The humans made a deal with the Novenis Clan," Fia said. When she wracked her brain for how those dragons played into the conflict, Fia failed to recall much about them. She deviated to a vaguely related topic. "There''s another human warrior they call the Dragon Rider. A brown dragoness flies around with a mage on her back! You can''t forget about her," Fia said, even though she seemed to forget why she was important.

    Viliant filled in the gaps, better retaining Rokirith''s recommendations. "It''s advised to take out the Dragon Rider first," Viliant said." She has a peculiar element: thunder. It disorientates the enemy and coordinates the human and drakan forces."

    "How does that work? Is thunder a separate element from lightning? How can the roll of thunder do anything without the bolt?"

    At a loss, Fia deferred to Viliant from the outset. Even Viliant had difficulty in answering these, questions. "It works like... a drum and... a horn. Those tools simulated the humans'' desire for a dragon''s whistle or roar. Beyond that, Viliant did not understand how the thunder element worked well enough to explain it.

    The frustrated elders argued amongst themselves. "Is there time to send a scout northward? We need more accurate information about the enemy."

    "We need our scouts on the water to alert us about the ship. The army could arrive at any time!"

    Viliant''s wings drooped as he wracked his brain, wishing to make himself more useful.

    Fia untucked her tail from between her legs and hefted out a sigh. I think we told them everything we know. The adults will handle it from here. Fia looked back to her red-eyed mother, the flying ace, and the rest of her clan.. These dragons inspired confidence in Fia. As her gaze drifted upward, over their horns, the dragonette gasped when a straggler from the clan flew to join the clan gathering. She recognized the sapphire glint of the red dragon''s eyes. "Papa!" she squealed out of delight.

 Chapter 122: Fias Father

    The excited dragonette squealed and jumped up and down as her father''s flight path brought him to the clan''s meeting spot. "Papa! Papa!" Fia cheered.

    "Fia...!" huffed out her father when his claws landed and his wings folded. Before the red dragon took a single step, Fia charged against his raised foreleg.

    The pink dragonette flung her wings around her father in a hug. I missed you, Papa. I was so scared that you were gone, and it was all my fault. A rock hardened like lava in Fia''s stomach, just imagining what would have happened if he had gone to Syene. I''m so happy you''re home.

    I''m glad you''re home too, Fia. Her father mirrored the dragonette''s sentiment, even though it did not encapsulate his overwhelming relief. He cherished this reunion with his long neck bowed down to his daughter, unfazed by all the dragons gathered around them. Despite the abundance of their well wishes, Fia''s father only shared this moment with her mother who added her wings to the hug around their daughter.

    Despite the joyous occasion of their family reunion, Fia''s father swung his neck around to the Elder Council. The family would have more time to gush over each other at home. Right now, Fia''s father needed to focus on the five elders who perched on their thrones. What''s happening with the council meeting?

    Fia quickly filled him in on the most important details. The elders said Viliant gets to stay here! When Fia realized that she had yet to introduce her father to Viliant, she summarized, He''s my best friend. He saved my life.

    Before she could get to the next point, Fia''s mother prompted her, What about the humans?

    Right! An audible squeak caught in Fia''s throat. There''s a human invasion on its way! Much to her own surprise, this revelation did not come to any surprise for her father.

    With his head raised high, Fia''s father declared to the elders, "I''ve learned much about our enemy from the great Sage Rokirith in the north."

    "You met Rokirith?" Fia echoed, amazed and excited that her father had happened across one of the dragons who had helped so much on her journey.

    "Indeed." Fia''s father seemed proud of the path that he had flown after his daughter. The red dragon ruffled his wings, contented by the fact that he nearly found Fia even if the kind dragons in the north had not offered their aid. Nevertheless, the long journey had taken a greater toll on the pink dragonette than the adult dragon. Fia''s father instructed her mother,  "Go home with Fia, so she can rest. I can handle everything here."

    Fia''s mouth peeled into a yawn when she tried to object. I want to stay! she thought, but she also needed a nap. Her attempt to explain everything to the clan elders with Viliant had taken the last reserves of her energy.

    We already said our piece, Viliant pointed out, encouraging Fia to leave with a jerk of his horns. The black dragonet was ready to slink away before the fire dragons changed their mind about him.

    Fia let her mother gather her under one wing. Before her mother ushered her away with Viliant trailing close behind, one of the elders called out to them.

    "We still have one more matter that pertains to Fia." Elder Nura''s voice rose to address the other elders and the rest of the dragons in the vicinity. "It is our tradition to celebrate any dragon as a warrior who fully awakens his or her magic." A wry smile curled into the tip of Elder Nura''s tail as her steady eyes gazed at the pink dragonette. "Fia has done just this. During her escape from enemy hands, her fire magic has exploded to its full potential."

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    The air at the center of the Elder Council elevated in temperature. Every fire dragon puffed out a heated breath of disbelief.

    "She''s just a dragonette¡ªhardly more than a hatchling," Elder Kivo muttered. "We should wait until the wyrm has grown more."

    "But fully awakened magic is fully awakened magic. That''s more than most dragons can achieve in their lifetime," another elder pointed out.

    "We''ll need more warriors, based on her report," a pragmatic third concluded.

    The elders dipped their horns together to make the most important decision of Fia''s life.

    Her blue eyes glimmered up to them. I wanna be a warrior! I''m ready! At this rate, Fia might achieve her dream to become a flying ace before she knew it.

    The elders all raised their heads, and their eyes bore down on her like hard gemstones. Elder Kivo issued the decision. "The dragonette might have power, but does she have control? We invite Fia to prove herself to the warriors tomorrow morning. We shall see if they deem her worthy to be accepted among their ranks."

    A sharp breath drew into Fia''s lungs, roiling with her fire. She puffed out her chest and whistled, "Thank you! I''m going to become a warrior tomorrow!" That was her way of expressing her gratitude, and communicating her desire to make good on the opportunity that they had given her.

    Fia''s father regarded her with a proud lift of his wings, but also his tail coiled on the ground in a bittersweet smile. He stooped his chin in a nod when Fia left the Elder Council with her mother.

    The pink dragonette wanted to skip out of excitement, if only she did not already struggle to lift her tail. Fia headed with her mother to a good take-off point, overlooking the clan''s huts along the mountainside.

    Along the way, her mother misinterpreted her daughter''s body language. "We don''t have to go to your trial tomorrow," she offered. "After you sleep-in, we can go to the tide pools where you can sun your scales and play with the starfish. I can catch some parrotfish, so you can crunch the scales while I steam it...." Her mother enticed Fia with a long list of many things that she had missed about home.

    "I want to do all that¡­" Fia gasped, "after I become a warrior!"

    The lilt in her mother''s voice fell away with the smile in her tail. "Let''s head home," she snapped. "We''ll see how you feel in the morning."

    When Fia clambered onto her mother''s back, she poked her claws into the chinks of her scales. "Hmph!" The dragonette plopped between her mother''s shoulder blades. My mommy doesn''t want me to become a warrior. She doesn''t think I''m strong enough. Since Fia already knew her mother''s extreme urge to protect her after her disappearance, she confided her frustration to Viliant instead.

    You''ll show them all tomorrow, he assured her. His genuine sense of confidence inspired the dragonette to have more in herself too.

    Fia nodded before the wing beats of her mother''s flight made her begin to nod off. She jerked awake when Viliant had fallen out of range of telepathy. Mama, where''s Viliant? she whined. You can''t leave him behind!

    Your friend is going home with Evander, Fia''s mother reminded her.

    The dragonette focused on how Viliant had wanted to leave the Elder Council with her, and he no longer had her there to speak up for him. What if they throw him into the volcano?

    Evander is right behind us, Fia''s mother pointed out gently, swinging her neck back to see how much longer the orange dragon had delayed his departure.

    Soon enough, Fia sighed when Viliant rejoined her over telepathy.

    What did I miss? he asked when he sensed the panic of her sleepy mind.

    "Mmph." Fia snuggled back against her mother without the energy to form a coherent thought. The adult dragoness tucked her daughter into the fresh pile of down in the loft as soon as they got home.

    ***

    Viliant stood outside the neighboring dragon nest with Evander. The black dragonet glanced longingly at the more familiar hut where Fia''s mother had taken her inside. I suppose she''s not that far away, Viliant thought of his best friend. When she woke up again, they would be within range of telepathy.

    In front of him, Evander let out a whistle that lifted with great cheer. "Come on in, Viliant. Welcome to your new home!" The orange dragon brandished his wing before the open space of the front door, pulling aside his wing flap like a curtain.

    Viliant took one, trepid step forward. His muscles tensed, about to meet the other dragons inside.

 Chapter 123: A Home for Viliant

    Two adult dragons turned their necks to the door, and their stern eyes settled on the stranger who walked into their home. Behind them, a red dragonet slunk with a mischievous angle to his wings. Since Evander had not taken Arenis to the Elder Council, the dragonet had rallied his parents and prepared for the invasion of the shadow dragonet.

    Viliant halted in the doorway mid-step. He cleared the instinctive growl from his throat, knowing that he was encroaching on the other dragons'' rightful territory. "Hi," he said in an uneven voice. Given that none of the three dragons reached out over telepathy or acknowledged his request, Viliant formed some simple sentences in the Carlinoan language. "I''m Viliant. I''m Fia''s friend."

    Arenis gave an agitated flick of his tail as he suddenly acquiesced to telepathy. The smug dragonet said, That''s right. You''re Fia''s friend. You''re not even her best friend. And you''re no friend of mine. That''s for sure!

    Viliant tossed his horns and forced a sharp signal across the younger dragonet''s receptors.

    Though Arenis let out a yelp, his parents focused on their other son.

    Evander pushed Viliant all the way inside. The strict posture of his parents did not phase the adult dragon. "Hello Mother. Hello Father. Did you see the Elder Council? If not, I''m sure you''ve heard the big news from Arenis¡ª"

    "Oh," the mother dragon growled, "we heard about it alright." She ruffled her wings and pulled Arenis closer to her side.

    The father of Arenis and Evander asked to hear it from the older brother for himself. "What''s this about taking in a strange dragonet?"

    Evander flitted his gaze down to Viliant, unsure how much of their quick conversation the dragonet understood without telepathy. While he did not want to subject Viliant to another debate on whether or not he belonged, Evander hoped that the positive things said on his behalf outweighed the negative. "Viliant saved Fia''s life and brought her back from Voidura¡ªSyene, the human Kingdom, to be precise," Evander explained. "He deserves to stay in Carlinoa since the dragonet has nowhere else to call home. I think Corisande and Vicente are worried that Fia might''ve become dependent on her new friend. We''d be doing Fia''s family a huge favor if we took Viliant in."

    "Yes," Evander''s mother dismissed. She already understood well enough how Fia''s parents wanted to distance their daughter from the older dragonet. In order to establish healthy boundaries, Fia''s family needed another one to take in Viliant. "However, I don''t see why it has to be us."

    A rapacious light flared behind the eyes of Arenis. So far, this conversation progressed exactly as the red dragonet hoped it would go. Although Viliant had already severed the mental link between them, the two dragonets stared each other down in a fierce contest.

    "I think this will work out great," Evander countered and started a list of reasons. "Both Arenis and Viliant are close friends with Fia. It''s only a matter of time before they become good friends too."

    "Maybe," the mother of Arenis and Evander allowed, but she tilted her horns out of consternation. She had the consideration to make her next argument to Evander over telepathy. But Arenis doesn''t want Viliant to live with us. I think they would get along better if this dragonet stays somewhere else. A happy home for Arenis is the most important thing.

    But he will be happy with Viliant here! A flurry of blinks fell over Evander''s eyes. His little brother''s reaction to the events of today reminded him how immature Arenis really was, despite their intensive training sessions together. Unlike their parents, Evander thought it was better to challenge the dragonet''s selfish instinct rather than coddle him. As such, Evander praised the traits which Arenis ought to cultivate. Don''t underestimate him. Arenis can adapt quickly. Evander included his entire family on the telepathy while laying into his brother the most. Plus, Arenis is mature for his age, and Viliant is only a few years older. Though he said that, Evander wondered just to Viliant, How old are you anyway?

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Viliant flinched at the sudden, direct question in his mind. They''ll like me more if I''m younger, he realized, but before he could mask his answer with a lie, the truth slipped out. I''m twelve, I think.

    Since their telepathic space was just between Viliant and Evander, the adult dragon relayed this information to his parents. "He''s only, like, ten years old."

    "He''s only like ten years old, or he is ten years old?" Evander''s father asked, pointing out his eldest son''s imprecision of speech.

    "Just look at him," Evander brandished a wing at Viliant. "He wouldn''t burn a firefly."

    More conscious of his posture toward the new family of dragons that might take him in, Viliant flapped his wings open in hopes of inspiring more trust. Still in disbelief over his healed wings, it would take the dragonet a while before he broke the habit of his distrusting stance.

    "Regardless, we can''t accept responsibility for any problems he might cause," Evander''s father insisted.

    Although Viliant had a hard time following the discussion as it dipped in and out of telepathy, he knew these dragons did not like him either. The shadow dragonet huffed out a sigh, eager to retreat to Fia''s house. Oh well. It looks like they''ll just have to put up with me until they find me a permanent home. Viliant preferred to stay with Fia anyway. The dragonet''s slitted, jaded eyes looked up to Evander and waited for the adult dragon to usher him out any second.

    Instead, the warrior stomped his claws down. "You don''t have to worry about being held accountable for Viliant''s actions. I''m an adult; I''ll be responsible for him!" Evander proposed before he issued an ultimatum. "If Viliant isn''t allowed here, then I''ll go make my own nest."

    "Perhaps that would be for the best," Evander''s father began to reply, but he was overruled by the rest of the family''s frantic shouts.

    "No, Evander! You can''t go!" Arenis leaped forward in front of his parents for the first time tonight.

    "Don''t be silly!" fumed the mother of the two fire dragons. "You''re always welcome to roost with us as long as you like. However, there''s one thing I don''t understand..." Evander''s mother pressed her eldest. "Why are you trying to bring home a dragonet before a mate?"

    Evander scoffed out a laugh and shrugged his wings. "That can hardly shine a light to this." ''Since the young warrior was not about to entertain the topic of his eventual family with his mother, Evander focused on the response elicited from his little brother.

    This was the first time tonight in which Arenis had stepped forward and spoken up for himself. Fear constricted his pupils, imagining how Viliant not only stole Fia as his best friend, but also Evander as his big brother. "Please don''t go¡­." the red dragonet said with his eyes squinted at his claws.

    "I''ll stay," Evander offered, a sly twist entering his tail, "but only if you agree to get along with Viliant."

    "Fine!" Arenis howled. "I''ll put up with him, but he''s not my friend. And he''s definitely not our brother!" The dragonet stamped his claws and thrashed his horns in time with his tail. He flew up to the loft with a trail of smoke after him.

    My brother''s temper is a little hot right now, but don''t worry, Evander assured Viliant. He''ll warm up to you.

    Viliant snorted since he did not care if anyone liked him aside from Fia. However, he did appreciate how some dragons took his side. Thanks, he expressed to Evander, unable to meet the golden eyes of the dragon.

    "I''m going to go gather some bedding for Viliant," Evander announced. "Mother, Father, can you keep him company?"

    "Why, yes," Evander''s father remarked as if they had any other option.

    The orange dragon flew out against the setting sun. When Evander left, Viliant shifted in the hut where he had yet to feel like he belonged.

    Well, I guess this is my home for now. While it did not match the ideal that he had in mind, living with Fia on Carlinoa Island, Viliant slumped his wings out of relief.

 Chapter 124: First Night in a New Home

    Left alone with the parents of Arenis and Evander, Viliant did not know what to say. The black dragonet untucked his tail from between his legs. "Uh. Thanks for letting me stay."

    The red dragon peered down at the new dragonet that joined his nest. "I''m Fiorden." His wing smacked out to the side, gesturing for his mate to introduce herself next.

    "Zinia," the yellow dragoness said past her glower.

    Viliant nodded. Evander, Arenis, Fiorden, Zinia, he went over the name''s of his host family in his head. Corisande and.... Viliant only knew the name of Fia''s mother, given that they had lacked the time for a proper introduction with her father. Then, there''s Elder Nura¡ªthe best elder of their clan. The dragonet''s head spun with all the important dragons of the Carlinoa Island that he had met today.

    When Evander returned with a pile of sticks and grass for their guest''s bed, Viliant was grateful that he did not need to linger around Fiorden and Zinia awkwardly anymore. How''s everything going? Evander asked when Viliant silently positioned himself at the orange dragon''s side.

    Just splendid. I think¡­? Although everything went well by Viliant''s standards, something felt off to him. The dragonet could not put his talon on it, not even to put order to his own thoughts. The dragonet dismissed the uncertain tension in his muscles, still prepared to fight without any real threat in sight.

    It''ll get better, Evander promised. As soon as Arenis warms up to you, my parents will too.

    An absent-minded nod made Viliant bob his chin up and down. That was what he was missing: a constant, warm welcome like Diwa had always given him at her treehouse in the Malakow Jungle. Even if he lacked that kind of comfort, Viliant did not care. He had gained far more important things in Carlinoa. Here, his wings were already healed. Even without that, Viliant regretted nothing about following Fia to Carlinoa at this point. The island''s response to the human invasion might change that, but for now, Viliant was content.

    If you need anything, let me know. Evander placed Viliant''s new bed into the loft, and he gave the dragonet a lift thereafter.

    Thanks. Viliant still had food in his belly from the cooking competition with Mahi. He had shelter to shield him from adverse weather and natural threats. So long as he found one of the clan''s watering holes tomorrow, Viliant had all his needs met. That withstanding, he did not want to leave his sustenance up to mere assumption. Will your family provide me with food? Even if Arenis and Evander''s family did not give him enough, Viliant figured he could scarf the rest from Fia''s family. The dragonet''s mind dwelled on his uncertainty around food, leeching over the telepathic link.

    Of course, we''ll feed you! Evander snorted, and his eyes squinted at some far-off evil that had ingrained in Viliant such anxiety in the first place. The orange dragon realized that he ought to clarify: And if there''s anything you want to make your life here a bit better, just say something. Even if it''s not strictly a need, what you want is important too. I''ll see what we can do.

    Viliant''s tail flicked into a backward curl out of surprise. Oh. That''s what you meant. The dragonet had no idea what he would ask for beyond his basic needs. The adult fire dragons already made it clear that he was not allowed to live with Fia. I''ll let you know, Viliant figured, at whatever point he thought of something or something came up.

    I train with Arenis at daybreak. You''re free to join us. Evander reminded him. The orange dragon lowered his neck away from the loft and returned to the ground floor.

    Viliant turned in the loft to face the red dragonet behind him. It''s probably best if I don''t acknowledge him, Viliant rationalized about Arenis. While the intense eyes of the other dragonet followed him, Viliant tramped his claws in a circle over top of his new bed.

    The other dragonet extended the ragged edge of a telepathic link to Viliant. This made one of his green eyes flicker to focus on Arenis. The black dragonet tilted his horns to the side, demonstrating his confusion. Evander ordered his little brother to get along with me already. Thus, Viliant refused to engage with Arenis any further.

    The red dragonet let out a huff, no longer waiting with bated breath for Viliant to accept his cordial offer of telepathy. "Mom? Dad?" Arenis rolled his eyes until his gaze settled back on Viliant.

    "What is it, my little spark?" Zinia poked her yellow snout into the loft.

    "This guy won''t talk to me," Arenis whined.

    Zinia''s eyes flashed at Viliant, filled with ire. "I do believe Evander ordered you to get along."

    A snort came from Viliant. Yeah, he thought of Arenis. That''s right. Since he had forgone telepathy with him, his smug attitude was not exposed. However, Viliant still stared him down as he thought to himself, You''re supposed to get along with me.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Only, Zinia finished her reprimand toward the wrong dragonet. Her harsh gaze never broke away from Viliant. "I expect you to be nice to my son, little ash." The new nickname for Viliant, she intoned with derision compared to the compassion in which she had called out to Arenis.

    Viliant blinked past his shock. Wait, but I didn''t do anything. Much to his frustration, he could not growl or snap in his own defense. Viliant had learned how poorly that went over in the civilized parts of Malakow, and this family had no reason to tolerate bad behavior. Even when he tried to ignore Arenis, that earned him scorn. Unsure what to do, the dragonet spiraled his thoughts outward to include the only dragon who took his side. Evander!

    A hefty sigh sounded from the first floor. Evander understood the debacle at once, not even needing the nigh instantaneous explanation over telepathy. Their shared mental space expanded to include Arenis and Zinia.

    By this time, Zinia had slid her head back down and laid on the ground floor with Evander.

    Mother, don''t add any more fuel to the fire. We all know why Viliant has to refrain from telepathy with Arenis. That line of thought from Evander carried an implicit accusation, even if the dragon warrior exercised enough discretion to not lean into Arenis any further than that.

    I wasn''t gonna say anything mean to Viliant! The defense from Arenis leeched a sense of guilt from his mind. Flustered, the dragonet shifted the blame. Viliant has to share his thoughts with me. He talks in bad sentences and does a clicky thing with his teeth! He''s hard to understand without telepathy.

    You wouldn''t understand me anyway, Viliant figured, his mind so distant from the close-knit family.

    In some sense, Zinia proved him right. She accepted the bad lie from Arenis and doubled down on his excuse. If anything, my little spark would be doing that one a favor. Arenis might help him learn how to speak properly. Instead, he''s ungrateful¡ª

    Viliant clenched his jaw and bared his fangs when Zinia relayed her unfiltered opinion of him.

    Mother, stop! Evander clipped Zinia from the group telepathy. His immense frustration and disappointment bled over to the dragonets. I''ll sort things out with her. His sigh was audible from the floor below. And I trust you two can figure out the best way to interact with each other with or without telepathy¡ªthe way that all dragons do. Arenis, if you have anything nice to say, you can say it aloud.

    "Right," Arenis squeaked. Now that his older brother revealed his opinion on the situation, the dragonet realized how uncool it was to fuss to their mother about any disagreement.

    It''d be nice if you help Viliant learn our language more by talking and thinking to each other at the same time. Evander reiterated the one good point which his mother had made. However, neither of you are ever under an obligation to share telepathy with anyone else. These were basic boundaries that all dragonets needed to learn at some point. Evander flashed his amber eye at them in the loft. Got it?

    "Got it," Arenis affirmed aloud.

    "Got it," Viliant echoed the same words.

    Evander left the two dragonets to figure out their differences. The adult dragon switched to a private, serious conversation to align his mother on how they ought to treat Arenis and Viliant.

    Momentarily, the red and black dragonet shared the remainder of the group telepathy¡ªjust with each other. From his bed, Viliant blinked at Arenis across the room. Since he felt slighted by the younger dragonet''s petty stunt, Viliant waited to see if Arenis decided to do more than just slouch his wings out of shame. "Uh. Sorry about that," Arenis murmured.

    The simple apology made Viliant reel back, not expecting that. Although it hardly made up for Arenis''s bratty behavior since they had first met earlier today, he considered it better than nothing. Viliant spurned their telepathy to hide his reaction, preferring to communicate with his words exactly what he meant. "It''s fine," he muttered.

    Arenis gulped back his embarrassment. In the eyes of the fire dragonet, the only thing worse than swallowing his pride for an apology was having his apology rejected. The growl from Arenis peeled into a shout. "Argh! Well, this is still my room, and you''re not allowed to cross this line!" A row of tiny flames streaked across the floor of the loft, leaving a scorched mark in the ember''s wake.

    Viliant watched this happen without budging a talon. "I wasn''t moving from this spot anyway." When Arenis heard that, a rapid series of angry blinks fell over his eyes. Before a retort came from his open mouth, Fiorden rested his chin on the loft''s floorboards.

    "Boys. Don''t talk, or bicker in your heads like your mother and brother. And Arenis, no fire inside." Fiorden criticized his own son more who knew the rules of this house. The red dragon dropped back down, leaving Arenis and Viliant to stare at each other again.

    The tip of Viliant''s tail curled from its spot, buried underneath his coarse bedding. That went a lot better this time, he observed. It was only Zinia who coddled her son like an egg with a thin shell.

    Arenis diverted his gaze to the tip of his flicking tail, curled around his legs. Before he needed to change the topic again, the glow of a distant firelight caught the corner of his eye through the low windows. An excited exhale hissed between his teeth, and Arenis thumped his tail until Viliant caved to his demand to hear him over telepathy.

    What is it now?

    That''s Fia! Arenis cheered. She''s awake! Me and her used to always play like this. The red dragonet swept up to the ledge which looked across the shallow gorge between the neighboring nests. His loosely coiled tail and his wings, open out of excitement, did not look aggressive or territorial in any way.

    Thus, Viliant scampered across the ashen line to join Arenis. Fia¡­! he reached out before he could even see her. The black dragonet propped his front paws on the windowsill to look out at Fia''s small, dancing flame in the dark of night.

 Chapter 125: Late Night Games

    At Viliant''s side, some bubbly chuckles came from Arenis. The red dragonet breathed a steady, small lick of fire from his maw. He waved the flame to and fro.

    When Arenis swayed to the left, the small light in the hut''s loft across the gorge also followed that way. When Arenis tilted his head to the right, then Fia scampered the other way with her ember held high.

    Isn''t this fun? Fia chimed in Viliant''s mind. Although he could hardly make out the rosy color of her scales in the pinpoint of firelight, her glee came across their telepathy. The flame bounced up and down while she awaited his answer.

    Yeah... Viliant thought, void of such an emotion. Fun. Even if he wanted to join the game, Viliant''s element was the antithesis of the light produced by the fire dragons. His green eyes flitted to Arenis, almost aglow with jealousy. Since Viliant could not play with Fia like that, he did not want anyone else to either. Save your strength, he told Fia. You''ll need all your mana to become a warrior tomorrow.

    His serious demeanor made Fia pout. I don''t need to save anything! she bragged. I have fully awakened fire magic, and I can do anything I want. To further press Viliant, she reminded him, Besides, you promised we''d get to play once we''re back in Carlinoa! Since her father had taken over the grim affairs at the Elder Council, Fia felt that she had full capacity to be a silly dragonette again.

    Viliant sighed and figured that they could do little to change the invasion''s outcome beyond the Carlinoa Clan''s response. Fine. You''re right. I did promise.

    Hooray! Fia cheered in his mind. The pink dragonette puffed out a small ring of fire. From its center, the flames took shape into a delicate pair of wings which were constantly battered by the breeze and reformed midair. Fia''s magical apparition of a butterfly fluttered across the gorge.

    Arenis watched Fia''s demonstration with intensity. His mouth dropped in wonderment until it became clear that the fiery butterfly was intended for Viliant. Arenis snapped his jaw shut, and his eyes became hooded in disillusionment.

    As Fia''s spell drew nearer, Viliant''s eyes nearly crossed. The slight aroma of smoke made the dragonet''s nostrils twitch. "A-Achoo!" Viliant''s sneeze blew out the fiery butterfly before it could burn his snout.

    A whiny accusation swelled in Viliant''s mind from Arenis. You killed it.

    A couple of blinks fell over Viliant''s eyes. How did I kill it? It was never even alive.

    Fia mediated for them across the telepathic link, exasperated at the prospect that her two friends angled to fight again. I can always make another one! she reassured Arenis.

    Do it for me this time! Arenis begged. Even though he tried to shove Viliant out of their telepathic space, Fia acted as a bridge between them. Thus, Viliant still heard the thoughts from Arenis. This guy didn''t appreciate your magic, but I will! Show me how to make one. With a glare back at Viliant, Arenis sneered before he unfurled his wings. The red dragonet flew across the gorge, just like how he had shown off earlier that day. Arenis visited Fia in the loft of her family''s house.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Left behind, a low snarl caught in the back of Viliant''s throat. He had half the mind to jump out the window and test his new wings. However, the dragonet refused to endure the embarrassment when he would inevitably drop like a rock.

    Arenis! Fia''s mind sparked from surprise when her friend glided through the window. What''re you thinking? Some playful bursts of fire came from both Arenis and Fia as he chased her around the open floor of her room. I can show you my fire butterfly again, but Viliant did appreciate it.

    When she still thought about him, Viliant''s wings perked up. To himself, he wondered, Was that how I felt about it? The shadow dragonet appreciated the gesture more than the butterfly itself. At least Fia wants to include me, unlike someone.

    In Fia''s bedroom, Arenis sat bolt upright. The tip of his smiling tail was wagging, eager to learn his best friend''s magic trick.

    You just have to bend the fire after you breathe it out, Fia began to explain. She gave a slower demonstration by spreading a small fireball into a ring.

    When Arenis sputtered out some embers, Viliant inserted himself into the impromptu magic lesson. He commanded the shadows of Fia''s room to smother Arenis''s fire breath. "Ack!" Arenis coughed. His shame burned hotter than his fire had before it went out. I don''t know why that didn''t work.

    A smile twitched into Fia''s tail. It''s okay. You''ll get the hang of it eventually. The dragonette remembered how little control she had over her element before she left Carlinoa Island. Even if she had missed out on some growth and delayed learning how to fly, at least her magical prowess had flourished since then.

    Once the fire dragonets resumed their play, Viliant had fun with them from afar. He put out Arenis''s flame every time the red dragonet tried to start one. Whether or not Fia noticed, she issued no reprimand. The pink dragonet was too enthused over the shadow puppets which came to life on her back wall.

    "Ooh!" Fia giggled and tramped around to make her own fire and shadow a core part of the show. This went on until Fia''s father called up to her.

    "Lights out, Fia." This sparked in her mind a sense of urgency. Bye, Arenis! Get back to your room. Quick!

    The red dragonet clambered over Fia''s low window and jumped to his wings.

    Alone in her room the way it should be, Fia dragged her tail back to her bed. Although her father never poked his head up to check on her, she felt bad that she almost got in trouble on her first day at home.

    In a gentle rumble, her father said to Fia, "I know you''re excited to be home, but we won''t have a nest if you burn it down."

    "S-Sorry. I sneezed. Goodnight." Fia also bid goodnight to her friends. Goodnight Arenis. Goodnight Viliant. I''ll see you tomorrow after I become a warrior!

    A smile in Viliant''s tail slanted across the floorboards. Good luck. His tail remained in its curled position when Arenis came back. While Viliant did not look forward to being stuck with Arenis again, at least he was not around Fia anymore.

    Arenis strutted over to his bed for the night. It''s time for me to sleep too, he said to Viliant. I wake up early every morning to train. I''m gonna become a warrior too! After he finished tromping in a circle over his bed, Arenis laid his chin over the back of his paws. A trail of smoke came from his nostrils when he told Viliant, You wouldn''t understand.

    Viliant trudged across the ashen line which divided the loft, back to his own bed. "Hm," he purred to himself as he shifted to get comfortable. The reasonable part of him did not want to entertain Arenis with a response. Ultimately, Viliant decided that he would rather have the last word tonight in hopes that Arenis fussed less in the morning. Actually, I''m gonna train with you and Evander tomorrow¡ªwhether or not you understand. Viliant cut the other dragonet off from telepathy and closed his eyes to sleep.

 Chapter 126: Training Buddy

    If Viliant wanted to train in the morning, he could rely on no one to wake him up early enough but himself. Luckily for him, his past made him a light sleeper. Even before the gray, dawn rays breached the loft, Viliant sensed when the sunrise made the nighttime shadows relent. His eyelids flicked open, but the rest of him lay motionless. He watched and waited for movement from the red pile of scales that was Arenis.

    A soft snort left Viliant''s nose. Maybe his talk about training was nothing but hot air. If Arenis did not wake up, Viliant hoped Evander would still work with him without his little brother''s presence.

    However, Arenis began to stir before that eventuality. The bright streams of sunlight made the red dragonet kick his legs. Arenis rolled over with his back to the window, and his wings flopped over his head.

    Or maybe not, Viliant observed, and here he thought it was time to get up.

    Like Fia when she had first arrived in Syene, Arenis behaved in a way that belied his life of comfort. Fia used to always steal a couple more minutes of sleep. Viliant never had that luxury. In his early dragonet days, his human captors would fling him into the coliseum even if he was still half-asleep. On the run, Viliant was the most vigilant one. At present, he scrutinized Arenis with a squint and reflected on the vast difference between their circumstances. At least I''m here now, Viliant thought, but even if Carlinoa seemed safe thus far, the shadow dragonet never wanted to lose his hardened edge.

    Before he got up, Arenis finally tottered onto his four feet and flared his wings to the side for balance. While he crept past Viliant, who closed his eyes and remained in bed, Arenis swept his neck to watch him. Once the red dragonet confirmed that his movement left his family''s guest undisturbed, Arenis hurried faster to the edge of the loft.

    Viliant fling his eyes open. "Did you think you could leave without me?"

    Despite the accusatory growl in Viliant''s voice, Arenis accepted the connection over telepathy.

    Yes, his guilty conscience confirmed. I don''t wanna train with you. But also.... Arenis''s thoughts aligned with his Kinder words. "I thought you might need the sleep."

    "Hm." Viliant rose from his bed and let his mind recede from telepathy. The jumble of competition but also consideration that Arenis felt toward him made all too much sense. Maybe we can get along, Viliant thought, but he did not want to let the slightest hint of a favorable assessment of Arenis slip by too soon.

    Arenis led the way out of the loft. A flurry of small wing beats controlled his descent to the first floor.

    Viliant looked around for a pole that he could climb, but seeing none, he contemplated the best way down. Can I glide? Even if my wings actually do that now, there''s not enough space. I guess I should just jump and ignore Arenis when he laughs. Before Viliant dropped down to the ground level, his mind expanded with the arrival of Evander. Viliant accepted telepathy from the unseen dragon, in spite of how that also bridged him to Arenis.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Sorry for the delay, Evander thought. I''ll help you down. The orange dragon reentered the hut from outside, his good mood affected by the sunrise which he had just watched. Evander offered his paw with outstretched claws up to Viliant.

    Thanks. With Evander''s assistance, Viliant tapped onto the dirt floor.

    The two adult dragons, Fiorden and Zinia, still slumbered along the back wall. Viliant saw why Evander opted for telepathy without carefully enunciating his words like he had been doing around Viliant thus far. Silently, both dragonets followed Evander outside where they became more animated.

    "I''m happy you''ve decided to join us, Viliant," Evander said. "Arenis has been needing a sparring partner his own size."

    The mention of that made Arenis perk up after he had climbed onto Evander''s back. "Yeah! I can''t wait to face Viliant!" Somewhere in his small brain, Arenis wanted to take out all of his issues with Viliant during a fight.

    "Ha," Viliant snorted. What makes you think you''d win? Even though he did not know how to say as much in Carlinoan, his attitude leeched over telepathy.

    "Go easy on him," Evander warned both Arenis and Viliant, neither one more than the other. With that, the orange dragon swooped into the air.

    Viliant squinted against the sunrise as he hung from Evander''s claws. A short ways down the mountainside from the Carlinoa village, the group landed in a quaint clearing between the trees. Viliant observed the scorch marks and claw marks in the tough, gray bark as he waited for Arenis to clamber down from Evander''s back. The circular formation in which the trees had been cut down created a good training ground. It reminded Viliant of an informal arena.

    "I''m ready," he announced to Evander and Arenis. "When do we start?" If not for his effort to be a polite guest, Viliant would have set on Arenis already. Although he did not like to wait to attack, Viliant figured that Arenis needed the first move anyway.

    "Argh!" Avenis roared at Viliant''s smug attitude which tainted their telepathic link. The red dragonet charged at him with lowered horns, but Evander scooped up his little brother from underneath his ribs with a clawed paw.

    "Do your drills against the trees." Evander tossed Arenis in a new direction.

    No longer aimed for Viliant, Arenis sprinted and headbutted the first tree in his path. Some woodchips sailed into the air upon impact, worsening the divet which had already been hewn into the side of the tree.

    Viliant glanced all around him at the half-dozen jagged tree stumps. He wondered if Arenis had taken them down as a part of his training. Maybe I should be more cautious around him... Viliant thought, if I was a tree.

    "Gah!" Arenis grunted and growled as he sliced the bark into ribbons under his flurry of talons. He pushed Viliant out of his telepathic headspace, so the red dragonet could better take out his frustration on his temporary target.

    "That''s great!" Evander chimed. "Keep at it, Arenis."

    When Evander walked over to Viliant, the black dragonet remained seated on his haunches. "If that''s what we''re gonna do for training, I''m not doing that," Viliant forewarned.

    "Don''t worry. We''re working on your wings today," Evander reassured him.

 Chapter 127: Wing Rehabilitation

    "Show me your best downbeat," Evander requested of the dragonet who ruffled his wings.

    The leathery flaps of Viliant''s wings were in the best shape of his life¡ªalmost since his hatching. Viliant shifted his weight evenly on all four feet and straightened his posture. Given this was an individual lesson which Arenis did not need to overhear, Viliant opted for the privacy of telepathy with Evander. I don''t actually know the right way to beat them, Viliant admitted. With a timorous shake to his wings, Viliant extended them outward to the fullest. This already felt unnatural after he had let them hang at his side for the greater part of a decade.

    "Not so rigid." Evander ran the back side of his claws underneath the stiffened second half of Viliant''s wings.

    "Put most of the effort near your shoulders, and the rest of your wing will follow."

    When Viliant did not use all his wings to compensate for the lack of strength, the tremble in his frame became more severe. Of all the parts of his body, his wing muscles had gone the most undeveloped. With a defeated huff, Viliant dropped his wings back down.

    After Arenis''s next thwack against the tree trunk, the red dragonet gave pause. A glint appeared in the corner of his eyes, shining with amusement. Even though they had already disconnected from telepathy, Viliant swore that he did not need it to hear Arenis''s thoughts. Ha! He can''t even hold up his wings straight out for more than a minute.

    Viliant''s claws clenched against the gritty earth. A growl of frustration caught in his chest. Even if Arenis''s opinion of him mattered no more than that of a fire ant, his judgment heightened Vitiant''s sense of urgency. I should already know how to fly. I need to catch up as fast as possible! Regardless of the attitudes of the Carlinoan dragons around him, Viliant knew that his ability to fly might help him survive against the humans'' invasion.

    "Your endurance will build with time," Evander told him. "Right now, let''s focus on good form." The warrior backed away from Viliant to demonstrate the exercise that he wanted him to learn. "Jump up! Flap once!" Evander leaped into the air, most of the power coming from his hind legs. The downward rush of his wing flaps buffeted the small foliage beneath him.

    Viliant squinted his eyes against the airborne grit, watching how high a single beat of his wings took Evander.

    The orange dragon dropped back down onto his front legs first. "Then, you rest for a minute." Evander reclined in a spot where a bit of early morning sun seeped through the trees, and he sprawled out his wings.

    Viliant nodded along with his hooded lids. "I can do that," he murmured. By now, he had fully recovered from holding the length of his wings straight out for Evander''s examination. Viliant relied on his legs to carry him most of the way into the air.

    "Jump!" Evander said in time with his movement. "Flap!"

    The meek stroke of Viliant''s wings delayed his descent. The black dragonet landed on his feet, softer than a regular jump. "Again," Viliant muttered. "I can do better." Except his second attempt forced his wings to blow above his horns on the way down.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    "No," Evander snapped. "The break is an important part of this exercise. You''re too old for the proper form to come naturally anymore, so you need to go slow and put all your energy into each one."

    Viliant grumbled as he stomped over to a patch of ferns. Given his mood right now, the shadow dragonet preferred to lie under the big leaves than the gentle sunlight.

    "Watch me again," Evander said. The leathery underside of his wings pummeled the air, carrying the adult dragon near the lowest branches. "The more time you try to spend in the air now, it''ll take that much longer for you to fly later."

    Viliant and Evander went back and forth a few times. After each one, his mentor always had a pointer or two to share. They continued like this until Arenis tromped over.

    "Evander!" his little brother whined. "You''ve spent the entire time on Viliant."

    "That''s fair, but it''s his first day," Evander explained with a sympathetic twist to his tail. "I need to show him the drills, so he can do them on his own. You could join us, if you know how to demonstrate one of them."

    The invitation, posed like a challenge, incited Arenis to jump on a log. "Perch like this! Flap like this!" Beyond his enthusiastic demonstration like a dragonfly, Arenis offered no further explanation.

    Evander interrupted Arenis, nudging him from the middle of the log to its far end to make room for Viliant. The dragon warrior provided greater detail on the intention and technique behind the exercise.

    Although Viliant felt silly, hunkering low on the log and hovering his wings in quick beats, he felt better about doing it with Arenis in this case. At least he can''t make fun of me, he thought, up until his repetitions slowed in comparison to the other dragonet.

    "Don''t worry, Viliant," Arenis bragged. "You''ll get as good as me if you train hard enough." The red dragonet boasted his skill during one of Viliant''s breaks by taking a short flight beneath the tree branches.

    "Looking good, Arenis!" Evander whistled his compliment, laced with a tone of warning. "Do you want to fly back on your own?"

    "No way!" Arenis folded his wings and dropped straight onto his older brother''s back.

    "You did a great job today, Viliant," Evander praised the other dragonet as he lifted him up. "We''ll do this again tomorrow. Until then take it easy. If you want to train more, you should play with Arenis or Fia."

    "Hm." Viliant''s blatant mindset was easy to read for the adult dragon. The shadow dragonet wanted to beat his wings until they fell off or he learned to fly¡ªwhichever came first. When Evander put training in the context of play, it warmed Viliant up to the idea. I already promised Fia that I''d play with her, when we''re back at Carlinoa anyway. If the dragonets focused on games that required use of their wings, Viliant could accumulate more practice¡ªjust like how Diwa showed them how to swim. "That''s a good idea. Thanks, Evander."

    While Viliant looked out to the bright day ahead, Evander flew them over to the warrior''s official training grounds on a rocky plateau.

    There, a ring of dragons circled around the pink dragonette at the center of their sharp gazes. When she rose onto her hind legs, a ring of fire exploded outward and swallowed all the dragons who watched her.

    "Fia...!" Viliant gasped. Even the heat affected him from here as Evander swooped to drop the dragonets off and join the ranks of warriors.

 Chapter 128: Trial by Fire

    First thing in the morning, Fia''s eyes flashed open. I''m home. That simple fact simmered in her heart and mind, still warming her up inside. The pink dragonette jumped down from the loft. "Look out below!" Fia bellowed as she landed on top of her sleeping parents." I''m gonna be the newest, bestest warrior that our clan has ever seen!"

    So much enthusiasm burned within Fia, her wings became a pink flurry. The dragonette hopped from her mother''s back onto her father''s side. Meanwhile, her little brother''s egg joined in the excitement with a slight rock. The movement was imperceptible to all the dragons in the room compared to Fia''s boisterous bounces.

    "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" she squealed.

    The eyes of Fia''s father snapped open. His alert mind melded with her over telepathy, closely followed by her groggy mother.

    Fia...! You''re up bright and early. Not ready to speak aloud quite yet, the mouth of Fia''s mother parted in a yawn. Having just woken up, her pensive mood leached over telepathy. I was hoping you''d sleep in longer....

    "You wanted me to miss my trial to become a warrior...?" Fia gasped and reeled back. After a stumble over her mother''s ridged back, the dragonette fluttered onto her father''s shoulder. With slanted eyes, light as the morning sky, her look matched her father''s stormy glare.

    "Don''t listen to your mother, Fia." Some reprimand happened over telepathy beyond Fia''s ken. In the next moment, her father made up for the deficit in her mother''s mood and reinforced Fia''s positivity. "That''s right! That''s my dragonette!" When he jumped onto his feet, he toppled Fia into the nest and tapped her with a playful claw. "Our fierce, future warrior is right here!"

    Fia wiggled and bumped the egg with her wild tail. "Oops!" Righted on all four feet, Fia loomed over her brother''s egg with her snout close to the scaly shell. Sorry, lil bro. I only have to protect you once I''m a warrior. The slitted pupils of Fia''s eyes dilated once she felt her brother''s reaction.

    Confused.... The soon-to-be hatchling barely understood his immediate surroundings, much less the workings of the clan. Thus, that also made a second emotion radiate from the egg. Scared.

    Of me...? Fia wondered, taken aback with her wings flared to either side. This made her body cast a shadow over the center of the nest, even as her tail curled with a grin.

    Scary big sis, confirmed her little brother, still an egg.

    Huh? Now it was Fa''s turn to feel befuddled. She retreated away from the egg to give them both some space. Scary? Me? Soon enough, her tongue lolled out of her excited maw. That''s right! I''ve become scary like Viliant! Fia sauntered outside, her wings draping over her ribs in a way reminding her of Viliant.

    Fia''s father tramped outside their family''s hut after his daughter. Don''t let your mother bother you. Mama''s only worried because she knows you can do it.

    Why would that make her worried? Fia did not even understand her question enough to utter it aloud.

    That''s just what a good mama does sometimes. Despite his gentle demeanor toward her mother, some frustration also lived within Fia''s father. He buried those emotions in the back of his mind before Fia could become any more confused by the adults.

    The dragonette scurried up the wing offered by her father. She clenched her jaw and jutted out her chin alongside her puffed chest. "I''ll show Mama! She doesn''t have anything to worry about. Once I''m a warrior, I can protect her and you, me and Viliant, and... and...." In her mind, Fia wanted to protect everyone on Carlinoa Island. This intention blazed in her heart and mind even though she blurted out something more random. "And the egg!"

    "Aw." Fa''s father curled his tail out of endearment. "That''s so sweet. You already want to protect your little brother."

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    While he was included as part of everyone on Carlinoa Island, Fia had not thought of her little brother specifically. More so, she considered Rokirith''s heroic act of saving the egg from the humans'' clutches in the badlands. Like that! she revealed to her father.

    "Ah." A wry chuckle rumbled from her father''s chest. The adult dragon took no offense at how Fia idolized the great dragon who rescued another egg. After he had gone to the Malakow Jungle and met Sage Rokirith for himself, it was undeniable the amazing thing which he had done. You''ll really have to become a warrior if you want to become a dragon like that!

    Fia jittered from excitement on her father''s back as he took off. His wings carried them away from the cluster of dragon huts on this side of the island. The altitude gained by the land leveled out to a plateau where water accumulated in pools. The basins of the pools were stained with orange and teal streaks, visible through the clouds of steam. As Fia''s father tipped his wings in descent, the subtle bubbling from boiling water made her anticipation mount all the more.

    The red dragon and pink dragonette were the first ones at the training grounds. The other fire dragons steadily gathered around them. Just one tenth of the Carlinoa clan had fully awakened their magic, but only about half showed up for Fia''s trial. Those that did kept their wings open with curiosity, while others narrowed their eyes in hostility¡ªor perhaps jealousy.

    Under those looks, Fia felt safer tucked beneath her father''s wings. Wait! Fia remembered, her jaw hanging open aghast. I''m supposed to be acting like a warrior! Her bravado reinvigorated like her inner flame, the pink dragonette bounded into the center of her clan''s warriors.

    All the dragons had their harsh eyes on her, cut like gemstones. More warriors had gathered in front of Fia than behind her, where her father had quietly backed away. The youngest elder of the Carlinoa Clan with mottled scales, red and black, held out his wings as if to welcome Fia¡ªor hold the other dragons in place. Elder Kivo waited for her to stop fiddling with her claws, finally meeting his eyes.

    "Well...?" Elder Kivo scoffed and tossed his obsidian horns. "Show us your power!" He flung his head back and let out a roar¡ªa signal to all the other dragons.

    Every warrior lifted their tails and thumped it against the earth in unison. Most of the fire dragons had a sharpened tip at the ends of their tails. This clacked against stone before all the dragons raised them back up. Together, the dragon warriors beat the ground like drums.

    Fia''s shallow breaths deepened to match the rhythm. The small gathering of her clan''s own warriors was nothing compared to thousands of human eyes, boring down on her in the coliseum. While that was not a happy memory for her, Fia had learned just enough from Sage Rokinth before she left Malakow to harness her magic through another emotion.

    Rage, she recalled, letting it simmer inside of her. Fia''s memory went back to a single moment¡ªa single human. Fia focused on the one that she hated most.

    In her mind''s eye, the Dragon Slayer stood before her. His purple cape billowed behind him along with dark strands of hair beneath his crown. Gravity threatened to bend at a brandish of his scepter. Any day now, his ships might arrive on Carlinoa''s shore just as his boots were ready to step on its beach.

    No. A growl rumbled in Fia''s chest like the crackle of fire. I won''t allow him to do that. All her mana blazed with the desire to stop him. Fia must learn to ignite a fire as bright as a star, so not even a gravity orb could swallow up her flames.

    Fia lifted her front claws off the ground. Balanced on her hind legs, she suspended herself like that. Neither a jump nor beat of her wings was necessary for her to rise up. Hot air rushed beneath her wings and warmed her belly from the outside. Fia let her maw part with a soundless roar. A moment later, a screech like a banshee was wrenched from her chest.

    A firestorm exploded on all sides. Brilliant, blue flames seared all around her, making it impossible to look at the dragonette whose eyes burned the same color. The fire faded back to yellow amid its other, usual hues as it reached the circle of spectators.

    The rush of intense heat made even the dragon warriors shield their eyes with their wings. The complex, telepathic network between the adult dragons'' horns went quiet while Fia displayed her prowess.

    Only Elder Kivo stayed put with his eyes open to watch. The black and red dragon dropped his wings to the ground out of sheer shock, and his slack tail dipped into a pool of water.

    Fia closed her own eyes, but she still saw tiny flames dance behind her eyelids. Gradually, the blazing light dimmed from her closed eyes. Her nostrils flared when she smelled steam instead of smoke.

    The glare of sunlight seemed harsh when Fia cracked her eyes open again. Her vision glanced from the sky, past the circle of dragons, down to the geyser pools. The closest one had erupted, as had all the others in harmony. Fia''s feet tottered as she desperately fought to regain her balance, but she ultimately collapsed before any of the geyser water splashed back into its pools.

    No.... Fia moaned to anyone who accepted a telepathic transmission from her.

    It was just her father whose pulse raced even though his mind was empty of all thoughts. Maybe all the dragons listened to her pathetic whine, similarly shocked into silence.

    No. I can''t pass out! My trial... I need to pass.... Unable to fight the exhaustion of her body anymore, Fia was claimed by a wave of darkness.

 Chapter 129: Blue Fire

    After their first day of training together, Viliant received a lift from Evander over to the warrior''s official training grounds. With his wings too tired to do anything else, Viliant let them whip behind him.

    Arenis poked his head over his big brother''s shoulder, peeking at Viliant in Evander''s claws. The wind would have carried his voice away, but that did not stop Arenis from being annoying over telepathy. Our training was too intense for you, huh, Viliant?

    No way. Viliant did not bother to tell Arenis off any stronger than that simple statement. The coddled fire dragonet had no idea what it even meant to survive, much less what he would do in Viliant''s circumstances.

    Tuck your wings against your back, Evander commented. It''ll help you recover faster and keep them in good shape. The vast, strong wings of the orange dragon gave a downbeat.

    Viliant squirmed in Evander''s grip to take his advice. The black dragonet tucked his glossy wings against his ribs, so as to avoid the long spines on his back. Thanks, Viliant murmured to Evander.

    Already, the persistent ache in his wings began to subside now that the wind no longer buffeted his smooth wing flaps constantly. Viliant expected to feel more sore tomorrow, but he hoped it would not inhibit another day of training.

    Viliant watched the trees disappearing behind the rise of a cliffside. Higher still, the barren terrain flattened into a plateau. Water trickled over some orange streaks in the rock, like rusted iron. Viliant doubted his guess was right, but he had no idea what else might thrive in boiling water.

    A circle of dragons arranged themselves between some wide, bubbling pools. At the center of their attention, a pink dragonette hovered in the air. A blinding light flashed over her chest plate, and an inferno erupted around Fia. The fiery explosion consumed all the dragon warriors who had gathered to watch her.

    Viliant''s eyes widened despite his discomfort from the heat. "Fia...!" His hoarse voice barely rasped out a sound.

    Few gaps billowed between the dense flames of her inferno. Fia''s eyes shined like blue stars, bright enough to cut through the light of her own blue flames.

    Stunned into silence, Viliant did not know what to think about Fia''s new show of power. Red fire... black fire.... Now blue fire? Over the tether of telepathy, Viliant was unsettled by how the other fire dragons did not know what to make of it either.

    Arenis was thrilled just to watch Fia. Let''s go, Fia! That''s my best friend! When the excited fire dragonet became aware of Viliant''s curiosity, Arenis reverted to his uppity attitude. And just so you don''t forget.... I''m her best friend! Not you. Such derision oozed from the mind of Arenis, it inspired Viliant to jam the telepathic signal into the other dragonet''s receptors as hard as possible. A sudden yip sounded from Arenis on Evander''s back, but the adult dragon was too consumed by the fire in front of him to care.

    So blue fire really is possible, Evander observed, perhaps the first time that he had seen such a thing in his life. While Evander was amazed, his reaction was more ordered than his dragonet brother. I''ll make my fire burn blue too, one day....

    A soft sigh huffed past Viliant''s fangs. He found himself finally able to unclench his jaw. Wait. Was I that worried about Fia? Even here? The simple knowledge that her fire had reached a more desirable state among her clan brought Viliant some relief.

    Evander glided along the fringes of the plateau before he dove to join the other warriors.

    A spurt of boiling, steaming water launched into the air behind them. The same phenomena happened all around the circle of dragons. Viliant swung his head to watch the geysers erupt on all sides.

    While Evander slowed his descent, he offered an easy out for the shadow dragonet in his claws. Let me know if it gets too hot for you, Viliant.

    I''m used to Fia''s flames, Viliant retorted. Her intensity always risked burning someone as cold as him. Her light-hearted attitude always seemed too bright for someone mired in so much darkness. Wanting to be alone with his thoughts, Viliant receded from all telepathy except one lingering line, waiting for Fia to notice him.

    The firestorm with a hot, blue core swirled around Fia like a vortex. As the flames slowed their rotation, they were shredded more by the brisk wind on the plateau. Fia''s feet lowered closer to the ground, but she did not touch down yet.

    Rather, Viliant''s claws skidded against the rock first when Evander let go of him. The orange dragon landed just a couple steps ahead. Evander waited with a raised wing, an invitation to attend the warrior''s meeting under his guidance.

    Viliant straightened his neck, lifted his own wings, and bristled the spines along his back. Just because he walked underneath Evander''s wing, that did not mean Viliant had to make himself small. Unlike Diwa, Evander''s vast wingspan accommodated Viliant without any concessions on his part.

    Evander connected with the other fire dragons over telepathy who blocked themselves off from outsiders. The young warrior bore the criticism of sidelong glances from every other dragon, as he stepped forth with Viliant under his wing. Even so, some of the warriors parted and made room for Evander''s arrival. The orange dragon stood near one of the elder''s right wingtip.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    In the moment, Viliant only had eyes for Fia, so he stared straight ahead.

    Fia''s legs buckled as soon as she landed back on her feet. The pink dragonette swaggered from side to side to stand up. Her mind presented an open invitation to telepathy.

    No¡­. she moaned.

    Viliant stood rigid in silence, not wanting to disrupt her with his presence.

    No, Fia reiterated, fighting to hang on. I can''t pass out! My trial¡­ I need to pass¡­. The pink dragonette''s neck swayed until she finally thumped on the ground.

    Not again! Viliant gasped out of exasperation. An aspect of fear surged through him, as Viliant recalled how Fia had been vulnerable after she had used that technique against the Dragon Slayer to escape the coliseum. Before the black and red elder dragon could take a step forward, Viliant dashed ahead. His claws scratched to a stop along the plateau''s rocky surface. The shadow dragonet lurked defensively over Fia''s unconscious form, growling at any dragon who dared to step closer.

    Relax, Viliant. A familiar dragon¡ªEvander¡ªpushed his way into a telepathic connection with him.

    Another adult dragon was close to follow. This is Fia''s father, Vicente reported to Viliant calmly. The large claws of the red dragon approached him from behind. Stand under my wing, Viliant. Let''s not interfere with Fia''s trial.

    That remark made Viliant''s stomach twist like he had eaten some rotten meat. Oh. Viliant had not even considered how his defense of Fia might be considered an interference by the dragon warriors. Slowly, he crept backward until the tip of his tail brushed against the long claws of Vicente.

    Thanks for always protecting my daughter. Although Vicente did not tilt his head down to acknowledge Viliant, the deep blue eyes of the red dragon observed him from up high.

    Of course. Viliant retreated from telepathy to stand in silence with Vicente and the rest of the dragon warriors. Across the circle, he now had a clear view of Evander behind the red and black dragon that yielded the attention from all the turned heads.

    The black and red dragon, Elder Kivo, beat his wings to aid his jump closer to Fia''s crumpled body. He sat on his hind haunches, stooping his serpentine neck to peer down at Fia. A hunch entered his neck as he looked up to Viliant instead. "I have a question for you, Fia''s shadow."

    "Yes?" Viliant''s voice caught in his tight throat.

    "Has this happened before?" The elder dragon''s eyes bore down on Viliant like hard lumps of coal.

    For Viliant''s mind, simple thanks to his youth, it was impossible to read Elder Kivo. Even so, Viliant wracked his brain for the desired answer to his question. This intention floated across their telepathic connection, unintended by the dragonet.

    Answer honestly, Elder Kivo implored him with a stern growl.

    "Yes!" Viliant let his memory from the past flow outward. This happened the first time I saw Fia unleash all her power against the Dragon Slayer! She stayed conscious long enough to glide out of the coliseum with me. Viliant shared that detail, hoping her passing out would not count against her.

    Elder Kivo''s tail swished behind him over the rocks. "How¡­ long¡­ does it usually take for her to wake up?"

    Viliant grimaced and flattened all his back spines. "I don''t know," he said aloud, expanding on his simple answer over telepathy. The first time it took a couple hours.

    After a couple thumps of his tail, Elder Kivo switched his attention to Vicente. "Take your daughter home. The warriors will discuss what we saw here today in the meantime. Bring Fia before the Elder Council tomorrow morning for the final verdict."

    Vicente stooped his long neck in a bow. "Very well. Thank you, Elder Kivo." Keeping Viliant under his wing, Vicente scooped up Fia''s limp body. He nestled her in the gentle, closed grip of his claws. The red dragon flew off without even offering to take Viliant with him.

    Wait! I wanted to go with Fia. Viliant bounded across the center of the warrior''s circle, dashing back underneath Evander''s wing.

    Without looking back at him, Vicente disappeared with Fia in the sky.

    I''m sure you''ll see her later, Evander reassured Viliant, lifting up his wing a little bit to peer at the shadow dragonet. Why don''t you run along with Arenis?

    Viliant understood that neither of the dragonets were welcome any longer in the circle of warriors, so he skulked off.

    That was so cool! Arenis skipped obnoxiously close to Viliant''s tail. I can''t believe we saw Fia''s fire turn blue! She''s gonna become a warrior for sure, and it won''t be long until I''m one too!

    Viliant stopped abruptly, turning to snarl at Arenis when he stepped on his tail. Beat it, dragonfly.

    Arenis narrowed his eyes, and a tendril of smoke drifted from his nostrils. And here I was going to ask if you wanted to play with me and my friends.

    By a cluster of rocks, two other dragonets lingered a safe distance away from Viliant and Arenis. One had bright yellow scales while the other had pale scales that blended in with the plateau.

    I only play with Fia. Viliant marched back toward the dragon huts on the mountainside, so he could visit her sooner rather than later. He snipped the telepathic link with Arenis and disallowed the other, curious dragonets from any connection with him.

    "Fine!" Arenis shouted after Viliant. "Be that way. I never wanted you to play with us anyway." The red dragonet lurched over to the other two dragonets, running off with them over the plateau.

    Viliant kept his eyes trained ahead, taking the long way back to Fia. He hoped to be there by the time that she woke up.

 Chapter 130: Playdate

    Am I a warrior? That was the first thought which flooded Fia''s mind when she regained consciousness.

    Her whole family rushed to join her over telepathy. Fia! Everyone chimed her name at once. In addition to her mother and father, Viliant was here too, making it feel more complete. Mom. Dad. Viliant¡­!

    When Fia opened her eyes and focused on the dark color in front of her, she realized it was none other than Viliant.

    Hey Pinkie. You accused me of leaving you, last time you knocked yourself out with your own magic like that. Viliant winced, not intending to share that much of himself over telepathy. Well, here I am now.

    Fia pushed herself up, so her neck and wings were alert even as the rest of her body stayed in a reclined position. The pink dragonette''s tail curled around the claws on her hind legs. She surveyed her mother and father in the main room down below, from her spot nestled in the loft. Without remembering how she had gotten here, Fia was at home in her own bed. "How long was I out?"

    Viliant scoffed. Long enough for me to get all the way back here on foot.

    "Hey!" Fia whined in a long, shrill note. She knew exactly how long that was, remembering it took forever to hike to the geysers when she used to play with the other dragonets.

    No thanks to your father¡­. Before Viliant could finish levying his complaint about Vicente, the red dragon poked his head into the loft.

    "We were worried about you the whole time," Fia''s father cooed over his daughter. "Viliant told us this has happened before?"

    Fia sprung onto all four feet. "Yeah!" Her voice melded into a wordless roar, proud of the power that she could unleash. At present, however, she did not want to spew a lick of fire. In a whine, Fia asked, "Are we eating today or tomorrow?" Her mind made a single demand: Hungry.

    Viliant''s wings and tail perked up at the thought of food. The shadow dragonet gazed expectantly at Vicente, waiting for Fia''s father to invite him over for dinner.

    Before he answered, Corisande chuffed out of disbelief. We just had fish yesterday.

    Now, now, Vicente mediated with his mate, sharing with Fia his positive take on things. Our dragonette might be going through a growth spurt! The full intention to go hunting today unfurled in Vicente''s mind just like his wings. He halted in place before he headed outside, peering at Corisande through the careful cuts of his sapphire eyes. Unless you want to go.

    Fia''s mother kept her response between herself and her father. The pink dragoness lifted her wings from the egg. Fia, why don''t you¡ª?

    Let me handle this, Viliant intercepted the telepathic suggestion which Fia''s mother had for her.

    Once Vicente had taken her mother''s place, keeping the unhatched dragonet company in the nest, Corisande poked her head into the loft. She examined Viliant under the heated glare of her ruby eyes.

    Vicente bobbed his head and tapped his wing against Corisande''s leg to shoo her out. His body language told of the telepathy between them: I''ll handle the dragonets too. Don''t worry about anything. Go hunt!

    Corisande stalked off. The irritated twist to her tail came undone as soon as she lifted into the sky, beginning her search for food.

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    The thought of food later today made Fia ruffle her wings, excited to catch up with Viliant''s recent growth. Her eyes gleamed as she looked over to him, sitting with her in the loft. Thanks for waiting here this whole time. It must''ve been boring.

    Viliant brushed off her gratitude with a swish of his tail. It was the least that he could after everything they had been through together. Viliant offered Fia something long overdue. "D-Do you want to play?"

    Fia''s forked tongue lolled out of her mouth, panting like her behavior belonged to another animal. "Yes! Let''s play!" Before she even got a sense for the strength in her limbs, Fia jumped out of the loft.

    Vicente caught her careless dive in his wing.

    Bouncing out of her father''s wing flap, Fia was already heading for the door. "I''m gonna go play with Viliant. Bye, Papa!" Normally Fia told her parents what part of the island she planned to be at, but Fia was too excited to play with Viliant the first time, she had no idea where she wanted to take him. The geysers! The cliffs! The reef! The crater!

    "No crater! No reef! No cliffs! Maybe geysers¡­." Vicente kept his shout short and sweet, sharing the best of his intentions for his daughter over telepathy. All those spots are too dangerous for you to play without an adult. I''ll take you and Viliant there myself later. On second thought¡­. The geysers might kill a non-fire dragon. This realization made Vicente issue a correction with his shout. "No geysers either!"

    "Aw¡­" Fia whined.

    All the while, Viliant tilted his head further to the right out of curiosity. I always knew play was dangerous, but I never realized just how dangerous. The shadow dragonet drew in a deep breath. Now that this was the biggest risk posed in their lives¡ªat least until the human ships showed up¡ªViliant figured he was willing to handle a little superficial danger.

    Fia pouted while she drummed her claws to come up with a good spot to play. "I guess that leaves the forest."

    Vicente wrinkled his snout even though an immediate problem with the forest did not come to mind. Since the fire dragon had returned to Carlinoa Island not long after Fia, Vicente did not know that the elders had forbidden all unattended dragonets from the forest just like the beach before Fia''s capture. Vicente wanted to lay down a new rule in his house with that exact memory in mind. However, the forest seemed like the only spot which might work for Fia''s friendship with the shadow dragonet. What''s the most important rule about the forest?

    "No beach!" Fia shouted.

    "Good!" Vicente shouted back. To Viliant alone, Vicente shared the serious nature of that rule. A human ship slipped by our scouts while Fia was playing on the beach. Fia''s claws do not touch sand. Got it?

    Got it. Viliant had a sinking suspicion that Fia was about to invent some insane game such as "touch sand" where the whole objective involved keeping her from doing just that.

    On second thought¡­. Vicente thought for the second time over the course of this conversation. Why don''t the two of you just play tag with some other dragonets who stick close to the nest? Like Scoria would make a good friend for you, Fia.

    Even though Viliant had no idea who that was, he nodded along. I bet Scoria would make a good friend. Viliant conjectured this because the name sounded feminine in the style of other Carlinoan names on the island. Although he did not understand why Fia needed more female friends, Viliant knew that he did not want to compete with another dragonet for her attention like Arenis. All this summed up to a single point that he told Fia: You should listen to your father.

    Vicente thumped his tail out of approval. This relieved the worried father in some part, at least seeing that Viliant acted as a positive influence on Fia.

    "We''re going to Scoria''s nest first!" Fia declared. "Then, the three of us are going to¡­." Fia took a deep breath before she declared the name of her new destination. "The lava tubes!"

    This received quick approval from Vicente. "Oh. Actually, that sounds perfect!" Vicente shared with Viliant directly, I won''t spoil it for you, but I think you''ll like the lava tubes.

    Fia''s tail twisted in a smug grin. "Finally! See you later, Papa!" The pink dragonette dashed outside and clipped their telepathic link before her father could change his mind.

    Viliant followed close behind Fia. He dreaded the lava tubes by their name, but also trusted that Vicente was not among the dragons who had wanted to throw him into the volcano. Here we go. Viliant braced himself for his first, official playdate with Fia.

 Chapter 131: Lava Tubes

    It took Fia a few tries to remember where Soria lived, but the pink dragonette endeared any dragon who answered her knock. Viliant hung back, so his presence did not interfere with Fia''s charm.

    "Hello!" she trilled after she had knocked on the sturdy, whalebone frame of another hut.

    A bright yellow and orange dragoness curled her tail to match the mood which her scales inspired. "Why...! Hello, Fia. What brings you here?"

    "I want to play with Scoria."

    "Scoria already left to play with Pumiro today," Scoria''s mother said with a click of her fangs. Despite the twist to her tail, the dragoness with sunburst scales had her wings angled in a strict line. Her dark amber eyes flitted up to regard Viliant, Fia''s distant shadow. This dragoness must be among those who regarded Viliant with the distrust of a bad omen.

    Unaware of this, Fia cheered, "I''ll meet up with them! Where can I find them?"

    Scoria''s mother swayed her head this way then that. "I''m not sure where Scoria went. I''m sorry, Fia. Maybe you can play with her a different day¡ªjust you and her." Once again, the adult dragoness glared at Viliant who swished his agitated tail.

    "Thanks, Scoria''s mom!" Fia left her doorstep and retreated back to Viliant. "Looks like it''s just you and me then." Her light blue eyes, wide as the sky, blinked a couple times completely unbothered by the rude adult.

    Viliant tilted his head, making his left horn dip closer to Fia''s even though no telepathic connection moved between them. I wonder.... Did she not notice or not care? Either way, he was happy to bound after her, just the two of them.

    The dragon huts thinned out along the mountainside. Fia led Viliant down to the cradle of a valley where the earth was hewn open. The pink dragonette waited at the cave''s mouth with her happy wings and tail poised. "Welcome to the lava tubes, Viliant!" Fia cheered, but her giggle thrummed over a darker note. "The shadows have been waiting for you." She opened the magenta underside of her wings, previously wrapped around herself like she hatched a great scheme within them.

    "Ha," Viliant scoffed. As the shadow dragonet caught up with her at the cave''s entrance, he felt no presence other than Fia in the darkness beyond. While he could sense the long tunnel ahead of them with magic, Viliant said, "Strike a light would you?"

    "Tag! You''re it!" Fia whacked Viliant''s scaly cheek with the tip of her tail as she turned heel. The pink dragonette spat a fireball ahead of herself. The flash illuminated the tunnel beyond the reach of sunlight. Fia snapped open her wings and hovered to land in the dark.

    Fine, Viliant thought. Two can play that game. I can use my magic too. In addition to the presence of Fia''s life force in the murk, Viliant could feel the contour of every rock.

    The rocky ceiling overhead was an uneven, cracked geometric pattern¡ªnot quite squares but closer to that than anything else. About halfway down the wall, horizontal lines flowed through the rock. Viliant was pleasantly surprised by the cool, dark, and quiet cave without the angry glow of lava anywhere in sight.

    While Viliant chased down Fia in the dark, he shouted in her direction. "I thought the lava tubes were supposed to have lava in them!"

    "Nope! We couldn''t play here then." Although Fia was still within earshot, the ring of her voice did not carry like he had expected. Her voice was absorbed by the porous rock around them.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    By now, Viliant came close enough to pounce on Fia. "Tag," he droned in a monotone voice. "You''re it." The shadow dragonet disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel.

    "I''ll get you back!" Fia bellowed in a playful roar at him. As she chased after Viliant, she soon realized she was at a severe disadvantage even with fire to light her way. Fia''s fiery breath trailed off with a hiccup. "Hic!" That little lurch made her head tilt back to the ceiling.

    A thin line of light emanated over her horns. Even though her claws skidded to a stop, Fia marched them in place out of glee. This emotion was slammed by Viliant''s confusion who had also stopped up ahead. Fia¡­? Is that lava up there?

    The thin vein of glowing rocks widened to cover the whole ceiling. Their orange glimmer framed Viliant''s six horns in a spiky silhouette.

    Instead of answering him, Fia crept up behind him. "Tag! You''re it again."

    When she skirted away, Viliant still demanded an answer. "Fia! What are these?" Upon closer inspection, the dragonet noticed it was not the rocks themselves that were glowing but a thousand¡ªor million¡ªtiny specks that clustered on top of the rocks.

    Once she realized that Viliant no longer threatened to tag her, Fia trotted back to that spot. She sat next to him, perched under his wing. "These are glow stars."

    "And those are...?"

    "Tiny magic creatures of light!" Fia''s neck swayed with her tail as she continued to look at them.

    Viliant cocked his head to the side. "That means they must be edible¡ª"

    "No!" Fia gasped. "Elder Nura says we should just look¡ªnot touch. If you bask in their light, it''s enough to restore mana."

    Viliant raised his chin, impressed by that quality of the glow stars. He did not want to lick them off the rocks anyway, so he let the glow stars go unsampled by him. Their light restores mana, huh? I guess that''s why Pinkie has gotten energy back for her fireballs again. Viliant swished his tail to the side, now overlapping with Fa. "Tag. You''re it!"

    "Hey! No fair!" Fia howled in a burst of fire. The walls of the lava tube shimmered with extra energy, absorbing her magic fire. The orange glow stars flickered yellow and red, shredding the shadows where Viliant hid. There was always more darkness ahead of him, so he rushed onward.

    An unexpected fireball came the other way down the tunnel. "Gah!" Viliant sputtered from the sudden burning sensation which assaulted his cheek.

    "Tag!" An annoying dragonet shouted the name of the same game, even though he was deeper in the cave system than Fia. "You''re it!"

    Over Viliant''s growl, the voices of two other dragonets piped up.

    "I don''t know, Arenis," squeaked a dragonette. "You didn''t hit me."

    "You didn''t hit me either," said the husky voice of the third dragonet.

    Viliant sensed the three other lifeforms in the dark, all about the same size as Fia. When the name of Arenis was mentioned, the snarl in Viliant''s throat rose to a savage sound.

    "Ah!" squealed three dragonets in unison. The farthest dragonet, Arenis, jumped forward with another fireball in the same direction as before. This one was aimed for a much bigger, imaginary target to better match Viliant''s growl. The fireball sailed over his horns, harmless.

    "Wait!" Fia whistled. The pink dragonette dashed in front of Viliant, balancing a flame on her snout like a candle.

    None of the dragonets could see Viliant in the shadows behind her, but a chill ran up all their spines.

    "I''m it!" Fia proudly declared, defusing the dangerous game which the other dragonets unknowingly played with Viliant. The flame on Fa''s snout swirled and swelled into a fierce fireball. "I''m it," Fia repeated, "and I''m gonna get you all!"

    Her fireball spewed from her mouth and glistened with the sparkle of the glow stars. Fia''s fireball ricocheted from one wall to another, lighting up the terrified faces and flapping wings of three dragonets.

    First, the fireball exploded in front of a yellow dragonette and reformed behind her. "You''re it, Scoria!" Fia cheered.

    Next, the fireball sought out a pale dragonet whose scales were barely hidden in the dark.

    "You''re it, Pumiro!" Fia sneered.

    Lastly, the fireball careened for Arenis whose chest, puffed up in bravado, made for a perfect target.

    "You''re it, too, Arenis," Fia squealed. "All of you!"

    All the dragonets froze in the lava tubes, trying to figure out over telepathy how a game of tag worked where everyone was ''it'' but one.