It was incredibly late by the time she returned. The moons lit her way home. Gate open, welcoming Arin home. Mila and Gage were the only ones in the courtyard. Throughout the castle walls only a few lights were on. Arin was opting to sneak past the two but Mila noticed her almost immediately. She kept her head low as she approached him.

“I swear I’m going to my room, I promise that you’ll never see me again!” Arin exclaimed.

His nose wrinkled in disgust. “What are you holding?” Arin pulled the egg closer to her stomach.

“I—It’s nothing.” Arin looked away. Back hunched, shaking.

“Then you won’t mind if I destroy it,” Mila snarled snatching the egg; he prepared to throw it against the ground.

“It’s an egg! I swear! I found it while fixing the river!” Arin tried to rescue it but he stiff-armed her.

“Oh? Why did you bring this here anyways?” Mila asked examining the egg in the moonlight.

“Please, let me take care of it. I—I promise to take great care of it. If I had a partner I could show you that I truly am on your side,” Arin pleaded. Mila turned, walking away with her egg.

Gage stood up, wincing in pain. He growled at Mila unfolding his wings partially.

“If anything hatches from that egg that isn’t a dragon then Arin gets to keep it. However, if it is a dragon then you can take it. A child cannot care for a dragon. Human or not so it is only fair,” Gage offered. Mila tossed the egg back at Arin, folding his arms.

“If you do keep it, I never want to see what it is, ever! How could you raise something anyways? How could you even make a promise? You are untrustworthy, and I would rather trust an Other than to trust you!” Mila shouted, he was inches from her face, pale eyes burning with hatred. Arin pushed past him, trying not to cry.

Gage watched, upset to see Arin walk away so broken hearted. He turned to Mila and growled, “we need to talk.”

Arin fled into the castle. She didn’t want to stick around to listen to the two fight.

***

She finished cleaning herself and most of the egg. Clay still caked small areas of the shell. Her bedroom light was on but curtains were drawn, hopefully Mila thought she was asleep. Arin glanced at her empty plate and note of encouragement Oshwa left behind.

I knew that I wasn’t wanted here. The first day I arrived everyone hated me, yet their behavior is changing around me. Many Crimsons are beginning to accept me . . . not Mila though. I can’t let his words bother me anymore. I have to ignore him, like I did with the bullies back at the orphanage. She rubbed at her tear-stained cheeks. Ms. Holt would want me to ignore him, what should his words mean to me?

I can control fire. I am one of them. Well, so can the Others but they’re evil. Oshwa said that they conquered the Crimsons and enslaved them. Now when they want their freedom, they are trying to conquer them again.

Clay fell to the floor as Arin persistently chipped at it. The obsidian egg rocked in her arms every few minutes. Now that she was alone in this giant room this creature could sleep wherever it wanted. It began to shake a little more frequently.

“Shh. Calm down, I’ll protect you, I promise,” she whispered. It silenced itself. Arin smiled cradling it to her chest. “Dragon or not I am not letting Mila hurt you.”

It was hard to stay awake, suppressing her yawns was impossible now. Arin stood up, turning the lights off before crawling back into bed. She pulled the covers over the egg making sure it was situated properly. Closing her eyes, Arin longed for sleep.

***

Outside noises woke her. Yawning, she turned to see a broken shell. It hatched. The egg hatched without her. Arin sat up, almost hitting her head on the bunk above.

Arin checked under her bed for the hatchling. Nothing. She swung her head above the top bunk.

A small midnight blue creature was curled up in a ring of wooly blanket. It yawned clawing the circle in his sleep. The little reptile suddenly sneezed, revealing arctic blue eyes. He looked up at Arin, curious by her presence. He had a triangular head, the back of his little head was covered with small round spikes and horns. Their jawline was perfectly straight, no spikes jutted out of his jaw bone. The dragon was incredibly slim, almost skeletal. His front half had a little more meat but it still wasn’t a lot for his size. His wings were attached to his front arms, the leather of the wings stitched to his sides.

The creature sneezed again and slowly tottered over to Arin. He made a little cry and opened his mouth wide. She giggled and the creature grabbed her shirt, sounding the high-pitched cry again.

“Hungry? I don’t know how we’ll get food though.” She looked at the door uneasily. Mila said he will kill me if he sees me . . . was he just saying that or was he serious?

She carried the little dragon from the top bunk, setting the feisty creature on the floor in front of her. Her stomach growled. They both needed a quick bite. Before Arin could give it any farther thought the door opened. Mila stood there, she noticed a knife sheathed on his belt. She grabbed the dragon and turned away from him. The small reptile peeped at the new stranger.

His eyes narrowed at the little hatchling. “You got lucky that a mini dragon hatched and not a regular one,” Mila hissed. He was about to close the door when Arin jumped to her feet. He glared at her.

“We need food, you can’t starve us to death!”

“Perhaps later if I feel up to it.” He slammed the door shut scaring the little mini dragon in her arms.

Arin calmed the dragon and placed him on the floor again. Despite her efforts, he continued to cry. She sat down next to the little dragon, he stopped crying. His eyes were fixated on her, nose twitching a little.

“Mila didn’t care what was going to hatch. He just wants to lock us away either way.” Arin rubbed her palm against his little head. He peeped. “He hates us, so don’t be surprised, okay?”

He purred, showing his appreciation. As she began to scratch under his arm he rolled over purring even louder. She rubbed his smooth silver stomach smiling. Her chest ached. This new cell burdened her greatly. Was she going to die here?

“What should I call you?” Arin asked trying to keep her mind off of the situation.

“Scor!” he replied flashing his triangular teeth.

“And . . . you can talk. Why am I not surprised?” He wagged his tail giggling.

“You funny! We friends, all right?”

He already desired to be her friend.

“Um . . .” Arin wanted to ask if he was her partner but swallowed the question. Everyone had one but her. “Yeah, I guess we can be.”

The little dragon cheered clapping his paws together. He really was something. “Together the two of us will dominate eweryone! Right?”

“I can’t answer that question . . . I no longer know myself.” It was odd that this little creature was already talking about fighting. His adorable evil laughing stopped, his nose began to twitch once more.

“Food!” Scor announced. Coyasko opened the door this time, a filled bag was in his hands. He tossed it to Arin hoping she would catch it but Scor beat her to it.

“Are you okay?” Coyasko inquired. She turned away shyly, both watching Scor feast on the treats brought to him.

“It doesn’t concern you anymore,” Arin replied. Coyasko sat down next to her, wrapping a long arm around her shoulder.

“I know that you’re upset, but how about my partner trains this little guy? Then I’ll teach you how to fly on him. If you can ride a dragon that’ll awe him for sure. If that doesn’t work I can always give you a Rainbow Shard,” Coyasko offered but Arin shook her head.

Rainbow Shard? What’s a Rainbow Shard?

“I’m not allowed to leave and neither is Scor, we’ll only get in trouble.” Scor reappeared licking his lips satisfied. Grease covered his scales.

“I’ll be the only to get in trouble. Please come on and train, Arin,” Coyasko persisted, she sighed.

“Fine,” Arin groaned and Scor jumped onto her shoulder, curling himself around her neck like a scarf. Careful not to throw him off, Arin stood. Her body ached from yesterday.

Coyasko guided her through the somewhat familiar hallways. “That is probably the cutest mini dragon that I have ever seen,” he commented gently scratching Scor behind his ear. Her friend purred.

“I don’t think your partner would like to hear that,” Arin jested.

Coyasko laughed, “Igneous and I met when we were both teenagers. I never saw him as a baby!” Together they entered the empty mess hall. “Even so I am positive he wouldn’t be cute as this little guy!”

Reluctantly she sat down at one of the long strips of wood, it creaked. Scor hopped onto the table, sniffing the wood curiously.

“Why we here?” Scor asked head perking up.

“To give you a proper breakfast. Mila is so cruel to try to starve you. I won’t let that happen. To both a friend or foe.”

“I—I am a friend, right? Everyone but Mila thinks so now, right?”

“Yes!” Scor exclaimed crawling in front of Arin so that they were looking eye-to-eye. “You the most bestest friend I ever have!”

“That is too cute for words,” Coyasko cooed as Scor wrapped his meaty little arms around Arin’s neck. A growling stomach ruined the moment, she placed her hand on the aching gut. “Right. Sit wherever, I’ll be back with some food in a minute!” He hastily disappeared into the kitchen.

Scor noticed an empty plate nearby, he circled the glass fascinated. With an adorable growl he pounced on it, pawing at the surface.

“Monster, leave Arin ‘lone!” he snarled, scratching the plate with his stubby claws. An eerie screech echoed from his attack, hurting Arin’s ears.

“Stop, Scor,” she giggled covering her ears.

“Aw okie. Only stop when friend safe,” he pouted backing away from the plate and trotting up to Arin, head high in the air.

“Hey, little guy.” She picked up Scor, hugging him. “You did your best but the plate was stronger. Maybe next time.”

Scor craned his neck around to the plate and hissed at it. “I’ll make you pay.”

“Back!” Coyasko reappeared with a tray piled with food. She could recognize a few of the items on her small banquet. There was a small salad and toast. The third item, which happened to be the main course, looked like pig, but were there really pigs in Fynne?

“Um, Coyasko, what is that?” Arin held her breath so that she wouldn’t smell the barbecue animal.

“Oh, right. It’s a swine don’t worry.” He placed the tray in front of Arin. Scor’s eyes lit up and he began to drool. “Scor, you are not touching this. This is for Arin, and her alone!”

“But I wan’ it!”

“No, bad Scor.”

“It not fair!” Scor began to cry and scream. He threw himself down and began to sob. He banged his paws against the table in a furious tantrum.

“He can have some,” Arin decided. Scor took a large bite off of the “pig” as soon as she spoke.

“But you haven’t eaten all day! I can’t let you starve, Arin!” Coyasko slammed a fist against the table making Scor jump frightened.

“I know . . .” She pried a leg off of the animal, it certainly smelled delicious. Her appetite concurred with her nose. “This is just a bit much for me.”

She sank her teeth into the meaty leg. First all she could taste was the incredibly hot sauce against her tongue, the heat didn’t bug her. As she absorbed the sweet sauce, rare meat added to the taste. The taste reminded her of steak back home, the thought of the Lightfoots ached her heart. She took bite after bite, juice and sauce dribbled down her chin between every bite. Scor enjoyed his meal too, the little guy was basically a bottomless pit.

Before long the small animal had been consumed. While they ate Coyasko had gone back into the kitchen to fetch a few pastries and ice water. He was ecstatic to see the two eat after a day without anything.

“Are you both full?” he asked after they finished the rich chocolate cake. Scor seemed a lot bigger now, was he already fat? Was Arin failing as a parent so soon?

“Me is!”

“I am too. Thank you so much, Coyasko. I—it is really encouraging that I have at least you here,” her voice trailed off. He pulled her into a gentle hug from behind.

“It’s going to get better, I promise.” She sniffled rubbing her itchy eyes. “Don’t cry, Arin. Don’t waste your tears on this. Mila won’t hurt you, not while I’m around.”

Scor mimicked Coyasko, and hugged Arin. She pulled the little dragon against her stomach, hugging him gently.

“Is fwend happy now?” He pressed his neck against her stomach so he was looking at her like a puppy. His wide eyes twinkling in happiness.

“Friend is very happy.”

He squeaked in triumph bouncing back onto the table. Coyasko released her as well but kept a hand on her shoulder.

“Enough delay, let’s go to the training yard.”

***

Outside was incredibly busy. A crowded sky of dragons and other fantastic beasts shaded the ground, soaring in the air above. Around her, students of all ranks were training in sword fighting or how to mount winged beasts properly.

Gold flashed in front of them as a massive mini dragon landed. Tall and muscular, this “Mini” Dragon could kill Scor.

“Igneous, today I want you to teach Scor all of the basics,” Coyasko instructed. Igneous nodded his head to the hatchling.

Scor jumped off of Arin’s shoulder trying to stand tall and proud like Igneous. Coyasko wrapped his arm around her as Scor approached Igneous.

Igneous began to educate Scor about how to fight and the proper stances he should use. The whole time she could only remiss about when she first arrived. Scor sat attentively as Igneous lectured him. She smiled.

Following the lesson, Igneous backed away allowing the slightly larger Scor to lower himself into a fighting stance. Scor jumped forward. Igneous allowed him to attack, little was he prepared for the tiny dragon to run under him. He stood up on his hind legs so his stomach was out of reach. Scor leaped into the air and bit Igneous’s scaly underbelly. His mentor pretended to be angry, encouraging Scor to fight. Scor released his foe, jumping back.

Igneous fell on all fours, inhaling sharply. Small bolts flickered out of his long mouth. He opened his lightning mouth releasing a bolt of electricity. He was too petrified by the scary new element to move. Arin tried to run forward, but Coyasko held her back.

After a moment of lying limp, Scor courageously stood again growling. Was he bigger? He bellowed a much deeper cry, flaring his obsidian wings in challenge. Violet sparks ignited in his mouth. Igneous took off hoping to avoid the attack. Scor summoned lightning from his mouth, striking Igneous.

Obviously Igneous was hardly injured from the blast. He landed, loose dirt swirled around his paws. Before Scor could flaunt, Igneous charged again. His target was not Scor, but Arin. Immediately, he noticed this. Scor roared, securing his arms around Igneous’s neck, pulling him down. The two began to wrestle on the ground.

“No one touches my friend!”

“Stop, stop, stop!” Igneous shouted breaking free. “I was just testing your loyalty. You obviously passed.”

Scor immediately released him backing away. “Oh, I’m sorry, Igneous. Can you forgive me for trespassing in your personal space?”

“How has his vocabulary expanded so much?” Arin asked.

“It’s called a Partner’s Bond. When a creature spends time with a respected figure their minds become one. Basically, all of your knowledge and feelings are being transferred over to Scor,” Coyasko explained. Igneous joined his side.

“Do you think you’re ready to fly?” Arin asked, rubbing Scor’s smooth snout.

“Sounds awesome!” Scor cheered, smiling at the two experienced partners.

“To think you’re learning years of training in only a few minutes. It can only be Partner’s Bond behind this.” Igneous spread his wings. He charged at Scor and picked him up, flying high into the sky.

Arin watched fearfully as Scor kicked and thrashed in Igneous’s grip. Something was happening up there, words were being exchanged. Scor stopped thrashing, listening to his mentor. He nodded before being released. A few Crimsons looked up and pointed, class seemed to stop and watch. Coyasko held Arin back, hands on her shoulders.

He spread his wings wide, catching air. Arin sighed relieved as her friend began to fly. It was hard to watch him stumble in the air, Arin could almost share his fear. Igneous joined his side, speaking to him once more. His frantic flaps became more of a pattern, he laughed triumphantly. Scor was actually flying now, she could only watch and wonder what it was like to fly.

They chased each other around, enjoying the open air like the other animals of Fynne. Now everyone was watching, the skies calm again. Was this some special event? Was it special that Scor learned how to fly? Together they starting a sparring match with one another, practicing aerial combat. Beneath them a massive red dragon shook his head annoyed. Mumbling he stomped back to the Dragons’ Den. Others gathered underneath cheering them on.

Scor flipped over, slamming his thin tail into Igneous’s head. He lost his balance in the sky, spiraling to the courtyard. Two mini dragons flew to Igneous’s aid, catching him.

“Hey, it’s fine! Igneous is fine you can let him go!” Coyasko shouted. The two mini dragons released Igneous obediently. He flew back into the air.

The cheering suddenly ended. Arin turned around to see Mila storm up to her, he was armed with a lance. She stepped behind Coyasko fearfully, shaking. All of the Crimsons gathered around them. Scor rejoined Arin, roaring defensively.

“I told you to not leave your room! How hard is it to stay there, you useless—”

“It’s my fault. I forced her to leave so Scor could learn . . . I swear it was only for an educational—”

“I don’t care! Get out of my way now!” Mila spat.

He stood his ground, Mila gestured to Coyasko with his head. Only a few loyal Crimsons came forward. They seized Coyasko’s arms and pulled him aside. Coyasko cursed as he was dragged away. Arin hid behind Scor, hopefully he would protect her.

“This is outrageous! You have no right to be so aggressive!” Coyasko shouted trying to break free without kicking or punching anyone.

“Humans are evil. They have no right to be in our great home. Now it is wrong of you to think I’m going to kill her. I’m merely coercing her into exile.”

“Exile! Are you insane? Must I remind you that she is a Plaque-Reader! She is our savior, you can’t banish her!”

A few Crimsons began to whisper at this. Coyasko stomped on one of the Crimsons’ foot before throwing the second off of him. He rushed between Scor and Mila, stretching his arms wide.

“I’m not going to let you exile a little girl into the dangerous wilderness. You’ll have to go through me first.” Igneous landed next to Coyasko, “no buddy, leave this to me. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

Igneous whimpered nuzzling Coyasko, “be careful.”

Coyasko pat his partner’s thick neck before unsheathing his sword. Mila readied his lance. Arin and Scor backed away from the two.

“Go,” Igneous whispered to the two. “When these two fight it gets chaotic. See how everyone is backing away.” Igneous was right, Crimsons were moving away from the two as they circled one another. “Take this as advice. If Coyasko looks like he is losing, which he probably will, you both need to run away. As dangerous as the wilderness is, you must hide out for a day. If Coyasko wins I suggest you stay by his side for a few days.”

Coyasko advanced forward, jabbing his sword towards Mila’s face. He parried, all of his focus was on Coyasko. Mila and Coyasko stepped back a few feet before charging at one another again. Arin couldn’t keep up with their fast swipes at one another.

When they both stepped away from one another Arin noticed that Coyasko had quite a few gashes across his face and arms. Mila had some but wasn’t in as awful of a condition.

He’s getting hurt because of me . . .

I can’t do anything to help either. I’m so useless.

Mila and Coyasko collided for the third time. Arin could hardly watch the two fight. Mila kicked Coyasko to the ground, who held his side wheezing. Blood trickled down his temple. Mila stood over him, lance aimed at the fallen Crimson.

“Give up, Coyasko. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“If I give up will Arin still be exiled?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’m not quitting.” Lightning erupted from his fingertips, Mila was blasted back. A few Crimsons gasped that Coyasko used such an extreme fighting method.

“Arin, get ready to run.”

“Why?”

“Mila is going to use his element. Coyasko won’t stand a chance. Hurry up and mount Scor.”

Arin was barely able to hoist herself onto the bulky Scor. She seated herself in front of his wings, careful not to kick his wing. There was a sudden flash, Arin shielded her eyes with shaking hands.

I’m gonna die.

I’m gonna die.

Arin peeked through her fingers, Coyasko was lying on the ground again. Mila wiped his lance clean with his dry hand. He knelt next to Coyasko grabbing his friend’s limp hand.

“Now, this is an opportune time to escape. Be careful, Arin.”

Arin nodded. Scor spread his wings wide and rocketed into the air. Arin held onto Scor’s neck fearfully as the Crimsons become dots below her. Wind slashed at her face, it was terrifying being so high up. Already hating the open sky, Arin squeezed her eyes shut.

I have to do this for Coyasko. Everyone needs to calm down and if I’m not here they can do so.

She looked down once more, curious as to what was happening. Two figures walk inside. It was probably Mila aiding Coyasko. The small Crimsons began to part ways.

We are safe. It ended well . . . sorta.

Scor straightened out, beginning the journey away from the Crimsons. Arin looked back, the castle disappearing behind her. It felt nice to finally be gone, but her heart was heavy.

Am I their savior? Do they really need my help? I may not be a Child of Destiny but I’m just as important as one. Right? What if my power fell into the Others’ hands?

“Don’t worry, we will return soon. Everyone just needs to calm down. I think they might mean something to you, not sure, but perhaps you care about them,” Scor began. “We can find a safe cave to rest. I’m sure the wilderness isn’t as dangerous as they say.”

Quiet for a moment, Arin spoke when she found words to say, “I can only hope, buddy.”