Warm words beneath a blue sky,

A starling hope, arrives.

The horn's clear note eventually rose to resonate through the wind, usurping it and reaching a distant, sheltered glade. Nestled within a delicate encirclement of wood, there beneath the warm afternoon sun, hectic preparations continued. Compared to the main camp there were fewer tents, but those that remained were larger and more broad in size, built for communal living—but more luxurious than those used to house an everyday soldier. On the edge of the encampment, secluded beneath the shade of old oak, stood great wooden enclosures. Their timber was carved out of the hardy oak forest and as the trees were felled, so too was the glade born.

Nearby the enclosures, on a patch of dirt, worn barren, creatures of scale stood: legs firmly extended, long claws breaking into the soft, dry earth beneath their feet. They are befitting many names. Their ancient record tracks back to the mainstay of oral tradition, which has long since muddled any form of truth amongst which the common man dwells leaving an impenetrable veil as murky as the fabric upon which the stars shine.

Their skin warmed beneath the sun and scales radiated, shimmering as they scattered the light. Stationary, standing as tall as fifty men laid in a coarse pile, they endured as saddles were tied upon them, by long-haired, cloaked shadows. The hooded creatures spun around draping intricate ropes across their slender elongated bodies; securing the saddles with a quick fervour, never letting their silhouettes sit still. The drakes kept their wings closed as their attendants worked. It was an after effect of their rigorous training so as not to be lethal to their riders. It was commonly known that the pressure from a surprise blast generated by a wing was a cause for broken bones. Long studied and publicly regarded as a wonderful occupational hazard.

Through the sparse woods to the western edge of the glade, a figure emerged. Draped in a longer cloak, obfuscating the face. It dashed over and began conversing, quickly making hurried marks on a piece of parchment, moving from person to person. Suddenly she froze whilst examining the second line of drakes. Her feet unwittingly frolicked, below her deceptively concealing clothes.

"Alexera!" her bright, crystal voice rang out. The figure turned and dropped her hood. Out spilled her long locks of golden blonde hair, striking and luscious. As she turned, the small figure crashed into her, after tripping and snagging herself on a long dead root, concealed in the sparse patch of grass. The examiner, glared joyously into her azure eyes, seeing the sky reflected in all its beauty. She couldn't tell which colour held a purer allure.

"I didn't know they'd release you so quickly! And, I never expected to see you again, and in the same detachment!" Alexa's face grimaced for a moment then broke into a strained smile. She pushed her arms out and tried to separate herself from the clinging mass, thrusting her deceptively strong but slender limbs out, forcing a crack.

"Marcy, by now I thought you'd be promoted... " she paused for a moment considering her thoughts. Blushing and looking away.

"Is it because you don't like being around me?" she quickly froze realizing Alexa began speaking nearly at the same time.

"—But I am glad to see you again." those words resounded in Marcy's ears for a moment who blushed in turn. "So could you rise up off of me. I hate to admit it..." her voice sundered softly. "But I am still sore. The scars aren't fresh anymore, but the muscles were badly injured." Mary nodded her brows drooping in response, alongside her withering, yet vibrant smile.

"I am sorry to ask Alexa, will you be okay to ride and how is she? ...Having been separated so long." Alexa grinned.

"She is just like I remember her... She could never forget about me." She hopped forward and began to voraciously rub her snout. The drake quickly began to rock on its four feet. It's nostrils puffing hot air. It's teeth flaring in a makeshift smile—even the wings began to echo their desire to beat, reaching the height of its spunky elation. "She is a beautiful little mind reader, of all the drakes she is my one and only, my love." She crossed her arms gazing up and down the drake's body affectionately. The drake reciprocated, and bowed its head, settling down and spreading its torso out, as if all tension had left it.

"I am happy for you Alex... So how about her health?" Marcy inquired looking at her parchment. Alex looked her over, taking meticulous time and care around the long colourful tail.

"She is healthy, not lethargic or undisciplined. Still plays and eats in long bouts. No tantrums either." Alexa finished taking her pointer finger to her lips as if forgetting something, as her eyes rolled across the sky.

"Great. You should have seen her after you were taken away. Tantrums almost every day! The way she howled…." The smaller girl cringed her body shuddering. "Now that you are here, I hope it doesn't happen again. I know I sent you those letters in the ward. But still, sorry for repeating it. Don't. Be. Reckless." Alexa shrugged.

"Yes, overseer. I won't, don't worry about it. So. How are the rest of the girls doing?" Marcy looked back at her gauging if her expression was devious, then a knot appeared one side of her lips, her dimples flaring.

"You mean the drakes or the riders?"

"Aren't we one and the same?" Alexa coyly replied. Marcy sighed.

"Most didn't take it as hard as I did, Riders are a special breed. But once your drake—"

"Her name is Aranara." Marcy squinted for a brief spell in subdued animosity.

"Yes once Ara Ara, returned, the rest of the drakes weren't able to sleep for a week. She wasn't happy. Almost tried to fly away at least once. Don't know what stopped her. She slapped those wings of hers once and almost killed a few of the guards. Luckily only scared them, well one fell over and broke his arm. But after a few weeks... We heard that you'd return. I didn't expect to see you so early and in such a good mood though." Alexa pondered for a second then grabbed Marcy by the hips and spun her petite body around through the air.

"You better get used to it Mary. I am here to stay… So, what's left for the examiner?" Alexa planted her down. Marcy looked over her paper disgruntled.

"I hope you know you weren't usually like this. I hope you haven't fallen in love in the royal ward. Suddenly beaming with thoughts of a new man. Well anyways, how about your saddle and your restraints, navigation equipment, as well as emergency supplies?" Alexa looked them over briefly.

"All good, if my eyes don't deceive me, and Marcy... I haven't met a man. In fact, I haven't met anyone cuter than you." Marcy turned away her cheeks plump and red as tomatoes. "In fact, I spent all my time wanting to be back with everyone. So I laid in bed and got better as quick as I could." Marcy smiled looking back.

"One last thing, Royal Rider. How is your strength?"

"Weaker than before, I won't lie, the injury… it took a toll. But do not fear Alexa is definitely here. I won't falter, I won't stray, and I will definitely save the day." Marcy nodded, wincing to the rhyme but still quietly chortling behind a hand cupped across her petite mouth.

"I hope that's a real smile Alex. I don't want you to be hiding things from me." Alex triumphantly coughed into her balled fist.

"I would never, how long have—" Marcy interrupted her with gaze alone. It grew full bodied, and serious, grave and unwavering. Even Alexa figured to shut up.

"I never want to see you tied to Aranara, almost cleaved in two. Never again." Tears tried to escape her eyes, but she turned away. After a deep breath, she looked back collected. "You have been cleared to sortie for today's assignment. I know you didn't have a chance to read everything over on the way, so do so now." Alexa's gaze dropped, but for a moment, a voice unlike her own: not beaming or elated escaped her.

A firm sincerity braced itself against her chords."Thanks, Marcy, for staying with the detachment. You—." Marcy looked back with a new glowing affection upon seeing her friend's real face: that of a tired and worn, but still painfully beautiful girl. She savoured that ultimate sincerity for a moment and asked no more. Feeling their hearts joined together; even the drake's head rose, sensing the sudden intensity.

"No more, Alexera, how long have we been friends?" She paused turning away and waving. "Anyways Cya, I need to finish and report these evaluations back to the Minor General, Raulin. I'll tell you later how much I have to walk from his tent to ours. The bastard won't let me use a horse for safety reasons." Her voice grew quieter as she continued to walk to the next coupling with supple steps.

"Such stature for her meagre height. She'd make an intense unit tactician one day. Don't you think so Aranara." Her drake carefully twisted it's head and licked her face, scraping off a bit of kicked up dust. It snorted upon tasting her familiar skin. "I wonder why he doesn't want her to be seen riding. I am not so sure he truly fears for a horse in these truly treacherous, root-heavy woods. But for, someone of her importance….. Oohh I get it."

She smiled devilishly into her drake's eye. Then, began gleefully scratching its face. Sliding her tempered nails, across the creatures many shiny scales. She watched, as it burst into delight and its tail began to beat. Drumming dust into the air, breaking nearby branches and uprooting any hedge that happened to restrain the whip-like motion. She continued to scratch until Aranara couldn't bear it any longer. She shifted her weight onto her back legs and launched her head into the air roaring.

"What a spirited girl." Alexa thought, proud. Everyone looked on in quiet astonishment. She pressed her finger to her lips. Shushing the drake, a personal command it knew well. Its gently fell back down and dropped its head. She could sense the same spirited beast beside her. She planted a soft kiss on the bridge of its snout. Then fondly pressed her own skin to Aranara's empyreal scales, savouring her warmth.