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—until 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.

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—the 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—keep 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—no 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.