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—completely 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—livid—Fia 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.

How's that?

By the time that he was done, Fia's leg was stationary—bound 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—scared 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—!

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—! 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.