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.

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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—whether or not you understand. Viliant cut the other dragonet off from telepathy and closed his eyes to sleep.