When the dragons found a secluded spot, Viliant said in Fia's mind, Sleep. I'll keep watch. Though he might have said that, he could barely keep his bleary eyes open just like her.

Too tired to object, the dragoness flopped onto the ground as if her legs gave out. Fia immediately rolled to her left side to protect her right shoulder in the sling. Every muscle already ached from the aftermath of her fight with the humans, yet she was still twitchy from the shock.

The humans won't come for us again right away, will they?

The deep green eyes of Viliant answered her question with some slow blinks. They both knew that they would only be safe once they had reached the Bad Land.

Fia squirmed on her good side and curled herself into a tight ball. She could not shake the frightful feeling from when she had been alone, practically helpless. The watchful presence of Viliant should put her mind at ease, yet the events earlier that night kept replaying over and over again.

Viliant crouched a short distance away, lurking in the shadows of the dim, dawn light. Since she could not sleep, Fia figured that she might as well talk to him.

Hey Viliant—

The older dragon cut off her thoughts and replied tersely, You’re supposed to be asleep.

I can't.

Do it anyway.

But I can't.

But you have to, Viliant growled. Too much aggression crept into his thoughts for such a simple statement.

Her guilt from last night compounded in her head. Fia thought he had every right to be mad at her, as useless as she was; Fia could not even fall asleep when they had a moment's reprieve. Her frustration mounted, forcing her to resist the urge to let a shrill whine curl from her throat as she snapped at him. I said I can't!

The severe stress and exhaustion made both dragons irritable, but Viliant huffed out a sigh and approached this rationally. Wanna keep the first watch then?

No…. I'll sleep. A shudder ran up her spine as she recalled how she had been perfectly awake when the humans snuck up on her. Fia had simply failed to pay close enough attention to her surroundings. The burden that she was, she did not want her oversight to put Viliant at risk while he slept.

Useless. I'm so useless. Keeping those thoughts to herself, Fia could not shake it from her head. Instead of falling asleep, her mind dwelled on yet another failure. At the very least, she would do good to admit her failings to Viliant before she drifted off. Fia murmured sheepishly in Viliant's head, I forgot to tell you something.

What?

Her mental voice was tiny, shrinking back preemptively for his explosion. There was another human.

There was a what? he roared in her mind. Viliant jumped up with the sound of rustling leaves beneath the growl in his throat.

Another human, she squeaked. I burned his face in his helmet, but I forgot he was still alive.

Fia….

I know.

We should have killed him while we had the chance! Though their telepathy passed between them without sound or words, it still felt like Viliant was yelling at her—all the more intense since it was inserted directly into her head.

I'm sorry! she cried.

There was nothing that could be done about it now, so Viliant let it go. Remember to tell me everything next time. Everything. We can't afford to slip up like that. Now they'll definitely be right on our tails.

Fia had nothing to say for herself aside from, I know. I'm sorry. Despite feeling like a hopeless, lost cause—already doing the best she could—she murmured, I'll do better.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Good.

She stewed in self-loathing, but even now, Fia tried to look for a shred of light in the darkness. My fire, though…. Will it keep the humans preoccupied for a bit? It'd be dangerous if the flames spread to the village.

I doubt it, Viliant replied instantly, crushing her hopes. You saw how humans are. They're cruel and stupid—willing to sacrifice their own to kill us! Every human only cares about themself.

Even the healer—the closest thing to a good-willed human that they had ever met—had aligned himself with the Dragon Slayer upon their escape. Fia sighed, unable to argue with Viliant's assessment of humanity. Somewhere at heart, she knew it to be untrue, yet her experience had her young mind convinced for now.

Now go to sleep, Viliant said. I'll wake you when I need to rest.

When she closed her eyes, a fire raged on the back of her lids. The afterimage of the metal mage's spikes still radiated a seething orange light. The nightmarish memory enthralled her till she fell asleep.

***

Something nudged at her intact shoulder. Fia. It's your turn. The stream of consciousness from Viliant's thoughts broke off as he could not suppress a massive yawn. Keep watch. Wake me up if there's anything suspicious.

O-Okay. Fia got up and shook herself awake. She lay down where Viliant once hid and surveyed their surroundings. The telepathic link was severed as he collapsed and conked out almost immediately.

Alone in her own head, she did everything she could to stay alert. Whenever she found her attention drifting off, Fia simply glanced at Viliant. I can stay awake—for him. In this moment, he was vulnerable and entrusting her to keep watch. I'm not going to let him down!

***

Nothing caught Fia's attention, so she allowed Viliant to sleep until he naturally stirred. After rolling to the side and snuggling his cheek into some weeds, he suddenly jolted upright and asked, What time is it?

The two dragons turned their snouts up to the sky and blinked at the afternoon sun.

Why didn't you wake me up sooner? Viliant asked.

You let me sleep awhile. You deserve to sleep too! Fia said.

When Viliant rose and splayed his shredded wings in a stretch, his stomach rumbled for breakfast. An awkward tension hung between the mind's of the dragons. They were both hungry after missing supper last night, yet retrieving food from the next nearest town was no longer an option.

When do you think it's safe to get food? Fia asked.

At first, Viliant seemed to contemplate an answer. A response was bubbling in his mind, yet he dallied to share it with Fia who observed with bated breath. Viliant's head stooped lower as he walked past her.

She picked up her feet to follow him, and she slowly came to realize that he simply did not like the truth.

Probably never, Viliant admitted at last. We need to keep moving right now. We also need food, so we'll eat when we can wait no longer.

The dragons had already thought their rations scanty in the coliseum, but their freedom did not mean it was time to feast. The trips into town proved too dangerous, so they must now learn to endure a fast.

Since she had been stationary for a while, Fia stretched out her hind legs as she took her first couple of steps. A low groan emitted from her throat. The ache in her injured, front shoulder had become more persistent over the last week. Her limp slowed their progress more drastically though Fia simply brushed it off as the aftershock of last night.

With the poor intention to cheer her up, Viliant chimed in her mind, At least the humans had decided to come at dinnertime. Too bad we didn't have time to eat—

No, stop! Fia panicked that he was about to suggest that they could have eaten the bodies.

Viliant blinked at her outburst and finished by saying, The horses.

Oh.

The detachment of Viliant's mind made it seem like he was trying to hide something, perhaps a true desire to eat human flesh like it were any other prey. Fia had once wanted to talk about his overzealous aggression towards their enemies, but she did not have the energy to bring it up after the humans' attack. The silence provided a much preferable walk.

Like she had once done for him, Viliant now made an effort to keep a conversation between them. How's your shoulder holding up? His larger form hovered nearby to support her. A glint of deep concern shone in his eyes, but Fia could not make eye contact with him.

Not good…. Same as always.

I didn't have time to find the herbs for you. I'm sorry.

The fire had summoned him away from the village prematurely, so the only one who had to feel sorry about that was Fia. It's fine. When she mumbled that in his head, she took great care not to express her true mind.

They walked on for a bit, but their steps were sagging like their stomachs. The dragons had nothing to say to each other. Even so, Viliant did not allow the silence to stew between them for long. You seem distant.

The scaly edges of her mouth began to waver, but Fia stiffened her jaw. Time would not allow for her to break down to tears again. I just wish we had a healer like the man at the coliseum.