The two dragons had squirmed between some rocky ledges for shelter that night, and dozed in the cool, confined space. Can we just sleep or do we have to take turns keeping watch? Fia asked.

Sleep. Viliant closed his eyes and said no more.

The dragons had their backs covered by rock. If anything came to get them, they would have to come from the single entrance and be met by dragon claws and fangs, blistering fire and manifesting shadow. The humans were no longer after them, so Fia and Viliant fell into their deepest, most sound sleep in a long while.

When the dragons woke up at high noon, they crawled from their shelter onto the sun-baked ground. Fia pressed the bottoms of her three, good feet flat on the ground. Mm. It feels warm. She twisted around and hopped onto some rocks which were even hotter, much to her liking. FIa stretched out her belly, tail, and neck, rubbing her scaly cheeks along the smooth stone. So nice, she purred.

What're you doing? Viliant snapped. We just woke up, so it's time to move—not sleep.

This feels amazing. Try it!

A skeptical glare bore into the dragoness who was leisurely sprawled out, but Viliant gave in and sank to the ground exactly where he stood. His black scales absorbed even more warmth from the sunlight than Fia's pink scales. As his eyes closed in relaxation and his chin drifted towards the ground, he slowly spread his tattered wings.

See? You do like it!

Shut it. Though Viliant might not want to admit it, all dragons enjoyed the warmth of sunlight on their scales. They would now have time to sun themselves for a few minutes each and every morning, a well-deserved moment of leisure.

I haven't gotten to lie on big rocks like this since I was home, Fia marveled.

Viliant folded his wings and got up with a grunt. If you still want a home to go back to, we'd better get going.

You're right, Fia acquiesced and skipped down from the rocks after Viliant. It'll be your home too, you know. She walked sideways into him and nudged him playfully.

Though the dragon turned his cheek away, his tail lifted in the slightest smile. Things were finally looking up for the two young dragons, but first, they would need to find a way back to civilization. A vast wasteland spread before them. In broad daylight, they could now see how barren the landscape truly was, an endless expanse of rock and sand. The few plants which managed to spring up here only amounted to a small, scraggly growth.

Are we sure there's gonna be monsters out here? Fia kicked a stone up with some dust and watched it skate over the dry ground. Doesn't seem like anything can survive out here.

We're gonna survive, Viliant said. And yes, I expect monsters—some of which I've probably already encountered in the coliseum.

Naturally, the ominous tone in his voice made Fia think back to the previous monsters that she had witnessed. With a crown of snakes atop its head, the leo medusa had been the most formidable in both physical and magical prowess. However, Viliant had surely faced some even more fearsome than that. A shudder ran down her spine which made both her wings and tail shake; Fia did not want to think about it, but at least Viliant could take care of whatever horrendous creatures that they might encounter.

Right now, they had nothing to worry about. Their recent escape from the human country helped lift their heads a little higher. The blazing sun overhead, constantly warming the dragons' scales, gave Fia and Viliant an extra spring in their step. The older dragon already concerned himself with their next, most immediate needs.

Water is our first priority, so keep an eye out and your ears sharp. The food will come to us.

The dragons' bellies still protruded from their recent feast. They could go nearly a week before they needed to eat again, and monsters would surely come to pick them off for that very same purpose.

The dragons' claws etched some scratches across the rough terrain as they pressed onward throughout the intense daylight hours. When Fia flared her nostrils and swallowed hard, the interior of her mouth felt sticky as her saliva thinned out. I wish we could've gotten one last drink at the river before we left the humans' land.

They never would've allowed that, Viliant remarked.

I know, but I'm thirsty.

Well, it might be a while until I can do anything 'bout that.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Fia restrained the urge to whine the entire time, knowing that Viliant must feel the same physical need as her. So, they carried on, chatting pleasantly, until some movement sparked a glimmer in the young dragoness's eyes.

Viliant, look at that! The flexible spines on Fia's back rose from excitement as she glimpsed her favorite prey.

A rabbit with a thin, rugged coat of fur crouched along the ground, camouflaging well with the dirt as it munched on a tuft of spiny grass. This one had ears almost as long as its body, erect in the air and swiveling slightly to stay alert for the first sound of danger.

Its ears are humongous! It's so cute, but I bet it would look even cuter in my mouth. Fia slunk forward, placing one claw in front of the other silently. She tried to keep her movement as still as possible, so that her pink scales could be mistaken for the reddish, brownish tones behind her.

It's just a rabbit, Viliant said in her head. Leave it alone. We don't need to eat right now.

But it's a rabbit! she replied as her counterpoint. We don't know the next time we'll get to eat…. This time, Fia would exercise her hunting skills to provide for them both. In full concentration, she drew closer to her prey and lunged.

The rabbit, however, sprung straight into the air which caused the dragoness to sail beneath it. Fia landed on the patch of grass and tried to halt her momentum with her forelegs, sending pain across her shoulder. What…? Confusion overtook her greater than the ache from her missed lunge. This particular rabbit had jumped higher than any bunny Fia had ever seen. Is it a magical, flying rabbit?

Even though her injury hindered her pursuit, Fia did her best to follow the erratic pattern of its dash. The dragoness did not want to admit defeat to a little cony.

A disappointed groan from Viliant could be heard. Fia….

But she ignored him, drowning out the sound of his voice in her head with a roar. Fia spewed flames at the rabbit and singed its cottontail.

Once more, the bunny leaped twice Fia's height, safely over the fire. Upon landing, it darted in zigzags until it disappeared.

A few blinks fell over Fia's eyes until she started crying. "Wah! Stupid rabbit." She was not crying over the lost food; after all, the escape of the rabbit was inconsequential. Rather, if she had four healthy legs she would have caught it.

It doesn't matter, Viliant reassured her telepathically. We didn't need the food anyway, so stop blubbering about it.

Even so, Fia kept crying. She walked back to Viliant with her tail dragging in defeat, and she tapped her forehead onto his shoulder. I know, but everything's been too much. I just wanna go home!

Viliant rolled his eyes and took a step away from the crying, little girl. You need to conserve your energy, and you already wasted enough chasing the rabbit for no reason. Your tears are a waste of precious water.

Her throat constricted as she swallowed hard and bit back her tears. Fine. It seemed like Viliant was not keen on consoling her like the last time she had cried, so she tightened her wings into her body and started walking again. Her nose turned up to the air to indicate her annoyance with him.

***

By nightfall, Fia and Viliant scoured the area for another enclosure to sleep. Lacking a desirable shelter, the dragons had to curl up beneath the stars. The pink dragoness flipped onto her back gingerly with wings spread out. Look up, she suggested to Viliant.

First, his head lifted and turned to look at the dragoness who sprawled herself out, upside down. Viliant would not put himself in such a silly position, but he did abide by her request. He flipped his own chin up to the sky, blinking at the starry sky.

Isn't it nice to gaze at the stars? Fia asked. It feels like it's just you and me in the whole world.

And a hoard of monsters all around us, lurking in the dark.

"Eek!" Fia vocalized a shriek.

Hush! Do you want them to come find us?

No…. I'm sorry.

The temperature dropped drastically once the sun had gone down and the rocky ground cooled. The chilly surroundings strengthened the dragons' sense of sleepiness. Fia rolled onto her good side and curled her back away from Viliant. The serenity of the quiet night, bright from the stars and moonlight, started lulling her to sleep. But then, an annoying, persistent clicking noise began behind her.

Viliant, what's that? she asked. Her muscles tensed up, afraid that some nocturnal monster was stalking them with claws tapping eagerly and teeth smacking hungerly.

It's nothing, he said. Go to sleep.

Fia tried her best to listen to him as she pressed one side of her head into the ground and draped a wing over the other. The sound only seemed to grow louder. Ugh. What is that? When she picked up her head to scan the open space behind Viliant, she saw nothing behind his trembling frame. Oh.

The black dragon had been too proud to admit it, but his fangs were chattering and his scales were clinking together from his violent shivers. The nighttime temperature of the wasteland had dropped too low for a non-fire elemental.

Are you cold? she asked.

I'm fine, he said, even as shivers wracked his body.

Well, I'm feeling a little too warm to sleep. Fia got up and plopped down next to Viliant who she leaned against just like a cool rock. Is that better?

Suit yourself. I don't care, Viliant said, who curled into a tighter ball.

A giggle caught in Fia's throat as she settled down to sleep next to her friend who had finally managed to stop shivering. Out in the open, the dragons slept more lightly in case anything found them during the night. At least there were no humans tracking them anymore.