I'm setting some new rules, Viliant said as he strode past the crispy blackfire lizards. One: put your survival above all else.

You mean everything? Fia repeated for clarification. Her talons clicked against the rough earth as she followed him in small, hasty steps. Even you?

Rather than replying over their telepathic link, Viliant shot her an unamused glare. The dragon had put himself at risk time and time again in order to help Fia, yet she repaid him with stupid questions. He continued, Two: do not make friends. You will not approach any animal unless we agree on killing it for food. This includes humans, most of all.

Fia wings shook and her tail twitched as a shiver ran down her spine. I hope we never see humans ever again.

If you listen to me, we won't. That brings us to my last rule. Three: always listen to me—without hesitation, without question.

But…. Fia trotted faster on three legs so that she could catch up to Viliant. After the attack of the blackfire lizards, a sharp twinge of pain cut through her shoulder which elicited a wince. She composed her face by the time that she walked into view beside him. But can't I help? I have good ideas too.

Sometimes you do. That's why you should tell me, and I'll consider it.

Except you don't! I told you to use your shadow form against the Lil Vilie—evil lizards, she corrected herself hastily. But you didn't do it—

I listened. You saw me. Viliant blinked a few times, indignant that he had done exactly what he had wanted to do with that information.

Fia hung her head and huffed a cloud of smoke onto the ground. I see. They trudged onward in silence. These new rules needed a few minutes to sink into the young dragoness's head, causing questions to arise. If I'm not allowed to make any other friends, then will you play with me?

No. I don't play. We don't have time for that. You're in no condition to mess around either. Viliant tipped his head slightly to the right. His slitted pupil flashed to the corner of his eye, observing the dragoness who was walking slower and limping more due to her injury.

More so, her tail dragged across the ground with her wingtips threatening to join because of this alien concept. No time for play. I guess when we escaped the coliseum… when we made it to the Bad Land… I thought we were free. I thought freedom meant we could do anything we wanted. I thought we'd be able to have at least some fun, even though we have to warn my clan. Fia clenched her fangs together. To herself, she chanted, Don't cry. Don't cry. Viliant's already mad at me and doesn't like it when I cry….

Tell you what. Viliant halted alongside the pause in his mind. Though cynicism followed him like his own shadow, rarely did fretful emotions overtake his mind such as the dread which consumed him now.

Concerned, Fia stopped too. She sat down to give her legs a brief break, stretched her neck a bit closer to Viliant, and tipped her nose up to him. What is it?

Slowly, he said, If you follow my rules, I promise I'll play with you once we make it back to Carlinoa. The dread from Viliant's mind evaporated, replaced by resignation to his fate.

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Fia's mouth dropped open and her eyes widened, almost as if firelight danced in those happy, blue eyes. You will? You mean it? You'll play with me?

Only after we successfully warn your people—

Hooray! Fia jumped up and felt a renewed strength to continue their journey. We'll have so much fun once we make it home, and it'll be your home too, she shared in a sing-song tone over their telepathic connection.

Stoic as ever, Viliant walked around to her injured side and simply said, Lean on me.

Oh, I'm fine.

No, you're not. Your injury has worsened.

Fia did not want to admit that her carelessness with the unfamiliar lizards had caused her body further damage. I'm just thirsty, but thank you, she said and accepted Viliant's support to help her walk.

We need water, Viliant confirmed. His eyes squinted up to the sun which moved westward across the sky. The vultures drifted after them throughout the day, more gathering as they seemed to sense the delirious dehydration in the young dragons.

Far off in the distance, Fia noticed another vulture flying towards the mountainous terrain ahead of them. However, its body was larger with four legs tucked into its abdomen. The wingspan of the silhouette spread far greater than any of the vultures which circled overhead. Most notably, its head was not bald but crowned with horns. The tail was adorned with spikes instead of feathers.

At first, Fia thought she was hallucinating to see a dragon in flight where a vulture should have been. A few, hard blinks fell over her eyes, and she shook her head. When she looked back up to the sky, indeed, Fia still saw the dragon. Look, Viliant, we're saved!

He replied with one simple word. Water?

No. An adult! A dragon! They can help us. Fia rushed forward and prepared her shrillest cry to garner the attention of the dragon.

Stop.

Her heart lurched, remembering the third rule which he had set earlier today. Always listen to Viliant—without hesitation, without question. She could not break his rules just after he had made them. So, Fia let the call for help die in her throat just like the flutter of hope in her chest. There was no immediate threat posed, so she figured it was safe to ask, But why?

Viliant's eyes narrowed at the dragon which was flying farther away from them. Rule two: do not make friends.

But that's a dragon! Fia gasped. All the mature dragons cared about the children in her clan, so she could not imagine a world where an adult would refuse to help them. If Fia and Viliant were going to call for help, they needed to act now before the adult flew out of earshot.

Just because they're a dragon that doesn't mean they'll help us, Viliant snapped. The dragons from the Novemis Clan allied with the humans and killed my people.

But we need water. We're going to die without help, so we have to try, Fia insisted.

No, we have a few more days. I can get us something to last till then.

But…. The dragoness had already explained her rationale, yet Viliant refused to accept it. This further entrenched the belief that he never listened to her, simply dismissing her input like the young child that she was. She had one last chance to prove Viliant wrong. Courage gathered in Fia's heart, swelling in her chest like the whistle which she prepared.

Don't, Viliant said in a warning tone. Listen to me. You call, that dragon swoops down and kills us.

Fia watched with straining, tearful eyes as the adult dragon flew to the mountaintop. A dreadful pit formed in her stomach, fearing that she had just watched her last hope disappear. The dragon had flown before her very eyes, yet Fia had done nothing about it at Viliant's behest.

Cheer up. I'll catch something to sate your thirst. His attention turned upward to the vultures—silhouettes against the falling dusk which enhanced the shadow dragon's powers.