The jungle dragoness had constructed her abode as a treehouse. Several sturdy, broken boughs were braced between the tree's trunk and its living branches, hewed and hitched together to form a lattice. A mud plaster filled the gaps to create the walls and floor. Diwa hopped through a hole near the bottom to enter. "Welcome to my home!"

Viliant clambered after her, hefting himself onto the floor while letting his belly and tail drag.

The cozy interior provided shelter from most of the insects. A thatched roof kept them dry and offered them shade from any of the elements which might seep through the rainforest's canopy. Some curtains of woven vines were pinned open by the windows. The natural light poured into the room so that the dragons could see.

Viliant collapsed in a mottled patch of sun and shade across the floor. A slight grunt came from him from the unceremonious landing. There, he lay in peace. The insects' song chattered throughout the canopy in a constant drone. Birds twittered and other animals shrieked from afar now that they were higher up amidst the leaves. Thoroughly exhausted, he had no intention to get back up.

"I did offer to carry you," Diwa gently chided. "Make yourself at home," she offered even though he had already done so.

"Thank you," Viliant murmured. His mind was slipping. The small claws of Diwa tapped away and hopped to another room, leaving him alone. Fia…. Viliant thought. I need to make sure she's actually getting the care she needs. When his eyes reopened, his vision blurred. But I don't feel too good.

His muscles did not obey when he tried to get up. Instead, they cramped and seized with pain. What's happening? Viliant panicked as he writhed on the floor, unable to get up. Poison? No… they wouldn't bother with that. The jungle, however, might have something toxic in the air to which the native dragon had immunity.

Before he could do anything about it, Viliant's heavy eyelids fell shut against his will.

***

When his eyes next cracked open, his surroundings had changed. A gasp caught in his throat. Viliant tried to jump to his feet, but the sudden jerk only managed to bring him to an upright, sitting position.

"Don't get up!" a panicked, feminine voice said. The green dragoness Diwa hovered over Viliant, blinking her wide eyes rapidly in concern. "Please lay back down. You need to rest."

Viliant surveyed the room but did not see the pink scales of his friend. "Fia! Where's Fia?"

"Your friend is resting in another room. She's fine."

"But what about the poison?" Viliant asked, but he winced soon thereafter. His question was one out of disorientation and delirium—not a serious belief that he had inhaled noxious gas.

"Poison?" Diwa repeated. In a shrill voice, she asked, "You mean you're aware of the toxins building up in your ley lines? Why haven't you done anything about it?"

"Why haven't I? My what…?" A daze still settled over Viliant's mind. Though he was not certain what the nature dragon was talking about, it filled him with a sense of dread.

"Your ley lines," Diwa emphasized, a little dumbfounded that Viliant did not immediately understand what she was talking about. "You've been over-practicing magic for too long. Did you not listen to your elders? It's not healthy to cast spells without rest unless you want to develop manzy. It's a good thing Sage Rokirith brought you here, or else you both would have died!"

Those words sunk into Viliant's ears. "No," he whispered. "No, I'm fine. I don't know what you're talking about." Only Fia had been anywhere near death's doorstep. Viliant refused to believe that he had been only a couple days from that fate himself. Could using magic really do that to me? The awakening of his shadow element had felt like the one thing which had finally fallen into place in his life. If what Diwa said was true, then even his own talent had betrayed him.

"I'll try to reverse as much of the damage as possible, but you can't abuse your power like that anymore. Otherwise, you'll no longer be able to cast as powerful spells—"

"I'm fine!" he insisted. A slight tremor had entered Viliant's frame. He did not want to listen to this. "Treat Fia first."

"I already dressed your friend's wound and administered the first round of healing."

First round? Viliant echoed in his mind, becoming even more disenchanted with magic. Based on what he had seen previously, he had assumed that a competent healer's cure spell would be more potent than that. The human healer at the coliseum had reversed critical, devastating wounds in no time. Although the useless, nature mage in the woods had tempered his expectations, Viliant hoped that a dragon healer would far surpass any human ones. An infection must be harder to treat than a cut, he reasoned.

"I need to take care of you too," Diwa said simply, blinking her big, emerald eyes at him. She coaxed him to lay back down on the mat of furs. "I've only numbed the pain so far. You may have woken up already, but your ley lines are still a knotted mess."

"Alright…" Viliant said reluctantly. He watched Diwa as she flitted around all sides of the bed. She poked her stubby claws between his scales as if to give him acupuncture. A soothing energy washed over him, but it did nothing to avert his distrustful gaze.

Diwa must have felt his piercing stare. Without looking away from her work, she acknowledged, "I can't imagine what you kids went through."

"Hm." Viliant would not enlighten her on that matter. He had no intention to bare his heart to the healer, yet her remark still brought him to introspection. The closest person who understands what I went through is… Fia. Yet she had not the slightest understanding what it was like to witness the extermination of his people, grow up year after year in the coliseum, and watch all the other young dragons perish.

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"Whenever you're ready to talk about it, I am here to listen," Diwa offered. A telepathic signal pulsed from her, inviting Viliant to share whatever emotions might emburden his mind.

Viliant closed his eyes in one, long blink. When he reopened them, lids glazed over, he stretched out his wings. His body told the story of his life, those scarred wings and malnourished, brittle scales. He would never fly. He would never grow to his full size. And now, he might never reach his magical potential thanks to his damaged ley lines.

It seemed that the past would always define him. As Viliant's mind drifted back to the cage where he had led most of his life, he thought, I'm still trapped, but… does it have to be this way? Everything about him had been broken and battered back then—including his spirit. He had even reached a point where he could no longer muster the will to escape anymore, at least until Fia had come into his life. All her bright ideas had hitherto come to fruition. Maybe… I can stand to be a little more hopeful.

Even so, Viliant replied, "I… want to rest." He closed his eyes and trusted Diwa to take care of them. As he drifted back closer to the realm of sleep, he swore that he heard an astounding promise.

"Give me a little time," Diwa whispered, "and I'll heal your wings too."

So, this is what hope feels like. Viliant slipped into a deep slumber where his dreams could soar.

***

The dragons rested in separate rooms where the healer had placed them. Fia and Viliant needed some time to recover first before they could seek each other out.

Lucidity slowly reclaimed Fia's mind as her fever subsided. Within a week, she could sit upright and assess her new surroundings—a cozy room and a soft bed. A nearby window informed her the time of day. Sunlight dazzled on the underside of the leaves which Fia could see from here. The spark in her blue eyes reflected her newfound health. Fia admired Diwa in much the same way that Arenis used to look up to his older brother. I feel a lot better. Thank you!

You're welcome, dear. Diwa bowed her head and nuzzled the little girl's face.

The compassionate gesture hardly fazed Fia as she worried about the one who she most wanted to see right now. Where's Viliant?

He needs to rest too.

Viliant? Fia marveled to herself. Rest? Though most of her recollection from the fever was hazy, she did remember his constant, concerned presence at her side. Viliant always cared for her, never taking repose for himself. The thought of the staid dragon, at last overwhelmed, put Fia to alarm. Is he alright? Can I see him? I want to see him!

After a few blinks fell over her eyes, she realized that her demeanor was an artifact of the old Fia which had put herself in grave danger in the first place. The bubbly excitement projected in her internal voice died away. Knowing that she needed to change, Fia stated definitively as she got up, I'm going to see him.

Oh no! Don't strain your shoulder, Diwa fretted as she chirped fiercely at Fia. Please rest. I'll carry you.

Against her nature, Fia took a hesitant step backwards. I can walk. Her shoulder had a fresh bandage securely wrapped around it. Her leg had a new sling which supported her more comfortably than the makeshift one. When she had Viliant to lean on in the badlands, she had walked much farther in far worse condition. Fia, however, knew that she must endeavor to become more independent which entailed doing everything that she could by herself.

Don't be silly! Diwa said. Using your leg will interfere with your recovery. I'm here, so let me help you.

Okay… Fia was easily convinced since time was of the essence. Now that they had safely escaped the humans, they needed to direct themselves towards Carlinoa. Fia and Viliant would set out for her homeland as soon as they regained enough strength.

For now, Diwa gathered Fia onto her back and bounded to another, connected enclosure of her treehouse. Your friend is this way.

The dim room had a bed of furs along the far wall. A mass of black scales was curled into a tight ball, rising and falling with hastened breath. His body shuddered and twitched as though a nightmare had seized the sleeping dragon.

Diwa knelt at the bedside so that Fia could easily dismount onto the furs with him. For a moment, she watched him sleep with concern swelling in her chest. "Viliant," she said gently and nuzzled him. Fia lay down on her good side with a wing draped over his head crowned by six horns.

He seems to have nightmares more often than not, Diwa remarked. The healer settled down on the floor to join the child's visitation of her older friend.

A sliver of green peeked through Viliant's eyelids as he stirred. "Fia," he croaked. The muscles of his jaw softened. His tail unfurled to release its tension and wrapped back around his body in a gentle smile. I'm glad you're okay.

Fia tucked her wing snugly under his chin and neck. We made it. Thank you, Viliant!

His eyes fell closed again. You're welcome. And… thank you. Viliant was not ready to wake up yet, so he drifted back to sleep more easily now that his best friend was near.

A twinge of delight lifted in her heart. While Viliant had expressed his appreciation of their friendship, Fia had not realized how deep that went. Best friends… she recalled. Her presence soothed him enough to chase away nightmares which she could only imagine. In the coliseum, Fia had experienced but a fraction of his trauma.

Lifting her eyes to Diwa, she shared in great remorse, He's been through a lot more than me. And I almost died, she added with a shudder. Her system still felt the shock of her fever; she was amazed that she had managed to wake up from it at all.

I'll take better care of you, Fia vowed softly to Viliant. Like you've done for me.

One memory from the feverish ordeal burned brighter than all the rest. Sage Rokirith had drawn his talon across her forehead and cast a spell to help her. The words which he had spoken next seemed to crystallize in her mind. I deign to let you and your friend live. However, you must watch over him. Do not allow him to commit any crime that you would not take upon your own head.

As the sage commanded her this, Fia's fangs had clenched together as strong as her new resolve forged in the throes of her fever. No longer would she amble frivolously through their mission. I need to take this as seriously as Viliant. He alone should not have to bear the burden of their journey. Some unsavory but necessary decisions were required of them both. Fia flexed her claws, ready to see them bloodied and dirtied for her cause. I will save my people.

Gently, Diwa pulled Fia away from her personal musings. You don't have to share anything that you don't want to, but I… can't imagine. What happened to you children?

Well…. Fia recounted her tale in fits and starts, how she was captured by humans, forced to fight in the coliseum, and driven through the badlands in their successful escape.