Fia skipped next to Diwa as they made their way to the ship anchored at port. Most of the humans and dragons that were out and about so early rushed by. Any humans who would have otherwise walked close to Fia and Diwa lengthened their strides. The quiet streets made it easy for them to give the dragons ample space. The empty skies allowed other dragons to soar directly to their destination with minimal interference from other fliers. The vendors of the street-side marketplace were displaying their wares to anticipate the day's business. While most of the city was gradually filling with people, the port was already packed.

Many strong dragons and men carried crates which looked too big for either species to handle. The dragons hovered over the ship decks while the humans walked up ridged planks. Since Viliant was just a dragonet, he had a large barrel balanced over his spiny back and horns. Two other humans helped lift the goods, ahead and behind Viliant. They coordinated their steps to ascend the ramp together.

Fia resisted the urge to jump into telepathy with him right away. Instead, she contented herself with talking to Diwa. "Viliant's doing such a good job, isn't he?"

"He really is." A slight curl entered Diwa's tail. For the short time that she had known him, Diwa had watched Viliant grow so much. Now he even acted civilly around the humans in Malakow who had done nothing to hurt him.

The moment that he got on the ship with the two other sailors, Viliant slunk out from underneath the crate. His tail slipped between his legs to make sure it did not get smashed. The two humans were left struggling to set the fragile cargo down gently.

"That's the last one!" cheered a violet dragon. Bagwis spied Diwa and Fia on the docks, so he hovered to greet them. "Perfect timing. We just finished loading the ship." Bagwis turned to address just Fia. "How're you feeling? Are you excited to head home?"

Fia jumped up and ruffled her wings, "Yes! Oh, yes."

"Your parents would be thrilled that you're about to get on this ship." Bagwis steeped his head in a bow. "Safe travels."

"Thanks again!" Fia waved her wing as Bagwis took to the sky once more. He busied himself with more heavy things that required dragon wings on the docks.

"Let's head over." Diwa guided Fia close to the ship—smaller than the one which had captured Fia—but no less impressive to the dragonette as she stood in its shadow.

Fia was so excited to get on the boat, she did not even spare Diwa a final farewell. The pink dragonette squealed and raced up the boarding ramp. "Viliant!" she called, connecting with him over telepathy.

Viliant also made his way down the ramp. He intercepted Fia as she leaped against his chest. With a flex of his toes, his claws lodged against a wooden board, Viliant did not budge.

"Oof." Fia knocked the wind out of herself, but that did not dampen her spirits. "Today's the day!"

Let's go down the ramp first. Viliant jerked his neck to gesture to Diwa. We should say one last good-bye. The dragonet also wanted to give Diwa one last chance to heal his wings.

Fia backed up her first couple of steps. Her hind right foot slipped and almost carried her off the ramp.

"Careful," Viliant barked.

The dragonette turned herself around and jumped so that she could glide the rest of the way. "Diwa! Thank you so, so much." Fia curled into her wings to get a last hug.

"Of course, Fia. It was my pleasure," Diwa thrummed. "May the air and water currents hasten your journey! If you ever find yourself back in Malakow, please pay me a visit. You and Viliant are welcome in my home anytime."

Viliant ducked his head, preparing the words for what he was about to ask. He spoke in the language which Diwa had tried her best to teach them. "Will you heal my wings?" In an effort to sound more polite, he added on, "If you can."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Diwa squeezed her eyes shut with a sigh. "Viliant, lay out your wings." Her chest swelled as the dragoness gathered her magic power. A green light swirled around the black dragonet's wings, sprawled flat on the wooden pier. A few holes mended over, only the smallest ones around the edges. Diwa let out a gasp as her magic gave out. "That's all I can do right now."

Viliant lifted one wing to his face. His eye peered through the largest slit at Diwa. Figured it was worth a shot. Thanks for trying, he thought glumly.

"I'm so sorry," Diwa hung her head, barely lifting her hooded lids to regard Viliant. "I hope you find a healer more skilled than me, elsewhere. If you ever come back—and have the time to stay longer—I'll fix your wings for real."

Viliant nodded, but he said nothing and thought nothing of her offer. He turned to head back onto the ship first.

Fia felt how the mood had soured across their telepathic chain. With claws tapping frantically, she flung herself at Diwa for another hug. "Bye! We'll see each other again some day, when I'm a flying ace!" The pink dragonette dashed after Viliant and bounded up the ramp.

Pako greeted them on the deck, giving them a sailor's salute. "Welcome aboard. We have two weeks of smooth sailing to Arucaway, the seaside city."

The sailors did the last chores to draw up the boarding plank. One man shouted, "Get that drake over here—!"

Viliant gave a soft snarl and glared in the direction of the man's voice.

Pako lowered his hand close to Viliant's face, a daring move despite his calming intent. "I have my hands free," he called to his fellow men. "I can help!"

Fia and Viliant were left along the guardrail as the ship pulled away from port. Thrilled that they were moving on the water, Fia propped her forelegs against the wooden fence.

Diwa kept her perch on the pier to see them off. "Good luck! Have a safe voyage home! I'll miss you both!"

"Thanks for everything, Diwa!" Fia whistled, waving an exuberant goodbye with her wing.

Viliant copied her, balancing his front feet on the ledge. He chose to wave one of his wings too, the one that had the least shreds after Diwa's meager healing. Thanks for everything, he repeated.

The ship navigated onto the river where their journey began once more.

***

Fia quickly discovered that the ship did not offer them much to do—at least not in the way of engaging activities for a dragonette. Viliant still had much to do in the way of work. Don't follow me. You're not supposed to work. You'll have to find a way to entertain yourself, but stay out of trouble! The black dragonet slunk off when Pako came to get him.

"I'll be good. See you later, Viliant!" Fia stayed by the rail, content to listen to the sloshing water against the boat's hull. Despite having her egg hatch on an island, she had only seen the ocean enough times to count on one paw. And the last time, I was thrown in a cage. A shiver ran up Fia's spine. The long journey on the ship to to Syene, where Fia was kept miserable in the brig, had turned hazy in her memory. To the dragonette, it felt like she would find herself on the shores of Carlinoa Island in the blink of an eye.

When she next opened her eyes, she still stared down at the river water. Unlike the ocean, its turquoise colors had a lighter tint. Fia thought that she could see deeper into the water, shallow compared to a vast sea. A group of three silver fish swam by, a dim glint beneath the rippling surface. They appeared dull as the surrounding jungle shaded the water. The morning light could sparkle off neither the fish's scales nor the flowing stream.

Fia took in the rest of her surroundings. At the boat's center, a cabin blocked her view of the other side. A small human peeked her head around the corner, where she also had her fingers wrapped. Her braided hair draped over her shoulder, and only one of her brown eyes were visible. When Fia met her gaze, the girl ducked behind the wall. There's another child on this boat, Fia thought, her curiosity piqued.

While she had not hesitated to make friends with Ori, a fellow dragonette, Fia did not run over to the kid. Viliant told me to stay out of trouble, Fia remembered. The only trouble on the boat is probably the humans.

Instead, Fia moved toward the rear of the boat. Once she settled into a sunny patch of empty deck, her eyes fluttered shut. The dragonette meditated as a way to practice her fire magic without sparking a flame. If any monster reared its ugly head from the water, Fia would be ready to scald it and put it back under.