"So, what's a Blood Dragon?"

"Get - OUT!"

"OUCH! Okay I'm going, but can you explain all your mysterious talk about you know, your family being taken, calling me an elemental an- Ouch!"

Redeem lunged into the air, gliding a fair distance away and landing in the grass. His tail was throbbing from the bites Miracle had unjustly applied. The river was only a few feet away now, and behind Redeem, Miracle prowled and hissed.

"You would think we would bond over both being orphans," Redeem said bitterly. He was honestly disappointed. Redeem might have once been an older and human man, but now he felt as lost and in the dark as any true hatchling would be.

"You don't want to know about Blood Dragons, ok? And this is just how things are, now move on before I kill you,"

Redeem suddenly looked smug. "You know… I don't think you wi-" A sharp amethyst had risen seemingly out of nowhere and now poked his throat.

Head halfway turned to look at Miracle, Redeem tried to step away from the crystal, only to find another one against his hind end.

"Can you stop threatening me and teach me that!?" Redeem hissed, causing another crystal to prod him.

Miracle rolled her eyes. "I can't do that, you are a Wind Dragon."

"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!"

Miracle looked unsure, eyes wide and searching. After a second, she pulled her magical sharp minerals back into the soil, and then sighed.

"I-"

A roar shuddered through the air, causing both hatchlings to flinch fearfully. The source of the noise was coming from somewhere behind both of them, deep in the forest. Exchanging looks, the hatchlings took different paths.

Redeem leaped into the air, trying to catch a breeze and soar over the river ahead of him. But, the wind wasn't in his favor, and so, of course, he hit the water and sank.

Miracle—who had been planning to run a different direction— was heading up river. Hearing the splunk, Miracle stopped and turned, watching the surface of the water.

Stolen story; please report.

When Redeem appeared, thrashing at the surface, another roar broke through the air. Miracle didn't waste any more seconds, and took to the sky. She was gliding much more skillfully than Redeem luckily, wings constantly flexing against the air.

Panicked, Redeem choked up water. He clawed at the surface of the water but was constantly bogged down by currents. Above him, Miracle struggled to keep herself out of the water as she reached down to scoop him out. Almost…. There…

"He-help!" Redeem cried.

"I'm trying! Grab my paws!" Miracle said.

Redeem spun as more water sucked him downward again. Redeem kicked, trying to get to air, and to escape the tormenting river.

Miracle didn't have any other choice but to steer away. She was going to run out of air and hit the water, and then they'd both be dead. The purple hatchling landed heavily on a nearby bank, and Redeem continued slowly drowning.

The next time Redeem reached the surface, he choked up water instead of managing a breath. Speaking was out of the question.

Lungs swelling with water, Redeem continued down the river, moving so fast that Miracle's brief landing had rendered them many feet apart.

"Redeem!"

Redeem wanted to call out.

[Turn around]

Redeem winced at the noise.

[Turn around, and spread your wings]

Of course, spewing nonsense. But Redeem wasn't a total idiot.

Turning, he didn't struggle against the current anymore. Instead, he flattened himself and flared out his wings. The water still bogged him down, getting into his nose and hissing around his ears.

But before Redeem could insult his system, he was falling. Water roared, joining one that rang above and was now much closer.

Redeem was gliding, just like before, but he was struggling to stay conscious. Redeem straightened his wings, gliding toward the ground faster than should be safe. Because it wasn't safe.

[Skill Update: [Gliding] Rank-Up: Apprentice] [Skill Ranked Up! +35 XP]

Landing with a thud, Redeem closed his eyes, and gasped for air he didn't get. Above him, Miracle landed next to him and suddenly pushed on his chest.

"No! Don't die!"

Redeem wanted to say, he didn't plan on it. But it looked like he wouldn't have a choice. As he was forced to choke up water, and given hope he might yet breathe — a towering black and red dragon stood at the top of the waterfall.

Seeing this, Redeem sputtered up enough water to say.

"Wh-"

Miracle followed his gaze, still working on his chest. Seeing the dragon, she yelped.

Looks like hatchlings were just too delicious to leave alone.

Miracle gasped, turning to nudge Redeem to his paws.

"Get up! Get up and run!" She said, sounding terrified.

Redeem coughed, scrambling to move toward the taller grass.

"Why—coughing—is he follo-"

"SHUT UP! RUN!"

Spurred on by Miracle, Redeem moved his little legs as fast as he could. As he ran, he drooled water, struggling to breath still. Miracle was on his flank, pushing him on as they wove through ferns and tried to use the shadows as cover.

Behind them, the Blood Dragon had leapt off the top of the waterfall and was now diving downward like a living shadow.

The land below the waterfall was wide, open, and just ahead of the hatchlings was a man-made path of dirt and rock. There was no escape, not for long at least. The plants wouldn't hide them forever.

In the depths of a fern boarding a dirt path, the hatchlings try to catch their breath.

"Why don't you—cough— just go?" Redeem asked.

Miracle ignored him, tilting her head, listening for something.

Redeem watched her, and considered himself. She had saved him, but he would be her death. He had to do something.

"Uuuugh, I need a good beer," echoed a human voice.

Redeem jerked his head. Their voices were foreign in his ears when they spoke, but he could still translate.

[I'm translating]

"I thought you said you sensed one."

"I do!"

"Well, where-"

Redeem directed his attention to Miracle, who seemed to be listening too, but maybe not to the same thing.

"I have an idea," Redeem said urgently.

The trees rattled, and it appeared there was no time to discuss a plan. Redeem had to do this, now or never.