“Get your filthy claws off of my lunch or I’ll slice them off!”

“Ooh, could you actually do that? How long would it take? Do you think it would be painful? I’d look wicked cool though, right?”

“Just shut up and leave me alone!”

“But I want to find out!”

“Kiraaaa!”

Kira groaned and rose up from her curled position on a bed of moss. Sunbeams hit her eyes as she stretched and flexed her wings open and closed. The smells and sounds of the forest surrounded her, providing a sense of both security and paranoia.

“What is it this time?” she asked impatiently. This was how she’d woken up every single day since they’d left the arena—with Liraz and Laila arguing. They always brought her into their fights, and the solutions were always temporary.

“Liraz won’t let me eat in peace,” Laila complained, snapping her beak at the nosy bat when he got too close to the fish she clutched in her claws.

“Liraz, leave her be,” Kira said firmly. “You’ve already eaten your fruit. Let Laila have her fish.”

“But it smells so weird!” Liraz exclaimed, fluttering over to Kira and bopping her head with his wings repeatedly in his excitement.

She waved him away with her paw. “Yes, but it’s Laila’s, and she caught it fair and square. If you want one, go get Rogue to catch you one.”

“All Rogue catches is deer,” Liraz said grumpily, sitting on her head and folding his wings tight to his body. “He says fish are too slimy.”

“They kind of are,” Kira pointed out. She herself would much rather prefer a chicken or a hare, but in a tight spot she could eat fish.

“Hmmph!” Liraz huffed. “Fiiine, I’ll leave her be.”

He flapped off and smacked into a tree, then got up and continued flying with dignity. Kira shook her head at him, amused.

“Finally,” Laila said, rolling her eyes and then devoured the fish in one chomp of her beak.

“So what’s the plan?” she asked when she was finished.

Kira sighed. “I have an inkling of one, but I don’t think it will work.”

Laila raised her eyebrow at the conflicted fox. “Why not?”

“Well…I kind of ruined it a while ago,” Kira admitted, scratching her neck with her paw.

“How so?” Laila’s emotionless gaze was unwavering.

“I met an Earth Dragon once,” Kira told her, “And he offered me help, but he was too vague. I got mad at him, then insulted him and refused any further conversation with him.”

“You insulted a Dragon?” Laila asked, looking mildly impressed. “I underestimated your spunk, Flufftail.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Kira felt embarrassed. “It was a stupid decision…”

“Oh, it definitely was,” Laila agreed. “But it takes a lot of guts to stand up to a Dragon.”

Kira sighed. “Whatever the case, I’m not sure he would respond if I called on him. He said I could ask for help anytime, but I don’t know.”

“You’ve got nothing to lose by trying,” Laila pointed out, picking up a rock and looking under it with feigned interest. “Just don’t expect any results.”

Just then, Rogue stumbled into the clearing where they were, carrying a deer leg in his mouth. Liraz hovered after him, keeping a constant chatter going as he flew.

“Just in time!” Kira said, pleased. “We’re going to ask my acquaintance Cyfrincato for help on our mission.”

Rogue raised an eyebrow and dropped his deer leg to speak. “Who?”

“You’ll see,” Kira said. She took a deep breath, then called “CYFRINCATO!” at the top of her lungs. “CYFRINCATO, I NEED YOUR HELP!”

For about five minutes, nothing happened.

“So…was there supposed to be some kind of magic, or…?” Liraz asked awkwardly, staring at Kira.

Then, the ground rumbled beneath them. They all took a step back as a familiar mahogany Dragon emerged in the middle of the clearing, shaking off dirt onto all of them. Laila made a noise of disgust as some of it got onto her feathers.

“Whoa,” Liraz gaped. “He’s SOOOO big!”

Cyfrin took one last shake of his head, then stared down at the small group of animals assembled far below him.

“You called, fox?” he asked in his deep voice. “I admit, I did not expect to be reunited with you after your last cheerful goodbye.”

“I’ve changed,” Kira said simply.

“That you have,” the great Dragon agreed, eying her with his wise, golden eyes. “You have experienced much in these last moon cycles, little one.” His gaze traced her scar, then fell to her friends. “And who are these lovely creatures behind you? No need to be afraid, Mister Bat. I don’t eat things as small as you.”

“These are my friends,” Kira said as Liraz perched on top of her head once more, staring wide-eyed at Cyfrin. “The bat is Liraz, the falcon is Laila, and the leopard is Rogue.”

“Ah!” Cyfrin said cheerfully, smiling. “I know of you, Rogue! You’re the one who saved the Periculo village from famine by creating your own river! That was quite the event, I must say!”

Rogue’s eyes practically popped out of his head. “You know about that?”

“Of course.” Cyfrin chuckled. “I know most things that happen on this continent. Including the demolition of one terrible arena.” He raised his eyebrows pointedly at them.

“Guilty,” Kira claimed. “But if you knew about that, why didn’t you stop it?”

Cyfrin’s expression grew slightly sad. “Alas, the metal they used blocked my abilities to use the earth. The sand was too shifty for me to see what was happening, and all I had were rumors. I knew that there were many, many creatures coming and going for that place, so for all I knew, it was a very busy market. When it toppled, however, I received a pleasant visit from some moles who told me everything. I regret my blindness to that horrible place.”

Kira nodded. “But back to the reason I called you. I need your help to find Deya.”

“Ah,” Cyfrin’s eyes twinkled cheerily. “You have finally redirected your priorities, I see.”

“I have.” Kira’s tail swished on the moss floor. “Can you tell me where to find her? Is there another prison we don’t know about, one that can hold Dragons?”

“There is something,” Cyfrin said, causing them all to lean forward eagerly. “At the very tip of the jungle, there is an odd structure that even my eye cannot reach. I have asked a few creatures about it, but none of them know what I’m talking about. I haven’t traveled there yet, but I suppose it might be what you’re looking for.”

Kira’s heart jumped for joy. “Thank you, Cyfrin!” she cried, flapping her wings and grinning at him. He laughed.

“Is that the only lead you have?” Laila interjected, tilting her head.

“As of right now, yes,” Cyfrin told her.

“Thank you, Mister Earth Dragon,” Rogue said.

Cyfrin waved his hand. “Please. I don’t do formalities. Call me Cyfrin.”

“Thank you, Cyfrin,” Liraz said.

Cyfrin smiled. “Anytime, Kira and Friends. It was lovely meeting you all. Until next time! Farewell!”

He waved his claw and then dove into the earth, disappearing with one last flick of his tree-sized tail.