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Twisted Night: Chapter 11

Infinity soared through the sky; wings spread wide as the low hanging clouds seemed to reach out and kiss them. She'd pass into them every now and then with a pleased rumble, letting droplets of water gather on her leathery membranes and onyx scales till they sparkled like gemstones. With renewed energy coursing through her veins she'd burst free, the clouds curling below her beating wings. Up and up she climbed, till the air itself became thin. Then with a tilt she'd divebomb downward, warbling what joy lurked within her chest.

She'd exit her divebomb with a flare of her wings, the wind ruffling them like a storm. The countryside below was smeared thick with shades of yellows and golds. Like an artist had brushed every inch with his favorite coat of paint, it was only separated by the dark shapes of winding rivers, or trees that'd lost all their leaves. Cordenth had made mention this place was called the "Golden countryside" Clearly the ones who'd named it were not wrong. Every gnarled, branchy tree, each thousand-armed bush, even the dwindling grass below had shades of yellow found within. Either consuming it like a blanket or tinting it until the green was just a tiny island within the sea of yellow color.

For a moment she gave herself the time to take such sights in, held in awe by its beauty. Never had she seen something like this within her tower. Confined to just that cell and fake room. If not for having a predator giving chase she might have lingered longer. She surged forward, lashing her tail like a whip.

From the clouds sprung Lyyreth, snapping with sharpened teeth where her tail used to be. The look on his wrinkled snout when he got nothing but air, was priceless.

"That the best you can do? I've seen crabs with better reflexes!" She teased, spiraling downward as she laughed, letting the wind howl across her ears. "Come on Lyyreth, show me what a green dragon can do!" Like fire her blood lit as he warbled his approval of her challenge. She could feel it surge through her veins, filling every limb with new life. Course was it from the game they were playing or the tone of his voice? She wasn't to judge right now, and he was gaining on her. That was going to be corrected, like she was going to let him catch her.

The green neared as his powerful beats scattered any cloud foolish enough to be caught in his wake. He reached out with a claw, so close to almost catching her tail. Sunflower eyes widened as a smile spread across his snout. "I got y-!"

That's it.

With a sudden flare she shot upwards, passing the still diving green and flashing him a tooth filled smile. "Tell me about the trip down there! Excuse me as I rise to the challange!" She waved at him as he drew further away, flaring his own wings to mimic her own. "Sure,you're a dragon and not some winged sloth?"

His grumble as he tried to correct his dive was music to her ears, bringing a smirk to her black scaled lips. She couldn't help but admire his wing's muscles as he climbed, focusing on the runes she'd placed. In this light they seemed to flicker and shift, swirl about the lime green of his membranes. Before she could worry too much she blinked her eyes, reinforcing the words whispered under her breath.

"They're not moving."

"You know..." Cordenth swooped down, spreading his wings wide into a glide, a look of contempt painted square on his emerald face. "He shouldn't be pushing himself so hard." He drifted beside her, wing tips nearly touching.

Infinity rolled her eyes at the thought. Lyyreth seemed fine, besides. The game they were playing seemed to fill her heart with butterflies. "If it was up to you I've spend the flight simply gliding along like a boring horse." She snorted, making sure the green got her point down. "I'd go mad boredom. The point of the flight is freedom. Not to layer it thick with rules and made up regulations. Second thought." She rose her brow, giving the green a sly smirk. Sure, you're not your mother?" She knew he hated being connected to her. The glare he was giving her was pure delight incarnate. She almost burst out laughing.

"I'm nothing like her." He hissed, frills flaring in defiance. "The comparison is appalling."

"I don't know..." She held out her paws, admiring the grey talons that adorned each digit. "You have the same shade of green on your scales, wings match hers, the same horns..." She grew her smirk ever wider, making sure he saw each gleaming tooth. "If you tilt your head, I say you even have that feminine charm about you. Almost dead ringer for your mother."

He shook his head as she snickered, trying to no doubt contain whatever words he had for her brewing in his horned head. Though despite that the green dragon held his composure, taking a deep breath and calming the tightness that'd been growing in his tone. "I worry about his safety. Something you don't seem to concern yourself with. You keep stressing and pushing, especially when he should be taking it easy!" Worried eyes shifted to his brother's runes, searching them, taking them in with every second. "We have no idea what that thing-"

"Shove your tail in it." She snapped at the air. "There are all loads of healing. This is just the more..." She rolled her paw. "Therapeutic." Though as she met the Cordenth's eyes she wondered if it was more for him or for her. "One second though." She picked up her wings as Lyyreth finally reached their height, leveling out her glide _just_above his snout.

"Hey!" Lyyreth panted, playfully growling. "I just got up here!"

"True that may be. But I'm going to fly higher than the green dragon that failed to catch me. Call it my prize." She hummed, happily letting the air caress her nose.

The chipped horned brother opened and closed his maw several times in silent protest. She only rumbled her approval.

"And if the human saying, you are what you eat is a thing. No wonder you can't catch me. You're the gosh darn cow!"

"Does that make you a berry?" Cordenth grinned, looking all so smug as he rose to meet her wing level.

"Ooo." She snorted harshly, only getting a chuckle from the green scaled male. "Don't get me even started on that. You and your berries. It's like your nothing but a crazy vegetarian! If you excuse me, I'd rather have real food please. None of that summoned garbage that you can create with a swish of your paws."

"But it provides nourishment for the entire day! It's totally practical and efficient! Especially on these long flights!"

"That so?" She snapped her head away and setting him with a singular eye. "And I thought as a dragon you'd appreciate the joy of a hunt. Or tasting real meat or food between your maw. Guess that mother of yours really beat the dragon out of you huh?"

"Hardly." He grit his teeth.

"Yea!" Lyyreth cheered in, getting a queer look from the both of them. His frills pinned to either side, losing their color. "Was it something I said? Thought we were talking about how good the berries where."

"And you're not any better!" She laughed up a storm, trying to hide the warmth about her cheeks at his naïve answer. "Fancy little princesses within that forest. No wonder you needed a team of humans to come save you." She heightened her voice to sound like a frightened woman that were in stories that Axton had read to her. "Oh, please help me sir Knights and mages. Whatever shall we do trapped within this forest tower? One guarded by the evil dragon that is our blasted MOTHER of all things!"

"Hey that was actually pretty good impression." Lyyreth grinned, "Though you have to play up her voice more. Try to sound more..." He thumbed a talon to his chin. "Devilish."

"I was not a princess waiting on someone to save me." Cordenth huffed, flicking his gaze to Lyyreth. "And neither were you."

"I don't know brother. She makes a fine case about the subject."

"And you take her side?" Cordenth sighed.

"As you both should." Infinity swelled her chest, pride filling every breath. "I can spot a princess miles away, just like real dragons in those stories."

Back and forth they bickered for countless minutes, calling each other various names. From soft scale to twisted wing, to even the complete over the line proclamation of scale rotter. Cordenth and Lyyreth had huffed over that one, the older brother flying several yards ahead. Not even glancing back when Lyyreth called for him.

"At least, I care about your safety Lyyreth. Break a wing during flight. See If I care. And just so you know...Green dragons can't get scale rot!"

"You're coddling me!" Lyyreth shouted back, setting his glide to where his wing tips almost touched Infinity's own.

The black dragoness glanced several times at them, quickly avoiding eye contact if he so much as twitched in her direction. Each time she could feel a flushness rushing through her, warming every wing. Despite the chill she knew was in the air it felt like summer had kissed her wings! This was getting seriously ridiculous. Every day she enjoyed his company this feeling would only grow stronger, course the question that kept whispering to her during their rests was a simple one. Though she had yet to ask or make any move on that regard.

Does he have these feelings for me as well?

Her silent contemplation and admiring of his scales was cut short as Cordenth turned back his head and resumed his bickering with his brother. It continued on at a fever pitch, teeth soon getting bared. Was this how brothers acted? If so, she wanted nothing to do with them. It took all she could muster to stare ahead with a scowl.

"Because I know what's best for you. Remember the time with the owl bears? I seem to recall you thought you had it handled then...But guess what?...Look in the mirror, your horn says you don't know. Besides." He locked eyes with his brother. "One should respect the wisdom of their elde-"

"Don't you say it." Hissed Lyyreth.

"You know I'm right."

She rolled her eyes as the males devolved into insult hurling again. Guess she was going to have to put an end to this, it was only so long her ears could put up with it. "Knock it off wrymlings." She pushed forward, overtaking Cordenth like it was nothing. "I think it's time we took ourselves a little break. Rest these wings that we've been pushing. By all means keep fighting. Just know I'll have none of it."

Cordenth looked at her like she had three heads, "But it's not nearly time for the break yet. We at least have anoth-" Cordenth began his protest but she met his gaze with a glance so chilling she thought he might turn to ice. Instantly it died, and the male made an excuse about how she was probably right.

"Excellent choice. Your stomachs will thank me for the real food. None of that berry stuff." She swooped down towards the golden trees with a low, guttural growl. She hadn't seen a hint of deer or her usual fair, but that surely wouldn't take that much time. Among the thick forest of golden leaves she found a clearing large enough for her wingspan, and luck would have it that a stream rested but a quick trot away. It curved around a sandy shore, rippling softly over smooth, oxen sized rocks that crested just above the surface.

The dragoness landed with a bumpy trot, sighing at the grass between her digits. She stretched her wings one at a time before pinning them to her sides and padded her way over towards shore. She didn't mind sand grew wet and squished between her digits. She stopped to wiggle them before her eyes, happily swishing her tail... She sauntered over towards the river, mouth watering at the idea of finding some fish. Been ages since she'd had a good one.

"Why are we landing here?" Cordenth's question was quick to his lips as he and his brother took place behind her. Inquisitive eyes scanned the trees, "Shouldn't we look for something bigger in the forest?"

"Well...Since you like the berries so much." She turned back and grinned, curling her tail. "Why not go summon up some of those for yourself. I will be fishing for my meal."

"Fine." Cordenth snorted, spinning around and cantering away at least several wing lengths away. He flashed them one more irritated look before flopping down onto his belly and curling his tail around him.

Well good, now she could really focus on the task at claw. With a deep breath she retracted her spines, and waddled out to the river proper. The cool water wound around her limbs, tickling at her underside as it continued its natural path. She settled down onto the river's bottom, sighing as she enjoyed the waters up to her flank. For a moment she just relaxed, staring up into the cloud filled sky, taking in the afternoon expanse before her. Within a few breaths she was calm and at peace with nothing but distant sounds of bird tickling at her ears. That all changed as Lyyreth settled down by the water's edge. With but just a look she felt herself grow warm and she was glad that she hadn't any frills like him to give it away. Instantly she snapped to the water, scanning for any sign of fish.

Fish, fish, fish.

Any would do, even a small one that she could crush in her jaws. At least something to hold over the green brother's snout and put an end to her now roaring stomach. Such the impatient beast it was. She nearly patted at it with a paw to settle it down.

"Have you done this before?" Lyyreth called out, tilting his head.

"Course I have..." She grumbled, not glancing up at him. Now granted she hadn't but it had to be easy right? She saw a speckly of light within the water and launched towards the water with her claw. Splash! Water sprayed all around her, but she had nothing to show for it.

She pulled it back with a hiss, shaking herself free of the water running down her face. Already she could feel two sets of eyes burning a hole in her back. Perhaps fishing was not the best_idea to try. She peered up, catching Cordenth still resting. He wasn't even glancing in her direction. She gave a large sigh, at least _he wasn't. Course that left but Lyyreth, and somehow that fact made it even worse. Especially when he was giving her this honest and innocent look. Patiently waiting for the expert fisher dragon that she was to get their fish. His eyes were right on her, and honestly, she felt that embarrassment shift to something warmer. She had to hide it, before he figured it out.

"Like staring at dragonesses now?" She snorted, snapping her head back to the water's surface.

"I...wasn't staring!" He tapped the ground, wiggling his tail in the sand as his frills shifted colors. "I wasn't. Just waiting for you to fish is all. Seem to be having trouble with it."

"Just the light is all." She rolled a paw, following a darkened shadow in the water. Was that one of them? She slowly descended, ready to snap forward when she was certain she was able to grab it. No need in making herself foolish again.

"And I was thinking of magic...scrolls...spells...The runes on my wings." He held out his wings, shoving his snout to the membranes. "Why would I..." He laughed softly, his frills getting ever darker. "Be staring at you?"

There it was, that cute awkwardness that made her smile without trying. She had to quickly look back to the water least he caught it. "Well...It's not the first time I've caught you is all. All during the flight..."

"H...have I?" He tapped his chin, pinning his wings to his back. His frills flickering made her heart beat a tad faster, even how his head tilted was too cute, but she held her tongue. "Well clearly you're a muse then. Getting in my head and helping my thoughts flow."

She coughed, her scales burning. She was surprised steam wasn't rising from the very water. "I'm in your head, am I?" She paused, giving him a shy look, he nearly fainted.

"That's not what I meant!" He burst out, wings exaggerating outwards.

"Okay...sure." She rolled her eyes, silently cheering to herself. So, he did have those feelings about her. At least she wasn't the only one. She attacked the water for her coming meal, only getting the cold taste of fresh water on the tongue. "Damn." She hissed, pulling back in disgust. "How is this that hard? Even humans can fish, and they're little soft things with sticks." She stared down at the rippling waters, her emerald eyes shining back in the reflection. Fractured whispers of Hadariel's memories swirled around her. Just like that, the fishing seemed less important. Carried away by her reflection and the river's current.

Why did she even have to start remembering those child's memories? Why not her own? Ones that she'd _want_to remember. Probably stolen from her just like the rest of her life. Nothing but a blank slate and the memories of the tower in her mind.

She slapped aside the water with a snarl.

"That doesn't look like fishing."

"How observant you are." She stood up, strolling forcefully through the water and back to the sand covered shore. With several flicks she shed the water from every part of her scales, that was until a breeze chilled her to the bone. "It's a time treasured tradition by black dragons..."

He gave her an inquisitive look, laying onto his side and cocking his head. "To miss? Then to immediately get out of the water? That's some tradition."

With a thwack of her tail she smacked him softly with the broad side of it. When their eyes met again hers were as sharp as a sword's blade. "Obviously not...I'm just not.." She looked away, rubbing a paw into the yielding sand. She lowered her voice to a near whisper, "Just not good at it."

"Excuse me?" He perked up, frills flaring.

"I'm not good at it alright?" She said louder, slamming her haunches down with a huff. "Thought I could do it. Seemed easy enough in the pictures. Maybe if I didn't have to focus on how protective your brother was being, I could get it done." She fluffed up her wings,swishing her tail angrily. "Like we can't even take care of ourselves."

"Have you ever fished before?" His voice was calm and not judgmental. It was awfully hard to stay mad at him. With a sigh the green dragon rose, slowly stretching like a cat.

"Well...once before with...Axton." She trotted to the water's edge, dipping a talon in the water to watch the ripples that spread. "Think he used something called a fishing stick."

"Sounds like you mean rod."

Her snout wrinkled. "It was a stick. Had a wire wrapped around it."

"Yes, definitely rod." Lyyreth trotted over to her, dipping his own paw in before retracting it like a cobra was trying to bite him. "That's practically freezing!" He hissed, shaking his paw free of any water clinging to him. "How'd you ever stand it?"

She just chuckled, playfully swishing her tail at his antics. "Didn't seem to notice myself. Was almost a delight. You're not helping your case at not being a pampered princess."

"Probably because you're a fire dragon at heart. Got all that extra heat to fight it off." He sighed, thumping his tail playfully back. "And if you're bad a catching them with your teeth...Why not try catching one with magic?"

"You can do that?" She laughed, shifting from paw to paw. When he nodded, she only perked up, "Who taught you? Your mother?"

He shook his head, "From a dragon we used to know. Think he goes by the name Storm now." Lyyreth sat on his haunches rubbing at his chin. "Hasn't visited since we were very little. Mother hates the absolute guts out of him."

Something about the name sounded familiar but she shrugged it off. "Sounds like my kind of dragon honestly." She bumped Lyyreth with her shoulder, making them both giggle as the air filled with a sudden warmth. "Anyone that your mother hates, is a friend of mine."

She watched with interest as the green dragon slipped into the water, scowling for a moment at the current. His scales shivered in time with his frills as he hurried out into the middle. He tossed her a wrinkled snout and she waved him on with a paw.

"Well go on then. Though I don't see how using electricity is going to help you."

"I'm not going to be using that." He swished his tail, sending a splash towards the shore that she avoided. Satisfied she'd stopped her giggling he sniffed at the water, snout moving across it like a blood hound. He trotted a few feet, repeating the process over and over. Already she could feel the time start to eat away at her patience.

"You cant smell the fish you know." She called out to him, taking a seat. At least she hoped you couldn't. Wouldn't_that_ make her look rather foolish.

"Don't be dense. I'm _looking_for them...Aha!" He pulled back his head with a laugh, rearing onto his hinds. "Just you watch." In small motions the dragon swirled his forepaws, rising a section out of the water as if guided by invisible hands. Sunlight danced across the orb like liquid, trapping the form of a bronze scaled fish swimming about its new prison.

Her tail thumped as an envious snort left her nose. "Well isn't that fancy."

"Mhmm." He nodded, following the orb as it started to drift towards her maw. "Just open wide."

Roaring it's need her stomach guided her snout, lashing it out to grab firm the fish. Sharpened teeth crunched through scale and bone, ripping flesh and passing it down her throat in a manner of moments.She sighed, happily slurping at her lips as her spade like tail thumped away in the sand.

"Look like you're happy. Told you it was possible."

"I saw you showing off." She quipped, playfully setting her sights onto him. They both knew one fish wasn't going to be enough, especially as her guts broke the silence with a gurgle. They both laughed, even when both were blushing. She slunk over, entering the river alongside him. She ran up along his flank, black scales rubbed up against green. His shiver and pleased sigh only made her heartbeat faster. "Can you show me more?" She tried to play it off coolly, like she herself wasn't tingling with warm scales over him.

"O...of course." He stammered, his frills only getting greener. He tentatively circled her, his pine like scent hanging about the air like a pleasing cloud.

Her ears pinned to her head as it was her time to shiver with his next pass. It was as if a delightful jolt had touched her spine and wove its way towards the end of her tail. Each time her drew closer. Her breaths were even getting closer together until he was standing mere inches from her. Could he hear her heart from there? How it pounded and wanted to escape her chest? "Well?" She coughed after a moment of lingering silence. "Shall we begin then? We just can't be here enjoying the sights of green dragons, we have fish to catch." Her eyes bolted wide as she caught what she said, nearly biting her tongue in surprise. But thankfully the unperceptive brother had not noticed her slip of the tongue.

"When you cast your magic..." He lightly pat the water, leaving a pool of ripples in it's wake. "You reach out for things correct?"

She nodded, recalling all the times she'd done so. Like an imaginary claw trying to grasp the invisible energy. "It's what your mother focused on. Like welling the magic up from my bones." She shifted from paw to paw. The idea that it came from the marrow inside was rather frightful when she thought about it. Could you draw too much if left unchecked? Your body turning to ash bit by bit as you unleashed all it had. Could you run out of magic? Thankfully he nosed at her cheek, pulling a surprised meep from her throat.

"Its fine. You'll do fine." His voice was calm, and captivated her for longer than she'd have liked. He turned towards the river, spreading a forelimb wide. "Just reach out to the river. Be the water whirling about your haunches. Once we have that we can think about catching fish like this." He got closer, paws brushing along her flank. His touch brought ever growing warmth to her cheek. Like mini suns were right below her scales. As he went over the words and movements it felt rather...Familiar for lack of a better word.

Have I been taught this before?

She'd have remembered if Emerald Lady had taught her this, right? She was so distracted that she had to ask him to repeat the instructions. "Sorry." Her ears splayed.

"Okay. Relax." He smiled, wiggling his nose. "Just breath in deep, and connect with the magic. As it builds within you let some of it fly." He added a low growl in draconic, that tickled her ears. "Don't worry if you don't get it. We can always try it again."

She did what he asked, starting slow. Like a wyrmling taking her first few steps. At first nothing happened, leaving an eerie silence in the air. But with another assurance from him she tried again. This time a numbness spread from her tail to her claws, and a section of water segmented from the rest.

She rumbled in delight, not daring to utter a word lest it broke the spell. Dozens of fish of all colors darted about their moist prison. Scales of every color winking in the sunlight like tiny gems. With just a wiggle of her digit she'd caught more than him! She moved the orb with her paw, clicking her tongue as the numbness twisted and coiled around her, starting to mimic the water running by.

"Woah." Lyyreth gasped, You're a natural." He warbled as the orb flew past him. "Sure you haven't done this before?"

Her snout wrinkled as she searched her brain for any memories. It all came up as a thick morning fog. "None." She sighed, not to ruin her bright mood she brought the orb of fish over. With a snap of her jaws she got what she more than she wanted, at least a dozen little fish sticking out of her maw with squirming tails.

With series of crunches she ate her meal with pleased rumbles as Lyyreth got his own meal from the river. They gobbled up what they'd caught, saying little. Though they would occasionally catch the other's eye. She'd glance quickly away with a racing heart, trying to keep him in the corner of her view as she munched away. When their meals were finally spent she pranced her way to the shore with a large smile spread about her lips.

"And you're sure you haven't done that before?" Lyyreth was quick behind her, shaking off in tandem with her, soaking the once dry beach.

"Yessss." She hissed, padding away with a final thwack of her tail. "I already said I hadn't." Why did that even matter? She couldn't remember anyway.

"Because I had this friend." He slid up beside her as Infinity began to slowly walk through the golden field.

"You had a friend?" She smirked, getting a sudden confused look on his snout. His nostrils flared till he snapped away and let out a thunderous sneeze.

"Yes." He snorted free any lingering snot. "Believe it not."

"Gross. Might want to point that away." She smacked his snout before galloping a few dozen paces away."But tell me about this imaginary friend!"

He was quick to reach her, but only because she stopped to rub up against a weathered rock almost the size of her. Perfectly smooth, and delightful as she ran her scales across it. "He had this problem polymorphing. Usually there is some sort of trial and error with spells. But you took to it like fish to water. "

To repay his pun she softly smacked him on the cheek. "No puns."

"And you're allowed to?" He snickered, trying to smack at her back but she was already beyond his grasp. "Hey!"

He was partially right but she wasn't going to admit it. She belted her challenge for him to catch her over her shoulder. "Princesses shouldn't use puns anyway. That's reserved for my personal use!"

As they ran around the vast field, enjoying each other's company his words always ate away at her mind. Especially with regards to the ease of magic. What if something he said had a kernel of truth to it. She couldn't remember her time at the tower with Nigel. What if he already taught her these sorts of things?Or what if the Emerald lady wasn't teaching her things, but instead recovering her lost memories? What if she still had shackles to unlock within her? The mere thought made her freeze up, her spine shiver.

For a moment she sat in silence, staring out into the vast mountainside in the distance. Remembering how from above it looked like the back scales of a red dragon in flight. If it wasn't torture that got rid of her mind, then what was it? What was so important that Nigel bid her to not remember? Her snout wrinkled at the mere memory of his rotten face. Those black as night eyes staring at her, full of menace and hate. Part of her trembled at the mere thought, as Axton's scream sounded in the distance. Followed only by an inhuman cackle that'd chill anyone to the bone.

Damn this is frustrating.

All she'd wanted to do was eat, relax, and unwind the stress that'd been building up. Now the tower was rearing it's ugly head. Just as she was about to curl up into a ball and settle in for another quiet moment, Lyyreth came pouncing into her with all the finesse of a bull in a china shop.

"Got you!" He cheered his victory, tumbling with her to the golden grass floor. Round and round their world went until with a duet of laughter they stopped. Lyyreth was panting, paws planted on her chest. His smirk larger than any mountain range she'd seen, and it drove away her darker thoughts without trying. She flushed as she stared up into his captivating sunflower like eyes. Heat rushed back to her cheeks. "And you thought you were going to get away." He leaned in closer, her heart raced. Not only from the run either.

"Because I let you." She chuckled, playfully batting at his nose. "Going to start bragging about your ego now? I thought you mentioned a friend with that problem."

"What were you looking at?" He searched her eyes, looking for the secrets she held. "I saw you staring out into nothing. You looked so...lost."

Sighing she didn't look away. "In a way I was." With a grunt she pushed him off her, rolled to her belly and sat up.

"Was it the tower again?" He plopped down right beside her. Placing mere inches between them.

She nodded, staring at her paws as they trembled. Like a dark cloud Nigel's tower appeared in her mind. "And all this. The memories, the ease of the magic, your mother...and your..." She looked onto the blackness spreading about his scales, the injury he'd gotten for her. "Problem."

"This?" He tapped at the darkened scales, wincing for a moment but hiding it with a smile. "Its only a passing thing though." He nosed at her cheek. "So, you needn't worry."

"And the other things I mentioned? Just going to sweep them away with the tail, are we?" She shifted away from him, but nothing he couldn't close with an adjustment. To which he wiggled closer.

"I can only help with what I see now. Maybe keep your mind occupied." He tried to wave a paw, opening his maw several times as he searched for the words.

She rolled her eyes instead, following the pattern of a swooping bird overhead. His constant optimism, while delightful normal to her was starting to hit her nerves. "Listen Lyyreth." She sighed, "I appreciate what you're...attempting to do. But I think this is something only I can work out."

Though she maintained a hardened stare his face didn't waver. Though it did wrinkle after a silent moment shared between them.

"But that's not supposed to be how this works." He curled his head towards Cordenth for a fraction of a second. "We're a team. Troubles are supposed to be shared, we work on them as one."

"Where does it say that?" She held up her head, glancing away with a snort. "Some manual I didn't read or look at?"

He coughed, drawing a crude picture of a book in the dirt. "Right here, in the book of adventuring dragons. When one is in need..."

"Do you have to be so cute all the time?" She swished away the picture with her paw before pushing up and stomping off. "And ignore how I said you're cute alright?"

"Well....alright." He stammered, frills rapidly fluttering out like he was trying to wrap his head around what'd she'd said.

She'd have to smack herself later. She shook her head, hissing on the air. She tried to stomp further away she really did, but her legs felt like they were made out of titanium. Lyyreth noticed this as well, tentatively sliding up on her. His scales rubbing along her flank and only making her sigh. He nuzzled at her and her heart melted. She even nuzzled him back. "This doesn't mean I'm still not angry with your stupid face."

"You can insult this cute face later." He grinned, poking her ever so softly on the nose, "Have you ever tried polymorphing?" His innocent gesture cut off the growl in her throat faster than lightning. His cocked head only did it faster and forced a smile to her lips.

Curse him.

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