Striped hooves sank into benign amber sand; a bronze dragon flew above him in large, lazy circles. He felt the heat boring into his bones, melting the tendons that bound him together. Will I die?, a tentative whisper that crept through their mind, both brave and cowardly, acquiescently defying what was expected of a sturdy boy such as he; healthy men were expected to leap fearlessly through the hoops life gave them, but he balked and submitted dutifully to its will instead.

Before them was the lady that held them on a chain like unruly dogs. She was a strange colour, and he wondered dully if she was a mirage, or if he was dying and this was the way his brain softened the process. No, the dragon suddenly chirped, swooping down gracefully, bronze scales glittering like plates of gold in the soft dusk light. You are prey of green dragon-mare, declared the royal, indignancy in his tone of thought. Jackal shivered as the leather wings barely grazed his back in their ascent, sending little ripples of air onto the yearling.

They approached her slowly, dusty rose-gold colt subdued and quiet, a tattered ear tilted toward her and another cast carelessly aside in rue. She was so nonchalant, so relaxed, and the early evening sunlight was cast flatteringly onto the odd hue of her hide. Upon her shoulder was a bird of prey, regal and alert, although omewhere in the sky, the dragon scoffed at its size, its impotence. I have roast parrot for dinner, he scoffed brazenly, hoping his bonded would convalesce from his grim mood. But instead of mirth, the dragon was met with a humourless snort.

And how many times had the boy surrendured to the will of another? The former had left him with aches and scars and fear; what would this pegasus bring? Slate eyes study her closely, and he found humility in those dark eyes, or at least he hoped to. She seemed so natural in this cruel environment; like another grain of sand. And as he drew close enough, the wine-colored legs jerked to a stop before her, already lengthy waves and coils of russet-gold hair dancing to a faint southern wind. "Lady," said the Jackal - although he was more of an omega wolf in truth - in a voice that spoke of weariness beyond his meagre lifespan. From nowhere, a large bronze dragon spiraled down, landing defensively on the shoulders of his friend. He watched the hawk hungrily. Don't cause trouble, the colt warned, eyeing the fowl.

From the west, the sun gilded their bodies as the sand underfoot cooled into a more pleasant temperature.