A’mal didn’t know much aside from boys and bears aside from the fact that she liked them. Clearly they were great fun and enjoyed playing with dragons.  That checked all the boxes in her book.  She continued with the happy noises, despite the roaring hunger that persisted through the bond, as she danced between the space separating Najya and Murtagh as they made their way to the shoreline.  She raised and lowered her wings, but didn’t attempt to lift her legs from the ground.  It seemed the little dragon was content being earthbound for the time being. As of right now, her only concern was following her bonded and new friends and hopefully obtaining a meal.
 
Najya wondered if the little dragon would hold a lifelong attachment to children and to bears after not only being exposed to them so shortly after her birth, but having such positive associations with them.  A’mal remained just at the edge of the water, tentatively watching as her friends plunged into the waves.  Even the ankle-deep waters looked daunting to the tiny dragon.  Still, the dragon amused herself in chasing the waves as they crested and receded against the soft sand. 
 
“Okay, here we go!” Najya called out to Murtagh and the bear, seeing that they were in position and A’mal was safely out of harms way.  The dragon stared up at her, expectantly, and Najya conjured tiny fireflies made of light – a memory from a story her mother used to tell her as a child.  She directed the shapes just above the waves where Murtagh had seen the fish, hoping to draw the attention of the creatures below.  Najya stood nearest the shore, so as to not spook the fish, but close enough to have some idea as to what was going on.  With each passing waves she sunk lower into the sand – drawing the intense fascination of the baby dragon.  With a little finesse the light-fireflies plunged beneath the waves dancing enticingly before the little fish.
 
All she could see were little streaks below the surface – flashes of color beneath the clear waves.  “I think it’s working!” she exclaimed!  She watched as the bear and the boy splashed in the water and A'mal wiggled excitedly on the shore - still copying Murtagh's excited dance. And then the fish started appearing - flopping up on the on the shoreline and shining under the bright sun. A'mal pounced, instinct overcoming excitement, eating the little fish whole while her tail continued to whip around in excitement.  The pleasure at her first meal was entirely overwhelming, and drew a wide smile to Najya's lips.  

"Look at that, Murtagh!" Najya said, looking down at the highly satisfied little dragon.  "I couldn't have done that without you.  You and Eytan really saved the day!" she said, rustling the boy's forelock. 
 

-- najya --