Aryel, used to flying with only the wind whistling in her ears for company, now had a companion, a small flying fox that sat on her withers with it's claws wrapped in her mane. Java, his belly full of nectar and fruit, was nervous about his first time in the air, but it didn't stop him from looking down at the ground with interest. Everything was so new to the little bat. Aryel, for her part, was overjoyed to have him as she flew, acutely aware of the tiny, minuscule mental thread that connected them. After her had had his fill of flowers and fruit, she had decided to take him on a flight before the sun came up, to show him what she could of Helovia before she had to return home and begin her patrols. Although perhaps now the long hours spent patrolling the border wouldn't be quite so long.

As high as they were, the pillar of heat that rose out of the Heart could be still be felt. The two gazed down at the pulsing flames and tower of smoke, then she prepared to bank away. Before she could, something stopped her.

"Aryel...Aryel..."

She flared her wings, stopping midair to hover. Where had that come from? The voice had been accompanied with another mental pull, but one more ancient, more commanding, then Java's infantile abilities. She scanned the ground, then snorted in surprise. An enormous creature crouched near the Heart, flickering in hues of deepest red and royal blue, the true colors of fire. The creature had called her name, but for what purpose?

She began to descend, to Java's panic. He squeaked angrily, digging his claws into her mane for emphasis. "It's fine." Aryel assured him, although she wasn't so sure herself. With a few final wingbeats, she dropped the last few inches to the ground, standing in front of the dragon. Java hid his face, frightened. Aryel felt like doing the same thing. She cautiously approached the dragon, but had to stop after a few steps. The heat radiating from the creature was simply too much. The dragon looked ancient, powerful, yet there seemed to be no hostility in his gaze. Aryel had seen dragons before, in her previous home, but none were as grand as this one. Oddly, though, for all it's majesty, the dragon lacked wings. She had never seen a wingless dragon before. She steeled herself, then spoke. "You called me?"

Walk walk walk walk.
"Talk talk talk talk."

At first, Aryel mistook the beast's laugh for a growl, but managed not to quail in fright. Java dared a peek at the dragon, his infantile black fur slicked flat with nervousness. As this was his first night out of the egg, everything was new and strange, and he was still adjusting to the fact that everything was bigger than he was. The enormous dragon was a downright mountain in his young eyes. As the beast spoke, Aryel's ears pricked forward in curiosity. It...wanted to speak to her? To give her something? Aryel wasn't a greedy horse in any sense of the word, but gifts were always a positive thing in her opinion. She was always grateful when someone gave her something, and this would be no exception. Still, the thought of receiving a gift from a dragon gave her pause. What exactly was it? Why would she, of all horses, deserve a gift from a dragon? She gave full effort protecting the Throat, and yet she was really nobody special. What if this was a trick, and she was about to become dragon food? She swallowed, trying to ignore the disturbing thought. Even if she ran now, it could no doubt incinerate her with a puff of flame before she could go ten feet. She would have to stick it out.

Aryel took a step backwards as it stood up, the oppressive heat radiating off it's skin with every move it made. And yet, without the enormous leathery wings dragons were known for, it just didn't seem quite as stunning. It had crawled out of the ground, though. Maybe it wasn't a sky dragon? She had never heard of any sort of earth dragon. She blinked as it spoke again, it's furnace of a mouth expelling more heat and tongues of flame. Well, if he was willing to give her a gift, she would take it. "I suppose..." she managed, "If you have one to give."



Walk walk walk walk.
"Talk talk talk talk."