Peril and Clay had all of spring break to themselves. Sunny had gone back to the sand kingdom, all other teachers headed to the rainforest for a break, and all students had gone home to their families. Clay and Peril were the only two staying at Jade mountain to take care of it. Peril had gotten special gloves on her four paws so she couldn't burn anything and they were also quite comfortable. Her slender back was equipped with fire resistant black leather so if she fell she wouldn't set anything on fire. Most of her snout was also covered with the fire absorbent leather. Most had accepted her and she made many friends, but Clay was still her special friend. She was finally happy with her life.

Clay was the same way. His life was going smoothly as well, but something was missing. Sunny and Starflight were having eggs. Tsunami and Riptide were some where in Pyrriah together. Glory had finally mated with deathbringer and they were the royals of both nightwings and rainwings. All his friends were happy, together, and inlove. He wanted that. To be able to look at someone and just be inlove with them.

Peril's POV

Clay was cleaning up the books and passing me the ones that were worn out or dirty. I put those in the aminus pile for Caleb to fix when he got back. My skin was no longer as flammable as before. Healers from the rainforest had given me a special serum that made my skin only warm, but not piercing hot. Though I was a bit older, Clay had finally stopped growing and he was taller than me now. I almost had to look up at his eyes. It was amazing how he was always smiling and happy. His large brown eyes stared at me for second. I looked at him as he said nothing and went behind a bookshelf. I giggled and pounced up on him. " Ha!" I yelled as I crept up on him. He got startled but just laughed with me. " why did you do that?" He said laughing. I held half his shoulder with my padded talons and said, " you look kind of sad. Are you okay?" Clay sighed and looked down. I gave him my puppy face, with concerned eyes. He looked straight at me again. This time with a hint of, " you don't understand." In his eye. I knew he didn't want to talk about it so I let go of his shoulder and just walked away. " Peril?" I looked behind me with my eye brows up. " Let's take a break. We've been working long enough. Plus it's spring break. Why don't we go to the lake together?" I was surprised he wanted to go. Clay didn't have fondness for water, but then again it was a beautiful day, so I agreed to go with him.

As we were flying there I saw him looking at me once more in an odd way, but I pretended to not notice. I had feelings for Clay ever since we met, but I knew he didn't love me back. Maybe that's what he was upset about. Me just pushing him when maybe he liked some one else. I had accepted a long time ago that we weren't meant to be together, but that didn't stop me from still liking him. I had to find my own mate who liked me back and Clay wasn't the one. But somehow I felt myself doubting our friendship. " we are here!" He exclaimed.

Clay's POV

Peril was continuously ignoring the fact that I was staring at her and that made me feel uncomfortable. In fact I didn't even realize I was staring at her till we were almost at the lake. I had always had feelings for her, but she just didn't get it. I think that was what was bothering me today. I liked her and wanted to ask her to be with me. But I just couldn't. I wasn't brave enough. She laid down next to me as she watched the sun sparkl of the water. I was nervous when she was next me, not because of her fire but because of her beauty. She was just perfect in every way. And like Tsu did with Riptide I wanted to run away with her. She smiled as a fly landed on her nose and she sneezed. I giggled as she began talking, " Clay? Why have you been looking at me like that all day? Is there something on my face or something? Cause you should have told me by now." I felt this drive of adrenaline push me towards her. " you don't know do you." I whispered. I could see her pupils dilate as my lips got closer to hers. " what?" She asked me shyly as she gulped with fear. I suddenly felt this urge to kiss her fiery lips. My eyes were filled with lust and hers with a mix of fear and want. I kissed her slowly, but as I closed my eyes she pulled away and turned her head. Her hand pressed firmly on my chest as she said, " I can't do this knowing you would get hurt in the end." It broke my heart to hear her say that. I wanted her more than anything and I didn't care about the fiery curse put upon her skin. " What are you talking about? You can't hurt me, I don't burn, and I you have the serum it's not like you will burn me ever. you can hurt me as much as I can hurt you." She let out a small whimper and looked up at me with a small tear cascading down her cheek. I wiped it slowly and kissed her once more. This time I didn't let her pulled away. I held her waist as her chest was connected to mine. She wasn't burning me one bit. At the worst she was a little bit warm. I could feel her aching to kiss me back, but she was still to scared.

" You are adorable when you are nervous." I put my face against hers and looked into her eyes as she was breathing heavily. I could feel her fear rub against my new found confidence and her lust rub against mine. She smiled slightly and bit her lip afraid to move. " I never have known you to be so, well, so. confident before." I let out a little laugh as she said that. " Am I hurting you?" Every time she thought she was hurting me my heart would aich. It hurts so much to see someone you love think they are a burden. " The only thing that hurts is that I can't see your face." She wanted to pull back from my grasp as I pulled of the leather mask that enveloped her fiery face. " No!" She yelled as she grabbed my paws. " Clay don't!" I ignored her and took it off. It had been months since I had seen her beautiful face. Her eyes were a magnificent browny orange, while her snout was a Flame red color. I had almost forgotten how beautiful she was, but as I stared at her, she tried pulling away still afraid to hurt me. I shook my head and grabbed her paws violently, " Peril! Every time you pull away from me it breaks my heart! You have never burned me before and it won't start now! I promise you that." She looked up at me surprised. " I'm not pulling away because I can burn you. Well partially, but..." She closed her eyes as I could feel her sadness pouring out from her body. " I am pulling away because I finally got over you, and.. NOW you want to be with me? It is like you are doing it on purpose!" My eyes widened as I heard the words from

Peril's mouth. In utter aw I stood there stiff as a mummy. She finally stopped raging and looked at me with eyes plum with anger but with a saddle touch of fear. " You liked me?" I said like a hopeful idiot. Peril looked at me confused and a little demerit. " You seriously didn't know? I'm pretty sure everyone knew." I was so happy a tear flew down my cheek. I smiled, laughed, and cried and held her tight as stone. " I have always liked you Peril. In fact I think I-" Peril interrupted me and said, " If you liked me why did you wait all this time to tell me?" She was calm now, but I didn't feel any ounce of affection from her at that moment. " I think I was afraid of rejection and more or less you hating me forever. I mean I want us to be friends or maybe a little more than friends." I reached out to her as she turned her head the other way. " Peril please. I don't like anyone but you. I just want to be with you. I know you hate me right now, but you understand how I feel. Don't you?" I could feel Peril trying not to, but she wanted to say something. " Yes, yes I do. That doesn't diminish the fact that I am pissed at you right now. Like a lot." She made me laugh as always, but instead of just standing there I lunged out at her and kissed her once more. This time I knew she was kissing me back. Her arms wrapped around my back as mine did around her waistline. " Don't you dare." She said laughing as my paws went down a little. Her body was warm as a steamy fire would be and I loved it. " I think I'm pissed at you know too." Peril made a facial expression suggesting we might never speak again. " Why?" She said with a warning. " Cause you made me fall in love with you." Blushing peril closed her eyes and looked the other way, but she quickly came back to me as I kissed her neck, then cheek, then mouth once more.

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