GALE POV

Gale opened her eyes, to see a small, brown MudWing, who she estimated was probably around three or four years old, a mere dragonet. Her entire body felt stiff and sore, and when she attempted to lift her talon, pain shot through her like her veins were on fire.

A natural response to excruciating pain, Gale screamed.

The small dragon kept back with a yelp.

'It's alive! It's alive! GAH! Moons, it's ALIVE!" the little MudWing hopped around, screeching incoherently.

Gale coughed, and started regaining consciousness, to a greater extent, that is.

The dragonet stopped panicking and puffed out his chest, which looked quite ridiculous, like a conceited blowfish. Gale almost laughed, but nearly jacked up her lungs instead.

The MudWing, stared down magnanimously, waiting, it seemed, for her to finish.

'I, Prince Puddle of the MudWings, command you to tell me who you are and where you came from! Or else!" The dragonet, haughtily proclaimed sticking his snout up in the air. Gale actually did laugh this time, but stopped when she noticed the injured air Puddle had assumed.

'Well 'Prince Puddle', my name is Gale, and I come fro-... I was...' the SkyWings reply died down as she realized she had no idea how she ended up on the ground here, feeling like every bone in her body was broken. She was fleeing, she recalled, but fleeing from what? Who was after her?

PUDDLE POV

'Hey,' Puddle piped up, 'You didn't finish your sentence.'

Gale snarled up at him, the far-away look in her eyes still somewhat spoiling the facade of anger. Then the larger dragon looked away again, brow furrowed as if in deep thought.

Puddle was tempted to wave a talon in her face, to see if she was even paying attention to him, but decided against it. He quite liked his talons where they were, thankyouverymuch. Instead he just cleared his throat loudly.

'Ahem'

No response.

'AHEM!'

Gale turned to face him.

'WHAT DO YOU WANT YOU SNIVELING DRAGONET?!' She roared. Puddle scooted away. The SkyWing growled. Puddle started taking larger steps, then gave up on 'subtlety' and outright sprinted away across the marsh. He did not want to deal with an angry adult dragon.

GALE POV

'WAIT!' Gale yelled pointlessly after the fleeing dragon who was her only hope of answers.