My Girl Raya Chapter 6 - Paved with Gold (Final), a raya and the last dragon fanfic

That once a year period of candy canes and silver lanes aglow had finally come to visit Kumandra.

It was a white winter wonderland across the realm. Thanks to a little Dragon Magic mixed in with the frosty seasonal climate, all corners of Kumandra were under the blessing of a mild and consistent celestial snowfall, blanketing earth and sea alike in divine sugar round the clock. It was even clinging to the boiling sands of Tail, which was not that big of a surprise given that Tail was actually quite a chilly wind-ravaged dustbowl this time of year, subject to both extremes of the temperature spectrum as the seasons changed, but it was still nowhere close to the blood-freezing chill that plagued Spine year-around.

The tropical gemstone of the world, while generally unrivaled by its neighbors in its natural beauty, was an especially dazzling sight during this time, for the people of Heart knew better than anyone how to celebrate the holidays, and they wasted absolutely no time in breaking out the holly jollies with glee. Fellow man and Dragon alike were hard at work decorating their beloved home, stringing up strands of tiny, rainbow-hued paper lanterns along the shingled rooftops of Heart's residential district and over every branch and every chute of every bamboo tree in every neighbors backyard. Market Square was dominated by an enormous, fully decked out Bonsai Tree, wrapped and adorned from its trunk to the highest branch with silken silver ribbons, crystalline baubles and ornate hand-carved figurines, in all colors and sizes. The shallow edges of Dragon Lake's shorelines were completely frosted over by a combination of Dragon Rain and the seasonal winter chill, providing fun-loving child and adult alike with a safe and spacious rink for ice skating, under lifeguard supervision, of course. Even the Dragons themselves enjoyed raking their talons across their own icy construction, sliding around like the giant slippery salamanders they were. The heartening cheers of cheerful, carefree children could be heard across the full expanse of Dragon Lake, touching the shores of every neighboring kingdom and beyond.

Of course, all of Raya's friends were jingle-belling it up and celebrating the holidays in their own unique ways. Some preferred quiet tranquility with their families, like Tong and especially Namaari, who relished any chance she had to spend quality time with her mother Virana, while others showed their holiday spirit using more...creative methods.

As one might expect, Boun was not one to squander a business opportunity when it came knocking, and capitalized on the moment by adding a festive flair to his menu for the month, from nutmeg sticky rice and honey-glazed shrimp to spiced turkey eggnog, with virgin and spiked versions for all age groups, and those glassy green shekels came pouring in like cold pilsner fresh from the tap.

Though profit was his bottom line as a businessman, Boun was certainly no stranger to contributing towards a noble cause, and he donated a healthy portion of his proceeds for the month as funding towards the Kumandra Bridge project, which was finally in its production phase and was well underway in construction, slowing branching out from the edges of Heart in all four directions like a massive compass. This uncanny show of altruism on Boun's part painted all of Tail, and Boun himself by proxy, in a particularly warm light among the other nations.

Conversely, across the other side of the continent, on the pointy southern digits of Kumandra's cleanest waters, Noi and the Ongi's had given their nightly three-ring spectacle a full sugar plum makeover, from four-way juggling acts with giant burning candy canes - which were completely edible and tossed into the audience for consumption afterwords - to tight-roping across weightless silver ribbons and glistening strands of polychromatic tree lights, all leading up to the Dragon's Breath finale itself. Using specialized ordinance with dye-soaked "winterfire" flashpowder and custom-molded casings, the Dragon's Breath finale set the twinkling, diamond-studded ether alight with all manner of holiday motif, including massive jolly green pine trees, striped stockings, turtle doves in flight, literally anything and everything Christmas you could think of, with one very special bundle of pyrotechnics held in reserve for the last day of the year. The brightburn neon silhouettes of planetary snowflakes and colossal gingerbread men in the distant starlit sky could be observed every night, clear and unobstructed even from as far as Raya's bedroom balcony.

But nobody was partaking more in the reindeer games more than Sisu herself, the resident goofy water noodle of Heart's shimmering shores. From making Dragon Angels in the cold ivory flakes and passing out Amba's home-baked chocolate ginger snaps by the dozen, to ice-skating with the kids on orchid claws and joining them in song at every neighbors doorstep, Sisu was decking every metaphorical hall in Heart with endless bounds of holly, wheeling and dealing in all facets of the Christmas spirit and then some.

It was certainly one of life's more memorable experiences, to hear a quirky, socially-awkward Dragon caroling her heart out for all to hear, but it was wholly welcome among Heart's good-natured residents, even if it sounded like a tonedeaf air horn clogged with stale rice. All who got a taste of Sisu's doorbell hymning were in agreement; she had a terrible singing voice, and she knew it. Alas, it did not stop her from having fun with it, which was what it was all about. It was her first Christmas, after all.

Regrettably, the same could not quite be said for Raya, Heart's bravest warrior, who was committed above all else to Kumandra's safety and the future of its people. Despite being the penultimate time for sculpting Snowdragons and casting make pretends, duty always came first for Raya, and it was more or less business as usual for Heart's tireless Princess, from routine patrols with Sisu and Tuk Tuk - who were still more than happy to support her in her commitments - to daily sparring sessions with her father Benja who, though he had long since retired his days as Kumandra's finest swordsman, was still levels above Raya in combat skill and could whoop even the most hardened of Tong's Axe-Bladers with his hands bound behind him, any day of the week. If nothing else, it was good exercise for both of them, and kept them both razor sharp in the event that the need to defend themselves arose, though even with the perilous burden Raya carried, such instances were almost nonexistent.

Still, with how much time she devoted to her responsibilities as both an Emissary of Heart and as Kumandra's one and only Dragon Guardian, it was evident to Sisu more than anyone that it was simply too much work and not enough play for her BGF (Best Girl Forever). It did not necessarily keep Raya from being of good cheer, as she always was, but it did deprive her somewhat of fully enjoying the festivities of the holiday season, and often even life itself, to its absolute fullest.

It was during times like these when Sisu's company was most appreciated. Of course, just being around Sisu in general was a treat for everyone who knew her, but for Raya she was a cornerstone of encouragement and moral support, someone who always had Raya's back and was always there to help her hold her head high, even when the weight of her onus gave her pause and made her question herself and her abilities, if she was really the right person for this job, if she was truly making a difference in the way she hoped. Sisu was that unshakable pillar that kept Raya standing tall, that kept her spirits up even when the stress of carrying such a heavy burden threatened to overwhelm her. She had bent at times, sometimes rather violently, but she had yet to break, and it was largely because Sisu was always there to steady her hand and help her stay the course.

But it was also these fleeting, saccharin moments that often made Raya so dreary of the future, made her perceive life through blurry, tinted lenses, as though everything had an expiration date. Even if world peace was no longer just a crazy pipedream, even if the Druun threatened the realm no longer, there was always some other great danger lurking around the corner that threatened to take from Kumandra all that its people held dear, their families, their loved ones, and more. After all, Sisu had to die - albeit an accident, and a tragic one at that - for peace and unity to become a reality, and even besides that, the world had already lost the Dragons once before, and nearly all of Kumandra was pushed to the edge of extinction along with them. Who was to say it could not happen again? Despite the supremely happy outcome in the end, the pain of once losing not only her closest friend during their travels together, but also her beloved father years before that, was too great for Raya to bear the first time around. She could not withstand that sort of anguish a second time, inevitable though it ultimately might have been.

But on the flip side of that coin, Sisu was one of the very few, if only, inhabitants of Kumandra who could boast that she had, in very literal terms, risen from the dead, a modern day Lazarus if you will. It took perhaps the greatest single accomplishment ever recorded in Kumandra's deep history, the reforging of the Dragon Gem, the complete eradication of the Druun, and its splintered people uniting as one after centuries of hostility, but in the end Sisu was granted that which just about every soul in Kumandra longed for in one form or another: A second chance. Another shot at the great journey that is Life itself, and the joy of being able to share it with her reborn brothers and sisters, no less.

This goofy noodle queen was here to stay for the long haul, no matter what ill fate might one day befall her or her kin. Even if the world somehow lost Sisu and the Dragons again, their legacy, her legacy, would forever endure. She would always be there for those she loved, to lift her friends heavy hearts in times of sadness or strife, to guide them through all hurdles of life, to comfort them and watch over them, in spirit and in the flesh. No matter what new disaster might one day come to pass over Kumandra, Sisu was not going anywhere.

And now that it was the season of giving, she had a little something for the occasion to cement that promise, to show Raya once and for all that she would always be there to walk the uncertain future right alongside her.

In this life and beyond.

Nightfall. That immortal sphere of flame in the ether cast its fiery swan song across the snow-covered planes as the icy shadow of dusk had fallen on the world once more.

As per the status quo of holiday tradition, the twilight hours of Kumandra were alight with commerce and celebration across all corners of the realm, but the night life of Heart at years end was perhaps more bubbly and animated than even the splintered, talent-infested piers of Talon itself. Kumandra's central forest gem was the living embodiment of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and like every Who down in Whoville, those who shared this shining beautiful key made their voices known, chanting the Kumandra equivalent of Fahoo Fores Dahoo Dores from sunrise to sunset. All throughout the lush, verdant Centropolis of Raya's island home, and even from far distant shores, one could hear the merry chorus of carefree children caroling with joy and spirit at every doorstep, the reverberating echoes of glassy ceramic bells heralding the coming of Saint Quetzalcoatl the Divine.

The world of Kumandra was a far brighter place these days, especially considering the struggle endured to get there, and certainly for the Dragons themselves it was a rather joyous sight to behold considering they had not seen Christmas in Kumandra, or indeed Kumandra at all, for well over half a millennium, but it was doubly soothing to the follicles of Raya's own beating ticker, often high-strung from the stresses of her commitments, to come home to such good cheer among both her people and the neighbouring kingdoms. Not to mention the warm welcome her father Benja and her beloved Tuk Tuk always gave her, waving to her and Sisu from the main foyer as they at last touched down on her personal terrace after an exhausting twelve-hour patrol. It was little joys such as these that made all the adversity and hardship worthwhile in the end.

With all the grace and finesse of a leopard balancing atop a tree branch, Raya swung her booted leg over and swiftly dismounted from the elastic back of this zany waternoodle she had bestrode since dawn, having become quite the seasoned cloudkicker as the months passed.

"Yeesh, what a long day. I'm whipped."

This was a little surprising to hear coming from Heart's finest warrior. Not that Raya was a slacker in any way, it was a task she took very seriously after all, but Sisu was the one really wearing herself ragged throughout the day, sprinting an endless marathon on all fours from dawn until dusk, even if she thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. The hornets nest needed a little playful prodding here, and though it was all in the spirit of good fun, Sisu could not help herself from driving the needle in just a little bit, coyly placing her paws on her would-be hips as she did.

"You're tired, huh? Maybe next week we should trade places then, you take to the sky and I'll ride on top of you!"

But Raya could certainly give as good as she got, and as always she was standing on the ready line with a witty but perfectly sensible retort.

"Yeah Sisu, that's a great idea! Let me just practice my ability to walk on rain and climb clouds for our next patrol."

Sisu could certainly not argue that point, and proud though she was that Raya had at least inherited subtle shades of her snappy sense of humor, Sisu knew that she was beat and had no choice but to lay down her King, though not before throwing in a little zinger for good measure.

"Alright, alright, I get it. You're not me. It's okay, we can't all be perfect."

Some gentle head pats followed this sly little quip to soften the 'blow', and Raya simply smirked and shook her head. Antics like this were Sisu classic and Raya expected nothing less from her favorite noodle.

"Very funny, ha ha and all that."

At the same time though, it did give her some food for thought, what life would have been like for her if she had been born as, or at some point had otherwise become, an eminent waternoodle herself.

"But sometimes I do wish I had been born a Dragon, if only so I could be as cool as you."

That was indeed an intriguing scenario to Sisu, the thought of what Raya might look as a Dragon, from the hypothetical color of her fur to the curvature of her forehorns, but those are merely physical characteristics. Nothing would change had Raya been born a Dragon in the present, Raya would still remain that same tender soul with her stout heart and fiery spirit. Regardless of her outer shells form, the pearl inside remained untouched.

And Sisu sought to make that point crystal clear.

"Oh shush girl, none of that, you're just fine the way you are."

After all, according to Sisu, the envious shoe was actually on the other foot, so to speak.

"To be honest, most Dragons dream of one day being as awesome as you."

That was true as well, even if modest, humble Raya didn't really want it to be. Heart's bravest Princess Warrior was a cultural icon among Sisu's people, a bedtime story that Dragons regaled their young with, with her tale often the subject of an entire class lecture. She was hard-pressed to go anywhere, even simply taking a stroll through Market Square in her home town, without both locals and far-traveling tourists, Human and Dragon alike, lining up on the streets to receive her autograph so they could later brag to their family and friends about their experience meeting the legend herself, Kumandra's savior.

Raya herself said it best months back, being popular is tough, but it was at the very least a solid indication that she was doing something right, and that being the case, there was no reason, no need, to change anything, even if the idea intrigued her.

"Well, when you put it that way, I guess I am okay just like this."

Her message heard, Sisu nodded in approval. Logic and reason won the day once again.

Finally able to catch their breath after a long, grueling day of surface-to-air surveillance, Raya and Sisu took a few moments among themselves to relax and take in the merry scenery, gazing out across the vast shores of Dragon Lake and the glittering shower or holiday starfire illuminating the misty skyline above Talon's distant piers.

"So, got any plans for tomorrow?"

Raya inquired, ever the inquisitive mind. Though these flight patrols were only two days a week, they were quite long and exhausting, and while they enjoyed doing it for Kumandra's safety and peace of mind for its inhabitants, they also relished their free time, particularly Raya since she did not have much of it to begin with, moonlighting as an ambassador of her people. Sisu's time was equally spread out between her weekend job at the Shrimporium's main establishment on Tail's scorching shores and making it a point to visit each and every one of her friends on a weekly basis, so she enjoyed her downtime as well, and she was quick to point out what a creature of habit she was.

"You know me, singing door to door, wasting my Shrimporium paycheck on frivolous junk, inviting myself over here for dinner, the usual."

'Wasting her paycheck on frivolous junk' was an understatement if ever there was one. The second that Sisu cashed her 'check' on payday, it was off to the swap meets with her. The venue for her little shopping sprees varied week to week, generally trading off between Market Square in Heart and the piers of Talon, with the occasional browsing tour at some of the shoddy kiosks in Tail, but the end result was always the same, spending her hard-earned wages on silly knick-knacks and trinkets and baubles and doodads that for the most part did nothing but sit and collect dust in her little treasure trove back home.

Sisu was very much a hoarder, in every facet of the word, but at least she was honest enough to admit it. That did not deter her siblings from making light of it, though.

And speaking of inviting herself over for dinner, which was a far more common thing than perhaps anyone besides Benja would have liked, given Sisu's penchant for literally gobbling up everything he laid out at suppertime, it was just about time for the chow bell to chime. Raya was pretty sure she already knew what Sisu's answer would be, but she felt it was always proper to ask anyway.

"Want to stay for dinner tonight?"

Indeed she did, but her response was just a little bit unexpected.

"I would, actually! No offense to my sister Amba, but I much prefer your dads home cooking to hers."

Having sampled Amba's cooking herself, Raya found herself conflicted with Sisu's boast. Not that her father Benja was in any way a bad cook, because his cuisine was some of the finest Raya has partaken of to date, perhaps only bested by young Boun himself, culinary extraordinaire. Having said that, Amba was no slouch around a stove or a frying pan either, and while her cooking style was far more al-dente with the raw ingredients, it was quite pleasing to the palate as well. So much so that Raya, with Pengu's permission of course, had herself over for dinner once a week to rub elbows with Sisu's siblings, to which Amba was all too pleased to have an icon like Raya to cook for.

But even if Amba's cooking was sub-par in any way, that was a strange criticism coming from Sisu, the gluttonous black hole of everything edible, regardless of its culinary quality. Even Raya's turkey jerky had become palatable to Sisu over the months, although it remained far from her first choice when seeking sustenance. But if she could stomach even unappetizing field food such as that, absolutely nothing was safe from her devouring jaws.

Regardless, Sisu was clearly staying for dinner, and Raya was always happy to have her company, no matter how often they were together.

"Alrighty, I'll let him know."

It was coming through again, that low-key undertone of harrowing dread that Raya tried so desperately to keep concealed, that unfounded fear that some great catastrophe was always right around the corner that threatened to extinguish Kumandra's light and take from Raya everything and everyone that she held dear. It was a subtle thing, a faint creak in her speech, a blip in her inflection and even her mannerisms, and nobody but Sisu herself was able to pick up on it, but nonetheless it was there.

Sisu had to give Raya credit where it was due, for Raya did a fantastic job of keeping it all under wraps, of burying her fears and maintaining a brave face and an upbeat attitude, but Sisu also knew her better than anyone. It was eating away at Raya like termites living in a tree hollow. She was wearing herself ragged, being stretched paper thin between all of her self-imposed duties, all in the name of preventing some unknown hypothetical disaster that may never come to pass in the first place. It was killing her on the inside, and it had to stop.

Thankfully, Sisu had just the answer to put these fears to rest once and for all, to reassure her that she did not walk alone on her path, and never would. With the stress of her many responsibilities mounting and Raya in desperate need of a sizable dose of heartfelt holiday cheer, Sisu felt like the time was just right to spring her surprise on Raya, and with Christmas Eve only days away, there would not be a better opportunity before then.

It was now or never.

"Hold on a sec, Raya."

Only halfway out into the hallway, Raya stopped and turned to address Sisu's sudden callback, unaware of what was waiting for her when she did.

"Hmm? What is-huh!?"

This sneaky, philanthropic waternoodle had been smuggling gifts this whole time. Cradled in Sisu's outstretched paw was a gilded jewelry box, roughly the size of a large apple. It had a beveled lid that tapered off softly at the corners and was adorned with jade leaves and multi-faceted Draconic motif, held secure with a talon latch in the center.

"This is..."

Hesitantly Raya reached for the inlaid box and claimed it from Sisu's waiting claws, examining it in brief detail as she did.

"...for me?"

Sisu bobbed her head up and down energetically like a child being asked if they want ice cream. Raya was no stranger to receiving unsolicited and often absurd gifts from Sisu at complete random, but never had she made such a gesture to present one to her in this manner, which meant there must have been something very special about it, especially given Sisu's giddiness.

"Go on Raya, open it!"

Not wanting to keep Sisu in suspense, Raya delicately freed the latch from its anchor and lifted the lid, and immediately she was taken aback by the sheer beauty of the prize contained within.

There was a bracelet inside.

"Oh wow, it's gorgeous."

That it was. In fact, excluding the Dragon Gem itself, Raya had never before laid eyes on a piece of jewelry as pretty as this. It seemed to be made of some crystalline material, with its color palette seamlessly flowing throughout its construct from vibrant cobalt to bright shades of lavender. Its entire circumference was tightly woven like a braid, and though it looked to be cut of some kind of fine gemstone, it was actually quite elastic and stretched to fit any size wrist or ankle.

Raya could not even begin to imagine what a magnificent piece of craftsmanship like this must have cost. It was certainly possible that such a lavish accessory as this might have even been beyond Sisu's budget, given that she only worked one day a week. Boun paid his employees well, but not that well.

Though it may have been inappropriate, and she would not fault Sisu for taking offense to such a question, Raya felt like she had to know the price tag behind this item, as she was hesitant to accept a gift from someone who could not afford it.

"It is lovely, but if you don't mind me asking, how much did this cost you?"

Sisu took no offense, of course. In fact, her response left Raya completely dumbfounded.

"Not a single piece of jade, actually. Free as the rain I prance upon, baby."

This little detail only left Raya with more questions than answers. By all outward appearances at least, this was a high dollar piece of apparel, and now Raya's curiosity as to where exactly this regal bauble came from was greatly peaked. It was certainly possible that someone else gave this jewel to Sisu as a gift to her, but most Dragons, especially Sisu and her siblings, were strongly against the practice of people praising them with gifts and other tithings, and unless there was a reason or a special occasion to impart such a trinket to Sisu, odds are she would not have accepted it. And clearly she did not buy it herself.

So then where did it come from?

It was driving Raya bonkers trying to riddle out this conundrum, no answers seemed forthcoming, and she could stand this enigma no longer. Still studying this opulent wristband she held, and wanting to get to the bottom of this matter once and for all, Raya sought to ask Sisu exactly how she came to possess such a fine accessory.

Unexpectedly though, Sisu was quicker on the draw and beat Raya to the punch.

"Then where did you g-"

Her words were stifled mid-sentence as she turned her gaze back to Sisu, who now had a paw to her chest, and like a jigsaw piece snapping into its proper place, the mystery of this ornament's origins became crystal clear.

There was a large divot of fur sheared from the center of Sisu's shimmering mane, roughly a cantaloupe in diameter. Raya had not noticed the missing patch of hair before since the remaining mass of strands that made up her scintillant coat were enough to mask what was no longer there, but with Sisu using her talons to part the rest of her mane from the shaved bald spot, it was very clearly visible.

Raya looked back at the prize within the box she was holding, its spectrum of color, its elasticity, its gemlike sparkle, how it felt to the touch, and suddenly it all made sense.

"Y...you made this from your..."

Sisu grimaced just a bit at that inquiry. Honesty was a big thing for Sisu, and while it would not have been an outright lie to claim complete credit for this gesture, it was not the whole truth either. It was not forged by her paw alone.

"Well, not quite. I don't know a thing about arts and crafts, after all. But my sister Pranee does, as you know. She made them for me, at my request."

Indeed, Pranee had quite the talent for needlepoint and other crafts, and on second glance, this bracelet very much had the look of her work with the exquisite detail in its construction. But there was a key word in that statement that Raya zeroed in on immediately.

"Them?"

Sisu nodded, confirming that there was in fact more than one.

"I actually had two of them made; the second one I was planning to give to Namaari the next time I see her. But this one is for you."

It was no shock that Sisu would have had another one made specifically for Namaari, and Raya happy to hear that her beloved pen pal was to receive one of these too, because those two held a special place in each others hearts as well. It was in fact Sisu who had helped Namaari to overcome her guilt and shame over the events that transpired many months back, who helped Namaari to find purpose and confidence in her role as Fang's ambassador and to rekindle her passion and joy for living, when nobody else could get through to her. Like Raya, she and Sisu had grown very close in their time together, and if anyone else was deserving of a prize such as this, it was indeed dear Namaari, the queen of the Dragon Nerds herself.

Unknown to Raya however, Sisu had another surprise to spring on her beloved girl, as there was a very unique, magical property to these wristbands that was not immediately apparent at first glance.

"But that's not what's so special about these."

With yet another twist presenting itself, Raya cocked her head ever so slightly like a confused dog. There was more to this?

"Take it out of the box."

Still somewhat perplexed, Raya complied and tentatively freed the braided bangle from its pillow, pinching the crystalline band from one end with her thumb and forefinger. It was pliant to the touch and had the feel of warm, ultra-fine satin, almost as if it were alive.

"Now, hold it up to the light."

Intrigued, Raya did as instructed and held her prize against the twinkling starlight sky, catching the pale figure of the moon within its circumference, much like a telescope lens without magnification.

At first Raya thought she was seeing a sort of optical illusion, thought it was simply refracting the light from its environment, the full moon, the distant fireworks over Talon setting the onyx night sky ablaze, even the dimly lit lanterns mounting the walls of her inner chambers. But when she turned and framed the band against other things, she realized it was not just catching light from various angles.

It was glowing all on its own, pulsing with a celestial luminescence and emitting a radiant spectral aura of lapis and lavender and azure and orchid that enveloped and melded with one another like some kind of fluid circular rainbow.

"Hey, it's glo-wha..."

And when she turned back to Sisu to show her, instantly she made the connection and realized what was indeed so special about the trinket she held tenderly between her lightly-calloused fingers.

"Sisu! You...you're glowing too!"

But she was not just glowing, she was in fact being illuminated by the bracelet itself. When turned in Sisu's direction, the phosphorescent gleam given off by this trinket had focused into a narrow beam of cosmic energy that converged squarely on Sisu's heart, and now her entire being was glistening with that same brilliant aura of luminosity.

The bracelet was attuned to Sisu. It was a wayfinder, a compass enchanted to guide its bearer straight to her.

And once Raya realized the true significance of what it was she held so gingerly in her weary hands, her eyes began to gloss over with joy and rapture, to which Sisu beamed a stunning smile in response to, knowing now that Raya had finally made the grand connection.

"You see? Now you'll always know where I am. Now you'll always be able to reach me, wherever and whenever you need me."

The evidence was overwhelming clear that Raya's heart was alight with joy and rapture, and she had to wipe away the onset of a fresh stream of tears with the backside of her bare hands, as the wetworks were already starting to run prematurely.

"You...you really did this, for me?"

Sisu rapidly wrenched her head up and down with the speed of a blazing comet, as though there were two hyperactive gnomes inside her brain operating a seesaw, and she was all too eager to finally regale Raya with the inspiration behind this presentation. Like all brilliant ideas and epic tales, it too had a point of origin.

"Well, I was thinking about a conversation we had a few months back, right before I left to spend some time with my siblings. I remembered you said you were worried that I might disappear from your life, that you might never see me again, and I wanted to find some way to reassure you that such a thing would never happen."

Admittedly, despite weeks worth of brainstorming, Sisu could find no feasible solution to this riddle, as there would always be times when the two of them were apart, whether it was something as simple as personal time to themselves or a hiatus to visit family and friends, or perhaps something more complicated, such as one of the many scenarios that Raya dreaded one day coming to pass.

But eventually it dawned on her that, like most junctures in life, it was a two-way road, and if she could not find a resolution to the problem as it currently stood, maybe it could be reverse engineered and turned the other way. After all, the only thing that was needed was a way for them to stay in touch.

"And I figured, if I couldn't be with you every day, then I could at least give you something to remember me by for the moments when we're not together. Now you'll always have a part of me with you, wherever you go."

Beaming with the warmth and soothing tenderness of a night time campfire, Sisu reached out and clasped Raya's comparatively tiny hands with her own, bracelet still in her grip, cautious not to accidentally rake Raya's sensitive skin with her own stubby clawed digits. This was an unusually rare display of earnestness from Sisu, the rascally scamp who spent virtually all hours of her day pulling legs and wisecracking with everyone she mingled with, but in this case the candid sincerity was wholly justified on her part. Sisu was a prankster at heart, but she could also be dead serious when the situation called for it, and Raya was in desperate need of this kind of reassurance right now.

"I know you're worried about the future, about what great disaster might be around the next corner, and believe me, it's a scary time for all of us. We're all still trying to find our place in the world, and even if we have peace now, even if all is well at the moment, things can go very wrong very fast. We've seen it before. You are not alone in what you're feeling."

Speaking about this matter so openly stung Sisu a bit more than one might assume, because it was indeed an experience she was all too familiar with. Sisu once had to witness the complete eradication of her kind, seeing her brothers and sisters transmogrified into stone before her very eyes, and though it was an act of supreme selflessness on the Dragons part that spared the rest of Kumandra from the Druun's carnage and gave humanity a chance to survive, it was still, and always would be, a bitter and painful memory. Sisu knew better than anyone what it felt like to be so alone, to lose everything in the world that matters to you, even if she got them back in the end.

Alas, that same fear of another calamity taking everything from her again resided within Sisu somewhere, not as profound or prominent as that which plagued Raya, but nonetheless it was there. And sadly there was not much Sisu could do to predict when or if such a thing would happen again, or prevent it from happening in the first place if it did. She may have been a Dragon, but she was still mortal, vulnerable to the arms of Death. She had her limits, like everyone else.

But she at least had the power to set Raya's heart at ease with one solemn vow of kinship.

"And I can't promise you what the future holds, or that things will always be okay. I'm not a fortune teller or a palm reader, I'm just a goofy C+ Dragon trying to fit in with a world that's five hundred years her senior."

Still grasping both of Raya's hands with one of her own, Sisu retrieved the bracelet still in Raya's grip with her free paw, pinching it ever so gently between her thumb and foreclaws. What was a bracelet to Raya or Namaari, or even a necklace to a little one like Noi, was only a ring at best for Sisu, barely about to fit the narrowest part of one of her talons or perhaps the tips of her horns. Though it was pliant and adaptive to accommodate any limb size, it was meant to properly fit only the one it was made for.

"But I can promise you this."

And when Sisu slipped the band over Raya's wrist, it was an absolutely perfect match. No uncomfortable pressure, no loss of circulation, no slack or looseness that would cause it to drift or accidentally slip off unnoticed. A precise, snug and secure adhesion to the entire circumference of her wrist, as if she were born already wearing it.

"You don't have to worry about me disappearing from your life or leaving you behind. I'm not going anywhere. Even if I'm not always around, even if one day something terrible happens to me again, you will not lose me a second time. I will always be with you, and as long as you have this bracelet, as long as you believe in me, you will always be able to find me."

Closing both paws around Raya's hands once more, Sisu cemented this eternal vow with a tender squeeze for emphasis.

"Always."

Overwhelmed to the point of uncontrollable sobbing, Raya could contain her emotions no longer; the dam walls had finally given way and a tsunami of tears began racing down her cheeks like two faucets turned to full pour. Though she was tempted to embrace Raya in the warmth of her noodly arms right then and there, Sisu instead gave Raya a moment of silence and personal space to process everything on her own, merely beaming her pearly fangs in admiration as her personal touch of Dragon Magic had carved a path through the darkness yet again.

Sisu could always make her friends smile with her antics and laugh at her pranks and jokes, that was her gift after all. But if there was any special talent that Sisu truly had a knack for, it was giving people hope in their most desperate hour, guiding them through the blackest shadows to the light cresting the horizon. She had done it in spades with Namaari, helping the poor girl to overcome her shame and guilt over her hand-forced insurrection during the Druun incident, and now she had done it again with Raya, giving this stout-hearted Princess the promise that she would always have Sisu at her back, in one form of another.

If there really was some unforeseen catastrophe in Kumandra's future that threatened to take from Raya everything that she held dear to her heart, she had complete reassurance now that, no matter what ill fate befell her or the world she swore to defend, Sisu would always be with her to watch over her and see her through times of hardship and despair. She would never walk alone.

Holding her new prize securely fastened to her wrist up to her face, feeling the warmth of luminescent Dragon Silk against her tear-soaked cheeks, the only thing Raya could think to do was match Sisu's solemn promise with a vow of her own.

"I'll never take it off."

While one may have had some concern about such a precious jewel incurring damage or deteriorating over time from the physical challenges of Raya's duties, because of the resiliency and durability of Dragon fur, there was no fear that the bracelet would eventually degrade from years of wear and tear. It was sturdy enough to withstand harsh environmental conditions and even the intensity of hand-to-hand combat, and while bathing with it could have been a problem, being that Dragons were an aquatic species by nature, the bracelet was inherently waterproof as well.

But even if she were forced to take it off for some reason, it was absolutely never going to leave Raya's sight. Someone would literally have to pry it from her cold, lifeless fingers before Raya would ever part with it.

With her emotions running high as a result of this presentation, Raya felt like a little quid-pro-quo was necessary here to reciprocate just how much this charm meant to her, and as it turned out, Sisu was not the only one boasting a bit of giftwrapped inspiration for the occasion. Raya had a surprise of her own squared away, and while she was intending on making the exchange Christmas Morning as per the standard tradition, after being blown off the board in such a heart-touching fashion, she could no longer contain herself from the excitement of seeing Sisu's reaction to her end of the trade, and opted to make her move early.

"Actually, I have something for you too."

With the shoe on the other paw and Sisu now the one with a blank, perplexed stare, Raya got on all fours and disappeared into the inky void beneath her 'bed', which was really just an amalgam mass of velvet plush from the 36 or so pillows that were piled onto the bamboo boxspring barely keeping it suspended. But there was still enough room beneath to stash a few provisions out of sight, else Raya would have had literally nowhere to hide these goodies.

When she re-emerged from the dark crater under her cushioned fortress, there were two rather bulky objects tucked beneath both of her arms, both larger than the entirety of Raya's upper body. Sisu could not quite make out what they were at first...

"I was going to wait until Christmas Morning, like normal people do, but..."

...until Raya set them squarely at Sisu's taloned, three-toed feet.

"...I think now is better."

A pair of clothing boxes. One of them, the smaller of the two, was rectangular in shape, made of waxed spruce painted a deep shade of violet and bound lengthwise at its central axis in glittered golden ribbons. The second one, round in shape and of the same material, was much larger in size, perhaps three or maybe even four feet in diameter, dyed a bright rose hue and like its smaller cousin was bound crosswise in silver ribbon with the same sparkled finish in a loose bowtie.

Though Sisu passed a quick glance at Raya, she knew that she needed no permission to dig in and wasted little time in unearthing her new treasures, starting with the smaller box and delicately pulling its securing ribbon free with a pinch and a tug of her foreclaws.

A blanket was folded neatly inside, or at least what looked like a cloth quilt of some kind. Curious, Sisu tentatively removed it from its box and unfolded it layer by layer, inspecting it in detail from both sides. The inner lining was made of silk and was dyed a vibrant and very sporting shade of orchid, with a shimmer and feel akin to that of fine velvet, while the outer portion was a dark tinge of scarlet and seemed to be cut of a hardier and more durable material, probably linen given its feel and thickness.

Interspersed about every seven inches or so along the outer layer were a series of hand-stitched Draconic figurines, emblazoned all across the fabric from one end to the other. Each one was given a unique pose, from extending a helping claw to its neighbor to breaking out into a full sprint across the rosy ether, and their colors varied wildly from ripe tangerine and shamrock green to the brightest shades of sky blue. It was an exceptional gorgeous quilt, one of a kind, and must have taken weeks of painstaking attention to detail to complete. Though it was more for decoration than anything, a blanket of this size meant that Sisu would always be warm wherever she went. If nothing else, it would certainly keep Sisu's feet from sticking out at night and risking her coming down with a Dragon Cold.

Except, it was not a blanket at all. Sewn on the two corner flaps of one end were a pair of glass leaves lined with silver wire, and on the inside of each was a hook and a loop catch to hold both ends together.

It was a cloak, a mantle, and its size was clearly meant for someone much bigger than Raya, too large for even someone such as Tong, but a perfect fit for a Dragon. And once Sisu realized exactly what it was, she turned to Raya with her enormous trademark goofy grin, beaming from fang to fang.

"Raya...wow, I don't even know what to say to this. This is so cool!"

The smile was returned airmail, and Raya subtly nudged her head towards her old ragged red cloak, torn and tattered from years of use, still hanging from an anchored bolt next to her bedroom door, along with her shoddy, frayed strawhat.

"You're always free to borrow my old one, of course, but now you don't have to. Now you have your very own."

That actually happened more often than one would assume, because Sisu had taken quite a liking to Raya's shawl ever since she put it on for the first time. Though she herself did not wear it much anymore, outside of cold weather patrols at least, Raya's old battleworn cape fit Sisu quite well whenever she wore it, and, in her own words, even looked better on her, a claim that Raya herself made no effort to dispute, even though it was originally intended to keep Sisu's identity incognito at the time.

Regardless, Sisu had always wanted one of her own, and now thanks to Raya she had one tailor-made just for her. Now she no longer had to borrow her friends ratty, moth-eaten one to make a fashion statement as the most stylin Dragon in Kumandra, even though she already did a good job of that by herself.

And it did not take long for Sisu to riddle out exactly where this extravagant piece came from either. After all, this level of craftsmanship and detail could only be the work of one person.

"Wait...Pranee made this too!?"

Though this revelation took Sisu by surprise, it came as no big shock that she deduced who made it so quickly, as it was not the first item Pranee had sewn for Sisu or her siblings; Sisu herself slept on a mountain of handcrafted pillows and blankets very much like that which Raya rested her tired bones upon every night, minus the flowing stream of water surrounding her personal pillow fort with a shimmering moat. If anyone were to recognize her own sisters handiwork, it was the one who lived with her and watched Pranee ply her trade on a daily basis.

"Mmhmm. It took me a while to gather up all the embroideries and materials she needed for the project, I even had to order a few specially tinted spools from Talon, took a few days for them to arrive. She would not let me pay her for her work though, said I was family and insisted on doing it pro bono."

That came as no surprise to Sisu, who had run into a similar roadblock with Pranee regarding payment for her work on Raya's bracelet.

"Yup, that sounds like Pranee. I offered her half of my last paycheck from Boun, but she refused it. She won't accept money from any of us, even Pengu."

Though Sisu was long accustomed to it from living with her siblings and sharing a house with them, it came as quite the stunning blow to Raya when Pranee formally addressed her as 'family', as one of their own. On some level she already felt like Sisu and her brothers and sisters were kindred to her, but to hear Pranee outright confirm it out of the blue really set Raya's spirit alight like a well-kindled campfire, and a surprised but tenderhearted Pranee had to hug and hold an overjoyed Raya for quite some time to get her to calm down and stop crying, even prompting Amba, who witnessed this tearful moment from the kitchen, to join in the spontaneous cuddle session and add to the fluffy vibes. If nothing else, Raya could now say from personal experience that Pranee and Ambas hugs were equally as heartfelt and warm as the ones she was subjected to on an almost daily basis by Sisu, minus the spinal damage.

Thankfully Sisu was not present to see this bashful emotional exchange on her part, as Raya had to cherry pick her moments to oversee the progress of her request under Pranee's skillful talons without drawing Sisu's suspicion. But after tonight, after the priceless treasure that Sisu had imparted on her, Raya was utterly sure now that Sisu felt the same way about her as Pranee and the others did. They were more than just friends, more than best friends, even. They were sisters, even if they were not blood related.

But looking back now, Raya did find one aspect of this whole charade quite humorous in hindsight.

"But you know, isn't it funny that we both went to the same person for each others gifts? I wonder how Pranee managed to hide our presents from one another."

"Hah, tell me about it. She always finds new ways to surprise me."

Sisu did get a rather hearty chuckle out of that thought, because it was quite a ridiculous punchline indeed. Balancing two different projects like this did not bother Pranee in the least, as it kept her busy and gave her something to focus her attention on other than big brother Pengu's wild, often outrageous bedtime fables, but just the sheer irony of that scenario by itself, Pranee hiding each persons gift from its intended recipient, let alone neither of them running into one another while surreptitiously conspiring with Pranee in her own house was laughable in itself. They had both seen stranger sights in their time together though, a retired career conbaby probably the most notable among them.

All this jaw chewing about the absurdity of how this all played out, and Sisu had yet to even try on her new robe for size, prompting Raya to nudge her with a friendly reminder.

"Come on, try it on."

Releasing the slack and letting it touch the clean floorboards beneath them, Sisu swung the drape over her shoulders like a sleeveless jacket and clipped the glassy emerald buckle neatly around her neck, the leaf clasp tucked ever so slightly above the frizz of her sparkling mane. The mantle contoured seamlessly over the length of her elastic body like a well-tucked bedquilt, stopping just past her hind legs and leaving her finned whiptail completely free from obstruction.

Raya circled around Sisu slowly, inspecting the fit of her garment from every angle, making ever so subtle adjustments like a tailor fitting someone for a suit, then came back around the front and gave Sisu the O of approval and tacked on a rave review.

"Oh yeah, looking very dapper there, Sisu."

Much like Raya's new bracelet woven from Sisu's own fur, Sisu's new cloak fit her immaculately with no slack or imperfections whatsoever, and it highlighted just how talented Pranee was at her craft. Every pillow or blanket she weaved was an artistic masterpiece. Every article of clothing she knit was tailored flawlessly for its owner. It went without saying but Pranee was a master of her chosen vocation, and as always she had two very satisfied customers here.

But in all their reminiscing and sharing guffaws over the peculiarity of the tale behind their exchange of gifts, Sisu had completely forgotten that there were in fact two pieces to her side of the trade, and she had only opened one of them. After all, while this full-length mantle was absolutely gorgeous and made Sisu look like the standard setter in Kumandra fashion, it was not quite complete without...

"Now all you need is a hat to match."

Raya commented, her acorn irises coyly drawn to the second box waiting to be explored. And as Sisu lifted the box and inspected it all around, its shape, its size, knowing what the first box contained and mindful of the statement Raya had just made, Sisu already had a pretty good idea what was waiting for her inside of this one, her excitement now overclocked as she tugged the ribbon securing the lid free of its knot.

As she suspected, there was indeed a brand new hat inside this box.

"Oh, no way!"

It was not quite in the same style as Raya's shoddy old strawhat, as it seemed to be cut from the same fabric that her new cloak was woven from, but the shape was more or less identical with the pointy dreidel-top sloping down towards the circular brim, very much like a traditional jingasa. It sported the same snazzy coloring as the cloak it came with, a mix of fine scarlet linen on the outer surface with a lavender silk lining along the inside, with a grooved forebrow to comfortably make room for Sisu's horns. It was embellished all along the outer rim with the same Dragon-themed motif, running the complete color spectrum from cherry red to amethyst purple, each with a its own unique pose and gesture, different even from the ones adorning the cape. The buttoned strap underneath was highly elastic and did not chaf or abrade the surface it stretched to fit, and while it was far too big for Raya's pretty little head, it was a perfect fit for the likes of Sisu, its intended receiver.

Sisu needed no friendly reminders this time (or so she thought) and could not wait to give it a test fit. Careful not to damage it with her Horns, Sisu slipped the hat over her head from the side, carefully aligning the grooved forebrow with the back horn, the larger of the two, and then snapped the loop underneath her chin, causing no uncomfortable constriction or abrasion. It complimented its sister cloak exquisitely, looking for all the world like a Princess herself, which in some ways was already true. Her new wardrobe gave her the image of nobility, of wisdom and courage to the highest degree. In Sisu's own words, she looked absolutely baller.

Like Raya's new bracelet however, there was something very special about this headpiece, and in Sisu's haste to try it on for size, she had completely overlooked a key detail subtly hidden in its intricate weaving. Raya could not fault Sisu for that, as it was something one would likely not notice unless they knew it was there to begin with, but Raya had to again drop the hint that there was more to this item than what Sisu's eyes told her at first glance, as the magic behind this gift could only be appreciated if its owner made the discovery themselves.

"Very snazzy Sisu, but you missed something."

Puzzled, Sisu cocked her head sideways like a dog trying to comprehend its owners strange behavior.

"Huh?"

Raya drummed her index finger atop her head, giving Sisu a subtle clue to the riddle.

"Look underneath."

With renewed interest, Sisu delicately unsnapped the button securing the hat to her skull and turned it over, scanning the interior like a lab student studying parasitic organisms with a microscope. She did not notice anything out of the ordinary at first glance, which did not surprise Raya that much; it was a pretty small detail after all, physically at least. But Sisu was far more shrewd than her behavior often suggested, and Raya was certain she would spot it if she looked hard enough.

"Look a little closer. You'll see it."

Just inside, above the grooved forebrow at the front of the hat, was a very small rectangular brass plate, maybe two inches in length and a centimeter or two in width. It seemed unassuming at first glance, surely some form of padding or reinforcement to make the hat more durable, but when she brought her eyes closer to inspect it, she finally unraveled the mystery of Raya's little riddle.

There was an engraving in the plate, etched in neat and well-practiced floral cursive. It was very small, it had to be to fit within frame, but Sisu was able to read it clear as crystal.

To my best friend Sisu, the bravest and wisest Waternoodle in all of Kumandra. A true Dragon, in every facet of her being.

~Raya

In all of two seconds the rivers flow had been reversed, and now Sisu was the one about to spring a leak in the waterworks, saline pooling around her amethyst irises like a geode of sparkling diamonds wrapped within a cobalt shell. She recited it out loud, word for word, just incase she had misinterpreted its meaning in some way. She did not, and speaking the inscription aloud, giving it form, only heightened its intended effects, as if a huge spotlight had just been shone on Sisu in the middle of a massive crowd.

"Raya, I...I-I'm..."

Sisu stammered her words helplessly, her snout quivering uncontrollably, and though she did not quite break out into a sob as Raya did, she too had been emotionally shaken by the magnitude of such an esteemed commendation. And not one syllable of this dedication was exaggerated or undue. Much like Raya, Sisu had become an icon, a living legend among her kind and the rest of the world, and though Sisu often considered herself to be foolish and featherbrained, even weak at times, the truth is that she was anything but. Time and time again Sisu had shown first-hand her unwavering courage, coming to the defense of her comrades even when her own life hung by a thread, and demonstrated her boundless insight, sometimes unknowingly and even unintentionally, guiding her friends through this perilous journey to restore the Dragon Gem and bring Kumandra together again.

But most of all, it was the priceless morals Sisu had imparted on Raya that molded her into the person she was today, teaching her how to be open with herself, learning to trust in others, and the penultimate lesson she took from her time with this majestic serpent of the waters, that sometimes to set things right you just need to have a little faith and be willing to take that first step.

It was her word that Raya trusted in, her example that Raya conducted herself by to this day. Sisu was a true Dragon, a paragon of her people, in the eyes of Raya, her brothers and sisters, and all who knew her personally. Her name would forever be echoed in the annals of Kumandra's rich history, in poems and song and historical chronicles taught in schools thousands of years to the day. And now she had a priceless treasure all her own to bolster that conviction in her self worth.

And of course, this stout little human of hers to always drive the point home whenever her self confidence wavered.

"You can deny it all you want, but I'm just going to keep reminding you until you accept it, and you can't stop me."

No she could not. Raya was utterly relentless in her praise, always speaking of Sisu in the highest acclaim. Regardless of her self criticisms, Sisu was the real deal, she had already proved it countless times over, and Raya was not going to let her forget it. Ever.

A strange turn of events, Sisu certainly did not anticipate having the goblets switched against her and being put in this position, and it took a good five or six minutes for the 'rain' to stop. This carefree noodle thought she had the high ground here, thought she was the one with the Midas Touch, carrying Raya's uplifted spirits to infinity and beyond, and ultimately she had, if Raya's earlier reaction was anything to go by. But in hindsight it was Sisu herself who was the one truly on cloud nine in this moment, reflecting on how incredibly lucky she was and musing heartily to herself that meeting Raya was, no question, the best thing that had ever happened to her.

She had been completely outdone, beaten at her own game and, wiping away what tears remained with the backside of her paw, was left with little recourse but to concede victory to the better player.

"Wow girl, you really know how to make a Dragon feel special. I guess I'm going to have to try harder next time!"

The gauntlet had been cast and a new burden had been placed on Sisu's shoulders, to find a way to outdo herself in one years time. Once more she secured her new hat atop her horned head, flourishing her beautiful new getup with the etiquette and conduct expected of one representing their realm. Which was to say she was parading about like a complete goofball, pirouetting on clawed dragon toes like a Princess herself, one introducing herself with some elaborate, self-practiced curtsy. And though it would no doubt be a monumental undertaking, they both vowed that next years Christmas exchange would be even more magical than this one, hoping to perhaps even make it into a yearly tradition of one-upsmanship.

In the chaos of this massive emotional showcase, both of these ladies had both completely forgotten about the feast awaiting them in the grand foyer of Heart Palace. Benja did not yet know that Sisu was staying for dinner, but as she was a regular guest of his, he was prudent in his preparations and always made extras in anticipation. Tuk Tuk loved leftover table scraps so nothing ever went to waste.

But Raya was pretty famished at this point, and assuming there was nothing else waiting in the wings, was ready to grab her bib and dig in.

"Yikes, our food is probably cold by now. You ready to get some grub?"

Surprisingly, it was of little concern to Sisu, the gourmand lizard lady of the waters. Not that she had no appetite or was at all a picky eater; the bountiful banquet awaiting her could have spoiled weeks over and no doubt Sisu would have still devoured the entire spread regardless. A feast meant for twelve was but a light afternoon snack to the hoover might of Sisu's infinite black hole stomach, regardless of whether or not it was even edible. Her all-consuming appetite put even that of a Hobbits to absolute shame.

But this was far more important to her, and though she too was quite ready to grab her utensils and chow down, there was one final detail she wanted to iron out to put a stamp on this most magical of evenings.

"Almost, just one more thing."

'There's more!?'

Raya pondered in a flash panic. The circuits in the fusebox had been tripped again, immediately placing a weary Raya on Defcon 1. Sisu had already left Raya only a few heartbeats away from a full-on coronary, surprising her with the presentation of a lifetime, the most thoughtful gift anyone had, or even could, ever give her. What more could this dastardly Dragon possibly spring on her after all of this tomfoolery?

Raya could rest easy for this one though, as Sisu's appeal was a tame one, a simple acknowledgement to forever cement their sororal bond.

"Take your time and say it loud:"

And Sisu energetically raised a taloned thumb to her chest mid-sentence, clearly giving the only answer away.

"Who's your Dragon?!"

An easy request, and one that Raya was all too over the moon to fulfill. Placing her hands on her hips for emphasis, and with a giant, beaming grin not at all unlike the one that naturally made itself home on Sisu's goofy snout, Raya gave her prized noodle exactly what she asked for, her proud voice echoing all the candor and zeal she could muster.

"Heheh, you are. And you always will be."

Hearing this was sweet music to Sisu's ears and made her heart sing like a diva's encore at a sold out venue. The last of Sisu's self control finally failed her, and could restrain herself no longer.

"Aww yeah, that's my girl! Come on, bring it in, sister!"

Like a coiled python striking at mousy prey, Sisu reached out and snatched dear Raya into her yearning claws. Raya had no warning, no chance to react. All her eyes could process was a blue of azure and magenta as she was hoisted high into the air and bound tight in eager Dragon arms like a newborn wrapped in the snuggest of blankets, pinning her arms to her sides and making it impossible to do anything other than turn her head or kick at the open air beneath her. Sisu's hold was firm and unyielding, but warm and inviting all the same, and Raya simply buried her turned cheek against Sisu's glistening mane, listening to the tempo of her vigorous beating heart, and savored this moment of gooey affection for all it was worth.

It did not last long, however, as Sisu's excitement eventually got the better of her and she began inadvertently squeezing the comparatively small human locked in her fuzzy arms just a bit too tight, unaware that she was overdoing it. Raya endured it for as long as she could, as she truly loved being on the receiving end of such sugary sentimentality by this wacky fluffnoodle of hers, but Sisu was unrelenting in her enthusiasm and Raya finally had to call out for a reprieve.

"Ack...S-Sisu, my bones..."

Hearing Raya's plea for mercy, Sisu was now certainly aware of the 'damage' she was inflicting on Raya's fragile frame, and for just one brief moment the intense pressure of her crushing embrace relented.

"Oops, sorry!"

Unfortunately for Raya, it was only a momentary stay of execution, for in Sisu's mind there was only one sensible thing to do in response.

"I know, I'll squeeze tighter so they stay in place!"

Despair cascaded over Raya in a black, oily tidal wave as she too late realized the gravity of her situation. There was no escape now from the enthusiastic, pulverizing grip of Sisu's patented Dragon Cuddles as the Hug-o-meter was swiftly cranked up to 11.

"No, Sis-UUAAAGGGGHHHHH!"

Her words were choked off by the immense force of Sisu's suffocating embrace, and she nearly blacked out from the pressure as her lungs desperately waved the white flag and began negotiating terms for surrender. If this was to be her end one day, having the life squeezed out of her by an over-enthusiastic, happy-go-lucky Water Dragon...well, there were certainly worse ways to die, such as "accidental" food poisoning from Boun's household Shrimp Congee, perhaps. Death by Dragon Hugs wasn't such a bad way to go, she thought; at least she'd take the journey to the Jadely Gates in the arms of someone who loved her, wholly and unconditionally.

There were scant few illustrations in Raya's soul that could match the sense of rapture and accomplishment of seeing Kumandra's people, human and Dragon alike, joined hand in paw after centuries of trivial, insignificant squabbles and clashing opinions, but three of them were here to share in that utopia; her beloved father Benja, preparing a bountiful feast for his guests, her loyal companion Tuk Tuk, that overgrown pill-pug armadillo she had raised since birth snoring the twilight hours away like any good sidekick worth his salt, and this proud, silly and kindhearted waternoodle holding her tighter than true love itself. These really were the golden years for Hearts Brave Warrior Princess, the very best of times, and the coming years, at least from what she could see now, looked so bright it made her eyes tear.

And perhaps one day Raya's darkest fears would come to pass and Kumandra's glorious age of peace and unity would come crashing down. Perhaps the Druun would return from the grave and force the Dragons to make the ultimate sacrifice again to spare the rest of Kumandra from the same fate. Perhaps another petty conflict would arise that would once more splinter all of Kumandra and leave its people divided and broken again. Perhaps a cosmic meteor would fall from the sky and raze the entire world, swallowing the land in colossal tidal waves, triggering seismic calamity from long overdue fault lines itching to breathe, and waking angry supervolcanos from deep slumber that would incinerate everything they touched, all combining forces to inflict total annihilation on Kumandra's people and reduce this beautiful world to nothing more than an ashy, smouldering wasteland.

None of that mattered to Raya anymore. If there was any lesson to be gained from the events of tonight, it was that Raya would never walk lifes long and winding road alone. Even if some unforeseen hypothetical disaster were to one day send Kumandra to the fringes of oblivion, in the end, Raya, Sisu, their friends and family, and all of Kumandra would meet that fate together. No longer was Raya's perspective on life governed by what ifs and maybes and worst case scenarios, no longer was Raya snared in that grim trap of always dwelling on the distant, uncertain future. If nothing else, tonights little happening most certainly cured her of that folly.

What was truly important to Raya now was living in the moment, making the most of lifes little adventures, relishing each and every second she was able to spend together with friends and family, appreciating what she had and who she had in her life, not because she knew the future could one day take it all away from her, but because life being finite with an expiration date made it all the more precious, and all the more important to cherish it and make the most of it while it lasted.

Now it was the simple things that Raya had renewed passion for. Comparing bracelets and pitting her knowledge in a battle of wits against her Princess Penpal Namaari, self-proclaimed queen of the Dragon Nerds. Blunting her senses from frequent trips to see Noi's nightly explosive extravaganza lighting up the ether. Taking weekly cooking lessons from Boun, chef extraordinaire, so she could whip up something more palatable than rubber jerky when away from home. It always starts with the little, everyday pleasures, and what better way to rekindle her zest for life than by sharing a fresh, home-cooked meal with the warm company of those she cherished most, amidst the massive distant silhouettes of snowflakes and bobsleds molded from clusters of sparkling starfire high above the jewelbox skies of Talon.

And of course, only three more days until Girl's Night.

"Blood does not make Family, and time and distance does not break it.

Like the Moon, Family will always be there, even when it is too dark to see it.

Keep strong, and it will always light your way home, wherever you are."

June Stevens Westerfield

The End