~ I'm sorry it took so long...but here's some more. Please read it! ~

Chapter Three:

She couldn't even scream.

Melody clawed at her neck, trying to free herself, but the snakelike thing was firmly attached. It squealed as it realized what she was trying to do, and tightened its grip even more.

Terrified, Ayamia shrieked, "Get away from her!" She grabbed a rock and tried to hit it on the head. But the creature bit her hand and the rock flew free, hitting Melody on the cheek.

"Ow!" she cried, and gasped as she realized that she could talk. The tiny beast had loosened its grip and was now licking the wound.

Ayamia stared, all anger gone as she saw this act of sympathy. "Is that a…Petit Dragon?" Her eyes glittered in delight as she thought of all the people who'd give up their magic for this chance. "I've heard so much about them…but I never thought I'd ever actually see one!"

Melody said nothing, but she was as awed by the proximity of such a rare creature as Ayamia was. She reached down to pet it, and was even more surprised when she found its skin to be as soft as silk.

The two girls continued to stare at the tiny dragon, lost in the wonder of the moment, when suddenly a brilliant light flashed in the distance. They peered through a hole in the cave wall, but saw nothing more than a couple of kids riding on windboards, their silhouettes briefly passing over the setting sun.

((The setting sun?)) "Oh no!" Melody cried. "I was supposed to be home over an hour ago!"

"Yeah, I should probably get going too," Ayamia replied. She turned around. "Hey, where'd that little dragon go?"

Melody glanced around, but saw no sign of him. In fact, there was no sign of any life in the cave at all, save for themselves. "Maybe he had to go home for supper too," she joked.

Ayamia giggled, then said, "Well, we'd better hurry if we want to make it back before dark. Even my parents would get mad if I was out that late!"

"Yeah, no kidding." Melody winced, imagining their wrath. Ayamia's parents were usually nice, but they could be pretty scary if they got mad. "Well, see you later."

She raced out of the cavern, making it home just as the sun dipped beneath the horizon. The air was already beginning to get chilly, so she made her way across the yard as quickly as she could.

But just as she reached for the doorknob, she heard loud voices coming from inside the house. "Arithe, I know you don't want to think about it, but you're going to have to! We need to be prepared in case she doesn't make it!"

Melody blinked, and leaned against the wall. She didn't want to walk in when her mom was yelling like this. She'd been on the receiving end of that temper far too many times as it was.

"Come on, Sheloi! You're the one who needs to wake up and smell the orchids! Of course Melody will make it! She is my daughter, after all!"

"But she's my daughter too! I didn't get a Bacchii for a partner, and that didn't stop you from marrying me!"

"Oh? Well, sometimes I wonder why I did!"

Melody shivered, but not from the cold. She'd heard her parents fight before, but this time they were arguing about her. It made her feel horrible inside, like the sinking feeling you get in your stomach when you realize you've broken your grandmother's favorite vase.

"They don't mean it."

Melody glanced up, and found her grandpa smiling down at her. "People say the strangest things when they get upset. Don't worry, both of them love you, and will support you one hundred percent no matter what happens tomorrow."

"Thanks, Grandpa." Melody gave him a quick hug, comforted by his kind words.

"Glad to be of help." He glanced around, gazing up into the night sky. The wind gently ruffled the leaves, breaking the silence. "It's getting cold…we should probably go inside."

"Yeah."

As they walked in, Melody's parents were standing on opposite sides of the room, glaring at one another. They stepped forward, trying to act like nothing was wrong, but Melody didn't miss the fleeting looks of rage they shot at one another.

She quietly excused herself and headed up to her room. Why were her parents always like this? They'd always cheer her on, supporting her without a doubt…until the night before, and then they'd argue continually. ((I suppose it's their way of showing they care,)) Melody told herself. But she couldn't even convince herself, not after tonight.

As she entered her room and shut the door, she found herself staring at the picture of Lila the Harpie Lady on her wall. The heroine's courageous image had often helped Melody feel better when she was stressed, and she appealed to the warrior's sympathies again tonight. "Please, Lady Lila, help me to satisfy both of my parents in the Ceremony tomorrow. I only want to make them happy..."

As she drifted off to sleep, she could have sworn she saw the portrait smile and wink at her...