Chapter 25: "Friend or an enemy?"

Next thing I really knew I was resting by a giant ice cave with a few wary ice dragons watching me. Kip walked over and curled up next to me. The closeness made me slightly twitchy.

/Calm down… It would be better if we stayed close. You know it too./

/True. But it would also be easier to take us out./

/Would you rather I go and they take us out while we're separated or have me watch your back while you watch mine/ Kip asked.

/……alright you can stay./ I said and relaxed a little more.

/Besides, we're brothers now./

I looked at Kip. /Says who/

/Matt. She told me to call her 'Mom'./

I looked at Matt, who was sitting by Hyoshin. /She's too trusting…/ Kip growled, thinking I meant it about him. /Not you. It's Hyoshin that I don't trust…/

/Don't trust things of ice…/ Kip stated. /Especially since they can hide anywhere in their territory… It's like a stupid chameleon…/

I looked at him and grinned, baring my fangs. /I have ice demon in me./

/Matt did tell me you're actually a fire demon. I still don't completely understand but I get the idea./ Kip sighed.

/I still don't completely get it…/ I said simply.

/And about the ice demon thing…/ Kip started.

/Forget it. I don't completely trust myself, Kip./ I said.

Kip remained silent for a moment. /I trust you… I just realized it./

I looked at Matt one more time. /Just be careful who you trust. Even with me…/

/It's not like you're an evil bad guy or a dragon slayer./

/I was a bad guy./

/'Was'. Past tense. I've got nothing to worry about. G' night./

/Night./

The next day I looked up to see this ice dragon in my face. I growled and se backed up. It was the one who had attacked me.

/Sorry…/ she mumbled.

/Hn./ I looked around and noticed Kip was gone. /Where's--/

/He went hunting. He said he'd be back in a while./

/Oh./ I sat up and flicked my wings, clearing them of ice. /I hate the cold…./

/Why? You obviously have it in you or it wouldn't be so happy to be with you./

/…Whatever./

/And they say ice dragons are cold./

/Hn./ I started walking away then…… noticed her following. I turned and looked at her.

/I'm Hyokinshi. What's your name/

/You don't need to know that./

"Hiei!" Matt called.

/Hiei, huh/

/Damn./ I said.

/Hehehe./ she giggled. She trotted past me. I looked at Matt.

/Can we go/ She shook her head. /Can we please go/

"No, Hiei. Hyoshin and me have so much catching up to do!"

/Then can we come back for you/

"No! You're staying here until I'm ready to go!"

/Hn. You wish. I'll just come back for you later./

"You're just jealous!"

I stopped and looked at Matt. /Of what/

"Hyoshin. You're jealous. I know you are."

/Of him? There's nothing to be jealous of./

"Sure there is. There's a lot of things to be jealous of. He hot, strong, better than you."

/He's NOT better than me./

"Sure he is. He's--"

/He's NOT better than me./

"Oh, really?"

/Yeah, 'really'./

"Tch." Matt trotted over to Hyoshin and snuggled up to him and for some reason it pissed me off. I took flight and landed on a cliff so Matt couldn't reach me. It wasn't Matt that got to me. No matter what she did I was use to it. It was Hyoshin that got me. I sat up on the cliff, plotting ways to get rid of the look Hyoshin had. It was like he thought he was better than me! Hn, as if anyone was better than me…

I heard Matt whining and ignored it, falling into a light sleep. Kip was talking to her. She would be fine.

/The problem is…/ I thought to myself. /I can't tell if he's a friend or an enemy……/