𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐒 | 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚¹

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟐

IceMoon found herself lounging comfortably atop a sumptuous pillow, the plush material providing a delightful cushion against the ground beneath her. Flower, ever the attentive companion, was in the midst of preparing a paste that she had concocted from a variety of natural ingredients. The purpose of this paste was to alleviate the discomfort of IceMoon's recent misfortune. Engrossed in the captivating sight of Smolder, IceMoon had been so utterly absorbed by his presence that she had neglected to pay attention to the path ahead of her. This unfortunate oversight had led to her stumbling into a dense thicket of cactus plants, their sharp needles puncturing her skin and leaving her with a painful reminder of the perils of distraction. The sensation of the cactus spines piercing her flesh was a stark contrast to the warmth of Smolder's gaze, which she had been basking in just moments before.

As Flower tenderly applied the paste to her injury, IceMoon felt the pain slowly ebb away, replaced by a tingling sensation that signaled the paste's healing properties. Smolder, though attempting to suppress his amusement, couldn't help but let a few chuckles escape through the smoke that wafted from his nostrils. His mirth was evident in the way his tongue danced around the base of his nosehorn, a valiant effort to contain his laughter. "Seriously, IceMoon," he inquired with a smirk, "how did you not notice the sand dune sloping down or the rocks scattered about? You're usually so observant."

IceMoon shot him a glare, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of purple that spread like wildfire across her black-and-white-splattered scales. She had no intention of revealing the true reason for her clumsiness, as it was far too humiliating to admit. She had been so preoccupied with watching Smolder, her thoughts lost in admiration for his fiery grace and strength, that she had failed to see the perilous terrain approaching. The very idea of confessing her distraction was mortifying. Instead, she opted for silence, allowing the tension to hang in the air as Flower gently applied a large leaf to one of her injured talons.

Undeterred by her lack of response, Smolder leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "You were what?" he prodded, his barbed tail swishing playfully behind him. IceMoon rolled her eyes before swatting him lightly with her tail, ensuring that her sharp spikes remained harmlessly out of reach. He chuckled at her feigned annoyance, his expression one of pure amusement. "Tired already?" he quipped, gesturing to the vast expanse of the Kingdom of Sand that lay before them. "Our adventure has only just begun!"

Just as the moment grew more relaxed, the tranquil atmosphere was pierced by the sudden entrance of a SandWing guard. His silver helm gleamed under the desert sun, reflecting the intensity of the day's heat. "Prince Smolder?" the guard called out in a respectful tone. Smolder's expression grew serious as he turned to face the interruption, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "What is it?" he inquired, his voice firm yet laced with a hint of impatience.

The guard paused, his ears drooping as he delivered the message. "Your sister, Blaze, wishes to see you in the mead hall immediately." The mention of Blister's name caused the guard's voice to drop to a whisper, as if the mere mention of her could bring forth an unwelcome disturbance. Smolder's face tightened into a frown, and he shared a knowing look with IceMoon.

He reached out to gently coax Flower onto his broad shoulders, but she clung to IceMoon's talon with surprising tenacity, her furry body trembling slightly. IceMoon felt a pang of affection for the little scavenger and smiled warmly. "It seems she's quite attached to me," she observed, stroking Flower's head. "I think she'd prefer to stay here."

Smolder sighed, his gaze softening as he looked upon the bond that had formed between the two of them. "Very well," he conceded, his expression a mix of affection and resignation. "Flower, take care of IceMoon for me. Don't let her get into any more trouble." He leaned down to press his snout against hers in a brief, tender gesture before straightening up with renewed resolve.