𝙉𝙮𝙭𝙚𝙧𝙖 ✧

News That Burns Brighter Than Fire

The first light of dawn crept over the jagged cliffs, spilling into the canyons like molten gold. It was a quiet, perfect morning, but Frisk was far from ready to enjoy it.

Wrapped in a blanket and buried deep in their bedroll, they squinted at the pale light streaming through the window.

Their limbs felt heavy, and their head still buzzed with sleep.

The fire in their heart might have burned brightly yesterday, but right now, it was barely a flicker.

I should get up... There's training...

They shut their eyes tighter, hoping to ignore the guilt gnawing at them.
But as the moments slipped by, a groan escaped their lips.

Shoot... I missed it.

Rolling onto their back, Frisk let out a sigh, staring at the ceiling.

Training was essential if they wanted to improve, but skipping one session wasn't the end of the world, right?
Or so they told themselves.

Just then, the front door rattled with a cheerful knock.

"Frisk! You awake?"
Kachina's voice called out from the other side.

Frisk dragged themselves up with a groan, rubbing their eyes.

They stumbled over to the door, their blanket still draped over their shoulders.

When they opened it, they found Kachina standing there, looking as bright and fresh as the morning sun.

"You missed training again, didn't you?" Kachina asked, crossing her arms with an amused grin.

Frisk shrugged, yawning.
"Yeah... But I was really tired."

Kachina rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance in her expression.
"Good thing I came to get you. Come on, today's important, and half the tribe is already leaving!"

Frisk blinked, peering over Kachina's shoulder.

She wasn't exaggerating-groups of people were bustling through the canyon paths, loading supplies onto their long-necked saurians and preparing to head toward the Stadium of the Sacred Flame.

Frisk's stomach dropped. This many people?

Frisk and Kachina rushed to the stable, where their tribe's saurians-large, reptilian creatures with sleek scales and long necks-waited patiently.

Despite their intimidating size, the saurians were calm and friendly, with wise eyes and a gentle gait.

Once fierce beasts, they had long since become trusted companions to the people of Natlan.

Kachina helped Frisk climb onto the back of a towering saurian with emerald-green scales.

The creature let out a soft huff, almost as if encouraging them.

With a gentle nudge from Kachina, they were off, riding through the canyon paths alongside others from their tribe.

Frisk's saurian swayed gracefully with each step, and soon the wind was rushing past, carrying scents of wildflowers and smoke from distant cooking fires.

Riding these majestic beasts was one of Frisk's favorite things-it always made them feel like they belonged to something bigger, part of a world as free and wild as the flames that burned through Natlan.

As they approached the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, Frisk's jaw dropped.

They had been here countless times before, but today... it was something else.