The Beast

Aftermath

Dexa, that was sooo cool! I can't believe you did that," Azalea exclaimed, embracing her pale friend.
    "It was really nothing, but could you be anymore dimwitted? What makes you think you, a fifteen year old girl, could go a take on a fire breathing dragon all on your own with only a stupid little blade! You could of gotten hurt or worst, killed!" Dexa fumed, pushing Azalea away from her. "Do you know how depressed everyone would be without you? Especially Ylva, you're like a big sister to her!"
"Well, sorry for trying to be a good person and help!  It is not my fault that I wanted to make sure no one died, I would rather die trying to save people instead of people dying because I couldn't save them!"
"Do not raise your voice at me! Anger makes you stupid, and stupid gets you killed. You should know that better than anyone! Why do you think your parents died? It was because they couldn't stop their bickering for one minute to realized that they had walked straight into a bandit camp," Dexa argued.
"How dare you bring my parents into this, Dexa! You have no right to do that," Azalea growled, pulling her sword out.
"Whoa, hey, hey! What's going on here," Azara voiced, stepping between the aggravated females.
"Azalea is pissed off  because I told her off for rushing into combat with that dragon all alone," Dexa explained, crossing her arms.
"Oh, don't play the innocent now, Dexa! You didn't have to give me a lecture about how I could've gotten killed like my 'idiotic parents', you could have just said "Oh, you should just wait for us to join you next time, okay?" instead," Azalea contradicted, rolling her eyes.
"Okay, that's enough! Azalea, your parents weren't stupid, they just were in the best state of mind at the time, but you should've waited for at least one of us to go with you. Dexa, yes, Azalea didn't make the best decision by rushing into battle like that, but that doesn't give you the right to call her deceased parents idiots," Azara announced, looking at the two as they slightly nod. "Now, I want you two to say you're sorry and hug."
"What, why?" Azalea inquired, looking at him weirdly.
"Just because I want you to, and you have to listen to me, because I'm your elder," Azara cackled.
"No, you're not! You are only one year older than me," Azalea objected.
Waving his hand dismissively, Azara grinned, "It's the same difference, I'm still older than you."
"You actually can't tell me what to do, though. I'm one year, eight months, and twelve days older than you, and if we're using your logic, that makes me your elder, Azara,"  Dexa chuckled, shaking her head slightly.
"Yeah, yeah, you got me there, but can you guys at least say you're sorry," Azara complained. The two girls giggled, said their apologies, and hugged.
"Hey, Zara, where's Ylva? I thought you were with her last," Azalea recalled, pulling away from the embrace, and looking into his emerald eyes.
"Oh, I told her to help that little girl to safety, I wanted her to be as far away from the destruction as possible," Azara explained. "Also, I knew our parents would kill me if she got her hurt." Azalea chuckled quietly, and nodded. Biting her lip slightly, Azalea looked around in heartbreak. One little dragon had managed to destroy her childhood home in a short bit of time. Gasping, she turned on her heel and dashed out of the tower square. Dexa and Azara shared a confused glance at each other, before following slowly behind her.
"Thank Merlin it's okay," Azalea mumbled, hopping the burnt fence, and kneeling in front of the grave. She reached forward, ridding the dust that had gathered on the ancient grave, so the words Vilkas Jaeden coming into view.
"Sorry, I haven't came to visit you lately. I'm not going to give you a fake reason why I haven't, because I was taught not to lie to family, even if they're not around physically anymore. I know we've never met, but my mom always spoke so highly of you, so I really hope you both are happy now, along with my dad. I didn't come here with the plan of having an hour long conversation with my deceased uncle, so, um, I'll just be going now. Bye, uncle Vilkas, I'll come by another time to chat." Azalea kissed the gravestone, got to her feet, and rushed out of the small garden, in search for her friends.
"There you are, Azalea! I was so worried about you," Ylva exclaimed, launching herself at the older girl.
"I'm going after that dragon," Azalea declared, pulling away from the young girl, looking at her friends shocked expressions.
"W-what did you just say," Azara stutter.
"I'm pretty sure I didn't stutter like you when I said it. I'm going after the dragon, and I'm doing it today," Azalea announced.
"We're going with you then! We can't let you go do this on you own, right?" Ylva squeaked looking at the other two behind her.
"No! I am not letting you guys come along with me! Especially you, Ylva, you're only thirteen," Azalea opposed, stepping away from her.
"Azalea, Ylva has a point, you can't go and do this on your own. Didn't you see what almost happened? You would've gotten burnt alive if I wasn't there to help you. If you're going to do this, at least let me come with you," Dexa reasoned, pushing her snowy hair out of her eyes.
Biting her lip slightly, Azalea sighed, "Fine, you can come with me, Dexa. You're right, I could really use you and your magic for backup."