Marina laughed as Orion gave a failing attempts at a joke. It had been a few weeks since Marina had seen Ecru last.
"You're rice!" announced Orion, delivering the punch line with a flourish of his pride.
"No, you have to place emphasis on rice, not the you are part," corrected Marina. "Try the joke again."
Orion made a face before re-trying. "What did the rice grain say to the other rice grain? You are rice!"
Marina stifled a giggle and pulled on a serious face, "Better, but not quite."
Orion barked a laugh. "I saw that Marina. I DID say the joke right!"
Marina assented to Orion and gave a hearty chuckle. Marina slowly got up and stretched her body and wings. Her wing, though sore, was now better. Orion and Marina had had plenty of time to chat and talk, catching up on news and reminiscing. The two dragons glanced over the surf and waves of the large body of water before them.
Marina heaved a sigh of contentment and began absentmindedly kneading the rock edge in her paws. The harsh sunlight from the sunny day had beat down on them for a while, but now the sun was shimmering and skipping above the water in the horizon. The water was on fire.
"The sun's light and fire on the water reminds me so dearly of Ecru and his comforting flames. The sun may be bright, but Ecru's scales shine ever brighter. The sun's rays may be hot, but Ecru's flames could easily burn the sun. The sun may be powerful and large, ever supreme in many ways, but so is my love for Ecru." Marina muttered her words quietly, so much so that Orion couldn't hear, but her love for Ecru was the last thing she thought before the ground underneath her crumbled and the last thing she saw was how menacing the red sun made the sharp rocks below look.
