Pyrio felt a beam of light on his face as he began to emerge from his slumber. The forest was cool and quiet, and Callan was still asleep. Pyrio turned over and looked up into the sky. He thought about his first day and his first interaction with Callan.

Hmm... He didn’t seem to like me at first...

Pyrio pondered the thought but then remembered how grateful Callan was when he saved him.

But he didn’t even recognize me...

Pyrio began to question whether it was good that he was summoned or not. Suddenly a voice entered Pyrio’s mind.

I should have thanked him... I never told Pyrio thank you, for saving my life.

Pyrio realized Callan was only pretending to sleep and forgot that they could speak to each other through thought.

Pyrio smiled to himself and then waited patiently for Callan to “wake up” and join him.

* * *

“Hnnnghh...” Callan yawned after a while and began to sit up, his orange hair a bit messy and morning tears in his eyes, “Morning...”

Good morning!

“Gah! I have to get used to that huh? You can’t speak out loud, can you?”

Nope. But I can talk less if you’d like?

“No no, its just... I’m used to being the only one in my head. I’m sure I’ll get used to it eventually!” Callan smiled wide and began to stand up, dusting off his clothes and knocking his boots together before putting them on.

“Alright then, let’s head... out... Hmm...” Callan paused for a moment and looked around the forest. He had forgotten which way it was towards Baust. He began to massage his temple in order to help him think and then snapped his fingers once an idea came to him.

“Pyrio can you fly up and tell us which way to go? We’re looking for the capital city, it has big walls and a river nearby.”

Sure!

Pyrio, excited at the thought of being useful, flew up immediately and began to take a look around. He saw the forest leading up to a river and fields, and then past that, a large city with impressive walls and red banners hanging from them.

That must be Baust! Looks like its-

“Aghh!” Callan shouted from the forest below Pyrio, who looked down immediately to see that Callan was being cornered by three boars, probably looking for revenge after seeing their friend cooked alive.

Callan!

Pyrio dove down towards Callan, who was backing up slowly only to realize there was one behind him as well. Pyrio got in between two of the boars and Callan and tried to look as intimidating  as possible, but the boars were nearly twice as big. Pyrio shot fire at one of the boars which seemed to be a bit effective but not enough to get them away. The singed boar simply shook off the attack and snarled, preparing to charge.

As the boar raced towards Pyrio, Callan, at the last second, pushed Pyrio out of the way and was knocked to the side violently. Pyrio, after recovering from the push, looked to see Callan in pain, laying on his side and clutching his stomach. Another boar saw this opportunity and began to charge Callan again.

This time, in a flash of fire and smoke, the boar was knocked clear away and burnt to a crisp. As the smoke cleared, Pyrio stood in between Callan and the remaining two boars again, only this time in his full-sized form.

Pyrio roared at the two other boars, who immediately fled the scene and then turned to see Callan still laying there in pain. Pyrio decided the only thing he could do was bring Callan to Baust to see if anyone could help him. Pyrio grabbed Callan in his claws and flew him into the capital city.

* * *

“He’s still asleep... I’m starting to worry, Mamaw.”

“Don’t worry, Dess, I’m sure he’ll recover just fine. You two used to get hurt playing out in the forest all the time when you were younger, and I’ve seen him in worse shape.”

“You’re right I just...” Dess looked over to see Callan beginning to come to and smiled, “Callan! You’re awake!”

Callan looked over to see his childhood friend Dess, holding a bucket and a few wet pieces of cloth. She had her light blue hair tied up into a bandana and looked as though she was in the middle of chores.

“I’m uh... back at Baust?”

“Well yeah? Your dragon brought you back!”

“He did?! How?!”

“Umm... like all dragons do? You are technically a Rider now?”

“Well no, I still have to pass the tests and then-” Callan stopped himself from trailing off and shook his head, “Wait, no hang on. Pyrio. Where is Pyrio?!”

“Is that his name? I always thought you’d name your dragon something silly like ‘Hero Wing’ or ‘Ultimate Killer’!” Dess chuckled to herself, “Pyrio is such a cute name!”

“I didn’t pick it!” Callan shouted, flustered by her poking fun.

“Oh right, then who did? The dragon?” Dess laughed again and brought over a cloth, placing it on Callan’s forehead, “You must have really taken a beating. You’re speaking nonsense!” Dess continued to giggle. She began to walk away towards the other side of the yard when Callan realized why she was carrying the bucket. Off the side of the yard, Dess’ grandmother, and apparently Dess, were washing Pyrio off in a large dragon-sized tub.

“Ahh! You didn’t have to give him a bath, I-”

“Oh nonsense!” Dess’ grandmother shouted, “We haven’t been able to use this bath since my husband and his dragon passed away in the war. Only right it finally gets some use again.”

Callan sighed and looked at Pyrio, who was still in his full-sized form somehow.

Thanks for saving me... again, Pyrio.

Mmmm... You’re... welcome... Pyrio replied as his hands and claws were massaged with soap.

How are you still transformed, by the way?

Hmm... I dunno... But I’m... really relaxed...

Callan pondered for a moment but decided it was better to just not think too hard about it for now. He had so many questions but didn’t even know where to start. Why can Pyrio talk? Why is he so small, but can transform? Other dragons have had somewhat unique abilities but nothing on this level. Dragons can’t talk.

But Pyrio can.

* * *

Callan had joined in cleaning off the soot and forest debris from Pyrio’s scales, reminiscing with Dess about when they were children.

“So you didn’t attend the Ceremony this year either?” Callan asked, “You were old enough last year too but you still haven’t gone to summon a dragon?”

“Not everyone wants to give up three years of their life to be a Dragon Rider.” Dess looked up at the sky as a couple of Dragon Riders flew over top of them, probably getting ready for afternoon patrol, “It’s dangerous and a huge responsibility.”

“Yeah but, you get to fly!” Callan said, still confused as to why someone wouldn’t want to become a Dragon Rider.

“Well, maybe-”

“And you always wanted to be a Dragon Rider when we were kids! You would always say that when you grew up-”

“Well I did grow up, Callan! And now I have other responsibilities besides daydreaming about flying around.”

“Well, yeah I mean...” Callan looked down and began scrubbing again, “I guess so...”

“Sorry, its just,” Dess sighed and rung out her cloth into the bin, “Things are getting worse with my mother and I can’t just leave her for three years, Callan.”

“Oh, yeah I... I’m sorry I-”

“Don’t be, its not your problem,” Dess rubbed her hand back and forth across Pyrio’s scales, deep in thought, “I want to fly too, Callan. Believe me. But I can’t. Not yet.”

Callan sighed, “I understand. Maybe, once I’m done with training, I can take you up on Pyrio?”

“Haha! You have to pass the Rider test first, hot shot! Otherwise, you don’t get to keep your dragon, remember?”

“Yeah yeah... I’ll pass. My father still holds the record for the fastest lap on the rings!”

“Yeah well, you’re not Kieran,” Dess points to Pyrio, “And that’s not Seri!”

Pyrio lifted his head up and snorted a bit of smoke from his nostrils, unamused.

“Sorry Pyrio, but Seri was something else...” Dess sighed as she remembered getting to take turns riding Seri with Callan’s father. “That dragon was special... But I’m sure you’ll take care of Callan just fine.”

Dess smiles and patted Pyrio on his side, “You two seem like a great fit. Like he was made for you.”

Callan and Pyrio shared a glance at each other and then back at Dess, both with a fairly silly expression on their face that caused Dess to start giggling.

“What’s that supposed to mean, huh?” Callan pleaded but Dess just continued to laugh at the two of them, enjoying the moment of peace.

* * *

Callan waved goodbye to Dess and her grandmother, as the two of them began to walk towards Callan’s house. Dess went back inside to check on her mother, who’d been bedridden for the past year and a half. Dess walked up the stairs to the loft area and saw her mother, still pale, laying there staring out the window.

“I saw you two... having a good time out there...” Dess’ mother whispered in a soft but still sweet voice.

“Yeah... It was nice to catch up. We haven’t really talked since Kieran’s funeral...” Dess replied as she sat next to her mother and began to comb her hand through her mother’s hair. It was light blue, just like hers but it was beginning to fade a bit.

“Did Callan summon... that dragon...?” Dess’ mother asked, coughing a bit, but still wanting to socialize.

“Yeah, he sure did. I knew he would.” Dess smiled and looked out the window with her mother, as another pair of Dragon Riders, probably the ones relieved from patrol, flew over the city, “He’s just like his dad... and Pyrio, he seems like a good dragon...”

“Mmm... That’s good...” Dess’ mother began to close her eyes, tired from another day stuck in bed. Dess leaned over and began to cuddle her mother as they both laid there, staring out the window at a city they wished they could explore together one more time.