That night, we all had a dreamless sleep. Our minds couldn't stop turning and pondering what we would find the next day at the medical den.

     When I finally got to sleep, I blacked out. Time seemed to speed up, and suddenly, I was sitting up in bed listening to the birds chirping.

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     We all wordlessly met outside, unfolded our wings, and swiftly swooped back down to the fields. The medical den was a cave at the foot of the mountain.

     I glanced at Kintes nervously, and his eyebrows tilted sympathetically.

     "Hey." I frowned.

     He looked down and exhaled. "Hey. You gonna be alright?" Instead of answering, I bit my lip and nodded.

     Truthfully, I was scared. It took me so long to finally accept that my little sister was not saved by her bigger sister. It was my fault. I should have given her all the prey I caught, not just half.

     She didn't deserve that...

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     We ducked inside the cave, illuminated by jars handing from the ceiling containing fireflies. A few candles burned softly on the shelves of herbs and vials of clear liquid.

     Kosuras, the main medical dragon here, was rustling around with stained parchment. The life elemental turned around as she noticed our entrance. Her frail face smiled warmly.

     "Esperanza." She greeted my mother before shifting her tired eyes to the rest of us. "The hatchling is this way."

     We followed Kosuras further into the cave. This room was much larger than the entrance, set up with caved stone counters for patients.

     An adult dragon turned her head and acknowledged us, kneeling beside a much younger hatchling sitting down.

     "That is Furina." Kosuras explained. "I am assisting her with the teachings of medicine."

     "The hatchling wanted to see you." Furina, a light elemental, told us.

     I silently nodded, tears welling up. Kintes, Nota, Furina, and Kosuras backed up to give us space. Deltul slowly walked towards the hatchling facing away.

     "Shina?" He cocked his head to the side.

     The young dragon turned her head towards us slightly to listen, but did not look this way.

     "Is it really you?" Mother choked up. I stood behind as they walked closer. Soon, mother walked around the counter and her eyes bulged. "What... Who has done this to you?! What happened?!"

     Deltul looked terrified as well, stepping backwards and away from the hatchling.

     The young dragon turned her head and faced me. A horrendous thick scar dragged to the top of my little sister's head, across one white eye, to the tip of her snout.