Myrkr sat with Porael. His friends were varied in the different races. He quickly introduced her to Quivel, a wiry, female griffin with dark, purple-blue feathers; Coin, his sister, who was a bit smaller and shinier than he, with obsidian-purple eyes; Lazul, a muscular, wingless male water dragon with dark blue eyes; and Terrthin, a male forest elf, his skin the dark colors of camouflage, like forest dragons. Myrkr introduced herself, but kept her last name to herself. She didn't like the feeling that they would know more about it than she does. Porael seemed to know something.

Once introductions were over, and they all finished lunch, Porael insisted she accompany them to the training room. Coin and Quivel wanted her to come, too, so they could get to know her.

"If you want to get to know me," Myrkr had asked as they walked down the hallway to the training room, "why are we going here? We could just as easily hang out in the dorm common rooms than in the training room."

"Because," Terrthin had said, his voice soft. "The training room won't be full to the brim with other students."

Myrkr couldn't find any other reason not to go there, so she kept her guard up as she walked. She listened carefully for any inconsistencies in the click Coin's, Poreal's, Lazul's, and Quivel's talons made as they walked. Since Terrthin was a forest elf, his footsteps were hard to listen to. Luckily, he was leading the group, so what Myrkr couldn't hear, she could see.

The training room wasn't empty as they had hoped. Waterfall was still there, and his sharp gaze tried to pierce Myrkr. She returned his glare with an indifferent glance. The water dragon got up and walked over, looking menacing. Terrthin seemed to understand Waterfall was not coming for him, so he stepped out of the way of the sharp, blue glare. Myrkr held her ground as the dragon approached.

"Myrkr Mkhoal," he started, his voice holding distaste. She heard Coin and Quivel gasp quietly as they heard her name. What is up with my name? Azure, you had better answer next time I ask. "What do you six think you are doing in here?"

Porael was the one to answer. "We just wanted to hang out somewhere and—"

"What are the common rooms, then?" Waterfall cut in, sharply.

Terrthin tried next. "We wanted to try sparring each other."

Waterfall regarded the elf with distaste, but not as much as he had with Myrkr. "Then spar. I will oversee it."

Damnit, Myrkr thought. I really don't want to deal with him right now. That was when Lazul spoke up. "Waterfall, today isn't combat training. Can't we do light sparring without the pressure of your watchful eye?"

The older water dragon thought a moment. "So be it," Waterfall said at last. "Break any bones, and you'll have more than the pain to worry about." He left the room, and the door slammed with an echoing thud.

Myrkr was surprised that Waterfall had listened to the youth. "Why did he listen to you, Lazul?" she asked, turning to face him.

Lazul shifted on his talons. "He is my father. If you hadn't been the one to take his wrath yesterday, I surely would have. He's harder on me. I'm almost glad my sister's egg was taken. She won't have to go to war. I still wish she hadn't been stolen by the Revak Feykro." His voice held a deep-seated hatred Myrkr didn't expect. This is the water dragonet's brother? Waterfall is her father?!

"I'm sorry to hear that," Myrkr said, sincerely. "Do you know why they took the egg?"

Lazul shook his head in sorrow. "No. I don't care. When I graduate next year, I'll go there and take her back with me. She doesn't deserve to be taken away from her family like that."

Silence surrounded the six of them for what seemed like an eternity. Coin was the one to speak up. "Well, why don't we try sparring? I personally like it. It's exciting!"

Porael didn't seem to like his sister's eagerness to fight. "Why don't we just leave and talk?"

Myrkr glanced at Lazul. He was very quiet, she gathered, but not this much so. "I agree with Coin. Training never hurt anyone, now, did it? Metaphorically, of course. It can lead to physical pain, obviously."

Quivel nodded, seemingly following Myrkr's train of thought as she looked at Lazul as well. "I'm for it. What of you, Terrthin, Lazul, and Porael?"

     Lazul made an indifferent noise, Terrthin agreed, as did Porael, though he kept glancing nervously at his sister. Terrthin paired up with Myrkr, since they were the only two humanoids, Coin went with Quivel, and Porael with Lazul.

     Myrkr blocked out the other two sparring pairs and ran through what she knew about forest dwellers. She knew about forest dragons from the ones who lived in the Revak Feykro, mainly the dragonet's parents. They could change the color of their skin or scales to match their surroundings, almost like a chameleon. They could control nature, but since the Ziix Mountains were desolate at the tips of the mountains—which the academy was perched on—there was little to control. With their camouflage ability, most preferred to make use of it as stealth and quick hits, tiring out their opponents. Terrthin matched this, since he was wiry and balanced on the balls of his feet. This will be interesting, Myrkr thought. She noticed he was sizing her up, too, and guessed he knew more about chimaera than she ever did. There's an advantage. But I must be careful, I don't want him to notice how I attack like any from the Revak Feykro. Is he from there, too? Would he know?

     The sparring began with a shock. As Myrkr was watching Terrthin, he make a quick dart for her left side. Myrkr tried to parry the oncoming blow with her arm, swinging in a hasty arc to meet his fist, but he quickly shifted his weight to the other side. Definitely from the Forest. She could do that too, but instead she took the momentum she had and rolled to the left, quickly springing back to her feet. She got her hands up, and she watched the elf with renewed caution and observation.

     They circled each other, and for a few moments, nothing happened. It made the short time seem like an hour. When Myrkr realized he was waiting for her to attack, she decided to do something unexpected.

     She moved away from him, and he followed cautiously. Her moves were slow and precise, until she made a quick change in her balance to lunge for him. Terrthin jumped back, but what he didn't anticipate was her turning into a cheetah mid lunge, making her leap farther. She landed on the ground, and launched herself at the elf with she wiry strength of a cheetah. He moved out of her way, but, claws sheathed, she caught his right leg with her right paw, tripping him, and rushed past. Once her paws were on the ground from the lunge, she turned on her forepaws to face him.

"You don't fight like a Cí'mehia," the elf said quietly, almost to himself. Myrkr's ears flicked when he spoke to let him know she heard, not that it really mattered. So he knows what I really am.

They all carried on like that for a long time. Lazul got out of his dark mood during the fight, and actually landed a few scratches on Porael. Coin and Quivel had bruises on their wings from them trying to buffet the other with their wings, and a few blue-purple feathers lay around their sparring area. Myrkr and Terrthin fought, with Myrkr using her cheetah form more than she usually did. She had wanted to experiment. The experiment, however, didn't leave her without bruises along her sides when she didn't react quick enough. They were all panting when they called it quits.

Porael padded over to Myrkr. At this point she was in her Hybrid, or chimaera-esque, form. He shot Terrthin a glance that was gone before Myrkr could interpret it, not that she had to a second later. The elf was walking away toward his other friends.

"Something you want, Porael?" she asked while panting. I hadn't fought like that in a long time. Sanguine always hates to hurt me.

The golden dragon nodded. "I like your loose combat style. You and Terrthin seemed to be in a deadly dance, like some stories tell. Next time—"

"Who says there will be a next time?"

Porael smiled. "Next time, will you be my sparring partner?"

     Myrkr thought a moment. She really enjoyed the sparring session with Terrthin, but if she fought him frequently, he would be sure to learn her style and realize it's very similar to his own. Myrkr, because she was looking for it, saw his immediately. She also assumed he hadn't told the others of his Isle origins. Would Porael think I fight like Terrthin? If the golden dragon saw the combat similarities, she would be in trouble. Time to learn a few new tactics. Some that are actually Cí'mehian or chimaera in origin. Talking to Maple later immediately took the number-one-priority spot on her mental list.

     "Daydreaming?" Porael asked, a smirk on his lips. Uncertainty was in his eyes for a moment, though, and Myrkr knew she would have to make her choice.

     Finally, she replied, "Alright. Might have a few aces up my sleeve, so watch out." It was Myrkr's time to be sly, and she smirked and winked. "Though, for now, I'd like to hang around with my friends and talk to them about Resivora's class and how they're doing in it."

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

     Porael watched Myrkr leave. Once the door shut, Lazul, Quivel, and Coin made to leave. When they realized Terrthin and Porael weren't following, Coin voiced the question, and Porael told them to go, that they would catch up. The door opened and closed once more, and he turned to Terrthin.

     Moments of silence stretched out as the golden dragon figured out what he wanted to say. "How good is she at fighting?" he finally asked.

     Terrthin shrugged. "She is very skilled in hand-to-hand, but I'm sure she would know at least basic swordsmanship. Her motion is too fluid to not be."

     "You were able to discern that from fighting with her for a few moments?" Porael asked, surprised.

     "Creatures who are and have been intertwined with nature are easier to read than most, no matter the mask they wear," the elf replied, calm and confident. As always.

     "What about fighting a dragon? Is there any insight you can give me?"

     Terrthin flashed one of his rare smiles. A knowing smile. "Not a chance, Porael. Fair fights only."

     Porael felt himself get frustrated, and tried to calm it. "Can you tell me the basics of how chimaera fight then?"

     The elf shook his head. "I could, but—"

     "Yes, yes, fair fights only," the golden dragon muttered.

     Terrthin cleared his throat. When Porael didn't speak, he continued. "She doesn't fight like a chimaera."

     "What do you mean? She's a chimaera, isn't she?" Porael didn't understand. Where would a chimaera come from if not their mysterious Isle? She mentioned no Isle origin. What else could she be?

     "She doesn't fight like one." With that, the elf walked out of the room, pausing at the door. "But I think I might know her fighting style. Tomorrow I'll figure it out." He turned to leave.

     "How?" the golden dragon asked before the door closed. Terrthin's head reappeared.

     "I intend to ask her." The door closed, and Porael was left alone in the combat room.

     Except he wasn't alone. Waterfall walked over to him after a few moments of silence.