It's so cold... Why am I so cold...?
Wait- I feel warmth... Is that my blood?  It might be... Am I dead? No, that's not it... I have to wake up.. But... This warmth... It feels nice...

"Good morning, Chalcedony," a tender voice called out from the pooling darkness, clearing her once ringing ears with an almost motherly touch. Chalcedony, hesitantly, creeked open a swollen eyelid, catching the scent of warm mud, evergreen trees, and salty-teared eyes, and her heartbeat gradually slowed to a steady pace.

"Honey..." She croaked, almost inaudibly, in the direction of the kind Mudwing. My throat is so dry... I dont remember what happened... Was I hurt?
Chalcedony heard Honey sigh, as if in relief she was even alive, and sniffled. "You can talk... Thats a good sign. Where are you right now?"

"My... My cell?"

"Good, good...! You're doing great, darling."

"Honey... What... What happened?"

"Oh, Chalcy... You don't remember?"

Chalcedony slowly opened the other eye to, hopefully, meet Honey's, who had tears hitting the floor with soft dlops. Chalcedony's ears flixked each time a tear made its way to her senses. The scent of salt was overpowering. How can I smell so good...? I can barely hear- My heart- Slow down. Answer her.
Chalcedony gave the slightest movement of her aching head, showing that she doesn't remember. She wish she didn't do anything at all.
Honey broke down into a fit of silent sobs, her warm body loudly shaking with each haggard breath. "Oh, Chalcy... He hurt you bad... Your back... I could barely save what scales remained... Youve been out for weeks... Im... Im so sorry..." Honey could barely keep her voice leveled, but Chalcedony hardly payed attention. Her sense of being was foggy. My... Back? What does it look like..? Why was I gone for so long...?

"Am... Am I okay..?"
"Chalcy, I can't answer that. He's coming back in a few minutes. I cant stop him... Im so sorry, darling, Im sorry..." Honey had her talons scraping the cobble, laying down and sobbing into the stone floor like it was a warm embrace. Chalcedony couldn't comprehend it. She wish she could. But the words... Were all jumbled and confusing. Her back hurt, her wings felt like whisps of cotton, and her head... My head hurts... Why's Honey crying so hard? Please, help me understand, Honey, please- I want... To understand... My mind won't let me...

Honey... I feel alone.

"Honey... Will I... Be okay?" Chalcedony asked to the now quiet air, but the answer was low-pitched and deadly, sending numb shivers up her neck.

"We'll see about that."

Killdeer.

.....

"You must stand up straight, Chalcedony. We have guests! You dont want to humiliate me now, right?"
Killdeer placed a hand under her chin, lifting her delicate face to stare straight into what she can assume was his hollow black eyes. She narrowed her own. "I wouldn't dream of it..." She grumbled, so which Killdeer snorted in glee. He released her jaw and walked away, his talonsteps growing quieter. They sounded more authoritative than usual. What guest is arriving...? Of course, Chalcedony could hear the giggles of Killdeer's mate, Dory, from atop a ledge.
Stay silent...
Her back still seering hot with pain, she shuffling her empty wings to her sides and awaited the sounds of the guests making an appearance.

"Ah, finally," Killdeer called, but Chalcedony was confused. She could hear the clinks and clanks or nearby chains, the frosty coating sending vapors up past Chalcedony's seated area. Are they prisoners...?

Nothing was said, only the growls of guards and the hunger she could sense from the dragons in chains. They all sounded exhausted, each step dragged along the stone like a final breath into whatever freedom Killdeer will give. Chalcedony wrinkled her nose, but her mind was buzzing, and she couldnt hear the conversation without disassociating into her world of calm. So, she stood and left. Killdeer merely wanted her here for a first impression, but he sounded occupied with his muffled conversations, so she felt obligated to leave the meeting. She'll be called back, she's sure of it. As if I can ever just walk out without loosing a few sets of scales in return....

...

Chalcedony was unsure how much time had passed before she found her way to the geysers, where their power was stored. Her ears flattened against the rumbling of the steam build-up; it was deafening. Groggily, she slipped into a groove in the wall where the heat was most prominent, where a steady stream of vapors warmed every nook in her scales.
It was her favorite spot to relax and rest. No one came here unless the geysers were in need of a checkup, and even that was rare, since the geysers are animus enchanted; she heard in on a few of Killdeer's associates during a meeting she wasn't supposed to be a part of. Thankfully, Honey was one of them, and she relayed every inch of information to Chalcedony, and they sworn to secrecy on the subject.

But, the more she quieted down, the more she realised there was something... Or someONE here as well... Who walked in a little while after her. Chalcedony angled her ears in the direction of talonsteps, ruffling of wings and the whines of a... Dragonet? What is a dragon with a dragonet doing in the geysers..? They're about the release their steam, that can kill anyone with already warm bodies.

Unless...

They're not here for a tour...

They're escaping.

Chalcedony felt her heart pump in her chest, and she could barely contain herself. Escapees... Ive heard of others helping dragons escape, but it's never happened to me...!

Chalcedony straightened her wings, and poked her head out from the groove. The sound of talons stopped, and a curious aura filled the tunnel.
Step one... Get these two out of here before it blows. Wait... Are they even real? No, they cant be- Who goes down to the geysers?

Chalcedony cocked her head to the side, and the dragon cleared their throat. A flash of crimson scales passed her darkened vision, thanks to the glowworms nearby, with the scent of ash... And desperation. They're... Elegent and stand like a warrior, with a cloud of curious aura. A shadow was on their shoulders, weak and vulnerable. They really are escapees... I found my chance... I can finally get out of here... Besides, they'll forget about me the second I walk away. The sooner the better.
Before Chalcedony can say anything meaningful, however, the dragon spoke, with a voice of curiosity... And kindness.

"Can you help me find my way..?"

(Wooooooo!! End of another Chalcedony short story!! Hey, Deepshadow, can you guess who she just met up with..? ;) x"D )