Alora gave a smile, her short light blue hair swinging as she nodded once.
"Steel. Like it!" She stepped away, letting her hand fall off of Steel's neck.
Strangely, Steel didn't feel relieved, she almost had enjoyed the gentle touch; it kinda reminded her that there was a kind being in this world.
She knew there were more memories in the back of her mind, but she couldn't quite reach them yet. Surely, there was more kindness in the world.
There had to be...
She shook her head. This wasn't the point. Her past was.
She strained at memories.
A flash of silver.
Red.
A scream.
Something pushed back, and she shot out of her memories with a grunt.
Alora's face was concerned again. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"Yep, just- can't reach memories I know are there." The Lunarwing sighed, giving up. Her head hurt slightly.
"Is there any way I can get out of here? I mean, that door looks a little too small for me to fit, but I can't say I like being in here."
Alora grinned. "Well, if you get out, we'll be able to start training to ride together. You ready?"
Steel nodded. "Still in pain, but I'd rather be sore and outside than comfortable in a cage."
Alora shrugged. "A cage has bars, you're in a stone room."
The silvery dragon looked at her skeptically. "Sure. Let's lock you up in here, and ask you after a day if you'd call it a cage or a stone room."
"Touché."
Alora removed a small device from her pocket, and spoke into it in Human.
Suddenly, the wall opposite the two doors slid open, and light flooded into the room-
Cage.
Stony cage.
Steel stepped through the spot where a wall had previously been, blinking in the sunlight. Alora kept a hand on her neck, walking through and gently guiding her.
"It's alright, just keep moving forward...." Alora murmured softly, as people began staring at the silvery dragon and blue-haired girl stepping through.
"Where are we?" Steel responded, keeping her head low and avoiding the eyes.
"Pick up your head. Look people in the eyes, and stay expressionless. Don't appear broken. Show you're in control," Alora said, holding her own head high and shoulders back. She appeared relaxed and confident as whispers floated around them.
Steel took a deep breath and lifted her deep blue-purple eyes, gazing at the people around her. Her head rose as well, and she fixed an unconcerned expression on her face.
Alora stopped, and Steel followed her lead, looking up and around her. She was in an arena. They were in an area that looked like it was used for fighting.
Growls.
Anger.
A small dragon, staring at her in an arena like this one.
Whispers of a rebellion.
Steel shook her head, and her mind snapped out of cloudy memories. She swayed on her talons, and Alora looked at her, concerned.
"Steel...?" She muttered, a worried edge to her voice.
Steel closed her eyes tightly and focused on breathing. "I remember being somewhere like this and fighting.... I think."
"Ah. So you're that one..." Alora responded quietly. "Yeah, I watched you on the TV in my dad's lab... you put up an insane fight."
Steel looked at her out of the corner of her eyes but stayed silent. She would ask her more about that later.
"Now, we're in the arena. Time for us to practice flying. Fly then!" Alora commanded.
Steel glared at her. "Uh- do not tell me what to do."
Alora laughed. "I know, but I wanted to see what you'd do. You're the first Lunarwing I've interacted with in my 18 years... Gotta see how you'll act, right?"
Steel rolled her eyes but allowed herself a chuckle before spreading her wings and winking at the small girl. "You might not make it past these 18 years if you're not careful." She took off, leaving a small plume of dust in her wake and smirking inwardly as she heard the blue-haired human cough and respond with a loud "
Really?!"
