Chapter 19

I woke to the scent of roasted harpi. Huh? I opened my eyes to see my mother cooking a harpi. Where's...ah, I found him. Xyon was hugging his knees to his chest, leaning against me and watching my mother. "Hey…" His ear flicked and he trained his eyes on me.

"You shouldn't prioritize me too much. If I'm in the way, you should just tuck me away somewhere and fly off with my coat or something."

"She already explained...right. Any news on your training?"

"Not much. She said I woke up far sooner than she thought I would, nothing else other than what you just went through."

"Hey, both of you! Stop mumbling among yourselves and get some food." I stood on wobbly paws, still weak. Xyon seemed hesitant to even move. Her eyes fell on him, brimming with kindness. "You may choose first, young hybrid. You'll eat far less than we will." I used my tail to nudge him to his feet.

"Go. Let her apologize." He nodded in what appeared to be slow motion. He's so nervous. Am I sure about my decision? Not like I can change it now, but was it really wise?

My mother must have noticed the beginnings of my regret, as she said, "You made the correct choice, coming here instead of trying to fight without any knowledge. In fact, I have to thank you. I would've been grieving if you'd gone off on something so dangerous without learning properly. Perhaps I hit you too hard a few times earlier, but you needed to understand. Put too much protection over him and you sacrifice yourself."

"I would rather die than let him die--"

"Naive!" Xyon flinched at her roar, but kept selecting what he wanted. I don't think he can even understand what we're saying.

"What part of it?! I don't see what's wrong with helping a friend survive!"

She huffed, barely holding back fire. "You can't comprehend the flaw in your own plan?"

"No! I don't see what part of it is flawed!" Her tail came out of nowhere and smacked me in the head, making me stumble.

"You're not that stupid! Think it through!" I...I don't know! What am I doing wrong?! I can't figure it out! "Zavi!" I glance up at her, my eyes clearly conveying confusion and panic. "If you die, then who will protect him?" Her words cut deep. "Maybe it is worth giving your life to save them, but if it's so dangerous you had to do so, then what will happen afterwards? There'd be no-one left to save them and they would die anyway." How didn't I see that?! "I just want you to be safe. You can't focus on only his safety or you'll both go down." She switched languages so Xyon could hear her, saying, "So no matter what happens, no matter how cruel the choice is, don't forget about your own life. I can see how much you care for each other, which only makes me worry even more. You'll have to make your choice many times. When I cornered you, instead of saving yourself, you didn't even move. I don't want to see you die." Xyon was staring at her, his icy blue eyes wide and his ears perked forward. He knows what she's talking about...but I'm not sure I do. "Cherish your friendship, but don't let it be your downfall. Now eat up and go to the cave. I can take Senra back home so you can rest...if he wants to go." He stepped away from the harpi and went back to where he'd been when I woke up, allowing us to eat. "You first Zavi. I made today much harder on you than I ever have. I'll eat whatever you leave behind." I moved past her and tore into it, discovering just how starving I really was. "Now, Senra, do you want to go back to your own house? You may stay with us if you'd like, but I'll leave it up to you."

"To me?"

"Do you want me to make the difference clearer? If you go home, then who knows when the training will continue or when we'll come get you. If you stay here, training would be every day and early in the morning...and you'll be sleeping in a cave with three dragons. You won't be able to come and go on your own either. Well, you could leave if you really want to jump, but it'd be hard to climb back up." Xyon didn't seem to know how to respond.

"S-so...if I stay here, I'll be training? If I don't…"

"If you don't, I can't guarantee if you'll ever see us again." His ears twitched in response.

"But w-would I be safe here?"

"Of course. As long as you stay clear of her father. And we would return you to your home every now and then, especially when Zavi goes in the coma-like state she inherited from her father." That's right! I've been so distracted by everything recently that I'd forgotten. I have evolved many times by now, my body incredibly slim and my wings surprisingly large. "It will be further training on your regimen, to fly there and back ten times with you on her back, ten times without."

"Then...I guess...I'll stay…"

"Alright. Then I have some things about flying I need to teach you. I want you to know when something is wrong with Zavi so you can take care of her accordingly--you can't afford missing even the tiniest of changes. By the time I'm done, you'll be able to tell the difference between a change of breathing and alteration in heart rate. So, I'll be the one carrying you back to the cave." So serious...I downed the delicious meat, realizing only then how hungry I was. "Hahaha, make sure to understand when she needs to eat as well. I can't wait to see what name you make for yourselves. Oh, keep in mind that in the human nations you need to appear as a human, but for any other race, your beastkin from is much safer. Never forget that. Now, then, shall we get going?"