The Bond Forged in Flame (92)

Right before Starfania could say anything about Violet's comment, she realized she didn't ask Starfania what the dragon's name was. She hesitated, uncertain of what to do. Starfania noticed her pause and smiled warmly before saying, " Atlas. "

Aeron tapped his chin thoughtfully, his eyes darting between the dragon and Starfania.

" Atlas, huh? " he said aloud. " Isn't that the guy who's supposed to hold up the world? So... does this mean your dragon is strong enough to carry us all if we get tired of walking? "

Starfania rolled her eyes with a laugh. " Aeron, he's not a taxi service! "

Atlas let out a low, rumbling sound–almost as if he were chuckling along with them–and gently flicked his tail in Aeron's direction, earning more laughter from Violet and Starfania. Aeron held up his hands in mock surrender.

"Okay, okay! No need to get defensive, Atlas!" He grinned, clearly enjoying the exchange.

"But really, if we did get tired, it wouldn't hurt to have a brief ride, right?" Violet chimed in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I can just picture it now. Riding on a dragon through the sky, the wind in our hair, feeling unstoppable!"

She leaned back against a tree, imagining the scene with a dreamy smile. Starfania shook her head, still smiling. "You two would find a way to turn a simple journey into an adventure. But for now, walking is part of the fun!"

Atlas shifted his weight, the sun glinting off his scales. His eyes twinkled with amusement, understanding their playful banter. Aeron crossed his arms, pretending to pout. "Fine, but one day, we are definitely taking a ride. I'm adding that to my bucket list."

Starfania chuckled, feeling lighter in spirit. "Alright, Aeron. But for now, let's see how far we can get on foot. Who knows what we might discover along the way? "