But while Riley was scrambling after realizing they all needed to talk to the child, in another room of the same estate, one dragonling was already facing an unexpected crisis.
A very serious one.
At least, according to him.
The mighty Orien Vathros, proud young dragonling of ancient lineage, was internally panicking.
He sat frozen on top of the huge bed, wings held stiff, tail twitching in pure alarm. In front of him, under the blankets, came another small sound.
A soft, pitiful sob.
Orien flinched.
Then came a hiccup.
Another sniffle.
The lump under the blankets trembled again, and Orien's eyes widened in growing concern. This was bad. Very bad. The little sprite was crying. Crying loudly enough that Orien was beginning to feel his own chest tighten.
What had happened? What kind of pain could make Liam, the sunny boy who always laughed and stared at him with sparkly eyes, burst into tears like this?
