Page 107 of To Fight and To Fold

Aaryn stood from her saddle and sat in front of it, Starspark's scales warm. It seemed the whispers of the druids had reached even Skymore, and this family was eager to escape with them.

"Take them back. I'll find more," Vaelen yelled over the inferno.

Aaryn accepted a small child from the mother, body on autopilot, buckling her tiny frame into the saddle. The mother strapped the second into the other seat, and sat behind them, and the father sandwiched the third child between himself and the mother, and clutched them all tightly.

Aaryn nodded at Vaelen and pet Starspark. "Easy," she told him.

His wings fluttered gently—proving he was capable—disturbing the flames along the harbor as he took off. "Home," she told him, and he flew up, a gentle incline as opposed to the nosedive he'd taken at first.

The wind disturbed her braid and she glanced back at the family, their soot-covered cheeks tracked with tears, a grateful expression on the father's face as he stared right at her, unseeing.

That gaze would haunt her.

It was only moments before Starspark flew them through the hole in the barrier, just like she'd watched other dragons do. He was a quick learner.

The brand on her palm burned.

The sun was well and truly set now, so the lights of magic torches lit their way as Starspark was rushed by healers, who pulled the coughing children from Starspark's back. The parents followed and Aaryn seated herself back in the saddle.

She stroked Starspark's scales in thanks and felt a determination light within her.

"Again," she said.

Her stomach swooped as Starspark straightened into another nosedive.

The fires had encroached upon the beach, the dry reeds of the warm season burning to embers. Ashes filled the air and the sky bled crimson with flames and smoke.

Aaryn's heart raged at the destruction, and for a brief moment she felt a hopeless fury. But as Starspark slowed his descent, his wings buffeted the flames, and a few dispersed.

She clutched at Starspark's scales with her hands. "Stay here," she said. "Hover."

Starspark flapped his wings, gusts of wind knocking out the flames on the beach, making it safer for the evacuees.

Then they landed and Vaelen brought her another group, covered in soot and faces full of despair.

"Go!" Vaelen shouted, and offered her a rigid nod.

Starspark took flight.

Again and again she made the trip to collect people, while the fires burned and the smoke plumed. They darted through the clouds, untraceable.

As she returned, she passed another dragon, a familiar shape on his back amongst a small group of others. Small horns, square shoulders.

She wasn't in the saddle, simply riding along.

Thea's eyes widened at the sight of her. Their dragons huffed at one another in passing, and slowed for just a second.

Long enough for time to stop, the inferno below reflecting in the pools of Thea’s eyes.

Aaryn's head turned as the dragons passed, following the figure, and⁠—

"Starspark!" Thea called out.

Her heart stopped as she saw Thea stand, the dragon steadying himself and her in turn. The sky was red with fire and hot against Aaryn’s skin, and her heart was in her throat as Thea's feet began to move. She ran down the length of his back, steps confident, practiced, and dove off of his tail.

Aaryn shrieked as Thea went airborne, her calves squeezing Starspark in alarm, but he had turned his head at the sound of his name, already prepared and steady when Aaryn failed to be.

He swooped his wings, slowing his descent, and caught Thea on his back, behind Aaryn.