(Sorry for disappearing, haven't had much inspiration and I've had a ton of school work and stuff. I'm really stressed out lately from life, so expect slow updates. Love y'all!)

Amber POV

I inwardly buried my face in my talons. Why did I take up the dare?! Now Greenie—I mean, Smokey, really obviously liked me but I can't have that! He's sweet and all but I don't like him. It's too early to be having crushes. What if I'm just some creepy PeakWing who just wants to kidnap some dragonets? We don't know yet.

I should've ignored Glory Lily when she approached me with the dare. I should've kept the "bad girl" act and not made friends, in case I...

In case I what? Left? I wasn't going to do that. Why would I? This is the second place I've ever been in life that I've felt safe. I could never leave. I wouldn't let the ShadowWings take me, either, right? I could defend myself. I'm strong, considering I spent years stuck in a stupid cave fighting poor dragonets while some jerks watched. I'm staying here. Why not make friends? Why not just relax, stop worrying, be nicer?

Maybe it was because I was afraid. Of what? Getting hurt? Fair point, Amber. Although, I'd never had any friends before, other than a short PastelWing (Silk-Rain) named Daisy, which never really lasted because she got moved to another cave. Was it normal for them to betray you after a while? That doesn't sound that great. I hope they don't leave me.

They can't leave you if they're not with you, though.

"Amber? Earth to Amber. Hello? Are you awake? Are you okay? Do you need the nurse?" I heard Glory Lily ask persistently, her tone of voice getting louder and louder. I jumped as I finally snapped out of my thoughts. Stupid thoughts. Why can't we just be a bunch of concussed sheep living in some field, where the only times you feel sad is when it rains? Why can't I live that life?

"Sorry, just... tired, I guess," I responded quickly. Guilt rapidly overcame Smokey's face.

"Ack, sorry, is that me? Sorry if I move around a lot, I'm just used to sleeping alone, sorry," he rambled, scratching the side of his head anxiously. Poor kid is so nervous.

"No, it's not you, I've been going to sleep in a cavern full of crying dragonets for the past few years. I'm just always tired of the world," I assured him. He still didn't look convinced, but I didn't care. It wasn't him, he barely moved at all. I could tell he was frozen up, not wanting to disturb anyone by moving around.

"So anyways, tell me about your little sister!" Glory Lily said, poking me in the arm. I laughed a little.

"Well, her name is Phoenix, and she looks like me a lot. She's a little more orange than red, though. And she's got these dark green eyes that look like they're shadows to my eyes. That's really specific, sorry, haha, my parents would always point that out when I was younger. She's pretty badass, or she was, no idea if she still is. Or if she's alive. But she's pretty sociable and adorable and I really want to find her because—" I cut myself off at the expression on Smokey's face.

"What's up? Dude?" I waved my talons in front of his eyes. He pushed my arm away and pointed behind my shoulder.

"Is that her?" He asked, still pointing. Frowning, I turned to see where he was looking.

And there she was, next to a SlushWing.

She looked like she'd been preserved in ice. Her wings were huge, as expected, and her scales looked like they were dipped in a fire and glazed with amber. She was facing the other way, so I couldn't see her face, but I could just tell she was smiling. "I need to say hi," I murmured, standing up and leaving to table.

I would have raced over there had there not been stupid ShadowWings everywhere. Instead I trotted over, then slowed to a stop before I was close enough.

What was I going to say? "Hey, you might not remember me, but I'm your older sister! Let's go get ice cream!" Oh my moons what if she didn't remember me? I shivered but forced myself to keep walking.

"Hey, Phoenix, there's a dragon behind you," I heard the light voice of that SlushWing inform Phoenix. She turned immediately and jumped when she saw me, practically looming over her. I laughed a bit. She looked the same, same eyes and face and cute little ears.

"Oh, sorry," I backed up and sat down, "I'm Amber and—" she cut me off at the last bit and jumped into me in a mega hug. I hesitated, but quickly hugged her back. Oh how I missed her.

"Is it really you?" She said shakily, drawing away. I saw hope flickering in her shadowy eyes. I smiled wide, a warm glow filling my heart. My eyes were probably glistening. I'd never felt this much emotion in my life.

"Yes, it's me, and WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, WERE YOU OKAY?! I hope you've been okay! How are mom and dad? Did the ShadowWings take you, too? Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Who's your friend? Tell me everything!" I demanded, kind of sounding like my mom. She giggled, apparently also seeing the resemblance.

"Relax. I got lost when we went hunting. My friend Droplet found me and I stayed with her. I haven't seen you since! Droplet is so nice, come say hi!" She gestured to the smaller SlushWing.

"Hello," I greeted softly. She waved a little awkwardly, but a big smile was plastered across her face. She look genuinely happy for Phoenix. I couldn't help but trusted her.

"So anyways," Phoenix spun me around, "where have YOU been all these years? I've been so worried, I thought you were dead or something. It's been TORTURE wondering where you were." I laughed.

"Basically, I got captured by ShadowWings and they put me in a fight club with a bunch of other dragonets. It sucked. But I escaped with these other dragons, and I came here! I'm just so happy you're okay, I've been so worried, thinking the ShadowWings took you too. But I'm glad you made a friend. I'm just—" I made a coughing noise reminiscent of a sob, but not quite, and pulled her into another hug. She held on to me tightly, and there we were. Two sisters reunited in a cafeteria with a hundred other dragons.