"I think I wanna keep it!"

"I... I don't think that's..., are you sure about that?"

---

Flare could simultaneously be considered one of the unluckiest and luckiest dragons. She was one of several dragons that had decided to help a human village evacuate away from an erupting volcano. As she returned to the village one last time, she heard word that there was likely no one else left to rescue. Everyone that needed help fleeing had gotten that help, with the last few men and dragons ready to take off and leave the now empty village to its fate of lava and ash. However, as she herself turned around and began to take off, a lava bomb sent flying from the volcano struck her wing, tearing it right off and sending her tumbling back to the ground. Yet, through sheer miracle, she survived the impact. The men and dragons that had begun to flee rushed to her aid. They were able to pull her away from the grass fire the lava bomb ignited, stop her from bleeding out, and bring her to safety. Then, through both strength and a healthy dose of luck, she was able to make a recovery.

The impact had caused some head trauma, leading to her having no memory of the event. An oddly small grace saving her from the potential trauma of remembering the injury. As such, during her several weeks of recovery, she gained a perhaps morbid fascination with what had happened. Once the volcano had gone to sleep, she quickly became antsy wanting to explore the area. Her loving mate, Thunder, was very apprehensive to the idea. He had seen her at death's door and wanted little reminder of what had nearly killed the love of his life. Yet, at both her continued insistence and his own desire to make her happy, he eventually relented once he felt she had recovered well enough to make the trip.

The landscape surrounding the volcano was scarred. The village had nearly completely burned, parts of it had been overrun by thick flows of lava, and ash was still built up in the corners where wind and rain hadn't yet been able to carry it away. The fields surrounding the village were dotted with burn marks, signs of the small fires that had been started by the various lava bombs the volcano sent flying. And, at one such burn mark, Flare spotted something odd. With great curiosity, she approached it, where among the burnt grass were various fragments of bone, far too large to be from anything but a dragon. Thunder slowly came up behind, somewhat unnerved by the whole scene, wondering what Flare was looking at. Then, she suddenly had a realization, one that excited her. She grabbed the largest of the bone fragments and lifted it up to show off to her mate, who could only look on in horror as it dawned on him what she was holding.

Despite his protests, she would decide to keep the bone that was once her wing. Not so much due to longing for having her wing back, but rather due to simple fascination.

Commission by  Virensere

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