Fajra awoke to the clanging of metal. Cautiously, she opened her eyes, feeling the swirling heat of flame flow around her. Little bits of eggshell littered the floor of this room, and various vents exuded plumes of smoke, fire, and sulfurous gas. Her eyes lit up, set ablaze by the room. A shout came from the dragon in the doorframe.

"All hail! We have a new Fireheart!"

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Dragons flapped around her small form, spouting flame onto the village below. The bubbling of lava and the crackling of embers drowned out the shrieks from the villagers. Fajra stumbled back, not wanting to see the sight of death and ruin below her. The mountain rumbled, and a crack began to leak liquid rock above her. The mountain rumbled more, and suddenly, she was submerged.

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Fajra stirred, sensing a cool breeze on her feathered wings. It was a nice change from the heat of the volcano her family called home. Her eyes fluttered open once more, taking in massive spikes of pink glass, clawing into the sky above.

"Oh good, you're alive."

She startled at the kind, soft voice. A manticore, bigger than she was, sat nearby eating some sort of scorched prey.

"Are you hungry, small one?"

"Y-yes p-please." She whispered, unsure of what to do.

"Here. The manticore pushed the rest of the scorched meat over to her. "You've been growing ever since I dragged you into the Starfall Isles. You'll need more food if you want to stay strong."

"Th-thank you." Fajra ate hungrily, devouring the meal in only a few seconds. "Wh-where are we?"

"Like I said, in the Starfall Isles. I heard of a place here that will keep us safe. Would you like to come with me?"

"I would." Fajra smiled at the manticore, now a bit bigger than her. "What's your name?"

"Ahnka. What's yours?"

"I am Fajra. It's nice to meet you!"

"And you."

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