When the morning finally bathed everything in its golden glory, Leonie opened her eyes with slow deliberation wondering what had been real and what had been a dream. Were the nightmarish parts such as her father's death a reality or just a trick that her mind played on her to increase her insecurities?

Unfortunately, as she managed to chase away the fog of sleep that hung heavily on her mind, she was once again faced with the fatherless reality that was a challenge to accept. Every morning as she woke up and realized that the nightmare was a reality was hard. It was like learning about her father's death all over again.

However, before Leonie could go down the turbulent wind of pain, doubt, and anger, she remembered the little guy sleeping next to her. He had already started stirring in his slumber. It was as if all the negative emotions that were knocking on the door of his heart and mind were not allowing him to have a peaceful rest. 

Knocking was a mild word, Leonie's emotions were unconsciously banging on the door of Rim's being, seeking something. She wasn't sure what she needed, whether she needed someone to suffer with her, to share the pain or someone who would make the pain go away.

Her emotions were a mystery even to her. After all, her mother and brother were suffering as well, she was not all alone in the sea of pain. Still, she seemed to need something else, something more. However, Rim was so young, as of yet, unable to provide her with whatever it was she needed. Furthermore, he did not need to be overwhelmed with the weight of life before experiencing any of its joys.

That knowledge was what helped Leonie put away her pain, for the time being, to deal with it once both of them were stronger. Neither of them needed the crippling effect pain could have on any creature big or small. What they needed more than anything else at that moment was to learn. They needed to learn about each other, about their bond and how to live with it in peace and harmony.

With newfound energy and the dark clouds at bay, for the time being, Leonie rose carefully so as not to disturb the sleeping dragon. He seemed so peaceful and cute in his slumber. His chest was rising slowly, and his tail was wagging like that of a dog. The funniest thing about the picture in front of her was the fact that his tongue was lulling out of his wide-open mouth.

The snores coming out of such a tiny creature were so loud that Leonie was convinced they heard them in the house, which was a few meters away from the stables. The contrast between the small form sleeping peacefully in front of her feet and the loud sounds coming out of it reminded Leonie that one day, not so far into the future, Rim would become a fully-grown dragon. The mere thought of him as an enormous dragon had her in awe.

As she went on to do her usual morning chores, she could not prevent her mind from roaming towards the future, wondering what was woven into the tapestry of her life. How would she be able to take care of a fully grown dragon? Where would he live? Would he still be her Rim or would he acquire a thoroughly different personality she would be unable to recognize?

Those and many other questions were flying through her head with the speed of Peregrine falcon. There was no way for her to slow them down, to examine them, to understand them. The best she could do was acknowledge them and let them fly back to their nest in the back recesses of her mind.

Sometimes the best thing to be done to escape thoughts that were too difficult to accept was to lose oneself in work, and that was exactly what Leonie did. Her body moved with practiced precision, only focusing on the task at hand.

Never before had any living being been so focused on such menial tasks as Leonie was at that very moment. Not thinking or feeling anything for even a second was a blessing that she was all too pleased to receive. 

Before she knew it, Leonie heard her mother's voice calling her in a way that made it clear that she had done that for some time before Leonie was able to hear her. It was as if by shutting down her thinking process, she shut down all the other senses as well besides the ones that were required to finish the chores.

"Yes, mother?" Leonie said.

"I have been calling you for a while. Is everything all right?" Amitola asked.

The question sounded odd to Leonie. How could anything ever be all right? Their lives were turned upside down. They were not sure if they would be capable of surviving without Rimodar even one winter let alone the many winters to come. 

It was incomprehensible to Leonie why adults often asked questions to which they already knew the answers. Although she knew that her mother meant well, it was still tedious to have to answer the question that had such an obvious answer. Everything was not all right. Still, she had to lie so as not to worry her mother, who had too many things on her mind as it was.

"Yes, of course, I was just focused on my chores, so I didn't hear you calling," Leonie replied.

Amitola noticed her daughter's hesitation, and it made Amitola angry with herself for asking such a stupid question only days after Leonie had lost her father. It was just difficult for her to know how to approach her children's grief. They were both extremely different and needed different things from her. She was just not sure what those things were.

"You are up early. Did you have nightmares again?" Amitola asked.

She was worried because Leonie might think she was a strong, independent girl, but, she was still a child and a very sensitive one. From an early age, she had suffered from nightmares that some said were signs that the child saw much more than others ever could. Amitola hoped that was not true since being bonded with a dragon was arduous enough.

"Something like that, but it wasn't too bad," Leonie reassured her mother.

"Have you finished all the important chores?" Amitola asked.

"Almost. I still need to practice my shooting skills." Leonie answered.

"Why don't you skip them for today and go and see the Mage instead?" Amitola asked.

"I can't do that. Father says...father used to say that you can't keep your skills as sharp as the point of an arrow if you don't practice every day." Leonie said.

Mentioning her father reminded her of all the pain that she was trying to avoid. Fortunately, Rim chose that moment to walk towards them almost tripping on his tail in his sleepiness. His big eyes seemed much smaller since he barely kept them open as he sniffed his way to Leonie.

"Hey, there Rim. Did you have a good sleep?" Leonie asked.

As she asked that, she stroked his head which he seemed to thoroughly enjoy. Before Leonie could fully understand what he was planning to do, he jumped on her, and they both fell on the ground in a laughing fit.

"Well, then I'll leave you in good company to practice your arrow skills," Amitola said as she moved towards the house to prepare breakfast.

After they finally managed to disentangle themselves, Leonie moved towards the part of the land that was closer to the forest. She put a small target on a tree which indicated the beginning of the forest to practice her shooting skills.

"Stay by my side so that you don't get hurt," Leonie told the dragon.

Rim nodded his head and followed what she did very carefully, as if he was learning, as well. It felt to her like he was studying her posture, her strengths and weaknesses, and she was surprised that she did not mind that. It was another way for him to get to know her, and that was important for their connection to stay strong.

The moment she released her first arrow, she hit the center of the target. She then took out the next arrow and then, proceeded to empty her quiver with the same precision. All the arrows remained true to their purpose, and even Rim seemed impressed by her skills.

What Leonie failed to notice were two pairs of eyes watching her. One she wouldn't have found surprising, they were her mother's worried eyes, but the second pair would have come as a surprise to her. Next to her mother, a set of blue eyes could be seen in constant motion. The whole figure was flowing and rippling. Streaming and seeping. Never stopping.

"To tell her the truth you must. Why are you delaying when it's unjust?" Aqua asked the human who had become her pet.

The poor Elemental, still could not comprehend the oddness of human ways, no matter how much she tried. It was obvious that all had to move, to change, to flow, it was natural. However, humans seemed to want to trap time, delay it and she could not comprehend for what purpose although Amitola had been her pet since she was a child.

"I know Aqua, I know. I will tell her. She is just not ready to hear all that I have to say. There will be a right time soon, I am sure of it." Amitola said to her friend.

"To interfere in her fate I cannot. Soon you will be put on the spot. Fates I can see but cannot tell thee. Do not tarry too long or the damage shall be lifelong." Aqua said.

Upon giving her warning, Aqua danced in all her glory and yet unseen back to the lake that was her home. She hoped with all her might that the mortal would hear her warning and tell the girl all she needed to know. It was necessary if she were to grow up into the strong, capable woman that she saw in one of the versions of the future. The other version she did not even wish to consider.