Sumac lay awake in his nest, his stomach full from the feast that night. All around the camp, snores emanated from the egg-shaped sleeping spaces. He still had to share one with his parents, but by the next full moon he would be considered old enough to sleep on his own. As far as he was concerned, Sumac couldn't wait.

Nettle made a grumpy noise in her sleep and shifted, rustling the leaves of her nest. Her scales, already a dull, dark green, were practically invisible among the shade of the egg-sleeping spaces. She was a mere six months old, whereas Sumac was five. His father, Conifer, had died a few moons ago, but while he lived, he had Nettle's dark green scales and Sumac's large crest.

Sumac had almost fallen asleep when he heard a loud rustling noise outside of the camp. Poking his head out of the sleeping-space, he saw nothing. He pulled his head back inside when he heard it again. Sumac frowned and hefted himself out of the egg, then soundlessly slipped out of camp.

The forest was soundless and still, with the faintest whisper of a breeze flickering through the jungle. Sumac glided along the floor, heading towards the occasional sound of a stamping. His claws stuck to something sticky, tripping Sumac. He let out a hiss, then used his limited leafspeak to release his talons. Pushing himself back up, he continued towards the sound, which seemed to come from the pond.

Sumac pushed out of the leaves into the clearing and gasped. A twin sound came from the dragon in front of him. She had hazel-brown-and-green scales that shimmered in the faint moonlight. Her horns were long and elegant, and her wings in graceful arcs. Her eyes were the color of summer leaves, and they seemed to glow with grace and kindness. Sumac blinked several times, dumbfounded. The other dragon reacted first, taking a step back. She was about Sumac's age, he guessed, but she also seemed to carry a responsibility that held her wings down.

"Great Trees," she asked, "who are you and why do I not know you?" Sumac blinked. "I could ask you the same thing." The dragon smiled. "Oh, I'm Hazel." Sumac narrowed his eyes. "Never heard of you." Hazel's eyes widened. "Ha! You should! I'm the queen's great-grand niece, of course!" Sumac snorted. "Belladonna's our commander, not our queen, and she only has Sundew as her daughter, no great-grand-children." Hazel jumped back. "Commander? Sundew? Don't tell me you're one of those Poisonwings from the stories!" Sumac frowned. "We're Leafwings, not Poisonwings! I'm Sumac!" Hazel grinned. "You're the offshoot! The fighting Leafwings! The ones who left Queen Sequoia and want the Hivewings dead!" Sumac frowned at her. "Hey, we thought Queen Sequoia was dead! And yes, we want the Hivewings dead!"

Hazel smiled. "I never thought I'd meet a Poisonwing!" She looked Sumac over. "You look pretty much exactly like us though. I like your gold scales though." Sumac grinned back at her. "I love... well..." he trailed off, not knowing how to finish without embarrassing himself. Hazel gave him a bemused smirk. "So, all-powerful Poisonwing, what can you do that I can't?" Sumac glared at her. "I'm a Leafwing, call me that and nothing else." He hesitated, then answered, "And I can do this." He stretched out his talons into the earth, and after a long moment a piece of ivy raced along the ground, trailing over Hazel's talons delicately. Hazel smiled.

"I can do that too, you know, it just takes longer," she said. Sumac grinned at her, then bowled her over. Laughing, Hazel scrambled away from him, fanning her wings and diving beneath the pond. Sumac chuckled and followed, although much less gracefully than Hazel. Underwater, Sumac saw Hazel dipping and spinning like leaves on the wind. The two swam for a while, until both climbed out and shook themselves dry.

"Hey, Hazel?" Sumac asked. Hazel looked at him. "Yeah Sumac?" Sumac hesitated. "Well, I don't think my tribe would like us fraternizing... but I do want to be your friend..." Hazel smiled knowingly at him. She had relaxed exponentially now, her wings not so burdened and her laugh lighter. "Sumac, they don't have to know! Just meet me every night, here, and they don't have to know!" Sumac nodded, then glanced at the sky. "I have to go, but I'll be here tomorrow night! And every night, as long as you want to be friends." Hazel smiled, hugged him, and the two parted. Sumac shook himself. Come on, Sumac, she's just a friend, even if she's beautiful and funny, and great at swimming. Across the clearing, Hazel was telling herself the almost exact same thing.