The days passed like boats sailing on calm seas. Or birds flying through clouds. Either way, Murgatroyd and Scoria both agreed that the moon had been fast for both of them. That stucky guard came back to check up on the restaurant, and Culuphom got a raise. The place as a whole became much more popular than anticipated, and it resulted in Scoria having to work a lot harder than before.

'Would be nice if you helped.' Scoria signed. 'Dragons sloppy all the time and treat me like ibbick.'

Troyd pouted. "But I'm just a kid! Child labor laws are in place so I don't have to work! Also... you shouldn't say that word around me..."

Scoria smirked. 'I didn't say it, did I? You're safe. No one will know.'

"But you know!" Troyd protested.

'That I do.' Scoria nodded. He picked up a small broom and handed it to Troyd. 'Now help me, and maybe we'll get this place cleaned up a lot faster before it opens. Maybe Culuphom or a chef will get you a snack. You're looking mighty scrawny.'

Troyd sighed and took the broom. He helped sweep Culuphom's restaurant with Scoria. Soon that one time turned into every few days. Then every other day. And finally it was all the time. Of course Culuphom and the others noticed a child helping, but they didn't pay him any attention or that he was the only one talking and understanding Scoria. And Troyd never knew being a janitor would be so hard, but on the plus side he learned how to effectively clean every corner in every way possible, and he got some muscle. He was still pretty thin though, which bothered Scoria, but it didn't faze Troyd because long term starvation taught him that it was best that he got little food than none.

At the end of the shift, Troyd would escape into the kingdom and do one of several things before coming back. Sometimes he would go to the fountain nearby and rest in it, or collect coins when no one was looking. Sometimes he went to the park to roll around in the grass or climb a tree. And then sometimes, he'd go to the market and quietly take things no one else seemed to want.

'Where'd you get that?'

Troyd snapped out of his trance. Scoria was pointing at him, and the piece of bread in his arms. Troyd managed a shrug. "Was laying around on the ground. Nobody wanted it so I took it."

Scoria sighed heavily. 'Troyd... that's stealing. I thought we went over why stealing was bad. Did we not? You'll get into big trouble if you get caught.'

"If I get caught!" Troyd cheered. "They'll never catch me! Those meanies will have to drag their butts on the gravel if they wanna stop me!"

Scoria seemed to make a laughing motion. He was smiling and his mouth was slightly open, but he also sounded like a tea kettle going off with boiling water inside it. After awhile, Scoria wiped his smirk away and went back to being blankly serious.

'Seriously, Murgatroyd.' Scoria signed. 'When you're older, the guards will lock you up in the dungeon, and it won't be fun. Someone might even accuse you of having magic! The last thing I want is for you to be locked up with no chance of freedom... or dead when you never had a reason to begin with. Be glad there isn't anyone paying attention to us.'

Troyd looked around the room. The tables were empty, and the only other person in the restaurant with them was the dish washer. She was angry all the time and complained constantly. Troyd wondered why Hoita didn't just leave... but maybe she was like Scoria, and this was the only job she could do. Troyd didn't ask.

But he was glad that Hoita never seemed to pay attention to him anyways. He didn't want to face her wrath. He looked up at Scoria. "So then... what do you think I do with this bread? Return it?"

Scoria shook his head. 'It's too late to return it now. You should eat it before someone notices, like Culuphom or Hoita. Or a random stranger.'

And so Troyd did.

Troyd desperately tried to curve away from his street rat side. Maybe it was why no one wanted him. Maybe that was all they saw... disobedience, unlawfulness and untidiness. But Troyd was a lot more obidient than before! And he was working on not stealing! Staying clean, however, was still an issue and he didn't like it when Hoita or Scoria dunked him in water and soap. Soap always made his scales feel out of place, and made his skin burn.

A few days later, when the shift was over, he told Scoria he was going to the park and left before his caretaker could sign anything. It was a bright and sunny day, almost too sunny. He had to look down and run across the shadows to avoid his paws burning up from how hot it was. The park wasn't far away, but in the clear and scorching weather, it felt like hours before he got there.

He ran into the grass, relieved when he didn't feel his paws get seared. He looked around. No dragonets really talked to him, and he really wanted to make friends with people the same age as him. Sure, Scoria was nice, but he towered over Troyd like a giant and they didn't share a playful, carefree relationship most dragonets possessed.

Troyd spotted some colorful shapes playing nearby, so he ran to them. Three dragonets were roughhousing in the grass. There was a river nearby. Troyd had never been in a river before, even less swam. But it looked pretty and maybe those dragonets could tell him what it was like to swim.

Troyd came up to the dragonets, and they stopped playing. "Hi!" He said. "I'm Murgatroyd! But you can call me Troyd."

The three dragonets gave him individual looks. There was a night, a water, and a nature. Dragons were sorted into types and elements. There were many types in the world, but none of them seemed to acknowledge Troyd and what he was. He didn't know his element. Scoria looked like a rock dragon. Troyd also looked like a rock dragon, but he had no wings and had floppy antennae and whiskers. Troyd dubbed himself a cave dragon. It only made sense.

"Silverpoint." The night dragonet said. "These are my friends Marge and Clove."

Silverpoint was in fact silver. All of her was, except her wings, which were black and full of twinkling stars. And her eyes were a pretty amethyst purple. Marge was orange with pretty golden fins along her spine and limbs, and her wings had little glowing spots. Clove's scales were white, and there were green planty details all over his body.

Marge approached Troyd curiously. "I've never seen a dragonet like you before! Your ears are so big! Where are your wings? What's that on your head?"

Marge batted at Troyd's antennae. He jerked away. "My antenna! Don't touch them, they sensitive!"

Clove smirked. "You talk funny... you from a different kingdom?"

"No! I live here!" Troyd protested.

"What about school?"

Troyd paused. He lived on the streets, but also under the care of a hobo and worked as a cleaner for a restaurant. He was so focused on surviving that he completely forgot to get an education. Well, Scoria had taught him some things, but it wasn't an official education.

Troyd shook his head. "No. Never went to school. I don't even have a house! I live under a restaurant. I work there. Culuphom's Pad."

Silverpoint's purple eyes shimmered. "You have a job? That's so cool!"

"Yeah... I guess it is." Troyd agreed. "What is school like?"

"Oh, it's super fun!" Marge chirped. "You get to learn new things every day!"

Learn new things? Based on the proclamations of the others, Troyd decreed that school was an important thing. When he returned, he proposed the idea to Scoria and Culuphom, and to his surprise they were ok with it. Though since Scoria was always with Troyd, he'd have to go in as his "legal guardian." Culuphom had no idea if it would work, but he was sure that a decent dragon would allow one more student in their roster.

The next day, Scoria and Troyd went to the school Silverpoint and the others went to. Surprisingly, Troyd was easily accepted. He bounced into his new classroom, with Scoria following behind and towering above all dragonets.

"Who is that?" Silverpoint asked, pointing at Scoria.

Troyd puffed out his chest with pride. "My dad!"

It was more or less a lie. Troyd never knew his birthparents. He hatched on the streets, and he would probably die on the streets. But Scoria was as close as he had to a parent in moons...

Silverpoint shyly waved at Scoria. "Hi... Troyd's dad... how are you?"

'My name is Scoria, and I am good.' Scoria motioned his hands to communicate. And then he continued, but for some reason, Troyd didn't catch anything he signed. 'I know everything there is to know in the universe. I know the beginning and end of existence itself. I have seen wars and alliances form and crumble just by gazing into the well of knowledge I have been given by God. I know how each and every single living thing will die, including you. I know of your betrayal. I know of your demise. I know everything there is to know in the universe, and I can't share or foretell any of it.'

"...I don't understand." Troyd whispered.