Today was the day. Shard would go on his first mission.

Polar and him had trained all day. Shard worked hard, and seemed to be ad ready as he could ever be.

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"Good work Shard!" Polar had cheered as he completed his course. Shard felt something weird in his chest. Polar was....praising him?

"Oh uh, thank you." He mumbled, out of breathe.

Polar smiled warmly at him. "Of course. You deserve praise. I don't know if I'd be able to do that at a year old."

Shard felt the corners of his mouth lift up. He was...smiling. He hadn't smiled in almost a year. Polar made him feel proud of himself, in just that short time.

That was the first time Shard learned that there were good dragons in the world. Dragons worth being good for.

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Shard shook his head, packing his things. Well, the necessaries. Food, supplies, etc. He would be gone for 3 days. He didnt even know his mission yet.

Polar knocked on the door. "Come in." Shard said and Polar opened it, smiling slightly. "How ya doing? Do you need help packing?" Polar asked.

Shard gave him a look. "No.....what are you, my mom now?" He asked, half serious.

Polar rubbed his head. "No. No. That's not....I'm just asking." He said, and fidgeted.

Shard raised an eye ridge. "What is it?" He asked, worry starting to fill him. Was it his mission? Shard wasn't worried about that. He could handle anything.

Polar sighed. "Just...I don't want you getting hurt, kiddo." He said and reached into his satchel.

"Kiddo." Shard echoed. Polar really did care about him. And to be honest, Shard wouldn't admit it, but he felt safe with Polar, appreciated. He turned to look out the window. NO. MORE. FEELINGS.

Polar had something in his hand when Shard looked back. He had his usual resting, angry/defensive face on.

Polar smiled slightly. "I have something for you. A gift. It was given to me, and now your getting it." He said and placed the object in Shard's talons. He didn't know what it was because it was so tiny.

A...a gift? For no reason? Just...because Polar could? Shard stared at him in shock and awe, his usual expression gone. Hd had never been given a gift before. Never.

"For good luck." Polar said as Shard opened his hand.

It was an earring. Not just any earring. A silver looped earring with a blue lightning bolt pendant.

Shard felt tears prick behind his eyes. No. Don't cry. Dont cry. Dont cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

This was his first gift ever. His first treasure. His first act of kindness given to him.

"Shard....are you okay?" Polar asked and Shard realized he WAS crying.
Camel spit Shard!

He turned away to hide his face. "Yes. I'm fine." He said. Why was Polar being so nice to him? He didn't have to. And yet he chose to be the first kind dragon Shard had ever met.

He heard Polar laugh. "You remind me of someone....hey, it's alright. Your gonna do fine." He said and put a talon on Shards shoulder from behind him.

Shard wiped his eyes and turned back around. He looked back at the earring. "I'm sorry...I don't have a piercing." He said, gesturing to his ear.

Polar shook his head. "You can still put it on. It only stings for a second. But..you don't have to have it on. It's just a gift." He said.

Okay- WAS this dragon an Icewing?! Shard had never met such an Icewing that was as kind as him. "Oh...okay." he said.

If it was anyone else, he would have snapped at them and stormed away. But Polar was kind to him. So, he let Polar put the earring on.

Shard winced for only a second before looking at himself in the mirror. It looked good on him. It stood out from his pale scales, and he smiled confidently. He FELT confident. Like he could do anything.

"Your mission is to patrol area 25. Make sure everything is in line. Not too hard...depending on what day it is. You should be fine. There's a low chance anything extreme will happen. Are you ready, Shard?" Polar asked from behind him.

Shard looked back at Polar, who was smiling. "I'm ready." He said, and Polar's smile turned into a proud grin.