My paws batted against the dusty ground. Nerves propelled each step, energy that intensified with the passing hours. I watched the sun melt into darkness ages ago, and now yellow light trickled through the grate. New day, same predicament.

A million questions raced through my mind. What was going on up there? How long would I be stuck down here? Would I ever be able to go home? Were they planning to kill me?

I never realized just how treacherous the Bermuda Triangle was. In a matter of weeks—at least, I assumed I'd been at sea for weeks—I faced death from mer-people, a sea serpent, a storm, and now a tribe. It seemed like no matter what I did, trouble ensued. I followed Virgo's directions to the Gemini, and I got locked up. I left an underground labyrinth and got bitten by a spider. I went to the Bahamas for a vacation and entered an underwater Kingdom. It just wasn't fair.

Deep breaths of musty air filled my lungs due to my increasingly heavy steps. Anxious energy gave way to exhaustion, amplified by the hunger that raked my belly. I plunked down on the stone floor. The impact sent darts of pain through my underside.

Couldn't they spare the tiniest morsel for me? Queen Tameki must have forgotten that dragons need some form of nourishment. Or perhaps she didn't want me to have any food. It would only strengthen me, a supposedly dangerous creature. If I wasn't so uptight, I probably would've laughed. The whole idea was preposterous. I couldn't even kill a spider in my bedroom.

My claw brushed the leather belt still fastened around my waist. At least the tribe didn't confiscate it. The dagger and all its pouches were intact, ready to be used in an emergency.

Recollection sparked in my brain. Wait, what am I thinking? I do have food! I tore out the kale stash Virgo prepared for me and shoveled it into my mouth. The leaves were slightly soft, the bitterness combated by a touch of salt. It was gone before I could consider rationing it, its last traces being the oil on my paws. My stomach begged for more. It considered the measly portion an appetizer, impossible to quench a day's worth of hunger.

To distract myself, I wondered why the tribe let me keep my belt. Weren't prisoners normally stripped of their belongings when they were taken captive?

I didn't get time to contemplate this question. Scraping metal rang in the stillness. My pulse quickened as footsteps clanked on the stairs. Four figures made a slow descent into the dim cave. A pale light beam streamed onto the solemn face of Abido.

"Abido!" I exclaimed.

The Wiseman glanced at me, then flicked his head toward the man behind him. Patterns swirled across the other man's arms. My excitement waned. It was Dranesh, likely accompanied by warriors.

The four reached the bottom of the steps, and the two unintroduced visitors rushed toward me, chains in hand. Iron jingled as it clamped around my paws, tight enough to constrict blood flow. The two warriors scurried to either side of Dranesh.

"Sorry," Abido said. "But they're afraid you're going to attack us while we're talking."

"It's okay. Can I have some food?" I asked.

Abido paused, evaluating my appearance. I must have looked a sight with my back hunched over, my heavy eyelids threatening to drop at any moment.

"I promise nothing, but I'll try," Abido said with a sigh. He mumbled something to Dranesh. The head warrior's eyes narrowed to slits. A few words barked from his throat, and one of the other warriors left the room.

"They're bringing you something," Abido said.

"Thank goodness," I gushed. "I'm afraid I might collapse if I don't eat."

Abido remained deadpan. "Look, I've come here for an important reason. Queen Tameki has made a request."

"Really? What sort of request? Will it get me out of here?" A flare of hope brightened my spirits. I longed for freedom. Just yesterday, I soared through clouds. Now I was confined under the ground. It felt so, so wrong.

"Yes," Abido said slowly, "but—"

"I'll do anything to get out of here," I continued. "I just want to see the Gemini and go home. I'll be no trouble. I—"

"Their request may not be as simple as you think," Abido interrupted. "I know you're desperate to get home, but the Queen's request may not be feasible since you're not a real dragon."

"What do you mean?"

Abido exhaled a slow breath. "A few weeks ago, a rogue group within our tribe attempted to overthrow our king and queen. We locked them up, but during the skirmish, King Jesole received serious injuries. Our medicine woman hasn't been able to heal him, and his wounds have gotten infected. He is seriously ill, and we fear he may not live much longer." Abido paused for a second as debating whether to continue. "There's a legend that if a dragon breathes on a mixture of herbs and water, it can cure any illness. Queen Tameki wants you to breathe on the medicine woman's potion, which will supposedly heal the King."

"What?" A laugh erupted from my chest. "I can't heal anyone. I don't have any special powers."

"I know, I tried to tell the Queen that, but she didn't believe me."

I opened my jaw to speak, but shut it. A question wriggled its way into my brain.

"Why do you believe me?" I asked.

Abido grinned. "Most dragons wouldn't be able to speak English. Besides, I am the tribe's wise man."

"Then why don't you use your influence to get me out of here?"

I shouldn't have said that. The sparkle left Abido's eyes, face growing somber, even a bit stern.

"I'm trying my best. But the Queen is so stricken with grief that she's willing to do anything, and believe anything, in order to save her husband. I suggest you go along with this charade. If by some odd miracle it works, then you'll be free to go. If it doesn't, then maybe we can still get you to see the Gemini since you tried."

My gaze flicked to Dranesh, whose narrowed eyes flipped between us. He looked ready to attack me at any moment.

I focused on Abido. His tense face warned of something far darker that might happen if I didn't comply. Once again, I found myself in a box with no other options.

"Fine," I said. I just hoped that the Queen didn't become angry when she realized I was a fraud.

"Wise choice," Abido said. He spoke to Dranesh, who grunted in response. They turned to leave, but just then, metal clanged and the guard from before descended the stairs. Each step was deliberate, one hand on the rungs, the other clasped in a fist. He dropped to the ground, exchanging a few words with Dranesh. Abido gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Maybe I can sneak you some food a little later," he said.

"Don't worry, I'm not a picky eater," I said. "I'm so hungry, I could eat just about anything."

Abido raised an eyebrow. The guard threw his clasped hand toward me. A handful of worms splayed across the floor, writhing in the faint light. A scream tore from my lungs. My paws scooted backward in tiny steps, chains squeezing me with every movement.

"They're not going to hurt you, they're just earthworms." I glanced at Abido. His mouth stretched into a grin. "As I said before, I'll try to sneak you some more appetizing food."

"Thank you," I choked out. I forced myself to stop moving backward, though my muscles remained tense, gaze trained on the creatures. They're not going to hurt me. They're harmless. In the corner of my eye, the four men climbed the steps. Their exit sealed with a bang of the grate.

The worms wriggled into the shadows. I tried to forget about them, but I felt like they watched me, waiting to come at me. My lungs took a weighted breath. Five seconds in, seven seconds out. My body relaxed, if only slightly. I needed Abido's plan to work. I couldn't stand another day underground.

***

Darkness encased the room once more when the grate jangled open. Orange light glowed above the shaft, placing a spotlight on Abido as he scurried down the steps.

"I was able to convince the Queen that dragons needed to eat dragon fruit," he said once he reached the bottom.

He set a white cloth on the floor in front of me, brimming with cubes of pink and white fruit, each piece dotted with black seeds. Due to the chained nature of my paws, I placed my jaws against the make-shift plate and wolfed the sweet meal down.

Abido glanced over his shoulder. "We have to hurry. The ceremony will start very soon."

"Ceremony? What ceremony?"

"The fire ceremony. You know, where you're going to breathe fire on the potion and all?"

My body went still. "Wait, people are going to watch?"

"Yes, now hurry up." Abido clipped his words like he couldn't spare another moment speaking. Irritation flashed through me.

"It's kind of hard, considering that my paws are chained together."

Abido huffed, then whisked up the stairs. I felt a twinge of guilt for being sharp, but his intensity made me anxious. I wasn't prepared for whatever awaited at this ceremony. Something awful was brewing, my bones sensed it.

A herd of warriors climbed into the cave. Red and yellow pigments dyed their faces in sweeping strokes, like flames. Before I could react, they swarmed around me and hoisted me onto their shoulders. Somehow, they managed to carry me above ground. Fresh, cold air enveloped my scales as I broke surface, cleansed my lungs of must and mildew. The guards dropped me on the forest floor inches from Dranesh. Colors swirled across his face, just as bright as his tatted skin. The patterns obscured his expression, though I was certain it wasn't kind.

The men dragged me through the dead leaves, rocks and wood pecking at my back. Shadows awaited at every twist and turn, stocked with gleaming yellow eyes that tailed the procession. I shivered, and not from the night air. Only the moon's silvery light abated the darkness when it glistened between the trees.

The earth started to vibrate. Chanting pulsed through the forest, whispers that bounced off the trunks, the whole forest in chorus. The sound magnified to a roar, words beat against the silence. A sliver of light dawned ahead. My heart pounded with the drums, somehow audible over the raucous.

Trees parted for a clearing packed with tribesmen. I twisted my head to get a better view. All gather around an immense bonfire in the center. The flames leapt toward a black throne at the top, where Queen Tameki perched. I gawked at the sight. I had no idea how that was possible, and now was not the time to ask.

The warriors dumped me behind a line drawn in the dirt. Heat blazed behind me, kindling sweat on my scales. My tongue swiped a few salty drops from above my mouth, though it did nothing to alleviate the swelter. Red immersed my visual plane. Red paint. Red clothes. Red glow. I glanced down, noticing that my scales matched tonight's theme.

A woman approached, wooden bowl in hand. She dipped her finger in and brushed the frosty liquid over my face. Ah, cold. It was a marvelous feeling...until it hardened. The dried substance burned my cheeks. I could feel my scales swelling underneath the mask. I wanted to claw it off, but I couldn't. First, that would not help me earn the tribe's favor. Second, my paws were tied together. Third, the ceremony began.

Noise ceased, the memory carried only in the trees' reverberations. I craned my neck to see Queen Tameki standing on her throne, head high and back rigid. I couldn't help but feel nervous for her. One false move, and she'd be more charred than her ebony gown.

The Queen's shrill voice chimed through the clearing. I tried to listen in to get some clue as to what she was saying. But of course, my brain couldn't process the unfamiliar language. I hoped this wasn't a trick, and the Queen wasn't telling them how I should be roasted. The open flame seemed to intensify against my back.

"That woman is Erhbai, the medicine woman," a voice murmured in my ear. A gasp flew from my lips, and my head whipped around to see Abido. I guess this was the only chance he'd get to talk to me, since the tribesmen were distracted.

"What's the Queen saying?" I whispered.

"She's talking about how your flames will heal the King. Soon, Erhbai is going to ask you to breathe on a bowl full of herbs and a bowl of water. Then, she'll pour the water over the herbs and serve that to the King. The process will supposedly heal him instantaneously."

"That's it?" It seemed like the Queen had been talking for ages.

"That's it," Abido said with a chuckle. "She has a tendency to elongate explanations. What else would she talk about?"

I was about to reply, but the Queen finished her spiel. In a slow, hypnotizing rhythm, the tribe pounded wooden sticks on the ground. All eyes glued to the healer as she mixed various herbs in a wooden bowl. I couldn't help but worry that the bowl would catch on fire, considering that wood was flammable. Perhaps it was enchanted, like the trees on Virgo's Island.

Erhbai dipped a second wooden bowl into a basin of water. Can water catch on fire? At this point, nothing would surprise me.

A white flake floated from my face. The burning had lessened, either that or I was now used to it. What on Earth did they put on me? I was almost grateful for my scales. They were far thicker and more durable than my normal skin. Hopefully, that meant that the paste wouldn't do serious damage to my face.

Erhbai made her way across the clearing, stopping only a foot away from me.

"Sajufe," she declared. My eyes widened. What do I do?

"Sajufe," she repeated, more urgently this time. She stretched her arms out, so the bowls were right in front of my face.

"She's telling you to breathe," Abido murmured.

Oh, right. How could I have forgotten?

My lungs filled with oxygen. Breathe. Breathe fire. Fire.

Heat ignited in my core. I channeled it through my mouth as I exhaled. Flames burst from my mouth, setting the herbs ablaze. Erhbai poured the water overtop. It hissed on contact, puffing a cloud of steam, and the fire extinguished. Wet ashes coated the bottom of the bowl, the only remnant besides the smell of burnt herbs that pervaded my nostrils. I forced my nose to not scrunch. Erhbai took no notice, simply mashed the remains into a paste with her finger. She tossed the empty bowl to the ground and brought the other to a man lying on the side.

For the first time, I caught a glimpse of the King. Bleached skin stretched over his bony frame. A rainbow cape hung over his shoulders, similar to that of the Queen, except his was composed of feathers. Erhbai scraped the paste onto her finger and stuck it in the King's mouth. That made my nose wrinkle. Imagine how unsanitary that was. But no one noticed me. Everyone concentrated on the King, watching, waiting. No one dared to breathe. No one dared to disturb the stillness. The Queen leaned forward, her placid expression broken with anticipation, hope.

Fear.

King Jesole was the same. The paste hadn't helped. I had not helped. Reality crashed into me, smothered me.

What were you expecting? You're not a real dragon.

At that moment, I realized that I'd thought it would work. Or at least, I'd been desperate enough to believe it. My eyes turned to the Queen.

What will she say to me? What will she do to me?

The Queen stared, unblinking, not wanting it to be true. Not wanting the truth to sink in. The herbs didn't cure her husband. He was still going to die.

And I wasn't a real dragon.

Inch by inch, she angled her body downward. Her brown eyes plunged into mine like daggers. She started yelling, shaking in anger, her voice rebounding off the trunks as if a thousand people screamed.

Fear exploded inside me. What's going on!?

Warriors crept toward me, their swears towering overhead. The silver blades glinted in the fire. Adrenaline convulsed in my veins. My paws shuffled from side to side, unable to escape, unable to wrench me to safety. Red faces edged closer, flames closing in, spears lowering in my direction. I desperately looked to Abido, still at my side. His face was paler than the King. His head turned upward, and a slew of words tumbled from him. I glanced up just in time to see Queen Tameki shake her head. Abido's pleas, my last chance at survival, failed.

It was clear as crystal: she wanted me dead. The Queen's voice faded to the torrent of blood in my ears. Thoughts raced a million miles an hour. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? I grasped for something to say, anything to say. Anything that would quell the Queen's wrath.

The warriors slunk forward. I could practically feel their spears driving into me, my scales riddled with holes. Beyond, glares surrounded the ring, pointed right at me.

I swear I didn't mean any harm! I'm just not a dragon! That's what I've been trying to tell you all along!

Something snapped. Desperation ravaged my body. Every fiber, every nerve, shook.

Can I fight back? Can I fly away? What are they going to do? Will they actually kill me? Maybe dragons have multiple lives. But since I'm not a real dragon, will it work? Will one of the Star Guardians save me? Pisces, where's Pisces?

My breaths came in deep, ragged strides. Something squeezed my belly with each heave, in and out, in and out. It was my belt from Pisces, still around my waist. If only it could protect me from the inevitable.

Realization clicked. One recollection, and my muddle vanished. I knew the solution to my predicament.

"Wait!" I cried. "Wait!"

Abido yelled something to the Queen. Somehow, whatever he said made her stop. The line of warriors halted. Silence fell upon the clearing as all stared at me.

I cleared my throat, trying to summon the words on my parched tongue. With as much courage as I could muster, I declared:

"I think I have something that will heal the King."