"That was foolish of you. What if she remembers?"

"Don't be ridiculous. She won't. I'm too good for that."

"Wow, no modesty here, huh?"

"You know I had to come back. It's wrong, what's happening. The Icewing kingdom is headed to peril, and we're the only ones who care."

"I don't think she'll remember. She only saw me for a little bit. I think we'll be fine."

"Of course we'll be fine! Have you forgotten who I am?"

"Both of you, stop being so ridiculous."

"Fine."

"FINE."

"Good. Now, be quiet, will you? She's waking up."

Opal blinked her eyes open. Her gaze was fuzzy, and she had a splitting headache. Above her she could see the blurred outlines of three Icewings.

"Hello, Opal," The middle one said, firm but gentle. "How are you feeling?"

"Um..." Opal mumbled. "Fine, I guess? Who ARE you?" She asked, curiosity overtaking her as her head and eyes cleared. Her gaze locked on the middle Icewing, and she shook her head in disbelief.

"Au...Aunt Crystalline?"

Crystalline's frown deepened on her flawless scales.

"Unfortunately."

Opal looked at the other two Icewings. She didn't recognize the one on Crystalline's right, but...

"Frigid? You're here too? What is this, some plot to kidnap me?"

Frigid laughed. "Trust me, nothing that interesting. We just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Opal frowned slightly. It was a believable excuse, but it didn't line up with what she had just heard. Plus, Frigid was terrible at lying. But she decided that since she wasn't sure why she was even here, pretending that she believed Frigid was probably the best move. She would get the truth from him eventually.

Crystalline looked at Frigid in disbelief. "Really? She knows you, too?"

Frigid shrugged with a grin. "Hey, it's not my fault all the dragons love me."

Crystalline sighed. "Don't flatter yourself. And you!" she exclaimed, turning to the Icewing on her right. "What happened to 'of course we'll be fine'?"

She gestured a talon in Opal's direction. "Does this look fine to you?"

Probably not, Opal thought, suppressing a laugh. She didn't exactly look like the average Icewing, with her weird opal-like scales.

The other Icewing shrugged nonchalantly. "Did I say it was a guarantee? That's right, I didn't think so."

Aunt Crystalline sighed. "Ridiculous," she murmured.

"Soooo...anyone going to tell me what I'm doing here?" Opal asked hesitantly.

"It's none of your concern," Aunt Crystalline snapped.

"Um, it kind of is, though." the unknown Icewing said. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her."

Interesting, Opal mused. She looked the Icewing over. It was strange that Opal didn't recognize her, since if she was with Aunt Crystalline, she was definitely a noble, second-circle at worst. But Opal didn't recognize her as someone from around the castle. She shrugged it off. After all, most of the snobby Icewings ended up blending together anyways.

"Quiet," Aunt Crystalline scolded. "I need to think."

Shouldn't we tell her?" the other dragon protested, to Opal's surprise.

Aunt Crystalline sighed. "I said, QUIET, Frostbite."

Opal's head snapped up. "Frostbite? What? Like...the animus who made the moon globe tree?"

Aunt Crystalline groaned. "By all the moons," she grumbled.

The Icewing-FROSTBITE-waved at Opal sheepishly.

"Hi?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You're welcome, kitty.

Word Count: 501