Dynamis' assault of the tree halted when Kalamadea spoke. Even though he was as wild, stubborn, and unpredictable as a rhinoceros on steroids, he highly respected the enormous dragon. The young dragon lowered his head and adverted his eyes. [I] "I'm sorry." [/I] He spoke apologetically, [I] "I was trying to get my Rider's attention." [/I] He shot Riley a look, as if to say [I]this is your fault[/I]. The rain continued to rise in wisps of steam from the fire, the cold wind making it dance in the light of the flame, adding an eerie effect to the scene.

Riley looked very small next to Kalamadea. The giant red beast had always awed him. The first time Riley heard him speak, back just a few months ago at the Academy, the boy had almost jumped out of his boots. He never knew it was possible for a dragon to have a physical voice.

In his ADHD fashion, Riley heard the word 'food' and his attention was completely ripped away from his dragon once again. Abandoning Dynamis, he turned on his heal and practically skipped over to Mina and her black-and-white dragon. [b] "Did you say food?" [/b] He asked, eyeing the rabbits. 

Riley looked at the young woman, a little shyly, which was unlike him. She intrigued him. The boy had a kind of hard time reading her - she seemed distant and quiet, though her affection for her dragon was obvious. Sometimes, the boy wished he got along with his own dragon that well.