Tiki stretched on her way back from the battlefield. She'd just fought in a large scale battle, trying to defend and capture territories in a training exercise. She'd done the best she could, but such a fight made her entire body sore. She couldn't complain though, considering how much effort others had put in. No, she was content with just taking a stroll in the forest before dinner.

She found a clearing; a fresh one it seemed, since many fallen trees still littered the area. Oh, that's right. I remember hearing Nah had some trouble when she first arrived here.

Tiki looked around. There was no one in sight. But...

"I know you're there, little one."

A moment's silence, then the sole exception to her loneliness poked her head out from behind a tree. "You...you knew I was here?"

"Since we left our little brigade," Tiki put on a smile and leaned on her knees. "But I know you've been trying to talk to me for a while now, haven't you Myrrh?"

The little dragon girl's face flushed and she stepped out of her cover with her head low. "I'm...sorry."

"Don't be!" Tiki sat on one of the logs and patted the space next to her. "I'm sure whatever it is is very important, so come tell me all about it."

"Oh...okay." Her cheeks still red, Myrrh traipsed over and took her seat, folding her wings so that they wouldn't hit the older dragon.

"You don't need to do that."

"Hmm?"

"You can relax around me," she explained. "Besides, I think your wings are quite beautiful."

"R - really?" Myrrh hid her face in her hands, flicking her twintails outward in the process. Tiki fought the urge to giggle.

"Yes. In fact, I've always been a bit curious about them, if I can be honest with you. I'm sure you've noticed that no other Manakete has wings like yours in human form." She remembered seeing her younger self in the middle of a summer celebration and added "At least, not all the time."

Myrrh nodded. "I'm different, aren't I?" She looked at the earth, a frown on her face.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of;" Tiki stroked her hair. "I think your wings are beautiful! You should be proud of them."

Myrrh flashed a little smile, then looked back down.

Tiki fought the urge to pinch her red cheeks. "So...what did you want to ask me?"

"Oh...right." The younger dragon blinked and looked up, but still refused to make eye contact. "I know this is very rude, but can I...can I ask how old you are? Please?"

It was Tiki's turn to pause. "What?"

"I'm so sorry!" Myrrh jumped up. "Ephraim told me you should never ask a lady her age, but I just...never mind!" She shook her head and took a step away, stretching her wings in preparation to soar -

"Myrrh, wait!" Tiki grabbed her arm. The little girl tensed, her wings flaring wide for a moment before she caught herself. Tiki took a calming breath. "I'm not offended at all, come sit back down." She sat and waited for the other to do the same. "I'm not offended," she said again. "Just surprised. I expected something much more serious than that. Why do you want to know?"

"Well..." Myrrh tapped her forefingers together. "I...I've seen a younger Tiki a few times and - and everyone I asked said you two were the same person, so...I just wanted to know how much time there was between you two. You know, because she looks even younger than me and you look..." she stole a glance at the other dragon and continued with a renewed blush "...a little older."

"A little?" Tiki fought another urge to laugh. "That Tiki is about two thousand years younger than me. Even for a Manakete, I'm sure you'll agree that that's more than just a little older."

"Two thousand years..?" Myrrh looked down again. She seemed to be in deep thought.

Tiki gave her a minute, but the girl remained silent. "Are you okay, Myrrh?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes!" Myrrh stood up and curtseyed. "Thank you very much, Ms. Tiki. I - I'll be going now."

"Are you sure you don't need anything else?" Tiki stood up too. "Anything at all?"

"Yes! I mean," she cleared her throat. "Yes, I'm very sure. Thank you!"

And with a short run and a mighty flap of her wings, Myrrh took off towards their quarters. Tiki sighed.

"What are you hiding, little one?"