THE FOURTH REALM: GREEN — The warmth within

Skyblue descended. The moment her paws touched the white surface, she jumped. It was so cold it burned.

“It’s called snow,” Helio said.

The dragon regarded it with suspicion. In the enchanted lands, it seemed, even cold knew how to disguise itself as fire.

“Close your eyes. Find the warmth inside you. Breathe slowly and feel each breath of air.”

Skyblue remembered the salamanders, the embers, and the warmth that lingered in her chest after the campfire went out. She felt it again. With each breath out, she let it spread through her body. The air leaving her mouth began to warm the space around her, and little threads of water appeared beneath her paws.

The snow was melting.

Her heartbeat steadied. Her shoulders relaxed, and her wings stopped trembling.

“We’re near the fourth realm,” Helio announced. “The Green Realm.”

Skyblue surveyed the white peaks, the bare stones, and the sparse vegetation.

“Well, no one can accuse these realms of choosing obvious names. I’d have called it the Realm of Cold.”

“You’re not far from the truth. That’s one of its faces.”

Before they arrived, Helio warned her that she would have to register. She would be assigned somewhere to live.

“Can’t I find a tree myself?”

“In this part of the realm, they prefer to decide who belongs where.”

Skyblue thought there was more to that answer, but she was too tired to find out. Helio came closer and settled back into her heart. The dragon followed the path leading down toward the first homes.