There were more bones to be unearthed the more I walked through this ruined barren field.

The disparity was deeply unsettling. How bountiful flowers bloomed so lush, vibrant soothing greenery as far as the eye could see, everywhere all around...

Just not here...

I looked, really did, nothing grew in this one little open space... it's decayed... much like the many bones that littered the withered grass.

And Ria was to blame.

There's always a twist... more than meets the eye, that's what I've always thought of her... but I never once thought this would be the twist that would meet mine...

"So... do you get it now?" Latrissa's embers blew my way. "This will be your first and the only word of caution you'll get... don't try to meet my mother, alright? Forget you saw us, and don't attempt to look for us anymore."

At my side, her warmth was radiating near. "You're lucky it is just me here, today. Unlike my mother, I tend to be a little bit more lenient to curious onlookers like yourself... I won't flame you unless you give me a good reason to."

Latrissa kept talking, she had her treading more on the light side of things, but despite it, her words offered no levity.

"I don't share my mother's mindset, using our flames for such a thing...to me feels just crude and cruel... she wouldn't agree but... not as if she's here right now to disagree with it, is she?

"I'll let you go. In return, I need only two things from you - first one's easy enough, think you're up for it?"

I made a short noise. Not a yes, not a no... it could be anything, and to her rousing stare poking through my peripheral view, it certainly wasn't a no.

"You still didn't answer my question from back then, you know?" She leaned in a little closer. "That word. Phoenix, you called me... who or where exactly did you learn that word from? Be honest, alright?"

She was right, that question was easy enough to answer, the problem was if she'd even accepted such an answer in the first place... well, she said to be honest, so...

"Your mother," I simply said. "Both the where and who..."

As expected, she didn't believe a word I said, "Still going on about that, I see. You really do have a death wish, don't you? Which brings me to my second request..."

I had a feeling I knew what it was.

"Forget you ever saw me, do not breathe a word about our conversation today... it's easier that way, both for you and for me. Please don't also seek us out anymore. Because next time... I can't guarantee it'll be me you'll be meeting next time."

This time she didn't even wait for an answer. I turned, and nothing was there... nothing but the sound of scrunching grass gradually fading away.

"I'm going to fly away from here now, and you are not going to look… you'll keep your back turned until you are sure you do not hear my wings anymore. If you do look back, if you try to follow me… just know I'm not responsible for you anymore."

I knew I was dreaming... but this wasn't like any other dream where I can snap myself awake and carry on like normal... those dreams stayed as dreams.

This was real.

There were so many things I wanted to think about, so many conclusions ready to springboard off of.

But I didn't wanna contemplate on even a single drifting thought my mind had brewed up for me to fester on forevermore. Not until I hear it straight from that Phoenix's mouth.

Only one way to make that happen…

There was a beam of golden light, Latrissa was about to take off.

"Wait just a sec," I turned her way, and she, surprise widening her eyes, the light dissipating in an instant, turned to mine. "You're gonna fly, you're gonna go home, right? Take me with you… take me to her."

Once again, staring from afar… there was practically no difference, I could very well picture Ria's making that same disgruntled look too.

"This again," She said with a sigh, "Were you not listening to a single word I was saying?"

"No, I listened, I believe you," I walked towards her. "Nothing's changed though. I still want to see her."

An annoyed scowl narrowed her eyes at me, she really was quick to provoke, "You're starting to give me a very good reason…"

"To kill me?"

"I don't kill," She said sharply. "And a burnt hand won't kill you."

"Just take me to her, then you'll see the truth for yourself, you'll see I'm not lying."

"Now that will definitely kill you," A loud scoff. "If you're really that eager, can I just spare us the trip, and do it myself?"

My turn to scoff. "You just said you don't kill."

"I..." She clicked her tongue. "Are you always this aggravating? I'm not going to indulge this foolish talk any longer. I'm going."

"No, you wait - !"

I took another step forward, before I found myself stumbling backwards, arms raised, shielding my gaze - her glaring flames erupted in that same swirling formation… she was going to go again…

I can't let her.

"Riri!"

What made me say it, I still don't know. Why that was the first thing to sprouted to mind, I also don't know. But it was out, my shout fighting through the crackle of her blaze.

"Her friends call her Riri!"

For a second, I thought I had lost to it, that my yell failed to penetrate through… until something hastily emerged from the pillar of fire… it wasn't wings, there weren't any talons.

Hands. Tense trembling hands, darting towards me at a speed to fast to properly brace for - they reached me, seized me, and pulled me towards a pair of crimson eyes glistening so wide and bright.

"You… you… how…?!" Straying frazzled strands had draped over her wild frantic gaze. "How do you…? No, this doesn't make any sense. Who… who are you, really?! Answer!"

Straining so hard on her tippy-toes, trying valiantly to match my height. I'd be intimidated… if only she actually could. Right now, it's kinda hard to feel threatened when you practically have to crane your neck down to look at said threat.

"So her friends do call her Riri," I said, failing to hide my smirk.

"I call her Riri! Me!" Latrissa gripped on even tighter, burned even brighter. "Where did you hear that? From who?! My mother hasn't been in this region in weeks, you couldn't have… stop smiling! Tell me who and where?!"

"I already told you before," I didn't stop smiling. "Your mother. Both the who and where."

"You're lying."

"I am, am I?" Listening to her now, she doesn't sound too convinced of herself. "Only one way to find out now, isn't there?"

She freed her hold, shoving me a few steps back, keeping her lips narrowed and her brows furrowed.

Could smell the scent of singed fabric on my clothes from where she held me. I wrinkled my nose. "You know what to do."

"If you're lying…"

"Call her then," I tilted my head at her, "Young ambitious curious lady… go sate that burning curiosity of yours. I promise this story won't bore you."

Even her pouting looked like hers. I'm sure Ria's ecstatic to see just how closely her daughter resembles her. Can't wait to see what she really thinks of.

There was another explosion of flames, bursting through the resulting smoke and fire, a flutter of golden wings soared high into the air, up among the distant clouds.

I waited for her to dive again, hovered over at me with her sharp talons… just like old times back in that abandoned building - but Latrissa maintained her altitude, in fact, it was quite the opposite… she was ascending even higher.

Was she really leaving, after all? Did I seriously mess this up?

Then - another explosion erupted… not the visible kind. From her, from high up where she was, a shrill high-pitched screeching sound that physically made me shudder and cover my ears.

It was loud. Felt close to nearly rupturing my eardrums. That's when I learn I can still feel pain here.

She was squawking her beak up there for a reason… was that a call? I can't even think straight after that.

By the time the incessant ringing in my ears had died down, so had she… flapping her wings down steady, reemerging herself once more in another burst of flames as the cross-armed bad-tempered mini Ria… still staring at me with brazen contempt.

I overlooked her indignation and tried to keep things strictly professional.

"So," I lowered my arms from my ears. "Was that you calling her here?"

Latrissa rolled her eyes. "You think I have a call that can specifically summon her?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"I'm not a songbird, stranger… don't have that kind of range. I didn't call just for her… I called for all of us."

I blinked. "All of us?"

That's when it happened. Like sporadic flower buds sprouting in full bloom, all the same time, encircling the decaying withering field, pillars of fire… like Latrissa's, like Ria's.

It clicked then.

All of us.