Seven days had passed since my mother discovered my secret, and they had been the longest seven days of my life.
Not because I was forbidden from seeing Pallet.
Mother had been true to her word about allowing controlled meetings with her. Still, waiting for that first approved visit felt like torture.
Every morning, I woke up hoping this would be the day she finally gave me permission. And every evening, I went to sleep disappointed, knowing I would have to wait at least one more day. The anticipation was eating me alive from the inside.
In the meantime, I forced myself to focus on exercising my muscles and tendons. Training at least helped pass the endless hours.
"Rider, come here, please," Emberheart's voice called from across the chamber.
My heart leapt into my throat. Something in her tone suggested this wasn't just a casual summons. I bounded over to where she was resting near the warm lava channel, trying hard not to look too eager.
"Yes, Mama?"
She studied me with those intelligent amber eyes, taking in my obvious excitement and barely contained energy.
"Tonight," she said simply. My entire world seemed to brighten with that one word.
"But first," she continued firmly, "we review the protocols."
For the next hour, Emberheart went over every detail of the new safety procedures. She explained how to mask my scent using volcanic minerals, which hidden routes to take to avoid family patrols, how to time my departure and return to minimize suspicion, and—most importantly—how to remove any trace of fire-fruit consumption before coming home.
"The slightest unfamiliar scent, the smallest deviation from these procedures, and this arrangement ends immediately," she warned. Her tone left no room for doubt. "Do you understand?"
"I understand," I replied solemnly. My voice carried all the weight of my gratitude. "Thank you, Mama… for trusting me with this."
"Don't thank me yet," she said, her expression shadowed with worry. "Okay, okay… the little girl will be waiting for you."
---
As evening approached, I carefully followed every step of her instructions. I rolled in the volcanic dust she had specified. It smelled sulfurous and clung stubbornly to my scales, but it would mask any foreign scents. I took the longer route through the crystal canyons, avoiding all family territories. Every step was slow and deliberate, my eyes scanning for signs of other T-Rex in the area.
The journey that once took fifteen minutes of confident wandering now required nearly forty-five minutes of cautious maneuvering. But when I finally arrived, the sight of Pallet waiting for me made every careful step worth it.
I hadn't seen her in months, and she looked different—taller, more elegant, her scales glowing faintly from within in the fading light. Yet when her eyes fell on me, her face lit up with that same warm smile that had first made my heart race.
"Rider Rex!" she called out, bounding toward me with joy so clear it almost hurt. "I was worried! After your mother discovered us, I thought we'd never meet again!"
I quickly told her everything about my mother's discovery, the new restrictions, and the safety protocols. I watched her carefully, gauging her reaction to learning that our secret had been partially exposed.
"Your mother allowed you?" she asked at last.
"Under strict conditions," I clarified.
Pallet was quiet for a long moment, her expression thoughtful. When she finally spoke, her voice carried both relief and new anxiety.
"I'm grateful your mother understands," she said softly. "But it changes things. We have to be even more careful now, because we're not just protecting ourselves anymore."
---
As we shared our meal—Pallet had brought fire-fruits again, though fewer than usual—our conversation turned to topics we had avoided in earlier, more carefree meetings.
"The awakening ceremony is only six weeks away," Pallet said quietly, offering me a particularly bright fruit. "Are you nervous?"
I gave her a confused look.
"Seriously? You're unaware of the awakening ceremony?" she asked, almost incredulous.
I smiled awkwardly. "I heard my brothers talking about it… but I wasn't paying attention. My mind was… elsewhere."
She knocked my head lightly with a claw. "What could possibly be more important than the awakening ceremony?"
I grinned sheepishly. "Can you explain to me what's so great about it?"
Pallet sighed but smiled. "Fine, I'll tell you. Before the awakening ceremony, you should understand how we dinosaurs truly grow."
"Eat and sleep?" I replied half-jokingly.
She smirked. "Of course, if you want to remain a little wyrmling your entire life, you can do that. But it goes beyond that. You must follow the evolution path."
My throat tightened. "Evolution path?"
"Yes," she nodded. "The evolution path is how dinosaurs nurture their bodies to grow stronger and more formidable. The awakening ceremony is the key that opens this door."
Something in me stirred—a sudden hunger for knowledge. "Can you explain in detail what the evolution path is?"
Pallet tilted her head thoughtfully. "I'm not fully informed myself. But the path begins with the awakening ceremony. Juveniles, after eating fruits from sacred trees, awaken their evolutionary genes and formally become one-star wyrmlings."
Another heavy word landed on me. "But I'm already a wyrmling… why should I have a star behind my name?" I tried to sound playful, to lighten the mood.
"You and I are unawakened wyrmlings," she explained gently. "We can barely exhale smoke and flame dust. We can't even hunt small insects. Only an awakened wyrmling can produce actual heated flames. That stage is divided into nine sub-stages. Only after completing all nine stars do you evolve into a juvenile."
I nodded silently. This world had an actual system of growth—a ladder of evolution through which dinosaurs ascended into formidable beasts. I realized, with a jolt, that I had been too carefree to even know such basic truths.
"And what about becoming an adult?" I asked carefully.
Pallet's expression grew serious. "I don't know much. I only know that adults are strong hunters, capable of tearing apart giant creatures with their jaws. After that comes the stage every T-Rex aspires to—but only your father has ever reached in our tribe: becoming a Leader."
I blinked. "I thought 'Leader' was just a title."
"It is his strength that makes others bow," she explained. "Your father is the only one who evolved into the leader stage—a dominant figure who can burn mountains with his flame. Beyond that, there are even greater stages… but those are far beyond what wyrmlings like us should worry about."
She smiled faintly. "Now tell me, Rider Rex… are you excited for the ceremony?"
"Contrary to that… I'm terrified," I admitted honestly. "What if I fail? What if I never awaken?"
"Fail?" Pallet said gently. "Don't worry. Some wyrmlings need more than one ceremony season before they're ready to advance."
"More than one?" The thought of being left behind while my brothers advanced stung deeply. "How many is… multiple?"
"I heard Uncle Scarface, who was untalented at birth, needed almost three attempts to awaken," she explained. "But now he's a fully grown adult, and on top of that, he's head instructor of one of the training forests. So you see—it's reaching that matters most, not when you start."
I frowned but smiled wryly. "Oh, now I understand why his face twists in jealousy whenever he sees talented individuals. Someone like you, Pallet. I'm sure you'll awaken on your first try."
"Will I?" she asked softly, genuine doubt in her voice. "My fire-breathing is good, but not exceptional."
I was startled—she had never admitted insecurity before.
"But you're amazing," I protested. "You're graceful, intelligent, brave, kind—"
She cut me off with a small smile. "Those aren't the qualities the awakening ceremony tests. It judges traditional T-Rex abilities."
"Then the ceremony is stupid," I blurted, my childish frustration showing. "If it can't recognize how special you are, then it's measuring the wrong things."
Her laughter was warm and genuine. "That's sweet of you to say. But the ceremony has been the same for thousands of years. It won't change just because two wyrmlings think kindness matters more than flame temperature and kill efficiency."
---
We sat in silence for a while, the fire-fruits crackling faintly in the lava's glow.
The ceremony wasn't just about advancement—it was about proving ourselves worthy of adult respect and responsibility.
"Hey, Pallet… what happens if one of us passes and the other doesn't?" I asked softly, my fear slipping out.
"We deal with it," Pallet said firmly. "Whatever happens, we'll still be friends. Ceremonial advancement won't change that."
"Won't it?" I pressed. "If you become a juvenile and I'm still a wyrmling, won't your family expect you to associate with other juveniles? Won't they pressure you to leave childhood friendships behind?"
Pallet reached out and touched my head gently with one claw, the same comforting gesture she'd given me so many times before.
"Rider Rex, listen to me," she said with conviction. "I don't care what stage we're at, what our families expect, or what politics demand. You're the best friend I've ever had, and nothing will change that."
"Even if I fail spectacularly?"
"Especially if you fail spectacularly," she teased with a grin. "Someone has to comfort you and help you prepare for the next attempt."
"And if you pass with honors while I'm still struggling?"
"Then I'll use my new status to protect you from anyone who dares doubt you," she said firmly.
Her words filled my chest with warmth I couldn't name. This wasn't just friendship—it was loyalty, devotion, something deeper I was only beginning to sense.
"Pallet," I whispered, "what happens to us after the ceremony? Everything will change."
"Some things will change," she admitted. "But the important things won't. We'll still meet here when it's safe. We'll still share fire-fruits and conversations. We'll still be the same two creatures who found friendship across boundaries."
"Promise?"
"Promise," she said without hesitation.
But deep inside, in her hidden thoughts, Pallet's heart trembled.
Why, out of all the T-Rex, does he trust me this much?
No, Pallet… don't fall for his innocent charm. One day, he might reveal his two-faced nature. Don't let your heart be fooled…