She really thought things were going to get better. She thought that there would be more people to talk to other then the one talk with Giggle that had set her on this path. She thought that she could summon a familiar, just as the hyena had. But she didn't realize how hard it was. It seemed like nothing she did would connect her to any creature and nowhere she went got anyone any closer to her. And her shoulder, stiff and still twinging with pain now and again, reminded her of her failure to even stand up for herself.

The loneliness was weighing down on her again, crushing her like the golem had crushed her bone. She crumpled to the ground without a sound except the resounding thud of her huge body hitting the rocks. She breathed out a long sigh, feeling all the energy leaving her body. She heard a chuckle from somewhere, but ignored it. Their company was not the company she needed. Their words were not the words she needed to hear. Not even Sister, who was her only companion now, could ease the pain in her chest. The pain of loneliness and the pain that nobody loved her the way she wanted to be loved.

Asimona heard the padding of pawsteps and hope sparked in her chest. Another creature? Would her loneliness be forgotten now, a thing of the past? She raised her head and turned towards the wolf that was approaching. It was small and young and smelled of new life. For a second, she was disappointed. She wanted someone that had experience and could listen to her speak, someone that was comforting and strong. But, then again, she was a dragon. And, as the thought crossed her mind, she heard a stinging remark hissing in her ear. You have strength! You don't need anyone, you fool! Kill them! Drive them out!

She took no head of Mother's 'advice' and instead lowered her head so that she was looking at the young creature. "Hello," she said, gently. "If I'm not mistaken you are newly hatched?"

She watched the dog as it began to wag their tail and decided that it was probably confirming her question. She wondered if it was so young that it didn't know speech yet. She knew of some gembounds that didn't know how to talk at first and her thoughts flashed to Dread. Sorrow followed in the wake of the memory, quickly followed by guilt. She had left the young dragon when he needed her most. Did he hate her now?

But this wasn't Dread, this was a wolf. With effort, she snatched her attention back and focused back on the creature in front of her. "Can you speak? Do you have a name?" This would be a very different kind of day then she was expecting if the wolf turned out to be unable to speak.

Asimona flicked her tail as the wolf rushed off to find something and widened her eyes with surprise as it began to draw on the ground. That was a first and she wanted to chuckle at the ingenuity, but she guessed that this was their only way of communicating. She was right - the wolf was mute and that would make any kind of communicating a real challenge.

"Croix?" She said it slowly as she struggled at first to read the words, but she managed to understand. That must be the wolf's name. "Croix. It's nice to meet you. I'm Asimona."