Chapter5: 

On the second week of winter, Airee woke up the most hungry she had ever been. Balthezar knew her hunger would always be a problem, but it had never been this bad, and they both knew it. As he flew out of the cave, he eyed the snow-covered ground. Balth had to find what Airee needed most: a cow. There was only one place to get them, and they were very hard to hunt. Some thirty miles away was a large herd. But because they were so far away, a dragon would get exhausted carrying it back. Balth would have to chase a cow for twenty-five miles toward the lair, and kill it while it was tired from the running. While Balth was flying, he spotted a mid-sized elk. He swooped in and plucked it from the earth with his giant fangs. He set it at Airee’s feet to hold her until he could bring back her favorite meal. He left her and flew the long way across to the other side of the forest. When he spotted the herd, he landed a mile away to catch his breath from the flight. Balth rolled on his back and sucked in huge amounts of air. The snow did not bother him. While he was resting on his back, he smelled something he did not quite like. Balth got up slowly; he felt eyes watching him. He eyed the clearing slowly, and snorted when he saw the camouflaged dragon. She was a white beauty. He could not help admire the certain elegance about her. Balth had never realized this was land to any dragon. She spoke to him as he re-gained his strength.
“Why are you here?” she asked
“Food for my mate.” He hesitated. “She is… bearing eggs…” The white dragon stared at him and thought about it for a moment.
“Normally, I would deny my flock to anyone, even if they could defeat me in battle. None have defeated me yet, of course, but because of your situation, I will let you hunt one of my herd, should you be able to match me.”
“You challenge me?” Balth asked.
“Do you decline?” He thought of Airee’s hunger, and then of her un-born hatchlings. His answer was firm.
“No.”
“Then we shall begin.” Balth nodded, the cold weather let him regain his strength faster than usual. The white dragon walked toward him in the clearing and stood in her stance. Her legs were spread and se was low to the ground. Balthezar charged first. Although he did not like to beat females, he was eager to get the food to Airee as quickly as possible, no matter what. As he ran, she leaped over him and landed behind. She spun around quickly and charged at his rear. Balth had slightly turned and she plowed into his side as Balth fortified his position. The female had only managed to push him a few feet. After she bounced off him, Balth ducked under her with speed and attempted to scratch at her soft underside with his talons. They would hold off on their power4s for now. A fair fight with claws was all the game was at for now. The white dragon reared back, off Balth. She ducked as well and caught Balthezar’s snout with claws on her way down. Balth now had three deep red cuts gorged into the side of his snout. As he whined and put a paw to his wound, the white dragon charged again. This time, she managed to push Balt onto his back and pin him there. Both of her front paws were forced into his chest, and they were icy cold: colder than the snow even. Balth smiled as he realized she too was an ice dragon, he had an idea. As he drew up the ice inside him, Balthezar directed the power to her hands. In a flash, he had covered both of her paws in a block of ice. They were frozen together, and the power in her claws was making the ice grow on her. But before it could freeze her, she took her hind leg and smashed the ice to pieces. The white dragon roared at Balth’s game and rushed on top of him again. This time, she pushed her claws deeper into his chest and once again drew upon her power more quickly. Balthezar found it hard to breathe as she froze his lungs. Balth could feel his fire inside dying… Airee’s fire…
“NO!” Balth roared. She had gone too far now. The white dragon had to right to take away his lover’s gift. He called on Airee’s power now and blinded his opponent with his blue flame. She backed off him as quickly as she could and stared wide-eyed at Balthezar. Balt kept a small trickle of fire continuously jet from his snout as he stared back at the white dragon. She stood upright from her stance and retracted her claws. Balth did the same, and halted his fire, though he kept it burning hot inside him.
“My name is Mirzephra”, said the white dragon. “You are a worthy opponent.” She bowed herself before him.
“You can call me Balth.” She smiled as he gave her his name.
“It is not in me to back down from my own challenge”, Mirzephra stated, “but you are very exceptional.” Balthezar purred at her praise. The wind started to pick up with snow as they spoke. “I will let you hunt for your pregnant mate”. She looked around, “Though, I fear a storm is coming. It would be wise for you to stay in my lair until it passes.” Balthezar hesitated at her offer. Sleeping in the lair of another dragoness seemed like treason to Balth, while his mate grew fat and tender from bearing his eggs. Mirzephra saw this in him, and spoke to reassure Balth, “All truths be told.” The blue dragon sauntered after her. He knew this meant that nothing secret between them would happen and that they would both remain decent.
“Alright, but only for the duration of the storm.” Balto agreed as he followed the white dragon. She led him to a small hill with a hole gorged in the side. This was the entrance to her cave. It was well concealed by snow and icicles. The cave was cold when he entered. The snow started to pick up and rush at them as they stepped into her lair. There were no logs inside, and Mirzephra did not start a fire. Instead, she went to her sleeping nest and set herself down in it. Balth did not mind the cold, but he wasn’t used to living in snow. He had great respect for the white dragon now. Although Balthezar did not find her nearly as attractive as Airee, he could not help looking at her features. It made him nervous and giddy around her. Balth’s behavior was apparent to Mirzephra.
“I’m sorry for my elegance’, she told him. “I know I am a distraction to you, and that you have your mate to think about.” Balth nodded and told her he was trying not to be embarrassed.
“It’s just that I have never seen a dragon with white scales.” She purred at Balth for the comment.
“White dragons are only born when two mates are physically one,” she explained. “My parents loved each other deeply, but my mother died in giving birth to me. I was one of four.” He nodded at her statement and let himself drift to sleep on the hard cold floor.

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