Maybe they were. Maybe it just wasn't enough... or maybe they should make sure not to get separated this time. But for a long time, it had worked. They had survived the Underground for years, just them and Iz, so surely their teamwork was worth something.

"Right," he says, soldiering through the pang of pain that hearing her name said aloud brings him. Isabel of all people deserves to be here, deserves a second chance. And Farlan is right; she would be all over these creatures, especially considering most of them seemed friendly.

"At least these guys aren't looking to eat us," he grumbles, since given their size, some of them absolutely could. "She'd probably be best friends with them by the end of the day."

They won't need to look too hard, though; as soon as the dragons catch onto the fact that they've partnered up, one will approach carefully, inquire whether they're ready -- perhaps ask if they're sure in their choice if it can sense their bond -- and ask them to hold hands.