Kiara slowly ate her breakfast, feeling more rested than she could ever remember feeling. She couldn't help cracking a smile when Dendra approached and jabbed her about the hit she had gotten on her. She could hardly blame her though. Dendra had played a part in beating her (and saving her) and deserved some credit after all, but that didn’t mean she would give it outright.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">“Nah,”</span>she said lightly,<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">“the antidote took care of that. My feet are a little sore from Artemis’s earthquake, though. I couldn't help noticing you’ve changed clothes. What happened to the ones you had yesterday? Oh, did they get burned? You should feel honored, that fire was meant for Artemis. Did she ever thank you for helping her beat me?”</span>She made sure Artemis heard that last bit.<br/><br/>She found Thomas’s talk overwhelming, especially the part about evolving, which was something that Kiara had long since convinced herself was beyond her capability. Still, hearing him talk about it seemed to have lit some kind of spark inside her. Was it possible that she too could one day evolve? Could she become that much more than the piece of street trash she saw in the mirror? Perhaps with with his help, she could. Was that what Dendra meant when she said having would make you stronger? She tried to imagine herself as a Houndoom, but she just couldn't picture it. There was still that spark, and she couldn't help dreaming of the day when it might become a full-fledged fire, even if it seemed out of her reach.<br/><br/>Then there was his answer to her question. The statement seemed heavy.<i>‘Most trainers never make it to the summit with their personal guardians.’</i>It must be a difficult journey, and the thought of making such a journey herself overwhelmed her.<i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">I wonder if I have what it takes,</span></i>she couldn’t help thinking. In spite of her self-doubt, she knew she had to try, not for herself, but for the man who showed her so much kindness that she didn’t deserve.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">“What do we have to do?”</span>she blurted out.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">“What does it take to make sure our bonds don’t break?”</span>