Thankfully, Bari had arrived home just before her mother did.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, it didn't take her out her job of being an assistant in the duties of a midwife.<br/><br/>But one day, her mother had given her a task.<br/><br/>"You mean you don't need me today?" she asked, feeling very hopeful.<br/><br/>"No. I have no use of you today," said her mother, "So I'm sending you to the market square." She slapped some money into Bari's hands. "Spend it well. I expect you home before midnight."<br/><br/>Bari bid her mother farewell and left her to shop at the square. As she was deciding upon what to buy, her eyes suddenly fell on the fish being sold at the stand.<br/><br/>'Wait, I'm off today,' she thought, 'And...I have enough money for this fish!' She smiled, greeted the fish stand owner and handed him the money for one fish. 'That means I can see Latu today. Hopefully this is the right kind that she likes.'<br/><br/>Bari made her way down the road to the valley where as expected, Latu had resided. The large dragon greeted her much more warmly than last time.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Ah, my human has arrived at last," </span>Latu said, casting her eyes upon the fish,<span style="color: #800040">"And I see you got me a nice offering."</span><br/><br/>"Well, you did say you wanted fish," Bari reminded her. Latu shrugged her shoulders.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Yeah, but I wasn't really expecting you to do this for me... Although I have to say, halibut is not my favorite, but that's okay."</span>She snatched the fish away with her tongue and swallowed it in one bite.<br/><br/>Bari made a disgusted face at the slobber stuck to her hands and wiped it onto her clothes.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Oh, and there's something I must tell you."</span><br/><br/>"What's that?" asked Bari.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"...Let's see, how can I put this?"</span>Latu mumbled, thinking of the right words. It took her a moment to finally have it together.<span style="color: #800040">"So, I'm sure you remember the stupid mess that took place ten years ago, right?"</span><br/><br/>Bari nodded quickly in response.<br/><span style="color: #800040"><br/>"Well, here's the thing. My rider-the first I ever had"-</span><br/><br/>"Wait, I thought you said I was the first human you ever met!" Bari interrupted her, much to Latu's dismay.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Oh, did I say that? I meant that you're an actual, average human,"</span>said Latu,<span style="color: #800040"> "He sure looked like a mortal being, but he sure didn't act like one. I mean, I think if he had sprouted wings and shot fireballs, he could have fought all by himself. He's dead now, but that's not the point."</span>She cleared her throat.<span style="color: #800040">"There's other dragons besides me. I forget how many. We need a family reunion for old time's sake, but since there are other dragons, it means that they're probably getting new humans to ride them like horses. You did mean it when you said you wanted to ride me, right?"<br/></span><br/>"Yes! Yes!" Bari cried, "Oh please, can I?" Latu sighed.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Then you have no choice but to be my second rider in order for you to be allowed to do so. Congratulations."</span>Bari gasped and clapped her hands excitedly.<br/><br/>"So, what do I get to do now?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Well, tradition would have you train in order to meet up with the other riders." </span>Bari cocked her head to the side.<br/><br/>"Training?" she asked. Latu blinked her amethyst eyes.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"...You know, like preparing your mind, your body and your organs and what not."</span>Bari shook her head. Latu groaned.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Look, just...get on my back."</span>Latu lowered her body so that Bari could climb on.<span style="color: #800040"> "Okay, now let's start with simple crawling... It's the first step in getting used to my movements." </span>After moving 10 feet, Latu felt something slide off her back and onto the side. Latu rolled her eyes.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Oh. How nice. You don't even know how to cling onto me for dear life."</span><br/><br/>Bari slowly rose from the ground and rubbed her head and laughed nervously.<br/><br/>"You didn't really tell me to do that."<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Was I supposed to? I thought you humans would have figured out something so simple like that." </span>The confused stare on Bari's face was enough to tell Latu that there were plenty of more simple things Bari had yet to learn.