“What do you want?”
 
Bedlam hissed under her breath, eyes squinting as they focused on Inferno. The red dragon was grinning, razor sharp fangs protruding from his mouth.
 
“I’m here to tell you,” Bedlam began. “To leave Burgeon Flare alone.”
 
Inferno’s sickening smile faded, and he seemed to be thinking. That is, if the big red brute even has the capability to think, Bedlam brooded.
 
“Uh, yeah, I don’t really think I wanna do that, ya know?” Inferno smirked, picking at his claws.
 
Bedlam clenched her fists, taking a deep breath and trying to remain as calm as possible.
 
“Look. I know you don’t even care about Burge. You just want to be with her cause she’s the daughter of the Dragon Lord.”
 
Inferno glanced up for a moment, a fleeting look of panic on his face. “You don’t know anything. And even if you were right, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I would do anything to hurt her.”
 
Bedlam narrowed her eyes, wings flaring. “Literally everyone is sick of you. Burge doesn’t even like you.”
 
“Yeah? Well she’s been ditching you to hang out with me. How ‘bout that?”
 
“That’s. Not. True.” Bedlam’s tone was now dripping with venom. “Burge isn’t a…a jerk like you.”
 
Inferno cackled. It made Bedlam’s skin crawl.
 
“That’s the best you got? Jerk? C’mon, are you five?”
 
Bedlam shut her eyes tight. Through her closed eyes, all she could see was Burge’s smiling face. She wasn’t going to let her best friend get stuck with someone like this. She just couldn’t allow it.
 
“Look, um, what’s your name?” Bedlam asked, holding a claw to her head as she tried to remember.
 
Inferno raised a brow. “Inferno.”
 
“Look, Inferno,” Bedlam growled. “All you are is a selfish, arrogant asshole who never puts anyone above himself. You need to wake up, huh? It’s finally time to realize that you’re nothing but a dragon who doesn’t give a flying feather about anyone besides yourself. No one likes you. The only reason they ever stick around is because they either have to, or because they have no one else to be around. And I know plenty of dragons who would rather be alone than be around you!”
 
Inferno stood up and took a few steps to Bedlam. He was tall and looming as he stared down with brewing fury in his eyes. Bedlam didn’t shy away.
 
“Was that a good enough wakeup call for you?”
 
“You…you little….maggot,” Inferno growled, fangs bared. “You better watch your mouth, unless you wanna swallow your teeth.”
 
Bedlam leaned up, trying to get at eye level with Inferno. “I can say whatever I want. You can’t stop me.”
 
“Apparently not,” Inferno continued. “I’ve heard that Dragon Lord Ember has grounded Burge from ever seeing you again.”
 
“Burge is my best friend,” Bedlam said, in a dangerously low whisper. “I’m not going to sit here and let her get pushed around.”
 
Inferno said nothing, just continuing to glare down at Bedlam.
 
Bedlam clenched her fists again in an attempt to stop them from shaking. She was more furious than she’d ever been. She couldn’t hold it in anymore.
 
“DO YOU HEAR ME? I’M NOT GOING TO LET YOU TREAT BURGE LIKE-”
 
CRACK!
 
One moment, Bedlam had been standing up straight before Inferno. But now, she found herself lying sideways on the cold, sharp rocks. She raised a paw to her face and winced as soon as it made contact with her cheek. She looked ahead, to where Inferno had been. He was still there, standing strong, and grinning down at her with a sickening display of teeth.
 
“Hey!”
 
Both Inferno and Bedlam turned their heads to see a steaming Burgeon Flare stomping up to them. Her tail was lashing back and forth behind her, and her wings were flared menacingly.
 
“Oh, uh, hey babe,” Inferno cooed. He’d been able to change his attitude so quickly, it almost amazed Bedlam.
 
“Inferno, what in…what in Tartarus did you just do?” Burge shouted, pupils contracting with anger.
 
“Oh, her? Pssh,” Inferno said, waving a claw in the air. “I was just putting her back in her place.”
 
“You just…you just hit my best friend,” Burge murmured. “I knew you were an asshole, but I never thought you’d…”
 
Inferno reached out to Burge. “Hey, hey. I didn’t mean it. She was just trying to tell me that-”
 
Burge pulled away. “I don’t want to hear it. Get away from us.”
 
“Babe, I-”
 
Burge gritted her teeth, squeezing her eyes shut tight. “Inferno. Listen to me. Get. Out.”
 
Inferno’s smile dropped, and it was replaced by a look of utter defeat that Bedlam didn’t even know he was capable of making. Without another word, Inferno sulked off, disappearing behind a boulder.
 
Burge rushed to Bedlam’s side.
 
“Betty! Are you alright?”
 
Bedlam touched her cheek again, and tried her best to smile despite the pain. “Yeah, I’ll be okay. I have tough skin.”
 
Burge extended a claw, and Bedlam gladly took it.
 
“I’m so sorry I ever even gave him a chance. I should’ve…I should’ve listened to you from the beginning,” Burge turned her gaze away in shame.
 
Bedlam reached out, placing a claw on her friend’s shoulder. “Hey, don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault. Inferno’s the worst. You deserve so much better than him.”
 
Slowly, a small smile spread across Burge’s face.
 
“We’ll always be friends right? Through Tartarus and turmoil?”
 
Bedlam returned the grin. “Through Tartarus and turmoil.”