"Would you have done the same to me if I had worn a charm?" she asked, her voice now somewhat calm.

"Only if you had been warned before this instance about the rule. We can't risk being biased when it come to punishment. If I had worn a charm or used non healing magic, I would have to accept the punishment like everyone else. How can we expect everyone else to fallow the rules if we don't fallow them ourselves," the elder saidwaving for the enforcers to return to the back of the room, "Just because we're the leading entity doesn't grant us immunity to our own rules."

"There are other ways of going about this.  Harsh punishment is not one of them though." she said.

"It is the most effective way to enforce the rules we have at this time. Once you've been inducted, feel free to suggest an alternative," the elder said, "WE've tried many things in the past, and it is highly unlikely that we'll change our discipline system any time soon."

"I'll give some suggestions later on..." she said, laying down next to Mayumi.

"Some fresh ideas might do us some good," the elder in the center said writing something down, "You might be what we need to get back on the right track."

"Come, lets get Mayumi back to her home," the elder by Goldenscale said as he lifted Mayumi, "This is no place to leave someone who is unconscious and beaten."

"Here, I can carry her." she said.  When flew into the air and grabbed Mayumi from the elder.  "I may not be very big, but I am strong." she said as she smiled.  She started back towards Mayumi's home.

Once Goldenscale reached Mayumi's shop, Mayumi started to stir a little before she woke completely. "Why do I even bother living anymore," she asked herself once she got back inside, "I couldn't defend my daughter, and I can't defend myself. Things would be so much simpler to just end it all."

"No, no , no!  I won't allow it." she said with a pout.  "I'm going to fix it.  The elders said they are open to suggestions, so I'm going to give them some.  But no dying until that's done, kay." she said.  She put her gently on the ground.  "I healed most of you wounds and bruises..." she said.

"I have nothing left but a wooden figure. I have nothing to live for. That was all lost long ago," Mayumi said just laying where she was layed down, starting to cry, "What's the use going on when I have nothing to live for?"

"I used to think the same thing you did, Mayumi...  I thought that I was abandoned because I wasn't wanted and I was unlovable.  I thought of myself as a mistake.  That all was confirmed when I was hurt horribly.  I never told either of you, but it was another dragon that had attacked me that day...  I lost all will to live until all of those creatures took me in and showed me the wonders of the world.  They gave me something to live for.  Thast's why I made a vow that day.  A vow that I haven't broken nor will break.  Now I want to show you that there is still hope in the world, even if it is miniscule..." she frowned as she spoke, but smiled once she remembered all of the creatures that took her in.  She sat on her behind and yawned.  "At least you have memories..." she said finally before curling up.

 "And all they bring is pain," Mayumi said to herself before curling up where she was and falling asleep. The next morning, she moved bhind the count to take out the wooden figure, sitting back down humming a broken lullaby.

As Goldenscale slept, the memory of that horrible day came and haunted her.  She woke up with a roar and opened her eyes, looking around frantically for her attacker before calming down.  "Urskadamus..." she muttered.  She got up with a mewl of discomfort and walked outside the cave to the frozen barriers.  'Maybe the frozen cold will make it go away...' she thought as she curled up underneath a pile of snow.  She hated being cold, but maybe she could forget faster in it.

As morning came, a large bell rang throughout the cave loud enough to server as a wakeup alarm. After some time a group of hunter found Goldenscale on their way out. "Why you sleeping out here in ther cold Miss," the leader asked giving her a light prod to wake her up, "I'm sure there plenty of places you could have gone to for a place to sleep."

the ice sculptures melted during the night. Frost was no where to be found when they lefted him at the courthouse.