Sandbar and Yona trotted to the Library, followed by Silverstream, and Gallus, flying not too far above them. They were each going to study together, Ocellus saying she would catch up later. Since they knew she would meet up with them later, the only missing creature in the latter was Smolder, whom had declined their invitation due to... certain unknown reasons.

“Anyone else wondering why dragon refuse to come?” Yona asked as she held open the door to the library so that the others could enter.

“She might be taking a nap. You know her.” Gallus deadpanned, grabbing a book and flicking through it.

“Dunno. It depends on how she was feeling today. Anycreature see her any other time today?” Sandbar inquired.

“Nope.” They all answered.

“Maybe Ocellus would know. She was sitting next to her in class. Maybe they talked or something, and Smolder was just tired.” Silverstream suggested.

Suddenly, the library door was gently creaked open. Ocellus had entered the library.

“Ocellus!” Sandbar exclaimed, causing her to jump as he trotted over to her.

“Eep- I-I mean... yeah... s-sorry.” She said timidly.

“Have you talked to Smolder today? We haven’t seen her around a lot.” Gallus said from across the the room.

“Yes... she’s been.. a little peculiar today.”

“Like, what kind of peculiar?”

“Like... hit her head on a book kind of peculiar.”

“Why dragon do that?” Yona asked.

“Is she okay?” Silverstream asked as well.

Ocellus put a hoof to her chin, slowly pondering how Smolder would be doing without her. She’d left her alone for a while without any supervision, no one to pay her any attention.
As much as she wanted to go and check on her, she didn’t want to impose on her if she wanted to be alone. Didn’t want her to get suspicious.

Smolder was laying on the floor, staring at the wall. Her dorm was trashed, nearly everything in there was all piled up into one heap of junk, with Smolder looking at it with determination, and, mostly, protectiveness.

She was abruptly disrupted from her lingering awe for her junk pile when some creature had knocked on her door. She scrambled to the top of her hoard, gripping tightly to the contents that lay on top. “Who is it?!” She hissed.

“It’s me, Ocellus-“ She creaked the door open, Smolder mentally kicking herself for not keeping the door locked. As she walked inside of the dorm, she was immediately awestruck by how junky the room ultimately was. “What happened?!”

Smolder was unresponsive. Ocellus could taste some form of anger and determination, but sprinkled on top were fear, and shame. Spicy, yet, bland, distasteful. She adjusted herself to where she was standing in front of Smolder, without getting so close as to make her feel like she needed to get anymore defensive than she already was.

“What? What do you want...?” Smolder interjected, making Ocellus jump.

“I-I... I wanted to see if you were okay...” She replied meekly.

“I’m fine. Anything else?” The tip of Smolder’s tongue singed with small curls of flame from her throat.

Ocellus was a little shaken up by the way Smolder was acting. This wasn’t like her. This wasn’t her. “You seem a little... troubled lately-“

“I’m not troubled! Just leave me alone!” Smolder hissed, with twice as much venom in her voice.

“I’m trying to make you feel better, okay?”

“I don’t need you to make me feel better. I’m fine.”

“Well if you’re fine, you’d care to come join us once you’re being less rude!” Ocellus exclaimed, trotting out of the dorm, somehow gingerly slamming the door behind her.

“Tch.” Smolder scoffed, rolling her eyes and curling up on top of her hoard. Then, she realized it. She had succumbed to it. Yes, it. She sighed in exasperation. “What am I gonna do...?” No one answered. None except the cool air brushing through the window.

Ocellus trotted back to the library, her mind swirling with ideas and certain thoughts. Why was Smolder acting this way? What’s gotten into her? Was she okay? All these ideas clouded her mind as she paced back and forth in the hallways, forgetting her original course. She then decided to do some intuitive research in the library once she got there, just to make sure.

Later, when she arrived, her friends had all gone, presumably to their dorms. After all, not everyone had all day to wait for her, and she accepted that. She trotted over to the “creature feature” section of the library to read about dragons and their cycles. She pulled one out, and immediately started flicking through it. She was going to find it. That one little thing that was messing with her lizard. She was going to be the one that found it. And once she did, she’d be keen to make sure that Smolder would get all the care she needed.

And, then, there it was. The words, on that page. There it was. There, it was. It. “A-ha! The Five Stages of Greed!” She skimmed through the page, finding all the stages and how her scaly friend would act through these phases.

The Five Stages of Greed: A Dragon’s Guide

The Five Stages of Greed - First Symptoms

The “Gimme!” Stage, where said dragon feels an urge to grab everything that appeals to them. And, in this case, everything.
Example - Taking your favorite book.

The “Social Decline” Stage, where said dragon will slowly extract themselves from everyone they normally interact with to devote more time to protect and guard their hoard.
Example - Making up excuses not to do certain things here and there.

The “Hoard Only” Stage, where said dragon will take time away from everything in order to devote more time into building up their hoard.
Example - Refusing to eat, drink, or sleep to put more time into defending their hoard.

The “Grueling” Stage, where said dragon will continue to defend their hoard with the same conditions, but also refuse to move from it.
Example - Sitting on top of it while growling and hissing at anyone.

The Last and Final, The Attack Mode Stage, where said dragon will attack anyone that comes near the hoard, including their closest loved ones. On top of that, if not given an awakening, the dragon might lose its life to lasting conditions if not treated thoroughly.
Example - Starvation, Thirst, Sleep Deprivation.

Ocellus began to tear up. She knew that if she didn’t help Smolder on time, then she would leave her. For good. She knew immediately what she had to do.

Smolder heard a knock on her door.
“Come in...” she said, a little less hiss and venom in her voice.

“Are you feeling a little better?” Smiled Ocellus, trotting into to the room.

“No... I was being such a jerkwad, and I had no idea... I’m sorry, Cel.”

“Smolder. Come down here.” Ocellus spoke firmly, as Smolder reluctantly obliged.
She engulfed her in a tight, warm embrace. “You’re not a jerkwad, don’t ever call yourself that again.” She said, hugging her tighter.

“But Cel-“ She was cut off.

“This time- I’m going to help you. But you have to let me help you, Smoldy, I can’t help you if you don’t let me.”

A crimson wave of blush covered Smolder’s face. Did she just call her Smoldy? Ocellus had just realized- “Smoldy” wasn’t a regular name she had been calling her for a while, she only just thought about it off the top of her head. Just as these thoughts clouded her mind, a teal colored blush grew across her face. “Eep! I’m sorry- I didn’t know if you wanted me to call you that, or-“ Ocellus panicked, letting go of Smolder, yet, she had instantly caught her in her arms.

“U-Um...” Smolder’s face turned even redder as she pulled Ocellus up. “S-Sorry-“ she apologized, quickly avoiding eye contact with her. Ocellus giggled nervously, sharing the embarrassment with her crush. Ocellus loved every bit of this moment, along with the opportunity to bond with Smolder, and get a little closer to her. Snug even. Either of them worked for her, of course. But she wouldn’t expect Smolder to be that passive, and definitely not in the state she’s in.

“W-Well- until you’re better- I should probably stay here with you...” Ocellus timidly stated, shuffling a little closer to Smolder, making her blush a little more, and Smolder to be set on edge. Ocellus felt like she was on thin ice with Smolder, and it was either make her move, or dread it later. To be truthful, she’d rather not give Smolder a whole lot else to think about, but, she’d definitely fancy being a part of Smolder’s hoard, to be owned by her. As these thoughts overcrowded her mind, she found herself burning up, her face turning an endless shade of teal.

What kind of ownership had she meant? Maybe the kind of possessing something, or, maybe the other kind-

“Cel, you alright?” Asked Smolder, waving her claw over Ocellus’ giant, teal eyes. She squeaked in discomfort, blushing even harder. Smolder found herself blushing at the cuteness of the squeak, and even lowly chuckling at her.

“I-I’m... f-fine.” Her mind was still filled with so many things at that moment, but she knew she had to pay no mind to them, as she had a lizard to take care of.