The dragon made a dive for Hawk, who was grappling with the black furred creature, but pulled up short as a plume of fire shot just in front of his face. Hawk and the other creature also paused in surprise, each one gripping the other's shirt, fists pulled back.

The fire fizzled out on the grass as Yoshi and Vlad put themselves between the dragon and Hawk; smoke trickled out of the corners of Yoshi's mouth, and Vlad casually flicked open a short knife. The dragon looked back and forth at them in angry bewilderment.

"You okay, hon?" Vlad asked Hawk.

The black-furred creature was also staring at them, baffled. Hawk took the chance to hit him so hard around the muzzle that he dropped to the ground like a sack of bricks, his claws leaving holes in the front of Hawk's shirt as he collapsed. Hawk shook out his hand peevishly.

"Yeah," he said. "Thanks."

He stepped up beside Yoshi, massaging his fist. Vlad jabbed the knife toward the dragon, showing his teeth.

"Good. Now how about you buzz off, ugly?" he snapped. "You're outnumbered."

"What a bunch of horseshit," the dragon muttered, and opened his jaws. With a high keening noise, a bright, stark white light began to gather there.