Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

Chapter 33: Mother

The thick clouds above released their snowy cargo, softly falling and dusting Veledar's scales. He was in such a good mood he didn't even complain when the icy little pieces of art melted against his warm armor. He happily thumped his tail, raising up his snout to catch a good number of flakes on his tongue. It was a tradition Merlia had said. Though he noticed as he did this that the inebriated dwarf had glanced over his frame, between his legs. He just chuckled as he and Krotos went about like hunters, snatching up more flakes with happy rumbles. They'd just bumped into one another in their happy escapades until a swoosh from above rose their heads and made the gryphon's ears twitch. It was like the sound of a large bird or dragon at least twice the red's size. Metallic clanks came a sword to pierce the coming silence, followed by a high-pitched whine that made shivers meander down Veledar's spine.

From the darkened roofs came the lumbering form of the metallic dragon, eyes like molten lava as its body glowed with runes like the dwindling coals of a summer's fire. Its claws gleamed in the lantern light, the metal seem to wink at him as their last encounter replayed in his mind. He gulped, trying to block out the roars of pain. His pain while he lay beaten on the airship's deck.Why was it here? They'd dispatched the wretched thing back in Entis!

Shaking away his shock the dragon pounced forward, flaring out his wings to shield his less than dragony friends. Though his mind screamed at him to run he held his ground like a certain paladin might in this situation. But was there a way to reach his mother, trapped within this thing's twisted heart? It had shouted and screamed his name last time. Maybe if he'd only responded he would have been able to sooth it's rampage.

“Oh blow me over!" Merlia scrambled for her bow, nearly tripping about as she tossed her tankard away and started fumbling with her belts. “Jus when I was startin to feel good about meself!"

“So whats the plan?" Krotos was the first to the dragon's side, ruffling up his feathers as he peered around the dragon's wing membranes like some sort of sheet. “It's just looking at us."

He wracked his mind for the answer. Some spells and teeth came to mind, though last time it took more than that to even make a dent. He flicked his tail, hearing curses flow from Merlia's breath as she hid behind one of the poles outside the tavern, knocking an arrow ready to fly. Yet the metal beast wasn't attacking. It had stopped, mid stride atop one of the houses that groaned to support its significant bulk.

“I'm going to try and reason with it."

“Ya think that's wise lad? Remember how broken it left ya last time."

“I remember." He growled, pushing the snapping of his wings from his mind. “But look. It's not even attacking..Just staring…and you know what lurks within it's heart."

“Yer mum."

“Yea." He snorted, pushing the icy fingers clutching around his heart. “I have to try something. Who wouldn't?"

“But look at it. How sure are ya there's even a speck o her left. I know ya love ya mum dragon. But sometimes ya got ta move on."

Her words deflected off his scales as he thrust a wing to the tavern. “Then get every mortal in that tavern away. Just in case this doesn't work." He padded softly towards the metallic beast, each step a questioning of his choice. His scales rippled, already anticipating the beating they were going to take.

You will be fine. It has to work. He watched its near statuesque posture, hoping it was studying him, trying to figure out who he was, and not looking for an opportunity to attack. Just maybe, his mother still resided within.

“What about you?" Krotos' concern flashed as Merlia thumped at his side with a fist.

“Dragon wants ta be crazy let him be crazy. I ain't his mum."

“I'll be fine." He tossed the gryphon a fake smirk, luckily fooling the blue feathered bird. “Now get out of here." He nipped at the bird's flank until he and the dwarf were barrowing into the tavern with raised voices of purpose.

With the clattering of the tavern door it left he and the dragon in near silence, only the whipping of the wind filling their ears. It intermixed with the tension, making the dragon's heart beat a tad faster, his paws tremble. Was he scared? He glared at them, flicking his tail through the snow till they stopped. He was Veledar, the crimson sky. This was going to work, he had nothing to worry about!

“Mother?" He called out, feeling ever smaller as the metal dragon slowly slipped onto the cobble stone with a series of metallic clinks. She hadn't entered a hostile stance, approaching tentatively with a lowered neck, wings tight at her back. “Its Veledar…Are you in-“ As she closed the distance between them he noticed, right on her back where someone could be riding was a small boy clad in brown, fur clad robes. He clung to the metal dragon's neck with gloved hands in a near death grip, his face all white and worried. Probably from the winds that had been battering his face during the flight.

“Child!" He tilted his head, retreating and pinning his wings to his back. “What are you doing up there? Don't you know it's dangerous?" The boy didn't reply, too focused on staying on top of the larger dragon as it's steps shook him. “Boy!"

“Sorry!" The child yelled back, his voice cracking. “Ever not sure of something until it's staring you in the face?"

“What are you talking about?"

The construct stopped, it's only movement being the slow swaying of it's tail over the cobble stone. The tip traced the sides of houses like the tender caress of a lover, a rumble radiating up its shiny neck.

“So are you Veledar?"

He knows my name? His head cocked to the side, frills twitching in interest. Suddenly he had questions begging to be asked, but chose the most prudent. “Who are you and why are you riding that…" He spat the last words like they were a vile tasting meat that had gone bad all too long ago. “Thing."

“Yea..right." The boy's hands trembled as the dragon's eyes narrowed. “I'm called Afan! And this" He pat the dragon between his legs. “Has been asking about you for months. I think she's gone crazy."

She. The dragon froze as he could hear Merlia's shouts sounding above the tavern's eerie silence.

“Whats the matter? Got some brain slugs between da ears? Get ta waddling out of here!" Glass shattered from beyond the door, along with the gasp of far too many drunk patrons.

“I'd do it too, she gets real angry during this time of the month!" Krotos squawked, almost instantly making a surprised yelp. “Hey, you said to help!"

“Did…you connect with it?" He tried to temper his rising excitement bubbling beneath his scales. Observing the dull glow of the construct's runes. Could the light at the end of this dark tunnel truly be there? Would there be some semblance of life she could hold onto? Could he truly get some part of his mother back? His heart swelled close to bursting as his claws kneaded the cold ground beneath them.

 No.

He took a long drag of the crisp air, raising his head with a tentative flick of his frilled tail.

Wait for the answer. Don't get your hopes up.

“More like..Visions." The boy's face wrinkled like a rothdellian cow dog, “She's somewhat there. Like the fractured pieces of a mirror. She showed us pictures of you as a wyrmling and kept repeating your name over and over!"

“But…we destroyed her over Entis." His next step was quivering. If only they'd known, then. They might have done less damage to her. Memory of that night haunted the back of his mind. Could they have tried to talk her down then? “How did they repair her?"

“They fixed her…. Though I'm not for sure if it's been repaired fully. I think she's more alive since then. Master said something about part of the enchantments breaking. It got really technical."

“If she is like a mirror. Could we put the pieces back together?" Foolishness spread like a fire across him, painted his tilted head. Even worse his tail quivered as the strong heart in his chest throbbed. How could this young boy even know that?

Afan said nothing, his icy blue eyes like a mirrored sadness of the dragon's own. He could see the confusion swirling about them, pondering his next words carefully. How best to crush a dragon's spirit.

“I heard dragons cant be brought back from the dead."

The construct rose it's head, staring blankly at the boy. Like it wanted a word in edgewise. There was a rumble, like the tumbling of stones down a rockface. Clearly a sign of life. If not an image a ghost of what his mother had been.

“But she doesn't appear to be dead!" His voice cracked, “Look how alive it is…there must be away."

“Woah..easy." Afan stitched himself to the dragon's neck as it suddenly took a few more steps, closing the distance between the red with a swaying tail.

With a blink of Veledar's eyes, no longer saw the metal construct that towered over him, but the form of his mother taking its place. Caring blue eyes stared at him warmly from a silver scaled snout. She nuzzled him with a heartfelt sigh, He even felt the warmth flowing off her scales, the scent of her breath.  

“Veledar? My Veledar?" It was her voice. Not the metallic mockery screaming his name. But the soft and tender caress of his mother's kind words.

Veledar almost broke as his eyes so strong and warry began to mist. When she moved into nuzzle him again his reluctance crumbled. The red nuzzled right back at her, weeping for what she'd been turned into.

“Why did you take so long to return?"

“I've been away." He sniffed. “I'm so sorry."

“My heart ached with each day you were gone little one. You should have visited."

“I know mother." He pulled back his snout from the wave of warm emotions fluttering about his heart. He wiped his tears with a wing, trying to compose his regal self. “Now…Afan. Can you communicate with her more? I need a way to reach her."

“I can try." The boy watched in awe, seemingly disbelieving of how the metal construct was acting. “I picked up a thing or two…." He then laughed, small at first then louder until he was holding his stomach. “Wait till they hear about this! Maybe we can heal her!"

“You think?" His heart skipped a beat, the human's laugh infecting his own until he too was cackling along like a madman.

“I have a spirit shaman friend. He showed me how to reach her! Maybe with some siigonis magic we could!"

He warbled his joy, rearing up with a smile spread across his snout. The warmth in his heart spilled into his limbs, casting away any lingering cold in it's indominable wake. The tide of excitement came crashing down when the construct shook, thrashing it's head with a pained groan.It backed into a store front, the overhang shattering with a crack.

“Watch the human mother!" Veledar bound to the construct's side, avoiding her claws as she reared up, swishing her head. “He's trying to help you!" He caught the boy when he slipped off, carrying him away while the construct thrashed around the street, toppling over any cart left standing or smashing into houses. The street was turned into a destructive play. One with darker undertones of what was happening. Something wasn't right. He set Afan down, unease twisting around his scaled gut.“Whats going on?"

“I can't feel her." Afan said softly, staring blankly at the metal dragon."Somethings wrong. I knew I should have listened." His eyes filled with fear, fingers trembling as another crash of shattering wood and glass filled the air.

“To who?"

The construct's eyes opened as it ceased it's thrashing. Like twin orbs of malevolent hellfire they locked onto Veledar cheetah seeking it's prey. Metallic jaws cracked open, sharpened teeth all on display, letting loose a roar that seemed to shake the street. Glass shattered all around them an ear stabbing cacophony of destruction. With a flare of its rune covered wings, gone was his mother and all that remained before him was the Lumarain construct.

“You need to get to safety." He spread his wings to cover the boy, snarling as he watched the construct advance. Gone was the hesitant steps, the curious looks. All that remained was the piercing eyes, the swaying tail, and low rumbling growl that whispered promises of death.

“But I ca-“

The construct pounced, it's wicked claws perfect for tearing flesh outstretched.

“I said go!" Veledar leaped out of the way, avoiding the constructs deadly paws as they tore a hole in the street with a thunderous crack. He tossed a bolt of fire at its head, drawing it's attention from the boy as he scampered across the street, starting the most dangerous game of dragon and deer he'd ever played.

“Dragon!" A red faced patron shouted, stumbling out from the door glossy eyes. “Someone call the guards!" He tossed his bottle into the street, the empty glass shattering against stone. “Before it messes up all the focken stuff!"

Like lightning the metal dragon snapped, power flowing to its maw in a flash of spiraling white death. Steam billowed from its neck as it unleashed its brilliant payload, illuminating the street like the sun shone overhead. The air rippled with power as it tore through the air.

“Get down ya idiot!" Merlia leaped onto the man, dragging him down before the beam of energy struck the inn. It tore through timber like a violent storm, burning anything that foolishly got in its way. Glass shattered around it, people screamed, and any stone was blasted away like nothing. When it was over the remaining wood was blackened and covered with burning embers of orange, the floors whined, struggling to support what they could.

“I said ta move!" Merlia shouted, pulling the man from the floor and shoving him towards the people now scurrying for the exit. “Oh, of course NOW ya listen!" The dwarf shouted a series of curses to the terrified patrons, avoiding pieces of debris crashing to the ground as the building finally groaned, collapsing around his friend. Like the gods themselves were trying to swallow her up.

“Mother!" He struck the construct with his claw, moving her several feet across the street. “Are you in there? You have to stop!" He bound back when she snapped to him, the sword sharp teeth missing his neck by inches.

Stupid. He encased her with his breath, enveloping the shining frame with waves of a red-orange inferno. Anyone else would have been stalled or injured severely. But not this dragon. She came forth like it was no more trouble than an afternoon drizzle.

She could have killed you. He moved his neck, avoiding a slash of her claws that seemed to ignite the air with flames. How was he going to best it this time? He had airship cannons and his friends to assist last time. Both of which he couldn't find now.

Acid. That's what Arcturus had used last time. Course, where the man had gotten off to was a mystery. Could he not hear the dragon's roar, the screaming of people? He thought it would draw the knight in like moths to a flame. He have expected him to come running in, shouting something heroic with his shield raised. Though it didn't happen. It would seem like it would be up to him.

 “Listen!" He batted against her snout, turning his own scales to stone. “You have to listen!"

His words fell upon deaf ears, her claws met his scales, dragging against the enchanted grey armor. Though they left no mark that didn't stop her strength. He was sent toppling over into the street, his spell fading the moment his snout crashed to the stone. Then the construct was on him again, leaping to maul his prone form like a wild beast, though before she could strike, he shifted sizes, leaving her paws crashing onto empty ground in a shower of mismatched stones.

He leaped into the air, slipping free of her notice. He had to reach her. Though with her defenses he didn't know just how he was supposed to do that. He supposed he could stall. Lead her through the sky until the other dragons noticed their arial dancing. “If you wont talk to me mother, than you have to follow me!" He tossed another small bit of fire in her face, swooshing away as her snarl followed in his wake. Though when he changed back to his normal size, she didn't follow like he thought she would. She opened her maw and blasted apart one side of the street with her magical beam. He watched in silent horror as she dragged it across building after building, opening roofs and windows. Whole sections of people's homes were destroyed in the blink of an eye. Screams pierced the night like a sword, silenced as the beam swept over them. Fires sprung forth in the beam's wake, like swarming locusts trying to consume everything in their path.

“No, no no." He angled a wing, twirling back towards her as the ice that was about his heart now lurked deep within his bones. People's cries of terror only made it worse, an aching hole in his chest. How could he have known she wouldn't have followed? “You..have to stop!" He formed a symbol with his claw, casting the spell to enlarge himself to twice his size. Height, length, and more importantly, weight. He extended his hinds, flared his wings, and planted himself firmly on the back of his metallic mother.

The beast strained to hold him, her legs buckling as Veledar rode her hard into the street. Metal scrapped loudly as it strained to hold his weight. He tried to not enjoy when a resounding crack filled the air. He grabbed the beast's surprised neck and dragged it across the stone with a shower of sparks.

“Veledar!" It roared in pain, gears whirling to life as it adjusted. The advantage he suddenly had was lost as it adapted, the strength of its engineering shining through. Even at his magical size, Veledar was bucked off into a building that collapsed and broke against his bulk.

Wood, glass and ceramics formed a cacophony of destruction that rattled his ears. Nails dug into his scales at various angles as the wooden timber shattered against him. He settled onto his side, dust slowly leaking down upon him combined with various shards of wood that broke away, too tired to hold onto their corpse. Pain coursed through him, aching across his back. He could feel small cuts had opened on his sides, starting to wet with his blood.

Definitely hurt something there." He groaned, pulling himself to all fours and shaking some poor fool's kitchen ware from his body with a clang. Thankfully nothing was broken, “Good thing dragons were made tough." He shook free any lingering debris, grumbling as his cuts stung. Like a hot poker had been pressed to his hide. Though his brain told him to leave he couldn't. He had to try and stop the construct. Otherwise this rampaging dragon was going to hurt more innocent people.

“Get off the streets!" He roared, spying onlookers, people grabbing buckets of water, and some who'd collapsed into fetal positions to cry. Thankfully with him back on the streets the construct whipped to him, ignoring all the scattering humans and wolven. His eyes narrowed as pain ached across his chest, searching for anything he could use to survive. Winning was already pushed from his mind. He simple didn't have the spells to…Oh when he found Arcturus he was going to be so cross with him. He shoved the metal dragon off him when it pounced again, looking to pin him to the ground. Though not before taking its tail to his face, drawing blood and sending him reeling backwards, changing back to his normal size.

“Veledar." The construct hissed, almost hungrily for more blood now dripping down his nose.

“You keep saying that mother. Is there nothing left? The boy said you wanted to see me!" He flared out his wings, warding a group of seven guards away with a flick of his tail. He knew they wanted to help, but they'd only get in the way. Crushed beneath the struggle with this powerful creature.

“Someone get the word out then. Hostile dragon! Wake the whole battalion! Get the cannons, the pegasai, get everyone!" One guard shouted, waking the others from their terrified stupor. “That dragon needs bloody help!"

“Which one?"

“The one not trying to destroy the entire neighborhood!"

Veledar avoided another savage slash of gleaming metal, the claws catching the building behind him and tearing into the wood and tossing what remained of a sign onto the street. How was he going to best this? He pushed it back, getting nicked ever so slightly on his side, blood starting to flow as he backed away. Stinging in the night air.

There has to be a way. His eyes desperately searched for anything he could use in the split seconds that he got with the construct's near tireless rampage. That's when he spied it, at the base of its chest. There was a crack that ran up, jagged and twisted like a tree branch. His weight from earlier must have been too much, the loud rip he'd heard must have been the metal giving way! It might not be a lot, but he could certainly use that. It just needed the right application of force. He dreaded the next course of action he needed to take, he loved his mother dearly, but he couldn't allow what she'd become to hurt anymore people. With another shriek of his name on the wind cutting into him like a knife he was ready.

His tail flicked in a horizontal fashion, drawing a sigil in the air meant for earth. He focused his energy inward, feeling the magic humming about the air. “Sorry mother." He whispered, smacking a paw hard against the cobblestone, just as the construct leaped for him with claws outstretched. From the snow sprouted pillars of stone tipped with spikes. They shattered and broke against the metal hide of the construct, but some struck their mark and slipped in through the crack. Those that did met metal gears and machinery, piercing those and gumming up whatever they were doing. The beast shuttered as it's inside literally started to tear itself apart. Gears snapped, pulleys flung out of position, sparks sprouted from the dragon's hide like celebratory fireworks. As the metal monstrosity crashed to the ground it unleashed an ear-splitting death cry that hung in the air like a fog. Though even when it was finished the air was not free of it's sounds. With a terrible screech of metal on metal the construct coiled in on itself with trembling claws. Though it still squirmed, the runes dimmed, and it's cries almost became inaudible. It's metal jaw clacking against the air in silent agony.

Where he should have felt pride for defeating such a powerful foe he did not. Here he was, triumphant against a villainous monster that was set about hurting the innocent. Yet it felt like he'd betrayed an old friend. Put down a favored pet, or even stabbed his own mother in the chest. The air around him seemed colder as he stared in contemplation, stabbing his open wounds and spreading deep into his soul. That light at the end of the tunnel began to dull with every pained movement the construct made. The only thing he was thankful for was that he was alive. Then his claws brought him forward.

Each step was harder than the last. Like weights had been attached to drag him down. He could feel his scales shiver as the creature let out pained whines. Ones that sounded less and less like the metal being, but more like his injured mother. Each one was like a dagger to the dragon's weakened heart, plunged deep and twisting.

“Veledar." She groaned, neck grinding against stone. “You're so close yet I can't see. Where are you young one?"

He froze at a mere arm's length away, paws quivering as he watched. His eyes started to mist as she called out other names, friends from long past, his sister, and finally calling out for his dead brother. The town around him dulled, the cries for druids and clerics sounding like a muffled roar.

“It's me mother." He approached, laying a quivering paw on her broken chest. His voice cracked, lacking any of the bluster, arrogance, and strength he usually had. He was no stronger than a wyrmling. His blood was like ice as he stared, no longer seeing the broken metal, but the form of his mother before him. Dying, alone and afraid. He held in his sob that threatened to unleash himself, getting drawn to the sounds of another.

Afan had near silently dragged himself from his hiding spot to be by the dragon's side. His tear-filled eyes glancing around at all the destruction and flames that danced in the air like wicked red flowers of death. They seemed determined to consume the township, defiant to the town's gathering crowds. His face was all but ghost white, his arms wrapped firmly at his sides. “I only wanted to help…She wanted to see you."

“See me?" He snapped, taking a step harder towards the boy than he'd have liked. Tears were close to running down his cheeks as he glared hatefully at the boy. Thanks to him he'd had to hurt his mother for a second time. “What do you even mean?"

The boy stumbled backwards with a surprised yell, looking up at the dragon with such fear and hurt in his eyes that Veledar's anger wavered. Forcing him to recoil back his snout with a snort. “She spoke with me…The crystal at her heart. I thought showing you her would help! Not bring…." Afan gestured to the surrounding town, losing what composure he had and started sobbing.

If the crystal what was remained of his mother, then that is the part that he would try to save. With a harsh snort the dragon whirled around, claws instantly going to pry open what damage had already been done to the construct. The raggedy metal gave way to his strength, peeling away in thin strips like an onion. Faced with what looked more like a clock than anything else he found what he was looking for. Amidst all the gears he found the pulsating crystal that contained his mother. A thing no bigger than a human's palm, bright crimson, and glowing faintly to cast the area around it in a haze of red. It looked more like blood as he dipped his claw, ripping the thing out with snarl.

It was far lighter than he expected. Almost weightless as he carried it out. That fact alone sent a shiver down his spine. Contained within this spec of red was what remained of his mother. Her mind, her soul, the entirety of her spirit. Ripped out by mortal hands and forced into this mockery of life. He spun it over before his eyes, his blood boiling as he observed each unholy feature.

“Is that." Arcturus' voice was like a calming breeze as it emerged over the boy's cries. The knight had jogged over, his armor all equipped, sword in its sheath and shield by his side. His helmet was on, but Veledar could feel the caring emotions rolling off him, enough to know that two big green eyes were looking up at him. Wanting to know what he could do to help aide the aching dragon's heart. “Veledar…I.."

“I finished it." He said flatly, noticing a large crack in the crystal. Most likely from when it was made or when he'd finished it with the stone. When he didn't look up, Arcturus laid a comforting hand on his side.

“Then it's finally done."

He said nothing as the cold continued to eat at him, despite the caring touch from his mate. “This one." He gestured to the quivering child. His frills fluttering in and out as he shifted, hobbling on three paws. He dropped the crystal in his lap. “Can you still talk to her?"

“He's just a child."

“A child that brought this thing here. That caused all of this!" He gestured to the burning buildings. The crying people, the examples of misery left in this monster's wake.

Afan's head ducked, sobbing ever harder as the drake flared out his wings.

“And you wont get an answer like that." The knight replied softly, taking a knee before the quivering child.

“Sorry then." His tail swished behind him, his neck lowered slowly. “It's just child…This was very personal."

“I…could think to her." Afan looked up, wiping away his tears from puffy red eyes. “I thought she'd get more clear the closer we got to you. I thought you'd be able to help her…I didn't think.."

“It's alright." He swallowed hard, cursing his eyes as threatened to release his weakness. “But the stone. Can .." The question hung in his throat, shifted his tail. The only way he got it out was when Arcturus' touched his shoulder, coaxing the words out with his comforting caress. “You talk to her still? Tell her that her son is here. She found him after all this time."

“The boy wiped his eyes with his sleeve, sniffing away the last bit of his unease. “I can try." He plucked up the stone in both of his hands, cupping it like water. “It's sometimes fractured when she shows things."

“That's fine." He felt his heart throb, threatening to reduce him to writhing mess of scales and tears. Though when Arcturus touched his snout, he didn't fight them, letting the salty things flow as his body quivered. He wrapped a paw around the man, dragging him firmly against his chest as all the tension and terror came flowing out of him.

Afan stroked the gem, frowning as it hummed to life in his hands, glowing ever brighter for a fraction of a second. “I think she heard my thoughts. There was a flash of you as a wyrmling, and how she nuzzled you."

The dragon cried harder, clenching his eyes shut as he sobbed his despair to the world. He knew it was not very befitting of a dragon, but it seemed all less important with his snout buried in Arcturus' chest. How he wished that the armor wasn't there, to feel safe within the man's warm chest. Despite his thoughts not believing they could be, things got ever worse.

The crystal cracked within the boy's hands, quickly crumbling into thousands of little pieces. The crack that it had from before had spread like a wildfire. The light that it once held vanished, leaving the startle faced boy practically crying again.

“I didn't do anything!" Afan screamed, holding up his hands to Veledar's snout. “Honest, please. I didn't!"

 She was gone. Truly gone from this world. He thought he'd been over it. Accepted his mother's death in her lair, but everything came rushing back as he stared at that crimson dust within the boy's hands. He wanted to go to the stables, curl into a ball and sob away into the night until he no longer felt like his world was spirally out of control. Worst of all of this was that he had done it. Shattered any chance they might have had to save her with a spell.

“Veledar." Arcturus hugged him, to which pressed tighter against him. Shaking visibly very unlike the proud dragon he was.

Tears kept flowing; the dragon's tail curling around them as he begged to Bahamut for this to be a dream. Wing's that kept him aloft quivered, drooping to his sides in defeat. The ache in his heart grew to acute levels, practically making him coil and wince with every beat“Arc…." He struggled to say, pressing his head to Arcturus' back as the wave of emotional distraught over took him. “Shes…"

“I know." Those hands rubbed his scales, trying to stem the rising despair building in the dragon's gut. “She loved you…It's not your fault."

But in a way it was. Without his spell she'd be still around. Perhaps a spell or book they could have researched to get her a new body. If not her original one than a new body. At least she would be alive! With each pass of Arcturus' hands and tearful sob the dragon only wallowed worse, seemingly sinking deeper into the growing pit.

“How touching." Came a voice like a chilling wind one that would ice someone to the bone, the only warning they got before something struck the pair with the force of seven battering rams. Veledar roared as his body lifted, dragging Arcturus with him as they sailed through the air, only getting a flash of orange in the shape of a translucent spectral hand.

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Hope you enjoyed this latest part! If you ended up reading it don't forget to fav, if you liked it vote it up! And if you feel like being awesome, or think Nigel is a dick then don't forget to comment! Till next time friends. I have to type the rest of this climax up. Really got behind. Apologies!