FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

CHAPTER 10

Sakari's eyes opened as the coldness began to fade from her from, making her shudder as heat returned to her core slowly. The light faded slowly, allowing Sakari to see once more.

The giant feral dragon had disappeared, Zerataph's form laying flat on his back. He didn't move, his body soaked in blood and torn from their combined attack.

The wolfess began to crawl over to him, using her claws to drag her returned humanoid form towards the dragon. As she scrapped up to his side, she reached out to take his hand, squeezing it lightly. Sakari lifted herself up to look down at Zerataph's face. She swallowed heavily and began to shake lightly and tears began to stream down her face.

"Oh, Brother. I'm - I'm so sorry...." She sobbed, tears falling onto his scales and mixed with the blood. "I'm sorry that - that we couldn't find another way. But you can rest now. Everything is okay now, Brother." She whispered and leaned forward to gently kiss him on the forehead.

Ferain and Keelya stood behind her, the vixen could be heard sobbing with her head buried in the mountain lion's shoulder. He opened his mouth several times, but found it impossible to summon up any words. After a long few moments of silence, he finally spoke. "H-How are you doing, Sakari...?" He asked heasitently.

"I - I don't know. I thought I'd be happy stopping him... but - but Zerataph is still my brother. And I - I killed..." Her body shook more as her sobs grew louder. "There's nothing else we could have done. Right?" She fought to speak. "Right?!" Sakari screamed as she hung her head.

Ferain reached his hand out, jerking it back before finally setting it on her shoulder. "Sakari. I'm so sorry... I really wish there had been." He whispered and held her shoulder.

She looked own at her brother, her thumb rubbing the back of his paw. The silence was heavy around them and was eventually broken by a low rumble growing around them. The spiraling clouds around the platform had began to calm and all together disappear. Sakari felt the sickly feeling in her belly like gravity had temperarorly been turrned off. "We-we're falling." She said as the rumbling continued to grow louder, as the platform began cutting through the clouds and making giant holes. Keelya squealed and clung to Ferain as the ground picked up speed and made them feel almost weightless.

Sakari clutched at Zerataph's paw tightly. "We'll be together again soon, brother." She laid her head down on his chest and closed her eyes tightly. She heard a soft thumping, even over all the noise that the large platform of stone was making. "Zerataph?" She cried and smiled as the dark dragon's eyes slowly opened.

"Sa-Sakari." his body shook as he breathed her name. "Hi." he smiled for a quick moment before frowning and turned his head away. "I'm so sorry..."

"Zerataph. It's okay. You don't have anything to be sorry about."

"No, It's not okay, Sakari. I destroyed so much and killed so many. I - I killed our father." He choked and shook. "I've become a monster, Sakari." He breathed weakly.

Sakari shook her head. "You're not a monster. You were -just lost." She said as he tried to stand up, he managed to stand but not before falling to his knees without taking a single step. She came to his side and helped him stand once more. They walked towards the edge of the plain and looked over the land around them.

The northern forests had lost its snow and ice, leaving black stone and trees exposed. Mount Volain in the west was billowing out black soot, glowing red and yellow lava cascaded down through the mountains and filled valleys. The river of lava spilled out of the mountains and poured into the western ocean, creating a menunsula of back obsidian.

The inland bay to the east had almost dried up completely. The delta that fed it from the ocean was blocked by a gigantic crater, creating a new smaller lake between the ocean and Opochtli. The grass lands that surrounded the lake and covered much of the southern parts of the continent was yellowed and blacked from fires and lack of water.

"We still need your help. The land needs you. There's still a chance of undoing everything. You can save us. Us and the whole continent." She said and looking at him.

Zerataph shook as he leaned agaisnt her sister. He shook his head. "I-I can't do it Sakari. I'm too weak." he coughed and fell to his knees, blood spattering the stone under him. "But..." he paused and lifted his remaining hand. "Maybe the dragons can...can help." He whispered as the spheres grew out of his palm and began to circle in the air just above it. "Please....Gods. Please help us, help all of us." He spoke to the spheres.

They glowed brightly and flew in different directions, the colored balls growing into the dragons. They all growled and roared as the flew under the stone mass. The red, gold, and black western dragons dug their claws into it and began to flap their wings with heavy motions while the blue, green and white eastern dragons pressed their large body's against the bottom and began to push up with their brothers.

The rock jerked slightly as it slowed down, making the four of them fall down with a grunt. The six dragons worked together to slowly lower the giant platform on the ground. With a heavy crunch, the platform was placed on the ground just outside Ternal. The snowy white dragon landed on the stone platform next to them, the others standing in a group on the ground below.

"Thank you! So much!" Sakari said, unable to help the grin on her face. The smile faded instantly as she heard Zerataph cough again, a loud splatter making her turn to look at him. He'd coughed up more blood before falling to his side, shaking terribly. "Please, yu have to help him.!" She said and laid her paws on him gently, looking up at the sparkling dragon.

The white dragon lowered its fox like head to Zerataph and breathed in and out for a few moments before slowly shaking his head. "I am sorry, Child." It said with a quiet feminine voice, speaking as though a mother to her child. "But his injuries are too much, even for my magic."

Sakari lowered her head and gave off a soft whine.

"It's okay Sakari..." Zerataf smiled, his eye closing as his body shook. "I'm sorry for everything I've done. And for all the people I've hurt, mostly...mostly you, Sister..." His last word lingering on the air as his body relaxed and became still.

Renewed tears filled the wolf's eyes as she pressed her forehead to Zerataph's head. Her heavy sobs filling the quiet field. She lifted her head to see his body start to glow a dull silvery color before it evaperated, becoming like millions of tiny lightning bugs that flew up away from her. "Wh-What?" she sniffled as they particles entered into the dragoness' chest.

"We will look after him, young one. We will help guide him through the afterlife." She smiled down at the remaining three. With that said, the eastern dragon lifted her head and gave off a loud call. All six dragons began to shine brightly before beling launched high into the air and disappearing behind the clouds.

Sakari wiped her eyes, a smile coming to her face as she stared up to where they vanished. From that spot, snow began to drop over them. But rather than the usual cold that came with snow, the flakes gave off a surpringly strong warmth. As the snow touched them ground, a large circle of light would spread out around it. When the light faded, emerald green grass and little flowers of every color spouted from the ground. Sakari stared wide eyed as she looked around, the grass quickly filling the field around them. The light spread over the glassy wall that surrounded Ternal and made it vanish without a trace. There was a sudden uproar that came from the city that made the three of them jump.

A massive crowd began to pour out of the city. Men, women and children of every species circled around the stone platform that Sakari, Ferain and Keelya stood on. Sakari's cheeks grew hot as she blushed as they were cheered and thanked by the crowd.

"Thank you!"

"Heroes of Sippea!"

The words caused the wolfess to blush darkly. She glanced at the pair of younger anthromorphs; Ferain looked about as embarassed as she was. But surprisingly, Keelya looked like she couldn't get enough of the attenion; waving her arms to the crowd and giggling. Ferain and Sakari met eyes and nodded, too joining in waving as their praises continued.

Sakari walked alongside the cougar and vixen, her long tail waving behind her. The new grass felt soft under her paw pads. She heaved a heavy sigh and smiled, her ears twitching as Ferain spoke.

"So what are you two going to do now?"

Keelya shrugged and looked over the plains as they came to the top of a hill; wind blowing across the grass and creating waves. "I'm probably going to go back to Azul. With Mom gone, someone has to help keep up with the village again."

"And...that's going to be you?" Sakari lifted an eyebrow, chuckling when she received a dark look from the vixen. "Sorry. I'm sure you'll make a great leader." She smiled encouragingly."

"Why thank you," She flashed the wolf a grin and waved her thick tail. "What about you Ferain? You going to go home too?"

"Well...I don't really have a home to return to. I guess I could see what I can manage in Ternal though." He shrugged and sighed.

"Hmm, maybe you can come back to Azul with me. I could...use some help there?" She offered.

Ferain ears perked slightly. "R-Really? I - I don't want to get in the way." He smiled, his long tail waved behind him.

"Sure. I could use a good leader like you to help out. What about you Sakari? You want to come with?"

The wolfess chuckled and shook her head. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline. I'm going to head back home to Fayorn and help rebuild it. But thank you for the offer, Keelya." She said and pulled the two close to her, pressing their foreheads together, their ears and noses touching lightly as well. "I'll miss you both." She whispered.

"Take care of your self. We'll come stop by from time to time. As often as we can." Ferain smiled.

"I can't wait already." Sakari chuckled and held the two for a little while longer.

The three finally went their seperate ways, Ferain and Keelya walking north down the hill. Sakari watched them until they disappeared behind another hill further away. She smiled and turned on her toes to walk down the other side of the hill. The wind filling her ehad, bringing the strong scent of new flowers to her senses as well as she began the long walk back to Fayorn.