FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

***

I never was good with talking to Furest. Every time I was around her, all rational thoughts flew away. Only after she left did I realize what a fool I was.

Throughout the past week, she filled my every thought. Despite the horrors of the harpy settlement around us, she captured me.

When I described the one I loved to Furest, I had indeed been relaying her own beauty back to her: scales like golden amber, deep spots along her body that paled in comparison to the sun-fire burning in her eyes. I hoped she would see that.

She never did, and I blamed myself for it. I could never bring myself to say I loved her. I was too weak. But she loved me. All these years, we both liked each other.

I walked through the forest, crickets singing through the trees. I drooled at the enticing smell of fresh squirrel among the cool earth.

My stomach sucked in on itself; I deserved to starve after what I did to Furest.

Those nights where I couldn't take my mind off of Furest--they could have spent sleeping peacefully next to her.

I resolved myself, promising that if I saw her again, I would confess my true feelings. But after I turned my back on her, I doubted she would return. Furest had flown off in a darkness I had caused. I'd never seen her so defeated, and it came by my paws. I bet she hated me. I wouldn't blame her.

I gnashed my teeth, slinging my claws into the thick trunk next to me, carving valleys through the rough bark.

I turned my back on her all those times because I couldn't bear to face my own emotions storming in my chest. I just never thought about which time I turned my back would be the last. Each time, it hollowed out a bit more in my chest, etching away until all that remained was little more than a midwinter cavern.

A roar tore through the forest, arriving in a cascade of snapping twigs, crashing plants, and tiny critters fleeing.

Furest!

I launched toward the sound, the trees far too dense for me to take off. I needed to get back to the place we first landed a little while ago. Then, I could take off from there and find her.

A warm wind of fury surged through my body, heating my cold soul like the inside of a furnace and sending strength to my limbs. The thought of a creature hurting my Furest--I would shred them to pieces!

I arrived where we landed and leaped for the skies, the trees sparse enough for my wings to expand and catch the air. I shot through the air like a bullet, wind whistling around me.

Agh!

Something large and scaly tackled me mid-air, slamming me into a tree and nearly breaking it in half. Snapping wood, pain like a thousand needles ricocheting up my spine.

When it let go, I used my tail as forward momentum, allowing me to back away from the tree and hover in the air.

"Furest?"

She hovered a short distance away, her eyes cold and vacant, no semblance of the warmth in them that always had my thoughts mixed up. Her lips lifted, revealing pearly white teeth, a growl emanating from her chest; she brandished her claws, ready for a fight.

"Furest. I am so sorry. Please forgive me."

I had to tell her how I felt. If not now, then I would always be a coward. I never really deserved her as a friend, let alone a mate.

She shot forward, her wings roaring like a hurricane. With a bellow, she collided with me, our limbs vying for a hold over the other. I bit back my strength, allowing her to press against my grip just a little. I had no reason to fight her. I couldn't harm her any more than I could hurt a hatchling.

We collided with the ground, forcing the wind from my lungs.

When my vision cleared, Furest looked to be in the same case, her chest heaving to regain the air she had lost.

The fire drained from her eyes, leaving behind an empty and cold wasteland.

She rose to her feet and charged forward, raking his claws through the meat of my wings as I failed to block her advance. The wounds could have been much worse--they were barely skin wounds.

She whipped her tail around my wings, striking my neck. She roused me from my daze, the stinging pain far worse than our usual mock battles.

She was trying to kill me. I refused to hurt her. Even if it were in self-defense, I would never be able to forgive myself.

She spun, using the momentum of her body to increase the speed of her tail, thrashing it across my wings and nearly breaking the carpal.

I needed to tell her how I felt. Before she could charge again, I took my chance.

"Furest, you are my reason for fighting! I have wanted to say this for a long while. I love you with all my being."

Silence followed.

For a second, she froze, her eyes becoming the ones that always had my heart in a frenzy before they returned to an icy cold glare.

We collided, sprawling through the grass.

"That's it, my girl. You don't need him. All you ever needed was me!"

Heavy wings flapped, descending from above. The source of the sound was a massive bird. They landed on a branch, and their feathers ignited into flames.

A phoenix!

Were they the explanation for Furest's behavior? My girl, the phoenix had called to her.

Furest lunged forward, seizing me by the torso. She flipped me over on my stomach and knelt into my back, her weight pressing into my spine. She clasped her claws around my throat, pain reaching up my jaw.

Was this the end? Killed by the one I love most?

Realization struck me. Strength exploded through my limbs. I shoved Furest off me, throwing her into a bush. The leaves rustled as she wrestled to gain freedom from its grasp.

When she finally won, she didn't waste a moment in taking off, her wings beating to the sound of my heart as I followed suit. She had the advantage, always faster, more agile than I was in the air.

Angling her tail, she soared above me.

She slammed into my back, sending us free-falling to the trees below. But we were not done yet.

As soon as we hit the branches, she let go, and I took my cue, flapping my wings once to gain momentum before slamming headfirst into the phoenix. I knocked him to the ground, a loud screech escaping his beak.

The moment he hit the ground, Furest was on top of him, her claw ready to slit its throat.

"By the laws of dragon kind, we are giving you one chance to repent. If you don't, your life is forfeit."

The plan went perfectly. When the phoenix tried to manipulate me, I knew he was the one who attacked Frith. I pretended to play into his claws only because I doubted I could take him on by myself. Power radiated across every feather. To play it safe, I needed Frith. I only hoped he would see through my stupid and rash plan.

I played my part perfectly, letting rage take control. It hurt me inside to inflict wounds seriously on Frith, but I had no choice if my plan was to work. I needed Frith to believe it, at least for a moment. If he saw through everything right away, the phoenix would get suspicious.

It wasn't until I bit down on his throat, hesitating to make the killing blow, that he saw through me.

I knew he would. We had been friends far too long and knew each other far too well. Though when he said he loved me, it almost wrecked everything. My heart flooded with warmth. Every scale seemed to come to life in its own way, flooding across my scaly hide in a storm of different emotions.

We would have a lot to talk about after this.

The phoenix beneath me struggled for a moment, trying to use his wings to push me off. I pinned them down with my other paw and wing, my claw still held against his throat.

"I yield!" he screeched, his beak clacking together afterward. His body goes limp beneath mine.

"Do you repent?" Frith asked, stepping forward, so his snout was in the phoenix's view.

"I..." he stopped for a moment, thinking about his options before sighing. "I yield. I repent of my actions of dark magic. Forgive me."

"Frith, place the tie."

The tie was a magical bond. It bound the creature so it couldn't harm anyone until the elders passed judgment back in Dravawynn.

Frith stepped closer, his claw running over the phoenix's head, mana flowing like ripples in a pond across his feathers until he touched the ground.

I stepped off the phoenix. He used his wings to right himself and flew up onto a branch where he perched.

The tie also prevented the creature from escaping. They couldn't go very far without the permission of the one who placed it. If they did, it would be consumed by horrific pain.

"What is your name?" Frith asked. "It's kinda hard to keep calling you 'phoenix' all the time."

"My name is Riese. No need to introduce yourselves. I know the amber dragon is Furest, and the other one is Frith. Pleased to meet you."

He was being awfully friendly for someone who had nearly lost their life in battle.

I still did not trust this bird. I couldn't wait to hand Riese off to the clan and wash my paws of him.

"How do you know our names?" Frith asked.

"I've been following you for days. The harpy you kept seeing following you everywhere you went--that was me. Riese, master of shapeshifting at your service," he folded his wing over his belly, bowing his head slightly.

"Let's go. The sooner we are back in Dravawynn, the better," I said, changing the subject and preparing to take off.

A loud thud like something heavy hitting the ground reached my ears right before I jumped. Looking back, Frith was on the ground, motionless.

"I think it would be best if you dealt with him first," Riese said. "Though he is just dead weight now, perhaps it is best if we leave him."

"We are not leaving Frith, though I would be more than happy to finish the job I had started earlier," I retorted, my voice filled with venom.

"No need for veiled threats, my dear. I'll be waiting right here... patiently." Riese angled his beak and began grooming his wing.

Yeah right.

Frith was comatose. Perhaps I had hurt him far more than I had intended in our earlier skirmish.

Though, he didn't seem too injured.

Gah, if only I knew more about healing magic, this wouldn't be an issue.

***

Having eaten, I was once again able to focus on my studies. Unfortunately, what I had thought was important earlier turned out to be nothing--just some random scribbles of long-dead dragons.

I still couldn't seem to shake the persistent memories. They always crept up when I least expected them.

Earlier, Cyndrithil came running in, furious at Cythra. She woke all three of them up, showering them with praise and thankfulness, though Ymerc had no idea what was going on from the sounds of it.

It took a lot of convincing and then some to get Cythra to leave them alone. Cyndrithil and Ymithia weren't too happy about it, but Ymerc was too confused to be anything else.

I wasn't sure why they weren't telling Ymerc about his...ability. I had yet to come up with a name for it. I was even hoping to find something about it in the old books I had taken from Kaerlis.

I found nothing. There wasn't even any mention of the sickness that had struck both Xithris and Cythra.

Though maybe, after all, Ymerc had been through, they were just trying to protect him from further harm. The way I see it, the clan might end up depending upon his ability to cleanse the dark magic.

That brings me to the voice, another who had telepathy. Once again, I could not answer the many questions flooding my thoughts.

Earlier I had made another trip to Kaerlis, grabbing more tomes and scrolls than before, pretty much anything I thought would be relevant. Kaerlis wasn't too happy about me taking so many if his face was any indication. He said nothing as I left.

The texts kept alluding to a strange book filled with dark magic knowledge. According to some, it had been lost to time. Other stories claimed it had been destroyed by Britosa.

The clicking of claws on stone reached my ears before shock-like lightning ran across my scales. The barrier I had placed over the entrance to my den was broken--the one I placed explicitly so I could be left alone. It seemed someone was more persistent and wouldn't take no for an answer.

I got up--or tried to--but my legs buckled after spending far too long sitting.

I struggled to get up, the weakness in my limbs turning it into a challenge. By the time the dragon had entered the main chamber, I was on my paws, barely struggling to hold my stance.

The dragon entered, the light from the moss I had placed in my den wrapping around a scaled figure.

The dragon had scales of obsidian, his eyes like volcanic ash. His horns jutted in front of his head in sharp points. A scar crossed his left eye rendering it useless.

***

The sun had set by the time Frith woke, though he seemed half out of it. He seemed to understand every other word I said at best. He worked his jaw as if to speak, but slipped into unconsciousness again before the words could form.

I recalled slamming him into a tree.

Did I do this?

I hoped he didn't have a concussion. If he did, we wouldn't be able to fly for days, and walking could make it even worse.

Frith would know what to do. He always was good at focusing on the facts rather than the what-ifs. Though right now, he wasn't in any condition to talk.

"It seems to me Frith is badly injured. I suggest we wait for him to get better," said Riese. "Although, you could always force him to move if you're in such a hurry to get back home."

He began grooming his wing again, his beak clacking amidst the feathers.

"Yeah, you would like that, wouldn't you? Another dead dragon, then the tie binding you would break. You already know that don't you?"

He stopped grooming his wing for a second to respond, the feathers there seeming to look matted down.

"Who's to say? Really, dear, wanting me to spill all of my secrets from the get-go. How naive you are."

I growled. Riese took that as a threat, his legs bending down, ready wings unfolding for take-off at a moment's notice.

"You didn't have much trouble earlier when you were trying to manipulate me," I retorted.

"That was all in the fun of the game. After all, life gets boring without a game or two."

Life isn't a game. It has real consequences. This phoenix doesn't seem to care about anyone but himself. He refolded his wings after a moment, realizing I wasn't too much of a threat.

"Is that what you think life is? A game? Phoenixes have fallen greatly if that's what you were raised to believe."

His eyes narrowed menacingly. The magic Frith placed on him, though, kept him from doing anything harmful.

"Phoenixes are a proud race. I would recommend thinking before repeating such things."

A veiled threat. How cute.

"You have fallen a long way from being a phoenix. You used dark magic and tried to kill us. Last I checked, dragons and phoenixes got along well. Apparently, they forgot about you!"

His feathers stood on end, making him look like a giant ball with a beak at one end.

"One day, you will regret those words," he said, snapping his beak in anger.

"No, I won't. Once we get to Dravawynn, you will be judged by the clan. Soon, you will be the regretful one."

"We shall see," he said, narrowing his eyes into slits.

His deep, malicious words itched my scales.

I wondered if he knew something I didn't, even if he couldn't do anything to me in his current state.

The sun had set a while ago, the moon's light casting dark shadows through the forest.

A bright light lit up the surroundings for a moment. Looking up, Riese had set his feathers alight, directing his flames with a swift movement from one wing, burrowing into the side of the tree where he rested. The smell of smoke was heady in the air.

A slight shiver from Frith took my attention away from the phoenix.

Wasn't there something about keeping someone warm when they were injured?

I lay as close to Frith as possible, draping my wing over his back, trying to warm him. Soon enough, the shivering stopped, and he fell into a deep sleep.

I remembered when Frith had expressed his love, though it almost ruined my plan, I couldn't have been more joyful, and right now, I was content to lay here next to him for all eternity, my wing draped over his back, the sound of his breathing like a soft breeze.

"I love you too," I whispered in his ear.

His lips seemed to lift slightly. I wondered for a moment if I had imagined it.

I was violently torn from my sleep, my back stinging with the ferocity of a thousand suns. I turned my neck to find three long gashes down the length of my back, blood spilling profusely and running down my scales like a rampant river.

"I was sure I had hit a vital spot. Perhaps the anatomy of dragons wasn't quite what I was taught."

Riese's voice rang through the stillness of the night.

An eagle's screech preceded the sound of wingbeats, and then talons scratched my side, most likely aiming for my ribs.

I shot to my feet, the pain making it hard to focus.

"My dear, this would go so much easier for both of us if you would yield. I already have the advantage. Give up."

The gashes on my side made it difficult to breathe, like the air intended for my lungs was escaping through the wound.

"H-how?" I bit out.

He shouldn't be able to harm us. The tie we had placed would make sure of it.

"Hmm? That's all you have to say? No roars of fury? Well, if you must know, when Frith collapsed earlier, it wasn't your fault. When your friend placed this so-called tie, it was rather weak. It didn't take much effort to reverse the spell and send it back at him. Right now, I imagine he is trapped in his mind, clawing frantically to get out."

_Frith, weak? Impossible, he was so much stronger than I, though I had never seen him cast magic. Perhaps he wasn't as skilled in that area. _

"Riese swooped down, aiming his talons for another attack. I rolled out of the way, the dirt mixing with my blood and turning my scales a muddy brown.

I gasped for breath. That single motion seemed to take all my strength.

"It seems you still have some strength left. I was hoping you would have been dead by now. And Frith along with you. I guess you can't win them all."

He shook his head in disappointment.

Fury surged through my veins like boiling water, strength bursting to life in my weakened limbs.

Fire filled my belly before unleashing it at Riese. He swiftly dodged it before counter attacking, his feathers bursting into flames and shooting the fire at me with a quick flap of his wings.

I used the wind generated by my wings to block, the flames dispersed, the heat caressing my scales like a tender kiss.

With a flap of my wings, I took off. Riese dodged my tackle.

I clung to a tree behind him, my claws digging into the softwood of the birch, ready for Riese to come at me from behind.

When Riese failed to counter like he had been doing, I grew concerned. Looking behind, Riese was nowhere to be seen.

Frith!

Riese scored a hit along his wings, tearing deep gashes in them that would disable his flight for a long time.

A roar of malice escaped my jaws, echoing far into the forest.

"Don't you dare touch him!" I bellowed. Adrenaline pumping through my veins, lending me power I didn't know I had. With a push from the tree, I soared after his fleeing soon-to-be corpse.

It wasn't long before I caught up to him. He may have been faster than Frith's, but he was no match for mine.

I tore my claws into his feathered wings, his beak unleashing a high screech. He plummeted to the ground, a resounding thud sound when he hit. Landing, I checked him over. He wasn't moving, and his head was angled unnaturally like he had broken it on impact.

I spat on his corpse.

"I said you'd regret your actions. Repent in Qonuera!"

The fury surging through my veins ebbed now that the threat was gone.

Frith!

I almost forgot about him. He better be okay.

Running over, I inspected his wings, soft like velvet under my paws. While they certainly could be worse, his life wasn't in danger. It would be weeks before he could fly again. The bleeding had already stopped, though crimson soaked the ground beneath him.

According to what Riese said, Frith was trapped in his own mind. He was likely trying to tell me about Riese before he collapsed.

I nuzzled him, hoping it would be enough to wake him. Alas, it wasn't; his motionless body as still as a frozen sea.

"Frith, wake up for me. I need you," I whispered in his ear.

I wrapped him in my wing, lending as much warmth as I could as if that alone would wake him from his prison.

The morning came, something sharp poking me in the side.

Opening my eyes, I was momentarily blinded by the sun's rays.

Once my eyes adjusted, I found a smiling Frith in front of me, his tail wagging behind him rapidly.

"Frith! You're awake."

I jumped up, embracing him in my wings.

"Nice to see you too," he replied, hugging me back.

"When did you wake up?"

"Just a few minutes ago. I couldn't wait. Sorry, I woke you," Frith replied, his snout rubbing against my ear flap.

"Good, I am glad you did."

He broke the embrace, striding over to check the phoenix's corpse.

"You sure did a number on him, though. I wouldn't expect anything else from the one I love."

I smiled, my lips lifting in a very toothy grin, joy radiating from every scale on my body.

"Say, we have a lot to talk about after everything," I told him.

He paused for a second, seeming to figure out the correct words to say.

"That night, I told you the description of the dragon I liked. I was describing you. I was hoping you would realize that." He frowned. "You never did. Why?"

"I had entertained the thought for a while, though after that night, you stayed away from me. So, I kinda guessed I wasn't the dragon you were referring to."

His tail thrashed the ground. A perfect indent of his tail and scales etched a ghost into the dirt.

"Right, I am sorry. It killed me to stay away from you for so long. After that night, I was too embarrassed about the whole thing to be around you. Though, looking back, I realized I was being stupid."

I stepped forward and licked his snout affectionately.

"Yeah, you were," I couldn't help but smile. "But it's in the past now. So let's focus on the present."

"Agreed." His mind seemed to wander elsewhere, opening his mouth only to close it repeatedly. I let him think it out, knowing he had no reason to turn on me again.

"Furest, would you do me an amazing honor by becoming my mate?"

He was asking for the right of mateship. A special ceremony amongst dragons filled with magic, both hearts beating as one symbolizing their love for each other, after which a unique scent would coat their scales, telling all others they were taken and by whom.

"Frith, do you really need to ask? Of course, I will be your mate!"

I tackled him, nuzzling his neck, never wanting to let go, each of my scales exploding where we touched.

"Furest, can you get off me? You're kinda crushing my wing." His voice sounded pained.

His wing was bent at an odd angle. The wound had reopened, spilling blood.

I jumped off him, apologizing profusely.

He chuckled, amused at my embarrassment.

He flipped over, straightening his wing out again, letting out a groan as he did so. I imagined his wounds hurt worse than mine. All the veins and muscles covering a dragon's wings were another reason why wing injuries took longer to heal than others. While my own wounds had mostly stopped bleeding, the pain hadn't gotten any better. In the joy of the moment, I forgot about my injuries.

Getting up, he turned, his face no longer set in a grimace, but one of joy. His lips lifted, revealing pearly white teeth. His eyes had a depth to them that had my heart melting and beating furiously as they met my own.

Stepping forward, he placed a paw over my heart, his claws glowing with mana.

He wanted to do the ceremony now, and I couldn't have been happier.

"Furest, all my life, I have loved you. I wanted you to be my mate from the first moment we met. Would you do me the highest honor of becoming your mate?"

I focused mana on my claws, placing a paw over his heart and accepting the mateship ceremony.

Strong winds encircled us, shaking the trees and sending leaves fluttering to the ground where the breeze scooped them up. The earth trembled below; small pebbles bounced up in rhythm.

"I accept," I said before continuing with my part. "Frith, we have known each other for years, and each time we get together has been filled with joy. Would you do me a tremendous honor of being your mate?"

The breeze grew into a whirlwind, the wind screeching against our ears, but we heard none of it.

"I accept." The finality of uttering those words--that promise--tasted so sweet.

The mana filling our claws dispersed into the others, creating a link of body, mind, spirit, and magic. Our hearts skipped a beat as they settled into the same rhythm. Our bodies had become one, just as our souls had been all these years. His scent, which I could never get enough of mixed with mine, settled heavily over my scales for the rest of my life. The smell of citrus and rain settled in my nose and soaked my scales.

I felt something open in the back of my mind, like a door that had always been closed finally opened, and with it, thoughts, emotions, and memories that weren't my own entered my head. Feelings of utmost joy, passion, and love mingled with my own, setting my heart a wildfire with emotion. Memories of the adventures we had mingling with my own, foreign in my mind yet similar.

The winds around us stopped, marking the ceremony of mateship complete. We had become one in every way possible and though this week had been full of frustration, today made up for all of it and then some.

I didn't stop to think before I acted, pressing my muzzle up against his own, questing my tongue for his before they met. His warm wings wrapped around me; though they were covered in blood, I didn't care. Everywhere he touched seemed to set me ablaze, a fire that I wished would never stop, my heart nearly exploding with emotion.

I was all too happy to accept the kiss. Furest was the most beautiful dragon I had ever laid eyes on. Though other dragons had said they liked me, Furest was the only one who held my heart as she would always be the only dragon for me.

Furest, I love you with all my being and more.

His thoughts brushed up against mine like whispers, a soft caress. After all these years of wondering if Frith liked me, his words were more than enough. I broke the kiss.

"Frith, I love you as well, with everything I am."

His brows scrunched up.

"Can you read my mind?" he asked.

"Yes, once the ceremony was complete, I could read every thought you had."

His eyes opened wide, his jaw going slack.

"Furest, you have the gift of telepathy!" he exclaimed.

Seeing every one of his thoughts like words on paper, I knew what his power was as well, though he likely wouldn't be able to use it to its full extent for some years.

"Frith, you have the power of awareness. Even in your sleep, you know what goes on around you. You can tell who's around you at all times and know if there are any threats."

It explained how he kept rolling away when I tried to jump on him days ago. He just wasn't aware of it till now. His ability would age with him growing in strength; eventually, he would master it, and I couldn't wait to see that day.

"Furest."

"Hmm," I responded, too busy trying to keep the sudden flood of thoughts out of my head. Voices that didn't belong to Frith flooded my head in a choir. Before, they were like constant waves. Now, they may drown me.

"Furest!"

he shoved me out of the way before talons dug into his chest. He collapsed on the dirt ground, blood oozing out of his chest. Riese stood there, his chest heaving for air. Finally, he turned his attention to me. His thoughts are full of darkness, hatred, images of everything he wanted to do to me flashing through my mind along with what seemed to be memories of mass destruction and death. A blood-drenched field riddled with rotting corpses.

Looking at Frith, a fury like no other pounded through my body, setting every scale on fire.

Fear entered the eyes of Riese as he gazed upon my scaly hide that had exploded in flames.

"You're not the only one with a new trick!" I roared, slamming into him with everything I had, letting the fire consume his feathers, scorching them into a burnt mess.

A screech escaped his beak as he hit the ground. Rolling over, he flipped upright, intending to take to the sky. However, I was one step ahead of him. Knowing what he was about to do, I countered his action, whipping my tail into his side, sending him sprawling through the bushes in a pile of burnt feathers.

I charged at him hearing his plan to fly away. Just as he took off, I slammed into him, sending him plummeting to the ground. A loud crack sounded as his wing broke.

I didn't need to ask any more questions. Before Riese died, he used dark magic to resurrect him. I saw it all in his mind, like a scroll detailing everything in one's life, their actions, their thoughts. Everything was on display for me to see, like an art exhibit.

"How dare you!" Riese screeched. The earlier impact had broken his wings. He wasn't going anywhere.

I stalked toward him, the fire on my scales as bright as the sun. He inched away as fast as he could using his talons.

I stomped my foot onto his stomach, keeping him from moving.

"You're not curious how I am still alive?" he asked, buying himself minutes of borrowed life.

"Don't need to," I replied before separating his head from his body with my teeth. His blood oozed out, black and thick like oil, the taste like rotten flesh left out in summer's heat.

That's what black magic does. It seeps into one's very blood, changing it to meet its own demands, twisting it until nothing remains of what it once was.

Riese wasn't coming back from that. Nothing can come back from having their head severed. Not even black magic can fix that.

A low groan reminded me of Frith, running over the flames along my scales went out. I didn't see the large puddle of blood till I stepped in it. My paw came away soaked in Frith's blood. Crimson surrounded his limp body like an island in the middle of a lake. He had lost too much blood.

The link between us, strong like steel, now was weak. Frith's life was fading away before my very eyes.

"Frith, please, stay with me. You have to hang on! We are mates now! You can't leave me like this! It's too soon."

Tears blurred my vision, and despair filled my heart at my uselessness. I didn't know any healing magic. There was nothing I could do but watch.

"Furest," he called softly.

"I--I'm here, Frith," I choked out.

"Furest, stay strong for me. Live your life to the fullest. We will meet again in Vulneara. I promise you that. And there, we can spend all eternity together. Just hang on until then."

"Frith! Please don't leave me like this," I pleaded, wrapping his head in my paws.

"Frith, don't you dare leave me, promise me you won't leave me."

"I love you, Furest, with all I am and more." He smiled a toothy grin, his eyes deep pools of sky blue before he closed them.

His head went limp in my arms, the blood cold as ice around us. I felt the tie binding us snap, my heart settling into its own, lonely rhythm once again.

Frith's last thought was a memory flowing through my heart, my soul. It lingered, the way morning dew clings in protest of the rising sun. His memory washed over me, only to leave me broken, sobbing over his lifeless body in a pool of his blood spilled too soon.

***

The warm sun beat down on my scales, humidity stifling the air, more like a drink than air to breathe. I begged for a rain shower to cool my heated scales off. Mom and dad flew beside me. I had just learned to fly a few days ago, and they decided it was time to take me to meet the other dragons my age.

We arrived at a large mountain. Dozens of herbs littered the mountainside, a myriad of colors weaving together and apart in an infinite dance.

"Frith, we are here. Go on in. We will be back at sunset." Mother took off as quick as she landed, ignoring my pleas for them to stay.

Without much choice and loads of reluctance, I wandered in. The tunnel was short. It opened into a massive cavern. In the center, a ray of light shone down onto an enormous tree, making me feel like an ant in the process.

Over a dozen hatchlings all close to my age ran about, playing, laughing, and even sleeping.

I instantly felt like I didn't belong. The others didn't pay me any attention as I surveyed the space. Two ran around near the entrance, wrestling with each other, while another slept in the darkest recesses of the cavern.

On the far side, a green-scaled dragon sat next to one with amber scales with brown spots the size of my claws dotting her hide. The amber one seemed agitated before she stood and stalked off, her tail hitting the snout of the green dragon.

I froze when her eyes met mine, my heart beating faster than I ever thought it could, and still, it beat faster as my paws carried me to her.

"My name is Frith. What's your name?" I asked, my heart beating far too fast. I feared collapsing in front of her but fought it off. If that happened, I would never be able to show my face in front of her again.

She seemed hesitant but finally gave in.

"I'm Furest. Nice to meet you, Frith," she said, her lips lifting into a wide grin.

"So, what was with that green dragon earlier? I couldn't help but notice the way you hit him when you left."

I instantly realized my mistake. It made me seem like I was stalking her. I quickly hurried to remedy that.

"No--not that I was watching you. I just arrived and I was looking around at everyone, and I--"

I shut my snout, knowing I had made the whole thing so much worse.

If I collapsed now, it wouldn't matter. I made myself seem like a stalker.

I tilted my head in shame when a slight chuckle made me raise it again. Furest was laughing at me!

It made my heart beat faster than a hummingbird's wings, not with embarrassment but joy. Maybe there was a way I could save this after all.

"You're funny. As for Resel, he just came and started talking to me. Though I had often said I wanted to be alone for the time being, he didn't stop. Just kept pestering me! Finally, I had enough and left. You see, last night I didn't sleep well. I saw this as a chance to get some sleep."

I had done the same thing as Resel. I silently berated myself as I listened to her.

"I will go then. Sorry to disturb you," I said, turning and starting to walk away. A paw grabbed my tail, stopping me in my tracks.

"No, stay. I like you. You're funny."

She said she liked me! I nearly fainted but barely managed to keep it together as I sat down in front of her.

The memory was charged with emotion, a storm of joy, shame, and excitement. That was the day we met. He held it very close to his heart if that was the last thing he thought of.

I placed magic over his body, preserving it till I could get back home. His parents deserved to know.

"What are you doing he--"

"Now, now, is that any way to greet me?" he said, his lips lifted in a devilish grin.

He interrupted me. The gall. Everyone knows entering a dragon's den without their permission can get you killed. Was he looking for death? I would be more than willing to accommodate his wish.

A growl escaped my clenched teeth, reverberating along the walls.

"Calm down, Furest. I am just here to check on your condition. You should have noticed it by now."

What was he talking about? Notice what?

"The only thing I see is a dragon barging into my den without permission. I would be more than happy to separate that ignorant head from its shoulders if that is your wish."

He smiled, his eyes lit with dark fire as he strode closer.

"My dear, we both know you're in no condition to do anything, let alone defend yourself."

He spoke just before his tail smacked into my snout, sending me tumbling to the side.

death is coming for you!

I roared, or at least I tried to, but nothing came out. I tried again. Silence. Something was very wrong.

"Oh? Has the harpy got your tongue? If you're not too busy trying to kill me, I would look at your paws."

My paws? What do my paws have anything to do wi--oh.

The scales on my paws were turning ash gray and slowly creeping up my arms.

The weakness in my limbs wasn't because of sitting too long. It was because of dark magic.

I recalled connecting my heart to Cythra. Whatever was killing her had transferred to me.

"I came to see with my own eyes what all the fuss was about. All I had was eyewitness accounts to go off. When I was told you kept Cythra safe by merging her heart with yours, I knew it would only be a matter of time before you succumbed as well."

Told by who? When I questioned the elders, they didn't seem to know who the victims were.

The scales on my chest were turning gray now, slowly going up my throat and to my head.

"Though from what I have heard, this seems to be a lot slower. Perhaps it's your age?" he shook his head before continuing. "No, age would have nothing to do with it. Perhaps it is the way it was transferred?"

He seemed lost in thought. I took my chance.

I charged at him, my body collapsing after only a few steps in a heap of ashen scales, the moss softening my impact.

"It would seem, though, the symptoms are still the same. I will have to conduct more research. But, unlike the others who were saved, I am here to make sure no one comes to your rescue. You are a wild card I can't have."

I tried to lift my head but lacked the strength to do so.

"After I am done here, I will have to see who saved Cythra and Xithris. One who has the power to stop this degree of dark magic must be killed."

Good, he had no idea who saved Cythra and Xithris. I needed to keep it that way. Whoever relayed their knowledge about Cythra and Xithris didn't know about Ymerc, which meant it wasn't any of the healers that were there.

With the last dregs of my strength, I set my notes ablaze, destroying any evidence of Ymerc.

"Really? How pathetic, I will find the one who saved them. From what I have heard around the other healers, he is quite young. It is only a matter of time before he crumbles into dust."

He knew too much already. I had to stop him here to protect Ymerc. I was glad I ordered the others to keep silent about Ymerc.

My legs collapsed again as I tried to stand, strength completely gone.

A tail slammed into my side. I couldn't even roar in pain. There was nothing I could do to defend myself.

"Huh, I thought you would have put up more of a fight, oh well. By now, it's too late to save you. I will take my leave."

He spun, starting to walk away. However, there was something even he wouldn't know I had.

My telepathy didn't take strength; it took mana, and I had plenty of that.

Using my telepathy, I used a memory from Ymerc, changing his scale color to blue to throw him off the scent, and thrust it into his head. The black dragon fell to his stomach, roaring in pain as the torture inflicted on Ymerc became his torture as well. The night Ymithia and Cyndrithil found him came rushing like a tidal wave.

This was an ability I had learned over the years, telling nobody, not even the elders, about it. I never trusted their kind. It seems now I was right to do so.

He looked back. His eyes had reflections of torment in them.

"To think you still... had a few tricks," he ground out before he stood and slowly walked out.

My entire body was ash now. Even if I did find Ymerc, I was told not to ask again.

I still had so many questions, most of them surrounding Ymerc, but it looked like I wouldn't live to see them answered. If it weren't for Arlya finding Ymerc and healing him, both Cythra and Xithris would be dead.

While I was lied to--while I was told that the harpies would be taken care of upon my return to the clan so many years ago, I was lied to by the very dragon who was just here, and I was glad for it.

Whatever happens next, I leave in your paws, Ymerc.

With my last remains of will, I began etching a message into the stone. My strength gave out before I could finish it.

Frith, I will be with you soon. Wait for me.

It was early morning when Ymithia went to see Furest. Landing, she ignited her flames, waiting for Furest to let her in. When nothing came, she grew worried. It had been days since anyone had seen Furest.

With caution, she crossed the entrance, broken magic sliding along her scales, making her shiver.

There was a barrier here. Ymithia thought. It has since been broken and not by Furest, who had likely placed it.

She hurried in, throwing caution to the wind.

"Furest! Are you okay?" she said as she entered the main chamber. A prone body lay on the edge of a moss bed. A single claw held out in front of her as if trying to reach for something.

"Furest?" she asked. No response. Going further in, the light from the moss shone upon Furest revealing ashen scales and a lifeless Furest.

"Furest!" Ymithia ran to her, checking her over for any wounds. Ymithia knew she would find nothing. She had to try something.

She felt for a heartbeat only to realize Furest's body was as cold as ice. Furest had long ago perished. Ymithia put her death somewhere in the night. She noticed a single paw held in front of her. She followed it to find the word "Protect" scratched into the stone.

Ymithia sprinted out of the den, condensing her magic into her chest as she did so. Once outside, she unleashed the magic in a ball of fire that shot into the air and exploded in a shower of sparks that never went out unless the caster wished for it.

The signal was a way to alert the clan to something. It could be a danger or even the death of a member.

Once that was done, she slowly walked back inside, her chest seeming to empty into an endless chasm, a hole where once it was solid. Furest had taught Ymithia everything she knew. She looked up to Furest as a teacher. She didn't even get to say goodbye.

When she arrived back at Furest's side, she heard multiple sets of wingbeats touch down outside.

She didn't think she could do it, explaining to them Furest had died, to dark magic nonetheless.

A gout of fire asked for permission to enter. Ymithia answered with her own.

Countless dragons streamed in, their bodies tense, ready for a fight, but when they beheld the lifeless ashen gray body of Furest, cries rang out in the den endlessly.

A soft, warm breeze passed over the meadow, the sky a vibrant blue unlike any seen before, where a dragon with amber scales and dark splotches appeared in a burst of white light--the grass swaying in the breeze in an endless dance.

Nearby, a dragon touched down, the grass parting for him. His scales were a bright blue that matched his eyes. He waited just as he had all these years. Another moment is nothing in the infinity of time.

The amber-scaled dragon woke, instantly her eyes settled on the blue, her eyes lighting up in pure joy that seemed to make the plants around her grow in colored vibrancy.

She didn't waste another moment, running towards him and tackling him as if she would never see him again.

They took their time catching up, though Frith already knew everything, not once leaving her side throughout the entirety of her life though she never knew he was there. He listened with rapt attention as if he was learning it for the first time.

They renewed their mateship bond not long after, though here it has a different name.

And here they would remain for all eternity, their souls forever intertwined.