FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The sorrowful shade of the sky drew back its curtains of clouds, in turn leaving the vast stage above to the sun, peeking over the mountaintops to greet the audience of the ever-changing world below. The warmth of the rays filtered through the soft canopy above them, shining soothing splotches of light into the cool, crisp air of the morning wafting around them. The song of the creatures around called out every now and then, pleasant to their ears. Mono found himself unable to locate any of the noises though, turning his good ear towards the noise where it was louder, stepping over a fallen log before continuing on with Vera at his side. He could smell the wet grass and damp bark of the trees as he breathed, closing his eyes for a moment to take it in before glancing back in the direction they had come.

After arriving home the previous night they hadn't discussed much. Vera seemed put off by something, but not in her usual angry way. Instead, she kept to herself, only asking about food later on, getting some dinner for them downstairs before Mono spent some time on his own on his computer. He couldn't help but worry about her through it all, hoping she wasn't saddened by his song about Flare. He knew she had to have had some sort of darker backstory than she was telling him and that only made him want to hug her even more. But he knew that she wouldn't open up until she was comfortable, instead lying back on his bed and relaxing for the rest of the night as he knew he would be leaving the comfort of his room for quite a while the day after.

He'd never been into The Wilds more than just a few hours, thinking of the lake he and Flare used to relax at, remembering how Vera's crystal had hovered over the water's edge the first time they met. He still couldn't believe that she'd chosen him to help her, again thinking about the whole premise of how he'd agreed to be eaten. But if he could get that serum out of it, show his family he was worth something... It would be worth it.

Now though as he walked among the forest, his home growing further and further away, his apprehension began to rise, a small pit in his gut forming. "Hey, you know how to get back to the city, right?

She glanced out of the corner of her eye at him before shifting them away in the other direction, responding in a brisk reply, "Huh? Oh, The Tamed Lands? Yeah, I do."

The silence between them dragged out, Mono flexing his fingers in his pockets as they walked, Vera always a few steps in front to lead the way. He looked over his sneakers, happy that the mud wasn't so wet that it clung to them, turning his gaze to the branches above, watching the light peek through the cracks of the leaves. He took a deep breath, looking ahead at her as she hastened her pace, "So, I know you said we were going to see your friend Brook, but..." She then stopped, looking over her wing at him with an unreadable expression, "where exactly are we headed? Do they live in the forest, mountains or..."

"Cave. She lives in The Healing Den, in the center of all the tribes of Talamaria."

She then began walking once more, Mono hurrying up to her side, noticing her avoiding his gaze. He opened his mouth to try and question more about the tribes but bit it back, already figuring she'd just shut herself off from him if he continued to prod in that direction. Instead, he shifted the focus to their friend, speaking in a calm tone to try and ease the thick tension between the two of them. "If you don't mind me asking, how exactly do you know Brook?" He felt like adding another word to clarify his thoughts but figured leaving it open-ended may prompt her to answer in whatever way she felt most comfortable.

He heard Vera let out a sigh, staring up into the canopy as he had done a few moments before, "Um, isn't it obvious?" She retorted, glaring back at him before huffing and turning back to face the forest in front of them. "...She's the Healer for the tribes, meaning we visit her now and then for remedies for wounds. She is a Spirit, one of the descendants of the Great Spirits of Old. She shares the magic of her kind and uses it for good." She then took another breath, tail lashing, Mono moving out of the way to avoid it. "She's my friend, and even if we haven't seen each other in years... I know she won't turn me away."

Mono fixed the backpack over his shoulders, thinking over the vials he'd stored inside. He'd considered leaving the full containers back at his house but by the time he'd thought of it they'd already been venturing into the forest for nearly an hour and Vera made it plainly clear that she wasn't about to turn around. He grimaced, a spark of annoyance flaring in his mind, twisting his usual hopeful thoughts into something darker that he tried to ignore. He blinked, adding on to try and fill the void between them. "You mean, turn us away?"

She didn't respond, the only noticeable reaction being the lower of her ears, the human letting out a soft grumble. He shook his head again, the grinding of the confusing thoughts in his brain subsiding after focusing on it, trying to picture laying a blanket over the writhing mass that desired to lash out.

The longer he stayed with her, the more he felt himself caring and he hated it. It didn't matter how he felt or what he did, she didn't belong in the city and he didn't belong here. She loved the one thing he hated and... and even if he found himself less repulsed by the idea of being vored now, that still didn't make him happy. He was doing it to save her, to create the serum to make everyone else safer. This was bigger than him, and he had to remember that. Their relationship was purely to achieve the task and then go their separate ways once they were done.

But then, why did his heart clench at the thought of it?

He pondered over the conversation as they turned around a tree, watching a squirrel pass by further ahead. He thought back to Brook and her powers, knowing little about the Spirits as he hadn't bothered to think about it much before. "So, Brooks a Healer... You said she has magic. Don't only dragons have magic, like the energy that comes from within?"

"Pure Magic." She spat, shaking her head, giving a soft growl, "No. All mythical creatures have the ability to harness the Pure Magic within themselves. The Spirits on the other hand have a unique power, something much more limitless. Over the generations, their powers are said to have diminished greatly but that doesn't make us respect them any less." She then trailed off on the tangent, seeming to ease up as her wings flexed out for a moment before pulling to her sides once more. "Even when we have quarrels with other tribes, Healers like Brook are treated as a middle ground, never involved in the drama or wars of any other."

Mono added on as he watched her movements, nearly tripping over a rock as he hadn't been focusing on the green path before them, "You know, I've never thought about it... How does Pure Magic actually work? Like, is there just a chamber inside every mythical creature with magic, like tumbling around just waiting to be used? Is it infinite or-"

"No, and, well yes." She admitted, tilting her head, the purple sway of the miasma around her body keeping her true form at bay, "When a dragon or any other magical creature uses their power, their 'Essence' as some may call it, it's... summoned from within them? Like, it's not infinite, it drains their energy, both physical and magical. A lot of dragons who are trained in the likeness have to learn their limits as every dragon has a different capacity of magic that they can use at once before causing damage to themselves."

He then saw her friendliness falter, ears lowering once more, tail giving another brisk strike at the air, growling softly to herself. Mono thought it over, taking into account her emotions, attempting to prod further, his voice coming out carefully, "You almost made that sound like a question. Were you not taught about this all where you grew up?"

She then halted her steps, peering down at her claws with another low rumble, avoiding his gaze. Her tone then quieted down, watching as her chest expanded and compressed with each deep breath beneath the slick ethereal scales, a thought forming in his mind. He blinked, mouth agape in realization, "Wait, really?"

She spun around, growling at him, teeth baring as she snarled. Her wings splayed at her sides, "Can you just shut the fuck up?! How many times do I have to tell you that I don't want to talk to you!" She yelled out her words, gaze wavering as she looked over him, Mono freezing as he held his breath. He felt a tear in his heart at the severity of her words, a tremble passing through his body as the connection between them seemed to waver in his mind.

He looked down at his hands, blinking and pulling his arms together, rubbing one of his wrists, "I... I'm sorry. I just-"

"No! No, you don't 'just'. You continue asking about my life when I've CLEARLY... When I've... FUCK! I can't..." She threw her wings out further in exasperation, turning around, kicking at the grass, driving up dirt as her tail flicked rapidly. She growled loudly, glancing back at him before roaring out in the other direction.

His own anger spurred to life, clenching his wrist, closing his eyes as that budding flare of annoyance spurred into a flame. It fueled himself, giving him a burst of dark pleasure as he gave in and yelled back at her, glaring as he stood his ground, "You can't what? Huh? You can't fucking open your heart for just a moment to talk to me?! Don't you realize that I'm trying to be your friend? I like you Vera and yet, yet... All you try to do is push me away!"

He continued rambling on, taking a step towards her, the dragoness seemingly lost in her own thoughts as she turned away from him, "You've spent years, YEARSimprisoned by Rekali with no one to talk to! You've been away from your family and your friends, and yet... You know what, I don't even know that!" He paused, thinking over it with a hard grip of his fists. "I don't even know what the hell you did to be captured! I don't know what you're fighting for other than your freedom! You just... put up with me, drag me along because you have to and you treat me like shit! Can't you just put down your ego and fears for a moment to see that I want to help you?!"

A dreadful breeze scraped over his skin, the birds around them fluttering off in the ruckus they made, the world around them stilled except for the soft sway of the trees. His breath had become ragged, heart racing as he let out his thoughts, mouth now agape to seemingly continue the rant, only to find himself at a loss for words soon after. Each exhale was deep, his chest expanding as he inhaled, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to calm down.

Through it all his brain had unknowingly clenched onto his outburst, a sick feeling pressing in his stomach as a thick, twisting root seemed to grow around the strings of thoughts in his head. He shivered, feeling each wet tentacle squeeze around his anger to force out everything he'd been keeping to himself. But that wasn't him, he wasn't like this. He didn't want to get mad at her, he wanted to care for her. She was even talking to him just a moment ago about her past and the tribe. 'Why am I yelling at her?'

He felt a stranger to his own mind, taking the moment to calm his breathing. Only then as he focused on the sun cascading down onto his body, the weight of the backpack on his shoulders and the beating of his heart did the vines of the unknown entity slowly pull back their grip. It slithered away into the darkness of his mind, suddenly taking in a deep breath, gasping as if he had been unable to breathe properly with them attached. He looked over his hands once more as he opened his eyes, turning them over, at a loss as to what and where this feeling had come from. He felt it the day before, that presence, but how did it implant itself inside him?

As the world around him began to come back to him, he caught sight of Vera soon after, watching her as she sat down on her haunches and looked down at her paws. Her wings were slumped at her sides, head lulling down with her tail curled around her talons as she faced away from him. He watched her wings rise and fall with her breath, her quietness feeling unnerving to him, suddenly thinking over his words and tone before being pulled down into a pool of regret. He hummed sadly, taking a step forward before stopping.

She didn't look back. Her back was presented to him, walling off her face from his, the distance between them spreading as he turned his back to her as well. He sat down soon after, feeling the wet grass beneath his hands, rubbing off the dew on his jeans and crossing his legs. He could feel her waiting for him to say something, running through his mind on what he should do and not do. It felt like walking on ice, especially with her, but he had no idea what to say. He didn't have fancy words and didn't have many friends he'd argued with in the past to get some sort of idea of how to act in situations like this. It was... confusing, but he tried.

He breathed in the crisp scent of the oak forest, the chirping of birds slowly returning, "I don't know what to do, Vera. I... I'm sorry for getting angry... I'm... I don't feel like I belong here. Like, I'm sitting here in The Wilds with a dragoness I barely know, wandering somewhere with the intention to get vored again. You... You're trapped and... and I'm the only one who can free you, yet I feel like the last person on earth that's capable of really doing any good. I'm just, what, walking around with you while you do all the work? I feel stupid, useless. Why am I here?"

His voice drew out, his heart now a steady thrum to march along with his inner conflicts, something that spiraled through his head daily. It felt so dark, so hopeless, something he couldn't think about without feeling sad. It was hard to describe and yet even trying to do so brought him deeper into depression. No, walling it off was better, he couldn't- He had to be better.

He glanced over at her slumped state, the two of them resting in their own thoughts. He continued once he gained the courage, placing his hands on his lap. "I... I feel weird, Vera. I don't know why but there's something inside me that feels off. I feel, I don't know, more irritable than usual? I don't wanna get angry at you, I wanna help you. I just feel so left in the dark that it's hard for me to continue to walk on aimlessly."

He put his hands together into a fist, placing them softly onto his lips, leaning down a bit as he closed his eyes, "Vera... I care about you. I want to see you happy, even if I've only just met you. You aren't a bad person and even if you're afraid to be open with me, I want you to know that I'll never hurt you as anyone else has."

He then eyed a white flower growing near the root of a tree, the blue center filled with pollen. He picked it from the ground, turning it over in the palm of his hand, the soft petals brushing against his fingerprints. "I... I've felt... so hurt in the past. My family hurt me... I know you don't wanna talk, and I respect that. I never want to push you to do something that makes you feel vulnerable. But talking can help."

He rambled on. "I'm afraid for you, Vera. I can't spend much time with you and I just... want to help make your life better, even if it's not for long. We've all gone through shit, all in our own ways, but if we never talk about it we'll never be able to let go of the pain that we've been holding onto. Sometimes you need a friend you can lean on and, if you allow it... I'd like to be that friend for you."

The time between them spanned for longer than he could count, holding the flower softly as he let them both take some time to themselves. He knew his words sounded dumb, that she didn't want to hear them, but maybe it was good. Maybe it could help, maybe he was stupid, maybe none of this mattered and he truly shouldn't be here. But he was here, and he would do his best to make it count. He caught sight of a bird fluttering down onto the grass further into the forest, watching as it hopped and prodded at a particular patch of dirt before pulling out a worm and scarfing it down. It chirped, eyeing him curiously before the sound of its wingmates called them back up into the trees soon after.

Vera's voice responded quietly, Mono shifting his focus to her with a tilt of his head, "I... I like you too, Mono. I... I don't see any evil in you, even when you're angry like this." She paused, gulping, tail shifting to the side, uncurling slowly to rest behind her. "But that makes it harder. I've done horrible things... I don't... I can't. I'm conflicted about what to do because, well, you've shown me something I'm not used to. Something I didn't expect. You've been a friend to me and that... God, that's hard. My path can't coalign with you, it just can't and I'm sorry but I can't elaborate on that. That's why it's hard to open up."

"Not because I don't want to talk but..." She cut herself off, giving a soft rumble. "None of what I'm saying makes sense."

"And that's okay. I like when you're honest because that's when you're being yourself." He caught sight of her glancing back at him, her blue eyes saddened, "We all have problems and we all act tough to try and pretend like we've got things together. But you know what, fuck that. I still feel like I'm sixteen, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing in life but I'm okay with that because I know everyone else is in a similar position. We're all scared of the future, scared of judgment... but I won't judge you."

Her response was like a cold breath of metal scraping against stone, "You would if you knew the truth."

He turned his head to stare at the petals of the flower, picking them off one by one as he spoke, "I... I still want to try. Can you please tell me more about what happened back then, how you were captured? I don't need to know anything you aren't comfortable saying, but... I just want to know you, to give you the time to share everything you've kept locked inside."

Her tail pulled back in around her body, letting out a deep breath, pulling her wings to her sides as she looked over at him sincerely. Her gaze was like that of a hopeful child, searching for truth, looking deep into his gaze much like Flare had done when he was still around. He smiled softly back, watching her shift her eyes to her paws once more before she began.

"I... I told you that I grew up in one of the tribes of The Wilds. I spent my whole life there, but from the day I was born I was destined to be unhappy." She lifted her wings, the blue translucent form of her body still displaying the sharp markings painting her form, looking over them herself. "Every dragon is born with a marking of some kind, one that pre-determines their role in life. Sometimes the symbols are passed through genes and others it's random chance. Usually, everyone happily accepts their role, just living in the welcoming community we have, but I... I couldn't."

"My markings meant that I was supposed to be a warrior, a defender, a fighter for the tribe. At first, I didn't know better, learning about it all because it was all I really ever knew. I was taught that it was good for me, and having a purpose made me feel... fulfilled? But after a few years, I began to look at the other dragons, the casters, the hunters, the healers... I saw how different they were and I became wistful of their lifestyles. Every time I battle-trained after that I began to feel my brain wander, wondering what hunting was like, thinking about magic and healing. I began failing many of the classes, just losing the drive for it all, and in the process was made fun of a ridiculed by my Clawmates. They made me feel... stupid, my teacher saying, 'You'll always be a Warrior. Stop dreaming about living someone else's life.' But that feeling never went away. It was only after that spring, on the day my wing was injured that I was brought to see Brook, and from then on everything changed.

She held her head high, scanning the canopy above, watching the light pierce through the foliage and onto her face, illuminating the crusted side of her neck. "She healed me that night, letting me stay in her cave to rest. I watched as she used her magic on my wing, asking about how it worked, how she healed, asking why life was so unfair to mark me as a Warrior when I hated it so much."

She then gave a grumble, pausing as she seemingly thought over her words. "I've never told anyone this, not even my family, but... I hate my markings... Sometimes I wish I could tear them off."

There were a few moments of silence as she paused, Mono prompting her, "It's okay, continue if you're comfortable. I'm just listening." He then pulled the backpack off his arms, already feeling a bit sore from the weight, rolling his shoulders to try and flex them before focusing on her words once more.

She glanced over at him then back into the tree line, "She... she felt sympathetic. She saw something in me that, for some reason, made her take me under her wing in a sense. She told me that she didn't agree with how our tribe ran things, that the whole 'predetermined destiny' was stupid, that I could be whoever I wanted, even if everyone else thought I was crazy. But it was hard to believe. I couldn't just do that, they wouldn't allow me to learn magic."

She then gave a soft growl baring her teeth before flapping her wings once, "I fucking HATE how people say 'Just be who you want!' 'Don't be afraid to show who you are to the world.' and you know why? Because my whole fucking world is against me! The life I live is one I wish I wasn't a part of. Yeah, I love my family but the society I live in... I guess I'm a little jealous of you in that sense." She pulled her wings back to her sides, clawing absentmindedly at the grass, "You get the choice to be whoever you want. You look so free and... I wish I could've had that when I was younger."

Mono hummed to himself, running his fingers over the back of his other hand, pursing his lips as she continued, "Brook believed in me though. She saw potential in me, a drive and spark of something else that not even I understand. She told me to return once every week so she could teach me the ways of healing magic. After that I began to feel hopeful, wondering if I would finally be able to explore that other side of me. I felt... happy." He caught a soft smile on her muzzle but only for a brief moment. "I visited her a few times, but once I was caught trying to sneak out of camp at night, they cut off my communication with her."

She gave a growl, lowering her head again towards the grass, her ear flicking, "I was so angry. I yelled at the leaders, at my teacher, everyone who was forcing me into this... but what could I do? If I left, I would be cast out from the tribes. I'd be alone in the forest and I couldn't survive like that. Again, that's why I hate how some people can just grow up so lucky! Sure, I'm jealous but like... I also feel so pissed because my whole life I've dreamed of that sort of freedom and you... just seem to waste it."

She stopped abruptly, clutching her chest with a paw, biting her lip. Mono sighed, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize. I... I find it hard to pick myself up sometimes. I wish I could just do things but all these things and dreams take so much time. I've tried to do better but it's like I'm my worst enemy, dragging down my mentality the whole time."

She listened to him with a shuffle of her paws, adding to her explanation without responding to his apology. "I was so afraid. For the first time in my life, I felt chained down, helpless, and scared that I would be destined to fall into a role I hated. I tried continuing training after my communication with her was broken. It was hard at first, but eventually, I forced myself to learn to fight, trying to block out those stupid dreams of a better life. Even now it feels like a dumb dream. I remember being forced to vow never to learn healing again, brought before the leaders of the tribe to recite it. I had no choice."

Mono then added softly, looking at her paws, "Did... did you ever see Brook again since then?"

"Yeah. After I made the vow, they on occasion would allow me to see her. I told her what they were doing, that I couldn't learn Healing Magic anymore. She was furious at them, not because of their ways but... because she cared for me. But she had an eternal vow, one passed down through generations of Spirits, a promise to never stir up drama with the tribes they cared for. Instead, she remained silent, praying that one day they would change their minds and allow me to be who I really was. But that never happened, and I lived an entire life, my life, living a life that wasn't my own."

She then turned herself around to face him, her eyes blinking sincerely, seeming to fight back something. "My family sympathized with me. They wanted me to be happy but were forced to keep in line and obey the rules. So even when they were sad, even when they hugged me, wishing things could be different, they were helpless to change the laws. I vented to them often, I planned ideas of escape to live my own life and return to Brook in secret... But eventually, none of that mattered, not when I was kidnapped a few years later."

"Kidnapped?" He blinked, "You mean by..."

"Rekali, but it's not how you think it is." She exhaled largely, looking over him once before turning her face away, "It happened at a Gathering, the monthly meeting between tribes. We share stories, play games, but it's all meant to try and create peace between the different territories, to remind us we aren't so different from one another." She then shook her muzzle. "But the last time I went to one, I... I met a griffin, one of electricity at that. He said he was visiting from the mountains far off to the east, wanting to learn more about our tribes here in the Valley. I was intrigued by him as I'd never met a griffin before, knowing their kind was rare. He was pleasant to chat with and eventually convinced me to follow him deeper into the forest, saying it would be easier to talk where there wasn't as much noise."

"At that point, it was too late. I... God." She shivered, gasping for breath, clutching a paw over her chest again. Mono watched on in uncertainty, wondering if he should hug her but held himself back, "Tendrils appeared around me. They bound me, strangled me till I was unconscious, unable to scream for help. The last thing I remembered was the electric griffin's face smiling as I passed out, Rekali ordering him to take me somewhere. After that, I lost everything, unable to control my body or say a word, her dark magic in complete control of everything I could say or do."

Mono brushed his hair behind his bad ear, keeping his right ear turned to her so he could hear her clearly. He added, "So you... you were betrayed?"

"I should have known better not to trust strangers but at that point, anything outside of my world of chains I felt back at home was like a breath of fresh air. I just hoped I could escape reality for a bit, to hear about someone else's story. He was handsome, a smooth talker... But he was working for her, luring me in. Even when I was in her complete control, I could still hear her talking about me, mentioning how she chose me because of my markings. Once again making me hate the brands of my birth all the more."

She huddled deeply around herself, shrinking as much as she could, ears flattening as she gasped and spoke in a whisper, "No one will ever understand... What she did to me... She took away everything from me. I spent two years of my life silently crying, killing, doing her bidding. I was like a mindless drone, yelling at my claws as they slashed through the necks of creatures. I hurt so many people, watched animals turn into monstrosities, all because of her control over me." She forced her head up to stare at Mono, blinking, "I'm... I'm the reason she's as powerful as she is. I've turned into a monster, someone that I don't even recognize."

The world around them grew colder, his heart clenching as he pictured what she must have gone through. Locked inside a cage, unable to speak or do anything. He thought of the betrayal she must have felt for trusting someone, the fear and everything attached to it. He pictured Flare, his heart warming for a moment before quickly shifting to his parents, grief hitting him like a truck as he forced those caged thoughts back into his cell, unable to think about them clearly without breaking down. 'Vera needs me... I need to say something.'

A thought rose to his head, unable to stop himself as his curiosity spoke aloud, "Then, how did you regain that consciousness? You seemed in control of yourself when I met you at the lake-"

"Mono..." She broke him off as he spoke, her voice still low, "...I'm still that monster. Even now. I can't be your friend because..." She faltered, gasping, catching her breath.

He scooted closer, unable to hold himself back, sitting a few feet away from her, "Vera, you aren't a monster. You're a good dragon, you've been a friend to me, even if you don't-"

"No, Mono, I'm not. I'm... I just can't." She stomped a paw on the ground before her, Mono gulping at the force of it, her claw digging into the dirt. He felt a small flash of fear, wondering how many people she'd killed... but it didn't matter.

"Vera, you aren't that monster. Rekali is. She made you into something you aren't, something you've never been."

She retorted, glaring at him over her wing, "But even now I'm still doing her bidding. Even after I broke partially from her spell, I kept serving her."

He scooted closer, leaving only a foot between them. "But you had no choice. You've... you haven't had another option. Look at us now though! You ran away from her, found me, and now we're working on breaking you free from her control permanently! We're almost halfway there already!" She grumbled, seemingly unable to find a good response. "We're going to free you, Vera. You don't have to be that monster anymore that you've convinced yourself you are."

He then reached out, hesitating as his hand wavered above her wing, wondering if she'd lash out at him. Her wings shivered, her eyes meeting his, looking at his hand, waiting. He saw the fear, the helplessness inside herself that festered into anger. He saw pain, a refusal to believe she could be more than who she was. He held back a tear, breathing in slowly before placing the palm of his hand over her shoulder. She gasped at his touch, glancing at the hand and back to him, giving a conflicted murmur to herself as he comforted her.

"We're gonna do this, you and me. Even if I never see you again once we're finished... knowing you finally are free, free to be who you are... I'll be happy. I want to see that day and we will, but we've got to keep going." She glanced away, ears still pressed against her head. He leaned down to her face, gathering his confidence as the motivation to make her happy drove him to continue, "Hey, don't be scared. You're the most confident and driven girl I've ever met. If anyone can do this it's you, so don't give up on yourself. I know I haven't."

He hadn't truly been sure why he said those words, hadn't wanted to admit his feelings to himself, but the connection he felt for her was only amplified as he learned more about her. She felt real, less of an NPC in a game. She didn't feel fake, she wasn't a dream. She was right here beside him, scared and yet as real as any emotion he'd ever felt, and he didn't want to leave her side. He wasn't sure what all this meant for the future but he promised he wouldn't let his worries get in the way, knowing if she found happiness that the journey would have been worth it.

Her breathing began to steady once more, less shallow as she closed her eyes and focused. Her wings rose and fell with her rhythm, looking over her paws before straightening her body. She turned her face to him, eyeing him up and down, "I... I'll try and believe that. I don't know what- what I can do to change the future, but... I don't want to hurt you."

"You could never hurt me, Vera. I trust you." She recoiled from his words, grimacing as she stared into his eyes, Mono unable to read her expression. He shook away the thought a few moments after, climbing to his feet before grabbing his backpack from the grass, "Come on, we need to get going if we still want to get to Brooks before sundown."

She sat there for a little longer, lost in her thoughts, eyes looking over him and herself before eventually pulling herself up onto her paws. He took the moment to marvel at her body once more, a beautiful dragoness yes, but also a friend. 'A friend?' He hadn't had a friend since Flare. He hadn't dared to try. It felt wrong, he didn't want to replace him. Flare was so important to him that he felt compelled to never try again but... perhaps she could be a friend as well?

The two of them continued deeper into the forest, Vera leading the way once more, chatting occasionally as the sun continued its journey across the sky. It wasn't long after that the soft rush of water from nearby caught Mono's attention, speaking aloud, "Hey, where's that coming from? The water."

She looked back at him for a moment before glancing at his ear, humming, "Oh, yeah. It sounds like it's coming from up ahead. I forget you can't locate things. That must be... unnerving." She flicked her tail, avoiding his eyes once more but continuing on nonetheless.

"I've had it my whole life so I've never felt like I'm missing out. But, I guess since being Soul-Linked with you, it's like... a whole new dimension I couldn't even comprehend had opened up to me. In all honesty, it's somewhat even more peaceful how being able to only hear out of one ear. Hearing from both made me feel uneasy and overwhelmed, but it also made me feel like I was losing an important part of what makes me me. I don't know if that makes sense but, you know..."

She nodded, stretching her legs as she walked, the sound of the river drawing closer, "I think I know what you're trying to say. I'm sorry I put you through that whenever you're bonded with me."

He shrugged, the light from the sky flourishing over the edge of the riverbank, the dirt and brown rocks surrounding the sides of the calm flowing current. "It is what it is. I'm just happy we're out of that club. That was... a lot to process. This though..." He then took in a deep breath, standing at the edge of the water as he looked across to the forest on the other side, "this is much more relaxing. We could rest here for a bit if you want."

He then heard a gasp from her as they walked up to the water, following her gaze to the fish swimming beneath the surface. He'd noticed them before but didn't pay much mind to them. Vera on the other hand licked her ethereal jaws, giving a shake of her body before stepping out into the shallow liquid. He watched as the water licked around the edges of her paws and legs as she positioned herself on the edge of the large stream, icy eyes focusing on the moving targets before her. Her tail was raised above the ground, wings extended out, noticing how she seemed to use them to keep her balance while remaining otherwise still.

The fish on the other paw just swam upstream without a care in the world, surely not unfamiliar with all types of creatures drinking from the water. He marveled at their dark brown scales, splotches of maroon accenting their sides, acting like a pack as the countless prey species swayed their tail fins and swished onwards.

Vera smiled, paw outstretching slowly beside her, the only movement on her translucent form being the sway of purple magic around her body. Then, quicker than a lightning strike, her paw arched itself into the water, hitting its mark as a fish was scooped up and thrown into the air. The fish wiggled helplessly, flopping onto its side as it landed on the bank, giving small struggles before the dragoness turned around and gave a smile.

She then grabbed the fish with her talons, raising it to her maw before opening her jaws wide. The fish was only just larger than her paw, gazing over the wondrous meal before pressing the fish headfirst into her maw. She tilted her head up, waiting until the majority was in her maw before placing her paw back on the ground. She took a moment to hold it there, the tail flopping outside her muzzle, seemingly calling for help from its fish friends. But creatures so small were incapable of thought and so its brethren kept on swimming, the unlucky creature left to its fate. Only a moment after she took a large gulp, the scales sliding over her thick tongue before slurping up the wriggling tail to send the bulge down her neck to her stomach.

Mono gulped at the sight, grimacing as he thought about vore, for some reason taken aback as he'd assumed she would have bit into it. 'Of course, she ate it whole... Why am I getting hard?' He gave a growl in annoyance, noticing the shifting in his underwear, watching as she gave a hum, glancing at her belly before turning her face to him. "Okay, did you really have to eat it like that?"

She blinked, tilting her head in a way that he couldn't deny was cute, her ears giving a flick, "What? What do you mean?"

"Oh come on, you just let it hang from your jaws. You ate it in one gulp. Aren't you supposed to like, I don't know, eat it normally?"

She gave a huff, glaring softly but in a playful way, her tail swaying calmly behind her as she faced him from the edge of the water. "Well, excuse me then, Mr. Fish Master. I didn't know you were an expert on how fish were supposed to be eaten." She turned slightly away from him after that, glancing out of the corner of her eye at him.

He rolled his eyes, his cheeks warming, "Okay, but like seriously. There's no way dragons eat fish like that. Right?"

She looked him up and down, her expression turning to confusion, "Oh, you aren't joking? I guess you never grew up in the forest, I thought it was obvious. Well..." She then turned back to the water, following her gaze, "the distinction between a sentient creature and a non-sentient is usually dependent on species. Fish are always non-sentient, dragons are sentient and some are a mix, like birds. Regardless of their sentience though, we have a way of life that all creatures of The Wilds follow. It's one of respect."

She looked downstream, her eyes following a brown fish with green speckles, moving a little slower than the rest, "After The Great Betrayal, the Spirits declared all life as sacred. Because of this, we believe no creature should suffer a painful death, sentient or not. So, while you may know non-sentient creatures who dig into their meals like that, dragons like me and others that follow The Way of The Spirits swallow creatures whole. I guess I'm not surprised you thought I was trying to be... but no, it's to make its swallow painless, thanking it for its life."

He hummed, the fish they were following disappearing from sight as it was lost among the other clutter of its scaled companions further down. "But, don't you digest it anyways? That isn't painless."

She sighed, tearing her gaze away from the food she was eyeing before looking at the forest on the other side, eyeing a large rock with the sun shining onto it. "Yes. That is the way of life, but that doesn't mean we can't spare the suffering that comes beforehand. It is The Way of The Spirits and so it's what we follow. Or, at least how I was raised." She looked down at her paws, then at her stomach, hearing the soft growl it echoed around the meal inside.

"There's a lot you hadn't told me before. I'm glad you're opening up a bit."

She chuckled softly, turning into a sour tone, "Yeah... I'm not sure why you care about me but, whatever."

She then flicked her tail, Mono piping in as he pictured how she'd caught it, "So, on another note... The way you caught it, I thought you didn't learn how to hunt. You said you were a Warrior?"

She ruffled her wings, tilting her neck to relieve the tension, "Just because I was a Warrior doesn't mean I'm brain dead. I know how to catch a meal, every creature does. It's driven into us the moment we're born, it's an instinct." She then sat down, wings pulling to her sides, "Being a Hunter means learning how to make traps and use them. It's not always about capturing food but also about capturing intruders. It's about being quiet and fast. We learn the basics about each Role when you're young so I have a basic idea of how they all work."

"Huh, I never thought of it that way. That's actually really interesting." He then thought back to something she'd said, adding on, "You mentioned something called 'The Great Betrayal'?"

Her breath came out in a growl, "Yes, The Great Betrayal, not 'The Divine Divide.' Again, that name is supposed to cover up what really happened. It's fucked. I don't want to talk about it right now, I... get heated when I think of how society sees it where you're from."

He nodded, making a mental note of that, wondering exactly what 'betrayal' they had done to the creatures of The Wild to have given it that name. Again, he never cared for history much but he couldn't deny his curiosity. He then took notice of her gaze, her tongue licking her chops again, tail swaying behind her, brushing up against the grass and leaving a small groove in the wet dirt where it rubbed against. An idea then rose in his mind, stating, "It, uh, seemed like you were really eager to eat. Do you like the taste of fish?"

She gave a snort, not answering him for a moment, using one of her paws to grab a brown rock from the edge of the water before turning it over in her translucent claws, "I do. I haven't had one in forever. I used to catch them here and there when I had free time between classes during the day. There was this amazing underground river in the tunnels near the home where yellow-scales trout would swim through. God... they're the fucking best." She gave what he assumed was a happy thwack of her tail against the dirt, smiling at her excitement before she glanced back at his chuckle of amusement. She then eyed her tail, giving a grumble and growling softly. "Okay, shut the fuck up. Don't look at me like that."

Mono placed a hand on his shoulders, fixing the straps of his backpack, a glint in his eyes, "Like what?" She just grumbled, holding her head high once more, the trickle of the river swishing past the as the fish continued their descent. He then continued on with his idea, noticing how she continued to eye the creatures before them, "Weeeeellll... would you like another?"

She turned her snout in his direction, "Another what? Fish?" He nodded, earning a snort from her, ears flicking, "Well, I mean, no. I already had one, I just... I guess I could have another."

"Well, I was going to ask... I've never actually fished before, both as a human and as an animal. I was thinking, since I'll probably never get the chance to try this again and we're already here..." She raised an eyeridge at him, looking into his stare to try and read him, "I figured, maybe, you could try to... teach me how to fish? You know, as a dragon?"

She scoffed, her snout scrunched up as she blinked a few times, turning to look at the rock in her paw before tossing it onto the edge of the bank beside her. Her wings splayed at her sides in exasperation, the scent of the river filling his nose, "Excuse me? You want me, me, to teach you how to fish?"

"Yeah!"

"No." She turned her snout away, the tip of her tail flicking, "I can't. I mean, that's stupid. It's not going to be useful information for you after I'm gone."

"That doesn't mean I can't have fun learning. Besides, I get to see what it's like from your point of view. We've just been walking through the forest all day. Surely pausing for a bit to have a breather would be nice."

She rumbled, shaking her head with a bare of her teeth, "We've already been doing that over the last hour, we've barely made any progress since then."

"It won't take that long. You scooped up that fish in a matter of seconds. Surely teaching me how to do it couldn't take much longer." She huffed, turning to look back at him, "Please? I mean, you get another fish out of it and, well, I get to learn more about you in the process."

She looked down at her paws in the water, flexing her digits before sighing, "Fine. One fish, then we're continuing. Got it?"

He chuckled, nodding, "Got it, Mrs. Stubborn Snout."

She paused, catching a sly smirk from the side of her muzzle. "I'm going to bite you if you call me that again. Also, is that the best insult you can come up with? You really gotta work on that."

"I'm not really used to making jokes for people so, uh, sorry." He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit dumb now as she then turned around and walked up to him. He looked over her body, giving a hum before finishing. "Alright, ready?" She gave a disgruntled snort, pulling her wings to her side before nodding. He then focused on that intent in his mind once again, closing his eyes, using the sound of the water to focus on the task at hand like the vibration of the strings. He plucked at each intricacy, feeling her presence, reaching out his arm to her. He then watched as her Familiar form began to warp once again, pulling towards his body into something similar to a wind tunnel, swirling and dissipating until she collapsed entirely onto him, causing him to black out for only a moment.

He then shook his snout a snoot after, blinking, the weight from his backpack lifted as it had been absorbed along with his previous form. He gave a quick look over himself again, flexing his wings, smiling at how easily he could now bond with her, talking out loud, "I think I'm getting used to this. Alright, so..." He then took a few steps into the river, pulling his paw back at the cold temperature of it, flexing his claws before pressing on once more. He stopped when the water pooled around his scaled ankles, keeping his tail still as it crested at the river's edge, not wanting to alert his catch despite how unfearful they already seemed to be, "How should I start this? Are there some basics I should know?"

Her thoughts swayed along his own, ~To start, you want to have your paw outstretched beside you.~ He nodded, raising his paw, feeling the water drip off it as he kept it held a few inches off the surface of the water. He watched the fish swim past him, going about their day peacefully. After holding the position for a few seconds though he felt his body shaking, the lack of support from his left front paw making him take a moment to try not to fall over, shifting his weight. ~Try spreading your wings. Dragons use their wings and tails to help balance themselves. It also can help to spread your weight.~

He did as she suggested, spreading out his wings, the embrace of the wind instantly catching them as if to beckon them into the sky. He shivered at the thought of flying again, instead focusing on using them to shift his weight. It took some getting used to but he figured he could work with it, instead turning his gaze to the river once more. 'Okay, I think I got it...'

~Good. Go ahead and pick a target. Focus on it. When it passes beneath your paw, you'll want to slash your paw into the water and throw it back onto the bank.~

He took a deep breath, his dragoness muzzle always in his view, eyeing it for a moment as it distracted him momentarily. At the same time, the trickling of the water in both ears filled his senses, his focus wavering a bit as he tried to deal with the constant sound around him, even if it was fairly quiet. His eyes fixed on a fish with blue speckles, watching as it swam down the river towards them. He imagined it before him, picturing how he would strike, pressing his digits together, suddenly wondering if he should be using his claws somehow to spear into it to get a better grip. He watched as it quickly drew closer, keeping his balance steady as his gaze turned serious, looking down at the fish.

Then, just as he prepared to scoop it out, a flock of birds suddenly burst out from the trees, calling out loud CAWS and CHIRPS, filling his ears with a barrage of noise that made him cringe. He saw the shadow as the animals took off above him, blinking, the fish suddenly swimming past him just as he looked down! He quickly slammed his paw into the water, soaking himself in the rough and unpracticed movement, hitting the fish but simply pushing it further down the river, scaring off the others nearby to the other side of the stream. He rumbled, pressing his ears down to the sides of his head to cut off most of the sounds, taking a deep breath.

He could feel Vera's thought strands laying nearby in his head, listening and watching him, quiet and yet supportive? He apologized verbally, "Sorry... Noise is... hard to focus with, especially being able to hear in both ears. I don't mean to look stupid."

Her mind strands hummed back, giving a soft rub to his own, making him smile a bit, ~You, uh... you don't look stupid. I get it. Try again, but this time, instead of just slamming your paw into the water, imagine your paw is like a cup or a spoon. You don't want to splash the entire surface of the spoon into the water, you want the end of the spoon to go in first. It'll disturb the water less and make it easier to draw your paw back out more smoothly at the end.~

He nodded, keeping this in mind, raising his paw again. He looked over it, trying to cup his paw as much as he could as a feral, picturing his digits like a swimmer, diving with hands outstretched into the water. He then turned to choose a fish, eyeing a red-speckled specimen, keeping his ears against his body to try and mute out the sound. He watched as it swam closer, the scent of salmon filling his nostrils, the need to impress Vera rising up, not wanting to look incompetent. It quickly made its way towards him, the current rushing it along, the dragoness waiting until it was just beneath his paw before making his move.

With the speed of a bullet he pierced the water with the tips of his claws, resulting in less of a splash, feeling his paw collide with the fish soon after. He grinned, continuing the wide stroke, cupping the bottom of the fish before flinging it out into the air behind him. He watched as it wriggled and landed on one of the brown rocks, squirming to try and fall into the water at the base of the rock. He made sure to stop that though, placing a paw over it, eyeing the beautiful scales.

"I did it! Ah, I actually did it!" He gave a wiggle of his tail, shaking his rear a bit, feeling a rush of dopamine from achieving the task. He wasn't quite sure he wanted to eat it but he supposed he could un-Soul-Link in a moment to let her finish the job.

Her thoughts rumbled back in response, ~Alright, hehe. There you go. Happy now?~

He rolled his eyes playfully, adding, "Oh come on, Vera. Wasn't that fun?"

~I mean, I guess? I don't really see catching a helpless fish as a hard task but... If you feel good about it, it would be rude of me to ruin that for you.~

'It's basically my first kill as a dragon! I'm pretty happy with it.' He knew he wouldn't ever be a dragon, at least not permanently, but it did feel good to be able to hunt like one. He wasn't sure why, maybe it connected him more with Flare since he was from the side of the world originally. But in the end, it didn't matter.

It was only then as he quieted down that something became utterly apparent. The birds were gone. The sound of wildlife had seemingly stilled, thinking about the flock of birds that had flapped off as he'd fished. 'Hey, Vera?'

~Yeah?~

'Is it oddly quiet to you suddenly? I mean, the sound of the river is still here but... All the birds just flew off earlier. Do you... think they were spooked by something?'

And like the summoning of a spell, his words brought forth a descending shadow, blocking out the sun with its large wings. There was no time to react, it was swift like his paw, diving down from high into the sky before its large talons grabbed onto his body, wrapping around his belly and chest expertly as the ground below him was quickly pulled away. He let out a loud yell, the shift in gravity and suddenness of it all causing him to struggle wildly, his instincts to survive hitting him. He wiggled, biting at the kidnappers' talons, catching the sight of golden feathers above him. He peered down as his paws dangled below him, the world falling away, making him hold back the urge to throw up as they ascended.

The bird was a large yellow hawk, his unmarked feathers sheer and clean. His beak tilted up into the air, carrying them higher, keeping his catch clutched in his claws. Mono roared out at the large creature, roughly 4-5 times their height, towering above them. He then remembered shortly after that Vera's reformation spell would save them if needed, instead focusing on fighting back the urge to vomit as the weightlessness overtook him. 'FUCK... God, what do we do?!'

~Just relax. We actually needed to get eaten by a hawk, this can work. Just keep doing what you're doing.~ He blinked at her words, his heart beating faster. What the hell did she mean by that? He tried prying at the hawk's claws, stopping a moment after as he realized if he fell that he could die, eyes going wide before the stroke of the large wings halted, pausing mid-air with them in his clutches.

They were then raised up to face the beak of the creature, his brown snout... frowning at them? His eyes looked conflicted, staring at them with a mixture of curiosity and something else he couldn't place. Mono yelled again, knowing he probably shouldn't be so forceful but being unable to hold it back, "Let us go!"

The bird blinked in response, tilting its face, his voice chuttering in fast bursts, each sentence coming out like it was a sprint, "Us? There's only you. I think? Oh, I'm terribly sorry for this!" He then began rambling, raising his beak to exclaim to the sky, using his talons to motion with as he spoke, in turn throwing them side to side. "Oh, I really hoped I wouldn't feel bad eating a dragon. Buckler said they taste great, but now I'm having second thoughts. I mean, look at you!"

He then brought them higher, pressing Mono's snout right up to his eye, the bird gazing into his face. He clicked his beak, watching him closely before pulling his beak back and sighing, "Oh, Spirits! I can't eat something that looks so scared! Wait, are you scared?" He then looked closer, frowning again before giving a shake of his head, "Of course they're scared, you just said you'd eat them! Oh, why can't I just eat dumb creatures instead!" His voice then turned into a mocking one, using a deeper tone as he raised his face to the sky, "'But Fret, the bigger creatures are higher in protein!' 'The sentient ones are much more fun to catch!' Oh, I don't know about this."

Mono yelped out, watching as the hawk listened in uncertainty, "Wait, you... don't want to eat us? Let us go then!" Vera gave a growl at him in his mind, reminding him they needed this, but in all honesty, all he wanted was to get back to solid ground. They could find another bird, right?

Fret replied briskly, "Oh, I don't really want to. I'm new at the whole 'eating talking animals' thing. Oh, no I can't let you go, I'm sorry! I really am!" He then motioned with a wing to further away in the sky, Mono only just now noticing another large hawk watching nearby. "I'm on my hunting exam and if I don't eat you, well, I'll be in biiiig trouble! Ah, I'm really sorry for this."

Then, with a glance at his teacher across the sky, he used his beak to grip the chest of the dragoness, holding them firmly before releasing his talons grips and raising them up above himself. Mono yelled, the moist interior of the hawk's maw now on full display, the tongue pressing at the underside of his body before giving a big lurch. His body quickly was scarfed down, the nervous Fret not wanting to waste more time than he had to, noticing its carefulness not to injure the prey's body. Mono felt his face pressed into the back of his throat, only his tail outside the bird, wiggling it as if to try and beg for his escape. The hawk only murmured his regards, giving one more quick gulp before the long tail slipped past his beak and squished down his gullet along with the rest of his meal.

Mono's limbs were forced against the sides of his body, the tight gullet of the bird guiding him wetly down the tunnel, slipping down with the momentum of gravity. He grimaced at the feeling, the large, muted wing beats of the hawk he was inside thrumming alongside the distant beat of the predator's heart. His snout was soon pressed against the entrance to his stomach, slorping bile all over his face before slumping into the large chamber against his will. He gasped as they entered, feeling the lack of oxygen inside, the stomach growling happily around them before beginning to tighten. Luckily for him, the stomach was much larger than the others he'd been inside previously but that didn't stop the fluid around him from pouring over his form, watching as the walls pulsed.

He heard the voice of Fret once more near his head, leaning down to apologize. "I really am sorry. I know you had a life and all but, I can't fail this. Please forgive me. I'll uh, try and remember you?"

Soon after the once distant pair of wing beats rose alongside his own, a deep voice berating him. "Fret! What have I told you about playing with your food, let alone talking to them? This is the exact reason why you've taken so long to get out of training. They're just food, stop feeling bad for them!"

"I-I know, Boulder. I just, oh, I feel bad eating food that can speak. Why do I have the right to eat them? Just cause I'm bigger?"

"Because you're a predator and they're a prey. If they lost then they were always meant to be eaten. They would have been digested eventually anyways. Just let it go, you won't remember them by sunrise tomorrow anyways." There was then a brief silence, Fret giving an uncertain hum.

"Oh... Alright. I still feel bad though."

His teacher then spoke up a few moments after, letting out an annoyed sigh at his students' words, "Regardless of how you feel... you did pass your exam. Miraculously. Go ahead and fly home. I'll meet up with the other Hawks and see you at the cave when the sun meets the horizon. Understood?"

Mono felt the quick shake of his predator's body, moving up and down with his motions, "Oh, yes I do! I'll head back, but... can I go flying a bit longer? I don't like staying cooped u-"

"No. Straight back to the cave. Now." His voice was stern, Frets stomach tightening around Mono, forcing his dragoness body to start curling over itself. He felt the gaze of the hawk staring at where they were deposited, Fret apologizing.

"Sorry, I just ate."

"Yes. I know. I saw you. Just, go back home." Another quick nod signaled his departure, flapping away from the bigger bird toward wherever they were headed.

Mono spoke up as the walls rubbed the digestive juices into his scales, biting his lip, 'Okay, we got eaten by them. I guess we just... wait now?'

~Yeah, once they land I'll reform us. I'd just try and relax for now.~ Another, quieter strand of her thoughts rose alongside her others, listening in. ~Hopefully we aren't flying the other way from where we need to go...~

Along the journey to Fret's mentioned cave, Mono began to feel the drift of digestion once more, fear rising in his mind but taking heed of Vera's protection, trying to welcome in the numbness that slowly overtook him. He could feel the breath growing thin, his lungs struggling, but all that quickly faded away into nothingness. Sure, it was scary but knowing Vera was with him made it easier, closing his eyes. Sometime after he felt them land in the nest, passing out before he was able to make out anything more.

.........................................

When he awoke they were in a large alcove of an expansive cave, a soft nest of sticks resting against his back as he brought himself back to reality. Vera spoke up in his mind, telling them they should relax for a bit and collect the fluids. He agreed, drawing back out the vial from within her body before placing it back inside. He then remembered the other vials in his backpack, needing to get a fresh one, happily spotting a pond of water in the corner of the room. He gave a grumble at the sight, knowing Fret probably drank from it, but Vera urged him onwards, telling him that he'd have to get used to washing off from the nearest water source they could find. As he stepped in and cleaned himself off as thoroughly as he could, he found himself dreaming of the shower back at home, already feeling so far away despite having left earlier that morning.

He then took the moment after stepping out of the pool to un-Soul-Link with her, separating bodies before reaching his hands up to check his shoulders. And just as he had expected, his backpack had stayed with him, making note of that before pulling it over his shoulders and arms and placing it on the ground to switch out the now full vial of fluids with an empty one. He called Vera over, the dragoness seemingly distracted, looking around the room with slow steps. He blinked at her uncertainty, thanking her as he drew out the vial and replaced it with the new one. He then zipped everything back up, throwing the backpack over his back, giving a crack of his neck before stepping out with her into the cave.

But as they did, Vera gasped, her eyes going wide. While at first they had only been able to see one nest, now as they stepped out into the large cavern, a wall of nests revealed itself to them, laying across the walls of the interior of the room. He remembered the hawk's mentor, mentioning sundown, his heart clenching as he looked out at the large entrance where the hawks likely took off.

And like a prophecy, the flames of the sun were blocked out by the wings of the beasts, their eyes staring them down as they stood in the middle of their home. Mono yelled, trying to find a way out of the cave that didn't involve flying as he knew he couldn't do such a thing. But there was none, simply searching every crevice, trying to avoid claws and talons until he was pinned down beneath one of the larger birds.

Most mysteriously was the creature riding one of the hawk's back, clutching the feathers on his neck. He hopped off the saddle, the anthro wolf eyeing him with distaste. He tilted Mono's head up, looking over to Vera who had been pinned beside him, giving a disapproving glare before leaning down and spitting onto his face, "And who the fuck are you? What do you want?"

It was only then that a screech from a familiar hawk caught their attention, Mono recognizing the voice as Boulder, his beak poking into Fret's room only to find him missing. His gaze quickly shifted to him and Vera, glaring and raising his talons at the sight of her. "The dragon. Fret ate her earlier today for training. What did you DO TO HIM?!" He swooped over to her, talons raised to slash at her body where another hawk had her pinned.

The anthro wolf waved him to stop, Boulder giving a hard flap of his wings, chuttering dangerously near Vera's face before obeying. "Is that... Vera? Well, ain't this an interesting predicament! What are you of all dragons doing with a human?" He then glared at Boulder. "Are you fuckin' saying Fret ate Vera? You let him eat the boss's pet?!"

Boulder clicked his beak angrily, waving a wing at her pinned form. "No! I mean, she didn't look like this when he ate him!"

"What the fuck do you mean?"

"She wasn't glowing blue! You think I wouldn't have fucking noticed that?"

"Apparently fucking not! How the hell could you miss that? She's a fuckin' lightbulb!" He grumbled, continuing on with a huff, "Be more careful who you let your trainees eat, and teach them to not eat anything that glows. Got it?"

"Bu-"

"GOT IT?"

He huffed, scraping his claws into the stone. "Then where the hell is Fret, huh?"

The anthro tilted Mono's face with a claw, his gray fur brushing against the human's cheek, eyeing him up. "Oh don't worry, we'll find out. But I think Decay would like to meet them first. A human traveling with her has got to be pretty special." He then waved his hand to another rider of one of the hawks, watching out of the corner of his eye as he brought forth a wooden staff. He then held it above his head, ready to swing, "You're from The Tamed Lands, yeah? Hehe, well you're about to learn that life out here ain't so easy. I'd take a deep breath if I were you." Then, in a flash, the pole swung and struck the side of his head.

Mono felt his breath drawn out from him, eyes going dark, everything fading away in the blink of a moment before everything turned to nothing, fear rattling his heart.